Chapter 97: Transmitting the Dao

As the Head of the Celestial Division, overseeing the Demon-Suppression Bureau, the Medical Bureau, and the Martial Academy, Wei Zhenjie was extremely sensitive to subtle changes; upon arriving at the square, the first thing he noticed was the gate of the Old Courtyard.

The courtyard gate, which had always remained slightly ajar, was now fully open.

"Who opened the courtyard gate?"

Wei Zhenjie looked at Gu Qiming beside him.

Gu Qiming was stunned; for this Head of the Celestial Division who had promoted him personally, he felt both admiration and awe, and alongside that awe, a longing to gain the other's approval.

He had not noticed at all how the Old Courtyard's gate had opened.

Having entered and exited the Old Courtyard many times, he naturally knew that the gate had previously been immovable; for it to open completely now, there must be a major problem involved.

Having made such a significant oversight, Gu Qiming instinctively wanted to conceal it, so he lied: "Senior Gu opened it himself; he also said not to warn those plotting against the Old Courtyard."

Wei Zhenjie had been staring at the Old Courtyard and did not notice the fluctuation in Gu Qiming's expression; hearing his words, he stepped into the Old Courtyard with a solemn face: "Senior, I hope you have been well since we last met."

Gu Xing lay with his eyes closed on a reclining chair; hearing the voice, he opened his eyes to look at the visitor: "So it's young Wei who has come." Having said this, he closed his eyes again.

To this, Wei Zhenjie was already accustomed.

Before being promoted to Head of the Celestial Division, he had been the Director of the Medical Bureau; back then, when he visited the Old Courtyard, Senior Gu had been very warm toward him, but ever since he moved to the Celestial Division, Senior Gu had not even deigned to look at him during subsequent visits.

He could feel that Senior Gu was disappointed in him.

Yet what exactly Senior Gu was disappointed about, he had not understood before; but now, after seeing the fully opened gate of the Old Courtyard and the two lanterns lit on First Street, he seemed to understand a little.

Wei Zhenjie bowed solemnly to Gu Xing: "This junior has failed to live up to the senior's expectations."

Gu Xing opened his eyes and gazed at him quietly for a moment: "It cannot be called failing; previously, this old man was too attached to appearances; everyone has their own destiny; as long as you have not failed yourself, that is enough."

Wei Zhenjie, deeply moved, said: "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance."

Gu Xing looked at him: "The beast demons are becoming increasingly rampant, are they not?"

Wei Zhenjie's eyes flickered, and he smiled: "Though the senior does not leave the courtyard, you still know all affairs under heaven."

Gu Xing neither affirmed nor denied this, merely offering a piece of advice: "You have alchemists under your command; arrange for them to go to First Street; beast demons and demon plants will become increasingly powerful; stock more elixirs to ensure fewer deaths."

Wei Zhenjie had come to the Old Courtyard intending to inquire about the lighting of the lanterns on First Street, but seeing Gu Xing close his eyes again, appearing unwilling to say more, he could only feel helpless.

"I heard someone disturbed the senior yesterday; rest assured, Senior, such matters will not happen again in the future..."

Gu Xing waved his hand: "There is no need for your intervention; whatever happens to this courtyard in the future, let it follow its natural course."

Wei Zhenjie tentatively asked: "Didn't you previously say you would reside in this courtyard for your entire life? Why are you now willing to hand it over to others?"

Gu Xing opened his eyes again, looking toward the courtyard gate: "The Hall of the Sage of Alchemy opens its great gates to welcome its master!"

Hearing this reply, Wei Zhenjie's expression shook violently.

Gu Xing looked at him; after all, this was a younger generation in whom he had once placed great hopes, so he offered guidance: "You need not probe further; this old man truly has nothing more to tell you; if I could truly intervene in anything, how would I have fallen to my current state?"

"Young Wei, now that you have left the Medical Bureau, your opportunities no longer lie here."

"Our realm is reviving; grotto-heavens, blessed lands, ancient ruins, secret realms, and heavenly treasures will become increasingly numerous; go outside and seek your opportunities."

Wei Zhenjie also knew that Senior Gu had already spoken more to him today than usual; seeing him close his eyes again, he really did not have the nerve to speak further: "Senior, this junior has disturbed you once more; please take care of your health."

Having said this, he turned to leave the Old Courtyard, but as he departed, he glanced at the wooden plaques hanging on the wall.

He remembered that when he first entered the Old Courtyard, eighteen wooden plaques hung on the wall; now, only nine remained.

Just as he was about to step across the threshold, Wei Zhenjie suddenly stopped, turned to look at Gu Xing, and said in surprise: "Senior... the aura of decline surrounding you seems to have faded somewhat."

Gu Xing's eyelids twitched slightly, but he gave no response.

Wei Zhenjie silently watched him for a moment, then departed.

As soon as he emerged, Gu Qiming immediately followed him.

Wei Zhenjie looked at him: "How many medical courtyards are there on First Street?"

Gu Qiming replied: "Excluding the main building of the Medical Bureau, there are eighty medical courtyards."

Wei Zhenjie thought for a moment and said: "Prepare twenty of them; I will arrange for people to come over this afternoon." He paused, then looked at Gu Qiming.

"In the Mount Kunlun ruins, someone discovered some ancient texts mentioning the Hall of the Sage of Alchemy; coupled with the ignition of the alchemical fire on First Street, you must mentally prepare yourself; soon, various factions will set their sights on the Medical Bureau."

"This time, the various factions will no longer casually place their pieces or install collateral relatives; they will dispatch their direct lineage members."

Gu Qiming's expression turned grave: "Head, then how should I make arrangements?"

Wei Zhenjie looked at him: "Among the nobles of the capital, who can you, a third-rank official, arrange? Let them compete among themselves; this will serve well to test the strength of each faction."

Gu Qiming nodded, indicating he understood what to do.

Wei Zhenjie strode forward: "There is one more matter; hurry and ascertain this: Senior Gu distributed nine wooden plaques in total; find out who these nine individuals are."

Gu Qiming replied: "Myself and my two disciples each possess one, making three; you, Head, also have one; Zhang Tianshi of the Celestial Master's Prefecture has one; and Gu Jinfan may also have one; that leaves only three wooden plaques whose ownership remains unknown."

Wei Zhenjie narrowed his eyes slightly: "Gu Jinfan... the young lady from the Duke of Xin's Prefecture?"

Gu Qiming nodded: "Yes, she is the Seventh Young Lady of the Duke of Xin's Prefecture; does the Head know her as well?"

Wei Zhenjie said: "Keep a close watch on her; in the Mount Kunlun ruins, many of the valuable items the Gu family obtained were found by Gu Jinfan; I want to know whether this young lady is simply lucky or harbors some other secret."

Gu Qiming had long suspected something was amiss with Gu Jinfan and promptly agreed.

The two continued talking as they quickly crossed the square.

In the crowd of onlookers, Hua Changxi watched them, her eyes flickering; neither the Head of the Celestial Division nor the Director of the Medical Bureau displayed any spiritual energy fluctuations; could it be that neither of them was a cultivator?

This was obviously impossible.

They were likely like her; either they had cultivated a breath-concealing technique or possessed a strange treasure.

She wondered just how high their cultivation levels were.

The arrival of the Head of the Celestial Division set the entire Medical Bureau abuzz with discussion; after watching the spectacle, Hua Changxi went to Qihuang Hall Number Nine.

Holding the wooden plaque, Hua Changxi carefully inspected every corner of the courtyard once again, but unfortunately, she still discovered nothing unusual, and the wooden plaque showed no reaction.

Not expecting to uncover the secrets of Qihuang Hall in a single attempt, Hua Changxi put away the wooden plaque and was just preparing to refine pills when Yu Gui rushed in, covered in sweat.

"Sister Changxi, I knew I would find you here."

Seeing his anxious and hurried demeanor, Hua Changxi asked: "Has something happened?"

Yu Gui walked to her side, lowered his voice, and asked urgently, "Sister Changxi, can you treat cultivators?"

Hua Changxi's eyes flashed: "Do you know any cultivators?"

Yu Gui shook his head: "Not me, it's my godfather." Seeing that Hua Changxi did not deny it, he continued without waiting for a reply, "Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to teach at the Qihuang Hall? If you save my godfather's person, the other two Qihuang Halls in his possession will be yours to use."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi finally reacted: "Have your godfather bring the person here. I will see if I can cure him."

Upon receiving this answer, Yu Gui immediately rushed out of the courtyard. Soon, he returned with Eunuch Yu, carrying a middle-aged eunuch whose expression was filled with pain.

Once inside the room, Yu Gui set the eunuch down. As soon as the eunuch stood on the ground, he clutched his abdomen with both hands; the pain twisted his features, yet he did not make a single sound.

Eunuch Yu looked anxiously at Hua Changxi: "Hua Changxi, please examine Eunuch Xuan quickly. If you can cure him, there will be a heavy reward."

Hua Changxi signaled Yu Gui to help the man sit properly on a chair. Observing the eunuch's pained expression, she checked his pulse and asked several questions. Learning that he had consumed an unknown pill, she took out a detoxification pill and gave it to him.

Upon realizing it was a detoxification pill, Eunuch Xuan's face showed disappointment.

Eunuch Yu quickly said: "Eunuch Xuan has already taken a detoxification pill, but it was useless."

[Observation, Listening, Questioning, and Pulse-Taking Technique (Entry Level): Diagnosis 3/10]

Hua Changxi calmly watched the characters appearing in her vision: "The detoxification pill he took earlier was for poisons affecting the physical body, so naturally it was useless. My detoxification pill is different."

After hearing this, Eunuch Xuan looked at Eunuch Yu. Seeing Eunuch Yu nod at him, he swallowed the pill with the attitude of trying anything even when hope seemed lost.

Not long after taking the pill, Eunuch Xuan began to sweat. The man who had previously remained silent now emitted agonized roars from his throat. He slid to the ground as if completely exhausted, curling his body like a boiled shrimp.

Seeing this, Yu Gui and Eunuch Yu's faces changed drastically.

Hua Changxi said: "Do not worry, this is simply the process of detoxification."

Eunuch Xuan lay on the ground for a full quarter of an hour, his sweat soaking the floor, before his twisted features slowly relaxed. A few minutes later, he regained his strength and sat up from the ground on his own.

Seeing this, Yu Gui and Eunuch Yu hurried over to help him up.

After sitting on the chair and regulating his breath for a while, Eunuch Xuan looked at Hua Changxi and said gratefully: "Thank you, young lady, for saving my life."

Hua Changxi smiled: "You are a friend of Eunuch Yu. Since Eunuch Yu asked, I naturally must do my utmost to help you."

Seeing Hua Changxi elevate his status so much, Eunuch Yu also looked at her with gratitude.

Eunuch Xuan smiled at Eunuch Yu. Although he said nothing, Eunuch Yu's eyebrows lifted with joy.

"Young Lady Hua, I also consumed a detoxification pill earlier, but it was completely useless. Why can your detoxification pill cure the poison in my body?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "The detoxification pill you took earlier, if I am not mistaken, was meant for poisons harming the physical body. However, the poison you suffered from did not harm your flesh; instead, it was corroding your dantian and sea of qi."

"Fortunately, you arrived quickly. The toxic qi had not yet overflowed from the dantian to flow into the spiritual meridians. Otherwise, your spiritual meridians would likely have been corroded. Spiritual meridians are very fragile; once corroded, even if treated eventually, your qualifications for cultivation would be severely diminished."

Listening to this, Eunuch Xuan's face filled with lingering fear.

Yu Gui asked curiously: "Can poisons really exist that do not harm the body?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "Eunuch Xuan is a cultivator. This poison does not harm his body; it specifically targets his dantian, sea of qi, and spiritual meridians. Without timely treatment, his path of cultivation would be cut off entirely."

Yu Gui was speechless: "The methods of cultivators are truly terrifying. Sister Changxi, how did you detect that Eunuch Xuan's dantian and sea of qi were poisoned?"

As Hua Changxi smiled and explained to Yu Gui the diagnosis she had just performed on Eunuch Xuan using observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, she suddenly noticed patterns emerging on the stone wall inside the room, which had previously been bare. Simultaneously, a green light flashed and vanished at her waist.

Yu Gui exclaimed in alarm: "Sister Changxi, you are glowing!"

Hua Changxi did not respond to Yu Gui, merely smiling at the three people present.

Eunuch Xuan was a cultivator and knew that every cultivator had their own opportunities. His eyes flashing, he glanced at Hua Changxi, stood up, and said: "I am the Battalion Commander in charge of punishments at the Eastern Depot. In the future, if there is any place where Young Lady Hua needs my help, I will certainly assist."

Hua Changxi had not expected Eunuch Xuan to be from the Eastern Depot. She glanced at Eunuch Yu, stood up, and said: "Then I thank you in advance, Eunuch, for your care."

Eunuch Xuan did not stay long and left together with Eunuch Yu.

Only Hua Changxi and Yu Gui remained in the courtyard.

Yu Gui knew he had spoken out of turn earlier, and his expression appeared somewhat embarrassed.

Hua Changxi smiled: "Brother Yu, I noticed you seemed quite interested in cultivators being poisoned earlier. Shall I explain more to you?"

Yu Gui's expression brightened: "Will this delay your time?"

Hua Changxi said: "I am idle anyway. Come, let me explain it to you in detail."

Over the next double-hour, while interacting with Yu Gui, Hua Changxi discovered that when explaining the nature of poisons, the wooden tablet showed no reaction. However, when she explained the methods of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking, not only did the wooden tablet glow again, but she also saw a complete set of images emerge on the stone wall to the north of the room.

"Brother Yu, I suddenly remembered I have some matters to attend to. I will explain the rest to you next time."

"Oh, alright, then I will leave first."

Once Yu Gui had left, Hua Changxi immediately took out the wooden tablet. Seeing no changes in it, she quickly walked to the stone wall.

At this moment, no images could be seen on the stone wall.

Unwilling to give up, Hua Changxi reached out to touch the wall, intending to investigate. Unexpectedly, the moment her hand touched the stone wall, the images reappeared.

This image was very simple, depicting only people.

One person sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion in the very center. To his left, right, and directly opposite, rows upon rows of people sat cross-legged.

That was all the image showed.

Hua Changxi examined it carefully: "Why does this feel like a lecture?"

"Could the Qihuang Hall be a place for teaching?"

Teaching...

Looking at the image where everyone sat cross-legged, Hua Changxi thought: "These people are cultivators."

For ordinary people, it is teaching; for cultivators, it is...

"Transmitting the Dao?!"

"Is the Qihuang Hall a place for transmitting the Dao?!"

Hua Changxi felt she had glimpsed the secret of the Qihuang Hall. However, she was not yet certain and needed to verify her hypothesis further.

To test her idea, Hua Changxi went directly to the Sixth Bureau and summoned Zhou Qiuyu, Wang Yunchu, and about ten others to the Qihuang Hall. Then, she began teaching them the diagnostic procedures of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking.

During this period, several more images emerged on the stone wall, and the wooden tablet she had placed in the corner of the roof glowed several times.