"Ah!"
Lou Mengyu never dreamed this outcome would occur. She had already pushed beyond her psychological limits by using this technique, yet this unexpected twist left her utterly humiliated.
Shaken to her core, Lou Mengyu felt her strength drain away completely, leaving no energy to pursue.
Fortunately, after they tumbled apart, Qin Yang released his grip. The clothes she had clung to like a lifeline now lay discarded on the ground.
Lou Mengyu drew several deep breaths before snarling, "I'll come back to take your wretched life later!"
She swiftly gathered her garments and fled into the darkness.
A luminous white silhouette, brighter than moonlight itself, vanished into the forest's shadows.
She ran far away, as if terrified Qin Yang might witness her changing clothes.
Qin Yang stood frozen in shock before suddenly slapping his forehead.
"If I'd known this would happen, I should've just given her back her clothes immediately. Then I could've escaped ages ago!" He wanted to weep, but no tears came. His chest felt as though it had endured a hundred stone-crushing trials, his qi and blood churning uncontrollably.
"Still... it was worth it!" Qin Yang savored the memory, a smile spreading across his face.
Qin Yang stood up, dusted off his rear, and was about to leave when he encountered an approaching group.
It was Zhou Shi and his companions!
Zhou Shi, Li Xiaoqian, Li Niu, Zhang Hu, and five others!
The previous chase had already brought them to the rear mountains!
"I thought you wouldn't dare come," Zhou Shi said, eyeing Qin Yang with a cold smile. "Yet here you are!"
Qin Yang snorted. "I expected you to be busy pill refining with your grandfather. Who knew you'd have so much leisure time?"
He paused before continuing with mock realization, "Oh, I see. If your grandfather's dan refining skills are this poor, how could you possibly be any better as his grandson?"
"Who are you calling a grandson?" Zhou Shi roared, his anger flaring. The mention of pill refining only made him more furious.
Qin Yang shrugged. "Aren't you Elder Zhou's grandson? Or do you want to be my grandson instead? Sorry, I don't want your worthless trash."
Zhou Shi's muscles tensed, his fists clenching as he prepared to charge.
Zhang Hu quickly restrained him, whispering urgently, "Don't forget our plan!"
Only then did Zhou Shi regain his composure, casting a sinister grin at Qin Yang.
Qin Yang raised an eyebrow, studying the group. Apart from Li Xiaoqian's sorrowful expression, the others wore faces dripping with lechery.
"Attack!" Zhou Shi barked.
The seven remaining figures immediately closed in, aiming to surround Qin Yang.
"Pursuit Wind Step!" Qin Yang retreated swiftly, denying them the chance to encircle him. After a few steps, however, he halted.
Let them surround me. At least that direction leads away from where Lou Mengyu just went...
"You think numbers matter? Heh." Qin Yang chuckled, the pent-up frustration from his earlier clash with Lou Mengyu finding release. "Come at me together!"
Clear Breeze, Wind Piercing Finger, Whirlwind Legs—each of these techniques outclasses your Tiger Dash Punch and Ox Charge Fist by a full tier!
"You think I brought this crowd to fight you?" Zhou Shi's laughter turned sinister. "I'll crush your spirit first. The true killing blow comes in a month!"
"Oh?" Qin Yang surveyed the scene with amusement. "To be honest, even combined, you're no match for me. Want to humiliate me? Not likely."
Li Niu glared at Qin Yang with undisguised resentment. With wooden sticks still strapped to his legs and hands, it was clear he couldn't afford high-grade healing pills. He spat out, "Your strength is indeed formidable. In a real fight, we'd..."
"Li Niu!" Zhou Shi shot him a warning glance. "Don't inflate his ego!"
Li Niu paused. Having been defeated in a single move, his words weren't meant as flattery. He continued, "I just want to see you writhing in agony!"
Qin Yang remained unfazed. His only concern throughout had been Lou Mengyu's safety.
"The show begins!" Zhou Shi barked. Everyone produced jade bottles from their pockets and hurled them to the ground.
Scarlet powder erupted into the air, scattering like ignited dust. The acrid, metallic scent burned the nostrils, yet paradoxically made the blood surge with heat.
"This is..." Qin Yang's pupils contracted.
Zhou Shi and his men roared with laughter. Li Xiaoqian's face paled further, her lips trembling as she clamped her hands over her nose and mouth.
Zhou Shi laughed heartily. "We surrounded you to make sure you didn't escape. Yes, this is indeed Hot Snake Flower pollen!"
The Hot Snake Flower grew in the lairs of certain demonic snakes. Its effect... aphrodisiac! The drug's potency was extraordinarily strong, initially used to make demonic beasts go berserk.
Once inhaled, one had to find a member of the opposite sex and engage in intercourse within two hours. Otherwise, the consequences ranged from blood boiling and death to permanent loss of sexual function and lifelong weakness!
This Hot Snake Flower pollen was strictly forbidden, prohibited from use on humans! For cultivators, missing the two-hour window meant not only death but also the destruction of their cultivation.
"Ice Heart Art!"
Qin Yang's eyes remained clear as he covered his mouth and nose to prevent further inhalation. But it was too late. He never imagined they'd obtain such a forbidden substance.
"To humiliate me, you've truly gone to great lengths." Killing intent flickered in Qin Yang's eyes. "Aren't you all poisoned too?"
"Haha, we have the antidote!" Zhou Shi laughed, his subordinates joining in with wild cackles.
Li Xiaoqian's face turned ashen. Her fate required no guessing.
"Those who offend me never get a happy ending—especially traitors!" Zhou Shi's laughter turned sinister. "If you want to stay in the Thousand Hidden Sect, if you want to remain by my side, this is the only path."
Turning to Qin Yang, Zhou Shi drawled, "Pity Li Xiaoqian has a choice, but you don't! I'll make you beg for mercy, suffer beyond measure!"
His smile widened. "You'll watch us cure ourselves while you rot. If you survive, the Outer Sect Competition in a month will be your death match. I'll make your end even more painful. If you die? We'll claim you accidentally ate the Tongue-of-Fire Flower, tried to violate Li Xiaoqian, and we stopped you."
Qin Yang's eyes glinted with frost. "How thorough of you."
Without true qi, Li Xiaoqian couldn't suppress the Hot Snake Flower venom within her. Maintaining her rationality now only intensified her agony.
"Boss, hurry and cure her! We'll keep Qin Yang occupied!" one of the lackeys blurted out, his eyes blazing like a furnace.
These henchmen had long lusted after Li Xiaoqian. Some cunning mind had devised this scheme that both sated their desires and avenged Zhou Shi's humiliation.
Li Xiaoqian resigned herself to fate. As Zhou Shi stripped away his clothes and advanced on her, she closed her eyes in anguish.
"You... seem to have forgotten something," Qin Yang said, his eyes fluttering shut as he drew a deep breath.
Everyone froze.
Zhou Shi frowned. "What is it?"
Qin Yang's eyes snapped open, his gaze sharp as daggers. "All of you combined aren't a match for me!"
With that declaration, Qin Yang took a single step forward.
Li Niu and his men recoiled in terror. The injured Li Niu screamed, "Attack together! Take him down now!"