The ruins of the Sword Hall lay in shambles, with black smoke and dust still rising incessantly. Fierce flames burned everywhere amidst the bloodstained ground, resembling a scene from purgatory. Xue Xianzi stood atop a collapsed eave, muttering, "Looking for dead people is such a hassle. But if I don’t, will those two turn into ghosts here? If they haunt me later for not saving them, that’d be a real nuisance." He snapped off a tree branch and began poking around the debris, calling out in a drawn-out voice, "Little Chi Yun—Little Chi Yun—"
"Honestly, if you hadn’t been too busy sleeping to lend a hand, things wouldn’t have gotten so out of control," Tang Lici arrived swiftly. "Was it like this when you got here?" Xue Xianzi replied, "I wasn’t much faster than you. Once the explosives went off, this was the result. If those two lads were really inside, well—these scattered pieces on the ground might just be them." Tang Lici frowned slightly, pressing a hand to his abdomen, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Enough. Let’s just search. I refuse to believe Chi Yun and Shen Langhun would die so easily."
"Haha, if those two are dead, that’s two fewer troublemakers in the world. We should be celebrating," Xue Xianzi chuckled. "And if you died too, I’d set off firecrackers." Tang Lici smiled faintly. "Good deeds fade in a hundred years, but infamy lasts millennia. Villains never die easily." Xue Xianzi eyed his expression sideways. "You feeling unwell?" Tang Lici sighed. "Mm... Let’s just keep searching."
The two combed through the ruins. Earlier, the sounds of battle had echoed from the Yu Family Sword Manor, with people fighting desperately over those bottles of pills. But soon, perhaps the outcome had been decided—Hong Guniang and the others had already withdrawn, leaving the surroundings eerily silent. Night fell, making the day’s events seem like a nightmare.
"What are you two doing here?" a cold voice suddenly rang out from above. "Everyone’s dead. Why aren’t you leaving yet?"
Xue Xianzi jerked his head up to see Chi Yun perched on a distant treetop, watching them coolly. "Hey! We were worried about you, you ungrateful little brats! What happened in the Sword Hall just now? Are you two alright?" Tang Lici stood up, smiling at Chi Yun, who waved from the tree. "Only third-rate fools get caught in explosions, and only ninth-rate idiots search for people in ruins. That guy Shen left ages ago. I stayed out of kindness to wait for you, or I’d have been long gone too."
"What about Yu Qifeng?" Tang Lici asked, holding the bag of medicine bottles with a smile. "Did you win?"
Chi Yun replied coldly, "The match was undecided—and now it never will be."
"He’s dead?" Xue Xianzi grinned. "Did you kill him, or was it the explosion?"
"How should I know?" Chi Yun snapped impatiently. "Shen hit him with a needle—his needles are poisoned. Who knows if he died from the poison or the blast?"
Xue Xianzi hummed. "Shen Langhun’s Shadow Shooting Needle? With Yu Qifeng’s skills, how could he be ambushed so easily?""Heh, Old Man Yu's 'West Wind Cleaving Wildfire' is truly formidable. Before his sword even left its sheath, the Sword Qi had already shattered the roof beam. That Shen fellow fell from above, startling him, and I seized the chance to deliver the final strike. But Puzhu Heshang recognized Shen Langhun and slashed at him with his sword, while Gu Xitan intervened, throwing everything into chaos. At the same time, Xiao Qilan inexplicably unleashed two Whirlwind Swords at Old Man Yu, and that Shen guy had premeditatedly shot poisoned needles at the same moment. With my strike added to the mix, Old Man Yu was struck down under the three-pronged assault," Chi Yun said coldly. "The others were fighting in utter confusion—who knows what they were even battling over—so I left."
"Little Chi Yun, you truly understand my heart," Xue Xianzi praised. "Shen Langhun was still being hunted down in the room, and you just left?"
"If he dies that easily, how could he be worth fifty thousand taels of gold? Do you think fifty thousand taels is that easy to earn?" Chi Yun rolled his eyes. "I searched every corner of Old Man Yu's house but couldn't find any trace of my woman. Old ghost, where exactly did you see Bai Suche's carriage?"
"Maybe she left with the others?" Xue Xianzi mused. "Your woman is too tall, her waist too thin, her face too long, her chest too small, the distance between her eyes and brows too wide, the space between her mouth and nose too long, her ears too big, her shoulders too sloped, and her teeth not white enough..." He continued rambling, "Not like that Hong Guniang in the attic—ah, that one was like an orchid in fragrance, a chrysanthemum in grace, utterly flawless..."
"You old lecher!" Chi Yun trembled with rage, grinding his teeth. "How—do—you—know—her—so—well?"
Tang Lici smiled faintly. "That is Xue Lang's peculiar charm, not to be shared with outsiders." He patted Chi Yun's shoulder. "Let's go. As long as you're unharmed, the pills are secured, the Yu Family Sword Manor is dismantled, and Yu Qifeng is dead—though not everything went perfectly, today's mission can still be counted a success." Chi Yun, still pointing at Xue Xianzi, ignored Tang Lici's words. "Old lecher, if you don’t explain yourself clearly today, I swear I won’t let you off!"
Xue Xianzi let out an exaggerated sigh and laughed. "Life's greatest joys are the simplest—admiring flowers, the moon, and beautiful women. Little Chi Yun, that ungrateful woman isn’t worth it. Next time, I’ll introduce you to some truly virtuous ladies—ones who won’t interfere with your adventures, make friends, travel the land, or indulge in romance, and who’ll certainly never run away." With that, he vanished like a streak of white light into the distance.
Chi Yun flew into a rage, cursing loudly. "Who said I’m infatuated with that woman? But as long as she’s mine, you can’t lay a finger on her! Whether to kill or beat her is my business, you old lecher! Next time we meet, I’ll greet you with the Moon Crossing Ring!" Tang Lici patted his shoulder again, soothingly. "Alright, alright. Where did Shen Langhun go?""He went back to the inn at Cliff Well Village." Chi Yun glanced sideways at the bundle Tang Lici was carrying and suddenly let out a derisive laugh. "He said he's going to burn down that dilapidated temple in Cliff Well Village tonight." Tang Lici raised the corner of his eye slightly, his expression ambiguous. "Why?" Chi Yun laughed heartily, "Because monks are the most detestable things in the world!" Tang Lici smiled, "Then let him burn it. After it's done, we'll just give the abbot fifty taels of gold to rebuild it." Chi Yun clicked his tongue, "You're really strange. Sometimes you kill without batting an eye, and other times you're an incorrigible do-gooder." Tang Lici said gently, "We haven't seen Feng Feng all day. I wonder how he's doing. Let's hurry back."
The two returned to the Well Cloud Inn in Cliff Well Village. As expected, Shen Langhun was already waiting in the room. His ordinary face was as unremarkable as ever, showing no trace of the thrilling battle he had just experienced. Two small dishes were placed on the table, and he was drinking alone. Tang Lici flicked his sleeve slightly and sat down beside him. "Brother Shen is in good spirits."
Shen Langhun replied indifferently, "You flatter me." He neither mentioned how he had escaped from Puzhu Shangshi's sword nor where he had been during the explosion, as if nothing had happened. Chi Yun rushed into the room, where Feng Feng was crawling on the bed. Seeing him enter, Feng Feng opened his round eyes wide, pouted, and burst into loud cries. Having not been fed for most of the day, he was starving. Chi Yun picked him up, and Feng Feng immediately bit down on his finger, his tearful eyes glistening like peach blossoms soaked in water. "Waaah... waaah..." Chi Yun winced in pain but stifled a groan. He was used to being bitten by this little one—despite having no teeth, Feng Feng would bite anything. Truly a dog by nature.
In the room, Tang Lici and Shen Langhun sat drinking across from each other. Shen Langhun sipped his wine calmly, his mind at ease, while the pain in Tang Lici's brow grew increasingly evident. After sitting in silence for a while, Shen Langhun suddenly asked, "Is this an old injury?" Tang Lici closed his eyes and nodded. Shen Langhun said, "May I take a look?" Tang Lici smiled and extended his hand. Shen Langhun placed three fingers on his pulse, paused briefly, then frowned. Tang Lici asked softly, "Well?" Shen Langhun replied, "An unusual pulse. Hard to decipher."
Meanwhile, Chi Yun had fed Feng Feng some sugar water and walked out, collapsing lazily into a chair. "Don't mind him. Nine times out of ten, Tang here is just messing with you." Shen Langhun took a sip of wine. "In a duel between masters, carrying an injury is a fatal weakness. Since you've done what you did today, you must have a plan. Don't you intend to heal your wounds?""Any plans?" Tang Lici smiled. "What plans?" Shen Langhun replied indifferently, "Plans to be killed. In the martial world, some claim to follow the dark path, others the righteous path, but in the end, it's all about killing or being killed. Since you've accomplished such grand deeds—storming the Yu Family Sword Manor, driving Yu Qifeng to his death, and seizing the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill—you should be prepared for revenge, theft, frame-ups, slander, or even being silenced." Tang Lici nodded, "Brother Shen speaks wisely." His earnest tone caught Shen Langhun off guard, leaving him momentarily speechless. Chi Yun, lounging nearby, remarked lazily, "Shen, you should worry about yourself. After a year following this Tang Lici, your fifty thousand taels of gold seem precarious—likely to turn into funeral expenses for your sect leader." Shen Langhun closed his eyes without responding. Tang Lici said gently, "Chi Yun, fetch a cup of cold water." Chi Yun rose sluggishly, "What for?"
Tang Lici retrieved two bottles of the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill from the seized bundle, pouring one pill from each. Chi Yun brought the cold water, and Tang Lici placed one pill into the water and the other into his wine cup. Moments later, the pill in the wine dissolved completely, while the one in the water only partially melted. Tang Lici swirled the cup, and the pill finally dissolved. Shen Langhun opened his eyes, exchanging a puzzled glance with Chi Yun—was this man performing tricks?
Indeed... Tang Lici stared intently at the wine cup where the pill had dissolved, then suddenly raised it and took a small sip. Chi Yun and Shen Langhun reacted instantly, one grabbing his arm and the other striking his shoulder, but both missed as Tang Lici swallowed the wine-laced pill. Chi Yun shouted angrily, "What are you doing?" Shen Langhun paled—if the pill was poisonous, wouldn’t this be a living hell? Tang Lici set the cup down, licking his lips lightly. "Just as I thought."
"Who? Why did you drink that?" Chi Yun gripped his wrist. "Are you trying to die?" Tang Lici smiled faintly. "I was the one who told you about this pill’s properties. Haven’t you ever wondered—why do I know so much about it?" Chi Yun froze. "You..." Shen Langhun’s eyes flashed with sudden realization. "Could it be—" Tang Lici continued, "I first took this pill at eleven. By thirteen, I was sick of it." Chi Yun exclaimed, "At thirteen? Damn it, A-Li, where did you grow up? How could such a cursed pill exist?" Shen Langhun’s gaze sharpened—Tang Lici’s origins were shrouded in mystery. How could he have taken the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill and survived? Had he been consuming it all along?"This drug makes life unbearable when it takes effect, but if your will is strong enough and you're ruthless enough with yourself, enduring that period can leave you a decent person in three to five years," said Tang Lici. "However, most people can't bear the pain and would rather kill themselves. I..." He paused and sighed. "At eleven, I took it for fun. By thirteen, the poison had sunk deep, and breaking free from its grip was no easy task. But back then, I had three close friends, one of whom excelled in detoxification. He helped me cleanse the poison, and within a year, I was no longer under the drug's control." Tang Lici's tone gradually shifted from gentle to indifferent, like a pearl slowly turning to ashes. "We were very close. He was a good man. In my youth, I ran wild, committing countless despicable acts that left my loved ones disillusioned—yet he never gave up on me... He said: 'Your need for control is too strong, indiscriminate between friend and foe. You must change, become a good man.' But in the end, I still let him down. Tang Lici was born with a cruel heart and brutal methods. Three years ago, I made Fang Zhou practice the Skill Exchange Great Art, letting him die so I could gain peerless martial arts. That incident shattered his faith in me. He left in fury, hating me to the bone..."
Chi Yun snorted. "Those who are meant to die will die. Even if you hadn't made him practice the Skill Exchange Great Art, would he have lived forever?"
Shen Langhun said coolly, "If it were your brother on his deathbed, could you truly harden your heart enough to make him practice a fatal technique, profiting from a dying man?"
Chi Yun closed his eyes, thought for a long moment, then sighed. "I might consider it, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t do it. Even though I’m from the underworld, we have our own code of honor. I wouldn’t cross that line."
Shen Langhun said, "Neither would I."
Chi Yun let out a mocking laugh. "That just highlights how uniquely shrewd and ruthless Young Master Tang is. Though, I wouldn’t call it a sin worthy of divine retribution."
Tang Lici smiled. "I appreciate the praise."
Shen Langhun took another sip of wine, his expression calm. "This friend who hates you to the bone—he knows how to cure the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill’s poison. You’re searching for him, hence your investigation into the pill... But what I don’t understand is—why are you pursuing the enemy’s trail, not your allies?" If the one who knew the antidote stood on the righteous side, why was Tang Lici so fixated on the Dissolute Shop, the poison-makers? Shen Langhun’s eyes gleamed brilliantly. "Unless you suspect—"
"Exactly!" Tang Lici’s voice suddenly softened. "The Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill isn’t identical to the drug I took back then, but I suspected it contained traces of it. Now, it’s confirmed. In this world, aside from him, no one knows how to make this poison." He chuckled lightly. "Everyone who knew how to concoct it died out by the time I was thirteen. When I say this, you should believe there’s no room for doubt."When Tang Lici uttered the words "utterly annihilated," who would dare to disagree? Unless he had already ground someone’s bones to dust and made their death unbearably gruesome, he would never say those four words. Chi Yun and Shen Langhun exchanged glances. Chi Yun spat, "So you’re saying the mastermind behind the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill, which has harmed countless people, is your so-called ‘good friend’ who told you to be a good person? What the hell kind of nonsense is that?"
"Indeed..." Tang Lici’s eyelids lowered slightly, revealing an expression that was neither a smile nor joy, yet somehow both. "Though the person I knew would never do such a thing, Tang Lici acts based on possibilities, not reason—the world holds infinite possibilities, and human nature is unpredictable, beyond belief." Shen Langhun frowned. "What is this friend of yours called?"
Tang Lici pushed aside the poisoned wine in front of him, took a large swig from the bottle, and smiled faintly. "I don’t know his name anymore. He changed it long ago." Shen Langhun asked coolly, "Since he hates you to the bone, why are you looking for him?" Tang Lici closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "I want to tell him something, in hopes that he’ll stop hating me in the future."
"What is it?" Chi Yun asked lazily. "Are you planning to give him the Ten Thousand Apertures House’s fortune worth millions in gold? Money can make the devil turn the millstone..." Tang Lici replied, "No. I want to tell him that Fang Zhou isn’t dead." At these words, Shen Langhun’s expression darkened in shock. "How is that possible? Under the Skill Exchange Great Art, how could anyone survive? After the transfer of power, when the inner energy dissipates, the residual force from the Rebirth Scroll surges backward into the heart, shattering the meridians—death is inevitable. How could he not be dead?"
Tang Lici’s lips curled slightly, still wearing that inscrutable expression. "Indeed... But Fang Zhou’s heart was already injured. There was a defect in his left ventricle that wouldn’t heal, leaving him critically ill. When the inner energy dissipated, it escaped through the ruptured wound instead of exploding his heart. And I—I..." He pressed a hand to his abdomen and chuckled softly. "I dug out his heart, buried it in my own belly, connected it to my blood vessels, and kept his damaged heart alive. Meanwhile, Fang Zhou’s heartless body was submerged in the Ice Spring. Once his heart heals, I’ll return it to him, and he won’t die." His expression softened, his gaze lingering tenderly on his fingers as he spoke slowly. "If Fang Zhou hadn’t practiced the Skill Exchange Great Art, there would have been no hope. The residual energy from the Rebirth Scroll, fierce and relentless, acted as a substitute heart, circulating his blood and delaying his death long enough for me to perform the burial. As for the Ice Spring, I had prepared it long ago. Once submerged, his blood and breath instantly ceased. All we need is a skilled physician to wait until his heart heals, and there’s hope for his survival."
Chi Yun and Shen Langhun stared at each other. The idea of digging out someone’s heart, burying it in one’s own body to sustain it with blood and breath until it healed, then using the Ice Spring to revive them—it was beyond belief, bordering on delusional nonsense! Chi Yun said bluntly, "You’re insane!" Though Shen Langhun remained silent, he thought the same: You’re insane.Tang Lici's left hand moved, slowly threading through his hair along his cheek. His jade-white fingers against the ash-bright locks exuded an elegant, delicate beauty, yet also an unearthly, bewitching allure. "I merely wish to save someone. Even if heaven decrees he must die, I forbid it... If I forbid it, neither gods nor ghosts can intervene... There's nothing I wouldn't do," he murmured softly, each word sending chills down the listeners' spines. Shen Langhun whispered, "You—" then paused, leaving the thought unfinished. Chi Yun snorted, "You're just more sinister, more ruthless than all the villains in the martial world combined. Congratulations—you're the foremost in cunning, the foremost in wickedness, the foremost in cruelty!" Tang Lici smiled faintly. "Your praise honors me. By telling you this, should the Central Plains Sword Association come seeking vengeance or the Dissolute Shop come to silence us, you two must ensure my safety." Chi Yun rolled his eyes skyward. "Didn't someone claim to be peerless in martial arts? Why need my protection?" With refined grace, Tang Lici brushed his sleeve, took another sip from the wine pot, and leisurely replied, "Because each of you carries one life, while I carry two." The two exchanged glances. Chi Yun spat, "Damn it, I'm not doing it!"
"After the Yu Family Sword Manor affair, what are your plans?" Shen Langhun's cup ran dry, but the wine pot remained in Tang Lici's hand, forcing him to set it down. "Do you truly seek only to reunite with an old friend, rekindle old ties, or do you genuinely intend to eradicate the Dissolute Shop and destroy this harmful drug for the sake of the martial world's populace?" Tang Lici poured him another cup and smiled. "At this point, I act for righteousness and peace in the martial world. My old ties are but one thread in the tapestry of that peace." His lofty words drew a slight frown from Shen Langhun, while Chi Yun immediately called him out. "Hah! 'Old ties are peace in the martial world'—so it's still about your own affairs, not some grand justice." Tang Lici replied, "How astute of you. But not everyone shares your lack of aspirations. Do not measure a noble heart with a petty mind." Chi Yun choked on his wine. "Cough... You? Noble?" Tang Lici smiled. "Naturally. To remain unmoved by Hong Guniang's charms—that is nobility." Chi Yun leapt up, fist flying toward Tang Lici, who made no move to evade. Mid-strike, Chi Yun forced his hand to halt. "I'm going to feed Feng Feng rice porridge!" he snapped, storming off. Unperturbed, Tang Lici sipped his wine. Shen Langhun asked coolly, "Why didn't he strike?" The implication being Tang Lici deserved it. Tang Lici reclined comfortably, exhaling a light breath of wine toward the sky. "Today's battle had Chi Yun ransacking every corner of the Yu Family Sword Manor. His hands are filthy—if he struck me, he'd still have to wash my robes." Shen Langhun stared for a long moment before closing his eyes in silent resignation.
A short while later, the inn attendant brought wine and dishes. The group ate slowly, savoring the flavors of the small dishes. Before three rounds of wine had passed, Shen Langhun's right ear twitched. "Someone's coming." Chi Yun paused his chopsticks and listened carefully, only hearing faint footsteps after a while. He chuckled, "Assassins really are assassins." Tang Lici picked up a piece of tofu with his chopsticks. "Guess who it is?" Chi Yun lazily opened the wine pot's lid to drink. "Footsteps this light must belong to someone from the Martial Arts World." Shen Langhun said, "It's a woman!" The Marrow Cleansing Silver Bracelet on Tang Lici's wrist gleamed under the lamplight as his right fingertips lightly brushed its patterned surface. "It's Miss Zhong."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a soft knock at the door. Tang Lici smiled faintly. "Miss Zhong, please come in."
The door opened, revealing Zhong Chunji, who looked surprised. "Young Master Tang, how did you know it was me?" Tang Lici replied, "Because of your master, Xue Xianzi." With just these seven words, Zhong Chunji's face flushed slightly, her brows showing clear embarrassment. "Young Master Tang truly understands my master well." Shen Langhun and Chi Yun were naturally puzzled, unaware that Xue Xianzi had spent his life admiring flowers and beautiful women. Zhong Chunji, unfortunately for him, was a great beauty. If he kept such a lovely disciple by his side, what other beauties would be willing to chat intimately with him or indulge in romantic moonlit encounters? Thus, Xue Xianzi had always avoided his disciple whenever possible. Just after escaping Yu Family Sword Manor, he had run into Zhong Chunji, who was searching for him. He hastily directed her to the Well Cloud Inn in Cliff Well Village, claiming that the culprit who blew up Yu Family Sword Manor and killed Yu Qifeng was there. He urged her to bring Gu Xitan to uphold justice—anything to keep Zhong Chunji from following him."I heard Young Master Tang destroyed the Yu Family Sword Manor?" Zhong Chunji had heard of this earth-shattering event, yet she showed little surprise, instead frowning deeply. "Actually, I originally came with Brother Gu Xitan, but we were delayed by some matters along the way. Both Brother Gu and Puzhu Shangshi also found the Sword King Yu suspicious. But now that Young Master Tang has blown up the Yu Family Sword Manor and killed Yu Qifeng, isn’t the lead cut off and the evidence lost? How can we convince the heroes of the Martial Arts World that the Sword King of the Central Plains Sword Association was the villain trafficking the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill? And how could the Central Plains Sword Association let this go? With two lives lost—Shi Tinghe and Yu Qifeng, both righteous men—this will surely stir up a storm. Who knows how many will come seeking revenge."
Tang Lici smiled faintly. "What does it matter whether the heroes of the world believe Yu Qifeng was trafficking forbidden drugs?"
Zhong Chunji was taken aback. Chi Yun tossed a piece of mutton into his mouth and said coolly, "Whether those fools believe it or not, to eradicate the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill, we just have to kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. Whoever sells it, we kill them—until we reach the bastard who makes the drug. Then it’s over. Of course, the faster we kill, the fewer victims there’ll be."
Zhong Chunji’s delicate brows furrowed. "But how can you be sure you won’t kill innocents by mistake?"
Chi Yun sneered. "Little girl, if we’re slow, more people will take the drug. Aren’t those people innocent too?"
Zhong Chunji was stunned again. Though Chi Yun’s reasoning was clearly twisted, she couldn’t find a rebuttal. "Brother Gu and Puzhu Shangshi are at the Chaotic Plum Ridge three miles away. Brother Xiao tried to help you but was severely injured by Yu Qifeng."
Chi Yun said coldly, "Who asked him to overestimate himself? Who asked for his help?"
Zhong Chunji’s anger flared. "You—!"
Tang Lici interjected, "Hero Xiao likely acted because his disciples had privately taken the forbidden drug, causing a scandal. Seeing you challenge the Sword King Yu, he stepped in to assist. Chi Yun, you should visit him to express gratitude." Ignoring Chi Yun’s disdainful expression, he smiled at Zhong Chunji. "Since everyone is at Chaotic Plum Ridge, let’s go meet them and see if we can help with Hero Xiao’s injuries."
Zhong Chunji thought to herself that Tang Lici was far more refined and reasonable than his attendant. She couldn’t help but smile at him. "If we could have Young Master Tang’s aid, it would truly be a blessing for the Martial Arts World."
Tang Lici replied gently, "You flatter me too much."
Shen Langhun remained silent. Hearing Tang Lici mention going to Chaotic Plum Ridge, his figure suddenly blurred. Zhong Chunji felt a gust of wind brush her face—before she knew it, Shen Langhun had entered and exited the room, carrying Feng Feng in his arms. He said flatly, "Let’s go."
Zhong Chunji glanced at Tang Lici, her face inexplicably flushing. How could this man make the strongest assassin in the martial world carry a child? If it were Yuandu... ah, if it were Yuandu, he would surely hold the child in his arms at all times... Her thoughts tangled for a moment before she sighed softly. "Let’s go. I’ll lead the way."
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