Глава 92 — Глава 92

Here’s the revised and improved version of the translation: --- "Have Yunqi take Zhixin and Lu Furong away. Xing will go to Shen Ce Mansion to report to Qingdi." Upon hearing this, Qingdi reassured him, "Don’t worry. Your undercover mission was a success. Although your identity was exposed, you’ve gathered invaluable information and managed to escape unscathed... I just didn’t expect Zhixin to take such a path. Here is the reward prepared for you. Please accept it." Qingdi handed over a bundle of gleaming items, her gesture generous and sincere. Though her words were calm, even Xing could sense the underlying worry etched on her face. "The Secret of the King of Medicine... Has this organization only recently resurfaced, or has it persisted in the shadows for millennia, only now revealing itself?" No one knew for certain, but Xing was convinced that those involved harbored a grand and sinister conspiracy. When the conspiracy of the Secret of the King of Medicine is unveiled, it may unleash a catastrophe that could turn the world upside down—Xing had a strong premonition of this. "By the way, this prescription..." Xing produced the formula given by Zhixin. Qingdi’s brow furrowed, and a cold sweat broke out after just a glance. The prescription read: - 7 qian of Daiyu Angelica - 3 qian of Fudong Mulberry - 1 qian of Boyue Water Ginseng - 2 dried Tarasa dung beetles (ground into powder) - 1 dried Fanghu Luolongzi (ground into powder) So far, it seemed ordinary. But what followed was anything but: - Take 1 liang of Chiming marrow (must be extracted alive) and let it steep in the mixture for twelve hours. "Extracted alive!" What a horrifying recipe! It defied common sense and violated all moral principles. "So this is the secret formula of the King of Medicine?" Ying Zheng’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. At the bottom of the prescription, it stated: "Those who consume this medicine will experience excruciating pain throughout their body, strange noises in their bones, and diminished vision and hearing. These are all normal. If one survives this ordeal, they will attain eternal immortality!" Does this mean that consuming this medicine and enduring its effects could grant immortality? But could such immortality compare to the divine blessing of the God of Plenty? Surely not. If a mere prescription could rival the God of Plenty, what would that say about the god’s stature? Still, Ying Zheng couldn’t help but wonder: Would this immortality come with a demonic form? How curious! Ying Zheng’s heart itched with curiosity, and he was eager to find someone to refine the elixir for testing. Zhao Gao promptly presented his bamboo slips: "Your Majesty, I have recorded the formula." "Father!" Fusu urgently interjected, "This formula requires extracting spinal cord from a living being—it’s too cruel! Moreover, we don’t have access to the Chiming tribe. I implore you to abandon this recipe." "We may not have the Chiming tribe, but we have pig dragons," Ying Zheng replied nonchalantly. "They’re both dragons—what’s the difference? Extracting the spinal cord of a pig dragon alive—is that cruel? My decision is final. You may withdraw. Zhao Gao, take this bamboo slip to Xu Fu and instruct him to prepare the elixir." This foolish son—the Chiming tribe belongs to the Xianzhou alliance. Even if they were available, he couldn’t risk offending the Xianzhou by extracting their marrow! His Great Qin lacks the industrial might of Great Qin Heavy Industries and cannot afford to provoke the Xianzhou. "Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhao Gao accepted the order and eagerly went to find Xu Fu. Today was another day of merit, and he was delighted. "Uh..." Fusu’s mind was overwhelmed. Is extracting the spinal cord of a pig dragon alive truly cruel? The Chiming tribe can take human form, so he naturally felt pity for them and couldn’t bear to see them suffer such a fate. But a pig dragon... a crocodile... perhaps it wasn’t such a big deal? Fine, then. (Crocodile: How noble of you!) "Sorry, Xing, this is beyond my expertise. There are several skilled alchemists currently staying in Changletian. Please consult them about the details of this prescription. If you uncover anything, feel free to return to me at any time." Once again, the task fell to Xing. Given Qingdi’s generous reward, Xing didn’t mind helping once more. She left Shen Ce Mansion and found an enthusiastic alchemist on Changletian Street, explaining the situation. The alchemist eagerly took the prescription, determined to assist, but after a moment... "Hmm... Hmm... Hmm... Sorry, I can’t decipher this. I suggest you consult our chief alchemist, Lord Dan Shu. She is a blindfolded Tian Que, but her skills far surpass ours." Following the alchemist’s guidance, Xing went to Ruomu Pavilion and found Dan Shu. Before Xing could speak, Dan Shu said, "I’ve been expecting you, Xing." "How did you know it was me?" Xing asked, surprised. While it wasn’t unusual for a Tian Que to detect someone’s approach, recognizing a stranger by their footsteps was peculiar. "Who wouldn’t know you?" Dan Shu’s voice was gentle and composed. "I heard from the alchemists that you have a prescription for me to examine. Please read it to me." This Dan Shu... she’s not as simple as she seems. Zhuge Liang observed the seemingly calm woman and sensed a hidden, twisted madness beneath her serene demeanor. "Military Advisor, what do you mean? She may not be as beautiful as other women, but her gentle speech reminds me of my wife. Surely, she’s a good person," Zhang Fei chuckled. "On the surface, perhaps, but that’s not the case," Zhuge Liang shook his head gently. "This woman has revealed a significant flaw." "Military Advisor, what flaw?" Liu Bei asked, intrigued. "Dan Shu is blind and cannot see, yet she recognized Xing by her footsteps before Xing even spoke. This implies she has seen Xing before. But Xing has never met her!" "Then where did she see Xing?" "Moreover, Xing’s footsteps are no different from an ordinary person’s, yet Dan Shu detected a subtle distinction. Her hearing is unnaturally acute." "My lord, do you recall what Zi Yueji said earlier?" Zhuge Liang fanned himself calmly, guiding Liu Bei’s thoughts. "...Ah, I remember now!" Liu Bei exclaimed. "When Zi Yueji first fought Xing, she boasted that her senses had been enhanced by the medicine. Even the slightest change in Xing’s expression when she heard 'Zhixin' was detectable. That’s how she knew Xing was an undercover agent..." "Military Advisor, are you suggesting Dan Shu also took the medicine?" "Precisely. Only if she is a member of the Secret of the King of Medicine could she have secretly observed Xing when Xing joined the organization." Liu Bei inhaled sharply. Dan Shu is the chief alchemist, and Tingyun mentioned that the Dan Ding Division in Luofu’s caves is a significant institution. Considering her position, Dan Shu’s rank in the Dan Ding Division might rival Yukong’s! Such a high-ranking figure being part of the Secret of the King of Medicine? Luofu is likely headed for chaos. "..." Zhang Fei looked bewildered. What just happened? How did they deduce all that so effortlessly? Am I the only one here who’s lost? --- This version improves readability, fixes grammatical errors, and enhances the flow of the narrative while maintaining the original meaning.