Chapter 789: Wind and Water Turn in Cycles

Zu An’s heart skipped a beat. He said in a deep voice, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. Are you delusional, Lord Ma?”

At the same time, his eyes began to scan the surroundings, and his muscles subtly tensed, ready to strike at any moment.

Ma An smiled. “Is Lord Eleven preparing to silence me? That makes sense. As Embroidered Uniform Emissaries, you have the authority to act first and report later.”

Zu An’s voice also turned cold. “Did you come into my room just to say a bunch of inexplicable things?”

“Of course, I came to confirm your relationship with Gold Medal Eleven,” Ma An said. “Initially, I wasn’t entirely sure, but after seeing your reaction, I am now absolutely certain.”

Zu An narrowed his eyes. “Lord Ma seems quite confident. Are you truly not afraid of something happening to you here?”

Although the other party was a Grand Court Physician, the Imperial Medical Institute wasn’t known for its martial prowess. Judging by his ki fluctuations, he was only at the early sixth rank. Since he knew Zu An was Gold Medal Eleven, where did he get the courage to come alone?

“Our Imperial Medical Institute never engages in fighting and killing. As the saying goes, medicine and poison are two sides of the same coin. Since we are skilled at healing, we are naturally skilled at poisoning,” Ma An said, glancing at the candle on the table. “Are you feeling weak all over, and your ki is empty?”

Zu An’s expression changed. He quickly tried to rush out, but halfway through, he fell heavily from the air, collapsing onto the ground. “You… you actually poisoned me! Despicable!”

Seeing his look of shock and anger, Mi Li, who was secretly observing, couldn’t help but sigh. If she hadn’t known he was immune to all poisons, she would have truly been fooled by his reaction. This guy was a born actor.

Ma An, of course, couldn’t have known the truth. Seeing Zu An’s reaction, a smile appeared on his face. “Killing is killing. You use swords and blades, I use poison. How is that despicable? Humans are superior to animals because they are good at utilizing tools and using their brains.”

As he spoke, he tapped his temple with a finger, the mockery in his tone evident.

Zu An “weakly” asked, “What kind of poison is this? Why is it so potent?”

When it came to something he was proud of, Ma An immediately became animated. He pulled out a dark ceramic bottle from his pocket. “This poison is called ‘Ice Heart Snow Soul.’ I obtained it years ago during a near-death adventure. Once poisoned, your entire body feels as if you’re in a world of ice and snow. Your limbs and ki circulation will be frozen, and eventually, even your heart and soul will be immobilized.”

“Even a Grandmaster would likely struggle to survive this poison, let alone someone of your current cultivation level.” A hint of pained regret appeared on Ma An’s face as he carefully placed the ceramic bottle back into his pocket. “To fall victim to a wondrous poison that even Grandmasters can’t resist, you could say you died a worthy death.”

Zu An was secretly startled. Hearing him describe the poison as so potent, he wondered if the poison immunity granted by his Primal Chaos Sutra would hold up.

He secretly circulated some ki and indeed felt a faint trace of cold energy penetrating his limbs and bones. However, it was quickly neutralized by the Primal Chaos True Ki within his body, and there was no significant abnormality overall.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. He then took the opportunity to ask, “We have no old grudges or animosities. Why do you want to harm me like this?”

“No grudges?” Hearing that phrase, Ma An’s expression immediately contorted. “Twenty years ago, my younger brother died at the hands of a Gold Medal Embroidered Uniform Emissary. Every time I see you Gold Medal Emissaries, I wish I could get rid of you as quickly as possible! How can you say we have no grudges?”

A massive wave of rage emanated from Ma An.

Sensing his intense resentment, Zu An inwardly complained. How did the palace conduct background checks, to actually recruit such a problematic individual into the Imperial Medical Institute and even let him become a Grand Court Physician?

“But I wasn’t the one who harmed your brother. How long have I even been in the capital? I’m just here to do some errands,” Zu An probed, trying to clear his name. Otherwise, fighting for his life over such a ridiculous reason would be too frustrating.

“Silence! All you Embroidered Uniform Emissaries deserve to die!” Ma An’s eyes turned red. “It’s a pity that Cheng Xiong was so useless. Last time he came to the Imperial Medical Institute to inquire about various medicine withdrawals, I hinted that Gold Medal Eleven’s acquisition of soul-healing medicine was problematic. Yet, not only did he fail to kill you, but you ended up killing him instead.”

Zu An suddenly understood. No wonder Cheng Xiong had coincidentally investigated him that time, and why Zhu Xie Chixin had also grown suspicious of him. It turned out this guy was pulling strings behind the scenes.

He said in a deep voice, “But Embroidered Uniform Emissaries all act on the Emperor’s will. Are you perhaps planning to seek revenge on the Emperor?”

Ma An chuckled. “I’m not foolish. Of course, I wouldn’t dare seek out the Emperor. I just need to kill you Gold Medal Emissaries. This was an oath I made years ago before my brother’s grave. Over the years, I’ve gradually eliminated three of them. You’re about to become the fourth.”

Zu An was speechless.

Everyone had previously boasted about how formidable the Gold Medal Embroidered Uniform Emissaries were, yet they were being picked off without even knowing it. How disgraceful.

Speaking of which, with such intense resentment, did this guy have a brother complex?

He couldn’t help but say, “You’ve massacred several Gold Medal Emissaries just for this? Do you know this is a disaster that could lead to your family’s execution and clan’s destruction?”

“Once you’re dead, who will know I did it?” Ma An sneered, clearly not taking it seriously. “However, if you obediently answer a few questions for me, I might allow you to die a less painful death.”

Zu An sighed. “It seems I’m trapped here today. Go ahead, what do you want to ask?”

He also wanted to use this opportunity to gather intelligence about the person behind Ma An. He had a feeling this matter wasn’t so simple. All the Gold Medal Embroidered Uniform Emissaries were top-tier experts with profound cultivation and meticulous minds. How could they be so easily ambushed by him?

“Does the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra you presented to the Emperor truly possess the ability to grant immortality?” Ma An looked at him eagerly.

Zu An scoffed. “What, even you covet immortality?”

“That’s none of your business. Just answer yes or no!” Ma An was growing impatient.

Zu An said in a deep voice, “Of course it grants immortality. Otherwise, why would the Emperor bestow a noble title upon me?”

“It’s actually true. That’s going to be troublesome,” Ma An muttered to himself.

“What does the Emperor’s immortality have to do with you? Are you perhaps trying to replace him?” Zu An was somewhat confused. With Ma An’s cultivation, he had no right to be involved. A thought suddenly sparked in his mind. “So, there’s someone else behind you.”

“You brat, I’m asking the questions now, not you!” Ma An huffed. “Did anything actually happen between you and the Crown Princess?”

Zu An looked at him. “Who exactly is behind you? Is it Prince Qi?”

Ma An became furious. “What right do you have to question me now?”

Ma An’s fury surged.

After saying that, still enraged, he kicked directly towards Zu An’s waist. Mid-kick, he suddenly started in shock. “Why isn’t there any frost on you—”

He hastily retreated, but it was too late. Zu An, who had been seemingly on his last legs on the ground, suddenly moved and grabbed his ankle.

Ma An instinctively kicked with his other foot, trying to break free from the grip, and at the same time attempted to pull out poison from his pocket to throw. Unfortunately, a powerful suction suddenly came from his ankle. He felt all the ki in his body surging towards his ankle like an avalanche.

He couldn’t help but be greatly alarmed. “What kind of wicked technique is this—”

By the end of his sentence, he was already breathless and weak. The feeling of his body being drained in such a short time left him extremely debilitated.

Zu An used the Gluttonous Sky Devouring Art to completely drain Ma An’s cultivation before finally releasing his hand. This feeling of absorbing others’ power to enrich himself was truly exhilarating. He genuinely feared he might lose control and accidentally become a public enemy of the cultivation world.

“Impossible… impossible! Even Grandmasters can’t withstand Ice Heart Snow Soul. Why are you unharmed?” Ma An lay by the wall, his previously somewhat lustrous hair now withered and dry. His face was visibly thinner, and his lips were slightly pale. At this moment, he was utterly plunged into self-doubt.

Zu An naturally had no time to pay attention to him. “Lord Ma, you didn’t expect the tables to turn so quickly, did you? Now I’m asking the questions, not you. Tell me, who exactly is your master?”

Ma An gave a bitter smile. “There’s a saying, ‘He who often walks by the river cannot keep his shoes dry.’ In truth, I always knew I’d eventually fall into the hands of a Gold Medal Emissary. I just didn’t expect it to be a novice like you. But if you think you can extract information from me, I advise you not to be so deluded.”

“Is that so? In the dungeons of the Embroidered Uniform Emissaries, many a tough nut has gone in, and none have failed to talk,” Zu An sneered.

Ma An calmly said, “When I decided to target the Gold Medal Emissaries, I knew this day would eventually come. So, I placed a restriction in my body long ago. Once torture reaches a certain critical point, I will sever my own heart meridians and be completely free. Don’t doubt that I, a dignified Grand Court Physician, can do this.”

Zu An frowned. Given the man’s complete lack of fear, he was likely telling the truth.

However, Zu An wasn’t worried. “Do you think I have no other options if I don’t torture you?”

As he spoke, a flash of white light appeared in the room, and a woman of captivating beauty materialized out of thin air.