Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"No!"

Yin Wuji roared and used the "Eight Trigrams Pushing the Heavenly Mountain" technique to directly block the sword strike of the person behind him.

"Sect Leader Yin, what are you doing? She overheard our secret!"

"This is my apprentice! Don't worry!"

“Your disciple is no good either. Once she spreads the word, not only the Bagua Sect and the Shushan Sword Sect, but the entire resistance will face annihilation!”

"No, Elder Li, please don't get agitated. Let me try to persuade her first."

After finally calming Elder Li down, Yin Wuji walked up to Yuanyang and stared at her with a sharp gaze.

Meeting Yin Wuji's icy gaze, Yuanyang lowered her head and dared not utter a single word.

"You heard everything just now?"

The mandarin ducks nodded, remaining silent.

Yin Wuji sighed: "Come with me."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked towards another room.

Yuanyang glanced at Elder Li, whose expression was uncertain, and hurriedly followed Yin Wuji to the side room.

In the dimly lit side room, rows of memorial tablets were placed in front of the main table.

Yin Wuji personally lit three incense sticks, inserted them into the incense table, bowed three times to the memorial tablet, and then turned to Yuanyang and said.

"Yuanyang, do you know who these people are?"

"Disciple doesn't know."

"These are all people who have been killed by the Empress since she ascended the throne. Some were disciples of martial arts sects, some were scions of noble families, and most were ordinary civilians."

Yuanyang stared in disbelief at the altar filled with memorial tablets.

Yin Wuji sighed: "As disciples of martial arts sects, we should prioritize helping the weak and punishing the strong."

Although the Eight Trigrams Sect wasn't considered a major sect in the martial arts world, it couldn't turn a blind eye to the Empress's tyranny.

"Since the Empress ascended the throne, she has persecuted loyal officials, acted perversely, and was good at starting wars, causing turmoil and unrest throughout the world."

"In order to consolidate her throne, she heavily relied on the treacherous minister Shen Lang, and even went so far as to make him her son-in-law."

"Who is Shen Lang? He is the chief executioner of the Jingwei Division and a henchman of a tyrant. Anyone who falls into his hands, regardless of age, gender, or innocence, will ultimately meet a tragic end."

"Yuanyang, tell me, is such a tyrant worthy of our loyalty?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanyang frowned and said, "But Master, we have already submitted to the court. If we rebel against the Empress now, wouldn't that be tantamount to treason?"

"That was out of necessity. Back then, the Empress and that despicable couple, Shen Lang, conspired to scheme against the forces of the martial arts world."

This forced the various sects of the Great Chu to submit to the tyrannical ruler's power.

"But now, we can no longer remain silent. Even if it means death, we must uphold the dignity that our sect deserves."

"Yuanyang, we are not rebelling, but fighting for the sake of the Great Chu Dynasty and all the people of the world, do you understand!"

Yin Wuji was emotionally agitated and excited, which made Yuanyang's heart tighten, and she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look at him.

"Yuanyang, you can understand your teacher, right? Join me in overthrowing the Empress's tyranny, okay?"

Facing their master, whom they regarded as their own son, Yuanyang's face was conflicted.

"So, Master, the Eight Trigrams Sect is now cooperating with the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, is that right?"

"It's not just the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, but also countless other chivalrous heroes who refuse to bow and scrape; they will all join together to overthrow the Empress's tyranny!"

"To tell you the truth, various sects have already formed righteous armies, and they are just waiting for the right time to rise up in rebellion."

Upon hearing this, Yuanyang was startled and silently memorized this important clue.

Yin Wuji, unaware of Yuanyang's unusual behavior, immediately gripped her shoulders tightly: "Yuanyang, trust your master, what we're doing now..."

This is a great deed that benefits the country and its people. Once accomplished, it will surely be recorded in history, making the person a hero who reopens the sect's legend, and will be praised by generations to come.

So, would you like to join this great plan?

"I am willing!"

Yuanyang answered decisively, her expression resolute.

"Since this is a great thing to rid the people of evil, as members of the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), we should naturally do our duty!"

"Good, you truly are a worthy disciple of Yin Wuji!"

Yin Wuji was very pleased and immediately helped her up from the ground.

"Come on, I'll take you to see Elder Li."

……

Back in the main hall, Yin Wuji truthfully recounted his conversation with Yuanyang to Elder Li.

Elder Li glanced at Yuanyang, his eyes still filled with distrust.

After saying that, Yin Wuji smiled and said, "Don't worry, I've watched Yuanyang grow up since she was a child. I know her character better than anyone. She would never betray us."

Elder Li walked up to Yuanyang and asked coldly, "Do you dare to swear that you will not say a word about what you saw and heard today?"

Unexpectedly, Yuanyang shook her head: "No, I cannot make an oath."

"Ok?"

Just as Yin Wuji and Elder Li were surprised by this, Yuanyang suddenly knelt down: "This disciple also wants to join this great cause, overthrow the Empress's tyranny, and show the true colors of a man of the Jianghu."

"Hahaha." Yin Wuji laughed loudly upon hearing this, "As expected of my good disciple, Elder Li, what else could you possibly worry about?"

Elder Li slowly released his hand that was about to draw his sword and said to Yin Wuji, "For the sake of Sect Master Yin, let's trust this girl for now. However, if this matter is exposed and ruins everything, you'll have to consider the consequences yourself."

After saying that, he left the Bagua Sect.

Yuanyang watched Elder Li's departing figure and asked softly, "Master, it seems that Elder Li does not trust me."

Yin Wuji laughed and said, "That's just how he is. Besides, you've only just met today, so it's normal for him to have some doubts about you."

But you'll know what kind of person you are after a while, so don't take it to heart.

"Yes."

Yuanyang responded and came to the table. She picked up a pot of tea, filled a cup, and handed it to Yin Wuji, saying, "Master, please have some tea."

"Ah."

Yin Wuji took the teacup, brought it to his nose to sniff, and only after confirming that there was nothing wrong with it did he take a sip.

Then, holding his teacup, he said, "Yuanyang, since you are willing to do something for the people, then your master will not hide it from you anymore."

Besides the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, there are also the Nine Yang Sect, Puhua Temple, and a coalition of twenty-three other sects. Our power is immense.

If the right opportunity is found, a decisive blow can be delivered to the Empress.

"At what time?"

Yuanyang asked, and at the same time took the teacup from Yin Wuji's hand.

Yin Wuji said, "Now is the best time. Shen Lang is not in the capital, and the Empress alone simply cannot handle this situation."

Therefore, the best time for us to act is when the Empress travels to the Pagoda to inspect the construction progress.

As he spoke, Yin Wuji felt an itch on his neck and scratched it a few times.

As a result, with a bit of force, a faint bloodstain was scratched on the neck.

"Why are there mosquitoes in this weather?"

Seeing the faint bloodstains between his fingers, Yin Wuji didn't pay much attention to it.

But the next moment, he felt short of breath and his head began to feel dizzy. He inadvertently spat out a mouthful of black blood.

"Poison? When?"

Upon seeing this, the mandarin ducks finally dropped their pretense.

“Master, you cannot defeat Her Majesty. She has already seen through everything. Your plan has no chance of succeeding.”

"It's you!"

The sudden reversal left Yin Wuji staring at Yuanyang in disbelief.

"Why? Why did you do this? When did you poison it? There was no poison in the tea at all."

After saying this, black blood flowed from all seven of Yin Wuji's orifices, instantly covering him up to look like a ghost.

"There is no poison in the tea, it's just some itching powder. I sprinkled the poison on your hand just now when you received the teacup."

"Why, why are you doing this..."

"Every man for himself, or the world will destroy him. Master, His Majesty has ordered me to bring your head back to report, so please grant my request."

"Evil disciple..."

After a piercing scream, Yin Wuji collapsed to the ground and died.