Chapter Ninety-Four: The Death of the Alliance Leader

While Zhong Li Yu and his wife were enjoying their sweet, peaceful days in Wuyou Valley, a tragic scene was unfolding at the residence of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.

Du Feiying raised his cup and handed it to Du Qunying, declaring boldly, “Big brother, the two of us haven’t had a proper drink together in a long time. Tonight, let’s drink our fill.”

Du Qunying laughed heartily. “You’re right, little brother. Tonight, we won’t stop until we’re drunk.”

“Come, big brother, let’s drink three cups together.” Du Feiying lifted his cup and drained it first.

Du Qunying followed suit, raising his cup and drinking heartily. Although their brotherly bond wasn’t especially close, they usually got along well enough. So when Du Feiying invited him to drink, Du Qunying readily agreed.

Unexpectedly, after three cups, Du Qunying suddenly felt his blood and energy block and his strength vanish. Shocked, he exclaimed, “Little brother, did you poison me?”

Du Feiying had already coated Du Qunying’s cup with poison beforehand. Now that Du Qunying had drunk three cups, the poison was fully ingested. Looking at his elder brother, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes. “Big brother, I don’t want to do this. I’ve been forced.”

Du Qunying was furious. “Little brother, what exactly is going on? Give me the antidote quickly. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together.”

Du Feiying shook his head. “It’s no use, big brother. Besides the Huagong Powder you took earlier, you’ve also ingested another poison. That poison has no cure. You must take an antidote pill every month to survive.”

Du Qunying couldn’t believe it. “Where did you get such a vicious poison? You have to take the antidote monthly? What happens if you don’t? Will you die?”

“I’m sorry, big brother,” Du Feiying said painfully. “I was forced to take this poison too. The person who forced me told me to poison you. If I don’t obey, he’ll cut off my antidote supply, and then I’ll be consumed by the parasitic insects in my brain and die a hollow death.”

Du Feiying’s voice trembled. “He said if you listen to him, he will provide the antidote regularly every month, so neither of us has to die.”

Du Qunying angrily smashed his cup. “Little brother, you’re truly foolish. Just to live, you’d do something so wicked? Now you’re helping him harm your own elder brother. What if one day he orders you to kill your own son? Would you do that too?”

Du Feiying hung his head in shame. “Big brother, I have no choice. I really don’t want to die.”

Du Qunying gritted his teeth. “Even if I die, I won’t bow to anyone’s threats. I’ve never done any wicked thing before, and I never will. Even if it costs me my life, I won’t serve him.”

At that moment, a cold voice echoed inside the room. “Haha, Alliance Leader Du, you have some backbone. I admire that.” Du Qunying didn’t even notice when Mo Qing entered.

“Mo Qing?” Du Qunying recognized him immediately. During the last election for the Martial Arts Alliance Leader at Xianyun Mountain, it was this despicable man who poisoned them, almost causing their death.

“Impressive memory, Alliance Leader Du, you still remember me,” Mo Qing sneered darkly.

“Did you poison my little brother?” Du Qunying asked furiously.

“That’s right.”

“Why did you do this?”

“You’ll understand in time. You’re already under my complete control. From now on, you must obey me, or you know the consequences, yes?”

Du Qunying seethed. “Don’t count on it. Even if I die, I won’t help you. You despicable villain.”

“Then let your little brother be the alliance leader,” Mo Qing said coldly.

Du Qunying tried to use his internal energy, but it was gone. He could only shout, “Help!”

Outside, there was no response. The guards had been drugged by Mo Qing and remained unconscious.

Mo Qing’s sinister smile widened. “No need to shout. They’re all poisoned and won’t wake for at least two to three hours.”

“You bastard! I’ll fight you to the death!” Du Qunying struck out, but his moves were weak, and Mo Qing easily evaded.

Unable to subdue Du Qunying, Mo Qing ruthlessly delivered a palm strike that killed him instantly.

Du Feiying watched his elder brother die at Mo Qing’s hands, heartbroken and furious. “Why did you kill my big brother? I’ve already followed your orders to poison him—why won’t you let him go?”

Mo Qing looked down on Du Feiying. “You fool, if I hadn’t given your brother another poison that sapped his internal power, do you think we’d both be standing here alive? Your brother’s martial arts are unrivaled; together, we couldn’t defeat him. Now that he refuses to obey me, once his power recovers, do you think we’ll survive?”

“But he’s my own big brother. How am I supposed to explain this to everyone?” Du Feiying’s spirit faltered. A man who fears death is easy to control. Although saddened by his brother’s death, it was only for a moment.

Mo Qing examined Du Qunying’s body. “Search him. See if he has the Alliance Leader’s token.”

Du Feiying obeyed, searching inside his brother’s clothes. He found a token—the Alliance Leader’s token.

Mo Qing glanced at it, satisfied. “From now on, you will be the Martial Arts Alliance Leader.”

Du Feiying trembled all over. Leader of the martial world? He had never dared to dream of such a position. Seeing his brother admired by others, he had always been envious. Now, unexpectedly, he had the chance to become the leader himself. Joy replaced the sorrow of losing his brother. “Is that... really true?” he stammered.

“Of course. As long as you obey me, you can be the Martial Arts Alliance Leader for life.” Mo Qing sneered, continuing to tempt him.

“All right, I’ll listen to you.” Du Feiying, intoxicated by power, yet burdened by how to explain his brother’s death, agreed.

Seeming to read his thoughts, Mo Qing said, “Tell others you were drinking with the Alliance Leader when a masked, highly skilled assassin suddenly appeared and struck him down. The Alliance Leader was mortally wounded and, before dying, entrusted you with the leadership.”

“But will people believe that? Won’t they suspect me?” Du Feiying worried, his guilty conscience troubling him.

“Fool. With your limited skills, could you kill the Alliance Leader? I struck him with only 90% of my power to ensure a single fatal blow. No one will suspect you.” Mo Qing was impatient. He didn’t care about rumors. Now that the token was in Du Feiying’s hand, this cowardly man as leader was easy to control. The martial world respects the leader’s token, and since Du Feiying is Du Qunying’s brother, commanding obedience wouldn’t be difficult.

“All right, I know what to do.”

Two hours later, the guards in the alliance residence awoke. Upon waking, they heard Du Feiying’s sobbing: “Big brother, you died so tragically. You left me in charge of the martial world. How can I handle this?”

They entered and saw Du Feiying holding Du Qunying’s lifeless body, weeping.

“Second Master, what happened? The Alliance Leader…” Steward Zhong cautiously asked.

“I was drinking with big brother. I was a little drunk when a masked man suddenly appeared and struck him in a vital spot. Both of us were caught off guard, and he was hit.” Du Feiying held his head, wincing.

“Is the Alliance Leader gone?” Zhong asked carefully.

Du Feiying looked at him. “Zhong, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been drinking with big brother. If he hadn’t been drunk, he might have reacted in time and avoided the attack.” He blamed himself.

Zhong was touched by Du Feiying’s remorse and dared not scold him. “Second Master, don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault.”

Du Feiying lifted his head and said, “Has big brother offended anyone? Before dying, he entrusted me with the token and asked me to avenge him.” He showed Zhong the Alliance Leader’s token.

Zhong examined the token, puzzled. The Alliance Leader’s death shocked many. He was well respected and not one to easily make enemies. Also strange was that the token was passed to a brother, not the Alliance Leader’s son.

“Second Master, I’ll gather the elders to examine who inflicted these injuries. I can’t discern martial arts styles, so the elders must see,” Du Feiying added, sensing Zhong’s doubts.

“Understood, Second Master.”

The elders arrived swiftly. They saw Du Qunying’s wounds and agreed the attacker’s skills were formidable but could not identify his sect. The Alliance Leader’s death deeply saddened everyone. None rejoiced at his passing. Only a few under Mo Qing’s influence seemed to understand the brewing chaos.

Du Qunying died with only Du Feiying present. Though the token’s inheritance was Du Feiying’s word alone, possession of the token made it uncontestable. Du Feiying, who never dreamed of becoming the leader, now felt fortune in misfortune. Poisoned and now leader, he believed obeying Mo Qing would keep him alive and allow him to rule the martial world with glory.

The next morning, Zhan Yan and Zhong Li Yu were still asleep. Wuyou Valley was peaceful. After a good night’s rest, Zhong Li Yu woke to see his wife still sleeping peacefully. A faint smile curved his lips. Since becoming pregnant, she had been sleeping like a little pig, sometimes unresponsive even to calls. But if nothing urgent arose, he wouldn’t wake her. She could sleep as long as she wished.

Zhong Li Yu lingered, admiring her serene face before rising. He drew water by the well to wash, then thoughtfully heated water for her, as late autumn’s chill had arrived.

Half an hour later, Zhan Yan awoke. She felt the bed cold on the edge and knew Zhong Li Yu had been up for a while. After dressing, she stepped out and saw him entering with a large basket of grapes.

“Yan’er, you’re up. I picked some grapes to bring back for you,” he said gently.

Zhan Yan smiled happily. “Great! I was just thinking about that. You really know how to please me.”

Zhong Li Yu smiled indulgently. “Yan’er, I’ve heated water for you. Wait here while I fetch some more.”

Without waiting for her reply, he went to the kitchen. Watching his busy figure, Zhan Yan felt deeply touched by his meticulous care.

After washing, she prepared a simple breakfast: two bowls of minced meat noodles topped with two fried eggs. Zhong Li Yu looked on with satisfaction and quickly devoured the hearty meal, savoring it as if it were a delicacy.

Though confident in her cooking skills, Zhan Yan couldn’t help but feel proud seeing his content expression.

After breakfast, Zhong Li Yu carried the grapes and took Zhan Yan’s hand, heading toward the valley’s exit. Though reluctant to leave this peaceful haven and the meals she cooked, there were pressing matters outside. They left with some regret.

As they departed, the valley’s residents came to see them off, urging Zhan Yan to visit often. She agreed warmly; occasional stays here would be a pleasant retreat—a vacation home of sorts. When they desired private time together, Zhong Li Yu could be brought here—an elegant form of romance.

“What are you thinking about to look so happy?” Zhong Li Yu asked, noticing her smile.

“I was thinking that when we want some private time in the future, we can come stay here for a night,” Zhan Yan shared honestly.

Their “private time”? Zhong Li Yu’s mind flashed to their tender moments the previous day, heart tightening. “Good. I’ll bring you here often for our private time.”

Sensing his heated gaze, Zhan Yan blushed. “Husband, what are you thinking?”

Zhong Li Yu chuckled softly. “I’m not thinking anything improper. What do you think I’m thinking? Want to hear?”

Zhan Yan’s blush deepened. Though he said nothing suggestive, his expression was misleading. Whatever he was imagining, only he knew.

“You’re hopeless,” she muttered, then led the way, hearing his quiet laughter behind her.

As they exited Wuyou Valley, Qing Xian awaited them. Zhong Li Yu had sent him a message early to pick them up, so Qing Xian hurried here without delay.

Seeing Zhong Li Yu and Zhan Yan, Qing Xian immediately dismounted and bowed respectfully. “Young master, madam.”

Zhong Li Yu nodded, about to help Zhan Yan into the carriage, when Qing Xian said, “Young master, Martial Arts Alliance Leader Du Qunying is in trouble.”

Zhong Li Yu halted, surprised, and Zhan Yan’s face showed shock.

“What happened?” he asked quietly.

Qing Xian recounted the gathered intelligence, matching Du Feiying’s story.

Zhong Li Yu pondered deeply. This was no simple matter. Du Qunying was among the top martial artists; for someone to kill him with a single palm was extraordinary. Even the Alliance Leader would be cautious. Du Feiying must be involved. The leader’s death and Du Feiying’s sudden succession raised suspicion.

Zhan Yan hadn’t expected such turmoil while they rested in Wuyou Valley. She struggled to accept it.

“Husband, is the world really about to fall into chaos?” she frowned.

“Don’t worry, Yan’er. Every story has an ending,” Zhong Li Yu reassured her.

“First they controlled the court officials; now it’s the martial world. They won’t stop until this world is in chaos,” Zhan Yan said helplessly.

“Exactly. They want chaos,” Zhong Li Yu whispered. He didn’t yet understand what leverage these people held to claim the world after disorder.

“How despicable,” Zhan Yan said with disgust. She loathed those who disrupted peace and harmed others, just as in her previous life. She never showed mercy to wrongdoers, hating those who acted recklessly without regard for others.

“Yes. We cannot sit idly by. I’ve already dispatched men to find the poison’s creator. Soon, we’ll have news,” Zhong Li Yu said sternly.

The Youran Pavilion’s informants spanned the realm; no matter where the culprit hid, they would be uncovered. It was only a matter of time.

“Yan’er, get in. Let’s return,” Zhong Li Yu said.

“All right.”

*This story is originally published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not reprint.*