Leading a black horse out from the stables, Chen Yu left the Beggar Sect Headquarters.
News of his departure quickly spread. In the main hall, Ma Dayuan was discussing sect affairs with the elders, and when they heard it, admiration showed on their faces.
“What a young hero! His swift and decisive manner truly carries the spirit of a Beggar Sect hero!” Wu Changfeng exclaimed. Known as the “Ghost-Head Broadsword,” he was bold and unrestrained by nature.
He had already taken a liking to Chen Yu for his humility and lack of arrogance, and now he praised him even more enthusiastically, complimenting him from head to toe. Only after finishing did he notice that Quan Guanqing was unusually quiet today.
Normally, Quan Guanqing prided himself on being one of the few clear-headed figures in the Beggar Sect. He talked endlessly and was always quick to mock others.
Wu Changfeng had never liked this “Scholar of Ten Directions” and couldn’t resist teasing him, “Branch Leader Quan, it seems Chen Yu is not the cowardly and shameless man you claimed. Instead, he’s someone of both great wisdom and great courage!”
The moment his words fell, the atmosphere in the hall turned strange.
Enforcement Elder Bai Shijing frowned, about to step in and ease the tension. However, Quan Guanqing, who had worn a dark expression these past two days, suddenly stood up and cupped his hands to everyone. “It was my poor judgment. I misjudged Brother Chen. If he returns safely, I will personally go 5 kilometers outside the city to welcome him and lead his horse back.”
His tone was sincere, a stark contrast to the hostility of the previous day.
Ma Dayuan laughed heartily and smoothed things over as usual, “Branch Leader Quan is truly magnanimous! We’re all brothers here. Occasional disagreements are normal. I believe Brother Chen won’t take it to heart.”
Quan Guanqing forced a smile in response. Yet when he sat down again, a trace of excitement and anticipation flickered in his gloomy eyes.
Yes, he could reconcile with that boy.
But only if he could return alive.
He had no intention of holding grudges against a dead man…
At that thought, he looked out the window impatiently, as if he could already see Chen Yu plunging headfirst into the trap he had carefully prepared.
…
After leaving Luoyang City, Chen Yu rode swiftly along the official road.
He stopped briefly at a rural tea stall along the way and asked a middle-aged woman selling tea for a bowl.
Just as he raised it to his lips, he noticed the thatched roof above the stall tremble slightly.
Without changing expression, Chen Yu tilted his head back and drained the tea in one gulp.
“Haha, you’re as good as dead. You’ve fallen right into my trap!”
A crisp, bell-like voice rang out from above. A purple figure leapt down from the thatched roof.
Who else could it be but Ah Zi? The vicious girl wore a smug expression, giggling as she said, “Do you know? The tea you just drank was already laced with deadly poison. You’re going to die!”
Two days ago, she had been forced by Chen Yu to swallow that Ice-Fire Poison Pill at the pharmacy. She had originally planned to flee back to the Star Constellation Sect to seek her master’s help. However, halfway through her journey, she heard some rumors.
Her eyes rolled, and she turned back, eager to watch the show.
Ah Zi was cruel by nature. She never felt that her earlier sneak attack had been wrong. Instead, she resented being subdued by Chen Yu.
Having swallowed that mysterious poison, she knew it would flare up again in a few days. She had no desire to endure that torment again.
So she waited along Chen Yu’s western route, searching for an opportunity to regain control. Using poison as well, she intended to force Chen Yu into exchanging antidotes.
Of course, she was cunning. Knowing she was no match for him in martial arts, she had tampered with the antidote in advance.
It could neutralize the poison, but it also contained an even deadlier toxin.
Now that Chen Yu had already drunk the poisoned tea, Ah Zi was certain he was doomed.
“I thought you ran back to cry to the Star Constellation Old Monster. Yet you dared to return. Aren’t you afraid of death?” Chen Yu said with a faint smile, though his eyes were cold.
“Don’t flatter yourself. Dealing with you doesn’t require my master’s help at all.” Ah Zi stood confidently, one hand on her slender waist while the other stretched out, sneering, “If you don’t want to die, hand over the Antidote Pill from last time. Otherwise, in just 15 minutes, your organs will rot and burst, and you’ll die as a pool of pus and blood.”
[Current Target: Ah Zi]
[Malicious Thought 1: That monster Zhai Xingzi somehow came to the Central Plains too. Might as well take the chance to kill him. Hehe, according to the sect’s rules, that would make me the senior sister.] Advanced Reward
[Malicious Thought 2: I want to watch this brat kneel and beg me for mercy.] Initial Reward
[Malicious Thought 3: After killing him, I’ll go find that old woman who bullied me with him last time and kill her too… hmm, maybe a more interesting death. Slice her face open and let ants crawl over it. That would be fun…] Intermediate Reward
Unlike Kang Min, Ah Zi’s malicious thoughts were far more detailed, even including how she would commit her crimes.
Even though he was mentally prepared, Chen Yu still felt a chill at her cruelty.
“Why aren’t you speaking? You only have half the time left!” Ah Zi said, her bright eyes narrowing with delight as she reveled in her cleverness.
In the next instant, a fierce gust rushed toward her. Before she could react, a sharp pain exploded in her abdomen, and her petite body bent forward violently.
Chen Yu’s punch struck her waist, forcing her to double over. He then slammed the vicious girl onto the table.
With a glance, he signaled the tea vendor and the frightened travelers to move aside, then said coldly, “I spared you last time, yet you came back to seek death again. It seems your life ends here today.”
His words were harsh, yet his expression remained calm.
There was not the slightest trace of panic from being poisoned.
Ah Zi struggled, but she couldn’t break free. The punch had left her in so much pain that tears welled in her eyes, yet she did not beg for mercy as before.
Instead, she continued threatening him in a sharp voice, “Think carefully. Only I can cure your poison in this world! If you dare kill me, you’ll die too, rotting and stinking!”
“So young, yet so vicious. I wonder how your parents raised you.” Chen Yu sneered, his grip tightening without the slightest hesitation, as if her threats meant nothing.
Ah Zi stubbornly retorted, giggling, “My parents never cared about me. What, do you want to be my cheap father? If you don’t let go now, you’ll only have the next life left.”
“Fine. Today I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents.”
Instead of anger, Chen Yu smiled. Then he raised his hand and slapped her twice.
Ah Zi’s delicate face instantly swelled from the blows. Humiliation and fury surged through her as she cried out, “I’ll kill you!”
“Haven’t you already poisoned me?” Chen Yu replied with disdain, showing no intention of compromising.
This wasn’t how she had imagined things. He wasn’t negotiating for the antidote.
Panic began to creep into Ah Zi. She struggled harder, but couldn’t escape.
Slap after slap landed, more than a dozen in total, until at last she began to sob softly.
Only then did she finally start begging for mercy.