Ye Shikai looked at the ancient book with a bewildered face, showing a shocked expression.
"How is it, young friend, do you now understand the Single Love Poisonous Insect?"
"Uh, Master, actually I can’t understand these characters." Ye Shikai’s words nearly made Dugu Tianke spit out the water in his mouth. Indeed, these ancient books looked historical, with many ancient characters on them.
"Cough cough, ignorance is really scary." Dugu Tianke took the ancient book back, rolling his eyes.
"The Single Love Poisonous Insect, legend says, is a mutant species cultivated by generations of the Worm Sect, but as it violates natural and human ethics, it has also been classified as a heretic by the Worm Sect. Logically, aside from the Worm Sect, no one should possess this kind of Worm."
"Master, what will happen with the Single Love Poisonous Insect?" Ye Shikai mustered his courage to ask. It sounded Worm wasn’t too ferocious. If it were called "Death Gu," that would truly be terrifying.
"The Single Love Poisonous Insect, it won’t cause much harm, and one could even say that being affected by it comes with many benefits."
"Benefits, for real?" Ye Shikai was skeptical. A common person would pale at the mention of poisonous insects. Could being poisoned actually be a good thing?
"Young friend, Worms are not just pests." Dugu Tianke smiled and said, "Poison, when used correctly, is the antidote, and vice versa. The same principle applies to Worms."
"Master, are you saying there are good and bad Worms?"
"Of course, this is like modern maggot therapy and leech therapy, which are creatures people dread, but they are natural treatments, their effects sometimes even more significant than conventional scientific techniques," Dugu Tianke continued. "Within Worms, naturally, there are beneficial and malicious ones. However, the Single Love Poisonous Insect is very special. In terms of effects, it belongs to the beneficial types, but morally speaking, it’s an incredibly malicious Worm."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The Single Love Poisonous Insect is a pair of Worms—one implanted into the host’s body, the other held by the Poisonous Insect Planting Person. During the period when the Worm takes form, the Poisonous Insect Planting Person needs to feed the Worm with their own Essence Blood."
"What if it’s not fed in time?" Ye Shikai interrupted the Divine Doctor, inquiring tentatively.
"If it’s not fed in time, or if the nutrients aren’t sufficient, then both the host and the Poisonous Insect Planting Person will share the pain, enduring the agony of the Worm’s backlash together." The Divine Doctor explained so much, finally addressing Ye Shikai’s perplexity—it’s no wonder there was this inexplicable heart-wrenching pain; it was all caused by this Worm.
"So that’s how it is," Ye Shikai murmured.
"However, once the Worm is fully formed, there’s no longer a need to feed it Essence Blood. On the contrary, the Worm is greatly beneficial for cultivation."
"What, it has this function too?" Ye Shikai exclaimed in astonishment.
"But..." The Divine Doctor stopped short, glanced at the ancient book, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, his face ashen.
"The Single Love Poisonous Insect also has a unique function—it makes the host fall deeply and single-mindedly in love with the Poisonous Insect Planting Person, and the host cannot resist this Spiritual Power."
"What, what is this Spiritual Power?" Ye Shikai was even more astonished. He had been in the Underworld for many years but had never heard of this.
"In modern scientific terms, the Worm itself will secrete hormones, stimulate the host’s nerves, and make them unconditionally obey the Poisonous Insect Planting Person."
"Young friend, do you only now realize that you have been poisoned with a worm?"
"Yes." Ye Shikai nodded, and from this, it seemed that the other party might really want to control him.
"Then why is it called the Single Love Poisonous Insect? Master, didn’t you say that the host cannot refuse any demands of the Poisonous Insect Planting Person?" Ye Shikai asked curiously.
"This is precisely what makes the Single Love Poisonous Insect so extraordinary." The Divine Doctor flipped the ancient book to the back "Once the worm takes shape, whether it’s the host or the Poisonous Insect Planting Person, as soon as they have any disloyal or unfaithful thoughts, they will suffer heart-wrenching pain. Although it won’t be fatal, when the pain comes, it really feels like it will be the end."
"This... how can this work." Ye Shikai jumped right out of his chair. He is a married man now, and if he’s not loyal or unfaithful, wouldn’t that mean that he cannot even sleep in the same room with his spouse?
"What, young friend, you’re married already?"
"Yes, master, you must help me." Ye Shikai was almost pleading. How could this be acceptable? No wonder the Single Love Poisonous Insect is considered a violation of human relations.
"That is indeed troublesome." The Divine Doctor rubbed his temples as if he felt troubled.
"Master, aren’t you known as the Divine Doctor? Why can’t you cure me of the worm?" Ye Shikai was beginning to think that Dugu Tianke was unwilling to save him, so he decided to try provoking him first.
"Young friend, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help you. It’s just that the Single Love Poisonous Insect is really difficult to remove."
"You’re the Divine Doctor, how can you not be able to remove the worm?"
"Young friend, don’t be agitated. Do you know why you cannot detect the existence of the worm?" Dugu Tianke sighed, "This worm, once it enters your body, becomes a part of you."
"Since it’s a part of the body, how could you possibly perceive anything abnormal?"
"What, how can the worm be a part of my body?" Ye Shikai couldn’t believe it, "I remember that these places where I’ve been feeling pains these days have changed, it’s clearly the movement of the worm."
"You’re half right. The worm is indeed moving inside your body, but it has merged with your body. If forcibly removed, your life may be in danger."
"Then I really have no way out." Ye Shikai suddenly felt a wave of despair. If he had to live , he would rather die.
"It doesn’t necessarily mean there is no way. There is a cure for every poison. Although the Single Love Poisonous Insect is tricky, there must certainly be something that can counteract it."
"Then, can you help me, master?" Ye Shikai sighed. It was useless to force someone. Although Ye Shikai was anxious, he had not yet lost his sense of reason.
"Of course, you are my patient. Even if I didn’t think for your sake, I would do it for the reputation of my title as a Divine Doctor." Dugu Tianke said jokingly, "The Worm Sect through the ages has cultivated various kinds of worms, and I think there should be a way to resolve the Single Love Poisonous Insect inside you there. I’ll accompany you on a trip."
"That’s wonderful!" Ye Shikai exclaimed with joy. With Dugu Tianke’s company, perhaps things could go much smoother.
"However, there is one thing ..." Suddenly, Dugu Tianke stood up, blocking Ye Shikai.
"What is it?" Ye Shikai’s heart skipped a beat, wondering if there was an even more severe consequence. Seeing that the Divine Doctor was silent for a long time, Ye Shikai kept urging and asking.
"Remember, the day the worm enters your heart is the day it takes shape. By then, even the gods cannot remove the worm."