Chapter 010: The Aberrant Elixir

When Lin Huo was halfway through speaking, Wu Mian had already rolled up the pant leg of the 'injured leg', revealing a calf that showed no signs of having been injured by a trap. Lin Huo was taken aback upon seeing this and murmured, "It wasn't like this when I changed your dressing three days ago"

Hearing this answer from Wu Mian, Lin Huo still wanted to ask Wu Mian for another elixir. However, Wu Mian did not relent. Looking at Lin Huo, who had changed somewhat since their first meeting, he said: "It may be due to your constitution; no matter how many you take, you won't absorb much. Well, at least you have absorbed a considerable amount of medicinal power. It can be considered a manifestation of longevity."

After finally catching his breath, Lin Huo looked at Wu Mian with some fear and asked several questions in succession: "How did you do that just now? Was that witchcraft? Why have I never heard you mention witchcraft before?"

Wu Mian looked at the pill in his hand and said, "Someone once said that taking this elixir would grant immortality. After I took it, it seems I have already achieved immortality. Would you like to give it a try..."

The customs of the Miao village are simple and unpretentious, and everyone knows that he is a friend of the next shaman. Under the influence of this connection, Wu Mian returned here once again, and the locals did not display any excessive emotions. However, when he returned to the bamboo house where he had previously stayed, he discovered that someone was already waiting for him. Upon seeing Wu Mian's return, this person immediately rushed out and said to Wu Mian: "The elixir you gave me, I took it... and I am still alive."

As he spoke, Wu Mian threw the elixir towards Lin Huo and said, "I will leave the elixir with you; whether you choose to consume it is up to you. However, there is one thing I must mention beforehand. Not everyone’s constitution is suitable for this elixir. After taking the elixir, there are two possible outcomes. One is immortality, and the other is death upon consumption. Which outcome you experience will depend on your luck"

After speaking, he turned over and stood up, bending his knees to kneel before Wu Mian, then leaned forward to bow his head. Wu Mian did not stop Lin Huo; instead, he stepped aside to give way as Lin Huo bowed.

What you see is merely what I allow you to see Wu Mian rolled down his pant leg and continued to look at Lin Huo saying If I wanted to do anything to you, I would not have kept you here until now I have countless opportunities every day to send you to your next life

"Immortality?" Lin Huo laughed heartily and continued, "I saw with my own eyes what it was like when you were caught in a beast trap. You nearly didn't survive that injury, so how could you possibly achieve immortality..."

This person is indeed Lin Huo, who has been a source of trouble for nineteen days, but Wu Mian does not believe his words. Looking at Lin Huo's shiny black hair, Wu Mian said: "It doesn't seem like you have eaten..."

"It is merely a little trick; when one is out in the world, one must know a few skills to rely on." Wu Mian smiled faintly, observing Lin Huo's expression pause for a moment before continuing, "In a few years, when you become the Witch Ancestor, you will no longer regard such deceptive little tricks with any respect." The little trick Wu Mian referred to was the technique recorded in the bamboo slips left by Xu Fu in the cave of Yanshan in Liaodong. He reiterated, "In a few years, when you become the Witch Ancestor, you will no longer regard such deceptive little tricks with any respect." The little trick Wu Mian mentioned was indeed the technique recorded in the bamboo slips left by Xu Fu in the cave of Yanshan in Liaodong.

Lin Huo glanced at the pill and, feeling somewhat perplexed, said to Wu Mian: "What is this?"

Lin Huo wore a disgruntled expression, but he also realized that he could not obtain the elixir from Wu Mian and would have to seek alternative paths.

Lin Huo's hand trembled slightly as he held the elixir. He had already believed about seventy to eighty percent of Wu Mian's words, but the last few sentences made him feel uneasy again. Wu Mian noticed Lin Huo's expression and said, "You don't need to take it immediately; think it over before making a decision. If you choose not to take it, then return the elixir to me. I will be out for a few days, so take your time to consider..." After saying this, he turned and left the bamboo building, leaving Lin Huo staring blankly at the elixir in his hand.

"You should have said something earlier when you woke up," Wu Mian said, as his right hand had already left Lin Huo's body, and the electric arc that had formed at his fingertips also vanished without a trace. At this moment, Lin Huo finally returned to normal; apart from a tingling sensation in his body, he felt no other discomfort

After coming out of the forest fire, Wu Mian returned to his residence. During these days, he had also gathered some food, but unfortunately, this place was still in a barter economy, and although he had gold ingots, he could not find a place to spend them

In the days that followed, Wu Mian once again settled down in the Miao village. Every day, apart from eating, he compared the map drawn by Lin Huo with the one in his memory, yet he still could not find any matching locations. Wu Mian was preoccupied with his own affairs each day, and he did not notice that Yang Xiao, who used to frequently appear alongside Lin Huo, had vanished without a trace for some time. He would never have imagined that when he and Yang Xiao met again, over two thousand years would have passed, and by then, both had forgotten each other's appearance. Moreover, that had already become the story of another person

Wu Mian returned to the forest with food. During this period of recuperation, he collaborated with Lin Huo to draw a map of the mountains. Although it did not connect with Xu Fu's map, making several more turns might lead to discovering some valuable clues

The wine has not yet awakened..." Wu Mian looked at Lin Huo with a smile that was not quite a smile. Then, he bent the thumb and index finger of his right hand inward, and at the junction of the two fingertips, a spark of electricity crackled. Before Lin Huo could comprehend what was happening, the hand that was flashing with electricity had already pressed down on his waist.

Nineteen days later, Wu Mian reappeared in the Miao village, yet he still had not located the position of Xu Fu's map. His food had run out five days ago, and he had been relying on wild fruits and hunting wild animals to fill his stomach. The wild fruits were manageable, but it had been raining heavily for the past few days, making it impossible to start a fire for cooking. The animals he caught could only be eaten raw. Disheartened by the unappetizing situation, Wu Mian finally thought of returning to the village, where at least he could have a warm meal.

Lin Huo did not wake up from his stupor until that afternoon. Just as he opened his eyes, feeling dizzy, he suddenly saw Wu Mian sitting by his bedside, looking at him with a peculiar expression. Upon noticing that Lin Huo was awake, Wu Mian said, "I thought you could only wake up after becoming the Witch Ancestor." Lin Huo was not fully awake yet; he gazed at Wu Mian for a long time with a dazed look, wanting to say something, but his mind was blank, and despite opening his mouth for a long time, he could not utter a word.

"Alright, alright, alright... I have finally woken up." Lin Huo exerted all his strength to utter these few words from his mouth

Ah, ah, ah, ah... A jolt of electricity surged through Lin Huo's waist and shot straight to his brain. In that instant, the effects of alcohol vanished without a trace, and his thoughts became crystal clear. Although his mind was instantly sober, the side effect was that Lin Huo's body curled up like a shrimp, and all the muscles in his body had slipped out of his control, trembling uncontrollably.

Hearing Wu Mian say this, Lin Huo blinked his eyes, as if he was pondering something. After a while, he said somewhat dejectedly: "Even if I became a witch ancestor, I probably wouldn't resort to such petty tricks as you do." At this point, he paused, looking at the hand that Wu Mian had just 'electrified' him with, and continued: "This little trick you taught me... I have heard about the customs of your people; it is customary to bow when learning something, right?"

After returning to the bamboo house, Wu Mian took Lin Huo's pulse. Compared to his last visit, Lin Huo's meridians had undergone a tremendous change. However, in Wu Mian's view, this degree of change was still far from the reactions he experienced after taking the elixir. It appeared that Lin Huo had indeed consumed the elixir, and there were no adverse reactions to the medicinal properties, but why was the effect so lacking, to the point that not even his hair had turned white? If Xu Fu were present, he might have been able to discern some clues. After contemplating, Wu Mian could only speculate that it was due to individual physical constitution.

After Lin Huo finished bowing his head, he looked up and could no longer see Wu Mian's figure. Seeing that the young man with white hair had changed his position, Lin Huo was taken aback, as he did not understand Wu Mian's intention

Wu Mian looked at Lin Huo, who appeared bewildered, and said slowly: "Such trivial tricks are not worth your attention; I can teach you whenever you wish. This is not all; I have even better things to offer you at a bargain." As he spoke, Wu Mian had already opened his other hand, revealing a pitch-black pill inside.