Over the next few days, dozens of assassination attempts came in waves. At this point, both Su Yu and Su Yue were utterly exhausted from this cycle of constant fighting. Who could withstand such a struggle? Especially Su Yu, whose face was pale and lips cracked from fatigue.
In the evening, the army was resting. The soldiers divided the tasks - some set up tents, others prepared food, and patrols kept watch. Su Yu led a group to survey the perimeter before returning.
"Elder brother, you should rest. Your health hasn't fully recovered," said Su Yue, whose eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion.
"Elder brother, drink this," Su Yue said, handing him a bottle of Spiritual Spring Water.
Su Yu drank it without questioning, only to quickly realize something was amiss. Shortly after consuming the Spiritual Spring Water, he felt a surge of vitality coursing through his body, replenishing his strength. His complexion visibly improved.
Shocked, Su Yue exclaimed, "Cousin, what did you give elder brother? It's so potent! Give me one too, Third Uncle, I'm exhausted as well."
"That's some good stuff. Little Five is being generous," Xuan Little Three said slyly. "In the past, all the good things went to me instead of my other martial brothers. Now someone else is getting a share."
Su Yue: ...
Su Yue took out a few more bottles from her spatial pouch and distributed one to each person, sending two extra bottles to Su Huan for them to consume if their strength waned.
"Little Five, who did your great-grandfather offend to attract so many enemies trying to assassinate him?" asked Xuan Little Four, who had helped Su Yu and Su Yue and was equally exhausted from the ordeal as he gnawed on a roasted rabbit leg.
"My great-grandfather holds military power, so many in the court envy him," Su Yue replied, taking out some spiritual fruits from her spatial pouch for Xuan Little Four, whose eyes lit up with delight as he eagerly devoured the delicious offerings.
While the others were busy, Su Yue checked the food and water storage, ensuring no one had tampered with the supplies. She also added some Spiritual Spring Water to the drinking water.
Su Yue was followed by Su Yue, who noticed her actions but did not inquire about them.
"Third Uncle, were today's assassins different from the previous ones? I noticed you seemed more disheveled when you returned."
"Today's group used different techniques from before, unlike the covert guards. Their methods resembled those of the martial world, catching me off guard. That's why elder brother wasn't at ease and went to survey the perimeter again."
"The martial world?"
"I'm not entirely certain, but their techniques seemed similar."
Fearing some unorthodox practices from the martial world could lead to trouble, the two headed to Su Huan's tent.
Su Yu had also arrived at Su Huan's tent, along with Xuan Little Three.
"Yue, have you eaten?" Su Huan asked.
"Yes, great-grandfather. I overheard Third Uncle mention that today's assassins resembled martial artists, so I'm concerned."
"Hmm, your elder brother told me as well. Don't worry, your great-grandfather is prepared."
"Martial artists have unconventional methods. Third Uncle should know more about them."
"Don't worry. I've given the necessary instructions and provided your elder brother with the required items. I haven't held anything back. You'll have to compensate me later," Xuan Little Three told Su Yu, having given him antidotes, medicines, and even poisons.
Amused by Xuan Little Three's feigned anguish, Su Yue replied, "Third Uncle, rest assured. I'll give you something good soon." She recalled that the spirit snake fruits in her spatial realm would ripen soon, which Xuan Little Three would undoubtedly enjoy.
"Something good? What is it?" Xuan Little Three's eyes lit up, eager to know what his junior sister considered a "good thing," as it was surely no ordinary item.
"Be patient, you'll find out," Su Yue teased.
Observing the exchange between master and disciple, Su Huan remained silent. Although he did not raise this granddaughter himself, her loyalty remained with their family. Once they returned to the Capital City, he would have to properly compensate her.
In the middle of the night, a piercing scream rang out, "Enemy attack! Enemy att - Aah..."
Su Yue immediately sprang into action. Su Yue was already engaging the enemy, and Su Yue unleashed her long whip, which seemed to have a mind of its own as it struck at the black-robed assailants. The two sides clashed fiercely, with Xuan Little Three and Xuan Little Four joining the fray but not attacking.
"Third Uncle, can you identify their sect?"
"They seem to be from the Blood Massacre Sect."
"The Blood Massacre Sect? No wonder. They're not a reputable orthodox sect, just mercenaries willing to do anything for money."
As the black-robed assassins were about to be wiped out, Su Yue called out, "Leave one alive." Heeding her command, she deftly struck a black-robed figure to the ground with a flick of her jade-like wrist.
On the other side, Su Yue had slain the last black-robed assailant and wiped his sword clean before joining them. "Xuan, the Divine Medical Expert, what use is there in leaving one alive?"
Su Yue understood Xuan Little Three's intentions and signaled to Xuan Little Four, who approached the downed assassin, forcefully removing his mask and gripping his chin. Su Yue then flicked a pill into the man's mouth with a deft movement of her fingers.
"What did you make me ingest? Honorable warriors may kill but not humiliate. If you have the courage, kill me instead of poisoning me. Is that the act of a hero?"
"Hah, your Blood Massacre Sect follows unorthodox and devious ways. How can you be considered heroes?" Xuan Little Three scoffed.
The black-robed man was taken aback, wondering how these people knew their sect's identity when they appeared to be from the imperial court.
"I'm sparing your life so you can deliver a message," Xuan Little Three said, showing a golden token. "Tell the various sects of the martial world that the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Duan Tianxia, protects the household of the Garrison General. This was initially an internal court matter unrelated to the martial world. However, since someone dared to violate the rules, don't blame us for using our power against you."
Upon seeing the token, the black-robed man was horrified. The new Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Duan Tianxia, was a madman who disregarded martial ethics. If they offended him, their small sect would be powerless to resist. It seemed they had to quickly report back. But this poison...
"As long as you spread the message, you can obtain the antidote from the Divine Medical Hall."
Although reluctant, the black-robed man swiftly departed, recognizing their inferiority. With the Martial Arts Alliance Leader backing their opponents, they lacked the capability to resist.
"Third Uncle, by doing this, you've implicated Second Uncle. Aren't you afraid he'll come after you?" Xuan Little Four taunted.
"He can only do something if he can catch me. Besides, it's for Little Five's sake. Second Uncle dotes on Little Five the most, so he won't do anything to me," Xuan Little Three reassured.
Xuan Little Four thought to himself, "Those black-robed assassins were clearly manageable. He only dragged Second Uncle into this because he didn't want to deal with the hassle himself."
"Second Uncle has already become the Martial Arts Alliance Leader? Why didn't he mention it?" Although the master-disciple group had seen each other less frequently in recent years, they had maintained correspondence.
"Your Second Uncle's father stopped managing affairs a couple of years ago. Second Uncle has been handling matters in the alliance. He only officially took over a couple of months ago. The letters likely reached White Cloud Temple after you had already left, so you didn't know."
"Hmm, after I finish what I need to do in the Capital City, we'll go to Tianqi City to visit Second Uncle. I heard his wife gave birth to a daughter. We should go and congratulate them." Su Yue had already prepared gifts for her little niece and planned to gather more presents once they reached the Capital City.
