Besides this talisman, he finds the Bone-Eating talisman and the Heartless talisman quite interesting as well. These talismans are quite venomous, but they might be useful for self-defense.

“Baby’s big brother, I’m kindly advising you. It’s best not to learn too many of these. If someone sees you as a demonic cultivator, you won’t have good days ahead.”

The reputation of demonic cultivators has always been poor, with many righteous sects taking it upon themselves to slay demons and evil cultivators. The book spirit doesn’t want to see the baby’s brother being hunted down.

“I understand.” You Qing appears to listen to the advice. He puts back the book he flipped through. Almost the moment he puts it back, the book spirit rushes over and takes the book away.

With paper and ink in hand, You Qing turns around and looks for another place. This time, without the book spirit watching, he lowers his head and redraws the True Word talisman. With careful strokes, he creates the talisman. You Qing fails multiple times in his attempts, he frowns but becomes more determined.

“Is the technique for drawing talismans the same for demonic cultivation?” You Qing ponders while experimenting. Finally, he has a flash of inspiration, pricks his fingertip, and uses blood as ink to redraw the talisman. After practicing multiple times, this time, he successfully draws one!

He stores this True Word talisman away, stopping his hand. He hums lightly, revealing a hint of satisfaction appropriate for his age. “What’s all this fuss about? It’s not that hard.”

After storing the talisman, he decides not to study the darker talismans further. Today is the last day, he needs to go pick up Ming Qiao. As he walks outside, he tries to avoid people to see where Ming Qiao is. Unexpectedly, he hasn’t taken a few steps when he hears shouting from the canteen not far away.

“What’s wrong with the little sickly boy? Why did he suddenly vomit so much blood?”

“This is so scary! He seemed just fine a moment ago!”

“Is he going to die?! Hurry, hurry, get someone!”

The canteen erupts into chaos. You Qing’s expression changes dramatically, just as he is about to run forward, he suddenly stops and turns around.

“Book spirit! Book spirit!”

“I’m called Shu Shu! Why are you shouting so loudly, and why do you look terrible…”

“Ming Qiao is in trouble! Get Qing Heng out here!” You Qing’s face turns pale as he shouts this, then he turns and runs away. The book spirit is stunned for a second before rushing upstairs.

At this moment. In the canteen, Ming Qiao lies on the ground, his mouth full of blood. He is  coughing up blood in large quantities, which stains his little clothes and the floor beneath him. Beside him, auntie Fang has a pale face, her hands trembling.

She looks at the broken bowl pieces on the ground and the uneaten medicine in the bowl, her mind goes blank. Just a moment ago, Ming Qiao came to eat and take medicine as usual. He was fine during the meal, but when it was time for the medicine, he had barely drunk a few sips before he suddenly stopped.

He frowns and says: “Auntie, today’s medicine tastes strange.”

As soon as he finishes speaking, his little chubby hand slips, and the bowl drops to the ground. Immediately after, he covers his mouth as if trying not to vomit. His little hand is too small to cover the blood that pours out. He is vomiting frightening amounts of dark blood.

“How could this happen? How could there be a problem with the medicine? I’ve been making it in the kitchen, it has been fine for so many days.” This isn’t the first time she has made medicine for Ming Qiao, she has done it many times. How could something go wrong this time?

Ming Qiao curls up on the floor, feeling intense pain in his stomach. The noisy voices around him become a buzzing noise in his ears. He can’t even hear what others are saying. His stomach hurts, his chest aches, and it feels like his head is pounding.

Ming Qiao is a very tolerant child, some bitter medicines make him feel uncomfortable, and some medicinal baths feel like needles pricking him. He has endured all this discomfort and pain before. But now, it hurts too much, much more than before. He raises his little hand, stained with blood, to wipe his tearful eyes.

“Mommy…” He cannot make a sound, only manages to make a gasping sound as he calls for his mother. 

After calling for his mother, he does not appear. In his tear-blurred vision, another figure he longs to see appears. It’s his big brother. After not seeing him for a long time, his big brother suddenly shows up. Ming Qiao’s mouth pouts, and he cries out loud. “Big brother.”

He speaks in a whiny tone: “Qiao Qiao hurts so much.”

You Qing rushes in, picking up the little one from the ground, his hands shaking. Hearing the little one in his arms say he is in pain makes You Qing wish he could kill the culprit on the spot.

As he runs over, he hears someone mention auntie Fang. Someone says the problem is with the medicine she prepared for Ming Qiao. Having been here for a few days, You Qing knows she cares for Ming Qiao, she would never harm him.

You Qing scans the faces in the crowd before finally fixing his gaze on the corner where Du Sheng is smirking viciously. After You Qing, Wang Feilong arrives after receiving word about the situation. He approaches and grabs Ming Qiao’s wrist to check his pulse.

“He is poisoned.” Seeing the broken bowl lying nearby, Wang Feilong extends his finger and dips it into the medicine soup. He cautiously takes only a drop, sniffs, and tastes it.

“The medicine contains too much of the normally non-toxic bamboo leaf grass. When this grass interacts with another herb, it produces toxins.”

Bamboo leaf grass is very common, it is occasionally used in cooking. Wang Feilong looks at auntie Fang, who stands in place with her face pale. He asks: “Did you make the medicine? Did you make a mistake while preparing it?”

“I made the medicine, but I didn’t add bamboo leaf grass. I wouldn’t be so careless.”

Aunt Fang’s explanation does not convince Wang Feilong. He pushes her to admit her mistake. Just as Wang Feilong is about to speak to aunt Fang again, You Qing, holding the little one in pain, speaks coldly, questioning: “Since Qiao Qiao is poisoned, why haven’t you given him an antidote?”

“I don’t have an antidote.”

Wang Feilong replies apologetically: “I will get a healer to treat him.”

Waiting for the healer will waste more time. A hint of malice rises in You Qing’s eyes. He gently places the little one in Wang Feilong’s hands. Then, in front of Wang Feilong, he pulls Du Sheng out of the corner.

He punches Du Sheng in the face, instantly swelling it up. A few more punches follow, each landing with force, he declares: “It’s you who poisoned him.”

You Qing knocks Du Sheng to the ground, pressing his shoe against Du Sheng’s face. He speaks with certainty rather than asking a question. He doesn’t ask whether Du Sheng did it, he simply asks Du Sheng: “Where is the antidote?”

Du Sheng’s face is swollen like a pig’s head. He endures the pain while holding back his hatred, pretending to be clueless, “What are you talking about? How could I poison him?!”

Du Sheng is arguing back, while Wang Feilong urgently tries to stop You Qing. If it weren’t for the poisoned child in his arms, Wang Feilong would have personally intervened. You Qing doesn’t even look at Wang Feilong, continuing to press his shoe against Du Sheng’s face while demanding answers. The situation is chaotic.

Just when Wang Feilong is getting anxious and frustrated, Qing Heng arrives. Seeing Qing Heng come over, Wang Feilong’s eyes brighten. “Qing Heng, hurry, stop this kid. Don’t let him hit anyone!”

The one getting beaten on the ground is Du Sheng, the third son of the Da Fei royal family, known for being overbearing and overprotective. Du Sheng is held in high regard within the royal family and enjoys considerable privileges. If he were to be killed today, the elders of the Da Fei royal family would surely come to investigate!

Wang Feilong urges Qing Heng to save Du Sheng. However, Qing Heng hears You Qing’s relentless questioning. “Where is the antidote?”

“If you don’t speak, I will crush your bones inch by inch.”

Youqing’s threatening demeanor is terrifying, making him seem far from just a small child. But Qing Heng doesn’t find it scary. Despite Wang Feilong’s urging, Qing Heng walks over calmly and picks up the poisoned child from Wang Feilong’s hands.

Wang Feilong: ??

Wang Feilong is bewildered. He hasn’t been to the library, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have been able to go to Qing Heng’s floor. So, he has no idea that Mingqiao, who seems insignificant compared to Du Sheng, has been sleeping with Qingheng these past few days.

He stares in shock as Qing Heng takes the child and unhesitatingly channels his pure energy into him. Additionally, he feeds the child a rare and precious spirit pill that is hard to obtain. Qing Heng feeds the spirit pill piece by piece without any hesitation. As he feeds the pill and channels pure energy, he softly coaxes the child. “Don’t cry, don’t cry, it won’t hurt soon.”

Wang Feilong had never heard such a gentle voice before coming from Qing Heng. It’s unbelievable. Wang Feilong can hardly believe his own eyes or ears. While Qingheng’s voice is soft, an uncontrollable anger brews inside him. The cub, who was fine when he left home, is now lying in his arms, covered in blood. Even with his usually steady and composed demeanor, he is on the verge of losing control of his emotions.

“Mother, it… it’s not auntie…” The child, held in his mother’s arms, finally feels some relief from the pain. He clings to his mother’s clothes, anxiously explaining. 

It’s not auntie. It’s not auntie who made a mistake with the medicine. Auntie Feng is very careful and wouldn’t add anything randomly to his medicine.

“Qing Heng, aunt Fang got busy and made a mistake…”

“I know.”

Before Wang Feilong can finish his sentence, Qing Heng, looking down at the anxious child in his arms, says softly: “I know; it’s not auntie Fang.”

“Qing Heng.” Wang Feilong’s lips move. 

He has been trying to build good relationships and connections, but now involving the Da Fei royal family will be troublesome. He wants to talk to Qing Heng to ease the situation, thinking if Qing Heng doesn’t intervene today, he can keep things under control. But Qing Heng doesn’t even meet his gaze.

“Mom… Qiao Qiao is dirty.”

“You’re not dirty, you just need to be washed to be clean again.”

Ming Qiao’s call for “mom” makes Wang Feilong’s heart sink as if he’s been splashed with cold water. It’s over. This time, it’s really over. When did Ming Qiao get so close to Qing Heng?! Wang Feilong is still in shock when he sees You Qing has already pressed a True Word talisman onto Du Sheng’s shoulder.

As soon as the talisman is applied, it dissolves. There is no visible change on Du Sheng’s shoulder. After applying the talisman, You Qing lowers his voice and warns Du Sheng. “If you don’t tell the truth, you will die.”

Du Sheng stares directly at him, his swollen face clearly showing three words: I don’t believe you.

You Qing smiles, his smile appears in Du Sheng’s eyes like that of a devil. “Do you have the antidote?”

“No!”

That’s the truth.

“Did you tamper with Ming Qiao’s medicine?”

“Kid, don’t be so extreme. let Du Sheng go first.”

For some reason, a sense of foreboding overwhelms Wang Feilong, causing him to sweat nervously. He shouts: “Du Sheng’s parents will come to pick him up today! You can’t—”

Before Wang Feilong can finish, Du Sheng interrupts. He looks at You Qing, and says: “No, it wasn’t me who tampered with it.”

Under the True Word talisman, he tells his first lie.