Chapter 120: After the Cauldron's Boil, a Cold Light Rises

As he moved, Old Man Liu's twitching gradually subsided.

The black qi flowing beneath his skin, as if pulled by some force, began to gather toward the tips of his limbs; the color of his fingers and toes grew darker and darker, almost turning ink-black.

After about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Zhang Jun stopped flicking the needles.

He pulled out the fine needles inserted at the extremities one by one; each withdrawal brought a drop of viscous, foul-smelling black blood that fell to the ground with a soft 'hiss' and exhaled a wisp of cold air.

Only after all the fine needles were removed did Zhang Jun pull out the few long needles embedded in his chest and abdomen.

At this moment, Old Man Liu's breathing, though still weak, had become markedly steadier; the strange sound in his throat vanished, his pallid complexion lost its frightening bluish-gray hue, and his lips gained a touch of color.

Most importantly, he had stopped trembling; his whole body seemed to have fallen into a sleep, but it was a peaceful slumber, not the near-death state before.

"This… this… is it under control?"

Old Hu was the first to rush forward and take the pulse again.

This time, his expression was even more exaggerated than when he had seen Zhang Jun treat a headache with three needles; shock, ecstasy, disbelief—all kinds of emotions intertwined, making the fingers holding Old Man Liu's wrist tremble slightly.

"Though the pulse is weak, it has steadied! The yin-cold qi has been forced out largely, vitality restored… This is not medicine, it is divine art! Using fire needles to bolster yang, drawing the cold outward, then with extraordinary medicines sealing the orifices, locking the soul and consolidating the root… Marvelous! Marvelous to the point of perfection! Today I finally learned that there are heavens beyond heaven, and people beyond people!"

Old Hu's excited voice changed tone; he abruptly turned toward Zhang Jun and bowed deeply, "Divine Doctor Zhang! Please accept my obeisance!"

The entire hall fell silent once again.

Qin Yueyao stood not far away; the fingers resting at her side unconsciously curled, then slowly relaxed.

Qin Xiaotian gazed at the stretcher where Old Man Liu's condition had visibly improved, then at Old Hu performing a respectful bow, and finally fixed his eyes on the calm Zhang Jun, remaining silent for a long while.

In the corner, Zhou Qian's figure seemed to melt completely into the shadows, save for an intangible yin chill that grew more intense and perilous.

Zhang Jun gathered his silver needles and medicine pouch, then gave Qin Xiaotian a slight nod.

"Fortunate."

The Qin household, inner hall.

Sandalwood incense curled in the air, yet it could not dispel the lingering unease. Qin Xiaotian stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the ancient scholar tree in the courtyard; his usual composure was overlaid with a layer of gravity.

Qin Yueyao stood behind him, her voice still clear and cold, yet a beat quicker than usual: "Father, that cauldron… and Zhang Jun and Lin Xue—their inner strength is quite extraordinary." She recounted in detail how the bronze cauldron trembled on its own, its runes lit up, the medicinal liquid roiled, and the resonance triggered when Zhang Jun and Lin Xue approached, especially how the two of them working together quelled the disturbance.

"My daughter has consulted the family's secret scrolls; the rune sequence on that cauldron closely matches several key diagrams described in the long-lost 'Yin-Yang Conjoined Refinement' chapter. Zhang Jun's inner strength leans toward the utmost yang, while Lin Xue's is utmost yin. Together, they seem just right to arouse—and even soothe—the cauldron's power."

Qin Xiaotian slowly turned, tapping his knuckles lightly on the rosewood window lattice. "Yin-Yang Conjoined Refinement… legend says it is one of the core lineages of the Medicine Sect, both an alchemical method and an extremely domineering dual cultivation technique. If that is true, then Zhang Jun and Lin Xue are certainly not mere talents that could emerge from that small seaside place." He pondered for a moment, "That Lin Xue—you investigated her before; her background seems far from simple."

"Yes," Qin Yueyao replied, "On the surface she is the heiress of the Binhai Lin clan consortium, but digging deeper, the leads all cut off, as if someone deliberately erased them. The Xuan Yin cultivation method she practices is not a Lin family inheritance."

"Interesting," Qin Xiaotian said, his fingers pausing, "One who bears a supreme yang marvel and astonishing medical skill—a dragon crossing the river; the other, a mysterious background bearing the utmost yin secret art—a cold beauty. Together they appear at this juncture and just happen to be able to move the Medicine Sect's medicinal cauldron… Yueyao, the waters of this capital are murkier than we imagined." He paused, "Let them be for now. Three days is enough for those who can't sit still to jump out first. We'll see everyone's cards before we act."

Hardly had his words fallen when hurried footsteps sounded outside; the steward ushered in Hu Yishan at a quick pace. Old Hu's face bore uncontainable excitement, even a loss of composure, and as soon as he entered he cupped his fists toward Qin Xiaotian: "Qin Family Head! I… I have truly opened my eyes today! That Divine Doctor Zhang's methods are simply unfathomable!"

He spat out a description of how Zhang Jun used fire needles to force out the yin cold, he employed extraordinary medicines to seal the orifices and lock the soul, literally dragging the exhausted, flickering-oil-lamp Old Man Liu half a step back from the gates of death. "This cannot be explained by ordinary medicine! It truly touches the realm of the Dao! All the famed physicians of the capital combined might not match a single finger of his! Qin Family Head, if this man could be employed by the Qin household…"

Qin Xiaotian raised a hand to cut him off, his face showing neither joy nor anger: "I understand Old Hu's feelings. This young man's abilities are indeed astonishing." Yet in his heart he grew more wary—a youth whose medical skill borders on the Dao, coupled with that suspected Yin-Yang Conjoined Refinement technique—such a person could hardly be easily controlled.

——

The Lin household.

"Slap!" A precious blue-and-white porcelain cup was violently smashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Lin Feng knelt on the ground, his face still bearing the sting of humiliation and resentment, as he embellished his lament to the grim-faced elder seated in the master's chair: "That Zhang Jun is outrageously bullying! He not only humiliated me in public, but also cozied up to Qin Yueyao, and now he's revealing heretical medicine—clearly aimed at our Lin family! Third Granduncle, he surely knows the secret of the Medicine Sect's medicinal cauldron; perhaps his abilities were stolen from the Medicine Sect! We must not let him take the cauldron!"

The old man closed his eyes, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest; after a while he opened his eyes, a flash of cold light in them: "A country bumpkin dares to run wild in the capital? Pass the word—deploy the 'dark hand' and give him a lesson. As for that cauldron… hum, the Medicine Sect's possessions are not for outsiders to meddle with."

——

In the dim underground chamber, only a single oil lamp emitted a yellowish glow.

Zhou Qian knelt respectfully on the floor, reporting to a vague shadow looming in deeper darkness ahead: "The cauldron has been confirmed as a genuine artifact of the Medicine Sect, capable of spontaneously mobilizing yin and yang qi. Zhang Jun bears pure yang cultivation, Lin Xue is a Xuan Yin constitution; when their inner strengths mingle, they can produce strong resonance with the cauldron, seemingly able to receive information from within it. Your subordinate suspects they have mastered part of the Yin-Yang Conjoined Refinement method."

The shadow in the darkness emitted a low, metallic-sounding laugh: "Yin-Yang Conjoined Refinement… indeed correct. After so many years, it has finally reappeared. Zhou Qian, spare no expense to uncover the details of their technique and that cauldron—I will have it."

——