Tang Lingluo was startled, looking down at his right hand. In his palm appeared a tiny wound, as if pricked by a needle. A drop of blood had congealed there, unexpectedly dark purple. He spoke gravely, “The Wen family’s blood pearl.”

Bai Hetai lightly raised her hand, three silver needles held between her fingers. She smiled, “Though I studied under the Medicine King Valley, I was born into the Wen family. Your Tang Clan’s poisons will always be second-rate.”

“Damn it,” Tang Lingluo cursed, quickly pressing three major acupoints on his arm before sitting cross-legged on the ground to circulate his qi and heal.

“In Poison Craft, the Tang Clan has always been a step behind the Wen family. Only in hidden weapons does no other surname compare to the Tang Clan.” A somewhat proud voice rang out. Everyone looked up to see a tall, thin middle-aged man landing beside Tang Lingluo.

Tang Lingluo exhaled in relief: “You’ve come.”

“I have.” The newcomer lightly shook his sleeve, sending three golden cards flying toward Bai Hetai.

“The King of Hell Cards.” Bai Hetai threw three silver needles, attempting to knock down the golden cards, but they shattered her needles and continued their trajectory.

“Watch out!” Su Muyu had already fought his way back, positioning himself in front of Bai Hetai with his sword. He swung fiercely, knocking the three King of Hell Cards to the ground, where they still carried enough force to crater the floor.

“Impressive swordsmanship,” the newcomer remarked casually.

“He’s the head of the Dark River Su Clan, Su Muyu,” Tang Lingkui informed.

The newcomer stroked his three thin whiskers: “The Umbrella Ghost.”

Su Muyu pondered briefly before guessing the identity of the man before him: “Tang Clan Inner Chamber Master Tang Lingqi.”

“That’s right.” Tang Lingqi extended his hand, holding a box aimed at Su Muyu.

“I’ve seen this hidden weapon before,” Su Muyu narrowed his eyes, “The Storm Pear Blossom Needles.”

“Then you should know that when the Storm Pear Blossom Needle box is pointed at you, you’re already dead,” Tang Lingqi said flatly.

“Yet I’ve seen this box once before and didn’t die,” Su Muyu held his sword horizontally before him. “Perhaps your speed in pressing it isn’t faster than my sword draw.”

Tang Lingqi’s lips curved slightly: “Is the Su Clan Head such a proud person?”

“You’re welcome to try,” Su Muyu replied calmly.

“Then let’s test it!” Tang Lingqi pressed the iron box without hesitation. As the opening revealed itself and silver needles burst forth like a swarm of locusts, Su Muyu pushed Bai Hetai away in that same instant, drawing his sword and flashing to Tang Lingqi’s side.

Avoiding these dreaded Storm Pear Blossom Needles proved simpler than imagined.

Su Muyu whirled around suddenly.

Because from the start, these Storm Pear Blossom Needles were never aimed at him!

“Tang Lianyue!” Mu Yumo cried out in alarm.

Tang Lingqi dodged Su Muyu’s hurried sword strike, looking toward Tang Lianyue with a cold smile. Though killing Tang Lianyue wasn’t their intention, things had come to this point. If Tang Lianyue truly awakened, the situation would become far more serious. That being the case, they might as well kill him!

At this moment, they were still far from reaching the “three incense sticks” of time Bai Hetai had mentioned.

Yet when the Storm Pear Blossom Needles were mere millimeters from Tang Lianyue, they suddenly stopped.

Tang Lingqi narrowed his eyes slightly, and Bai Hetai was also stunned. Su Muyu withdrew to her side with his sword: “Divine Doctor…”

“It’s not my doing. A normal person would need at least three incense sticks’ time to recover under such severe cold conditions,” Bai Hetai replied.

“I understand now,” Su Muyu smiled slightly.

“Understand what?” Bai Hetai asked, puzzled.

Su Muyu lifted his head slightly: “But he is Tang Lianyue.”

“Indeed, I am Tang Lianyue.” Those frost-covered features suddenly revealed a pair of open eyes, and all the frost covering his body instantly receded. Tang Lianyue’s form shuddered, and all the silver needles turned to powder and fell to the ground. He walked forward a few steps, turning to look at Su Muyu beside him.

“You’re awake,” Su Muyu said flatly.

“I never imagined it would be you all who came to rescue me,” Tang Lianyue awkwardly lifted his arm, the last traces of cold slowly dissipating.

“Never imagined?” Mu Yumo had also retreated by now, “Shouldn’t you have thought of me the moment you were ambushed?”

Tang Lianyue’s expression froze: “It was you?”

“It was me? Who am I?” Mu Yumo smiled.

“Mu Yumo,” Tang Lianyue replied.

Mu Yumo’s expression stiffened as she glanced at Bai Hetai, who shrugged: “For a man to answer such a question directly, how astonishing.”

Mu Yumo sighed lightly: “Well, he is Tang Lianyue after all.”

Su Muyu sheathed his sword: “I’m rather tired. Brother Lianyue, can you handle the rest alone?”

Tang Lianyue nodded, then turned to face the others: “These people are all my senior martial brothers, even my martial uncles, yet they conspired together to frame me. I want to know why.”

Tang Lingqi raised his head slightly: “Because you support Tang Linghuang, and we don’t wish for Tang Linghuang to become the future Old Master.”

Tang Lianyue looked at Tang Lingqi: “But besides the Old Master, only the First Senior Brother and I have keys to the Tang Clan’s Treasure Pavilion. So you trapped us but dare not kill us?”

“The Treasure Pavilion houses all of the Tang Clan’s heaven-grade hidden weapons. Without them, the Tang Clan would struggle to maintain its current standing in the jianghu,” Tang Lingqi said flatly. “Though you’ve escaped now, Tang Linghuang remains in our hands. If you dare make any rash moves, we’ll kill him at any time.”

Tang Zhuankui waved his executioner’s blade: “Any time.”

Mu Yumo yawned: “How boring. The hypocrites among the orthodox sects are just like this, using others’ sense of justice and so-called righteousness to achieve their despicable goals. But those true gentlemen are also troublesome, as they’ll be constrained by such things.”

Tang Lianyue did indeed stop in his tracks: “What do you want?”

“Hand over the Treasure Pavilion key, and I guarantee you and Tang Linghuang can safely leave the Tang Clan,” Tang Lingqi replied.

Tang Lianyue pondered for a moment: “What about the Old Master?”

“He won’t be returning to the Tang Clan,” Tang Lingqi said flatly.

“What did you say?” Tang Lianyue’s tone remained calm, his emotions unreadable.

Tang Lingqi withdrew his hand into his sleeve: “Don’t worry, we can’t do anything to the Old Master. He just won’t be able to return to the Tang Clan, that’s all.”

“What nonsense!” Mu Yumo swept his sleeve, a short blade falling into his hand as he prepared to charge forward.

“Don’t rush,” Su Muyu stopped him.

Tang Lianyue suddenly threw back his head and laughed.