Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 804 Heart Cold and Disheartened
"It is this thing that is devouring your vital essence."

He Chong's pupils contracted, utterly shocked.

How could this thing have sneaked into my heart so silently?
He possessed the imperial destiny, wore a jade pendant bestowed by the emperor to ward off evil spirits at his waist, and had high-ranking monks chanting sutras and exorcising evil spirits in his mansion year-round. Ordinary witchcraft and sorcery could not even get within three zhang of him!

As for his daily diet, since he got older, he has not even touched raw or cold fruits and vegetables. Every meal is tested for poison by a specialist. How could such evil things enter his body?
What made him even more suspicious was... how did you find out?

It's almost instinctive for those in positions of power to be suspicious of human nature. After all, even their own incredibly capable team couldn't discover it, yet this miracle doctor found and solved it in an instant—that's just too amazing.

"I've seen it," Xu Xuan said frankly.

Ok?
"Sir, you should still remember what happened in Suzhou two years ago. I discovered the centipede prefect Deng You by accident."

Oh~~~ How could he forget that major case that brought shame to the entire Yangzhou officialdom?

At that time, the centipede avoided the dynasty's fortune and replaced a prefect, causing everyone in the court to feel insecure.

“So I am also…” He Chong’s voice tightened, and he immediately ordered someone to bring the case files from that year.

As the case file was turned page by page, three key elements gradually became clear: the centipede, luck, and Xu Xuan.

It matches up! It matches up!

It turns out that the centipede demon also evaded the monitoring of the dynasty's fortune;

It turns out that this young man had already demonstrated extraordinary talent back then;

So this is the reason I'm alive today...

When He Chong closed the file and looked at Xu Xuan again, his gaze was completely different.

He is well-versed in criminal law and can see through the disguises of demons;
He was exceptionally talented and stood out from the crowd in the imperial examinations.

His medical skills are divine; he can even perform miraculous life-extending techniques like the Seven Stars Life Extension with ease…

"Mr. Xu is truly a man of great talent." He Chong bowed respectfully, this time with genuine admiration. "My life is truly... a matter of fate."

He stroked the glass bottle on the table and suddenly felt a bit absurd—he had spent his whole life guarding against open and hidden attacks, only to be almost killed by a bug in the end.

After setting aside his doubts, he immediately began to ponder the most crucial question—how exactly did the enemy manage to implant the Gu worms into his body?

He would be restless and unable to eat or sleep if he didn't figure this out.

Seeing this, Xu Xuan pondered for a moment and offered a seemingly bizarre yet logical conjecture:
"Centipedes are oviparous creatures, initially small and weak, and even if accidentally ingested, they will be digested by the human body." He lightly tapped the glass bottle with his fingertip. "Even demons cannot escape the laws of nature."

“So…” He Chong’s pupils contracted slightly.

“So the most likely way is to seal it into a pill,” Xu Xuan affirmed. “This Gu worm is not fully mature yet, and it must have been stimulated in some way to break out of its heart prematurely.”

The Holy Father is certainly certain.

The clues to the massacre of the entire Ge family are already right in front of us. If we can't even deduce this, then it would be a joke.

But when it came to the most crucial point, Xu Xuan subtly revealed his confusion: "But... how was it possible to successfully parasitize the dynasty's fortune without actually benefiting from it? That's..."

He frowned, looking utterly perplexed.

The final doubt wasn't feigned; the method was truly impressive.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

He Chong's fingers gripped the brocade quilt tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Some things don't need to be said outright—who else but a higher-level "authority holder" could allow the Gu worms to avoid the dynasty's fortune?

It's impossible that all the officials in the court suddenly developed pica and all wanted to eat centipedes raw, right?

"Ah……"

He Chong suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter filled with desolation.

Throughout his life, he was cautious and loyal to the court, never harboring any disloyalty. As a high-ranking official, he neither formed cliques for personal gain nor coveted further advancement, seeking only stability and maintaining the status quo.

But what I got in return was this suspicion and scheming?

Xu Xuan watched quietly as the light in the old man's eyes gradually dimmed, his back hunched, and even his breathing became heavy, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

However, the hearts of great figures who have weathered many storms have long since detached themselves from their kind; they are all monsters, like demons and monsters.

Since things have come to this, let's deal with the rest later.

He Chong snapped out of his daze, his eyes flickered a few times, and he quickly regained his usual deep expression.

He slowly sat up straight, his voice low and solemn: "Doctor Xu, I hope you will keep quiet about today's events." This wasn't out of Buddhist compassion, but rather a stark reflection of practical considerations:

First, the situation in Yangzhou is interconnected; if he reveals any weakness, it will attract wolves from the shadows.
Secondly, Xu Xuan's medical skills are too extraordinary. There's no guarantee that I won't fall ill again one day and have to rely on him to save my life.
Third, the academy itself cannot afford to offend them.

Not to mention the Confucian school, the three major literary traditions of Jiangnan, and so on. The Grand Historian Professor in the academy alone is like an iron pillar, making him unapproachable.

Since we've decided not to silence them, we must make our relationship as strong as possible!
"Gold, silver, jewels, houses, and land deeds—take your pick." He Chong looked directly at Xu Xuan, making no attempt to conceal his intentions. "If you wish to enter officialdom, any position within Yangzhou is your choice."

At his level, there's no need for pretense or politeness. So what if the Censorate finds out? Rumors are just rumors.

Xu Xuan accepted the "thank you gift" without hesitation.

He had just truly felt He Chong's fleeting murderous intent.

Since the other party had malicious intentions first, there was no need for me to be polite.

He had no shortage of gold and silver jewelry, but he could never have too many rare medicinal herbs.

With a flick of his finger across the map of Shouchun City, he circled the entire row of shops on the most bustling Canal Street.

He Chong was not angry at all, but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this - I am not afraid of your greed, I am afraid that you are really a saint who is not swayed by reason!

Since Xu Xuan is willing to accept it, it means that this matter can be negotiated.

“No problem.” He Chong waved his hand. “The land deeds will be delivered in three days.”

Having achieved his goal, Xu Xuan bowed and took his leave.

Just as he was about to step out the door, He Chong's hesitant voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Doctor Xu, please wait."

He Chong then ordered someone to bring over an exquisite jade bottle and carefully poured a few golden pills into a silver plate: "Please... take a look."

Xu Xuan picked up a golden pill and examined it closely against the light.

The pill was golden in color, with subtle cloud patterns, and emitted a faint, exotic fragrance.

It's top-quality stuff, very pure.

Xu Xuan sincerely praised, "Some of the spiritual ingredients alone are now extinct. The refining technique is also highly skilled; only a master alchemist could do it."

He Chong had just breathed a sigh of relief when Xu Xuan abruptly changed the subject: "However..."

"But what?" He Chong leaned forward unconsciously.

"Your Excellency is advanced in years. Although this medicine is mild, it is not advisable for you to take it."

"What would happen if... I ate it?"

"A weak body cannot tolerate tonics; it's like drinking poison." Xu Xuan shook his head. "At best, it will cause qi and blood to become disordered; at worst..."

He Chong suddenly interrupted: "What if there are no adverse reactions after eating it?"

Xu Xuan immediately fell silent, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.

That means the medicinal power is entirely absorbed by the Gu worm.

This unfinished sentence instantly filled He Chong's eyes with bloodshot veins.

He gripped the corner of the table tightly, his knuckles turning white—this was somewhat humiliating.

"Doctor Xu, please go and rest first." He Chong suppressed his raging anger, his voice hoarse. "Before the results are announced... please stay in Yangzhou."

This was both a request and house arrest. After all, he was now terrified of death.

Xu Xuan immediately said no problem.

If you pay the right amount, our service must also be up to standard; that's called business integrity.

Moreover, the governor only designated Yangzhou as the area, which was already quite generous of him.

It seems we can get along well from now on.

I enjoy having friends like you who are immoral and cowardly.

　I've been traveling non-stop these past few days, handling all sorts of things. Airplanes, high-speed trains, subways, taxis—I've been switching back and forth constantly, and I'm completely disoriented. My emotions are numerous and complex, mostly negative. Life really does get more and more tiring as you get older.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)