Immortalis

Tong Xue Thirteen

"This is Colorless Powder."

Yang Wujian's next words instantly drained the color from the faces of both Fangqiong Sword and Green Rain Sword.

"What... Colorless Powder should have remained stored in the Medicine Pavilion and Qingyu Pavilion all along."

"Since I've changed into this outfit anyway, I might as well take a stroll through the Medicine Pavilion."

Yang Wujian released the waiter who was still retching violently, then took out a black hood and blew off the gray stone powder dust from it. Immediately, murmurs of surprise spread through the crowd. Shen Qingshi gracefully descended from the roof to stand before her, calmly remarking, "Your qinggong is quite impressive."

"Yours isn't bad either."

Yang Wujian looked at the astonished crowd and clasped her hands in apology. "My apologies to everyone for putting on this farce. However, thanks to your cooperation, we have now completely unraveled the mystery of the four sword attendants who disappeared from Boundless Sword Manor fifteen years ago."

"So, the black-clad figure from earlier was Miss Yang?"

Shen Mian frowned. "Why did you two stage this act? And do you even know what Colorless Powder is? It's..."

"It's poison, of course I know. Moreover, I suspect it's incurable—there's no antidote."

Yang Wujian smiled as she looked at Shen Mian and said, "This medicine drains one's vital energy and blood. If the drug penetrates deep into the internal organs, causing blocked blood vessels, the victim's qi will inevitably weaken. Once Pestilence Qi takes possession, the person will die from high fever within just a few days."

Zhou Huai now stepped forward from the crowd with Yu Qiao and said, "We inquired at the Medicine Furnace that day. This medicine was originally created by Green Rain Sword fifteen years ago to treat wounded soldiers. Because it drains vital energy and blood, taking it would make suffering soldiers fall into deep sleep for several days... This was always a risky method, because if the dosage wasn't properly controlled, already weakened soldiers might never wake up again. I believe that's why Colorless Powder was sealed away for so many years?"

Shen Mian, anxious to treat the waiter, urgently said, "The gray stone powder among the ingredients came from an unknown source. My senior brother initially didn't know its full effects, only that it could anesthetize the wounded and relieve pain... We only learned later that this medicine would completely drain a person's vital energy and blood. So after that, we only used it on terminally wounded patients, solely to ease their suffering before death."

After speaking, he rushed forward to check the waiter's pulse, only to find the man's internal energy completely disordered, breathing rapid, and the person dizzy and disoriented—clear symptoms of Colorless Powder overdose.

"You... investigating a case is one thing, but why involve an innocent person!"

Shen Mian couldn't contain his anger.

Knowing the medicine had no cure, he was about to take the man inside to administer some qi and blood tonic medicine when Shen Qingshi suddenly pressed a hand on the waiter's shoulder.

He said coldly, "Won't you come out and say something? The reason we staged this act was to see who you would instinctively look toward when you thought someone was trying to steal evidence. Now that we've identified your accomplice, don't you want to save him? We have a way to cure him, but only if you step forward and tell the truth."

This time, whispers spread through the crowd. Shen Mian frowned, "What are you talking about? Colorless Powder has no cure..."

"We can perform Blood Washing, Elder Shen. Coincidentally, I happen to have Blood Cleansing Pills right here."Yang Wujian cut him off, grinning. "Have you heard of this, Elder? There's a Blood Cleansing Pill that can purge toxins from the blood when ingested, but it must be taken before the poison infiltrates the Five Viscera and Six Bowels. Otherwise, not even the Great Luo Immortals could save you."

Shen Mian widened his eyes. "Blood Cleansing Pill? Such a rare medicine—how did you…"

"What truth do you want to know?"

At that moment, a voice from nearby silenced the crowd.

Dong Zhu gazed at them with weary calm as he stepped forward. "Since things have come to this, ask whatever you wish. I will hold nothing back and speak without reservation… There's no need to take lives."

"Senior Brother?"

Not only Fangqiong Sword but the other members of the Immeasurable Seven Swords rarely showed such astonishment.

Dong Zhu said indifferently, "You young friends have long been suspicious of me, haven't you? Since that's the case, let's take this opportunity to be frank. Voice your doubts, and we can confront them face to face."

Upon hearing this, the onlookers exchanged glances, while the waiter lying on the ground could only shake his head desperately, his voiceless throat emitting a few inhuman, hoarse growls.

Yang Wujian smiled. "Elder Dong, don't blame us. After all, with the reputation of the Immeasurable Seven Swords, getting you to speak the truth couldn't have been easy. We resorted to this desperate measure out of necessity."

"Enough nonsense! You witch, what evil scheme drives you to use such despicable tricks to frame Green Rain Sword? And you've even bewitched the young master of White Rainbow Tower—are you trying to plunge the martial world into chaos?"

Someone from the crowd stepped forward before Boundless Sword Manor could react, their words exactly as anticipated. Yang Wujian glanced over and, seeing it was someone from an unknown sect, laughed.

"Esteemed hero, I know you haven't had much success these years, but don't be so eager to claim kinship with White Rainbow Tower and Boundless Sword Manor. You might regret it soon enough."

"You…"

The man tried to argue further, but Shen Qingshi spoke first, his voice icy cold.

"Fifteen years ago, the disappearance of the four sword attendants was not the doing of Longevity Palace."

His words stirred up a wave of murmurs, yet Shen Qingshi's expression remained unchanged.

"The cause of the sword attendants' disappearance was Yu Dongxue of the Huai River Yu Clan, who was training on the mountain fifteen years ago. He died suddenly, and his remains were cremated. But from the onset of his illness to his sudden death, it took only three days. After death, his limbs stiffened, and his skin hardened like jade, neither decaying nor rotting… This wasn't an ordinary plague but symptoms of fatal overdose of Colorless Powder."

Having said this, Shen Qingshi turned to Shen Mian, whose face had turned grim. "I believe what I've said is correct, isn't it?"

"…"

Shen Mian opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

Back then, he had indeed heard rumors of a possible plague in the back mountains, but the symptoms of Colorless Powder overdose were identical to those of insect plague. Prejudiced by assumption, he had never considered the possibility of Colorless Powder.

Yang Wujian added, "That day, chaos reigned both on and off the mountain. Green Rain Sword was a disciple highly regarded by the old manor lord, so many miscellaneous tasks on the mountain ultimately fell to him. I suspect that when Elder Dong went to examine Yu Dongxue's corpse, he didn't need to consult any ancient texts to know the man was poisoned by Colorless Powder. Because he had personally investigated those strange tales and anecdotes, he knew better than anyone that insect plague hadn't been seen for years—it was utterly impossible for it to suddenly erupt on the mountain."She paused, then smiled again. "Back then on this mountain, very few people knew the symptoms of Colorless Powder poisoning. Aside from Green Rain Sword, only Fangqiong Sword who practiced medical arts had some understanding. To avoid complications, Elder Dong used an epidemic as pretext to burn the bodies first. Moreover, to eliminate any potential evidence at the scene, he notified the medical cultivators and had everyone relocated to South Mountain."

"What evidence?"

Shen Mian was already somewhat confused by what he was hearing.

Back then, after they discovered the true effects of Colorless Powder, the medicine was rarely used. Some was stored in his medicine pavilion, while the rest was kept in Qingyu Pavilion.

Shen Qingshi glanced at him. "Naturally, evidence of murder. Aside from the medicine pavilion, the remaining Colorless Powder should have been stored in Qingyu Pavilion. In that case, Yu Dongxue couldn't have ingested an excessive amount of Colorless Powder for no reason... Someone who had access to this medicine deliberately poisoned him."

These words caused an uproar among the crowd. Shen Mian was particularly horrified. "Impossible! Why would Senior Brother do such a thing when he had no grudge against Hero Yu?"

"Who said it was Green Rain Sword?"

Yang Wujian chuckled. "Back then on this mountain, there was more than one person surnamed Dong besides Elder Dong Zhu, right? I imagine there were others who could freely enter and leave Qingyu Pavilion, even see those secret treasures stored within."

Shen Mian murmured, "Could it be..."

Zhou Huai nodded. "Exactly. Elder Dong Zhu's wife passed away early. He promised her he would take good care of their only son, Dong Lu. Because of this, Dong Lu not only grew up on the mountain but was also deeply doted on. Forget Qingyu Pavilion—he could do almost anything he wanted on this mountain. After all, even when he did something inappropriate, the Sword-Wielding Disciples and managing disciples would turn a blind eye."

As Dong Zhu's expression grew increasingly somber, the previously indignant crowd gradually fell silent.

For a moment, only Yang Wujian's cheerful voice could be heard in the area.

"Of course, Elder knew that neither he nor his junior brother Fangqiong Sword would poison Yu Dongxue without reason, since they held no grudge against him. Plus, Elder Dong had likely heard some unsavory rumors about his son before. So he must have immediately suspected... Afterwards, he checked the quantity of Colorless Powder in the pavilion and quickly confirmed it was Dong Lu's doing. That's why he was so anxious to burn the bodies and evacuate everyone from the area. This way, even if Dong Lu left footprints at the scene, they would naturally disappear after some time."

Shen Mian had gradually recovered from his shock. "But Dong Lu died a few days later..."

Shen Qingshi, holding his sword, looked at the silent Dong Zhu. "What happened next is our speculation. Fifteen years have passed, and almost everyone connected to this incident has died... Not just those four sword attendants, but also Lu Wenxiu who went mad and was sent down the mountain after the sword attendants disappeared, along with his wife Yu Niangzi. Among them, one was the true culprit who poisoned Yu Dongxue, while the other was Yu Dongxue's younger sister Yu Xiahe. After learning that Lu Wenxiu had poisoned Yu Dongxue, Yu Xiahe changed her appearance, infiltrated the Yu family, and killed all seven members of their household."

"Wait, didn't you just say Dong Lu poisoned Yu Dongxue?"

Someone in the crowd immediately shouted in protest.Yang Wujian sighed, "Don't rush. Let's start with Dong Lu. Imagine, being so doted on in the mountains, how would his temperament develop? Even if he came from a noble family, without proper discipline, he would inevitably become rotten—and Dong Lu was exactly that. Relying on the backing of the Green Rain Sword, he acted arrogantly and tyrannically. Fifteen years ago, he targeted Lu Wenxiu, who was physically and mentally weak, and constantly bullied him. When Lu Wenxiu hid in the back mountains, he encountered Yu Dongxue, who was cultivating there in seclusion... Who would have thought? Yu Dongxue, who had a notorious reputation in the martial world and was virtually unknown, accomplished something none of the esteemed disciples on the mountain could—he stood up and supported Lu Wenxiu."

Hearing this, Shen Qingshi silently glanced at Yang Wujian from behind and said, "In a letter to his sister, Yu Dongxue mentioned that he met a young man on the mountain who was always being bullied—that was Lu Wenxiu. Before the incident, Dong Lu injured Lu Wenxiu's arm in a sword competition. Lu Wenxiu then went to the back mountains to complain to Yu Dongxue. Worried the matter would escalate, Dong Lu and three sword-bearing attendants followed him... As you can imagine, Yu Dongxue wasn't from the Boundless Sword Manor, so he didn't back down from Dong Lu like others in the manor would. That night, Yu Dongxue must have stood up for Lu Wenxiu, and this became the trigger for Dong Lu to steal the Colorless Powder to poison Yu Dongxue."

At this point, Shen Mian couldn't hide his shock.

"You're saying Dong Lu stole his senior brother's Colorless Powder and then forced Lu Wenxiu to poison Yu Dongxue?"

Yang Wujian's smile deepened. "Naturally. Dong Lu usually didn't even fold his blankets, leaving such chores to his attendants—why would he dirty his own hands with this? Disciples who lived with them said that when Lu Wenxiu was brought back from the back mountains that night, he seemed extremely frightened. I believe it was then that Dong Lu threatened him to target Yu Dongxue."

"If Lu Wenxiu administered the poison, his descent into madness makes sense. But why did Dong Lu and the others disappear?"

Shen Mian had a vague sense of foreboding but hadn't yet pieced it together when the waiter on the ground, seemingly in extreme discomfort, began convulsing. Yang Wujian stepped on his chest, and he immediately foamed at the mouth.

"Miss Yang, you..."

Just as Shen Mian was about to intervene, Dong Zhu sighed softly from nearby and stepped forward.

"Miss Yang, stop. At this point, I won't evade any longer."

Dong Zhu smiled bitterly. "Indeed, the great hero Yu died because of my son. Young friends, you are very sharp—your suspicions are not wrong. Fifteen years ago, it wasn't the Longevity Palace who killed the sword attendants... it was me. To protect the sect's reputation and the name of the Green Rain Sword, I had no choice but to uphold justice by eliminating my own kin."