Chapter 52: Gu Worm?

Jiang Yan fell into deep thought upon hearing Zhou Yu’s words. Gu worms? The theory of controlling bodies through gu worms wasn’t impossible—wasn’t that just another form of parasitism? But what kind of gu worm could transform into black smoke and escape?

He turned to Wen Yue and asked, “Fourth Senior Sister, if it truly is the work of gu worms, do you have any means of forcing them out of the body?”

Wen Yue pondered for a moment before replying, “That will depend on whether they’re willing to try.”

“How confident are you?” Jiang Yan pressed further.

“Sixty percent,” Wen Yue answered truthfully, “but only if the black smoke is indeed a gu worm.”

After all, since she wasn’t yet certain what the black smoke was, she couldn’t make any promises.

Jiang Yan understood her implication—they would need to use the afflicted as test subjects first.

He looked at Lin Yurou and asked, “Lin Yurou, what do you think?”

“I believe that any chance is better than none. I’ll inform the Dao Sovereign,” Lin Yurou replied.

“Good. Tell him that if those disciples are willing to try, they should come to the front of this wooden cabin.” Jiang Yan paused, then added, “And make sure they understand—they must take responsibility for any consequences.”

He knew that some things must be made clear from the start. After all, even his Fourth Senior Sister admitted there was only a sixty percent chance—far from a guarantee.

...

Meanwhile, among the sect’s disciples.

Lin Ruyan watched as Lin Yurou was invited into the cabin and lingered inside for quite some time. She bit her lip hard in frustration.

Why did Jiang Yan treat her with such indifference? She hadn’t forgotten her mission. Did it mean she could only forcibly seize Jiang Yan’s golden core?

As the disciples saw that Lin Yurou had yet to emerge from the cabin, they began whispering among themselves.

“Who’d have thought Jiang Yan would let Lin Yurou into his cabin?”

“Yes, and she’s been in there for so long. Do you think they’re actually discussing official matters?”

“I’d bet they’re not.”

“Enough, Lin Yurou’s coming out.”

The disciples watched as Lin Yurou exited the cabin and headed toward the Dao Sovereign Xuanqing.

“Dao Sovereign, I have relayed your findings to Jiang Yan, and he said…” Lin Yurou repeated Jiang Yan’s words, mentioning also that Wen Yue was sixty percent confident she could expel the black smoke.

“I see. You may return now,” the Dao Sovereign replied.

With that, he approached the disciples who had already been tied up in advance.

“If there is a sixty percent chance to expel the black smoke from your bodies, are you willing to try?” he asked.

The disciples were overjoyed—any glimmer of hope was worth grasping.

“Dao Sovereign, I am willing.”

“I am, too.”

“So am I.”

Since all of them expressed their willingness, the Dao Sovereign said, “Very well. In a moment, wait in front of Jiang Yan’s cabin.”

He summoned a few male disciples. “Escort them to the cabin.”

“Yes, Dao Sovereign,” they replied in unison.

Thus, the bound disciples were taken to Jiang Yan’s cabin.

Jiang Yan saw them approach from the window and said to Wen Yue, “Fourth Senior Sister, they’re here.”

“Alright, let me prepare,” Wen Yue replied.

No sooner had she spoken than she produced a wooden case. Opening it, she revealed a neat array of silver needles of various sizes.

A flame ignited in her palm as she carefully sterilized each needle.

When all was ready, she stepped out of the cabin.

The bound male disciples, seeing Wen Yue emerge with the case, pleaded, “Fairy, please save us!”

“If it really is a gu worm, I’m only sixty percent certain. Are you willing to try?” Wen Yue asked once more.

“We are, we are. Please, just do what you can.”

“Yes, Fairy, we are already grateful that you are willing to help.”

Seeing their resolve, Wen Yue took several silver needles and inserted them into their wrists. “Don’t move.”

She then channeled wood element spiritual energy, and threads of green light appeared in her palm, flowing into the needles.

These threads probed into the disciples’ bodies.

With closed eyes, Wen Yue focused on sensing the location of the black smoke within them.

Jiang Yan watched her work and asked Ji Chuxue, “Senior Sister, what are those green threads in Fourth Senior Sister’s palm?”

“The wood element has healing properties. Those green threads are manifestations of wood spiritual energy,” Ji Chuxue explained.

“I see,” Jiang Yan mused. He, too, possessed a wood spiritual root—perhaps he could learn from his Fourth Senior Sister.

Wen Yue found the black smoke exceedingly cunning. Whenever her energy neared, it darted away to another part of the body.

Sensing something scurrying inside him, one disciple suddenly shuddered uncontrollably.

One of the green threads in Wen Yue’s palm snapped instantly. She opened her eyes and frowned. With her probing interrupted, she had no choice but to withdraw all her threads.

“Fourth Senior Sister, how did it go?” Jiang Yan asked.

Wen Yue shook her head. “The black smoke is very sly. Each time I get close, it flees elsewhere.” She glanced at the disciple who had moved and added, “And when he moved just now, my probing was cut off…”

“Fourth Senior Sister, is there anything we can do to help?”

Wen Yue looked at Jiang Yan, “Sixth Junior Brother, do you have any way to keep them still?”

“How about acupoint sealing?” Jiang Yan suggested.

“No, their meridians must remain unobstructed,” Wen Yue replied.

“Then, what about immobilizing talismans?”

“That could work. Do you have talismans that keep people motionless?”

“Of course, but they only last for one hour.”

Wen Yue nodded. “Let’s try.”

Jiang Yan then affixed immobilization talismans to each disciple.

Wen Yue once again unleashed her wood spiritual energy, green threads streaming into the needles.

Half an hour passed.

Wen Yue’s brow was tightly furrowed, sweat beading on her cheeks.

Just a little more, and her green threads would have completely ensnared the black smoke.

Jiang Yan, Ji Chuxue, and the others watched her anxiously.

Suddenly, Wen Yue coughed up blood.

Qin Feifei hurried to her side. “Fourth Sister, are you alright?”

Wen Yue wiped her mouth and replied, “I’m fine, just overextended my spiritual strength.”

Regret filled her heart—she had been so close!

The disciples’ faces were already flushing red, their eyes shot with blood.

Jiang Yan noticed and quickly asked, “Fourth Senior Sister, are they reaching their limits?”

Wen Yue nodded helplessly. “I’m sorry—my spiritual strength is exhausted. I won’t recover for some time.”