Volume Two: Inheriting the Legacy, Blood on the Brocade Robe Chapter 105: Each Showing Their Prowess

Yang Ning was taken aback when Anau suddenly collapsed. At first, he thought the little demoness was merely pretending, but seeing her struggle unsuccessfully to rise, he wondered if she had also been poisoned.

He did not know how Anau had poisoned Tang Nuo, nor did he understand how Anau herself had been poisoned at this moment.

Anau struggled a few times, unable to get up, and called out toward the door, “Big ghosts, little ghosts, you... come quickly...!”

Tang Nuo replied, “You don’t need to call them; they can’t get in.”

“You... you poisoned us?” Anau shouted angrily. “How did you poison us?”

Tang Nuo answered calmly, “You deliberately brought people here so I would have to detoxify them, distracting my attention. Then you targeted Bai Ling, throwing me into confusion. The powder on Bai Ling’s body, even without direct contact, once inhaled into the mouth, can trigger poisoning.”

Anau said, “So what if you know now? You’re still trapped in my scheme.”

Only then did Yang Ning understand: Anau had deliberately dragged a few of them over to divert Tang Nuo’s focus, creating an opportunity to strike. It made sense—if Anau had come alone, Tang Nuo would have been wary and on guard, and the attempt wouldn’t have succeeded so easily.

From this, it was clear that Anau’s ultimate goal was to obtain the “Herbal Compendium” from Tang Nuo. This compendium was a book on medicinal herbs, evidently extremely precious if Anau was scheming so persistently to acquire it.

“Beware the heart that would harm, but never forget to guard against harm.” Tang Nuo said, “You’ve grown much craftier than a few years ago. Qiuqian must have trained you well—that wasn’t easy.”

Anau laughed, “Old man Li isn’t bad either; he taught you poison as well. Isn’t he the one who despises poison the most? He says poison is a lowly trick, yet that old scoundrel speaks with a forked tongue—secretly teaching you how to poison.”

Tang Nuo stirred slightly but was weak, barely able to move a single step. She said softly, “I warned you to leave early, but you wouldn’t listen.” Pausing, she continued slowly, “I had already prepared the antidote for you, but you refused it. You have no one to blame but yourself.”

“Antidote?” Anau asked in surprise. “When did you give me an antidote?”

Tang Nuo said, “Those two took the antidote, so they are safe.”

Anau was stunned. Being clever, she quickly realized the truth. Her gaze fell on the water jar in the corner of the room, and she exclaimed, “Are you saying... the water in that jar...!”

At that moment, Yang Ning also understood. Tang Nuo had handed him and Zhao Yuan a bowl of water—not merely to quench their thirst, but the water contained the antidote.

Anau, thinking herself smart, had not drunk any water, unaware that the less water one drinks, the worse the poisoning becomes.

Yet, having already drunk the water, why was her body still so weak? A thought struck Yang Ning immediately—though he had not approached the powder, it was airborne, and he must have inhaled some, albeit in small quantities. That was why he was not as immobilized as Tang Nuo.

He quickly covered his nose to prevent the poison powder from entering his mouth.

Tang Nuo explained, “Among the herbs outside, when two particular herbs’ scents combine, they sap a person’s strength. The two men under your control are more deeply poisoned than you are.”

Only then did Anau realize that her poisoning wasn’t from Tang Nuo’s direct action but from poison gas that had surrounded the place since she arrived. Her eyes darted around, and adopting a pitiful expression, she pleaded, “Dear sister, it’s my fault—I shouldn’t have angered you. Please... help me detoxify. I am no match for you. Once detoxified, I will lead my people away and never trouble you again.”

Yang Ning inwardly cursed her for her self-inflicted plight. She had been so arrogant before, and now that she was poisoned, she was begging for mercy. Calling Tang Nuo “sister” was one thing, but even calling her “grandmother” wouldn’t help.

Tang Nuo’s face remained expressionless. “Begging me now is useless. I cannot move, so I cannot detoxify you—unless you help me first.”

“But I can’t move either,” Anau pleaded pitifully. “Dear sister, when will this poison let me recover?”

Tang Nuo said, “Without drinking water, the poison will only grow stronger. If untreated, your whole body will eventually turn to stone.”

A flicker of fear finally appeared in Anau’s bright eyes.

At that moment, Yang Ning felt someone pass behind him. Turning around, he saw Zhao Yuan had gotten up, somehow already removing the silver needle from his throat. His movements were slow, but he steadily approached Anau.

Anau noticed and, startled, showed a cold expression. “Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll kill you.”

Zhao Yuan ignored her threat. Though mute, a chilling laugh emerged from his throat.

Tang Nuo urged, “You’re still detoxifying. Don’t move—sit down quickly.”

Zhao Yuan disregarded the warning and kept moving toward Anau. Seeing Zhao Yuan’s cold and fierce demeanor, Anau grew fearful. “If you come closer, I will kill you. Stop right now!”

Yang Ning thought Zhao Yuan was using sound to locate things. If Anau had kept silent, it would be better; by calling out, she only made her position clearer.

Neither Zhao Yuan nor Anau were friends to Yang Ning—both enemies. He didn’t care who lived or died between them. But Tang Nuo seemed kind, and if she were in danger, he might have to intervene. For now, holding his nose, he didn’t feel his weakness worsen but had not regained much strength either.

Zhao Yuan’s steps were light and unsteady; Yang Ning knew he had inhaled some poison powder and was also weak.

When Zhao Yuan reached Anau, he crouched and picked up something from the ground—the cold blade.

Seeing Zhao Yuan grasp the blade, Anau’s face twisted in horror. With a sobbing voice, she said, “What are you going to do? I’m going to fight back.”

Yang Ning thought if she could fight back, she would have done so already.

Tang Nuo frowned, her voice cold, “No killing here. Put down the knife.”

Zhao Yuan let out a strange laugh from his throat, raised his hand, pointed to his blood-clotted eye sockets, then to his mouth—his message was clear. Anau had blinded him and ruined his tongue; he would not forgive her easily. He reached out, grabbed her headscarf, tore it off, and seized her hair.

Anau shouted fiercely, “Let me go! I won’t forgive you. I’ll tear you to pieces!”

Zhao Yuan chuckled darkly, raised the blade, and aimed to stab. Tang Nuo cried out, “Stop! You can’t kill her.” Knowing he wouldn’t listen, she added, “Do you want your eyesight back? Do you want to speak again? I can heal you, but if you kill her, you’ll never see again.”

Zhao Yuan hesitated, blade raised.

Anau saw this and knew he was wavering. Quickly, she said, “That’s right. Though your eyes are blind, she can heal you. Her master is a skilled healer and taught her many techniques. As long as... as long as you spare me, she can cure your eyes. And your tongue—I have the antidote; I can help you recover!”

Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her eyes were full of terror.

Zhao Yuan seemed hesitant but suddenly his face darkened. Without further pause, he struck, stabbing at Anau. She screamed, and Tang Nuo gasped in alarm. Just as Anau was about to die by Zhao Yuan’s blade, something flew through the air and struck Zhao Yuan’s arm, causing the blade to fall.

Zhao Yuan growled low but did not hesitate, grabbing Anau’s neck with both hands.

Like a wild beast, his face was fierce, emitting a guttural growl—he intended to kill her. Anau struggled desperately, her pale skin now almost ghostly white.

“Quick, save her!” Tang Nuo urged anxiously.

Yang Ning stood, swaying slightly as he approached. Instead of rushing to help Anau, he first picked up the cold blade, turned, and kicked Zhao Yuan hard in the body. Zhao Yuan was knocked to the ground. Anau coughed violently, but Zhao Yuan was relentless, scrambling up and trying to grab her again. Yang Ning was already behind him; without hesitation, he plunged the blade into Zhao Yuan’s back.

He struck a vital spot. Zhao Yuan collapsed, twitching briefly before going still.

Tang Nuo breathed a sigh of relief at Zhao Yuan’s death. Anau, still coughing, glanced at Zhao Yuan’s corpse and cursed, “Should’ve killed him long ago. I’ll tear him to pieces.”

Suddenly, a cold voice said, “Do you still want to tear me to pieces?”

Anau was startled to see Yang Ning standing nearby, cold blade in hand, eyes sharp as ice upon her. She shivered, forcing a smile. “Thank you... thank you for saving me. You saved my life—I would never harm you.”

Yang Ning squatted beside her, sneering, “Who would believe the words of someone like you? Do you know why I killed him?”

“You’re a good person, stepping in when others are wronged, so... so you drew your sword to help,” Anau replied. “I was unkind to you before; I’m sorry.”

“Oh, so you can say sorry,” Yang Ning snorted coldly. “I see through your tricks clearly. Now you speak sweet words, but once you recover, I bet you’ll try to harm me again.”

“No, never,” Anau swore. “From now on, I won’t harm you. You can trust me.”

Yang Ning shook his head. “One must cut the grass to the root when dealing with enemies. I understand that well. I didn’t kill him to save you. You, a ruthless little demoness, aren’t worth saving. Zhao Yuan was my enemy, so I killed him with my own hand. You’re my enemy too. I won’t let anyone else kill you—I’ll do it myself.” Raising the cold blade, he poised to strike at Anau.