Chapter Eleven: A Restless Night

In a guestroom at the southwest corner of the Wan family manor, Li Yun sat before a table, his gaze somewhat unfocused as he stared at the flickering oil lamp.

“It seems that Yuan Hou and Lei don’t understand the true value of the Blood Orchid, but Sun Jin surely knows. Seizing the Blood Orchid tomorrow won’t be easy—Sun Jin is no ordinary man. And besides, I’m still wounded. Wounded?” As a thought struck him, Li Yun reached to his waist and drew out a pill. “Could it be I’ve really been poisoned by the Wall Viper?” he wondered silently.

Suddenly, a searing pain shot through Li Yun’s left arm. He looked down instinctively and saw blood spurting from his wound. Startled, he hastily channeled his inner strength, his fingertips shrouded in a faint white glow as he pressed several acupuncture points along his arm. Yet, strangely, the blood refused to stop; the usually reliable sealing technique was useless. In moments, his clothes were soaked in blood and a dark pool was forming on the floor.

Gritting his teeth, Li Yun shoved the pill into his mouth. It dissolved instantly, filling his senses with an acrid bitterness that stung his nose and numbed his tongue. He spat several times, then glanced at his arm. Oddly enough, the bleeding ceased within moments.

“This medicine is truly miraculous,” Li Yun marveled. In all his years wandering the martial world, he had seen many things, but never a pill that could stanch blood so quickly. He couldn’t help but feel a newfound respect for Lei Yan.

“I suppose I must go have a word with him. I wonder if Brother Lei is still awake?” Li Yun rose to his feet and made for the door, but after a few steps his vision swam and it was only by bracing himself against the wall that he avoided collapse. After a moment, the dizziness faded, but he sighed inwardly, “This poison is truly potent.”

Staggering slightly, he made his way to Lei Yan’s room and knocked. “Brother Lei, are you awake?”

Yuan Hou had only just left, and here was Li Yun. Lei Yan chuckled to himself—so quick?—then called out, “Come in.”

With a soft creak, Li Yun pushed open the door. His face was pale, but he managed a smile. “Brother Lei, you were right—I have indeed been poisoned. Were it not for your pill, I would have succumbed to blood loss just now.”

“You give me too much credit, Brother Li. Please, have a seat and speak freely,” Lei Yan replied, gesturing for him to sit.

Li Yun sank gratefully onto the straw mat. “Well, you said this pill would only suppress the poison. Is there a way to cure it completely?”

“The Wall Viper is no ordinary beast; its venom is not easily dispelled,” Lei Yan mused.

Is he angling for a reward? Li Yun wondered, watching Lei Yan’s expression. It wasn’t unreasonable for someone to expect compensation, but Li Yun had nothing of value on him. He felt a pang of anxiety.

“Brother Li, is the Blood Orchid not found near the Wall Viper’s lair? I heard you say that the viper’s venom serves as nourishment for the orchid. Is that true?” Lei Yan asked.

“Indeed,” Li Yun nodded. “But what does that have to do with curing my poison?”

“In this vast world, all things have their counterbalances. If the Blood Orchid thrives on the Wall Viper’s venom, then it must be able to neutralize the same toxin. In fact, I suspect that aside from the Blood Orchid, there is no other antidote for your condition. But its medicinal properties are strong—it must be refined before you can take it. You’d best pay close attention to that Blood Orchid tomorrow,” Lei Yan said.

Li Yun hesitated, at a loss for words. He had intended to inform his clan so they could seize the Blood Orchid, but Lei Yan was telling him it was his only hope of survival.

Lei Yan had purposely described the Blood Orchid as Li Yun’s sole cure, hoping to enlist his help in acquiring it. Seeing Li Yun’s troubled face, Lei Yan asked, “Brother Li, is there some difficulty?”

“No… no. If we obtain the Blood Orchid tomorrow, I must ask you to refine it into an antidote for me. I thank you in advance.” Li Yun steeled himself, deciding to delay informing his clan. Struggling to his feet, he said, “I won’t disturb you further, Brother Lei. I’ll take my leave.” With that, he turned to go.

“Wait!” Lei Yan produced another pill. “This is a tonic. It’s not much, but it will help restore your strength. If you’re still in this state when we face the Wall Viper tomorrow, the Blood Orchid will do you no good.”

Gratitude flooded Li Yun as he accepted the pill. He hadn’t expected Lei Yan to help him so much. Overcome, he gave Lei Yan a bear hug. “Thank you.” If only he knew that Lei Yan was plotting to use him, to drive him to risk his life for his own benefit—would he be so moved?

“No need for thanks,” Lei Yan replied with a smile.

As Li Yun’s figure disappeared into the night, Lei Yan thought to himself, “Of the three, Yuan Hou seems unconcerned about the Blood Orchid and can be disregarded. Li Yun, based on his reactions, clearly knows its value. But I needn’t worry—he’ll fight for his life now. That just leaves Sun Jin.”

Not far from Lei Yan’s quarters, Sun Jin too was awake, gazing out the window at the night sky. Suddenly, he saw Li Yun emerge from Lei Yan’s room.

“What’s this?” Sun Jin frowned. “Why would Li Yun visit Lei’s room so late? Are they plotting to seize the Blood Orchid? No, he wouldn’t reveal the secret so easily. Has he truly been poisoned?” Sun Jin’s mind raced. “No, I must report this to the clan at once.”

He went to his table, tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve, pricked his finger, and wrote six characters in blood: “Wan Family Manor, Blood Orchid.” He then went to the window and whistled. At the sound, a snowy-white eagle swooped down from the sky. Sun Jin tied the cloth to the eagle’s leg, patted its wing, and with a cry, the bird soared into the night.

“A message?” In his room, Lei Yan’s ears caught the whistle and he grew suspicious. He unleashed his special ability, quickly locating Sun Jin as he attached the cloth to the eagle. In no time, the bird was winging northward. Lei Yan slipped out the back door and followed.

Though the eagle flew high, Lei Yan’s powers tracked it unerringly. He stooped, picked up a few stones, and flicked one with all his strength.

Whoosh.

The eagle dodged the first stone, but then—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—Lei Yan sent five more hurtling toward its head. The bird, relying on instinct, could not evade them all under Lei Yan’s precise aim.

With a thud, the eagle tumbled from the sky. Lei Yan approached, saw blood trickling from its beak, its eyes full of hate. Ignoring the bird, he untied the strip from its leg and read: “Wan Family Manor, Blood Orchid.”

“So Sun Jin knows about the Blood Orchid. But what use is it to ordinary people?” Lei Yan mused. “Unless… they mean to give it to their clan’s honored elders. Yes, that must be it.”

A cold smile crossed his lips. “No matter what, the Blood Orchid will be mine.”