Chapter 41: Placing it in the Gu Dao can save half the amount of medicine.
“Don’t go anywhere during this time. Just stay in the palace and recuperate.” Yan Jingyu, while packing up the pestle and mortar, and the remaining spiritual herbs and pills, said, “Only I know about your injury, but I can’t guarantee that someone won’t test you. The Hongmeng Art can restore the body to its best state in a short time. If you want to suppress some people’s restless thoughts, you should practice it a few more times before you have Yu Qiuye take your pulse.”
There was no sound from behind.
Yan Jingyu turned his head to look and saw that he was closing his eyes tightly and slowly falling to the side.
He immediately dropped everything in his hands, took a few quick steps forward, sat on the jade bed, stretched out his arms, and steadily caught his falling body.
Liao Chen’s head rested on his shoulder, his breathing steady and long.
Yan Jingyu had never seen him sleep.
He looked at the deep and shallow wounds on the other’s face, his heart twisting bit by bit.
This fellow must be taking advantage of the fact that he is a phoenix, and is acting recklessly. Does he think that as long as his soul is not extinguished, it doesn’t matter even if his physical body is burned?
The Extreme Cold Ice Heart Lotus might really be able to repair his lamp wick, but what was the point of solidifying the lamp wick? Even if the Purple Flame Fruit and the Exquisite Ginseng could really add some fuel to the soul-lamp, it would only let him live for a few more years… But for a cultivator, two years was really too short. And, it was recorded in the books that reigniting the soul-fire was not the main effect at all. In other words, the probability was extremely low.
The fact that this fellow hadn’t died from being uncultured yet could only be said that his cultivation was still too strong, making up for all his shortcomings…
At this moment, in the Lingxi Hall, the crowd looked at the three spiritual medicines in front of them and at each other.
They had thought that Liao Chen would retreat, and they had also thought that he might only bring back one at a time, waiting to recuperate before setting off again. They had even thought that it was impossible for him to bring back all three. In that case, they could use this to express their inability to do anything…
But they had never thought that Liao Chen would actually bring back all three at once.
“A Demigod stage… can actually come and go freely from the chaotic netherworld and the ancient battlefield?”
“Let’s not think about this first.” The leading old man frowned. “What do we do next? Now that he has risked his life to get these things, how on earth are we going to use them to really repair the Immortal Lord’s soul-lamp?”
They all knew very well that it was not difficult to make Yan Jingyu look radiant, and it was not difficult to let him avoid the backlash of the soul-lamp being about to be exhausted. The only difficulty was, how to light the soul-lamp that should have been extinguished one hundred and thirty-three years ago.
“No matter what he wants to use the Immortal Lord for, since the medicine has been found, I don’t want to miss this opportunity… I am willing to do my best to bring out the greatest effect of these divine medicines!”
They were all top figures in the path of medicine, and they all knew that such divine medicines were hard to come by. Now that such a good opportunity was in front of them, even if they couldn’t stand Liao Chen, they instinctively wanted to comprehend the divine medicines. After all, this was related to whether their own Dao heart was firm.
“What’s the use of you doing your best?” Someone’s face was ugly. “The Purple Flame Fruit and the Exquisite Ginseng are only mentioned in a few words in the books. How to refine them, how to use them, the heat, the order, and even after they are refined, how to act on the soul-lamp are all unknown! How much time can Liao Chen give us? How long can the Immortal Lord wait? If we were to misuse this medicine…”
“In my opinion, let’s just forget it.” Someone said, “Why don’t we tell him that we are still missing a medicinal guide and let him go find it again…”
“He even brought back the Exquisite Ginseng! Is there anything he can’t do?”
“There is one thing.” Someone said with a determined tone, “A fresh phoenix treasure. He can’t get it.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd seemed to have had their Ren and Du meridians opened. They immediately said, “That’s right! We’ll tell him that the Immortal Lord’s current illness can only be cured by a phoenix treasure. The phoenixes have been extinct for hundreds of years. Where is he going to find a fresh phoenix treasure?”
“He’s not a fool. It’s not like he believes everything…”
“We’re not lying to him either! That phoenix demon is indeed a treasure all over! It’s true that a drop of phoenix blood in the soul-lamp will cause a brief burst of flame, right? It’s also true that phoenix saliva made into an incense can soothe the soul-lamp, right? And that phoenix core, phoenix marrow, phoenix essence… If we can really find it, maybe we really have a chance.”
Yan Jingyu hadn’t slept much all night. Because Liao Chen had a high fever in the middle of the night, he had to climb into the Qiankun Pouch again to find some internal medicine. Thanks to this person’s habit of scavenging, there were quite a lot of things in the bag, but the classification was complicated. Fortunately, Yan Jingyu had already sorted it out for him intermittently before. Otherwise, with his current spiritual energy, it would be really difficult to find what he needed in the vast Qiankun Pouch.
He had been watching over him all night. Not until the sky was dimly lit did the other’s body temperature finally return to normal.
Yan Jingyu relaxed and lay down by the bed, sleeping soundly for a while.
Liao Chen opened his eyes when the sky was bright. The bed under him was covered with a thick mattress, and he was also covered with a thick quilt. The place where he used to practice had never been so warm.
He looked at Yan Jingyu beside him. The other had really been well-nourished during this time. His cheeks were so tender that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of them. Even after being busy all night, he only had a slight weariness and did not look very tired.
Liao Chen sat up and first cast his divine sense to the Lingxi Hall. The immortal physicians were flipping through books, refining pills, talking, and coming and going, looking very dedicated.
He turned over and got out of bed. His sleeve was suddenly pulled. Only then did he realize that Yan Jingyu had been pressing on his sleeve while he was sleeping. He turned his head to look. The other had already woken up and was rubbing his eyes drowsily, murmuring, “You’re awake. Are you feeling better?”
“Mm.” He withdrew his sleeve, reached out and stroked the warmth left on the sleeve from his body. “When you’re ready, come with me to the Lingxi Hall for an examination.”
Yan Jingyu wrinkled his face. “I’ll sleep a little longer.”
As he spoke, he climbed into his own bed and soon became still.
Liao Chen’s gaze fell on the paper on the bedside. It was the Hongmeng Art that Yan Jingyu had written in a hurry. He studied it without much courtesy and found that it really had the effect of dispelling the burns from external forces.
The two of them, one meditating, one sleeping. Not until the afternoon sun was setting in the west did Yan Jingyu wake up from hunger. He fumbled around the room, tidied up, and fed himself.
Liao Chen waited patiently for him to finish eating before he spoke again. “To the Lingxi Hall.”
Yan Jingyu’s head was drooping. Liao Chen was still disdainful of him being slow. He walked a few steps and then came back to pull him. Yan Jingyu swayed as he followed him, feeling his heart beat faster. “They’re not in a hurry…”
“You are.”
“I’m not in a hurry either…”
Liao Chen pulled him again with force. Yan Jingyu bumped into him, his nose wrinkling sullenly. He was directly hooked by the waist and carried all the way to the Lingxi Hall.
When they arrived, Liao Chen threw him on a chair. “How is it?”
“The ice crystal is already being refined. It should be ready in three to five days.” The immortal physicians said, at the same time covertly bringing up another matter. “But the Purple Flame Fruit and the Exquisite Ginseng still need one more ingredient, a medicinal guide.”
Liao Chen frowned, clearly a little unhappy. Seeing the fear in the people around him, he forced himself to be patient. “What medicinal guide?”
“A fresh phoenix treasure is needed.”
The so-called phoenix treasure referred to objects from a phoenix, such as phoenix blood, phoenix marrow, phoenix core, etc., collectively known as phoenix treasures. Yan Jingyu’s eyes shot open with a jolt. He shot up, but before he could speak, his mouth was directly covered by Liao Chen. He looked at Yan Jingyu with a warning.
Yan Jingyu: “…”
He doesn’t think I’m going to reveal his identity to these people, does he!
He looked at Liao Chen with grievance, his eyes full of questions. Liao Chen had already said, “Which treasure?”
“It’s best if it’s freshly drawn blood.” An immortal physician said tentatively, observing Liao Chen’s expression. The latter said faintly, “Just phoenix blood?”
Seeing him so calm, the hearts of the people around him couldn’t help but thump wildly. They exchanged glances in unison—
“He has a phoenix demon with him?!”
“It’s over, it’s over…”
“What do you mean, it’s over! If he really has a phoenix demon with him, we’ll boldly give it a try!”
The immortal physicians regrouped, took a deep breath, and said, “If there is phoenix saliva, it can be made into a sachet and worn by the Immortal Lord.”
“If there is a phoenix core…”
“No, no, don’t take the core directly. You can extract some of the raw marrow and let us make it into small pills to be taken with food.”
Yan Jingyu slapped Liao Chen’s hand away. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly found that he couldn’t make a sound.
Liao Chen had put a sealing spell on his mouth!
He stared with wide eyes. Liao Chen still looked patient. Not until an immortal physician coughed lightly. “If we can get the phoenix essence and refine it into a pill, to be taken orally on a daily basis…”
“No, that can’t be taken orally. Taking it orally is too wasteful.” An immortal physician said first, “Directly placing it in the Gu Dao can save half the amount of medicine. Long-term use can nourish the physical body and slow down the burning speed of the soul-lamp.”
“…” Yan Jingyu’s eyes widened. But Liao Chen raised an eyebrow. “Placing it in the Gu Dao?”
“That’s right, the Gu Dao, also known as the rectum. It absorbs much faster than taking it orally.”
Yan Jingyu: “…”
He reached out and grabbed Liao Chen’s wrist, pinching it hard, his threatening gaze glaring at the other.
Liao Chen let him pinch him. “Does it have to be refined into a pill?”
“Of course it’s better to use it directly…” An immortal physician had just finished speaking when he was immediately met with angry glares from his colleagues. When they learned that Liao Chen actually had a phoenix demon with him, they had all had some unspeakable thoughts. If they could get a few drops… maybe they could be passed down as a family heirloom.
The other immortal physicians said, “Using it directly is naturally purer, but, for that demon’s essence to enter the Immortal Lord’s Gu Dao, wouldn’t that be, an insult to the Immortal Lord?”
Yan Jingyu’s face was a fluctuating mix of green and red as he stepped forward again, but Liao Chen suddenly grabbed his wrist in return. Yan Jingyu immediately went limp and fell, and was easily caught by him. Liao Chen said, “Please continue, everyone. Tell me in detail how to use these phoenix treasures to achieve the greatest effect.”
When Yan Jingyu sat up straight with a jolt, he had already returned to the Suixing Hall.
The bed curtains were hooked up on one side. Liao Chen was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching him with a calm expression.
“…” Yan Jingyu’s mouth twitched. He reflexively moved inside. “I told you, it’s useless! Don’t listen to their nonsense!!”
Liao Chen frowned slightly. “It’s as if I’m willing to enter your Gu Dao.”
“…” Yan Jingyu pursed his lips. “You’re not willing, and I’m not willing. That’s really great.”
“It seems you want this Lord to draw blood and extract marrow?”
“…” Yan Jingyu had no choice. “Liao Chen, can’t you see? The reason they want you to get those divine medicines is, in the end, to make you die, or to make you give up on saving me!”
“I got them.” Liao Chen said, “A small amount of fresh blood, I can give. But to draw my bone marrow, absolutely not. I can’t risk half my life for you. Do you understand?”
Of course, Yan Jingyu knew. He said, “So don’t think about saving me anymore. They are just playing you…”
“If they can’t save you, they will be buried with you.” Liao Chen was very nonchalant. “I’m just a little unwilling, so I’m just giving it a try.”
Yan Jingyu let out a sigh of relief and nodded. “That’s the best…”
“The reason you haven’t had any sensory loss yet should be because of what happened in Jiuyi Mountain, right?”
Yan Jingyu subconsciously didn’t want to admit it. “What happened?”
Liao Chen also seemed to be weighing it. He looked at Yan Jingyu, was quiet for a while, and seemed to have made up his mind. His fingertip lifted. Yan Jingyu’s heart beat faster. He slapped his hand away and moved a little further away. “What are you doing!”
“Giving you back your memory.” Liao Chen said, “Maybe then you won’t resist anymore.”
Yan Jingyu’s expression was strange. Liao Chen was also a little uncomfortable being stared at by him. He licked his tongue. “It’s not something that will harm you.”
“I don’t need it!” Yan Jingyu said, “Since you think that memory is so disgusting, you should just keep it yourself!”
“…” Liao Chen’s breathing deepened. He restrained himself for a while, but in the end, he couldn’t hold it in. He suddenly leaned into the bed curtains, forcefully pressed Yan Jingyu down, and said fiercely, “You say you don’t want it when you don’t want it? You’ve caused this trouble yourself, and you’re acting all innocent. Why should you?! You have to experience the torment I’ve been through during this time!!”
Yan Jingyu’s glabella was forcefully tapped by him. That memory suddenly became clear. He desperately kicked his legs, but it was as if he were once again experiencing the helplessness inside the nest.
The sharp weapon piercing his body, and the demonic beast’s body that he couldn’t push away no matter what. Countless times of resistance only left countless small wounds on his fingers and arms. He was forced to endure everything. His anger and humiliation once again reached a peak at this moment.
His breathing was ragged, his eyes red. He abruptly brushed aside the finger on his glabella and slapped him.
Liao Chen was slapped, caught off guard. He frowned and said in a deep voice, “Remembered?”
Yan Jingyu trembled all over, raised his other hand and slapped him again. This time, Liao Chen directly grabbed his hand. He sneered. “This Lord has already explored your Gu Dao many times. What’s the harm in doing it a few more times?”
Yan Jingyu’s lips were also trembling. “You dare—”
“Yan Qi, have you forgotten? At that time, this Lord had stripped away my demonic nature to fight against the divine nature, and my physical body was only supported by instinct. It was you who saw that I was simple and easy to bully, it was you who kept saying that you were my spouse, it was you who asked me to find fruit, it was you who said you wanted to build a nest with me… Later, it was also you who tore off the feather jade that this Lord used to protect you. All of this, you brought upon yourself.”
“My original intention was just to kill you!” Yan Jingyu said angrily, “You opened your mouth and said you would restore my original appearance. What do you think you are?! On what grounds do you decide my life?! Besides, why did I go to the barrier? Wasn’t it because the Bigu Pills you left for me were not enough? If you had left me enough Bigu Pills, would I have had to go in and find you?! If you didn’t want me to go in, why didn’t you strengthen the barrier of the dense forest? And why did you suddenly withdraw the barrier at the Primeval Spring? Liao Chen, it was you, you gave me the opportunity. You put yourself in danger. On what grounds should I not use it?!”
“You’re a waste. Do I need to be on guard against you?” Liao Chen stared sinisterly at the person under him who was firmly pressed down and still trying to escape from time to time. “It was indeed me who underestimated you. You were already like that, and you still thought of killing me. You wanted to die with me, didn’t you? Yan Qi, I didn’t expect that you love me so much.”
“Who on earth loves who more?” Yan Jingyu also did not yield at all. “From the moment we met, you have been feeling indignant for me everywhere. Now you are even risking your life to find medicine for me everywhere, and even because a few immortal physicians said a few words, you want to give yourself to me. In order to make me agree to let you serve me, you even released this unbearable memory that you tried so hard to hide. Liao Qi Mei, you are the one who loves more.”
Liao Chen gritted his teeth. “Just now in the Lingxi Hall, when I heard they wanted to extract the phoenix marrow, who was the one who wanted to rush up and fight them?”
“Who was it that had a high fever all night yesterday and got himself covered in wounds?”
“And who was it that stayed up all night watching over me and didn’t close his eyes?!”
“Liao Chen, you just like me, don’t you? If you just admit it, I will reluctantly accept your help. How about it?”
“…I just want to kill you with my own hands.”
Yan Jingyu gestured to his restrained wrists. “This doesn’t look like you’re going to kill me with your own hands.”
“…” Liao Chen took a deep breath. “Since I think you love me, and you think I love you, then what’s the harm in doing it a few more times?”
“Then why don’t you let me enter your Gu Dao?”
“This Lord’s essence entering your Gu Dao is to heal you.”
“Are you really trying to heal me, or are you missing the taste of the nest last time?”
“So what if I crave for more?!” Liao Chen said, “Immortal Lord Dufang is as graceful as a pine, his body like a delicate orchid. I want to taste him a few more times… is that too much?”
He tilted his head, a provocation, and also a threat.
“…” Yan Jingyu held it in for a while, then said slowly, “You wanted to kill me at that time.”
Liao Chen paused slightly. Yan Jingyu’s eyes gradually turned red. “You did that kind of thing to me, and your first reaction was to kill me.”
Liao Chen’s eye twitched. Seeing the humiliated tears in his eyes, he subconsciously defended, “At that time, I…”
“Thud—!” Yan Jingyu suddenly smashed his head against his. This was truly unexpected. Liao Chen’s nose immediately felt a sharp pain, and blood dripped directly onto Yan Jingyu’s body. Yan Jingyu finally smiled. He let Liao Chen hold his arms and laughed heartily for a long time before he panted under his gloomy gaze and said with an incomparably determined voice, “Even if I die, I will never accept your essence.”
Half an incense stick’s time later, the two of them sat at the head and foot of the bed. Liao Chen’s nose had already been properly taken care of by himself. He looked at Yan Jingyu, and Yan Jingyu was also looking at him, his expression full of vigilance.
Liao Chen touched his already healed nose again, his eyes lowered. “I have another way.”
“Speak.”
“If you really can’t accept the Gu Dao, you can also take it orally.” Liao Chen, thinking of the immortal physician’s words, said, “It’s just a little wasteful.”
“…”
Yan Jingyu picked up a pillow and threw it at him.
