Chapter 78: Like a Banished Immortal Descending

At this moment, Mo Xiao, Fei Yan and a few others discussed and ordered Ye Yuan to withdraw his men to a slightly farther spot, to conceal their movements.

After a short while, Ye Yuan arranged his soldiers and reunited with Lord Jian Yi again.

Ye Yuan asked with some doubt, "When we were hiding, we encountered people from the Tiger Tribe who seemed to be heading toward this village. We can't tell if they're friend or foe yet."

Mo Xiao furrowed his brow and said, "I'll go check the situation in a moment."

The others exchanged glances, and Yue Ying spoke, "I'll go with you."

——

Jin Tong had just returned when Zuo Xuan entered his study.

Standing beside his desk, Zuo Xuan respectfully said, "Gate Master, it seems the few Beast Husbands of Su Mo haven't pursued us. We found no trace of them."

"Are you sure?"

"I've thoroughly inspected the vicinity and found nothing unusual."

Jin Tong slightly narrowed their shadowy eyes.

Given how much those few cared about that woman, they could not possibly do nothing.

They deliberately blocked Su Mo's pheromones along the way and took a detour, but with those few's abilities, they could not have failed to locate this place.

Zuo Xuan stared at the few Pill on his desk and frowned, "Gate Master, do you really believe that woman can help you detoxify?"

Jin Tong snorted coldly; of course they didn't believe Su Mo could detoxify them.

They were merely curious how she would coax them each day.

Although she couldn't completely remove the poison from their body, it did indeed alleviate it.

She could precisely control the dosage of each medicine?!

Where did this suddenly manifested skill set come from? Who taught it?

If he can get a handle on his own tactics, he can naturally stop fearing any of her poisons.

However, if her poison‑making skill could be used by him, that would be even better! Once the matter is settled, kill her quickly.

Zuo Xuan added, "Gate Master, although I haven't found the whereabouts of her few fiancés, I encountered members of the White Tiger Tribe on the way. I wonder if they came to avenge the commander you severely injured last time."

Upon hearing that, Jin Tong's eyes darkened: "It seems they still haven't had enough of the loss from last time."

"Their numbers are massive; we have few personnel left here, and the main forces are mostly wounded. It's best not to engage them head‑on."

Jin Tong furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, "Summon those few inside." Zuo Xuan nodded, hurried out.

——

At this moment Su Mo was squatting by the gate, coaxing that Beastmen Attendant, "When courting a girl, you have to cater to her tastes. She likes cooking, so study more recipes. Tell her what I just taught you, and she'll surely find a common topic with you!"

The little Beastman asked anxiously, "Will it really work?"

"When the shift changes later, just try it and you'll know."

The young Beastman looked at her skeptically, "Would you be that kind? Gate Master said you're a very cunning female."

Su Mo raised an eyebrow, "I'm just teaching you how to chat; you wouldn't need to guard even that, would you? With such a small courage, I advise you not to pursue her; you won't catch her."

Having said that, she turned to leave.

The person retorted, "Who said I'm not daring? I'll go find her later! But what's the cooking secret you mentioned, can you tell me first?"

Su Mo smiled, "Why the hurry? Tell me the progress later, and I'll naturally tell you. Follow my steps and you'll achieve twice the result with half the effort!"

"Oh!" the little Beastman exclaimed excitedly, "Then wait for my good news!"

"Hmm." Su Mo yawned, deciding to lie down and take a nap.

When she woke up, she heard rustling sounds from outside.

She and Xiao Jiu quietly perched on the window crack and glanced, "What is that damn pervert doing now?"

Xiao Jiu: "The young, strong Beastmen in the village seem to have gathered here; looks like they're setting something up. He can't have already discovered the host's fiancés' whereabouts, can he?"

Su Mo frowned but said nothing.

From outside, the leading robust Beastman shouted sternly, "From now on, be on your guard, no slack allowed! Patrol routes and schedules must be tightened!"

The group of young Beastmen chorused, "Yes!"

The leader walked toward the crowd and continued, "If Tiger Clan members approach, report immediately!"

Su Mo quietly retreated, "Tiger Clan? Looks like another wave of that Jin Tong dog thing's enemies has come."

Xiao Jiu, excited, said, "The enemy of my enemy is a friend! Perhaps we can team up with them and kill that pervert cleanly!"

Su Mo thought a moment, shook her head, "North Wing doesn't seem to have much rapport with the Tiger Clan; if they come over now, they might delay Auntie from going out."

Xiao Jiu chattered, "If they fight tonight, we can escape in the chaos! No need to wait until tomorrow, right?"

Su Mo frowned, "We'll have to go out again tonight to figure out the interior layout!"

——

Mo Xiao and Yue Ying had arrived at the place where the Tiger Clan had taken root.

After listening quietly to a few sentences, they confirmed their suspicion: the Tiger Clan this time truly came for Jin Tong.

The leading Tiger Clan commander, Yue Ying, recognized someone he had once met at the Tiger Clan Black Market, Tian Huan.

Now he stood solemnly among the Tiger Clan soldiers, angrily declaring, "This time we must kill Jin Tong to avenge GeneralBaiChi! It will surely…"

The soldiers' morale surged, shouting in unison, "Blood debt, blood repayment! Revenge! Kill him…"

Suddenly, a melodious zither sound interrupted the rallying cries.

Everyone turned toward the source, seeing a man seated on the wind‑blown high cliff's blue stone, his white robe fluttering, silver hair like frost shimmering in the dusk, exuding a cold noble aura that made one dare not stare.

Like a celestial maiden descending, utterly out of place amid the murderous atmosphere.

"Clang—"

Accompanied by the fractured string note, the man on the cliff wall instantly leapt before Tian Huan.

His cold, placid gaze swept over Tian Huan.

A hint of insecurity appeared on Tian Huan's face, "Young Master Xuan Qing, why have you come?"

Xuan Qing, in a calm, unruffled tone, said, "General Tian Huan, your skill is impressive—so you even persuaded my father to send troops to this tiny village?"

If it weren't for his traveling through here and noticing the Tiger Clan Beastmen's presence, we truly wouldn't have known about this matter!

"I… I am as close as brothers with Bai Chi. He was secretly assassinated, and I must avenge this grievance! Otherwise, how can I answer his subordinates?!"

"GeneralBaiChi, whether he lives or dies is still uncertain; even General Tian Huan, if he seeks revenge, should first verify the situation before proceeding. Your reckless actions put everyone's lives where? There are many ways to capture Jin Tong, yet you insist on a head‑on clash? Sending a head into another's territory!"

Tian Huan clenched his fist and shouted angrily, "Great Young Master, you look down on me like this?!"

Xuan Qing gave him a casual glance, "Bai Chi's martial strength surpasses yours; when he was ambushed, his forces were not much fewer than yours today. Where does your confidence come from, thinking you can defeat Jin Tong?!"

Tian Huan was somewhat irritated by his words: "He has been missing for dozens of days; his fate is surely grim! Young Master, your greatest hobbies are, besides writing and painting, studying musical scores; you should stay out of our war affairs!"

A nearby Beastman, voice agitated, said, "Indeed, Great Young Master, we will definitely avenge GeneralBaiChi! The enemy is already at the gate; there is no reason not to fight! Stop urging us, we swear to follow General Tian Huan to the death!"

Xuan Qing's gaze swept over them, and he suddenly smiled.

Knowing that further words with these brutes were futile, he said in a calm voice, "As you wish. When does General Tian Huan plan to dispatch troops? I don't mind accompanying you."

Tian Huan, in a serious tone, said, "Tonight, after midnight, the enemy already knows we've arrived, so a swift, decisive battle is best!"

Xuan Qing said no more, cradling the ancient lute in his arms, and went to a secluded spot to sit.

From behind came the soldiers' chatter: "Useless scholars, I think Young Master over the years has only been able to read books and write musical scores; he knows nothing else. Isn't he a burden to take along?"

"The Tribe Chief has only this one Young Master under his knee; in the future this Tiger Tribe Tribe is to pass the position to him, yet the Young Master is always so timid, and in the future…"

Xuan Qing listened to those voices with an indifferent expression; he has always cared little for unfounded reputation, power, or wealth, which have never been his life's pursuits.

He, dressed in a white robe, sat upright beside them, continued to play the lute, and soothing, gentle notes flowed from his fingertips.

Soon, the crowd's agitation eased, and they listened, entranced and intoxicated.

When the piece ended, the crowd wore puzzled faces: "The Young Master's playing sounds even more pleasant now, but… are we here to fight a war or to listen to music???"

Tian Huan's expression turned surprised as he looked at Young Master Xuan Qing beside him; the soothing effect of the Young Master's music had grown stronger. Could he have risen in rank during his short time away?!

Young Master Xuan Qing's martial abilities were not recently discovered; it's just that he never acts hastily, so many in the tribe are unaware of his background.

Yue Ying and Mo Xiao have already gone back and forth by now.

"I see that Tiger Clan Young Master is far from useless; it's rumored that a lute in someone's hands can soothe the heart and also kill."

Mo Xiao frowned: "I heard the two daughters of the Tiger Clan elders are also very formidable; there's no reason this younger son would be a waste."

Yue Ying frowned: "The situation is becoming increasingly complicated; after rescuing the Wife Master, we must leave this place quickly!"