man in black robe

Chapter Sixty-Six, The Man in Black Robes

That clear and resonant "Master" seemed to carry some kind of strange divine power.

The medicine man, which had been pouncing on the kite like a tiger, suddenly stopped halfway through its attack. Its outstretched arm remained in an attacking posture, but its taut muscles suddenly stiffened. Its empty eye sockets were fixed on the direction from which the sound came. Instead of a violent roar, a low and indistinct whimper rolled out from its throat, like a wild beast trapped in a fog, full of confusion.

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence. Even the wind seemed to stop. Only the iron chain around the man's neck, which he had not completely broken free from, swayed gently with his slight movements, making a soft "ding-a-ling" sound that was particularly jarring in the silence.

I looked up at the man in the black robe. The playful, cat-and-mouse smile on his face was gone. The false gentleness he had shown towards the medicine man was completely vanished, replaced by an icy chill that seemed to freeze the air. His eyes held an undisguised air of authority and disappointment. As he slowly turned around, I even felt the moonlight around us dim. His gaze, like a sharp, cold sword, pierced through the hazy night, shooting straight at the figure in the shadows.

The two figures became clearer and clearer. When I realized it was Mr. Tao and Feiyu, my chest suddenly felt relieved, and my eyes instantly welled up with tears.

I stared intently at Lan Feiyu. Her face was as white as paper, and the bloodstains on her shoulder were glaringly bright in the moonlight. She must have aggravated her wound when she escaped.

She naturally saw me too, her lips trembled slightly, and it was as if she were smiling. My nose tingled, and I gently curled the corners of my lips in response.

At least we reunited quickly and are safe for now.

Mr. Tao, who was supporting her, looked even worse than Fei Yu. The moonlight shone on his face, making it appear almost transparently white. The calm and peaceful demeanor that usually clung to him was completely washed away. It was the first time I had ever seen him like this: his brows were furrowed into a tight knot, his eyes were churning with barely concealed anger, his jawline was taut, even his eyes were red, and there was a trace of grief that I couldn't decipher, a grief that seemed as heavy as an unyielding sorrow.

My heart skipped a beat. Did Mr. Tao know this man in the black robe?

Before I could think it through, the man in the black robe spoke first. He stared at Mr. Tao, a low, mocking laugh escaping his throat, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Master? Who are you calling? Didn't you already sever all ties with me? I'm unworthy of this title of 'Master'!"

Mr. Tao's face was even paler than before. His whole body was tense, as if he were about to shatter into a thousand pieces at any moment. His voice was clear, but trembled slightly: "Yes! From the moment you used living people as 'medicinal ingredients' to refine those harmful 'medicinal people,' you were no longer worthy to be my master! I originally thought you were just confused for a moment, but I didn't expect you to still be so stubborn!"

"You're the one who's stubbornly clinging to your delusions." The man in the black robe sneered, his voice carried a hint of gritted teeth and ruthlessness as the night wind swirled around him. "If it weren't for your treachery—if it weren't for your secret destruction of my core alchemy formulas and the release of those 'living materials' I had painstakingly acquired—would those fools have even dared to covet the throne? I could have controlled Bozhou long ago with my 'medicine men,' why would I have waited until today!"

These words struck me like a thunderbolt, and I couldn't help but look at Lan Feiyu, my heart filled with shock and unease.

Could it be that the death of the old king and the internal strife in Bozhou were all orchestrated by this man in black robes? Lan Feiyu's body trembled slightly, but she still forced herself to stand up straight, her eyes fixed on the man in black robes, her eyes surging with hatred.

Mr. Tao's breathing suddenly quickened, and his voice rose sharply, carrying a resolute clarity: "'Living materials'? Those are living, breathing people! The old king loved his people like his own children, and he saved our lives, yet you, for the sake of seizing power, ruthlessly murdered him and the prince! Now you even want to wreak havoc on Bozhou..."

"Ah!" I suddenly cried out, and the scene of my first meeting with Mr. Tao at the clinic when I first arrived in Bozhou flashed through my mind, "Those beggars who died violently in the streets!"

That shout had a significant impact, drawing everyone's attention to me. I opened my mouth, and suddenly felt a chill run down my spine.

"Not bad." However, a layer of warmth appeared in Mr. Tao's gaze as he looked at me, and even his voice softened a little. "It was those poor people...you actually remembered them..."

"They're nothing but useless ants." The man in the black robe interrupted coldly again, his contempt as sharp as a gust of wind. His gaze fell on me again, his unfathomable eyes narrowing slightly, a chilling smile playing on his lips. I felt the hairs on my body stand on end and couldn't help but shiver. "Now that we've severed all ties, don't blame me for being heartless—Princess Zhao is quite shrewd. Why don't you become my apprentice? I'll teach you how to refine 'medicine figures' and control these 'children.' In the future, you can help your brother stabilize the power of Eastern Chu and avenge the annihilation of your father, Xie Lian. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"

These words, like a venomous snake coiled around my neck, sent chills down my spine and made my stomach churn. Just as I was about to retort sharply, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the night sky, and Lan Feiyu's "Watch out!" and Yuanzi's warning struck my ears almost simultaneously. My vision blurred, and I only caught a glimpse of a dark figure rushing towards me like a ghost. Instinctively, I shook off the guard's hand with all my might and staggered to the side.

A sharp crack followed by a piercing scream rang out. I turned around, my heart clenching in my throat—the "drug-using man" had pounced on the guard like a mad beast, his incredibly strong hands gripping the guard's neck tightly. The sound of the neck bones breaking was particularly jarring in the night wind. The guard's eyes were wide open, blood and foam spilling from his mouth and nose, his body slumped limply to the ground. The "drug-using man" raised his head, slowly turning towards me, his eye sockets, devoid of eyeballs, still seemed to reflect a bloodthirsty light.

"Xi'er!" Lan Feiyu shouted and rushed towards me. At the same time, Yuanzi yelled, "Attack!"

Xie Kun was prepared. He swung his sword to block Yuanzi's attack, and his men drew their blades and surrounded her. The crisp sound of clashing blades, the muffled groans of fists clashing, and the chaotic shouts mingled together, weaving a tight, impenetrable net of melee. Lan Feiyu was held back by two of Xie Kun's men and could only watch helplessly as I stood there, her eyes reddening with anxiety, but she could not break through the barrier of flashing swords.

The commotion seemed to have disrupted the "drug man's" senses. It stiffly shook its head, its cloudy eyes aimlessly scanning the chaotic crowd, no longer fixed on me. I felt a sense of relief and was about to take the opportunity to back away, finding a gap to circle around to Lan Feiyu's side, when suddenly a sharp whistle rang out again—the sound was short and piercing, like a venomous snake's hiss slithering into my ears!

The "drug man" shuddered, all his movements suddenly stopped, his stiff neck slowly turned, and his lifeless eyes locked onto me again!

I knew I was in trouble, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on my back—this whistle was clearly a signal to control the "drug people"!

Besides the man in the black robe, who else in the arena could control this monster?

The thought had barely formed in my mind when I abruptly looked up in the direction of the man in the black robe. He was standing on the outskirts of the melee, a smile on his face, as if it were none of his business.

"It's you!" I shouted through gritted teeth, but I didn't dare to stop. I hadn't run two steps when I saw the man in the black robe raise his hand and whistle again. The "medicine man" rushed towards me like an arrow, and the wind he brought was full of the smell of rotten flesh.

Once again, I instinctively crouched and rolled away, dodging the blows from those arms that were much longer than those of an ordinary person. The "drug man's" two palms struck the ground with two loud thuds, and the ground seemed to shake, but he felt no pain at all. After missing his target, he withdrew his hands.

This is no longer human!

Just as he was about to come at me again, at the critical moment, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side—it was Mr. Tao! He had picked up a long knife that had fallen to the ground at some point, the hilt still stained with blood. He staggered but his eyes were resolute. He gripped the knife and charged straight at the man in the black robe, his voice as sharp as tearing silk: "Stop! Don't hurt her!"

The man in the black robe didn't utter a single unnecessary word from beginning to end. He simply flicked his wrist, and with a sudden flick of his wide sleeve, a wisp of pink dust shot out from his sleeve, striking Mr. Tao's face like a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

Mr. Tao reacted extremely quickly, turning to the side almost the instant the dust and smoke billowed out. At the same time, he bent down, covered his mouth and nose with one hand, and held his knife in front of him with the other.

I barely managed to get to my feet. The "drug man," who had been watching me intently, seemed to receive a new command. He abruptly changed direction and strode away from me, his heavy footsteps making the bluestone slabs tremble slightly. He headed straight for Mr. Tao, who hadn't yet regained his footing. I couldn't do anything at all. I watched helplessly as the "drug man's" fan-like fist slammed into Mr. Tao with a whooshing sound. With a muffled thud, Mr. Tao's body flew several feet away like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground. His long sword fell from his hand and clattered to the ground.

This scene terrified me; my blood seemed to freeze. Seeing the "drug man" lunge at Mr. Tao again, I couldn't care less. I grabbed the long knife Mr. Tao had dropped, gritted my teeth, and slid forward from behind the "drug man." Gripping the hilt tightly, I mustered all my strength and slashed fiercely at the back of the "drug man's" ankle!

"when!"

A crisp yet deafening explosion rang out. It felt as if the blade had struck refined iron. The immense recoil nearly caused the long sword in my hand to fly away. My arms were numb as if I had lost all feeling, and even my fingertips were trembling uncontrollably.

The "drug man's" body swayed suddenly, but obviously, I couldn't hurt him. I could only slightly hinder him. He quickly regained his balance and continued walking towards Mr. Tao, who was no longer moving.

I gripped the knife, its blade still trembling slightly. Knowing it was futile, I still leaped forward to shield Mr. Tao.

At that moment, I no longer cared where Lan Feiyu was or if she was alright. All I could see was this enormous creature slowly approaching me.

Where is the flaw?

Last time it was the eyes, this time not... But this one in front of me, there are only two dark holes left in the eye sockets, not even the remaining eyeballs are gone! ...What should I do?