23: Chapter 23: The Mysterious Youth 23: Chapter 23: The Mysterious Youth “Is there truly no cure for the Snake Heart Poison?
Even the greatest Treasure Pavilion in Lingxi City doesn’t have one?” Lin Bai curiously asked.
Everything at the Treasure Pavilion is terribly expensive, and you’ve seen the Lin Family’s attitude toward me since I was discarded,” Lin Yue replied with a bitter smile.
“Lin Taiheng would rather see me dead.
Why would he spend money to purchase an antidote for me?” he continued.
Lin Yue gave a couple of cynical laughs.
“Damn that Lin Taiheng!
Third Uncle, don’t be anxious, I’ll go to the Treasure Pavilion to check,” Lin Bai said decisively.
The Treasure Pavilion is the largest trading center in Lingxi City.
Several branches of Treasure Pavilion spread across the Shenwu Kingdom.
Even though it was almost midnight, the Treasure Pavilion was still bursting with patrons.
With the Martial Arts Competition appellant selection commencing tomorrow, many warriors aimed to purchase some powerful martial arts techniques and weapons in preparation.
“Young Master, I am Erin, a maid at the Treasure Pavilion.
How may I assist you?” As soon as Lin Bai entered the Treasure Pavilion, a maid approached him with a bright smile.
“Do you have an antidote for the Snake Heart Poison?” Lin Bai asked directly.
Is it one of the Three Great Miraculous Poisons from the Five Poison Sect?” Erin asked with curiosity.
“I guess so.” Lin Bai was unsure.
Had Lin Yue not mentioned the Snake Heart Poison today, Lin Bai would have remained oblivious to the existence of such poison.
“I’m sorry, Young Master, Snake Heart Poison is one of the Three Great Miraculous Poisons of the Five Poison Sect.
When the sect was eradicated, the antidote was destroyed too,” Erin explained, shaking her head.
“Even though the Treasure Pavilion once had it, we have already sold out.”
“I see,” Lin Bai replied, somewhat despondently.
“Young Master, do you require anything else?
Weapons, martial arts techniques, spiritual medicine—our Treasure Pavilion has them all.” Erin inquired.
Lin Bai shook his head resignedly.
If even the Treasure Pavilion doesn’t have the antidote for the Snake Heart Poison, I suppose I’ll have to wait until I enter the Four Major Sects and find a solution for Third Uncle’s poisoning.
He thought to himself.
“Excuse me sir, are you searching for the antidote to the Snake Heart Poison?” A timid voice called from behind just as Lin Bai was about to leave.
Startled, Lin Bai turned around to find a frail-looking boy looking back at him with shy eyes.
“Yes.” Lin Bai nodded in affirmation.
“I have the antidote for the Snake Heart Poison here,” the boy said as he pulled out a tattered wooden box from his bag and handed it to Lin Bai.
Upon inspecting, Lin Bai found two black Elixir Pills inside.
Although they looked unappealing, the pills had a faint medicinal smell to them.
“How much are you selling these pills for?” Lin Bai asked.
“I don’t want money, but I want a weapon, that one,” the boy responded, pointing towards a rusty sword hanging on the wall of the Treasure Pavilion.
“How much for this sword?” Lin Bai turned and asked Erin.
“This sword was hard to acquire.
When the Treasure Pavilion initially purchased it, we paid a thousand spiritual stones.
So, we will not sell it for less than that,” Erin stated, grinning.
“A thousand spiritual stones…” Upon hearing this price, Lin Bai couldn’t understand why a broken sword was worth a thousand spiritual stones.
Spiritual stones are a type of currency used amongst warriors.
They’re naturally-occurring ores that contain powerful spiritual energy.
Warriors can use the spiritual energy inside these stones for cultivation, hence these stones are widely circulated in the martial world.
The mention of a thousand spiritual stones made Lin Bai hesitate.
Leaving aside how trivial a thousand spiritual stones were for Lin Bai, he still had to carefully consider if the antidote was worth it.
“Little brother, how can I tell if your antidote is genuine or counterfeit?” Lin Bai asked the boy standing in front of him.
The boy, dressed in ragged clothing and patched garments, with disheveled hair and a beggar’s countenance, had a pair of bright eyes that shone brilliantly and clearly like the brightest stars in the night sky.
“Well, I can’t prove it, but it’s a real antidote.” The boy said weakly.
“Where did you get this antidote?” Lin Bai asked.
“I made it myself.” The boy replied one question after another.
“You made it yourself?” Lin Bai asked in surprise.
Hearing the boy’s words, Lin Bai became even more hesitant about making the purchase.
“Yes.” The boy nodded innocently.
After a moment of hesitation, Lin Bai asked, “Why are you looking to buy that rusty sword?”
“Because it’s mine, a thief took it from me a few days ago.” The boy replied.
“Big brother, if you don’t trust me, you can take the antidote first.
An hour after taking it, you should start to feel better, but it typically takes a day to completely clear out the poison.” The boy added, “If you’re worried, I can go with you; if I harm you, you can just kill me.”
Upon hearing his words, Lin Bai immediately agreed.
If the antidote really works, I’ll help you buy back that iron sword.
If you’re lying to me, I’ll kill you on the spot.”
With the boy by his side, Lin Bai hurriedly headed towards Lin Yue’s residence.
“Lin Bai, who is this boy?” Lin Yue looked curiously at the well-behaved little boy who had come back with Lin Bai.
“This boy claims to have an antidote to the Snake Heart Poison, and as I’m unfamiliar with the specifics of medicine, I brought him back for Third Uncle to inspect.” As he spoke, Lin Bai pulled out a tattered wooden box from his chest.
Lin Yue took the box, opened it, and scrutinized its contents carefully.
After a while, Lin Yue looked at the boy in surprise, “Where did you get this Elixir Pill?”
“I made it myself!” the boy stated as before.
Third Uncle, is there a problem with this Elixir Pill?” Lin Bai asked nervously.
“No problem, no problem at all.
Not only is there no problem, but this antidote is top-notch.”
“I was just surprised, how could a youngster craft such an exceptional Elixir Pill.”
Lin Yue gave the boy a deep glance.
“Third Uncle, since you’ve said the antidote is real, why don’t you take it and see if it works?
The boy said that within one hour of taking it you should feel better, and that within one day the poison should be completely cleared out.”
Lin Bai said urgently.
“Alright.” Lin Yue swallowed the Elixir Pill, his face flushed with excitement.
The Snake Heart Poison that had plagued Lin Yue for over twenty years could be pulled out today — It was as if he had once again received the gift of life.
Most importantly, once the poison was cleared from Lin Yue, he could resume his training and search for his wife and children.
After two decades of being incapacitated, he was about to break free.
An hour later, Lin Yue spat out a mouthful of black blood.
Lin Bai was startled and feared that something had gone awry.
But just after Lin Yue spat out the coagulated blood, he laughed euphorically, “Haha, Snake Heart Poison, I’m finally getting rid of you.”
“Lin Bai, don’t worry, I’ve started detoxifying, but it still needs a day to completely clear out the poison.”
Seeing the tense look on Lin Bai’s face, as if he was on the verge of drawing his sword to kill the boy, Lin Yue immediately spoke to reassure him.
“That’s good.” Hearing Lin Yue’s voice, Lin Bai breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now that your family member’s poison has been cleared, shouldn’t you help me buy back that sword?” The boy looked innocently at Lin Bai.
With a smile, Lin Bai, along with the boy, returned to the Treasure Pavilion.