C14 The Young Girl Who Was Lying in Bed.

"Who sent you to kill me?"

Lin Yun's eyes glinted with a chilling light as he coldly regarded the assassin before him.

Yet, the assassin offered no reply.

For a true assassin, words were superfluous. Their sole purpose was to ruthlessly eliminate their target!

The assassin moved with incredible speed; Lin Yun had to concentrate fully to track his movements. Moreover, the assassin's level of cultivation far surpassed his own. This assassin had attained the formidable Power Refinement Grade Nine!

With all his might, the assassin launched an attack on Lin Yun.

In desperation, Lin Yun used his arm as a shield, bracing for the assassin's full-powered strike! Still, the overwhelming Genuine Force unleashed by the assassin sent Lin Yun hurtling through the air!

Lin Yun's impact left a human-shaped dent in the room's wall.

"Such incredible speed!"

Scrambling to his feet, Lin Yun dashed outside! He felt a surge of relief that he had recently advanced to Power Refinement Grade Six, his skin tough as Death Proof. Without it, the assassin would have slain him long ago.

In a mere contest of strength, Lin Yun, a practitioner of the Demonic Heavenly Profound Scripture, might stand a chance against the assassin.

But this assassin employed lethal tactics, aiming for Lin Yun's vital points. This wasn't a fair fight; Lin Yun, inexperienced in life-or-death combat, had never before faced such a formidable opponent.

He was acutely aware of his lack of combat experience, utterly overpowered by the assassin. If he continued this battle, death was a likely outcome.

His only option was to flee.

"Do you think you can escape?" The assassin watched Lin Yun's frantic escape and sneered to himself.

Initially, he hadn't taken this assassination task seriously. For a seasoned Power Refinement Grade Nine killer, dispatching a mere Grade Four novice was child's play.

Yet, to his surprise, Lin Yun's defenses were astonishingly robust. His sharp dagger had failed to fully pierce Lin Yun's arm, managing only a shallow cut.

At that moment, he realized this job wouldn't be as straightforward as he'd anticipated. No longer underestimating his opponent, he resolved to exert his full power to assassinate Lin Yun.

Amidst the chilling aura of death, Lin Yun stumbled into a room. But as soon as he entered, he sensed something amiss. If his memory served him right, this was the room Xi Ziyu had reserved.

Notably absent was Xi Ziyu himself, yet a beautiful girl lay on a pearwood bed within. Her complexion was deathly pale, devoid of vitality, appearing even more fragile than Lin Yun had been when poisoned.

Lin Yun wondered, "Who is she?"

But he could spare no more thought for the question as the assassin was hot on his heels.

From the shadows, a gaunt figure watched the unfolding scene with a sneer, "A Power Refinement Grade Nine assassin! Elder Qingfeng doesn't hold back."

This was Shadow, dispatched by Qin Yutong to safeguard Lin Yun.

Shadow hadn't anticipated Elder Qingfeng's caution. He was taken aback that the elder would send such a formidable assassin after Lin Yun, a martial cultivator of only Power Refinement Grade Four. Had he not been covertly tailing Lin Yun, the young man would surely have faced grave peril.

With that realization, Shadow prepared to intervene and rescue Lin Yun.

Shadow demanded, "Who are you? How dare you act so recklessly here?"

But in an instant, an overwhelming and terrifying force materialized from thin air. Shadow didn't even have time to come to Lin Yun's aid before he was driven back by the sheer intensity of the pressure!

Lin Yun exclaimed in terror, "Xi Ziyu?"

He recognized the voice as belonging to Xi Ziyu.

What followed was a sight that petrified him. The assassin, previously in hot pursuit, suddenly had a look of utter terror flash across his eyes.

Under the weight of that dreadful force, the assassin's form began to twist and contort in unnatural ways. And then, with a resounding boom, his body burst into a mist of blood!

Lin Yun gasped in horror, "What manner of horrific method is this for killing someone?"

He then caught sight of Xi Ziyu across the corridor. To his surprise, Xi Ziyu was accompanied by a short, plump middle-aged man.

Seeing the man, Lin Yun felt a jolt of surprise. "Why, it's him! Isn't that Master Xia I met at the entrance of the Spirit Medicine Alliance earlier today?"

Despite having just taken a life, Xi Ziyu remained composed.

Xi Ziyu offered a serene smile and inquired, "Lin, are you unharmed?"

Lin Yun glanced at the blood spattered on him and shook his head. "I'm fine." Aside from a slash on his arm, he had escaped serious injury. But more than his own wounds, Lin Yun was preoccupied with Xi Ziyu's immeasurable power.

Xi Ziyu hadn't even lifted a finger, and the formidable assassin Lin Yun had feared was dead.

Lin Yun realized that this was the mark of a true powerhouse!

Astonishingly, in the very moment Xi Ziyu dispatched the assassin, he appeared inside the room as if by some instantaneous movement. He frantically checked the unconscious girl on the bed and only relaxed when he confirmed she was unharmed.

Lin Yun couldn't help but muse to himself, "Could he be even more formidable than my genius wife?"

Having spent some time in the Mystic Moon Sect, he was familiar with the tales surrounding Qin Yutong. Rumor had it that Qin Yutong was an exceptional prodigy of the sect, her prowess surpassing even that of many elders.

"Young man, our paths cross once again," Master Xia greeted Lin Yun with a warm smile.

"Master Xia, you're acquainted with Brother Lin?"

Xi Ziyu expressed mild surprise, then added with a smile, "That's hardly surprising. Both of you are Spirit Alchemists, so it's only natural that you'd know each other."

"Mr. Xi, who is this young lady?"

Curiosity piqued, Lin Yun gestured towards the woman lying on the bed. Given Xi Ziyu's earlier display of concern, she had to be someone of great significance to him.

"Brother Lin, since you've played a part in saving her, there's no need for secrets," Xi Ziyu said, his gaze heavy with emotion. He sighed, "This is my sister, Xi Xiaoyun. She's been afflicted by a rare poison and is on the brink of death. I've been purchasing Water Cloud Pills in bulk in a desperate attempt to extend her life."

"But from what I understand, the Water Cloud Pill doesn't actually extend life, does it?" Lin Yun asked instinctively.

"True, the Water Cloud Pill doesn't normally have that effect. However, the poison afflicting Little Miss Xi is of a Yang nature, and the Yin properties of the Water Cloud Pill can help mitigate the spread of the toxin," Xi Ziyu explained.

Master Xia, shaking his head, added, "I can't think of any other way to preserve Little Miss Xi's life. To think that I, a Grade Six Spirit Alchemist, can't even save a young girl... I've truly failed."

"Master Xia, please, there's no need for that," Xi Ziyu quickly interjected. "I'm deeply grateful for your assistance. Perhaps this is simply Xiaoyun's destiny. I can't forcibly alter her fate; truth be told, it's my own inadequacy that's to blame."

As he spoke, Xi Ziyu's eyes reddened, clearly showing his deep affection for his sister. Within the sprawling Xi Warlord family, deceit and treachery were rife, and the battles between kin were devoid of any familial affection.

Apart from his parents, Xi Ziyu could wholeheartedly trust only one person: his sister, Xi Xiaoyun.

Master Xia gestured dismissively and replied, "Young Master Xi, don't speak of such things."

"Poisoned?"

While they were exchanging courtesies, Lin Yun was formulating a plan. If his memory served him right, his recent upgrade reward, the Nemesis of All Poisons, was designed specifically for detoxification. Armed with such a formidable cheat device, Lin Yun was confident there wasn't a poison out there he couldn't neutralize.

If Lin Yun managed to cure Xi Xiaoyun's poisoning, considering Xi Ziyu's demonstrated generosity, Lin Yun was sure to earn a substantial number of points.

But of course, the points were a secondary concern.

Xi Xiaoyun, Xi Ziyu's sister, appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old. On Earth, she would be just a high school freshman, a young girl with her whole life ahead of her.

Lin Yun, once a doctor, couldn't stand by and watch a young girl's life slip away.

Resolute, Lin Yun interjected, "Mr. Xi, may I offer my assistance? Perhaps I have the means to save your sister."

At this, both Xi Ziyu and Master Xia responded in astonishment, "What did you say?"

The notion that Lin Yun could succeed where even Master Xia, a Grade Six Spirit Alchemist, had not was astounding.

Xi Ziyu, in a frenzy, seized Lin Yun's shoulders and demanded, "Lin, you're not jesting, are you?" The sheer force of his grip threatened to snap Lin Yun's arms. Had Lin Yun's physique not been so thoroughly fortified, his arms might well have broken then and there.

Despite the Water Cloud Pill Lin Yun had produced, a perfect top-grade pill with a distinctive pattern, Xi Ziyu was skeptical that Lin Yun was on par with a high-grade Spirit Alchemist like Master Xia, especially given Lin Yun's youthful appearance.

Wincing in pain, Lin Yun managed a strained smile and said, "Do I seem like the type to jest? I'll do everything in my power to save your sister, but could you please release my arms? If you keep squeezing them, they might just snap."