Martial Saint through Reading

”My name is Yao Qi.”

Yao Qi is the real name of the Medicine Maniac.

”I wonder what favor my benefactor requires? I would walk through fire or climb mountains, just say the word.”

”I want you to help me destroy Blood Vine Castle.”

”...” The Medicine Maniac fell silent for a moment and said, ”Benefactor, I have an unending grudge against Blood Vine Castle; I, too, want to destroy it.”

”However, the strength of the Vine Castle Lord, Teng Sect, surpasses mine. Even at my peak, I wasn’t his match, and now in this pitiful state...”

”Moreover, Blood Vine Castle doesn’t just have a Teng Sect; there’s another person.”

”Oh?” Chu Ming’s eyes gleamed.

Upon probing with the [Sword Gourd Spirit], Blood Vine Castle only has one person at the Meridian Unlocking Realm.

”West Glory County Governor’s Office, An Hengying,” Yao Qi said through gritted teeth, ”I ended up like this all because of An Hengying!”

An Hengying?

As expected, this person has issues!

However, that Governor’s Office person does not seem to be at Blood Vine Castle.

”Benefactor, although I wish to destroy Blood Vine Castle, I am injured now, and my medicines have been taken by Blood Vine Castle. I’m afraid...I’m afraid I won’t be able to do much...”

”An Hengying has been in the Meridian Unlocking Realm for a long time, and his power cannot be underestimated.”

Yao Qi did not know that currently there is only Teng Sect in the Meridian Unlocking Realm within Blood Vine Castle.

Chu Ming moved his feet, heading toward the dungeon exit: ”An Hengying is currently not at Blood Vine Castle; I’ll handle Teng Sect. You just need to poison the other rogues.”

”An Hengying is not here?” Yao Qi’s eyes lit up, ”Benefactor, with you and me teaming up, Teng Sect is doomed.”

”I told you, you only need to poison the other rogues,” Chu Ming said coldly.

”...” Yao Qi’s heart chilled; he cupped his hands and said, ”Alright.”

Then, his expression changed several times, as if feeling a bit embarrassed.

”I... I don’t have any poison.”

The famous Medicine Maniac, one of the five Meridian Unlocking Realm experts in Xirong County, had fallen so low as to not have a single poison at hand.

”I know where it is, come with me.”

Chu Ming had already explored where the medicines were stored in Blood Vine Castle.

Yao Qi dared not ask more and just walked coldly over to the Third-in-command of Blood Vine Castle, who was writhing painfully on the ground. He picked up the rope beside him, tied him up, gagged him, and then dragged him away.

His revenge was not yet over.

Stepping out of the dungeon, the cold wind blew on their bodies, making the already tormented Third-in-command feel even more chilling and piercing.

The Medicine Maniac’s clothes barely covered him, yet he looked as if he was enjoying it.

”Never thought this old man could walk out alive,” Yao Qi sighed, following Chu Ming into the night.

Yet, the more he walked, the more surprised and doubtful he became.

Throughout their journey, every place they walked was in blind spots of the castle’s guards. They walked so blatantly, yet not a single person noticed them.

”What terrifying stealth techniques!”

Yao Qi’s heart trembled.

It wasn’t just about hiding oneself; even by just following his pace, one could achieve such a stealth effect!

Just who is this benefactor?

Yao Qi stared at the back moving ahead, his expression extremely complex.

Tremendous strength, incredible perception, unimaginable stealth methods.

Additionally... he had an instinct that his proud pharmaceuticals might not even compare to this benefactor’s.

Could the benefactor come from some ancient family?

Yao Qi’s eyes shifted once more as a thought gradually took root in his mind.

”Who goes there?!”

As he was lost in thought, a shout came from ahead, and over a dozen guards fiercely surrounded them.

”Hmm?” The guards looked fierce when they saw Chu Ming, but upon seeing the ghastly Yao Qi, they immediately panicked, ”Oh no, it’s the Medicine Maniac!”

However, panic turned to terror and then to despair.

Chu Ming’s figure moved slightly, and he walked through the guards leisurely as if strolling in a courtyard.

”Let’s go.”

Thud, thud, thud!

Over a dozen guards fell one after another, not one left alive.

Yao Qi followed behind, his pupils slightly contracting.

Such decisive slaughter!

Must not offend!

After killing this group of guards, the two stepped into a pavilion made entirely of black iron.

”You guys...?”

Inside the pavilion, there were still plenty of Blood Vine Castle rogues.

This time, before Chu Ming could make a move, Yao Qi took action first.

Although his body was injured, killing some Martial Artists in the Blood Circulation Realm and Strong Bone Realm was not much of an issue.

”Benefactor, here...”

Yao Qi looked around joyfully; rows of iron shelves were filled with various herbs.

”Take what you need.”

Chu Ming lightly tapped his toes, jumped more than a yard high, and took many herbs from one of the iron shelves.

Subsequently, he skillfully sorted, ground, and mixed these herbs...

The Medicine Maniac gathered herbs while cautiously observing.

So familiar with herbs, his techniques even more skilled than mine, the benefactor indeed is a master of pharmaceuticals!

However, I wonder what the benefactor is concocting?

Moments later, Chu Ming finished making a batch of medicinal powder.

”Is this...the powder from earlier?”

”Yes,” Chu Ming nodded, finding paper and pen to write down the formula, ”Mix it according to this recipe.”

The paper had the big words ’Soul-Devouring Bloodthirsty Powder’ written on it.

This poison was improved by Chu Ming from the ’Soul-Catching Fragrance Powder’.

The materials used were simpler and easier to obtain than ’Soul-Catching Fragrance Powder’, and the blending and refining process was not as complex.

’Soul-Devouring Bloodthirsty Powder’ is highly toxic. Below the Refining Organ Realm, the entire body will rot away within two hours, and even those in the Refining Organ Realm might not escape death.

He just handed the recipe over to me?

Yao Qi stared at the paper, somewhat incredulous.

”Prepare the poison; leave the poisoning to you.”

”Alright,” Yao Qi bowed, ”Rest assured, benefactor, Blood Vine Castle won’t see sunrise!”

Chu Ming lightly nodded, leaving the iron pavilion.

He first went back to the iron prison and released everyone locked inside.

The ones imprisoned by Blood Vine Castle are all formidable, the weakest being at the Late Stage of the Blood Circulation Realm, and the strongest, there are two, at the Refining Organ Realm.

”Blood Vine Castle scum, die!”

These people harbor endless hatred toward Blood Vine Castle, charging out of the dungeon, slashing at anyone they see, killing anyone they encounter.

In an instant, chaos engulfed the area near the dungeon.

Dong, dong, dong——

The alarm bells rang, as groups of Blood Vine Castle bandits rushed toward this area.

Chu Ming stood on the rooftop, casting a glance downward, then raised his eyes to look far away, beyond Blood Vine Castle.

There, the Sword Gourd Spirit detected a large number of people stealthily approaching.

”West Glory County Imperial Examination Hall...”

”An Hengying!”

He furrowed his brow, his form blending once more into the darkness.

Before tonight, seeing the Imperial Examination Hall of West Glory County arrive, he would consider it as acting on orders to eradicate bandits.

But after confirming An Hengying’s ties with Blood Vine Castle and Blood Evil Sect, Chu Ming thinks differently.

An Hengying leads over six hundred constables from the Imperial Examination Hall to this place, is it to eliminate Blood Vine Castle, or is there another purpose?

”Either way, tonight, there must be an end.”

The moonlight was as dark as ink, Chu Ming approached the main fort of Blood Vine Castle.

He intends to resolve the main figures of Blood Vine Castle before An Hengying notices the abnormality within the castle.

...

Blood Vine Castle, main fort.

”What’s going on?” Vine Castle Lord Teng Sect sat on the high chair, furrowing his brow as he questioned angrily.

”Fortress Master, the Medicine Maniac has escaped, the third-in-command is missing, and those imprisoned in the dungeon have all been released!” The second-in-command of Blood Vine Castle bowed his body, speaking nervously.

”Useless!” Teng Sect stood angrily, the large chair beneath him instantly shattering.

The second-in-command dared not speak.

”Still standing there? Do you want the Fortress Master to personally take action?!”

”I will go now, Sir!”

The second-in-command hurriedly turned around upon hearing that, his heart reluctant.

The dungeon holds two Refining Organ Realm individuals whom he personally tortured, if they were encountered...

Teng Sect sat on the high throne, his gaze cold.

”The Medicine Maniac’s entire meridian has been sealed by me, inferior to an ordinary person, he absolutely couldn’t escape on his own, there must be someone assisting in the dark...”

”To break into my Blood Vine Castle unnoticed and rescue the Medicine Maniac, the one who accomplished this is certainly not simple, who could it be?”

Boom——

Just as he pondered, a thunderous sound rang out from outside the hall, the second-in-command’s body flew backward into the room.

Afterwards, a figure slowly stepped into the main hall.

Teng Sect abruptly stood, glaring angrily: ”Who are you?”

Upon seeing the person who arrived, he was struck by a chilling sense of dread.

”The one who will kill you.” Chu Ming stared coldly.

”Kill me? What arrogance!”

”...”

...

In a side hall of the main fort.

”I unexpectedly have two such gorgeous sisters...”

Blood Vine Castle’s Young Castle Master Teng Qian, ever since being kicked out of his residence, had been preoccupied with the figures of the Jiaang Yan and Jiaang Jing sisters.

Thinking about them, Teng Qian’s eyes displayed a wicked glint: ”Sisters, huh? But not biological ones, two beauties living in my room, they should pay some price...”

Yet when contemplating the strength and methods of the two women, he also felt some fear.

After pondering for a moment, it seems he came up with a plan.

”You use poison, then I will use poison too.”

Teng Qian got up, heading outside.

”Young Master, where are you going?” As soon as he stepped out, he saw more than a dozen guards stationed there.

”Why, does the Young Master need to report to you wherever he goes?” Teng Qian asked.

”Young Master, something has happened at the dungeon, the Castle Lord instructed Young Master not to wander.” The guard cautiously replied immediately.

”Dungeon?” Teng Qian was dismissive: ”A trivial matter, move aside!”

He kicked the guard blocking his way, striding out, heading straight for the iron building where the medicines were stored in Blood Vine Castle, with more than a dozen guards hurrying after him.

Inside the iron building.

”Boy, stop pretending, wake up, the old man has a newly concocted poison which you have yet to try.”

The Medicine Maniac grabbed Blood Vine Castle’s third-in-command as if holding a chick, pried open his mouth, and poured in the dark liquid.

The third-in-command, already on the brink of death, immediately began coughing violently, his entire body trembled, and the black liquid surged out through his seven orifices continuously.

After only a few breaths, this Refining Organ Realm third-in-command died painfully.

”Oh, it’s such a pity, he hasn’t finished the drink yet.”

The Medicine Maniac looked at the now unrecognizable third-in-command, and then glanced at the remaining poison in his hand, seemingly regretting the ’premature death’ of the third-in-command.

”Young Master, the Castle Lord has ordered that you shouldn’t wander.”

”Get lost!”

Just as the Medicine Maniac was lamenting, there came a voice from outside the iron building.

Young Master?

The Medicine Maniac’s eyes suddenly sharpened, his mouth curling into a ghastly grin.

”Did you hear me? Get lost!” Teng Qian stood at the iron building’s entrance, scolding the guards who followed, ”If anyone dares to follow again, don’t blame the Young Master for being ruthless!”

These guards originally wanted to persuade further, but immediately each showed horror.

”Now that’s right...” Teng Qian was very satisfied, believing that his previous words had intimidated the guards.

”Get lost quickly!” he angrily scolded again.

This time, the more than a dozen guards were even more terrified, as though they’d seen some great fear.

The Medicine Maniac! The Medicine Maniac is in the iron building!

Run! Run quickly!

All thirteen guards fled in a frantic hurry without exception.

”Hehe, what great power the Young Master wields...” a voice sounded behind him, seemingly complimenting, yet the tone appeared sarcastic.

”Who dares talk to me like this, are you courting death!”

With head held high, Teng Qian turned angrily.

”You...”

The moment he turned, he was stunned.