Chapter 34 The Poison Takes Effect It was like being engulfed in raging flames, or standing in freezing ice, like…
"Mengmeng—" Mu Qingheng stood up. He stood up so quickly that the wind from his sleeve flipped the pen, leaving a large ink stain on the paper he had just written on.
His gentle expression finally lost its composure. He hurriedly came around, took Mu Meng's hand in his, and said, "How could you be so careless? You—"
The words of reproach lingered on his tongue, but he couldn't bring himself to say them. Mu Qingheng's brows were furrowed with anxiety as he clenched his slender fingers together, soft white light emanating from his fingertips.
Mu Meng shrank back: "Wait..."
"Don't move." Mu Qingheng grabbed her without saying a word.
Although his tone was firm, the force in his hands was extremely gentle, as if he were holding some fragile treasure, which could be broken with the slightest bit of force.
Mu Meng watched helplessly as Mu Qingheng used the highest level of healing magic to soothe her wounds. This healing magic consumed a great deal of spiritual energy, but it was effective quickly and was mostly used when someone was on the verge of death or seriously injured.
She suddenly remembered that when she learned the truth about her sister's murder through Lingwei, she had broken down and bit her fingertip. Mu Qingheng had also made a big fuss about it and healed her wound.
Such a minor injury could be easily bandaged and healed in a couple of days, but this wasn't the first time he had been so anxious.
Mu Meng stared intently at Mu Qingheng. This time, she saw clearly that Mu Qingheng's eyes were filled with worry, and his lips were definitely paler than before.
In the blink of an eye, Mu Meng's wrist had fully recovered, her slender, white wrist without a single mark. If it weren't for the traces of blood on Mu Qingheng's fingertips, everything that had just happened would seem like a dream.
"Be careful, don't hurt yourself in a daze." Mu Qingheng glanced down at the bloodstain on his fingertip, then slowly closed his fingers, hiding it in his palm.
Mu Meng touched her wrist thoughtfully. "I understand."
Mu Qingheng frowned slightly, his fingers touching the cracked edge of the table. Although he tried to suppress it, a trace of anger still escaped from his voice: "The guards of the Heavenly Scripture Pavilion are really doing a good job, leaving something like this here..."
Mu Meng reminded him, "Brother, everything here was left behind by the Holy Ancestor."
"Besides, it was clearly my own carelessness just now, I can't blame anyone else..." She tilted her head and carefully examined Mu Qingheng's face, "Are you—not feeling well?"
She noticed Mu Qingheng's furrowed brows.
I also noticed his barely perceptible breathing.
She was almost certain that what happened just now was exactly how Mu Qingheng reacted when his heart was hurting.
"Alright, let's stop writing and go back." Mu Qingheng didn't answer and started tidying up the paper and pens on the table.
Mu Meng was a little speechless, not expecting him to blame them. "But I've only just started writing."
Without saying a word, Mu Qingheng put the paper and pen away and said, "Since you are fine, Father Emperor just wanted you to be more careful before transferring spiritual power to Mu Luo. He is busy with many affairs of state, and I'm afraid he has already forgotten about this punishment."
So be it.
She also didn't want to be alone in a room with Mu Qingheng.
Especially after finding out the cause of his heart pain.
The extent to which Mu Qingheng cared about her was astonishing. She suffered even the slightest injury, and Mu Qingheng was already in such distress. If it were more serious, how much pain would Mu Qingheng experience?
Such a fatal weakness, and it just so happens to be related to me, how can I exploit it...?
Mu Meng lowered his eyes, subtly rubbing his wrist, his expression gradually becoming complicated.
***
After leaving the Heavenly Scripture Pavilion, Mu Meng was preoccupied with returning the spiritual power to her sister. She bid farewell to Mu Qingheng and went directly to the Heavenly Prison to find Mu Luo.
Few people venture here, and the temperature seems even lower than outside. Originally, the Heavenly Emperor assigned two maids to take care of the Eldest Princess, but Mu Luo found it troublesome and dismissed them both, so there really wasn't a soul in sight here.
When Mu Meng stepped into the prison, Mu Luo was still somewhat incredulous. It had only been a short time since her younger sister's birthday celebration, and she really hadn't expected to see Mengmeng again so soon.
"Mengmeng, why did the Heavenly Emperor allow you to come see me today?" Mu Luo was naturally happy to see her younger sister, but her smile froze before it could fully bloom. "Did something happen outside? Or... did someone bully you?"
Her pale hands gripped the railing, her expression somewhat uneasy. Having endured years of suffering, she subconsciously tended to consider the worst-case scenario when thinking about problems.
Mu Meng felt a pang of sorrow. He immediately grabbed the iron chains of the prison and snapped them in two with a forceful pull.
"Mengmeng—what are you doing?" Mu Luo was surprised for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and her gaze sharpened. "Mengmeng, how come your spiritual power is suddenly so high? You broke the Heavenly Prison's iron chains, which were reinforced with seals, with your bare hands. You, you are not..."
"Sister, don't be nervous. I haven't gone astray, nor have I taken any spiritual medicines indiscriminately." It's no wonder Mu Luo is nervous. In such a short time, it would be impossible to raise one's spiritual power to such a level by following the orthodox path.
Mu Meng pushed open the prison cell door, first giving Mu Luo a tender hug, then nuzzling against her sister like a kitten, before taking her hand and placing it on her pulse. "You can feel it and see."
Mu Luo couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth when Mengmeng approached. Without asking any questions, she readily touched her spiritual veins, but froze as soon as she touched them.
She frowned slightly, silently examined him one more time, and finally slowly raised her eyes, saying in disbelief, "Mengmeng... how is this—how can you have my spiritual power in your body?"
It's her spiritual power. I've confirmed it twice; there's absolutely no mistake.
"How is this possible? Could it be that you went to the East Sea?" Mu Luo was startled by her own thought and hurriedly grabbed Mengmeng's hand, examining her from her arms to her whole body. "Are you injured?"
Seeing her sister's thoughts drifting far away, Mu Meng suddenly became nervous. She smiled and took her hand, obediently shaking her head: "I'm not injured, and I didn't go to the East Sea." She paused, then whispered, "Sister, do you believe me?"
"What are you saying? Of course I believe you."
Seeing her younger sister acting so solemnly and inexplicably possessing her spiritual power, Mu Luo naturally knew that something significant had happened outside.
After a moment of silence, a gentle voice dispelled her hesitation: "Mengmeng, you don't need to worry. I will never doubt anything you say."
For a moment, Mu Meng's eyes stung, but she dared not let the tears fall and quickly blinked: "Sister, actually I came here today on someone's behalf to return the spiritual power to you."
She recounted the important parts of Zhong Liwei's story, omitting many details, only saying that his drastic change in temperament back then was not of his own volition, but because his mind was controlled by someone. Now that he has come to his senses, he only wants to make amends for his debt to Mu Luo.
Mu Luo remained silent for a long time after listening. Mu Meng glanced at her and said, "Sister, the King of the East Sea really meant no harm. When I saw him, he was emaciated and extremely haggard. Moreover, when I asked him to transfer his spiritual power to me first, he didn't hesitate at all. If he really had malicious intentions, he certainly wouldn't have given it to me so readily. Besides, once the spiritual power is returned to you, you will be much stronger than him, and the initiative will no longer be in his hands."
After speaking at length, Mu Luo still frowned and didn't say a word. Mu Meng found it strange, leaned closer, and widened her eyes: "Sister—"
Mu Luo turned her head, her spirited and charming eyes fixed on Mu Meng, and finally reached out to pinch her ear. She wanted to use force, but when she touched her sister's white earlobe, she couldn't bear to, so she just gently pinched it.
"You really are frightening. We'll only know if Zhongli Wei has any ill intentions later. If he really comes with a conspiracy, wouldn't it be dangerous for you to run up to him?"
Mu Meng immediately reassured her, "There's no danger, sister. He came alone, and there are many people at the Nine Heavens Gate. He definitely can't hurt me."
Mu Luo gave her a light glare. "It's not that simple. If he tampered with the spiritual energy and transferred it to you, how could you possibly defend against such a vicious trick?"
Mu Meng couldn't help but laugh, but after laughing, she felt a pang of heartache.
This event was a complete upheaval for the older sister. Her first thought wasn't about her own grievances, but rather her constant concern: "Sister, don't worry. Thankfully, the King of the East Sea didn't have any malicious intentions. I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? Don't worry, I'll transfer my spiritual power to you right now, okay?"
Mu Luo pressed Mengmeng's hand down. "Don't rush, Mengmeng. I have a few questions to ask."
The time required to transfer spiritual power is not short, and there is no way to be distracted and talk during this time. Mu Luo knew she was not that calm, so she frowned and said, "Zhong Liwei said he was being controlled, but he has now woken up and found some clues to find the culprit. Do you think he is telling the truth?"
“No,” Mu Luo shook her head immediately after asking the question, “Just describe his expression and actions at the time.”
She knew her younger sister was simple-minded and a delicate flower who had been pampered by them since childhood. She didn't expect her to be able to analyze anything; she just planned to ask about the situation at the time and think about it herself.
Mu Meng thought about it carefully and answered her sister's questions: "He spoke seriously and his expression was firm. It seems that he did not just make a promise, but actually had some evidence."
Wait a minute, Mu Meng moved closer to her sister and whispered, "But sister, I think there's something wrong here."
That's really strange. Mu Luo, who had been calm, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and smile when she heard her sister say that. "What's the problem? Tell me."
“I’ve thought about it. This villain controlled the King of the East Sea without anyone noticing, so his methods must be extremely clever. But when he controlled the King of the East Sea, both you and the King of the East Sea were powerful spiritual beings, and you didn’t even notice. So when he removed the control, the King of the East Sea was not in his right mind; he was just a puppet. If he wanted to keep him from finding out, there are too many ways to do so. How could he leave any clues?”
Recalling Mu Qingheng's nonchalant and indifferent demeanor at the time, Mu Meng became increasingly convinced that this was a deliberate illusion he had created. He feared that the King of the East Sea, in his search, would only find himself heading in the opposite direction from the truth.
Mu Luo's smile deepened as she listened, and she finally couldn't help but cup Mengmeng's cheeks in her hands and rub them without any politeness. "My little Mengbao has really grown up. I used to worry that you were too well protected and that you would be too simple-minded and get bullied in the future. But now, I don't have to worry about that anymore."
She stroked Mu Meng's hair with a sense of relief and gently pulled her into her arms. "You are much better than your sister. I was ignorant and foolish back then, and I only learned my lesson after suffering blood and tears. You are doing very well now, which makes me feel very at ease."
My sister's voice was so gentle, and her embrace was so warm.
Mu Meng was so glad that she was nestled in Mu Luo's arms, where she could wipe away her tears without leaving a trace. She hugged Mu Luo back and whispered, "Sister, I will become smarter and I will definitely protect you well."
“As long as you take good care of yourself, I have nothing to be afraid of,” Mu Luo gently released her and affectionately pinched her soft cheek. “Mengmeng, I have another question.”
Mu Meng nodded, her clear, bright eyes gazing intently at Mu Luo.
After a moment's hesitation, Mu Luo spoke softly, "We don't know who's controlling the King of the East Sea, but you do know, don't you?"
Her gaze was deep and thoughtful: "Who is he?"
...
After leaving the Tianjing Pavilion, Mu Qingheng went straight back to the palace.
The Changjin Palace was completely silent. His rule was extremely strict, and unless he gave any other orders, no one would move around here except for a few guards on duty.
Mu Qingheng went around to the back of the desk, pondered for a while, slowly spread out a piece of paper, picked up a pen and wrote calmly.
However, after writing only two lines, he frowned slightly, and suddenly the tip of his pen froze, trembling slightly as it swirled in the air.
Mu Qingheng's expression hardened. He closed his eyes and was secretly adjusting his breathing when he suddenly sensed someone in the shadows. He swept his gaze coldly over and saw Yu Da walking towards him.
"Master, I have urgent news to report..."
"Who let you in?" Mu Qingheng's tone was icy. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a burst of spiritual energy, causing Yu Da to stumble back several steps and fall to the ground in a disheveled state. "Didn't I say that you're not allowed to come and go here without a summons? Do you have a death wish?"
Yu Da never expected Mu Qingheng to be so ruthless from the start. In the past, when there were urgent matters to report, he would allow her to speak even if he was displeased, but this time he was so angry.
She dared not get up, and quickly scrambled to her feet and knelt down, saying, "Master, please calm down. I... I just have urgent business to attend to..."
Yu Da was terrified, not even bothering to wipe away the cold sweat. Under the pressure of Mu Qingheng's icy expression, she stammered a few more words to explain herself: "It's not that I don't know the rules, it's just that I haven't seen Master for several days, and with no one making a decision, many things couldn't be moved forward. It was only then that I suddenly sensed Master's presence, and that's why... that's why I came out without informing him beforehand..."
It's been three or four days now, and not only have I not been summoned, but there's not even a trace of my master's presence. Yu Da cautiously looked up at Mu Qingheng: It seems... it seems my master's complexion isn't good. Could it be that he's been injured these past few days? Is he bedridden to recover and that's why he hasn't come out?
This was not the time for deep thought. After a moment's hesitation, Yu Da decided to get down to business: "Master, the Jade Demon Stone of the Wasteland has appeared, almost two months earlier than we calculated. We don't have much time left." The Jade Demon Stone appears only once every thousand years. All the demons are bathed in the grace of the Demon Ancestor, and it is the time when the entire race's spiritual power is at its strongest. This is a golden opportunity to prepare for battle and point our swords at the Celestial Race.
Thinking of this, Yu Da couldn't help but feel excited, and even her fear of Mu Qingheng dissipated slightly.
Mu Qingheng, who had been expressionless, suddenly curled his lips into a mocking smile after hearing her words: "Is this the urgent matter you reported?"
"Since the Jade Demon Stone has appeared ahead of schedule and you have no ability to push it back into the Abyss, then you should prepare as you see fit, and you need to report to me as well?"
He glanced at them coldly, his eyes chilling to the bone. "You've thrown yourselves into disarray over such a trivial matter. Expecting you to crush the Celestial Clan is nothing but wishful thinking."
"Can……"
Yu Da instinctively uttered one word and dared not say another. Her master was always one to keep his emotions hidden, and she had witnessed his anger several times before, so she thought she could handle it. But this was the first time she had ever seen her master speak to her with such contempt and disdain.
She prided herself on her intelligence, but her master was even more unfathomable, and Yu Da had no idea what to say next.
With the Jade Demon Stone appearing ahead of schedule, the plan to annihilate the Celestial Clan is imminent. However, the original plan to exterminate the clan in Yunze has not been successful. Yunze Realm still exists, and no one dares to ask whether the Azure Phoenix Feather has been obtained since the master has not mentioned it.
The plans are all interconnected, but Yunze's schemes are unknown. How should things proceed from here?
“Unless otherwise instructed, you may proceed with the plan. If there are any changes, I will inform you.” Mu Qingheng took a deep breath without making it obvious, tucking his pale fingertips into his sleeve. The sinister tone in his voice was as thick as ink. “Today I will pardon you. If you dare to commit another offense, even if you are still of some use to me, I will never tolerate you.”
Yu Da immediately kowtowed and agreed.
Mu Qingheng's fingertips trembled slightly. He clenched his fist imperceptibly, slowly folded the letter he had just written, and silently put it into the envelope.
Yu Da stood up tremblingly, intending to step back, but when she looked up and saw Mu Qingheng's actions, she was slightly taken aback, and then her expression brightened with joy.
As expected, the master was prepared. Is he about to launch that plan?
She quickly and carefully bent down, raising both hands above her head to receive the letter.
Mu Qingheng caught a glimpse of this, his patience nearly exhausted: "Aren't you going to get lost?"
Yu Da was taken aback by his words. Such a letter, such sealed spiritual power—wasn't this a letter for the Third Prince of the Demon Clan? She was always in charge of these kinds of letters.
After all these years, how could she possibly misread such a letter?
Yu Da was extremely confused. Her master had said that he would soon return to the desolate border. Wasn't he planning to use the third prince of the demon race to set a trap so that he could get rid of his identity as the son of the celestial race and return to the demon race in a natural way?
But these thoughts vanished in an instant. Even though Yu Da had many questions in her mind, she dared not ask a single word at this moment. Since her master had no intention of letting her deliver the message, he must have other plans. So she should leave quickly.
She said nothing and quickly retreated into the darkness. Before turning around, she glanced hesitantly at Mu Qingheng, her gaze lingering on his pale lips for a moment, before finally turning away thoughtfully.
When all the breathing returned to calm, Mu Qingheng finally relaxed, turned his head, and spat out a mouthful of blood with a "pfft".
He could no longer suppress the trembling all over his body. He gasped for breath and hugged himself, his jaw chattering as if he were in ice and snow. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead and gradually gathered into large beads that flowed down his pale cheeks.
So this is what it feels like to be devoured by the nine poisons.
The first time the poison took effect, it was so severe.
misty……
Mu Qingheng clenched his fists tightly, the fabric of his clothes wrinkling terribly in his palms.
Mist, mist...
In a daze, Mu Qingheng found himself murmuring softly. Calling Mengmeng's name seemed to offer temporary relief from the unbearable pain.
"Mengmeng..." he whispered, his gaze lingering and tender. Just uttering her name like that made him want to curl up his lips.
Mu Qingheng gently closed his eyes, silently enduring the pain of the poison taking effect.
It was like being engulfed in flames, or standing in freezing ice; like being torn apart by wild beasts, or being gnawed by countless insects. The agony was unbearable, perhaps only comparable to the heart-wrenching pain of the previous times.
Ultimately, the few times he experienced heart-wrenching pain were nothing more than the most insignificant little grievances, not even worthy of being called heartbreak. He still doesn't know what true heart-wrenching pain would feel like.
Mu Qingheng didn't want to think about it anymore. No matter how much pain he felt, it was none of his business anyway.
He only needed to think of Mengmeng's smiling face and her sweet voice calling him "brother" to help him get through this inhuman torment more quickly.
But perhaps because of the intense pain, when he closed his eyes, inappropriate images would always float into his mind.
At the coming-of-age ceremony, Mengmeng took Muluo's hand and walked away, saying, "Lingwei, go and get some good medicine to bandage His Highness the Crown Prince's wounds."
In the Cloud Marsh Realm, Mengmeng said softly, "I miss Brother Jiuyan a little."
In the peach blossom grove, she stood protectively in front of others, glaring at him: "Why did you hit him?"
A gentle breeze blew, and she suddenly kissed him, her expression a mixture of pain and tension. But when he looked closely at the scene again, he couldn't find that reassuring hint of shyness.
...
Mu Qingheng kept his eyes tightly closed and kept shaking his head, as if trying to shake off something terrifying. But he suddenly opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Dark red and scalding hot, a large patch of it meandered across the white paper spread out on the table, making the color even more glaring, and carrying a nauseating fishy smell.
The pain of the Nine Poisons gnawing at his bones was intensifying. His bones seemed to be deformed, broken, ground, and crushed. But his strong will allowed him to endure this pain. What he could not bear was that his heart was beginning to ache, and the pain was getting worse.
The pain from the Nine Poisons Devouring Bones is almost insignificant compared to this kind of agony.
Along with the pain, a sense of unavoidable panic also crept into my heart.
Mu Qingheng stared blankly at a point in the void ahead—he had been too arrogant. Only now, looking back, did he realize that many things had quietly changed.
Could it be... could it also be...?
Mu Qingheng pressed his fists firmly against his chest, veins bulging on his forehead, cold sweat pouring down his temples. Finally, unable to hold on any longer, he slowly knelt down from the chair.
He seemed to choke, coughing in fits and starts. With each cough, a few drops of blood would trickle down his cheeks.
"It's okay...it's okay..."
He didn't bother wiping it off, and instead, as if possessed, he tried to comfort himself.
In any case, even if things really get to the worst point, as long as he acts quickly and carefully, nothing will happen.
Everything will be alright.
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