Volume 1, Chapter 59: That flex deserves a full ten out of ten!

Chi Mei'er?

The young chieftain of the Rong tribe's Scarlet Fox clan. What is she doing here, coming alone beneath the city walls?

The garrison troops upon the ramparts immediately tensed, drawing their bows to their full limit. Under the flickering torchlight, the arrowheads gleamed with a cold, piercing light as they locked their gaze entirely upon that solitary red figure, not daring to relax for even a fraction of a second.

A suffocating tension hung heavy in the air, stretched taut like a bowstring pulled to its absolute limit, threatening to snap at any given moment.

Yet Zhang Muyang merely smiled. "Deputy Commander Wu, what did I tell you? The people imploring our aid have arrived. Hurry up and open the city gates to welcome them."

"Open the city gates? Have you lost your mind?!"

Wu Keixong was startled, letting out a low growl. "What if this is some trick on their part? What if the gates are opened and the Rong army seizes the chance to storm in?"

Zhang Muyang shrugged. "Even if we keep the gates firmly shut, can this handful of men we have possibly hold off a horde of ten thousand ferocious wolves? Rather than sitting here passively and awaiting our doom, we might as well take a gamble."

"That... that still won't do! It's far too risky!"

"Fine, then!"

Abandoning his insistence, Zhang Muyang proposed an alternative. "Then lower me down in a wicker basket. Surely that will suffice, won't it? I shall go down alone to meet her; we can hardly leave a young woman waiting down there by herself."

That indeed seemed like a relatively safe compromise.

Wu Keixong remained deeply concerned. "If they choose to seize this moment to attack, you..."

"Rest assured, she wouldn't dare."

Zhang Muyang offered a faint smile, his gaze brimming with unquestionable confidence. "Trust me, in this game of chess, we have already seized the initiative."

Before long, a sturdy wicker basket was slowly lowered from the top of the ramparts.

Every single soldier held their breath, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on the descending figure.

Zhang Muyang climbed into the basket, and with the assistance of Wang Yi, Zhang Xiaobei, and the others, he was gently lowered to the ground. Throughout the entire process, tens of thousands of gazes from both atop the wall and below focused upon this single spot, as if the air itself had frozen solid.

Stepping onto the firm, snow-covered earth, Zhang Muyang straightened his armor, threw back his shoulders, and called out in a clear, resonant voice, "Chi Mei'er! I am the one in command of Huqiu Camp! State your business and come forward to speak!"

His voice was powerful and full of vigor, carrying clearly across the spaces between the two opposing forces, naturally exuding an undeniable aura of authority.

This man!

His physique was well-proportioned, his facial features resolute, and within his deep, unfathomable eyes flickered an elusive, captivating light.

Mounted on her horse, Chi Mei'er stared at Zhang Muyang as he stepped closer, a complex expression in her eyes.

Finally, she took a deep breath, swung down from her saddle, and strode forward to meet him.

Under the watchful eyes of the countless soldiers from both sides, the two met in the open ground between the two armies, resembling opposing generals squaring off across a chessboard.

"The Khan's poison has acted up."

Chi Mei'er lowered her voice, her tone carrying a trace of thinly veiled panic. "Everything... is just as you predicted. He is currently unconscious, and his condition is perilous."

A subtle, almost imperceptible curve touched the corner of Zhang Muyang's lips as he chuckled softly. "Well now? Do you love me just a little bit more than before?"

Chi Mei'er shot him an exasperated glare and replied coldly, "Save your grand words until after you've helped me resolve the food crisis of the Scarlet Fox clan and smoothed over the troubles caused by the other eight major tribes. For now... you'd better figure out how to save your own skin first."

"Rest assured! Your man has never let you down."

Raising his voice abruptly, Zhang Muyang feigned profound shock, shouting loudly, "What? The Khan has been poisoned?! Heavens above, those Northern Yan scoundrels are truly so vicious! Coating their arrowheads with poison is the act of despicable villains indeed! I shall take my disciple and go inspect this immediately at once!"

Disciple?

At a subtle cue from Zhang Muyang, Wang Yi, Su Ying, and the others atop the ramparts lowered yet another wicker basket.

Out stepped a young maiden dressed in a plain white cotton robe, her feet shod in soft-soled boots. Her skin was fair, her features refined and ethereal, and her demeanor quiet and gentle, forming a striking contrast to the wild, fiery nature and brightly colored attire of Chi Mei'er beside her.

Bai Zhi offered a graceful bow. "This humble maiden, Bai Zhi, pays her respects to the young chieftain."

Chi Mei'er could not help but cast a few extra glances at Bai Zhi, a flicker of surprise flashing through her eyes before she spoke, "We are indebted to you, Divine Doctor Zhang, and Miss Bai. Please, follow me."

Accompanied by Chi Mei'er, Zhang Muyang and Bai Zhi walked step by step toward the encampment of the Rong army.

With every forward stride, the oppressive weight multiplied manifold.

Countless Rong warriors stared like starving wolves eyeing their prey; their fierce, suspicious, and hateful gazes felt sharp enough to pierce straight through the two of them. A suffocating aura of killing intent permeated the air.

How could Bai Zhi have ever witnessed such a battlefield array?

She was merely a medical practitioner whose daily interactions were limited to patients seeking cures and prescriptions. When had she ever confronted so many flashing blades and hostile glares? Her heart hammered like a war drum, her palms drenched in cold sweat. Her slender fingers trembled slightly, a mix of intense nervousness and dread.

Keenly sensing her fear, Zhang Muyang gently tightened his grip around her hand. A wave of warm, steadfast reassurance washed over her as he murmured in a low voice, "Don't be afraid. I am here."

A faint blush crept across Bai Zhi's cheeks, and her mind settled somewhat, though she ultimately chose not to pull her hand away.

"Liang dog! It's you?!"

A thunderous roar shattered the surrounding silence!

Wuman suddenly burst forth from the crowd, his eyes blazing blood-red as he glared fixedly at Zhang Muyang, bellowing furiously, "You actually dare to deliver yourself right to our doorstep? I'm going to flay your skin right here and now to avenge my fallen brothers!"

What on earth is this fellow shouting about?

Zhang Muyang could not understand the Rong language, but judging from the man's ferocious expression and agitated body language, he could roughly guess the gist of it.

Fortunately, Bai Zhi's grandfather had been an imperial physician of Northern Yan who frequently traveled through the grasslands, and she herself was quite fluent in both the Rong and Northern Yan tongues.

Her face turning pale, she hastily translated the words in a low murmur for Zhang Muyang.

Halting in his tracks, Zhang Muyang sneered, "Chi Mei'er, it seems your tribe lacks any sincerity, and the Khan must be in no grave danger after all. In that case, Zhang will take his leave. We had best not muddy these turbulent waters."

"Divine Doctor Zhang, please stay your steps! Do not lower yourself to his level!"

Shooting a fierce glare at Wuman, Chi Mei'er rebuked him harshly, "Step back! Can you bear the responsibility if you ruin the treatment of the Khan?"

Hmph!

Wuman retreated resentfully, his gaze remaining fixed on Zhang Muyang like a poisonous snake, brimming with malice.

The atmosphere at the scene grew even more delicate.

Finally, the three of them arrived at the side of the Khan.

A considerable crowd had already gathered there, every single person wearing a heavy, grave expression.

The elderly shaman of the Scarlet Wolf tribe and the wolf general Chixiao hurried forward urgently, pressing, "Divine Doctor Zhang, quickly! Please, take a look at our Khan! What on earth has happened to him?"

Nodding, Zhang Muyang knelt down and began a theatrical, meticulous examination.

He parted the Khan's eyelids to inspect his pupils, carefully checked his tongue coating, and finally focused his attention on the blackened, swollen wound where a thin, dark blue-black line was slowly creeping upward.

His movements were executed with such professional precision that even Bai Zhi watched in secret astonishment.

Suddenly...

As if discovering something unimaginably horrifying, Zhang Muyang drew in a sharp breath and gasped aloud, "This is the long-lost secret poison of the Northern Yan imperial court—the Myriad Soul Dissolving Bone-Eater of the Yellow Springs!"

What dissolving what?

Everyone froze, exchanging bewildered glances.

The name sounded somewhat awkward upon the tongue, yet it carried an unchilling, sinister weight, as though anyone tainted by it would be damned for eternity without hope of redemption.

Chi Mei'er arched her brows slightly, an undetectable trace of amusement flashing in her eyes.

Even Bai Zhi was dumbfounded. Though well-read in medical texts, this was her first time hearing such a bizarre and terrifying name for a poison.

With deep anxiety etched across his face, the old shaman asked, "Divine Doctor Zhang, this poison... just how formidable is it? Why has this old man never heard of it before?"

With a heavy, mournful expression, Zhang Muyang shook his head repeatedly and sighed, "This poison is vicious beyond compare! Its nature is extremely fierce, capable of devouring flesh and bone while rotting the five viscera. Those afflicted feel as though ten thousand ants are gnawing at their heart and a thousand blades are scraping their bones, enduring an indescribable agony before finally withering away amidst endless torment... As the saying goes, 'Up to the azure heavens down to the yellow springs, both realms vanish into the mist and void.' That describes how the poisoned can neither live nor die, finding no place of refuge anywhere in the vast expanse of heaven and earth!"

Pausing for a moment, Zhang Muyang glanced across the assembled Rong soldiers and lamented, "I truly fail to understand what deep, irreconcilable hatred Northern Yan holds against the Khan, that they would resort to such a total annihilation poison akin to death by a thousand cuts! This is clearly leaving no margin whatsoever, intent on making the Khan suffer every conceivable torment before he dies!"

What?!

Dissolving bones and rotting viscera?

A thousand cuts and endless torture?

The complexions of the shaman, Chixiao, and the surrounding warriors turned instantly ashen, as though they could already vividly witness the wretched and agonizing demise of the Khan. More than a few subconsciously took half a step backward; should the Great Khan hold them accountable, every single one of their heads might roll.

"Divine Doctor Zhang, can you... can you cure this poison?"

"This..."

Wearing a troubled expression, Zhang Muyang deliberated, "This is no place for such discussions. Who among you here... truly holds the authority to make decisions? The matter is of grave importance, and I must confer with someone capable of calling the shots."