As the twilight set in, Huo Zhanbai finished packing and felt a sense of relief, thinking that he could head south the next day.
The burden that had weighed on his heart for many years was finally lifted. Could Mo'er now run and play like any other child? And Qingshui, she wouldn't be gloomy all the time. It had been a long time since he had seen her lively and radiant smile.
He took a deep breath, hands behind his back, gazing at the snowy landscape outside Winter Pavilion.
Years of wandering, and finally, there was an end.
"Honk!" Suddenly, he heard the urgent cry of a snow hawk, flying in from the southwest and dropping something.
"What's this?" He glanced at it, startled. "Another Kunlun Blood Snake?"
In the corner of his eye, a faint figure dashed towards the entrance of the valley, disappearing like lightning.
Tong? What was he up to?
Without much thought, Huo Zhanbai grabbed the Ink Soul Sword and swiftly opened the window, chasing after him.
—
At the entrance of the Medicine Master Valley, massive rocks formed a formidable array.
These stones, carried by the wind at the valley entrance, changed their positions at an imperceptible speed, creating a complex and intricate terrain. Legend had it that the founder of the Medicine Master Valley was once an unparalleled master in the Central Plains. After a life of countless killings, he repented in his old age, determined to redeem the sins he committed in his youth. Therefore, he ventured alone to the extreme north, settling in this valley, practicing alchemy for the benefit of humanity.
And this wind and snow stone array was set up to avoid revenge seekers.
Entering the valley was easy, but without someone to guide, one would inevitably become lost in the labyrinth of wind and snow-covered boulders.
No wonder, for many years, the Medicine Master Valley remained neutral, balancing delicately between the righteous and the wicked. Not only did various factions rely on it, maintaining a subtle balance, but the treacherous terrain and numerous mechanisms also ensured its security.
"I've succeeded," the silver-clad assassin landed gracefully, standing on the rugged stones at the valley entrance. "Miao Huo, you're a bit late."
"Hehe, truly worthy of Tong!" The newcomer laugh
For ordinary people, the Dragon Blood Pearl was utterly useless; however, for practitioners of martial arts, it was the supreme treasure. According to the "Bo Gu Zhi," if one were to hold the pearl in their mouth, practicing martial arts alongside it, they could comprehend the heavenly Dao. However, if blood was shed, its poison could exterminate gods, ghosts, and immortals alike—a rare find over thousands of years.
Recently, the Demon King had been in seclusion to cultivate the ninth level of the Iron Horse Glacier Heart Technique. Taking advantage of this, they concocted an excuse to assassinate the hermit of Tianchi and left Kunlun, aiming to seize the Dragon Blood Pearl and return before the Demon King's seclusion ended. Unexpectedly, on the way, they encountered Huo Zhanbai, delaying their plans.
Tong silently flipped his hand, storing the bead away. "The task is complete; we can leave."
"Oh? Already dealt with?" The blood-colored little snake kept converging towards the stone, resembling a blood sea, while the red-haired giant sitting on the stone played with a snake as thick as a water bucket, chuckling. "Did you kill that valley master? What a pity, I heard she not only excelled in medicine but was also a beautiful woman..."
"I didn't kill her," Tong replied coldly.
"You didn't?" Miao Huo was a bit surprised, looking at him. As a killing genius in the Demon Realm for a hundred years, Tong always acted ruthlessly, never leaving anyone alive. Had he broken this rule in the matter of the Dragon Blood Pearl?
"Why not? It would have been effortless." Miao Huo frowned, watching this formidable executioner in the demonic sect, somewhat hesitating. "Could it be... Tong, have you gone soft?"
"Enough with the nonsense." Tong was impatient. "Huo Zhanbai is there."
"Huo Zhanbai... the Seventh Young Master of Dingjian Pavilion?" Miao Huo murmured, gazing at the snowy ground. "Indeed, quite tricky. This time, the Twelve Silver Wings you brought might have fallen under his hands?"
Tong snorted. "He will pay back slowly."
"Right, now that we've obtained the Dragon Blood Pearl, there's no need to risk a confrontation with him. When we finish our major task, there will be plenty of time!" Miao Shui clapped his hands and laughed loudly, suddenly becoming serious. "We need to return quickly—according to the recent message from Miao Shui, the Demon King came out of seclusion the day before yesterday and asked about you!"
"The Demon King is out of seclusion?" Tong was shocked, his eyes turning deep blue. "He found out?!"
"No, fortunately, it was Miao Shui who was on duty," Miao Huo said with a laugh, as the big snake on the stone suddenly opened its mouth, and the small snakes continuously flowed into the mother snake's mouth like a stream. "She followed the originally planned response, saying you went to Tianchi in Changbai Mountain to assassinate the old demon who has been hiding for many years."
"Oh," Tong exhaled lightly. "That's good."
"Nevertheless, we need to act quickly," Miao Huo put away the snake, looking serious. "Things don't seem right."
"Why?" Tong raised his eyes, the gaze sharp.
"Miao Shui's letter mentioned that the Demon King, this time, failed in cultivating the ninth level of the Iron Horse Glacier Heart Technique. He is now possessed by demonic energy, bedridden, and incapable of restraining the Three Saintesses, Wumingzi, and the Demon Arena. The sect is currently in internal strife, and the Three Saintesses are getting impatient. They're afraid they might act first—we need to move quickly."
"Oh..." Tong responded softly, suddenly making a hushing gesture. "Someone is approaching."
A sword aura shot out like a flexible ribbon, and a figure on the snowy ground swooped in. In mid-air, there was a crisp clash of metal, and the two figures briefly met before parting.
"Huo Zhanbai?" Seeing the newcomer, Tong exclaimed in surprise, "It's you again?"
"Your inner strength has recovered?" Huo Zhanbai caught a sword and noticed the changes in the other, astonished.
—Did that damn woman forget his advice and release this damn snake?
He recognized the red-haired man next to him as Miao Huo, one of the Five Masters of the Demon Sect. This made matters even more difficult.
"Anyone daring to enter the valley will die!" Knowing that a bloody battle was inevitable tonight, he took a deep breath, shouted, and held the sword to block the entrance of the Medicine Master Valley.
"Who wants to enter the valley?" Tong coldly smiled. "I'm leaving—"
He turned his body and soared into the sky amidst the wind and snow. Miao Huo also chuckled, flicking his fingers, and a huge Kunlun Blood Snake arrow shot out. He flipped onto the snake's back, and they quickly retreated.
Huo Zhanbai stood up, ready to pursue, when a voice suddenly came from afar—
"Instead of wasting time chasing me, you might as well go see if that woman is still alive."
Xue Ziye was still alive.
The wound was on the left side of her head, deep enough to reveal bone, and her long hair was stained red with blood.
Frosty red parted the thick hair carefully, cleaned the wound, and started applying medicine. The wound was caused by a swift sword, executed at close range. If not for the last-minute change in direction when cutting through the skull, the valley master's head would have been long gone.
"Foolish woman!" Glancing at the wound on Xue Ziye's head, Huo Zhanbai couldn't help but curse.
However, the usually hot-tempered woman was now as obedient as a cat, just staring into space. She neither screamed in pain nor spoke, allowing Frosty Red to bandage her head without reacting to his scolding.
"Valley Master, it's done." Frosty Red put down her hands and spoke softly.
"Go out." Xue Ziye just waved her hand. "Go to the pharmacy and help Aunt Ning take care of Mr. Huo's medicine."
"Yes." Frosty Red agreed and retreated, somewhat worried.
"Stupid woman, I clearly told you not to break his blood seal—" Huo Zhanbai couldn't help but burst out, feeling that this woman was simply unreasonable. "Who is he? The number one assassin of the Demon Sect's Arena! What kind of past connections do you have with him? Damn it! You really wouldn't know how you died!"
"Huo Zhanbai, you lost again," however, Xue Ziye, who had been in a daze, suddenly smiled.
"What?" He was scolding vehemently when she suddenly stunned him. "What?"
"You said he would definitely kill me," Xue Ziye murmured, touching the bandages. "But he didn't... he didn't kill me."
Huo Zhanbai was momentarily dumbfounded, unsure how to respond—indeed, that guy could have taken her life, but at the last moment, he turned the sword, only using the flat side to knock her unconscious. This was indeed a rare exception for the number one assassin of the Demon Sect's Arena.
"He is kind... he is my brother." Xue Ziye lowered her head, and her shoulders trembled slightly. "In his heart, he still believes."
"Foolish! How do you still not understand?" Huo Zhanbai stomped his foot, losing his voice.
Xue Ziye looked at him.
"Believing or not believing is not important to him anymore," he grabbed her shoulder, squatting down to look into her eyes. "Ziye, you don't understand what the martial world is—whether he believes or not, what difference does it make? For an assassin like him, these memories are only a burden. He'd rather not believe... because if he does, his death is not far off."
Xue Ziye looked towards the western sky, silent for a moment, then suddenly buried her face in her palms.
"I just... don't want him to be trapped in the darkness anymore," she said in a delicate voice, "He has been imprisoned for so long."
"He's gone," Huo Zhanbai gently patted her back, comforting her. "Come on, stop thinking about it... he's gone, and he chose his own path. There's nothing you can do for him."
Yes, that man had chosen to return to the Kunlun Grand Illumination Palace, to continue being the assassin known as Tong, to continue fighting in the bloody world of the martial arts, without choosing to stay in this secluded snowy valley and attempting to believe in his past.
Xue Ziye gradually quieted down, staring at the night outside.
Yes, Tong had left. And her kind-hearted younger brother, who had disappeared twelve years ago after the great calamity, had never returned. The gentle younger brother had been gradually dying over the years, not due to the three golden needles sealing his mind but because of the prolonged and brutal life of killing that had gradually shattered his humanity.
Snow died instantly, and even smiled at death. But Mingjie had been dying slowly over the years.
That night, the snowfall was heavy, and the wind howled as it came from the north of the Heilongjiang River, swirling over the Medicine Master Valley.
In the four-season distinct valley, everything was peaceful. In the pharmacy, the medicines prepared by Huo Zhanbai for Xue Ziye were almost ready. The young girls were all sleeping in the fragrance of medicine—no one knew that their valley master had gone alone to the lake, talking to the person under the ice for most of the night.
But this time, Huo Zhanbai silently stood by her side, holding an umbrella to shield her from the snow.
In the midst of the wind and snow, someone headed westward, returning to Kunlun overnight.
He accompanied her until deep into the night. For the first time, he saw the vulnerable side of this usually strong woman, her slender shoulders trembling in the wind. He simply bent down, adjusted the angle of the umbrella, and blocked the dense snowflakes for her.
For eight years, she had accompanied him through bloody battles, waiting for him at the end of every bloody path, saving him. So, on this final night, let him be the one to accompany her!
When the sky turned slightly blue, her complexion had deteriorated significantly. Unable to bear it any longer, he wanted to pull her up.
Xue Ziye angrily pushed away his arm, but her body, stiffened by the cold throughout the night, lost balance and fell heavily. The ice cracked with a loud sound, like a large black mouth swallowing her.
In that moment, the fear from many years ago rushed back, and she screamed in horror, closing her eyes.
"Be careful!" A hand suddenly stretched from the side, lifting her by the waist and landing her steadily on the shore. The other hand still held the umbrella, protecting her from the front, whispering, "Go back, it's too cold, and it's almost dawn."
Shivering slightly due to the cold and fear, she was in his arms. This time, she didn't fall.
The hand that had pulled her away from the icy cave was real, and the embrace was warm and solid.
Huo Zhanbai didn't put her down, heading towards Xia Zhiyuan. She pushed a few times but couldn't break free, so she could only quiet down. The only sound along the way was the rustling of snowflakes falling on the umbrella. She turned her head in the darkness just before dawn, suddenly realizing that he was holding the umbrella for her, and most of his body was covered in thick snow.
She reached out and gently brushed away the snow on his shoulders, feeling a warmth in her heart that had been absent for a long time.
"Mo'er's medicine, will it be better tomorrow?" he asked when they approached.
In a moment, she suddenly felt like she was waking up from a big dream and stopped her fingers, nodding.
"Thank you," he said, looking down at her and smiling. "When Mo'er gets better, I'll invite you to visit Lin'an and let him meet his lifesaver."
"Heh, no need." She chuckled. "His lifesaver is not me. It's you and... his mother."
Speaking of the last part, she paused. For some reason, she avoided mentioning the name of Qiu Shuiyin.
"And besides," she looked up at the sky—it was already in Xia Zhiyuan. Hot springs gushed out on the ground, melting the snow into a mist, and the air seemed to be filled with a hint of drizzle, "when I was fourteen, I suffered a severe cold that penetrated my lungs. Master said I couldn't leave this place for the rest of my life because the cold outside is unbearable for me."
She smiled and looked at the person who had extended the invitation. "Even before crossing that snowy field, I would die from the cold."
Huo Zhanbai was shocked, remaining silent for a while.
In Xia Zhiyuan, there were no snowflakes, but countless streaks of light danced among the trees in the garden, like a dream—the night butterflies glowed, rising from the water's edge to dance gracefully in the garden, displaying the most beautiful moment of their short lives.
"In fact, I don't want to go to Jiangnan," Xue Ziye looked at the northern direction, murmuring as if in a dream, "I want to go to the far north beyond the Mohe River... according to what Xue Huai said, there is a sea of ice, and the sky changes with seven colors, just like a dream."
She smiled faintly, murmuring, "He... he is waiting for me under that sky."
Once hearing that name, Huo Zhanbai suddenly felt an endless irritability in his heart. Suddenly releasing her, he threw her to the ground, scolding angrily, "How foolish! He's long dead! Why don't you wake up? He died twelve years ago, yet you're still dreaming! If you don't bury him, you'll never wake up—"
He didn't finish his words because he saw the woman in purple raising her hand, pointing straight at the door, her eyes cold.
"Get out," she said in a low voice, resolute.
He stared at her in silence for a moment, then turned to leave.
Watching him turn away, she suddenly spoke in a faint voice, "Truly foolish, that woman never truly belonged to you. From start to finish, you were just an irrelevant person! If you don't let go of this, you'll never live a good life."
He stopped in his tracks, turned to look at her. She met his gaze without backing down.
The two stood facing each other in silence for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Is this a parting advice?" Huo Zhanbai laughed heartily as he turned away. "We're both fools."
He quickly disappeared into the wind and snow. Xue Ziye stood in the Summer Garden amidst the fluttering night butterflies, silently gazing for a long time, as if suddenly making up her mind. She took a purple jade hairpin from her hair, holding it gently.
"Huo Zhanbai, I hope you find happiness."
The next day, the snow cleared, and everything in the Medicine Master Valley seemed to return to calm with Tiao's departure.
All affairs resumed their original course, as if the intruder had left no trace. The maidservants no longer worried about disturbances in the middle of the night, Huo Zhanbai no longer had to anxiously monitor Xue Ziye's safety, and even Snow Falcon didn't have to patrol daily, hanging upside down, drunk, on the shelf.
"Good morning!" Huo Zhanbai was pleased to leave in such an atmosphere. So, when Xue Ziye walked out of the pharmacy and handed him a sachet, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
After just one night's sleep, the conversation from the previous night seemed like a dream.
"You should go." Xue Ziye, noticing the genuine smile on his face, suddenly felt a bit desolate. "Lu, where's the horse?"
"Miss, it's ready!" Lu came out from the flowers, leading a horse with a beaming smile.
Taking the reins, she handed them to Huo Zhanbai. "Go."
It was almost ridiculous. In some moment last night, when he stood silently by her side, shielding her from the wind and snow, she inexplicably felt the illusion that this person could be relied upon. However, he had long been someone else's support.
Over the years, he had come here annually, enduring his own whims and tantrums only for this matter.
Now that it was over, what had to be done was finally done.
"The medicine is in the sachet; carry it with you," she reminded again, almost pointing at his forehead, "Remember, you must pass through Yangzhou on your way to Lin'an—once in Yangzhou, remember to open the sachet. Only after opening it can you proceed to Lin'an!"
"Got it." Huo Zhanbai promised, knowing this woman had always been eccentric.
"If you open it too early or too late, it won't work, you know!" She smiled mysteriously, sending a chill down his spine. He hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes! I'll open it only in Yangzhou!"
Huo Zhanbai mounted his horse, placing the sachet back into his chest. He felt as if a heavy burden he had carried for many years had finally been lifted. Looking around, he suddenly felt the sky was never so vast, the wind never so gentle. Unable to resist, he raised his head and let out a long howl, riding away with a heart as swift as an arrow—truly, as described in the poem, "Sing songs during the day, indulge in wine, and return happily to the village with youth as your companion."
"Going through Ba Gorge, passing Wu Gorge, then heading from Xiangyang toward Luoyang!"
"Lu, see the guest off," Xue Ziye said without much ado, turning to instruct the maid.
"Yes!" Lu happily approached to lead the horse. She was delighted to see this debt collector leave. However, Frost Red sighed quietly, knowing that with his departure, the glimpses of the valley master's joyful moments would become even rarer.
Snow Falcon circled Xue Ziye, reluctant to leave, calling a few times before landing on her shoulder. Huo Zhanbai rode a few steps and suddenly turned his horse, making a drinking gesture at her. "Hey, remember to bury a jar of 'Smiling Red' under the plum tree!"
Xue Ziye was slightly taken aback.
"Let's drink together when I return!" He waved, laughed heartily, "I'll definitely beat you!"
She just waved her hand, neither confirming nor denying. She had done her best and could only prescribe a formula to extend his life for another three months. Would he still be so happy if he knew? If the child ultimately perished, would he come back seeking revenge?
However, watching his receding figure disappearing into the lush valley, she suddenly felt a coldness in her chest, and a low cough escaped her.
"Miss, is this alright?" Old Lady Ning, standing nearby, looked at Huo Zhanbai's joyous departure with some concern, speaking in a low voice.
"It can only be this way." Xue Ziye murmured, looking up at the sky, sighing deeply, "May heaven bless, that Master Qingran is still in Yangzhou."
I've done everything I can... Huo Zhanbai, don't blame me.
————
While someone was riding south, another was rushing west.
To avoid suspicion, he parted ways with Miao Huo on his way back to the Great Illumination Palace. Holding the Dragon Blood Pearl in his hand, the treasure claiming to kill gods and devils alike exuded a chilling aura. The Blood-dripping Sword beside him hummed in its sheath, seemingly thirsty for blood.
With the snow and wind cutting through the air like knives, his heart's residual weakness was cleansed.
He rode south in the great snow, gradually leaving the valley that had briefly shaken his innermost feelings. Reining in his horse to survey the surroundings, his heart gradually became clear and composed. Those black and white eyes slowly vanished amidst the falling snow.
Ten days after leaving the Medicine Master Valley, he entered the desolate Kizil Plateau.
On the thirteenth day, he arrived at Wuli Yasutai.
On the fifteenth day, he reached the foothills of the West Kunlun Mountains.
The Kunlun Mountains were covered in pristine white snow, and the grand palace atop the mountain was shrouded in perpetual coldness.
The steed, exhausted, had collapsed on the ground, foaming at the mouth. He dismounted and, with a backward swing of his sword, ended the horse's suffering. Standing at the foot of the mountain, gazing at the layered palaces, he took a deep breath, clenching his fist—the dark red Dragon Blood Pearl in his hand silently turned into powder.
Turning the blade over, he carefully coated the Blood-dripping Sword with the powder.
Then, from his pocket, he took out two golden needles, without hesitation turned around, and ch-click, ch-click, pressed them into the acupuncture points behind his head!
He ascended the stone steps in long strides. The disciples guarding the mountain gate stood up abruptly, bowing in unison, revealing expressions of awe. After he passed by, they whispered to each other.
"Did you see that? That's Tiao!"
"The killer god who rules the Shura Arena? What a pity, I didn't get a clear look at his face just now..."
"Get lost! Once you see him clearly, you won't know how you died—his eyes are not meant to be seen!"
"Yeah, yeah, I heard that if you make eye contact with him, he takes your soul. He can make you die with just a look, and you can only live if he wants you to!"
"That, isn't that a demonic gaze?"
These respectful yet fearful whispers filled every day of his life.
No one had ever dared to look into his eyes, and most who had were already dead. Since he could remember, he had grown accustomed to evasive glances and looks as if he were a monster—nothing to be surprised about.
He headed directly to the west wing of the palace, intending to inquire about recent events from Miaoshui. However, it turned out to be in vain—strange, where were the people? Wasn't it agreed upon that they would meet to discuss plans once he returned with the Dragon Blood Pearl? At such a critical moment, how could someone be absent?
"Miaoshui has been accompanying the Teaching King in the Great Illumination Hall these days," Miaoshui's close attendant, seeing the dust-covered Tiao, spoke fearfully, bowing his head. "She hasn't come back to rest for a long time."
"How is the Teaching King?" he asked coldly.
The attendant shook his head. "Subordinate doesn't know—since the Teaching King came out of seclusion, he has been staying in the Great Illumination Hall and has not appeared in public."
He nodded in silence, his gaze changing slightly. Not appearing in public—most likely, just like the information Miaoshui had sent, he had fallen into madness due to a failed cultivation.
In these few days, facing such a golden opportunity, weren't the other forces in the palace starting to act recklessly?
He didn't have time to ask more, immediately turning towards the Great Illumination Hall.
Passing through the white jade bridge, the magnificent golden-walled hall on the mountaintop came into view. Step by step, he walked, tightly gripping the Blood-dripping Sword in his hand, starting to conceal the killing intent in his heart step by step.
"Lord Tiao." However, the person who came out to meet him was not the disciple Gao Le, who was usually favored by the Teaching King, but a new disciple in white who also dared not look into his eyes. "The Teaching King is resting, please wait a moment."
He nodded. "Where is Gao Le?"
The white-clad disciple trembled, answered in a low voice, "He's dead," and said no more.
Dead?! Tiao stood silently on the steps, kneeling on one knee and waiting for the announcement.
"Hehehe… My Tiao, you've returned." After a while, loud laughter erupted from the hall, shaking the heavens, "Come in quickly!"
He suddenly trembled, his eyes shining brightly. The laughter of the Teaching King was full of energy, completely devoid of any signs of weakness!
"Yes." Holding the sword, he bowed deeply in front of the throne, "I went to Changbai Mountain and took the life of Tianchi Hidden Hero, avenging the grudge from years ago for the Teaching King."
As he spoke, he took out a jade flute from his pocket and offered it.
—Tianchi Hidden Hero had not appeared in the martial world for a long time. The Teaching King might not be able to see through his carefully woven lies immediately. Moreover, this flute was said to have been obtained by Miao Huo from elsewhere several years ago and was supposedly the personal belonging of the Hidden Hero.
"Hehe, Tiao never disappoints." However, the Teaching King surprisingly didn't pay much attention to the carefully crafted lie, just praised with a smile, then changed the subject, "You've just returned from a long journey. Come and admire the treasure I've recently acquired—a cute little mastiff. Isn't it adorable?"
With permission granted, he dared to raise his head and look at the several ferocious beasts tied with golden ropes on one side of the throne, suddenly unable to hold back a change in his expression.
In the group of fierce-looking mastiffs, a vague figure covered in blood and flesh was exposed.
Judging by the clothing, that... that should be—
"Look, a truly lovely little beast," the Teaching King's fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the throne, smiling, "Just ate Uma, very satisfied."
Uma!
Even someone like Tiao couldn't help but show a horrified expression on his face—
The corpse was none other than the Holy Maiden Uma!
"What a foolish woman... I spread false news about losing control of my cultivation to Miao Feng, and she couldn't resist, hehe," the Teaching King smiled on his throne, his white hair resembling that of an immortal. On the side, there was the severed head of a stunning woman placed on a golden plate. "She joined forces with Gao Le and others, attempting to kill me."
Tiao, looking at the once-mighty Holy Maiden of the Sun, felt cold sweat forming in his palms.
"So naive..." the Teaching King toyed with the severed head, suddenly turning his eyes to Tiao. "Isn't that right, Tiao?"
He bowed calmly, meeting the Teaching King's gaze. "I only regret not being able to personally sever her head for the Teaching King."
"Hehehe..." The Teaching King burst into laughter, grabbing the long hair and tossing the severed head to the pack of ferocious beasts, "Eat, eat! This is the flesh and blood of the daughter of the Uighur King, my lovely little beasts!"
The pack of beasts fought for the meal, accompanied by a chilling sound of chewing.
"These treasures are still the best," the Teaching King turned back, gently caressing Tiao, who knelt before the throne. His hands explored the three golden needles beneath Tiao's hair, and he smiled with satisfaction. "Tiao, as long as you remain loyal to me, you can enjoy everything beautiful."
Descending from the red steps, sweat soaked through his heavy clothes, and the cold wind outside stabbed at him, causing discomfort.
He slowly loosened his grip on the Blood-dripping Sword, and his eyes went through various colors, eventually silently sheathing the sword—was he seen through? Or was it just a test? The Teaching King remained inscrutable.
He let out a breath. Fortunately, he had dodged a disaster by not returning in time.
He wondered if Miaoshui, left by the Teaching King's side, was safe. This Loulan woman, rumored to have been brought to the palace by the Teaching King for her Huanhuan secret technique, unexpectedly became a prominent figure, steadily advancing in martial arts, eventually becoming one of the Five Mingzi. Her willingness to form an alliance with them this time was also an unexpected event. Regarding this woman's attitude, both he and Miao Huo had always been uncertain.
It seemed that, no matter what, the assassination plan had to be temporarily put on hold.
Better to wait and see, and make a decision after Miao Huo returned to the palace.
As he descended the Twelve Jade Terraces, he saw Miaoshui and Mingli coming out from behind the main hall, walking along the left and right side paths respectively—usually, the Teaching King trusted Mingli and Miaofeng the most: Mingli was responsible for daily affairs, and Miaofeng was the Teaching King's talisman.
But at this moment, why wasn't Miaofeng present?
He slowed his pace, waiting deliberately or unintentionally. Miaoshui, in a long robe, graceful with every step, walked past him without stopping, just coughing softly a few times and softly greeting, "Lord Tiao has returned?"
He remained silent, embracing the sword, and slightly bowed as a response.
Miaoshui smiled, passing by.
Tiao lowered his eyes, watching her pass. In the moment of their intersection, a sound of wind rang in his ears. Without thinking, he raised his hand to catch something. In his palm, there was now a wax pellet. Looking up, he saw the swiftly disappearing hem of her clothes. That woman had already left, making it impossible for him to strike up a conversation with her.
Crushing the wax pellet, inside was only a piece of white handkerchief, embroidered with a flame-like pattern.
That was... the Teaching King's handkerchief?! Tiao's hand clenched instantly, but he restrained the impulse to turn around and look at Miaoshui, simply continuing down the red steps—bloodstains, jet-black and red, mixed with fragments of internal organs, had stained the handkerchief, undoubtedly from the moment of blood vessel rupture.
"Miaofeng has gone to Medicine Master Valley."
In the moment of passing each other, he heard Miaoshui's short and urgent voice through sound transmission.
Tiao's pupils suddenly contracted.
ed heartily, looking at the tiny blood-red bead in his hand. "The Thousand-Year Dragon Blood Scarlet Cold Bead—this is the legendary thing that can poison gods and demons, right? With this, I can finally kill the old bastard Demon King!"