nashuaworldcup Chapter 502
Chapter 502
Before he could finish speaking, the master waved his hand, his cloudy gaze sweeping over the two pale faces: "Don't be impatient. This kind of evil thing involves many things. I need to test each of the seventy-two medicinal herbs one by one before I can find out the truth." His withered fingers pointed to the inky night outside the window, "You two go and rest first, and recharge your energy."
A chilly night wind seeped in through the cracks in the windowpanes, causing the candlelight to flicker. Ye Jiuchen gazed at his master's hunched back, suddenly noticing a few more strands of white hair at the old man's temples, and the medicine gourd hanging from his waist swaying slightly—a habit his master only displayed when nervous. Though filled with anxiety, the two could only bow respectfully and walk towards the room, bathed in moonlight.
Just as they were about to step into the room, a series of hurried footsteps came from the alleyway. First came a muffled thud, like a heavy object hitting a bluestone slab, followed by the crisp sound of porcelain shattering, mixed with heavy breathing and the clash of weapons. Ye Jiuchen's pupils contracted sharply, and the silver needle at his waist had already slid into his palm; Dongfang Wan'er's soft sword was drawn with a "whoosh," the blade reflecting her tense profile.
The moment the carved wooden door was pushed open, a rush of cold moonlight washed over them. Twenty-odd men in black, like ghosts, surrounded the medicine shop, their faces covered only by veils, their eyes glowing a ghostly green in the darkness, their curved blades gleaming with a chilling light. The crowd parted automatically, and a man in black robes stepped slowly out, his robe, embroidered with dark red runes, brushing against the bluestone slabs with a rustling sound.
"Hide?" The man in black robes suddenly threw his head back and laughed, his voice like fingernails scraping against a bronze mirror. "When you took the Ice Crystal Grass in the Ice Abyss, you should have known that there are no secrets in this world that can be hidden." He raised his hand and waved it, a flash of cold light, a curved blade flew past Ye Jiuchen's ear and deeply embedded itself in the wooden door behind him, dark red blood beads still congealed on the blade. "Hand over that bottle of powder, and I'll leave you with your corpses intact."
Ye Jiuchen took a deep breath and circulated his inner energy. A warm current, like a trickle, flowed through his dantian, yet converged into a surging river in his meridians, and the silver needles in his palm glowed with a pale golden light. Dongfang Wan'er's soft sword drew a graceful arc, its tip catching a few fallen leaves that spun eerily in the moonlight. The two stood back to back, the night wind ruffling their clothes, like two battle flags about to flutter in the deathly silence of the night.
Inside the medicine shop, the master craftsman trembled as he carefully tucked the porcelain bottle into his robes, his calloused hands stroking the bronze medicine grinder on the medicine cabinet. A resolute glint flashed in the old man's cloudy eyes as his fingertips gently tapped a hidden compartment concealed by a mechanism—there lay a yellowed copy of the "Poison Classic" and a "Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill" capable of curing all poisons.
Night fell like ink, the thick darkness enveloping the medicine hut. Only a few faint candlelight shone through the windowpanes, flickering in the cold wind. A man in black robes stood in the shadows, his face hidden beneath his hood, only a pair of sinister eyes visible, fixed intently on Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er. Seeing their composed and fearless expressions, a cold glint flashed in the man's eyes, and he sneered, "You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to drink the penalty cup!" Before his words even finished, he swung his wide sleeves sharply, like the Grim Reaper wielding his scythe, and a series of rustling footsteps echoed around them.
In an instant, countless men in black surged forth from all directions like a tidal wave. Under the moonlight, the curved blades in their hands gleamed with a chilling light, as if they could cleave the night in two. Ye Jiuchen's eyes sharpened, and his figure shot out like an arrow released from a bow. The silver needles in his hand flashed like starlight, the sound of them piercing the air rising and falling. Each needle pierced the pressure points of the men in black with perfect precision. Those men in black who were pierced suddenly stiffened, their fierce attacks came to an abrupt halt, and the curved blades in their hands clattered to the ground. They clutched their wounds, curled up in pain, and let out cries of agony.
However, the number of men in black was overwhelming, like an endless tide. One wave fell, and another immediately took its place, completely surrounding Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er. Dongfang Wan'er gave a soft shout, her soft sword flashing like a serpent emerging from its hole, tracing graceful arcs in the air. The sword flowers shimmered, like blooming silver lotuses, dazzling and captivating. She moved with the agility of a swallow, weaving and dodging among the men in black. Where her blade passed, blood splattered, staining the ground beneath her feet. But the men in black coordinated perfectly, responding to each other, gradually separating her and Ye Jiuchen, intending to defeat them one by one.
Ye Jiuchen was frantic. While desperately fending off the surging tide of men in black, he shouted, "Wan'er, be careful!" He circulated his inner energy, his blood surging, and the power of his silver needles was even greater than before. Each needle whistled through the air, attempting to break through the encirclement of men in black and reunite with Dongfang Wan'er. Dongfang Wan'er bit her lower lip, her bangs already soaked with sweat and clinging to her cheeks. She forced herself to remain calm, her eyes sharp as lightning, keenly seizing every opening in the fierce battle.
Suddenly, a glint flashed in her eyes. Seizing an opening in the defense of one of the men in black, she thrust her soft sword forward, piercing precisely into his chest. Taking advantage of the other men's surprise, she flicked her wrist, drawing her sword and swinging it backhand. A sharp sword aura whistled out, forcing the men in black to stagger back several steps. Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, the battle reaching a stalemate, a strange sound suddenly echoed from inside the medicine hut, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, or a demon's low groan.
The black-robed man's expression changed drastically, and he abruptly turned to look at the medicine hut. A wisp of dark green smoke slowly drifted out from the window crack, rising gently, emanating a pungent and nauseating odor. The black-robed man knew something was wrong and shouted, "Retreat!" However, it was too late. The dark green smoke, as if alive, rapidly spread, and wherever it reached, the black-robed men covered their mouths and noses, coughing violently, tears streaming uncontrollably from their eyes, their eyes turning bloodshot, their fighting ability instantly and drastically reduced.
Seizing this rare opportunity, Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er immediately launched a counterattack. Their minds were in perfect harmony, their teamwork flawless, each move precise and controlled. In an instant, the men in black were thrown into disarray and forced to retreat. Seeing the situation completely out of control, a venomous glint flashed in the black-robed man's eyes. Without hesitation, he pulled a black pill from his robes and swallowed it whole.
In an instant, an astonishing change occurred. The black-robed man's body began to swell wildly, his originally slender frame transforming into a burly, robust physique, with veins bulging beneath his skin like twisted green snakes. His eyes turned bloodshot, radiating a chillingly fierce light. "You will all die!" the black-robed man roared, his voice filled with boundless hatred, a howl from hell itself. He flashed forward, moving with ghostly speed, arriving before Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er in the blink of an eye. He unleashed a punch, the wind whistling through the air as if tearing it apart, producing a piercing scream.
Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er dared not take the fierce attack head-on and hurriedly dodged to the side. However, the black-robed man's attacks were like a storm, wave after wave, relentless and overwhelming. They could only barely cope, gradually being forced into a desperate situation and falling into a disadvantageous position. Just at this critical moment, the door of the medicine hut was smashed open with a "bang," the huge impact causing the ground to tremble slightly.
A master emerged from within, holding an ancient and gleaming book called the "Poison Sutra," his expression grave. His face was resolute, as if he had already disregarded life and death. He roared, "You wicked creature, cease your arrogance!" His voice, like a booming bell, reverberated through the night, making everyone's eardrums ache. With that, the master raised the "Poison Sutra" high, chanting incantations; ancient and mysterious spells flowed from his lips, echoing in the air.
As the master chanted the incantation, the surrounding air seemed to be stirred by an invisible force. The dark green smoke began to spin wildly, faster and faster, gradually condensing into a huge vortex. A powerful suction force emanated from the vortex, like a bottomless black hole, drawing the black-robed man and the others in black towards its center. The black-robed man was terrified, struggling desperately to escape the terrifying suction, but no matter how hard he tried, it was to no avail.
He watched helplessly as he and his men were slowly sucked into the vortex, his heart filled with resentment and despair. "No! I won't let you go!" the black-robed man roared in despair, his voice echoing through the night sky, brimming with hatred and resentment. Finally, both the black-robed man and the other black-clad figure were swallowed by the vortex and vanished without a trace. The dark green smoke gradually dissipated, and the surroundings returned to calm, with only the bloodstains and chaotic marks on the ground telling the story of the fierce battle that had just taken place.
Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief, their tense bodies finally relaxing. They looked at their master, their eyes filled with worry and gratitude. Their master's face was as pale as paper, his forehead covered in large beads of sweat that slid down his cheeks, but his eyes showed relief and contentment. "Master, are you alright?" Ye Jiuchen asked with concern, quickly walking to his master's side and supporting him.
The master waved his hand, revealing a weak smile, and said, "I'm fine. We owe it all to this 'Poison Manual,' otherwise we would have been in grave danger today." Dongfang Wan'er also sheathed her soft sword and walked to her master, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Master, thank you. If it weren't for you, we..." The master interrupted her, saying earnestly, "You are my most prized disciples. How could I stand by and watch you perish? However, this matter is not over yet. The forces behind this will likely not let it go easily. We must be even more careful."
Ye Jiuchen and Dongfang Wan'er exchanged a determined glance and nodded emphatically. The night remained deep, but their hearts were filled with courage and resolve. They knew the road ahead was fraught with unknowns and dangers, but as long as they, master and disciple, were of one mind and trusted each other, they could face any difficulty together and protect everything they cherished.