Chapter 98 Lu Qingjia, it is very likely that he has been poisoned by the Tendon-Losing Powder.

Jiang Mian was somewhat puzzled: "I feel that I... am not really able to help with this matter."

Yan Jue revealed his purpose: "It's like this, Pavilion Master Jiang might be able to have the people from Xuri Pavilion assassinate the Emperor, and we can coordinate an attack from the inside."

Jiang Mian paused, then realized why the Ghost-Faced Yama's expression was so volatile; it turned out he wanted to use their Rising Sun Pavilion as a pawn.

But Jiang Mian didn't seem to have any reason to refuse, so he nodded in agreement: "Okay, just let me know how many people you need, Young Master Xi."

Yan Jue nodded, while Ye Ting, who was standing next to him, almost twitched his lips to the sky after hearing their conversation.

"By the way, Brother Jiang, there's something else I wanted to ask you."

Jiang Mian was taken aback. "Young Master Xi, is there something you need? Please speak frankly."

Yan Jue asked, "Have you been asked to assassinate anyone from the Zhenguo General's Mansion recently?"

Jiang Mian frowned. "The General's Mansion?"

Yan Jue nodded.

Jiang Mian pondered for a moment, then shook his head uncertainly. "This...maybe not. Young Master Xi, why are you asking me about this?"

You must know that the General's Mansion is a place that even the Emperor dares not shake at will, yet someone would actually try to assassinate General Lu? Wouldn't that mean they don't even respect Dongyue?

Yan Jue said, "Give me a definite answer."

Jiang Mian was somewhat embarrassed. He racked his brains for a moment and said, "This... as the head of the Rising Sun Pavilion, I really don't know that someone has recently attempted to assassinate General Lu."

“It’s not about assassinating General Lu,” Yan Jue explained. “General Lu is a highly respected official on the border; no one would easily assassinate him. What I want to ask is, in recent days, has anyone tried to assassinate anyone from the Zhenguo General’s Mansion?”

Jiang Mian understood. "Young Master Xi means... anyone from the Zhenguo General's Mansion will do?"

Yan Jue nodded: "That's right."

Jiang Mian shook his head again. "No, I, Jiang, am absolutely certain that nothing has happened. Young Master Xi, has something been going on recently?"

Yan Jue had no intention of hiding anything. "Sect Master Jiang, do you know that the General of the State's Mansion has a grandson with extraordinary talent?"

Jiang Mian frowned slightly, as if deep in thought, then slowly relaxed. "I do know that. Are you talking about Lu Qingjia from the General of the State's Mansion?"

Yan Jue nodded, "It's him. I heard a few days ago that he was in danger in the market and was almost kidnapped. But the Regent and his wife suddenly appeared and prevented the kidnappers from succeeding."

"I witnessed Lu Qingjia's strength by accident and knew how powerful he was. I wanted to take him as my disciple. I was puzzled as to why he did not use his martial arts and internal energy when he was kidnapped."

Jiang Mian listened patiently to these words, then frowned slightly. "Young Master Xi, have you ever heard of a kind of poison?"

Yan Jue's gaze suddenly pierced Jiang Mian, signaling him to speak quickly.

Jiang Mian continued, "This poison is called 'Tendon-Losing Powder,' a slow-acting poison. If someone is poisoned by it and takes the antidote shortly afterward, it will not harm their body. However, if the poison remains undetected for a long time and lies dormant in the body, it will damage the tendons and meridians, causing the person to lose all their martial arts skills."

“Lu Qingjia can still use martial arts,” Yan Jue said with certainty.

Jiang Mian exclaimed, "Ouch! Young Master Xi, please don't be in such a hurry. I haven't finished yet. This poison, although it will cause a person to lose all their martial arts skills, is also the effect of the medicine taking full effect. This poison is very slow to take effect. If you want to achieve this full effect, you must let the poison be in the target person for more than 30 years. The symptoms in the early stage of poisoning are what you described, Young Master Xi."

"Is his inability to use martial arts when he's in danger a symptom?" Yan Jue frowned.

Jiang Mian said, "You could say that, but you could also say that. Because whether he can use his martial arts skills depends entirely on the poisoner's will."

Yan Jue frowned upon hearing this, but he quickly figured out the connection.

"In other words, Lu Qingjia was in danger at the time, and he may have resisted. But the 'Muscle-Loss Powder' took effect, leaving him powerless and devoid of internal energy. This poison might have been administered by the person behind that kidnapper?"

"Then that kidnapper wanted Lu Qingjia to be arrested, so at that time, the effects of the muscle-dissolving powder were activated."

"But as far as I know, Lu Qingjia rarely leaves his home, and his family protects him very well. Why was it that he was only out once, and yet the person who poisoned him knew about it and started targeting him?"

Jiang Mian also found this matter rather strange, but seeing Yan Jue's furrowed brows, he exclaimed, "Oh dear, I never thought that our dignified Ghost-Faced Yama, the assassin Young Master Xi, would rack his brains over something like this."

The teasing tone in his words was too strong, and Yan Jue was never one to be petty or unable to take a joke. His eyes darkened, and he pretended not to hear it. "After all, if I want to take him as my disciple in the future, I need to figure these things out. I don't want to give up on a child with such outstanding talent that I've finally found the right one."

This made Jiang Mian even more curious. "Just how talented is this kid that our Young Master Xi has taken a liking to? Young Master Xi, why don't you tell me?"

Yan Jue laughed: "In a few days, won't General Lu of the Zhenguo General's Mansion lead his troops on an expedition? At that time, you can set up some ambushes on the road to force that Lu Qingjia to take action."

Jiang Mian hesitated, "This... isn't this a bit inappropriate? What if the person who poisoned us does something at that moment?"

Yan Jue shook his head: "No, the person who poisoned him won't play with fire and get burned."

Are you so sure?

Yan Jue nodded. "Just do as I say. If you make a mistake in any step, I'll give you a handicap in the next duel."

Jiang Mian's expression stiffened. "Then... let's forget about it. Young Master Xi, you can't play like this."

Jiang Mian felt pain all over his body whenever the topic of martial arts competition came up.

The Rising Sun Pavilion has a rule that anyone who enters the pavilion must spar with the pavilion master.

The competition is divided into three rounds: upper, middle, and lower. Each competitor must exchange three moves with the Pavilion Master within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If a competitor loses within these three moves, they must pay a fine of one hundred taels of silver and will no longer be considered for entry into the Rising Sun Pavilion. If they win, they will be accepted into the Rising Sun Pavilion and become a member.

Although the current Dongyue Kingdom enjoys an open and honest political climate, its rapid economic development inevitably involves some shady dealings operating covertly. Among these are assassination guilds that engage in predatory transactions.

The Assassination Pavilion contains thousands of pavilions of all sizes. Among them, the Rising Sun Pavilion has been the most powerful pavilion in Dongyue Kingdom in recent years. Those who enter the pavilion are people who love money, have high martial arts skills, but also cherish their lives.

Cherishing one's life implies having weaknesses; loving money represents initiative; and being highly skilled in martial arts is the capital for entering the cabinet.