Why do I have so many masters?

The Ancient Taoist casually placed the mask on the stone table, flicked his sleeve, clouds swirling, then unceremoniously sat on the bamboo chair next to the Scholar, picked up the tea cup from the table, blew on the hot steam, and found the temperature just right to drink, without feeling too hot, slightly stunned.

The tea had a light and distant taste, distinctly different from the thick mountain tea beside the Scholar, with different tea leaves, spring water, and brewing method.

Only the winter snow spring could produce such a cold taste.

The Taoist smiled at the corners of his mouth, lifted his eyes to glance at the Scholar, who appeared indifferent, not looking aside, holding a tea cup in one hand and drinking tea while reading ancient texts, and said with a smile:

"You seem to be in a good mood today?"

The Scholar's voice was cool, not turning back to look at him, and replied:

"How do you see that?"

"I guessed."

The scholar in the green robe remained unchanged in expression, lightly said:

"You guessed wrong."

The Taoist smiled and just sipped his tea quietly, leisurely watching the clouds disperse in the sky. After a while, the Scholar placed the tea cup on the table and casually asked:

"How are those few people?"

The Ancient Taoist replied slowly:

"Nothing special, I just escorted that old gentleman away from there and came back. As for the one who practiced Poison Skill, they didn't lay a hand on them."

"Anfeng still wants to know something from them, right?"

"If their lives were taken, wouldn't the clues be cut off?"

The Scholar nodded, saying no more.

The Taoist caressed the tea cup and again smiled wryly:

"However, those few people must have been scared out of their wits."

...

In the distance, within the military tents, the sound of drums arose, rumbling like thunder, audible from near and far. The woman in purple, Hu Xuan'er, couldn't afford to examine her inner turmoil carefully, joining the Martial Artists who had left their respective sects, hurriedly returned to King Balman's camp, lest they be seen as suspicious.

Although no mention of this affair was made along the way, everyone tacitly understood, maintaining silence, not discussing this matter with others, nor informing the commanders and the two princes.

King Balman was dead, and military power fell to the two princes and the great generals. These troops should have returned to their respective garrisons, but with the king's death comes the process of selecting a new king.

Supporting the king could bring instant elevation, riches, and honor right before them.

No matter what, they couldn't leave at this moment.

Thus, this fifty-thousand strong army, including even the herdsmen temporarily enlisted from various oases, were not allowed to leave, marching mightily towards Balman City, with King Balman's corpse temporarily placed in a wooden coffin, drawn by four horses, heavily guarded in the midst of the troops.

Unexpectedly, the commotion during the previous encounter was unprecedented in the Jianghu of Parthia for quite some time, yet after the commanders and Colonels tallied their soldiers, it was found that there were almost no ordinary soldier fatalities.

Most of the severely wounded were among those who, seeking merit, engaged closely during the assassin's charge, the commanders and Jianghu Martial Artists, and a rough look revealed that among all the casualties, King Balman's wound was the most fatal, showing that the person who struck had a heart hardened in killing.

Hu Xuan'er appeared somber, hearing the low conversations of the people on the march, everyone worried about what impact this suddenly appearing and disappearing assassin would have on the long-calm Jianghu in Parthia.

These Jianghu Martial Artists from Noble Clans, after all, were different from the lowest soldiers. Regarding the scene where the assassin stepped into the void and vanished, they preferred to believe it was a rare top-level Qinggong feat in Jianghu, rather than some Immortal descending to the world.

The encirclement of tens of thousands of troops and experts from various sects failed to capture him, deserving to be called traceless. Such a highly skilled in body movement and ruthless figure appearing in Jianghu is truly more a curse than a blessing for the major sects that had long enjoyed peace.

And due to the invitation of the woman in purple, Hu Xuan'er, those sect experts who personally witnessed the appearance of the second masked expert could no longer accommodate any other thoughts in their minds.

Fortunately, they were seasoned by many experiences, not fledglings out in the world for the first time, though worried on the way, they did not show it outwardly.

It was only through the exchanged glances one could guess that once back to their respective sects, they would surely inform the elders and peers in their sects about these matters.

At that time, how the Jianghu in Parthia would stir, or even affect the true grand situation of the world's Jianghu, although that day has yet to come, it is already predictable.

The great army set out, traveling over a hundred miles a day.

Due to various reasons, even those experts or commanders and Nobles whose steeds outpaced ordinary soldiers did not, as they used to, rely on the strength of their steeds to return to the city early to enjoy wine and women while waiting for their subordinates to return.

The journey took over a month, only then returning to Balman City.

After nightfall, Hu Xuan'er welcomed her Master into the room, a particularly petite woman.

Hu Xuan'er is already twenty-eight years old, but because of her extraordinary talent and the fact that her cultivation of Poison Skill was fundamentally different from the Mysterious Sect orthodox practices, regarded as unorthodox, although it carries various dangers and instability, it progresses exceptionally fast, yet even so, she merely reached the Fifth Rank Realm.

From this, it is estimated that the woman before her should be at least fifty years old, yet to the bare eye, she appears only in her early twenties, her eyebrows devoid of Hu Xuan'er's allure, like a lotus from the water. Only her complexion shows a slight pallor, as if her injuries are yet unhealed, making her appear increasingly delicate, touchingly pitiable.