The Envoy had driven needles into several of Qin Yue's acupoints. Although they left no visible marks, he had been badly injured.
Jiang Zhizhou's expression grew grave after only a cursory examination of his injuries.
"An ordinary physician won't be able to treat this. He was injured by dark qi, and his body will suffer lasting effects."
Jiang Zhizhou did not specify what those effects would be, but everyone present understood perfectly well.
Qin Yue, who had only just awakened, did not seem particularly concerned about his condition.
When he had told Yang Qing and the others about that matter, he had already considered what might happen to him. He simply had not expected the consequences to come so quickly.
"There's no need to trouble yourselves. Considering that the Envoy struck personally, I'm already fortunate beyond measure to have escaped with my life."
Qin Yue's face was pale, yet a faint smile appeared on it. "I'm afraid we can no longer carry out what we discussed earlier, though."
Yang Qing knew what he meant, but replied unconcernedly, "Now that we know, we have all the more reason to do it. There's no sense in abandoning something halfway."
The Envoy's attack on Qin Yue had carried a very clear message: he wanted to give Yang Qing a warning.
Although only Yang Qing and his companions could accomplish the task at hand, he could not allow them to act so brazenly right under his nose.
"To think that the snake I found myself would turn around and bite its master."
As the Envoy left, he had deliberately cast a glance at Yang Qing.
It was that very glance that had allowed Yang Qing to recognize him.
This was the mysterious man who had used the Sacred Emperor's portrait and the Bone Jade