The whole family was brutally murdered? The ruthless heiress's eldest daughter went berserk aft

"Since you're here, don't leave in such a hurry." Zhang Jing's voice remained calm, but the atmosphere around them grew increasingly oppressive. In the torrential rain, the vines writhed as if alive, completely encircling the men in black.

Seeing the situation was turning against them, the leader suddenly pulled a bamboo tube from his robes: "Then don't blame us for being impolite!"

The bamboo tube shattered with a crack, and a strange wisp of purple smoke rose into the air. Murong Xuewei's pupils contracted: "Be careful, this is..."

“The Nanzhao Kingdom’s ‘Purple Scorpion Powder’,” Zhang Jing continued, “They really came prepared.”

The purple smoke didn't dissipate in the rain; instead, it grew even thicker. Wherever it passed, even the vines began to wither. The leader laughed smugly, "Isn't Medicine King Valley supposed to be very powerful? Can't even cure this little bit of poison?"

Zhang Jing chuckled lightly: "That's it?"

With a wave of his hand, the ground suddenly cracked open, and several emerald green blades of grass sprouted from the soil. Rainwater fell on the grass blades, making a hissing sound. The purple smoke, upon touching these blades of grass, instantly melted away like ice and snow.

"This is..." The leader's expression changed drastically.

Murong Xuewei was also startled: "This is the legendary..."

"Antidote herb," ​​Zhang Jing said calmly. "For a thousand years, Medicine King Valley has relied on it to survive."

The leader gritted his teeth: "Then don't blame us..."

Before he could finish speaking, a dark figure suddenly darted out from behind him, heading straight for the pharmacy. Murong Xuewei reacted swiftly, sweeping her sword across: "Trying to ambush me?"

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Zhang Jing suddenly warned.

The dark figure twisted in mid-air, a short blade gleaming coldly appearing in its hand. Murong Xuewei had no time to change her move; at the critical moment, a vine suddenly lashed out at the man's wrist.

"Ah!" With a scream, the short blade fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

"Excellent!" the leader suddenly shouted, "Now!"

Dozens of dark figures suddenly pounced from all directions, each wielding the same short blade. Zhang Jing frowned slightly: "These blades..."

"Poisonous!" Murong Xuewei had already noticed something amiss. "They're trying to..."

"Deplete the potency of the antidote herb," ​​Zhang Jing said coldly. "A good plan."

The rain intensified, but the battle grew even fiercer. Murong Xuewei and Zhang Jing fought back-to-back, their swords flashing and vines swaying. The antidote herbs on the ground were constantly consuming the poison, but new antidotes were also continuously growing.

"Can it hold up?" Murong Xuewei asked.

Zhang Jing chuckled: "How could they possibly exhaust the resources of Medicine King Valley?"

Just then, a sharp whistle pierced the rain. All the men in black suddenly retreated and regrouped around their leader.

"What?" Zhang Jing asked, "Have you admitted defeat?"

The leader, however, revealed a sinister smile: "No, it's your death day... has come."

Murong Xuewei's heart tightened: "What do you mean?"

Her answer came from afar with the sound of horses' hooves. Through the rain, a dozen riders galloped towards her, each holding a torch.

"Damn it!" Zhang Jing's expression changed slightly. "They're after the medicinal herb warehouse."

The leader sneered, "You've realized it a little late. These antidotes are indeed powerful, but if you burn them by the roots..."

Murong Xuewei gritted her teeth: "So it was a diversionary tactic before!"

"It's just a little feint," the leader said smugly. "Now that Medicine King Valley's defenses are all here, what about over there..."

Before he could finish speaking, a scream suddenly came from afar. In the firelight, the riders fell from their horses one after another.

"What?" The leader's expression changed drastically.

Zhang Jing scoffed: "Did you think I would leave the medicinal herb warehouse completely exposed?"

In the pouring rain, an old man slowly approached; it was none other than the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley. Holding a whisk, his expression was calm: "Zhang Jing, I entrusted you with guarding the mountain gate, and this is how you entertain your guests?"

"Master," Zhang Jing bowed and said, "these people have ill intentions..."

The Valley Master waved his hand: "I know." He looked at the leader, "The people of Nanzhao are far too impatient."

The leader's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty: "You..."

"You want the antidote?" the Valley Master sneered. "The poisons of Nanzhao are only of this level."

Murong Xuewei looked at the Valley Master in surprise. She hadn't expected this seemingly otherworldly old man to speak so sharply.

The Valley Master continued, "But since you're here, stay." He lightly flicked his whisk, "I'll show you what real poison is."

Before the words were even finished, countless cracks suddenly appeared in the ground, and a strange purple aura rose up. The men in black immediately paled and covered their mouths and noses.

The leader exclaimed in horror, "This is...this is 'Drunken Dreams'!"

"Not bad," the Valley Master said calmly, "You do have some knowledge."

Seeing the men in black fall to the ground, Murong Xuewei couldn't help but ask, "Them..."

“Don’t worry,” Zhang Jing explained, “they’re just temporarily unconscious. Once they wake up, someone will interrogate them.”

As the rain subsided, the Valley Master turned to Murong Xuewei: "Your Majesty, you should hurry and set off. The Emperor can't wait any longer."

Just when everyone thought victory was assured, a sharp shriek suddenly pierced the night sky.

"Oh no!" Zhang Jing's expression changed drastically. "It's the 'Soul-Snatching Bell'!"

Before the words were finished, several men in black who had been lying on the ground suddenly sprang to their feet, their hands flashing with cold light. But the Valley Master waved his whisk, and they fell down again.

"Master, be careful!" Zhang Jing suddenly shouted.

A dark figure had appeared behind the Valley Master without warning, a cold glint in its eye. The Valley Master dodged to the side, but the short blade in the figure's hand suddenly transformed into a wisp of green smoke, piercing right through the Valley Master's defenses.

"As expected..." The Valley Master coughed up blood, "It's the 'Blood-Dissolving Palm' of Nanzhao."

"Master!" Zhang Jing rushed forward to support the swaying Valley Master.

Murong Xuewei was about to step forward when several more figures darted out from the shadows, each wielding a strange weapon. She recognized them as the "Soul-Devouring Hooks" unique to Nanzhao; once cut, the poison would directly attack the heart.

The Valley Master pushed Zhang Jing aside: "Retreat quickly!"

"No!" Zhang Jing held onto the Valley Master tightly.

The Valley Master shook his head: "It's too late..." With that, he placed the whisk into Zhang Jing's hand. "Child, I'm sorry, all these years... I've been too harsh on you. Actually, your medical skills... have long surpassed mine."

"Master, what are you saying..."

The Valley Master smiled wryly: "Over the years, I've always been afraid that your... talent surpasses mine, so I've always suppressed you. But now I realize I was too rigid. You are the sun in the sky; no matter how much I try to suppress you, I can't extinguish your brilliance. From today onwards, without my suppression, you can freely display your medical skills."

As he spoke, the Valley Master suddenly channeled all his power and pushed Zhang Jing away with a palm strike. At the same time, he faced the incoming "Soul-Devouring Hooks".

"don't want!"

But it was too late. The Valley Master's figure disappeared into the poisonous fog. When the fog cleared, the Valley Master was lying on the ground, but he had a relieved smile on his face.

"Zhang Jing..." the Valley Master whispered weakly, "Medicine King Valley... is now in your hands. Remember... a healer... must have a benevolent heart..."

"Master!" Zhang Jing rushed to the Valley Master's side, but the Valley Master had already closed his eyes.

The torrential rain poured down again, as if mourning the passing of this master of medicine. Murong Xuewei watched this scene, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Zhang Jing knelt beside the Valley Master for a long time before finally standing up. His eyes were dry of tears, only resolute determination remained: "Your Majesty, you must depart immediately."

"But..."

“I will handle things here,” Zhang Jing said in a hoarse voice. “We can’t let Master’s sacrifice be in vain.”

Murong Xuewei understood his meaning and nodded solemnly: "Dr. Zhang...take care."

In the rain, Murong Xuewei hurriedly left with the antidote. Zhang Jing stood beside the Valley Master, gripping the whisk that carried the thousand-year heritage of Medicine King Valley.