Chapter 49: Chen Yuan, the Number One Lab Rat

Two hours later.

Chen Yuan watched as the potion in the pot grew more and more, becoming richer and richer; the spiritual medicines inside kept increasing, their potency grew ever more terrifying, the smell became more pungent, and his skin followed the potion's color changes, turning blue, then green, then purple, shifting through many hues—each color shift marked a change in medicinal effect.

After the changes, his skin was dyed various colors, giving him a strange sensation.

"Chuyang, is it ready?"

Chen Yuan couldn't stand the smell, wanted to get out, but Chen Chuyang pressed him down.

"Not yet, Father, endure a little longer."

"It'll be fine soon, don't rush."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan had no choice but to sit back down, ceasing to ask.

Chen Chuyang began adding spiritual medicines; he had all kinds, tossing in some while carefully controlling the dosage—neither too much nor too little, for excess would cause violent reactions his father's body couldn't bear, while too little would be ineffective.

Having controlled the dosage and number of additions, Father Chen Yuan endured, his brow furrowing and relaxing intermittently, while Chen Chuyang pretended not to notice, muttering softly: "There are still some spiritual medicines not yet added; this time I can dump them all in at once to see Father's reaction."

"Star Yuan Grass works well; a tiny stalk of this spiritual herb can actually mobilize true qi and increase its activity."

"Also this White Heart Grass stimulates the flesh, speeds the body's absorption, and can be used as a strengthening medicinal herb."

"And this Spirit Yuan Peach Blossom has a different effect, even stronger than the medicinal properties I know."

"Father, endure a little longer; it'll be fine soon."

When adding the spiritual medicines, Chen Chuyang comforted his father while taking out a little notebook, recording each herb's properties, their mutual reactions, which combinations produce which effects, and which produce toxins.

The toxins produced are not strong, merely trace amounts.

These toxins are insufficient to destroy Father's soul; at most they cause some bodily harm, which Chen Chuyang neutralizes by adding other spiritual medicines to eliminate the toxicity—a step Father Chen Yuan naturally must endure.

This is inevitable; improper mixing of spiritual medicines produces medicinal effects.

Another two hours passed.

Chen Yuan's body shuddered several times; the ghostly qi within was partially expelled, but some remained. He wanted to leave, no longer wishing to continue treatment—if he did, he might die.

His son treated him like a lab rat, constantly experimenting, with no intention of curing him.

He realized he was a willing lab rat delivered to his door.

"Son, Father suddenly remembers there are matters at home; I'll go back to handle them, and Father will return to the mountain later."

Saying this, he tried to rise, unable to stay, for he would truly be poisoned to death by this son.

Those spiritual medicines are vicious; the son completely disregards his safety, and this is not healing at all.

"Father, don't cause trouble; at the crucial moment, I've removed some of your ghostly qi, but what remains will inflict irreversible harm on your body if not cleared—don't play with your own body."

"Son, I don't want to watch you die, Father, nor see you tormented to the brink of death by ghostly qi; Father, the wound is on your body, the pain is in my heart."

These words were full of feeling, genuine emotion spilling forth.

Chen Yuan, helpless, sat down again.

"Speed up, stop dawdling."

"I know."

Chen Chuyang verbally agreed, but he would not actually do so.

First he removed a bit of ghostly qi, not all of it, little by little.

Just kidding—if he removed it all, what would we do if Father ran away?

Such a good opportunity, how could we let it slip lightly?

Time passed quickly; a day went by.

Chen Yuan had sat in the pot for a day, watching the color inside constantly shift, and he grew numb.

Several times he wanted to leave, but each time his son suppressed him.

He could neither leave nor object.

Chen Chuyang always found a reason to make him sit down, not letting him go.

"Son, Father sees you're tired; why not postpone treatment till next time?"

"It's fine; for Father's health, I don't mind being a bit weary."

One who would give everything for Father.

So, Father, don't go, okay? Son is really suffering; you wouldn't want his efforts to go to waste, would you?

Chen Yuan gazed at his little son, and for a moment could not speak.

He regretted it; he should not have come to Longshe Shan, nor sought treatment from this son.

Even if he were healthy, this son might yet make him ill.

His doubts went unresolved, only deepening his view: this son could never leave Longshe Shan—how could he be the expert who would save them?

An impossibility.

Chen Chuyang bears none of the demeanor of a true expert.

"I..."

Chen Yuan shook his head, dispelling that thought.

He watched his son, unsure how many spiritual medicines had been added; most ingredients were ordinary herbs, not reaching the grade of spiritual medicines—those are easy to find, the Chen Clan could obtain many, but true spiritual medicines are hard to come by, and their values differ.

Thus he had become, in effect, his son's medicine-testing boy.

The son administered things with due measure, yet Chen Yuan was still displeased.

Half a day later.

Chen Yuan couldn't help but ask: "Son, is it done?"

"It'll be ready soon, Father, just hold on a bit longer."

"How long is a 'bit'?"

It's already been about two days; continuing like this, wouldn't it be...?

Chen Yuan watched helplessly as his son kept pouring in spiritual medicines; in the blink of an eye, another day passed.

His treatment hasn't ended yet.

Chen Chuyang wouldn't let him leave, and had no intention of curing him.

Chen Yuan grew resentful; over these three days, what he had endured, no one knows.

"Son, Father is healed."

"No, Father, don't be anxious, sit calmly."

Chen Yuan tried to get up, but was pressed down, and the lid was placed on.

This wasn't over; he felt the weight on the lid gradually increasing.

Above, several huge stones were added, pressing down on him tightly.

He couldn't push it away.

Chen Yuan was dumbfounded.

"Son, what are you doing?"

Chen Chuyang said with a grin: "Father, you're too annoying; can't you just sit quietly? Could I possibly kill you?"

That's possible.

Before, Chen Yuan thought that wasn't possible.

Now, it's definitely possible.

The son has gone all out.

"Son, don't be like this; Father will listen to you, let Father go out, okay?"

"No."

"……"

Chen Yuan wondered why his son was treating him like this.

Could it be that he wants to take revenge on me?

"Son, Father made mistakes before; Father apologizes to you, let Father leave, okay?"

"Father, you haven't wronged the child; no need to apologize."

Chen Chuyang spoke earnestly: "Son does this all for Father's sake; Father, since you came to Son for treatment, that shows you trust Son; Son will surely heal you, Father, rest assured, Son will definitely find a way to cure you."

"If Father isn't healed, Son won't let Father leave."

Chen Yuan was both laughing and crying: "……"

He didn't want to be healed; he just wanted to go down the mountain immediately.