The Martial Doctor

"Ah Huo, do me a favor..." Lin Miao communicated with the Fire Qilin through telepathy.

"Don’t worry, brother, I understand." The Fire Qilin, after all, takes on the form of a lion and is not suited to appear in front of people, so it stayed with the carriage.

As for the Ice Howler, it folded its wings into its body, resembling something like a white-haired dog, which, although rare, wouldn’t attract much attention from outsiders.

Because they had to travel in the afternoon, they only drank lightly and didn’t eat much. However, they did try to eat more dishes, as it was uncertain when they would have dinner.

After the meal, Lin Miao called upon Qiu Ze and others to prepare for departure, while asking Lianxin to settle the bill with the store owner.

The horse-faced man had been eyeing Lin Miao’s group all along, especially when he saw that Helian Wanwan was not the protagonist of the group. A contemplative expression flickered across his face.

The Snow Mountain Sect has always been renowned for handsome men and beautiful women, a standard Lin Miao’s group perfectly fits. However, the true disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect, like Lin Miao’s, didn’t quite match up.

Jiang Taiyi, the Saint Heir of the Snow Mountain Sect, having just turned thirty, is the senior brother of this generation in the sect. Naturally, the Snow Mountain Sect is led by a woman.

Therefore, the Saintess of the Snow Mountain Sect ranks higher than the Saint Heir. The Saintess Yusu and Jiang Taiyi are of similar age, and both joined the Snow Mountain Sect from a young age, being not only the Saintess and Saint Heir but also a couple like deities.

They have long been predetermined to be the next Sect Leader and elder of the Snow Mountain Sect.

Thus, the Snow Mountain Sect’s succession is virtually guaranteed, at least for the next thirty years.

But the two rarely leave the mountain, often engrossed in meditative cultivation within the sect, with rumors of both having the potential to advance to the Celestial Origin realm.

However, the young person they encountered was obviously much younger. Could it be that the Snow Mountain Sect has cultivated another pair of rising stars?

Such an elite sect naturally produces talent in abundance; otherwise, it wouldn’t have stood unchallenged in the martial world for so many years.

As long as the other party’s identity doesn’t affect their own affairs, it doesn’t matter. Scorpio thought: "Tell the brothers to quickly finish eating so we can be on our way."

...

Lin Miao gave a signal, and everyone got up ready to leave.

At this moment, Scorpio seemed to recognize "Huo Wu", but the Huo Wu he knew had fiery red hair, a flame mark on her forehead, and an untamable wildness about her.

The girl in front of him had black hair, no marks on her forehead, and wore Middle Kingdom-style clothing. However, her skin tone didn’t seem to indicate a background from a prominent family.

Quite normal; many great figures come from humble origins. Perhaps she’s a promising talent the Snow Mountain Sect found somewhere, preparing to bring back to the mountain.

The Snow Mountain Sect’s disciples descend the mountain to train with the responsibility of seeking out outstanding talents for the sect, a significant contribution indeed.

It’s crucial for a sect’s disciple to gain a vast reputation in the Jianghu world, but to find a genius suitable for the sect’s lineage is even more important.

Therefore, all top-tier sects prioritize finding exceptional disciples as their highest contribution to the sect.

He himself had once wished to join a sect, but unfortunately, no one was willing to accept him, all because of his exceedingly ugly face...

Therefore, he harbored grievances against these prestigious sects that judge by appearances, feeling indignation and cynicism in his youth. Now, long past the age of impulsive recklessness, he no longer acts so ostentatiously, exercising humility when necessary.

...

Lin Miao passed by Dongguo Sun, his body just blocking the gaze from behind, his eyelids slightly lowered as he glanced at Dongguo Sun unintentionally, then stepped over the threshold without stopping, and walked out.

"Senior Sister." Lin Miao helped Sun Youwei onto the carriage, then followed her in. Huo Wu and Xiaobai (the Ice Howler), both climbed into the carriage as well.

Lianxin packed up the stool, placed it on the carriage, and got on herself, guiding the carriage slowly down the path toward the main road outside the inn.

"Big Brother, those Snow Mountain Sect people have finally left..."

Indeed, although their business had nothing to do with the Snow Mountain Sect, they couldn’t shake a vague sense of pressure lingering from Lin Miao’s group, causing them to speak softly, despite claiming otherwise.

Though they verbally expressed no fear, they were inwardly intimidated; such is the aura of an elite sect.

Offending them would imply being submissive if beaten, and needing to apologize humbly.

Scorpio heaved a sigh of relief; Helian Wanwan, after all, is a Peak of Meridian Passage Realm master. Though not afraid of her, the young man subtly leading their group made him uneasy. His years in the martial world had honed his sensitivity.

The calm and indifferent demeanor was not an act, especially with Helian Wanwan behaving courteously behind him.

Who is this young man?

Coming from West Gate Town, he had probably been to Li Hen City. Maybe he could get some information and understand better once back.

"Hurry and finish eating, then quickly head back." Scorpio commanded, realizing that although they’d caught their man, they still lacked the object in question.

The mission specified clearly that both the person and the object were to be brought back.

...

Shortly after Lin Miao’s group departed, Dongguo Sun suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground and fainting.

"Big Brother, is this old guy not going to make it?"

Scorpio too was startled, for Dongguo Sun had suffered from his Five Poison Palm strike, yet his cultivation shouldn’t have let him fall to this state. Could the relentless pursuit have exacerbated his injuries?

Quickly, he checked Dongguo Sun’s breathing: "There’s still breath; he’s not dead."

The Scorpio took out a bottle from his bosom and poured out a pill from it, which was the antidote to his special skill, the Five Poison Palm.

Dongguo Sun had already been captured, so giving him an antidote was not a big deal. As long as his martial skills were sealed, there was no fear of treacherous intentions.

Pushing a pill into Dongguo Sun’s mouth, he brought water and poured it in.

A wave of his hand.

Two subordinates carried Dongguo Sun out, placed him on a haystack, and arranged for two people to watch over him, preparing to take him away once everyone finished eating.

Just as Scorpio and others were eating and drinking heartily, one of the hands watching Dongguo Sun suddenly rushed in: "Fire, fire, there’s a fire..."

"Fire, what’s on fire?" Scorpio jumped in shock upon hearing the news. It was winter, dry and windy, and indeed, fires could easily occur.

But what did the fire have to do with them? It wasn’t their loss but rather the shop owner’s, so why be excited?

"Boss, it’s Dongguo Sun, the old man who is on fire!"

"What?"

At the news, Scorpio dashed out and was stupefied. Just now, he had someone throw Dongguo Sun onto the haystack outside the door.

Now, the haystack blazed into a towering fire; no need to ask, Dongguo Sun, the unconscious man on the haystack, was now caught in the flames.

"Quick, put out the fire, what are you standing there for..." Scorpio was frantic, kicking one of his subordinates and urging them with haste.

The shop owner, upon hearing the fire outside, was bewildered and immediately rushed outside.

It was dry, with fierce dry wood and fire.

The fire was too large, and the water from the courtyard well was not enough. They could only isolate nearby haystacks and let the burning one burn off naturally to minimize losses.

"Boss, maybe the old thing on the haystack is burnt to ashes?"

"There was someone on the haystack?"

The shopkeeper was alarmed upon hearing this; this was serious, a fire burning someone to death, he must quickly report to the authorities...

"Wait, these are just plant ashes, not the ashes left over from burning a human body!" Scorpio hurriedly stopped the panic-stricken shopkeeper.

The color of plant ashes is different from human ashes, and cremating a body takes hours, not just a short burn.

Even if it were reduced to ashes, bones don’t burn easily, and besides, the opponent was a Peak of Meridian Passage Realm expert; even unconscious, such a fire should have awakened him.

The haystack burned for just a single incense stick and ended; there was no one on it.

This was a case of escaping by trickery!

Scorpio’s facial muscles trembled with anger, his eyes overflowing with murderous intent; he had been fooled by an old man.

The guy had faked his black blood vomit, and he fell for it!

"Boss, the old guy ran away..."

"Chase, he’s injured and can’t run far," Scorpio gritted his teeth and ordered.

"Yes!"

...

"May I ask if the person on the carriage is Snow Mountain Sect’s Mr. Helian, the old Scorpio seeks a meeting!" Scorpio led his subordinates at a gallop, caught up with Lin Miao and the others, and blocked them.

Helian Wanwan lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down, glancing at Scorpio with indifference, "It’s you, what do you want to see me for?"

"We are arresting a thieving old rogue, whom we just saw at that inn where we dined. This old rogue is cunning, feigning serious injury and blood vomiting unconsciousness. Then he set a fire to deceive us, using the trick of escape by misdirection, and old Scorpio wonders if Mr. Helian might have seen this person?" Scorpio courteously bowed and asked.

"Haven’t seen him." Helian Wanwan straightforwardly replied.

"Mr. Helian, this old rogue is a very dangerous person. We went through a lot to capture him. Could Mr. Helian allow us to check the carriage? Old Scorpio worries he might disturb the esteemed members of the Snow Mountain Sect!" Scorpio humbly proposed.

"Do you believe he is hidden in our convoy?" Helian Wanwan snorted coldly, quite displeased. She knew Scorpio as a tough underworld figure, but she’s not afraid of him. She’s not alone; she has the Snow Mountain Sect behind her.

"Don’t dare to presume, Mr. Helian, we only want to eliminate the risk for you and the Snow Mountain Sect," Scorpio said.

"What if I refuse your search?"

"Then I can only apologize, old Scorpio doesn’t wish to be enemies with the Snow Mountain Sect, but duty calls, and I must offend," Scorpio slightly straightened up, eyes level with Helian Wanwan.

Helian Wanwan’s eyes also narrowed slightly; Scorpio’s pressure on her was not small. If they truly fought to the death, she and Scorpio could go fifty-fifty.

"Mr. Helian, let him search, the sooner it’s done, the sooner we can go back." Lin Miao’s voice floated from inside the carriage.

Helian Wanwan sighed in relief, inwardly unwilling to conflict with Scorpio, but her pride and the reputation of the Snow Mountain Sect wouldn’t allow any concession.

With Lin Miao, the convoy’s owner, speaking, though she was an elder, the guest followed the host’s cue, naturally, there was no problem.