Chapter 5: Pills

At that moment, Danyangzi completely disregarded Li Huowang’s thoughts, focusing instead on lecturing his terrified disciples.

“From now on, if any of you harbor ill intentions, remember what you saw today!”

Danyangzi’s words instantly tightened everyone's hearts, and their eyes showed even greater fear.

With his hands behind his back, he paced deliberately in front of his disciples, his hawklike gaze sweeping across every faces.

“Let me tell you, helping others achieve immortality is a great merit. If I, your Daoist Master, become immortal, I will naturally not forget your good deeds. But if anyone ruins my plans... Hmph, hmph!!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly stopped in front of Li Huowang, scrutinizing the young man whose demeanor differed from the other disciples.

"You're just a hallucination; why would I be afraid of you? You're just a thought in my head!" Li Huowang thought, his eyes calmly meeting those of the bald-headed master before him.

As Danyangzi raised his right hand, its fingernail creases filled with mud, the atmosphere in the cave grew heavy. Everyone else looked towards the senior disciple who dared to offend the master, awaiting how he would be dealt with.

Unexpectedly, Danyangzi’s expression suddenly softened. He placed his raised right hand on Li Huowang’s head and patted it, instantly dispersing the heavy atmosphere.

“Last night, those traitors invited you to leave with them. Why did you refuse?”

This question appeared to be directed at Li Huowang but was, in fact, a compliment.

Just as Li Huowang was about to speak, Danyangzi raised his right hand.

“Don’t speak any empty platitudes. Although you didn’t inform me immediately, compared to those disloyal scoundrels, you’ve done quite well.”

He lowered his hand and continued, “I see you have good talent. You no longer need to work in the alchemy room. From now on, you will be my registered disciple.”

Li Huowang was momentarily stunned. Had his status improved? He quickly realized that with so many people dying in the cave, the man must be short on assistants.

“Oh, by the way, since you’ve become my disciple and joined our sect, you can’t be without a Daoist name. From now on, your Daoist name will be Xuanyang.”

Li Huowang glanced at the round hole in the corner. The tragic fate of the previous Xuanyang flashed through his mind, and he inwardly thought, “Wow, this name is truly inauspicious.”

Although Li Huowang didn't particularly care for this new treatment, the others in the alchemy room immediately lit up with envy. Becoming Danyangzi's registered disciple meant avoiding death.

But in Danyangzi’s eyes, this wasn’t enough; after the stick, more carrots were needed to entice people. “Xuanyang, since you’ve just joined our sect, I, your Daoist Master, shall show some appreciation.”

Hearing his name, Li Huowang quickly walked to his side, sensing from the tone that something was about to be given.

Danyangzi poured five dark, black pills from a gourd at his waist into Li Huowang’s palm.

“Take these carefully. These five are immortal pills refined by me. Eating them will not only add ten years to your lifespan but also temporarily grant you immense strength to protect yourself.”

Li Huowang frowned slightly, holding the pills in front of him. “Surely these aren’t made from people too?”

As he thought this, Li Huowang suddenly saw one of the pills in his hand subtly roll, changing from round to oval, as if something was trying to bore its way out.

When he focused his gaze again, he found the pill had not changed at all.

“Damn it, am I losing my mind? Why am I bothering with things in a hallucination? This is all fake; I absolutely cannot fall back into it.”

Frustrated, Li Huowang slapped his own head.

Danyangzi ignored Li Huowang’s strange behavior and turned to look at the remaining people. “See? Opposing your Daoist Master leads only to death, but those who help me will be rewarded, and richly so!!”

Everyone’s gazes darted evasively between Danyangzi and the pills. At that moment, everyone was thinking, but what exactly they were thinking, only they knew.

Seeing that his objective was achieved, Danyangzi waved his soiled long sleeve, dismissing everyone to resume their work.

Li Huowang no longer had to go to the alchemy room. Since his Daoist name was Xuanyang, everything the previous Xuanyang possessed now belonged to him: status, a Daoist robe, and even the private small cave chamber.

However, at this moment, he didn't care about anything happening in these hallucinations. What he cared about more was what he had obtained.

With his arms crossed, he looked at the two items on the white hospital bedsheet: a jade pendant and the pills.

“My God, these actually came out with me.”

But now Li Huowang faced a dilemma; an old problem was once again before him, demanding his attention.

“If I take these pills out and they actually work after I consume them, then is this place truly a hallucination? What exactly is happening to me?”

He had previously diligently followed his doctor’s advice, firmly believing that everything over there was a hallucination. But with these items undeniably appearing before him, his conviction began to waver.

If this was indeed a hallucination, then why had these items become real, and what harm could they pose to him?

If that was another world, then...

The mad senior disciple refined into pills by the master, Xuanyang devoured by the black cauldron—various terrifying and horrific images flashed continuously in his mind, making his breathing quicken.

“Ugh!! This is so annoying, I don’t even have anyone to talk to.” Frustrated, Li Huowang stretched out his hands and scratched his head.

After venting, Li Huowang still had to face reality. After much thought, he finally decided on his course of action.

Regarding the hallucination, whether it was real or fake, he would continue to cooperate as before, treating everything as entirely real.

If it turned out to be real, he could ensure his safety and survival.

If it was fake, he wouldn’t suffer any harm.

For now, he would first verify the authenticity and value of the items that had been brought over before making further plans.

Having settled on his approach, Li Huowang took a deep breath and picked up one of the pills with his index finger and thumb, holding it before his eyes.

“No, eating it myself is too dangerous.” His gaze shifted to the patients sunbathing in the garden outside.

After a brief, one-second struggle, he dejectedly put it down. They were as pitiful as he was; how could he let them test the medicine? He’d have to find a way to get a guinea pig later.

Next, Li Huowang turned his attention to the round jade pendant. Compared to the pills, this item was much easier to deal with.

“Alright, what is it? I climbed over the wall to get here, so if this is a prank, hmph!” Yang Na said, shaking her small, fair fist at Li Huowang in a threatening manner.

“Sister, I wouldn’t have asked you to come help if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. You know I can’t leave this place.”

As Li Huowang spoke, he walked to the hospital room door, closed it firmly, and drew the curtains.