Chapter 32: Awakening from a Long Dream at Death's Ridge

Night fell and the stars twinkled overhead; the courtyard of Su Mu’s small house was bustling with activity. Several subordinates of Black Crow hurried in and out, filling the once spacious yard with all manner of containers. Some emitted wisps of blue smoke, others trembled lightly, and still others produced strange, unsettling sounds from within.

At the center of the courtyard stood a towering frame, upon which rested a massive cauldron. Beneath it, a pile of chopped wood was arranged, etched with peculiar patterns. Five bare-chested men stood scattered around, silent and unsmiling, their expressions grave and focused.

Su Mu and Master Ji emerged from the house. Seeing the courtyard packed with vessels, Master Ji nodded in satisfaction and smiled at Su Mu. “Everything is ready now. Your body has recovered these past two days. Do not fret over what lies ahead. The Myriad Venoms Reincarnation Medicinal Bath is indeed perilous, but with me guarding you, I promise the ordeal will be thrilling yet safe. Black Crow will surely return in a few days with good news. Rest assured.”

Su Mu had matured greatly. Though still young, the trials he had endured had stripped away the impulsiveness and naivety of months past.

“Master, I am prepared,” Su Mu replied, drawing a deep breath, his expression resolute.

“That’s good. Remember the crucial steps I’ve taught you. Do not lose yourself. If you truly cannot endure, bite and crush the Clear Jade Pearl,” Master Ji instructed again, still uneasy.

“I will give it my all!” Su Mu responded firmly, stretching before striding toward the immense cauldron.

Master Ji followed, nodding to the men surrounding the cauldron. They bowed respectfully.

Su Mu gazed at the cauldron, gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and leapt inside. The cauldron was filled with clear water, free of any impurities. Su Mu settled himself cross-legged; the water reached his neck, leaving only his head exposed.

“Su Mu, the spiritual energy I cultivate is quite unique. I can induce a range of intangible sensations—pain, numbness, itch, dizziness, heat, cold, and so forth. Though they are illusions, the feelings are exceedingly real. Moreover, I can amplify all sensations. Soon, I will unleash this energy upon you. The Myriad Venoms Reincarnation Bath will produce a special vapor; inhaling it will plunge you into a realm of illusions, amplifying your current sensations a thousandfold or more.”

“If an ordinary person feels pain now, that pain will become a living hell, magnified hundreds or thousands of times until it kills them. But you need not worry about that. My concern is for those sensations you cannot perceive—these pose greater danger. I will use my energy to help you feel other sensations, so do not lose yourself.”

Su Mu had heard these warnings from Master Ji many times; they were etched in his heart. He nodded, closed his eyes, and quietly awaited the beginning.

With a grand sweep of his sleeve, Master Ji signaled a black-clad subordinate, who announced loudly, “By order of the master, the Myriad Venoms Reincarnation Medicinal Bath begins!”

The call rang out powerfully, reaching every ear. The bare-chested men simultaneously summoned their divine power, forming several seals with their hands. They pointed at the wood beneath the cauldron, and streams of red flame shot from their fingers, setting the wood ablaze. The flames converged, erupting in a towering blaze.

“Please, gentlemen, hold on. This Mountain Gate Wood is extremely difficult to burn. Thank you for your effort,” Master Ji called loudly, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the cauldron.

A quarter of an hour passed. The men controlling the fire were drenched in sweat. Suddenly, one collapsed, gasping for breath, and his flame vanished.

Master Ji quickly glanced at the pile of Mountain Gate Wood and said, “Just a bit longer—the wood is about to catch.”

The remaining men gritted their teeth and persisted, faces flushed, desperately maintaining the fire.

Finally, Master Ji declared, “It’s done—the Mountain Gate Wood is glowing red and burning!” The men withdrew their divine flames and sat cross-legged to recover. Puddles on the ground revealed the extent of their exertion.

The wood glowed red, then gradually sprouted flames—first small, then swelling into a three-colored blaze: red with hints of blue and white.

Curiously, though the cauldron had been heated by divine flames for ages, the water had only warmed. Yet the Mountain Gate Wood’s fire burned for moments before the water began to bubble, and Su Mu’s entire body turned bright red, with blisters forming in places.

Master Ji’s eyes remained locked on the bubbling water. Seeing the rising bubbles, he shouted, “Quick, the Three-Crowned Violet-Blue Serpent!”

Two subordinates hurried over with a large jar, tipping its contents into the cauldron. Two snakes, one violet, one blue, entwined together, fell in.

They writhed frantically in the scalding water, spewing green liquid from their mouths. The boiling water cooled upon contact with the liquid, which adhered to Su Mu’s body like a sponge. The snakes wriggled for a while before sinking their fangs into Su Mu, wrapping tightly around him. As the green liquid was absorbed, the water resumed its boiling, but around Su Mu, the water seemed partitioned, untouched by heat.

Master Ji, hands behind his back, watched Su Mu intently. Seeing the green liquid fully absorbed, he commanded, “Blood Ginseng, Fire Phoenix Wood, Flame Mother Stone, White Fire Lily!”

Immediately, several attendants rushed over with boxes, opening them and pouring in herbs—some powdered, some whole—all heat- and fire-inducing.

As soon as the herbs entered, the water turned fiery red. The boiling bubbles, deep crimson, made Su Mu appear submerged in magma. Even those watching from afar broke out in sweat.

Master Ji observed as the green liquid was gradually burned away by the red water. The snakes sprayed more green fluid from their wounds, which, like before, soaked into Su Mu. Then another box was brought and emptied into the cauldron.

Grating shrieks rang out; it was over a dozen creatures resembling giant salamanders. Scalded by the boiling water, they wailed and scurried to Su Mu, clinging to him as if he were an island in the sea.

These strange fish crawled onto Su Mu, their four stubby legs pressing against his body, secreting sticky substances that wrapped Su Mu and themselves tightly, insulating them from the boiling water. Su Mu kept his eyes shut, unmoved by the chaos outside.

Throughout the day, Master Ji added over two hundred bizarre drugs, poisonous insects, and exotic beasts to the cauldron. The water lost all resemblance to water, turning deep blue and emitting a peculiar fragrance—pleasant yet nauseating. Su Mu’s form vanished beneath the liquid, his current condition a mystery.

At that moment, Su Mu was actually quite comfortable—at least, so he felt.

He no longer knew where he was. Hours earlier, he had slipped into an uncanny state. Ever since entering the cauldron, he had rigorously followed Master Ji’s instructions, never opening his eyes. His body was bitten, covered, immersed in various substances, never comfortable for a moment—until now, when he seemed to be drifting in a gentle river.

The water caressed him tenderly, indescribably soothing. Beside him sat a maiden in delicate gauze; upon closer look, it was An Rui, smiling sweetly at him, embracing him, kissing him all over.

Such blissful sensations felt utterly real. He wished to remain entwined with An Rui forever, unmoved even by the collapse of heaven and earth.

Outside the cauldron, Master Ji appeared haggard, drenched in sweat, his eyes gleaming with spiritual energy that enveloped the vessel.

After a time, his eyes returned to normal. An attendant handed him a towel, which he used to wipe his brow, sighing deeply.

“Master, has something happened?” someone asked softly nearby.

“The ‘myriad venoms’ in this Reincarnation Bath refers to fighting poison with poison, the principle of mutual destruction and rebirth. ‘Reincarnation’ describes endlessly repeating illusions, never awakening. Ordinary people fall into visions of endless agony—knife mountains, burning hells, or ice-cold peaks. But this boy has fallen into a nest of tenderness, feeling comfortable, impossible to rouse, alas.”

“Comfortable? Is that possible?” the attendant exclaimed, astonished.

“Su Mu is indeed lost in it. He feels neither heat nor cold, nor pain nor itch; all sensations meant to be amplified have no effect, except for comfort. That feeling, nestled in the depths of his heart, has become his fantasy. Now he’s immersed in extreme comfort. I tried to amplify other sensations, but it was useless.”

Master Ji rested a while, then paced around the cauldron, brow furrowed, searching for a solution but finding none. In frustration, he departed, determined to consult ancient texts for other remedies.

Two days passed. Su Mu remained inside the cauldron. Master Ji exhausted all methods, unable to wake him. On the third day, he ordered Su Mu to be lifted out, washed and dried, and placed in the small house. Su Mu wore a serene smile, motionless as a corpse, worrying Master Ji, who sighed in regret, wondering if he had been too hasty in using the Myriad Venoms Reincarnation Bath.

Suddenly, the door swung open. Black Crow had returned from the Heavenly Pavilion Water Pavilion and, learning that Master Ji was with Su Mu, hurried over.

Master Ji turned and asked, “Well? Was the boy’s friend rescued?”

Black Crow bowed awkwardly and replied, “Forgive me, Master. When I arrived at the Water Pavilion, I learned that An Rui, whom Su Mu spoke of, was rescued over a month ago. The rescuer even dismantled the Heavenly Pavilion Water Pavilion before leaving.”