"All right, no need to be formal here. Just call me Golden Crane," the Golden Crane True Immortal said, a trace of impatience in his voice.
Compared to how he treated Chu Feng, the Golden Crane True Immortal was considerably less cordial toward Chu Xuanlang.
Yet Chu Xuanlang showed not the slightest displeasure. Instead, he nodded respectfully, the very picture of deference.
"Lead the way," the Golden Crane True Immortal said.
"Yes." Chu Xuanlang nodded once more.
With that, the Golden Crane True Immortal followed Chu Feng and the others to the place where Wang Qiang was recuperating.
The Golden Crane True Immortal insisted that no one disturb him during treatment, so Chu Feng, Zhao Hong, and Chu Xuanlang had no choice but to wait outside.
At that moment, Zhao Hong paced back and forth above the void, atop the summit of the white clouds, her small face etched with unease.
"It seems the bond between you two has grown even deeper," Chu Feng remarked with a teasing smile, watching how anxious she was.
"If it weren't for saving me, Wang Qiang wouldn't have ended up like this. I'm the one who should have been injured — he stepped in front of me and took the blow on my behalf. If something really happens to him, I..."
As she spoke, Zhao Hong's eyes reddened, and glistening tears slipped down her lovely cheeks.
"Zhao Hong, don't worry too much. Since Senior Golden Crane has stepped in, Wang Qiang will definitely be fine," Chu Feng said, dropping his playful tone and stepping forward to comfort her.
"Really?" Zhao Hong still harbored doubts — not because she didn't trust Chu Feng, but because her worry for Wang Qiang simply ran too deep.
"If even the Golden Crane True Immortal can't save Wang Qiang, then no one in the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm can," Chu Xuanlang said.
Hummm—
At that moment, the space quivered faintly, and the Golden Crane True Immortal emerged.
"Senior, how is he?"
The moment they saw him, Wang Qiang and Zhao Hong rushed over.
However, the Golden Crane True Immortal's expression was none too pleasant. He shook his head and let out a sigh.
"The situation is grim."
"Senior, could it be that even you can't do anything?"
Chu Feng and Zhao Hong immediately tensed up, and even surprise flickered across Chu Xuanlang's face.
After all, Wang Qiang had only been injured by members of the Chu Heavenly Clan. In their eyes, the Golden Crane True Immortal should certainly have been able to treat him — he was, after all, a figure of considerable standing even in the Upper Realm.
Yet now even the Golden Crane True Immortal was saying the situation was dire. How could Chu Feng and the others not be alarmed?
"The reason Wang Qiang's injuries won't heal is primarily due to that poison," the Golden Crane True Immortal explained.
"That poison?" Chu Feng and the others had all examined Wang Qiang before and knew full well that he had indeed been poisoned.
"A poison so potent that even you, Senior, cannot neutralize it?" Chu Feng asked.
"Neutralizing a poison naturally requires an antidote, and I do not have one for this particular toxin," the Golden Crane True Immortal said.
"An antidote that even you don't possess — could the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm really contain a poison this powerful?" Chu Xuanlang asked.
"It is not a poison from the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm," the Golden Crane True Immortal said.
"Not from the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm? Then it comes from the Upper Realm?" Chu Xuanlang pressed.
"I have seen this poison before. Even in the Upper Realm it is rarely encountered, which makes the antidote exceedingly difficult to find."
"It is not an intensely lethal toxin, but it is extremely difficult to cure."
"All I can do now is stabilize Wang Qiang's condition and ensure there is no danger to his life. To cure him completely, you will need to find the antidote yourselves," the Golden Crane True Immortal said.
"Senior, where can we find this antidote?" Zhao Hong pressed.
"That is for you to figure out." As he spoke, the Golden Crane True Immortal turned his gaze to Chu Feng. "Chu Feng, I did agree to treat Wang Qiang for your sake, but I will not go searching for the antidote on your behalf."
"Finding the antidote will very likely require the use of force, and I… have no intention of involving myself in the affairs of the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm."
The Golden Crane True Immortal's meaning was perfectly clear. He would treat Wang Qiang's injuries, but he would not help Chu Feng and the others settle their scores within the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm.
It was a matter of principle.