Wu Zhiguo was completely unconscious, sweat still pouring from his body. If this continued, he wouldn't be able to replenish his fluids and would eventually die from exhaustion.

Long Cheng watched Zhang Yang with growing tension. Wu Zhiguo had been perfectly fine when they set out; they had been laughing and chatting along the way, even promising a lavish feast to thank them for saving his life once the poison was cured.

He hadn't expected Wu Zhiguo to collapse at the very edge of the Southern Border, not even having reached their destination yet.

"Zhang Yang, how is Zhiguo?"

Seeing Zhang Yang's brow tightly furrowed, Long Cheng couldn't help but ask, his heart filled with worry.

After asking, he glared fiercely at the woman. If anything irreversible happened to Wu Zhiguo, he swore he would make this woman pay with her life.

"His condition is very poor; the Gu poison has acted up prematurely!"

Zhang Yang released Wu Zhiguo's wrist, speaking softly. With the Gu poison acting up early, Wu Zhiguo had less than a day left to live, perhaps even less. Zhang Yang had misjudged the Gu poison; it was his first encounter with such a toxin, and his experience was lacking.

Long Cheng froze, blurting out, "Acted up early? What do we do now?"

The premature activation of the Gu poison was definitely not good news for Long Cheng, and he understood the severe consequences when the poison took hold.

"First, carry him out of the vehicle!" Zhang Yang ordered directly.

Long Cheng immediately lifted the unconscious Wu Zhiguo, carrying him down carefully. Zhang Yang had already spread a blanket on the ground.

It was one of the blankets Long Cheng kept in his vehicle; they had brought all their gear for camping overnight.

They laid Wu Zhiguo flat by the roadside, and Zhang Yang pulled out a box of silver needles from his person.

No spiritual medicine could be administered to Wu Zhiguo in his current state; only acupuncture could offer relief from this unknown Gu poison. Even Zhang Yang didn't have an easy solution.

One silver needle pierced straight into Wu Zhiguo's Yintang point.

Wu Zhiguo's body gave a slight tremor, then stilled completely.

Several more needles followed, from the Renzhong point downwards. After inserting over twenty needles into his body, Zhang Yang placed the final one into the Baihui point on the crown of his head.

As this last needle went in, Wu Zhiguo's breathing immediately became much steadier, and the sweat stopped flowing from his skin.

Inside the car, Wu Meilan was peering out curiously. She gasped, her mouth dropping open as she watched Zhang Yang insert so many vital point needles. She was now even more certain that Zhang Yang was no ordinary person. An ordinary person couldn't seal her internal energy (Neijin), perform such needling techniques, nor inspire such fear in her.

"Zhang Yang, what are you doing?"

Once Zhang Yang finished the procedure, Long Feng asked softly.

"This is a technique called Turtle Breathing Art (Guixi Shu). I can slow down every function in his body to its absolute minimum rate. It can also suppress the activity of the Gu poison within him," Zhang Yang sighed in response.

"Does this mean Zhiguo can be saved?"

Long Cheng blinked in surprise. He didn't understand Guixi Shu, but Long Feng’s eyes narrowed; he knew much more than Long Cheng did.

Turtle Breathing Art was a profound internal energy technique (Xinfah) used to survive harsh environments and preserve life. Very few people understood it. As an ancient family lineage spanning over two thousand years, the Long family possessed this cultivation method.

However, their Guixi Shu could only be cultivated internally; it couldn't be imposed upon another person. Zhang Yang's ability to apply the Turtle Breathing Art to a mortal was infinitely more difficult than self-cultivation.

"My Turtle Breathing Art can only hold for two days. If we still haven't cured the Gu poison after two days, I will have no recourse," Zhang Yang shook his head. While he could externally apply the technique, the duration was limited.

Two days, a maximum of two days. If the poison wasn't resolved by then, Wu Zhiguo's Gu affliction would flare up more violently, resulting in immediate death. This meant that the Turtle Breathing Art only bought Wu Zhiguo an extra day of time. This was precisely why he hadn't used this method sooner; he would never resort to it unless it was an absolute last resort.

"We leave immediately and find the person in the shortest time possible to detoxify Zhiguo!" Zhang Yang stood up and stated directly. Long Cheng nodded instantly. Time was now even more critical; they could no longer afford to waste any moments on the road.

Wu Zhiguo was moved into Zhang Yang's vehicle. Long Feng temporarily moved to Long Cheng's side and looked at the woman in the car.

Qu Meilan looked back at Long Feng, feeling an increasing wave of terror. His gaze was exceptionally cold, chilling her to the bone, making her feel as though he were regarding her as a dead object. Furthermore, the faint pressure that radiated from Long Feng occasionally made it hard for her to breathe.

She was now completely certain that Long Feng was also an internal energy cultivator, and a very powerful one at that. This realization caused a silent lament to echo in her mind. She began to doubt whether her Master had been right to take Wu Zhiliang's money to do his bidding. Provoking three internal energy cultivators at once was truly terrifying.

Zhang Yang sped up the car considerably, but they were traveling mountain roads, and no matter how fast he drove, progress was slow.

By nightfall, they had entered the deep reaches of the Southern Border, yet they were still over a hundred kilometers from the mountain Qu Meilan had mentioned.

The mountain roads at night were largely deserted. Despite their urgency, they dared not take risks at this hour. The terrain was too perilous; even locals avoided these mountain paths after dark. No matter how high a price they offered, they couldn't find a guide willing to accompany them into the mountains that night. Money was good, but these people weren't foolish enough to risk their lives for it. They were already apprehensive walking during the day, let alone in the pitch black of night.

As soon as dawn broke the next day, Zhang Yang and his convoy set off. Only once the sky brightened did the local guides dare to lead the way.

As they navigated these roads, Zhang Yang and the others finally understood why the locals refused to travel at night. These mountain paths were not only difficult to traverse but were perilous in many sections—a sharp turn often meant a sheer cliff, and where bridges existed, they were rickety ruins. In such conditions, even those intimately familiar with the area wouldn't dare venture out at night. It was simply too dangerous; one slip meant utter annihilation.

They took over six hours to cover the hundred-odd kilometers. Around noon, just before twelve o'clock, they finally reached the foot of the mountain Qu Meilan had indicated.

Seeing the familiar mountain range, Qu Meilan's anxiety spiked again.

There was no sign of life at the base of the mountain. The nearest inhabited area was a small town thirty li behind them, where Qu Meilan usually went to purchase daily necessities, or to a county town even further away. The only people near this side of the mountain were those at the spot where they had camped the previous night. This route was shorter; otherwise, Zhang Yang and the others wouldn't have risked taking the more dangerous path. Taking the longer route around the other side of the mountain would have added at least two hundred kilometers.

"Brother Cheng, you stay here and watch Zhiguo. Long Feng and I will go up!"

After parking the cars in a concealed spot, Zhang Yang told Long Cheng.

Long Cheng was supporting Zhiguo, helping him sip water. Wu Zhiguo was still severely dehydrated and unable to drink on his own; they had to assist him. Hearing Zhang Yang, Long Cheng immediately looked up. "I'm coming up too; I can help!"

"I know you can help, but Zhiguo needs looking after. We have no idea what the situation is like up there. Do you think it's better to bring Zhiguo along or leave him?"

Zhang Yang nodded, understanding Long Cheng's desire to join the effort. However, since the situation above was unknown, and Long Cheng's power was mediocre, it was better to leave him behind for now. At least with him, Long Feng, and Lightning present, self-preservation was guaranteed. If Qu Meilan's sect didn't possess any truly powerful masters, they could easily neutralize the people inside. Zhang Yang had questioned Qu Meilan about her Master's strength during the hypnosis, but she only knew her Master was far superior to her.

"I understand. Then you two must be careful, and contact me immediately if anything happens!"

Long Cheng glanced at Wu Zhiguo a few times, finally nodding. He grasped Zhang Yang's concerns, but what Zhang Yang said was reasonable: Wu Zhiguo in his current state was unsuitable for the ascent and would only distract them. Since they had arrived, it was best for Zhang Yang and Long Feng to scout ahead. Once the issue was resolved, Long Cheng would bring Wu Zhiguo up the mountain.

With the plan settled, Zhang Yang and Long Feng led Qu Meilan up the slope.

The mountain wasn't particularly large, and Qu Meilan tried to walk deliberately slowly. Unfortunately, Long Feng grabbed her and hoisted her up, forcing her to keep pace with their rapid advance. Long Feng, being the cold-hearted type, certainly wouldn't indulge any delicate sensibilities.

Qu Meilan’s sect was located halfway up the mountain—a few ordinary wooden structures they had built themselves. In less than an hour, the pair reached the location. If they had brought Long Cheng and Wu Zhiguo, this journey would have taken at least double the time.

It was a clearing on the mountainside, featuring about a dozen wooden houses of varying sizes. An uninformed observer might have mistaken this scene for the dwelling of secluded hermits, unaware that this was the operational base of a Gu-raising and Gu-releasing sect from the Southern Border.

"Who goes there?"

Zhang Yang and Long Feng had not tried to conceal their presence. As soon as they arrived, a woman jumped out from within and shouted loudly at them. This woman held a strange, soft whip, its surface covered in sharp barbs, looking quite menacing.

"Zhang Yang, the ninety-eighth generation successor of the Medical Sage lineage, has come to pay a visit. Please announce our arrival!"

Zhang Yang clasped his fists in greeting. Since this was a martial arts sect, using their proper martial world etiquette was appropriate. His intention was to prioritize courtesy before force; if they were willing to cure Zhiguo's poison, no conflict would be necessary.

"And I am Long Feng, the one hundred and twelfth generation successor of the Xuanyuan Family!"

Long Feng set Qu Meilan down and added his introduction. Zhang Yang shot him a slightly surprised glance. He had only introduced himself, not intending to involve Long Feng, but Long Feng had proactively announced his presence, using the prestige of the Xuanyuan Family. This implied he was representing the Xuanyuan Family. The title of the foremost family, from ancient times to the present, was no mere formality and could awe people in many circles.

"The Medical Sage lineage, the Xuanyuan Family?"

The woman who stepped out stared blankly at Zhang Yang and Long Feng, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes, but she quickly nodded. "Wait here, I'll go report immediately!" As she spoke, she glanced at Qu Meilan, hesitated for a moment, but said nothing, turning and leaving quickly.

………… First update. The total number of recommendation votes has surpassed 2,800. Today will feature a minimum of five updates. Friends with recommendation votes, please cast them for Little Yu; leaving them unused is a waste. For every additional 500 votes, I will release an extra chapter. The more recommendation votes cast, the more updates Little Yu will provide today.