Chapter 34

Originally not even thinking about avoiding male-female intimacy, Jiang Yunzhou's paper figure picked up the inconvenient female hero and leapt out of the toxic smoke's spread.

One must say this feeling is wonderful, because at home my physical body is still deeply embracing Sister Qingru at the table.

And my paper body is holding the female hero and moving through the woods, giving a feeling even more special than simply holding one with one hand.

Although I didn't carefully feel the distinct tactile sensations transmitted to my arm, my body naturally made a comparison.

Still, Sister Qingru had the slight edge.

Of course, it could also be that the female hero, held by Jiang Yunzhou's paper figure, subconsciously resisted a bit; even without struggling, she still tried to prop her arm up as much as possible.

Having landed in a safe place, Jiang Yunzhou's paper figure set the female hero down on the ground, whereupon she bowed and said:

"Many thanks, young hero, for lending your aid again."

This time her voice was no longer as cold as before.

I had intended to be polite, but thinking of Yan Shier's character and the female hero's aloof demeanor when she first saved me, Jiang Yunzhou merely replied coldly with the two words 'No problem'.

He then turned to look at the toxic smoke that still hadn't dissipated.

The black silk scarf tied in the female hero's black hair whispered:

"Senior Sister, this young hero is even better at acting cool than you."

Not knowing whether Erhu and the Elder with Disheveled Hair were still around, Jiang Yunzhou's paper figure went to the edge of the toxic mist, gathered qi force, paying no heed to the toxic smoke's effect, and struck the air with a single palm.

Whoosh!

With a single move that pierces the heavens, he sent his qi force shooting into the sky, and a large amount of purple toxic smoke followed it upward.

Seeing this, the female hero also felt a jolt of alarm.

Even if the toxic smoke doesn't affect him, it's already impressive that this young hero, in order to conceal his strength, used only his own qi sea, and yet his qi sea is so vast.

When the smoke cleared, only the two people I had killed with a single shot remained on the ground, as well as the slain Napoleon.

Even though all three were dead, their skin had turned entirely purplish-black from the toxic gas, showing that this toxic smoke is still quite potent against ordinary people.

The female hero watched Jiang Yunzhou's paper figure examine the corpses on the ground, as if he had merely helped her by drawing his blade and had no interest in her identity.

But they had helped me twice already, and there was no urgent pursuit like last time; if I just turned and left, it would truly go against the way of the chivalrous.

Moreover, after fighting for so long, no one from the Pacification Office had shown up, indicating that this young hero was alone; thus the female hero hesitated a moment and then stepped forward, clasping her hands and said:

"I am Zhen Qing of the Kunlun Palace of Soaring to the Heavens. Many thanks, young hero, for your aid. May I ask how you wish to be addressed?"

"Kunlun Palace of Soaring to the Heavens?" According to what Uncle Hu told me, that should be a sect of the Northern Rong Kingdom, and it also seems closely tied to the previous Great Zhou dynasty; could this female hero be a spy from an enemy state?

Not really; who would act righteously on enemy territory?

Jiang Yunzhou's paper figure, feigning inspection of the corpses to regain his aloof demeanor, suppressed the corner of his mouth, rose, and replied:

"Wandering hero Yan Shier."

"A wandering hero? How could Young Hero Yan possibly work for the Pacification Office?"

"It's merely an external posting, convenient for wandering and upholding justice. How could Miss Zhen be pursued by this gang of Southern Wu rebels?"

Zhen Qing thought to herself that she hadn't guessed wrong—this Young Hero Yan was indeed a martial artist, which made him somewhat trustworthy; but her matter involved her sect, so it really wasn't easy to speak of it to outsiders.

Seeing that the female hero seemed to have something hard to say, Yan Shier did not press her for answers but stepped forward, pointed at the right arm she was holding, and said:

"You're injured; is it the Southern Wu gu poison?"

"It's fine, I can... hiss!"

Ignoring Zhen Qing's resistance, Yan Shier directly rolled up her sleeve to examine it.

One must say this arm is truly white...... this poison is truly fierce.

Part of the meridians in Zhen Qing's right forearm had turned black, forming a black, eerie flower pattern, while a golden talisman pressed against her upper arm to suppress the gu poison.

Yan Shier immediately recognized that eerie flower, furrowed his brow, and said:

"It is the Southern Wu Heart-Shattering Gu; once one channels qi, the gu worm will travel along the meridians straight to the heart meridian, tearing the internal organs. Fortunately you have temporarily sealed it with the talisman, but this treats only the symptoms, not the root."

As Yan Shier spoke, he condensed qi force at his fingertip, tapped around the gu worm on her arm, and added another layer of protection.

Zhen Qing instantly felt the previously unbearable arm pain diminish by half, and she said gratefully:

"Many thanks; I didn't expect Young Hero Yan to also know detoxification."

Only then did Yan Shier realize his occupational habit had kicked in, and he immediately shook his head and said:

"I can't dispel it; I'm only temporarily helping you suppress the gu worm. Since Miss Zhen isn't willing to reveal anything, please go your way—I'll have the Pacification Office come over."

Hearing that, Zhen Qing felt even more embarrassed; they had done her a favor, saved her, suppressed the gu worm, yet all she offered was a single thanks, not even mentioning the circumstances.

Seeing Yan Shier about to turn and leave, Zhen Qing hurriedly called out to stop him:

"Young Hero Yan, please stay; I can tell you the full story, but please promise to keep my secret."

At last, he had taken the bait.

Yan Shier rose, sat beneath the tree, nodded, and said:

"I promise you."

Never mind promising you; even if I were to make a poison oath, it wouldn't matter, since my lifespan is deducted from Yan Shier's.

Still wearing her veil, Zhen Qing then nodded, drew closer, and explained:

"Actually, last time I infiltrated the Southern Wu among the Jade Stele Forest, and this time I was pursued by Southern Wu personnel—not because we have any deep blood feud, but mainly because we are both seeking the same things: several treasures lost from the previous Great Zhou dynasty."

"I learned from my sect that the Southern Wu rebels had found a clue, so I went down the mountain to investigate, at least to keep these things from being taken by overseas bandits; after inquiring widely, I finally learned that these Southern Wu people had obtained a clue to the previous dynasty's underground palace."

"The entrance to that underground palace is at the bottom of this lake; below it, however, it has completely collapsed, leaving no clues. I secretly followed those five down there, was discovered, and in the ensuing fight I carelessly succumbed to poison, resulting in the situation you see."

It seems the Kunlun Palace of Soaring to the Heavens indeed has the close ties to the previous Great Zhou dynasty as rumored; perhaps they are even descendants of that dynasty, otherwise why would they come here to meddle?

Furthermore, I've never heard any rumors in the martial world about secret treasures of the previous dynasty; this information must be known only to a few descendants of that dynasty.

Yan Shier gave a slight nod and said:

"I see; what are those several treasures?"

Zhen Qing hesitated a moment and then replied:

"The three treasures were called in the previous dynasty: the Fortune Golden Coffin, the Five-Nine Mystic Stone, and the Formless Dark Paper."

"The paper figurine Jiang Yunzhou, who had been maintaining a cold swordsman appearance, froze for a moment upon hearing the name 'Formless Dark Paper,' then reacted."

"Fortunately, the woods were dim, and the female hero Zhen Qing did not notice anything odd."

"Formless Dark Paper! No way, I actually encountered it here!"

"I was still wondering how to tactfully ask this female hero from the Northern Rong Kingdom whether she had heard of Formless Dark Paper, but I didn't expect that she herself had come looking for it!"

"Formless Dark Paper is actually a treasure of the previous dynasty."

"Wait a minute, if that's the case... after all this fuss, the previous dynasty's rebel turns out to be me?"

"No, the previous dynasty's Great Zhou fell three hundred years ago; my master is a member of the Shen family and has no connection to the previous dynasty."

"I still don't know whether I am an orphaned descendant of the previous dynasty, or my parents obtained a previous dynasty treasure and passed it to me."

"Seeing Zhen Qing looking at him, Yan Shiyi adopted a thoughtful pose and shook his head, saying:"

"I really haven't heard of these three treasures."

"Zhen Qing, however, was not surprised at all, and nodded, saying:"

"That's because these are the names of the previous dynasty's treasures; after the vicissitudes of time, it is largely unknown what form these treasures have taken, where they have ended up, or what they are called now—even if they were placed before Young Hero Yan, he might not recognize them."

"......"