Poison Genius Consort

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“The Poison Sect sold poisons to outsiders and risked the lives of the common people.
Moreover, they even developed the art of nurturing poisons to make Poison humans, Poison corpses, and the undying Poison Gu humans.
They wanted to destroy all lives with their poisons! If they hadn’t been destroyed, Cloud Realm Continent would have long turned into Hell on Earth!” Department Head Ouyang declared righteously. 

Gu Qishao’s laughs grew louder.
“These are nothing but hypotheses from the medical academy.
Dare I ask whether the Poison Sect publicly opened stores to sell off poisons? Did they actually do anything outrageous or terrible?”

Department Head Ouyang was rendered mute.
There was precious few records on the Poison Sect’s history because it was all spread by word of mouth.
Both rumors and historical records alike lacked any clear accounts of their crimes.
As the silence stretched on, Gu Qishao’s voice seemed exceptionally bright and clear. 

“Did they?”

No one answered him.
Even those who wanted to retort couldn’t, because a place like this demanded proof.
Next, Gu Qishao asked, “Ladies and gentlemen, do you know why Gu Yuntian knows poison arts? Do you know where I learned my nurturing poison skills from?”

A complicated look flickered through the Northern Li imperial physician’s eyes.
He wanted to say something, but ultimately stayed quiet. 

“There’s a secret only privy to the academy heads of the medical academy.
Unfortuantely, my father accidentally revealed it to me.” Gu Qishao gave Gu Yuntian a meaningful look, but the listless man sprawled on the ground seemed like a balloon that had lost all air.
He showed no reaction to anything around him.

In truth, Gu Qishao had discovered the secret after sneaking back to Medical City and doing research based on his childhood memories.
Gu Yuntian hadn’t told him everything.
In fact, Gu Qishao long had his counters in place to defeat Gu Yuntian, but he hadn’t moved because it was a double edged sword.
Still, he was going ahead and risking everything this time for Poison lass’s sake! He had promised to let her acknowledge her status and sect openly and free of cares!

Gu Qishao continued, “In the past, the medical academy and Poison Sect shared control of Medical City.
The Poison Sect intended to cure poisons, so they raised poisons doctors.
They were never going to use poisons to hurt people.
Unfortunately, the medical academy grew jealous as the sect increased in strength.
The Poison Sect only raised Poison humans and Poison corpses as a way to defend themselves against the medical academy’s increasing control over their matters.
It was never to hurt the world’s people.
Instead, the medical academy were the ones to leak their poisons to the outside world, then news of their poison nurturing skills to wreck their reputation.
In the end, the academy joined hands with Medical City’s various clans to destroy the Poison Sect and seal its grounds…”

“Nothing but nonsense!” Department Head Ouyang interrupted.

Gu Qishao couldn’t be bother to deal with him.
“After the medical academy eliminated the Poison Sect, the academy head back then didn’t completely destroy its books and records, but claimed them for himself.
They were secretly passed down to each successive head from then on.”

Even Academy Head Gu raised his head at those words as he realized the seriousness of the situation–and Gu Qishao’s true motives.
He wasn’t just here to seek revenge on him, but destroy all of Medical City! He wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.

Gu Qishao said, “My father and my poison arts both came from those poison manuals.
There’s two boxes’ worth of books, all hidden in the secret underground chamber in my father’s back courtyard.
You can search for them if you don’t believe me!”

Now everyone including Department Head Ouyang had fallen silent.
Were Gu Qishao’s words true?

All they had to do was search Gu Yuntian’s back yard to verify the facts.

Department Head Ouyang and his other two fellow heads, as well as the three elders of the council, all exchanged glances.
None of them had any idea about this, nor did they want to believe it.
But in the end, they were afraid! Suppose it was true? Then Medical City’s reputation would be completely destroyed.
No matter what, they had to protect the city!

Gu Qishao’s menacing air didn’t feel like a joke.
They couldn’t risk such a threat! 

At this moment, Department Head Lin scooted over to speak with Department Head Ouyang in hushed tones.
It was a rare moment for the two rivals to stand together. 

Soon enough, Department Head Ouyang came to a prompt decision.
“Gu Qishao, you’re willing to make up such lies just to absolve the Poison Sect of its crimes? Do you think everyone will be tricked by your fabrications? Someone come, ah, capture both father and son! The medical academy must punish Gu Yuntian severely to give the world’s people an answer! As for the plans to eliminate the Poison Sect, I ask everyone to still stay on for a few more days after the Apricot Woods Conference ends.
We must unite our efforts to discuss strategies together!”

Department Head Ouyang signaled with his eyes before a large group of guards rushed over to stop Gu Qishao from saying anything more.
But soon enough, more medical apprentices rushed onto the scene to whisper in Department Head Ouyang and Department Head Lin’s ears. 

Whatever they said left nasty expressions on the two men’s faces.
They exchanged helpless glances just as restless noises rose from beyond the forest.
The last row of the seated ran into the forest and back out again with bad news.

“The medical academy’s in trouble! Big trouble!”

“Everyone, hurry over and take a look! It’s really bad!”

“I never would’ve thought! Never at all!”

As more shouts came from the rear, the front grew restless.
Tang Li and Ning Jing were the first to leave, followed by old Wang from Medicine City and their respective elders.
Mu Qingwu became the third until gradually, more and more people left the scene.
Even the representatives from Northern Li and Tianning went to investigate, leaving the upper levels of Medical City with no choice but to chase after them.

Soon enough, the scene was all but deserted except for Gu Qishao, Han Yunxi, and Gu Beiyue…