五月丁香五月丁香激情

Zhang Xuan quickly rummaged through Han Qianchou\'s body but came up empty-handed.

As an emperor whose every need was attended to by his subordinates, it turned out he didn’t even carry a single Source Coin with him.

"How broke…" Zhang Xuan sighed, looking helplessly over at the others.

"Impossible! There must be something!" Yue Longxiao rushed over and conducted another thorough search, only to find nothing. He slumped to the ground, utterly devastated.

Having remained unmarried throughout his life, Yue Longxiao saw his disciples as his emotional anchors. Watching them die before him was even more painful than facing his own death.

"Master Yue, please don’t worry. I have some expertise in medicine. Let me take a look—there might still be a way…" Zhang Xuan stepped forward upon seeing his desperation.

"If Deputy Hall Master Ling can save my disciples, I, Yue Longxiao, am willing to serve you without complaint or regret!" Yue Longxiao looked at Zhang Xuan like a drowning man clutching at a lifeline.

"You’re too kind, Master Yue." Zhang Xuan felt a bit awkward.

To tell the truth, these disciples suffered such a calamity because of his impersonation of someone else. Even if Yue Longxiao hadn’t made this plea, Zhang Xuan couldn’t let them perish.

Taking a few steps toward the disciples, Zhang Xuan placed his fingers on their wrists, allowing his True Energy to flow through their meridians.

Indeed, they had been poisoned—and the toxin was potent, strong enough to overwhelm even Divine Soul Realm experts. However, such poison was insignificant to him.

Zhang Xuan retrieved a set of silver needles and inserted them into the disciples’ acupoints, channeling his True Energy through the needles into their bodies.

Back on the Master Teacher Continent, his Heaven’s Path True Energy could neutralize any toxin. Here, it was no different.

Not to mention, his current Heaven’s Path True Energy was infused with the power of Pathos of Heaven, an even more formidable force. Before long, the deadly poison was completely eradicated.

The disciples coughed up mouthfuls of black blood, and their pale complexions gradually turned rosy.

Even without a detailed examination, their improved appearance made it clear they were out of danger.

Min Jiangtao frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought, but refrained from speaking.

After carefully observing his disciples, Yue Longxiao finally confirmed that the poison was thoroughly dealt with. Only then did he relax, turning to Zhang Xuan and bowing deeply.

"Thank you for your intervention, Deputy Hall Master Ling. If there’s anything you need in the future, just say the word. I, Yue Longxiao, will not hesitate to act."

"It’s my duty." Zhang Xuan smiled awkwardly. Just as he was about to respond further, his face suddenly turned ashen, and a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.

"Ugh!" He stumbled and collapsed.

"Deputy Hall Master Ling!" Yue Longxiao hurriedly supported him, while Min Jiangtao stepped forward, placing a hand on Zhang Xuan\'s wrist.

"He was already seriously injured. Saving others has drained him even further, leaving his energy depleted. He’ll recover after some rest."

"Deputy Hall Master Ling did all this for me…" Yue Longxiao was deeply moved.

Clearly, in order to save his disciples, Deputy Hall Master Ling had pushed himself to the brink. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been left so weakened.

And indeed, given that Han Qianchou\'s poison wasn’t ordinary, resolving it so quickly must have required some extraordinary method.

Without hesitation, Yue Longxiao took out a jade bottle, extracted a pill, and placed it in Zhang Xuan’s mouth.

This pill, an Essence Restoration Pill, was a reward he’d received from the Wanchang Sect for an outstanding mission. He had always been reluctant to use it but didn’t hesitate now.

The pill dissolved instantly, and a surge of energy coursed through Zhang Xuan’s body, slowly reviving him.

"Thank you, Master Yue. I’m fine now…" Zhang Xuan struggled to stand, though his body trembled with weakness.

"You should head back. I have some matters to attend to," Min Jiangtao said with a wave of his hand.

With Han Qianchou and the Golden Guards slain, the city guards dared not approach further. After all, present were a deputy hall master of Destiny Hall, the master of Wanchang Sect, and a notable figure from the Zouyi Dynasty.

"Very well. I’ll escort Deputy Hall Master Ling back to rest." Yue Longxiao nodded and supported Zhang Xuan as they left.

After they departed, Min Jiangtao’s eyes narrowed. In a flash, he appeared next to a Golden Guard lying on the ground.

This guard, Captain Hu, was supposedly dead from Min Jiangtao’s earlier attack. However, with a touch to his pressure point, the man coughed and slowly regained consciousness.

"Y-you…" Recognizing Min Jiangtao, Captain Hu attempted to move, but an overwhelming force rendered him immobile.

"Han Qianchou is dead." Min Jiangtao gestured, prompting Captain Hu to glance toward the emperor’s corpse. His body trembled.

"I’ll ask, and you’ll answer." Min Jiangtao’s tone was cold as he pressed Captain Hu’s joints, injecting blade energy that caused excruciating pain.

This was a unique interrogation technique of the Mo Dao Sect, where blade energy was inserted into the victim’s bones, mimicking the sensation of countless ants gnawing away, driving them to the brink of madness.

As expected, it wasn’t long before Captain Hu broke down.

"Ask… whatever you wish."

"How exactly did Mo Qing die?" Min Jiangtao demanded coldly.

Captain Hu hesitated before replying, "Lord Mo Qing came to the imperial palace to rescue someone. During the confrontation, Prince Qianye killed him in front of everyone."

"Prince Qianye? You mean Han Qianye? Where is he now?" Min Jiangtao’s frown deepened.

If what Hu said was true, it differed greatly from "Ling Buyang’s" version. Evidently, Zhang Xuan hadn’t been entirely truthful. Otherwise, why would he deliberately kill Han Qianchou in front of him?

Captain Hu replied, "Prince Qianye perished alongside Lord Mo Qing. Their corpses are stored in the palace’s ice cellar."

Min Jiangtao nodded. "You said Mo Qing came to rescue someone. Who was he trying to save?"

"White Rock City’s City Lord Yu Longqing, White Rock Academy’s Dean Lu Mingrong, and… the Princess Consort of Pingyuan."

"The consort? Didn’t they say Mo Qing incurred enmity with Han Qianchou over harassing her?" Min Jiangtao was taken aback.

"Not at all. His Majesty suspected that Deputy Hall Master Ling had already been killed and replaced by an imposter. So, he captured Yu Longqing for interrogation…" Captain Hu recounted the entire incident in detail.

"So, you’re saying that Ling Buyang is dead and this Zhang Xuan is merely impersonating him? Yet he can wield the second stage of the Mo Dao Heaven’s Fate technique?" Min Jiangtao’s body turned cold.

If this was true, Zhang Xuan wasn’t just an imposter but a mastermind of unfathomable strength.

"This was His Majesty’s suspicion. Neither Yu Longqing nor Lu Mingrong confirmed it… but Master Yue Longxiao did!"

"Master Yue Longxiao?" Min Jiangtao was stunned.

"Yes. Two hours ago, he met with His Majesty. According to him, Zhang Xuan is a superpower deliberately disguising himself as a Chaotic Fate Practitioner to lure out other such individuals and uncover their secrets…"

"A ruse by someone powerful?" Min Jiangtao’s fists clenched tightly.

In the game of high-level politics, letting information leak was unacceptable. Anyone privy to such secrets had to be eliminated to protect the broader plan.

With a flash of blade energy, Min Jiangtao ended Captain Hu’s life. He left the tea house, ensuring that no other potential informants survived.

As he investigated the imperial palace, the clues aligned perfectly with Hu’s account. Feeling uneasy, Min Jiangtao returned to "Ling Buyang’s" residence, where he found Zhang Xuan resting.

Just as he contemplated leaving this dangerous situation, a cold, detached voice spoke behind him.

"Master Min, you must already know that I’m Zhang Xuan, not your junior brother Ling Buyang."

Min Jiangtao’s pupils shrank, and a chill swept through him as his body tensed involuntarily.

Author\'s Note