Bu'er rushed forward, anxious. "Master Song! Are you hurt?"
Buyi snapped, "What are you yelling for? How could our Master be bested by someone like him?"
His words were laced with deliberate disrespect toward Tie Zhengwai but for once, Tie Zhengwai didn't respond. He let the Poison Doctor step forward and bow before examining him.
The gathered heroes all looked on in silent shock. None could quite tell how Song Yao had drawn his blade. So this was the legendary Godstrike Blade... Its brilliance left them speechless.
Then Song Yao cupped his fist toward the girl in yellow and said, "Many thanks for your aid, miss." So it had been her. That flash of silver earlier he'd seen it clearly it was a needle, aimed precisely at Tie Zhengwai's Shenque Acupoint.
The girl in yellow looked at him and gave a cold laugh. "Don't thank me. Thank Hero Tie for going easy on you! He's used that move before his opponents are usually dead before they even realize it. But here you are, standing just fine. Clearly, it wasn't his skill that failed him. He must've had a rare moment of mercy."
Her words were sharp as daggers "Hero," "dead before they even realize it," "went easy on you"... Every phrase stung with sarcasm. Song Yao felt both vindicated and unsettled. He cupped his hands again but said no more.
The Poison Doctor turned to Liu Xuan and Liu Bai, shaking his head. "There's no trace of that powder on Mr. Tie," he said calmly. By the earlier deduction, the one who killed Mr. Liu must've carried a specific poison powder. Without it Tie Zhengwai was in the clear. He snorted heavily in response. Following the rules, anyone falsely accused must also be examined. So the Poison Doctor turned to the girl in yellow. "Forgive me, miss." His red-tinged hands flicked through the air with such speed they blurred. She only felt a gust lift her sleeves then he stepped back and shook his head again.
Liu Xuan and Liu Bai weren't surprised. The others began to murmur to themselves. These two arguing dragged Song Yao into the mess... and the Windcloud Pavilion controls both land and river routes in the Central Plains. Who would dare provoke them?
No one expected Tie Zhengwai to suddenly chuckle, low and rasping. "Poison Doctor, why not check this Master Song He vanished earlier, and everyone knows he and Mr. Liu didn't exactly get along. If we're talking suspects, doesn't he top the list?"
The jab reeked of personal vengeance, but many present silently agreed just afraid to speak against the Windcloud Pavilion's rising power.
Liu Xuan's eyes narrowed. "Master Song," she said steadily, "my father died tragically today. I'll speak plainly. I respect you as a hero, but family comes before honor, and justice before loyalty. If I offend you, blame me alone."
Her voice was crisp and clear, confident yet respectful. Young as she was, she spoke with such composure that even the seasoned warriors nodded inwardly in respect. She went on, "May I ask where were you during the banquet just now?"
Bu'er looked like he was about to answer, but Song Yao raised a hand to stop him. He replied with a low, steady voice: "That concerns internal affairs of the Windcloud Pavilion. I cannot say." A sharp scoff came from the crowd.
The Poison Doctor slowly approached. Song Yao stood silent for a moment, then gave a small nod. He had nothing to hide whatever happened, he would face it. The red-palmed doctor raised his hands again. As his inner force flowed into Song Yao, pressing through the Yongquan, Tiantu, Qihai, and Baili acupoints, Song Yao felt a sudden surge of clarity then, without warning, a searing pain stabbed into his Fengmen point. He gasped in shock, unable to hold back a cry.
"It's Whitegrass Frost!" the Poison Doctor said grimly. After a pause, he added, "Master Song... You've been exposed to the very poison that killed Mr. Liu."