The Imperial Martial Pill Venerable

Qin Ya gave Muu Yao an appreciative look. He wasn’t a petty person. "It’s fine," he said with a faint smile. "It was just a small matter. And as the saying goes, we wouldn’t have gotten to know each other if we hadn’t fought."

"Teacher Qin, you truly are magnanimous." Muu Yao chuckled.

Muu Xue shot her brother an exasperated glare. "You really need to fix that reckless temper of yours." After that, she turned to Qin Ya and said, "Teacher Qin, I’ve already told my father the details about the detoxification. I came today to ask you to go there with me."

"Very well. The Commander of the Red Flame Army... I have long admired him."

After giving some instructions to Qin Yuxiang and the other woman, Qin Ya headed to the Muu Mansion with Muu Xue’s group. Not long after, Qin Ya looked at the guards standing ramrod straight before the mansion’s gates, their expressions cold and solemn. He smiled faintly. "As expected of the place where Marshal Muu resides. The atmosphere is truly stern and imposing."

Walking through the gates, an old servant in a gray robe approached them. "This old servant greets the Young Master and Young Miss. The General is already waiting in the study."

Qin Ya looked at the old servant, his brows slightly furrowed. He could tell that this old servant had considerable True Essence fluctuations within him, roughly equivalent to a Profound Origin Realm Martial Artist. But one of his lower legs was missing, replaced by a wooden leg, which made walking extremely difficult for him.

And yet, his body remained as straight as a sword.

Seeing the change in Qin Ya’s expression, the old servant said indifferently, "What is it? Does our esteemed guest look down on this old man for his disability?"

His words were indifferent, yet filled with the sharp spirit of a soldier.

Qin Ya stared into the old servant’s eyes and said flatly, "No."

"Then you pity this old man."

Shaking his head, Qin Ya spoke. "It is not that either. You deserve respect. Unwarranted pity would only be an insult to you."

The old servant’s body trembled, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. He then led the group to the study. Along the way, Muu Xue whispered to Qin Ya, "Many of the servants in the Muu Mansion are former soldiers of the Red Flame Army. They can no longer go to the battlefield and have no family to return to, so my father took them in. And although they refer to themselves as servants..."

Muu Yao continued with a serious expression, "...we have never treated them as such. They are soldiers who have fought a hundred battles. The blood they’ve shed and the injuries they’ve suffered were all for the millions of citizens of the Empire. They should be respected by everyone. This is what our father often taught us."

After hearing this, Qin Ya couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of admiration for the Commander of the Red Flame Army he was about to meet. Soon, he arrived at the study and came face-to-face with the legendary figure of the Empire.

Dressed in a long white robe, he had a scholarly elegance that failed to conceal an overwhelming authority. Seeing Qin Ya and the others arrive, Muui Yunlie lifted his eyes, his gaze landing first on Qin Ya. "Teacher Qin, I’ve heard much about you."

"Marshal Muu."

Qin Ya smiled faintly, neither servile nor overbearing. His expression was calm, as if he were greeting an old friend he hadn’t seen in a long time. In fact, his gaze toward Muui Yunlie even held a hint of assessment.

This scene left Muu Xue, Muu Yao, and Feng Ling somewhat dumbfounded. This was one of the most powerful men in the Imperial Capital, and an Extraordinary Strong Person to boot. Yet Qin Ya’s attitude was so casual.

’Oh, interesting.’

A flash of surprise glinted in Muui Yunlie’s eyes. Many people had put on airs in front of him before, trying hard to feign a calm, composed, and indifferent appearance. But how could such tricks ever fool him? Even the most brilliant actor would have their true self exposed before him.

But Muui Yunlie could see that the young man before him was definitely not acting. His tone, expression, and movements were all completely without affectation. He was genuinely placing himself on equal footing. This made him feel a mix of surprise, admiration, and also a bit of annoyance toward this young man he was meeting for the first time.

’I’m surprised by his composure and admire his courage, but I’m also annoyed by this attitude. I am a high and mighty figure in the Empire, a man who has achieved countless military honors. On what grounds does a mere boy act this way?’

Qin Ya had no idea that his simple greeting would cause Muui Yunlie to have so many thoughts in the span of a few breaths.

’In my past life, there were plenty of people whose status, strength, and prestige far surpassed Muui Yunlie’s. Even they didn’t dare put on airs before the Pill Venerable, always treating him as a peer.’

"I often hear Xue’er mention you. Seeing you today, you are indeed handsome and distinguished." Muui Yunlie smiled. "Xue’er has truly been under your care at the Academy. My thanks."

"It’s simply my job. No thanks are necessary."

"Xue’er told me that Teacher Qin’s Alchemy Dao is profound and unfathomable, that even Liu Qing willingly admits defeat. That is why she took the liberty of inviting you here to cure my poison. I hope you can forgive her for being so presumptuous," Muui Yunlie said.

Qin Ya replied, "It’s no matter. Muu Xue is both my student and my friend. Moreover, Marshal Muu is a pillar of the nation. If I have the ability, I will certainly do my best."

"If it’s possible, could we start now?"

"I’ll be troubling you, then."

Qin Ya walked up to Muui Yunlie, placed his right hand on his back, and sent a stream of True Essence into his body to investigate. Almost instantly, a mass of supremely sinister and evil, dark and bizarre energy appeared in his senses.

This energy originated from Muui Yunlie’s blood and bone marrow. No wonder other Pill Masters were helpless. A poison that resides directly in the blood and marrow is indeed difficult to remove. In such cases, the usual treatment method would be to replace the blood and marrow entirely.

This method is extremely painful. Furthermore, if even the slightest trace of the original blood or marrow remains, all previous efforts would be for naught. And although Muui Yunlie is a powerful Martial Artist of the Extraordinary Level, if all the blood and marrow in his body were drained at once, even if he were lucky enough to survive, he would be crippled for life.

For a Martial Artist, this was undoubtedly a cruel fate.

’Poison from a Barbarian Race Wizard... it’s certainly something.’

Qin Ya sighed to himself, retracted his True Essence, and frowned slightly.

"How is it? Teacher Qin, is there a way to cure it?" Muu Xue asked, her face full of hope. This poison had already made her father suffer far too much. As his child, she wished she could bear the burden for him but was helpless. At this moment, she could only place all her hopes on Qin Ya.

Not just Muu Xue, but even the hopeless Muu Yao, Muui Yunlie, and Feng Ling all turned their gazes to Qin Ya, waiting for his answer.

"Yes!"

That firm and powerful word was like the first light of dawn, illuminating the haze that had long clouded Muu Xue’s heart. Overjoyed, she exclaimed, "That’s wonderful! That’s wonderful! Father, did you hear that? Teacher Qin said he can cure the poison! I told you I didn’t misjudge him!"

Muui Yunlie stared at Qin Ya, full of disbelief and uncertainty. "Teacher Qin, are you telling the truth? You really have a way to cure this poison?!"

He couldn’t help but be skeptical. For a long time, this poison had tormented him like a nightmare. Although he appeared fine on the surface, it was all just an act he put on for his soldiers and family.

In private, he had been tortured by this poison countless times. It had also hindered his Martial Arts training. What Martial Artist would want to see their Cultivation stagnate? This was undoubtedly another one of his greatest heartaches. And now, Qin Ya was actually saying he could cure it?!

"I can... but..."