Golden Iron Triangle Seeks Treatment, Li Zhixian Found Amid Dim Lights

"Sword Wine..."

"What vicious methods!"

Flender's eyes behind his square-framed glasses were bloodshot as he said sorrowfully:

"A dispute among peers!"

"How could it come to this? How could it come to this?!"

"Ma Hongjun... how old is he? Even if he made a mistake, he could have corrected it!"

"How could that Sword Wine strike so viciously?!"

Ma Hongjun was crippled.

The Evil Fire Phoenix had been entangled with wicked desire.

That evil fire was a curse, removable only through the nearly impossible purification of one's Martial Soul.

Now that he had been forcibly castrated, unable to summon even a trace of fire, he had been reduced to a complete cripple.

Flender's voice was hoarse.

"Qin Ming, where's Zhao Wuji?"

When Qin Ming had sent someone to deliver the letter,

Ma Hongjun had only just been crippled, and Zhao Wuji had yet to seek revenge against Sword Wine.

Thus, Flender and Yu Xiaogang knew nothing of what had happened afterward.

Liu Erlong said quietly:

"Zhao Wuji learned Sword Wine's identity from Qin Ming."

"On the rainy night before last, he went to Sword Wine's door to assassinate him. In the end... he and Qin Ming were captured by Sword Wine's close friend—the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe."

"What?!"

Flender was both shocked and enraged.

Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed even deeper.

Liu Erlong said gravely:

"I used every connection I had."

"But I couldn't even get an audience with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."

"Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji... I'm afraid their chances are slim."

The anger faded from Flender's face, gradually giving way to stunned stillness.

Zhao Wuji had been with him for over a decade.

He often complained that Flender was stingy, that the monthly pay of a dignified Soul Sage was not even enough for him to have some fun.

Yet despite what Zhao Wuji said, he had never abandoned Flender or Shrek.

Yu Xiaogang sighed and said:

"Ma Hongjun was brought to Heaven Dou City by Zhao Wuji."

"Perhaps, to Zhao Wuji, avenging Ma Hongjun meant fulfilling his duty as a Teacher..."

Liu Erlong cut him off:

"Sword Wine isn't dead."

"Though no one told me directly, Shanxiang Restaurant held a grand feast today."

"Sword Wine's friends... the younger generation of the Ye Family and Dugu Family, as well as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and several members of the Imperial Dou Team, were all there."

"By the sound of it, Sword Wine should be unharmed."

Flender shot to his feet and said in disbelief:

"You mean—"

"Zhao Wuji failed to assassinate a junior?!"

Master immediately shook his head and declared firmly:

"Impossible!"

"By my judgment and calculations!"

"There cannot be such a formidable young junior anywhere on Douluo Continent today!"

Liu Erlong irritably tossed her flame-red hair.

"Don't disbelieve it."

"Sword Wine's reputation is immense throughout Heaven Dou City and the surrounding towns."

"His strength is absolutely beyond what ordinary geniuses can be measured by."

Flender and Yu Xiaogang were about to press further—

"Ah!!!"

A painful howl rang out from the bed.

Ma Hongjun was curled up like a shrimp. Evil fire mixed with blood sprayed from the wound between his legs.

Once all the evil fire in his body had drained away, his Martial Soul would be crippled as well.

"Hongjun!"

Flender and Yu Xiaogang hurried to the bedside.

Seeing Ma Hongjun in such unbearable agony, the two could do nothing.

Liu Erlong turned her back and said:

"We can discuss Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji later."

"The urgent matter now is how to treat Ma Hongjun."

Flender's breathing suddenly grew heavy.

"Ma Hongjun can still be saved?"

Before Liu Erlong could speak,

A sharp gleam flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

"As far as I know, there should be three forces in Heaven Dou City capable of saving Ma Hongjun."

"There's no need to mention the Ye Family's Nine Heart Begonia. Poison Douluo Dugu Bo is also in Heaven Dou City. His poison arts are unmatched in the world, so perhaps he can find another way."

"Then there is the imperial family. The royal physicians are all Healing System Soul Masters, and they possess many Spirit Grasses for treating injuries. There should be hope there."

Liu Erlong looked at Yu Xiaogang with admiration and nodded.

"That's what I was thinking too."

"Only..."

"Sword Wine has connections with all three of them. I'm worried..."

Flender suddenly clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he said:

"No matter how talented Sword Wine is, he can at most be friends with the younger generation of those three families."

"I, Flender, you, Liu Erlong, and Master—the Golden Iron Triangle has some standing in the Soul Master world."

"Besides, Ma Hongjun was crippled first, while Sword Wine remains completely unharmed."

"I refuse to believe..."

"That those three forces would disregard our plea for the sake of a mere junior like Sword Wine."

Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement.

Liu Erlong immediately said:

"Then we'll carry Ma Hongjun there together."

"First, so he can receive treatment sooner."

"Second, carrying him there to seek treatment will show enough sincerity."

"Good!" x2

There was no time to lose.

The Golden Iron Triangle carried the blood-soaked bed and raced toward the Ye Family residence beneath the strange looks of pedestrians on the street.

Upon arriving at the Ye Family estate,

They saw gates both magnificent and elegant.

The three were invigorated, as though they could already see hope for Ma Hongjun's recovery.

Flender straightened his appearance and politely cupped his hands toward the gatekeeper.

"Please report our arrival."

"Flender, headmaster of Shrek Academy; Liu Erlong, headmaster of Blue Tyrant Academy; and Master Yu Xiaogang have urgent business with the Ye Family Head."

Seeing the extraordinary bearing of the first two, the gatekeeper did not dare neglect them.

"You... three, please wait."

As they watched the gatekeeper hurry inside,

The tension in Flender's face eased slightly, and hope entered his voice.

"This should work."

"The Ye Family's Nine Heart Begonia is the continent's foremost healing Martial Soul. As far as I know, the Ye Family Head welcomes talented people and most enjoys befriending the strong."

"The three of us have come together to request an audience. There certainly won't be a problem."

A smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face.

Liu Erlong nodded hesitantly.

A moment later,

Two gatekeepers strolled out, but the respect on their faces had vanished, replaced by indifference.

"You three should leave."

"The Family Head says she isn't here."

The air suddenly froze.

Flender stepped forward anxiously.

"Please report it once more. We truly have an urgent matter of life and death!"

"I have long heard that the Ye Family Head has the heart of a bodhisattva. There is a dying young man awaiting her treatment..."

The gatekeeper impatiently waved a hand.

"The Family Head already said she isn't here."

"Leave now."

Seeing the gates about to close,

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward with a cold expression.

The stern, assured air of this theoretical Master actually startled the two gatekeepers.

His tone was calm, yet heavy with implication:

"As far as I know, only two Nine Heart Begonia Martial Souls can exist in the world at any given time."

"And the Ye Family wishes to contend with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda for the title of the Continent's Number One Support Martial Soul..."

He stopped there.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze was fierce as he stared at the two gatekeepers.

He was confident.

These remarks, which struck directly at the Ye Family's core interests and ambitions,

Would be enough to make the Ye Family take notice, welcome him into the estate, and treat him as an honored guest.

However—

"Get lost, get lost, get lost!"

The two gatekeepers, enraged and embarrassed, shoved Yu Xiaogang down the Ye Family's steps.

What the hell was he babbling about?!

What Nine Heart Begonia, what Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, what position as the Continent's Number One Support Martial Soul!

What the hell did any of that have to do with lowly gatekeepers like them, who earned a few copper coins a month and only watched the gate?

Seeing Yu Xiaogang suffer such humiliation,

Flames ignited in Liu Erlong's fiery red hair, and a scorching, violent aura surged outward.

Rather than fearing her, the gatekeepers were delighted.

"Oh? You came to the Ye Family to cause trouble?"

With a whistle,

More than a dozen Ye Family guard Soul Masters with powerful auras instantly poured out from within the gates.

Just then,

Two maidservants came out of the gates, chatting and laughing.

"The apricot blossom pastries across the street have just come out of the oven."

"The Family Head is urging us. She said if we're late, we won't be able to buy the first batch."

"Quick, quick."

Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong watched the scene with faces ashen.

By this point,

How could they possibly fail to understand?

The Ye Family had not only refused them, but had also made its stance and choice clear in such a frivolous manner.

Sword Wine...

In the Ye Family's eyes,

He was far more valuable than their Golden Iron Triangle.

"Mountains may not turn, but waters do."

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth, his voice low.

"The Ye Family has shut its doors on us like this."

"I only hope that one day, they will still live to see the Nine Heart Begonia ascend to the position of the Continent's Number One Support Martial Soul."

"Let's go."

The facts proved otherwise.

The three of them had thought it far too simply.

After suffering a humiliating rejection at the Ye Family,

they rushed without stopping to Dugu Manor.

The result—

was even more direct and cruel than at the Ye Family.

Forget seeing Poison Douluo himself.

After the gatekeeper went in to report them, the ones who came pouring out were not gatekeepers, but a group of guards and servants wielding clubs.

At this moment,

the three of them carried a blood-soaked bedframe.

They walked along the broadest street in Heaven Dou City.

Dusk deepened, and the lanterns had begun to light up.

The bustle of the market seemed separated from them by an invisible barrier, unable to penetrate the suffocating atmosphere surrounding them.

Only Ma Hongjun's faint, agonized groans sounded especially piercing amid the dead silence.

"There's still the imperial family..."

Flender's eyes were bloodshot as he gritted his teeth unwillingly.

"I refuse to believe Sword Wine knows everyone in the imperial family?!"

Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened.

"That's right. Even if Sword Wine is on good terms with the Crown Prince, we can directly request an audience with Xue Ye."

Liu Erlong opened her mouth, but ultimately pressed her lips together without saying anything.

The three fell silent. Carrying Ma Hongjun, they hurried heavily along the wide street.

When they reached the middle of the avenue,

an enticing aroma of food drifted over on the wind.

Having rushed about for most of the day, the three instinctively looked toward the scent.

They saw a lavishly decorated, brilliantly lit five-story restaurant standing by the river.

On its gilded signboard, three bold, flowing characters—Shanxiang Restaurant—shone brightly beneath the lights.

Just then,

a clear, carefree laugh

carried distinctly from the bustling entrance of the restaurant.

Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong's gazes slowly froze...

A group of extraordinary young men and women dressed in silk and adorned with jade surrounded a white-robed youth like stars around the moon, chatting and laughing as they emerged from the restaurant.

Just as the group was about to descend the steps and melt into the dimly lit night,

the white-robed youth suddenly glanced sideways. Casually, he plucked a gold coin from the arms of the young man beside him, who wore a goose-yellow brocade robe.

A lazy smile rested on his face as he flicked his fingertip.

The gold coin

traced an arc beneath the lantern light.

It landed precisely in the hands of the beaming waiter, who was bowing them off...

Extra-long chapter update. I'm late, I'm late—sorry, dear readers~~

I told one reader it would be done by nine-thirty, but I spent ages picking at every word...