Chapter 19: Reversal

“When I came to Changzhou, I consulted the Intelligence Bureau's official gazettes regarding the Bloodbath Alliance. This man has murdered husbands, stolen wives and children, and seized property; his atrocities are numerous, and he has already been placed on the Imperial Court's execution list,” Cang Yinyue explained.

She cast a cold glance at Yu Changlu, looking at him as if he were already a dead man.

By this time, Yu Changlu was being tormented by toxins to the point that his consciousness was nearing collapse. Aside from struggling to maintain a shred of will to cry out to Li Musheng for help, he was completely unable to defend himself.

Li Musheng nodded slightly, turned, and leaped onto a robust, vigorous mule-horse, taking a seat.

Though the mule-horse was of inferior quality, it possessed a modicum of human-like intelligence; seemingly knowing that Li Musheng had saved it, it nuzzled its head affectionately against him.

Li Musheng looked down at Yu Changlu, whose heart was being invaded by poison and whose gaze was gradually fading. He shook his head and turned his attention to Cang Yinyue

“Miss Cang, you mentioned something about an execution list just now. Does the Intelligence Bureau, in addition to being responsible for catching foreign spies and scouts, also handle the duty of purging villains from the martial arts world?”

While circulating her true qi to gradually force the toxins out of her palms, strand by strand, Cang Yinyue explained

“Currently, we are only collecting information. It is not just the Intelligence Bureau; the Six Doors and the Imperial Guard are also doing the same thing.”

As she spoke, a sharp edge appeared in her eyes. She continued, “The martial arts factions are too vast for the Imperial Court to suppress. Some heinous criminals, even when placed on the official wanted lists, remain untouchable by the government because they are protected by certain martial sects or gangs.”

“Furthermore, some martial arts factions are themselves the very source of corruption, preying upon the common people and poisoning the Great Li Empire. Therefore, this entire martial world should have been purged long ago; the Great Li Court simply lacks a catalyst.”

Hearing this, Li Musheng raised an eyebrow and asked in a low voice

“This should be considered a state secret, shouldn't it? Aren't you afraid I might spread this news and cause a shockwave through the martial world?”

Cang Yinyue’s expression remained calm as she looked directly at Li Musheng

“Have you forgotten your identity as a Prince of Great Li?”

Li Musheng shrugged. “Isn't it all still up in the air? Besides, what if I suddenly have a whim and decide to become the Alliance Leader of the martial world?”

Cang Yinyue’s eyelid twitched slightly as she expelled the last trace of toxin from her body.

Then, her figure rose lightly as she sat upon her own mule-horse.

“Actually, it wouldn't matter if it got out. There are too many rumors and half-truths in the martial world; some will believe them, while others will merely sneer.”

“Before any real action is taken, rumors will always remain just rumors. Besides, few in the martial world would believe that the Imperial Court, surrounded by hostile nations, would dare to meddle in the affairs of the martial world.”

As Cang Yinyue spoke, she reached out to stroke the mule-horse beneath her, though she was secretly marveling at how the animal's eyes were now bright and spirited, appearing even more energetic than she was.

“You aren't wrong.”

Li Musheng nodded, patted the horse's back, and continued on his way.

The masked woman had gone to pursue the members of the Bloodbath Alliance; since no one was paying them any attention right now, it was clearly a good time to make progress on their journey.

However, after a moment of thought, he asked curiously

“Can the Great Li Court truly swallow this entire martial world?”

At that moment, Cang Yinyue sat up straight. With a flash of her blade, the groaning Yu Changlu, who was lying on the ground, was instantly decapitated.

“I don't know, and it is not my concern to consider.”

Cang Yinyue shook her head, refusing to discuss the matter further. After giving Yu Changlu a swift end, she departed along with Li Musheng.

Once they crossed the mountain ahead, the road would become easier. In about three days' journey, they would reach Shangyang City.

However, before they had traveled much further, a sudden, thunderous roar erupted from the distant forest.

Under the cover of night, a cluster of dense trees snapped with a series of loud cracks, crashing one after another into the thickets and shrubs, kicking up a gust of wind and dust.

Immediately following, a dark figure stumbled out from the dense woods, passing right in front of Li Musheng and Cang Yinyue on the mountain path, fleeing toward a nearby valley.

“You have been struck by my 'Thousand-Leaf Wind-Destroying Palm'! Your internal meridians must be half-severed by now. Where can you possibly escape to in these wild mountains? Why not stop and accept your death so that I may grant you a quick end!”

Three figures were in hot pursuit behind the dark shadow. The speaker was none other than the black-robed middle-aged man who had retreated earlier.

At this moment, Cang Yinyue also clearly saw the fleeing figure; it was the masked woman who had gone to hunt the three individuals earlier.

Seeing this, her expression changed. She immediately pulled Li Musheng back, distancing themselves from this person who possessed poisonous martial arts.

The masked woman cast a hurried glance at them but had no time to pay them any mind; clutching her chest, she fled rapidly into the valley ahead.

The three experts from the Bloodbath Alliance arrived in an instant, also catching sight of Li Musheng and Cang Yinyue.

However, they merely gave them a cold, sweeping glance without stopping, continuing their pursuit of the masked woman.

Clearly, the black-robed middle-aged man and the two elders believed the masked woman was the greatest threat and had to be dealt with first.

Cang Yinyue and Li Musheng halted by the roadside. She looked toward the valley, a strange expression flashing across her face.

She seemed somewhat surprised; clearly, the masked woman had gone to hunt the three poisoned members of the Bloodbath Alliance, yet in the blink of an eye, she had become the one being hunted.

However, she did not dwell on it, immediately pulling Li Musheng to take the opportunity to leave.

Given the current situation, once the Bloodbath Alliance dealt with the masked woman, they likely wouldn't let them go either.

Yet, Li Musheng waved his hand and looked toward the valley, saying

“Don't be in a hurry. Let's watch first.”

Just then, although the masked woman had reached the valley, she was intercepted by the black-robed middle-aged man and the two elders, who blocked her retreat from three sides.

“Look at the mess you've made! I will skin you alive and tear out your tendons later! You shall die a miserable death!”

The black-robed middle-aged man's gaze swept over the gruesome corpses of the Bloodbath Alliance disciples in the valley, and he roared with a chilling voice.

The expressions of the other two elders were also extremely grim, looking as if they wished to kill the masked woman immediately.

However, the surrounded masked woman suddenly let out a cold laugh

“A group of hypocritical villains! You knew full well that I had placed poison around the perimeter of this valley, yet you only secretly took the antidote yourselves, deliberately letting your disciples be poisoned to death just to lower my guard. The ones truly responsible for their deaths are not me, but yourselves!”

Hearing this, the black-robed middle-aged man's eyes narrowed, and the anger on his face gradually vanished. He let out a heavy, cold snort and said

“If we hadn't done that, how else could we have lured you into the trap?”

One of the elders stared at the masked woman and said in a heavy voice

“Your poisonous arts are too terrifying. We had no way to capture you before, so we had to resort to this desperate measure. Otherwise, if we let a poisonous woman like you escape, there is no telling how many more people would die at your hands.”

“Stop wasting words with her! To avoid any further complications, break her limbs first!”

At this point, the other elder clearly understood that talking was not beneficial and immediately launched a thunderous attack toward the masked woman.

Seeing this, the masked woman's expression changed, and she hurriedly shouted loudly

“Junior Brother, what are you waiting for? Strike now!”