Xi Qingyue watched Lu Jinshuang’s movements and shook her head with a smile before walking over to her.
A stream of water appeared out of thin air beside Lu Jinshuang’s hand, instantly washing away the bloodstains.
The next moment, Xi Qingyue handed her a new ice spike. It was even more beautiful than the previous one, resembling an ice arrow. However, it was not as cold as the one before, nor did it carry even a trace of chill. Instead, it felt cool and pleasantly warm to the touch.
Lu Jinshuang caressed the glass-like ice arrow in her hand, utterly delighted. She looked happily at Xi Qingyue. “Yue, this is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never seen an arrow this beautiful before. Will it melt into water?”
Xi Qingyue nodded with a smile. “Mm. The arrow in your hand can remain intact for an entire day. If you like it, you can keep it and play with it.”
With a radiant smile, Lu Jinshuang put away the ice arrow. This weapon that could kill people with ease was actually more beautiful than the glazed cups in the imperial palace. It had completely overturned her understanding of such things.
“J-Just kill us!” someone among the people lying on the ground cried out in agony.
In their eyes, Xi Qingyue’s petite figure resembled a demon from the depths of hell—more terrifying even than the Valley Master.
“Fine. If you want to die, that can be arranged. But can any of you tell me where this place came from? How did your Valley Master find it?”
An older man tried to speak, but he was unable to move, and the pain was unbearable. His lips moved a few times, yet no words came out.
Xi Qingyue struck him with a wood-element ability. The wounds on his body healed somewhat, and the ice arrows piercing him fell away.
The old man struggled to his feet and cupped his hands toward Xi Qingyue in thanks. “Thank you! I’ll tell you everything you wish to know in detail.”
Xi Qingyue produced two single-seat sofas, taking one for herself and giving the other to Lu Jinshuang. They sat down nearby as the old man began recounting everything he knew about Falling Glow Valley.
“This place wasn’t called Falling Glow Valley before. It was known as Medicine King Valley. No one knows exactly when it was established, but supposedly, the first Valley Master offended someone from the imperial family and came here to hide. As time passed, everyone became accustomed to it. The people of the valley generally never ventured outside, but a disaster occurred several decades ago.”
“There was a genius in the valley. His talent in medicine was so extraordinary that he could even be called a monster. But he was also insane. He secretly used the children of the valley as test subjects for medicines. Nothing happened at first, and no one discovered what he was doing—until one of the children died. That was when everyone learned the truth. In a fit of rage, the Valley Master drove him out of Medicine King Valley.”
“After that, no one ever saw that genius again. Over time, everyone even forgot about him. Then one day, a person claiming to be his son arrived at Medicine King Valley. He cried so hard that his face was covered in mucus, claiming that his father had been murdered. He begged the Old Valley Master to take him in and even asked him to help avenge his father. The Old Valley Master refused his request for revenge, but, unable to harden his heart, took him in anyway.”
At this point, the old man’s eyes filled with complicated emotions.
Xi Qingyue leaned forward. She found the story rather interesting, and she had already guessed some of what had happened.
The old man’s voice rang out again. “That child remained in the valley for eight years—until everyone had completely let down their guard around him. Then, during a birthday banquet held in the village, he made his move. He poisoned the wine with a colorless, odorless toxin. Anyone who drank it would become paralyzed in all four limbs, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. From that day on, Medicine King Valley ceased to exist. This place became Falling Glow Valley, and the child who had grown up became the new Valley Master.”
Xi Qingyue looked curious. “You were one of the people from Medicine King Valley? Then how did you survive until now? Don’t tell me you surrendered back then.”
At those words, the old man slowly lowered his head. It was true—he had survived by surrendering. The price had been killing his own family with his own hands.
He sighed. “Alas, this old man was indeed a member of Medicine King Valley. We’re all survivors from that time. Only those who personally killed their own relatives were allowed to live. What has become of us today is simply karma.”
After hearing the whole story, Lu Jinshuang could not help sighing. “He really was a madman. He kept the people who killed their own family members alive—wasn’t he afraid they would seek revenge?”
Xi Qingyue stared at the old man for a long while before asking curiously, “And who did you kill?”
The old man’s expression changed drastically. He stammered, “I…I killed my wife. She was sick at the time. Even without my intervention, she wouldn’t have lived.”
A middle-aged man lying closest to him endured the pain and cursed, “Bah! You shameless old bastard. You were the first one to strike, and you were the one who persuaded us to surrender. Don’t make yourself sound so noble. Your wife was poisoned, not sick!”
The old man’s face flushed as he argued back, “What’s the difference? Even if I hadn’t acted, she would have died. Her death allowed me to survive—what did I do wrong? As if you’re any better! You killed your own child too. None of us has the right to condemn the others.”
After hearing this, Xi Qingyue glanced at him indifferently. “No wonder you were the first to speak up. You clearly have experience.”
The old man dropped to his knees with a thud and begged for mercy. “Please spare me, miss! I’ve told you everything you wanted to know. I only attacked earlier because I was forced to! The Valley Master planted poison inside all of us. If we disobeyed him, we would suffer the agony of countless insects devouring our hearts every month. I didn’t do it willingly!”
Xi Qingyue remained unmoved by his kneeling pleas. She swept her gaze over the group of people writhing in agony on the ground, then waved her hand.
Blades of wind shot out. In the blink of an eye, everyone on the ground had become a corpse.
Looking at the bodies scattered across the ground, she let out a cold laugh. “I thought outsiders had massacred innocent people and seized this place. So it was merely an internal struggle. Killing one’s own relatives in exchange for the chance to live—those people deserved to die.”
With that, she stood up and put away the chairs before turning her gaze toward the direction of the Valley Master’s residence.
Lu Jinshuang stood as well and looked ahead. “Yue, hasn’t the Valley Master run away yet?”
Xi Qingyue nodded. “No. He’s scattered all kinds of poison around the entrance to his courtyard and is waiting for us to come to him.”
She did not take the Valley Master, who was skilled in poisons, seriously at all. She simply walked forward.
The houses on both sides had now become ownerless, empty buildings. As Xi Qingyue walked, she collected everything inside them, and her gains were quite substantial.
When they reached the courtyard where the Valley Master lived, they found that the gate was already open.
A man dressed entirely in black stood in the courtyard. An eerie smile rested on his face.
“Welcome, my two guests. Since you’ve come, you are guests indeed. Why don’t you come inside and talk?”
The black-clad man gave an ominous laugh. His young face was pitted with numerous scars. Upon closer inspection, they did not appear to have been caused by blades.
Xi Qingyue smiled and walked into the courtyard. “You’re quite confident, aren’t you? You knew we were coming, yet you didn’t run. Aren’t you upset that so many of your subordinates have died?”
The black-clad man snorted, his tone filled with disdain. “They’re not worthy of my concern. They were the ones who drove my father away back then. Every one of them deserved to die. How did the two of you find Falling Glow Valley?”
Xi Qingyue gazed at the flowers and plants in the courtyard and said calmly, “It’s very simple: Yuanlai Inn. I already said it outside, but unfortunately, you were too far away to hear me. By the way, you don’t actually think these poisons can deal with me, do you?”
