C14 Deadly Love Poison.

Upon arrival, Tang Jicheng, Tang Hao, and two Imperial Physicians swiftly exited the vehicle, their gazes fixated on the dilapidated courtyard enclosed by a simple fence.

The courtyard, having withstood the test of time, showed signs of neglect with various sections collapsed. Despite the main house remaining structurally sound, it bore the unmistakable marks of age.

"Grandma!"

Amidst their bewilderment, a cry of urgency pierced the air from within the cottage. At the sound, Pei Junlin wasted no time, dashing inside.

"Move quickly! Assist the Old Master out of the car!" commanded Tang Jicheng.

With years of government service under his belt, Mayor Tang Jicheng's response was swift and his thinking, razor-sharp. Observing Pei Junlin's haste, he promptly coordinated the next steps.

Tang Hao, along with a burly man, supported Tang Baichuan out of the car and into the cottage, where they were met with a shocking scene.

Inside the ramshackle abode, a striking young woman, no more than eighteen and visibly distraught, stood beside a heated brick bed. Upon it lay an elderly woman, her complexion ashen, unconscious. To their astonishment, Pei Junlin was in the midst of administering treatment.

The old woman's life hung by a thread, her breaths faint. Her hands, gnarled like kindling, clutched at her chest in a mirror image of Tang Baichuan's own distress, her features twisted in agony.

The sight of the elderly woman's pained grip sent a jolt through Tang Jicheng, Tang Hao, and the two medical experts. Their keen minds quickly deduced that she was indeed the very person they had been searching for.

"Quick! Who has the golden needles? The old lady needs immediate treatment!" Pei Junlin implored urgently.

Initially, everyone was taken aback, but then a venerable medical expert with silver hair collected himself. Despite his seniority to Pei Junlin, he now stood as a student before his teacher, his voice tinged with apprehension. "I... I have a set of golden needles... though I'm unsure of their efficacy."

At this, Mayor Tang Jicheng bellowed, "Then why aren't you bringing them out this instant!"

Indeed, in a moment where a life teetered on the edge, hesitation had no place.

Tang Hao called out, "I'll grab it!"

He dashed out of the room and in less than ten seconds, returned with a wooden box, swiftly passing it to Pei Junlin.

Upon opening the box, Pei Junlin was greeted with rows of gleaming silver needles of varying lengths, numbering over twenty.

Yet, Pei Junlin's brow furrowed as he remarked, "Silver needles, of all things. Well, I can't be choosy right now. They'll have to do."

Pei Junlin actually required golden needles, crafted from pure gold, as fine as strands of hair, and completely free of impurities.

Lost in thought, Pei Junlin's actions were nonetheless fluid. With all eyes on him, he gestured in the air and two silver needles zipped out of the box, landing deftly in his hand.

Tang Hao, watching from the side, widened his eyes in amazement and blurted out, "You can retrieve objects from a distance without touching them? You're a Grandmaster Expert!"

It was clear that although Tang Hao had anticipated Pei Junlin's superior strength, possibly even at the peak of Dark Force, he had not imagined that Pei Junlin, roughly his own age, had already broken through to the coveted realm of all Martial Cultivators.

Indeed, such feats were reserved for Grandmaster Experts alone!

The onlookers were equally astounded. Mayor Tang Jicheng's expression carried a hint of profundity. Not a Martial Cultivator himself, his high-ranking position and membership in the Tang family afforded him knowledge of many secrets beyond the reach of the average person.

The Tang family had pegged the young man before them as merely a brilliant medical practitioner. Little did they know, he was also a rare Martial Arts Grandmaster Expert. His advanced cultivation at such a young age meant the Tang family would have to reassess their approach toward him moving forward.

While the crowd was still reeling from the revelation, Pei Junlin remained single-minded in his task. Holding two silver needles in his right hand, a green flame suddenly sprang up between the thumb and index finger of his left. With a gentle swipe over the needles, they transformed into fiery needles. Pei Junlin's movements were lightning-quick as he inserted them into the major acupoints on the old lady's chest.

Pei Junlin deftly transformed each silver needle into a fire needle, inserting them into the major acupoints near the old man's chest. As the needles punctured the skin, onlookers could see the flames from the needles being absorbed into the old man's body.

Tang Hao's eyes were wide with astonishment. "Could this be Taoist Magic Arts?" he wondered. Despite being a young Captain in the Black Shadow, the nation's secretive special forces, and known for his formidable strength and steadfast character, Tang Hao found himself repeatedly taken aback in this moment.

He came to the realization that the enigmatic young man before him was not just an exceptionally strong Martial Cultivator but also a practitioner of the deeply mysterious Taoist Magic Arts. He was audaciously mastering both Martial Arts and Taoist Magic Arts simultaneously!

The creation of green flames was a feat exclusive to those versed in Taoist Magic Arts—there was no other explanation. Rumors had it that these Cultivators could wield the elements of water, fire, lightning, and thunder, inscribe various symbols, and craft seals. They could even lay down Formations to harness the forces of nature for their use—a truly enigmatic art form. Taoist Magic Arts were not for the average person; their cultivation was significantly more rigorous than that of a Martial Cultivator.

Pei Junlin, to Tang Hao's surprise, had managed to cultivate both Martial Arts and Taoist Magic Arts. This was the first time Tang Hao felt a sense of admiration for someone with such a high level of Taoist Magic Arts cultivation.

He had always considered himself a prodigy, having achieved great strength and accomplishments at a young age. Yet, in the presence of Pei Junlin's might, all he could feel was a profound reverence.

If Tang Hao was so affected, imagine the impact on everyone else. Witnessing Pei Junlin's fingertips emit fire, akin to an Immortal's Divine Ability, left Mayor Tang Jicheng and the two Imperial Physicians utterly astounded.

Eventually, Pei Junlin ceased his actions and exhaled a long breath. By then, the old lady's chest was adorned with glinting silver needles, and her breathing had become smooth and steady.

In a remarkable turn, as Pei Junlin brought the old lady's condition under control, Tang Baichuan, who had been propped up by bodyguards, also found tranquility. His pain subsided, and he slipped into a peaceful slumber.

Suddenly, a voice cried out in alarm, "Mr. Pei, your face..."

It was only at that moment that the crowd noticed Pei Junlin's once rosy complexion had turned deathly pale within mere minutes, as if he were stricken with a severe illness.

Pei Junlin dismissed their concerns with a wave of his hand, assuring them, "I'm fine, I've just expended a bit of my energy!"

He then instructed, "Please help Old Master Tang onto the heated brick bed so he can rest."

The girl who had been standing quietly in the corner of the room spoke up anxiously, "Sir, how is my grandmother doing?"

Pei Junlin turned to face the girl, whose innocent beauty was evident, and offered her a reassuring smile. "Rest easy, your grandmother's condition is now under control."

Her eyes widened in astonishment as she asked, "Is that true?"

In the next moment, with all eyes upon her, she dropped to her knees before Pei Junlin, her words tumbling out in a rush of gratitude and her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you so much!"

Pei Junlin accepted her gesture with composure. As the esteemed Asura General, revered across countless worlds, he was more than worthy of such respect, especially now that he had personally healed someone.

Tang Jicheng stepped forward to lift the girl to her feet, telling her gently, "Child, please stand up." Yet, his eyes betrayed a depth of emotion that words could not express.

Turning to Pei Junlin, Tang Jicheng expressed his heartfelt gratitude. "Mr. Pei, I cannot thank you enough for the aid you've given our Tang family. We will find a way to repay your kindness in the future."

His sincerity was palpable, devoid of any insincerity.

Pei Junlin nodded subtly in acknowledgment. Three years prior, the Pei family had suffered a calamity, not just because their foes were formidable, but also because they lacked strong and reliable allies. If it had been otherwise, the Pei family might not have met such a dire fate.

Reborn, Pei Junlin was determined not to repeat past mistakes. This time, he intended to use more than just martial prowess to overcome the Pei family of Jiangbei; he was set on building a formidable force of his own and establishing a network of steadfast relationships.

The Tang family's current stance towards Pei Junlin was an excellent beginning.