Chapter 16: I Want You to Pay for Your Crimes in Blood

"Ah!" Master Wu's mouth hung open in shock and disbelief. Why was she cursing him with death the moment they met?

"Let's talk upstairs," Jun Wushuang said, her tone calm. Master Wu dared not delay and followed Jun Wushuang up to the top floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

The last time he had come here, it was to treat the Prince of Zhen Nan. He hadn't expected that this time, too, someone would need saving.

"You have consumed too many elixirs, and the toxins from them have built up in your body, forming a pill poison. Moreover, as an alchemist, you've been refining pills for years, causing the poison to accumulate more and more. Now, it's on the verge of erupting," Jun Wushuang spoke evenly, revealing the truth. "Within a month at the shortest, half a year at the longest, the pill poison in your body will erupt, and by then, your death will be certain."

Under the gaze of the Demonic Pupil of the Purple Pole, Master Wu's physical condition was laid bare. Although there had been conflict between them before, Master Wu's attitude was now respectful and sincere in his submission, so Jun Wushuang no longer held any grudges. Besides, she had her own request this time and naturally needed to give Master Wu a taste of her power and kindness. Balancing reward with intimidation—that was the way to command subordinates.

"This... this..." Master Wu broke out in a cold sweat. He had always been aware of the pill poison, but his limited talent had left him powerless to expel it. Since it hadn't erupted, he had simply ignored it. But now, with Jun Wushuang's words, panic seized his heart. He did not doubt her; after all, she had solved the Prince of Zhen Nan's poison before.

With a thud, Master Wu dropped to his knees before Jun Wushuang, bowing his head in reverence. "Please, Master, save me!"

If Jun Wushuang could save the Prince of Zhen Nan, then she could save him too. Master Wu pinned all his hopes on her.

"Give me your hand," Jun Wushuang commanded, and Master Wu dared not hesitate.

"Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art!"

Jun Wushuang once again unleashed her demonic power, which poured into Master Wu's body. He shivered involuntarily, as if plunged into an icy abyss.

Soon, her demonic energy found the pill poison—devouring, refining.

Compared to the Prince of Zhen Nan's baleful poison, Master Wu's pill poison was far weaker. Now that Jun Wushuang had entered the threshold of the Demonic Body, her strength had grown immensely, and the efficiency of her devouring and refining had reached new heights.

In less than an hour, all the pill poison within Master Wu had been utterly consumed and refined by Jun Wushuang.

With the poison expelled, Master Wu's face glowed with renewed vitality. Immediately, a powerful aura burst forth from within him, sending ripples through the air that shook the tables and chairs in the room.

A flash—Master Wu's eyes shone bright as the sun, and an invisible spiritual force radiated from him, nearly overwhelming to withstand.

Spirit Sea Realm, second level—breakthrough!

With the removal of the pill poison, Master Wu's accumulated power surged in one go, propelling him straight into the second level of the Spirit Sea Realm.

This... this was simply incredible!

Ecstatic, Master Wu felt as if he had shed ten years from his life. Yet he did not forget Jun Wushuang.

He quickly knelt at her feet, bowing deeply in heartfelt gratitude. "Thank you, Master, for saving my life. I am willing to brave fire and water for you, to die a thousand deaths without regret!"

Previously, Master Wu had acknowledged Jun Wushuang as his master partly due to a lost bet, and partly because of the Prince of Zhen Nan's royal decree. But now, he was utterly convinced, with not a trace of doubt or reluctance in his heart.

"As long as you serve me well, you will not be treated unfairly," Jun Wushuang replied coolly, everything well under her control.

Master Wu was overjoyed, the look he gave Jun Wushuang filled with reverence, as if before a deity.

"I need to purchase some spiritual herbs. See if you can gather them all," she said, handing him a list of ingredients.

Master Wu took the list and read it carefully. "Rest assured, Master, all these herbs are available in the Treasure Pavilion. I will order someone to fetch them immediately," he replied, eager to please.

Soon, Master Wu summoned a steward and instructed him to prepare the herbs.

"By the way, there is something I must report to you," Master Wu said, suppressing his joy and speaking solemnly. "It seems the Ji family is plotting against the Jun family."

Jun Wushuang's eyes narrowed, fixing on Master Wu, waiting for him to continue.

"Last night, Ji Yuntian came to the Treasure Pavilion to find me, hoping that I would help suppress the Jun family. I refused," Master Wu explained.

Previously, Master Wu would never have refused Ji Yuntian, since dividing up the Jun family promised great benefits. But now, having pledged loyalty to Jun Wushuang, he naturally stood firmly on her side. Ji Yuntian was unaware of this; otherwise, he would never have approached Master Wu.

"When one plan fails, he tries another," Jun Wushuang said with a cold laugh. Before, Ji Yuntian had joined forces with the Grand Elder, hoping to reap the rewards as a fisherman. But Jun Wushuang had foiled that plot. Now, with the Grand Elder and Jun Yanming dead, the Jun family was once again under Jun Zhantian's control.

This was certainly not good news for Ji Yuntian, who had long coveted the Jun family—from scheming for Jun Wushuang's Dragon King Body, to poisoning Jun Zhantian, to stirring up the Grand Elder's ambitions—every step targeted at the Jun family. Now that all his plans had failed, he was bound to try something new. The previous covert methods having failed, this time he would act openly.

"If he came to you, then he has likely already approached the Ye family and the City Lord's Mansion as well," Jun Wushuang mused, immediately grasping the situation. Jiangning was but a small city; besides the three great families, only the City Lord's Mansion and the Treasure Pavilion held any power. Ji Yuntian could not suppress the Jun family alone and would have to unite other forces. However, both the Ye family and the City Lord’s Mansion had their own agendas, and persuading them would not be easy.

"There is one more matter, closely related to you," Master Wu said, glancing at Jun Wushuang before continuing.

"Speak," Jun Wushuang's voice was low and steady.

"Ji Yuntian, in order to persuade me, brought a letter," Master Wu explained. "It was sent by Ji Qingchen. She wrote that she has not only successfully enrolled in the Royal Martial Academy, but has even been admitted as a Xuan-rank student."

Master Wu dared not conceal anything and quickly told all. Ji Yuntian had tried to pressure him with the words "Xuan-rank student," hoping to repeat old tricks. Unfortunately for him, Master Wu was now bound to Jun Wushuang and could not be swayed.

Ji Qingchen! Xuan-rank student!

At the sound of that name, Jun Wushuang's eyes turned sharp as drawn demonic blades, thirsting to slaughter the world. The terrifying aura she exuded left Master Wu paralyzed with fear, a chill running from his soles to his crown, as if a primordial beast had locked onto him, ready to devour him whole at any moment. The sensation was so overwhelming that Master Wu's heart trembled. Looking at Jun Wushuang now, he was filled with awe and reverence—his master was no ordinary mortal.

"Ji Qingchen, you coveted my Dragon King Body for this, didn't you?" Before Jun Wushuang's eyes, Ji Qingchen's venomous, scorpion-like face seemed to appear again—those cold eyes, that malicious smile, those cruel words. Everything was etched deeply into Jun Wushuang's heart, becoming a dagger that tore it to shreds.

"So what if you are a Xuan-rank student? Even if you become a Heaven-rank student, I will personally slaughter you. Wait for me. I will come to the imperial capital soon, and then, you will pay for your blood debt with your life!"