Chapter 403: Pharmacy

Chapter 403: The Apothecary

"The Abomination is and isn't human."

The Poison Lord glanced at Su Mo and the Little Situ Taoist on his back; the sight momentarily transported him back to the seaside of Chiyan Island.

He shook his head lightly:

"You just witnessed what that damn old lantern-bearer intended to do.

"The Abomination is what he referred to—

"Taking the most prized traits from martial arts masters and combining them to 'create' a 'person.'

"Ha! How can such things even be called human?

"They’re nothing more than mindless husks, given a roughly human shape.

"Mindless, soulless husks.

"But for them, perhaps this isn’t suffering—but a twisted blessing.

"If it were me, keeping my current thoughts only to find myself turned into such a monstrosity...

"This old man would rather be dead."

Hearing this, Su Mo turned to the Poison Lord:

"Note: Did the Poison Lord discover anything the night before last?"

"Yes."

The Poison Lord replied immediately:

"This old man visited two places that night.

"One was the main hall in the city lord’s residence—

"That’s where the city lord lives...

"However, this city lord’s martial arts are incredibly powerful, and most people on this island are resistant to even the deadliest poisons.

"He detected me the moment I got close.

"Shamefully, this old man nearly got captured.

"Fortunately, another master intervened..."

"Oh?"

Su Mo looked at the old man. The Poison Lord continued solemnly:

"It was a person in simple robes, holding a jade flute and wearing a jade mask.

"Gave the impression of being from the Dragon King Hall.

"But whether that’s truly the case, I can't say for sure."

"...I know who you're talking about."

Su Mo said, "On the way to Dragonwood Isle, Zhou Wenjing of the Shattered Star Sect was captured by the Sick Prince.

"Fortunately, Senior had poisoned the Sick Prince, allowing her to slip away.

"Later, the Sick Prince pursued her, yet showed no signs of poisoning.

"Turns out, a man in plain robes had saved him...

"This man walked on water, freezing it underfoot, demonstrating the Extreme Cold Internal Strength—indeed, it reeked of the Dragon King Hall.

"I, too, had long believed this man to be a martial arts master from the Dragon King Hall.

"But... even with Senior's sharp eyes, you couldn't determine his true identity?"

"So, the Sick Prince fell into your hands?"

The Poison Lord studied Su Mo for a moment before chuckling:

"This monster hones his poison arts by butchering innocents. Although this old-timer is no angel and has blood on his hands as well,

"I couldn't stand the Sick Prince's methods.

"That's why I planned to put this sick freak six feet under.

"However, while the world speaks of his formidable demonic arts, few know his true talent lies in hide-and-seek.

"I turned Gupiao Isle inside out yet found no trace of him.

"Just as I caught a whiff of him, it was time to set sail.

"Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gotten the chance to deal with him.

"As for whether that man was from the Dragon King Hall...

"That’s anyone’s guess."

As he spoke, he furrowed his brows and automatically went for his sleeve for a chicken leg.

He opened his mouth to take a bite but held back, sighing as he stashed it away:

"I have three chicken legs left on me. They won’t let me toss ’em.

"But they check... If the count decreases, it means my nature remains unchanged.

"Thus proving I haven’t fully succumbed to their control.

"Though simple, this method drives this old man up the wall—truly, it hits me where it hurts."

Su Mo was momentarily speechless. This old-timer truly treated chicken legs like gold.

He then smiled and said,

"Want me to bring you some next time I visit, Senior?"

The Poison Lord’s eyes widened instantly, pure gratitude overflowing:

"You’d be a lifesaver!!"

The look on his face took Su Mo back to the junkies he’d seen in his past life.

After a pause, the Poison Lord continued:

"The reason this old man cannot confirm this person's identity comes down to two things.

"First, the people of the Dragon King Hall hate this old man's guts.

"If given the chance, they would absolutely kill me without hesitation.

"After all, one of the Four Seas Dragon Heads was taken down by me.

"The other night when I was scouting, I didn’t conceal my true appearance.

"If they were truly from the Dragon King Hall, it would already be damn decent of them if they didn’t take advantage of my peril to strike me down.

"So why would they go so far as to save me?"

Su Mo nodded. "And the second point?"

"Second... this person is a medical expert, and scary good at it."

The Poison Lord said, "Though he seems like he's from the Dragon King Hall and saved me, this old man still couldn’t fully trust him.

"So, I secretly poisoned him, but he detected it immediately and countered it...

"Today, you mentioned that after the Sick Prince encountered him, all the toxins in his body were purged.

"Honestly, the poison in that sick bastard isn’t so easily dispelled.

"The Five Transformations Demonic Art he practices, once its cyclical flow is disrupted,

"throws his whole system out of whack.

"Achieving this disruption is no walk in the park, but if he truly gets poisoned, getting rid of it's even tougher.

"One misstep, and if the toxins of his own Five Transformations Demonic Art are disturbed,

"he’d be shooting himself in the foot.

"Years of arduous cultivation in the Five Transformations Demonic Art could go down the drain.

"At the very least, he'd lose a chunk of his power.

"So, the poison in that sick bastard is no simple matter to cure, yet this person fixed it like it was nothing.

"Such mastery in medicine can only be described as the work of a miracle worker.

"Yet, to my knowledge... the Dragon King Hall doesn't have that kind of skill.

"Otherwise, why would one of the Four Seas Dragon Heads have ended up dead by my hand back then?"

"I see."

Su Mo chuckled. "But what if, in recent years, the Dragon King Hall, smartened up after the humiliation, brought in people like that and trained up a miracle doctor of their own?"

"Could be, I guess."

The Poison Lord sneered. "But do you think miracle workers just fall from the sky? That they can be trained up overnight?"

"Good point..."

Su Mo nodded slightly: "What happened after that? Did this person just leave after saving you, Senior?"

"Not quite."

The Poison Lord said: "I had a brief chat with him. It seemed he wanted to do something, but he was evasive and vague.

"This old man didn’t want to get too involved with him, so I decided to leave.

"But unexpectedly, he suddenly told me that there was some secret hidden in the scripture cave on the back mountain.

"However, checking it out wouldn't be simple.

"Not only is the entrance guarded by Ghost Vines, but once inside, one would also get trapped in the 'Labyrinth.'"

"Labyrinth?"

Su Mo's heart perked up upon hearing this: "You mean the tunnels in the cave?"

"Exactly."

The Poison Lord nodded: "The Labyrinth is actually a type of array, but it’s cleverly blended with mechanisms. The design is extremely intricate....

"This person seemed to know all the details.

"He laid out exactly how the Labyrinth worked and then told me,

"Even if you pass through the Labyrinth, reaching the inner sanctum is even harder.

"Because deep inside the cave, not only is there the *Abomination* guarding it,

"But also the true martial arts masters of Dragonwood Island, keeping close guard.

"There are also mechanisms inside. If things go wrong, the mechanisms will activate and destroy everything completely in the cave."

"What are they guarding?"

Su Mo asked urgently.

"Heh..."

The Poison Lord chuckled: "That person didn’t tell me, but after coming here, I put it together.

"What they’re guarding is a stele."

"A stele?"

Both Su Mo and Little Situ were stunned.

"Indeed."

The Poison Lord said gravely:

"They call it the Celestial Stele.

"Those idiots outside the cave, racking their brains day and night to decipher the Medical Classic,

"It originated from the Celestial Stele.

"It’s said that, they claim, this Celestial Stele has its own power."

"The herbs cultivated with the power of the Celestial Stele possess unmatched potency.

"Take the Ghost Vine, for example—it is one of them.

"The medicinal effects of the Ghost Vine defy normal medical understanding.

"It's utterly astonishing.

"However, beyond this, there are other things I have yet to uncover."

That was all he had to say for now.

Su Mo and the old man stared at each other, and after a long silence, Su Mo smiled:

"Senior, do you plan to continue stringing them along here for now?"

"There's a time to act and a time to wait.

"Know the reason, and the method follows.

"Only by thoroughly investigating the true nature of this place and the real purpose of Dragonwood Island can we strike from the shadows.

"And get our hands on this Celestial Stele."

The Poison Lord spoke without reservation, then turned his gaze to Su Mo:

"You, boy, you're slippery as an eel.

"Back on Red Salt Island, did you really get poisoned by this old man?"

Su Mo chuckled:

"Senior's Soul-Severing Powder was indeed formidable—it really knocked me out."

"Enough of that."

The Poison Lord snorted coldly:

"After this old man left that day, the more I thought about it, the fishier it seemed.

"Yet, I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong at the time.

"But later, when you turned up at Lone Gourd Island, it became clear... You never actually fell for the poison that day.

"Otherwise, you would've been trapped on Red Salt Island, unable to leave.

"How could you have boldly stirred up trouble on Lone Gourd Island?"

He said coldly, glaring at Su Mo.

Su Mo, however, didn't rise to the bait and instead extended his hand:

"Hand it over."

"Not a chance."

The Poison Lord lifted his chin defiantly.

"Hmm?"

Su Mo glanced at him twice: "Seriously?"

"Why would I lie?"

"Still want that chicken leg?"

"..."

The Poison Lord fell silent, torn between choices, before finally letting out a long sigh:

"Honestly, I don’t have it..."

"Then what, old man?"

Su Mo looked at him, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

"Wait!"

Seeing this, the Poison Lord quickly spoke up:

"I wasn’t controlled by them—there’s another reason."

"Do tell."

"...It was the plain-robed man who gave me the antidote."

The Poison Lord said gravely, "This man is powerful beyond measure, yet nobody knows where he came from.

"You just mentioned that the Dragon King Hall might have shaped up in recent years.

"But even so, how'd they produce someone like that?

"He told me about this scripture cave, spelled out the dangers, and gave me the antidote.

"Now you’re asking me for it—how would I still have any?"

Su Mo let out a quiet breath: "Senior, got any leads about this man?"

"None at all."

At this, the Poison Lord chuckled: "So this is your problem now."

"How's that my business?"

"What this man knows surely exceeds anything you or I could anticipate."

The Poison Lord said coolly, "Moreover, he knows this Dragonwood Island inside out. Someone like him—I don’t believe you wouldn’t be interested.

"If you truly wish to get your hands on the Celestial Stele, his knowledge will undoubtedly be crucial."

"In that case, I’ll just join forces with him. Senior, good luck surviving."

"...Huh?"

The Poison Lord was taken aback: "You little shit, gonna screw me over now?"

"What're you talking about?"

Su Mo smiled: "Between you and me, Senior, there’s no history between us. Last time I asked for your help to save my sister, you still dosed me with Soul-Severing Powder."

"After arriving on the island, remembering our brief encounter, I accepted the Thousandmile Silkworm you entrusted to me, senior."

"Now, thanks to this, I was able to track you down."

"I initially thought you were in serious trouble, but it seems that's not entirely the case."

"Senior appears to be right at home here, unwilling to leave."

"Under such circumstances, I shouldn't butt in."

"With this, the task you assigned me is concluded. Looking back, it's actually you who owes me a favor now."

"So, I fail to see how I could be accused of 'burning bridges after crossing the river.'"

"..."

The Poison Lord was so angry he nearly ground his teeth to dust: "Spit it out. What do you want from me?"

"All details about the labyrinth and everything about this place—you must withhold nothing from me, senior."

Su Mo continued:

"Additionally, a young friend of mine was captured and brought here. Since you're in charge here, I’d appreciate it if you could keep an eye out for him."

"That idiot disciple from the Canglan Divine Blade lineage?"

The Poison Lord frowned slightly:

"I can handle that, though it won’t be easy."

"As for the labyrinth... I would’ve told you even if you hadn’t asked."

"Thank you, senior."

Su Mo clasped his hands in salute.

"Cut the crap."

The Poison Lord scoffed: "You sneaky little devil—since when did the South Sea breed someone like you?"

He then proceeded to explain the intricacies of the labyrinth in detail.

Some of it came from the plain-robed man, while the rest was his own observations.

In summary, though it might not fully unravel the labyrinth’s mysteries, it would at least allow Su Mo to come and go as he pleases.

With that, they were done talking.

The Poison Lord’s time was limited, so he didn't have time to waste. After saying goodbye to Su Mo, he turned to head for the medicine hall.

Only to find Su Mo right on his heels.

"...What now?"

The Poison Lord glanced back at Su Mo.

"Naturally, I’m going to the medicine hall."

Su Mo smiled and said, "Senior's movements are restricted, but I am unconstrained. I was just hoping to find out if there's anything to be gained inside the apothecary."

"Very well."

The Poison Lord curled his lip. "But be careful—if there are any hidden dangers in the apothecary, this old man isn’t entirely sure."

"It's fine."

Su Mo gave a small smile and followed behind him.

Yet, before leaving, he couldn’t help but glance back at the large gate behind him.

On the gate, within the small ring-opened doorway, that crimson eye was still watching him.

Su Mo’s gaze couldn’t help but grow complicated. Finally, he let out a soft sigh and waved his hand, hearing two crisp *click-click* sounds.

Both the upper and lower rings returned to their original places.

"Senior, there’s still one thing I don’t understand."

"Ask."

"If the Abominations have no human reasoning, how can the people on this island control them?"

"The mindless creatures have their own means of being controlled."

"So that's how it is..."

Su Mo sighed.

The practice of medicine was originally meant to be an art of healing and saving lives.

But when such methods were used for evil, the harm they caused was far worse than that of ordinary wrongdoing.

Still, Su Mo still didn't understand.

Were they going to all this trouble just to create the strongest individual?

His thoughts churned but then quieted. Deciding not to dwell on it further, he followed behind the Poison Lord.

Inside the apothecary, guards stood watch.

As they approached, the Poison Lord reverted to his previous blank, unresponsive state, all traces of his earlier composure gone.

He whispered mentally to Su Mo:

"Do you have a way to get inside?"

"Where are the secrets kept?"

"In the inner chamber. The guards only guard the entrance."

"Enter and turn left—that’s the inner chamber."

"No one is inside, only formulas and medical classics decoded from ancient texts."

"To the right is the puppet chamber, filled with master healers whose minds have been controlled by them."

"Each of them possesses specialized skills, brought here for purposes unknown."

As the Toxin Master transmitted his voice, he had already arrived at the pharmacy. The moment he opened the door, he felt a gust of wind brush past him.

The two guards at the door instinctively looked around.

But they saw nothing, which left them somewhat perplexed.

The Toxin Master was also puzzled. After entering the room, he was about to turn right when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Su Mo and Little Situ Taoist standing at the entrance on the left, casually pushing open the door.

When did this happen?

This shock was no small matter, nearly causing the Toxin Master to forget his disguise.

Fortunately, he was a seasoned veteran, far from an ordinary figure in the martial world. He managed to maintain his composure, thus avoiding detection.

Yet, his heart was filled with profound alarm.

He found Su Mo, despite his youth, to be unfathomably deep.

It was one thing that the Soul-Parting Powder had no effect on him—after all, being immune to all poisons was not unheard of, even among the people on this island.

But how did he acquire such extraordinary lightness of body?

It was a skill that allowed him to pass right before his eyes without being seen.

If he wanted to take someone's life, wouldn't it be as easy as snapping his fingers?

Su Mo, however, was unaware that the Toxin Master had just experienced a minor fright.

He and Little Situ Taoist stepped into the pharmacy and immediately saw various pills and potions arranged on the shelves, while the other side was filled with formulas and medical classics.

Su Mo looked around while walking, occasionally asking for Little Situ Taoist's opinion.

Little Situ Taoist, however, shook her head:

"Most of what's displayed here is pretty unremarkable.

"And just from the names alone, the pills and potions don't look all that special... Hmm, Vine Repellent?"

She pointed to a shelf nearby.

Su Mo reached out to pick it up, but the weight was wrong the moment he lifted it.

With a slight tug, he noticed a wire hooked underneath the bottle.

In that split second, the floor beneath him suddenly gave way, and he dropped like a rock.