“Young Master Tang, Senior Xue Xianzi suffers from poison. If there were some miraculous medicine that could cure all poisons, it might be able to cure his poison.” Someone in the crowd spoke gently. Tang Lici suddenly raised his head. The speaker had a charming face and wore peach-colored clothes – it was Yu Konghou. In a flash of lightning and thunder, he already understood why Yu Konghou wanted to send Xue Xianzi back to Haoyun Mountain. Besides exchanging for Zhong Chunji, this was exactly his carefully calculated scheme.

Seeing that Tang Lici did not answer, Yu Konghou smiled slightly. “Wanqiao Studio holds rare treasures from across the world and possesses countless gold and silver. Could it not buy a single poison-curing medicine? If Young Master Tang had thought in this direction, Senior Xue Xianzi’s poison wounds might have healed long ago.” Once he said this, Zhang Hemo and others privately thought it made sense. Could there really be no poison-curing miraculous medicine in Wanqiao Studio? Even without miraculous medicine, there should be thousand-year lingzhi mushrooms, ten-thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum, Tianshan snow lotus and such things, right? Had Tang Lici really forgotten this point and not taken them out to save someone? Or was it that he was reluctant to exchange such priceless treasures for Xue Xianzi’s life? Immediately, quite a few people looked at Tang Lici with disdain in their eyes.

Tang Lici lowered his eyelids slightly, his answering voice very calm. “This… I was indeed negligent in my haste and actually forgot this matter.” He helped Xue Xianzi slowly stand up. “But even if Wanqiao Studio sent medicine by flying horse now, I’m afraid it would be too late…”

Yu Konghou sighed gently. “Doesn’t Young Master Tang have Shaolin Great Recovery Pills? Such miraculous medicine treasures – why not take them out for Senior Xue Xianzi to try?”

A flash of killing intent suddenly passed through Tang Lici’s eyes, then he smiled faintly. He reached into his robes and took out a pale yellow medicinal pill from his silk handkerchief. “This is medicine for treating internal injuries. I’m afraid it would have no effect on poison wounds.”

“Young Master Tang, let’s try it first.” Master Wenxiu couldn’t help saying, “Look at how distorted Xue Xianzi’s expression is – you can tell he’s already in extreme pain. If we don’t act to save him, I’m afraid we’ll regret it for life!” Zhang Hemo and others nodded repeatedly. Xue Xianzi’s poison had already flared up and he was extremely frenzied. If they didn’t save him now, once they missed the opportunity, even if they saved him later, it would probably damage his mind.

Tang Lici’s gaze swept over everyone, then he casually handed the Great Recovery Pill to Yu Konghou. “You do it,” he said calmly.

Yu Konghou smiled charmingly. “You’re really… so reasonable.” He flipped his wrist and stuffed the Great Recovery Pill into Xue Xianzi’s mouth. Tang Lici watched coldly, seeing that he held medicine between his fingers – what he stuffed into Xue Xianzi’s mouth was not just one Great Recovery Pill, but also another red pill. However, the crowd behind them couldn’t see this.

After the pills entered his mouth, Tang Lici continued supporting Xue Xianzi, placing his hand on his back to help the medicine’s power take effect. His internal energy was abundant, and Xue Xianzi’s foundation was deep. The Great Recovery Pill’s medicinal power quickly dispersed, carrying another strange medicinal power to circulate throughout his body. After a moment, the painful expression on Xue Xianzi’s face gradually faded and slowly became peaceful.

Yu Konghou retreated into the crowd with dainty, feminine steps. Everyone saw that the Great Recovery Pill had actually worked and marveled in amazement. People like Zhang Hemo were already praising Miss Tao for being clever and considerate, thinking of others – the implication being that Tang Lici had life-saving medicine but didn’t know to use it, which was rather… that. Though Cheng Yunpao and others were puzzled, they had seen with their own eyes that the Great Recovery Pill saved someone and had to believe it. But to say Tang Lici had life-saving medicine yet deliberately didn’t save someone was absolutely impossible.

Xue Xianzi’s expression gradually stabilized, but he didn’t regain consciousness. Tang Lici helped him circulate his energy, then stopped after a while. “From the looks of it, he won’t wake up in the short term. Send him back to his room to rest.” Qi Xing beside him quickly picked up Xue Xianzi and sent him to his guest quarters.

Tang Lici turned around. The crowd before him looked at him with expressions of surprise and suspicion. Who exactly had been killing people everywhere the past few days? Tang Lici was so clever and possessed life-saving medicine – could he really not have thought of a way to save someone? In just a brief moment, with a few words, Yu Konghou had undermined all of Haoyun Mountain’s confidence in Tang Lici.

This was the greatest purpose of sending Xue Xianzi back. Tang Lici smiled slightly, looked back at everyone once, shook his sleeves and put his hands behind his back. Without adding a word of explanation, he slowly walked out of the circle formed by the crowd.

He neither said he was ashamed nor said farewell – he just left calmly.

Everyone stared blankly at his retreating figure, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Tang Lici walked toward his room, took up his brush and continued writing the character practice from before, his expression completely calm. What was meant to come would come eventually – whether it happened today or tomorrow, it was all the same.

The next day at dawn, before the morning light rose, a person drove a carriage slowly up Haoyun Mountain.

Halfway up, Cheng Yunpao blocked the way with his sword. All around was darkness – the stars had already hidden and dawn had not yet risen.

The person driving the carriage wore white Taoist robes with an immortal, otherworldly bearing, sporting three long whiskers – it was Qingxuzi. Usually he wore black and covered his face with black gauze, but now he suddenly revealed his face. Though most in the martial world wouldn’t recognize this face, he already had the bearing of a Taoist elder. Behind him in the carriage were two bound people – one was Liu Yan, the other was Fang Pingzhai.

Liu Yan stared at Fang Pingzhai without saying a word. His pressure points had been sealed, so even if he wanted to say something he couldn’t. But Fang Pingzhai was pretending to have his pressure points sealed. At this moment he sat leisurely in the carriage with a contented expression.

The two had been quiet for a long time when Fang Pingzhai sighed. “Master, I’m not used to such silence.” Liu Yan looked at him coolly, with neither anger nor intimacy in his eyes.

“Do you hate me?” Fang Pingzhai spoke to himself. “For that heartless, unrighteous blade that killed and burned.” A sharp gleam passed through Liu Yan’s eyes, but without hatred. He had seen how Fang Pingzhai controlled his strength – though that blade was a serious wound, Fang Pingzhai had already shown mercy. And Tang Lici’s people would come on time, so A’Shui should be saved.

“In the future I may do many things that wrong Master, wrong the common people, wrong the martial world. Fang Pingzhai apologizes in advance here.” Fang Pingzhai continued rambling. “Master, you once said I’m someone who likes to attract others’ attention. That’s right – I always believed that even if I didn’t belong to the Seven Flowers Cloud Travelers, even if I wasn’t a descendant of the Chai family, I could still distinguish myself. But now I understand what a person must pay to distinguish himself, to maintain the peak, to possess the world…”

Liu Yan hadn’t intended to listen, but hearing this, his heart stirred slightly. He had once been only one step away from possessing the world. He too had killed and burned without concern. What must one pay to possess the world… Even having paid what he had paid now, it still wasn’t enough. Lost in thought for a moment, he didn’t know what Fang Pingzhai had said, only hearing his final words: “…In any case, though I don’t seek forgiveness, I hope Master can understand my difficulties.”

Even understanding his difficulties, what of it? The person before him had murderous intent and was determined to walk a bloody path. Neither friendship nor conscience could stop him. Even understanding his difficulties, what good would it do? Even if one could forgive, could one approve?

Unable to approve of the bloody path Fang Pingzhai walked, forgiveness would only add pain to those with opposing positions. Liu Yan didn’t know whether A’Shui lived or died, and his heart was extremely cold. The early summer weather was slightly muggy, yet he felt cold from his heart to his limbs, his fingers numb as if frozen, without the slightest sensation.

Fang Pingzhai allying with the House of Pleasure – what was it for? He said he was a descendant of the Chai family. Could he be a descendant of Chai Rong… Then what he sought would be the imperial throne… Liu Yan had no interest whatsoever in so-called imperial struggles, but if Fang Pingzhai wanted to reach for the throne through the House of Pleasure’s path, he would definitely have to act against Tang Lici, and himself –

He was the perfect weapon against Tang Lici.

Thinking of this, he felt desolate. If he had starved himself to death a few days ago, A’Shui wouldn’t have been seriously injured, perhaps Fang Pingzhai would still be hesitating about his imperial path, and no one could threaten Tang Lici. A few days ago he thought not dying was correct, because not dying could comfort several people – several people he considered important: Yu Tuan’er, A’Shui, Tang Lici and so on. But originally, dying early would have been truly correct. A useless waste who would only drag others down.

What did it matter if Yu Tuan’er would be sad? She was still so young – after being sad for a while, she would forget. Liu Yan sat silently in the carriage. That little girl… he smiled slightly. It would be better if she wasn’t with him, right? An innocent, romantic little girl with a harmful waste – what good could come of it?

Qingxuzi drove the carriage up Haoyun Mountain. Before reaching halfway up, someone blocked the mountain path with a sword!

White mist drifted, mountain wind blew gently.

Cheng Yunpao planted his long sword in the ground, his expression indifferent as if he had been waiting here for a long time.

Qingxuzi reined in his horse and the carriage stopped. “This humble one’s Taoist name is Qingxuzi, a Wudang priest. I’ve come especially to pay respects to Young Master Tang. Please let me pass.”

Hearing someone blocking the road from inside the carriage, Liu Yan’s spirits lifted slightly. Fang Pingzhai glanced over and chuckled softly, “It’s Cheng Yunpao.”

“Spare me the false words.” Cheng Yunpao said coolly. “Qingxuzi, leave the people in the carriage and depart from this place. The Central Plains Sword Assembly doesn’t welcome evil guests from the House of Pleasure.”

Qingxuzi looked at him indifferently. “I am a Wudang elder. Do you want to fight me?”

“So what if you’re a Wudang elder?” Cheng Yunpao said coldly. “So what if I fight you?”

“This place is very close to Shenfeng Hall. Once we start fighting, people will quickly discover us.” Qingxuzi also said coolly. “When everyone arrives and sees you fighting me – I’m the Wudang elder bringing the traitor Liu Yan up the mountain, and you’re stopping me from going up – I’m afraid everyone will think the House of Pleasure spy is you, right?”

“Heh!” Cheng Yunpao laughed coldly. “Is that so? Without trying, how would we know who the spy really is?” He raised his sword, and with a “whoosh,” the steel blade reflected the sunlight blindingly. Qingxuzi leaped up, and only then came the sound of breaking air. Sword light flashed, and in the instant Cheng Yunpao drew his sword, he had already attacked with two moves – one thrust and one sweep. At this moment came a “clang” as the scabbard fell to the ground.

Qingxuzi used his palms to encompass heaven and earth, employing Wudang Taiji boxing to maneuver with Cheng Yunpao. His intention was not to win but to delay time. If he could draw out the people of Haoyun Mountain to watch the battle early, this round could not only force Tang Lici away but also drag Cheng Yunpao down with him – killing two birds with one stone.

With crashing sounds, Qingxuzi didn’t direct his fists and feet at Cheng Yunpao’s body, but aimed them all at large stones and trees. Taiji boxing used emptiness to transform reality – large stones shattered and trees snapped, creating countless sounds. Qingxuzi’s intention was obvious. Cheng Yunpao’s heart filled with anger. Today he absolutely could not let these three people up the mountain. Once the three went up the mountain and framed Tang Lici, with Miss Hong not yet returned, Yu Konghou would seize control of Haoyun Mountain! He was determined to fight quickly, his long sword howling fiercely, every move a killing stroke.

A white shadow flashed as someone lightly inserted himself into the battle between the two. Cheng Yunpao’s long sword swept over, Qingxuzi’s palm came striking, but this person avoided both in just a flash, then caught the palm with his left hand and deflected the sword with his right. With a crisp “clang,” Cheng Yunpao was forced back three steps while Qingxuzi suddenly retreated. “Tang Lici!”

The newcomer wore white clothes and cloud shoes with slightly flowing gray hair – it was Tang Lici. He swept his sleeve, his expression calm. “Go back!”

Cheng Yunpao’s hair bristled with anger. “Today I absolutely cannot let this person up the mountain! Liu Yan is in the carriage!”

Tang Lici nodded. “I know.”

Cheng Yunpao was furious. “Since you know, there are still two days left. If you let Liu Yan up the mountain now, you won’t be able to hold out -“

Tang Lici smiled slightly. “Leave this to me. You go back.”

Cheng Yunpao was stunned. “You’ll handle it?”

Tang Lici said gently, “Let me handle it. I’ll certainly do better than you. Go back.”

Cheng Yunpao paused slightly. “You and I could join forces…”

“Go back! In a little while, people will come.” Tang Lici smiled at Qingxuzi. “You can’t join forces with me to kill a Wudang elder, and I don’t need your assistance.”

Cheng Yunpao glared at Qingxuzi. Unwilling to leave, he leaped toward the carriage and lifted the door curtain. Something flew out from inside, shooting rapidly at his chest! Cheng Yunpao swung his sword to knock down the hidden weapon – it was a snow-white flying blade. Inside the carriage, someone smiled broadly – it was Fang Pingzhai.

Seeing that the masses of Haoyun Mountain would be alarmed and that Fang Pingzhai was no ordinary opponent who couldn’t be dealt with in a moment, Cheng Yunpao had no choice but to withdraw his sword and leave.

Fang Pingzhai descended from the carriage and leaned against the door, watching Tang Lici. He sighed, “Young Master Tang, you’ve been well since we parted.”

Tang Lici faced Qingxuzi and Fang Pingzhai alone, his face smiling. “Thanks to your blessing.”

Fang Pingzhai held four petal-like flying blades between his fingers. “Coming down the mountain alone – do you intend to kill me and Qingxuzi, or do you want to kill Liu Yan?”

Tang Lici’s red lips curved slightly, seeming pleased yet not pleased, seeming to smile yet not smile. “Perhaps – I’ll kill whoever I see, or perhaps – I won’t kill anyone and have come to surrender?”

Fang Pingzhai laughed heartily. “Young Master Tang jests.”

Qingxuzi was fully on guard. He had already witnessed Tang Lici’s skill at killing while chatting and laughing, and absolutely could not let down his guard against this person for even a moment.