“Poisoned?”
The middle-aged woman exclaimed in disbelief, her face immediately showing a look of absurdity. “The old man is poisoned? Eighth Master, are you joking with me?”
“As the Patriarch of the Mu Family, the old man’s daily life is meticulously cared for. Every piece of food he eats, every personal item he uses, is thoroughly checked by someone. How could he possibly be poisoned?”
Shaking her head, the middle-aged woman looked incredulous. “Moreover, the old man shows no signs of poisoning at all. How could he be poisoned? Eighth Master, although I don’t know what you’re up to, I can tell you clearly that the old man is definitely not poisoned.”
The middle-aged woman obviously didn’t believe that the Mu Family Patriarch was poisoned.
However, despite her certainty, Eighth Master Mu trusted his own judgment more. If even he himself was poisoned by the Nine Laughing Powder, how could the old man, who was with him day and night, not be?
“I don’t have time to argue with you. Are you going to move or not? Every moment you delay, the old man is in more danger.”
Eighth Master Mu couldn’t hold back his anger any longer, releasing his Transforming Realm cultivation level without reservation. If the middle-aged woman continued to block his way, he would have no choice but to use force.
Sensing Eighth Master Mu’s fury, the middle-aged woman snorted coldly and finally moved aside.
Eighth Master Mu quickly said, “Master Su, please come in!”
Terra Su nodded and, along with the two women from the Gu Family, followed Eighth Master Mu into the Patriarch’s courtyard.
“Hmph, I want to see what kind of poison you claim the old man is suffering from.”
The middle-aged woman snorted coldly and followed them into the courtyard, curious to see what trick Eighth Master Mu was playing.
“Master Su, this way, please.”
Eighth Master Mu led Terra Su and the others towards the center of the courtyard.
“Who was that just now?” Terra Su asked.
“Oh, that’s my third sister, Mu San Niang,” Eighth Master Mu replied with a hint of embarrassment. “She got married over a decade ago, but her husband died while adventuring not long after, so she returned to the Mu Family. She has a fiery and headstrong personality. I hope Master Su won’t take offense.”
“As long as she doesn’t interfere with the detoxification, it’s fine,” Terra Su said calmly.
“She won’t. Although she has a bad temper, she knows her limits and won’t do such a thing,” Eighth Master Mu assured.
As they spoke, they arrived at the courtyard’s central pavilion.
The pavilion was like a garden, with rockeries and fountains, and a few chairs placed around.
On one of the chairs sat a white-haired figure. Though not particularly tall, the figure exuded an aura of transcendence just from the back.
“Eighth, you’re back?” The white-haired figure turned around and asked with a smile.
What Terra Su saw was a serene old man, with an innate calmness that was neither arrogant nor impatient, exuding a composed and unhurried demeanor, indifferent to joy or sorrow.
Rather than a Martial Dao expert, he seemed more like a sage.
“This is the Mu Family Patriarch?”
It was Terra Su’s first time meeting the Mu Family Patriarch, but the wonder of the world lies in how some people, no matter how many times you meet them, leave no impression, while others, even at first sight, evoke a genuine liking from the heart.
For Terra Su, the Mu Family Patriarch was clearly the latter.
At this moment, Terra Su silently decided that he would not let this old man die from poison.
“Greetings, Patriarch.”
Eighth Master Mu respectfully saluted the Mu Family Patriarch.
“Oh? It seems we have guests. Eighth, aren’t you going to introduce them?” The Mu Family Patriarch smiled warmly, showing no hint of arrogance and appearing very amiable.
“Patriarch, this is the Alchemist, Master Su,” Eighth Master Mu introduced, adding, “I invited him to detoxify you.”
At these words, the Mu Family Patriarch, who had been smiling, was momentarily stunned.
“Detoxify?”
The Mu Family Patriarch asked in confusion, “When did I get poisoned?”
“Father!”
Mu San Niang hurried over. “Eighth has gone mad, inviting some charlatans, claiming you’re poisoned. Isn’t this a joke? Everything you eat and use is checked. How could you be poisoned?”
“Moreover, look at this so-called Alchemist he invited. He’s just a young boy. Isn’t this nonsense?”
“I suggest we kick these charlatans out of the Mu Family!”
Mu San Niang said, her eyes scanning Terra Su with ridicule. To her, Eighth Master Mu had found a wet-behind-the-ears youngster to pose as an Alchemist and claim the old man was poisoned, which was laughable. Who would believe the words of such a young boy?
“I can testify that the old man is indeed poisoned!” Eighth Master Mu said firmly.
Mu San Niang sneered, “Fine, since you say the old man is poisoned, tell us, what kind of poison is it?”
“It’s Nine Laughing Powder.”
“Nine Laughing Powder? A poison I’ve never even heard of. What proof do you have that you’re not talking nonsense?” Mu San Niang scoffed.
“I am the proof!”
Eighth Master Mu said, “Because I was with the old man day and night, I was contaminated with the poison of Nine Laughing Powder. I just expelled the poison through my cultivation technique. But the old man, being directly poisoned, has a deeper affliction. He can’t expel the poison through cultivation and needs specialized detoxification methods.”
“You’re talking nonsense!”
Mu San Niang sneered, “Then tell us, how did the old man get poisoned?”
“How would I know that much?”
Eighth Master Mu was also getting impatient. “In any case, the old man is definitely poisoned. If you truly care about his health, you should shut up and stand aside, and not hinder Master Su from treating him!”
“What Master Su? Just a young boy daring to call himself a master?”
Mu San Niang sneered, “Eighth, have you gone mad, taking the words of a young boy as gospel? I think you need to find a place to clear your head.”
“My head is fine.”
Eighth Master Mu said angrily, “I did expel the Nine Laughing Powder from my body. That’s a fact. And, you are not allowed to insult Master Su.”
“What Master Su? Just a charlatan. He can’t even explain how the old man got poisoned. What right does he have to call himself a master?”
Mu San Niang snorted disdainfully. She knew that few Alchemists could deduce how someone was poisoned just from their symptoms.
She said this only to embarrass Eighth Master Mu.
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