Chapter 28 Medicine Valley

While Zhao Ling looked into Yan Xing's eyes, the latter also peered his gaze into her orb-like eyes.

Ever since Zhao Ling appeared, Yan Xing has been sizing her up discreetly.

Zhao Ling averted her gaze and said, "I have to disappoint you, Fellow Daoist. They are not for sale"

"It can't help then, let's get moving", Yan Xing nodded his head in understanding and started walking towards the direction in which the corpse puppet came.

Zhao Ling put away the porcelain bottle and followed behind him. "The trails left by the corpse puppet can lead us to their hiding spot"

"Let's hurry"

Following the trails of the corpse puppets, they went deeper into the forest. Under the canopy of the trees, a few figures could be seen moving at an extremely fast pace.

Yan Xing and Jingsheng made use of their Cloud steps, they didn't slow down but were moving at their usual speed. Zhao Ling and her group were not left behind, they were able to keep up with them too, which showed that their lightness skill, and strength were not inferior to theirs. But it was expected because they belong to medicine valley which is one of the oldest sects, and they had accumulated many resources meant to nurture their disciples over time. The qualities of their resources cannot be undermined.

Unlike other medicine or healer sects, the medicine valley does not only focus on teaching their disciples about medicines but they are taught martial arts too. The disciples of the medicine valley were not only proficient in medicines but martial arts too, which stood out from among the rest of the sects that practice medicine.

Yan Xing was not surprised that Zhao Ling and her group were able to keep up with them, but Jingsheng, on the other hand, was quite surprised.

"Have you guys seen the corpse with a creepy smile on its face?", Yan Xing suddenly asked as he moved near Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling nodded her head in affirmation. "We have seen it, it's called Happy corpse"

"Happy Corpse!"

Both Yan Xing and Jingsheng uttered at the same time. It was their first time hearing such a name.

Zhao Ling chuckled slightly and said, "Yes, the corpse with a creepy smile on its face is called Happy corpse"

Yan Xing realized something and asked, "Does the Young Lady perhaps know a thing about that Happy corpse"

Jingsheng perked up his ears too. He was also curious about this corpse after all he had fought with it too and experienced it first-hand. What amazes him was the battle prowess of the happy corpse.

"Happy corpses are the corpse of people that didn't die of natural death. They were poisoned to death by a poisonous plant called Hemlock water dropwort which is found naturally near water or wet areas. If consumed can bring about an unpleasant death within a few hours leaving a sardonic grin on the victim's face. This plant is poisonous, but it can also be turned into some useful medicine after modification. It can be a medicine for people suffering from facial paralysis. This plant is also called Dead man's fingers because of the shape of its tubers", Zhao Ling explained.

"Young Lady is worthy of the disciple from the medicine valley", Yan Xing remarked. Having to grow up inside the palace, he was exposed to many underhanded schemes and tricks. Both he and her mother were poisoned when she had him in her womb and it almost took his life too. As a victim of poisoning, Yan Xing was quite knowledgeable about poisons and medicines too, but this is the first time he came to learn about Hemlock Water Dropwort. This also shows how knowledgeable the young lady in front of him is.

Zhao Ling didn't say anything. On the other hand, Jingsheng had a conflicting expression on his face. After a few seconds of struggle, he moved a little closer to Yan Xing and Zhao Ling. "Young Miss, I have a question"

Zhao ling turned her head and slightly nodded, "If the fellow Daoist had any questions relating to poisons and medicines, don't hesitate to ask. If it is within my knowledge, then I can answer you".

"We encountered another Happy Corpse inside the small house. What was notable about that corpse was that it was far stronger than the normal-looking puppets and its bones were sturdy like it was made of gold. Does the Young Lady know why it's different from others and is the change related to the plant called Hemlock water dropwort?" Jingsheng asked.

Zhao Ling was surprised when she heard what Jingsheng just said. Not only her but He Qing and the young man had astonished looks on their faces.

"Are you certain?", Zhao Ling, recovered from the shock and questioned Jingsjheng.

"Yes", Jingsheng nodded with a firm expression.

"Can you tell me in detail about it", Zhao Ling asked. She didn't expect that the happy corpses were stronger than the rest of the corpses.

Jingsheng explained in detail his fight with the happy corpse.

"The sword skill of the Black Sword Sect is one of the best in the pugilist world. To think that your sword was unable to sever its head means that the happy corpse is indeed abnormal", Zhao Ling said.

When she first saw the happy corpse in the woods she knew that it was a newly refined corpse, and it ought to be different from the rest of the corpse, but she didn't expect that the happy corpse had remarkable battle prowess and sturdy bones.

"That psychopath is up to no good. Senior sister, we have to stop him before things get out of hand", He Qing frowned.

Yan Xing raised his brows inside the mask when he heard what He Qing said.

"Do you guys happen to know the person behind these refined corpses?" Yan Xing asked.

"A few years ago one of the main disciples from the medicine valley was expelled by our chief because he was found practicing an unorthodox way of medicine which is not in line with the practice of our medicine valley", Zhao Ling said.