Chapter 289: Alienation

He cleared his throat and smiled, nodding.

Nine Thousand Years Old seemed to choke a little, then laughed and said, "Indeed, Master, you have the immortal wind and Daoist bones."

Monk: "Not worthy...."

Mu Yuanzhi tried hard not to laugh, quickly changing the subject: "Your Majesty, how have you been lately?"

"Since the last time Princess, you mentioned that after Your Majesty's acupuncture, His headache hasn't recurred," Nine Thousand Years Old said, "so he has been keeping you and your junior brother in mind, wondering when you'd come; hearing that your master also came this time, he is truly looking forward to it."

The monk and Qilin exchanged a glance, saying, "Amitabha, my two disciples surpass their teacher; with Qilin here, Your Majesty can rest assured."

Upon hearing that, Nine Thousand Years Old looked at Qilin and said, "In that case, I, on behalf of His Majesty, first thank this Young Master Qilin."

"Not a problem!"

They arrived at the Imperial Garden, where the Infant Void Emperor was waiting for them.

As soon as he saw them arrive, the Infant Void Emperor rose and came over personally.

Qilin and the others were about to perform their salutations when he waved his hand: "No need for much ceremony; guests are welcome, please sit."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The Infant Void Emperor's gaze flicked between Qilin and the monk, then he asked doubtfully, "How old is this young master?"

"Your Majesty, though I am only seventeen, my abilities are not small!" Saying this, Qilin became very proud.

"Such confidence, good; then I can rest assured."

The Infant Void Emperor had tea served and offered fruit.

"Since I ascended the throne, my health has inexplicably worsened; the Princess says it's from overwork-induced illness, but I wonder what Young Master Qilin thinks?" the Infant Void Emperor worriedly said.

Qilin and Mu Yuanzhi exchanged a glance, then said, "Let this humble subject first take Your Majesty's pulse."

These procedures were merely formal; he already knew the Infant Void Emperor had been afflicted with a gu, but what kind of gu it was was hard to say.

He finished taking the pulse, then had the Infant Void Emperor open his throat, proceeded to examine his eyes, while Nine Thousand Years Old watched intently beside him, unblinking.

Mu Yuanzhi and Pei Di also waited attentively for Qilin's result, while the monk calmly sipped his tea.

After finishing the examination, Qilin exchanged a glance with Mu Yuanzhi and then said, "Your Majesty indeed suffers from overwork-induced illness."

Upon hearing that, the Infant Void Emperor asked again, "The Princess says your medical skill surpasses hers; do you have a way to cure this old ailment of mine? If you can, I will surely grant you a high office!"

"I don't wish for a high office; even if Your Majesty wishes to bestow one, this humble subject would decline," Qilin said.

"That was presumptuous of me; if you can cure my illness, I will promise you one condition, whatever it may be," the Infant Void Emperor generously said.

Qilin: "Does that include a city?"

"Includes a city," the Infant Void Emperor replied without hesitation.

The others were shocked.

Who would have thought the Infant Void Emperor could actually agree to such a thing?!

That's a city, after all!

Qilin scratched his face: "I was just joking."

"I wasn't joking; a ruler's words are no jest," the Infant Void Emperor said solemnly.

"In that case, this humble subject first thanks Your Majesty," Qilin said, "but I need to go back and study this prescription; I'll give it to Your Majesty tomorrow."

Upon hearing that, the Infant Void Emperor's eyes brightened: "So, Young Master Qilin, you are quite confident?"

"Of course!"

"Then it's settled; my Imperial Medical Institute has all kinds of precious medicinal ingredients, Young Master Qilin may boldly prescribe," the Infant Void Emperor guaranteed.

Qilin, however, said, "Perhaps the medicinal ingredients are so precious that even Your Majesty's Imperial Medical Institute might not have them."

The Infant Void Emperor frowned, thought a moment, then said, "No matter, Young Master Qilin, first prescribe; I will certainly have people procure them."

"Very well, then this humble subject will take his leave!"

"Beloved subject, see them off," the Infant Void Emperor said to Nine Thousand Years Old.

"As you command."

Nine Thousand Years Old made a gesturing invitation.

Qilin muttered inwardly, "Why are they rushing us out? I haven't even finished my tea!"

"This little emperor, really!"

Pei Di, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief; he never wanted to stay long in the imperial palace, having lived there for a long time, feeling a strong sense of suffocation.

After leaving the palace gate and returning to the accompanying palace, Qilin eagerly said, "That young prince's internal gu is rather complicated!"

"How complicated is it, do you have confidence?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

Qilin: "I need to consult with Master Yuan Yan."

Gu Rongjin: "Fine, go discuss; we'll wait for you, let's eat first!"

"Alright, bring the food over," Qilin said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Also good; you two discuss thoroughly."

After the meal, Qilin returned, but the monk did not follow.

"Where is Master Yuan Yan?"

"He went to gather medicinal herbs," Qilin said.

Gu Rongjin: "Have you figured it out?"

Qilin nodded, "This is a variant of the Miao gu, likely improved; someone uses dead vine water to raise the gu worms, causing this gu worm in a human body not to flare up constantly but to act intermittently; precisely, one can control when it erupts."

Pei Di: "So the person who planted the gu must be Nine Thousand Years Old!"

"Does this then confirm that the dead vine water was cultivated by Nine Thousand Years Old?" Gu Rongjin asked.

Pei Di: "Besides him, who else would have the legitimate reason to plant such a hallucinogenic plant at the palace gate?"

Mu Yuanzhi, however, frowned, "I have a feeling we might be overlooking something important."

Pei Di: "No, unless this thing never even appeared before us."

Mu Yuanzhi asked the Qilin: "Can you solve it?"

"Of course, there's no Gu in this world that I can't solve!" the Qilin said proudly.

Gu Rongjin mocked him: "Don't give me that. Last time's Symbiotic Gu—didn't we still have to rely on the clues from Pei Shangling?"

"In short, I've found a way!" the Qilin gave Gu Rongjin a glance, then continued: "This time I'll undo the Gu using traditional methods, directly forcing it out."

"Huh? Wouldn't that give us away?" Gu Rongjin said, "How would we explain it then? Overwork-induced illness would turn into something strange inside the body that needs to be forced out?"

"We can let the little emperor enter an illusion; anyway, the Gu in him is fed with dead vine water, and he's been dazed more than once or twice." the Qilin said.

Qi Shihuai, who hadn't spoken in a while, rested his chin on his hand and said: "Actually I'm a bit confused. We've gone to great lengths to undo the Gu for this little emperor—what's in it for us? Is this just doing good deeds?"

"He promised me a condition!" the Qilin said.

Qi Shihuai: "That's you, but what about us? What does your senior sister want?"

Mu Yuanzhi: "Maybe undoing the Gu for the little emperor this time will flush out the mastermind behind the serial murder case? We owe an explanation to the three dead guards."

Qi Shihuai nodded: "Alright, Princess, that makes sense."

Pei Di: "The problem is, will the Nine Thousand Years just stand by and do nothing? If he's the mastermind behind the scenes?"

He's most worried about this problem; the Nine Thousand Years has been too quiet.