nashuaworldcup Chapter 479
Chapter 479
Beneath the surface of the bustling capital, undercurrents surged. On the surface, the streets remained vibrant, hawkers' cries echoed, and patrons in restaurants and teahouses engaged in lively conversation—a scene of apparent harmony. However, no one could have foreseen that a pair of malevolent eyes were secretly watching. The enemy nation and the sorcerer sects had never truly swallowed the bitter pill of defeat; in the shadows, they colluded, plotting even more deadly schemes. The sorcerers, clad in black robes, their faces shrouded in shadow, frequently met with envoys from the enemy nation in secret chambers, the flickering candlelight illuminating their sinister smiles.
After a long period of secret research, they went so far as to develop a terrifying poison called Gu. This poison was extremely unique; once it entered the human body, it could silently control people's minds. To achieve their goal, they sent out assassins under cover of night to sneak into the capital's water source. These assassins were agile, like ghosts, avoiding layers of guards and carefully releasing the poison into the water.
Within days, the capital city descended into hell on earth. The people first exhibited subtle abnormalities, their eyes gradually becoming unfocused and their expressions vacant. Then, they began to lose control, succumbing to madness. People who were once as close as neighbors suddenly attacked each other without warning, the streets filled with cries and the sounds of fighting. The once orderly capital city was instantly thrown into chaos; shops closed one after another, the streets were filled with panicked crowds fleeing, and the entire city was shrouded in a shadow of fear.
Upon learning of this, Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu were extremely anxious. Jing Chu, usually calm and collected, now frowned deeply, pacing back and forth, his face filled with worry. Dongfang Mingzhu was equally concerned; she bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with the urgency of worrying about the people of the capital. Meanwhile, the old servant in the Prince's mansion was once again stuck in a research rut. He locked himself in his room all day, poring over mountains of ancient books, his table piled high with various medicinal herbs and experimental equipment, yet he remained clueless, his face etched with exhaustion and helplessness.
Just when everyone was filled with despair and at their wits' end, a mysterious old man suddenly appeared in the palace. He was white-haired yet vigorous, with piercing eyes, dressed in a simple robe, exuding an otherworldly aura. He claimed to be a reclusive master of Gu poison, possessing the knowledge to counteract the Gu poison before them. The old servant, half-believing, spoke with him, but the old man's insights into Gu poison were unique, his words precise and profound, and the old servant realized that his claims were true.
With the help of the mysterious old man, the old servant studied day and night and finally found a way to counteract the poison. They acted swiftly, setting up a large cauldron in the courtyard of the royal palace and preparing the antidote according to the recipe. The aroma of the medicine permeated the entire palace as everyone bustled about. After the antidote was prepared, Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu personally led the palace guards to distribute it to the people of the capital. After taking the antidote, the people's symptoms of madness gradually subsided, and their eyes regained some clarity. After a series of arduous efforts, the capital gradually returned to its former peace. The enemy country and the evil sects, seeing their conspiracy fail once again, were unwilling to give up, but finally dared not act rashly again.
After the capital returned to peace, Jing Chu and Dongfang Mingzhu were deeply grateful to the mysterious old man and wanted to reward him handsomely. They prepared a large amount of gold, silver, and precious antiques and paintings, but the old man politely declined the gifts. He simply left behind the words, "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to Nanshan to find me," and then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he drifted away, his figure quickly disappearing into the streets and alleys.
However, peaceful days are always fleeting. One night, all was quiet, and the Prince's mansion was enveloped in tranquility. Suddenly, a soft footstep broke the silence. The guards of the mansion became alert, but before they could react, a group of men in black appeared in the mansion like ghosts. These men in black were all highly skilled in martial arts, agile, and wielded sharp blades, heading straight for the mansion's medical room.