Chapter 2: Wuyangmu

Chen Guo suddenly clenched his palm

When the young man withdrew his gaze, Chen Guo was suddenly taken aback

However, Master Chen Qi is not someone who easily gives up, especially since this matter concerns his life, and he must go all out. Chen Guo decided to personally venture into the mountains to inquire about news from the old man deep within the mountains

The depths of Miaojiang are forever shrouded in mystery and unpredictability

The old immortal resides in the remote mountain town of Qingyuan, fearing that enemies might come knocking. Being forced into action, each time he engages in a confrontation, the toxicity of his actions deepens one layer further.

However, what Chen Guo's master did not anticipate was that, after many years, the world had changed again. Chen Guo had surprisingly become a member of the Pao Ge, and his status was no less than that of his master in those years

Sigh...

In this era of firearms, even if Chen Guo practices "medical skills," it would merely serve as a means of self-defense, and she would not put in much effort.

It can be seen but not eaten, and it can be deadly.

Fortunately, the world changed later on. After the establishment of the new government, there was a strong crackdown on various underworld gangs and secret societies. The once powerful gangs faded into oblivion, and the enemies of the old man, who had once offended him, also went their separate ways. No one came to trouble him anymore, allowing him to enjoy his later years and pass away peacefully. The only regret was that he had no children or descendants. Initially, he passed on the "Yama's Medicinal Hand" to Chen Guo, partly because he saw him as a promising martial artist, and partly because he could not bear to see the unique skills of his lineage lost in his hands without being passed down through generations.

Chen Qiye was very clear in his heart that his illness was becoming increasingly severe. His master, the Old Immortal, had once solemnly instructed him that the "Yama Medicine" was extremely powerful and extraordinarily domineering, but it should not be used in excess; otherwise, the toxicity would seep into the marrow, leading to the complete loss of martial arts skills at best, or at worst, resulting in a softening of the muscles and bones, endangering his life. The Old Immortal had suddenly retreated from the world and withdrawn from the martial arts community during his peak fame in several provinces in the Southwest because of the backlash from the medicine, which had caused significant hidden dangers within his body. If he continued to engage in reckless battles with others, he would either die at the hands of his enemies or perish by his own hand.

The name of that medicine is "Wuyangmu"

Seventh Master is usually quite amiable and does not show a stern face in front of his brothers. However, this does not mean that you can neglect your own responsibilities. If Seventh Master truly becomes angry, regardless of who it is, no one will be able to escape the consequences.

The young man smiled gently, instantly making one feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze

What do you do, you old six

All the other medicines have been gathered; as long as we can find the Wuyang wood and brew it for consumption, perhaps it will resolve the hidden dangers deeply rooted within him

Where on earth is this damned Sun God Tree hidden

Chen Guo's lips curled into a faint bitter smile

It cannot be said that there are no gains at all

Chen Guo could not help but smile

The master advised Chen Guo that without Wuyang wood, this prescription cannot be used; otherwise, the effects will be counterproductive

What he never expected was that the other ten or so herbs on the prescription were quickly gathered, but the "Wuyangmu" was nowhere to be found. In Chengyuan City, where merchants from all over the country congregated, there were many well-informed individuals, yet no matter whom Chen Guo asked, they all shook their heads vigorously. Even a large merchant from the Northeast curiously asked him in return, what is Wuyangmu? Is it a type of wood used for making furniture?

At this rate of development, Chen Guo is concerned that she will not be able to endure the second five-year period

Despite this, Chen Guo became increasingly convinced of the efficacy of this prescription. Among the more than ten types of herbs listed, none were ordinary; all were extremely precious materials. Especially after learning that the miraculous herb "Wuyangmu" and the *Tushu* material truly exist in the world, Chen Guo's confidence was further solidified

Master Chen Qi does not appreciate hearing such words

Chen Guo gazed at the man who was quietly sipping tea

After several forays into the deep mountains and traversing through villages and hamlets, Chen Guo was profoundly disappointed

It is yet another extremely peculiar feeling; this young man harbors no malice. Chen Guo is astonished to find that she seems to have been influenced by him unconsciously.

The surrounding mountains of Qingyuan, spanning hundreds of miles, have long been a settlement area for the Miao and Yao ethnic groups. Since ancient times, the Miao and Yao people have had a tradition of gathering medicinal herbs. My master once mentioned that the reclusive expert he encountered in the mountains was a herbalist who had just returned from the most mysterious area of witchcraft deep within the mountains. They were destined to meet, which is why he provided him with such a life-saving prescription

Lao Liu shook his head, his brows furrowed, and said: "Seventh Master, what exactly is this Wuyang wood? I have asked many people, and they not only claim to have never seen it, but they have never even heard of it..."

In the event that a guest causes a disturbance here or suffers any harm, Master Chen Qi must provide an explanation

With the advancement of technology, each generation of firearms surpasses the last, while traditional martial arts have long since declined, fading from the mainstream public's view, and can only be seen in movies, television, and novels

Moreover, the old man who gathers herbs has only heard of the true Wuyang tree and has never seen one, let alone provide a specimen for Chen Guo

For a street boss like Chen Guo, who thrives on bloodshed, this is the true danger

Master Chen Qi guarantees the absolute safety of every guest, but it is not without conditions. The prerequisite is that he must understand the background of these guests. For regular customers, it is acceptable; they have names, surnames, and companies, and a thorough check can be conducted. However, for newcomers, a recommendation from an acquaintance is necessary, and the recommender must not be an unknown person.

Since this venue has been entrusted to you, you must understand the background of each guest thoroughly

However, where exactly is this Wuyang wood located

Chen Guo slightly opened his palm, and a purplish-blue bruise stung his eyes. In the center of his palm, this purplish-blue bruise, which was only the size of a peanut five years ago, had now grown to nearly the size of a walnut. The old master had made it very clear: when the purplish-blue color spreads across the entire palm, it signifies that the backlash from the medicine has reached its peak. At that point, one would either be dead or severely injured, and even a deity would find it difficult to save.

Chen Guo then recalled the prescription that his master had passed on to him many years ago, and quickly retrieved it to prepare the medicine. At that time, Chen Guo was quite confident. Qingyuan was indeed a hub for traditional Chinese medicine in the southwestern provinces and cities, so what difficulty could there be in preparing a prescription?

Chen Guo has cultivated his medicinal skills to an extremely profound level, akin to the way the ancient immortal once did, and the drugs have begun to turn against him

Chen Guo placed the pipe back in his mouth and asked casually, his gaze once again falling on the young couple. However, he did not fixate on the girl's face this time, feeling that staring too long would make him dizzy. The girl was indeed beautiful, but she could not be described as a celestial beauty. Moreover, at this moment, Master Chen Qi was not particularly interested in beautiful girls.

Even trusted confidants like Lao Liu are not acceptable

By intuition, Chen Guo could tell that these two were centered around the gentle young man. One sat while the other stood, and they did not converse with each other, creating a rather peculiar situation. It seemed that the distinction in their identities could be gleaned from this arrangement.

Indeed, today's Brotherhood is not the same as the Brotherhood of the past. Many things have changed; perhaps it has merely inherited the name of the Brotherhood, while its methods of operation are vastly different, especially in relation to official matters, which are even more distinct.

Such rumors have existed in various parts of the world during times when technology was not advanced and in the age of books. The more impoverished and underdeveloped the region, the more prevalent these rumors tend to be. However, Chen Guo has indeed not heard of anyone claiming to have fully explored the mountains surrounding Qingyuan for hundreds of miles.

In recent years, although Chen Guo has stopped taking medication, he is still able to clearly perceive the various changes within his body. Dizziness is merely the mildest of the external manifestations. Now, even if the most delicate young girl were stripped bare and placed before him, Master Chen Qi would be powerless, only able to stare blankly, with no way to act.

But he needs to clarify the backgrounds of these two individuals

The so-called land of witchcraft deep within the mountains is something Chen Guo has only heard of; no one has truly ventured there, and it is even difficult to ascertain whether such a place really exists. It is said to be the most mysterious location, filled with witchcraft and miasma, where both humans and beasts that enter are doomed to perish without exception

"Old Liu, who introduced those two people?"

He does not want anyone to see the bruise on his palm. It is as if a martial artist would never expose their vulnerable spot, the "vital point," openly to their adversaries.

Upon this thought, Chen Guo removed the leopard tooth pipe from his mouth and turned to a capable man in his thirties beside him, asking, "Lao Liu, do you have any leads on Wu Yang Mu?"

Lao Liu approached.

The capable man, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, is the most trusted brother under Master Chen Qi, serving as the general manager of the Qingyuan Grand Hotel. In recent years, Chen Guo has been living a reclusive life, occasionally venturing into the mountains to gather herbs, delegating many matters to Lao Liu to handle. Lao Liu essentially acts as his spokesperson, being not only fiercely loyal but also exceptionally astute and capable, which gives Chen Guo great peace of mind.

It is not just that Lao Liu has never heard of it; he himself has never heard of it. That life-saving prescription was given to him by the old immortal before his death, who told him that in case the medicinal effects turned too severe, he could prepare the medicine according to this prescription to save his life. However, the old immortal also informed him that this prescription was given to him by a transcendent master he encountered in his youth, and he had never used it himself. It was not that he did not want to use it, but rather that there was one ingredient that could not be found anywhere, no matter how hard he searched.

Chen Guo's expression immediately darkened as she said calmly, "Investigate thoroughly"

Since a few years ago, when the signs of drug backlash began to emerge, Chen Guo has sought medical advice everywhere. Not only has he consulted traditional Chinese medicine, but he has also sought Western medicine. He has undergone examinations at top hospitals in major cities such as the capital's Pearl and has been hospitalized, consulting the most renowned professors, yet the results have been minimal.

Although there may be very few people in this world who have even heard of the name "Yan Luo Yao Shou"

Now, everything is in place, only the east wind is lacking

Five years

Chen Guo felt dizzy from listening

In a remote mountain village deep within the mountains, Chen Guo finally heard an elderly herbalist, aged seventy or eighty, mention Wuyangmu. The herbalist informed this well-dressed individual from the city that, according to local tradition, Wuyangmu is the divine wood of utmost yang. In reality, it is not a tree but a type of vine that absorbs the essence of the earth's fire, thus becoming the wood of utmost yang

Lao Liu followed his gaze and was momentarily taken aback, saying, "Hmm, quite unfamiliar..."

This situation has frequently occurred with Chen Guo recently

At that moment, the young man set down his blue-and-white porcelain cup and looked towards the corridor, coincidentally meeting Chen Guo's gaze

A chill ran through Lao Liu's heart; he nodded repeatedly and turned to run away

Chen Guo was quite frustrated at that time

return empty-handed

Others must also provide an explanation to Master Chen Qi

Although he has not read extensively, he is nonetheless a civilized person living in modern society. He truly does not believe in such statements that are clearly imbued with a "legendary quality"