Chapter Eleven: The Arrow Is Poisoned!

“Run!”
“Run quickly!”
“That guy’s not even human—he kills more ruthlessly than we bandits!”
“Hurry, go back and notify the boss!”

The bandits were struck with sheer terror. How could a person be so savage? One by one, they scattered and fled in all directions.

Behind them, Chen Xuan chased after them, gripping his blood-dripping long sword, cutting through the crowd as if slicing vegetables and melons.

In a short while, countless bandits lay fallen before him.

Still, some nimble ones managed to slip into the forest and escape in various directions.

Chen Xuan, however, was only one person; he could not possibly chase and kill them all.

“This…”

Inside the carriage, all the women were stunned.

They had never imagined that Chen Xuan, whom they had just considered a coward, could, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, utterly rout these vicious and merciless bandits.

Was this man really so fierce?

“As expected of the husband I chose—he’s incredible!”

Xu Ruolan’s eyes brimmed with admiration, almost melting away. “I want to bear his children—ten, a hundred!”

Li Xiuning gave her a speechless glance. Just a moment ago, this woman was complaining about Chen Xuan’s uselessness; now, in an instant, she had changed her tune entirely.

An Ruxue was deeply shocked. She had thought Chen Xuan’s charge against the One-Eyed Dragon was a desperate last stand, a stubborn resistance.

Yet, the outcome far exceeded her expectations.

How could a fourth-stage martial artist so easily kill a fifth-stage expert?

That was simply impossible.

“He’s not a fourth-stage martial artist!”

A flash of realization lit An Ruxue’s beautiful eyes—Chen Xuan’s strength was unfathomable.

[Notification!]
[Affection from Xu Ruolan +10.]
[Affection from Li Xiuning +10.]
[Affection from An Ruxue +20.]
[Lu Qiqi...]

The affection points that had just dropped were instantly restored.

Chen Xuan’s heart leapt with joy. If this continued, as soon as someone’s affection reached thirty, he would earn a new system reward.

If luck favored him with a critical reward—just the thought was thrilling!

***

What was going on with An Ruxue?

Why were her affection points fluctuating so dramatically each time?

He would have to keep a close eye on her.

“Father!”

Just as Chen Xuan was quietly rejoicing, a piercing, heart-wrenching cry came from behind.

It was Yang Ying’er!

Chen Xuan’s heart skipped a beat, sensing something was terribly wrong. He immediately turned around.

There, Yang Ying’er was clutching the half-body of Yang Xun, weeping as if her tears were blossoms falling in spring rain.

Yang Xun’s forehead was darkened, his face purple, lips pale, with black blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

He was poisoned!

“Not good!”

Chen Xuan’s expression darkened as he rushed over and suddenly noticed an arrow lodged in Yang Xun’s abdomen—when it had been shot, he did not know.

But Yang Xun had broken the arrow shaft to prevent others from worrying.

The arrowhead remained embedded in his body.

And the arrowhead was poisoned!

“Damn these bandits—so treacherous!”

Chen Xuan clenched his teeth in fury. He never thought these bandits would not only ambush with hidden arrows but also coat the arrowheads with poison.

“Rogue, please, save my father!”

Yang Ying’er’s tears fell like broken pearls, her eyes swollen nearly shut from crying.

Without a word, Chen Xuan dashed to the One-Eyed Dragon’s corpse and began searching him thoroughly.

Normally, those who used poison carried the antidote.

Since the One-Eyed Dragon was their leader, the antidote was most likely on him.

Yet, after a thorough search, no antidote was found.

“Damn it, there’s no antidote on him. The antidote should be at Jinfeng Village. I’ll go there to get it!”

Chen Xuan gritted his teeth. Although he did not know Jinfeng Village’s exact location, he reasoned that if he caught the fleeing bandits, he could force them to lead him there.

“The poison is Nanjiang’s Ten Deadly Toxins. Without antidote within an incense stick’s time, no immortal can save him.”

An Ruxue dismounted from the carriage, glanced at Yang Xun’s condition, and immediately identified the poison.

“Do you have the antidote?” Chen Xuan asked urgently.

An Ruxue’s origins were extraordinary; perhaps she could help.

But she shook her head lightly and said calmly, “Nanjiang is the most mysterious region of the Great Qian Dynasty; its poisonous gu toxins are world-renowned.”

“However, Nanjiang rarely meddles in the Central Plains’ affairs; the court forbids Nanjiang people from entering the Central Plains.”

***

“These bandits from the Hanhui Mountain are nothing but a ragtag group; they could not possibly have obtained Nanjiang’s gu poison.”

“It seems the person behind this assassination attempt has connections with Nanjiang and managed to acquire the gu poison. Their strength is formidable.”

After saying this, An Ruxue fell silent.

Her attitude was clear: Yang Xun was beyond saving.

Even if Chen Xuan found Jinfeng Village and obtained the antidote, it would be useless.

In an instant, Yang Ying’er felt as if the sky was collapsing; she nearly fainted from despair.

She never imagined her father would meet such a fate; her sobs tore through her heart.

“Ying’er, girls shouldn’t cry—it doesn’t look good.”

Yang Xun could feel his bodily functions fading, the poison ravaging his flesh, bringing unbearable pain.

Knowing his time was short, he fought through the agony and wiped the tears from Yang Ying’er’s face. Then he looked weakly at Chen Xuan and said, “Thirteenth Master…”

“I’m here!”

Chen Xuan immediately stepped forward, his heart heavy as he gazed at him.

He knew Yang Xun was about to give his final words.

“Thirteenth Master, Ying’er has been motherless since childhood…”

“This time, escorting you out of Hanhui Mountain, everyone from the Yang Escort Agency went all out.”

“Now, they’re all hit by poisoned arrows; this time, I fear no one from the Yang Escort Agency will survive.”

“Fortunately, you protected Ying’er at the end and kept her unharmed.”

At these words, Yang Xun showed a faint, grateful smile.

Chen Xuan’s timely intervention to save Yang Ying’er was a debt of life; Yang Xun recognized it deeply.

“Instructor Yang…”

Chen Xuan’s heart sank like lead.

This time, the Yang Escort Agency had been utterly wiped out, save for Yang Ying’er.

His mood was unbearably heavy.

Yang Xun was truly a man of loyalty and righteousness.

Chen Xuan, bearing a tainted past, could have been refused for this escort mission, but Yang Xun still came.

Now, faced with this outcome, Chen Xuan felt a deep pang of guilt.

Seemingly sensing Chen Xuan’s guilt, Yang Xun reached out weakly, as if trying to grasp something.

Chen Xuan immediately caught his hand, clearly feeling Yang Xun’s body temperature dropping, the poison relentlessly destroying his internal organs, causing uncontrollable trembling.