Chapter 12: The Master of Hidden Poisons

“You’re Bai Ge’s fiancé?”

The moment Song Luyuan heard this title, he immediately stood up and grabbed the cleaver that still had chive leaves stuck on it.

With a powerful swing, the cleaver extended and transformed into a sword—its dark iron blade gleaming with a dazzling cold light under the firelight.

“This is… Xuan Iron?”

Xiao Ping instantly recognized the sword in Song Luyuan’s hand as the Wenque Sword.

He had to reassess the three brothers standing before him, each of different heights.

“Who would’ve thought the number one Young Mad Sword in the jianghu is just a brat barely out of childhood.”

Xiao Ping shifted his focus to Song Hancheng.

He had a feeling this seemingly gentle and amiable young man was actually the most dangerous among the three brothers.

“And you? Who are you?”

Song Hancheng held a half-empty bowl of Berry Water and said softly to Xiao Ping,

“I’ll tell you once you’ve beaten him.”

“Alright, I was just about to test the number one Young Mad Sword’s skills anyway.”

Xiao Ping answered calmly.

He dramatically raised the sword in his right hand, pointing it at Song Luyuan.

Meanwhile, his left hand quietly withdrew into his sleeve.

In an instant, five Pellet Bombs appeared in the palm of his left hand.

These were new hidden weapons Xiao Ping had recently crafted, filled with Five Venom Powder.

Once thrown near an opponent, whether it hit or not, the Pellet Bombs would explode, poisoning the enemy to collapse breathless, and in moments, losing all inner strength.

Song Luyuan excitedly leapt forward, charging at Xiao Ping.

Swish—

Thud!

A heavy body crashed to the ground.

“Hmm? What’s going on?”

Song Xian, disturbed by the noise, groggily opened his eyes.

He lifted the bamboo curtain at the window and peeked out to ask.

Song Hancheng and Song Jimin immediately turned to him, smiling.

“No worries, second brother’s just practicing martial arts, making some racket.”

Song Jimin obediently said,

“Did I wake you, Father? I’ll tell him to be quieter.”

“No need.”

Song Xian yawned, tears in the corners of his eyes, clearly exhausted.

“Father,”

Song Luyuan hurried over, standing by the window with a sheepish grin,

“Sorry for being so loud. I’ll be quiet right away.”

“No problem. Training is good for your health. Even if you shouted all night, I wouldn’t mind. In this chaotic era, it’s important to have the ability to protect yourself. Smart and hardworking—second brother will have a bright future!”

Song Xian reached out to pat Song Luyuan’s head but found it out of reach.

Just as he was about to awkwardly pull back, a furry little head was pressed into his palm.

“Father, don’t worry. I’ll learn martial arts well and protect you and my brothers.”

“You don’t need to protect me; I’m the one who should protect you all. Don’t burden yourself with too much responsibility—that’s exhausting. I just want you all to grow up happily and safely.”

Song Xian’s voice faltered as he almost lost control of his emotions.

He smiled, told the children not to stay up too late, and went back to sleep.

The three brothers all smiled and nodded in agreement.

After Song Xian lowered the bamboo curtain, they turned and headed toward the eastern hillside together.

When Bai Ge was called over, she was startled to see Xiao Ping unconscious in the grass.

“What the hell is this dog doing here?”

“He probably saw us at the market and got suspicious, so he followed us back,”

Song Hancheng said, carefully omitting the fact that Xiao Ping knew Song Xian.

“Is he really your fiancé?”

Song Luyuan asked Bai Ge curiously.

Bai Ge nodded without a word and then stomped on Xiao Ping, slapping him fiercely.

“Look at his fancy clothes and that Gold Lantern in his hand. He probably isn’t short of 3,000 wen to sell you. But selling you for that price is too cheap—he’s not even worth as much as a donkey, which goes for 5,000 wen.”

Song Jimin’s innocent words hit hard.

“He’s deliberately humiliating me!”

Bai Ge clenched her fists and ruthlessly beat Xiao Ping’s face, smashing his nose until blood gushed out.

“Hey, take it easy! We haven’t interrogated him yet,”

Song Jimin stopped her.

“Bai Ge is learning martial arts too?”

From the cabin, Song Xian stuck his head out the window and looked their way.

The four of them quickly lined up, blocking Xiao Ping’s body and smiling at Song Xian in unison.

“Mmm, girls should learn some self-defense skills when out alone.”

Bai Ge responded nervously to Song Xian, then turned to the three brothers in confusion,

“Why are you hiding this from him?”

Song Hancheng said,

“He was just traumatized today; it’s better he doesn’t see blood.”

“Yeah, we should keep it from him. Uncle Song is a good man; no need to let such filth taint his eyes.”

With that, Bai Ge kicked Xiao Ping twice more.

When Xiao Ping regained consciousness, he found himself tied to a tree trunk.

Before him was a blown-up picture of Bai Ge’s face.

“Hey, you’re finally awake!”

Bai Ge slapped Xiao Ping hard,

“Why did you poison me? Why did you treat me like that?”

Xiao Ping coughed violently, then spat out a mouthful of blood.

He could hardly believe he had been captured.

“This can’t be happening—I clearly planned everything—”

Suddenly, Xiao Ping remembered something.

Just before he was about to throw the Pellet Bomb, something hit his forehead.

He smelled a powdery scent and then his mind went blank—he remembered nothing.

Xiao Ping sneered, his tone disdainful as he accused Song Luyuan,

“Never thought the mighty number one Young Mad Sword would resort to hidden weapons and dirty tricks! Your reputation is a joke!”

“You’re talking nonsense. I never use dirty tricks in duels!”

Song Luyuan snapped, displeased at being wrongly accused.

“It was me. I used this,”

Song Jimin shook his Slingshot in his right hand and opened his left palm, showing the five Pellet Bombs.

“If we hadn’t struck first, these five things would’ve hit one of our brothers, right?”

Xiao Ping was shocked that his trick had been anticipated from the start.

“How did you… how did you know?”

Song Hancheng finished his Berry Water, holding the empty clay bowl as he approached.

“Someone who would poison his own fiancée so slyly wouldn’t fight the number one Young Mad Sword honestly.”

Xiao Ping suddenly understood.

“So I’ve been played from the beginning. You said I was to duel your brother, but you distracted me and drugged me when I wasn’t paying attention?”

Fear flickered in Xiao Ping’s eyes as he looked at Song Hancheng—this man was terrifying.

Meeting him for the first time, he’d already been completely outwitted.

“You’re the Master of Hidden Poisons?”

Song Hancheng asked.

Xiao Ping’s fear deepened.

“How do you know I’m the Master of Hidden Poisons?”

“Oh? So you’re the infamous Master of Hidden Poisons, known for using hidden weapons?” Song Luyuan rubbed his chin, inspecting Xiao Ping’s battered face, “You don’t even look old.”

“Unlike you, who names yourself so straightforwardly—Young Mad Sword when you were just a kid.”

Song Jimin couldn’t help but mock his second brother’s naivety.

“I’m a man of integrity—honest and aboveboard.”

“So you’re the Master of Hidden Poisons?”

Bai Ge’s eyes reddened.

She grabbed Xiao Ping by the collar, demanding,

“Did you poison my father to death? Why? Why do this to us? Our families have been close for generations!”

“Heh ha ha.”

Xiao Ping grinned, blood and saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth.

“If you and your father hadn’t insisted on marrying into my family, Wan’er wouldn’t have drowned herself. You think just because you have a face that can topple kingdoms, all men will fall at your feet? Want men to sleep with you so badly? Fine, I’ll give you what you want…”

“You’re shameless!”

Bai Ge’s trembling hand slapped Xiao Ping hard across the face.

“The marriage was arranged between your father and mine. If you didn’t want it, you could have said so. I just had a better impression of you as a child—it’s not like I have to marry you! You just wanted to snatch the Weapon Register of the Bai Family!”

“Tsk tsk, men like this deserve to be dismembered.”

Song Luyuan raised his “little cleaver,” the chive leaves still stuck firmly to its blade.

Song Jimin quickly stopped him.

“No, I’d be grossed out using a knife that’s been in him to cut vegetables.”

Song Hancheng sent Bai Ge away, then turned to Xiao Ping’s bloodied face with an unchanged expression, even a seemingly friendly smile.

“Tell us—how did you meet Song Xian? What kind of friends are you?”

Xiao Ping shuddered, realizing just how formidable Song Hancheng and the others were, and regretted his earlier recklessness even more.

“So you didn’t know his true identity…”

Xiao Ping deeply regretted showing up so hastily when Bai Ge was around.

He shouldn’t have assumed the three brothers would keep quiet about his relationship with Song Xian and hand Bai Ge over to him.

Maybe his presence would ruin Song Xian’s carefully laid plans.

He bitterly laughed, tears of regret streaming down his face.

“Answer me! What kind of friends are you? How did you meet?”

Song Luyuan jabbed a wooden stick lightly into Xiao Ping’s pain points, causing him to scream in agony.

Blood-tinged tears fell as Xiao Ping laughed wildly and despairingly.

“Whether I speak or not, I’m going to die anyway. So why should I talk?”

“Try being stubborn again?”

Song Luyuan jabbed the stick a few more times.

“I’ll tell you to make it quick. If I don’t—”

Song Hancheng fiddled with the clay bowl.

“We’ll hang you here, cutting a small wound every day, only taking a bowl of blood. Let’s see if you die first from the wounds festering or from blood loss.”

Xiao Ping shivered, staring at Song Hancheng in terror.

“I have one request—if you grant it, I’ll speak. When I die, bury my body with Wan’er’s.”

“Alright, speak,”

Song Jimin agreed without hesitation.

“Song Xian and Lord Yu are close friends. I wanted to get close to Lord Yu, so I tried to win him over and befriend him. But honestly, I barely know him—I don’t know his background.”

“If you want to know who he is, I suggest you ask Lord Yu’s followers. They should have clues.”

“Who’s Lord Yu?”

Song Luyuan pressed.

Xiao Ping sneered,

“You don’t even know Lord Yu, and yet you dare investigate Song Xian? Don’t end up with no burial place!”

Song Hancheng gave Song Luyuan a signal.

Without hesitation, Song Luyuan raised the sharpened stick.

By his old killing habits, he would have stabbed it into Xiao Ping’s forehead before he could react, ending his life swiftly.

But suddenly, Song Luyuan paused.

In that moment, already terrified of death, Xiao Ping wet his pants.

“I’ll make sure you have a proper send-off to the King of Hell!”

After politely saying his farewell, Song Luyuan drove the stick through Xiao Ping’s forehead.