Chapter 18: Innate Poisoned Body

“Thank you for your guidance, senior brother.”

Jiang Mingzhe realized this was not the time to delve deeper, so he quickly skimmed through the few hundred words on the Qi Cultivation realm once again before tucking the secret manual back into his bosom.

He sat up straight, chest slightly sunken, back straightened, chin tucked in, left hand gently resting on his lower abdomen, right hand covering the back of the left in the traditional Daoist Qi cultivation hand seal. With eyes half-closed, he began to sense the faint stream of Qi within his body.

Soon, drowsiness surged.

Jiang Mingzhe’s head suddenly nodded forward; startled, he snapped awake to find Zhuifengzi smiling enigmatically. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he hadn’t expected the internal energy cultivation to induce such a strong hypnotic effect.

The main reason was that today’s upheaval had exhausted him both physically and mentally. Under normal circumstances, it would take at least five minutes to fall asleep.

Yet this also proved that sensing Qi was not so easily achieved.

Jiang Mingzhe was not stubborn. Since it was difficult, he decided to take the easier path.

He lifted his wine cup and respectfully presented it before Zhuifengzi: “Please, senior brother, grant me this precious wine.”

Though Zhuifengzi harbored some regret, he could hardly refuse at such a moment.

So, obediently, he filled the cup.

It was a coarse porcelain “ox-eye” cup, holding barely two qian of wine.

Jiang Mingzhe raised the cup, his gaze sincere: “Third senior brother, since joining our sect, the first who has truly cared for me genuinely has been A Zi and you. There’s no need for many words; let us prove ourselves through deeds.”

The phrase “prove ourselves through deeds” was so common in later generations that it was almost cliché in taverns, yet Zhuifengzi had never heard it before and found it both candid and exhilarating. He was deeply moved and poured himself a cup, lightly clinking it against Jiang Mingzhe’s: “Good brother, to deeds!”

Mimicking A Zi, Jiang Mingzhe downed the wine in one gulp. The taste was unlike any wine he’d ever drunk—slick, cloying, and slightly adhesive. It lingered briefly on his tongue before a floral aroma surged upward, followed by a sudden, foul bitterness that struck his throat. Hastily, he swallowed, knowing that holding it longer would make him vomit.

Almost instantly, the wine ignited a torrent of pain, numbness, acidity, swelling, and itching—five agonizing sensations exploded within his stomach.

Without hesitation, Jiang Mingzhe closed his eyes, resumed the posture from his earlier practice, breathing deeply and variably—slow inhales and rapid exhales, fluctuating frequencies. He sensed a thread of Qi surge from his dantian, like a living hair, flicking and swaying as if it wanted to wander elsewhere.

Though called a hair, it was merely a sensation, not a tangible entity.

Qi sensation!

Where are you going?

Jiang Mingzhe focused all his attention and reached out to grasp the thread. It quivered gently and then halted.

Overjoyed, he followed the Qi Cultivation manual, experimenting with different breathing rhythms to coax the thread of Qi to obey.

According to the manual, transitioning from sensing Qi to controlling it was a challenging hurdle. The various strange breathing methods that might work differed by individual, requiring the cultivator’s own trial and error.

Jiang Mingzhe felt this was somewhat like teasing a cat. When you meet one in a garden, you might click your tongue, call softly, or squat and beckon—you never know which will work, so you try them all.

Once it comes, you can pet it; after familiarity, it will come running to you even without being called.

Reaching this stage in internal cultivation was what they called “Qi arising from intent.”

There was no need to force the internal power; it would be used naturally when required.

Jiang Mingzhe wondered if the cat he encountered was unusually friendly, or if it was the effect of the Five Treasures Honey Wine.

After a short while, he felt the thread of Qi begin to move at his will...

Zhuifengzi, having finished his wine, also closed his eyes to practice.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhuifengzi exhaled a long stream of yellow Qi, inhaled again, and slowly opened his eyes.

His internal cultivation was deeper, so he absorbed it quickly, looking energetic and refreshed.

However, when his gaze fell on Jiang Mingzhe, his expression instantly changed, as if witnessing something utterly unbelievable, and he gasped sharply.

Damn, how foolish I am! Why did I even offer him this precious wine?

With such innate talent, even our master can hardly compare. I was worried he might progress too slowly and not be pressured enough by Zhaixingzi...

Zhuifengzi felt his heart gnawed by an invisible worm, sour and bitter beyond words. A cold gleam flickered unconsciously in his eyes: perhaps I should throw a spider at him?

But recalling the last time a poisoned Lu cuisine chef died, and how Ding Chunqiu examined the corpse before giving him a meaningful smile in the crowd...

Zhuifengzi shivered.

That was just a chef, naturally incomparable to a disciple. This time it was his own son, and even a disciple might be discarded.

After much thought, Zhuifengzi clenched his jaw: since the bet was placed, he might as well go all in, taking a big gamble—

That flashy Zhaixingzi is nothing. If Jiang Mingzhe can truly take over the Star Sect, I’ll be his right-hand man, A Zi will be the sect leader’s wife, and me the chief protector—that’s not too much to ask, right?

Zhuifengzi had intended to use Jiang Mingzhe’s status to counter Zhaixingzi and profit from the situation.

But seeing Jiang Mingzhe’s talent and potential forced him to broaden his ambitions considerably.

Another incense stick passed before A Zi exhaled a white breath and opened her eyes, beaming with joy.

“I’ve opened three acupoints in one breath! Ha ha...”

She proudly boasted, but when her gaze swept over Jiang Mingzhe, her smile stiffened.

Her emotions instantly became complex—envy, jealousy, surprise, delight, and an inexplicable pride.

“Third senior brother... could it be that Junior Brother Jiang is...?”

A Zi tremblingly raised her hand, pointing at Jiang Mingzhe.

On Jiang Mingzhe’s face, a deep purple aura flickered in rhythm with his breathing.

Zhuifengzi sighed and nodded: “Indeed, only those with an innate poisonous constitution manifest purple Qi when practicing our sect’s tribulation scripture.”

A Zi gasped: “There really exists an innate poisonous constitution? Isn’t that far stronger than the eldest senior brother?”

At the mention of Zhaixingzi, Zhuifengzi felt much relieved and smirked: “Naturally. Purple, crimson, azure, white, yellow—when the eldest senior brother practiced, his face was shrouded in blue Qi. He fancied himself supremely talented. If he knew that Junior Brother Jiang is actually...”

“Third senior brother!”

A Zi hissed sharply, her face frosted with severity, eyes fixed on Zhuifengzi.

“This matter is known to Heaven and Earth, you and me, him and I. If a single soul more learns of it, I’ll tell the master it was you who leaked it!”

Zhuifengzi was startled, then flustered: “What if you’re the one who tells? Your mouth never rests...”

“I know the weight of things!” A Zi asserted firmly. “Junior Brother Jiang was brought back by me. He even wrote poetry for me...”

She paused, secretly adding in her heart: He’s still my Little Green, and owes me six hundred ‘good sister’ calls...

“In any case!” A Zi pursed her lips, raising an eyebrow: “I would never harm him, and you’d better not have any evil designs! You said just now you’re a man of loyalty and righteousness. The three of us support each other to endure. As a man, your words must hold!”

Zhuifengzi answered solemnly: “Of course. A gentleman’s promise is worth a thousand gold. How could I, Zhuifengzi, be faithless?”

He secretly chuckled: Truly, concern breeds chaos. This girl, raised in our sect since childhood, says such laughable things. Which of our Star Sect disciples hasn’t sworn a deadly oath today, only to forget it after a night’s sleep?

Only then did A Zi show a pleased expression and nod: “Third senior brother, little sister trusts you!”

Inwardly, she vowed: Master said the living are never as reliable as the dead. Though Third Senior Brother helped me out several times, mostly out of master’s favor. I won’t owe him. I’ll find a way to send him off when the time comes!

The senior siblings exchanged knowing smiles, both secretly scheming, yet outwardly joyful.