He insisted on having the Ghost and Poison Elders kill Kang Chenghua for one simple reason: they had to abide by the assassin's code of conduct.

They were considered "reliable assassins" in the eyes of the public. Everyone knew that with the dual constraints of the client protection period and the Assassin's Alliance's rules, they would never ruin their careers by killing a client.

Kang Chenghua knew this as well.

Under such a premise, if Kang Chenghua received a request for a meeting from the Ghost and Poison Elders, would he refuse?

What Xu Ke valued was their unique ability to secure a meeting with Kang Chenghua. While there was no shortage of people around Xu Ke strong enough to kill Kang Chenghua, none of them possessed this specific capability.

Now that these two refused to comply, why would Xu Ke compromise?

"You…" The Ghost Elder was furious and looked ready to strike.

But the Poison Elder restrained him. Her tone, however, grew increasingly cold. "Mister Xu, I am speaking to you so politely out of respect for your vast knowledge and impressive cultivation at such a young age. If you remain unwilling to cooperate, then we might as well go our separate ways."

Having been in this business for so many years, how could the Ghost and Poison Elders be completely cornered by a single dose of poison? Since the soft approach had failed, the Poison Elder decided to play hardball.

Seeing them show their true colors, Xu Ke smiled. "Thinking of trying that, are you?"

"Do you really think you're in a position to play games with me?"

His words stunned the two of them.

Just then, the passenger-side door opened, and Tang Yingchang slid into the seat.

"Good evening," Tang Yingchang said with a slight smile as he looked at them.

The aura of a Great Perfection Innate master felt like countless knives pressed against them. In an instant, cold sweat soaked their backs. They felt rigid from head to toe, a deep chill penetrating their bones.

They had intended to kill Xu Ke, so of course they had investigated his background. How could they not know of Tang Yingchang's existence?

The Ghost Elder's first instinct was to grab the Poison Elder and flee. But when he turned to open the car door, he found Wang Wu already standing there, smiling at them.

They were caught between a rock and a hard place.

The Ghost Elder silently closed the door and sat back down. A look of utter despair washed over the Poison Elder's face.

They were completely trapped.

"So, still want to go our separate ways?" Xu Ke asked with a grin. He was bold, but not reckless. Negotiating alone with two Innate Mid Stage cultivators without backup was just asking for death.

"Mister Xu, you jest," the Poison Elder said with a forced smile. Her already wrinkled face looked even more haggard now that she was under Xu Ke's control.

"Have you made your decision?" Xu Ke asked indifferently.

Hearing this, the duo didn't rush to respond. They fell silent, their faces alternating between pale and flushed.

After a moment, the Poison Elder sighed and spoke. "Mister Xu, we truly cannot do it."

"We know that if we refuse your demand now, you will surely kill us or let the poison take its course.

"But if we agree, we'll be breaking the code. The Assassin's Alliance will undoubtedly put a massive bounty on our heads. That's also a path to certain death!"

When the Assassin's Alliance punished those who violated its code, it didn't act directly. Instead, it offered enormous bounties. For a large enough reward, there would always be takers. The assassins coming for them would be as numerous as carp crossing a river.

Xu Ke chuckled. "Between two paths to certain death, can't you choose the one with a greater chance of survival?"

One path meant certain doom. The other only carried the possibility of it. Even a child would know which to choose.

Seeing that Xu Ke had no intention of backing down, the Ghost and Poison Elders finally fell silent.

After the Ghost and Poison Elders departed, Xu Ke sent Wang Wu away. He and Tang Yingchang then went to the nearby, newly renovated medical hall to await news.

At midnight, there was a knock on the door.

Xu Ke opened it to see the pale-faced Ghost and Poison Elders walk in.

"How did it go?" Xu Ke asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He's dead," the Poison Elder said, taking a deep breath, her expression grave.

"The evidence?"

The Poison Elder played a recorded video.

The corners of Xu Ke's mouth lifted into a slight smile. "You may leave."

He was in no mood to chat with two people who had once tried to kill him.

But the Poison Elder didn't move.

She grit her teeth. "Mister Xu, I want the antidote. Also, I know you're a skilled physician. I want you to treat the old man."

Xu Ke looked surprised. "The antidote is fine, but what do you mean by treating him?"

Supporting the Ghost Elder, she explained through clenched teeth, "We ran into trouble. The old man is injured."

Xu Ke frowned. "What trouble?"

The Poison Elder's face soured. "We originally arranged to meet with him, but he was wary. He said there was no need and accused us of releasing false information, claiming we must have some connection to you.

"We argued that your ability to disguise yourself was simply too strong and that we hadn't known you weren't actually poisoned.

"We said we wanted to meet this time to renegotiate how to kill you, ensuring his money wouldn't be wasted.

"Only after I swore that we abide by the code of conduct and would absolutely not harm him did he agree to meet."

Xu Ke was amused. These two were certainly cunning.

After the Poison Elder finished, the Ghost Elder added, "But when he showed up, he brought the Kang Family's last expert with him—an Innate Late Stage cultivator. A full-powered blow from an Innate Late Stage expert is what injured me."

Xu Ke's eyebrows shot up. "I see. Let me take a look."

Since they had killed Kang Chenghua, Xu Ke didn't mind healing one of them. Besides, the two were now destined to face the pursuit of the Assassin's Alliance.

The Ghost Elder lifted his shirt, revealing a red and swollen patch on his back where chaotic True Qi was wreaking havoc internally.

Seeing this, Xu Ke gently placed a hand on the area and clicked his tongue. "This is from an attack fueled by burning True Qi. Quite ferocious."

Tang Yingchang's expression also grew grim. "Indeed."

The Poison Elder gave a bitter smile. "Kang Dehui and Kang Chenghua both died because of you. That Innate Late Stage expert knew the Kang Family had no successor. In his despair, he burned his True Qi in a desperate attempt to take one of us down with him.

"Normally, the old man and I are experienced in handling such experts, but because of the Shitian Elixir, he couldn't unleash his full strength."

"In that case, it's my fault," Xu Ke admitted.

The Shitian Elixir was not the same as the Hundred-Day Bone Erosion Poison. Although Tang Yingchang was afflicted with the Hundred-Day Bone Erosion Poison, it didn't affect his strength. The Shitian Elixir, however, acted like a slow but potent poison, and its ability to destroy True Qi was second to none.

"Since that's the case, allow me."

Xu Ke took out his Silver Needles and jerked his chin toward the bed. "Lie down. Purging the stagnant True Qi will take some time."

"I understand," the Ghost Elder nodded, obediently lying facedown.

A silver glint flashed in Xu Ke's pupils, and his Postnatal Late Stage True Qi surged to life. A dozen or so Silver Needles shimmered and shot into the Ghost Elder's body.

Seeing this miraculous sight, the Poison Elder was stunned speechless. Her lips trembled. "U-Using Qi to control needles?! And with the Tenro Thirteen Needles?!"

She knew Xu Ke was a highly skilled physician, a doctor. But she never imagined he was this formidable.