Why Force Me to Kill You?

Squire Xia paced anxiously back and forth across the room. Only when Lu Changsheng arrived did Squire Xia rush forward in broad strides, seizing Lu Changsheng's hand and saying frantically, "Physician Lu, you're finally here! Please, save my daughter!" "Don't worry, Squire Xia. Let me take a look at Miss Xia first." Lu Changsheng walked inside and saw that Miss Xia had actually been tied up. Dazed and unfocused, her expression was bewildered, her face pale, and her hair disheveled. Moreover, she kept muttering the name "Brother Zhang, Brother Zhang" over and over. She had lost her mind. No wonder Squire Xia was so anxious. If this continued, Miss Xia would either go mad or turn into a simpleton—neither of which was an outcome Squire Xia could bear. Lu Changsheng spoke to Miss Xia, but received no response. He questioned the maidservant on a few details, then took Miss Xia's pulse. A quarter of an hour later, Lu Changsheng rose to his feet. "Physician Lu, how is my daughter?" Squire Xia asked. Lu Changsheng glanced around the room. "Speak freely, Physician Lu. Everyone here is trustworthy." Squire Xia assured him. Apart from Squire Xia and his wife, there was only Miss Xia's personal maidservant in the room; no outsiders were present. Lu Changsheng gave a slight shake of his head. "Squire Xia, didn't I tell you that Miss Xia needed rest and must never come into contact with the bewitching incense again? From the look of her, not only did she encounter it once more, but the dose was doubled. That is why she has ended up like this." "What? Exposed to the bewitching incense again?" Squire Xia's face darkened. He snapped his gaze toward the maidservant and demanded darkly, "Xiao Mei, you are the young miss's personal maid. Speak! Who on earth did she go out to see?" Xiao Mei turned deathly pale with fright. She knew very well that without the young miss awake to protect her, no one would speak up for her. If she continued hiding the truth, Squire Xia might very well beat her to death. Stammering, Xiao Mei confessed, "It... it was Young Master Tan." "The young miss met Young Master Tan when she went out of the city for an outing in the spring. Afterward, they exchanged letters, and the young miss gradually lost her heart to him." "The young miss forbade me from telling Master or Madam. Later, when the miss fell ill with that strange affliction, she broke off contact with Young Master Tan. But once her condition improved this time, she went outside the city to meet with him again. Who could have known she would be exposed to the bewitching incense once more?" "Master, Madam, have mercy!" Xiao Mei kowtowed repeatedly. In a prominent family, such a scandal was utterly disgraceful. Squire Xia's face was ashen. Yet he did not erupt, nor did he beat Xiao Mei to death on the spot. Instead, his eyes glinted with murderous intent. "Where is this Young Master Tan?" Squire Xia asked. "Th-that Xiao Mei doesn't know. Every time, Young Master Tan would send a letter to the miss arranging the meeting place." *Bang.* Squire Xia kicked Xiao Mei over. Furious beyond measure, he roared, "Search! Search the entire city! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, drag this Young Master Tan out!" "Calm yourself, Husband. This must be handled in secret, or Qing'er's reputation will be ruined!" his wife hastily urged. Squire Xia's anger cooled slightly, but the killing intent radiating from him did not diminish in the least. He turned to Lu Changsheng and asked, "Physician Lu, is there a way to treat her?" "Of course. I will prescribe another formula. A few days of convalescence will suffice, but this time, you must never allow the young miss to come into contact with the bewitching incense again." Lu Changsheng wrote the prescription and took his leave. Involving himself too deeply in the scandals of prominent households was not something he desired. As for that Young Master Tan, Squire Xia would naturally deal with him. A few days passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Changsheng counted the days; he had been in Yancheng for over ten days now. Miss Xia's condition had improved, requiring only a few more days of medication. Squire Xia's influence in Yancheng was boundless; save for the Black Water Gang, there was hardly anyone he feared. Yet Lu Changsheng, under the identity of Zhuang Thirteen, had recently decapitated the Black Water Gang. Now its various hall masters were busy vying for the position of gang leader—who had the attention to spare for a feud with the Xia family? The Xia family had indirectly benefited from Lu Changsheng's intervention. He did not know how Squire Xia had handled the Young Master Tan affair. In any case, Miss Xia had been grounded. Not wishing to remain in Yancheng any longer, Lu Changsheng went to bid Squire Xia farewell. "Squire Xia, Miss Xia's condition has stabilized. With some rest, she will fully recover in time." "Therefore, I intend to return to Nanyang City." Lu Changsheng stated his purpose plainly. Squire Xia did not seem surprised. All smiles, he said, "Physician Lu's medical skills are superb, truly inheriting Old Wu's authentic teachings. My daughter's recovery is all thanks to you." "Men, bring two hundred gold for Physician Lu." "Physician Lu, do not refuse. Were it not for you, my daughter would be in grave trouble." "Guard Liu, take an escort and accompany Physician Lu. Remember, you must see Physician Lu safely back to Nanyang City!" Guard Liu was a Refining Organs Realm martial artist, demonstrating how highly Squire Xia valued Lu Changsheng. "Yes, Master." Guard Liu went off to make arrangements immediately. Soon, a servant brought forth two hundred gold. Lu Changsheng accepted it without modesty; after all, it was what he had earned. Miss Xia, being confined to her quarters, did not come out to express her thanks, but Lu Changsheng paid it no mind. Packing his belongings, he climbed into the carriage. The carriage slowly trundled out of the city. Just as it exited Yancheng and reached a bamboo grove outside town— *Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!* Crossbow bolts shot out in swarms from both sides of the bamboo grove. Dense as rain, the bolts instantly tore through the guards' bodies. One guard after another collapsed, riddled with bolts. In the span of a single breath, not a living soul remained around Lu Changsheng's carriage. Even Guard Liu had his hand grazed by a bolt's tip. Ordinarily, such a scratch would hardly count as an injury. Yet when Guard Liu looked down, he saw the wound had turned black. His limbs went limp, and he collapsed straight to the ground. "Poison..." Guard Liu's eyes widened, glaring forward into the distance. He died with deep indignation. Who could have thought that a tiny scratch would take his life? The bolts were coated with deadly poison—the kind that sealed the throat at first blood. Such lethal venom was not something just anyone could obtain. Inside the carriage, Lu Changsheng's expression darkened. The ambush had struck so suddenly that even had he wished to intervene, there was no time. The attackers had clearly come prepared; a single volley of crossbow bolts had wiped out the escort squad led by a Refining Organs Realm expert. This was the vulnerability of martial artists at the Body Tempering level. No matter how formidable a Body Tempering martial artist might be, ordinary people armed with crossbows could still shoot them dead. The hail of bolts ceased, and a group of black-robed martial artists emerged from the bamboo grove. At their head were an elder and a young man. "Lu Changsheng, come out! I know you aren't dead!" the young man shouted toward the carriage. "Hm?" "You know me?" Lu Changsheng lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down. He swept his gaze across the crowd. He did not recognize a single one of these black-robed men. Moreover, calling him "Lu Changsheng" indicated they were unaware of his "Zhuang Thirteen" identity. Was this trouble brought about by his status as a physician? Lu Changsheng immediately thought of the Xia family. "Of course I know you. The disciple of Wu Jing, the renowned physician of Nanyang City." "Hmph. I didn't expect you to have truly inherited Wu Jing's true skills, actually unraveling my Soul-Confusing Incense." "If not for you, Miss Xia would already have been mine, and the entire Xia family would be serving our Myriad Poison Cult." "You ruined my cult's grand plan. Tell me, do you not deserve to die?" Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. "You are Young Master Tan?" The young man sneered, "It seems you know everything." Lu Changsheng shook his head. "I merely heard Miss Xia's maid mention a Young Master Tan." "In truth, whether you are Young Master Tan or someone from the Myriad Poison Cult matters little to me. I am merely a physician whose sole trade is healing the sick and saving lives." "Affairs of the martial world have nothing to do with me, nor do I wish to meddle in them." "If you let me leave, I will return to Nanyang City at once and pretend I never laid eyes on you. What do you say?" Currently in his role as a physician, Lu Changsheng had no desire to resort to force unless absolutely necessary. Once he fought, even if he slaughtered them all, leaving clues behind was nearly inevitable. Had he been in his guise as Zhuang Thirteen, he would have slain them long ago. "Heheh, what wishful thinking!" "You ruined our cult's grand plan and left me unable to answer to the Right Emissary, yet you still dream of walking away?" "I will carve you into a human swine and use your body to cultivate venomous insects. Those bugs will burrow into your brain and make you suffer an agonizing death! Hahaha!" Young Master Tan strode toward Lu Changsheng step by step, slowly drawing the broadsword in his hand, a savage smirk on his face. He had already investigated: Lu Changsheng was nothing more than a physician from Nanyang City who had practiced some rudimentary martial arts, at most reaching the Strengthening Blood Realm. Young Master Tan raised his broadsword high and brought it slashing down with vicious force. *Slash!* The blow aimed straight for Lu Changsheng's arm, intending to lop it off first. Yet as the blade descended, Lu Changsheng caught it bare-handed. No matter how hard Young Master Tan strained, he could not budge the broadsword an inch. "How is this possible? You..." Young Master Tan's face filled with shock. Lu Changsheng was merely a physician, scarcely stronger than an ordinary man. How could someone like that catch his broadsword with his bare hand? Lu Changsheng looked at Young Master Tan, then swept his gaze over the surrounding members of the Myriad Poison Cult. He gave a long sigh. "Why did you have to force me to kill you?" Seeing this, the only Refining Organs martial artist among the black-robed men turned pale with terror. "Fire!" Instantly, countless arrows swept toward Lu Changsheng in a dense barrage like driving rain. At the same time, Young Master Tan abruptly abandoned his broadsword, throwing a ferocious punch straight at Lu Changsheng's head. *Boom!* Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer, unleashing the full weight of his aura. The qi and blood within him roared, surging out from his body to coalesce instantly into a crimson cloud. The cloud of qi and blood soared into the air, shielding Lu Changsheng. When the dense volley of arrows struck the blood cloud, they ricocheted off instantly, completely unable to pierce it. At the same time, a terrifying pressure bore down on everyone from the Myriad Poison Cult like Mount Tai collapsing upon them. Even the Refining Organs martial artist felt his heart seized with horror, his body rendered completely incapable of movement. "Di—Divine Strength Realm?!" The Myriad Poison Cult's Refining Organs martial artist stared in utter terror at the blood cloud above Lu Changsheng's head. Such terrifying qi and blood, such monstrous pressure—without question, Lu Changsheng was a Divine Strength Realm expert! Yet according to their investigations, Lu Changsheng was clearly just a physician with a modest talent. How had he turned into a terrifying Divine Strength Realm powerhouse? Young Master Tan stood before Lu Changsheng, struck dumb. His entire body trembled violently. The arm he had swung toward Lu Changsheng had been caught directly by Lu Changsheng's hand. *Crack!* Lu Changsheng tore Young Master Tan's arm clean off. "Aaaagh!" Young Master Tan shrieked in agony. "Spare me! Hero, spare my life!" Young Master Tan clutched his wound, every shred of arrogance wiped from his face. Lu Changsheng said calmly, "I gave you several chances. Had you let me leave, wouldn't this matter have ended there?" "Yet you chose to court death and insisted on forcing my hand." "Since that is what you desire, I shall grant it." Lu Changsheng extended a hand, and a strand of Silken Thread Sword flew from his fingertip. *Pfft.* The Silken Thread Sword pierced straight through Young Master Tan's throat. Young Master Tan opened his mouth, but not a sound emerged. *Thud.* Young Master Tan collapsed to the ground, twitching several times before going still. With a wave of Lu Changsheng's hand, the massive cloud of qi and blood instantly fragmented into countless rain-like strands of Silken Thread Swords, hurtling toward the black-robed cultists below. *Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!* Moments later, only the Refining Organs martial artist remained kneeling on one knee. He was not dead, but only because Lu Changsheng had spared him intentionally. There were questions that needed answering. Lu Changsheng walked up to him step by step and asked, "Your Myriad Poison Cult has designs on the Xia family?" "Yes... Our cult set its sights on the profits from the Xia family's salt trade. We wanted to take full control of them and have them refine the Myriad Poison Great Elixir for us." "Which experts of yours came here?" "One Right Emissary and one Protector Elder." "Among them, Protector Elder Zhao Wuji is a Divine Strength Realm expert, but he rarely interferes in affairs. The one truly orchestrating this plan is Right Emissary Wang Feng." Lu Changsheng narrowed his eyes slightly. A Divine Strength Realm elder? He knew the Myriad Poison Cult was formidable, but he had not expected even a Protector Elder to be in the Divine Strength Realm. Still, he wondered just how powerful this Protector Elder was. "Is your Protector Elder in the Ten Tripods Realm or the Hundred Tripods Realm?" Lu Changsheng asked again. "I... I am not entirely sure. The exact cultivation realm of a Divine Strength expert is a strictly guarded secret within the cult. I only know the Protector Elder is very strong. Over the years, during many of the cult's operations, he has mostly just overseen things from behind the scenes, rarely ever needing to take action." Lu Changsheng then asked about the Myriad Poison Cult's stronghold in Yancheng. The man answered every question without holding back. "You are certainly cooperative. A pity I cannot let you live." "I knew that from the start. I only hope for a swift death." The Refining Organs martial artist was remarkably pragmatic. Knowing Lu Changsheng had hidden his strength and likely harbored significant designs, there was no chance he would be spared. All he wanted was to avoid dying in agony. "As you wish." Lu Changsheng released a qi and blood Silken Thread Sword, instantly piercing the man's heart. The Refining Organs martial artist slumped to the ground, lifeless. Lu Changsheng surveyed the area; the bamboo grove was strewn with corpses, leaving not a single survivor. Even without living witnesses, he had effectively exposed himself. Once the Myriad Poison Cult discovered that these men were dead, they would inevitably deduce that Lu Changsheng was responsible. After all, when everyone had perished except Lu Changsheng, any fool would know something was amiss with him. "Oh well. Looks like Zhuang Thirteen will have to take the stage once more." "Hero Zhuang Thirteen happened upon evil villains of the Myriad Poison Cult committing murder, intervened to save Physician Lu Changsheng, and wiped out dozens of those scoundrels." Lu Changsheng considered it. For Hero Zhuang to draw his blade to aid the innocent fit the hero's persona perfectly; the plot was thoroughly sound! Yet who would prove that Zhuang Thirteen was the one who saved Lu Changsheng? Lu Changsheng continued to refine the story. "Hero Zhuang, who detests the heinous Myriad Poison Cult with a passion, braved the dragon's den all on his own, slew their Divine Strength Realm Protector Elder, destroyed their Right Emissary, and razed the Myriad Poison Cult's stronghold in Yancheng to the ground." Lu Changsheng's eyes brightened slightly. Now the plot made complete sense. He could even make a grand spectacle of it, ensuring the entire city of Yancheng knew of Zhuang Thirteen's fierce battle against the Myriad Poison Cult. In any case, Hero Zhuang Thirteen's fame had already spread throughout Nanyang Prefecture. Even if the Myriad Poison Cult investigated afterward, they would only pursue Zhuang Thirteen. What did that have to do with him, Lu Changsheng? With this in mind, Lu Changsheng ducked into the bamboo grove. After half an hour of effort, he finished his disguise, transformed once more into the renowned hero Zhuang Thirteen who had shaken Nanyang! "No time to lose. Quick in, quick out." Not wishing to delay any longer, Lu Changsheng turned and hastened back toward Yancheng. This time, however, his identity had changed. The one who had departed Yancheng was Physician Lu Changsheng; the one returning was Hero Zhuang Thirteen!