Wind Green and Frost Red rushed over early in the morning to witness an unbelievable scene: the young lady was actually wrapped in a blanket, peacefully asleep in the arms of Huo Zhanbai! Huo Zhanbai rested his chin on the top of the purple-clad beauty's head, arms around her waist, leaning against a plum tree and dozing off, with fallen plum blossoms covering both of them. Snow Kite had already woken up but stood unusually obedient on a perch, looking at the two beneath the plum tree and making gentle cooing sounds.
"Oh my goodness, what's going on?" Green Er saw the man she disliked the most beside the young lady and her eyeballs almost popped out. "This—ugh!"
Frost Red promptly covered her mouth and pulled her out.
"I've never seen the young lady sleep so peacefully before..." Frost Red, who had been with Xue Ziye the longest, murmured, "She used to complain about feeling cold even if she had a lot of blankets, couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, kept pacing around—now let her sleep a little longer."
"But... what about the patient in Autumn Garden?" Green Er frowned, feeling uneasy.
That patient had been restless the entire night, constantly clutching his head and screaming. They thought he would die immediately, so they hurriedly ran over to ask the young lady for help, only to see this awkward scene.
"Ah?!" Just as a few maids were discussing what to do, a cry rang out in the courtyard, causing a commotion both inside and outside. "What is this?!"
"The young lady woke up!" Green Er exclaimed joyfully. Then, there was a loud thud as an object broke through the door and flew into the room.
"Huo Zhanbai! You took advantage of me!"
Before the still half-asleep people could react, she landed on the ground, four limbs sprawled, abruptly waking up.
"You..." the half-asleep man hadn't recalled what he did last night to make this woman so furious. Instinctively, he dodged the cups and dishes raining down on him, yelling, "No random attacks! You willingly threw yourself at me! It's not my fault... Yes, you took advantage of me!"
"Nonsense! You pervert! You're not a good person at all!" Xue Ziye stormed out, pointing angrily at his nose, instructing her maids, "He has no place here! Lock him up, and after preparing the medicine, kick him out of the valley!"
"Yes, young lady!" Green Er happily agreed, completely oblivious to the frowning Frost Red.
Xue Ziye turned away, her face stern, and huffed as she walked away. "Go to Autumn Garden!"
After everyone had left, Huo Zhanbai finally snapped out of it, climbed up from the floor, and rubbed his forehead where he had been hit. Is this how a healer treats a patient? This fierce woman, completely different from the quiet and docile lady of last night... Did he dream it all?
Wait a minute! What did she just say? "Pervert"?
How did she know about his acquaintance with Yangzhou's Lengling Flower Realm's Liu Feifei?
He suddenly slapped his thigh. Oh no, did he drink too much last night and spill the beans about such things? Frustrated, he drooped his eyelids, pounding his head as if trying to knock a hole in it.
Xue Ziye, leading the way to Autumn Garden, was gritting her teeth.
He actually dared to take advantage of her! Let's see how she'll deal with him later!... She walked forward angrily, and Green Er handed her a green cloud fur coat, saying, "Young lady, you forgot to put on your cloak. It snowed again last night. Are you cold?"
Cold? She suddenly froze—yeah, did it snow? But in last night's dream, why was it so warm?
Holding the green cloud fur coat, she stood in the medicinal herb garden in a daze.
When they arrived at Autumn Garden, they were greeted by a room filled with a rich fragrance.
"A group of silly maids, do you want to suffocate the patient?" She scolded the night shift maid, rolling up the curtains on all sides and opening the windows. "You can't get a single thing done with just one command. Can't you think a bit?"
"Don't..." Suddenly, a low voice came from the depths of the darkness. "Don't open it."
Xue Ziye turned her head in surprise, only to see a pair of light blue eyes shining in the shadows. The voice continued softly, "Close it... I don't like wind and light. Can't stand it..."
Her heart trembled slightly, but she remained silent, continuing to lower the curtain until the room was flooded with dazzling snow light, glaring into the eyes of the person inside.
"Close it!" The person wrapped in blankets immediately turned his head towards the bed, speaking sharply.
She waved her hand, signaling the maids to leave, and sat down at the edge of the bed.
"No wind, no light. If you keep it closed, you will rot in the darkness," she smiled, whispering to the pale-faced patient, "You have to get used to it, Mingjie. You can't stay in the darkness forever."
Her hand touched his wrist, but he shook it away.
"Who is Mingjie?" He remained in the darkness, asking coldly, "Why did you save me? What do you want?"
His eyes showed no emotions, only a kind of coldness, wariness, and indifference.
She paused, then reached out to touch his forehead, murmuring, "Have you not remembered yet? I saved you because we have known each other since childhood; you are my brother."
"Heh." However, he laughed mockingly in the darkness, his eyes revealing a faint blue color, "Brother?"
A top assassin from the Supreme Light Palace's Shura Field would never have relatives or friends. If they did, they would not survive in the Three Realms; if they did, they would be ordered by the instructors to kill them with their own hands.
This woman was lying to him!
She talked about pulling out golden needles, about helping him recover—she must be someone sent by the Central Plains martial artists, trying various means to extract some secrets about the Demon Sect from him—
He had experienced too much of this.
Six months ago, after successfully assassinating the lord of Dunhuang City but failing to retreat in time, he was captured by the martial artists of the Central Plains, imprisoned for a whole month before finding an opportunity to escape. To force him to confess, those self-righteous upright individuals resorted to all kinds of terrifying methods—including attempting to use drugs to break his sanity.
Not even those tortures could make him reveal a single word, let alone this woman who clearly didn't know how to interrogate.
He sneered in the darkness, clenched his fingers slowly, preparing to find an opportunity to deliver a sudden blow.
He had to get the Dragon Blood Pearl... he had to!
"Don't you remember? Nineteen years ago, my mother and I were passing by the Mojia Village, resting at the inn in front of the village. Those two scoundrels wanted to violate my mother..." Even when talking about such past events, Xue Ziye's tone was calm, "At that time, you and Xue Huai happened to be playing outside. When you heard me cry for help, you rushed in to stop them but were brutally beaten—then, you used the Dou technique to kill someone for the first time."
"After my mother died, I became an orphan, wandering in Mojia Village, relying on the care of Xue Huai and you to survive."
"We three became good friends—I'm a year older than you, and I recognized you as my brother."
He clutched his head, desperately resisting the images flooding out uncontrollably with her words, his breathing rapid.
It's fake... it's fake! Just like the Dou technique can manipulate people's minds, she is also trying to control his memories with some method!
"Don't you remember? Because you killed those two martial artists, the extraordinary talent in your body was discovered by the clan. You were considered a reincarnation of the Demon Eye and imprisoned," Xue Ziye's voice softened, "Mingjie, you were locked away for seven years. I and Xue Huai came to talk to you every day... until the night of the clan's extermination."
The night of the clan's extermination... the night of the clan's extermination...
Memories surged uncontrollably once again.
Snow was falling outside, the house was dim and cold, hands and feet were nailed to the wall with iron chains, curled up in a dark corner.
Someone opened the dark room, speaking to him:
"Do you want to go out?"
That voice kept asking him, full of temptation and charm.
Those like pigs and dogs common folks, not knowing the extent of his power... only she knew his power, and only she could bring out his true power. Would he like to go with her?
Let me out! Let me out! Release me... he shouted loudly in the darkness, feeling like he was about to go crazy.
Fine, I'll take you out. That voice smiled, but would you submit to me, become my eye, surpass the martial arts world, overlook this vast world, and all living beings for me? Would you agree?
Or would you prefer to be discriminated against, imprisoned, and live in darkness forever?
Let me out! He fiercely pounded the wall, wondering why today was the deadline
"Look at me!" He freed one hand and ruthlessly opened her eyes, his nails almost digging into her eyeballs. "Look at me!"
She was forced to open her eyes, gazing into those demonic eyes, feeling a powerful force invading her heart.
"Listen, return the Dragon Blood Pearl to me immediately! Otherwise... Otherwise, I will let you die slowly."
His face was pale and terrifying, filled with an uncompromising killing intent, like a Shura. How could Mingjie turn into this? Presently, he resembled a bloodthirsty and ruthless Shura, believing in nothing, showing no mercy, relentlessly pursuing what he desired. Even his blood had gradually turned cold.
Was this the assassin from the Supreme Light Palace's Shura Field?
Consciousness began to dissipate, and her body gradually stopped obeying her brain. She didn't know what she would do next—however, in that instant, the hand choking her throat loosened. As if his mental strength was depleted, those glassy eyes instantly lost their bewitching radiance, becoming dull and lifeless.
She gasped for breath, and her body suddenly fell backward, motionless in the darkness.
She collapsed on the ground too.
After an unknown amount of time, she regained her senses first. Her initial reaction was to rush to his side, checking the back of his head—there, the second golden needle had been forced out by this intense emotional turmoil, and blood was oozing from the pierced point.
"Mingjie..." For the first time, she felt a sense of shock, holding his head in her lap and looking at the sky outside, murmuring, "Mingjie, do you not even believe your own memories now?"
What kind of torment have you endured over these years?
Huo Zhanbai clearly felt neglected—since that night of heavy drinking, that wicked woman rarely came to the Winter Pavilion to see him. Even the two stewardesses, Feng Qing and Shuang Hong, rarely visited. Only some rough maidservants came daily to deliver meals.
Although his injuries were gradually improving, it shouldn't warrant being sidelined like this, right?
Could it be because that stingy woman regretted the events of that night? It shouldn't be... someone so fierce wouldn't have such a thin face. So, was it because he accidentally mentioned the courtesan Liu Feifei from the Fengqing Brothel, shattering the glorious image she held of him in her heart?
He idly looked around, letting his mind wander.
When a maid brought in the dishes, he looked at her and casually asked, "Where is your valley master?"
"The valley master is in the Autumn Garden..." The maid replied in a hushed tone.
"Oh, are there still patients in the Autumn Garden?" He seemingly asked casually.
"Yes, there are." The maid inadvertently answered without thinking, but then her expression changed. "Ah... Oops! The valley master said this matter shouldn't be told to Young Master Huo!"
Huo Zhanbai's eyes suddenly lit up, but his expression remained unchanged, and he smiled. "Why not?"
The maid didn't dare to say more, left the dishes, and quickly fled.
After she left, Huo Zhanbai stayed alone in the empty Winter Pavilion, staring at the plum blossoms outside in a daze. Why?... Including himself, all the Ten Heavenly Swords have already returned the Ten-Faced Heaven Command to the sect. All the patients for this year should have been seen. Why is there another one now? — Given that woman's personality, it seemed improbable for her to waste energy on additional treatment. So, there were only two possibilities: either the patient was exceptionally wealthy, or... exceptionally handsome.
Now, which one is this? Is he more handsome than me?
He stroked his chin, starting to indulge in wild thoughts—suddenly frowned: But why doesn't she want me to know?
"Hey, what's with that woman lately?" He spoke to the snow eagle on the shelf. "Do you know? Go check it out for me."
"Gu." The snow eagle tilted its head, glanced at its master, and then suddenly flapped its wings and flew out.
The second golden needle lay silently on the golden tray, its tip stained with black blood.
On the bed, the person's breathing was faint and irregular.
Xue Ziye sat by the bed, silently staring at the person tormented by pain—the face, so pale and handsome, carried a coldness and murderous intent, as if he was the king of assassins from the Supreme Light Palace's Shura Field: Iris.
Iris... she silently repeated this name in her heart, recalling his peculiar eyes.
As a healer, she knew that alongside martial arts, there existed psychic power and illusions—yet she never dared to imagine that someone could expand psychic power to such an extreme through their eyes! That had surpassed the scope of her understanding.
Could it be, as the elders in the village said, that there was truly inherited magic power within the bloodline of the Mojia clan?
The final golden needle remained in the Baihui acupoint at the crown of the head. She touched it through her hair, and her hands trembled slightly—no certainty. She truly had no assurance that after pulling out this deeply inserted golden needle, Mingjie would remain unharmed!
In her ten years of medical practice, this was the first time she encountered a situation where she dared not act!
Thinking of the matter that had troubled her for the past eight years, recalling the child named Mo'er who couldn't be cured, her heart became even more distressed—helplessness. Even though she had been hailed as a "divine doctor," she was, after all, just a physician, not a deity!
What to do... What to do...
A profound and intense sense of powerlessness almost instantly knocked down the confident female physician.
Twelve years ago, she had already lost Xue Huai, and now, how could she lose Mingjie again?
Xue Ziye sat quietly for a long time, suddenly stood up, clenched her hands, her body trembling slightly. She hurriedly walked towards the Spring Courtyard—she had to find a solution, she must find a solution!
Unlike the Winter Pavilion and Autumn Garden, the wind here on the other side of the lake was gentle.
The hot spring flowed from the Summer Garden, passed through the Spring Courtyard, and then poured into the lake, blending with the cold spring. In this courtyard, everywhere was picturesque spring scenery, with clusters of green peaches in full bloom, shepherd's purse growing thick, and willows hanging like threads.
An old woman, holding a cloud broom, was sweeping the steps. Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps.
"Valley Master, is that you?" The maid of the Spring Courtyard, already old, was somewhat surprised to see her.
The Valley Master had not been here for a long time... She was exceptionally talented, diligent in learning, and had profound family knowledge. After apprenticing to the former medic, Liao Qingran, at the age of fourteen, she progressed rapidly. In just four years, she had completed her apprenticeship, and at eighteen, she formally took over as the Valley Master of the Medicinal Valley. Her exceptional talent made her the foremost among the generations of Valley Masters.
Since her apprenticeship, she rarely returned to this Spring Courtyard, which served as the book depository.
"Ning Aunt, please open the door to the book depository for me." Xue Ziye stopped, looking at the tightly closed tower with a determined expression. "I need to check some books."
"Oh, okay." The old maid nodded hurriedly, put down the broom, and took out a rusty copper key, muttering, "The Valley Master still wants to come back to read?... Those books, didn't you memorize them all at the age of eighteen?"
Xue Ziye neither affirmed nor denied.
The old maid sneaked a glance and noticed that the Valley Master's complexion was somewhat pale and tired, as if she hadn't had sufficient rest for many days. She felt a pang of worry and sighed inwardly—did she encounter trouble with a patient? Or did the Valley Master, after so many years, still refuse to give up and, separated by many years, wanted to find a way to resurrect that body beneath the ice?
As the door opened, the long-sealed cold air wafted out.
The everlasting lamp still hung quietly from the top of the tower, and the inner chamber of the tower was octagonal. Bookshelves lined the walls, extending to the ceiling, divided into eight categories: disease names, etiology, pathology, treatment principles, prescription names, medication, medical cases, and medical discussions. Each category occupied an entire wall, from parchment scrolls to leaflets, bamboo slips to silk books, everything was there.
Xue Ziye stood with her hands behind her back in this vast sea of scrolls, looking around in a circle, taking a deep breath, and raising her hand to press the purple jade hairpin in her hair. "Ning Aunt, I might not come out for two or three days—please send some food for me."
The old maid hesitated for a moment. "Oh... okay, Valley Master."
As she closed the door behind her, the old maid turned to look inside—the purple-clad woman stood amidst the vast scrolls, contemplating deeply, her face filled with the weight of painstaking concern.
"Valley Master." Her heart thumped suddenly, and she couldn't help but stop.
"Hmm?" Xue Ziye was displeased that her thoughts were interrupted, frowning. "What is it?"
"Please take care of yourself and act within your limits." The old maid bowed deeply, her voice carrying a sigh. "You are not a god. It is normal not to be able to do many things—please don't end up like Master Liao Qingran."
Master Liao Qingran... Xue Ziye was suddenly shocked and stopped contemplating.
Legend had it that twenty years ago, Tang Linxia, the Valley Master of the Medicinal Valley at that time, and the mentor of her mentor Liao Qingran, died of hematemesis in this book depository, at the age of only thirty-one. Until death, he still held a book, "On the Nature of Medicines," and was still pondering the solution to the poison of the Seven-Star Sea Anemone.
"Learn from Master Liao Qingran." The old maid said this last sentence, closed the door, and murmured to herself, "She is happy now."
The door closed, but Xue Ziye still stared in the direction of that figure for a while, somewhat dazed—this old maid had served three generations of Valley Masters and knew many past events and secrets. But how did she know the feeling of helplessness and frustration when a healer watched a patient approach death with open eyes?
She sat down in the tower, feeling somewhat desolate, gazing at her pale and delicate hands, lost in thought.
Those eyes opened in the instant the door closed.
The eyes of Iris, who had been struggling in unconsciousness a moment ago, opened when the door was just closed.
A moment ago, while he was feigning seizures on the bed, she held him by the shoulders, her hands ice-cold and trembling.
Even when he pretended to be in a deep sleep and occasionally muttered in a dream to test, she leaned over to look at him, tears silently falling on his face.
This woman... What exactly... Why did she do this?
Could it be that, as she said... he was someone she knew from the past? Was he her brother?
He hugged his head in pain, feeling a dull ache in his forehead, a pain that extended deep into his brain.
He knew it was the golden needle that the Master had stuck into his Baihui acupoint.
A symbol of control and enslavement.
He lay in the darkness for an unknown duration, feeling the light outside the curtain dimming and brightening again. The pain in his mind gradually subsided. He reached out, cautiously touching the Baihui acupoint on his head. The intense pain immediately blanked his thoughts.
Since the beginning of his memory, these golden needles had nailed his fate, serving the Master in dominating the Western Regions, collecting the heads of various country lords.
The benevolent Master sat on the jade throne, telling him, "Tong, for your own good, I've erased the painful part for you... You are a child abandoned by everyone. Those memories are meaningless to you. It's better to forget."
"Life, if it could skip the painful part, would actually be a good thing..."
Under the care of the Three Holy Maidens and Five Disciples, the Master, with eyes as deep as the abyss, smiled as he placed his hand on the head of the kneeling beloved general, caressing it slowly, as if petting the snowfield gray mastiff he loved the most. He knew that as long as the Master was unhappy, he could take his life at any moment, just like poisoning those mastiffs.
Damn it! Damn it! He smashed the medicine pillow with a punch, and his eyes turned into a lapis lazuli color. This woman was just like the Master! They both attempted to change his memories, making him obedient by altering his recollections!
He trembled all over in the darkness.
He hated those who manipulated his destiny and memories. They trampled on his life, plundered everything from him, and put on an act as if they were redeemers, pretending to be compassionate!
"Gah—" In the moment he shattered the medicine pillow with a punch, a black shadow exclaimed and fluttered through the curtains, flying away.
What was that? He was startled, suddenly recognizing: Was it that bird? The snow kite that had viciously pecked him during his decisive battle with the Seventh Young Master of the Dingjian Pavilion!
So, it seemed that this man, Huo Zhanbai, was also in this Medicinal Valley now?
Tong sat up abruptly in the darkness, eyes flashing with the light of a wild beast: Not good!
He silently leaped off the bed, beginning to search the infirmary. No need to pull back the curtains, no need for light. Like a leopard in the dark, he was agile and swift, finding his sword on the sandalwood shelf behind the folding screen in less than a moment. The sword's name was "Blood Drip," having beheaded numerous kings and heroes, faintly emanating a dim glow of blood in the darkness.
With the sword in his hand, his heart settled a bit. For a person like him, the only thing he trusted was this.
He continued his rapid search, feeling the clothes he originally wore on his body. A faint smile appeared on his lips. The set of Heavenly Silkworm Robes, blended with the silk of the Kunlun and Snowfield ice silkworms, was impervious to ordinary blades and was specially equipped for elite killers of the Light Realm.
He untied the tightly bound straps on his body and was about to change into that set of clothes when he suddenly froze.
The wounds left from his intense battle with Huo Zhanbai were actually carefully re-sewn. Was it her?
In that instant, a headache struck again. He bent down, unable to bear it, and almost couldn't resist shouting out loud.
Why... why? What exactly was all this for? What was the purpose of that female physician, harboring such intentions towards him? He didn't believe anything anymore, yet she insisted on forcefully cramming those things into his mind!
He gasped urgently in the darkness, and his fingers suddenly touched something cold.
He picked up the white jade mask, tremblingly covered his face— the icy jade pressed against his skin. Hidden beneath the mask, the trembling all over his body finally gradually subsided.
Gripping the sword tightly, he closed his eyes, and behind the mask, his eyes flashed a dangerous purple.
Regardless, he had to get the Dragon Blood Pearl out first! Huo Zhanbai was still in this valley, and danger could strike at any moment!
He silently searched everything in the room, leaving no inch unchecked. Yet, he gained nothing. Damn it... Where did that woman hide the Dragon Blood Pearl? Was it kept in another secret place?
He hesitated for a moment, finally gripping the sword and walking out of this infirmary where he had been lying for days.
Huo Zhanbai stood under a plum tree, his eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, the Ink Soul Sword in his hand condensed like the clear light of a river and sea. He silently recalled the intense battle in the Cold Pine Forest that day, visualizing how the last sword pierced under his rib.
What a venomous sword! It was a kind of self-sacrificing swordsmanship, rarely seen in the Central Plains.
He reminisced about that snowy duel, his sword as swift as the wind, thrusting one after another, seemingly sealing every step of the imaginary opponent's attack: Moon Illuminates the Vast Blue, Wind Returns to the Wild Sky, Breaking Gold and Cutting Jade... "Swish," after a flat stab to the chest with one sword, he stopped.
Huo Zhanbai, holding the sword, stood under the plum tree, petals falling like snow covering him, silently meditating, shaking his head. No, it wouldn't work... Even if he used the "King Comes from the East" move, he couldn't block the opponent's ultimate self-sacrificing sword!
That person was terrifying, even he harbored fear.
But, it didn't matter... That Tong, he probably had died in the snow by now.
Suddenly, there was a fluttering sound in the air, and a bird made a soft cry, landing on the plum tree.
"Snow Kite?" Huo Zhanbai saw the bird flying from the direction of the Autumn Garden, slightly surprised, looking at the object it carried in its beak, "Where did you fly to? Autumn Garden?"
The bird opened its beak, and a piece of white jade fragment fell into his palm.
"This... it's the mask of an assassin from the Great Illumination Palace's arena!" Huo Zhanbai exclaimed as he recognized it, "The patient in Autumn Garden, could it be... that foolish woman!"
"Caw!" The snow kite cried uneasily, seemingly confirming his guess, its small black eyes turning around.
"Oh no..." Huo Zhanbai didn't have time to say more, immediately took a step and swiftly moved out of the Winter Pavilion.
Tong had come for the Dragon Blood Pearl, and Xue Ziye might have already encountered trouble!
In the Autumn Garden, where maple leaves were ablaze like fire, a red-clothed maid stood at the courtyard gate, seeing a figure in white walking out from the maple forest.
"Mingjie Young Master, the Valley Master said your illness hasn't healed yet. You can't walk around freely now." Frosty Red showed no great surprise, just a slight bow, obstructing the patient, "Please go back to rest—The Valley Master went to the book depository yesterday to consult medical books. She believes she'll find a solution soon."
While speaking, she kept looking at the chest area of the other party, her gaze not moving up.
"Is that so?" Tong suddenly spoke, coldly, "My illness is difficult to cure?"
Frosty Red didn't answer, just gave a slight bow, "Please trust the Valley Master's medical skills."
"Why don't you look at me?" Tong's gaze gradually intensified, "Why?"
"Servant dares not." Frosty Red answered calmly, bowing, "The Valley Master ordered that none of the maids in the valley are allowed to look into the eyes of the Young Master."
"Oh... so that's how it is." Tong paused, and suddenly, his figure disappeared.
"Alright, tell me," Frosty Red hadn't recovered from her surprise when the ice-cold sword was already against her throat, "Where is the Dragon Blood Pearl?"
The sword's pressure made her face pale, but she didn't panic, "I don't know."
"Really don't know?" The sword tip lifted, forcing Frosty Red to look up and meet those eerie double pupils.
"Master, it's better not to force others casually." Different from the fiery Wind Green, Frosty Red remained calm and composed, "By the order of the Valley Master, all the maids in the valley are not allowed to look into the Young Master's eyes."
"Hey! Hey! Stop fighting!" Frosty Red struggled to force open the acupoint she was pointed at, could only call out anxiously from the side. The two patients in the valley drew their swords in the maple forest, countless red leaves fluttering down, being shattered by the sword energy, resembling blood spreading, stinging her cheek.
"Snap," in just a short moment, a sword light shot out from the red leaves, nailing to the ground.
"How did it suddenly fall so far behind?" Huo Zhanbai, who had shaken Tong's sword away within three moves, found it unbelievable, "Where is your internal strength? Where did it go?"
Tong, panting hurriedly, felt that he couldn't mobilize his inner breath as soon as it reached the sea of qi, all the meridians in his body were empty, unable to circulate.
Indeed... That woman, taking advantage of the opportunity to heal him, sealed his Ren and Du Meridians!
That woman was indeed planning to deal with him!
He wanted to gather his mind to use Eye Art, but he hadn't recovered yet. As soon as he focused his spiritual power on one point, the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head began to crack like pain. He didn't even have time to delve into it. He felt a sudden darkness in front of him.
"Huo Young Master, put down the sword quickly!" Seeing Tong fall, Frosty Red, still struggling to open the acupoint, could only shout anxiously. Where was the Valley Master? Was she also bitten by this rescued poisonous snake?
Anger surged in his heart, and he couldn't spare mercy.
"Hey! Hey! Don't fight!" Frosty Red tried hard to open the acupoint she was held at but Tong's acupoint technique was extremely strange, not moving at all, "The Valley Master ordered me to take good care of the Young Master. If I have an accident, I'm afraid there will be no one to unlock the 'Blood Seal' between the Ren and Du Meridians for the Young Master."
Blood Seal? Tong shook: This technique is used to block the circulation of true energy. Could it be that I...
Before he could verify whether there was anything unusual between his Ren and Du Meridians, he suddenly heard a faint sound of breaking through the air!
"Ding!" Without turning back, he immediately retracted the sword, blocking the fast-stabbing sword from behind in the blink of an eye. There was an expert! In that moment, he casually pressed Frosty Red's acupoint, tapped her shoulder with force, took advantage of the force to turn in the air, and the Blood Drip Sword unfolded like cicada wings, protecting him all around. There were only several "ding ding" sounds as the two swords continuously clashed.
Breaking through the blood-red sword shadows was a dark lightning.
Huo Zhanbai's face turned serious. Silently and without a sound, he swiftly approached, blocking the opponent's sword with one sword—indeed, he immediately saw this guy using the sword against Frosty Red's throat! What about Xue Ziye? Was she also bitten by this rescued snake?
Anger surged in his heart, and he couldn't spare mercy.
"Hey! Hey! Don't fight!" Frosty Red tried hard to open the acupoint she was held at but Tong's acupoint technique was extremely strange, not moving at all, "The Valley Master ordered me to take good care of the Young Master. If I have an accident, I'm afraid there will be no one to unlock the 'Blood Seal' between the Ren and Du Meridians for the Young Master."
Blood Seal? Tong shook: This technique is used to block the circulation of true energy. Could it be that I...
Before he could verify whether there was anything unusual between his Ren and Du Meridians, he suddenly heard a faint sound of breaking through the air!
"Ding!" Without turning back, he immediately retracted the sword, blocking the fast-stabbing sword from behind in the blink of an eye. There was an expert! In that moment, he casually pressed Frosty Red's acupoint, tapped her shoulder with force, took advantage of the force to turn in the air, and the Blood Drip Sword unfolded like cicada wings, protecting him all around. There were only several "ding ding" sounds as the two swords continuously clashed.
Breaking through the blood-red sword shadows was a dark lightning.
Huo Zhanbai's face turned serious. Silently and without a sound, he swiftly approached, blocking the opponent's sword with one sword—indeed, he immediately saw this guy using the sword against Frosty Red's throat! What about Xue Ziye? Was she also bitten by this rescued snake?
Anger surged in his heart, and he couldn't spare mercy.
"Hey! Hey! Stop fighting!" Frosty Red struggled to break free from the acupoint restraint and could only anxiously shout from the side. The two patients in the valley were clashing swords in the maple forest, countless red leaves swirling down, soon shattered by the sword energy, dispersing like blood, stinging her cheeks.
\
"Crack," in just a short moment, a sword light shot out from the red leaves, nailing into the ground.
"Why did it suddenly fall so far behind?" Huo Zhanbai, who had deflected Tong's sword within three moves, found it unbelievable, "Where is your inner strength? Where did it go?"
Tong, breathing rapidly, felt that his inner breath couldn't be lifted as soon as it reached the sea of qi. His entire body's meridians were empty, unable to circulate energy.
It was indeed true... That woman took the opportunity to heal him and sealed his Ren and Du Meridians!
That woman, indeed, had schemed to deal with him!
He wanted to gather his mental power to use Eye Art, but he hadn't fully recovered. Just as he focused his spiritual power on one point, the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head started to crack with pain. He didn't even have time to delve into it before darkness enveloped him.
"Huo Young Master, quickly put down the sword!" Frosty Red saw Tong fall and exclaimed, "Don't harm Mingjie Young Master!"
"Where is your Valley Master?" Huo Zhanbai didn't sheathe his sword, asking urgently.
"The Valley Master went to the book depository in the Spring Courtyard yesterday," Frosty Red tried hard to open the acupoint, but Tong's acupoint technique was extremely peculiar and unyielding, "She instructed me to take good care of Mingjie Young Master—she will come out in a few days."
"Oh..." Huo Zhanbai breathed a sigh of relief, took a step back, sheathing his sword, but remained vigilant.
How did you bring such a dangerous guy back to the valley!" Huo Zhanbai really wanted to deal with this guy, but hesitated due to Xue Ziye's face, furrowing his brows, "Do you know who he is? A venomous snake! All the girls in the Medicine Master Valley don't know martial arts; he can wipe you all out with just a turn of his head—such foolish women."
"Well... The Valley Master said," Frosty Red smiled awkwardly, "with Seventh Young Master here, there's nothing to worry about."
Huo Zhanbai was pleased with this clever girl's flattery, sheathing his sword and smiling, "Hehe, not bad. It's fortunate to have me—otherwise, the number one killer of the demonic cult, even in the entire Central Plains, there aren't many who can handle him!"
"A demonic cult killer?" Frosty Red was greatly surprised, "But... the Valley Master said he was a friend from the past when they were in Mogajia Village."
"A friend from Mogajia Village?" Huo Zhanbai murmured, pondering the information—this woman actually extended her hand to save a demonic cult killer for such a reason?
He released Frosty Red's acupoint. She immediately went to check on the patient who had fainted on the ground, asking him to help carry Tong back to Autumn Garden.
He didn't refuse, just at the moment he bent down, sealed eight large acupoints on Tong.
"What are you doing?" Frosty Red scolded angrily, instinctively protecting her patient.
"Before your Valley Master returns, it's safer this way," Huo Zhanbai murmured.
The sun had already slanted westward. He struggled to carry Tong back, feeling somewhat ironic: he had never thought that he would become so intimate with this opponent with whom he had fought to the death—Snow Kite flew over, muttering as it flew, and when it saw its master supporting Tong, it showed a surprised expression, falling off the windowsill and scratching its head in confusion.
"Alas..." He sighed—fortunately, there were no other martial artists from the rivers and lakes in the Medicine Master Valley at the moment. If it were known that Xue Ziye had actually sheltered someone from the demonic cult, even the entire martial arts world wouldn't turn a blind eye.
Even secluded healers couldn't escape the conflicts of the martial arts world.
After placing Tong back on the bed, Frosty Red wiped her sweat and thanked him.
"It's nothing," Huo Zhanbai smiled, "After being taken care of by you for so many years, doing a little hard work is only fair."
Frosty Red carefully bent down, checked Tong's head, and breathed a sigh of relief, "Fortunately, the golden needles didn't shift positions."
"Golden needles?" Huo Zhanbai was surprised, "He... had his brain sealed with golden needles?"
"Yeah," Frosty Red sighed, "The technique is extremely peculiar. The Valley Master removed two, and dared not remove the third."
Huo Zhanbai's eyes changed slightly—Even Xue Ziye couldn't treat him?
He was about to investigate further when he suddenly heard a sound behind him, "Sister Frosty Red!"
A little girl rushed in, leading an elderly woman behind her.
"Little Jing, what's the hurry?" Frosty Red, afraid of disturbing the patient, turned and scolded in a low voice, "Speak outside!"
"But... but, Granny Ning said the Valley Master, the Valley Master...," Little Jing was anxious, her voice choked, "The Valley Master read books for a whole day and night, suddenly fainted in the book depository in the afternoon!"
"What!" Frosty Red exclaimed. In that moment, the cause of the former Valley Master of Linyu Valley's death twenty years ago flashed through her mind.
"Quick, take me..." She couldn't care less about the person on the sickbed, stopping abruptly and standing up.
However, a gust of wind passed by her side, and Huo Zhanbai had already rushed out ahead, disappearing into the maple forest.
After everyone in the room left like a gust of wind, the eyes in the darkness opened.
With a lingering expression of pain in his eyes, he supported himself and slowly sat up from the bed, stroking his right arm and breathing heavily. He had used the Qiankun Great Shift, and in the instant Huo Zhanbai pointed down, he shifted all the acupoints in his body by an inch. However, the blood seal between the Ren and Du meridians remained unbroken.
What should he do? It had been nearly a month since leaving Kunlun. He didn't know whether the Sovereign had come out of seclusion, whether he had discovered their secret plan. The twelve Silver Wings that followed him had already been wiped out, and he had lost contact with Miaoshui for a long time. If he couldn't obtain the Dragon Blood Pearl, how would he go back?
On the side of the Grand Illumination Palace, Miaoshui and the people from the Arena of the Abyss were still waiting for his return.
He had planned for this operation for so long—no matter what, he must obtain the Dragon Blood Pearl to go back!