Outside a secluded mansion in the southern district of Nan'an City, Bai Hehuai and Su Muyu came to a halt. The white spider circled the gate several times before refusing to proceed further.
"There must be something inside that frightens it," Su Muyu said solemnly.
Bai Hehuai crouched down and extended a finger. The spider crawled onto her hand and disappeared into her sleeve.
Su Muyu chuckled. "You don’t seem afraid of such things."
"I’m a physician—why would I fear little bugs? Besides, I was born into the Wen family. My mother raised the Five Venoms—what haven’t I seen?" Bai Hehuai exhaled lightly. "Let’s go in."
"I’ll scout ahead." Su Muyu leaped over the courtyard wall and landed inside. The yard was pitch black, with twelve water vats placed ominously around. The silence was unsettling. He flicked his wrist, sending a strand of Puppet Silk back over the wall. Bai Hehuai grabbed it and vaulted into the courtyard after him.
She sniffed the air lightly. "Trouble."
No sooner had she spoken than eight of the vats shattered simultaneously. Eight bare-chested, burly men burst forth, filling the courtyard with a putrid stench.
Su Muyu shielded Bai Hehuai, gripping the hilt of his sword. He had left his corpse-poisoned oil-paper umbrella at the Medicine Manor, carrying only an iron sword this time. "Be careful," he warned.
"Mm." Bai Hehuai clenched several Silver Needles between her fingers, scanning the surroundings for any trace of Ye Ya’s presence—ready to strike decisively.
Before they could locate him, the eight Medicine Puppets charged. Knowing their weakness, Su Muyu didn’t hesitate—eight swift thrusts aimed at their chests. But the sharp clang of metal rang out eight times. Su Muyu immediately withdrew his sword, pulling Bai Hehuai back with him as they retreated to the gate. "They were prepared," he murmured.
Bai Hehuai narrowed her eyes. Moonlight glinted off golden flashes embedded in the Medicine Puppets’ chests. "They’ve implanted iron plates over their hearts!"
"Ordinary iron would have shattered under my strike. This material is unusual," Su Muyu said quietly.
Bai Hehuai gritted her teeth. "Damn it. That scheming Ye Ya!"
"Hahaha! Who do we have here? If it isn’t my dear junior aunt." A hoarse voice echoed through the darkness. "I thought Xin Baicao had taken on a new disciple to meddle in my affairs. But to think the junior aunt herself would grace me with her presence! Ye Ya pays his respects."
Bai Hehuai sneered. "So it is you, you wretch! Come out and face your death!"
"Ah, so the junior aunt intends to purge the family of its black sheep?" Ye Ya laughed loudly. "Pity—I was expelled from Medicine King Valley long ago. My deeds have nothing to do with it!"
"Whether they do or not, your crimes defy morality. You must be punished!" Bai Hehuai snapped.
"Hahaha! Since when did disciples of Medicine King Valley play the righteous hero? But tell me—how will you punish me? Your companion’s swordsmanship is indeed peerless, but what can he do against enemies who cannot die?" Ye Ya mocked.Bai Hehuai felt a growing sense of urgency. Initially, she had thought that knowing the weakness of the Medicine Puppets, combined with Su Muyu's unparalleled swordsmanship, would make it easy to destroy their hearts with a single strike. But unexpectedly, those Medicine Puppets were equipped with impenetrable heart-protecting mirrors, forcing Su Muyu to continuously evade with her in the courtyard.
"How long can you keep hiding like this? Why not just retreat? I'll be leaving Nan'an City at dawn tomorrow. Let's pretend we never saw each other—you never saw me, and I never saw you. How about it?" Ye Ya asked.
Bai Hehuai clenched her teeth, unwilling to agree, yet unable to think of another solution at the moment.
"Close your eyes," Su Muyu suddenly said calmly.
"Huh?" Bai Hehuai was taken aback.
"Close your eyes," Su Muyu repeated.
"Alright." Without questioning further, Bai Hehuai obeyed and shut her eyes.
Su Muyu sighed softly. A cold glint flashed as his sword flew out. In the span of three breaths, he struck thirty-two times, each slash precisely severing the limbs of a Medicine Puppet. After the thirty-second strike, the ground was littered with scattered arms and legs. The eight Medicine Puppets were left as limbless torsos, writhing aimlessly on the ground.
The scene was so horrifying and brutal that it was no different from the depictions of the Asura Hell in books. That was why Su Muyu had told Bai Hehuai not to open her eyes. Now, sheathing his sword, he spoke again in the same calm tone, "Don’t open your eyes until we’ve left the courtyard. Trust me, I can handle everything here."
"Alright." Bai Hehuai showed no curiosity, keeping her eyes tightly shut.
Even Ye Ya, hidden in the shadows, was utterly stunned. Though he didn’t know who the man accompanying Bai Hehuai was, he assumed he must be a disciple from some renowned sect, given his association with her. Yet, he never expected this man’s swordsmanship to be so ruthlessly terrifying. Moreover, faced with the gruesome scene in the courtyard, his expression remained completely unfazed, showing not the slightest ripple of emotion.
"Such a method of resolution is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Even if one could conceive it, few would have the nerve to carry it out. May I ask who you are?" Ye Ya asked solemnly.
"You shouldn’t have spoken." Su Muyu leaped forward, shattering the door with his sword and stepping into the room. He stood before a Buddha statue, then flicked his wrist, pressing the blade against the nape of a black-clad figure who had his back turned. "Now that the Medicine Puppets are no longer in the way, your voice has revealed your location."
The black-clad figure was naturally Ye Ya. With the sword at his neck, he remained unperturbed, merely smiling. "Such speed in movement, such mastery in swordsmanship—you are no ordinary man. A pity, though..."
Su Muyu’s heart lurched as he turned sharply. The remaining four water vats in the room suddenly shattered, and four middle-aged men in gray robes charged toward Bai Hehuai in the courtyard.
Sensing their approach, Bai Hehuai flung out all her Silver Needles and employed the Su Family’s Phantom Steps to dodge the incoming fists. Yet, she remembered Su Muyu’s words and refused to open her eyes, even as she found herself in grave danger.Su Muyu didn't hesitate and immediately retreated into the courtyard, landing beside Bai Hehuai. With a swing of his longsword, a burst of Sword Qi forced the four figures back. However, these weren't ordinary Medicine Puppets—they actually sidestepped to evade the Sword Qi.
Golden Body Medicine Men!
The thought flashed through Su Muyu's mind.
"Kill them!" Ye Ya commanded sharply.
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