Tang Lingluo was startled and looked down at his right hand. A tiny wound had appeared on his palm, as if pricked by a needle, with a single drop of black-purple blood already congealing. He said grimly, "The Wen Family's Blood Bead."
Bai Hehuai raised her hand lightly, three silver needles held between her fingers. She smiled, "Though I studied under Medicine King Valley, I was born in the Wen Family. The Tang Sect's poison will always be second."
"Damn it," Tang Lingluo cursed under his breath. He quickly sealed three major acupoints on his arm before sitting cross-legged on the ground to circulate his qi and heal.
"In poison, the Tang Sect has always been one step behind the Wen Family. Only in hidden weapons is there no rival—only the Tang Sect," a voice tinged with arrogance rang out. Everyone looked up to see a tall, lean middle-aged man landing beside Tang Lingluo.
Tang Lingluo exhaled in relief. "You're here."
"I am," the newcomer replied. With a flick of his sleeve, three golden summons flew toward Bai Hehuai.
"King of Hell Summons!" Bai Hehuai threw three silver needles, attempting to intercept them, but the golden summons shattered the needles effortlessly and continued their deadly trajectory.
"Watch out!" Su Muyu had already rushed back, sword in hand, positioning himself in front of Bai Hehuai. With a fierce swing, he knocked the three King of Hell Summons to the ground, though their momentum remained unchecked, gouging three deep pits into the floor.
"Impressive swordsmanship," the newcomer remarked indifferently.
"He is the head of the Dark River Su Family, Su Muyu," Tang Lingkui reminded.
The newcomer stroked his three wisps of beard. "Umbrella Ghost."
Su Muyu pondered briefly before deducing the man's identity. "Tang Lingxi, Master of the Tang Clan Inner Chamber."
"Indeed," Tang Lingxi replied, extending a hand holding a small box, its opening aimed directly at Su Muyu.
"I've seen this hidden weapon before," Su Muyu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Storm of Pear Blossom Needles."
"Then you should also know that when the box of Storm of Pear Blossom Needles is pointed at you, you're already dead," Tang Lingxi said coolly.
"Yet I've seen this box once before and didn't die," Su Muyu raised his sword horizontally. "Perhaps your speed in pressing it isn't faster than my draw."
Tang Lingxi's lips curled slightly. "Is the Su Family head truly so arrogant?"
"You can test it," Su Muyu replied calmly.
"Then let's test it!" Without hesitation, Tang Lingxi pressed the iron box. The lid opened, and a swarm of silver needles shot forth like locusts. In the same instant, Su Muyu shoved Bai Hehuai aside, drew his sword, and flashed to Tang Lingxi's side.
Evading the dreaded Storm of Pear Blossom Needles turned out to be far simpler than expected.
Su Muyu whipped his head around—because the needles had never been aimed at him in the first place!
"Tang Lingyue!" Mu Yumo cried out in alarm.
Tang Lingxi dodged Su Muyu's hasty strike and glanced toward Tang Lingyue with a cold smile. Though killing Tang Lingyue wasn't their original intent, circumstances had forced their hand. If Tang Lingyue were to awaken now, the situation would become far more dire. In that case—kill him!
Yet the time Bai Hehuai had mentioned—"three incense sticks' worth"—was still far from being reached.
The Storm of Pear Blossom Needles halted abruptly, mere millimeters from Tang Lingyue.Tang Lingxi narrowed his eyes slightly, while Bai Hehuai was also taken aback. Su Muyu retreated to her side with his sword drawn: "Miracle Healer..."
"Nothing to do with me. An ordinary person would need at least three incense sticks' worth of time to recover under such extreme cold conditions," Bai Hehuai replied.
"I understand," Su Muyu smiled faintly.
"Understand what?" Bai Hehuai was puzzled.
Su Muyu raised his head slightly: "But he is Tang Lingyue."
"Yes, but I am Tang Lingyue." From that frost-covered face, a pair of eyes suddenly opened, and in an instant, all the frost receded. Tang Lingyue shook his body, causing all the Silver Needles to shatter and fall to the ground. He took a few steps forward and turned to look at Su Muyu beside him.
"You're awake," Su Muyu said calmly.
"I never would have thought that it would be you all who came to rescue me here," Tang Lingyue said, lifting his arm somewhat stiffly as the last remnants of cold slowly dissipated.
"Didn't expect it?" Mu Yumo also retreated back at this moment. "Shouldn't you have thought of me the moment you were ambushed?"
Tang Lingyue looked startled: "It was you?"
"Me? Who am I?" Mu Yumo laughed.
"Mu Yumo," Tang Lingyue replied.
Mu Yumo's expression froze. She glanced at Bai Hehuai, who shrugged: "A man who actually answers such a question directly—truly astonishing."
Mu Yumo sighed softly: "Well, he is Tang Lingyue, after all."
Su Muyu sheathed his sword: "I'm a bit tired. Brother Lingyue, can you handle the rest alone?"
Tang Lingyue nodded, then turned to the others: "These people, by seniority, are my martial brothers, even my uncles. Yet they conspired to frame me. I want to know why."
Tang Lingxi raised his head slightly: "Because you support Tang Linghuang, and we do not wish for Tang Linghuang to become the future Patriarch."
Tang Lingyue looked at Tang Lingxi: "But the keys to the Tang Sect's Treasure Pavilion are held only by the Patriarch, me, and the eldest martial brother. So you trapped us but didn't dare kill us?"
"The Treasure Pavilion holds all of the Tang Sect's Heaven-grade hidden weapons. Without them, the Tang Sect would struggle to maintain its current standing in the martial world," Tang Lingxi said indifferently. "But though you've escaped, Tang Linghuang is still in our hands. If you make any reckless moves, we can kill him at any time."
Tang Zhanqiu brandished his Chief Slayer Blade: "At any time."
Mu Yumo yawned: "How dull. Hypocrites among the righteous sects are always like this—using others' sense of justice and so-called morality to achieve their own despicable goals. But those who are truly righteous are just as annoying, always constrained by such things."
Yet Tang Lingyue indeed halted his steps: "What do you want?"
"Hand over the keys to the Treasure Pavilion, and I guarantee you and Tang Linghuang will leave the Tang Sect safely," Tang Lingxi replied.
Tang Lingyue pondered for a moment: "What about the Patriarch?"
"He will not return to the Tang Sect," Tang Lingxi said coolly.
"What did you say?" Tang Lingyue's tone remained calm, betraying no emotion.
Tang Lingxi tucked his hands into his sleeves: "Don't worry, we can't do anything to the Patriarch. It's just that he won't return to the Tang Sect—nothing more.""All nonsense!" Mu Yumo flicked her sleeve, a short blade falling into her hand as she prepared to charge forward.
"Don't be hasty." Su Muyu stopped her.
Tang Lingyue suddenly threw his head back and laughed.
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