"Taishui, Black Taishui," Master Danyang's icy voice echoed within the small storeroom.
Li Huowang slightly tilted his head upward and took another look at the disgusting thing in his hand.
Upon closer inspection, he realized it bore some resemblance to the thing in the black cauldron, no, the thing in his hand was exactly that creature in the black cauldron that devoured people.
"This thing is called Black Taishui? Could it be that he plans to use this thing for Elixir Refining? What a heavy taste," Huowang thought to himself.
As Master Danyang flicked his wrist lightly, the writhing Black Taishui drew an arc through the air and directly smacked onto the top of his foot.
The sticky, soft touch made Huowang's scalp tingle, and his legs shook uncontrollably as he retreated.
Staring at the Black Taishui that had landed on the ground and was now covered in dust, Huowang looked up in astonishment at Master Danyang, not understanding his intentions.
"A reward for you, pick it up and swallow it. You used to be a Medicinal Guide and it was fine, but now that you're a disciple of this Taoist Master, you can't be so careless. It can suppress your hysteria."
Huowang seemed not to understand what he was saying and didn't want to. The young man's complexion turned deathly pale as he kept backing away, "I won't eat it! I'm not sick!!"
"Won't eat? Hmph, you don't have a say in this anymore, Changming, Changren."
Master Danyang slightly lifted his chin, and two Taoists with swords on their backs quickly stepped up to Huowang, each grabbing an arm.
Following that, Master Danyang gestured with his right hand, and the Black Taishui that was crawling toward the corner of the room flew straight into his hand.
As Huowang watched Master Danyang approach with the nauseating object in hand, his body began to shake uncontrollably, feeling a bone-chilling cold from the inside out.
Instinctively, he wanted to struggle and flee, but his senior brothers' hands locked onto his shoulders as firmly as iron.
Fortunately, he had one last resort. As Huowang's breathing became hurried, his chest heaved violently. Terrified, he clenched his teeth, closed his eyes tightly, and contracted his mind and body inward with all his might.
"Huowang? Huowang! What's wrong? Are you feeling very uncomfortable?" Yang Na's soft voice sounded like music to the ears at this moment for Huowang.
When he opened his eyes and saw the girl who had changed into a high-necked white sweater, he flung himself at her, embracing her tightly like a lifeline.
The young girl's cheeks flushed a hint of pink, and she struggled while whispering in a tiny voice, "Huowang, let me go quickly. Your aunt and the rest are watching from behind."
Huowang looked up and saw his mother standing next to the attending physician, smiling affectionately at them, "Oh my, my son is really great."
Looking at the clean and tidy hospital ward, with the bright sun outside the window, and his beloved family around him, the fear that enveloped Huowang's heart gradually settled.
The attending physician pushed his glasses with his hand and frowned slightly as he stepped forward, "Little Li, what did you see in the hallucination? Your emotional swings are quite significant. What's been happening to you lately? Have you been following my instructions?"
Thinking about what had just happened, Huowang's heart tightened. He anxiously said to his physician, "Doctor, is there a medicine that can temporarily suppress those hallucinations? I really can't stand it, I need a break."
"Ah, alright, I'll prescribe some flupentixol and penfluridol for you, but Li, medication can only play a supporting role. If you want to completely rid yourself of the hallucinations, you'll have to follow my method," said the doctor, and then he began prescribing the medication on his tablet.
When he saw the nurse bring over a few blue capsules, Li Huowang rushed forward, too lazy to even drink water, and popped them directly into his mouth.
The Master, the Elixirs, he wanted to think of none of it; he just wished for a moment of peace. The scene from just before had truly terrified him.
The capsules were sticky and gritty, disgusting to taste, but he still forced himself to swallow them, fighting back the nausea.
"Li, tell me, what frightened you in your hallucination just now?"
After taking the pills, Li Huowang felt much more relaxed. He chuckled and answered, "I didn't encounter anything special, just that fellow over there spoke in a strange tone. From the way he spoke, it seemed like he was saying that over there is the reality, and over here is the illusion. Hahaha."
No sooner had these words left his mouth than the surrounding air seemed to freeze, all the bright colors dimmed to lifelessness, and Yang Na's mother, the primary doctor, and the nurse who had delivered the medicine, all froze in their places at that moment.
The abrupt change around him caused Li Huowang's body to tremble ever more violently; his breathing grew more and more rapid, and he looked out of the window helplessly. The once sunny sky had turned pitch black, the safe and peaceful environment was gone.
As if tangible, fear enveloped him; panic overwhelmed all his emotions. Li Huowang, acting on instinct, grabbed Yang Na and plunged into his mother's embrace.
But the moment he touched her, her body burst like a bubble, and the strong, ever-reliable mother who could shield him from all weather, was gone.
"Huowang..." Li Huowang's body jolted violently. He spun around and watched in horror as Yang Na's body completely disintegrated before his eyes. His only love had vanished completely.
In this moment, all the positive and beautiful things Li Huowang cared about in his heart had disappeared, leaving him with nothing but despair, oppression, and pain.
The pristine white walls of the hospital retreated as fast as the tide, and he found himself back in the dim cave amid the mountains.
Li Huowang, eyes bloodshot and veins on his forehead bulging, wanted to scream, wanted to let out all the despair and suffering from his heart.
But he couldn't, because his throat was blocked tightly by Black Taishui, unable to emit the slightest sound; all the despair and pain recoiled back upon himself, forcing him to bear it all alone.
Watching his disciple trembling and retching on the ground, Master Danyang, hands clasped behind his back, shook his head and walked towards the doorway of the Elixir Refining room.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're this delirious and you say you don't have hysteria? Of all the people in the Elixir Refining room, you're the sickest," the Taoist Master said. "Did you think I chose the Medicinal Guide carelessly?"
"Alright, the hysteria is gone now, you can work properly. Remember, Qingfeng Pavilion has no place for idlers. Come to receive your Elixir at the beginning of each month."
With that, the other disciples of Master Danyang also left, leaving Li Huowang alone on the Elixir Refining room floor, surrounded by the other Medicinal Guides.
The Medicinal Guides, with their strange appearances and various inborn or acquired diseases, looked at each other, uncertain what to do.
After what felt like half a stick of incense, the Black Taishui in Li Huowang's mouth finally slid down, and his heart-wrenching cries echoed throughout the cave.
"Why!! Why do I end up in this damned place! And still, this illness won't leave me be!!"