Chapter Eighty-Six: A Leisurely Stroll in the Courtyard

Within the boundaries of Jiangling Prefecture, the land was adorned with mountains and rivers, both picturesque and perilous. Some places boasted crystal-clear waters and verdant hills, while others were plagued by miasma and venomous creatures. Xiyu Valley belonged to the latter; nestled beside a marsh, its ravines and slopes were thick with poisonous vapors, and serpents, scorpions, spiders, and toads roamed freely.

To ordinary folk, living here was nothing short of a madman’s fantasy. Yet for those who practiced the dark arts of poison, this valley was a treasure trove, a place blessed by nature. Centuries ago, a legendary master skilled in poison recognized its potential and rooted himself in Xiyu Valley, cultivating his craft and founding the Five Venoms Sect.

With the valley’s unique advantages, the Five Venoms Sect had grown into one of the rare great factions in the martial world.

At this moment, within Xiyu Valley—

Xiang Shao sat grim-faced in the grand hall of the sect, idly playing with a slender emerald serpent in one hand, the other tapping irregularly on the armrest of his chair, the rhythm betraying his restless agitation.

Before long, the elders, guardians, and disciples of the sect hurried in. Those of higher status took their seats; the rest stood behind. Many held their venomous companions: silk moths, scorpions, toads—creatures that would send shivers down any ordinary spine, yet to them, were as essential as kin.

The elders exchanged worried glances. The chief elder cleared his throat and inquired, “Sect Master, may we know why you’ve summoned us?”

“Why, you ask?” Xiang Shao snorted coldly. “Before my seclusion, I warned you that the imperial hounds might move against the martial sects. I told you to be cautious, to avoid giving them any leverage—yet what have you done?”

None dared speak. The elders looked awkward, yet some disdain flickered in their eyes.

“Silent, are you? Fine.” Xiang Shao produced a paper and slapped it on the table. His voice was icy as he rebuked, “In mid-July, twelve bailiffs from Jiangling Prefecture came to collect taxes. Upon returning, all were poisoned—eight died, the rest crippled. Soon after, the families of the dead lodged complaints; more bailiffs came to investigate, and three more died, the rest severely poisoned. Early August, someone tried to negotiate with the authorities; when refused, he flew into a rage and threatened reprisal!”

His anger mounted as he spoke, culminating in a furious slap of the table. “I was gone for but a month, and you’ve already soured relations with the authorities to this extent. If I were to seclude myself for three or five months, would the Five Venoms Sect be raising its banner in rebellion?”

The chief elder’s expression darkened, temper barely restrained. “Sect Master, it was not our wish. Those bailiffs came here, wielding their authority and bullying our disciples. We simply couldn’t stand for it.”

“Exactly!” another elder chimed in. “Our relations with the imperial hounds are strained to begin with. Now even minor officials dare to trample us—how can we tolerate such humiliation?”

A guardian tried to soothe the sect master, “Sect Master, you need not worry. Such things have happened before. Even if they know, what can they do? It always ends with nothing coming of it.”

Xiang Shao’s temples throbbed. He sighed, recalling past events. “Times have changed… You… ah…”

When they attempted to assassinate Emperor Yonghe in the capital, the five of them had masked their faces and concealed their forms, taking care not to reveal their martial arts. Yet none could guarantee that no clue would be uncovered. The Crown Prince’s disgrace was no secret within the palace, but the martial world knew nothing of it. He believed the prince’s silence was only to avoid suspicion, and he understood.

But recently, the mad assault on government officials by Boruo Temple, followed by the sect’s destruction, had sent a cold sweat down his spine.

The chief elder, seeing the sect master’s face blanch and flush, offered comfort. “Sect Master, no need to fret. The Five Venoms Sect has operated in Xiyu Valley for a century; everyone knows how treacherous this place is. To put it bluntly, even if the authorities send troops to besiege us, how many will they need? With our environment and methods, three or five thousand would never return—only feeding the mountain’s venomous beasts. As for thirty or fifty thousand, they couldn’t muster such numbers.”

Meanwhile—

The vanguard of the Western Bureau had already arrived in Jiangling Prefecture. The officers split into two groups: one met with local spies and the Wind Arrest Division, covertly seizing the Five Venoms Sect’s known outposts and cutting off their channels of communication. The other went to the Prefect’s residence, mobilizing local troops and sending forces straight to Xiyu Valley, blocking every passage in and out.

Xu Boqing still sat within his carriage. Half a month on the road had left him idle; he immersed himself in Zhang Taixu’s writings, studying their profound meaning daily. The “Treatise on Qi” was the deepest, being Zhang Taixu’s own manuscript, its essence palpable. Xu’s own knowledge resonated with the book’s arguments, and the other three—“Dialectics,” “Cognition,” and “On Human Nature”—intertwined, complementing each other. Combined with the opportunity he’d gained from Zhu Sisi’s “traveling beyond the heavens,”

He had begun to faintly grasp why he remained a mere mortal, and had mapped out the path ahead. It was as if a thin veil separated him from the celestial road; he could sense it, but the time was not yet ripe. He needed more time—to shed his mortal shell.

At this moment, Jiang Jin drove the carriage, glancing back with apprehension. Not just a coachman, he was also a martial expert at the peak of the acquired realm. During their journey, he’d sensed the master’s aura growing deeper and more elusive.

Seeing Xu Boqing engrossed, Jiang Jin hesitated, then spoke softly, “Master, we’ve reached the outskirts of Xiyu Valley. Preparations are complete.”

“Hmm?” Xu Boqing was interrupted, displeased. He was about to admonish Jiang Jin, but then remembered their destination.

He set aside his ancient tome with a furrowed brow, catching a whiff of the marsh’s earthy scent as he stepped from the carriage, the valley’s landscape unfolding before him.

“The Five Venoms Sect is here?”

“Master, their main stronghold is in this valley,” Jiang Jin explained. “Though their numbers are few, every disciple is a poison expert. With the natural advantages, few dare trespass; they’ve been entrenched here for centuries.”

“Hmm…” Xu Boqing nodded thoughtfully. “Are all exits guarded?”

“I’ve stationed heavy troops at every exit. Not even a fly could escape the valley,” Jiang Jin replied. After a moment’s pause, his eyes flashed fiercely. “The forest is thick with poison vapors and insects—not ideal for battle. But with the dry weather, I suggest we douse the woods with oil and set Xiyu Valley ablaze to force them out!”

Xu Boqing shook his head. “Too troublesome. I’ll go in and capture their leader myself. Just guard the exits—let no one escape.”

With that, he walked into the valley, leisurely as if strolling through a garden. His pace was unhurried, yet with each step he seemed to traverse dozens of feet, as if employing the legendary art of shrinking the earth.

Jiang Jin’s face twitched; he had meant to urge caution, but was left speechless, merely blinking in confusion as the master’s silhouette vanished from sight.