After walking a considerable distance away from the cliff, Han Li could still faintly hear the bickering from the crowd below. He wasn't particularly interested in how they would resolve the dispute between Wang Dapang and Zhang Changgui; he had long since lost his curiosity about the trivial matters of the sect.
As he thought about the confused expression on Jin Dongbao's face earlier, Han Li couldn't help but feel a light chuckle bubbling inside him. His mood had lifted, and he no longer felt the heaviness that had weighed on him in the valley.
He continued walking through the dense pine forest, eventually reaching a secluded creek. Looking up at the sun, still high in the sky, he decided that a quick wash in the stream would be refreshing. He knelt down and dipped his hands into the cool water.
But just as he was about to splash his face, a faint sound of agonized groaning reached his ears from upstream. Han Li's curiosity piqued, and he followed the source of the noise.
To his surprise, he found a figure lying prone on the ground by the stream, trembling violently. The person was wearing the attire of an inner sect disciple, and their body was wracked with uncontrollable spasms. Han Li's eyes quickly assessed the situation—this person was suffering from an acute illness, and unless immediate action was taken, they could very well be on the verge of death.
Without hesitation, Han Li sprinted over to the fallen disciple. He pulled out a small wooden box from his robes and, opening it, took out a set of gleaming silver needles. His movements were swift and precise as he drove the needles into the disciple's back at specific acupoints.
Once he had finished with the back, he carefully flipped the disciple over, ready to work on the front as well. As he turned the body, Han Li's eyes widened in shock. The person lying before him, contorted in agony, was none other than the "Li Shixiong" who had displayed such dazzling prowess in the match earlier.
Han Li took a moment to examine the familiar face, now twisted in pain, his previously cold expression distorted with suffering. The ruthless fighter who had appeared invincible just moments ago now looked pale, his mouth foaming, and his mind clearly clouded by pain.
Regaining his composure, Han Li's brow furrowed as he focused on his task. He moved his needles in a fluid, rhythmic motion, carefully and methodically working through the disciple's body. After several dozen needles were applied, Han Li wiped the sweat from his forehead and released a long breath. The strain of this form of silver needle emergency treatment had taken a toll on him, but it was necessary to save the disciple.
Finally, as the last needle was placed, the disciple's body shuddered slightly before his eyes flickered open, and his consciousness slowly returned.
"You… Who are you?" Li Shixiong attempted to speak, but his words were weak and labored.
Han Li quickly placed a hand over his mouth, urging him to stay silent. "Rest now, don't try to speak. You've been in a critical condition, and I've only been able to stabilize you temporarily. The illness you're suffering from is rather unusual, and I'm afraid only a skilled healer like Dr. Mo can properly cure it. Unfortunately, Dr. Mo is not on the mountain right now."
Li Shixiong's face twisted in frustration as he tried to speak again, his lips trembling. "The… medicine… is…"
Han Li, understanding, immediately nodded. "You have medicine that can treat your condition?" he asked, his voice calm but urgent.
Li Shixiong's eyes brightened, and he weakly nodded, acknowledging Han Li's guess. Han Li didn't hesitate; he searched through the disciple's belongings, quickly pulling out various items until he found a small jade bottle. It was exquisitely crafted, tightly sealed, indicating that it contained something precious. This, Han Li guessed, was likely the medicine Li Shixiong had mentioned.
Opening the bottle, Han Li was hit with an overpowering stench—far from the usual herbal fragrance of healing potions. Instead, the bottle emitted a foul, pungent odor that made Han Li's face scrunch up in distaste. He cautiously poured out a small, pink pill that looked deceptively harmless, its smooth, glossy surface glowing under the sunlight. But the stench was unmistakable.
Li Shixiong's face visibly brightened at the sight of the pill, his eyes glinting with desperate hope.
Han Li, however, couldn't hide his skepticism. He held the pill up and spoke coldly, "This is the Marrow-Sucking Pill, made from a combination of rare ingredients: Heilan, Scorpion Tail Flower, Century-old Blue Ant Eggs, and twenty-three other rare substances. The pill's pink exterior and its odd, foul smell are telltale signs of its identity."
Li Shixiong's face paled immediately, his expression turning horrified as Han Li continued speaking.
"The Marrow-Sucking Pill is a dangerous drug. When ingested, it drastically boosts one's physical abilities by draining the life force from the user, essentially borrowing from their future to increase their present strength. The price? Well, it accelerates aging, and with each dose, you shorten your life expectancy. If you stop taking it, your body will begin to deteriorate—first paralysis, and eventually death. And even if you continue to take it regularly, you will only have about ten years to live before the accumulated toll on your body kills you."
Han Li paused and looked at Li Shixiong, who was now visibly trembling in fear.
"Am I wrong? Is this not the Marrow-Sucking Pill you're holding?"
Li Shixiong's eyes filled with a mix of panic and disbelief. He seemed to be trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill as his worst fears were confirmed.
"Surprised, are you? It's a rare and dangerous pill, after all. I'm not the only one who recognizes it. You must be wondering how I came to know so much about it, right?" Han Li's voice turned colder as he continued. "Simple. I've taken this very pill myself."
Li Shixiong's eyes widened in shock, disbelief etched across his face as he stared at Han Li, unable to process the revelation.
"Unlike you, I used a different method," Han Li continued, his tone now calm, almost detached. "I only took one pill, but I divided it into ten doses, using it as a catalyst for other remedies. It had no harmful effects on me because I was careful. The pill's appearance and smell are so distinct that I've never forgotten it, even though I thought I was the only one who would ever use such a thing. But now, here you are, a fellow disciple of the Seven Peaks Sect, suffering from the very same fate."
Li Shixiong's face grew pale as he struggled to breathe, his chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. He couldn't look Han Li in the eye, as if ashamed of his reckless decision.
"You've been taking this pill for years, haven't you?" Han Li asked softly, his voice filled with a hint of both admiration and pity. "If you stop now, I can ask Dr. Mo to prepare a special remedy for you. It won't reverse everything, but it could add twenty or thirty years to your life, although you'll lose your martial abilities. But if you continue taking the pill… well, judging from the way you collapsed earlier, you'll only have five or six years left. During those years, though, your strength will increase exponentially, far beyond what you could achieve normally."
Han Li paused, his eyes cold as they locked onto Li Shixiong's. "It's your choice now. Do you want to live longer but lose your abilities, or continue your reckless path and die prematurely, but gain even more power in the short term?"