Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Hu Qingniu listened with some doubt. “How could that be? Brother Xian seems like a fine gentleman. Isn’t there a possibility of some misunderstanding?”

Hu Qingyang and Daiqisi listened from the side, not fully understanding, so they remained silent.

Seeing Hu Qingniu’s skepticism, Ling Yihan explained further, “The reason he’s afflicted with the Golden Silkworm Gu poison is because he toyed with a girl from Miaojiang, betraying her in the end. That Miao girl still cared for him, so the poison she gave him wasn’t too potent, hoping he would eventually come back to her. But that schemer not only abandoned her, he also stole her two Golden Silkworms. When he collapsed from the poison, he just happened to run into you and was saved.”

Hu Qingniu looked puzzled. “Strange, Brother Ling, if what you’re saying is true, then how do you know these details? You’ve been at Bright Summit with my sister all this time.”

“Well…” Ling Yihan was momentarily at a loss, realizing he had forgotten to explain how he knew Xianyutong’s scheme without actually witnessing it.

“This young brother, what grudge do you bear against me that you would slander me so?”

At that moment, a young man with a refined face emerged from the cottage, supported by another man with a trustworthy look.

Naturally, the refined man was Xianyutong, though the identity of the other man beside him was unknown.

The dependable-looking man protested, “Indeed! My junior brother Xian has always been upright. How could you, boy, malign him so unfairly?”

“Brother Baiyuan, perhaps he simply misunderstood due to rumors. After all, we’re all Mr. Hu’s friends here. Let’s not spoil the harmony,” Xianyutong said, still pretending to be the good guy.

Hearing Xianyutong’s words, Ling Yihan thought to himself, So, that’s Bai Yuan, his fellow disciple from the Huashan Sect. How unfortunate—Baiyuan defends him so readily, yet Xianyutong will kill him one day to preserve his own reputation. Truly foolish!

Ding! “The host has triggered the main task: Expose Xianyutong’s true nature. Reward for completion: one Memory Pearl and one Longevity Sword,” the system prompted.

Ling Yihan smirked internally. Since the task calls for it, I certainly won’t let you off.

He fixed his gaze on Xianyutong and asked coldly, “If you claim I’m slandering you, then explain—how did you contract the Golden Silkworm Gu poison?”

Xianyutong had already prepared a story with Hu Qingniu. With a calm smile, he replied, “I explained this to Mr. Hu earlier. While on a mission for my sect in Miaojiang, I accidentally encountered a master of Gu poison and was struck with the Golden Silkworm Gu poison. Luckily, I managed to escape and encountered Mr. Hu, who tirelessly treated me for three days and nights. Otherwise, I would have met my end. In gratitude, I formed a sworn brotherhood with him!”

“Well-spoken! But no matter how eloquent you are, you can’t change the truth.” Ling Yihan had an idea and smiled slyly. “You thought you could hide your shameful deeds, but you didn’t expect that my dear sister, also from Miaojiang, would stand up for the girl you abandoned and document every detail in this letter, even noting your time spent there…”

Ling Yihan discreetly retrieved a letter from his storage ring and handed it to Hu Qingniu. “Mr. Hu, this letter is the evidence. Open it, and you’ll see the truth.”

Xianyutong’s face paled slightly. His heart was already guilty; if Hu Qingniu and Bai Yuan learned the truth, his reputation would be ruined, and his chance at becoming head of the Huashan Sect would be lost.

Without further thought, he quickly drew a folding fan, aiming it at Ling Yihan and Hu Qingniu, before leaping aside.

Just as Hu Qingniu was about to open the letter, he suddenly felt a sweet fragrance fill the air. His mind clouded, his vision blurred, and he stumbled, nearly collapsing. Ling Yihan was also affected in the same way.

“Brother! Brother Ling!”

“Brother Ling!”

Seeing the sudden turn of events, Hu Qingyang and Daiqisi rushed to their side to check their injuries, only for Xianyutong to seize the opportunity to seal their acupoints, rendering them immobile. Bai Yuan and the poisoned Ling Yihan and Hu Qingniu were also immobilized by him.

“Junior Brother, you…”

“Xianyutong, you hid the Golden Silkworm Gu poison in your fan. Truly malicious…”

…

Those affected turned on Xianyutong, shouting curses and rebuking him.

Xianyutong laughed smugly. “Brother Bai, Mr. Hu, don’t blame me. If not for that meddling kid making you believe his lies and prying into my affairs, I wouldn’t have had to resort to such measures.”

Hu Qingniu looked at him with bitter disappointment. “It seems Brother Ling was absolutely right. You really did those despicable deeds! I spent three days and nights exhausting my energy to save you, and even formed a brotherhood with you. I was even considering letting you marry my sister… yet you… I was truly blind to your true nature…”

Xianyutong sneered. “Well, your stubbornness truly lives up to your name, as foolish as an ox. I already have a wife, the daughter of Huashan’s headmaster. Did you honestly think I’d marry your sister? I only wanted to play with her like some brothel girl.”

“You… you beast! You call yourself a man of honor, yet you indulge in such shameless acts…” Hu Qingniu cursed bitterly.

Xianyutong laughed triumphantly. “Curse all you like. It doesn’t matter. You’re all poisoned by the Golden Silkworm Gu, and I’ve sealed your acupoints. No matter how skilled you are, Hu Qingniu, you won’t survive for long… Ha ha ha! And to think, Miss Hu is a beauty, and she even brought along a more stunning Persian girl… I, Xianyutong, will have a fine time indeed…”

“Keep dreaming!”

“You wretch!”

Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang shouted in unison, their voices filled with rage.