The martial arts practitioners whispered amongst themselves, all believing that the Zixia Sect Master had simply had good fortune. Only the Zixia Sect Master and Qinglan knew in their hearts that they were doomed. The Zixia Sect Master's brows furrowed deeply, a look of grave seriousness flashing in his eyes.
Shen Qianmo must have realized something. If they went back, death might await them, but if they didn't go back, they would be guilty of disrespecting the leader of the martial arts alliance, which would also prove that they had a guilty conscience, and that would be even more terrible.
Qinglan's face was deathly pale. She bit her lip and helped the Zixia Sect Master slowly move towards Shen Qianmo. Shen Qianmo gave them a meaningful smile.
"Sect Leader and Miss Qinglan, please come with me to fetch the medicine." Shen Qianmo stared steadily at Qinglan and the Zixia Sect Leader, a gentle smile playing on her lips. Her dark eyes were like a deep pool, unfathomable to her thoughts.
Her words were gentle and polite. If one did not listen carefully, one would only think that Shen Qianmo was concerned about the Zixia Sect Master and Qinglan. However, if one listened attentively, one could still hear the sarcasm in her words.
Qinglan's face was deathly pale. She forced a smile and said, "How could I trouble the Alliance Leader? I will find a way to cure Father's poison."
"Oh? Miss Qinglan can cure the poison of the Tang Clan? Could it be that you have some connection with the Tang Clan?" Shen Qianmo's eyes gradually darkened, and a faint, playful smile appeared on her lips. She looked extremely surprised, but the cold light in her eyes made Qinglan shudder.
Qinglan trembled as she looked at Shen Qianmo. She knew, she must know everything! Otherwise, she wouldn't be looking at her like that. Qinglan's face slowly turned pale, her fingers clenched tightly, her knuckles turned white, she bit her lip and looked at Shen Qianmo, finally forcing herself to say, "Although the Zixia Sect doesn't have as many sacred medicines as the Demon Palace, it's not difficult to detoxify them."
"Yes, yes. We wouldn't dare trouble the Alliance Leader!" The leader of the Zixia Sect immediately echoed Qinglan's words, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.
"Oh? You dare not?" Shen Qianmo's dark eyes were filled with a chilling aura, but the smile on his lips was playful and sarcastic. He slowly walked closer to the Zixia Sect Master and Qinglan, looking at them meaningfully.
Seeing the murderous intent in Shen Qianmo's dark eyes, Qinglan's hand supporting her father trembled slightly, and she almost lost her balance.
Seeing Qinglan's pale face, Shen Qianmo's smile deepened. He slowly walked up to Qinglan, his dark eyes fixed on her, and said calmly, "Miss Qinglan, what's wrong? You look so pale. Did you suffer some kind of fright?"
The martial arts practitioners around them naturally noticed Qinglan's panic and were all puzzled. Seeing Shen Qianmo's lazy and self-satisfied appearance, it seemed that she was not really in a hurry to help the Zixia Sect Master detoxify. They couldn't help but frown and watch to see what tricks Shen Qianmo was going to play.
"How can the leader of the Zixia Sect be so ungrateful? The alliance leader just wants to help him detoxify, why is he making such a fuss?!"
"Exactly! They're putting on airs. Don't they know what kind of person the Demon Palace Master is?! Look, the Demon Palace Master is clearly unhappy."
Those in the martial arts world whispered amongst themselves upon witnessing this scene. The leader of the Zixia Sect looked even more displeased. After all, he had been in the martial arts world for so many years; how could he not have heard of the Demon Palace Master's name, and he was well aware of the Demon Palace Master's methods?
But how could he have imagined that the Demon Palace Master, despite being poisoned by the Breathless Poison, could still be alive and well?! If he had known that the Demon Palace Master could still be alive and well, and that he had even guessed that it was his daughter who administered the poison, he would absolutely not have come to participate in this martial arts tournament!
Shen Qianmo saw the regret in the eyes of the Zixia Sect Master, the sarcastic smile on her lips, and a ruthless glint in her eyes. She thought to herself, "Now you're starting to regret it? Too bad, it's too late!"
"Those who have hurt me will not have a good end!" Shen Qianmo said with a gentle smile, leaning close to Qinglan's ear in an extremely ambiguous manner. Her voice was very soft, and only the two of them could hear it.
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Qinglan's eyes immediately became as still as water as she stared at Shen Qianmo. It seemed that she was doomed today!
"What did the Alliance Leader and Miss Qinglan just say? Why does Miss Qinglan look so pale?"
"That's right! Could it be that the Alliance Leader has taken a liking to Miss Qinglan, but Miss Qinglan is unwilling?"
"What nonsense are you spouting! With the Alliance Leader's unparalleled charm, which girl wouldn't want him?"
Martial arts practitioners, observing Shen Qianmo and Qinglan's strange behavior, couldn't help but whisper among themselves. Shen Qianmo, hearing these comments, remained noncommittal, simply observing Qinglan and the leader of the Zixia Sect with a leisurely air.
Qinglan and the leader of the Zixia Sect were in a state of panic. They had no idea what Shen Qianmo's next move would be.
"I wonder what business the Palace Master has summoned me for?" An elderly man with white hair was respectfully invited to the front of the group by the Demon Palace.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. This white-haired old man was none other than Ouyang Ding, the renowned eccentric doctor of the martial arts world. Rumor had it that the eccentric doctor had a very strange temper, and he might not even give face to the leader of the martial arts alliance. Yet, the Demon Palace Master had managed to invite him, which was enough to prove the Demon Palace's strength.
While everyone was marveling at this, they also secretly wondered: Did the Demon Palace Master invite the eccentric doctor here to treat the Purple Cloud Sect Master's injuries?! The Purple Cloud Sect Master is truly blessed!
“This strange doctor’s medical skills are unparalleled. Why don’t you let him take a look at your poison wound?” Shen Qianmo smiled politely at the strange doctor, then raised her eyebrows and looked at the Zixia Sect Master with a playful expression.
If she wasn't mistaken, the leader of the Zixia Sect wasn't actually poisoned. His feigned poisoning was merely a smokescreen. Since the Zixia Sect was affiliated with the Demon Palace, how could Tang Yu possibly have truly poisoned the sect leader?!
"No need. This old man." The sect leader of Zixia Sect immediately broke out in a cold sweat, wanting to refuse, but seeing Shen Qianmo's eyes, he swallowed all his words.
In this situation, he had no right to speak! Shen Qianmo was clearly going to expose everything in front of everyone! What was he going to do?! If others found out that he was colluding with the Tang Clan, the reputation of the Zixia Sect would be ruined, and his life would probably be in danger too!
Shen Qianmo coldly looked at the sect leader of the Zixia Sect, her smile becoming increasingly sinister, her eyes filled with a chilling light, and continued, "Why does the sect leader refuse?! Does the sect leader's poison injury not matter at all?! Don't tell me that the Tang Sect will show mercy."
Shen Qianmo smiled coldly, observing the panic and despair on the faces of the Zixia Sect Leader and Qinglan. Since they dared to lay a hand on her, they should have known their fate!
Those in the martial arts world were completely baffled by what they saw. It seemed there was more to the story behind the Purple Cloud Sect Master's injuries than met the eye!
The eccentric doctor deftly grabbed the Purple Cloud Sect Master's hand to take his pulse, then coldly remarked, "It's just a minor poison that causes him to vomit black blood and turn blue; nothing serious!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding martial arts practitioners erupted into a frenzy, whispering amongst themselves.
"How could that be?! Just now, the Zixia Sect Master clearly looked like she was on the verge of death from her injuries!"
"Exactly! The Tang Clan is known for its ruthlessness, how could they only use such a poison? And if that were the case, why would the Zixia Sect have withdrawn?!"
Seeing the murmurs and discussions among the crowd, Shen Qianmo's smile remained unchanged, as if she had expected this outcome. Her dark eyes betrayed no emotion; she simply stood quietly, watching the crowd.
"Did the alliance leader already know?" someone finally couldn't help but ask.
Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow, coldly looking at Qinglan and the Zixia Sect Leader, and said indifferently, "I'd like to hear what the Zixia Sect Leader has to say first!"
"I have nothing to say!" The leader of the Zixia Sect wasn't a fool. Things had come to this point; there was no point in him saying anything. Rather than become a laughingstock, he'd rather die with pride!
Upon hearing this, Shen Qianmo's lips curled into a ruthless and bloodthirsty smile, a flash of ferocity passing through her eyes. She had almost lost her life, and Situ Jingyan had been injured because of her. Did she think she could die so easily?! She was thinking far too simply.
"Then, let Mo Chi speak for you!" Shen Qianmo spoke leisurely, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked at everyone. Her clear voice was heard clearly by everyone present, "The Zixia Sect is nothing but a lackey of the Tang Sect! And the Zixia Sect Leader's vigorous challenge to everyone is nothing more than paving the way for Tang Yu!"
His words astonished everyone present.
The expressions of the martial arts practitioners immediately changed. They all stared in astonishment at the leader of the Zixia Sect. Seeing his ashen face, and recalling what had happened before, everyone lost their composure.
"Sect Leader, how could you collude with the Tang Sect?! We even regarded you as a leader of the righteous path!"
"Hmph! What righteous path?! Aren't we just lackeys!"
The sarcastic remarks crashed down on the leader of the Zixia Sect like a tidal wave. His face turned ashen, and finally, as if he had made up his mind, he raised the sword beside him and committed suicide.