Chapter 148 Zombie Poison

However, this poison was generally very difficult to contract. Only prolonged consumption of large quantities could produce symptoms as severe as those afflicting the Meng family’s ancestor. Although the poison was colorless and odorless, making it virtually impossible to detect when administered, a man of the ancestor’s status would surely have specially appointed people inspect every meal. How, then, had he ended up like this?

He felt the old ancestor’s pulse again and examined his body. At last, he was certain: it was indeed that poison.

Since even the Meng family’s ancestor had been poisoned, an idea occurred to him. He rose at once and walked over to Meng Kang.

“Extend your right hand.”

“Sir, how is our ancestor? Is there any way to remove the poison?”

Although Chu Han’s tone was decidedly impolite, Meng Kang said nothing. After all, powerful alchemists were known for their eccentric tempers, and the Meng family had long since grown accustomed to it.

Meng Kang extended his right hand. Chu Han placed two fingers on his pulse, sending a thread of true qi into his body. Sure enough, things were exactly as he had suspected: Meng Kang had been poisoned as well. The dose was not yet large, but after accumulating over time, it would take no more than half a month for the poison to penetrate his bones and marrow, leaving him in the same condition as the Meng family’s ancestor.

After finishing his examination, Chu Han returned to his chair. Meng Xin’er and Meng Kang hurried over, wanting to ask questions but not daring to speak. They could only stare intently at Chu Han, waiting to see whether he had discovered anything.

Previously, Meng Xin’er had not dared believe that Chu Han could cure the Meng family’s ancestor. But according to Meng Kang, Chu Han’s alchemy surpassed even that of Master Qu, and she had no choice but to believe him.

“Mr. Meng, have you recently been suffering from insomnia and vivid dreams, aches in your lower back and knees, and red rashes breaking out across your back? There may not be many of them yet, but they must be unbearably itchy.”

Chu Han finally spoke. Frowning, he sounded as though he were speaking without rhyme or reason, and Meng Xin’er’s expression immediately darkened.

“Do you actually have a way to treat my grandfather? If not, say so. Don’t waste our time with irrelevant nonsense.”

She thought Chu Han had no way to cure the old ancestor and was merely putting on an act. She was about to lose her temper when Meng Kang stopped her.

“The gentleman is right. Then, do the symptoms in my body have anything to do with the poison afflicting our ancestor?”

Chu Han ignored Meng Xin’er’s disrespect. She was, after all, acting out of concern for the Meng family’s ancestor. He rose and pondered carefully for a moment.

“This poison is extracted from an iridescent snake. A single gram is enough to kill a person. To reach the state your ancestor is in, however, requires a tremendous quantity, consumed little by little over a long period of time. Only then would the illness erupt so violently.

“The poison has an extremely long incubation period. At first, it causes nothing more than insomnia and vivid dreams. Later come aches in the lower back and knees, followed by red rashes. After that, the victim begins to lose weight at a terrifying rate, eventually becoming like your ancestor. The poison is colorless and odorless, making it nearly impossible to guard against. We alchemists call it zombie poison, because after death, the victim’s body takes on an appearance much like that of a zombie.”

Chu Han slowly explained the nature of the poison. The two listeners were chilled to the bone—especially Meng Kang, because he suffered from every symptom Chu Han had just described. In other words, he too had been poisoned. Cold sweat broke out across his body, and Meng Xin’er understood the implication as well. Her face went white with shock.

“That’s right. You’ve been poisoned too. But you’re still in the early stages, so it isn’t fatal yet. If the poison isn’t removed in time, however, your life will eventually be in danger. As for your ancestor, the poison has already penetrated deep into his bones and marrow. Fortunately, you came to me in time. If you had waited another day, then even if an immortal descended from heaven, he could not have saved your ancestor’s life.”

Seeing how frightened Meng Kang had become, Chu Han nodded, confirming his suspicions. His next words proved that he truly possessed the ability to cure the poison in the old ancestor’s body, and the two of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“I need a century-old lingzhi, yellow-bearded vine, and the core of a second-rank demonic beast—preferably one with ice affinities. The more of each, the better. Go and gather them immediately. For now, I can only keep your ancestor alive. Whether he can be cured depends on whether you can collect these ingredients.”

Chu Han glanced at the old ancestor and began issuing orders. Meng Kang hurried out to gather the materials. Leaving aside the old ancestor, he himself had been poisoned as well. To remove the poison, he would obtain the ingredients even if he had to seize them by force or spend the entire family fortune.

Chu Han then sent his true qi into the region around the old ancestor’s heart. The power of lightning numbed the surrounding blood vessels, slowing the poison’s progress toward the heart. This could prolong the old man’s life for a while, but it was merely a temporary measure.

“Sir, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I place my grandfather in your hands. If you can truly cure him, then our Meng family will agree to any condition you name.”

Meng Xin’er hurriedly knelt before him, tears streaming down her face. Her parents had died when she was very young, and she had been raised by the Meng family’s ancestor. Now that he had fallen into such a state, she would agree to anything at all, so long as he could be saved.

Chu Han nodded and fell silent for a moment before speaking.

“In that case, there are a few things I must make clear. This poison only takes effect once it has been consumed. Your ancestor’s poison has already penetrated deep into his bones and marrow, which means he must have been ingesting it for a long time. Meng Kang has been poisoned as well. I think you should investigate who administered it. That is a matter for your Meng family and has nothing to do with me. I’m merely offering a reminder.”

Only then did Meng Xin’er realize how serious the matter was. An outsider could see what those within the family could not: the Meng family’s former patriarch and its current patriarch had both been poisoned. Someone was clearly attempting to overthrow the entire family. Thanks to Chu Han’s warning, she finally understood the danger. She hurriedly thanked him and went out to investigate.

By evening, after the sun had set, Meng Kang finally returned in a rush. He handed Chu Han a large bundle of medicinal ingredients. There were more than a dozen of each variety, including the extremely rare yellow-bearded vine. It seemed Meng Kang had truly spared no expense.

“All right. Prepare a room for me. I’m going to refine the pills. No one is to disturb me. If anything goes wrong and the process fails, you can all wait to die.”

Chu Han issued the order. Meng Kang naturally did not dare disobey. He immediately prepared a highly concealed secret chamber, then summoned Meng Xin’er and instructed her to guard it personally, allowing no one to approach. Meng Xin’er readily agreed.

Only then did Chu Han nod in satisfaction. He entered the secret chamber and began refining the pills.

The pills used to treat zombie poison were not difficult to refine. By the early hours of the following morning, Chu Han had completed the process. Looking at the more than ten porcelain bottles arranged on the floor, he nodded with satisfaction.

He then left the secret chamber and, accompanied by Meng Xin’er, went to the room of the Meng family’s ancestor. Meng Kang followed closely behind. He too had been poisoned, and once the old ancestor was cured, it would be his turn.

“These are two types of pills. One is called the Frost Pill, and the other is the Yellow-Beard Pill. Remember this carefully: dissolve one Frost Pill in a tub of water, then have the old ancestor enter the bath without any clothes on. He must soak in it once a day, using one pill each time, until the medicinal water loses its color. After that, he is to take one Yellow-Beard Pill every day. It should take roughly half a month to purge the poison completely. Mr. Meng, you will follow the same treatment, though you will need less time, since your poisoning is not yet severe.”

Chu Han picked up the porcelain bottles and explained everything slowly. He was responsible only for refining the pills; the actual treatment would have to be carried out by the Meng family themselves. He had other matters to attend to.