Chapter 8, Conspiracy

Indeed, as the two sides clashed, a tremendous force surged forth, causing Mo Da to take a step back, instantly realizing that the situation was untenable. He immediately turned and grasped the Thunder Tiger beside him, leaping back swiftly.

In recent days, Gongsun Wei has had frequent interactions with Lu Ping and feels that this person does not seem to be sinister. However, at this moment, one cannot guarantee that Lu Ping is without issues.

Gong Sun Yan and Ouyang Tian both nodded. Indeed, this is not the time to pursue the matter. Firstly, the danger has not yet been averted; secondly, this Lu Ping is merely a minor character, and the key to the situation is likely beyond his knowledge. Given Lu Ping's condition, even under duress, no useful information would be obtained, and it would instead sever the future communication between the two families. Pressing Lu Ping for information at this moment would be unwise; thirdly, everyone is also grateful for Lei Hu's kindness. If Lei Hu had not fought desperately to repel Mo Da, the current situation of the group might be unimaginable.

Heaven has eyes; upon opening it, Fang Tian discovered what he had been searching for—the gallbladder of the seven-step snake

Fang Tian let out a long sigh, turned back to approach the wooden box, and examined it closely, finally confirming that this was the Seven Fiends Incense

Ouyang Tian wanted to understand the key point, but asked: "Thunderbolt Leader, I have a question that I am unsure whether I should ask or not"

The poison of the Seven Killers Incense is notoriously difficult to deal with. For instance, the detoxification pill refined by Master Fang Tian, Peng Yuanwang, has minimal effectiveness against it. However, after years of research, Peng Yuanwang has identified an antidote for this poison. The current issue is that the required medicinal ingredients are not available at the moment

Mo Da's statement relieved everyone. Initially, everyone wanted to take a look, but they all considered themselves to be of chivalrous character, and such an invasion of privacy was not in line with that. Moreover, it was clearly stated that it would be better to destroy it than to let it fall into someone else's hands, making it even more inappropriate for anyone to ask to see it. However, since Mo Da mentioned it out of curiosity and opened it, this was no longer related to everyone else

Although the four bodyguards were also battered and exhausted, they were still busy cleaning, preparing defensive equipment, and assessing the enemy situation. After Lu Ping had arranged everything, he entered the temple to check on everyone's injuries, and only then did he tend to his own severed left arm. Due to excessive blood loss, Lu Ping's face was pale, and the fact that he could stand here was already a struggle. The group gathered together, and Fang Tian and others nodded repeatedly, greatly admiring the quality of the personnel from the Xiongwei Escort Agency, which truly deserved its renowned reputation in the martial world.

The person in the green attire, known as Mo Da, interjected, "There is no need to put Master Lei in a difficult position. I am Mo Da, entrusted by my master of the Xiongwei Escort Agency to protect myself and this item." As he spoke, he took out a wooden box from his bosom. Everyone's gaze immediately focused on the seemingly ordinary wooden box.

In the escort industry, dark cargo is only protected in cases of utmost necessity. These dark cargoes are usually illicit goods that cannot be seen in public. As a well-known escort agency, Xiongwei Escort Agency's acceptance of such dubious goods, along with the exorbitant fees charged, would indeed tarnish its reputation if rumors spread in the martial world. This is why Lei Hu appeared hesitant. However, feeling grateful for the kindness of Ouyang Tian and others, Lei Hu finally spoke the truth. This also demonstrates that Lei Hu is a hero who dares to take responsibility for his actions.

Previously, when Ouyang Tian decided to assist the Xiongwei Escort Agency, he had already anticipated the difficulties involved. However, he did not expect that the opponent would be exceptionally formidable. Now, although everyone has temporarily escaped danger, once the enemy's reinforcements arrive in large numbers and re-surround these injured and exhausted troops, the consequences would be unimaginable. What point did he overlook that led him to find himself in such a predicament

Ouyang Tiandao: "I am unaware of what exactly your esteemed bureau is protecting this time, and who the individuals attempting to seize the cargo are, to possess such formidable strength?"

The Thunder Tiger was able to avoid the poison of the Seven Kill Incense, which was indeed fate! Because the Thunder Tiger was severely injured and was about to see the mysterious object that had caused the deaths of dozens of his subordinates and disciples, he felt extremely anxious. This anxiety, however, triggered his internal injuries, forcing him to neglect the precious treasure and focus entirely on dealing with his own injuries, which ultimately allowed him to evade the poison of the Seven Kill Incense

With such a statement from Mo, the curiosity of the crowd intensified. What could this rare item be that one would rather destroy than let it fall into the hands of others? Could it be... the secret of the martial world? The elixir of immortality?

It is imperative to neutralize this poison

Fang Tian saw that both Gongsun Yan and Ouyang Tian nodded in agreement, and he understood that they all concurred with his thoughts. They did not wish to pursue the mistakes of the Xiongwei Escort Agency at this critical moment, as it would only serve to strengthen the enemy without benefiting themselves.

Fang Tian looked at Mo Da with surprise, not understanding why Mo Da would act in such a manner. In that glance, he caught sight of a strange smile at the corner of Mo Da's mouth, which immediately raised his suspicions. This was also a case of Mo Da's cleverness backfiring; had he been straightforward at that moment, he might have truly achieved his plan. However, his pretentious behavior led Fang Tian to question him, ultimately causing his plan to fail. Perhaps this is fate! This was also a case of Mo Da's cleverness backfiring; had he been straightforward at that moment, he might have truly achieved his plan. However, his pretentious behavior led Fang Tian to question him, ultimately causing his plan to fail. Perhaps this is fate!

At the foot of the mountain, there stands a dilapidated temple that seems to have been abandoned for a long time. The temple is in a state of disrepair, filled with dust and covered in cobwebs, suggesting that it has not been visited by anyone for quite some time

As expected by Fang Tian, the enemy had set an ambush behind them, consisting entirely of elite troops. Consequently, Ouyang Tian and Ding Rushan, who were covering the rear, suffered further injuries and were already in a precarious situation

Upon realizing this, I no longer dared to be negligent. Despite sustaining serious injuries, I gathered my remaining energy and leaped out of the temple, fleeing in haste, my speed was quite remarkable.

Now, however, a group of extremely disheveled individuals is hurriedly fleeing here. Almost everyone among them is injured, their clothes are stained with blood, mixed with dust, making it impossible to discern their original color

Mr. Lei explained: "Mr. Mo's master spent 100,000 taels of silver to entrust our agency to send Mr. Mo to Yangzhou. As for the items on Mr. Mo, I truly do not know. Due to the valuable nature of this entrusted cargo, our agency's head, Mr. Lin, specifically assigned me to escort it. The goods on the outside escort cart are merely some medicinal materials, which are not worth much; they are just for the sake of the escort and are being transported as a side matter." After a pause, his face slightly flushed, he continued: "I do not dare to deceive you all; our agency is actually transporting a secret cargo this time. The outside escort cart is merely a decoy, while Mr. Mo and this item are the true cargo."

No one expected that the armored vehicle, which broke through, would later play a crucial role in saving everyone's lives

Fang Tiandao: "That Mo Da has already escaped, and it is likely that he will soon make contact with that group of bandits. We are still in danger"

At last, everyone's gaze was focused on Lu Ping. Among these individuals, Lei Hu was already dead, and perhaps only Lu Ping knew the key to it all

Not good, there is a deception among them

However, Fang Tian searched through the medicinal materials in the escort cart, but only found a few ordinary auxiliary ingredients, while the main ingredients were nowhere to be found. He then flew over to the second escort cart, and the more he searched, the more disheartened he became, as this cart was filled with nothing but extremely common medicines.

Thunder Tiger, surprised, said: "Ouyang Hero, what are you talking about? Your selfless assistance to this old man makes you not only a benefactor to me but also to the Xiongwei Escort Agency. Please feel free to speak your mind."

Tears welled up in Lei Hu's eyes, feeling both sorrow for the heavy casualties among his own people and gratitude for the selfless assistance from Fang Tian and others. Gongsun Yan understood the old man's thoughts and said: "Senior Lei, there is no need to say anything more. At this point, we can only stand together and face the difficulties together"

Fortunately, the immediate crisis has passed; that Mo Da, after being struck by Lei Hu, fled in disarray. However, an even greater crisis awaits them: poison

At this moment, Fang Tiandao said, "This matter is quite puzzling, but now is not the time to investigate it. Let us first examine the current crisis."

Medicine? ... ... '' Fang Tian suddenly recalled what Lei Hu had mentioned earlier about this escort mission being related to some medicinal materials, could it be ... ...

Fang Tian and the others finished bandaging their wounds and went together to visit Ouyang Tian and Ding Rushan. The two of them were the most severely injured, but after treatment, their complexion had improved significantly. Ding Rushan's left arm was covered with a special golden wound medicine from the Gongsun family, and it was no longer a serious issue. However, in future battles, this left arm would no longer be of use.

Mo smiled in a rather unusual manner and said, "I am also quite curious and wish to broaden my horizons. I took the liberty to open it, and I hope you will not inform my master about my private act of opening the wooden box. I would be immensely grateful."

When Mo Da grabbed him to escape together, Lei Hu knew that as soon as he left this desolate temple, his reputation in the martial world would be utterly ruined, and he would be nothing but a despicable and shameless villain, a conspirator in this scheme. Therefore, he absolutely could not allow Mo Da to take him away. He would rather die than let himself perish without clarity. Thus, Lei Hu acted, even though he knew that as soon as he took action, he would undoubtedly face death without any chance of redemption. He absolutely could not allow Mo Da to take him away. He would rather die than let himself perish without clarity. Thus, Lei Hu acted, even though he knew that as soon as he took action, he would undoubtedly face death without any chance of redemption.

The personnel of the Xiongwei Escort Agency suffered severe losses. Aside from Lei Hu and Mo Da, who were firmly protected in the center and remained unscathed, only five escort members were left, including Lu Ping, who had lost his left arm. None of the other porters managed to escape. Departing from Chang'an, the Xiongwei Escort Agency, which had dozens of members, was reduced to a mere six individuals after this skirmish in the sparse forest, including Lei Hu, and all were injured.

Upon seeing everyone in such a state, Mo Da understood perfectly well that everyone was eager to have a look. However, since he, the host, had not spoken up, they felt embarrassed to request that it be opened for viewing

At the moment the incident occurred, Lei Hu felt a great pain in his heart. Although he could not fully comprehend the entirety of the situation at that moment, his extensive experience in the martial world made him aware that he had fallen into a trap. The two days of interaction, especially the recent shared adversity, had earned his deep admiration for the young members of the Gongsun family, and he did not wish to see them harmed. In particular, that girl, Hai Mingyue, was innocent and lively, and she held him in high regard, much like his own little granddaughter. Lei Hu was very fond of her and increasingly reluctant to cause harm to this innocent and lovely girl.

Fang Tian discovered the gallbladder of the seven-step snake, and his heart was filled with joy. With this gallbladder, along with several auxiliary materials in his possession, it would be a piece of cake to cure the poison afflicting the people!

After another incense stick's time, the poison in everyone was gradually resolved. Regarding the dangers they faced, everyone was filled with fear, yet they could not comprehend how the situation had developed to this point. Even the wise ones like Gongsun Yan and Ouyang Tian could not make sense of it.

Suddenly, Lei Hu opened his eyes wide and shouted, striking towards Mo Da's side with a palm. Although Mo Da's martial arts were originally quite good, he was caught off guard by two unexpected events and could not react in time. As a result, this palm actually landed squarely on his side.

The potency of this fragrance is indeed overwhelming. When Mo Da reached for Gongsun Yan, she was already powerless to retaliate and could only await her fate. At that moment, Fang Tian intervened, surprising Mo Da, who had not expected Fang Tian to still be able to act. Mo Da was well aware of the dangers of this fragrance; anyone who inhaled even a trace would immediately lose their ability to move. Therefore, seeing Fang Tian appear unaffected left him utterly astonished. He had previously witnessed Fang Tian's martial prowess and was acutely aware that he would not fare well under Fang Tian's hand.

Fang Tian was the first to sense something amiss, as he had already begun to harbor suspicions. When he saw that the wooden box was completely empty, he was momentarily taken aback, but he was the first to regain his composure. As the fragrance wafted into his nose, Fang Tian immediately reacted. Therefore, he inhaled the least amount of the fragrance and was consequently affected the least.

Just when Fang Tian was about to lose heart, he discovered a small box. Trembling, he opened the box; this was already his last hope

Lu Ping did not expect that things would develop to this point. Who could have imagined that the person he sought to protect would suddenly turn against him, even deceiving everyone into falling into a deadly trap? If it weren't for Fang Tian, wouldn't he also... Lu and Tu Shi Ping exchanged a cold glance, and in the face of everyone's gaze, he could only manage a bitter smile

As it is said, Mo Da slowly opened the mysterious wooden box, and everyone stared at it with tense expressions. ... Upon opening the box, they saw that ... ! ... there was actually nothing inside. ! The crowd was greatly astonished, yet at the same time, a faint fragrance wafted into their nostrils, causing a sudden dizziness in their minds.

Everyone had a hard time escaping to this deserted temple, and each person collapsed onto the ground, hastily tending to their wounds and resting to regain their strength. Lu Ping, disregarding his own need for rest, jumped to the top of the temple to survey the enemy situation. Everyone understood that this was the most perilous moment for their side; if the enemy caught up while they had not yet recovered their combat capability, they would have no choice but to surrender.

Gongsun Wei's fierce swordsmanship played a crucial role in the process of clearing the path, with most of the men in black falling under his blade. Miraculously, he remained unscathed; however, due to the excessive consumption of internal energy, his complexion was pale, and he appeared on the verge of collapse

The seven-step snake and the seven-kill grass are symbiotic; wherever there is a seven-step snake, there must be seven-kill grass, and conversely, wherever there is seven-kill grass, there must be a seven-step snake. Yet, these two highly toxic entities possess the ability to counteract each other.

Fang Tian quickly prepared the medicine and distributed it to everyone for consumption, having already spent the time of a stick of incense.

This group of people is precisely Fang Tian and his companions

Fang Tian took out a bottle of detoxification pills from his pocket. This pill was crafted by his master, Peng Yuanwang, and is effective against most poisons. He consumed one himself and then administered one to each person before going to check on Lei Hu. However, he found Lei Hu's head thrown against the wall, already departed from this world.

Mo Da was struck by Lei Hu's sudden attack, spitting out a mouthful of blood and shaking his hand to throw Lei Hu away. Although his martial arts were not as strong as Fang Tian and the others, he was still a skilled fighter. Lei Hu's strike was indeed unexpected for him, but given that Lei Hu was severely injured, the force of this blow was not enough to take Mo Da's life. However, even though Mo Da took it head-on, he was already significantly injured. This unexpected turn of events was truly shocking; Mo Da felt as if his most prized poison, the Seven Fiends Incense, had lost its effectiveness. This realization chilled him to the bone. In this temple, where masters were gathered, if the Seven Fiends Incense were to fail, he would have no place to die.

Although Thunder Tiger was gravely injured, this strike was the culmination of his lifelong efforts. As he unleashed this palm strike, his internal injuries flared up, and Thunder Tiger was already on the brink of death

The four bodyguards stationed outside, upon hearing the commotion within the temple, hurried back to investigate. They first saw Mo Da fleeing in a panic, followed by Fang Tian, who was frantically rummaging through the escort cart. Not understanding the situation, they rushed into the temple, only to find their deputy chief escort, Lei Hu, collapsed on the ground, already dead for some time. The others were all sitting dazed on the ground, eyes closed in meditation, and upon examining their faces, it became evident that each one had been poisoned

Everyone was taken aback, each holding their breath, but it was already too late. Mo Da smiled ominously, reaching out to take Gongsun Yan.

Across this expanse of wilderness, there are forests scattered sparsely or densely, adjacent to the continuous range of mountains. The mountains are filled with thorns, dense jungles, and a constant flow of wild birds and beasts. Deep within the mountains, there are steep cliffs and deep valleys, rarely trodden by human feet

However, Fang Tian and the others also paid a tremendous price. The two masters, Ouyang Tian and Ding Rushan, were utterly exhausted, their bodies covered in wounds. Most critically, Ding Rushan had been struck by a sword on his left shoulder; if not treated properly, his left arm would soon be rendered useless. Ouyang Tian had suffered a deep knife wound to his back, exposing bone, and his injury was extremely severe

The thunderous tiger's expression revealed difficulty, yet it was fleeting, and it opened its mouth to respond immediately

Everyone was filled with curiosity. They all wanted to see what kind of treasure was worth a hundred thousand taels of silver to transport, and why so many experts were willing to go to such lengths to seize it

Fang Tian could no longer afford to pay attention to Lei Hu's condition; he concentrated his energy to suppress the immense poison, barely managing to maintain his ability to move. If Mo Da were not so horrified, with just one more palm strike, Fang Tian would undoubtedly meet his demise

Mo's lips curled into a faintly mocking smile as he slowly spoke: "This item was personally entrusted to me by my master, and I do not know what it contains." The crowd displayed expressions of disappointment. Mo continued: "At that time, my master instructed me that if anyone attempted to seize this item, I must not allow it to fall into their hands. If absolutely necessary, I would rather destroy it than let it be taken by others"

This Mo Da certainly would not be worth one hundred thousand taels of silver, nor would it be the target sought by that group of highly skilled bandits (if this Mo Da were a stunningly beautiful woman, there might be a possibility). Since Mo Da is not the target of the other party, it must be this wooden box, or more precisely, the contents within the wooden box.

Gongsun Yan and her maid, Yue'er, are both well; their injuries are not severe, and they are both superficial wounds. After being bandaged, they are no longer a concern

On the contrary, Fang Tian, along with Gongsun Wei and Hai Mingyue, who were leading the way, sustained the lightest injuries. With the assistance of the two, Fang Tian quickly defeated the leading figure in black, sustaining a wound on his left arm in the process. In the subsequent battle, due to excessive use of true energy, Fang Tian's movements became sluggish. While protecting Hai Mingyue, he was struck by a palm, resulting in some internal injuries

Fang Tian frantically rushed to the escort vehicle, rummaging through everything in a chaotic manner

Seeing that no one had any reaction, Fang Tian said again: "The current situation is extremely dangerous. It has been over two incense sticks' worth of time since Mo Da escaped. Based on the time calculation, it is possible that we are now surrounded by formidable enemies outside. We should come up with a foolproof plan to figure out how to safely break through the encirclement."

The process of breaking through was surprisingly smooth. The members of the escort agency were inspired by Lei Hu's words, "As long as there is breath in our bodies, we must never lose the escort!" Everyone fought to the end, bravely advancing to protect the escort vehicle. In addition to the vehicle carrying Lei Hu and Mo Da, another escort vehicle miraculously kept pace with the group. Perhaps the bandits who attempted to rob them, seeing Fang Tian and the others fighting desperately, were intimidated by this momentum, resulting in a significant reduction in their combat effectiveness, allowing them to escape from the encirclement. In addition to the vehicle carrying Lei Hu and Mo Da, another escort vehicle miraculously kept pace with the group. Perhaps the bandits who attempted to rob them, seeing Fang Tian and the others fighting desperately, were intimidated by this momentum, resulting in a significant reduction in their combat effectiveness, allowing them to escape from the encirclement.