Chapter 1172 - 308: Outsmarting the Miasma to Turn the Tide, Brave Blades Sealing the Fate (Part 3)
The giant python loosened its grip in pain. Seizing the opening, Shi Feiyang brought both palms down, unleashing the ultimate killing move of the Hundred Victories Saber Technique—"Heaven and Earth Share One Lifespan." Golden palm shadows merged with ice-blue True Qi, like a blazing sun crashing to the earth. Amid a thunderous roar, the giant python was torn into chunks of flesh, and the rain of blood spattered the mountain road dark red.
Seeing the tide turn against her, Lan Qin’Er suddenly grabbed Ah Yina and pulled her in front as a shield.
Shi Feiyang’s eyes hardened. The palm force of the Hundred Victories Saber Technique’s final killing move, "Sun and Moon Shine Together," surged forth like collapsing mountains and overturning seas. Wherever the palm wind swept, the air shrieked with sharp detonations. Amid a scream, Lan Qin’Er and Ah Yina were shredded together into a mist of blood.
Ah Yina struggled on the brink of death, but her throat was pierced by a plum blossom dart released late by Shan Zhi. Black gauze fluttered down, revealing a face crawling with toxic sores. As the fierce battle ended, Yun Wuyue collapsed to the ground, her ankle swollen purple, black blood steadily seeping from the wound.
Shi Feiyang strode quickly over, tore off a strip of his robe to bind the wound, pressed his palm to it, ice-blue True Qi glowing from his hand. He said gently, "Miss Yun, do not fear. This poison cannot defeat me."
After forcing the poisonous blood out of Yun Wuyue, Shi Feiyang took a white jade bottle from his breast, poured out a few pills, then drew out Celestial Snow Lotus and ground it: "These are Celestial Star Pills and Snow Lotus Ointment. Used together inside and out, they can counter a hundred poisons."
𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
After feeding Yun Wuyue the pills, Shi Feiyang rose, gazing toward Miao Ling in the dusk. The mountain wind carried the stench of blood straight at him.
In the distance, the corpses of the Five Poison Sect disciples lay scattered in chaotic heaps, venomous insects crawling over the bodies. He clenched his fists, his eyes turning ever more cold and severe. "Since the Five Poison Sect has already made a move, Yang Yinglong’s plot surely does not end here. Pass down the order: the whole army on alert—no one is to relax, not even for an instant!"
These words were not only a command, but intentionally spoken for Yun Wuyue to hear, to see how she would respond.
"I shall strictly obey the Grand Squad Leader’s orders!" Xie Wen accepted the command and left, using the Feixu Qingyan Technique to swiftly melt into the air.
Dusk thickened. The bloody reek over Miao Ling was rolled by the mountain wind, mixed with the smell of rotting leaves, rushing toward their faces. Shi Feiyang crouched again, the ice-blue True Qi condensed by the Bright Jade Technique flowing in his palms, further driving out the lingering poison from Yun Wuyue’s ankle.
A faint flush of blood returned to Yun Wuyue’s pale face. Looking at the battlefield strewn with wreckage, she suddenly seized Shi Feiyang’s sleeve: "Hero Shi, Yang Yinglong’s plot... is the Five Poison Sect’s ’Bone-Eroding Miasma’!"
Her conscience was not yet fully lost; she still spoke truthfully of the conspiracy between the Five Poison Sect and Yang Yinglong’s rebel forces.
Shi Feiyang’s hands paused slightly, the ice-blue True Qi in his palms suddenly surging. "What is the Bone-Eroding Miasma?" Behind him, Miao Menlong gripped his triple-stock crossbow tight, Shan Zhi silently wiped his plum blossom darts, while Shi Xiong tore off cloth to wrap the wound on his shoulder. All four focused their minds and listened intently.
Yun Wuyue struggled to sit up, her plain white collar stained with dark purple blood traces. "This miasma is a secret art of the Five Poison Sect. When it meets the spring sun, it dissolves; when it meets people, it clings. Lan Qin’Er has laid it along the route the Ming Army must pass. That toxic mist looks formless, yet in truth, it seals the throat the moment it draws blood; once it enters the body, it rots the bones."
Her voice trembled, her eyes full of worry. "Now the Ming Army is being pushed back step by step—it is precisely because they’ve fallen prey to this toxic miasma."
On hearing this, Miao Menlong’s crossbow trigger clicked loudly. "No wonder when my crossbow arrows shot toward the rebel ranks, I saw our Great Ming Army soldiers all with deathly pale faces, lacking even the strength to run! So that’s how it is." Shan Zhi let out a cold laugh, the tip of his dart lifting a chunk of poisoned flesh. "What a vicious trick—crushing our Great Ming Army without losing a single soldier."
Shi Feiyang stood up, his dark battle garb whipping in the wind, brows knotted into a "川" shape. In a low voice he asked Yun Wuyue, "Is there a way to break it?" Then he lifted his head, looking toward the night mist slowly rising in the distance, his gaze sharp as a hawk.
Yun Wuyue looked at him, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. "Only the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, Lan Xiaodie, can dispel it. But..."
She paused, her voice dropping softer. "I’ve heard that after the Five Poison Sect was taken in by the Celestial Star Sect, Lan Xiaodie grew dispirited and reclusive, withdrawing to the Land of the Far West. To seek her out is no easy task."
Shi Xiong suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse like a broken gong. "No matter how far, we’ll risk our lives to find her! We can’t just watch the Ming Army be poisoned to death by this miasma!"
He smashed his fist against a nearby tree trunk, shaking down a shower of dead leaves.
Shi Feiyang pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Brother Miao, Brother Shan, I must trouble you two to escort Miss Yun to the hidden forest dwelling near Feima Pass so she can recover." He looked to the southeast, his tone catching slightly. "That place once was... Xiangyu and my residence. Though long abandoned, it is well concealed, and the miasma will find it hard to invade."
Miao Menlong cupped his hands in assent. "Grand Squad Leader, rest easy! With my triple-stock crossbow arrows, I will surely guard Miss Yun well!" Shan Zhi stowed his plum blossom darts in a leather pouch, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint smile. "Just the chance to test my ’Plum Blossom Formation’ and see whether those sneaking rats can break in." Yun Wuyue struggled to rise, but, the poison not yet cleared, she fell back down again. "Hero Shi, this injury is nothing. As for seeking Lan Xiaodie..."
"Miss Yun, you need not worry. Just focus on healing." Shi Feiyang cut her off, drawing a small jade bottle from his breast and pouring out a fragrant pill. "First take this ’Clear Miasma Pill’—preserving your life is what matters. As for seeking Lan Xiaodie, I will arrange it myself." He placed the pill into Yun Wuyue’s hand, his gaze unwavering. "The lives of the Bozhou common folk and the Ming Army officers and men— I will never abandon them lightly."
Just then, Xie Wen used the Feixu Qingyan Technique, his figure drifting in like a wisp of thin fog. "Grand Squad Leader, covert sentries have been set all around. Within ten li, any disturbance will be reported at once!" Catching sight of the pill in Yun Wuyue’s hand, he started slightly, then understood what had transpired. Shi Feiyang nodded. "Brother Xie, return to Feima Pass at once and gather the heroes of every quarter to discuss countermeasures. Remember, this matter is secret, and must not be leaked."