Chapter Fourteen: Jiang Bai's Heroic Rescue

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Qiao Hang did not respond; the knife in his hand slashed straight toward Li Yuan’s shoulder. Li Yuan easily dodged and countered with a palm strike to Qiao Hang’s chest. Qiao Hang felt a sudden heaviness in his chest and was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground, blood spurting from his mouth.

“Qiao Hang!” Duan Jing’s heart raced as he saw Qiao Hang injured. Struggling, he pushed himself up from the floor, trying to run to his aid.

Li Yuan looked at them coldly. “You useless fools are not worthy opponents. Today, I will send you all on your way!”

As Li Yuan’s words fell, the atmosphere in the room froze instantly, thick with a deadly intent. Duan Jing struggled to his feet, his face pale, blood still at the corner of his mouth, but he gritted his teeth, trying to reach Qiao Hang. Yang Bin clutched his abdomen, his face ashen; the poison inside him had begun to take effect. He had no internal strength left and barely managed to stand steadily.

“Li Yuan, what exactly do you want?” Duan Jing’s voice was hoarse and trembled slightly, yet his eyes shone with determination.

Li Yuan sneered, his gaze sharp as a blade as it swept over Duan Jing and Yang Bin. “What do I want? I want full control of the entire military camp! You worthless wretches have no right to stand here!”

“You’ve gone mad!” Yang Bin roared in anger. “The general has treated you well, and yet you betray him!”

“Treated me well?” Li Yuan scoffed. “With the Duan brothers controlling the military power, what am I to them? A dispensable deputy general! Do you really think I’m content to be your pawn?”

“Li Yuan, you’re wrong!” Duan Jing struggled to steady himself and stood slowly. “The general has never looked down on you; he has always trusted you deeply!”

“Silence!” Li Yuan shouted fiercely, madness flashing in his eyes. “You hypocrites don’t understand my pain! Today, I’ll show you who the true strong one is!”

Before he finished speaking, Li Yuan vanished in a flash and appeared right in front of Duan Jing, slapping hard against his chest. Duan Jing had no time to react; a tremendous force hit him, sending him flying again and crashing heavily into the wall, blood gushing from his mouth.

“Duan Jing!” Yang Bin’s heart pounded with urgency, but the poison had fully taken hold, leaving him barely able to stand, let alone help.

“Hahaha!” Li Yuan laughed maniacally, his gaze sweeping the room. “You useless scum don’t deserve to live in this world!”

Just as Li Yuan was about to strike again, someone blocked him. Jiang Bai stood before them, gripping a short sword, her eyes icy as she stared directly at Li Yuan.

“Jiang Bai?” Li Yuan frowned, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes. “You actually dare show your face here?”

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“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Jiang Bai smiled coldly. “Did you think your little schemes could harm me?”

Li Yuan’s expression shifted briefly but quickly returned to a cold sneer. “Even if you cure the poison, so what? You’re just a little girl. Do you really think that rusty sword you picked up can threaten me? Can you be my match?”

“Why don’t you try and find out?” Jiang Bai’s voice was firm. Before he could react, she flashed forward and thrust her short sword at his throat.

Li Yuan was shocked by her speed. He hurriedly summoned his internal strength to block her attack. Yet, the moment he did, a sudden tightness gripped his chest—his internal energy refused to gather!

“What… what have you done to me?” Li Yuan stared at Jiang Bai, disbelief and horror filling his eyes.

“You can poison me, but I can poison you too,” Jiang Bai sneered, her eyes icy. “Guess when I put the poison in you.”

“What?!” Li Yuan’s face turned pale. He frantically checked his body and confirmed that his internal energy was rapidly draining, leaving him weak and barely able to stand.

“You… you witch!” Li Yuan shouted, rage and fear mingling in his eyes.

“Witch?” Jiang Bai laughed bitterly. “You betrayed the general and harmed your comrades—that’s the true monster!”

Before he could reply, Jiang Bai’s short sword stabbed again into Li Yuan’s chest. Li Yuan tried to dodge, but his internal strength was gone; he was frozen, forced to watch the blade pierce his chest.

“Ah—!” Li Yuan let out a piercing scream and collapsed, blood pouring from his wound, staining the floor red.

The room fell silent. Everyone stared in shock, unable to believe what had just happened.

“Li Yuan… dead?” Yang Bin murmured, disbelief etched across his face.

“Not yet. I pierced the right side,” Jiang Bai said as she dropped the short sword she had retrieved and began to treat Yang Bin’s poison. “I’ll detoxify you first, then I’ll check on Strategist Duan.”

Yang Bin struggled to rise, gratitude and admiration shining in his eyes. “Miss Jiang, thank you for saving us.”

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Jiang Bai smiled softly. “Deputy General Yang, there’s no need for thanks. I’m simply doing what I should.”

Qiao Hang also approached. Though his face was still pale, a resolute light burned in his eyes. “Miss Jiang, you truly are our savior.”

Jiang Bai shook her head. “I only did what was necessary. Now, the most important thing is to quickly treat the wounded brothers and bind Li Yuan for interrogation. We need to find out if he has any accomplices.”

Yang Bin nodded in agreement. “Miss Jiang is right. We must not be careless. Qiao Hang, take a few men to bind Li Yuan securely. The rest of you, come with me to tend to the injured.”

Qiao Hang responded promptly, leading several soldiers to tightly bind Li Yuan and drag him to a corner of the room. Though unconscious, blood continued to seep from Li Yuan’s chest wound, staining his clothes. Frowning, Qiao Hang whispered, “Bandage him lightly—don’t let him die.”

Meanwhile, after being detoxified, Yang Bin helped Duan Jing onto a bed. Jiang Bai approached. Duan Jing’s face was pale, his breathing shallow—his injuries severe. Jiang Bai took a small porcelain vial from her bosom, poured out a single black pill, and gently placed it into the strategist’s mouth.

“What medicine is this?” Yang Bin asked anxiously, standing nearby.

Jiang Bai nodded. “It nourishes the heart and lungs. His injuries are serious.”

Yang Bin nodded, worry creasing his brow. “Doctor Jiang, Strategist Duan’s constitution has always been weak. Now with such severe injuries, what can we do?”

“It’s alright. He can recover, but he’ll need plenty of rest,” she assured him.

Sure enough, moments later, Duan Jing’s eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes. He was startled to see Jiang Bai and then offered a faint, bitter smile. “Miss Jiang, you saved me?”

Jiang Bai smiled gently. “Strategist Duan, it’s good to see you awake.”