"Sword Wine…"
"Such a vicious method!"
Behind the square lenses of his glasses, Flender's eyes were bloodshot, his voice choked with grief:
"They were peers in age!"
"Was this really necessary? Was it?!"
"Ma Hongjun… he's still just a child. Even if he made a mistake, he could've been corrected!"
"But that Sword Wine… how could he go so far?!"
Ma Hongjun was crippled.
His Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul was plagued by evil desires.
That evil fire was a curse. Unless his Martial Soul was somehow purified—an almost impossible feat—there was no cure.
Now, with his lower body ruined and his flame extinguished, he had become a true cripple.
Flender's voice turned hoarse:
"Where are Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji?"
When Qin Ming sent word, Ma Hongjun had just been crippled. Zhao Wuji hadn't yet gone after Sword Wine for revenge.
So Flender and Yu Xiaogang knew nothing of what came after.
Liu Erlong spoke in a low voice:
"Zhao Wuji learned Sword Wine's identity from Qin Ming."
"Two nights ago, in the pouring rain, he tried to ambush Sword Wine—only for both he and Qin Ming to be captured by Sword Wine's close friend, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."
"What?!"
Flender's face twisted in a mix of shock and fury.
Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed even deeper.
Liu Erlong continued grimly:
"I've used every connection I have…"
"But I couldn't even get an audience with Xue Qinghe."
"I fear Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji are in grave danger."
The fire faded from Flender's expression. His face turned stiff and heavy.
Zhao Wuji had been with him for over a decade.
He was always complaining that Flender was stingy, that even as a Spirit Sage, his monthly pay wasn't enough to enjoy life.
But that man—though grumbling—had never once betrayed Flender or Shrek Academy.
Yu Xiaogang let out a soft sigh:
"It was Zhao Wuji who brought Ma Hongjun to Heaven Dou City."
"Perhaps, to him, avenging Ma Hongjun was fulfilling his duty as a teacher…"
Liu Erlong suddenly interrupted:
"Sword Wine didn't die."
"No one told me directly, but today the Fragrant Pavilion is holding a large banquet."
"All of Sword Wine's close companions—people from the Ye Clan, Dugu Clan, even Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team—are all in attendance."
"It seems Sword Wine is safe and well."
Flender shot to his feet, disbelief on his face:
"You mean to say…"
"Zhao Wuji tried to kill a junior… and failed?!"
The Grandmaster immediately shook his head, his voice firm:
"Impossible!"
"Based on my judgment and calculations…"
"There is no young Spirit Master on the continent capable of such a feat!"
Liu Erlong tossed her flame-red hair in frustration.
"Believe it or not, Sword Wine's name is already famous in Heaven Dou City and the surrounding towns."
"His strength is far beyond what any ordinary prodigy can measure up to."
Flender and Yu Xiaogang were about to ask more when—
"Ahhhh!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream rang out from the bed.
Ma Hongjun was curled up like a shrimp. His ruined lower body was oozing evil fire mixed with blood.
Once the evil fire was fully expelled, his Martial Soul would be ruined.
"Hongjun!"
Flender and Yu Xiaogang rushed to the bed.
Seeing Ma Hongjun in such agony, yet having no way to help him, left them utterly helpless.
Liu Erlong turned her back:
"We can talk about Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji later."
"Right now, saving Ma Hongjun is our top priority."
Flender's breathing turned ragged.
"Is there still hope?"
Before Liu Erlong could speak—
Yu Xiaogang's eyes suddenly lit up.
"To my knowledge, there are three possible options in Heaven Dou City."
"First, the Ye Clan's Nine-Hearted Begonia—no need to say more."
"Second, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, also residing in the city. His poison arts are unmatched. Perhaps he has another way."
"Third, the Imperial Family. The royal court's healers are all healing-type Spirit Masters, and they have access to rare medicinal herbs. There may yet be hope."
Liu Erlong looked at him admiringly and nodded:
"That's exactly what I was going to suggest."
"But…"
"Sword Wine has ties to all three factions. I worry…"
Flender clenched his fists, grinding his teeth:
"Sword Wine may be a genius, but he's only close with the juniors of those families at best."
"We three—Flender, Liu Erlong, and the Grandmaster—together form the Golden Iron Triangle. That still counts for something in the Spirit Master world."
"Besides, Ma Hongjun was crippled first, while Sword Wine came out unscathed."
"I don't believe… these three families would ignore our plea just for one junior."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement.
Liu Erlong declared:
"Then let's carry Ma Hongjun there ourselves."
"First, it ensures more timely treatment."
"Second, bringing the patient in person shows our sincerity."
"Good!" x2
No time to waste.
The Golden Iron Triangle, carrying the blood-soaked bed, rushed through the streets under the curious stares of passersby, heading straight for the Ye residence.
—
Upon arrival—
They were greeted by an elegant and grand gate, imposing yet graceful.
The sight of it lifted their spirits slightly, as if they could already see a glimmer of hope for Ma Hongjun's recovery.
Flender tidied his robe and respectfully cupped his hands to the gatekeeper:
"Please deliver a message."
"Flender, Dean of Shrek Academy; Liu Erlong, Dean of Lanba Academy; and Yu Xiaogang, the Grandmaster—we request an urgent audience with the head of the Ye Clan."
The gatekeeper, seeing their distinguished appearance, didn't dare delay.
"The three of you, please wait."
As he hurried inside—
Flender's tense expression eased somewhat, his tone hopeful:
"This should work."
"The Ye Clan's Nine-Hearted Begonia is the continent's number one healing Martial Soul. From what I've heard, their clan head admires talented people and values strong allies."
"The three of us visiting together—surely that counts for something."
Yu Xiaogang even managed a stiff smile.
Liu Erlong hesitated, then nodded slightly.
But moments later—
Two gatekeepers strolled back out, their earlier respect gone, replaced by indifference.
"Please leave."
"The clan head says she isn't home."
The air grew tense.
Flender stepped forward urgently:
"Please, inform her again. This is a matter of life and death!"
"Everyone knows the Ye Clan matriarch is compassionate—there's a dying boy in need of her help!"
The gatekeeper waved impatiently:
"She said she's not home."
"Now move along."
As the main doors began to shut—
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, face cold.
That aura of academic precision and unshakable authority startled the gatekeepers.
His voice was calm, but laced with hidden intent:
"To my knowledge, there are only two Nine-Hearted Begonia Martial Souls in the world."
"And the Ye Clan seeks to challenge the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda for the title of the continent's number one support-type Martial Soul…"
He stopped mid-sentence, eyes sharp and piercing.
He was confident—
That invoking the Ye Clan's core ambition and competitive aspirations would be enough to get them through the door.
But—
"Get lost!"
The gatekeepers, now furious, shoved Yu Xiaogang down the steps.
"What the hell is this guy rambling about?!"
"Nine-Hearted whatever, Seven Treasure Glazed what? What's that got to do with us gatekeepers earning a few copper coins a month?!"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang treated this way—
Liu Erlong's fiery red hair flared with flames. A wave of scorching Spirit Power radiated from her.
But the gatekeepers only laughed.
"Oh? Coming to stir trouble at the Ye Clan?"
A sharp whistle—
And a dozen powerful Ye Clan Spirit Master guards poured out from within.
At that moment—
Two servant girls walked out from inside, chatting and laughing.
"The apricot blossom pastries across the street just came out of the oven."
"Mistress said if we're late, we won't get the first batch."
"Let's hurry!"
Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong stood frozen, faces like stone.
At this point—
How could they not understand?
The Ye Clan wasn't just rejecting them—
They were making a statement.
Sword Wine…
In the Ye Clan's eyes—
Was worth far more than the Golden Iron Triangle.
"If the mountain won't turn, the river will."
Yu Xiaogang bit down, his voice low and grim:
"The Ye Clan shutting us out like this…"
"Let's see whether the Nine-Hearted Begonia really does become the number one support-type Martial Soul someday."
"Let's go."
It was now painfully clear—
They had underestimated everything.
After being turned away in humiliation by the Ye Clan—
They rushed to the Dugu Clan next.
The result?
Even worse. More direct, more brutal.
They didn't even see Dugu Bo.
After the gatekeeper went to report, the ones who came out weren't servants—
but armed house guards wielding cudgels.
—
And so—
The three of them, carrying the bloodstained bed—
Walked down Heaven Dou City's broadest avenue.
Dusk fell. Lanterns flickered to life.
The street's lively hum felt separated by an invisible wall, unable to pierce the suffocating atmosphere around them.
Only Ma Hongjun's faint, agonized groans broke the silence—each one like a blade to the heart.
"There's still the Imperial Family…"
Flender's bloodshot eyes gleamed, voice trembling with frustration:
"Don't tell me Sword Wine has ties with the entire royal court too?!"
Yu Xiaogang's face was grim:
"Even if he's close with the Crown Prince, we can still appeal directly to Emperor Xue Ye."
Liu Erlong opened her mouth—but in the end, said nothing.
The three no longer spoke. Carrying Ma Hongjun, they strode heavily down the wide road.
Halfway down the avenue—
The scent of food wafted through the air.
After running around all day, the three unconsciously turned toward it.
They saw a five-story riverside restaurant glowing with golden lanterns and intricate carvings.
On the gilded plaque were three characters: Fragrant Pavilion.
At that moment—
A clear, carefree laugh echoed from the restaurant entrance.
Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong all froze.
A group of finely dressed young men and women, each radiant with spirit and grace, were exiting the building—
surrounding a white-robed youth like stars around the moon, chatting and laughing as they descended the stairs.
As they were about to disappear into the lantern-lit night—
That white-robed youth suddenly turned his head. With a lazy smile, he casually plucked a gold coin from the chest of a boy in goose-yellow brocade beside him.
With a flick of his finger—
The coin arced through the light—
And landed precisely in the hands of the grinning waiter who bowed deeply at the door.