13: Deadly Battle in the Ruined Temple

Doctor Chu led Qin Feng, pushing his Lightness Skill to the limit. His Qi and blood surged within him, and he disregarded consumption as he raced toward the Mountain Temple north of the city. Although Qin Feng was only an entry-level Martial Apprentice, his physical foundation as a firefighter in his previous life and his hard practice over the past few days played a role. With Doctor Chu occasionally giving him a pull, he managed to keep up with the speed.

From a distance, when they saw the outline of the abandoned Mountain Temple and the solitary carriage in the clearing in front of it, both of their hearts leaped into their throats.

What made their eyes nearly split with rage was seeing the silver-masked Flower Picking Bandit leering as he carried the tightly bound and struggling Miss Xiao Chun out of the carriage, about to step into the ruined temple!

"You beast!" Doctor Chu's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, his hair and beard bristling with rage.

"Senior, be careful! He might have laid poison powder or traps!" Qin Feng hurriedly warned, the warning from the Black Intelligence still ringing in his ears.

Hearing this, Doctor Chu's eyes narrowed. He quickly took out two emerald green pills from his robe, swallowed one himself, and stuffed the other into Qin Feng's hand: "Keep it under your tongue; it can ward off a hundred poisons! I'll go slaughter that beast, you go save Miss Xiao Chun! After this is done, I will personally take you as my disciple and teach you Martial Arts!"

"Yes!" Qin Feng's spirits rose as he put the pill into his mouth, and a refreshing coolness instantly spread through him. To be taken as a disciple by an expert who was suspected to be a Grand Martial Master and possessed profound medical skills was a massive Opportunity!

Doctor Chu said no more. His body was like a furious grey crane as he pounced toward the Flower Picking Bandit from the air! At some point, a short blade as slender as a willow leaf and gleaming with a faint blue luster had appeared in his hand—it was clearly coated in lethal poison!

"Flower Picking Bandit! Let go of my daughter! Prepare to die!"

The Flower Picking Bandit clearly hadn't expected his pursuers to arrive so quickly and to see through his identity at a glance. He reacted extremely fast, throwing Miss Xiao Chun onto the ground and drawing a gold-and-jade-encrusted Flexible Sword from his waist with a backhand motion. The blade shook like a venomous snake emerging from its hole as it met Doctor Chu.

"Old fogey, you're looking for death!"

"Clang!"

The blade and sword collided, erupting in a shower of sparks. Their figures crossed, and in an instant, they had exchanged several Moves. Vigorous Qi overflowed, kicking up dust and withered grass from the ground.

Doctor Chu's Moves were ruthless, every strike aimed at vital points, showing his extreme hatred for the opponent. However, he was old and hadn't fought for a long time. Furthermore, the severe poison and internal injuries he suffered during his defection years ago had never fully healed, so his strength was no longer at the level of a Grand Martial Master. Meanwhile, the Flower Picking Bandit, an Advanced Martial Master in his prime, had ghostly movement and a tricky, sinister sword style. For a moment, they fought to a standstill, with the bandit even gaining a slight upper hand.

"Old thing, you dare come here to die with just this much skill?" The Flower Picking Bandit sneered, his sword strikes becoming increasingly fierce.

Doctor Chu gave a muffled groan. Knowing that a prolonged battle would be disadvantageous, he quietly flicked a pinch of colorless and odorless powder with his left hand.

The Flower Picking Bandit, however, was an expert in using poison. Seeing this, he immediately held his breath and retreated, while quickly swallowing a detoxification pill of his own making. He sneered, "Showing off your meager skills before a master!" He also flipped his wrist, and several cold stars shot toward Doctor Chu—they were poisoned Flying Needles!

The two fought fiercely while simultaneously using poison techniques against each other; the scene was extremely perilous. Doctor Chu barely held on by relying on his profound medical skills and an endless stream of strange medicines, but the situation was already critical.

On the other side, seeing the two locked in combat, Qin Feng immediately crouched low and used the terrain for cover, quickly rushing toward the terrified and sobbing Miss Xiao Chun on the ground.

"Miss Xiao Chun, don't be afraid, it's me!" Qin Feng whispered, taking out the rusty dagger and quickly cutting the ropes on her body, then pulling the cloth out of her mouth.

"Qin... Brother Qin Feng!" Seeing a familiar face, Miss Xiao Chun's tears burst forth, her voice trembling.

"Quick, let's go! Get out of here!" Qin Feng pulled her up and was about to run out of the temple.

However, their movements eventually caught the Flower Picking Bandit's attention.

Seeing his nearly captured prey about to escape and finding Doctor Chu difficult to deal with, a surge of malice rose in his heart. With a feint, he forced Doctor Chu back, then his body turned like a ghost, abandoning Doctor Chu to pounce straight toward Qin Feng and Miss Xiao Chun! The Flexible Sword in his hand was like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, stabbing straight toward the center of Qin Feng's back!

"Kid, you dare ruin my plans? Die!"

A chilling killing intent instantly enveloped Qin Feng, making his hair stand on end! The speed and power of the Martial Master realm were absolutely not something he could contend with!

"Watch out!" Miss Xiao Chun cried out in alarm.

Doctor Chu's eyes nearly split with rage as he tried desperately to give chase, but it was already too late to rescue them!

Life and death were decided in a mere instant!