Qin Mu reattached Old Ma's arm and the Cripple's leg, then placed both elders in the medicine cauldron. He filled it with medicinal soup and boiled them, instructing Fox Ling'er to keep the fire going at the cauldron's edge.
He walked out of the room and saw that it was already dark outside. Qin Mu went to the courtyard and found the scholars' residence deserted—everyone had likely fled to seek refuge. Only the Dutian Demon King remained standing in the alley of the scholars' residence, unable to move.
Qin Mu walked over and lifted the statue's belly. Inside were hundreds of intricate gears. He reached in and fiddled with a couple of gears, and the Dutian Demon King immediately felt his legs become mobile. He quickly tried to run, but after a few steps, a series of clicking sounds came from within his body, and all his joints locked up again.
"Dragon Da, drag him back into the courtyard," Qin Mu said to the gate-keeper Dragon Qilin.
Dragon Qilin wagged his tail and waddled forward with his large belly. He bit one of the Dutian Demon King's legs, dragged the demon king down, and clattered back into Qin Mu's courtyard, tossing him into a corner.
"You mother's egg! Fight me three hundred rounds if you've got the guts!" the Dutian Demon King cursed. "Locking me up—what kind of hero does that make you?"
Qin Mu ignored him and quietly prepared his medicinal herbs. Suddenly, lightning flashed from the statue as the demon king tried to escape, but soon various runes and seals appeared on the statue's surface. The runes glowed brightly, trapping the lightning inside the statue.
The Dutian Demon King unleashed a torrent of curses. The statue's surface was inscribed with the sealing runes of Loulan's Golden Palace—marks Qin Mu had learned from the talisman treasures in Loulan's Golden Palace treasury. He had secretly etched them onto the statue when he crafted it.
Qin Mu had worried that after the demon king took control of the statue, he might still escape, so he added these runic seals as well.
Qin Mu finished preparing the medicine, turned to the Dutian Demon King in the corner, and said seriously, "Pass on to me all the Youdu language you know, and I'll set you free."
"I don't believe your ghost talk!" the Dutian Demon King snapped. "Don't you dare try to trick me again!"
Qin Mu put on an honest, earnest expression. "We can sign a Contract with the Earth Count. That way you can rest assured."
"Rest assured, my ass!"
"Hey, hey, what kind of demon king curses like that?"
"Love your ass! Don't you dare make me believe a single word from you again. If I believe even one word, I'm your turtle grandson!"
...
The Cripple and Old Ma lay comfortably in the great cauldron. The medicinal soup inside bubbled away, popping with little bursts.
"Little Fox, add more fire," the Cripple said, squinting as his big gold chain floated to the surface. He glanced back at the still-cursing Dutian Demon King and chuckled. "That little rascal Mu has really grown up. I originally thought you and I would have to step in to deal with this troublesome demon king, but he handled it himself. Now I'm a bit worried—not about him, but about those who oppose him. Say, who did this brat learn to be so devious and ruthless from?"
Old Ma stared at the Cripple.
His own big gold chain also floated to the surface, the gold paint nearly boiled off.
The Cripple frowned. "Everyone in the village is a good person. Who did this brat learn such cunning from? Did he pick up bad habits after leaving the village?"
Old Ma continued staring at him.
The Cripple laughed. "Why are you looking at me? Is there a flower on my face? Your staring gives me the creeps. Master Ma, were you ever a constable before? When you look at me like that, I always get the chills."
Old Ma turned away and said flatly, "I served as a constable in the Protector's Office for several decades, then later at the Court of Judicial Review. After solving a major case, I became famous throughout the world, and that's when the Great Thunder Temple found me. That's why I stopped."
"No wonder you give me the creeps. Those monks at the Great Thunder Temple are such busybodies. You'd already left the monastic life, yet they still came looking for you."
The two were boiled through the night. During this time, Qin Mu changed the medicine once. When dawn broke, Old Ma and the Cripple got up, washed and tidied themselves, and Qin Mu had already prepared breakfast. The family sat down together and ate a peaceful meal. Fox Ling'er ran over to help Qin Mu wash the dishes. The Cripple stood up and smiled. "Mu, Old Ma and I won't be staying at your place anymore. We're heading out."
Qin Mu quickly dried his hands and said, "I'll walk you two grandfathers out."
Old Ma waved his hand. "No need. Seeing that you're doing well puts both the Cripple and me at ease. We're old now, and you can already protect yourself."
The Cripple, still leaning on his cane, glanced at him and smiled. "Old Ma's getting sentimental again. Fine, come see us off. If you don't, he'll be sad for two or three days."
Qin Mu followed them and saw them down the mountain. "Master Ma, Grandfather Cripple, your arm and leg were just reattached—you shouldn't strain them too much. You'll need a year or two of recovery, and you should exercise them regularly to avoid any lasting issues."
Old Ma nodded.
The Cripple sighed. "After twenty or thirty years of getting used to one leg, having the severed one suddenly grow back is quite an adjustment."
Old Ma agreed deeply. "Crippled for half a lifetime, and now the hand is back. I still feel like I don't need it."
Qin Mu walked them to the mountain gate. The Cripple smiled. "Go back now. No need to keep walking."
Old Ma waved his hand.