Chapter 19: Blood Battle at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion

Zhang Jun hid on the roof opposite Drunken Immortal Pavilion, looking down at the chaotic scene below.

Manager Zhao was not only unharmed, but was directing the Long Family to search everywhere. What on earth is that mysterious token? Where did Lin Xue go again?

As the night deepened, the Long Family's search range gradually expanded. Zhang Jun decided to risk sneaking into Drunken Immortal Pavilion to uncover the truth.

He avoided the patrolling Long Family members, climbed over the wall from the rear courtyard and entered. The interior of Drunken Immortal Pavilion was unusually quiet; the usually bustling inn was now deathly silent.

Zhang Jun searched each room lightly on his feet, when suddenly he heard a faint groan coming from the basement.

"Lin Xue?"

He followed the voice, opened the basement door, and by the faint candlelight saw Lin Xue tied to a pillar, her face as pale as paper.

"Zhang Jun… hurry…" Lin Xue weakly lifted her head, her voice barely audible.

Zhang Jun rushed to her side in two quick steps, untied the ropes. Lin Xue went limp and collapsed into his arms, her whole body icy cold.

"What happened to you?"

"Manager Zhao… he poisoned… he is the real enemy…" Lin Xue said with difficulty, "He wants… all the treasure maps…"

Before her words finished, Lin Xue fainted.

Zhang Jun hurriedly checked her pulse, discovering a strange poison in her body corroding her meridians. In desperation, he circulated Profound Yin True Technique, sending his true qi into Lin Xue's body to try to dispel the poison.

Something strange happened.

When Zhang Jun's true qi entered Lin Xue's body, it unexpectedly resonated with a special internal force within her. The two forces intertwined, forming a wonderful balance, and the poison rapidly dissipated under this force.

Lin Xue slowly opened her eyes.

"What… cultivation method is this inside you?" Zhang Jun asked in astonishment.

"The Cold Ice Heart Scripture." Lin Xue weakly replied, "My father passed it to me on his deathbed, saying it is our Lin Family's secret not to be transmitted."

Zhang Jun recalled Old Mo's words, that Profound Yin True Technique and Yang Rigid Righteous Energy Technique complement each other, and Lin Xue's Cold Ice Heart Scripture seems to have some connection with Profound Yin True Technique.

"We need to leave here quickly." Zhang Jun helped Lin Xue up.

Just then, the basement door was kicked open violently. Long Aotian led over a dozen experts rushing in, surrounding the exit.

"Zhang Jun, you really are here!" Long Aotian sneered, "Today you won't be able to fly away!"

Zhang Jun shielded Lin Xue, warily staring at Long Aotian. Given his current state, plus having to protect Lin Xue, breaking out was utterly impossible.

At this critical moment, a familiar figure flashed out from behind Long Aotian.

"Young Master Long, let me handle these two."

Zhang Jun took a close look, and it was actually the courtesan from Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Long Aotian hesitated a moment, nodded and stepped back. The courtesan walked up to Zhang Jun, suddenly lowering her voice: "Follow me, there's a secret passage."

Zhang Jun was stunned. The courtesan seized the chance to grab his hand, while her other hand supported Lin Xue, pretending to escort them but actually guiding them deeper into the basement.

"You…"

"Don't speak." The courtesan interrupted him, "I am sent by the Liu Family, I am Liu Lei's cousin."

Only then did Zhang Jun suddenly understand. No wonder the courtesan knew so much about the Long Family's affairs; she was actually a Liu Family spy.

The courtesan led them to the wine cellar at the end of the basement, pushed open a hidden compartment, revealing a narrow passage.

"This secret passage leads outside the city; hurry up." The courtesan urged.

"And you?"

"I still have a mission, I can't leave." The courtesan said firmly, "Go quickly, don't let my efforts go to waste."

Zhang Jun nodded, helped Lin Xue into the secret passage. The passage was narrow and dark; the two bent over and proceeded, after about half an hour, light finally appeared ahead.

"We're almost at the exit." Zhang Jun breathed a sigh of relief.

However, just as they were about to reach the exit, a figure blocked the way ahead.

"You want to leave? Not that easy." Manager Zhao stood at the exit, backlit, his expression unreadable.

"Manager Zhao, who exactly are you?" Zhang Jun shielded Lin Xue behind him.

"Profound Heaven Pavilion, Zhao Wushuang." Manager Zhao said coldly, "Zhang Jun, hand over the treasure map, and I can spare your life."

"Profound Heaven Pavilion?" Zhang Jun recalled the conversation he overheard in the Long Family estate, where Long Tianba mentioned cooperating with Profound Heaven Pavilion to seek the Nine Yang True Scripture.

"So you're actually from Profound Heaven Pavilion; no wonder you can be so arrogant in front of the Long Family."

Zhao Wushuang sneered: "Smart. Now, hand over the treasure map!"

"Dream on!" Zhang Jun shouted angrily, circulating Profound Yin True Technique while trying to integrate Yang Rigid Righteous Energy Technique, and attacked Zhao Wushuang.

Zhao Wushuang remained calm, lightly waved a palm, and easily neutralized Zhang Jun's attack.

"With such meager skill, you dare to show off in Jiangbei?" Zhao Wushuang said contemptuously, then struck like lightning; a barrage of attacks came down like a sudden storm.

Zhang Jun barely managed to block, but soon fell into a disadvantage. Seeing this, Lin Xue endured her weakness, circulated the Cold Ice Heart Scripture, and joined the fight.

The two teamed up, the situation improved slightly, but Zhao Wushuang's strength was clearly superior. After a few rounds, both Zhang Jun and Lin Xue were wounded badly.

"Overestimating oneself." Zhao Wushuang snorted coldly, and struck a palm toward Zhang Jun's chest.

At the critical moment, a white flash darted into the battle, blocking that deadly blow.

"You scoundrel of Profound Heaven Pavilion, today we settle the score from years ago!"

Zhang Jun looked up and saw a white-haired old man blocking their way—it was Old Mo!

Zhao Wushuang's face changed drastically: "It's you!"

"Didn't expect me still alive, huh?" Old Mo sneered, "Back then you Profound Heaven Pavilion colluded with the Demonic Cult, harming fellow martial artists; today I will make you pay blood for blood!"

As soon as Old Mo finished speaking, he and Zhao Wushuang went into fierce combat. The two masters exchanged blows, sending strong winds in all directions, cracking the stone walls.

"Zhang Jun, take Lin Xue and go!" Old Mo shouted while fighting, "Remember, only when yin and yang harmonize can one be invincible!"

Zhang Jun helped Lin Xue up and seized the chance to rush out of the secret passage. Behind them came the sounds of fierce fighting; Old Mo and Zhao Wushuang battled on, inseparable.

"Old Mo…" Zhang Jun looked back, worried.

"Don't worry, Old Mo's martial arts are superb; he'll be fine." Lin Xue comforted, "We need to leave Yanjing quickly; the Long Family and Profound Heaven Pavilion won't let us go."

Zhang Jun nodded, supporting Lin Xue as they disappeared into the night.

In the secret passage, the battle between Mo Lao and Zhao Wushuang grew increasingly fierce.

"Old thing, do you think you can stop the Profound Heaven Pavilion's grand scheme with just your own strength?" Zhao Wushuang snarled.

"Not necessarily." Mo Lao gave a mysterious smile, "But that kid and that lass will."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't know?" Mo Lao countered, "The cultivation method within them is precisely the omen of the legendary Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation. Once they achieve mastery, even the Nine Yang True Classic is nothing."

Zhao Wushuang exclaimed in shock upon hearing this: "Impossible! Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation has long been lost!"

"Nothing is impossible under heaven." Mo Lao laughed loudly, "The doom of the Profound Heaven Pavilion is upon us!"