Chapter 20

Having left the cliff behind for some distance, he could still faintly hear their shouting; Han Li had no further interest in how they ultimately resolved the dispute between Wang Dapang and Zhang Shopkeeper.

The image of Jin Dongbao standing there, stunned and motionless, made him suppress a laugh. At this moment, he felt his mood suddenly lightened, the gloom of the valley completely gone.

He passed through the pine forest and walked toward a more remote area; after wandering aimlessly for a while, a slender stream appeared before him.

Han Li looked up at the scorching sun in the sky, then down at the slow-flowing clear water of the stream, and decided it would be a good idea to wash himself in it.

As he bent down and plunged his hands into the cool stream, a series of pained moans drifted down from upstream.

Han Li was surprised—someone could be here, in such a secluded place.

Following the moans upstream, he found a disciple dressed in inner sect robes lying face-down beside the stream, his body convulsing uncontrollably, limbs trembling violently.

Han Li instantly recognized that this disciple was suffering from an acute illness; without immediate aid, he would likely die.

He lunged forward, pulled a sandalwood box from his robe, opened it, and retrieved a bundle of shimmering silver needles, swiftly inserting them into the man’s back acupoints with precise, clean motions.

He finished needling the back acupoints, then flipped the man onto his back, preparing to needle the chest points.

As the man’s face turned toward him, Han Li drew a sharp breath—this dying man was unmistakably “Li Shi-ge,” who had just demonstrated his prowess on the cliff.

Han Li froze for a moment, then carefully examined the face he had seen only moments earlier.

Now, Li Shi-ge bore no trace of his earlier commanding, invincible demeanor; his once-cold features were twisted in agony, white foam constantly oozing from his lips—he was clearly delirious from pain.

Han Li regained his composure, paused briefly, then began needling the man’s body with fluid, relentless precision—dozens of needles in rapid succession. When he inserted the final needle, he wiped sweat from his brow and exhaled deeply; this emergency acupuncture technique was no small burden for him.

As the man’s entire body became covered in glittering silver needles, he finally regained consciousness.

“You’re…” he struggled to speak, but lacked the strength to utter the final words.

“I’m from Shenshou Valley. Don’t speak—rest and regain your strength. I can only revive you for now. Your illness is strange; only Master Mo might be able to save you, but he’s not on the mountain.” Han Li took his pulse, frowning.

“Medicine… in…” Li Shi-ge’s face grew anxious, his lips quivered as he tried to lift his arm to indicate something—but failed.

“You have medicine that treats your illness?” Han Li immediately understood, guessing in reply.

“Mm—” Li Shi-ge relaxed slightly upon seeing Han Li grasp his meaning, and nodded weakly.

Han Li didn’t hesitate—he searched the man’s body, found many items, and singled out a small white jade vial. Such a precious container, so perfectly sealed—it must be what he sought.

He picked up the vial and glanced back at Li Shi-ge’s face; indeed, the man’s expression was now filled with joy, frantically blinking his eyelids.

Han Li uncorked the vial—and to his surprise, no medicinal scent emerged; instead, a thick, foul stench surged out.

The moment Han Li smelled it, his face darkened. He carefully poured out a single pink pill—its soft pink hue was pleasing to the eye, yet it emitted such a revolting odor; it was unbelievable.

“Is this the pill?” Han Li’s expression returned to calm.

Li Shi-ge, desperate to speak, could only blink rapidly.

“‘Chou Sui Pill,’ made from twenty-three rare ingredients—including Helan, Scorpion Tail Flower, and century-old Blue Ant eggs… After refinement, it appears pink and emits a peculiar stench. When ingested, it drastically drains the body’s latent potential, trading future lifespan for immediate power enhancement. Did I describe it correctly?”

Han Li stared coldly at Li Shi-ge, speaking each word slowly, with absolute certainty.

Upon hearing Han Li’s words, Li Shi-ge’s face turned deathly pale, his expression filled with panic.

“Once ingested, you must take another dose at regular intervals, enduring the inhuman agony of muscle tearing and bone marrow extraction. If you miss a dose, you risk paralysis or death. Even if you take it faithfully, within ten years of your first dose, you will inevitably die from exhausted life force.”

“Don’t tell me this pill in my hand isn’t the Chou Sui Pill.” Han Li paused mid-sentence.

Li Shi-ge’s face now wore the look of a man whose deepest secret had been exposed—utter despair, yet his eyes still held disbelief and shock.

“Are you surprised I recognize this pill? It’s extremely rare—how could I know it?” Han Li sensed his unspoken question and shifted tone to speak of himself.

“It’s simple—I’ve taken one myself.”

Han Li’s words stunned Li Shi-ge into silence; then, disbelief flickered across his face.

“My method differed from yours. I took only one pill, divided it into ten portions, and ingested them one at a time, using each as a catalyst for other medicines—so it caused no harmful side effects. Because its appearance and odor were so drastically mismatched, I remembered it vividly. I always assumed no one else in the world had ever taken this secret pill—except me. I never imagined someone in our own sect had.”

After speaking, Han Li looked at Li Shi-ge with a gaze that blended respect and pity.

Li Shi-ge could not meet Han Li’s gaze; he gently closed his eyes, but his chest rose and fell rapidly, revealing his inner turmoil.

“You’ve been taking this pill for years, haven’t you? If you stop now, I can ask Master Mo to prepare a secret remedy for you. It won’t restore your full lifespan, but it could grant you another twenty or thirty years—though you’ll lose your martial skills. If you continue taking it, judging from today’s episode, you’ll live no more than five or six years. But during those years, your cultivation will accelerate dramatically—far faster than your current pace. Since you dared to take this secret pill, you’re clearly a resolute man. Decide for yourself—your body, your choice. Will you take this pill… or discard it?”

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