Brief Summary
This episode of "Tale of Herding God" focuses on Qin Mu's efforts to cure the Empress Dowager from the Thousandfold Venom, revealing connections to the Jade-Faced Poison King and the Imperial Advisor's schemes. Qin Mu uses his arithmancy and pharmacology skills to neutralize the venom and teaches the Dragon-Tiger Synergy Technique to the Imperial Physicians. The episode also introduces Jian Sansheng, the Swordsmanship Supervisor, who emphasizes the importance of basic sword moves.
- Qin Mu cures the Empress Dowager using unconventional methods.
- The Empress Dowager reveals her past with the Jade-Faced Poison King.
- The Imperial Advisor's plans and the Young Poison King's involvement are exposed.
- Jian Sansheng stresses the significance of mastering basic swordsmanship.
Curing the Thousandfold Venom
Qin Mu directs the palace maids, each representing a toxin from the Thousandfold Venom, to form ranks based on Yin-Yang properties. He uses arithmancy to track the venom's changes in the Empress Dowager's body, simplifying 1,022 types of toxins into Yin and Yang. The Imperial Physicians are amazed by his ingenious prescription and his ability to refine medicine without an alchemy furnace, using the Dragon-Tiger Synergy Technique. Qin Mu provides an elixir to expel the venom, successfully curing the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager's Revelation
The Empress Dowager expresses her gratitude and reveals that Qin Mu's alchemy skills remind her of the Jade-Faced Poison King, with whom she had secret meetings after the Late Emperor's death. She believes the Young Poison King, now working for the Imperial Advisor, poisoned her under the Advisor's orders. The Empress Dowager suspects the Imperial Advisor wants her dead because she disapproved of his actions and obstructed his reform.
Imperial Advisor's Scheme and Young Poison King
The Imperial Advisor admits to using poison to keep the Empress Dowager out of Imperial Affairs, allowing the Emperor to focus on reform. The Empress Dowager realizes the Emperor ordered her cure to maintain the reform's success. She identifies the Young Poison King as the creator of the Thousandfold Venom and suspects Qin Mu's master is the Jade-faced Gentleman. She warns Qin Mu that the Young Poison King will target him for curing her. Qin Mu is aware that the Empress Dowager knows his junior is from the Great Wasteland and is setting a trap for him.
Swordsmanship Lesson with Jian Sansheng
Jian Sansheng, the Swordsmanship Supervisor, teaches a lesson at Hanguang Hall, emphasizing the importance of basic sword moves. He introduces the concept of "Hanguang," a sword realm of invisibility and imperceptibility, and encourages the students to aim for the Hanguang Realm, known as Attaining Enlightenment Through the Sword. Jian Sansheng recounts his experience of being defeated by a kid at the Spirit Embryo Realm with just a wooden sword, highlighting the significance of a solid foundation in swordsmanship.
