I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 223: Chapter 92: Spirit Ginseng

Above the pitch-black night, the moon shone bright and clear. Its boundless, cold brilliance cascaded down, blanketing the earth like flowing frost and illuminating the carriage Fang Rui sat in, which was just about to depart.

”Young friend!”

Just then, a voice called out, seeming to ring right beside his ear. On first hearing, it was enough to make one’s skin crawl.

But Fang Rui was a man of extraordinary composure who had weathered every storm imaginable. He remained perfectly calm, his expression unchanged. ”Daoist Ge?!”

He stepped out of the carriage and saw it was indeed Ge Changgeng, Scholar Fu Yun of White Cloud Temple. This time, the Daoist had come alone, without his usual Child attendant.

”Young friend, could you come over for a word?”

It was obvious that whatever he wanted to discuss needed to be kept from the carriage driver and was not for outsiders’ ears.

”Of course.” Fang Rui instructed the driver to wait and followed him.

When they reached a hidden alley on a side street, Ge Changgeng made his request. ”Young friend, could you please take out the Spirit Jade Ginseng you acquired today and allow this humble Daoist a look?”

”Please, have a look, Daoist.”

Fang Rui was a little surprised, but he also had the thought, ’So this is what he came for.’ After a moment’s pause, he unhesitatingly took out a silk-wrapped package and unfolded it, revealing the child-like Spirit Jade Ginseng.

He didn’t think Ge Changgeng would try to snatch the Spirit Jade Ginseng. Given the man’s status, it was completely beneath him.

And indeed, that was the case.

Ge Changgeng made no move to take it. His eyes simply flickered with a faint Spiritual Light as he gazed at the Spirit Jade Ginseng. His expression slowly turned solemn, and he muttered cryptically, ”Just as I suspected.”

Then, he pointed a finger. A pale green Spiritual Light spiraled down like a coil, sprinkling over the Spirit Jade Ginseng. The ginseng, which had appeared perfectly normal just a moment ago, suddenly began to exude streams of black energy as the faint, shrill scream of a small child seemed to erupt in the air.

Fang Rui’s pupils contracted violently. ”What is this?!”

Not until about ten breaths later did the black energy on the Spirit Jade Ginseng completely dissipate—

Ge Changgeng finally let out a long breath, his face slightly pale. He offered an explanation, ”Spirit Master Sun uses special methods to cultivate Spirit Medicine, leaving behind some residue. But he is unwilling to expend the great effort needed to clean it up completely...”

”As for the deeper details, I know some, but I cannot say more,” he said, an apologetic look on his face.

”Then I won’t make things difficult for you, Daoist.”

Fang Rui naturally didn’t blame Ge Changgeng.

The two of them weren’t close friends; the other man had no obligation to tell him the truth.

Besides, Ge Changgeng had come to warn him and had helped him by seemingly expelling something from the Spirit Jade Ginseng. That alone was a huge favor. To ask for more would be pushing his luck.

Fang Rui didn’t ask about the faint, shrill screams or the sinister black energy. Instead, with a hesitant look, he broached another question. ”Daoist Ge, if the Spirit Jade Ginseng is like this, then what about the Jade Plums, the Great Medicine, and the Old Medicine...”

He figured the Jade Plums were Exotic Fruits, born of heaven and earth, utterly pure and untaintable. Plus, Ge Changgeng had eaten them too, so they had to be fine.

But as for the Great Medicine and Old Medicine, he couldn’t be so sure.

”You’re overthinking it, young friend.”

Ge Changgeng stroked his beard. ”The Jade Plums are Exotic Fruits of heaven and earth; naturally, they are fine. As for the Great Medicine and Old Medicine? They are also normal. They merely use Arrays to accelerate growth, which can be considered a form of natural cultivation. But Spirit Medicine...”

At this, he shook his head and fell silent.

Clearly, there was a problem with the Spirit Medicine.

”Those so-called ’Spirit Medicines’ all have problems?” Fang Rui’s eyes narrowed.

”It’s not that Spirit Medicine has a problem, but that the Court’s Spirit Medicine does... Within the Great Yu Court, for most things with the word ’spirit’ in their name... they’re actually...”

Ge Changgeng stopped there, as if realizing something, and changed the subject again. ”Truthfully, if you don’t question its origins and just eat this Spirit Jade Ginseng, it’s not a huge problem. One or two won’t hurt, especially after this humble Daoist has purified it. It’s almost no different from a naturally grown Half-Spirit Medicine.”

”However, you still mustn’t eat too many, especially the ones that haven’t been properly cleansed. Long-term consumption will destabilize your Martial Arts foundation and may even affect your disposition... In short, young friend, you must be extremely cautious in this regard.”

”Thank you for the warning, Daoist Ge.”

For some reason, Fang Rui subconsciously recalled what Kang Huaifeng had said about ’eating people,’ and a shadow seemed to fall over his heart.

’The Court... Spirit Medicine... There must be some foul business at play here!’

He pondered this inwardly but let none of it show on his face. He simply gave Ge Changgeng a deep bow to thank him for his warning and help today.

”No need for such courtesy. Our meeting was fated. You could say you sowed a good seed and are now reaping a good fruit.”

Ge Changgeng paused for a moment. ”I only came because I didn’t want to see you unknowingly led astray.”

”It’s getting late. You should head back, young friend.”

With that, he waved his hand, signaling for Fang Rui not to see him off. His body was wreathed in brilliant Spiritual Light as he floated away.

”All the world deems an Immortal’s life good, but from power they cannot part; Where are the generals of old? In desolate graves overgrown from the start... All the world deems an Immortal’s life good, but from... eternal life they cannot part...”

Only the lingering notes of the Daoist’s song remained, echoing long in the cold night air.

If it were anyone else, hearing this song would probably lead to some profound realization, or perhaps they’d just exclaim, ’What an eccentric man.’ But Fang Rui?

”That Daoist Ge is really something else... Didn’t I just put on an act in front of him last time? Does he have to get his own back and return the favor now?!”

He swore with a laugh, thinking this White Cloud Scholar was a very interesting person, with the disposition of a playful old rascal.

He returned to the carriage.

CREAK!

The carriage swayed as it made its way back to the Fang Mansion.

Fang Rui sat in the carriage, his eyes slightly closed, mulling over what had just happened. ’Sun Shouchai most likely relies on some kind of evil Magic to cultivate his Spirit Medicine.’

’I wouldn’t eat a Spirit Medicine like that even if you paid me to. That said... if there was an evil Magic that could extend the lives of my mother, Third Sister, Ling’Er, and Nannan... would I use it?’