Divine Cult Envoy

A young man in a black robe with a long sword, standing tall and slender, his hair tied back with a hemp rope. He stood outside the threshold, stamping the ice and snow off his long boots, and looked at the mess inside the temple.

"Another dilapidated temple in the mountains."

"Do you guys only pick broken temples to do this kind of dirty work?"

"Or to do it in front of Lord Guan, who rode alone for a thousand miles to protect his sister-in-law, what courage!"

He stepped over the threshold, his features gradually becoming clear, revealing an exceptionally handsome face.

Phoenix eyes, crescent eyebrows, fair skin. At first glance, one might mistake him for a woman disguised as a man.

Zhao Huaien pressed the hilt of his saber and asked coldly, "Which hero are you? How dare you meddle in other people's business here?"

The man chuckled lightly and took out a bronze plaque from his怀.

"I am Zhang Yu, Flag Master of the Wind Thunder Hall of the Sun Moon Divine Cult. I was ordered to lead the Wild Wolf Gang. Did I come to the wrong place?"

Hope arose in Zhao Xia's heart, along with some worry.

This Flag Master sent by the Sun Moon Divine Cult was so young, seemingly not yet twenty years old. His martial arts cultivation should not be very high, while Zhao Huaien was already a master of the late Dan Energy stage, seasoned in battle, and full of stratagems. He feared he was no match.

The reputation of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, the name alone, made everyone in the jianghu, whether righteous or evil, weigh their words carefully.

Zhao Huaien's eyes darted nervously, but he forced a smile. "So it's an envoy from the Divine Cult. You haven't come to the wrong place."

"What's going on with these people?"

Zhang Yu pointed at the eight or nine men lying scattered on the ground, and the tall woman leaning against the altar, her chest exposed.

Zhao Huaien said subserviently, "They... they broke their promise, couldn't endure hardship, and were greedy for the high reward. They wanted to go down the mountain to join the Dragon Scale Association."

"Oh, and they were planning to ambush the envoy sent by the Divine Cult. I, as the adopted son of the old Gang Master, owe him a great debt. When I heard this, I was furious and struck first, incapacitating them with medicine."

Zhang Yu nodded. "So that's how it is."

Zhao Xia's eyes seemed ready to spew fire. What a shameless scoundrel, to twist the truth like this. She hated Zhao Huaien immensely, and at the same time, she felt the Flag Master sent by the Sun Moon Divine Cult was also a fool for so easily believing Zhao Huaien's lies. She would surely be sold to the Lin Family.

"Then what's the deal with this girl? You even stripped her clothes?"

"Your subordinate... your subordinate is meticulously searching for any letters between her and the Dragon Scale Association."

"Did you find any?"

Zhao Huaien chuckled. "Not yet. If Your Excellency is interested, you can search her yourself first."

Zhang Yu seemed tempted. "Right here?"

"Heh heh, there's a bed in the east wing. If Your Excellency is in the mood, how about going inside?"

Zhang Yu laughed heartily. "Alright then, I'll reluctantly oblige. Please carry her to the room inside."

"Good! Good!"

Zhao Huaien hid the hatred in his eyes. He had painstakingly planned this, but he couldn't get the first incense, and now this person had stolen his opportunity. When the Dragon Scale Association dealt with Liu Da Chui, let's see how he dies!

He bent down, one hand around her waist, the other lifting her leg, and was about to pick up Zhao Xia when a chill ran down his back. A sharp black blade pierced through his shoulder, and blood splattered down the blade.

How could this be?

He had maintained some level of caution.

But the swordsman in black was clearly separated by a bonfire, yet in the blink of an eye, he was behind him. This speed... was like a ghost.

The swordsman in black withdrew his sword, the cold light flashing, and thrust the black blade into his right shoulder again, twisting it.

Zhao Huaien, seasoned in battle, had not even drawn his sword from beginning to end. Both his arms were crippled, and he fell to the ground, howling in pain.

Shock appeared in Zhao Xia's eyes.

She had only one feeling in her heart.

Fast, incredibly fast.

She had never seen a man so fast.

Zhao Huaien had his back to the swordsman in black and didn't have a direct experience.

Zhao Xia watched with her own eyes as he drew his sword, circled the bonfire, and struck precisely, leaving only a blur in the air. Let alone facing him from behind, even if he had faced him head-on, Zhao Huaien would likely not have been able to block that sword.

Zhang Yu sheathed his sword and walked to the woman, smiling and extending his hands.

Zhao Xia blinked, closed her eyes, and a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.

Still a bastard. It seemed she couldn't escape her fate today.

Fortunately, she didn't let that beast Zhao Huaien succeed. This man... this man, with his dignified appearance, was also a master of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, and he had crippled Zhao Huaien. If he could avenge her against the Dragon Scale Association, then so be it. She would consider it a bite from a dog.

If not, she would kill him.

Huh?

Zhao Xia opened her eyes, only to see the man's retreating back. Her robes had been pulled up to cover her properly.

A warmth suddenly surged in her heart. It seemed this jianghu was not entirely hopeless.

Zhang Yu kicked Zhao Huaien. "Where's the antidote?"

Zhao Huaien looked at him resentfully. "There isn't one."

Zhang Yu chuckled, "Selling out your father for glory and bullying your sworn sister—he doesn't strike me as a tough guy, no matter how you look at it."

"You were listening outside?" Zhao Huaien finally realized the other party had been hiding outside the temple for a long time, and had only been playing dumb earlier to deceive him. What a deep scheme!

"Hand over the antidote, and we can talk."

"If you don't, I'll hang you up, set a fire underneath, and roast you slowly."

As Zhang Yu spoke, he dragged Zhao Huaien to the clay pot and used a tile to scoop hot porridge into his throat.

One spoonful.

Two spoonfuls.

Three spoonfuls.

Zhao Huaien said in terror, "Cough, cough... What are you doing?"

Zhang Yu untied his belt, bound his hands, and attached the other end to a roof beam. With a strong pull, Zhao Huaien was hoisted into the air. The wound on his shoulder was excruciatingly painful under the strain of gravity.

"You can still talk now, but soon you won't be able to open your mouth to speak."

Zhao Huaien indeed wasn't much of a tough guy. "The antidote is in my embrace, that small blue bottle. Just give them each a pill."

Zhang Yu searched his clothes and found two porcelain bottles, one red and one blue.

"What is this?"

"The red bottle... Five Fragrance Muscle Softening Powder."

The drug's effects quickly took hold, and Zhao Huaien began to slur his words.

"Where did you get it from?"

"Lin Kun... Bought it... from the Shennong Gang..."

Zhang Yu took a small pill from the blue bottle and threw it into Zhao Huaien's mouth. After a moment, seeing that he had indeed regained his strength, Zhang Yu secretly marveled at the medicine's efficacy. It was truly a must-have for traveling and wandering the martial world.

He pocketed the red bottle for himself. Then, he took out the antidote and gave it to the others one by one.

Zhao Xia had only drunk a couple of mouthfuls of porridge and was less poisoned. Furthermore, she had internal energy, so she recovered quickly.

She knelt on one knee, cupped her hands, and said, "Zhao Xia of the Wild Wolf Gang pays respects to the Divine Cult envoy. Thank you for saving my life."

"No need for such formalities."

"Sir, please allow me to deal with this traitor."

Zhang Yu nodded.

"Xia'er..."

Zhao Xia picked up her Xuanhua great axe and walked towards him step by step. A sudden gust of wind blew, severing the belt that held his arms, and Zhao Huaien crashed heavily to the ground.

"Xia'er, I'm your sworn brother."

"We've known each other for twelve years, you can't treat me like this."

"I'm the only family you have left in this world. Please, just let me go this once, okay?"

Zhao Huaien looked at the Xuanhua great axe raised high above him, his eyes filled only with terror.

"Xia'er, I love you!"

As soon as he spoke, the great axe swung down.

A spray of red liquid landed precisely in the clay pot used for cooking the porridge.

Zhao Huaien felt a chill on his neck, then he felt himself flying up, only to be lifted again. His last conscious thought was fixed on Zhao Xia's eyes, which were filled with rage.

"I can finally look you in the eye as an equal..."

Zhang Yu looked at the severed head placed before the effigy of Lord Guan, its eyes wide open as if it had died with grievances. He said disdainfully, "Was that love? You were clearly lusting after her body, you scumbag!"