Chapter 11: Difficulties at the Valley of the Medicine King

The moment Chu Yuyao set foot on the steps, she was greeted by a voice dripping with sarcasm. Her brows furrowed. “I’ve come to see Shangguan Yuheng,” she replied, her tone cool and direct.

The disciples at the gate were not surprised by her answer, their expressions growing ever more disdainful. The same disciple from the Medicine King Valley sneered, “Who do you think the Saint is? He’s not someone you can meet just because you want to. It depends on whether he’s willing.”

“That’s right. Maybe you should take a look at yourself first,” another disciple in pale yellow robes rolled her eyes. “I heard you divorced our Saint? What an audacious frog, croaking with a yawning mouth.”

Chu Yuyao glanced at the girl, thinking she was certainly straightforward, but she had no time to waste on these people.

“I’m here to ask Shangguan Yuheng to cure a poisoning,” she said. “Doesn’t your Medicine King Valley claim to heal the world? Since when do patients have to endure insults before they’re seen?”

“Poisoned?” The disciples at the gate paused, then burst into laughter.

“Haha, did she just say she’s been poisoned? Wants the Saint to detoxify her? What a joke.”

“Exactly! Even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe that excuse. She’s just here to beg the Saint to reconcile.”

“That’s what I think too. Who do you think our Saint is? A genius in medicine and poisons, not someone every stray cat or dog can meet.”

...

Listening to their snide remarks, Chu Yuyao grew ever more irritated. If only the original owner had Shangguan Yuheng’s communication method—she could simply send a message and be done with it. Unfortunately, those men, each more hateful than the last toward the original owner, never gave her any way to contact him, not even when they were once cultivation partners.

“Fine, then I’ll wait right here.” She sat down on the steps before the Medicine King Valley gate, took out a spirit fruit from her storage ring, and began to eat. “I’m poisoned, after all. If I die here, and word gets out that Medicine King Valley watched a patient die at their gate, it’ll be your reputation at stake.”

The disciples’ faces turned ugly at once. Medicine King Valley was a renowned sanctuary of alchemy in the cultivation world. If someone were to die at their gates—especially the adopted daughter of the Sect Master of Heavenly Dao Sect—not only would their reputation be ruined, they’d surely face trouble. And the ones to suffer first would be these disciples.

The girl in yellow, especially, looked furious. She shot Chu Yuyao a venomous glare. “Wait here, then,” she snapped, before turning to report inside.

She ran off, cursing Chu Yuyao in her heart a thousand times. After passing through a garden planted with calming herbs, she nearly collided with a woman.

The woman appeared to be around twenty, dressed in a flowing blue gown with a moon-white gauze over her shoulders. Her figure was graceful, her features delicate, and there was a faint scent of medicinal herbs about her, like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

This was none other than Shangguan Yuheng’s junior apprentice sister, Yun Shu Wan.

“What’s got you so flustered?” Yun Shu Wan stopped, her voice soft and tinged with a chilly detachment.

The yellow-robed girl, named Fei Zhu, was startled to see her but quickly recovered and bowed respectfully.

“Senior Sister Yun, it’s Chu Yuyao from Heavenly Dao Sect—the ugly woman who divorced the Saint. She’s come to Medicine King Valley today, claiming she’s poisoned and wants to see the Saint. She refuses to leave the gate, and I fear if she dies there, it’ll tarnish the Valley’s reputation, so I was just going to report it.”

She spoke frankly, hiding nothing.

“Chu Yuyao?” Yun Shu Wan’s brows knitted ever so slightly, a cold glint in her eyes. “Senior Brother is currently in seclusion refining pills; he cannot be disturbed. Take her to my ‘Qingfang Pavilion.’ I’ll treat her myself.”

“To your place?” Fei Zhu hesitated, “But that ugly woman insisted on seeing the Saint.”

“What’s the matter? Am I, a personal disciple of Medicine King Valley and the Saint’s junior sister, not qualified to treat her?” Yun Shu Wan’s voice was icy, tinged with displeasure.

Fei Zhu was startled, quickly shaking her head. “No, no, Senior Sister Yun, your medical skills are superb. If you’re willing to treat that ugly woman, it’s her good fortune. I’ll bring her to your residence right away.”

With that, she hurried off, afraid of provoking Yun Shu Wan any further.

Yun Shu Wan watched Fei Zhu’s flustered retreat, her eyes growing colder. Chu Yuyao, was it? She wanted to see what was so special about the woman who dared divorce her beloved senior brother.

...

At the gate, Chu Yuyao was still waiting. The fruit was long gone, and she no longer sat on the steps, idly surveying her surroundings.

She saw Fei Zhu return and was greeted with a curt, “The Saint is busy, but you’re in luck. Senior Sister Yun is willing to treat you. She’s the Valley Master’s personal disciple and the Saint’s junior sister. You should be grateful.”

Chu Yuyao immediately knew who she meant. Among the younger generation of Medicine King Valley, aside from Shangguan Yuheng, this Yun Immortal was the most renowned. Not only was her alchemical skill exceptional, her medical expertise was impressive as well.

Of course, she couldn’t compare to Shangguan Yuheng, who was both a genius and prodigy.

But that wasn’t the point. The point was that Yun Shu Wan liked Shangguan Yuheng, and though she appeared cold and ethereal on the surface, her heart was sharper than a needle. She’d given the original owner plenty of trouble behind the scenes.

Her sudden enthusiasm was surely a wolf’s gift with no good intentions.

Chu Yuyao said nothing, simply followed Fei Zhu into Medicine King Valley.

As for Shangguan Yuheng, she’d find a way to meet him later—there would be a chance.

Medicine King Valley, famed throughout the cultivation world as a holy land of alchemy, was filled with spiritual herbs and medicines. The fragrance along the way was intoxicating, clearing the mind.

Yun Shu Wan’s residence was in the back mountains, beside a medicinal garden. There stood a great waterfall, flanked by a grove of purple bamboo, tranquil and elegant, the environment superb.

After a short detour, they soon arrived at Qingfang Pavilion.

From afar, Chu Yuyao saw a woman waiting by the door—it was Yun Shu Wan.

“Senior Sister Yun, I’ve brought her,” Fei Zhu hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

Yun Shu Wan nodded, motioning for her to leave, then turned to Chu Yuyao and spoke coldly, “Junior Sister Chu, please come inside.”

With that, she turned and entered without a word of greeting.

Chu Yuyao didn’t mind; she followed.

She was curious to see what kind of trick this woman was up to.

Inside, Yun Shu Wan motioned for her to sit.

She had just sat down when there was a sudden crack—the stool broke two legs.

Fortunately, Chu Yuyao was prepared and hadn’t put her full weight down. She rose with composure, as if nothing had happened.

This was nothing like what Yun Shu Wan had imagined, expecting her to fall flat on her back.

“When did Medicine King Valley grow so poor, that even the stools are broken?” Chu Yuyao brushed imaginary dust from her hands, watching Yun Shu Wan’s barely contained expression, half-smiling.

Yun Shu Wan’s smile froze. Why wasn’t this ugly woman playing by the rules? Wasn’t she supposed to fall, arms and legs flailing?

She quickly regained her cold, ethereal demeanor. “Junior Sister Chu, you jest. Perhaps it’s just old and worn. Please sit here.” She pointed to another, sturdier wooden chair.

Chu Yuyao didn’t move. Her gaze swept over the chair’s legs, noting the faint traces of powder beneath them.