129: Despair! The despair of imminent death!

"Poisoning a Senior Brother of the same sect, betraying Shuzhong, and being relentlessly pursued by the Tang Sect.

Taking refuge with the Golden Money Gang, under the protection of the old man. Am I wrong in what I've said?"

"Young Lord, you know all this?"

Cold sweat beaded on Han Zhen's forehead. He had only recently pledged allegiance to Shangguan Jinhong, and even within the Golden Money Gang, very few people knew him or his true identity.

"Young Lord... you see everything clearly. This subordinate... was indeed Tang Zhen, but now I am no longer a member of the Tang Sect. I have reverted to my original family name, Han Zhen."

A Fei's hand remained on his sword, his gaze moving between Lu Jiuyuan and Tang Zhen. As soon as Lu Jiuyuan gave even the slightest signal, his sword would instantly pierce Tang Zhen's throat.

Lu Jiuyuan did not look at him, only at Tang Zhen: "Raise your head."

Han Zhen slowly raised his head, his face pale.

"Tell me, why did you betray the Tang Sect? And is today's incident related to you?"

Lu Jiuyuan's tone was calm, betraying no emotion.

Tang Zhen took a deep breath, knowing that any concealment at this moment would be courting death, and immediately said:

"Young Lord, please listen. I am an adopted son with a different surname, and I changed my name upon entering the sect. I cannot compare to the direct descendants of the Tang Family. However, my poison skills and martial arts are among the top in the sect among the younger generation.

A direct descendant Senior Brother tried to seize my poison manual, and I killed him in self-defense... I had no choice but to betray the Tang Sect. Since then, although the Jianghu is vast, it has been difficult to escape the Tang Sect's inescapable net.

I sought refuge with the Golden Money Gang for protection. The Gang Leader instructed this subordinate to follow the Young Lord to prevent you from being ambushed by scoundrels using poison and trickery."

He paused, stealing a glance at Lu Jiuyuan's expression, and continued:

"Fortunately, I met the Young Lord. Today, I have witnessed the unfathomable depth of the Young Lord's martial arts.

This subordinate absolutely has no intention of harming the Young Lord! Today's incident is both a coincidence and intentional!

The Three Ferocious Outlaws of Guanwai must have been chasing Bai Tianyu and Ma Kongqun to this place.

This subordinate, having seen the Young Lord force back Bai Tianyu, the sixth greatest Divine Blade in the world, was curious to know just how high the Young Lord's martial arts truly were, which is why I used a trick to lure them here."

"Also, during yesterday's procurement, I saw Tang Sect Disciples. They might be here looking for me..."

After he finished speaking, he kowtowed deeply again: "This subordinate deceived the Young Lord and tested the Young Lord; I deserve ten thousand deaths! Please punish me, Young Lord!"

"You said your poison skills are number one in the Tang Sect?"

"Among the younger generation of the Tang Sect, there is no one stronger than this subordinate. Whether it's administering poison or detoxifying, this subordinate is undeniably the best among the younger generation."

"How do you compare to the Five Poison Child?"

Han Zhen's expression immediately changed: "Five Poison Child? He is a top master of poison. If it were a comparison of poison skills with him, the Tang Sect might need to send all its members, old and young, to contend.

He is a Major Achievement practitioner of poison in the last hundred years, having reached the stage of formlessness and acting as he pleases.

This subordinate... is far inferior to him!"

"Oh, is the gap that big?"

"If there were also a weapons ranking for poison, the Five Poison Child would be number one in the world, while this subordinate could only be considered around tenth in the world."

Lu Jiuyuan's fingers gently tapped the edge of the stone bench, making soft 'thud-thud' sounds, which were exceptionally clear in the dead silent courtyard.

"Tenth in the world... that's not disgracing me," he said lightly.

His gaze fell back on Han Zhen's face, the scrutinizing look making the latter's scalp tingle.

"Did you lure the Three Ferocious Outlaws of Guanwai here to eliminate them by my hand, or did you truly want to gauge my capabilities?"

Han Zhen was drenched in cold sweat, not daring to conceal anything: "This subordinate... wanted to personally witness how terrifying the Young Lord's sword truly is. This subordinate knows his mistake!"

"Get up," Lu Jiuyuan suddenly said.

Han Zhen was stunned, raising his head in disbelief.

"Put your mask back on, Han Zhen," Lu Jiuyuan's tone was unquestionable.

"I only know the old servant Han Zhen, not some Tang Sect traitor Tang Zhen.

I don't care about your past. As long as you're not a villain who commits all sorts of evil, I'm willing to give you a chance.

But from this moment on, you only need to remember whose man you are."

"Yes! Young Lord! This subordinate Han Zhen, in this life and this world, belongs only to the Young Lord! If I ever harbor disloyalty, may heaven and earth punish me, and may I die a terrible death!"

Han Zhen's voice trembled. He had originally thought he was doomed, but unexpectedly found a chance to live. He kowtowed heavily, then hastily and clumsily re-affixed the exquisite human skin mask to his face.

A moment later, he reverted to the appearance of that slightly weathered middle-aged uncle.

Yun Chang and the four women watched this scene, secretly cursing in their hearts: "You dog Han Zhen, you wanted to test him and used us as tools! We were almost ravaged by those beasts, you beast, you truly are an animal!"

A Fei's hand slowly relaxed from his sword, but his gaze towards Han Zhen still carried a subtle, almost imperceptible vigilance.

The Law of survival in the wilderness told him that a person who had betrayed once was always worthy of vigilance.

Lu Jiuyuan seemed to read his thoughts, turning his head to glance at A Fei: "Don't use someone you doubt; don't doubt someone you use. If he makes any move, just kill him."

Han Zhen, who had just put on his mask, shivered and quickly bowed: "This subordinate would never dare!"

Just then, Lu Jiuyuan's gaze suddenly turned to the darkness beyond the courtyard wall, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Old Han, your method of luring people is quite effective; the enemies are coming in waves. If I hadn't seen through it, I might have frowned too."

"That is the Young Lord's Wisdom Eye, sharp as a torch..." Han Zhen chuckled beside him.

A Fei looked outside. At this moment, he also heard the sound of approaching people; he was two breaths slower than Lu Jiuyuan.

And those two breaths of time represented a distance of over ten zhang; this was the gap.

A Fei re-entered a state of alert, his hand on his sword. Although his iron-sheet sword had not been drawn, the chilling killing intent had once again condensed.

A few more breaths passed.

Three figures silently appeared on the wall.

All three were dressed in the attire of old Tang Sect masters, with deerskin pouches at their waists, containing various poisons and hidden weapons.

Their figures were not burly, even somewhat gaunt, appearing to be around forty or fifty years old. Although they merely stood there, they exuded a cold and dangerous feeling.

The leader's eyes were sharp as an eagle's, fixed intently on Han Zhen, whose face had changed. His voice was hoarse, with a heavy Shuzhong accent:

"Tang Zhen, you are indeed here. Even if you have disguised yourself, you cannot hide the scent of being permeated by various poisons.

Betraying the sect, poisoning a fellow Disciple—your crime is unforgivable! Why don't you surrender and return with us to the Tang Family to face your punishment!"

Han Zhen's face darkened. He stepped forward, blocking Lu Jiuyuan, and sneered: "Tang Li, stop being hypocritical! You all know why that scoundrel Tang Feng wanted to seize my poison manual!

It's nothing more than fear that I, an adopted son with a different surname, would one day surpass you direct descendant wastes! You want to take me back? It depends on whether you have the ability!"

After speaking, Han Zhen naturally retreated behind Lu Jiuyuan again.

"My Lord, these three are Tang Li, Tang Ze, and Tang Meng, Elders of the Tang Sect's Law Enforcement Hall. Their martial arts, hidden weapons, and poison skills are all very formidable."

The black-clad man named Tang Li turned his gaze to Lu Jiuyuan and said coldly:

"The Tang Sect is handling its affairs; idlers, withdraw! This is our Tang Clan of Shu purging its ranks. If you interfere, then don't blame this old man for being Emotionless!"

Lu Jiuyuan didn't even turn to look at the three Tang Sect Law Enforcement Hall Elders. His gaze remained on Han Zhen:

"Old Han, why did you run behind me? That's not a good habit.

Your troubles, you solve them yourself.

Three people... are they enough to stretch your muscles?"

Upon hearing this, the humble expression on Han Zhen's face instantly vanished. His back straightened slightly, and a glint of ferocity flashed in his eyes.

He moved from behind Lu Jiuyuan to the front again.

"Apologies, My Lord, I'm used to hiding behind people!"

"My Lord, rest assured. You all step aside. Three old dogs won't dirty your hands."

Before he finished speaking, his hands, like butterflies flitting through flowers, swept and flicked at his waist!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!"

Several cold stars shot out silently, not at the three men, but at the large empty spaces around, above, and below them!

The cold stars moved extremely fast, yet collided in mid-air, suddenly exploding into a faint purple, almost invisible, toxic mist that instantly enveloped the area!

"Petty tricks!"

Tang Li snorted coldly. The three men almost simultaneously held their breath, their figures swaying like three giant black bats, deftly avoiding the range of the poisonous mist.

However, the moment they landed—

"Crack!"

"Pfft!"

The seemingly flat dirt ground suddenly sank, revealing several shallow pits. From the pits, several dark crossbow bolts, launched by mechanisms, shot out, aiming directly at their lower bodies!

At the same time, several seemingly harmless weeds around their landing spots suddenly sprang up, their leaf edges sharp as knives, carrying an eerie blue glow, sweeping towards their ankles!

It was a pre-arranged trap and poison formation!

Tang Ze reacted a split second too late. His boot was grazed by a poisonous crossbow bolt, instantly letting out a soft 'hiss' and emitting a puff of white smoke. He groaned, staggered back, and hurriedly swallowed an antidote pill.

Tang Meng, on the other hand, swept his sleeve, shaking off the poisonous weeds, his face growing even darker.

"You wretch! To use our sect's methods against our own people!"

Tang Li was furious. The three men no longer held back, their figures like lightning, forming a 'pin' character formation as they rushed towards Han Zhen!

Before they even reached him, a dense rain of flying needles, caltrops, and bone-piercing nails already enveloped Han Zhen's vital points. Most of these hidden weapons were coated with potent poisons, and their whistling through the air was sharp and piercing.

Han Zhen dared not meet them head-on. He retreated rapidly, while simultaneously waving his hands, scattering various poison powders and toxic sands, forming colorful yet deadly barriers in front of him.

For a time, the small courtyard was filled with swirling poisonous mist and crisscrossing hidden weapons. Both sides fought with the poisons and hidden weapons that the Tang Sect excelled at, making the encounter far more treacherous and bizarre than a direct fight with swords and blades.

Even a slight carelessness, a touch of poison, would lead to the fate of bones dissolving and flesh rotting.

Yun Chang, the four women, Lu Jiuyuan, and A Fei retreated again and again, almost out of the courtyard.

In the center of the arena, Han Zhen was at a disadvantage.

Although he was a Genius in poison, he was still young. Facing the siege of three experienced Law Enforcement Hall Elders, he gradually found himself overwhelmed.

Most of his poisons and hidden weapons were neutralized by the opponents' more exquisite techniques or specific antidotes, while their attacks grew increasingly fierce and venomous.

With a "rip!" sound, Han Zhen's sleeve was torn by a hooked hidden weapon, and a bloody scratch appeared on his arm. The wound quickly turned black.

He hurriedly pressed acupuncture points to stem the spread of the poison, his face growing even paler.

"Tang Zhen, face your doom!"

Tang Li seized the opportunity, closing in. His withered palm turned completely black, striking directly at Han Zhen's crown!

It was one of the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques, the Hundred Poisons Covering Heaven Hand!

If this palm even grazed him, without a direct hit, Han Zhen would surely die!

A glimmer of despair flashed in Han Zhen's eyes. His old strength was spent, new strength had not yet arisen; he had nowhere left to dodge!

PS: Brothers, my lumbar disc herniated today, two discs, and my back hurts so much I can't move. I was sent to the hospital by 120 and am currently lying down. I'll continue to update as usual, but I won't divide it into three chapters!

I have a little bit of a draft saved up, and my back pain doesn't affect typing on my phone. Updates will be normal.

Brothers, please help spread the word about the book, promote it, and send some free small gifts. The pressure of middle age, this old dog thanks you!