Chapter Twenty-One: Suspicion

“Senior Du, it’s me, Li Ju!”
Li Ju looked at Du Tianyou, who seemed utterly terrified, with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“Li Ju… are you really Li Ju?”
Upon hearing Li Ju’s voice, Du Tianyou stopped shouting, his tone now tentative and wary.
“Absolutely genuine!”
Li Ju flashed Du Tianyou a broad grin, thumping his chest with a muffled thud to prove his identity.
…
The brightness of Li Ju’s teeth made Du Tianyou’s vision swim a little. Though they’d spoken before, this was the first time he’d seen Li Ju in person. He scrutinized Li Ju’s imposing physique, quietly wondering how someone like that had been captured and thrown into the Demon Cult’s inner prison.
With that build, that presence, that muscle—shouldn’t it be you hauling Demon Cult members off to the righteous sect’s prison, not the other way around?
Even the Demon Cult’s Vajra Guardians probably didn’t look much different!
As if something occurred to him, Du Tianyou suddenly asked, “Did you master the Hundred Poisons Vajra Body?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Li Ju nodded.
“Then your current state…”
Du Tianyou’s gaze sharpened with suspicion.
The fate of every practitioner of the Hundred Poisons Vajra Body was ultimately to be controlled by someone versed in a secret Demon Cult technique. For all he knew, someone from the Demon Cult was manipulating Li Ju’s every move at this very moment.
“Though I can’t explain it in detail, please rest assured, Senior Du—I haven’t been controlled by the Demon Cult. In fact, I’ve even overcome the flaw that allows them to manipulate practitioners of the Hundred Poisons Vajra Body.”
Li Ju scratched his head. He’d anticipated this question, but had no way to explain why he wasn’t under their control—what was he supposed to say, that he’d practiced the Ghost Bat Technique?
If he did, Du Tianyou might well repay his rescue with a swift blade to the heart.
In the world of “Sword’s Edge: Legends of the Flying Blade,” martial artists cared deeply about the purity of their sect’s martial arts. Practicing the Hundred Poisons Vajra Body as an external art was one thing, but the moment people discovered he’d cultivated a Demon Cult inner discipline, he’d be branded a cultist, hunted by the martial world—regardless of whether he’d ever joined the cult, or even fought against it.
“Is that even possible?”
Du Tianyou’s suspicion did not abate; clearly, he wasn’t about to take Li Ju’s word at face value.
“I’ll get you and Senior Lian out first. We’ll need your help to escape this place.”

Li Ju knew there was no dispelling Du Tianyou’s doubts for now, so he simply tore through the chains binding Du Tianyou’s limbs.
…
Du Tianyou silently watched Li Ju’s actions. Only when Li Ju had snapped the last chain and set him free did he finally speak, somewhat dazed, “Are you really Li Ju?”
Li Ju, already heading for the exit, turned back with a smile and gave a thumbs up.
“Absolutely genuine.”
Du Tianyou was stunned again by the sheer force of Li Ju’s presence. For a moment, he thought perhaps Li Ju wasn’t under the Demon Cult’s control after all—after all, Demon Cultists surely weren’t so naïve.
Li Ju turned and headed for the adjacent cell, where Lian Tao was imprisoned.
“Senior Lian, I’ve come to rescue you!”
Lian Tao, having overheard the conversation next door, already had an idea of what was happening. Still, seeing Li Ju’s massive frame with his own eyes, he couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
He’d seen Demon Cult Vajra Guardians who’d mastered the Hundred Poisons Vajra Body, but even they weren’t this big—had this man drunk the entire poison pool as soup?
Creak… creak…
Lian Tao said nothing, but Li Ju didn’t pause; he bent the iron bars, stepped inside, and broke Lian Tao’s chains, setting him free.
Lian Tao followed Li Ju out of the cell and into the corridor, where they joined Du Tianyou.
The two exchanged bewildered glances—clearly, neither understood what was happening. They’d been languishing in prison as usual, only for some heavenly warrior to suddenly appear and break them out.
For now, let’s just watch and see.
Let’s watch and see.
With a look, Lian Tao and Du Tianyou reached a silent agreement.
“Seniors, I think we should discuss how to escape from the Demon Cult’s inner prison.”
Ignoring their silent exchange, Li Ju spoke directly.
He knew perfectly well they suspected him, but he didn’t care—after all, he wasn’t a native of this world. All that mattered was completing his mission and leaving; what did the opinions of these people matter to him?
Unless, of course, it interfered with his quest.
“The inner prison of the Demon Cult has nine levels. Every three levels are guarded by an Elder who is an internal arts master. We’re currently on the sixth level. To escape, we’d have to defeat the Elders and disciples guarding each tier, reach the first level, and then fight our way through a garrison of ten thousand cult soldiers stationed at the main gate. Only then could we truly leave the inner prison.”

“And that’s only considering the forces within the prison itself, not any reinforcements the Demon Cult might send if trouble breaks out.”
Lian Tao and Du Tianyou exchanged glances before Du Tianyou spoke.
“Three internal arts masters and a ten-thousand-strong army.”
Li Ju pondered this; although his strength had increased greatly, facing such overwhelming odds was still daunting.
“How much of your strength can you both muster?”
Li Ju looked at the two seniors. He’d rescued them precisely because he valued their prowess as internal arts masters—they could greatly increase his chances of escape.
“All masters who enter the inner prison are regularly given Power-Dissolving Powder by the Demon Cult, to disperse their inner energy. Though our cultivation remains, we cannot use our internal power.”
Du Tianyou shook his head.
…
Li Ju frowned.
An internal arts master’s strength relied entirely on their inner energy. Without it, they were like tigers without fangs—still formidable, but far less dangerous.
Deprived of their inner energy, they were little more than enhanced external arts fighters; against other external experts, they’d be invincible, but against a true internal master, it would only delay the inevitable defeat.
“Is there an antidote for the Power-Dissolving Powder?”
Li Ju pressed, unwilling to give up on their aid.
“There’s no antidote as such. So long as an internal arts master stops taking the powder, their energy will gradually recover over time.”
Du Tianyou dashed his hopes with a shake of his head.
“In that case…”
Li Ju took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the ground beneath his feet.
“You’re thinking of…”
Seeing where Li Ju was looking, Lian Tao and Du Tianyou both raised their eyebrows, as if guessing his intention.