Chapter 47: The Golden Triangle Seeks Medical Aid, Meeting the Immortal Li Where the Lanterns Flicker Faintly (3,000-word expanded chapter, monthly votes requested)

"Sword Wine..."

"What a ruthless method!"

Flender's eyes behind his square-rimmed glasses were bloodshot, and he said with poignant grief:

"Contention among peers!"

"Why go to such extremes! Why on earth must it come to this?!"

"Ma Hongjun... how old is he even? Even if he made a mistake, he could have corrected it!"

"That Sword Wine... how could he commit such a vicious act!"

Ma Hongjun was ruined.

The Evil Fire Phoenix was entangled with lustful desires.

That evil fire was a curse, and unless one pursued the nearly impossible task of martial soul purification...

Now, having been castrated alive, unable to draw a single breath of fire, he had been thoroughly reduced to a cripple.

Flender's voice was hoarse.

"Where are Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji?"

When Qin Ming sent someone to deliver the message, Ma Hongjun had just been crippled, and Zhao Wuji had not yet sought out Sword Wine for revenge.

Therefore, Flender and Yu Xiaogang knew nothing of what followed.

Liu Erlong said in a low voice:

"Zhao Wuji learned of Sword Wine's identity from Qin Ming."

"The night before yesterday, in the rain, he went to launch a surprise attack on Sword Wine. As a result... he and Qin Ming were captured by Sword Wine's close and trusted friend, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."

"What?!"

Flender was both shocked and furious.

Yu Xiaogang's brows furrowed even deeper.

Liu Erlong said heavily:

"I pulled every string I had."

"Yet I couldn't even catch a glimpse of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."

"Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji... I am afraid they are in grave peril."

Flender's anger receded, his expression gradually freezing.

Zhao Wuji had been with him for more than a decade.

He constantly complained that Flender was tight-fisted and stingy, that a dignified Soul Saint's monthly stipend wasn't even enough to go out and have some fun.

Yet, despite saying such things, Zhao Wuji had never turned his back on him or Shrek.

Yu Xiaogang sighed and said:

"Ma Hongjun was brought to Heaven Dou City by Zhao Wuji."

"Perhaps for Zhao Wuji, being able to avenge Ma Hongjun was fulfilling his duty as a teacher—"

Liu Erlong interrupted:

"Sword Wine is not dead."

"Although no one told me, the Delicacy House is holding a grand banquet today."

"Those friends of Sword Wine... the juniors of the Ye family and the Dugu family, along with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and several members of the Royal Heaven Dou Team, are all present."

"Presumably, Sword Wine is quite unharmed."

Flender abruptly stood up, incredulous, and said:

"You mean!"

"Zhao Wuji failed in a surprise attack on a junior?!"

The Grandmaster immediately shook his head, saying with absolute certainty:

"Impossible!"

"Based on my judgment and estimation!"

"In today's Douluo Continent, there is absolutely no such formidable young junior!"

Liu Erlong irritably tossed her flame-like red hair.

"You'd better believe it."

"Sword Wine's reputation in Heaven Dou City and the surrounding towns is exceptionally resounding."

"His strength cannot be measured by ordinary geniuses."

Flender and Yu Xiaogang were about to question further—

"Ah!!!"

A painful cry echoed from the bed.

Ma Hongjun curled up like a shrimp, and from the wound at his crotch, evil fire mixed with blood spurted out.

Once all his evil fire was drained away, his martial soul would be completely ruined.

"Hongjun!"

Flender and Yu Xiaogang hurried to the bedside.

Looking at Ma Hongjun's agonizing state, the two of them were completely helpless.

Liu Erlong turned her back to them and said:

"We can discuss Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji later."

"The most urgent matter right now is how to treat Ma Hongjun."

Flender's breathing suddenly grew heavy.

"Is Ma Hongjun still saveable?"

Before Liu Erlong could speak, a brilliant flash of light gleamed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

"As far as I know, there are three forces in Heaven Dou City capable of saving Ma Hongjun."

"The Ye family's Nine Heart Begonia goes without saying; Poison Douluo Dugu Bo is also in Heaven Dou City, and his mastery of poison is peerless under heaven, perhaps he can find an alternative path."

"Furthermore, there is the imperial family. The imperial physicians are all healing-type soul masters, and there are numerous medicinal herbs for healing; there should still be hope."

Liu Erlong looked at Yu Xiaogang with admiration in her eyes and nodded, saying:

"That is also what I wanted to say."

"Only..."

"Sword Wine has friendly ties with all three of these factions, and I am worried..."

Flender clenched his fists fiercely, gritting his teeth as he said:

"No matter how much of a genius Sword Wine is, at most he only has good relations with the juniors of those three factions."

"I, Flender; you, Liu Erlong; and the Grandmaster—we, the Golden Triangle, still hold some meager prestige in the soul master world."

"Besides, Ma Hongjun was crippled first, while that Sword Wine remains completely unscathed."

"I refuse to believe..."

"For the sake of a mere junior like Sword Wine, those three factions will disregard our earnest pleas."

Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement.

Liu Erlong immediately said:

"Then we shall carry Ma Hongjun and go together."

"Firstly, the treatment will be more prompt."

"Secondly, carrying him there to beg for a cure will show that we are sincere enough."

"Good!" ×2

There was no time to lose.

The Golden Triangle carried the blood-soaked bed through the streets amidst the strange gazes of passersby, rushing swiftly toward the Ye family's estate.

Upon arriving at the Ye family residence, seeing the magnificent yet elegant gates, the three of them felt a surge of renewed spirit, as if they saw hope for Ma Hongjun's healing.

Flender tidied his attire and cupped his hands politely to the doorkeeper:

"Please announce us."

"Flender, Dean of Shrek Academy; Liu Erlong, Dean of Blue Lightning Academy; and the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, request an audience with the head of the Ye family on urgent business."

Seeing that the first two possessed extraordinary bearing, the doorkeeper did not dare to be negligent.

"The... the three of you, please wait a moment."

Watching the doorkeeper hurry inside, Flender's tense expression relaxed slightly, a glimmer of hope tinting his voice.

"It should work."

"The Ye family's Nine Heart Begonia is the continent's premier healing martial soul. As far as I know, the head of the Ye family widely recruits talented individuals and most enjoys befriending the strong."

"The three of us coming together to request an audience will definitely be fine."

A smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face.

Liu Erlong nodded hesitatingly.

A moment later, two doorkeepers strolled out, but the previous deference on their faces had been replaced by utter indifference.

"The three of you, please return."

"The family head says she is not here."

The air suddenly froze.

Flender anxiously stepped forward.

"I must trouble you to announce us once more; we truly have a life-and-death emergency!"

"We have long heard that the Ye family head has the heart of a bodhisattva, and there is a dying youth awaiting her salvation—"

The doorkeeper dismissively waved a hand.

"The family head already said she is not here."

"Hurry up and leave."

Seeing the grand gates about to close, Yu Xiaogang walked forward with a cold face.

This stern and resolute aura, stemming from a theoretical grandmaster, actually startled the two doorkeepers.

In a calm tone imbued with profound meaning, he said:

"As far as I know, the Ye family's Nine Heart Begonia martial soul can only have two instances existing in the world at any given time."

"Furthermore, the Ye family wishes to contend with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda for the title of the continent's premier auxiliary martial soul..."

His words paused there.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze burned like a torch as he stared fixedly at the two doorkeepers.

He was confident that this statement, striking directly at the core interests and ambitions of the Ye family, would shock the Ye family members into changing their demeanor, welcoming him into the estate as an honored guest.

However—

"Get lost, get lost, get lost!"

The two doorkeepers pushed Yu Xiaogang down the Ye family's steps in anger and humiliation.

What the hell kind of nonsense was this guy babbling about?!

What Nine Heart Begonia, what Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, what position of continent's premier auxiliary martial soul!

What the heck did that have to do with them, low-level doorkeepers making a few copper coins a month whose only job was to watch the gate?

Seeing Yu Xiaogang subjected to such humiliation, Liu Erlong's fiery red hair blazed, and a scorching, violent aura surged outward.

Instead of being frightened, the doorkeepers were amused.

"Oh ho, coming to the Ye family to pick a fight?"

With a sharp whistle, a dozen burly Ye family guard soul masters instantly poured out from inside the gates.

At that exact moment, two maidservants walked out from the inner courtyard, chatting and laughing.

"The apricot blossom pastries across the street just came out of the oven."

"The family head is urging us, saying if we're late, we won't be able to buy the first batch."

"Hurry, hurry."

The faces of Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong turned ashen as they watched this scene.

By now, how could they still not understand?

Not only had the Ye family refused them, but by using such a frivolous method, they were also making clear the Ye family's stance and choice.

Sword Wine...

In the hearts of the Ye family, he was worth far more than the Golden Triangle.

"The mountains and rivers will meet again."

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth, his voice low as he said:

"Since the Ye family turns people away in such a manner..."

"I only hope that one day in the future, we still get to see the Nine Heart Begonia ascend to the throne of the continent's premier auxiliary martial soul."

"Let's go."

Events proved that the three of them had thought things far too simply.

After suffering a humiliating rejection at the Ye family, they rushed without pausing to the Dugu estate.

The result—

Even more direct and colder than the Ye family.

Let alone meeting Poison Douluo himself, after the doorkeeper went in to announce them, the people who poured back out were not doorkeepers, but a group of guards and servants wielding clubs and staves.

By this time, the three of them were carrying the blood-soaked bed, walking down the widest street in Heaven Dou City.

Twilight was deepening, and the evening lanterns were just being lit.

The bustling liveliness of the market seemed separated by an invisible barrier, unable to pierce the suffocating atmosphere surrounding them.

Only Ma Hongjun's agonizing, thread-thin groans sounded exceptionally harsh in the dead silence.

"There is still the imperial family..."

Flender's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth stubbornly, saying:

"I refuse to believe that this Sword Wine is acquainted with everyone in the imperial family as well!"

Yu Xiaogang's expression was unsightly as he said:

"That's right, even if Sword Wine is on good terms with the crown prince, we can directly request an audience with Emperor Xue Ye."

Liu Erlong opened her mouth, but ultimately pressed her lips together and said nothing.

The three of them spoke no more. Carrying Ma Hongjun, they strode heavily along the wide street.

When they reached the middle section of the avenue, a wave of enticing food aromas drifted over with the breeze.

Having rushed about for the better part of the day, the three of them instinctively followed the scent.

There, standing by the river, was a five-story restaurant adorned with carved beams and painted pillars, brilliantly illuminated with lights.

On the gilded plaque, three dashing, flying characters—Delicacy House—shone brilliantly in the light.

At that moment, a burst of clear, uninhibited laughter clearly drifted over from the bustling entrance of the restaurant.

The gazes of Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong slowly froze...

A group of youths of both sexes, dressed in silks and satins and possessing extraordinary demeanors, surrounded a youth in white like stars orbiting the moon, walking out of the restaurant amidst lively chatter and laughter.

Just as the group was about to descend the steps and blend into the fading evening lights, the youth in white suddenly turned his head. With a casual air, he reached out and casually plucked a gold coin from the embrace of a youth dressed in goose-yellow brocade beside him.

With a lazy smile on his face, he flicked his fingertips lightly.

That gold coin traced an arc under the light, landing precisely into the hands of the restaurant attendant who was smiling all over his face and bowing in farewell...