Chapter 3: The Choice

Chu Yun became a disciple of the Poison Sect. She saw Zhuang Yunzhen once more, and this time, she would not fail. This time, she would employ a seduction strategy. In truth, this was the tactic she disliked the most, but for the sake of her mission, it was her only choice. From a man’s perspective, she considered herself a beauty of some standing; attracting him was a process, and one could not afford to be impatient.

Attracting Zhuang Yunzhen was not for love, but for the mission. To an assassin, love was a luxury; at least, for who she was now, it was something she was absolutely unworthy of possessing.

Li Moqing, the woman before her, was exceptionally formidable. She must have noticed the aura Chu Yun was concealing. This person had clearly detected it yet had not spoken a word. It seemed she was certain that Chu Yun would eventually strike. Once she did, her identity would naturally become self-evident.

To become a truly outstanding assassin, the only thing one needed to learn was how to wait. Techniques and moves were merely a matter of accumulation; when the time came, they would naturally be mastered.

Yet, waiting was a process of refining one's heart. If, after all that waiting, one still failed to find a suitable opportunity to strike, should one choose to persevere or to give up?

Chu Yun chose to persevere, and thus, she eventually achieved her renown.

Although the Poison Sect’s reputation was resounding, once she had truly entered, the only thing she could feel was a faint warmth—a warmth she had never experienced before. Now, regarding this mission, Chu Yun felt a trace of inexplicable fear. Within her heart, emotions that had never existed before were emerging. This sensation left her feeling both terrified and flustered, yet, strangely, it also brought a hint of joy.

"Hahaha, Chu Yun, you’ve finally arrived! You wouldn’t believe it, but since yesterday, that little girl Li Moqing has been whispering in my ear, hoping you would become a disciple of the Poison Sect. I had no choice—after all, her father once saved my life. Since she asked, even if it were a matter of heaven-shaking importance, I would have to fulfill it. Besides, for me, this is just a single word; it’s nothing at all."

As the Sect Master, Su Wen naturally had the authority. He wished to protect all the disciples of the Poison Sect. Though he didn't know if this could truly be accomplished, he would do whatever lay within his power. Chu Yun had suffered too much in the past; now that she was a disciple of the Poison Sect, he hoped she could live in peace and happiness from here on out.

"Lunch is prepared. I imagine you must be hungry. We really owe you an apology for yesterday's rashness. Fortunately, there is still time to make amends."

"Everyone, truly, thank you all. I believe this is the first time in my life that I have felt such warmth. The Poison Sect is very different from what I imagined. I always thought such a prominent school would be full of strict rules."

"Rules certainly exist; without rules, nothing can be accomplished. However, I think you will find the Poison Sect's rules acceptable. As long as you do not commit heinous crimes, even if the sky were to fall, the Poison Sect will shield you from the wind and rain!"

Protective of their own? Yes, the Poison Sect was exactly that. As long as principles were not violated, the disciples could act as rowdy as they pleased. Chu Yun was likely not that kind of person; she was quiet, and she would likely need time to adapt to such bustle.

The food at the Poison Sect was delicious and fragrant. Even though Chu Yun was not one for eating, she praised today's meal endlessly! Unknowingly, she had finished three bowls—something that had never happened before. After the meal, she needed a good rest; after all, Chu Yun was new, and she could not be pushed into training immediately. The intensity of the Poison Sect's training was too great; it required a gradual process.

Zhuang Yunzhen was feeling much better now. Countless previous battles had left him with accumulated internal injuries that he had never had the opportunity to properly tend to. Now that the matter of the Poison Sect had concluded, he finally had to think about his own well-being.

"What’s wrong? Your face looks so pale. Did you encounter something again? Tell me, perhaps I can help you."

Li Moqing had been deep in thought, and he did not know what was troubling her. But no matter what it was, as long as it was spoken aloud, there would always be a way. Watching the woman before him, Zhuang Yunzhen felt a sense of peace in his heart.

Should one call Zhuang Yunzhen overly confident, or should one say he simply never paid much attention to anything? Was he truly unaware of his own situation?

"Big Brother, you must remember what I am about to say. If I told you that someone wants to kill you, would you believe me?"

Li Moqing liked to joke about many things, but now, she spoke with a rare, serious tone. It seemed the situation had truly become dire.

"I believe it. If it comes from you, I believe it. Since you say this now, it means that in your heart, you already have a suspect. Your distress comes from the fact that you lack evidence, and this person is likely someone close to you; otherwise, you would have already struck them down, instead of waiting until now."

Zhuang Yunzhen’s trust in Li Moqing was, without exaggeration, at a state of blind devotion. In the past, Li Moqing had never deceived him, and it was the same now. Trust was an unprecedented power; if one could be trusted, and trusted consistently, then that was surely a form of happiness.

"Big Brother, you are always like this. You believe everything I say. Don't you ever doubt that one day, I might actually lie to you? If that were to happen, wouldn't you be heartbroken?"

"Hahaha, I’m not afraid. You tell me—would you ever lie to me? In this world, I only trust my Junior Brother, my Master, my Foster Father, and you. I know that at any time, you would never hurt me."

Since he had said as much, what more could Li Moqing say? Her Big Brother remained her Big Brother; no matter how many years passed, he would never change. Precisely because of this, she needed even more to find evidence to prove Chu Yun’s identity. This woman was hiding herself far too well.

Chu Yun was very diligent. In the days waiting for her cultivation to begin, she had finished every task in and out of the Poison Sect. She could not stay idle. Such a disciple was truly rare. In the past, children joining the Poison Sect always sought its protection, but Chu Yun was different. She wanted to do more for the sect, and even if her strength was small, she would never give up.

"Hmph, brothers, have you noticed? Since this Chu Yun arrived, the Sect Master has held her in high regard. All our years of bitter cultivation seem to have been for nothing."

Because Chu Yun was so adept at showing off, the other disciples of the Poison Sect naturally could not accept it. They began looking for a suitable opportunity to teach this woman a lesson, to let her know that being too eye-catching in the Poison Sect would do her no good!

Chu Yun was well aware that these disciples were displeased with her. They were likely waiting for a chance. Chu Yun had already decided: as long as these people did not provoke her, they would be safe. But if they truly sought to cause her trouble, then even at the risk of exposing her identity, she would never let them off.

She slept soundly through the night.

It was strange—for an assassin, sleeping soundly was essentially impossible. But too many incredible things had happened since she arrived at the Poison Sect. Chu Yun had a solid foundation, so she did not need to practice basic punches. Truly, she was beginning to enjoy these peaceful days. She wondered how long such days could last. After all, was the sun really different when viewed from a rooftop versus looking up at it from below?

"Oh my, I’ve really troubled you. I, as the Sect Master, have not yet taught you any skills, yet I have eaten so many of your good things. I feel truly sorry. How about this: after lunch, I will formally teach you the heart cultivation methods and techniques, making you a true disciple of the Poison Sect. From now on, you have a home."

Breakfast was just the simplest fare—thin porridge and small side dishes. Such things were the most nourishing; hadn't everyone looked satisfied?

"Sister Chu is truly diligent. In this, I am far inferior. When you have time, please teach me a trick or two. Otherwise, Big Brother keeps scolding me. Once or twice I can take, but after a while, I’m truly tired of it. Even if he doesn’t say it, I know in his heart, he blames me immensely."

*I am truly sorry, Big Brother. To force this Chu Yun to reveal her flaws, I have no choice but to keep casting aspersions on you.*

Zhuang Yunzhen did not mind at all. He already had plenty of dirt on him; a little more wouldn't matter. It seemed Moqing was truly suspicious of this Chu Yun. Though the woman’s eyes held a trace of fragility, it could not deceive him; behind that fragility, there was undoubtedly an immense resilience.

That fleeting look could not lie. He was now also curious about this woman’s true identity. What kind of place could cultivate such an outstanding disciple?

If she didn't want to speak now, it didn't matter. Eventually, she would reveal a flaw. When that time came, even if she didn't want to talk, it would no longer be up to her.

Chu Yun now felt that playing a battle of wits with Li Moqing was quite fun. This woman must be frantically searching for evidence of her identity, but alas, she would find none!

"Sister Qing, what are you saying? You have always been peerless in beauty; the Young Master Zhuang must treasure you deeply. Even an outsider like me feels envious seeing it. Unfortunately, I lack such luck."

At that moment, there was a trace of loneliness in Chu Yun’s tone. One wondered if she was reminded of her own past experiences; the tone was truly moving.

Li Moqing had always been a smart person. She knew that if this topic continued, it would be bad, perhaps even inciting the resentment of others. Thus, she chose to remain silent. Now, one thing was certain: Chu Yun’s identity was not simple, and there were secrets hidden within her. If her background were common, she would not have such a melancholic tone.

"Trash! Trash! How did a person like you become my brother? I am so smart, so talented—why are you such trash? You can’t even beat a woman! If this gets out, it’ll be a laughingstock. Everyone will say the brother of the Lone Wolf is nothing but trash!"

Scarface A-Si had been incredibly arrogant when facing Chu Yun earlier. Even after Li Moqing arrived, he had only thought that she was difficult to deal with. But now, the man was kneeling before a man in black, not even daring to breathe loudly!

"Big Brother, it is all my fault. I have shamed you. But you know, I was never meant for martial arts since I was a child. All these years, everyone has known what I am. If not for you protecting me, I would have died long ago. As your brother, I am deeply grateful to you. But this Li Moqing is truly arrogant. She looks down on me, fine, but she actually looks down on you, Big Brother!"

"As a brother, this is truly unbearable. Big Brother, we have relied on each other until today. Others don’t know how hard it was for you to get where you are, how much you sacrificed, but I know."

Scarface A-Si had no other talents, but his ability to fan the flames was second to none. Every time he mentioned "relying on each other," the plan was bound to succeed.

How could the Lone Wolf not know that his brother was forcing him to act? All these years, whenever he caused trouble, he would come to him. As for what the boy did otherwise, he truly didn't know. But there was one thing A-Si was right about: the two brothers had relied on each other for so many years, and their status had not come easily. Therefore, he would never allow anyone to destroy what he had worked so hard to achieve.

"Alright, you are tired, go down now. You don't need to worry about what happens next. I will surely seek justice for you. But this is the last time. If you cause trouble again, I will truly not care."

*He will care.* As long as he was still his Big Brother, no matter what problems arose, he would never ignore them, because he was the Lone Wolf’s only brother.

Unscrupulous, but there was no help for it—the man had the qualification and the ability. If something happened, someone would clean it up for him. Having such a good brother was quite nice.

The Lone Wolf was a lonely person. At least from within, he was a lonely man. Even his own brother could not know what he was thinking. His glory had been won by his own hands, and he would not permit a single word against it.

"Stay here and recover; I’ll be back shortly."

The Lone Wolf walked alone across the yellow sands, his incredibly fierce killing intent scattering everything in his path. Not far ahead was the Poison Sect. Everyone said the Poison Sect was powerful—was that truly the case?

"LI! MO! QING!"

The three words formed a massive, incredibly powerful sonic wave that pierced through all obstacles, entering the ears of everyone in the Poison Sect. Those with insufficient internal energy were directly shaken into unconsciousness!

"Who are you?"

Li Moqing launched a counterattack in an instant. Her voice, though not as thick as the Lone Wolf’s, was crystal clear. A sonic attack? Nothing impressive; she could do it too.

An eagle and a kingfisher now stood on equal footing.

Li Moqing’s single sentence was like a heavy hammer striking the Lone Wolf’s heart, causing massive waves!

The Lone Wolf found the situation quite interesting. He had been searching for the strongest opponent, but alas, for all these years, he had never found one worthy. This Li Moqing, however, seemed quite strong!

"It seems you are strong? Since you are strong, why not have a match with me?"

The Lone Wolf was warlike. Having finally encountered a worthy opponent, this battle had to happen!

The previous sentence was still issued in the form of a sonic wave, its power greater than before. Could this woman withstand this move?

"NO!"

The two short words were like a tiger’s roar or a dragon’s cry, flattening the trees surrounding the Poison Sect.

*Boom, boom.*

It was as if two heavy fists had struck the Lone Wolf directly. The Lone Wolf was sent flying, without even a chance to fight back.

"You are too weak; you are not fit to fight me!"

To be told by a woman that he was weak—the Lone Wolf could not tolerate this. Originally, he had only intended to have a fight and leave, but now he changed his mind. He wanted to see just how powerful this Poison Sect truly was!

"You don't want to strike? Fine, then I will wait for you. I will give you one hour. After one hour, if you still do not come out, I will kill every disciple of the Poison Sect. Then, I will see how you intend to answer to everyone!"

"He doesn't need to answer to anyone! And you cannot kill my disciples!"

A figure appeared behind the Lone Wolf—it was Su Wen. His powerful battle intent directly sent the Lone Wolf flying again!

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.*

Not only Su Wen, but Du Zhong also appeared.

Previously, the two had been rivals, but now, they returned to the past, fighting side by side once more. It was truly moving.

"Su Wen, didn't you always want to fight side by side with me? Now the opportunity is here. You must have practiced well over these years; I hope you won't be the one dragging me down."

The relationship between the two had truly improved. Du Zhong even had the leisure to challenge Su Wen, as if he didn't put the Lone Wolf in his eyes at all.

The Lone Wolf was indeed formidable, but in front of absolute experts—especially Du Zhong and Su Wen, whose power had reached the pinnacle of martial arts—a man like the Lone Wolf was naturally not worth remembering.

"Do you think I am you? Every time a battle reaches a critical point, it seems only you drop the chain. You should keep that sentence for yourself; you don't need to worry about me."

To be greeted by the two signatures of the Poison Sect at once—even if he lost, the Lone Wolf had no regrets!

"Who are you two? Give your names; I do not kill nameless people!"

Arrogant to the extreme—this was also a form of talent. However, in the end, one would always have to pay the price.

"Du Zhong."

"Su Wen."

Common names, but they held a power that could not be underestimated. What was powerful was never the name, but the person—the men who possessed those names.

"Hahaha, to think my luck is so good today, that I can make the two aces of the Poison Sect strike at once. Very well, it seems this trip was not in vain. Whatever skills you two have, show them!"

With that, the Lone Wolf leaped into the air, delivering three consecutive kicks—sharp and fierce. It was his signature technique, the Three Mid-Air Kicks.

Du Zhong and Su Wen exchanged a glance, and both legs struck out simultaneously. Their powers, clearly different, merged perfectly at this moment.

The Lone Wolf’s body turned, naturally creating a gale. His powerful legs were now coated in a trace of lightning. The Lightning Legs—truly interesting. This was the Lone Wolf’s masterpiece, known for being a technique under which no one survived!

Seeing such a formidable move, Su Wen and Du Zhong only grew more imposing. When it came to leg techniques, they were the world’s best, relying on absolute power. As for lightning? It wasn't needed at all! Their expressions remained relaxed; it seemed this battle could be won quite beautifully.

*Puff.*

"Ah!"

A dull sound followed by a scream. What had happened? It went without saying: the Lone Wolf had lost. One of his legs was crippled. If the Lone Wolf had become arrogant because of this leg technique, then today, Du Zhong and Su Wen had destroyed that very capital.

"My leg! My leg!"

The Lone Wolf curled into a ball, his body trembling slightly. He was clearly enduring intense pain. He had lost just like that? After a single exchange?

Though it was hard to believe, it was the truth. The Lone Wolf had lost, and he had lost silently.

"A bit too heavy-handed. Young man, don't mind us. Two old men like us didn't expect you to be so weak. Earlier, your sonic attack seemed like something, but your practice is clearly insufficient. Why not go back and work harder? Surviving is already quite an achievement."

"You said your name is Lone Wolf, right? Your brother was too arrogant, so he was dealt with. Don't think that just because you are the elder brother, you can smooth everything over. Many things are beyond what you can imagine. Actually, reaching your current level of power is already quite an accomplishment."

"If you still want to get even, it’s easy. Just become a disciple of the Poison Sect, and you can achieve that naturally. How about it? By joining the Poison Sect, you can obtain even greater power, and the people you seek will surely appear. This is your only choice now."

"The Poison Sect has lost many disciples after several battles; we are currently in need of talent, and you are the best kind of talent. Unless your spirit is broken, in which case, pretend I said nothing."

"Don't be in such a hurry to answer. Think it over well. After all, you are a man of pride; asking someone like you to join the Poison Sect abruptly is something you surely cannot accept in the short term."

Su Wen’s idea was truly whimsical. Having the Lone Wolf become a disciple was laughable. Only Du Zhong and Su Wen still held the Poison Sect in high regard; in reality, the sect was no longer what it once was. Restoring it was not so easy.

It wasn't easy, but someone had to do the hard work, right?

Du Zhong always knew that once Su Wen made a decision, it was hard to change. Of course, if the Poison Sect could gain a master like the Lone Wolf, it was a good thing. Why should he stop it? The Poison Sect had been destroyed by internal strife; now was the time for all kinds of talent.

Du Zhong and Su Wen must be two madmen, wanting to recruit their own opponent. Did they not worry that once he learned their divine techniques, he would come back to cause them trouble?

What was there to fear? If he could truly cause them trouble, it meant the Poison Sect was a place suitable for his development. Later, if he had the ability, becoming the Sect Master would not be difficult, provided he wanted to do so. Su Wen and Du Zhong had the eye to see that much.

"Good. Since you both say so, I will give you my answer. I am willing to become a disciple of the Poison Sect. Once I am a disciple, can I fight Li Moqing? Fighting that woman is my greatest wish."

Li Moqing now had another opponent. That little girl was truly busy, though it seemed she enjoyed it.

"That's right. Li Moqing is in the Poison Sect. Have you truly thought it through? Once you make this decision, there is no going back. I must make that clear to you."

"Change? Why would I change? Becoming a disciple of the Poison Sect is actually my greatest joy. I will not hide it from you two seniors: my strength has reached a bottleneck, and further improvement seemed impossible. I have been troubled by this for years. Now that there is a place that can make my power even greater, I have no reason to refuse, do I?"

"As for my brother, I have protected him too well all these years. But I know I cannot protect him forever. The time that remains should be handed over to him. He always said he had no power to defend himself; now that I am leaving him, it will be good for his growth."

"After I bid my brother farewell, I will certainly come."

"Big Brother, do you know what you are saying? You want to become a disciple of the Poison Sect? Do you know what will happen to me if you do this? Why have you never thought of my future?"

Scarface A-Si naturally hadn't expected his brother to become a disciple of the Poison Sect. What kind of place was that? A place that permitted no betrayal. His brother had a free-spirited nature; could he really follow these rules?

"A-Si, you don't need to say anything more. My mind is made up; no one can change it, not even you. All these years, I have protected you too well, which is why you ended up like this. It was all my fault. Now, I intend to change it all. What? Do you not trust your Big Brother? Or do you lack confidence in yourself? Didn't you always say you had no power to protect yourself?"

"Big Brother is leaving now; the rest of the time is for you to walk on your own. Whether you can go far depends on your own ability. Do you hope Big Brother will protect you forever? You should know, I am not that kind of person. I hope you can grow!"

A-Si was his only brother; leaving him was truly worrying. But even if he was worried, he had to do it.

"I hate you! I hate you! Why are you so selfish? You promised to take good care of me—is this your care?"

Selfish? Perhaps he was being selfish. But this was an inevitable result. A-Si’s reaction was expected. The Lone Wolf had reached a bottleneck; he needed to improve, and only the Poison Sect could help him. He didn't ask for understanding; he only asked not to be hindered.

"A-Si, you don't understand now, and that’s fine. But I hope that in the future, you will realize that doing this was the best thing for you. It’s okay if you hate me!"

"Don't speak to me anymore! From now on, you are no longer my Big Brother. Where you want to go is your own business; it has nothing to do with me. The only person I can trust now is myself. I finally understand what that means: one must rely on oneself to grow!"

The bond between brothers had become a thing of the past. It was truly painful, but it was inevitable.

The Lone Wolf’s heart was naturally filled with sorrow. His brother was his only relative. After leaving him, would they ever meet again? *Ha, these things are too far off. Why think of them? It has no meaning!*

The Lone Wolf returned to the Poison Sect alone, his figure appearing a trace more desolate.

"It seems everything that needed to be done is finished. That’s good. How about it? Since you’ve come, it means you are truly ready to be a disciple of the Poison Sect?"

"Yes, I am ready. I have thought about it all. If I had to do it again, I would not regret it. Can you feel my intent and determination?"

"Good. If that is your determination, we truly feel it. Rest assured. What should you do now? Go and cultivate. I have waited a long time for this."

"Someone like you has also become a disciple of the Poison Sect? I truly don't know what Sect Master Su Wen is thinking. But you have always been looking for me, haven't you? I am right before you, yet you dare not fight me. You are truly a useless fellow!"

"You are Li Moqing?"

"I am. Is there anyone else in the world who dares to call themselves Li Moqing? You have been looking for me; I imagine you have much to say to me. What is it?"

Seeing the woman he had always wanted to see, the Lone Wolf truly didn't know what to say. She was even more formidable than he had imagined.

"What? If you have nothing to say, then I am leaving. This should be your last chance. If you miss it, don't regret it, understand?"

"I will fight you. I am not your match now, but that does not mean I will be inferior to you forever. I will change that. Becoming a disciple of the Poison Sect was a wish I held, one I never spoke to anyone about."

"We have only just met, and to be honest, I never expected to say these things to you. Actually, I have always wanted to be the best in the world. Although it is incredibly difficult, you don't know that my favorite thing is doing difficult tasks. The harder it is, the more I want to finish it. This sense of achievement is indescribable."

"It seems we are the same in that regard. I also like to do difficult things because only then can I better prove myself. In the past, my family never thought I could practice martial arts, but look at me now? I have become an expert, reaching a realm they could never achieve. That feeling—to be honest, I never expected it. To reach this, I gave up many things, but I believe it was all worth it."

"You are quite interesting. Now that the three of us are in the Poison Sect, with our own grievances, why not put them aside? What do you think? Actually, this kind of fighting has no meaning anymore. I am tired of it."

Finally, Chu Yun revealed her identity. She didn't want anyone to guess anymore; the behavior was truly exhausting. "Li Moqing, haven't you always wanted to know my identity? I can tell you now: I am an assassin!"

"Yes, you are an assassin, the strongest disciple of Yishui. If I told you I already knew this, would you believe me?"

What kind of person was Li Moqing? The mistress of the Su-Yi Pavilion. As long as she wanted to know something, she could. She hadn't spoken it aloud because she was waiting for the right moment. Now that the other party had said it herself, everything could be perfectly resolved. "Your target was Big Brother, wasn't it?"

"Actually, you had many opportunities, but you didn't take them. I don't know why. For the sake of our acquaintance, tell me. I truly want to know."

"Zhuang Yunzhen is a good man; that is the biggest reason. Do you believe me? All these years, I have killed many people, and I am weary of these missions. When was I happiest? It is right now. Being in the Poison Sect, my heart is at peace. I cherish these days. Although I know that, as I am, I have no right to possess such days, I still crave them. If this doesn't make me a sinner, what does?"

"Long ago, I wanted to leave Yishui, but I lacked the strength. Now that I can, I want to leave."