Water Reflects Peach Blossoms

The elderly and kind voice of Yue Changnian echoed in the hall.

He explained to everyone, "A hundred years ago, the palace sect wiped out a sect in the martial arts world that specialized in using poison to control children to cultivate internal energy, and then grafted it onto their own bodies. They completely destroyed the evil skills of the sect."

"But the original version of that technique was engraved on a piece of metal that was smelted by some unknown method. It cannot be destroyed with the existing means of the palace. We had no choice but to bring it back to the palace and seal it away."

"The evil of that technique lies in... it can only be practiced by children born with damaged heart meridians. These children endure immense pain every day, yet their training speed is a thousand times faster than that of ordinary people! Typically, one year of practice yields ten years' worth of internal strength. However, this technique is also extremely dangerous. Children already frail due to damaged heart meridians, and if they were to endure the immense pain of training, they could die if they weren't careful."

"It was for this reason that when the palace gate wiped out that sect, none of the children they captured succeeded in practicing."

"Is it enough to just cultivate internal energy?" Gong Ziyu asked, "How can I cultivate if my meridians are blocked?"

Young Master Yue raised his head and said, "I need another kind of elixir."

"That's right." Elder Yue continued, "It's because his meridians are blocked that he can only practice the techniques engraved on the metal plates in one year, which is equivalent to ten years for others. But that's only ten years."

"In ten years, these children who practice the techniques will die."

Hearing this, everyone was shocked.

"Similarly, the internal energy of these cultivating children cannot be absorbed by others. Only they themselves can transfer the internal energy. The biggest obstacle is that the internal energy cannot be used because of blocked meridians." Elder Yue sighed, "So this sect has developed a medicine."

"This medicine will instantly open up all the tendons and meridians in the human body. Once the tendons and meridians are open, coupled with the blessing of internal strength, even the weakest person will become an invincible strongman."

"But this medicine has a time limit of fifteen days. Once the time is up, you will die."

Gritting his teeth to prevent himself from losing his composure, Gong Yuanzheng suppressed his rage and asked, "How did this forbidden technique get into my sister's hands?"

Elder Hua recalled, "Ten years ago, the Palace Master of Zheng Palace developed a highly corrosive poison. Because the poison was so corrosive, it couldn't even be contained in a porcelain bottle. It had to be kept in a special container in Zheng Palace that couldn't be moved."

"The three of us discussed it with Old Zhiren, and then had the Palace Master of Zheng Palace secretly bring it back to Zheng Palace and use venom to melt the metal block containing the evil power."

"Something must have happened that we didn't know about, and Yun Zheng saw it."

Elder Xue sighed, "I remember Yun Zheng had a photographic memory."

Hearing this, Gong Zishang's voice trembled: "Such a deep internal force, when did Sister Yunzheng start practicing? And how long did she endure the pain?"

If she wasn't careful, she would die. Gong Zishang couldn't imagine how painful her life was every day.

Whenever he thought of his sister’s pain... Gong Yuanzheng couldn’t bear to listen any longer!

Everyone in the hall was shocked.

After a long silence, Gong Shangjiao's voice came back. He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse, "Sister Yunzheng's internal energy was so powerful that even Wu Feng was annihilated by her. I'm afraid she's been practicing for ten years."

"After she experienced that great battle at the palace gate, she had her own revenge plan."

Gong Shangjiao added, "It's not that she's unsure, but she's too sure. Brother Yuanzheng has a rare talent for pharmacology. With him taking care of her body, sister Yunzheng knows she won't die."

"But that medicine?" Gong Zishang couldn't stop crying. "Does it also need Gong Yuanzheng to refine it?"

How cruel is this to Yunzheng and Gong Yuanzheng?!

"Of course not." Gong Shangjiao was silent for a moment. "Yun Zheng will not let us discover her plan at all. From the beginning to the end, she has never thought of asking Yuan Zheng to refine the elixir for her."

"Two years ago, Wu Feng sent Skylark to the palace gate to steal Baicaocui."

Master Yue noticed Gong Shangjiao's gaze and continued with a serious look, "I finally asked Yun Que to go to the Moon Palace in the back mountain to test medicine."

Gong Shangjiao couldn't help but sigh, "Yes, testing medicine. Young Master Yue personally revealed to Yun Zheng that the Moon Palace in the back mountain is actually proficient in medicine. And Young Master Yue's talent for pharmacology is even more extraordinary."

"I think Yun Zheng must have something on you and asked you to help her refine that pill."

"Yes." Master Yue admitted frankly, "At that time, Yun Que and I were in love with each other..."

"What? You are falling in love with Wufeng?!" Elder Yue, who is always gentle, frowned.

Having seen so many disciples of the palace being bewitched by the unassuming female assassin, Elder Xue consoled Elder Yue: "Don't worry, let the child finish speaking."

Young Master Yue continued, "I planned to have Yun Que take the Winter Cicada Grass to free herself from Wu Feng's control, but the Second Young Lady discovered me. That night, I went to the front mountain and struck a deal with the Second Young Lady. I would help her refine a medicine, and she would remain silent about Yun Que and my plan."

Gong Shangjiao said, "Mr. Yue and Yun Que's fake death plan is probably part of Yun Zheng's plan to kill Chief Wu Feng."

Master Yue frowned, and he suddenly thought of the poison pill disguised as Baicaocui that he found on Yunque.

"You mean..."

"Indeed, the only one capable of mobilizing the Wufeng assassins to enter the palace and steal the Baicao Essence is the Wufeng leader. Yun Zheng has obviously thought of this as well. She replaced the Baicao Essence on Yun Que."

Gong Shangjiao reasoned along the lines of thought, "From the very beginning, she had already decided that Yun Que must return to Wu Feng, but Master Yue's appearance was a wild card. When you left, Yun Que asked her to act as a medicine man, and Yun Zheng asked the Council of Elders to take charge of inventorying supplies in the back mountain and monitoring the movements there. I think she must have discovered through some clues that you were in love with Yun Que, and she wanted to help her fake her own death to escape Wu Feng's plan."

Master Yue gave the answer: "It's the blueprint for making jewelry for Yun Que."

"Drawings?" Hua Gongzi suddenly remembered: "Young Master Yue first asked me to repair a bracelet, and later asked me to create some jewelry that girls would like."

Being glared at by Elder Hua, Young Master Hua said guiltily, "But I've lived in the back mountains for years and have never come into contact with girls. I can only ask the guards who deliver supplies to help me find some jewelry designs that girls like."

Gong Shangjiao understood: "Sister Yunzheng discovered that Master Yue was interested, but the plan should have been discovered from Elder Yue, right?"

Elder Yue recalled for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Two years ago, Young Master Yue was researching winter cicada grass. I discussed this matter with Yuan Zheng using the most important ingredient in the grass. We confirmed that this medicine has the ability to inflict death. Yun Zheng was right beside him at the time."

"So Yun Zheng seized the opportunity and reached a cooperation with Master Yue, asking him to help refine the pills." Gong Shangjiao continued, "At the same time, she also took advantage of your and Yun Que's fake death plan. She needed Yun Que to return to Wufeng."

Gong Ziyu asked, "Do you want Yun Que to poison Chief Wu Feng with a poison disguised as Baicaocui?"

He quickly realized: "No! Leader Wufeng is not dead!"