Chapter 1020: Sisters United

The Apothecary watched him, his gaze profound behind the bronze mask.

Qin Mu felt uneasy, knowing his request was quite shameless.

“Some time ago, the Cripple robbed tombs and sent many cadaver demons to me. Through those cadaver demons, I’ve basically gained a thorough understanding of the gods’ physical structures. I’ve even finished studying the Divine Treasures, which is why I can guide others on how to unlock them. However, I haven’t discovered the path of medicine.”

The Apothecary said languidly, “I can replace someone’s head, change their heart, or even unravel the genetic mysteries of the Divine Treasures and Heavenly Palaces, and transplant them. Yet, I’ve never discovered where the path of medicine lies. Perhaps there’s no such thing as the so-called ‘path of medicine’ in our profession at all.”

Qin Mu declared righteously, “A healer with a benevolent heart, saving the world, rescuing the common people from plague, eliminating disasters and diseases in their infancy—isn’t that the path of medicine?”

The Apothecary was so amused he laughed exasperatedly. “You talk a good game, you brat, but you’re expecting me to perfect the path of medicine? I was hoping you would! Why don’t you ‘save’ me first? I’ve worked so hard raising you, expecting you to take care of me in my old age and perhaps casually create eighty to one hundred Emperor’s Throne cultivation techniques for me to choose from. Instead, you don’t bother to cultivate diligently and show us respect; you just expect us old-timers to prepare cultivation techniques for you!”

Qin Mu’s face flushed slightly as he stammered, “Grandpa Apothecary isn’t old at all. Compared to gods and devils, Grandpa Apothecary is still in his prime. As the saying goes, ‘every art has its own master.’ Grandpa Apothecary’s medical skills are unparalleled in the world, and his poison skills are also unmatched. The Jade-Faced Poison King is not an empty title. I’m barely ranked second; I wouldn’t dare contend with Grandpa Apothecary for this opportunity to be remembered in history.”

Hearing the phrase “remembered in history,” the Apothecary was indeed moved, but then he looked troubled. “Although I’ve analyzed the physical body’s structure to the extreme, the primordial spirit remains a mystery. The primordial spirit involves the circulation of vital qi, which flows through both the physical body and the primordial spirit. Only by understanding its mysteries can one potentially know if the path of medicine exists.”

Qin Mu’s words were filled with stirring power: “Grandpa Apothecary, paths are forged by people! There was no path of painting in this world, but Grandpa Deaf stubbornly carved one out and became a grandmaster! There was no path of the sword, but Emperor Kai defiantly created one and contended with the Heavenly Venerables! Grandpa Apothecary can surely forge a path of medicine, become the Medical Supreme, and leave a legacy for ten thousand generations!”

The Apothecary felt a surge of passion from Qin Mu’s words and mused, “However, besides needing to understand the primordial spirit and vital qi, I also need to understand divine consciousness. It’s too difficult, truly too difficult. The Cripple stole many cadaver demons for me, and through them, I can understand the physical body and Divine Treasures, but cadaver demons have neither primordial spirits nor divine consciousness…”

“Grandpa Apothecary needs a test subject that can withstand any torment and still not die?” Qin Mu probed.

The Apothecary nodded. “I had originally considered Xing An as the best candidate; he can endure a lot. However, Xing An isn’t particularly proficient in divine consciousness…”

He glanced at Shu Jun.

Qin Mu also looked at Shu Jun.

Shu Jun, holding his tea, sat in the rocking chair with his head hunched, resembling a listless vulture.

“His soul is too weak.”

The Apothecary shook his head. “Just now, I poisoned him to death twice, and his soul flew away both times.”

Shu Jun was moved to tears of gratitude, which streamed down and splashed onto the surface of the tea in his cup.

Qin Mu chuckled, “Grandpa Apothecary can rest assured. My Celestial Devil Creation Skill was taught to me by Granny. With Granny here, his soul won’t be able to fly away even if it wants to.”

Shu Jun glared at him.

Qin Mu pretended not to notice and coaxed, “Grandpa Apothecary, just imagine, where else can you find a Creator who is so strong, has begun cultivating Divine Treasures and primordial spirits, and is also an ancient God King? His divine consciousness is no weaker than mine, his physical body is even stronger than mine, brimming with powerful vitality, and his soul is gradually growing from a weak stage.”

The Apothecary’s eyes behind his mask grew brighter and brighter, as he nodded repeatedly at Shu Jun.

Shu Jun’s body trembled, and he said hoarsely, “My physical body isn’t strong enough, have you forgotten? You poisoned me to death twice!”

The Apothecary said calmly, “God King, although you’ve unlocked the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure, six more Divine Treasures remain unopened. Without me to soften your physical body, you can forget about unlocking the others. Even if you leave with Mu’er today, you’ll still come back begging me in the future.”

Shu Jun’s expression was volatile, changing between dark and bright. After a moment, he suppressed his grief and indignation, and nodded.

The Apothecary was overjoyed and looked at Qin Mu. “Medical Supreme, remembered in history?”

“Yes!” Qin Mu nodded emphatically.

The Apothecary let out a long breath, then glanced at Shu Jun as if he were looking at livestock, clearly satisfied.

Qin Mu found Granny Si and said, “Granny, there’s an old saying: ‘If the eldest doesn’t work hard…’”

Qin Mu was given a beating by Granny Si, presumably because the words “eldest” stung her. She pulled his ear while she hit him.

The Apothecary and the Deaf Elder laughed for a long time over this.

However, when it was time to send Qin Mu off, Granny Si’s eyes were red. She watched the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Carriage drive out of sight and did not return to the Heavenly Saint Academy for a long time.

After the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Carriage reached Jiangling City, Qin Mu couldn’t find Emperor Yanfeng and Imperial Preceptor Jiang Baigui of Yankang there. Unsure where the two had gone, he had no choice but to head to the capital.

Upon arriving in the capital, he went directly to see the Village Chief. The Mute and the Blind were also waiting at the Imperial Academy. Although the Village Chief had said he would lecture Qin Mu, he forgot about it once he saw him, listening instead to Qin Mu’s tales of his experiences in the Heavenly Court with sighs of amazement.

“Emperor Kai has already been here?”

Qin Mu was surprised. “I didn’t encounter him on the way. Where is he now?”

“That, I don’t know. Emperor Kai taught me Sword Twenty, probably to repay the favor of learning Sword Fifteen to Sword Nineteen from Yankang.”

The Village Chief said excitedly, “Meeting this peak master of the sword path has been a lifelong aspiration of mine, and now it has finally come true. My life has not been lived in vain! Mu’er, I will teach you the twenty forms of the sword. Stay in the capital for a few more days.”

Qin Mu hesitated, then nodded in agreement. “Fat Dragon, take the God King to my residence for a few days. Du Tian, you go as well.”

The Dragon Qilin led everyone to Qin Mu’s villa in the Yankang capital. In the courtyard stood a spectacular Primordial Tree, lush and verdant, with streaks of shimmering light hanging down, protecting the capital. It was arguably the most magnificent sight in the city.

Emperor Yanxiu had designated this courtyard as the Imperial Preceptor’s Residence, and regularly sent people to clean it. There was a woman named Gongsun Yan living there, who had a good relationship with Emperor Yanxiu.

Occasionally, Fox Spirit and Gongsun Yan would also come to stay for a few days.

When the Dragon Qilin arrived at Qin Mu’s Imperial Preceptor’s Residence, he saw Gongsun Yan drinking tea with three other women, which sent shivers down his spine.

The Dutian Demon King was also startled; one of the four women looked exactly like God King Lang Wo, though her attire was different. It was Yun Chuxiu!

Yun Chuxiu had two pigtails and was very lively, while another woman was Lian Huahun!

The Dragon Qilin thought to himself, “Could it be that Lady Yuanmu created another Yun Chuxiu?”

“Has the young master returned?” Gongsun Yan, seeing the Dragon Qilin, was overjoyed and came forward, but didn’t see Qin Mu.

Yan’er transformed into a small green sparrow, flapping her wings and flying into the branches of the Primordial Tree above. She searched for her nest and found that the bird’s nest Gongsun Yan had built for her was still there. She chirped in delight, settled comfortably in the nest, and lazily dozed off, occasionally spitting out wisps of small flames from her mouth.

Emperor Yanxiu stepped forward, glanced around, and seeing no sign of Qin Mu, chuckled, “Fat Dragon, where is the Imperial Preceptor?”

“He’s at the Imperial Academy.”

The Dragon Qilin looked up at the bird’s nest and said, “Your Majesty, the Cult Master is learning Sword Twenty. He will return once he has mastered it. Have you met Yun Jianli?”

Emperor Yanxiu paused slightly, then smiled, “Are you referring to Minister Yun? Minister Yun went to Jiangnan a few days ago to inspect the constructions there. I don’t know if he has returned yet.”

The Dragon Qilin said, “Your Majesty, please check if Yun Jianli has returned and invite him over. Yun Jianli is that young lady’s brother.”

Emperor Yanxiu glanced at Yun Chuxiu and chuckled, “You mean Sister Chuxiu is Minister Yun’s sister? How coincidental! I just swore sisterhood with Sister Chuxiu a few days ago.”

“Swore sisterhood with Lady Yuanmu?”

The Dragon Qilin felt his head swell by three sizes. That was Lady Yuanmu, one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables of the Heavenly Court!

“I can’t handle this situation; the Cult Master must come in person!”

The Dragon Qilin looked up at Gongsun Yan’s phoenix nest, feeling immensely envious. “If only I could hide in there too.”

God King Lang Wo stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the women, and smiled, “Your Majesty has sworn sisterhood with Sister Chuxiu? What about Sister Lian and Sister Yan’er? What a coincidence today; why don’t all five of us become sworn sisters?”

Her aura was so powerful, surpassing even Lian Huahun’s, that Emperor Yanxiu couldn’t help but be impressed. She chuckled, “I noticed that you, older sister, look exactly like Sister Chuxiu, and I was just wondering if you were twin sisters. Now that you want to swear sisterhood, I realize you’re not. Can there truly be two flowers in this world that look identical?”

God King Lang Wo’s eyes sparkled. “Perhaps there can be. Sisters, what do you think of my proposal?”

Yun Chuxiu clapped her hands in approval, and Lian Huahun, after a slight hesitation, also nodded.

Gongsun Yan, who was usually indecisive, also nodded in agreement.

God King Lang Wo looked at Emperor Yanxiu, who could only agree, chuckling, “It is certainly my good fortune to be able to become sworn sisters with you all.”

Yan’er cheered, flapping her wings and flying down from the bird’s nest, clamoring to join the sworn sisterhood.

The Dragon Qilin quickly stopped her, whispering, “Little Granny, don’t go join the excitement. It’s already chaotic enough!”

“Why?” Yan’er was quite puzzled.

However, she listened to the Dragon Qilin’s words and simply stood on his head, watching the five girls swear sisterhood, using tea instead of wine, and becoming sworn sisters of different surnames.

Yun Chuxiu giggled, “Should we make a vow? Not to seek to be born on the same day, but to die on the same day?”

The Dragon Qilin’s heart twitched. He thought, “Cult Master, please come back quickly. This situation is becoming increasingly unpredictable… Yun Jianli, you can come over too!”

At the Imperial Academy, Qin Mu was studying Sword Twenty with the Village Chief. During his previous battle with Emperor Kai, both had been injured. Qin Mu had left gracefully with his injuries, but in his pursuit of being carefree, he hadn’t asked Emperor Kai to teach him Sword Twenty.

The Village Chief’s sword cultivation was extremely high. Emperor Kai had taught him Sword Twenty with an ulterior motive: to pass this move to Qin Mu through the Village Chief. After all, Qin Mu had comprehended Sword Eighteen and Sword Nineteen himself, so Emperor Kai could be considered to have benefited from Qin Mu, which was how he had gained insight into Sword Twenty.

He studied very diligently, immersing himself in comprehension, completely unaware of the sworn sisterhood of the five women at his residence. Each of the five sisters had their own hidden agenda, except for Gongsun Yan, who was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper.