Chapter 17: Taking the Pulse

Hearing Dongfang Phoenix's words, the two masked assassins' expressions darkened abruptly. The next second, they exchanged a glance and lunged straight at Dongfang Phoenix.

Their movements were swift as lightning. In the blink of an eye, they were upon her. In perfect sync, both drew their short blades, slashing down at her with deadly force.

Seeing the cold, gleaming arcs of the blades, Xu Yang’s face changed slightly. With his current strength, even he would be hard-pressed to face these two assassins.

Yet, confronted by such ferocious attacks, Dongfang Tianfeng—her beauty serene and gentle—remained utterly composed.

With a crisp ring, she flicked her hand to her waist and drew forth a sword as thin as cicada’s wings. In a fluid motion, she wielded the supple, serpentine blade, thrusting it swiftly at the two assassins.

The pair instinctively dodged, barely escaping her attack, but their movements were ragged and desperate.

Xu Yang’s eyes lit up in astonishment. He had never expected Dongfang Tianfeng to possess such remarkable martial skill.

And that was not the end. Her first strike foiled, Dongfang Tianfeng advanced lightly, her steps agile, closing in on one of the assassins.

With a sharp swish, the sword, delicate as gossamer, sliced through the air, aiming straight for the assassin’s heart.

The assassin’s face drained of color. He hurriedly raised his blade to block. The clash of metal rang out, echoing again and again.

Dongfang Tianfeng and the two assassins became locked in fierce combat. Despite being outnumbered, she showed no sign of weakness. On the contrary, she pressed the attack relentlessly, seizing complete control of the fight.

The assassins staggered back again and again, forced on the defensive, their situation growing steadily more dire.

Watching the battle unfold, Xu Yang’s face was filled with wonder. This peerless beauty before him had already reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refinement stage. He could scarcely believe that this woman’s strength so far surpassed his own.

Meanwhile, the two assassins, exhausted from their frantic evasions, were drenched in sweat. With defeat looming, they glanced at each other. Swiftly, they stepped back, each drawing a black sphere from his belt and hurling it at Dongfang Tianfeng.

A flicker of surprise crossed her flawless features. She dodged quickly, but the two black spheres struck the ground with a muffled bang, erupting into a thick cloud of acrid, black smoke.

Coughing violently, Dongfang Tianfeng retreated from the noxious cloud. The two assassins seized the opportunity, converging on her from both sides.

Still wracked by coughing, she fended off their renewed assault. In a moment of carelessness, her upper garment was sliced open, a long gash exposing her pale skin. She was nearly wounded.

A flush of anger colored her cheeks. Without hesitation, she summoned the inner power of her cultivation. Instantly, a formidable, icy aura burst from within her. The sword in her hand glowed with a faint blue light.

She swept the sword in a dazzling arc, its momentum terrifying. The assassins, who had just regained the upper hand, now felt immense pressure. Forced to retreat in disarray, embarrassment flickered across their faces.

“Dongfang Tianfeng!” one spat out. “Just wait—one day, we’ll kill you!”

“That day will come, and we’ll cut you down ourselves!” the other vowed.

With these threats thrown over their shoulders, they fought a retreating action and soon fled the scene.

Dongfang Tianfeng wanted to give chase, but a sudden, violent coughing from her grandfather halted her. Helpless, she sheathed her sword and hurried to the old master’s side.

“Grandfather, are you all right?” she asked anxiously, seeing the cold sweat beading his forehead and the pallor deepening on his face.

“I... cough... I’m fine...” the old man tried to reassure her, but his words dissolved into another fit of coughing.

He had inhaled a good deal of the black smoke just now. For his granddaughter’s sake, he had fought to suppress his coughing, but now the toxins had invaded his lungs, and his frail body could endure no more.

“Feng’er, you must take good care of yourself. Go home at once; only the family can guarantee your safety.” His tone was weak, his gaze gentle—the words of a man delivering his final instructions.

Her heart twisting in anguish, Dongfang Tianfeng choked back tears. “Grandfather, don’t say that. I’ll take you to a doctor right now. Hold on, you’re going to be fine.”

“Let me try.”

Xu Yang strode over and spoke up.

“Who are you?” Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Dongfang Tianfeng whirled around, cold light flashing in her clear eyes.

“It’s me.” Xu Yang, unnerved by her gaze, instinctively took a step back.

This gave her pause. As a cultivator, her senses were keen, yet she hadn’t noticed his approach at all. Suspicion flickered in her heart, but recalling that Xu Yang was a doctor, she set her doubts aside—there was no time to waste.

“Please, save my grandfather,” she pleaded earnestly.

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to him,” Xu Yang replied, his voice calm and confident.

His steady assurance soothed her somewhat, and she quickly invited Xu Yang to examine the old man.

“Young man, we meet again. Fate truly brings people together,” the old master said, lying flat on the stone path, a note of resignation in his voice, interrupted by another spasm of coughing.

“Sir, please don’t speak. Let me check your pulse,” Xu Yang said with a gentle smile.

The old man nodded, falling silent, but his eyes were devoid of hope. Countless renowned physicians had already given up on his condition. At this stage, he was living on borrowed time. He doubted that this young stranger could possibly save him.

Watching Xu Yang’s focused expression as he took his pulse, the old master gave a bitter smile and murmured, “It’s no use, young man. I know my own body—there’s no saving me.”

Xu Yang nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Dongfang Tianfeng’s face flushed with anger. Her grandfather was nearly at death’s door; did this man not know to offer even a glimmer of hope to the dying?

But the very next words out of Xu Yang’s mouth made both Dongfang Tianfeng and her grandfather’s expressions change dramatically.