"You were not afflicted by this old master’s poison," a hunchbacked old man clutching a cane emerged slowly from the corner of the building.

  "I happened to catch a glimpse of Senior once, so I immediately held my breath," Jin Tianwang spoke while slowly laying down the body of Ke Daoping, as if unwilling to let those luxurious emerald green robes suffer even the slightest damage.

  The Elder surnamed Sun whom Jin Tianwang addressed was none other than Sun Daming, nicknamed the "Peerless Poison Beggar." He had been famous for over twenty years. In the past, he was an elder within the Beggar Sect but was expelled after spreading poison to kill a group of rival disciples within the sect, resulting in dozens of deaths. The Beggar Sect had hunted him ever since, yet they remained unable to do anything to this man.

  "You have never met this old master before; how is it that at a mere glance, you recognize me?"

  "Although we have never met or seen each other's faces, the stories circulated in the martial world have always made me fear you, Senior."

  "I fear that you, little brat, are no good sort, knowing only how to associate with beggars big and small."

  "I am a destitute man. Even if I thought to associate with wealthy tycoons, no one would lower themselves to consort with me. Only the brothers of the Beggar Sect welcome and speak with me somewhat."

  "Up until now, do the beggars still tell stories about this old beggar?"

  "Besides Senior's legend, lately, the beggars also like to speak of 'The Destitute Wanderer' Kang Kang."

  "What sort of creature is 'The Destitute Wanderer' Kang Kang?"

  "'The Destitute Wanderer' Kang Kang is a rising star among beggars. He enjoys wine and gambling, and has a penchant for meddling in the affairs of others, yet he possesses considerable skill and reputation. It is believed that he might be the heir of Senior Southern Beggar."

  "The Southern Beggar? What skill does he possess? All eight of his disciples died by this old master’s poison long ago. No one knows where he fled, but believe this: the Southern Beggar and his heirs no longer exist in this world."

  "In that case, the beggar brothers must be mistaken." Throughout the conversation, Jin Tianwang spoke while edging toward Sun Daming. Even now, he remained cautious of airborne poison.

  Sun Daming clasped his cane with both hands to support himself, appearing still and unmoving, radiating an imposing aura. His half-open, half-closed eyes stared at Jin Tianwang’s figure drawing closer and closer. But when the distance closed to merely two zhang, Jin Tianwang’s figure suddenly blurred. A hand appeared, clamping down on the hands holding the cane, while the other pressed against Sun Daming’s throat.

  Sun Daming started in shock, not expecting Jin Tianwang to possess such bizarrely fast movement techniques. By the time he regained his senses, he was already subdued by this young expert. He could only rasp, "What do you intend to do?"

  "I intend to ask for the antidote for my martial artist friends here."

  "They all intended to take your life, yet you still think to save them?"

  "We merely misunderstood each other. For a simple misunderstanding, there is no need for anyone to die."

  "Although they are poisoned, in another two hours, the toxins will dissipate on their own."

  "How can Senior guarantee that?"

  "Can the word of the Peerless Poison Beggar be doubted?"

  "It cannot."

  Sun Daming, though feeling humiliated and eyes burning with anger, continued, "Then what will you do?"

  "Senior can spread poison through the air; surely you can spread the cure through the air as well?"

  "This old master cannot."

  "You truly cannot?"

  Sun Daming had no intention of speaking further, seeming willing to die rather than utter another word of nonsense. He suddenly closed his eyes, his face etched with extreme resentment.

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  Jin Tianwang suddenly reviewed the entire sequence of events, feeling it was extremely unreasonable. The fact that the Poison Beggar attacked these people seemed like an intentional act to assist him. He thus lowered his voice, speaking softly, "All of this is her playing a game, is it not?"

  "You understand correctly," Sun Daming opened his eyes and spoke again.

  "Will I get to meet her?"

  "Tonight, if you enter the city again, you will know where to find her."

  "In truth, I had already rented a room, but given the situation, I can only go hide outside the city first." Jin Tianwang finished speaking, then released his hold on Sun Daming. He rolled backward before kicking off the ground, sending his body soaring away rapidly.

  That very night, the sky was ink-black, with only the faint light of small stars visible in the vast expanse. In this darkness, a shadow shot over the earthen wall with the speed of a meteor, before soaring along the rooftops of the market. The shadow circled several times before dashing off again, heading straight for a building where a yellow-and-white lantern hung by a third-floor window.

  The shadow utilized movement techniques as swift as a shooting star to land silently on the roof. Then, displaying immense skill, it clung to the wall, moving across the steep surface, slowly shifting toward the window with the yellow-and-white lantern. Suddenly, the sound of rushing wind erupted from inside, accompanied by glittering objects piercing through the window in two directions. The shadow was forced to lean back to dodge. Losing its grip on the wall, the figure began to fall, but the shadow was a top-tier expert; he flipped twice in mid-air and landed without issue.

  A clamor arose from all sides. The interior of the surrounding buildings suddenly lit up. People who had been lying in ambush ran out from the alleys. All carried torches; the dark night was instantly banished.

  "Vile thief Jin, this is too arrogant! Surround and capture him!" A familiar voice rang out from the procession of torches, before revealing the large, corpulent man gripping a bright red chakram in his hand.

  Ke Daoping suddenly appeared at the window, shouting loudly, "Brother Jin, to intrude upon Lady Tie's room like this—what excuse do you have?"

  The Lady Tie mentioned was actually named Tie Guanyong. She was a renowned beauty in Wei City. Originally, she was merely a servant girl of the "Lightning Swordsman" Xiang Xiubai, who was famous throughout the land. However, Xiang Xiubai disappeared mysteriously six years ago, leaving only this girl who grew up to become a famed beauty. Not only was she beautiful, but her swordplay was also inherited from Xiang Xiubai. Tie Guanyong swore never to marry, wishing to await the return of the Lightning Swordsman Xiang Xiubai, implying she waited for the return of her lover. Later, she received the title "The Everlasting Love Sword."

  Tie Guanyong flashed in front of Ke Daoping at the window, shouting, "Vile thief, try receiving one sword strike of mine!" As she finished her words, she leaped from the window, thrusting her sword downward.

  Jin Tianwang, though surrounded and anxious, still wore a puzzling smile at the corner of his mouth. When Tie Guanyong’s sword thrust down from above, he suddenly shot upward to counter. He twisted his body slightly, easily dodging the sword path of the beauty. However, Tie Guanyong would not let him pass so easily. She forced her body to turn the sword and stab back. Yet Jin Tianwang was faster than her move; the sword tip remained a distance from his toes. Tie Guanyong missed her stab, her body losing balance and falling from mid-air. Ke Daoping, who had been watching from the window ledge, hurriedly jumped down to catch the falling figure. Her waist, slender enough to be grasped in a single hand, landed in Ke Daoping’s embrace, creating a moment of embarrassment for him.

  Jin Tianwang successfully reached the roof and soared toward another. While his body floated in mid-air, a loud boom suddenly erupted as the roof of a small house beneath his feet was blasted open, accompanied by the sound of metal tearing through the air toward him.

  Jin Tianwang knew instinctively: this was "The Reckless Blade" Li Sibei. Seeing that the blade tearing through the air was pitch-black metal, he was certain it could be no one else. He immediately rolled in mid-air before shooting his body in another direction to escape the sweep of the incoming blade.

  Jin Tianwang stood on the roof of a house with orange-red tiles, seeing Li Sibei clearly. This person had a tall, large frame packed with muscle, shoulder-length hair, dark skin, big round eyes, thick eyebrows, and a well-proportioned nose and mouth. He was considered quite a handsome man.

  Li Sibei missed his slash but soared to another roof before turning to face Jin Tianwang, speaking boldly, "Everyone knows that you attacked the Eldest Miss at Jingling City. Tonight, I will bring your head back to the Virtue Association myself."

  Jin Tianwang did not reply; there was only a bitter smile on his face for a moment. Several days ago, he had indeed attacked a woman in Jingling City. Quite a few villagers had witnessed the event. That story created no small wound in Jin Tianwang's heart. Thinking of the matter, he lowered his head to avoid Li Sibei’s gaze.

  Li Sibei immediately seized the opportunity to leap in and slash out with his blade again.

  Jin Tianwang perceived the pressure bearing down on him and regained his senses, shifting his feet to retreat. But the blade circle still swept through, destroying a strip of the roof surface under Jin Tianwang’s feet. Jin Tianwang’s body fell as well.

  Li Sibei—how could he let such an opportunity slip away? He rolled once in mid-air before soaring down to pursue. As his body descended, he suddenly felt a shadow following him. Yet, Li Sibei paid no heed, raising his blade to slash again, intending to split Jin Tianwang’s body in two. When he found Jin Tianwang still lying on those roof tiles, he slashed out with the blade again. However, this time it was Li Sibei who was sent flying like a kite with a cut string.

  Li Sibei’s body flew and crashed into the wall of that house, shaking it violently. Li Sibei saw only a shadow in the darkness, a figure tall and large, not inferior to his own. He cried out, "It is you!"

  "It is I. Since you know, why do you not hurry and get lost?" A bold voice rang out from the darkness.

  "Damn it..." Li Sibei shouted aggressively before using his body to smash through the wall and escape.