Chapter Fifty-three: The Steward’s Intentions

At this moment, Chief Huang lay on the bed with his hair in disarray... His body was stained with blood and filth, and even his favorite gold-brocaded python robe was torn beyond recognition by sharp blades. Only by drawing closer could one see that his aged face shifted between pallor and lividity, and from his wounds seeped traces of blackened blood; he was not only gravely injured, but seemed to have been poisoned as well.

"Chief, Chief..." Xu Boqing, fighting the sting at the tip of his nose, hurried forward to grasp Chief Huang's hand, softly calling, "Chief, Boqing is here, Boqing has come to see you."

A few coughs escaped Chief Huang as he seemed to sense something, his eyes opening and a trickle of black blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. Even his eyes, compared to before, had grown much cloudier.

When he saw who was at his bedside, he trembled as he clutched Xu Boqing's hand, and smiled, "I'm old now, I can truly feel it..."

"Chief..."

"My time is short, listen to me." Chief Huang patted his hand and spoke in a hoarse voice, "I wasn't meant to live many more years. Today, I risked my life to protect His Majesty; the reward from the Emperor will be generous. I've already spoken to His Majesty—these rewards will be given to you."

He drew a few deep breaths, then continued, "From now on, Cining Palace is yours to manage. With this favor owed, even if your affairs with the Empress Dowager are accidentally discovered, the Emperor might spare your life for the sake of this debt.

But you must always remember...

Even a talisman for life will one day fail.

You must never become reckless. Above all, you must act with caution. I do not believe Consort Liu is destined for a long life, so do not covet pleasure and become entangled in too much karma with her..."

"Yes... yes... I will remember your teachings, Chief." Xu Boqing nodded, and knowing that the Chief had braved death to secure his future, the ache in his heart grew even heavier.

Seeing that Chief Huang still wished to speak after a coughing fit, Xu Boqing quickly comforted him, "Chief, please, don’t speak for now. Focus on healing. When you're better, we can talk at length."

"Don't act like a simpering girl," Chief Huang coughed again, his hand, dry as old bark, gripping Xu Boqing's tightly.

Panting, he said, "Among those who tried to assassinate the Emperor, one was Xiang Shao, the leader of the Five Venoms Sect. I was poisoned by his Corpse Rot Venom. No medicine can save me; I won’t live much longer. At least... at least let me tell you everything before I go..."

"No, the poison—it's easily cured!" Xu Boqing forced a smile and, deciding to hide nothing further, with a wave of his hand closed the door, shocking Chief Huang.

"You..."

"Chief, please, say no more. I'll help extract the poison, and then explain everything to you." As he spoke, Xu Boqing propped up the incredulous Chief Huang, climbed onto the bed, and sat cross-legged behind him, pressing his palms together in the posture for energy transfer.

Closing his eyes, he sent a surge of vigorous inner strength through his palms into Chief Huang's body.

Without wind, their hair began to stir, the force swirling around them.

Through a strange method, he could see Chief Huang's inner strength, the ravaged meridians, the strange poison fused with body and energy, and the agony that Chief Huang was enduring...

This body, truly, was too old...

"Boqing, don't waste your strength."

As the inner energy surged into him, Chief Huang's face flashed pale and blue. Enduring the scorpion-like agony, he said, "I know my own body..."

Xu Boqing also realized that the Corpse Rot Venom seemed to have fused with Chief Huang's inner strength; not only was his own energy unable to purge the venom, it was accelerating the poison's spread from within.

"Boqing, you've only practiced martial arts for a year, but possess such profound inner strength—is it the Star-Absorbing Demon Art you cultivated?"

"It is!"

Chief Huang sighed, disappointment in his voice. "I burned that demonic art myself. How did you learn it?"

"The day His Majesty rewarded me, I went looking for you. When you weren't there, I peeked at it and memorized it."

"Do you know the dangers of cultivating that art?"

"I do..." Xu Boqing nodded, then briefly recounted how his special constitution and his study of the Dissolving Skill allowed him to absorb the inner strength of prisoners in the Imperial Dungeon.

Naturally, he couldn't explain the true reason for his special constitution, attributing it instead to a divine figure who had appeared in his childhood dreams.

"No wonder... no wonder..." Chief Huang was dumbfounded, the shock in his heart far outweighing the physical pain.

He had long wondered why, when he himself was struck by Cui Feng, it took ages for his inner strength to recover, leaving lingering ailments, yet when poisoned by Cui Feng's hidden weapons, he was cured by the Ginseng King Pill.

Now it all made sense...

A sudden flush crept across Chief Huang's face as he thought of something, his voice gritting, "Boqing, I need you to do something for me."

"Just command me!"

"Absorb my inner strength!"

"What!?" Xu Boqing was stunned, then shook his head rapidly, "No, if I absorb your strength, you still won’t survive."

"Isn't your constitution impervious to all evils?"

Chief Huang spat black blood, his face twisted as he said, "The Corpse Rot Venom is entwined with my inner strength. The more I use it, the more the poison spreads! If you absorb my strength, so long as the poison doesn't kill you, perhaps I can live a few days longer!"

"..."

"Are you afraid? Or are you deceiving me!?"

Xu Boqing hesitated for a long moment, then sighed, "Very well. Relax your mind, do not resist."

With that, he activated the Star-Absorbing Demon Art. His hands, like the gaping maws of whales, drew in all of Chief Huang's inner strength, along with the venom entwined within.

Vast, blackened energy poured into his body's cauldron, stoking the flames within!

Chief Huang's aura grew ever weaker. He could feel his strength being drained, yet his face showed no pain—rather, there was relief.

He watched Xu Boqing quietly, resolved that if any sign of poisoning appeared on the young man, he would break his own heart meridian without hesitation.

Fortunately, the young man's constitution truly was extraordinary. His aura was balanced and pure, showing not the slightest sign of poisoning...

Chief Huang grew ever feebler. When his inner strength was finally drained, his body slackened, nearly collapsing to the floor.

"Chief!!"

Xu Boqing opened his eyes and hurried to steady him.

"I'm fine... I'm fine... I feel much better now..." Chief Huang managed a relieved smile, scolding, "You rascal... you hid this from me so well..."

Xu Boqing forced a bitter smile. "Chief, I had my reasons, I never meant to hide anything from you."

Chief Huang tried to speak, but was seized by another fit of coughing.

"Please, speak less and rest for now," Xu Boqing urged.

"It's all right. I feel far better now..." Chief Huang waved dismissively, sat up with some effort, and said, "You hid this from me for so long—now you must promise me two things to make up for it..."

"Of course, of course!" Xu Boqing smiled. "Whatever you ask, I will do—two things, or two hundred, I’ll see them done for you."

"It's not so many..." Chief Huang’s expression grew solemn. "First, take care of the Empress Dowager. Never let her be wronged."

"Rest assured," Xu Boqing replied. "You and Her Highness have been good to me. Even if you didn’t say so, I know what I must do."

"You're not a heartless man, I trust you..."

"And the second thing?"

Chief Huang pondered for a moment; his demeanor darkened, his face shadowed. "Second, avenge me!"

He paused, coughing twice, before continuing, "Once you have uncovered the identities of the assassins, and if you can ensure your own safety, absorb all of their inner strength—let them experience the misery of being crippled..."

"Agreed!" Xu Boqing answered without hesitation, his tone earnest. "I've inherited your legacy. After the injuries they've inflicted on you, their debt falls to me!"

"Enough, enough. Let me rest for a while..." Chief Huang breathed out. With Xu Boqing’s help, he lay back on the bed. Seeing Xu Boqing still standing by, he furrowed his brows, "I'm thirsty. Pour me some tea..."

"At once, Chief, please wait..." Xu Boqing nodded. Seeing there was tea in the room, he poured a cup...

But when he returned to the bedside, his heart clenched abruptly, and the cup slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor...

Chief Huang’s eyes were closed, and he was no longer breathing.