A Shocking Dream

Yet, this didn't diminish the mysterious aura it exuded. The handwriting on each page was faint, yet it held a quaint charm. Lin Wunian leaned in close, her gaze wandering eagerly between the lines. Those ancient symbols and characters seemed to come alive in her eyes, like spirits guiding her towards hope. Her brows alternated between frowns and fleeting realizations, completely immersed in the mysterious world constructed by the Wunian Heart Sutra.

She clutched the book, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously, and then a laugh escaped her. It started softly, carrying a sense of relief, then gradually grew louder, echoing in the silent space. In this laughter was the ecstasy of finding hope, as if grasping a last straw in this cruel world; in this laughter was the satisfaction of past efforts, the days and nights spent studying now having all been worthwhile; in this laughter was also a longing for the future, as if she had already foreseen the changes this book would bring to the current situation, like seeing the first light of dawn in the darkness, and all suffering would vanish under the guidance of this book.

Lin Wunian's gaze was fixed on the page, drawn by a magnet. The words "Corpse Poison Antidote" seemed like a brilliant star suddenly lit up in the darkness. Her lips trembled slightly, and a flash of astonishment flashed across her eyes, followed by a burst of ecstasy.

The air around them seemed to come alive with these words. In the dilapidated house, the nearly extinguished candlelight suddenly shot up, expanding the surrounding dim glow a bit. The dark shadows that were stalking the walls were also driven back by the light.

Lin Wunian knew that simply knowing the corpse poison could be cured wasn't enough; she needed to find the specific antidote formula and recipe. She immediately calmed herself and continued her study with rapt attention. The book's contents were obscure and difficult to understand, as if deliberately shrouded in mystery. The ancient texts and strange symbols, some blurry, others seemingly multifaceted, left her racking her brain. She took out a pen and paper and began writing down key information as she read. Whenever she encountered something unclear, her brow furrowed as she pondered the meaning, sometimes biting her lip in thought, sometimes tapping her head, trying to dig for clues from the depths of her memory.

Following the clues in the book, she rummaged through the drawers and cabinets of her house, finding samples of various herbs, carefully comparing them to the descriptions in the book. However, some herbs were extremely rare, and even after searching through her entire collection, she could only find a few. Some herbs required specialized preparation methods, requiring precise control of heat, time, and the amount of ingredients used. She never dared to take her eyes off the herb as it simmered over a low flame, but the faint flame seemed to be playing tricks on her. A single inattention could lead to deviations, ruining the herb.

She also experimented with combining different herbs to observe their reactions. Each combination was like an uncharted adventure. Some combinations had no effect at all, while others produced drastic changes, even emitting acrid fumes that brought tears to her eyes and caused her to cough uncontrollably. Even worse, during one experiment, a small explosion occurred, the powerful force knocking her to the ground and leaving the room in a state of complete chaos. Her arms were bruised, her hair a bit disheveled, but Lin Wunian remained undeterred. When she failed, she would start over, analyze the cause, and adjust the formula.

As she mixed together several specially treated herbs, the once bland liquid suddenly took on a strange glow, as if the brightest stars in the night sky had been crushed and sprinkled into the liquid. Amidst the shimmering light, a delicate medicinal fragrance filled the air. This scent was unlike any she had ever smelled before, carrying a breath of vitality and hope. Lin Wunian's eyes widened, her heartbeat quickening, and her hands trembled subtly. "Could this be the antidote to the corpse poison?" Her voice was filled with uncontrollable surprise and excitement.

"It's solvable... it's truly solvable..." she muttered, her voice hoarse with excitement. Images of those tormented by the corpse poison surfaced in her mind, their faces etched with pain and despair, now filled with hope of escaping their fate. She eagerly read on, the light in her eyes growing brighter, as if she had found the key to a door of hope in a world filled with despair.

The wind whistled past the house, carrying with it the smell of death and decay, but at this moment Lin Wunian was not afraid at all, because the words in the book were her confidence to fight against all this.

After countless failed attempts throughout the night, Lin Wunian finally developed three antidotes according to the instructions in the book. After countless attempts and failures, she finally created three antidotes. The dawn light shone through the shabby window, illuminating her exhausted yet unconcealed face. The room was in shambles, with the remains of various medicinal herbs scattered across the floor, like the wreckage of a fierce battle.

Lin Wunian carefully held the three antidotes. They glowed faintly in the dim light, as if condensing all hope. Her hands trembled slightly. These small pills carried too much weight. Each one could be a lifesaver for those afflicted by the plague.

Tears welled in her eyes as she recalled this long, arduous night. Countless times, the flames nearly burned her hands; countless times, the acrid smoke nearly made her faint; countless times, failed attempts nearly shattered her confidence. But she never gave up, because she knew the people in the quarantine zone were suffering, waiting for her to save them.

At this moment, she was holding the antidote, as if she was holding the most precious treasure in the world, ready to step into the place full of death and despair to ignite the fire of hope.

Lin Wunian gently pushed open the old wooden door, the hinges creaking with a distinct sound in the still morning air. Outside, Kanan was absorbed in repetitious steps, stirring the pot expertly. Rising mist enveloped her figure, revealing only her focused, yet slightly weary profile.

"Kan'an, brew it first! I've developed three antidotes!" Lin Wunian raised her voice, her excitement and eagerness barely concealed. As she spoke, she strode forward, extending her hand for Kan'an to inspect. The three antidotes lay quietly in her palms, emitting a mysterious glow, like spirits poised to rewrite fate.

At the sound, Kanan whipped her head around, a flicker of surprise in her eyes before they filled with hope. She set down her instruments and quickly walked over to Lin Wunian, her gaze fixed on the three antidotes. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "This...is this really the antidote?" Kanan's voice cracked, and the exhaustion and despair of the past few days seemed to dissipate at that moment.