BXBX NOVEL Chapter 11 - 11: Silencing
Chapter 11: Silencing
Chapter 11: Silencing . . .
Observing his elder brother in a state of unprecedented anxiety, Wan Dongyang wasted no time and hurriedly fetched the high-grade Tier 3 Detoxification Pill that Wan Donghai had requested.
The Detoxification Pill, a versatile remedy for various poisons, held its efficacy contingent upon the specific nature of the poison afflicting the individual. Renowned for its ability to counteract a wide array of ordinary poisons, it stood as one of the most commonly employed and practical pills.
In Ye Yuan's discerning eyes, the Detoxification Pill belonged to the lower echelons of medicinal pills. Distinguished by tiers, there existed Tier 1, Tier 2, all the way up to Tier 5 Detoxification Pills. However, these pills proved ineffective against poisons classified beyond Tier 5, mainly owing to their exceptional rarity or unique characteristics.
Wan Donghai's crafted Detoxification Pill held a distinguished status within the State of Qin. The high-grade Tier 3 Detoxification Pill stood as the pinnacle of his accomplishments, surpassing even the abilities of Ye Hang, who specialized differently. This particular Detoxification Pill represented the apex standard within this specialized domain of expertise in the State of Qin, eclipsing even the Imperial Uncle's proficiency.
Upon receiving the pill from Wan Dongyang, a subtle twitch marred his face. To expend such a potent pill on a subordinate like Liu An seemed, to him, a squandering of divine gifts.
As Wan Donghai accepted the pill, his gaze met Ye Yuan's, accompanied by a disdainful huff. Regardless of the outcome, he conceded to being outplayed by this junior.
Meanwhile, Ye Yuan maintained a composed demeanor, silently observing Wan Donghai.
Rolling up his sleeves, Wan Donghai caused Liu An to sit up involuntarily. Subsequently, he unleashed a flurry of finger jabs at remarkable speed, leaving an afterimage trailing behind. The onlookers heard a series of puffing sounds, each jab inducing a groan of anguish from Liu An. As the final jab landed, Liu An, in excruciating pain, opened his mouth, prompting Wan Donghai to promptly administer the Detoxification Pill.
Post-consumption, Wan Donghai ceased his actions, and Liu An, now bereft of balance, slumped back onto the ground.
A slow applause resonated in the surroundings, initiated by Ye Yuan. "I've long heard that Manor Lord Wan's Profound Phantom Finger technique is extraordinarily miraculous, capable of both reviving the dead and inflicting fates worse than death. Witnessing it today has truly expanded my horizons. How remarkable!"
Wan Donghai, catching his breath, found Ye Yuan's praise laced with ridicule. The impulse to retaliate surged within him.
"Humph! It matters not what poison afflicted him. In the presence of my Profound Phantom Finger and the Detoxification Pill I've crafted, he will be restored," Wan Donghai declared, projecting a veneer of unwavering confidence.
Not fueled by arrogance, Wan Donghai, within the State of Qin, had never encountered an issue he couldn't resolve.
"That would be for the best. Observe his current condition. I genuinely hope he can recover fully," Ye Yuan chimed in, his tone carrying an air of sincerity, as if Liu An were a long-time friend. Yet, Wan Donghai detected an underlying premonition in Ye Yuan's words.
Confirming his suspicions, Liu An abruptly expelled a mouthful of blood after Ye Yuan's remark.
Wan Donghai's countenance shifted, and he rushed to support Liu An, inquiring, "Are you alright?"
"Ma-Manor Lord, the pain... argh... The pain is unbearable!" Liu An writhed in agony, collapsing onto the floor.
Evidently, Wan Donghai's efforts not only failed to neutralize the poison but exacerbated Liu An's suffering by stimulating the toxin. A tormented Liu An, however, received no aid from the onlookers.
"Yiii? Manor Lord Wan, it appears your Profound Phantom Finger and Detoxification Pill have failed, worsening our friend's condition. Look at his distressing state; it's difficult to witness. Could it be that Manor Lord Wan lacks the means to alleviate his pain? The Drunken Star Manor, renowned as the capital's best, surely possesses such capabilities!" Ye Yuan queried provocatively.
Wan Donghai, unable to maintain pretenses, retorted, pointing at Ye Yuan, "Stinky brat! What concoction did you make him ingest? Attempting to besmirch our Drunken Star Manor? You're not qualified!"
Ye Yuan, feigning astonishment, responded, "Why would you say that, Manor Lord Wan? As the saying goes, saving a life is akin to constructing a seven-storied pagoda. Are you suggesting that, with our friend suffering like this, I should remain indifferent? Is the Drunken Star Manor unworthy of its reputation, incapable of diagnosing the poison afflicting our friend?
"You!" If not for his last shred of restraint, Wan Donghai might have stormed off instantly.
Ye Yuan, feigning a look of anguish, leaned down and said to Liu An, "My efforts have reached their limit. In the capital, if even Manor Lord Wan cannot save you, then there's nothing more I can do. When you reach the Underworld, don't blame me."
Despite Liu An's near-lifeless state, Ye Yuan's words seemingly jolted him into a moment of clarity. His initially dulled eyes now exhibited a glimmer of vitality.
"Ma-Manor Lord! Sa-Save me! I helped you to se-sell..." Struggling against the pain, Liu An managed to articulate a few words through gritted teeth.
In this moment, Wan Donghai, once consumed by wrath towards Ye Yuan, now stood soaked in a cold sweat. Reacting swiftly, he leaned down and assured Liu An, "Don't worry. I will save you, no matter what."
Wan Donghai's eyes reflected sincerity, diverging significantly from Ye Yuan's counterfeit warmth. To Liu An, it appeared as if they were comrades facing life and death together.
At this juncture, the sense of unease sparked by Ye Yuan began to recede, replaced by a newfound serenity.
"Ma-Manor Lord, h-he . . . mentioned this poison . . . it's called Heart Inch Fissure."
Upon disclosing this, Liu An came to a standstill, resembling a deflated ball with no further movement.
"Heart Inch Fissure . . . Heart Inch Fissure . . ." Wan Donghai muttered, his brows furrowing with increasing intensity.
The repetition seemed to trigger a sense of familiarity within him. The more he uttered those words, the more he sensed that he had encountered that name somewhere before.
"Heart Inch Fissure? HEART INCH FISSURE?! It's actually Heart Inch Fissure?! Th-This! How could a brat like him know about Heart Inch Fissure?" A hint of astonishment flickered across Wan Donghai's eyes.
Finally piecing together the puzzle, Wan Donghai recollected where he had come across that name – during his formative years when his master had once mentioned it!
Reflecting on it now, his master had conveyed that this poison was exceptionally ruthless, virtually incurable. Despite being classified as a high-grade Tier 1 Pill, known as the Heart Inch Fissure Pill, his master, a Tier 4 Alchemy King at the time, had deemed it incurable. The formidable nature of this poison was evident.
How could Ye Yuan possess the ability to refine such a formidable poison? Could it be the handiwork of Ye Hang?
However, Wan Donghai couldn't dwell on it at the moment. After a brief moment of stupefaction, he recognized that regardless of his actions, Liu An was beyond salvation.
In the face of this dilemma, he had to make a difficult choice – sacrifice Liu An!
While his reputation held significance, the potential exposure of demonic beast hunter spies within the Drunken Star Manor could yield even graver consequences. Liu An's incomplete revelation hinted that his failure to rescue him would unveil the unsavory aspect of the Drunken Star Manor. The repercussions, when laid bare before the public, would be unimaginable.
Opting for the lesser of two evils, Wan Donghai took a deep breath and sighed, "This poison is undeniably potent. This Wan is inept, left with only one final recourse."
Concluding, he directed his subordinates to support Liu An. Rolling up his sleeves, the execution of the Profound Phantom Finger commenced once more. However, this time, the spectacle surpassed the prior one.
Wan Donghai, weaving around Liu An and enveloping him in a whirlwind of afterimages, generated a gust so forceful that onlookers struggled to keep their eyes open.
Observing Wan Donghai exerting himself for this display, a cold sneer played on Ye Yuan's lips. While the Profound Phantom Finger was a martial technique, it could also be classified as a technique under the Alchemy Dao. In Ye Yuan's estimation, it was rather crude. Yet, he possessed some insight into this finger technique.
Capable of both saving lives and inflicting harm, the malicious variant was particularly vicious. Wan Donghai's current employment of the technique was precisely the malevolent version.
Despite this awareness, Ye Yuan chose not to unveil Wan Donghai's intentions. Since the Manor Lord was willing to tarnish his own reputation, Ye Yuan found it agreeable to aid him. Moreover, given Ye Yuan's current strength, overpowering Wan Donghai was an unattainable feat. His strength was presently inadequate.
Indeed, following the cessation of Wan Donghai's finger technique, Liu An immediately ceased breathing and gradually slumped to the ground.
"Manor Lord Wan's prowess is truly remarkable! Executing a finger technique set that inadvertently led to a 'cure' by death. Admirable! Admirable!" Ye Yuan exclaimed, maintaining the same affable smile as before.