It was a dark and cold prison, with only the faint sound of falling water.
This solitary prison was made of a huge iron cage, located in the deepest part of the Snow Prison, with dim light. Long golden ropes hung down, nailing the prisoner's limbs, making him unable to move at all. From time to time, screams of torture were heard in the Snow Prison, as shrill as ghosts, and horrifying. However, the person trapped in the cage did not move.
With a "pop" sound, a soft thing was thrown into the cage. It turned out to be snake skin wrapped around human skin, rolled into a ball.
The fishy smell wafted into the air, but the locked-up person still showed no reaction.
"Why, this is the skin of your accomplice - don't you want to take a look?" The woman in blue stood outside the cage, sneering and looking at the locked person inside, mocking, "Yes, I forgot, you can't see it now even if you want to. Tong."
The opponent still did not move. Five hanging golden ropes pierced through his body, nailing him down.
Ever since being poisoned by the Seven-Star Begonia three days ago, the top killer who once made the whole world shudder with fear has remained silent, allowing the poison to quietly corrode his body without uttering a word.
Miao Shui couldn't help but feel a little upset: Ever since the King of Church handed Tong over to her for fate, she had a plan - she wanted to find out where the dragon blood bead went after the rebellion failed.
Since Miaohuo's death, only she and Tong knew about the existence of this thing. It was the only poison in the world that could kill the King of Churches - if they could get it...
However, no matter how severely the torture was carried out, Tong remained silent.
People who came out of the Shura Field had amazing endurance for pain. Sometimes, she even suspected that the poison of the Seven-Star Begonia was eroding too quickly, paralyzing his body before all of Tong's memories were washed away - otherwise, how could a flesh and blood body endure all the torture
"So, what about this?" With a snap, another object was thrown over. "That female healer offended the Pope and was beheaded. Do you remember who she was?"
Tong suddenly raised his head, and a bright light instantly shone from his almost blind eyes!
He desperately reached out to touch the head that was thrown at him. The golden rope tightened instantly, cutting into his skin, and blood burst out from his already scarred body again.
However, what the fingers touched was the head of a man with a full beard!
“Hahahaha…” Miao Shui raised his head and laughed, “That’s Miao Huo’s head—look how scared you are.”
As if he had been hit in the vitals. Tong stopped answering and sat down dejectedly, his eyes revealing a kind of powerlessness and fear. Everything in his mind was gradually fading away, the curse-like poison was eroding his mind bit by bit, erasing all his memories - however, the shadow of that woman seemed to be deeply rooted in his bones.
"Don't you want to see her die?" Miao Shui's eyes were full of triumph. He approached the cage and spoke softly, "You also know that it is easy for that female doctor to go up the mountain but difficult to get down, right? She has already angered the King of Church. Sooner or later, she will be beheaded! ... Hehe, Tong, that's all because of you."
Tong's shoulders and back suddenly shook, and blood dripped from the wound instantly.
"Miao Shui," he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse from the torture, "Let's make an exchange."
"Hmm?" Miao Shui smiled, leaned close to the iron cage, and whispered, "Why, are you finally willing to reveal the whereabouts of the dragon blood bead?"
"Tell me, what do you want?" she asked with interest, "Quick relief? Or to save your life?"
"If you let her go back safely, I will tell you the whereabouts of the Dragon Blood Pearl." Tong just lowered his eyes, revealing a sarcastic sneer at the corner of his lips, "You, also want to use it to poison the King of the Church - don't you?"
“Heh,” Miaoshui’s body trembled, as if he was a little surprised, and then he laughed, viciously tightening the chain around his neck, “You’ve fallen to this point, and you’re still trying to be smart with me! If you guessed my plan, you’ll only die faster!”
But the next moment, she laughed again: "Okay, I promise you... What's the point of me wanting her life? I just want the head of the king. Of course - you can't stay either. Don't think I will spare your life."
Tong's expression was indifferent - ever since he knew that he was poisoned by the Seven-Star Begonia poison, he never thought he could survive.
"I have crushed the dragon blood bead into powder and smeared it on the Blood-Li Sword—" He closed his eyes and whispered the last secret, "To kill the Hierophant, you must first get this sword."
"…" Miao Shui's breath was choked, and he murmured, "No wonder I couldn't find it after searching everywhere. So that's it!"
She laughed and patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, I will keep my promise - after all, there is no point in taking that woman's life." After a pause, Miao Shui showed a meaningful smile: "I just didn't expect that you and Miao Feng, two ruthless people, would risk their lives to protect her... It's really surprising! Does that Master Xue have any magic power?"
"Miao Feng?" Tong was slightly surprised.
Why would someone like him want to protect Xue Ziye
"I have to thank your Valley Master Xue," Miao Shui laughed sweetly, "Thanks to her, Mu Chunfeng's mental method has been broken, and the most difficult Miao Feng is no longer a problem. Miao Kong is a person who doesn't care about things. Ming Li is dead, Miao Huo is dead, and you are useless - the rest of the things are much easier."
Tong looked up in shock—Mu Chunfeng’s secret method was broken
As a colleague for many years, he naturally knew the power of Mu Chunfeng's technique. The reason why Miao Feng was able to practice this method was because he had an extremely simple and pure mentality. In addition to teaching the king's safety, he had no distractions, and every move was full of impeccable momentum.
However, nowadays, someone has actually broken through this state of emptiness and clarity without any thoughts!
How did she... break that calm and peaceful Miao Feng
―
At the top of Kunlun Mountain, in the highest paradise, flowers are in full bloom and the walls are golden.
This paradise is the most luxurious and enchanting place in the Great Light Palace, making everyone who has been there linger and forget to leave. Even the top killers in the Shura Field can only come in and enjoy a moment of enchantment after they have made great achievements.
It was a world made of glass and gems, beyond the imagination of most people in the world: golden eight-treasure trees, emerald and jasper springs, sweet wine, mellow milk, fragrant honey flowing everywhere, gem flowers that never fade in the forest, countless rare birds singing, and never-seen-before animals roaming between the springs and the trees. By the springs, in the forests, and in the maze, there were beautiful girls and handsome boys coming and going, smiling at every visitor and gently satisfying every request.
"Master Xue, are you used to living here?" A man in white came quietly into the Jade Pavilion and asked the distinguished guest who was in a trance.
The fire in the room was blazing, and the warmth was so cozy that one could not feel the ice and snow outside. Xue Ziye was a little sleepy, but when he heard the sound, he suddenly opened his eyes—
"Is it you?" She saw him and her eyes flickered.
Miao Feng bowed silently, and quickly caught a variety of emotions in it, one of which was anger and contempt. It seemed that his series of evil deeds since yesterday had completely destroyed her impression of him, right
To a healer, murderers and slaughterers are never welcome.
"Master Xue, please have a good rest. Tomorrow morning, I will come to take you to the secret room to diagnose the King." He bowed slightly.
"Where's Mingjie?" Xue Ziye asked back, standing up, "I want to see him."
"Until the priest's illness is cured, the Valley Master cannot see Tong." Miao Feng answered calmly, turned around and prepared to go out. However, when he reached the door, he suddenly stumbled and leaned over. Fortunately, he reached out and grabbed the door frame in time.
Xue Ziye was slightly startled. The moment she lowered her head, she saw a series of bright red bloodstains dripping on the threshold.
"Miao Feng!" She exclaimed, rushed over and grabbed his shoulders, "Let me see!"
He did not turn around, but just smiled slightly: "It's okay, Master Xue, don't worry."
"Nonsense!" After taking her pulse, she was shocked and angry. "Your old injury hasn't healed yet, how come you got a new one? Come here and let me take a look!"
Miao Feng stood there without moving, but did not try to break free from her hand.
The two of them were in a stalemate, one outside the door, the other inside, as if they each had their own persistence.
Snow flakes fell one by one, landing on his shoulders. The hand on his shoulder was warm and persistent, never willing to give up any life. He stood at the door, looking up at the snow falling gracefully on the top of Kunlun Mountain, the coldness in his heart and the warmth on his shoulder were like ice and fire: If... If she knew that he was the murderer of the bloody case, would she let go of this hand
"Cough, cough, cough!" However, the stalemate only lasted for a short moment, and then Xue Ziye's violent coughing was heard from behind.
The cold air from the top of Kunlun Mountain invaded her body after just standing at the door for a moment.
"Go back to your room!" he exclaimed, turning around and grabbing the trembling hand on his shoulder.
"Okay." She smiled slyly, grabbed his arm and dragged him inside, as if her trick had worked, "But you have to come in too."
The room was filled with the aroma of medicine and was warm and cozy, but Xue Ziye's face sank.
"Who did this?" He looked at the wound under his outer robe and murmured, "Who did this? So cruel!"
Miao Feng's back was covered with dark red bruises, crisscrossed, each one an inch wide and a foot long. Although not swollen, one could tell from the touch that they were extremely severe: although the skin was not damaged, the internal organs were already injured.
She moved her fingers gently. Miao Feng didn't make a sound, but the muscles in his shoulders and back couldn't stop trembling.
"This is the wound of the golden staff!" She suddenly recognized it. "Did that bastard, the Admiral, beat you?"
Miao Feng was slightly shocked but said nothing.
"Why did he hit you!" Xue Ziye was furious. He cursed while looking for medicine, "You were so obedient and worshipped him as a god. Why did he hit you? He is just a mad dog—"
Before she finished her words, a finger suddenly touched her throat.
"Even if you are a distinguished guest, you cannot be rude to the King." Miao Feng turned around and spoke quietly, his finger resting on Xue Ziye's throat.
"You..." She looked at him in astonishment, muttering in disbelief, "You actually spoke for him."
After a pause, the female doctor suddenly showed a look of despair in her eyes: "I just want to save you... Why are you always like this?"
His fingers stopped there, feeling the warmth of her skin and the slight vibration of her vocal cords. He suddenly felt a secret lingering attachment in his heart, and was reluctant to let go. After a pause, he smiled and removed his fingers: "The Adorer has his reasons for punishing me, and I am willing to accept the punishment."
He stood up without waiting for the medicine to be applied and said, "Valley Master Xue, I've told you that you don't need to worry about someone like me."
Xue Ziye stared at him in a daze as he stood up, pulled his outer robe over him, and walked out the door.
"Yami!" She staggered to the door and called his name, "Yami!"
However, the Great Light Palace's Miao Feng Envoy left without looking back, as if that was not his name.
Snowflakes fell on his shoulders like fairies, playful and light, coldly kissing his forehead. Miao Feng walked with his head down, suppressing the blood that kept surging in his body, and suddenly a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his lips - yes, it's time to end it. When I send her to see the King of Popes tomorrow and cure the King of Popes' illness, I will send her down the mountain early to avoid any more complications.
He didn't want her to know everything about the past, nor did he want her to know that he had disobeyed the King of the Church in order to protect her. He only hoped that she could leave safely and return to the Medicine Master Valley to live a peaceful life.
People like her don't originally belong to the same world as me.
"I want to save you..." Her words still echoed in his ears, so sad and helpless, containing the warmth he had never encountered in his life. She stretched out her hand to him, trying to pull him out of the pool of blood. But he would never be able to touch that pure white hand...
The bloody night twelve years ago had completely overwhelmed him.
――――
Dusk enveloped the top of the snowy region; countless jade trees and white flowers dimmed and gradually disappeared.
Xue Ziye sat alone in the warm and fragrant room, looking down at his hands in a daze.
Tomorrow, he would go to see the king of the church... He would use his hands to save the life of the devil. Then, he could dominate the Western Regions again, train young men one after another into cold-blooded killers, and cut off the heads of his opponents one after another.
I... turned out to be an extremely selfish and cowardly person, right
In order to protect his only relative, he saved the life of a demon, allowing him to harm more innocent people!
She smiled bitterly and looked at her palm, which was said to contain the fate of a person's life. -Her palm lines were very strange, with whorls on all five fingers, and deep and messy lines on the palm, with three lines coming together and fiercely crossing the entire palm.
She was so absorbed in the whirlpools that symbolized fate that she didn't notice someone had quietly appeared at the door.
"Valley Master Xue." The blue-shirted woman waited for a moment, and finally spoke, "Would you like to read my palm?"
"Miao Shui Envoy?" Xue Ziye was startled when he saw the woman standing at the door with a sword in her arms.
Although she had only seen Miao Shui once on the bridge, she was deeply impressed. She had a strange and erotic aura, exuding a sweet fragrance, and was extremely charming. She knew at first glance that this woman must have practiced the art of seduction.
"I find the palm of Master Xue's hand very difficult to understand." Miaoshui walked in, sat down with a smile, and took her hand to look at it carefully. "Look, this is a 'broken palm' - although people with such palms are extremely smart, they are too stubborn and have a life full of ups and downs, often without control."
Xue Ziye glanced at her, not knowing what the woman wanted to say, so he remained silent.
Her eyes fell on the sword in Miaoshui's arms, and she was shocked: This is clearly the sword that Tong used to wear!
"Valley Master Xue, your fate line is good. Although it was broken in the middle, there are thin branches next to it to connect it, which shows that you have escaped death." This Loulan woman from the Western Regions seemed to have suddenly become a witch. She smiled and uttered one prophecy after another. "The wisdom line is also very good. You are sharp and strong, and you have your own opinions on everything. However, even if you are extremely smart, it is difficult for you to become a good wife and mother."
Miaoshui carefully examined her hand, with a smile on her lips, and said softly: "Unfortunately, the marriage line is not good. It is so entangled and difficult to resolve, and you must face difficult choices repeatedly - Master Xue, you are a blessed person, and you will meet many good men in your life. But..."
She raised her head, smiled at Xue Ziye, and said softly: "It's just that there are too many horizontal lines, and there are dangers everywhere. Most of what you ask for will end up in vain."
Xue Ziye frowned and suddenly withdrew his hand.
"Envoy Miaofeng, why bother talking to someone so superficially?" She stood up, slightly displeased, "It's getting late, I need to rest."
Hearing this order to expel the guest, Miaoshui did not move. He lowered his head and suddenly smiled: "Master Xue, you are going to rest early, is it to have enough energy to see the king tomorrow?"
"That's right." Xue Ziye said coldly - now, this woman should leave, right
"Valley Master Xue is an excellent doctor, so he can cure any disease - but..." Miaoshui looked up at her, smiled mysteriously, and said coldly, "If you save the King of Religion, I'm afraid you will be sorry for the whole village of Moga who died tragically back then, right?"
"What!" Xue Ziye stood up suddenly, speechless.
How could this woman know about the bloody incident that happened twelve years ago!
"Hush." Miao Shui raised her finger and quickly looked around, "I came here secretly."
"What did you say?" Xue Ziye's face turned pale instantly. "What did you just say? The bloody murder of the Moga... Moga clan was committed by the King of Religion?!"
Miao Shui nodded leisurely: "The Great Light Palace has always done quite a lot of things like this."
"Why?" Xue Ziye's eyes lit up with anger, and he whispered, "Why?"
"For Tong." Miao Shui smiled, his eyes cold and sharp, "He is a genius who can inherit the long-lost Tong technique of the sect. After the king of the sect got him, in order to prevent the blood of the demon pupil from spreading outside, he simply wiped out the entire village."
“…” Xue Ziye felt as if anger was burning his entire chest. He was unable to speak for a moment and breathed rapidly.
"Envoy Miao Feng also participated in the massacre." Miao Shui sneered, watching Xue Ziye's face turn pale, "One hundred and thirty-seven people in the village were killed overnight - this is what the King of Church told me himself. Haha."
Miao Feng? Was Miao Feng also involved in that massacre
She suddenly remembered what he had said during the day - "You will regret it." He said, "Don't bother yourself with someone like me."
In an instant, she understood why he looked like that.
"Beast." Xue Ziye's hands began to tremble, and he gritted his teeth and said word by word, "Beast!"
"So," Miao Shui glanced at her with the corner of his lips raised, "Valley Master Xue, are you still going to save a beast?"
“…” Xue Ziye breathed rapidly, his face was pale, but he never uttered a word.
Although Miaoshui was still smiling, he was startled in his heart: This woman, what is she still hesitating about
"If we don't save him, what will happen to Mingjie?" Xue Ziye looked up at her, his hands tightly clenched together, "He will kill Mingjie!"
"Ha... So that's why!" Miao Shui suddenly understood and couldn't help laughing, "Stupid! What kind of person is the King of Religion? Do you really think he will let Tong go just because you saved him?"
"Want to go see him?" Miaoshui stood up with a smile and grabbed the Blood-Lining Sword on the table. "Then, follow me. You will understand when you see him."
Xue Ziye watched her walk out and hesitated for a moment.
Everyone in this Great Light Palace seemed to be unfathomable, from Tong to Miao Feng. What was the intention of Miao Shui, one of the Five Bright Men, in trying to win him over
"Why... are you telling me this?" She asked in a hoarse voice, feeling awed.
Miaoshui looked back and smiled: "What do you think?"
Without waiting for Xue Ziye to answer, she walked out gracefully and opened the door of the secret passage: "Of course it's because I want the King to die."
―――――――――――――――――――――
In the dark room, even the screams outside had disappeared, leaving only the deathly loneliness.
He was nailed to a huge iron cage with golden chains, locked together with the mastiff next to him, unable to move. Darkness surrounded him like a shroud, and he closed his eyes, which could no longer see clearly, and quietly waited for death to approach step by step.
That feeling... seems to have happened a dozen years ago
"You, do you want to go out?"
In his memory, that voice kept asking him questions, with some kind of temptation and magic.
"That bunch of vulgar people, like pigs and dogs, don't know that you are the messenger of the devil, and don't know how powerful you are... Tong, only I know your power, and only I can inspire your true power. Do you want to come with me?"
"I want to get out! I want to get out! Let me out..." he shouted in the darkness, feeling like he was going crazy.
"Okay, I'll take you out. The voice smiled, but you have to submit to me, become my pupil, stand above the martial arts world, and look down on this world and all living beings for me. Do you agree? - Or are you willing to be discriminated against, imprisoned, have your eyes gouged out, and live in darkness for the rest of your life?"
"Let me out!" He slammed the wall hard, remembering that today was the deadline the clan leader had given him. He was heartbroken and shouted desperately, "As long as you let me out!"
Suddenly, the darkness broke apart, the light shattered his vision, and everything turned into a blank.
In the blank space, blood burst out, accompanied by shrill screams.
The man tied with golden ropes in the iron cage woke up with a start, his face pale, his whole body shaking with pain - "As long as you let me out" - the words he said in a coma were still echoing in his mind, making his mind go blank.
Twelve years ago, when I was only fourteen years old, I made a pact with the devil and sold out my life!
He finally couldn't bear it anymore and lowered his head in the darkness, his hands trembling slightly.
It was already the fourth day... The poison that gradually eroded his brain through his eyes had quietly erased most of his memories: such as the years he struggled to survive in the Shura Field, such as the thrilling past of becoming the number one killer in the Great Light Realm and traveling across the Western Regions to capture the heads of princes... All this glorious and bloody past had gradually faded away and could no longer be remembered.
However, some very old memories survive, or even emerge more clearly day by day.
Why... why can't I forget it completely
Such memories are a daily torture. Wouldn't it be better if I could become a complete idiot
"If you can't kill Miao Feng, you must take the head of the female doctor."
He tightened the golden chain on his wrist with his backhand, gritted his teeth in the dark, and suddenly slammed his head against the iron cage - he was really the most ruthless and shameless person in the world! He was greedy for life and afraid of death, ungrateful, and he actually wanted to kill the person who loved him the most again and again!
Suddenly, there was a breeze in the dark prison. The heavy iron door opened silently, letting in a ray of snowy light from outside. Suddenly, the mastiff in the cage next to it started barking wildly.
—Someone walks in.
Is it that woman from Miaoshui? He was too lazy to look up.
"Mingjie." A voice sounded in the darkness, soft and trembling.
He shuddered as if he had received an electric shock, and raised his eyes, which were already blind: Was it an illusion? Such a familiar voice... Yes...!
"Mingjie." He was awakened from his trance until a cool and soft hand gently touched his cheek.
There was actually someone walking towards her in the darkness, very close. She stopped three steps away from him, as if she didn't know how to face him who was now locked in an iron cage. She just kept calling out a distant name, as if to summon the soul of the boy in her memory.
Is... is it Sister Xiaoye
He turned around in ecstasy. It was her? Is she here? !
However, the next moment, he felt a hand gently touching his blind eyes. He turned his head away as if burned, avoiding the hand, and an intense expression flashed across his dull eyes.
"Get out!" Without thinking, the word came out of his mouth, hoarse and fierce.
The woman who sneaked in from the darkness was suddenly startled, her fingers paused, and she looked at him incredulously: "Mingjie?"
"Miaoshui! What on earth do you want to do?" Tong gritted her teeth and asked the person hiding somewhere in the darkness viciously, with murderous intent and anger in her voice, "Why let her come here? Why let her come here! I told you not to bring her here!"
"Hehe... Occasionally, I will be kind." A gentle laugh came from outside the prison door. Miaoshui whistled and summoned the mastiff that kept growling and baring its teeth, leaving a sentence: "Tong, I have taken the Lixue Sword from the Weapon Storage Pavilion. Say goodbye to each other, time is running out."
He was startled and wanted to ask something, but she closed the door and walked away.
The pitch-dark cell fell into deathly silence again.
Tong was silent in the darkness, not knowing what to say or do, but his breathing became disordered uncontrollably. He knew there was another person beside him, and the familiar breath was everywhere. The memories in his heart seemed to be pouring out like a flood, howling in his heart, but he wished he could disappear at this moment.
I don't want to see her... I don't want to see her again!
Or maybe, he just didn't want her to see him like this—covered in blood, his hands and feet bound by golden ropes, a mastiff collar around his neck, his face pale, his eyes lifeless, just like a useless person!
Twelve years later, when all the tides of fate have receded, how could I meet her again in this situation on the desolate beach!
"Get out." He gritted his teeth and uttered just one word.
However, a pair of soft hands fell on his eyelids, shaking violently - the eyes that once controlled the world were now dim. Xue Ziye's voice began to tremble: "Mingjie... You, your eyes, how did they become like this? Is it that King of the Church -"
He couldn't see her expression, but he could clearly hear the sorrow and pity in her voice. At that moment, he felt that the pain in his heart was unbearable. He pushed her away like crazy and blurted out: "None of your business! Just give me—"
Before he could utter the third word "get out", there was a rustling sound and a tear fell on his face, hot and wet.
At that moment, all the masks of pride and inferiority were burned through.
"You—" Tong felt that the intense emotions in her heart could no longer be controlled. She said a word in a lost voice, and her throat could no longer make any sound.
"Mingjie, have you finally remembered everything?" Xue Ziye's voice trembled, "Do you know who I am?"
He felt that Xue Ziye had been staring at him in the darkness, calling the name that had been buried for twelve years.
What, what is this! - Unable to endure such kindness and pity any longer, he suddenly raised his hand, grabbed the hand full of compassion, and pressed her against the wall of the iron cage!
Xue Ziye was caught off guard and let out a scream, then raised his head to see the pair of violent eyes in the darkness.
Tong grabbed Xue Ziye's hands and pressed her against the cold iron cage, but closed her eyes and breathed rapidly, as if countless voices were whistling in her chest and her whole body was shaking. In a short moment, countless torrents rushed in, and the pain seemed to be able to make people die and come back to life.
"You... have to force me to this point?" Finally, he spoke up, "Why did you come here?"
However, before he could finish his words, tears finally fell from the corners of his tightly closed eyes.
"Why did you come again!" He yelled out of control, holding her hand tightly, "Your Mingjie died a long time ago!"
Xue Ziye was shocked: such a proud person finally collapsed before his eyes.
"Why did you come again?" Tong loosened his clenched hands, leaving a circle of bruises on her arm. As if the walls in his heart had finally collapsed, he whimpered like a beast, trembling to the point of being unable to support himself. He loosened his hands, leaned against the iron cage and turned his face away: "Why did you come again... to see Mingjie become like this?"
Xue Ziye silently stretched out his hand and hugged him tightly.
She hugged Tong in the dark night, as if hugging the boy she lost many years ago, and felt his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. This killer with nerves as strong as iron wire seemed to have a complete emotional collapse in an instant.
She touched his thin cheek in the dark: "Mingjie... Mingjie. It's okay. The King promised me that as long as I cure his illness, he will let you go."
Yes. His life of killing started with her, so it should also end with her.
"It's no use..." After a long time, Tong gradually controlled his emotions, gently pushed her hands away, and whispered, "It's no use - I was poisoned by the Seven Star Begonia."
"Seven-star Begonia!" Xue Ziye exclaimed, his face turning pale in the dark.
As the head of the Pharmacist Valley, she knew better than anyone what this poison meant. The Pharmacist's Secret Collection said: Among the ten most poisonous things in the world, the nine poisons, namely, red crane crown, peacock gall, black spider juice, carrion cream, rainbow fungus, green silkworm eggs, pit viper saliva, wood turtle, and sweet potato sprouts, were not the most powerful poisons. The most terrifying one was the seven-star crabapple. This poison was colorless, odorless, and invisible. Even the smartest and most careful people could not guard against it. Until death, he always had a smile on his face, and seemed to be very peaceful and happy.
It is a poison that first destroys a person's mind and brain, and then destroys the person's body, and there is currently no antidote!
She was speechless, her mind went blank, and her hands subconsciously clenched tightly, as if the person in front of her would disappear if she let go.
"You are too naive... The King of Church never intended to let me go from the beginning." Tong tried her best to control herself and whispered, "Negotiating with him is like seeking the skin of a tiger. Don't worry about me anymore, find a chance to leave here quickly - Miaoshui promised me that he would take you away safely."
Miaoshui? Xue Ziye was startled, looked up at Tong, and a complicated smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
That woman was also someone you couldn't figure out. However, Tong was just as naive as herself, and she believed in the promises of such a person - or maybe, they just had no other choice.
"Little... Sister Xiaoye. Don't worry about me." With some difficulty, he called out the name he had forgotten for twelve years, "Hurry up and try to get down the mountain... It's too dangerous here. I deserve it, it's not worth your effort."
"Nonsense! No matter what you did, I won't care... As long as I am still alive." Xue Ziye closed his eyes gently in the darkness, as if he had made up his mind: "Mingjie, don't worry - I have a way."
She lit the tinder, took out the medicine bag she carried with her, and gently pressed his shoulder: "Sit down, let me see your eyes."
He sat down silently, letting her start to check his eyes and the wounds on his body. He didn't notice what she was doing, and didn't even realize that the eight major acupoints in his body had been gradually sealed, and he couldn't move at all. He just tried his best to open his eyes wide, trying to see her clearly. Twelve years of no see... After tonight, or until death.
How he wanted to see clearly what she looked like now - but unfortunately, his eyes could no longer see.
Xue Ziye looked at it silently for a while, then stood up and said, "I'll be out for a while. Wait a moment."
Tong smiled bitterly in the darkness - what else could she do? Even her master couldn't cure this poison.
Outside the dark prison is the white snow that has not melted for thousands of years in the shade of Kunlun Mountain.
As soon as Xue Ziye opened the iron gate and the snowy light shone in, he saw the woman in blue walking a mastiff not far away.
"What? Master Xue, you came out so soon?" Miao Shui looked back in surprise and laughed, "I thought you two old friends would talk for a while since you are reunited."
Xue Ziye stood at the prison gate, looked at Miaoshui for a moment, and suddenly spread out his hands: "Give me the key."
"What key?" Miaoshui was startled and held down the roaring mastiff.
"The key on the golden rope." Xue Ziye stretched out his hand to her, expressionless, "Give it to me."
Miao Shui looked at her in surprise, and suddenly laughed: "Valley Master Xue, don't you think your request is a bit too much? - Why should I give you the medicine? Tong is a traitor, and I am betraying the King of the Church by doing this!"
"Don't beat around the bush," Xue Ziye interrupted her coldly and said directly, "I know you want to kill the King."
As if a sharp arrow had pierced his body, Miaoshui's laughter suddenly stopped. He stared silently at the woman in purple with a murderous look in his eyes.
"I can't cure the Seven Star Begonia poison, but I don't want Mingjie to be locked up like a dog until he dies. Give me the key, and I will kill that old thing for you." Xue Ziye remained calm, "Tomorrow."
Miaoshui stared at her, his eyes gradually becoming lively again, and he chuckled, "Very bold. Are you sure?"
"My actions will always be more certain than yours." Xue Ziye said coldly, holding out his hand, "I must avenge Mingjie and the Moga clan! Give me the key - I will cooperate with you."
Miao Shui hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and a bunch of golden keys fell into Xue Ziye's palm: "Take it."
Anyway, that Tong has been poisoned by the Seven-Star Begonia and will not live for more than a month. What's the point of making some concessions to her temporarily? At most, I can kill the King of Religion and then come back to deal with the two of them.
"Okay." Xue Ziye held the key and nodded, "Wait for me for a moment, and I'll discuss it with you in detail later."
-
Xiaoye is back! The moment the prison door opened again, the people in the iron cage showed an ecstatic expression.
—She was gone for only a short moment, but to him in the darkness it seemed like a hundred years had passed. Such a despairing darkness almost made him lose all the courage to live.
He tried to stand up to greet her, but was locked up tightly, and the golden rope in his throat made it impossible for him to breathe.
"Mingjie, sit down," Xue Ziye said calmly, pressing his shoulder gently, "I'll take care of your injury."
He sat down silently, docile and obedient. The wounds all over his body were aching, and the poison was eroding him bit by bit, but he gritted his teeth with amazing perseverance and said nothing, as if he was afraid that making a sound would break the tranquility of the moment. Every moment of this kind of time together was extremely precious—
They had been separated by a great distance for more than ten years, and had passed each other without even knowing each other;
Many years later, after escaping death, they met again, but were immediately faced with separation of life and death.
He did not speak again, but just sat there silently, appreciating the tranquility and beauty of this brief moment. The murderous intent and bloodiness that had filled his heart for more than a decade disappeared like fog - at this moment he had no thought of killing or revenge, he just wanted to sit like this, without saying anything, and die quietly beside her.
Xue Ziye did not stop for a moment. He put the fire starter on the iron cage, dipped his hands in the ointment, and applied it quickly.
Perhaps it was because the prison was too cold, she started coughing intermittently, her voice shallow and hollow.
"Bear with it." After applying medicine to the wounds on his body, Xue Ziye moved his hands to his head, pressing on his brows and temples inch by inch. Suddenly, he turned his wrist, and a bright light flashed between his fingers. Four silver needles instantly pierced deeply into his skull from both sides!
The temple and Tianyin acupoint were sealed, and the silver needle was inserted two inches deep, but Tong did not make a sound despite the severe pain.
"Open your eyes." Hearing the gentle command in his ear, he opened his eyes in the darkness.
Still can't see anything... The eyes corroded by the poison have become completely blind.
However, the moment he opened his eyes, something warm, soft and moist suddenly reached in and touched his blind eyes.
"No!" Tong was startled and subconsciously tried to dodge backwards, but his body had been sealed in advance and he couldn't even make a sound - at that moment, he understood what she was doing and almost shouted.
Xue Ziye simply held his shoulders, held his head tightly, leaned over and licked his eyes that were blinded by the poison with the tip of his tongue.
Tong wanted to close her eyes tightly, but found that she couldn't even close her eyes.
She... had arranged everything in the morning? What did she want to do
Shocked, Tong used his internal energy to force his way through the acupuncture points, but how could it work when he was so seriously injured? Tong used his internal energy to attack the acupuncture points over and over again, but could not move them at all. Xue Ziye held his head and licked the poison in his eyes gently and slowly.
He only felt her breath blowing on his face, the cool and soft touch continued to come, and the severe pain in his head was also relieved bit by bit.
However, my heart grew colder and colder—what was she doing
That was the Seven-Star Begonia, the most poisonous plant in the world! How could she dare to taste it with the tip of her tongue
Stop! Stop! He almost wanted to shout like crazy, but the intense shock made him lose his voice for a moment.
In the dark prison, the fire gradually went out, and only the gentle and warm tongue touch continued silently. Tong couldn't move, but she knew what the other party was doing, and she also knew that the terrible poison was transferring from her body to the other party's body.
Unprecedented pain flashed through his heart like lightning, crushing his will. Tears silently filled his eyes that had been dry for more than a decade, but were licked away by the tip of his soft tongue. Salty and bitter, like the taste of poison.
Time seemed to stop at that moment. In the dark and cold snow prison, it was so quiet that one could hear the sound of one's heart breaking into thousands of pieces.
In just a moment, Xue Ziye had licked all the poison in his eyes, spit it on the ground, sat up straight and took a breath.
"All right." There was a faint smile in her voice. She took out a medicine from the medicine bag and gently rubbed it into Tong's eyes. "The poison has been removed. Apply the snake gallbladder eye-brightening powder. Within three days, your sight should be completely restored."
Tong felt cold in her heart and wanted to scream out loud, but her body couldn't move.
“You…” The mute point was not sealed, but he didn’t know what to say and his face turned pale.
"Can you see the shadow?" She stretched out her hand and waved it in front of his eyes and asked.
He was still unable to speak, but his eyes subconsciously followed her hand.
"They say there is no cure for the Seven-Star Begonia disease, but that's wrong." Xue Ziye laughed happily, "Twenty years ago, Master Linxia pondered over this for a month and died of his heart and blood - but he finally found a solution."
"This poison will kill people if it touches the skin, and it spreads very quickly. But because of this, as long as you use silver needles to force the poison in the body to one place, and then let someone who understands medical principles use their body as a guide to suck out the poison, it can be cured. You don't even need any medicinal materials." She said softly, and there was a sense of pleasure in conquering a terminal illness in her voice. "The last letter left by the Linxia Patriarch before his death mentioned that there was a female doctor named Cheng who used this method to cure the poison of the Seven-Star Begonia. "
She spoke calmly, but her voice gradually slowed down: "So, Seven Star Begonia is not incurable... It's just that most doctors in the world are unwilling to sacrifice their own lives..."
However, once such a horrible poison touched the tip of the tongue, it spread rapidly. Xue Ziye's speech became slower and slower, and he felt dizzy. His body swayed and he almost fell down.
"Sister Xiaoye, he finally couldn't help but blurt out the first sentence.
"It's okay." She quickly took out a green pill from her arms and put it in her mouth to calm the severe erosion of the poison.
"Mingjie, I won't let you die." Xue Ziye took a deep breath and smiled. His eyes were bright and firm. He took out a small jade bottle from his arms. "I won't let you die in front of me like Xue Huai and the whole village did."
In the flickering light, she carefully poured out a scarlet pill from the bottle, and the rich aroma immediately filled the entire room.
"This is Zhuguo Yulu Pill. You should have heard of it." Xue Ziye put the pill into his mouth. The pill turned into nectar as soon as it entered his mouth. He felt indescribable comfort in every part of his body.
"You should take good care of your injuries," Xue Ziye wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, loosened his hand, and whispered, "Don't worry about the King anymore."
He was startled—Don't worry about the Admiral? Could it be, could it be that she wants to...
"Mingjie, the acupuncture points on your body will naturally be untied in twelve hours," Xue Ziye left his side and gently instructed, "I will untie the chains for you now, and you can leave on your own when you can see again. As long as you recover your martial arts, nothing in the world can trap you anymore. But, listen to me and don't kill people anymore."
With a few nail sounds, all the golden chains on his hands and feet fell off.
Having lost his support, he fell heavily, but was caught by Xue Ziye halfway.
"This thing should be the most precious treasure of your sect, right?" She helped him sit down on the ground, put something in his arms, and said softly, calmly, not like someone who was poisoned, "Take it. With this, you can do whatever you want in the future, and you don't have to be controlled by others anymore..."
Tong touched the heavy and cold object in the palm of her hand, and her whole body trembled: This, this is... the Holy Fire Order of the King
She planned so carefully that it seemed as if she was taking care of everything around her!
"I don't want this!" He finally blurted out, his voice desperate and shrill, "I just want you to live well!"
Xue Ziye was shocked, and the tears she had been holding back for so long finally fell - the fatigue from years of suffering came to her heart, and she suddenly lost the strength to control her emotions. She staggered back, stared into his dim eyes, reached out her hands to hold his head in her arms, and burst into tears.
How did it become like this? How did it become like this
The two of them, one should have been a daughter of heaven from a famous medical family in the imperial capital, and the other should have been a poor boy from a remote village in the far north - their lives should not have had any intersection, and they should have lived their lives carefree, so how could it have turned out like this today!
It is this world that has been making them suffer so much.
"Mingjie, Mingjie, I also want you to live well..." Her tears fell on his face and she choked, "You are my only relative in this world - I can't let you be destroyed like this."
"No. You don't understand what kind of person I am..." The hot tears falling on her face seemed to burn through her heart. Tong murmured, "I am not worthy of your saving."
"Silly talk." Xue Ziye choked and smiled softly, "You are my brother."
Outside the cell, someone suddenly knocked softly, interrupting the conversation between the two.
Knowing that Miaoshui was impatient, Xue Ziye restrained himself and stood up: "I'm leaving."
"Don't go!" Tong screamed - this departure would mean separation between life and death!
The person who walked to the door suddenly turned around and hesitated.
"Miaoshui's words cannot be trusted after all." Xue Ziye murmured, took out a stick of incense from her bosom, lit it, walked around the cage, let the smoke linger around Tong, and finally stuck the incense on the ground in front of Tong. At this moment, the incense was still about three inches long, emitting a strange light purple smoke. After everything was arranged, she stood up and took out another pill: "Take it."
Realizing that she was setting up a barrier to protect herself before leaving, Tong suddenly sneered, and for the first time a sharp and defiant expression appeared in his eyes.
"Don't think I want to be saved by you." He turned his head away and said coldly, "I would rather die."
"Ha." Xue Ziye couldn't help but laugh - Mingjie looked just like the boy he was twelve years ago. However, before she finished laughing, she raised her hand without hesitation, and a silver needle shot out like lightning, accurately piercing the acupuncture point under her ribs!
"You...!" Tong lost his voice, feeling his mind collapsing in an instant.
"Be obedient and go to sleep. Nothing will happen when you wake up," Xue Ziye sealed his sleeping point, murmured, and fed an antidote into his mouth, "Nothing will happen..."
Don't go! Don't go! — A voice in his heart cried out heartbreakingly, but his eyes could no longer hold on and closed. Gathering his remaining consciousness, he looked up and tried his best to see her for the last time — but even at the last moment, there was still only a blurry figure in front of him.
The shadow that turned away, at the moment of ruthless farewell, left an indelible mark on the rest of his life.
―――――――――――――
When Xue Ziye walked out, she saw Miao Shui holding a mastiff and leaning against the wall of the Snow Prison waiting for her.
This Loulan woman exudes a rich, mysterious fragrance. Even as a doctor, she cannot tell what plant the fragrance is extracted from - as mysterious as the woman herself.
"It's almost three o'clock in the morning." Miao Shui said without turning his head when he heard the door open, "You stayed too long, doctor."
Xue Ziye locked the cell door and said, "Now, let's make a plan for tomorrow."
"Strange..." Miao Shui turned her head in confusion, patted the mastiff's head, and whispered, "She's not afraid of death, is she?"
The mastiff glanced at Xue Ziye warily and whimpered softly.
The snow was falling heavily, floating like goose feathers, covering the figures of the two women on the top of the mountain.
No one except the mastiff heard what they talked about.
A quarter of an hour later, Xue Ziye nodded slightly to Miaoshui, uttered a word, and turned to leave. The heavy snow kept falling, and the night was too cold. She couldn't stand it when she left, and she held the cloak on her chest and coughed slightly.
Miaoshui looked at the figure in purple hidden in the secret passage, a smile appearing in his eyes.
"She's really good... I didn't expect that I would find such a great partner this time! Isn't she?" She patted the mastiff's furry head, and the huge beast made a docile sound like a cat. Miaoshui stood in the heavy snow, gazing at the Kunlun Mountains that rolled up and down in the snow, and a bright murderous aura suddenly flashed in her eyes!
"Okay, now that the deal is done, now—" She patted the mastiff, turned around and pointed at the Snow Prison behind her, sneering, "You can go eat that guy! He's useless now!"
"Woo—" Upon receiving the command, the mastiff's hair stood up all of a sudden, it wooped excitedly, and pounced in.
Miaoshui stood at the door, smiled sideways, playing with a flute in his arms, waiting to hear the sound of flesh and bones being crushed and chewed in prison.
However, there was no sound inside.
Her face changed slightly, and she rushed to the door and looked inside. Buyou gasped - in the darkness, there was only a faint red light floating. The huge body of the mastiff lay across the steps. It had just rushed into the door and died silently!
"Heartbreaking Grass?" Seeing the floating purple smoke in the dim light, Miaoshui screamed in surprise, and immediately stepped back three feet, his face pale.
—It turns out that the woman in purple had already arranged everything!