Chapter 146: All manner of weapons, this is poisoned lime powder

An Ziyang carefully descended into the secret passage, hugging the wall and moving slowly.

There was no firelight in the passage; it was pitch black. He didn't dare to light a torch, so he could only grope his way forward.

His feet never left the ground, sliding along to guard against traps.

Suddenly, he felt his toe touch something.

An Ziyang crouched down and swept the ground with his scabbard.

*Ding, ding, ding. *

The faint sound of metal.

An Ziyang swept those things toward the wall, holding his sword in his left hand and feeling the wall with his right, trapping the metal objects between them to gauge their size and shape, cursing inwardly.

"Damn it, caltrops! If I'd stepped on those, it would be over."

"Don't know if they're poisoned... can't touch them."

An Ziyang carefully crouched down, sweeping the ground with his scabbard as he moved forward.

After walking a dozen or so yards, the scabbard no longer hit anything. An Ziyang, still uneasy, untied his belt and tied it to the scabbard, sweeping the ground as he walked.

After another dozen yards, An Ziyang felt the door at the end of the passage.

Faint firelight leaked through the cracks in the door.

He didn't open the door, but instead pulled a hairpin from his robes.

Come to think of it, this was a gift he had bought for the head courtesan the Ming Sect had disguised, but since he hadn't given it to her, he had kept it in his robes.

An Ziyang inserted the hairpin into the crack of the door and slid it down slowly.

Sure enough, he hit a thread.

"There's a mechanism behind the door."

An Ziyang sighed softly.

Ever since they went underground fifteen years ago, the Ming Sect had become accustomed to working in the shadows. They had indeed taken precautions in advance.

If he destroyed this mechanism, he would certainly alert the Ming Sect members inside. But if he didn't destroy it, he couldn't get through the door.

His mind raced, and An Ziyang clenched his fist.

"Can't delay; I have to take a gamble."

He stood up straight, straightened his clothes, ruffled his hair, and drew his sword to cut his own arm, smearing some blood on his face. He pulled a small pouch from his robes, clutched it in his hand, and swallowed a pill.

Having finished these preparations, An Ziyang cleared his throat, his expression suddenly turning panicked, his voice trembling as he pounded on the door.

"Someone! Someone!"

"Something's gone wrong! That monster is coming!"

Voices suddenly erupted inside the door, but they were hushed, and An Ziyang couldn't hear them clearly.

Then he heard footsteps approaching the door.

"Who?"

"What time is it, and you're still testing me! We don't know each other's identities within the banner; do you think I'd know if you told me!?"

An Ziyang's voice trembled, but his hand was steady on the hilt of his sword.

He knew a little about the Ming Sect's affairs; in the past, when Jianghu people or the Embroidered Uniform Guard captured disciples of the Thick Earth Banner, they never knew the identities of the other disciples. Although he couldn't be sure if the people inside followed this rule, he had no choice but to gamble.

Fortunately, the person inside didn't argue. After a moment of silence, they asked:

"What happened?"

"What happened!?"

An Ziyang said urgently.

"Didn't you hear the commotion above?"

"That monster is attacking! I received orders to come and evacuate with you!"

"Disengage the mechanism and let me in to talk!"

He didn't know who Li Miao was, but judging by the reaction of the person disguised as his father and Li Miao's own words, the Ming Sect members should know. So he referred to him directly as "that monster."

The person was silent for a moment, then actually disengaged the mechanism and pulled open the door.

An Ziyang stepped in quickly, his peripheral vision scanning the surroundings, his heart leaping with joy.

"Only four people. I have a chance."

The Ming Sect member who opened the door looked at him, frowning, staring fixedly at An Ziyang.

"You are An Ziyang."

"Bullshit!"

An Ziyang cursed angrily.

"You know how we took over the An family; if it weren't for us acting up there, would you even have a place to slack off here!?"

"An Ziyang is already dead; I slept with him for half a month and have mastered his habits. He's useless!"

Without waiting for the person to answer, An Ziyang continued urgently.

"No time to argue with you now; pack your things, kill everyone, and get out!"

"Can't you hear the commotion above!? An Wenjie's face didn't fool that man, and they're already fighting! Ninety percent of the people above are dead, and they can't hold him off anymore!"

"Go, go now. The An family has seen our faces; we can't leave them! Kill them and go!"

His words grew more urgent, and the few people looked at each other, revealing a hint of panic.

An Ziyang didn't know who Li Miao was or what he had done, but they knew very well.

The Sect Leader had already left, and no one here could survive Li Miao's hands.

Although they were loyal to the Ming Sect, who would want to die if they could avoid it?

However, just as they were panicking, they didn't notice An Ziyang quietly moving his feet, standing among them.

Suddenly, one of them was startled and looked up at An Ziyang.

"Wrong! You—"

*Swish! *

Before he could finish, An Ziyang flicked his hand, and a sky full of white powder erupted, reaching their faces in an instant.

"!!!"

"Poison!"

The few immediately raised their hands to cover their mouths and noses, but they didn't expect that when the powder reached their eyes, they would feel a sudden, burning pain.

"Lime powder!"

One exclaimed.

They hadn't expected that An Ziyang, the dignified "Young Master Lingxu," would use such low-class street-thug tactics!

And they had actually fallen for it!

The few drew their weapons and brandished them around their bodies, trying to block An Ziyang's attack. At the same time, they listened for sounds; if anyone screamed, they would all attack that direction.

Even if An Ziyang killed one, the three remaining, working together, could seal off An Ziyang's space even without sight.

The four brandished their weapons in the dust for a moment, but they didn't wait for An Ziyang's attack at all.

A moment later, the lime powder gradually dissipated, and the few spat and rubbed their eyes, barely scanning the surroundings with blurred vision.

"Where is he?"

"Bad! He went to save the An family!"

"Chase!"

The few reacted quickly and ran toward a secret passage.

"Cough."

Just as they pulled open the door, ready to enter the passage, a cough came from behind them.

"Many thanks, gentlemen; I know where my father is being held now."

The four turned back suddenly, only to see An Ziyang flash out from a corner, looking at them calmly with a smile.

"You! You tricked us!"

One shouted angrily.

"So what if you tricked us?"

One sneered.

"You're just a second-rate fighter; do you think you can kill the four of us and then go save your father?"

One walked slowly to An Ziyang's side, surrounding him.

"Ah, yes, that is indeed what I thought."

"And, haven't you felt anything wrong with your bodies yet?"

An Ziyang was not panicked at all, smiling gently.

The few were startled and immediately checked their internal energy circulation.

The series of events just now had happened too fast, and their minds had been led everywhere by An Ziyang, so they hadn't noticed.

Now, upon checking, their expressions changed instantly.

"How is it? Does your asshole feel red and painful?"

An Ziyang laughed wildly.

"Is your heartbeat slowing down, your hands and feet getting cold, a metallic taste in your mouth, and your energy circulation starting to stagnate?"

"You, you!"

One pointed at An Ziyang, but before he could finish, blood spilled from his mouth.

"Half lime powder, half Tang Men secret pill poison. This small pouch costs three hundred taels of silver; I never leave home without it. There is no antidote; you'll be dead in a few breaths."

"When I threw the stuff, your first reaction was definitely poison, so you covered your mouths and noses, and your eyes ate the lime powder."

"Once you knew it was lime powder, you lowered your sleeves, and you ate the Tang Men pill poison."

"I've been in the Jianghu since I was twelve; now that I have money and leisure, could I not have ways to deal with you poor ghosts?"

Before An Ziyang finished speaking, the few collapsed to the ground, twitched a few times, and lost all signs of life.

An Ziyang breathed a sigh of relief, stepped forward to finish them off with a sword, and then walked quickly toward the secret passage they had been rushing toward.

"Father, I'm coming!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 147 =====