Chapter 30: A Completely Defeated Xiao Yi Xian!
The entire street fell into an eerie silence.
The mercenaries stared blankly at the corpse on the ground and then at Xiao Yi Xian standing not far away. Was he… really dead?
Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. Impossible. I didn't poison him!
Her first reaction was to deny it, assuming it was someone else's scheme. But soon, self doubt crept in. That poison… it clearly belonged to her. Could it be that the poison from her body was unconsciously released?
My Woeful Poison Body shouldn't have reached this level yet… Or could it have been caused by last night's cultivation…
At this thought, Xiao Yi Xian's hands and feet began to tremble. Is this the fate of the Woeful Poison Body? To accidentally harm everyone around me, to be loathed by the heavens and rejected by people, only to eventually die from the eruption of my own poison?
A woman stumbled forward, her steps unsteady, and collapsed beside the bearded mercenary's body. Tears welled in her reddened eyes, her lips trembling as she gazed upon her husband's lifeless corpse.
Saying nothing, the woman bent down, cradled her husband's body in her arms, and cast a long, deep look at Xiao Yi Xian before turning and leaving without a word.
Xiao Yi Xian's face turned as pale as a sheet. The silent gaze from the grieving woman stabbed into her heart like a dagger.
If only the woman had cursed or yelled at her, it might have alleviated some of the pain. But this silence was unbearable.
"Xiao Yi Xian! How dare you poison someone in broad daylight!" A furious roar suddenly echoed, and Mu Li and Hemon approached, their weapons in hand.
The crowd of mercenaries parted to let them through. The leaders had arrived it was their turn to take the heat.
"I didn't!" Xiao Yi Xian clenched her fists, her voice trembling with defiance.
"Still denying it? All of us here saw it with our own eyes. Are you saying we're lying?" a mercenary behind Mu Li shouted.
They wouldn't dare attack Xiao Yi Xian directly, but they had no qualms about hurling verbal abuse at her. Words were harmless, especially with the Wolf Head Mercenary Group leading the charge.
"Yes! We all saw it! Are you calling us liars?" another mercenary yelled. "You're nothing but a poison master, a venomous woman!"
"That poison is clearly the same as the one you used yesterday. If you didn't do it, then who else could it have been?"
"Xiao Yi Xian, he respected you so much. He trusted you! Why would you kill him?"
"A snake hearted woman! Why didn't you just leave quietly? Why did you have to take a life? What did we ever do to you?"
"All we did was say a few bad things about you yesterday, and now you're killing people? How cruel can you be?"
A barrage of angry accusations rained down on Xiao Yi Xian, and her mind became a chaotic mess. I didn't do it. I've been a healer here for so many years, saving countless lives. Why won't anyone believe me?
"I didn't do it! I never poisoned him!"
Faced with such hostility, Xiao Yi Xian was completely lost. She looked at the snarling faces of the mercenaries and heard their sharp, scornful words piercing her ears.
Her heart ached with every word. The sadness overwhelmed her thoughts. Is this truly the destiny of the Woeful Poison Body? To be eternally hated, feared, and despised?
"Xiao Yi Xian!" Mu Li pointed his spear at her, his voice cold and righteous. "Out of respect for your years of healing and saving lives, we tolerated your identity as a poison master. But now you dare to kill in broad daylight? Your crime is unforgivable!"
"Submit to us now and come back with me to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. In light of your past contributions, we promise not to kill you. But you will remain under our custody forever!"
His righteous speech drew cheers from the crowd. Finally, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was stepping up, and Mu Li, the young leader, was taking charge. This would bring the matter to an end.
However, a few individuals frowned. They hadn't forgotten about the treasure. Xiao Yi Xian's exposure as a poison master had all started because someone attacked her for it. Now that Mu Li was leading the charge against her, no one could voice any objections.
Hearing Mu Li's accusations, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes shifted. She could never go to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. Mu Li was devious and untrustworthy. Even with her strength, she couldn't face an entire mercenary group alone.
"What? Are you planning to resist?" Mu Li shouted, his voice echoing through the street. Pale green Dou Qi surged from his body, coursing into the spear in his hand.
Beside him, Hemon grinned, his hands radiating gray white rock element Dou Qi. A faint veil of Dou Qi flickered around his body. Though still a nine star Dou Zhe, he was nearing the Dou Shi level.
"Xiao Yi Xian, as one of the top mercenary groups in Qingshan Town, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group has a duty to protect the town!" Mu Li declared righteously. "If you refuse to surrender, then I will have no choice but to subdue you by force!"
Behind him, the mercenaries silently drew their weapons. If a fight broke out, they couldn't just stand by. The eastern side of the Magic Beast Mountain Range bordered the Chu Yun Empire, and everyone knew how terrifying poison masters could be.
If Xiao Yi Xian wanted revenge, the entire town would be turned into a wasteland of poison.
"Mu Li, we're willing to fight by your side!" several mercenaries shouted, their voices filled with fervor.
Their emotions ran high as they gripped their weapons tightly, Dou Qi surging within them.
Mu Li smirked, unable to hide his delight. If he had tried to attack Xiao Yi Xian a few days ago, the mercenaries would have turned against him.
But now? Xiao Yi Xian had become the one everyone wanted to attack.
How ironic!
Xiao Yi Xian's lips trembled as she pressed them together, her fingers clenching until her knuckles turned white. Tears welled up in her eyes. At that moment, she suddenly felt a desire to end it all to die and be done with it.
"Wolf Head Mercenaries, prepare to attack!" Mu Li ordered, his voice loud and clear.
Several mercenaries with spears and swords leaped forward, forming a tight formation. Meanwhile, other members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group subtly positioned themselves around the street, blocking all exits.
A few clever mercenaries in the crowd noticed this and paled. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group had prepared far too well. This wasn't a spur of the moment decision it was clearly premeditated.
Xiao Yi Xian's eyes grew vacant, her arms hanging limply at her sides. She showed no signs of resisting.
Mu Li's eyes gleamed with excitement. He hadn't expected the events earlier to shatter Xiao Yi Xian's spirit so completely. Even her will to fight seemed to have vanished.
What luck!
Seeing Xiao Yi Xian's dazed state, Mu Li's eyes shone with greed. Xiao Yi Xian's strength wasn't insignificant, and her terrifying poison techniques made capturing her difficult. But now, with her spirit broken, it was the perfect opportunity to strike.
"Attack!"
Mu Li shouted, lunging forward with a burst of wind element Dou Qi. In an instant, he became a blur, his spear thrusting toward Xiao Yi Xian's throat like a venomous snake.
As the icy gleam of the spear closed in, Xiao Yi Xian felt a swirl of emotions within her.
She took a deep breath, her purple gray Dou Qi beginning to settle.
Just as Mu Li had predicted, Xiao Yi Xian's earlier trauma had left her shaken and unwilling to resist. Even with the spear inches from her, she made no move to defend herself.
So… the treasure is mine!
Father, I will avenge you!
Mu Li's grin widened, his face contorting into a grotesque expression of triumph.
But at that moment, a powerful gust of wind roared from above.
Mu Li's grin froze, and the elation in his heart turned to dread.
"Watch out!" Hemon shouted, yanking Mu Li backward just in time.
Boom!
The ground erupted as a deep fissure split the street, separating Xiao Yi Xian from Mu Li and his men.
In the sky above, Lu Bu stood with his palm raised like a blade. Invisible soul energy radiated from his hand, his face grim and expressionless.
What's going on? Why doesn't Xiao Yi Xian even want to fight back?
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen