Warren Wu glanced down at the yellowed prescription, then handed it back.
Ian Liu accepted the prescription with both hands, swallowed nervously, and looked at Warren Wu with hopeful eyes, forcing a sycophantic smile. He whispered, 'You generals possess boundless power and compassion for the suffering. My aged mother has been bedridden for years and is now at death's door. Might you... might you help me gather the medicine and fulfill my filial piety?'
Warren Wu's face remained expressionless.
Ian Liu hurriedly wiped away his ingratiating smile, blinked earnestly, and said, 'This way, I won't have to risk climbing the mountain and trouble you generals further. Once my mother is cured, your kindness will become a tale of virtue. I will spread your deeds far and wide, build temples, and burn incense in your honor.'
As he spoke, Ian Liu chuckled and stared wide-eyed at Warren Wu.
After a moment, Warren Wu couldn't help but laugh, his brows furrowing into a figure-eight, regarding Ian Liu as if he were a fool.
The two soldiers standing behind Ian Liu also burst into laughter.
For a moment, Ian Liu was completely baffled.
The three continued laughing, making Ian Liu more and more uneasy, sweat beading on his forehead.
Helpless, he wiped his sweat and forced himself to speak, 'Do you generals agree with me?'
'Indeed, indeed.' One soldier gave Ian Liu a thumbs-up and laughed, 'It's a great idea. If you spread the word, we'll be busy from now on. Anyone with a headache or fever will come here for medicine. Maybe we should just set up a stall and sell medicine—business would boom!'
Ian Liu's face changed instantly. He quickly shook his head and waved his hands, 'I was wrong, I was wrong. If you help me, I won't tell a soul! I promise not to disturb your peace.'
'What if you slip up?' Warren Wu asked lazily.
'Never! Absolutely never!' Ian Liu quickly raised three fingers as an oath.
Warren Wu sipped his tea and sighed lightly, speaking nonchalantly, 'A dead man's lips are the tightest. Rather than fetch medicine for you, I think killing you is the best solution—clean and simple. What do you think of that idea?'
The two soldiers immediately nodded in agreement.
Instantly, Ian Liu's face turned pale. He collapsed to the ground, staring at Warren Wu in terror.
Moments later, he lunged forward, clutching Warren Wu's leg and crying, 'Spare me, General! Spare me! I swear I'll never come back! Never again!'
Warren Wu kicked the sobbing Ian Liu away, set his teacup down on the stone table, and snorted, 'Relax, we're not monsters. We're Heavenly troops. We may not want to help you, but we're not going to kill you—unless you go too far and make us angry. Then, who knows?'
Ian Liu nodded repeatedly, shut his mouth, and dared not say another word.
Raising his hand, Warren Wu was about to order the two soldiers to throw Ian Liu out of Mount Hua’s territory when, just then, two maids approached from afar, each carrying a red tray with simple dishes, fruits, and fresh water.
Seeing the two maids walking over, Warren Wu’s hand paused midair.
The two maids stopped before Warren Wu and bowed respectfully.
"Did you bring food for the Third Saintess?"
One maid bowed and replied, "We already brought it today... This is what we brought back, from yesterday."
Warren Wu glanced at the trays in their hands, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Not a drop of water, not a single grain—again..."
"Ever since the Third Prince last visited, the Third Saintess has been like this. With only Spirit-Refinement-stage cultivation, if this continues..."
"If it keeps up, we’ll have to report to Second Lord and let him handle it."
"Third Saintess, Second Lord?" Ian Liu’s eyes darted. He mustered his courage and said, "General, is the Third Saintess you speak of Anna Yang, the Holy Mother of Mount Hua?"
Warren Wu’s eyes slowly slanted toward Ian Liu, snorting, "Why do you need to know so much? The more you know, the quicker you die. Guards, throw him out of Mount Hua’s borders."
"Yes, sir!"
With a shout, two soldiers immediately walked over to Ian Liu, reaching out to seize him and escort him off Mount Hua.
Seeing this, Ian Liu dodged and cried out, "Wait! Wait! General! General! If the Third Saintess refuses to eat, I have a way! I have a way!"
"What way?" Warren Wu raised his hand, stopping the soldiers.
Ian Liu hurriedly knelt, speaking in a low voice, "If I can make the Third Saintess eat, General, will you...?"
"If you can get the Third Saintess to eat, forget medicine—I'll find you an Elixir of Immortality, guarantee your old mother lives to a hundred."
"It's a deal!"
...
Soon after, Ian Liu was delivered to the cave entrance.
Warren Wu pointed to the cave and said, "The Third Saintess is inside. If you really can get her to eat, everything can be negotiated. If not..."
As he spoke, Warren Wu gave a cold laugh, sending a chill down Ian Liu’s spine and drenching him in cold sweat.
Staring at the pitch-black cave, Ian Liu suddenly felt he was riding a tiger and couldn’t dismount.
"Go on."
Taking a deep breath, rolling up his sleeves and steeling himself, Ian Liu stepped forward, then retreated a step, glancing back at Warren Wu and swallowing nervously.
"Go," Warren Wu said impassively. "Or do you expect me to carry you in?"
At this point, even a dead horse must be treated as if it were alive.
Ian Liu began tiptoeing into the cave manor, moving extremely slowly.
Once he had fully entered, a soldier beside Warren Wu whispered, "General, just letting him go in like that? Should we follow and take a look?"
Warren Wu waved his hand dismissively, "What’s the point of following? You know the Third Saintess’s temperament. Besides, with the formation in place, what could possibly go wrong? If he really gets her to eat, all the better. If not, at least this scholar can vent her frustrations."
As he spoke, Warren Wu chuckled to himself.
...
By now, Ian Liu had traversed a third of the long tunnel. Seeing the violet glow ahead, his heart pounded with regret at having suggested this plan.
The Third Saintess referred to Anna Yang, the Holy Mother of Mount Hua and sister to Erik Yang, the legendary Erlang General. Every resident around Mount Hua knew this. Ian’s hope was that, unlike the strict general outside, the Third Saintess might be more approachable. What if she really agreed to help him?
To immortals who can fly, fetching a mere herb is nothing, though for mortals it’s as hard as climbing to heaven.
But recalling Warren Wu’s words before entering, Ian Liu felt his courage waver.
What if the Third Saintess was even harder to deal with? She was famous for being ‘unresponsive’—the mountaintop shrine had long since collapsed, not even a caretaker remained.
Besides, why wouldn’t she eat? Had something happened? Was she in a bad mood? If so, what if she decided to take it out on him?
“Ah... I really shouldn’t have spoken up without knowing anything. Mother, if I don’t make it back, then...” Straightening up, he glanced back at the path he’d come, hesitating over whether to go out and apologize to Warren Wu and end it here.
“If I give up now... will I be killed on the spot?”