Chapter Eighteen: Converging with Other Left-Handed Paths

“Master, you are a monk; you must not kill. Please spare our lives, Master!”
“Yes, holy monk, have mercy!”
The two beside him pleaded desperately.
Chen Xuan’s expression darkened further.
“Get lost! Who said I’m a monk? Are you blind? Just because I’m bald, you think I’m a monk? Just because I have a flat chest, you think I’m a man?”
Chen Xuan cursed angrily.
What kind of discernment did these people have?
The three turned pale, confused as they looked at Chen Xuan.
Not a master? Then who was he?
“My name is Chen Xuan. I come from the Five Poisons Sect, sent here to negotiate. But I was ambushed by the Cui family when entering the mountain and got separated from my sect brothers,” Chen Xuan explained.
Their faces changed drastically, disbelief evident.
“You… you’re a senior brother from the Five Poisons Sect?”
“Oh dear, what misfortune has befallen us! If we’d known you were from the Five Poisons Sect, we wouldn’t have ended up like this!”
“Senior brother, you really beat us hard!”
The three lamented bitterly.
Yet deep inside, they harbored doubts.
The Five Poisons Sect’s cultivation focused predominantly on poison techniques. Why was his physical training so formidable?
Could he be a spy from another sect?
They decided not to expose him outright. Instead, they planned to feign trust, lure Chen Xuan to their stronghold, and then, with reinforcements, capture him in one fell swoop.
Chen Xuan furrowed his brow, sensing a hint of distrust in their shifting gazes.
They didn’t believe him?
He reached into his bosom and suddenly produced a token, showing it to them, saying, “This is my Five Poisons Sect token. You should recognize it, right?”
“We recognize it, senior brother. Since we’re all on the same side, why not come back to our stronghold first and talk?”
“Exactly, Senior Brother Chen, let’s return to the stronghold first.”
They hastily agreed.
Yet Chen Xuan still saw the lingering doubt in their eyes.
Indeed, without introductions from other Five Poisons Sect brethren, these heretical sect members would hardly trust him readily.
But this was only human nature. If trust had come so easily, they’d likely have all been wiped out by the righteous sects long ago.
“Alright, I’ll go with you,” Chen Xuan said.
He hoped the Second Elder and others had already reached the stronghold. If so, no one would question his identity. If not, he’d have to hurry there himself.
After all, the mission’s deadline was rapidly approaching.
The three quickly sealed their acupuncture points to stop bleeding and ease pain. They then took some pills from their bosoms, swallowing them. Only then did their complexion improve enough to move with difficulty.
“By the way, what are your names, junior brothers?” Chen Xuan asked with a smile.
“I’m Wang Wu from the Iron Armor Tower. These two beside me are my juniors, Luo Hai and Zhang Li,” said the youth who had launched the poisoned dart earlier, a bit embarrassed.
The other two also smiled sheepishly.
Chen Xuan nodded lightly, formally acknowledging them, and asked, “What’s the situation in this village? Where are the villagers?”
“I don’t know. They must have fled. After all, the three great righteous families have allied with the major sects of Yunzhou to besiege your Five Poisons Sect. If the villagers hadn’t left early, they’d be caught in the crossfire,” Wang Wu answered.
“That’s right. That’s right,” Luo Hai and Zhang Li nodded repeatedly.
Chen Xuan pondered for a moment and said, “Very well, you lead the way.”
“Yes, Senior Brother Chen, please follow us,” they smiled and headed off toward the distance.
The location of this heretical sect meeting was a secluded Taoist temple deep in the mountains, about ten miles away.
Along the way, Chen Xuan subtly probed for information.
The three major heretical sects that came to aid had dispatched their top experts.
Even their weakest were equivalent to the fourth level of Qi accumulation.
This far surpassed the Five Poisons Sect!
Several among them were close to the rank of the bottom tier of the Mortal Ranking, having attempted the ranking several times, narrowly losing once or twice.
Yet this still showed how formidable and terrifying these few were.
When the Mortal Ranking was mentioned, Wang Wu, Luo Hai, and Zhang Li couldn’t help but reveal some yearning and envy.
Though heretical, those with strength could also appear on the Mortal Ranking.
To enter the Mortal Ranking was to truly honor one’s lifelong training and arduous martial path.
Xuanqing Temple.
A modest plaque hung high.
The temple’s exterior was overgrown with weeds, looking dilapidated and neglected. The gate was tattered, seemingly abandoned for a long time. Surrounded by dense trees, it appeared utterly unremarkable from afar.
Yet as they approached, Chen Xuan keenly sensed someone watching them.
He glanced around but could not spot anyone hiding in the shadows.
The group reached the gate.
Luo Hai stepped forward and lightly knocked. A young Taoist dressed man opened the door, eyeing them warily.
Luo Hai whispered something into the young man’s ear.
The young man glanced toward Chen Xuan and nodded slightly. “Come in.”
“Senior Brother Chen, please!” Luo Hai said with a sly grin.
Chen Xuan swaggered inside.
Behind him, Wang Wu and Zhang Li smiled and discreetly stepped back, creating distance from Chen Xuan.
Chen Xuan noticed their behavior, frowned, and immediately understood their meaning.
Damn it.
They still didn’t trust him.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Luo Hai and the others quickly retreated to one side.
Wang Wu shouted, “Someone come quickly! There’s a traitor!”
“Help! Capture the spy!” the others shouted as well.
“Who dares trespass Xuanqing Temple?”
Suddenly, a harsh voice rang out.
With a rush, more than a dozen experts appeared from all directions, their auras fierce, instantly surrounding Chen Xuan.
Their clothes varied; some tall, some short, all carrying knives or swords, faces cold and eyes scanning Chen Xuan.
At the forefront was a fair-skinned young man holding a white paper fan, his brows sharp and cold as he stared at Chen Xuan.
“Bold traitor! Who sent you? Confess honestly, or the Seventy-Two Punishments of the Seven Kill Palace will make you beg for death in vain!”
he barked coldly.
Chen Xuan shouted back, “Fellow cultivators, you’ve misunderstood. I am Chen Xuan from the Five Poisons Sect, not a traitor. If you doubt me, summon others from my sect to verify.”
His eyes quickly scanned and suddenly caught a familiar figure in a nearby corridor. Delighted, he shouted, “Senior Brother Wu Jiang! It’s me, Chen Xuan! Come testify for me—I am from the Five Poisons Sect!”
Not far ahead appeared a figure, left arm wrapped in bandages, face pale, leaning on a crutch with a heavily bandaged right knee, clearly badly injured.
It was Wu Jiang, another disciple of the Second Elder.
Wu Jiang’s expression shifted slightly upon seeing Chen Xuan.
That guy… he was still alive?
Wu Jiang bore no fondness for Chen Xuan.
After all, Chen Xuan had defeated his junior brother Zheng Yun, indirectly disgracing their master. But now, representing the Five Poisons Sect, even if he disliked Chen Xuan, he couldn’t cause internal strife in front of outsiders.
That would only make the other heretical sects laugh.
He limped forward, darkly saying, “Brother Hao, he is indeed a disciple of our Five Poisons Sect, named Chen Xuan, a student of Elder Qian.”
“Oh, so this is a misunderstanding?”
The fair-skinned young man frowned, scrutinizing Chen Xuan again and shooting a displeased glance at Wang Wu and the others nearby.
Wang Wu and the others showed awkward expressions and apologized repeatedly.
The fair-skinned young man clasped his hands, looking at Chen Xuan calmly, “Since you are Brother Chen of the Five Poisons Sect, you are one of us. Brother Chen, please forgive any offense.”
Damn, quite polite?
Chen Xuan muttered internally, then returned the gesture, “No need for formality, after all, it’s all for safety’s sake.”
Wu Jiang’s face darkened as he looked at Chen Xuan, feeling uneasy.
Yesterday’s fierce battle had nearly shredded him into mince. How was Chen Xuan, chased by so many, completely unscathed?
Could his physical training be that powerful?
Or had he already secretly defected?
Wu Jiang stared hard at Chen Xuan but did not question him immediately.
“Brother Chen, please come inside!”
The fair-skinned young man smiled and gestured. “By the way, I am Hao Shengyi, nickname ‘Smiling Blade’.”
He introduced his nickname with a hint of pride.
Those who earned nicknames in the martial world were somewhat famous; otherwise, no one would bother to nickname an ordinary person. Furthermore, to venture into the world, one needed the sect’s permission and to pass rigorous tests.
Having a nickname meant being a cut above the rest.
By revealing his nickname, Hao Shengyi naturally wanted to show off a bit.
“Oh? So you’re Brother Hao,” Chen Xuan smiled faintly, complimenting him again. “By the way, my own nickname is ‘Iron-Blooded Young Master.’”
Hmm, to prevent others from randomly naming him in the future, he decided to name himself first. Wherever he went, he would announce his nickname, so it would quickly spread, making the false become true.
“Hmph? Brother Chen has a nickname too?”
Hao Shengyi looked surprised and regarded Chen Xuan with newfound respect.
Wu Jiang frowned.
Chen Xuan had never left the mountain before—where did he get this nickname?
Did he just make it up himself?
Wu Jiang was about to reveal this but stopped, a new thought arising in his mind.
Their Five Poisons Sect had suffered a heavy ambush, with severe casualties; only six or seven of the twenty-eight had made it here, all injured.
Though the other heretical sects said nothing openly, they showed disdain in their eyes.
They probably looked down on the Five Poisons Sect disciples’ martial skills.
At this moment, Chen Xuan giving himself a nickname might help restore some face for their sect, showing others that the Five Poisons Sect also produced promising young talents.
Wu Jiang nodded silently in agreement.