The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

The Imperial Capital, late at night, was ablaze with light.

In contrast to the bustle of the city, the Muu Mansion was undoubtedly much quieter. On its bluestone steps stood soldiers clad in Iron Armor, their faces stern, their bodies as straight and unmoving as flagpoles.

Looking past the mansion gates, one could see a wide, empty courtyard. Unlike other noble estates, only about a dozen servants and maids moved about within the Muu Mansion. On closer inspection, most of these servants were already middle-aged. Yet their eyes held a sharp glint, and they carried themselves with backbones as straight and unyielding as swords.

Upon returning to the mansion, Muu Xue headed for the study. She knew that at this hour, her father, Muui Yunlie, would likely be practicing calligraphy. Ever since being afflicted by that strange poison, he had been forced to use most of his cultivation just to suppress it. With his cultivation stagnant, he had turned to calligraphy to calm his mind and cultivate his character.

Muu Xue opened the door and walked inside. Before the desk stood a middle-aged man in a white robe, holding a Wolf Hair Brush. His expression was focused, his gaze intense. Each stroke of his brush flowed with a natural, captivating rhythm. He had the air of a scholar, yet beneath it lay a powerful, commanding aura.

"Father..." Muu Xue said as she walked over.

Muui Yunlie finished the character he was writing. Hearing her voice, he looked up, a rare trace of doting affection in his eyes. "You’re back."

As she walked closer, Muu Xue’s gaze was immediately captured by the four words on the desk: "Swallow Heaven and Earth." The calligraphy was powerful, like iron strokes and silver hooks, radiating a sharp brilliance. A deep, commanding aura flowed from the words themselves.

"Father, your calligraphy has improved again. It’s beginning to show the style of a true master. I’m truly impressed," Muu Xue said with a smile.

"Haha, of course," Muui Yunlie said, not bothering with false modesty. He laughed, clearly pleased by Muu Xue’s praise. He then added, "Muu Xue, how are your studies at the Academy coming along? I heard you’ve broken through to become a Third-Grade Alchemist. You truly are my daughter."

"Yes. Teacher Qin’s skill in the Alchemy Dao is incredibly profound. I’ve been attending all his classes and have benefited immensely. I wouldn’t have been able to break through so quickly otherwise. He’s truly a prodigy," Muu Xue said with a laugh.

Muui Yunlie looked at Muu Xue helplessly and said, "Xue’er, you’ve been talking about this Qin Ya nonstop recently. Is he really that amazing?"

"Yes. He’s absolutely more amazing than you can imagine."

"Oh, is that so?" Muui Yunlie put down his Wolf Hair Brush and smiled faintly. "There have been many rumors about him in the Imperial Capital recently. The youngest teacher at the Academy, the one who killed Wang Yan, and who is also in conflict with the Lu Family... Heh. A person like that is indeed not simple."

"Father, I have something to tell you."

"Go on. What is it?"

Muu Xue took a deep breath and said, "I want to ask him to come and cure your poison. I think he might be the only one in the entire Imperial Capital who can."

"Hmm..." Muui Yunlie’s thick, dark brows rose. "There’s no need. Even the best Alchemists in the Imperial Capital have been helpless against the poison in my body. What can a young man possibly do?"

"How will we know if we don’t try? Teacher Qin is an Alchemist that even the Fifth-Grade Alchemist Liu Qing willingly admitted defeat to. It’s possible he really can cure your poison," Muu Xue urged.

Muui Yunlie was somewhat surprised. He had heard of Liu Qing, the Fifth-Grade Alchemist. To think this Qin Ya had earned his admiration... ’He really isn’t simple.’ But Muui Yunlie still didn’t believe Qin Ya could cure his poison. Over the years, the alchemists His Majesty had found for him had all been helpless, and that group had even included a Sixth-Grade Alchemist.

"Even so, what of it?" Muui Yunlie sighed. "Xue’er, don’t worry about this anymore."

"No. I have to try."

Muui Yunlie had never seen Muu Xue so determined. He said, "Xue’er, you haven’t... you haven’t already told him about my condition, have you?"

"I have. That’s why you have to meet Teacher Qin."

"Xue’er, how could you just sell out your father like that? How could you casually tell an outsider about something so important?" Muui Yunlie couldn’t believe Muu Xue trusted Qin Ya so much. He said, "You’ve known him for less than a few months. This is too reckless!"

Muu Xue gently smoothed her hair and said slowly, "Father, you can rest assured on that point. I trust Teacher Qin’s character. And even if you don’t trust him, you should at least trust Master Huaa, right?"

"Elder Huaa?!" Muui Yunlie asked, confused.

"Yes. I already asked Teacher Liu," Muu Xue said. "Teacher Qin was personally invited back to the Academy by Master Huaa. You can trust Master Huaa’s judgment, can’t you? Would he choose someone of poor character?"

Muui Yunlie nodded. "That’s true. Elder Huaa is an elder statesman of the Empire and was once His Majesty’s own tutor. A person he selects would indeed have some credibility."

"Besides, from the incident with the Celestial Star Squad, it’s clear he is a man of integrity and discretion. Even if he can’t cure your poison, he won’t spread the matter afterward."

Rendered speechless by his daughter’s arguments, Muui Yunlie still didn’t hold out much hope. "Alright, if that’s the case, we’ll do it your way," he said. "Besides, after all you’ve said, you’ve made me more and more curious about this Teacher Qin. There’s no harm in meeting him."

"Oh? Xue’er, you’re here too."

Just then, a tall young man with a dignified bearing, clad in Black Armor, walked in. He glanced at Muu Xue before turning to Muui Yunlie. "Greetings, Father. Your son has just returned from the barracks and has come to report on the Red Flame Army’s recent training exercises..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Yao’er, let’s put that aside for now. I have a question for you. Have you heard of a person named Qin Ya?" Muui Yunlie had two children, a son and a daughter. This young man was his only son, the Major General of the Red Flame Army... Muu Yao.

Muu Yao’s brow furrowed. "Qin Ya?! I have been hearing his name often recently. They say he became an Advanced Academy Teacher before the age of twenty, breaking all records. Later, he fought and killed Wang Yan, who was several tiers above him, shocking the entire Imperial Capital. He certainly sounds like a genius."

"Mm. Xue’er says his accomplishments in the Alchemy Dao are extraordinary, and she’s adamant about bringing him here to cure my poison," Muui Yunlie said with a slight smile.

"Cure your poison? Cure your poison!" Muu Yao was stunned, and his expression changed drastically. "Nonsense! Countless Alchemists have been helpless against the poison in your body. What ability could some young man have to cure it?"

"If he can’t cure the poison and word of this gets out instead, it would cause a huge uproar. There are plenty of eyes in the Imperial Capital watching Father," Muu Yao said slowly. The Imperial Capital may be prosperous, but a Dark Tide surges beneath the surface. The court, the Noble Families, and the military are a complex web of powers. With Muui Yunlie’s status, his every move attracts attention.

Not to mention something as major as him being poisoned. If someone with malicious intent were to exploit this, the resulting turmoil would be significant. It wouldn’t just shake the army’s morale; it could even endanger the very foundations of the Empire.

"Enough. Don’t be so anxious," Muui Yunlie said. "I’ve already promised Xue’er. Don’t worry. As I just discussed with your sister, this person’s character can be trusted."