Zhou Huan listened to Xiao He’s question and could only manage a reply, “Everything is fine, very fine. Just rest and take care of yourself.” Zhou Huan’s words had a calming effect, and Xiao He drifted off to sleep. Zhou Huan guided her into the hospital room, but the doctor stopped him and the others outside; they needed to examine Xiao He.

The scene of the old lady’s fall had already been cleared by cleanup crews. Dongzi and the others rushed to the hospital upon hearing that Xiao He was admitted, as they were, after all, the people she lived with.

Zhou Huan’s mood was undeniably tense. He kept replaying the event just moments ago—so sudden, so utterly baffling. Why did Xiao He suddenly rush forward to perform such an absurd act? And what was that she said about saving someone? It seemed he would have to wait until she woke up to get a clear answer about what exactly Xiao He had seen.

Zhou Huan and his group sat in the hospital corridor. Doctors bustled past, their movements appearing to Zhou Huan like frames flashing by on a movie reel, moving too quickly to grasp. A nurse emerged from Xiao He’s room and immediately began sprinting down the hall. Zhou Huan started, what was wrong with this nurse?

Not long after, the same nurse returned with another doctor, carrying a bag of blood.

“Doctor, what’s wrong with her?” Zhou Huan asked urgently.

The nurse turned and said, “The baby is gone, massive hemorrhage. Don’t worry, the adult woman is fine!”

That sentence struck Zhou Huan like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving him numb to the core. His eyes glazed over. His disciples, hearing the news, were also deeply saddened. Tian Xiong glanced back at Xiao Yan’er, then toward the door of the sickroom, shook his head, and let out a long sigh.

While everyone was still in shock, two more doctors ran in from outside and rushed into Xiao He’s room. There were now four doctors and two nurses tending to Xiao He.

In his stupor, Zhou Huan noticed this escalation. It seemed Xiao He’s condition was far from simple, requiring the assistance of four doctors. Anxious, Zhou Huan broke into the room and saw the doctors working frantically.

Suddenly, an exotic, fragrant aroma drifted and permeated the room. Zhou Huan didn’t pay it much mind at first, but by the time he realized something was gravely wrong, he was already showing signs of faintness.

“Hmm? Wait, what is this smell? This is… Dammit, the Poison King is here again!” Zhou Huan immediately pressed both hands onto the Fengchi acupoints at the base of his skull, took a deep breath, and slowly expelled it through his nose with a long hiss. Then, he rapidly massaged his temples, the bridge of his nose, and the Hegu points. Zhou Huan had spent considerable time studying the Poison King’s toxins—both how to counteract them and how to create them. This particular scent was definitely the work of the Yunnan Poison King, and Zhou Huan already suspected the two men who had entered just moments ago were the culprits. However, he couldn’t directly engage them, fearing they might harm Xiao He.

In less than two minutes, all the doctors in the room stared blankly, their limbs stiff. The two nurses collapsed onto the floor, limp beside the walls.

Zhou Huan quickly stuffed a piece of paper into his nose and rushed to help the medical staff regain clarity, primarily to prevent them from doing anything to Xiao He. As soon as Zhou Huan revived two of the doctors, the eyes of the two men who had just entered suddenly shifted. Their bodies turned an eerie green, and their mouths opened to reveal a set of canine teeth.

“Zhou Huan, the loss of your child today makes us exceptionally happy. Now, I mainly intended to demonstrate some of my latest research, but it seems you’ve foiled it after all. Well done, Zhou Huan is indeed Zhou Huan. But how will you counter this move of mine?” As he spoke, the two figures began preparing to mix poison powder.

At that moment, the disciples waiting outside heard the commotion inside. Zhou Huan had been gone for so long, so Dongzi led the charge, bursting in. He took in the scene—Zhou Huan confronting the two doctors—and shouted, “Brothers, we have enemies!” That shout was all it took; the disciples waiting outside stormed in. The two doctors merely laughed maniacally upon seeing the newcomers.

“It’s wonderful that you all came; it will better showcase my skill. Come on, over here, let me give you a taste of my new creation.” One of them was Zhou Huan’s own former disciple, now clearly in league with the Poison King, speaking on his behalf.

Zhou Huan waited expectantly, eager to see what these two were brewing up, and ready to challenge them. After all, the name Yunnan Poison King was not given lightly.

But Dongzi gave them no chance. He covered the distance in two strides and landed a punch on each man. The two doctors didn't even bother to dodge. After taking the blows, they stood perfectly still, unmoving. “Dongzi, no matter how hard your fists hit, it’s only the doctors who feel the pain. We are souls, don't you even know that basic principle? No wonder the disciples Zhou Huan takes nowadays are all useless trash. Trying to show off in front of my Poison King is just a joke, hahaha.” This was followed by a wave of their deranged laughter.

Shi Bingyuan, known for his fiery temper and being the eldest present, snapped when he heard Dongzi insulted. He instantly teleported in front of the two figures, sticking one talisman to each of their foreheads.

“Hahaha, I told you Zhou Huan only takes in crippled waste! I told you I am a soul; what good is sticking paper on a person?” They laughed wildly, then raised their hands, scattering what looked like black powder. Seeing this, Zhou Huan immediately turned on the faucet, soaked his outer garment, and held it over his face.

However, the other disciples and the medical staff Zhou Huan had just revived all fell to the floor, losing consciousness.

“Ouch, Master Zhou, you really have a trick up your sleeve, but I don’t think this one will work very well. Take a good look at your hand in a moment, hahahaha!” These two deranged souls were wreaking havoc in the hospital. Zhou Huan’s current thoughts weren't about anything else—one, how to open his mouth to properly deal with these two villains; two, worry about Xiao He’s condition. She had already suffered massive blood loss, and now the doctors and nurses were all unconscious—who would treat her?

Zhou Huan looked toward Xiao He. The IV line for the blood transfusion was still attached to her arm, and her breathing rhythm was completely normal, with no sign of further bleeding. Only then did Zhou Huan relax. He slowly lowered the damp cloth from his face, wiped his hands, and discovered his skin had indeed turned pitch black and charred, yet the outer layer had absolutely no sensation. Zhou Huan suddenly felt an inexplicable pressure; these two were indeed thoroughly prepared.

The Poison King’s maniacal laughter attracted the security guards making their rounds. One guard forcefully pushed the door open and began by speaking softly, “Could you keep it down? The rooms next door have other patients.”

The two 'doctors' whipped around. Their eyes—filled with arrogance, terror, and palpable murderous intent—instantly subdued the two guards. “Mind your own business, or we’ll deal with you next.”

The two guards spotted Master Zhou slightly further back, clutching his hand and looking at them. They said casually, “Master Zhou is here. Alright then, we won’t say anything more.” With that, the two guards nervously shoved each other before retreating down the hall.

“Poison King, it seems you’ve gone to great lengths for me. Well, you succeeded; my hand is effectively useless now. Aren't you going to stop?” Zhou Huan actually knew his hand was fine; despite the blackened exterior, it was only the outer layer of skin. The bones and muscle beneath were completely intact and fully functional.

The Poison King puffed out his chest with pride, looking at Zhou Huan with a sneer. “What, you still intend to resist? I suppose you’re at your wit’s end now. Still trying the soft approach? Then first, ask if your former disciple agrees.”

Zhou Huan’s gaze was calm, and his tone remained easygoing. “Disciple, what do you want your master to do?”

“I want you to pass on everything you know to me, and I will take your place. From now on, every single one of your works must bear my name.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huan threw his head back and laughed loudly. “Disciple, disciple, it’s all my fault for not teaching you properly. Are you an idiot? If I give you all my knowledge, you must first have the aptitude to learn it. I can give you everything; I can even change all my writings to say you wrote them, but there is one condition: since everything will be yours, you must be capable of wielding it all.”

“Stop the nonsense. Do you agree to my terms, or today you won’t be leaving this room?” These two were certainly tenacious. The Poison King produced a Gǔ—a small, covered container holding several venomous wasps—from somewhere unknown and held it out, pointing the opening toward Zhou Huan.

“Zhou Huan, no matter what you say today, you are going to lose your life. The moment I lift this lid, these century-old venomous wasps will take you. When you become a soul, we will continue our duel.” The Poison King’s hand began to pry open the lid. The wasps at the opening buzzed restlessly, like starved wolves, their stingers fixed firmly on Zhou Huan. The Poison King finished speaking, and silence descended—a silence that presaged the dread before death.

However, Zhou Huan didn't take them seriously. Although these two had deployed their trump cards, Zhou Huan remained confident in eliminating both scoundrels. He rubbed his hands together briefly, finding the black skin as hard as steel; forget wasps, even a drill would take a while. Zhou Huan couldn’t help but be amused. The trick clearly meant to neutralize him had, instead, potentially saved him. He subtly flexed his fingers, finding them completely agile. Zhou Huan felt reassured and waited silently for the attack of the so-called century-old wasps.

“Zhou Huan, why aren’t you speaking? Say your last words. Prepare yourself some extra paper, just in case you’re short on funds when you get to the next life and get bullied.” The renegade disciple and the Poison King mocked Zhou Huan. At this moment, the renegade disciple also produced a Gǔ, containing two centipedes.

Peering through the small openings of the Gǔ, it was clear these two centipedes were unusual. They were entirely white, except for red coloration at the head and tail. Distinct tufts of hair could be seen wriggling on their bodies, making them seem almost sentient.