Free Web NovelChapter 8: Chapter 8—Level 3 Martial Root Dissolving Concoction
Chapter 8—Level 3 Martial Root Dissolving Concoction
"Poisonous?"
Old Physician Jin shook his head.
Lei Cheng let out a slow, relieved breath. ’Yun Che wouldn’t try to kill me. After all, I took him in and saved him from a beggar’s life.’
His memories surfaced on their own.
In wealthy and powerful families, it was customary for young masters and their personal servants to be raised together from childhood—so that each would come to understand the other deeply. Yun Che had been five years old when Lei Cheng first found him: skinny, lifeless, begging for food on the streets. Moved by pity, he had taken him in.
Yun Che had been suffering from a serious fever and severe malnutrition at the time, and it was only through the Lei Clan’s extensive care, along with Lei Cheng’s personal attention, that Yun Che had recovered and eventually been selected as his personal manservant. Lei Cheng had always believed Yun Che would never betray him.
The relief didn’t last long.
"This prescription—Level 3 Martial Root Dissolving Concoction—though not poisonous, is extremely dangerous if consumed over a long period," the old Physician said, raising his gaze solemnly.
"How dangerous?" Lei Cheng felt his heartbeat rise.
’Did he really betray me—after everything?’
His eyes reddened, water filling them quietly—hidden beneath the illusion. He still remembered playing hide-and-seek with Yun Che when they were kids. He had always paid him a higher monthly salary than the clan’s standard.
He quickly wiped his eyes.
If Yun Che had ever wanted something, Lei Cheng had bought it for him personally. They had never truly been young master and servant in the way most households operated. They had been like brothers—raised together, growing up side by side.
And yet.
’I did force Yun Che to take my place at the marriage. But I was certain he wouldn’t die. The ceremony would be held before many eyes. Even if the bride was the killer, she would never dare act in front of the Bizarre cultivators the Lei Clan had invited as guests.’
He had a plan from the beginning—but still. ’Should I let him die?’ He clenched his right fist. He sighed, as he couldn’t bring himself to it. ’I have to get to the truth.’
"This prescription gradually destroys the Martial root bone if consumed over the years," the old Physician continued. "The herb Menensula causes a person’s blood qi to decline—and when combined with Orange Resinia and amplified by the remaining herbs, a person’s martial talent steadily diminishes."
’Talent.’
Lei Cheng’s eyes went wide.
As the only son and sole heir of the wealthiest clan in Azure Cloud City, how had he never once made meaningful progress in martial arts, despite years of trying? He still remembered Lei Feng waking him at four in the morning and forcing him to hold the horse stance for entire days, month after month.
’I started at twelve years old.’
But he had never gained strength.
He rubbed his forehead slowly. ’Which means... I was already being dosed with this by then.’
’So he did betray me.’
For a brief second, he felt genuinely sick.
It had taken him more than a full month to master the basic horse stance. A genius would take one day. A peerless genius—hours, or even minutes. And the horse stance was merely a foundational technique.
"How long would it take for this prescription to fully destroy a person’s martial talent?" he asked, taking a breath. ’I want to know when Yun Che began to betray me.’
"Typically," the old Physician replied, stroking his beard, "approximately half a year to reduce a first-class martial root bone to uselessness. If the aptitude is lower than first class, only a few months."
’Damn it. I can’t find the exact time.’
’At age twelve—or perhaps even younger—when he began sabotaging me.’
His breathing became uneven. Then—’Wait... How could a mere child—a boy raised alongside me like a brother—dare to betray me at that age? Something doesn’t add up.’ He felt it instinctively. ’I need to investigate what happened during those years.’ He forced himself to exhale. ’But I need time... However, the marriage begins in a few hours.’
"Physician, is there a prescription that can reverse the damage?" A glimmer of light entered his eyes.
"There are many." The old Physician nodded, "But if this medicine has been consumed for five years or more, the damage to the talent becomes permanent. No medicine can recover what has been lost."
’Shit.’
A cold, murderous light flickered in his reddened eyes. In the cultivation world, talent and resources were everything—the Lei Clan’s own situation was proof enough. Guards trampled on the Master’s dignity. The Young Master couldn’t even choose his own marriage partner. And this was considered the lucky outcome. He clenched both fists.
The old Physician folded his hands and added sharply, "However, there is one exception. If a person’s talent is higher than first class, this prescription becomes entirely useless against them."
Lei Cheng stared at him for a moment.
Then he grinned—hollow and bitter. ’Higher than first class.’ He had already been proven useless in martial arts.
He saluted. "Thank you for your help." He placed ten silver coins into the assistant’s hands and turned to leave.
Behind him, the old Physician chuckled softly to himself, eyes glinting with a sly light. ’The Lei Clan—and this prescription. Someone deliberately targeted the Young Master’s talent.’ He tilted his head, still grinning. ’I should find a way to use this to my own benefit.’ He turned and disappeared swiftly toward the inner rooms on the second floor.
---
Lei Cheng returned to the Lei Courtyard at speed.
"I am not the Young Master!"
Yun Che’s voice still echoed faintly from somewhere inside—Lei Cheng could hear the distant shouting as he entered. He paused briefly beneath the corridor shadows.
’Fox Mark... Let’s use it.’ Then the illusion spread outward, shaping a fox over himself. He moved directly to the servants’ quarters.
The orange fox stood one meter tall and half a meter wide. It wasn’t cute. Rather majestic—its limbs coiled with dense, explosive muscle, its eyes burning with a cruel red light.
To others, the fox was walking on four legs, but actually, Lei Cheng was on his two feet, taking slow steps.
Every servant in the corridor dropped instantly to their knees; as level 0 mortals, how could they have seen such a creature?
Not one of them dared raise their heads. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Lei Cheng walked through them with his hands folded calmly behind his back. "Tell me about the master-disciple relationship between Yun Che and Head Guard Mo Ming."
"Fox God—we did not know—"
"We truly don’t know—"
"They are master and disciple...? We don’t even know that."
The servants stammered over each other.
’If these servants knew,’ Lei Cheng thought, ’then Father would have known as well.’ He stepped back out into the main courtyard.
"Yun Che!" A voice called from nearby.
’Guard.’
The moment Lei Cheng heard a sound, he shifted the illusion into Yun Che’s face.
The young guard rushed over immediately. "Master Yun Che! Head Guard Mo is requesting your presence."
’Master.’ Lei Cheng sneered inwardly, narrowing his eyes. He followed the guard toward his own room.
Inside, Mo Ming had already dismissed everyone. Two people remained—Mo Ming himself, and Yun Che, currently dressed in Lei Cheng’s red dragon-patterned robes, sitting rigidly.
The moment Lei Cheng stepped through the door, Yun Che screamed with veins popping across his forehead, "Master—it’s not Yun Che, it’s Lei Cheng!"
Mo Ming glanced between them. Then, without any reaction, he tapped Yun Che lightly on the neck.
Thud!
Yun Che crumpled. Mo Ming turned to face Lei Cheng fully.
’Let’s test the full power of this illusion.’
Lei Cheng raised his palm and snapped his fingers. A deep red blade of energy, shaped like a sword, materialized in midair and slashed across Mo Ming’s chest in a single precise arc.
Slash!
"Ahh!" Mo Ming screamed, clamping down his muscles to stop the bleeding.
Lei Cheng vanished from the spot in an instant. Mo Ming’s eyes swept the room—then widened as he felt a presence directly behind him.
"I ask. You answer." Lei Cheng’s voice was low and cold.
"Punk—who are you?!" Mo Ming spun and drove a kick at him.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind rolled through the room, but his foot passed clean through Lei Cheng like he wasn’t there.
"What—"
Snap!
Mo Ming screamed—"Ahhh!"
Lei Cheng held his right arm. Beneath Mo Ming’s feet, a pool of lava had appeared—hot air rising in waves, bubbles bursting across the burning surface. The hole was sized perfectly for one muscular body, like a manhole. Mo Ming’s lower half had already dropped into it, the lava hissing against his skin.
The smell of burning flesh filled the room.
Zzz!
"Care to answer now?" Lei Cheng asked with a cold grin.
"Yes—yes—pull me out—" Mo Ming groaned, nodding frantically.
Lei Cheng snapped his fingers. The lava vanished. Mo Ming stood on the wooden floor, completely unharmed, unmoved from his original position.
"Are you..." Mo Ming swallowed. "A Bizarre?"
Lei Cheng’s icy glare made him shut up.
---
After a few moments.
Lei Cheng exhaled and turned toward the unconscious Yun Che. He crouched, studied his face briefly, then flicked Yun Che’s forehead hard with his finger.
Snap!
Yun Che jolted awake with a sharp gasp, clutching his head. "You—! Lei Cheng—!" He scrambled upright, eyes wild, before finally registering that he was still alive, still in the room, still breathing.
Lei Cheng created another illusion.
"We’re in midair—!" Yun Che’s legs trembled as he looked down. They appeared to be standing at least a thousand feet above the ground.
Lei Cheng’s eyes were slightly wet. He asked slowly, "Why—and when—did you kill Yun Che and take his place?"
Fake Yun Che fell silent.
