The hangers-on beside Zhang Chengzhi exchanged glances, then burst into laughter, gesturing with both hands in a mocking introduction.
“Hahaha, do you know who this is? You’re at mid Foundation Establishment… what gives you the right to talk so big? Which peak are you from?”
“Luoyue Peak.”
Shen Xiuyun gave the identity he had fabricated long ago, claiming to be a disciple of Luoyue Peak.
Luoyue Peak had many disciples, and their qualifications were generally mediocre, making it a perfect cover for himself.
The group burst into laughter again. “I’m dying of laughter, so it’s the trash from Luoyue Peak who comes in dead last every year. Senior Brother Zhang, this ignoramus doesn’t even need you to deal with him… leave him to us.”
Zhang Chengzhi said with malicious sarcasm, “Go easy, will you? Don’t cripple him, or he’ll be expelled…”
But before he could finish speaking, the hangers-on who had just been so confidently promising him were kicked flying in a parabolic arc like tossed-out garbage, landing face-first in the dirt, eating a mouthful of mud, and even losing three teeth.
Zhang Chengzhi didn’t even process what had happened for a moment. “What thing?”
“You’re the thing… your whole family are things!”
“Ah… ! Don’t hit my face!”
“Fuck, you’re not from Luoyue Peak, there’s no way you are!”
How could the trash of Luoyue Peak possibly have this kind of combat level? How could their swordsmanship be so deviously sharp?
Zhu Xingyao stood to the side, watching the unlucky fools getting thrashed, unable to hold back his laughter.
Master was really… so adorable.
He had assumed that since Master had altered his appearance and suppressed his cultivation, he probably wouldn’t go all out beating people up in front of him. Who knew he’d be so decisive when throwing punches.
He liked Master even more now… what should he do?
“Jiejiejie… How lively! What a wonderful show of mutual slaughter. If you have the energy to swing swords and fists, why not all come back to my cave dwelling for a night of spring passion!”
Shen Xiuyun’s raised fist paused. This familiar line… wasn’t it… oh no!
Before he could even shout for Zhu Xingyao to run, his vision went black, and he fell forward, stiff as a board.
“Why won’t this Shen Wuming guy wake up already!”
“Wasn’t he fighting really well just now? Why did he pass out the moment he came face to face with that blue-winged snake demon?”
“Why else? He’s just too weak.”
“What do we do? That kid Zhu Xingyao was dragged off alone by the snake demon a while ago. We’re next. I don’t want to be forced into dual cultivation with the snake demon and have my cultivation drained dry!”
“Don’t worry, Senior Brother Zhang escaped earlier by crushing his teleportation jade token. He’ll definitely notify the Elders and Master to come rescue us!”
Zhu Xingyao?!
Shen Xiuyun suddenly opened his eyes, his head still aching with a faint, prickling pain.
He found himself inside a dim cave, his entire body bound tightly to a cold stone pillar.
He channeled his spiritual energy with a hand seal, only to find its flow sluggish and obstructed… this familiar sensation… the Immortal-Binding Rope.
Moreover, looking around, Zhu Xingyao was nowhere to be seen.
There were only the “companions” on the opposite side, similarly bound, whom he had beaten into pig heads.
Shen Xiuyun took a sharp breath when he saw their current state.
The pig heads had bruised and swollen faces, streaked with tears, and wore only their inner robes and undergarments… all their outer clothes had been stripped off.
Furthermore, because the cave walls were damp and dripping, their clothes were soaked through. The thin fabric clung to their skin, creating a faintly visible, almost-but-not-quite-transparent effect… combined with the restraint of the Immortal-Binding Rope.
Shen Xiuyun had to admit… this snake demon really knew how to play!
Wait, wasn’t he getting the same treatment himself?!
Shen Xiuyun looked down at himself and nearly fainted.
His robes had slipped down to his elbows, exposing his smooth, bare shoulders, impossible to cover up.
No wonder he had felt so cold and chilly when he woke up.
Fuck, wasn’t it said that the snake demon only fancied good-looking people?
Why had even these “misshapen freaks” not been spared?
That damned original text had deceived his feelings again!
“Shen, you think of something, will you!”
One of the pig-headed brothers across from him mumbled indistinctly.
Shen Xiuyun was already irritated and roared right back, “Shut up!”
The man had been frightened by the earlier beating and instinctively shrank his head. “Why are you yelling so loud?”
“Jiejiejie… Not bad energy.”
A sinister, eerie laugh echoed from deep within the cave. Then Shen Xiuyun felt something cold wrap around his leg, tightening little by little, the rough scales scraping painfully against his skin.
“You smell so fragrant, and your spiritual energy is so pure… even better than that violet-eyed one from before. I really want to drain your spiritual energy.”
Shen Xiuyun’s chin was gripped by an ice-cold hand, and he finally got a clear look at the half-human, half-snake demonic beast before him.
Yue~
So ugly.
Scales covered half its face, and its nose and eyes were all squished together… it was basically a pile of crap.
Shen Xiuyun fought down the urge to vomit. “What did you do to that boy from earlier?”
Zhu Xingyao had to be fine, right?
“Eaten him, of course. You’re next, but I can’t bear to eat you. I want to make you my furnace cauldron, to supply me with daily essence harvesting.”