Chapter 152: Chapter 153: The Letter of Guarantee is a Good Method

Qi Yue raised her eyes and instantly, her eyes narrowed.

What did she see?

The name of the book was actually “Xuanmen Mystical Art”!

She suddenly remembered the book she had grabbed at the auction before—it only differed by one character, called “Qimen Secret Arts”?

A difference of a single character, could they possibly be a set?

The previous “Qimen Secret Arts,” old Mrs. Zhang had said it wasn’t a good book, even worried that the book might contain poison. She hadn’t had the chance to look at it yet, and didn’t know what was written inside, but this book was given by Huang Zai’an, so probably there was no problem, and she reached out to take it.

But just as her hand touched the book, it was grabbed by Huang Zai’an on the other end.

Qi Yue tugged at it, but the book did not budge.

“Why are you doing this? Do you want to destroy this book?”

Huang Zai’an’s wrinkled, old eyes glared at her as he slowly said, “After reading this book, you must give me the antidote.”

Qi Yue blinked.

“Let’s see after reading it, who knows whether it’s worth it or not?”

Huang Zai’an’s beard bristled with anger once again.

“This represents a lifetime of your master’s skills. How could it be worthless? Your medical skills are impressive, but as your master, this possesses its unique value.”

Qi Yue immediately recalled the Stimulation Technique mentioned by the medical assistant and became even more interested.

“Whether it’s worth it or not, we’ll know after looking,” she said, tugging at the book again.

Yet again, it was firmly held by Huang Zai’an.

The old man’s eyes fixed on her tightly as if he was entrusting his dying wishes.

“Little Shanzi has followed me for ten years and has never seen this book. Now that I’ve given it to you, you are now my premier disciple, Huang Zai’an. From now on, you must take care of your master’s needs until my death, and then perform the rituals…”

He hadn’t finished speaking when Qi Yue snatched the book from him.

“So much nonsense, have I ever said I would not take care of you?”

Huang Zai’an gave a sly smile.

“Good that you admit it.”

This old cunning thing didn’t look like a master at all. Qi Yue muttered internally as she had already started to open the book and read.

She discovered that it was indeed a medical book.

The herbs and medical cases documented inside were mostly strange and exotic, about half of which she had never seen before.

Towards the end, she indeed found a description of a treatment method called the Stimulation Technique.

After reading it, Qi Yue was greatly surprised. It was actually a very forward-thinking medical idea, still a subject of research even in modern times.

When the opportunity arises, she thought, she could try the methods described here.

With that thought, she reached into her chest pocket and pulled out the earlier book, “Qimen Secret Arts.”

“Master, do you recognize this book?”

Upon seeing it, Huang Zai’an’s expression changed suddenly.

“Where did you get this book?”

Qi Yue told him about how she had snagged the book at the black market, including the affairs about Qing Nanzun.

Huang Zai’an suddenly slapped his thigh, full of regret.

“That Qing Nanzun you mentioned is likely a disciple of my senior brother or someone similar. ”

“I really should have told you sooner so you wouldn’t have created that Poison Pill. It’s all my negligent fault.”

From his roundabout wording, Qi Yue realized that “Qimen Secret Arts” was indeed a book of poison. She didn’t mention that she hadn’t read it yet, and just continued listening to him.

Huang Zai’an picked up the book and glanced over the cover but didn’t open it; after a long while, he sighed deeply.

“Enough of that, I hadn’t expected it to be so coincidental, it actually turned out to be the original manuscript.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yue was stirred, “Does Master mean there is another handwritten copy?”

Huang Zai’an nodded, his expression sinking into reminiscence.

It meant Huang Zai’an’s father was an Imperial Physician in the palace, yet he had started off as a folk healer who harbored a secret passion—his love for poison art surpassed his medical skills.

However, in Beiyuan, people generally regarded those skilled in poison art as terrifying, for they often killed invisibly.

Once a poison craftsman was discovered, not only would the individual suffer, but their entire family would not escape unscathed.

Once, his father went out and brought back a child about his age named Daqing.

In the beginning, Daqing and he studied medical skills together.

Later, Huang Zai’an gradually noticed that the things Daqing was learning were vastly different from his own lessons, and he often took various strange poison pills.

A few times, having taken the wrong pills, he lay on the ground writhing, nearly dying.

Eventually, after several years, his father became gravely ill and only revealed on his deathbed that he had imparted all his medical and poison arts to the two of them respectively, commanding them to separate and never meet again.

Afterward, he gave Huang Zai’an this “Xuanmen Mystical Art,” and to Daqing, a handwritten copy of “Qimen Secret Arts,” while the present book was what his father carried with him for burial.

With that said, Huang Zai’an sighed once more.

“Although my father was skilled in medicine, he devoted most of his energy to the art of poison, so much so that his medical skills were mediocre and unremarkable, but I never expected that one day these two books would end up in your hands; truly, it must be fate!”

Qi Yue rolled her eyes, what fate it was, her expertise in poison was entirely her own passion and study.

After pondering for a while, Huang Zai’an then said, “My disciple, Hu Chengxuan must not die, Longnan Ridge cannot be without him. Therefore, the poison in his body, you should resolve it.”

Qi Yue snorted, took both books into her arms.

“Their father and son have humiliated me multiple times; I am no gentleman if I do not seek revenge. I will certainly not provide the antidote.”

Huang Zai’an immediately became so angry that his whiskers bristled.

“Such relentless pursuit of vendetta, is that what a gentleman does?”

“I pursue my vendettas, but why don’t you ask what they did to me?”

“What more could they do, other than Hu Keqing relentlessly pursuing you, which you could simply ignore?”

Qi Yue let out a cold laugh and recounted Hu Chengxuan being ambushed on the streets and the abduction at midnight.

“Also this time, Hu Keqing’s look was absolutely disgusting. Had I realized it at the moment, I would certainly have blinded both his eyes. Hu Chengxuan actually came with troops; if I didn’t teach him a lesson, he would think I’m easy to bully.”

“I truly hadn’t realized you had gone through so much; it would’ve been better to have not gotten involved with the Hu Family at all.”

Huang Zai’an was far away in Longnan Ridge, naturally unaware of these matters and was momentarily speechless.

Seeing his sincerity, Qi Yue didn’t feel as furious, yet she genuinely didn’t want to let Hu Chengxuan off easily.

Suddenly Huang Zai’an said, “So what do you plan to do? How about we pretend to cure Hu Chengxuan and you present your demands, I will mediate in between, and thereafter we live peacefully with the Hu Family, what do you think?”

“Master, this plan could be considered, but how can you ensure that Hu won’t renege on his word?”

Huang Zai’an stared at her, “You’re clever at times, yet now you play dumb, can’t you have him write a guarantee?”

Qi Yue retorted without good humor and remained silent, but she already had a plan in mind.

A guarantee was a good strategy, yet she had to keep a card up her sleeve.

Let her tamper with Hu Chengxuan’s antidote a bit!

The next day, Huang Zai’an returned to the Hu Residence.

Originally, his visit to Qi Yue had partly been because he discovered Hu Chengxuan had been poisoned by an unusual toxin and also because the Hu Family had informed him about being refused medical help.

Putting the two together, how could he not understand?

But for the sake of Qi Yue, and to ensure Longnan Ridge wasn’t overtaken by people from Nanyue, he had to maneuver with great effort.

Later, taking advantage of Hu Chengxuan’s clarity, he mentioned the conditions under which Qi Yue would treat the illness.