Unless I can open the Heavenly Eye!
Ye Qiu thought to himself.
Among the Maoshan Talismans, there exists a divine secret art known as Opening the Heavenly Eye.
It is said that two inches above the Yintang point, hidden within a person, lies a third eye — the Heavenly Eye.
Once opened, it grants not only X-ray vision but also the ability to see things ordinary eyes cannot:
ghosts,
evil auras,
demons and monsters.
At its highest level, the Heavenly Eye can even foretell good and bad fortune, perceive a person's fate, and glimpse the trends of the world.
In short, its uses are endless.
But the Heavenly Eye is not something just anyone can open.
There are two ways: innate and acquired.
Some are born with it open — mythical figures like the Yellow Emperor, Shennong, Fuxi, and Nüwa.
Others open it through lifelong cultivation: Zhuge Liang, Li Chunfeng, Yuan Tiangang, Liu Bowen, and others of their caliber.
Without exception, everyone who opened the Heavenly Eye became legendary, remembered through the ages.
They were heroes of their time.
The Yin-Yang Snake Gu hides in the bloodstream, as fine as hair, nearly impossible to trace. Ordinary medicine cannot detect it.
If Ye Qiu could open his Heavenly Eye, he could use its penetrating vision to locate the Gu worms in the Dragon King's veins.
But he had only received the inheritance the day before. He hadn't even begun practicing the Heavenly Eye yet.
Even if he started now, it would be too late. The Dragon King only had seven days left.
"Little Ye, you said 'unless' — unless what? Have you found a way to cure me?" the Dragon King asked anxiously.
Even this underworld overlord of Jiangzhou could not remain calm when his life was on the line.
Ye Qiu nodded. "There is a method to purge the Gu poison from your body. Unfortunately… I do not know it."
"If you don't know it, then learn it — quickly!" Zhao Yun said.
Ye Qiu smiled bitterly. "If I could learn it in a short time, I would have done so already."
"Little Ye, can anyone learn this method?"
The Dragon King thought: if others could master it, he would spare no expense to gather experts. Whatever the cost, it would be worth it to save his life.
"I'm afraid no one else can either," Ye Qiu said. "For thousands of years, only a handful have ever mastered it."
"It sounds so mysterious. What is this method? I refuse to believe no one can learn it," Zhao Yun doubted.
"Yes, tell us. What is it?" The Dragon King also thought Ye Qiu was exaggerating.
"Have you ever heard of… Opening the Heavenly Eye?"
Ye Qiu asked.
The Dragon King's body trembled violently.
"I have heard of the Heavenly Eye. It is an extremely profound mystical art. Only enlightened monks and reclusive masters are said to possess it," he said. "What does that have to do with curing my Gu poison?"
"It has everything to do with it," Ye Qiu explained. "The Yin-Yang Snake Gu hides in the blood, extremely hard to find. But with the Heavenly Eye open, one could easily locate the Gu worms. Dragon King… do you know anyone who has mastered this art?"
The Dragon King said: "Such a secret art is beyond ordinary people. If anyone in the world truly has it, only three."
"Who?"
"The leaders of Wudang and Longhushan… and the Living Buddha of the Heavenly Palace in Xizang."
"Dragon King, take my advice — find them immediately. They might still be able to save you," Ye Qiu said.
"The Wudang and Longhushan leaders entered closed-door life-or-death cultivation ten years ago, striving for first place on the Dragon List. As for the Living Buddha of the Heavenly Palace… he was said to have trekked into the desert a year ago, seeking Buddhist truth. No word has been heard since. No one knows if he's alive or dead."
The Dragon King looked to the sky and sighed in despair: "It seems heaven is truly calling for me."
Zhao Yun immediately said: "Dragon King, I will take men to the desert at once to find the Living Buddha!"
"It's no use," the Dragon King said. "Even if we found him, there's no guarantee he has opened the Heavenly Eye. And even if he has… a small figure like me would never be worthy of his help."
For all his power as Jiangzhou's underworld king, to the Living Buddha and the Wudang leader, he was just a nobody.
"But —" Zhao Yun tried to speak, but the Dragon King raised a hand to stop him.
"As the saying goes: life and death are predetermined; wealth and honor are from heaven. If there is no way, then I accept my fate."
Sorrow appeared on Zhao Yun's face.
At that moment, the Dragon King turned kindly to Ye Qiu: "Little Ye, thank you for coming to examine me today."
"Don't mention it. I haven't helped at all."
The Dragon King laughed. "I just said it — fate is fate. But I must praise you.
Over the years, I visited countless famous doctors, and none detected the Gu poison. Yet you saw it in an instant. In my eyes, your medical skill is far greater than all those fame-chasing frauds. Keep working hard. I believe you will become a great doctor — no, a divine doctor!"
"I will do my best."
"Ye Qiu… is there anything I can do for you?" the Dragon King continued. "I may be dying, but in Jiangzhou… I still have some influence."
Ye Qiu almost spoke up.
He wanted the Dragon King to fix his job, and even deal with Guo Shaocong. But then he thought better of it.
The Dragon King was on his deathbed.
Asking a dying man for favors felt wrong.
So he said: "Thank you for your kindness. I only wish your condition might improve. I ask for nothing else."
"I knew you would say that."
The Dragon King's expression turned solemn. He shouted: "Zhao Yun, receive my order!"
"Zhao Yun awaits your command!"
Zhao Yun knelt and cupped his fists.
The Dragon King said: "After my death, you must protect and assist Ye Qiu. Grant any request he makes, so long as it does not violate the morals of the jianghu. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Good."
He turned back to Ye Qiu: "I never like owing debts. Yesterday, my grandson fell into the water — you saved him. Today, you examined me. I'm afraid I won't live to repay this favor. So I leave it to Zhao Yun.
Ye Qiu, if you ever run into trouble… find Zhao Yun."
"Dragon King, you're too kind. I did nothing. I feel guilty."
"Think nothing of it. I only hope that when you become a divine doctor, you heal the world and save the living."
The Dragon King patted Ye Qiu's shoulder and ordered Zhao Yun: "See our guest out."
"This way, Dr. Ye."
"Take care, sir."
Ye Qiu bowed and turned to leave.
After taking a few steps, he suddenly spun back around.