The Golden Iron Triangle Seeks a Healer, Li Zhexian Seen Amid the Dim Lights (3,000-Word Bonus Chapter, Please Vote Monthly)

"Jian Jiu..."

"What a vicious method!"

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

"This was a dispute between peers!"

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

"Ma Hongjun... how old was he? Even if he had done wrong, he could have changed!"

"How could that Jian Jiu be so ruthless?!"

Ma Hongjun was crippled.

The Evil Fire Phoenix had become entangled with his wicked desires.

That Evil Fire was a curse. Unless they could find the nearly impossible Martial Soul Purification, there was no cure.

Now that he had been forcibly castrated, he could no longer summon even a spark of fire and had become completely useless.

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 Jian Jiu.

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

Liu Erlong said quietly,

"Zhao Wuji learned Jian Jiu's identity from Qin Ming."

"On the rainy night two days ago, he went to Jian Jiu's home to assassinate him. In the end... he and Qin Ming were captured by Jian Jiu's close friend—the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe."

"What?!"

Flender was shocked and enraged.

Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed even more deeply.

Liu Erlong said heavily,

"I used every connection I had."

"But I couldn't even meet Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."

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

The anger faded from Flender's face, gradually replaced by a frozen expression.

Zhao Wuji had been with him for more than a decade.

He often complained that Flender was stingy, that the salary of a dignified Soul Saint was not even enough for a little fun each month.

Yet although Zhao Wuji said such things, he had never abandoned Flender or Shrek.

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

"Perhaps, to Zhao Wuji, taking revenge for Ma Hongjun meant he had fulfilled his duty as a teacher..."

Liu Erlong cut him off.

"Jian Jiu isn't dead."

"Although no one told me, Shanxiangfang held a grand feast today."

"Jian Jiu'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."

"I assume Jian Jiu should be unharmed."

Flender abruptly rose to his feet, unable to believe it.

"You mean—"

"Zhao Wuji failed to assassinate a junior?!"

Master immediately shook his head and said decisively,

"Impossible!"

"Based on my judgment and calculations!"

"There is absolutely no young junior in the present Douluo Continent who could be that formidable!"

Liu Erlong irritably flicked her flame-red hair.

"Don't refuse to believe it."

"Jian Jiu's reputation is exceptionally great in Heaven Dou City and the surrounding towns."

"His strength cannot be measured by ordinary standards for geniuses."

Flender and Yu Xiaogang still wanted to ask more—

"Ah!!!"

A pained howl came 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 within him had drained away, his Martial Soul would be crippled as well.

"Hongjun!"

Flender and Yu Xiaogang hurried to the bedside.

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

Liu Erlong turned her back to them. "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 respond,

A sharp gleam flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

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

"There is 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 solution."

"Then there is the royal family. The imperial physicians are all healing-type Spirit 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 was what I wanted to say as well."

"Only..."

"Jian Jiu has ties with all three families. I'm worried..."

Flender clenched his fists, grinding his teeth.

"No matter how talented Jian Jiu is, he is presumably only on good terms with the younger members of those three families."

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

"Besides, Ma Hongjun was crippled first, while Jian Jiu is completely unharmed."

"I refuse to believe..."

"That for one junior like Jian Jiu, those three families would disregard our plea."

Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement.

Liu Erlong immediately said,

"Then let us carry Ma Hongjun there together."

"First, so he can be treated sooner."

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

"Good!" ×2

There was no time to lose.

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

Upon arriving at the Ye Family,

They saw the imposing yet elegant gates.

The three of them perked up, as though they had glimpsed hope for Ma Hongjun's recovery.

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

"Please report our arrival."

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

Seeing that the first two carried themselves with extraordinary bearing, the gatekeeper did not dare neglect them.

"P-please wait, the three of you."

As they watched the gatekeeper hurry inside,

The tension in Flender's face eased somewhat, 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 worthy talents and enjoys befriending the strong."

"The three of us have come together to request an audience. There definitely 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 was gone, replaced by indifference.

"Please leave, the three of you."

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

The air instantly froze.

Flender anxiously stepped forward.

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

"I have long heard that the Ye Family Head is compassionate. There is a dying youth waiting for her treatment..."

The gatekeeper impatiently waved his hand.

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

"Hurry up and leave."

Seeing the gates about to close,

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward with a cold expression.

The stern and assured bearing of a theoretical master actually startled the two gatekeepers.

His tone was calm, yet laden with meaning.

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

"Furthermore, the Ye Family wishes to compete with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda for the title of the continent's First Support Martial Soul..."

He stopped there.

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

He was confident.

Such words, directly addressing the Ye Family's core interests and ambitions,

Would be enough to alarm the Ye Family and move them to welcome him inside as an honored guest.

However—

"Get lost, get lost, get lost!"

The two gatekeepers flew into a rage and shoved Yu Xiaogang down the steps of the Ye Family residence.

What the hell was he babbling about?

What Nine Heart Begonia, what Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, what continent's First Support Martial Soul!

What did any of that have to do with lowly gatekeepers like them, who earned only a few Copper Coins each month and were responsible for nothing but watching the gates?

Seeing Yu Xiaogang humiliated like this,

Flames ignited in Liu Erlong's long red hair, and a scorching, violent aura burst forth.

Rather than being afraid, the gatekeepers were delighted.

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

With a sharp whistle,

More than ten Ye Family guard Spirit Masters with powerful auras instantly poured out from within the gates.

Just then,

Two maidservants walked out from inside, chatting and laughing.

"The Apricot Blossom Pastry from across the street has just come out of the oven."

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

"Quick, let's go."

Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong watched this scene with livid faces.

At this point,

How could they not understand?

The Ye Family had not merely rejected them. In such a flippant manner, they had made their stance and choice clear.

Jian Jiu...

In the Ye Family's eyes,

Was far more valuable than their Golden Iron Triangle.

"The mountains may not turn, but the waters will."

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth, his voice low.

"The Ye Family has turned people away so completely."

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

"Let's go."

The facts proved otherwise.

The three of them had been thinking too simply.

After suffering a humiliating rejection from the Ye Family,

they rushed without stopping to Dugu Manor.

The result—

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

Forget meeting Poison Douluo himself.

After the gatekeeper went to report their arrival, the ones who came pouring out were not the gatekeeper, but a group of guards and servants armed with clubs.

At that moment,

the three of them carried the blood-soaked bed.

They walked along the broadest street in Heaven Dou City.

Twilight deepened, and the lanterns began to glow.

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

Only Ma Hongjun's weak, agonized groans sounded especially piercing amid the deathly silence.

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

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

"I refuse to believe Jian Jiu knows everyone in the imperial family!"

Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened.

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

Liu Erlong opened her mouth, but in the end merely pressed her lips together without speaking.

The three said nothing more. Carrying Ma Hongjun, they hurried down the broad street with heavy steps.

When they reached the middle of the street,

an enticing aroma of food drifted over on the wind.

Having run around for most of the day, the three instinctively looked toward the scent.

Before them stood a magnificent five-story restaurant by the river, its carved beams and painted rafters brilliantly lit.

On its gilded signboard, three flamboyant characters—Shanxiangfang—shone brightly beneath the lights.

Just then,

a clear, carefree burst of laughter

carried distinctly from the bustling entrance of the restaurant.

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

A group of exceptionally poised 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 blend into the dimly lit night,

the White-robed Youth suddenly glanced sideways and casually plucked a gold coin from the arms of the young man beside him, who wore a goose-yellow brocade robe.

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

The gold coin

traced an arc beneath the lights.

It landed precisely in the hands of the smiling waiter, who had bent over to see them off...

Bonus extra-long chapter! Sorry it's late, dear readers~~

I told a reader it would be up at nine thirty, but I spent ages agonizing over every word...