In the secret passage, Bai Hehuai looked up at a small flower slowly drifting down from above and murmured, “Why is there a flower falling here?”

Su Muyu turned at her words, his brow furrowing as he immediately pulled Bai Hehuai behind him. “Careful!”

“Careful of what?” Bai Hehuai asked, puzzled.

“It’s poisoned.” Su Muyu gripped his sword hilt tightly as they watched the flower suddenly turn to powder mid-fall. A light breeze from above scattered the powder in all directions. Su Muyu started, drawing out his sword hilt and retrieving a pill from within. “Take this pill.”

“I know it’s poisoned. I just wanted to know what we’re being careful of?” Bai Hehuai pushed past Su Muyu and stepped forward. “I’m the junior aunt of the Medicine Valley Master and the granddaughter of the Wen Family Head. You think I fear poison?” She extended both hands, then made a gentle turning motion. The scattered powder gradually coalesced, reforming into the shape of a small flower. Bai Hehuai glanced at it, then, as if to prove a point, ate the flower in one bite.

Su Muyu stared in astonishment. “The Divine Physician certainly knows how to surprise people.”

Bai Hehuai shrugged helplessly. “What kind of poison art did that girl practice to turn her entire body toxic?”

Su Muyu returned the pill to his sword hilt. “In her youth, Xuewei practiced the Poison Sand Palm. Divine Physician, your keen eye saw through it immediately.”

“Many in the Wen family practice poison arts. It usually ends in either failing to poison others or poisoning themselves to death.” Bai Hehuai slowly exhaled a white mist. “This sister of yours—the Poison Sand Palm she practiced wasn’t particularly advanced, but something went wrong during her training. The poison spread throughout her body. She should have died, but some miraculous method saved her. Though her life was spared, the poison remained, turning her into a toxic person. If an ordinary person merely touches her, they’d likely dissolve into black liquid within the time it takes to burn an incense stick.”

“Can she be cured?” Su Muyu asked, noting how precise Bai Hehuai’s analysis was. Perhaps there was still hope for Mu Xuewei to return to normal.

“She tried to poison me the moment we met, and even after I fled into this secret passage, she still sent a poisoned flower to pursue me.” Bai Hehuai shrugged. “Now you’re asking me about curing her? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

Su Muyu paused, then nodded. “This friend of mine, though toxic, has a gentle nature. She usually avoids others, fearing she might harm them unintentionally. Her attack on you was merely due to family orders.”

“No, she genuinely wanted to kill me.” Bai Hehuai glanced at Su Muyu with a smile. “As for why, I don’t know. However, if we both survive this and are no longer enemies, I can cure her. The condition is simple…”

Su Muyu immediately understood: “Money, as much as you need!”

“Hahaha, worthy of being Dark River’s Puppet Master—such quick comprehension.” Bai Hehuai sighed softly. “But shouldn’t our immediate concern be escaping from here?”

“I checked earlier. This stone door should be able to open.” Su Muyu thrust his sword forward, slowly pushing the door open. Inside was pitch black, with only a few luminous pearls embedded in the walls providing faint light.

“This Spider’s Nest is strange. There won’t be any traps inside, will there?” Bai Hehuai asked.

Su Muyu shook his head. “There won’t be. ‘When the wooden bird’s wings flutter, life springs from death.’ This is an escape route that should lead directly to safety, without any traps along the way.”

“You came down to protect me, but what about your Grand Elder?” Bai Hehuai asked.

“When I rushed here earlier, I received a signal from the front courtyard—the enemy had withdrawn, and all was well.” Su Muyu spoke calmly. His tone seemed to possess a certain magic; no matter how frightened or uneasy one felt, hearing his composed and determined words brought a sense of peace.

Bai Hehuai nodded. “That’s good then.”

Su Muyu took out a lighter from his robes and gently blew on it, and the path ahead became brighter. As he led Bai Hehuai forward, he asked, “Divine Physician, did you manage to cure the Grand Elder’s poison earlier?”

Bai Hehuai laughed nervously, thankful she was behind Su Muyu where he couldn’t see her expression. She feigned calmness and replied, “I’ve managed to suppress it for now. After using the Soul Transfer technique on the Grand Elder, I’ve also gained some insight into countering the Snow-Fallen Plum Blossom poison.”

“Thank you, Divine Physician. Let’s hurry out then.” Su Muyu quickened his pace.

“By the way, Lord Puppet Master, that day when I left the Medicine Manor, I encountered an assassin with a Buddhist staff. He seemed to be from your Su family,” Bai Hehuai suddenly said.

Su Muyu nodded. “You’re speaking of Uncle Zhe. He was the Su family’s greatest warrior of the previous generation and the former Puppet Master. Many thought he would become the new Grand Elder.”

“Oh… why didn’t he?” Bai Hehuai asked.

“Once, the Grand Elder and others faced a surprise attack. The previous Twelve Spider Zodiac was almost completely wiped out, and the Grand Elder was severely wounded. Uncle Zhe killed all the enemies and rescued the Grand Elder. But in that battle, Uncle Zhe sustained serious injuries that couldn’t be fully healed. He can only stay alive through the Mu family’s secret techniques. So Uncle Zhe retired, only deployed for especially crucial missions,” Su Muyu explained. “Like this time.”

Bai Hehuai’s eyes dimmed slightly. “He saved the Grand Elder from death’s door, ended up with irreversible injuries, and years later dragged his half-dead body back to kill the Grand Elder? Isn’t Dark River’s logic somewhat… strange?”

Su Muyu smiled. “When you put it that way, it does sound odd. But there’s no choice. Su Zhe was once the Puppet Master, answering only to the Grand Elder. Now that he’s left that position and returned to the Su family, with the Su family plotting rebellion, Uncle Zhe doesn’t have many options.”

“Your Grand Elder seems quite unpopular…” Bai Hehuai pursed her lips.

“The Grand Elder has held the position too long, and the three families were already dissatisfied. I often think, if only Uncle Zhe hadn’t been injured back then, he could have directly succeeded as Grand Elder, and we wouldn’t have all these troubles,” Su Muyu said.

Bai Hehuai gave a faint “Oh” and dropped the subject. After walking a bit further, she casually asked, “What kind of person is this Uncle Zhe?”

Su Muyu stopped and turned to face Bai Hehuai. “I’ve known the Divine Physician for so long, but this is the first time I’ve seen you so curious about someone. Divine Physician, do you have some connection with Uncle Zhe?”