Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

At noon, the county magistrate and the county constable of Qiandeng County rushed to Qingfeng Temple with a group of county soldiers, took control of the temple, and took away all the disciples of Qingfeng Temple, including the county magistrate Zhou Mingyuan.

but,

Gu Guanqi and Xue Fuling did not leave.

They wanted to search Qingfeng Temple to see if Yuyuanqiao had left any methods to treat the epidemic, or at least some ideas, since Yuyuanqiao was mainly responsible for manufacturing the epidemic virus.

Now that Qingfeng Temple has been taken over by the county government, no one stopped the two of them from taking what was left behind at Yuyuan Bridge.

but,

Xue Fuling was mainly in charge of checking things out, while Gu Guanqi was primarily there to keep her company.

Of course, Xue Fuling didn't actually need company, because she became completely absorbed in Yuyuanqiao's notes about the epidemic virus.

Until midnight,

Xue Fuling finally finished organizing all the notes she needed. She slightly turned her neck and looked over, only to see Gu Guanqi asleep on the table.

She smiled gently, got up and walked towards Gu Guanqi.

As soon as Xue Fuling moved, Gu Guanqi instantly woke up, looked up, and asked, "Are you done?"

"Um."

Xue Fuling nodded slightly and said, "Yu Yuanqiao's records of the epidemic are quite detailed. I have read through all his notes and have basically figured out how the epidemic came about."

Gu Guanqi asked, "Have you thought of a treatment method?"

Xue Fuling said, "I need to go back to the medicine house to prepare a sample of the plague virus, and then take it myself to clearly understand the changes after the plague enters the human body, so that I can develop an antidote."

Gu Guanqi quickly said, "This won't do, it's too dangerous. What if we can't concoct an antidote in a short time?"

Xue Fuling smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, Guanqi, I won't joke around with my life."

"Then why did you do it?" Gu Guanqi asked, puzzled.

Xue Fuling said, "Because I am immune to all poisons, I have tried countless kinds of poisons since I was a child, and they all dissipate shortly after entering my body. This is my greatest confidence in dedicating myself to writing a medical book to save the world!"

Gu Guanqi asked in surprise, "There's such a miraculous constitution?"

Xue Fuling nodded slightly and said, "This is also why I don't cultivate internal energy despite being born in Medicine King Valley. My master said that my physique is special, and I cannot cultivate internal energy before I have fully mastered it, as it would affect my physique."

Only upon reaching mastery can one cultivate the Heavenly Physician's Divine Scripture, a unique technique passed down through the Medicine King Valley. The Heavenly Physician's True Qi is perfectly suited to my physique, achieving a seamless integration.

Gu Guanqi frowned and said, "You're not lying to me, are you?"

Xue Fuling walked up to Gu Guanqi and said gently, "Everything I have for you is true, and what I say is also true."

"good!"

……

The next morning, just as dawn broke.

Gu Guanqi and Xue Fuling quickly returned to Qiandeng County, packed their things, and the group quickly returned to Qingyang City.

The government now attaches great importance to Xue Fuling. The county government of Qiandeng County specially arranged a team of soldiers to escort her. After arriving at the border of Qiandeng County, another team of soldiers from the prefectural government came to greet her.

The journey was smooth and unimpeded, and we returned to Qingyang City without any problems.

After returning, Xue Fuling devoted herself to the pharmacy, even eating her meals there.

For several days in a row, she worked almost non-stop, focusing on developing a treatment for the epidemic.

Although Gu Guanqi was also a doctor, his medical skills were mediocre, and he had no knowledge of epidemics, so he couldn't help much and could only deliver meals to patients at set times each day.

As for protection, it wasn't his place. The Six Doors and the prefectural government had both sent people to protect the medicine shop, and Gu Guanqi wasn't needed to assist, because the government had arranged a large number of highly skilled doctors to work with Xue Fuling.

Four or five days passed in the blink of an eye.

That morning, it was still dark.

A cheer erupted from the pharmacy.

Gu Guanqi walked over and saw a large group of doctors bowing to Xue Fuling with excited expressions. Xue Fuling returned the bows one by one, and soon the group had all left.

Gu Guanqi walked over and asked, "Has the treatment method been developed?"

"Hmm." Xue Fuling's face was pale, and her expression was full of exhaustion. She slowly sat down in a chair and said, "It was developed yesterday, but we have been waiting for the treatment effect. Just now, two patients have been cured. With the anti-epidemic pills and treatment methods, the plague will not break out."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Gu Guanqi poured Xue Fuling a cup of tea and asked, "Are you alright?"

Xue Fuling smiled and said, "I'm fine."

"Let me take a look first."

As he spoke, Gu Guanqi casually grabbed Xue Fuling's wrist, placed his fingers on it, and then frowned.

Xue Fuling asked, "What's wrong?"

Gu Guanqi asked in confusion, "How come you have internal energy within you?"

Xue Fuling was slightly taken aback and said, "How could I possibly have true energy within my body? Are you mistaken?"

As she spoke, Xue Fuling reached out and took her own pulse. Then, looking astonished, she said, "This shouldn't be the case. I've never practiced internal energy cultivation techniques, nor have I ever suffered any internal injuries."

"Then what's this true energy all about?" Gu Guanqi asked, puzzled.

Xue Fuling took out a silver needle and pricked it into her arm. Then she took the needle out, and the needle had turned black.

"It's poisonous." Gu Guanqi said hurriedly, "Is it because the plague virus wasn't completely eradicated?"

Xue Fuling stared at the silver needles for a while, then shook her head and said, "This is not a plague virus. I cannot determine what kind of poison it is. This toxin is mixed in with the true qi."

Gu Guanqi said, "In other words, it's highly likely that someone who cultivates poison techniques secretly attacked you and planted poisonous true energy within your body?"

"I can't explain it either," Xue Fuling said slowly. "I'm afraid we should go and see the Poison Immortal, the Poison Master. He is a master of the art of poison."

"Let's go, let's go now."

The two immediately went out.

However, just as they reached the door, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance.

The two looked in the direction of the sound.

In the morning mist, a squad of six constables from the Six Doors was speeding towards them. There were seven or eight of them, and the leader was none other than Shen Qingqiu.

In the middle of the procession, a horse-drawn carriage was being protected.

Shen Qingqiu rode his horse to the entrance of the inn, reined in it, dismounted, and asked, "Where are you two headed?"

Gu Guanqi quickly said, "It seems that Fuling's body has some problems. There is a poisonous internal energy in her body. I'm going to find Senior Poison Master now. Is he at the Six Doors?"

Shen Qingqiu quickly said, "There's no need to go find the Poison Master anymore, Fuling's master has arrived."

Xue Fuling was slightly taken aback, then exclaimed with delight, "Qingqiu, is it really my master?"

Shen Qingqiu nodded and said, "Would I lie to you?"

At this moment,

The carriage came to a stop, and the curtain was lifted.

Then, a middle-aged woman stepped out of the carriage.

She was about forty years old, tall and slender, wearing a moon-white long dress. Her features were exquisite, with gentle eyes and brows.

Her hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands hanging down beside her ears, adding a touch of languid charm.

She stood there, the morning breeze ruffling her clothes and cloak, looking like a painting.

This person is none other than Su Qingxing, the master of the Medicine King Valley.

"Master!"

Xue Fuling was overjoyed and quickly ran over to hug Su Qingxing.

Su Qingxing patted Xue Fuling on the back, then gently pushed her away, cupped her face in his hands, and said with a grin, "Let your teacher see if my adorable little Fuling has gotten chubby and plump since leaving Master!"

Su Qingxing examined him for a while, then said with great disappointment, "It seems the food at the Six Doors isn't good; they've made my adorable little apprentice so thin!"

"Master..."

Xue Fuling said helplessly, "I'm all grown up now, please stop treating me like a child, okay?"

Su Qingxing smiled slightly and said, "Yes, yes, you've grown up, so you'll all be going on blind dates now, right?"

Xue Fuling blushed, then pulled Su Qing to the entrance of the medicine shop and introduced Gu Guanqi, saying, "Master, this is the Doctor Gu Guanqi I told you about in my letter."

After saying that, Xue Fuling said to Gu Guanqi, "Guanqi, this is my master, the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, Su Qingxing."

Medicine King Gugu Master Su Qingxing.

Gu Guanqi had heard of this name before. People in the martial arts world had a very high opinion of Su Qingxing, saying that she was the most skilled doctor in the world, with the ability to "bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded," and was a recognized master of medicine in the world.

Seeing him now, he indeed possessed an extraordinary bearing.

Gu Guanqi quickly cupped his hands and said, "Junior Gu Guanqi greets Senior Su!"

Su Qing walked closer, glanced at Gu Guanqi, and smiled, saying, "I've heard a lot about you since I entered Qingyang territory, and I'm quite looking forward to meeting you."

"Uh... I hope I haven't disappointed you, senior," Gu Guanqi said.

Su Qingxing waved his hand and said, "Not disappointed, not disappointed at all, I'm quite satisfied. The young man is quite handsome, very young, with high martial arts skills, and good character. He's a good match for my Fuling. It's just a pity that you two are not destined to be together."

Gu Guanqi frowned and asked, "Senior, what do you mean by that?"

Xue Fuling asked nervously, "Master, what are you doing?"

Su Qingxing smiled slightly and said, "What's wrong? Are you afraid that Master will break up the couple? Master isn't that bad."

As he spoke, Su Qingxing walked into the medicine hut, saying as he went, "Oh dear, Master has come all this way to see you, you should at least let Master have a cup of tea first, and then we can talk about everything slowly!"

Immediately, the group entered the courtyard and went to a living room.

Xue Fuling poured tea for everyone.

Su Qingxing sat down in a chair, pulled Xue Fuling to sit next to her, lifted Xue Fuling's sleeve, and gently pressed her arm a few times with his fingers, then channeled his internal energy into her.

A dark blue pattern appeared on Xue Fuling's arm. The pattern was faint, but it was slowly spreading.

Xue Fuling was slightly startled and asked, "Master, what is this?"

Su Qingxing picked up his teacup, took a sip of water, and slowly said, "Your master lied to you back then. I told you that you were immune to all poisons, but in reality, you weren't."

Xue Fuling asked in confusion, "What does 'not susceptible to invasion' mean?"

"So you have a body of a hundred poisons!" Su Qingxing said, "You are born with a poisonous body, naturally possessing an extremely powerful poisonous intent hidden deep within your bloodline. Ordinary people cannot see it, but if left unchecked, this poisonous intent will backfire on you, and you will become a poisonous person whose entire body is filled with deadly poison."

Gu Guanqi, Xue Fuling, and Shen Qingqiu's expressions changed slightly in an instant.

Su Qingxing continued, "The reason you didn't know is because when I took you back to Medicine King Valley, I used the Valley's unique technique to seal the poison within your body. I then used a special technique to guide it, allowing the poison to merge with your own meridians. The reason you are immune to all poisons is actually because the poison in your body is the most potent. Once those poisons enter your body, they are quickly devoured by your own poisonous intent."

Xue Fuling said, "So, the true energy I just sensed in my body was yours?"

Su Qingxing nodded and said, "Yes, it is the true energy that seals the poison. However, sealing is just sealing, not curing it. The poison is constantly growing. The longer it is suppressed, the stronger it will be when it erupts. You have been suppressing it for more than 20 years now. Once it erupts, even I will not be able to suppress it."

Xue Fuling quickly asked, "Master, is it possible that even with your medical skills, there's no way to cure this?"

"Yes!" Su Qingxing said, "But this method is rather special. It's about fighting poison with poison. Once the poison in your body has fully developed, I will teach you the Heavenly Physician's Divine Scripture, the ultimate technique of our Medicine King Valley. When you reach the perfect level of cultivation, you will be able to perfectly control your poisonous body, and then it won't matter anymore."

Xue Fuling asked, "Why haven't I heard you mention it all these years?"

"Oh dear," Su Qingxing pinched Xue Fuling's cheek and said, "Isn't it because I feel sorry for my adorable little disciple? Think about it, you were abandoned when you were young, and you have a self-conscious and withdrawn personality. If I were to tell you the truth, wouldn't you just shut yourself off and never speak again?"

Xue Fuling asked, "Then, Master, can't we just continue sealing it like this?"

Su Qingxing said, "It's no use. Your poisonous body has reached its peak. You have to come back to Medicine King Valley with me. Our Medicine King Valley has a forbidden area called the Four Symbols Cave. There is spiritual energy in the cave that can nourish the body and suppress the poison."

You need to enter it, use the spiritual energy to balance the poison in your body, and then cultivate the Heavenly Physician's Divine Scripture, the ultimate technique of Medicine King Valley. Once you cultivate the Heavenly Physician's Divine Scripture to perfection, you will be able to control the poison within your body and transform it into your own power, thus naturally resolving the problem of the poison.

Xue Fuling remained silent.

At this moment, Shen Qingqiu asked, "But Fuling is already in her twenties, and her physical constitution is already fully developed. Isn't it a bit late for her to start cultivating this mental technique?"

Su Qingxing said, "The Heavenly Physician's Divine Scripture doesn't rely on innate talent, but on comprehension. The only limitation is that you need to rely on the spiritual energy in the Four Symbols Cave to successfully cultivate it, and you must stay inside all the time, without any distractions."

"How long will it take to reach perfection in cultivation?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Su Qingxing chuckled and said, "I can't say anything about that. This technique is easy to learn, but it's very difficult to reach a high level. In the hundreds of years since the establishment of Medicine King Valley, only seven people have ever reached the perfect state. Even the one who achieved it in the shortest time took a full fifteen years."

Gu Guanqi exclaimed in surprise, "So long?"

Su Qingxing nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Fortunately, the Four Symbols Cave is suppressing it, and the Heavenly Physician's Divine Scripture is easy to learn, so Fuling is not in any danger."

Gu Guanqi nodded and said, "As long as my life isn't in danger, thank you, senior!"

Su Qingxing smiled and said, "You silly child, why are you thanking me? Fuling is my disciple!"

As she spoke, she waved her hand and said, "You all go out first. I need to help Fuling stabilize the poison. My previous seal has loosened on its own, so I need to reinforce it. Otherwise, it won't be long before we get back to Yunzhou."