Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 233 - 224: The Lady Is Poisoned, Her Inner Qi Lost
This day...
Inside a stone pavilion in the mountains.
After days of rushing and slaying enemies, Wen Caishang and Li Xian were both exhausted. Seeing a stone pavilion by the roadside amidst beautiful surroundings, Wen Caishang wanted to stop and rest.
After the carriage stopped, Li Xian scouted the terrain and saw a small stream several miles away. He opened the water bag, drew the Sinking River Sword, and played with the stream water. With a sudden upward flick, a line of water leaped up from the stream and precisely landed into the water bag.
Wen Caishang sat in the pavilion, looking inward at her own body. Her internal injuries remained; she used her inner breath to nurture herself, making occasional recoveries, only to be interrupted by adversaries, requiring her to use Qi to fight back. This cycle repeated, causing her injuries to deepen.
She thought to herself, "If it weren’t for these distractions, I’d have prepared the herbs and quietly nursed myself to health by now."
While lost in thought, she suddenly frowned and said softly, "Who is hiding there? Come out."
On the distant mountain path, an elderly man in green clothes appeared in her sight, clasping his hands and smiling, "Madam Wen, we must be fated to meet like this, even in this desolate wilderness." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
This man was a member of the Dragon Ship crew.
With a simple bag on his back and a wooden cane in hand, his forehead beaded with sweat—a picture of weariness from a long journey.
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Where is the gentleman headed?" The elderly man in green replied, "Hahaha, I traveled a long way to the Dragon Banquet, and now that it’s over, I’m naturally heading home."
Wen Caishang said, "Cai Shang is also returning home. I see you, sir, appear well-traveled, dressed simply. I assume you are refined and self-disciplined, but no matter how frugal, there’s no harm in taking a carriage, so why walk with such hardship?"
The elderly man in green said, "It’s not about frugality; I’ve loved the beauty of nature since childhood. Traveling by carriage, though easier, inevitably means missing much of the scenery. And I’m old now, not like you, young and capable. Every chance to see the world’s wonders is precious."
"The gentleman enjoys himself." Wen Caishang laughed, "Please have a seat."
The elderly man laughed heartily, "Hahaha, since fate brings us together and you invite me, it would be rude to decline." He sat boldly and, clasping his hands, laughed, "To share a table with you is truly a blessing."
Wen Caishang said, "Forgive Cai Shang’s ignorance; I haven’t asked your name until now."
The elderly man said, "I assumed my name was unimportant, to avoid embarrassment. I’m Ma Zhongguang, from the Southern Border."
At this point, Ma Zhongguang asked, "If I remember correctly, Madam Wen, there’s usually a young man accompanying you, inseparable, seemingly named Li Xian. Where is he now?"
Wen Caishang’s brows slightly furrowed, but she smiled and said, "Little Immortal, Senior Ma wishes to see you; come quickly and offer tea, or you’ll be impolite."
Li Xian ran back from the stream, recognizing Ma Zhongguang. He was a silent passenger on the Dragon Ship, rarely seen. When others spoke to him, he would only respond with ’Hmm.’ The only time he spoke at length was when deciding who would stay the last four thousand miles, deciding with the madam in a palm-to-palm exchange.
Li Xian said, "Senior Ma, what a coincidence to meet you here."
Ma Zhongguang said, "Haha, it’s no coincidence. You’re heading south, I’m heading south too. Though the roads are different, they all lead to the same direction, so naturally, we meet."
Wen Caishang said, "Little Immortal, I have some tea; brew it for Senior Ma, would you?"
Li Xian took the tea leaves, ran back to the carriage, and fetched a copper teapot. The teapot was exquisite and small, palm-sized, with delicate patterns. He poured in clear water, lit a charcoal fire, and boiled the water before adding the tea leaves.
Before long, a fragrant aroma filled the air. Wen Caishang took the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Li Xian, saying, "Offer it to Senior Ma." Li Xian held the cup with both hands and offered it forward.
Ma Zhongguang gazed at the tea, hesitating for a long time. Wen Caishang smiled and said, "What, is Senior Ma worried Cai Shang poisoned it?"
Wen Caishang poured another cup, drinking it while it’s hot, smiling at Ma Zhongguang. Ma Zhongguang laughed, "Hahaha, with Madam Wen’s expensive tea leaves, a simple man like me should refrain from drinking your precious offer—no need to waste your kindness."
Wen Caishang regretfully said, "I once thought I found a kindred spirit, but it turns out you’re just a bag of bones."
Ma Zhongguang said, "Madam Wen, what do you mean?" His body tensed. He wanted to distance himself, but he felt weak all over, his body paralyzed. A toxic substance had permeated his whole being.
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Why have you come looking for me specifically?"
"You!" Ma Zhongguang was furious, "Do you poison me without even knowing my intentions?" He attempted to use martial arts and Gu methods to counteract the severe poison, but every effort was futile.
Wen Caishang gently said, "Whatever you planned, I assure you, killing you isn’t unwarranted."
"Struggling won’t help; you’re from the Southern Border and likely skilled in Gu Dao. But this poison, you can’t undo."
"Little White, show yourself."
Then, from Ma Zhongguang’s body, crawled out a white silkworm. Wen Caishang held it and gently played with the white silkworm.
This was the "Ancestral Silkworm," a key element of the Silkworm Robe Mismatched Jade Technique.
Wen Caishang’s "silk" fabric and the Sangyuan Silk Farm all related to this silkworm, bred from it. Therefore, her silk was resilient and highly sought after, unmatched globally.
This was one of her trump cards.
Still suffering from old injuries, she didn’t want to engage in a major battle. Knowing Ma Zhongguang had come, she arranged for the Ancestral Silkworm to attach, biting him and injecting a peculiar poison.
"Wicked woman! You wicked woman!" Ma Zhongguang turned cyanotic, the parasitic worms inside him all dead.
Wen Caishang, full of charm, said, "Since you followed me, you must have a reason. Spill it out."
"If I say, will you cure me?" Ma Zhongguang had lost all fighting power.
Wen Caishang smiled without speaking. Ma Zhongguang said, "I... I know you are after Earth Radiance. This trip... was to negotiate a swap for Earth Radiance with you. I mean no harm, madam... spare... spare me."
Wen Caishang’s eyes narrowed slightly: "How do you know I’m after Earth Radiance?"
"Because..." Ma Zhongguang took a Gu worm from his ear, saying, "This is a Dragon Gu, needing the heart’s blood of a Dragon Beast to transform. Helping it cross water was for the old Dragon’s heart blood."
"However, when asking for heart blood at the old Dragon’s pool, the elder dragon said it had already been given to someone else. Though it wasn’t specified who, I guessed it was you. At the time, I found it odd. Successful Python water crossing, divine blessing from heavens, the Dragon Scale became Dragon Shedding. Heart blood’s use far less than that."
"Recall the ancient texts, there’s a method to usurp Earth Radiance, vaguely related to water-crossing Dragons. Made me speculate... Madam, spare me."
"My greed was insatiable; please forgive me."
Wen Caishang’s lips curled up, "So that’s it, you are clever." She sipped her tea, watching Ma Zhongguang struggle with interest.
"Wicked woman!" Ma Zhongguang’s vision darkened, knowing no hope remained. His breath growing faint, he said finally, "You... you... will regret this. You... think I would dare confront you... with no backup plan? Check... check your Qi Lake, hahaha..."
With that, he ruptured his own heart veins, his breath ceasing.
Wen Caishang frowned, suddenly feeling her Inner Qi depleting. Focusing her inner vision, she saw, unknown since when, a Gu worm attached in her Qi Lake.
Siphoning her Inner Qi, faster and faster.
"When? When did this happen? Since Ma Zhongguang appeared, I have been on guard, wary of his Gu skill. When did this happen? My Inner Qi is rapidly declining, what now? With formidable enemies all around, my injuries are severe, needing Inner Qi to suppress them and nurture my body. If this Gu continues to drain my Inner Qi, I... I... truly fall into a dire situation!"
Wen Caishang immediately checked Ma Zhongguang’s pulse; he was already dead. Her Qi Amount sharply declining, her Qi Power fast dissipating, her body trembled slightly, her charming visage for the first time, greatly unsettled.
(It’s almost the end of the month, please ask for a monthly ticket)
