Just as Xiao Qi agreed to Elder Wumeng's request and prepared to ask about the Western Mountain's Poison Dragon Pool's specific location, a sudden commotion arose from the village center direction. Faint anxious shouts and chaotic running sounds broke the night's relative tranquility.
Elder Wumeng's brow furrowed. The ancient, serene expression finally cracked—revealing worry and gravity. He cocked his ear to listen briefly. His complexion changed slightly. Forgetting about Xiao Qi and the others, he leaned on his staff, his stepsunexpectedlythancometimemuch faster, heading quickly toward the commotion's source—the several most grand, elaborately decorated bamboo houses at the village center.
The flame-patterned warrior, a leader named Yan Lie, followed immediately, expression tense.
Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister exchanged glances. Both saw confusion in the other's eyes. Judging by the situation, something serious had happened in the village.
"Follow and see?" Third Senior Sister transmitted sound. Perhaps this was an opportunity to further understand Fire Crow Village, even gain their trust.
Xiao Qi nodded. The two didn't approach rashly, merely following far behind Elder Wumeng and Yan Lie, staying within the line of sight allowed by the guarding villagers.
They arrived at the edge of the stone plaza at the village center. Beside the plaza's largest stilted bamboo house, many people had gathered. In the crowd's center, several elders wearing more colorful robes and adorned with more bones and feathers (clearly the village's witch doctors) surrounded a figure lying on the ground, waving their hands and chanting incantations, seemingly conducting some exorcism or healing ritual. The air was thick with a mingled smell of burning herbs anda certain fishy-sweet scent.
Lying on the ground was a young girl, appearing perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old. Her skin was a healthy wheat color, features deep-set and striking. Yet now her eyes were tightly closed, her complexion displaying an unnatural crimson flush, as if scorched by flames. Her body twitched slightly, throat producing pained groans. On her exposed skin could be seen reddish markslike lava patterns faintly visible, radiating astonishing heat.
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A burly middle-aged man with dignified bearing and wearing an ornate feathered crown was anxiously crouching beside the girl, gripping her hand tightly, his face full of worry and helplessness. This must be the chief of Fire Crow Village.
"Ah Huo! My Ah Huo! Witch doctors, how is she?" The chief's voice trembled uncontrollably.
An elderly witch doctor currently performing the ritual paused, wiping sweat from his brow. His face was full of exhaustion and confusion as he spoke rapidly in the local dialect, shaking his head as he spoke.
Elder Wumeng had walked closer, crouching down and pressing his withered fingers to the girl's wrist pulse. He also lifted her eyelid to examine. His expression grew even grimmer.
"It's 'Earth Lung Fire Poison'... and an extremely violent, pure variant at that, far beyond the ordinary," Elder Wumeng said gravely, this time speaking in standard language, seemingly intentional so Xiao Qi and the others could hear. "This fire poison isn't external; it seems to have generated and erupted from within her body, stirring dormant earth-fire malefic energy. Ordinary 'Clear-Heart Grass' and 'Cold Stone Powder' can only temporarily suppress it,utterly impossible to eradicate, and might even provoke more violent counterattacks from the fire poison... Strange, how could Ah Huo contract such fire poison?"
Upon hearing this, the chief's tiger-like eyes filled with tears. He fiercely punched the ground, creating several cracks in the hard stone slab. "It's my fault! A few days ago I took her hunting near the Western Mountain's edge. We accidentally disturbed a nest of 'Fire Scorpions.' Ah Huo, to save me, was stung by the Fire Scorpion King... We used the best detoxifying ointment in the village, it clearly suppressed it, how could this..."
"Fire Scorpion King venom is insidious and vicious. It probably stirred the vigorous fire spiritual root she naturally possesses. The combination of both created this calamity." Elder Wumeng sighed, looking at the helpless witch doctors and shaking his head. "This method won't work. Repeating it would be futile, and would only accelerate Ah Huo's life force consumption."
"Then... is there truly no way?" The chief's voice was filled with despair. The surrounding villagers also showed sorrowful expressions. The girl named Ah Huo was clearly the chief's deeply cherished daughter, beloved by the entire village.
Just then, Xiao Qi, who had been quietly observing, suddenly stepped forward several paces, stopping a few zhang from the crowd. He clasped his hands and said: "Chief, Elder Wumeng, perhaps I can give it a try."
The moment these words were spoken, every gaze instantly focused on this outsider. The villagers' eyes were filled with suspicion, vigilance, even malevolence.
"Outsider! This is none of your business!"
"What can you possibly do if the witch doctors are helpless?"
"Get back!"
Rebukes erupted immediately. Yan Lie stepped forward, blocking Xiao Qi from the girl, his gaze sharp.
The chief also looked up, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Xiao Qi—carrying scrutiny and a trace of carefully hidden hope, but mostly distrust.
Elder Wumeng raised his hand, silencing the restless crowd. He gazed deeply at Xiao Qi. "Young man, do you know what kind of poison this is? Even Fire Crow Village's hereditary witch doctor arts can barely resolve it."
"I happen to know a method for resolving heterogeneous energies," Xiao Qi replied, neither servile nor overbearing, his gaze clear. "Though this fire poison is fierce, its essence is still a type ofviolent heterogeneous energy. I'm willing to try. Even if I cannot eradicate it, perhaps I can relieve this maiden's suffering, buying the village more time to search for an antidote."
He didn't speak in absolutes, but the confidence in his tone was unmistakable.
Elder Wumeng remained silent for a moment. Then he looked at Ah Huo, who lay groaning painfully, her breath growing weaker by the moment. Finally, he nodded to the chief. "Let him try. The situation cannot get any worse."
The chief gazed at his daughter's suffering. Gritting his teeth, he finally waved his hand. "Let him approach! But if you dare play any tricks and harm my daughter, I will make you pay with your life!"
Only then did Yan Lie reluctantly step aside. But his hand remained on his bone knife, staring fixedly at Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi walked to the girl Ah Huo's side and crouched down. Now closer, he could more intensely feel that scalding, oppressive fire poison aura. He didn't immediately act. Instead, he first carefully sensed it. This fire poison was truly bizarre—not only burning flesh and blood, but seeming to erode her meridians and divine soul, carrying ayin evil, violent intent from deep within the earth.
He extended his finger, gently pressing it to Ah Huo's brow point. This action stirred commotion among the surrounding villagers. Yan Lie nearly drew his blade, only stopped by Elder Wumeng's warning gaze.
Xiao Qi focused his breath and stilled his mind. First, he activated the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal's power. A cool, moist, vitality-filled light blue wood-essence spiritual energy, like a trickling stream, slowly transmitted from his fingertip into Ah Huo's body. This force didn't forcibly extinguish the fire, but was like sweet rain nourishing parched earth—first protecting her main heart pulse and sea of consciousness, alleviating the scalding pain.
Ah Huo's body twitching noticeably lessened. Her tightly furrowed brow slightly relaxed.
Next, Xiao Qi carefully summoned a thread of the Purification Source. This time, he didn't make a grand display. Instead, he controlled the purification force with extreme subtlety, like the most nimble weaver, integrating it into that wood-essence spiritual energy. Following the meridians, it slowly flowed toward those crimson fire poison marks.
"Sizzle..."
An extremely faint sound emerged from within Ah Huo. Those originally aggressively spreading crimson marks, upon contacting the wood-essence spiritual energy infused with purification power, were like snow meeting sunlight—beginning to recede and fade bit by bit. The violent, yin-evil intent within was also quietly dispelled by the pure purification force.
This process was slow and meticulous. Xiao Qi's brow gradually beaded with sweat. He had to precisely control his force, both dispelling the fire poison and avoiding damaging Ah Huo's own fragile meridians, especially her quite vigorous but currently chaotic fire spiritual root.
Time passed slowly. The plaza was utterly silent, everyone holding their breath and watching. The chief's tightly clenched fists trembled slightly. Elder Wumeng's turbid eyes gleamed with sharp light.
After roughly an incense stick's time, the terrifying crimson marks on Ah Huo's body had receded by more than half. Though her complexion remained pale, the unnatural crimson flush had faded. Her breathing became steady and deep as she actually fell into a deep sleep.
Xiao Qi withdrew his finger, gently exhaling stale breath. His face was somewhat pale. This treatment had been extremely taxing on his spirit and mind.
"It's done." He looked at the chief and Elder Wumeng. "The fire poison has been dispelled by more than half. The portions eroding the heart pulse and divine soul have also been cleared. Her fire spiritual root was slightly damaged by this stimulation and requires rest and gentle nourishment to slowly recover. However, there is no longer any danger to her life."
The chief hastily bent down to examine his daughter. Feeling her steady breathing and normal temperature, this iron-willed man's eyes instantly reddened. Heabruptly stood up, facing Xiao Qi, and deeply clasped his fists in a respectful bow. "Many thanks! Many thanks for saving my daughter's life, little brother! I was rude before, please forgive me!"
This bow was sincere and heartfelt. Seeing this, the suspicion and hostility on the villagers' faces instantly melted away, replaced by gratitude and wonder. Their gazes toward Xiao Qi completely changed.
Yan Lie also retracted his earlier sharpness, nodding to Xiao Qi. Though he said nothing, the recognition in his eyes was evident.
Elder Wumeng stepped forward, carefully re-examining Ah Huo's condition. A relieved smile finally appeared on his face as he looked at Xiao Qi, eyes filled with amazement. "What pure water spiritual power! What ingenious dispelling technique! Young man, you truly are extraordinary. This kindness, Fire Crow Village will remember."
He paused, continuing: "Regarding the Western Mountain's Poison Dragon Pool and the Three-Headed Fire Salamander, you may rest in the village for two days, recovering your energy. In two days, I'll have Yan Lie lead you there. As for information about the Molten Fire Heart, once you've retrieved the sacrifice item, I will surely tell you everything I know."
This time, his promise carried much greater weight.
Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister both felt relieved in their hearts. Treating the village chief's daughter—this risky move had ultimately paid off. Not only had they earned precious respite, more importantly, they had initially won the trust of this outwardly hostile witch village. This was undoubtedly crucial for their upcoming actions to find the Vermillion Bird Soul Crystal.