Chapter 211: Scorpion Toxin

"Five Goat Stronghold" valley is vast, with many buildings; it's said an expert came to treat the five chiefs, and six or seven hundred wandering cultivator bandits swarmed over with a hubbub.

All that met the eye were tall, rough-clothed men with half-torn clothes, pairs of eyes brimming with killing intent, full of oppressive pressure.

The wretch, who had barely grown accustomed, felt his legs start to tremble again.

Heng Xian showed no expression, following the old scholar and the strong woman all the way to the front of a room with tightly shut doors and windows.

Upon arrival, the faces of all the Five Goat Stronghold's people looked somewhat off.

The old scholar sighed: "The smell inside might be rather strong!"

Heng Xian nodded and shoved the door open.

Instantly, an extremely rich foul odor rushed over.

All the Five Goat Stronghold's people stepped back a few paces, holding their breath.

Meanwhile, Heng Xian entered with a bland expression, as if the stench had no effect on him whatsoever.

The old scholar and his group exchanged glances, then followed behind, murmuring admiringly: "A doctor's heart is like a parent's; there's no refusing!"

Facing away from them, Heng Xian held his breath, twitched the corner of his mouth, the doctor gave a hammer.

Following the smell to the innermost room, five muffled groans and cries sounded; on five beds lay five men,

all pallid, flesh rotting all over, twisted in extreme pain, the beds soaked with pus and blood.

The stench came from their bodies.

Ordinary people could hardly bear this sight!

Upon seeing this, the old scholar's group burst into tears, looking at Heng Xian: "The five chiefs' bodies are festering, suffering unbearably; sir, please save them!"

Heng Xian nodded, approached the five, examined them closely, and found their toxic energy nearing the heart meridians; without his aid, they could not survive.

Actually, for him, a medical novice, to save people would surely be impossible; but following the divination's indication, a temporary pain-relief method still exists.

Thus, suppressing his nausea, he first struck the twelve acupoints on the five chiefs' bodies, then took out a packet of silver needles scavenged from a female disciple's storage bag of the Overlord Sect, and began acupuncture on the five chiefs.

Strangely, once all the silver needles were inserted, the five chiefs soon ceased struggling and crying out, their breathing gradually steadying.

"Sir, you're brilliant!" cried the crowd behind, the Five Goat Stronghold's people exhaling in relief and praising him.

The old scholar couldn't help stepping forward, shouting hoarsely: "Five chiefs, hold on! The expert has come to save you!"

The five chiefs, summoning unknown resolve, painfully sat up, gazing at Heng Xian as if seeing their living parents, stumbled out of bed and fell to their knees with a clatter: "Sir! Save us, it's too, too unbearable; we can't endure it any longer!"

Heng Xian sat in the chair before the five, wiped his hands with a nearby cloth, prevented them from rising, and said: "This isn't an ordinary ailment; it's poisoning!"

The five exchanged glances: "Sir, you're perceptive; indeed we're poisoned, by scorpion-demon toxin!"

Heng Xian deliberately asked: "A scorpion demon? Where is it?"

One of the five, an old man with a white beard, pointed fearfully behind: "Just behind, on the rear peak of Five Goat Peak's cliff, we five brothers carelessly encountered her; we intended to capture her, but all fell victim!"

Heng Xian looked at the five and said solemnly: "Scorpion toxin is the king of poisons; even the Buddha could fall victim; you are surely doomed!"

Hearing this, the five slumped to the ground.

Behind them, the old scholar's group also stood bewildered, not knowing what to do.

Heng Xian gazed at the five's eyes and added: "But if I could let you live, what would you be willing to give?"

The five, despairing, instantly perked up, clasped fists: "We wish to serve you as ox and horse; sir, ask for anything we have, and we'll give it! If we break this oath, heaven's wrath and earth's destruction!"

Heng Xian had been waiting for those words; he rose and said: "Survival is possible if you follow me, obey my lead—can you do that?"

The five again clasped fists: "As long as you let us live, we will keep our word, never regret; otherwise, heavenly thunder will strike us dead!"

Heng Xian nodded: "Excellent! To undo the bell, one must find its bell-ringer; I'll go capture that demon alive!"

Having said that, he turned, went outside, and flew on his sword straight to the rear mountain.

Behind Five Goat Peak, the mountain peaks are exceptionally tall and undulating, covered with the Vast Mountain's distinctive thorny poplars.

Heng Xian wandered around a great circuit before discovering a cliff on the rear peak, beside which lay a deep, secluded cave.

A demonic aura swirled around the cave's perimeter, never dispersing.

Heng Xian smiled, leapt, and arrived at the cave's entrance.

Yet as he landed, a gust of demonic wind burst from the cave, within which a woman snarled: "You truly don't know death!"

Immediately, a reddish-brown scorpion tail shot toward Heng Xian's face.

"Tao San Niangzi, you've got gall!" Heng Xian shouted angrily.

That scorpion tail retracted instantly; amid the demonic aura appeared a charming face, large eyes blinking, voice softening greatly: "Benefactor?"

This is precisely the scorpion spirit subdued earlier in Majestic Martial City's Hundred-li Arid Marsh, who cooperated with Precious Jade to scatter pollen for Song Rufeng!

Heng Xian flicked his sleeves: "I heard you're here; I came especially to see you—what does it mean to attack me on sight?"

The demonic aura vanished instantly, revealing Tao San Niangzi's alluring form, a bit embarrassed: "Those folks earlier were too agitated, always trying to seize my demon core; I thought they'd returned."

Saying this, she laughed and quickly stepped aside: "Benefactor, please come into the cave and sit awhile!"

Heng Xian entered the cave with a stern face.

The cave isn't large, its decor is decent, just with a fishy odor.

Tao San Niangzi covered her mouth, chuckling lightly: "One gets used to being slovenly; benefactor, you're laughing."

"No problem!" Heng Xian sat on a rock, asking: "When did you arrive?"

Tao San Niangzi glanced at him: "After the incident in Sang Guo's capital, any demon in Dongyu that had cultivated even a little was slaughtered by great sect disciples; I fled all the way here!"

Heng Xian nodded and got straight to the point: "You're not having it easy either; from now on, you might as well follow me."

Tao San Niangzi hesitated a little, feeling somewhat shy: "Are you… serious? This is rather sudden! But you… have been chased by countless sects, yet traveled a thousand li to find me—it's quite moving."

"You're not bad-looking and quite capable; sigh… well, though I'm a demon, I can also bear children; as long as you treat me well, I'll naturally reciprocate."

"Uh…" Heng Xian scratched his nose, saying: "What I mean is, I also fled here; you follow me, lend me a hand, I'll aid your cultivation—let's cooperate!"

Tao San Niangzi stared, then covered her mouth and laughed: "You startled me; I thought that encounter meant you'd developed feelings for me. So… benefactor, how do you plan to aid my cultivation?"

Heng Xian rose and said: "Simple; demon cultivation is arduous; you're merely at Yuan Dan Initial Realm, wishing to break through to Yuan Dan Middle Realm—that'll take at least several centuries, and if you encounter sect cultivators hunting you along the way, it's game over!"

Follow me—I can shorten your cultivation time; maybe within three to five years you'll break through! Once my cultivation is complete, you'll also have someone watching over you—are you willing to take a gamble? Think about it!

After speaking, he walked step by step out of the cave.

Before he had taken a few steps, Tao San Niangzi behind him earnestly said: "Benefactor, you've escaped so many pursuits—clearly you're a blessed one; I'm willing to take a gamble, and will follow your cultivation from now on!"

Heng Xian let out a breath, turned back and smiled: "Great! But I want to bring all those people from Five Goat Stronghold ahead under my wing—what do you think?"

Tao San Niangzi clasped her fists: "I have no objections; I'll follow the benefactor!"

Heng Xian waved his hand: "Benefactor is a mouthful; let's change the title…"

Tao San Niangzi immediately said: "Then call me Grandpa; I once cultivated for a while in a brothel."

Heng Xian scratched his chin: "A bit weird, but alright—later I'll have you act in a play with me!"

"Good!"

(End of chapter)