The Villain Left the Sect at the Beginning, Now They Regret It

Chapter 12: Establishing Ties

The Centipede Bone-Devouring Gu was indeed ferocious, but once removed from its host, the residual poison it left behind was nothing special. A detoxification pill could easily neutralize it.

Hearing this, Elder Xuanle finally let out a deep breath, his anxiety easing.

Tang Mo fed Yaoyao the detoxification pill and helped her lean over the jade bed. The unconscious girl began coughing violently, and Li Weixi quickly fetched a spittoon from the side.

Xuanle hurriedly placed it beneath Yaoyao and gently patted her back, helping her expel the poisonous blood.

After two rounds of vomiting, the large gray patches on Yaoyao’s skin shrank to the size of a fingernail. Her complexion and breathing improved significantly. She no longer appeared to be in pain and simply lay there, covered in sweat, murmuring weakly in her sleep, “Master…”

Seeing that Yaoyao was finally safe, the weight of despair lifted from Xuanle’s heart. However, he looked as though he had aged ten years.

For days, the palace healers had diagnosed Yaoyao as being poisoned based on her gray skin and black blood. Even when the detoxification pill worsened her condition the first time, they had stubbornly insisted that it was simply an unusual toxin requiring a more specialized antidote.

Not a single one of them had realized that she had been infected with a Gu parasite.

But this was precisely the sinister nature of the Centipede Bone-Devouring Gu. It burrowed deep into the bones, making it undetectable through conventional pulse readings. The venom it produced misled healers into thinking it was a regular poisoning case, and worse still, detoxification pills acted as nourishment, accelerating the poison’s spread.

A room full of seasoned healers had failed to diagnose, let alone extract the Gu. Yet, a young Foundation Establishment alchemist had managed to do it just in time!

Xuanle gently held Yaoyao’s small, frail hand, his heart still pounding in fear.

Two hours.

If he had stubbornly stormed out earlier in his rage, he would have lost Yaoyao forever.

The realization filled him with both relief and guilt.

Over the past few days, he had encountered many arrogant healers who clearly lacked the skills to treat Yaoyao but still acted high and mighty.

And Tang Mo?

Even after Xuanle had treated him with such disrespect earlier, the young alchemist had still been willing to save his disciple with his full effort!

His medical skill was undeniable, and his ethics were even more commendable.

Watching Tang Mo carefully perform acupuncture on Yaoyao, Xuanle, a Nascent Soul cultivator, straightened his robes and suddenly dropped to his knees in front of him once again.

“What are you doing, Elder?” Tang Mo had just placed the last silver needle and quickly stepped forward to help him up. “I cannot accept this.”

Xuanle cupped his hands solemnly. “Earlier, I was blind and disrespectful toward you, Alchemist Tang. Yet, you bore no grudge and gave your all to save my disciple’s life… You deserve this kneeling bow.”

“She was in danger. How could I not save her? Please get up—just call me Tang Mo.”

Xuanle remained firm, kneeling resolutely. Tang Mo glanced at Li Weixi for help, but she merely pretended to admire the scenery.

Hmph! Let this old man kneel!

What if he’s a Nascent Soul cultivator? Looking down on people just because of their lower cultivation? If not for Tang Mo, he’d be mourning right now!

It serves him right—let him kneel a little longer!

Tang Mo could somewhat guess Li Weixi’s thoughts. She despised those who judged others solely by cultivation level and was also standing up for him.

The young Demon Sovereign of the future was truly adorable in her youth. Even after experiencing so much suffering, she still had a good heart. Her values remained intact.

But then, what had ultimately driven her to become the ruthless demon who slaughtered without hesitation?

“Weixi.”

The future Demon Sovereign’s ears turned red when he called her name. She hesitated before reluctantly stepping forward to help Xuanle up.

After standing, Xuanle’s face turned slightly red with embarrassment. He bowed his head and said, “Thank you, and please don’t hold my actions against me. My temper is indeed fiery, but I do not judge people solely by cultivation level. It’s just that this child… she is my heart and soul…”

“Elder, you were simply too anxious earlier. If I were in your shoes, I might have spoken even worse.”

Tang Mo’s understanding and humility only deepened Xuanle’s guilt. He quickly clasped his hands again.

“If not for you, Alchemist Tang, Yaoyao would not have survived. In addition to the consultation fee, I owe you both a great favor. If either of you ever need anything in the future, just say the word!”

Li Weixi, however, remained indifferent. “Tang Mo saved her, not me. You don’t owe me anything.”

“No, if not for you scolding me awake, my stubbornness would have cost Yaoyao her life.”

Only then did Li Weixi find him slightly more tolerable and accepted his gratitude.

In the future, when the demonic realm inevitably came looking for her, the favor of a Nascent Soul elder might come in handy. If she ever failed to react in time, he could at least help Tang Mo escape safely.

Xuanle swiftly opened his storage pouch and began pulling things out as if he were dumping his entire inventory. Spirit stones, refining materials, enchanted artifacts—all piled onto the floor.

“Take a look and pick whatever you want for the consultation fee! Oh, right, I am Elder Xuanle of Sunfire Palace’s Artifact Refining Hall. If none of these suit you, do you have a specific weapon or treasure in mind? I can custom-make one for you!”

Tang Mo’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of so many valuables, and he couldn’t help but swallow. Even Li Weixi was surprised by how wealthy this old man was.

Activating his spiritual vision, Tang Mo scanned the items. As expected of an artifact-refining elder, his collection was even better than what was sold at the treasure pavilions. There were weapons, defensive gear, formations, talismans, and even a few cultivation techniques.

For a moment, Tang Mo was tempted to take a large reward.

But that would only limit his future options. A single hefty transaction wouldn’t be as beneficial as maintaining a long-term alliance.

Xuanle’s status and wealth proved his importance within Sunfire Palace. As a Nascent Soul artifact refiner, having him as an ally would be far more valuable.

Now that Tang Mo had left Pure Void Sect, and Li Weixi had yet to grow into her full potential, they needed strong backing. Wanbao Pavilion, due to its nature, wouldn’t always be able to provide critical support.

But Sunfire Palace was different.

His future plans involved nurturing the Demon Sovereign, which meant Lin Xuan and Pure Void Sect would likely become enemies. Not to mention, the demonic realm would surely send people after Li Weixi once they regained stability.

If unexpected trouble arose, Wanbao Pavilion might not be able to protect them—but Sunfire Palace could.

Without this opportunity to save Yaoyao, he wouldn’t have had the leverage to forge a connection with Xuanle.

Now, he just needed to secure this bond. If he could make Xuanle cherish this debt, his favor would turn into an ironclad friendship.

He couldn’t demand too much for the consultation fee, but he also couldn’t accept nothing.

After scanning the treasures, Tang Mo selected five top-grade spirit stones—just enough to serve as emergency funds before he sold the Dark Profound Wood pill box. That was equivalent to fifty mid-grade stones.

He also picked a light blue veil hat and a compact formation disk before nodding to the stunned Xuanle, signaling that it was enough.

“This is far too little!” Xuanle protested. “Absolutely not!”

Before Tang Mo could explain, Xuanle grew more anxious. “Didn’t see anything you liked? Ah, I was careless! I’ll craft a pill furnace for you! I’ll even talk to the palace lord and extract some Sunfire Essence for its core—how about that?”

Tang Mo nearly jumped in shock. The Sunfire Essence was a sacred treasure of Sunfire Palace! If he really used it as pill fire, they’d probably chase him out if he ever tried to seek refuge there in the future!

“Elder, this is already more than enough.”

“How can it be enough?! You saved Yaoyao’s life—this is nothing in comparison!”

Tang Mo smiled and shook his head. “My master once taught me that saving a life is more valuable than building a seven-story pagoda. I wouldn’t dare tarnish my master’s teachings.”

“Yaoyao’s affliction was both a calamity and a fate. The calamity has passed, but our fates remain. Elder, if you don’t mind, why not befriend me instead? If Sunfire Palace could support my future endeavors, I would be deeply grateful.”

Li Weixi’s heart softened.

So that’s what he had planned…

He wasn’t doing this out of selfish gain.

And he had included her—he saw their futures as intertwined.

The kindness of saving her and taking her in was now pure and flawless in her eyes.

“Mother… you must be watching over me… That jade pendant truly led me to him.”

Gazing at Tang Mo’s refined and handsome profile, an unshakable sense of security welled up in her heart.