190: Chapter 190 The great revenge is done; I can die in peace!

Just before this ranking announcement, news spread from Heaven Beyond Heaven that they had pledged allegiance to Su Rui.

Since they now belonged to the Northern Li Jianghu system, Yue Yao could naturally be included in the rankings.

This was the true reason for her ranking first.

However, Ji Ruofeng did not elaborate on these inside stories.

Seeing his Master remain silent, Xiao Chuhe's doubts grew heavier, and he continued reading downwards.

As he looked, the entire person froze.

"You specifically created this ranking list for Mr. Su's Martial Arts Hall, didn't you?"

He murmured, almost unable to believe it.

The top spot was related to Su Rui, and the subsequent rankings were even more preposterous—seven or eight out of ten were people from the Martial Arts Hall.

The only exception was the seventh-ranked assassin, Yue Ji, who happened to have had an interaction with Su Rui before.

The entire list looked as if it had been tailor-made for the Martial Arts Hall.

Xiao Chuhe stared at Ji Ruofeng, waiting for an explanation.

"There was nothing I could do about it," Ji Ruofeng spread his hands.

In the past, the Northern Li Jianghu was peaceful, and any disturbances were quickly quelled; the Jianghu structure had remained unchanged for years.

But now, turmoil had suddenly erupted, experts were appearing frequently, and various figures were emerging.

Ji Ruofeng had even considered quitting his post for a while.

However, remembering that the Hundred Knowledge Hall's century-long tradition of compiling rankings must not be broken under his watch, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and produce the list.

As for the Beauty Ranking? Whoever was unsatisfied could go argue with the Martial Arts Hall—that was the solution Ji Ruofeng came up with.

Looking at his newly accepted Master's completely apathetic demeanor, Xiao Chuhe's eyes widened, and a trace of wavering suddenly crossed his mind: Was accepting him as Master the right or wrong decision?

Ji Ruofeng grinned, completely unconcerned.

"Men!"

"Take the Autumn Water Ranking and spread it everywhere!"

"Yes!"

A Disciple of the Hundred Knowledge Hall responded and quickly left after taking the list.

Ji Ruofeng's gaze slowly fell upon Xiao Chuhe.

"Disciple, next, your Master will teach you true skills. You must hold steady."

Xiao Chuhe's heart sank, vaguely sensing that something was wrong.

...

The Heavenly Spring Pavilion had long since turned into ruins.

"Heh, good Disciple, I wonder who whispered something in your ear to make you turn against me like this.

If I truly harmed your entire family, how could I have raised you from childhood?"

Although the Old Man of Heavenly Spring was severely wounded, his eyes revealed ferocity, yet a gentle smile still hung on his lips, as if this expression had long been etched into his bones, unchanging regardless of life, death, honor, or disgrace.

"No one said anything to me. It was the Hall Master of Snow Moon City who awakened my sealed memories."

The Underworld Marquis leaned on his great saber for support, his face as pale as paper.

"The Hall Master of Snow Moon City?"

The Old Man of Heavenly Spring was first stunned, as if he hadn't heard clearly, then his pupils contracted, and a disquieting thought surfaced in his heart.

It couldn't be... him, right?

He knew that the Underworld Marquis had gone to Snow Moon City with another person to attend the Martial Arts Assembly, but he hadn't paid much attention to it.

Now hearing that name, his heart suddenly tightened.

If it was truly related to that person—

He dared not think further.

In an instant, killing intent surged, and he showed no mercy.

Today, these two must not be allowed to leave alive!

A clear, cold moonlight sliced through the night, and a figure quietly appeared behind the Old Man of Heavenly Spring.

The belt-tied sword shot out silently, aiming directly for the throat.

Suddenly, an arm shot across the void, actually grasping the blade with a bare, flesh-and-blood palm!

Yue Ji's expression changed drastically, and she violently pulled back her long sword. Where the edge passed, that person's palm was severed at the wrist, and blood sprayed onto the ground.

But the person whose hand was severed felt no pain, turned around, and lunged toward Yue Ji. His Moves were stiff, but every strike was desperate, leaving no room for retreat.

"You little girl, why are you getting involved?"

The Old Man of Heavenly Spring's face darkened, and with a wave of his sleeve, dozens of figures emerged from the ruins.

The Underworld Marquis recognized them at a glance; these were all his former fellow Disciples.

But at this moment, their eyes were dull, their movements like Puppets, devoid of any Life Qi.

"Medicine Men?!"

Yue Ji blurted out, her eyes filled with shock.

"The little girl has quite good eyesight," the Old Man of Heavenly Spring sneered. "I accidentally came across an Incomplete Manual of a secret Western Chu method, studied it diligently, and finally perfected the art of the Medicine Men.

Don't worry, I'll let you taste this flavor later as well."

His pride was evident in his words.

"Dream on!"

The Underworld Marquis roared in anger, leaped up, and brought his great saber down toward the Old Man of Heavenly Spring's head with the force of thunder!

"Blood Burning Secret Art!"

Four Medicine Men fiercely blocked in front, showing no fear, meeting that single slash with the posture of fighting to the death.

"For me—Burn!"

The Underworld Marquis roared hoarsely, and a scarlet flame suddenly rose around him. His Aura was like a volcanic eruption, terrifying to the extreme.

The four who were supposed to block the blow were completely torn apart by the single strike, their severed limbs flying everywhere.

The Old Man of Heavenly Spring's expression changed drastically.

Yue Ji also looked over in shock.

But she was not overly surprised—the Underworld Marquis had told her before that this was a life-sacrificing technique, one that required him to slay his enemy even if his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

The current Underworld Marquis was like an Asura descending, his body burning with crimson Qi.

The Medicine Men who were originally besieging Yue Ji, under the control of the Old Man of Heavenly Spring, all turned their direction and rushed toward the Underworld Marquis.

However, at this moment, he was no longer someone these walking corpses could contend with.

In a few breaths, a large number of them fell.

The Old Man of Heavenly Spring was terrified and wanted to flee.

But Yue Ji quickly blocked his escape route.

He suddenly closed the distance to Yue Ji, raised his hand, and scattered a large cloud of greenish mist.

A flicker of heartache crossed his eyes—that was the precious medicinal catalyst used to refine Medicine Men, something he treasured daily, but now, with his life on the line, he had no choice but to discard it.

Yue Ji quickly retreated several steps but still inhaled a small amount. Immediately, her eyes became vacant, and her consciousness grew hazy.

"Hold him off!"

Seeing this, the Old Man of Heavenly Spring was overjoyed.

Although he hadn't completely refined her into a Medicine Man, temporary control was enough.

Before his words faded, he suddenly felt a wind movement behind his head.

He turned back sharply—

He saw the Underworld Marquis's figure withered and gaunt, thin as a skeleton, but the oppressive feeling was a hundred times stronger than before!

A horizontal slash swept out, fast as a startling thunderclap.

Before the Old Man of Heavenly Spring could react, his head flew off his neck, and blood spurted toward the sky.

His corpse slowly fell to the ground.

When the Underworld Marquis landed, his steps staggered, and he could barely stand.

His once solid and sturdy body was now shriveled and withered, leaving only skin and bones.

The haze in Yue Ji's eyes slightly dispersed, and her consciousness gradually cleared.

Seeing the Underworld Marquis's appearance, her expression changed drastically.

"Don't worry about me, hurry and go!"

The Underworld Marquis's white hair had long lost its former luster, dry and ashen, like withered grass eroded by wind and frost for many years.

His entire being's Aura was extremely weak, as if he could scatter in the wind at any moment.

"Underworld Marquis!"

"Go! The great vengeance is settled; I can die in peace!"

The Underworld Marquis looked at Yue Ji, his gaze dim like a candle about to be extinguished.

When his entire clan was massacred back then, he learned the supreme skill from the Old Man of Heavenly Spring, but by chance, he met Yue Ji.

From then on, the two walked side by side, becoming the terrifying 'Twin Shadows of Killing' in the Jianghu.

In his heart, she was never just a companion; she was the only remaining family.

Now that his life was like a flickering candle, he only worried about her being alone on a dangerous path ahead.

Moreover, the poisonous mist scattered by the Old Man of Heavenly Spring just now was certainly no harmless thing.

He gasped for a few breaths and spoke with difficulty: "Go... go to Snow Moon City and seek refuge with the Martial Arts Hall!"

"Underworld Marquis!"

Yue Ji stood frozen, feeling cold all over.

"Go, that place can keep you safe... From now on, don't get involved in bloodshed anymore."

His voice gradually grew hoarse, almost a whisper.

Before his words completely faded, a scarlet flame suddenly rose from his withered body. Flesh, skin, and bone were all consumed by the burning, as if a dying lamp had been lit from within.

Under Yue Ji's tearful gaze, the flames soared, and in an instant, only a golden saber covered in cracks remained silently stuck in the scorched earth.

The surrounding Medicine Men, due to the death of their Master, all froze motionless, like Puppets whose strings had been cut.

Yue Ji slowly stood up, her belt-tied sword lightly humming as it was drawn. A sword light swept across, and the heads of all the Medicine Men fell to the ground.

She did not look back again, turned, and left, her figure melting into the night.

Not long after, several dark figures sped toward the scene.

"Damn it, we were one step too late!"

A sharp, cold voice sounded.

"My Lord, the secret art of the Medicine Men is something the higher-ups strictly ordered us to obtain. Could the news have leaked?"

A person bowed to examine the corpse of the Old Man of Heavenly Spring and reported in a low voice.

"Search! See if the secret manual is still here!"

"Yes!"

The death of the Old Man of Heavenly Spring would not cause much of a ripple in the Northern Li Jianghu.

Although this person had entered the Early Stage of Carefree Heaven Realm and had some achievements in miscellaneous medical arts, his reputation was not prominent, nor were his methods outstanding.

What truly drew covetous eyes was the method for making Medicine Men passed down from the old dynasty of Western Chu—using secret medicines to control people's minds and refining them into death-sworn Puppets who knew neither pain nor fear.

This kind of absolute obedience in combat power was equivalent to a hidden sharp blade for those secretly plotting.

Emperor Mingde's face darkened when he heard the news.

This matter was originally secret; even the intelligence gathering had been personally instructed by him and quietly advanced.

Just as success was imminent, it was suddenly disrupted?

"Who did the deed?"

"Your Majesty, the Old Man of Heavenly Spring was decapitated with a single strike. A shattered golden saber was left at the scene, and the surrounding Medicine Men were all killed by sword wounds."

"Golden saber?" Emperor Mingde frowned slightly.

"Precisely.

It is reported that this saber belonged to the Jianghu assassin, the Underworld Marquis.

And the Underworld Marquis is the Disciple of the Old Man of Heavenly Spring."

"You mean, he was killed by his own Disciple? Why?"

"It might be related to the bloody case at the Snow Silk Tower ten years ago."

"Regardless of the reason, the art of the Medicine Men must not be lost. Investigate immediately!"

"Yes! The Underworld Marquis has always traveled with a woman named Yue Ji. Perhaps we can find clues from her."

"Yue Ji from the Autumn Water Ranking?" Emperor Mingde paused slightly, but didn't pay much attention. "Bring her back for questioning. Furthermore, continue to advance the matter of the Medicine Men."

"As you command!"

After everyone withdrew, Emperor Mingde closed his eyes slightly and suddenly spoke faintly:

"Imperial Son, eavesdropping outside the door, what troubles you?"

A handsome, delicate youth walked in slowly.

"Your humble son pays respects to Father Emperor."

"Yu'er, what is it?"

The visitor was Xiao Yu, the son of Emperor Mingde and Consort Xuan.

"Father Emperor, this son wishes to visit Mother."

Xiao Yu knelt down and bowed his head, his eyes lowered.

But in his heart, that segment of secret conversation replayed repeatedly.

Medicine Man Art... He silently noted down those four words.

Emperor Mingde's expression froze slightly, a shadow of gloom flashing through his eyes.

After Ye Dingzhi committed suicide, Consort Xuan voluntarily returned to the palace to save her life, but she was placed under house arrest in the deep courtyard and forbidden to go out.

Seeing his son mention it now, he stared at Xiao Yu for a long time, and finally said faintly:

"Very well, you may go for a visit."

"Thank you, Father Emperor!"

Xiao Yu looked up, and his face showed no trace of gloom, only delight shining in his eyes.