Chapter 142 Soul-Returning Incense
Yu Sui watched Cao Yan board the flying dragon chariot before finally feeling relieved. As he turned around, he saw Nian Qiuyan standing not far away.
Nian Qiuyan was accompanied by Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu.
Seeing Cao Yan leave, Zhang Xiangyun withdrew his gaze. With Luo Fu between him and Nian Qiuyan, he asked Nian Qiuyan, "When do you plan to retrieve the Milky Way Water?"
Nian Qiuyan said, "I've already told you the location. You can go whenever you want."
Zhang Xiangyun narrowed his eyes: "You're not planning to go?"
Nian Qiuyan asked, "Is it necessary?"
"You don't actually think there isn't one, do you?" Zhang Xiangyun handed over the Wind Listening Ruler, which Luo Fu then passed to Nian Qiuyan. "Last night, Mei Liangyu, Zhonglishan, and Xing Chun went to the Mechanical Island and haven't returned yet. Guess what they were doing there?"
Nian Qiuyan looked down at the Wind Listening Ruler that Luo Fu handed him. It contained a record of Mei Liangyu and the other two's whereabouts last night. He chuckled softly, "Mechanical Island is a place he frequents. It's not surprising that he went there."
Zhang Xiangyun observed Nian Qiuyan's expression, trying to discern the truthfulness of his words.
Meeting his scrutinizing gaze, Nian Qiuyan said, "Would I willingly let Meimei suspect me?"
Zhang Xiangyun shrugged and sneered: "Perhaps he's already starting to suspect you."
"You can choose a time," Nian Qiuyan said, taking a step back.
Zhang Xiangyun was finally satisfied. As he was about to leave with Luo Fu, he glanced at Yu Sui not far away and said with a smile, "Little Princess, would you like me to escort you back?"
Yu Sui glanced up at him, gave Zhang Xiangyun a cold look, and continued talking to the black-bearded man beside her without answering.
Zhang Xiangyun wasn't annoyed. He looked at Yu Sui like a rabbit that he could grab by the ear and lift up at any time. He would tease her when he was in a good mood, after all, the little princess was indeed cute and adorable.
Yu Sui avoided eye contact with Nian Qiuyan, whispered a few words to Blackbeard, and then returned to the carriage, having the sorcerer from the Nangong family escort him back to the academy.
In autumn, the wild geese also disappeared into the bustling outer city.
Yu Sui wasn't in a hurry to talk to Nian Qiuyan. Even if he asked, someone like him wouldn't tell the truth. He would just smile and say that they only needed to maintain a cooperative relationship.
Because neither of them wanted Mei Liangyu to know about these things.
On his way back, Yu Sui received a notification from the academy via the Wind Listening Ruler: the academy informed the disciples about the Saint's operation to besiege the Lan Poison organization in the outer city last night, and announced the Lan Poison organization's hiding place, leader, and so on.
Even though the matter of Lan Du was over, the academy deliberately did not mention the news about Yinhe Shui, allowing the disciples to focus their attention on the Lan Du organization that was being besieged.
This is not surprising. The academy's attitude was to cut the Gordian knot quickly and not let the matter of Lan Du drag on for too long.
After returning to his lodgings, Yu Sui did nothing else but lie down and fall asleep.
Yu Sui had heard of the existence of Orchid Poison when she was a child, but she first came into contact with it when she was fifteen.
In the eyes of the world, orchid poison is a vile and filthy thing, but in the eyes of some people, it is a beautiful thing that symbolizes money and power.
It can be disguised as spices, drinking water, pills, and many other things, making it difficult to guard against.
The sorcerers of the lowest ranks both love and hate it. When they encounter a bottleneck in their cultivation, they may only need one dose of orchid poison to help them break through, but from then on they will live in symbiosis with the orchid poison and become its slave.
That year, based on the intelligence provided by Yu Sui, Elder Yan intercepted a batch of orchid poison and captured several orchid corpses.
In that dark and dry dungeon, Elder Yan led Yu Sui to examine the intercepted orchid poison.
"Orchid poison is a general term. They all have a similar orchid fragrance. Some cannot be detected by smell alone and can only be detected by eating them." Old Yan picked up the black cloth bag on the table, poured out the red powder inside with one hand, and pressed a finger into the powder. "This kind of powder is the lowest grade of orchid poison, which is called 'golden sand'."
"Golden sand has a rapid onset and short-lived effect. Users suffer severe mental and physical damage; once they stop using it, they experience significant hallucinations, become agitated, and lose their senses."
Yu Sui stepped forward and took a look, her dark eyes fixed on the red powder, which looked extremely fine.
She asked, "Is Jinsha also the most commonly circulated Lanpox?"
Elder Yan nodded and said, "The common feature of orchid poison, besides being addictive, is that it can keep people in their best state, making them the happiest, strongest, and most excited. This is different for ninth-rate sorcerers."
As he spoke, he picked up a small white porcelain bottle next to him: "It's called a wax apple."
After uncorking the bottle, Elder Yan handed the small white porcelain bottle to Yu Sui. Yu Sui took it and looked down at it, saying, "There's nothing there?"
Old Yan said, "Take a closer look."
Yu Sui picked up the small white porcelain bottle and examined it with one eye open and one eye closed: "The bottle has become damp, and there's water vapor inside?"
"'Wax apple' is considered a relatively high-grade orchid poison. It is mist-like, and when inhaled, it can be absorbed into the five elements, causing your five elements to surge in a short time and strengthening your Nine Streams Techniques," Elder Yan said. "If you bring it closer, you can summon the mist inside."
Upon hearing this, Yu Sui quickly moved the small white porcelain bottle further away.
Old Yan put the small white porcelain bottle back on the table and looked at the three golden-brown incense sticks placed at the very back.
The incense sticks are short and thin, the longest being no more than an adult's thumb.
On the surface, they look no different from ordinary incense sticks, except that they are more exquisite and beautiful.
"People call it 'Returning Soul Incense'." Old Yan picked up an incense stick and handed it to Yu Sui, saying, "Inhaling the Returning Soul Incense is as wonderful as the soul returning to its physical body; it is a realm of immortals."
Yu Sui: "Sounds impressive?"
Master Yan offered a simpler explanation: "It has a calming effect, which can calm those with extreme emotions, stabilize the chaotic Qi of the Five Elements, and resolve the reversal of the Five Elements."
"Is that more useful for low-level sorcerers?" Yu Sui looked up at Elder Yan.
"For a low-level sorcerer, the Orchid Poison can solve many problems." Old Yan handed her the Resurrection Incense. "This incense requires the five elements to ignite."
Yu Sui said, "Even those skilled in divination cannot use it."
Old Yan stared at her and said, "After a person who practices martial arts inhales the Soul-Returning Incense, they can temporarily gain the power to control the five elements."
In other words, the Resurrection Incense can easily transform a mediocre sorcerer into a low-level magician, allowing them to experience another world.
Yu Sui reached out and took the Soul-Returning Incense, playing with it in his hand: "If a person of ordinary skill wants to inhale the Soul-Returning Incense, they have to find a low-level sorcerer to help light it, which is too troublesome."
Old Yan replied, "There are many people like that."
Yu Sui was slow to realize what he meant. She reached out and touched her face, thinking that he was right. There were indeed many people like her who were born into wealth but were unable to cultivate.
"Even if I wanted to become a low-level sorcerer, I wouldn't rely on something like this." Yu Sui put the Soul-Returning Incense back on the table, showing little interest.
She turned to leave, but Old Yan called her back: "Come back."
Yu Sui turned around, blinking curiously.
“I don’t know what power you have, but your ability to protect yourself is very weak,” said Old Yan. “You have to learn to recognize these things that can harm you.”
The Prince's Mansion wouldn't teach her to identify orchid poison, but she's very likely to encounter these dangerous things.
The girl, who had already reached the door, lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before walking back: "What should I do?"
Yu Sui didn't wake up until nightfall.
She rubbed her eyes with one hand and held the wind-listening ruler in the other. Remembering what happened in her dream, she looked down and opened the communication interface with Elder Yan.
As soon as she opened the app, she received a voice message from Zhong Lique. Yu Sui answered it and heard Zhong Lique's cheerful voice: "Sui Sui, are you busy?"
Yu Sui said, "No."
Hearing the sound, Zhong Lique knew she had just woken up and asked, "Have you been sleeping for a long time? Are you hungry?"
"I'm probably too tired lately, so I slept for quite a while today." Yu Sui got out of bed to wash her face and chatted with Zhong Lique, gradually forgetting her troubles.
Yu Sui didn't sleep at night, and Zhong Lique stayed with her. In the middle of the night, Yu Sui urged him to go to rest, and he reluctantly ended the telepathic communication.
As dawn approached, Yu Sui finished his breakfast at the dining hall and then went to the Ghost Path Holy Hall to see his master and routinely inquire about cultivation-related issues.
She kept track of the time, waiting until the Ghost Dao Academy started classes before leaving again, spending the entire day traveling between different academies to attend classes.
That evening, he and Li Jinshuang practiced swordsmanship at the military training ground.
Li Jinshuang was in exceptionally good spirits today. She knocked Yu Sui's sword away several times, and when she saw Yu Sui collapse to the ground, panting heavily, she said, "Rest for a while before coming back. You seem to be in a good mood today?"
"You're not feeling well today." Li Jinshuang sheathed her sword and looked down at her.
Yu Sui slightly widened her eyes as she looked at her: "Is this the reason you're in a good mood?"
Li Jinshuang shook her head, stared at Yu Sui for a while, and finally asked, "You came back from your trip to the outer city. Is something bothering you?"
Yu Sui blinked slowly, feeling the sweat flowing on her skin. Her gaze shifted from Li Jinshuang's face, becoming aimless: "Troubles will come no matter where you go. No matter what I'm doing, whether I'm in a good mood or a bad mood, they will always find me suddenly."
Li Jinshuang listened in silence.
She was never one to be eloquent.
I wanted to offer some words of comfort, but I didn't know how to say it, and I froze for a moment.
Fortunately, Yu Sui didn't want her comfort. She grabbed her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her face, rolled around on the floor, and then hugged her long sword that had been knocked to the ground.
Li Jinshuang: "..."
She racked her brains before finally coming up with a sentence: "Gu Gan hasn't found out yet."
Yu Sui said, "I know."
Li Jinshuang thought for a moment and then said, "There are also many extraordinary texts in military strategy that contain hidden secrets. I will pay more attention to them."
Lying on the ground, Yu Sui tilted her head and looked back at Li Jinshuang after hearing this: "A military treatise, is it the kind of thing where you can learn a certain sword technique just by reading it?"
Li Jinshuang said, "More or less."
Her original intention was to ask for help in noticing the Heavenly Character related to the fragments of the Floating Pagoda, but it seems that the two of them had different understandings.
Yu Sui hugged his sword and laughed, "Good, pay close attention, learn more sword techniques, and become more skilled. That way, you won't have to be afraid of your grandmother when you return to Nanjing."
Li Jinshuang pursed her lips, knowing that Yu Sui had misunderstood, but not knowing how to explain, she remained silent for a while before asking, "Shall we go to the vegetarian hall for dinner?"
Yu Sui immediately got up from the ground.
After parting ways with Li Jinshuang in the dining hall, Yu Sui went to the Ghost Path Holy Hall. The main hall was quiet, and she asked curiously, "Master, didn't Senior Brother come today?"
The Sage Changgen replied, "He did not come."
Yu Sui remembered that Mei Liangyu had left with Zhong Lishan before. She didn't ask much that day, but she hadn't seen Mei Liangyu all day. Could it be that she hadn't returned yet?
She took out the wind-listening ruler, intending to find Mei Liangyu's location, but she was stunned when she saw the red dot indicating where this was.
Yu Sui stared at the Listening Wind Ruler with a strange look in his eyes, lightly tapped the ruler with his fingertip, brought up the map of Taiyi, and then compared it with Mei Liangyu's position.
Not in the academy, not in the outer city, and not on any island, but in the sea, very, very far away.
[Author's Note]
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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