Chapter 124: Divine Brushstroke

The imperial physicians hurriedly took the prescription Qin Mu had written and went to get the herbs. Soon after, the herbs were brought back, but the physicians stood there, not moving, instead waiting expectantly to watch Qin Mu refine the medicine.

Qin Mu's vital qi erupted, lifting each herb into the air. Without using a pill furnace, he refined the medicine directly in mid-air. He employed various refining and extraction techniques, not boiling the herbs in water, but directly extracting their medicinal properties. He used vital qi to bake and fuse them, his fingers dancing like musical notes. The sight brought tears to the eyes of the white-haired Imperial Physician Yu.

"To witness such a refining technique once in a lifetime is enough!" Imperial Physician Yu exclaimed with emotion.

Qin Mu was entirely focused on refining the medicine, not hearing their words. If he had, the young man would surely have pursed his lips. His refining techniques were only just passable; in the eyes of Pharmacist Grandpa in Disabled Elderly Village, he was merely satisfactory.

Not long after, the miraculous medicine was refined. The imperial physicians watched in fascination. Imperial Physician Qu asked, "Little Divine Physician, just now you used this technique to manipulate water patterns, extracting medicinal properties with water. Why did it suddenly transform into fire?"

Qin Mu placed the refined miraculous pill into a jade cup on a tray. "That herb requires the balance of water and fire," he explained. "Only by first using water, then fire, can its medicinal properties be fully extracted."

Imperial Physician Yu changed his technique, manipulating vital qi to bake the herbs, and quickly asked, "Little Divine Physician, does my technique resemble yours?"

Qin Mu observed for a moment. "Your vital qi circulation is a bit sluggish," he said. "The essence of my refining technique lies not in the movements themselves, but in the exquisite manipulation of vital qi. The vital qi needs to circulate twelve times to achieve perfection."

Imperial Physician Yu suddenly understood. "I was only scratching the surface," he said eagerly. "Also, when you were refining the Five Blessings Fruit, was there any particular principle behind the technique you used?"

The imperial physicians gathered around Qin Mu, discussing animatedly. Lord Yan frowned deeply and whispered, "Gentlemen, you can discuss this later. The Empress Dowager is still here!"

The imperial physicians came to their senses. Imperial Physician Qu hastily said, "Little Divine Physician, administering the medicine to the Empress Dowager is paramount."

Qin Mu replied, "We also need one thousand and twenty-three three-legged jade-eyed toads."

Imperial Physician Qu and the others' eyes lit up. They clapped their hands and burst into laughter, exclaiming, "A stroke of genius, truly a stroke of genius! This old man is completely convinced! Quick, quick, go buy the three-legged jade-eyed toads!"

The palace maids and eunuchs in the hall quickly rushed to the market to purchase the jade-eyed toads. After a busy period, the toads were brought back; they were fist-sized and had three legs.

Qin Mu instructed them to place the jade-eyed toads inside the hall and dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs. He then presented the miraculous pill to the Empress Dowager, explaining, "Soon, the primary toxin of the Thousand Mechanism Poison will be replaced by the poison within this miraculous medicine. The other toxins will then collapse, and their toxicity will intensify dramatically for a moment. These toxins, having combined with your vital qi inside you, have developed a certain sentience. Jade-eyed toads are creatures that feed on poison. These toads will seize the opportunity to consume the toxins within your body, allowing you to recover completely."

The Empress Dowager waved her hand. "You all may withdraw," she said, "lest the toxicity affect you."

Qin Mu, the imperial physicians, and Lord Yan withdrew from the hall. Inside, the Empress Dowager consumed the miraculous medicine. Initially, she felt no abnormality, but the next moment, the medicinal effect suddenly erupted. A peculiar poison surged from the pill, instantly replacing the primary toxin of the Thousand Mechanism Poison.

With a gasp, the Empress Dowager spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood was pitch black, splattering all over the jade couch and the curtains.

Immediately after, the Empress Dowager felt a surge of toxins throughout her limbs, bones, and even her skin and hair. With the primary toxin replaced, the remaining one thousand and twenty-two peculiar toxins erupted, clashing and colliding, making her feel as if her insides were tearing apart, the pain was excruciating.

Just as these potent and peculiar toxins erupted, they merged with her vital qi. The Empress Dowager gasped for breath, her face completely black, and her skin also turned dark, appearing to be on the verge of putrefaction and death. Her vital qi was now completely taken over by the one thousand and twenty-two toxins, circulating throughout her body and spreading the toxins everywhere. She lost control of her vital qi and was moments away from dying from the poison.

Suddenly, another surge of medicinal power burst forth from the miraculous pill she had taken. This power instantly permeated every part of her body, even delving deep into her divine treasures. The medicinal power raged, suddenly forcing all the vital qi within her body outwards, even the vital qi stored in her divine treasures was expelled by this power!

A tremendous roar echoed inside the hall. Although the Empress Dowager had been poisoned for decades and her cultivation was not what it once was, her vital qi was still incredibly robust. When her vital qi left her body, it transformed into over a thousand kinds of venomous creatures, including poisonous scorpions, snakes, insects, ants, and centipedes, all swirling continuously in the air around the jade couch—all formed by the combination of her vital qi and the toxins!

Croak, croak, croak.

Frog croaks resounded in the hall. One by one, the three-legged jade-eyed toads suddenly croaked in unison, opening their mouths. Their long tongues shot out, coiling around the venomous creatures formed from vital qi and peculiar toxins, and swallowing them.

In an instant, clarity returned to the hall. One jade-eyed toad hadn't yet eaten any toxins. It hopped onto the jade couch and, opening its mouth, sucked towards the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager couldn't help but cough up blood, spitting out a venomous insect. This insect was actually a manifestation of the peculiar toxin Qin Mu had hidden in the miraculous pill to replace the primary toxin.

After eating the insect, this jade-eyed toad hopped away from the jade couch. The Empress Dowager felt clear-headed and light-bodied. She quickly rose from the couch, feeling that the ailment which had plagued her for decades had completely vanished, and her heart was filled with immense joy.

"Someone!"

The hall doors opened, and a group of palace maids and eunuchs hurried in. They were startled to see poisonous black blood splattered all over the jade couch and curtains, and also found the toads hopping around the palace somewhat alarming.

Qin Mu, the imperial physicians, and Lord Yan also quickly entered. The Empress Dowager looked at Qin Mu and smiled, "You truly are a divine physician. Release these jade-eyed toads into Qingbo Pond. They have done this Empress a great service, so let them live there."

The eunuchs and palace maids quickly assented. Lord Yan, both surprised and overjoyed, immediately rushed out, saying, "This old servant will report this good news to His Majesty!"

The Empress Dowager walked outside, smiling, "Divine Physician, it's a bit messy in here. Let's talk outside."

Qin Mu assented and followed her outside, with the imperial physicians quickly following suit. The Empress Dowager looked at the sunlight outside, raising a hand to shield her eyes. "It's been a long time since this Empress last stepped out of this palace," she smiled. "Was the Thousand Mechanism Poison created by the Jade-Faced Poison King?"

Imperial Physician Qu nodded. "The Jade-Faced Poison King is said to have disappeared over two hundred years ago," he said. "He was a ruthless man who poisoned countless experts and offended too many people, yet no one knew his true identity. It is rumored that his disciple, the Little Poison King, betrayed him, revealing his true face, making it impossible for him to remain. So he 'cut off his face' and left."

The Empress Dowager nodded. "I have also heard of this matter," she said. "Speaking of which, I once met the Jade-Faced Poison King myself. We had several secret meetings, and I was quite enamored with him back then."

The imperial physicians dared not speak.

The Empress Dowager said softly, "Who would have thought that the renowned 'Jade Gentleman' of that era would turn out to be the notorious Jade-Faced Poison King? After his disciple exposed his true identity, it broke countless young women's hearts. When the late Emperor died, this Empress was quite fond of this 'Jade Gentleman' and met with him several times. When he was being relentlessly pursued and had nowhere to go, I told him I could protect him. A few other 'odious women' also wanted to protect him. Hmph, those little wretches ultimately couldn't compete with this Empress, yet this Empress also couldn't compete with them, and he still left... Now that I think about it, fate truly is a trickster. To think that the peculiar poison that kept me confined to my sickbed for decades, unable to leave, came from the hands of my former lover."

Cold sweat beaded on the imperial physicians' foreheads. They felt that having heard this secret, their lives were now forfeit, and they secretly regretted not having left with Lord Yan earlier.

Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly. *The Jade-Faced Poison King gave him a familiar feeling. Could it be Pharmacist Grandpa?*

"Then, does Her Majesty know who poisoned her?" Qin Mu asked.

"It wouldn't be the Jade Gentleman," she replied.

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly. "Then it must naturally be the Little Poison King, Fu Yuanqing. I heard that Fu Yuanqing pledged allegiance to the Imperial Preceptor, so his poisoning of this Empress was, naturally, at the Imperial Preceptor's instruction. The Imperial Preceptor has wanted this Empress dead for a long time. It's probably because this Empress disapproves of some of his actions, and he wishes me dead so I no longer block his path."

The imperial physicians' faces turned ashen. They suddenly dropped to their knees and dared not rise.

The Empress Dowager chuckled. "The Imperial Preceptor dared to poison this Empress, and he isn't afraid. What are you afraid of? Rise and speak."

Imperial Physician Qu and the others shakily rose, silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to speak.

The Empress Dowager looked at Qin Mu and suddenly said, "Your master is the Jade Gentleman, isn't he? How is he?"

*The 'Jade Gentleman' she refers to must be Pharmacist Grandpa,* Qin Mu thought. *He also told me how to cure the Thousand Mechanism Poison. Only its creator could understand the Thousand Mechanism Poison so thoroughly.*

At this thought, Qin Mu bowed slightly and replied, "To Your Majesty, he is well."

The Empress Dowager sighed softly. "Did he send you to save me? He still has me in his heart..."

Qin Mu blinked, feeling she was overthinking it, but found it difficult to say so directly.

The Empress Dowager, having just recovered from a long illness, felt a little tired. She waved her hand. "You've all worked through the night; go back and rest early."

Qin Mu assented, and the imperial physicians, also relieved, left with him. They hadn't gone far when shouts of "Make way! Make way!" were heard. Imperial Physician Qu hurriedly pulled Qin Mu to the side of the path. Then, Emperor Yanfeng was seen walking briskly, with guards running behind him and palace maids carrying an ornate canopy also following quickly. Besides the Emperor, there were several luxuriously dressed men and women, likely the Empress, princes, or princesses.

"Cowherd!"

Suddenly, a surprised, joyful, and clear voice rang out from the crowd. It sounded familiar. Qin Mu looked up and saw a radiant and charming young woman among the group.

"Cowherd boy, it really is you!"

The girl exclaimed in delight, "How did you end up here?"