Chapter 774: This Is My Black Medicine Sect's Original Innovation

His hand gripped Anbei Taichin's nape tightly, like a shackle firmly binding Anbei Taichin's body.

"Let go!" Anbei Taichin shouted, startled and angry, struggling with all his might, yet he could not free himself at all.

His heart raced, and he shouted hoarsely, "Help! Someone, quickly!"

The door was flung open violently.

Heitian Chongxin rushed in brandishing a sword, and at a glance saw Anbei Taichin lying on the floor, Min Zhenshu lying atop him, the two pressed tightly together.

He lifted the great sword, but stopped abruptly; the two were too close, and a slightest mis‑stroke would surely wound Anbei Taichin.

He gritted his teeth, set the sword down, lunged forward, seized Min Zhenshu's arms, and pulled hard, trying to separate him.

But Min Zhenshu's arms were as if forged of iron, not moving a hair.

Heitian Chongxin exerted all his strength, yet still could not make those hands loosen even an inch.

Suddenly, Anbei Taichin let out a loud, anguished scream.

Heitian Chongxin could no longer wait, grabbed the great sword from the ground, and swung it down.

The blade slashed into Min Zhenshu's back.

His body jolted sharply, his hands finally loosened slowly, and he collapsed softly.

Anbei Taichin shoved him aside, staggered to his feet, and gulped breath after breath.

Something slipped from his shoulder and fell to the ground.

Heitian Chongxin looked down, inhaled sharply, and said, "Master, your ear!"

Anbei Taichin froze, reached toward his right ear, and his hand was soaked with blood.

At the ear's rim, only a few strands of shredded flesh still clung to saliva.

He slowly lowered his head, glanced at the mangled ear on the ground, then at Min Zhenshu's blood‑stained mouth.

A sour‑sweet taste rose to his throat; he opened his mouth and vomited a gush of fresh blood, collapsing on the floor.

Heitian Chongxin was silent for a moment, bent down to help him up, walked to the chair and sat, saying, "I'll go fetch a doctor," then turned and strode out.

Anbei Taichin clutched his right ear tightly, blood seeping constantly from between his fingers, flowing along his wrist bones into his sleeves, staining the bellflower pattern on his robe mottled.

He stared at the ruined ear on the ground, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

He never imagined that his noble body could have an ear taken by someone he regarded as a mere ant!

"Fiery Nation Immortal Envoy." His voice was hoarse and low, "I will certainly kill you with my own hands!"

The next day, Tengyuan Liangxin summoned everyone for a meeting.

When Anbei Taichin entered, everyone's gaze fell on his right ear.

There a thick bandage wrapped from the ear root down to the jaw, the strips winding around the crown several times, covering half his face tightly.

He clenched his teeth and swallowed the humiliation those glances brought him.

He didn't refuse to wear a black hat to conceal it, but the bandage was too thick; the hat simply wouldn't fit, so he could only appear this way.

He tried to appear calm and unhurried, lifted his robe and sat down.

Tengyuan Liangxin gave him a glance, then turned his head away, saying nothing.

Song Yongjiuxiu, however, looked at him with interest, a smile at his lips, and said, "Master, today's attire is rather distinctive."

"Is it the latest fashion from the East? I truly have been ignorant."

Anbei Taichin's face remained unchanged: "No need, Lord Song Yong, to worry. Last night's Hundred Ghost Night‑Walk technique drained me a bit; an old ailment simply flared up."

"Old ailment?" Song Yongjiuxiu raised an eyebrow, "That must be well cared for; Master is a national treasure of the East, must not be depleted."

Anbei Taichin ignored him, turned to Tengyuan Liangxin: "Commander Tengyuan, last night's Hundred Ghost Night‑Walk failed to defeat the enemy, but I naturally have a backup."

"It's just that the Fiery Nation Immortal Envoy is a hindrance; we must eliminate her first to ensure safety."

As soon as the words finished, a woman's voice came from outside the door: "Master, you speak truly."

Liu Guiyan slowly entered, her gaze sweeping over Anbei Taichin's right ear, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.

Tengyuan Liangxin said, "Madam Cheng, please sit."

Liu Guiyan bowed and said, "Thank you, Commander."

She sat down, scanning the crowd: "That Fiery Nation Immortal Envoy, though young, is extremely formidable."

"Commander, I am willing to lend Master a hand to eradicate her."

Anbei Taichin's complexion darkened.

He comes from a noble family and despises low‑born practitioners of heterodox arts.

Tengyuan Liangxin looked at Anbei Taichin, then at Liu Guiyan, and after a moment of silence said, "Master's old ailment has flared; he may not be able to fully resist the enemy."

"In that case, Madam Cheng shall assist Master from now on."

He paused: "Both of you share the same hatred of the enemy; joining forces to resist will benefit each of you."

Liu Guiyan replied, "Yes, Commander."

Anbei Taichin glanced at Liu Guiyan and said, "No need."

"I need no one's assistance; if Madam Cheng possesses any heterodox methods, she may use them as she wishes."

Liu Guiyan was not annoyed at all, smiled slightly: "Master already witnessed the Fiery Nation Immortal Envoy's power last night; why force yourself again?"

"Do you not even want the other ear either?"

Song Yongjiuxiu let out a snort of laughter.

"You!" Anbei Taichin's face flushed bright red, raging, "You are nothing but a defeated soldier that the Fiery Nation cannot tolerate!"

"Having nowhere to go, you fled here, yet dare to be so disrespectful to me?"

"How could I?" Liu Guiyan smiled, "It's just that, since you have suffered a great loss, receiving help is not a bad thing; why refuse so sternly?"

Anbei Taichin was about to speak again.

"Enough!" Tengyuan Liangxin's face darkened, "All of you here serve the General; you must not divide each other too sharply."

Pooling strategies and strength, each displaying their strengths, that is the best plan.

Abei Taiqin glared at Liu Guiyan, then helplessly nodded: 'I will follow the Chief Commander's words.'

Tengyuan Liangxin slightly nodded and asked: 'Grand Master, if the Fierce Kingdom's great army attacks, what spells do you have to counter?'

Abei Taiqin adjusted his collar: 'I can lay a mist barrier outside the city wall, keeping the fog at a height of one and a half persons above the ground.'

'Our troops stationed atop the city wall will be completely unaffected.'

'The enemy troops below will be completely swallowed by the thick fog, unable to see the city wall above or the ground ahead, allowing our archers and crossbowmen to shoot them down at leisure.'

Tengyuan Liangxin's eyes flashed: 'Excellent! Grand Master, this plan is superb!'

Liu Guiyan gave a light laugh.

Abei Taiqin's face suddenly darkened as he turned to her: 'Lady Cheng, what are you laughing at?'

'Don't blame me, Grand Master,' Liu Guiyan said calmly, 'I was just thinking that although your mist barrier can trap the enemy, the thick fog will eventually dissipate and cannot ultimately stop them from attacking again.'

Tengyuan Liangxin asked: 'What does Lady Cheng mean?'

Liu Guiyan took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, holding it in her palm: 'This is a poison powder uniquely created by my Black Medicine Sect, called Eye-Corroding.'