"YOU..."
At a certain moment, it wasn't until the gaunt man's face turned from red to a deep purple hue that Chu Weiyang gently released the hand that was gripping his throat.
In an instant, the gaunt man, like a broken bellows, struggled to breathe, only managing a hoarse sound, as if he was about to run out of breath in a few moments.
But before he could continue gasping, Chu Weiyang, with a keen gaze, waited for the gaunt man's eyes to roll a few times. Chu Weiyang's fingers lightly rubbed against the scales of the jade snake. In no time, the jade snake spat out venom and fiercely bit into the gaunt man's neck on the other side.
At the same time, Chu Weiyang subtly moved his wrist.
The emerald-colored Poisonous Fire swayed with the movement of his fingers, carrying a certain sweet and pungent scent that seeped into the gaunt man's breath through the heat of the flames.
Compared to the dizzy feeling of detachment from body and mind, at this moment, the strange fragrance brought an illusory hallucination to the gaunt man.
In the midst of the whirlwind, with his dry eyes, he saw not the indifferent smile of Chu Weiyang, but various scenes from his harsh life, the cramped courtyard, the person in the courtyard who could relax his mind, the hearty laughter that could be entrusted to the back while walking in the shadows...
At this moment, the gaunt man's mind completely collapsed.
He understood, he deeply understood the horror of the poison.
If Chu Weiyang intended to inquire, even if he tried to conceal it in every way, this indifferent young man before him could still get the answers he wanted.
In the brink of suffocation, the gaunt man suddenly understood this truth.
With this thought.
Suddenly, Chu Weiyang's fingers once again rested on the throat, pressing on the acupoints of the Twelve Towers.
With intense pain, he came back to life once again.
The blurry vision became clear again, and there was no smile on Chu Weiyang's face.
"Your answer just now is quite displeasing. Don't think about deceiving me. Although this jade snake is a spiritual pet raised by this poor Taoist, the toxicity, I can only suppress it twice in a short time. If there is a third time... unless you can run to the Dan River Valley shop within ten breaths, otherwise..."
Chu Weiyang shook his head again, then gently released the finger pinching the gaunt man's throat for the second time.
"This is your last chance."
After that, the gaunt man tightly pursed his lips, only panting heavily through his nose, his chest rising and falling violently, afraid that the sound of the broken bellows would displease him again.
In just a moment, tears welled up in the gaunt man's eyes, but he didn't even dare to raise his hand, just red-eyed, tearfully staring straight at Chu Weiyang.
After about twenty breaths of time passed, when the gaunt man spoke again, his voice was almost as hoarse as Chu Weiyang's.
"The newcomer in Jing'an Dao City, yes or no?"
Chu Weiyang remained silent, just moving his wrist, causing the cool scales of the jade snake to rub against the gaunt man's neck.
Therefore, the gaunt man licked his lips, wiped away the blurry tears on his face, and continued speaking.
"If you still want me to confide a few words from the bottom of my heart, it's like a life-and-death interrogation. There is no such cruelty to speak of. Everyone has something they care about in life... Otherwise, it's better to settle my account. You seem to be a person with many means, why not use them all, let me see a few more interesting things before I die."
Chu Weiyang remained silent and speechless.
Therefore, the gaunt man gently rolled up his sleeve, wiped away the blurred tears on his face, and continued.
"The previous statement was a show of strength, but Daoist, if you want to ask clearly just to spare my life, there are some things you can ask without hesitation. As long as I know, I will tell you everything, big or small."
At this moment, a fleeting look of confusion appeared on Chu Weiyang's face, but then he seemed to accept the gaunt man's temperament, even smiling with a hint of mockery.
"Then let's start with your name and surname. This shouldn't be something you care about even if you die, right?"
As the words fell, the gaunt man's smile suddenly became more brilliant.
"I'll be honest, I came to you to find a secluded place like this, then make a move and end your life. At that time, even your remains will need to be fabricated with a secret method of the demonic path."
Upon hearing this, Chu Weiyang did not get angry. Instead, he showed interest and asked further.
"Demonic path or secret method? I like the sound of that. Please continue!"
Upon hearing this, the gaunt man smiled more sincerely.
"I will explain in detail. I want to use this information to buy back my reckless life. But fearing that Daoist may not be patient, I'll keep it short. Near the outer sea, not far from the entrance, I recently found a cave left by an ancient predecessor. There is still a treasure vault sealed by a prohibition. Upon careful examination, it requires the essence blood of the Five Qi to perform an ancient demonic secret method to break the ancient restriction. The reason I came to you is for the essence blood..."
Chu Weiyang scratched his head.
He seemed to understand, yet at the same time, he seemed to not understand a single word.
"You're seeking the essence blood, targeting me..."
As he spoke, Chu Weiyang suddenly fell silent.
Lying on the yellow sand, the gaunt man began to speak truthfully.
"Regardless of the method, those who can cultivate the essence blood are limited to a few types of spiritual pets and demonic beasts, either raised in the sacred grounds or born in the deep sea. Encountering them in ordinary times is a matter of luck...
But among cultivators, there are a few unique ones, like some sword cultivators who can obtain the essence blood of gold, or the cultivators of the Dan River Valley who can obtain the essence blood of wood.
And then there are the Five Elements Daoists, like the cultivators of the Hundred Flowers Tower, who can achieve the essence blood in one go! But since you are from a sect, it's not wise to offend someone without knowing their background. However, if one doesn't take risks, how can someone like me make a name for themselves?
It was a coincidence that I encountered you while pondering. This morning, I was sent by my cousin to deliver seafood to the inn. Suddenly, I made a few more trips than usual, and I asked the innkeeper a few more questions.
Only then did I understand the details. Knowing that you come from the Hundred Flowers Tower, after thinking it over for a long time, I made up my mind! Compared to offending the Five Elements Sect, offending the Hundred Flowers Tower is relatively safer.
And compared to killing a female cultivator from the Hundred Flowers Tower, killing a cultivator like you is even more prudent. If I hide well in the future, after three or four years, maybe even the Hundred Flowers Tower will forget about someone like me. Afraid that you would be vigilant, I didn't dare to poison the seafood.
But in a blink of an eye, I thought I was well-prepared, only to fall into your poisonous methods. I thought you were a swordsman, but it's truly strange that I couldn't see the methods of the cultivators from the Hundred Flowers Tower..."
Upon hearing this, Chu Weiyang suddenly chuckled coldly.
"Is it so easy for someone like me from a major sect to be eavesdropped on? How many lives can be bargained for in this way?"
Seeing that Chu Weiyang's tone no longer carried a sense of killing intent, the gaunt man echoed his laughter.
"I dare not, I have learned the weight of the world, and I dare not have such thoughts again. But the location of the treasure vault left by the ancient predecessor is known only to me. I dare not use it as a threat.
At this moment, I am truly begging for mercy, willing to exchange the treasures in that vault for my wretched life! Such things happen every few years, allowing some cultivators born in the dust to rise to the top, entering the sacred grounds to enjoy a carefree life! In my opinion, this opportunity should be yours, Daoist!
The prohibition that has endured for countless years without damage already proves the extraordinary treasures hidden inside. Often, the characteristics of the prohibition complement the treasures inside, nurturing them. Therefore, almost seventy to eighty percent of the treasures inside the vault will be essence treasures!
Such precious spiritual items are the most suitable for your cultivation..."
For a moment, the gaunt man hesitated to speak further, his smile becoming more genuine, as if a precious treasure lay before him.
On the side, Chu Weiyang simply watched the changes in the gaunt man's expression quietly.
Suddenly, Chu Weiyang sighed.
"How can someone like me, even if I come from a major sect, enjoy such a stroke of luck! The essence treasures... are they not treasures of immortality! Dong Daoist, as a lone cultivator, you may not understand the hardships of a sect. If this news spreads, how can I survive? Those treasures will either become someone else's resources or even become the stepping stones for a certain immortal..."
As he spoke emotionally, Chu Weiyang patted Dong Heng's shoulder.
"After all, life is equally bitter for both of us!"
These words made Dong Heng feel as if he shared Chu Weiyang's sentiments. Before he could speak, tears welled up in his eyes once again.
"Every word you say resonates deeply with me. We both face hardships!"
Continuously sighing, Dong Heng's pale face gradually flushed with a sickly red hue, and with his eyes becoming teary, he seemed intoxicated, yet still conscious, but no longer his usual self.
In the next moment, Dong Heng's expression suddenly changed drastically.
"But Daoist! I shared this information with you to buy myself a way out. Now that you refuse, what should I do? How can I survive? It's truly a difficult situation for both of us! Daoist, please advise me!"
As his words fell, in Chu Weiyang's mind, he heard the mocking laughter of Chun Yu Zhi. After laughing for a while, perhaps realizing his own predicament, Chun Yu Zhi fell silent again.
In the same place, Chu Weiyang gently tapped Dong Heng's chest.
"Just as we met earlier, we have a destined encounter. Don't forget this! I will show you a relatively clear path, and if I reveal this matter to the people of the sect... to my mountain gate, then this treasure vault will become a joint achievement for us. In the future, I will be able to move more freely within the sect. If there is such a fate, you may glimpse the path to the immortal mountain gate..."
Upon hearing this, Dong Heng trembled suddenly.
"Is there really such a fate?"
Chu Weiyang nodded.
"Meeting me today is a great fate! But there is one thing you need to understand. You are the only one who knows the location of this treasure vault left by the ancient predecessor! I sincerely want to testify for you and speak well of you. After all, it's a matter of a destined encounter. Both of us... we both need to swear an oath! How you swear the oath, follow the rules of Dao City. Since I am new here, let's use the Jade Sui River from my hometown to swear the oath..."
In the same place, Dong Heng could only nod repeatedly.
"Good! Very good! I will follow Daoist's lead!"
As they spoke, Chu Weiyang slowly retracted his hand from behind, the emerald Poisonous Fire flashing in his palm, even the strands of malevolent energy dissipating in the gentle sea breeze.
-
Outer sea, on a ship.
In a quiet room on the top floor.
Shi Yuting sat quietly by the window, her fingers as white as sheep-fat jade lightly stroking the strings of a zither.
The celestial music echoed, like a beautiful dream.
At this moment, a lazy voice sounded from behind the screen. Shi Yuting was startled, and when her arm trembled, her fingertips cut a gash on the zither strings.
The clear bell-like sound approached from afar.
"Yuting, your zither playing seems to indicate your wavering Dao heart... Why, are you unwilling to seek out the lone seedling of the Pan Wang Sect? I understand, when you mentioned him earlier, you were already disdainful of his weak cultivation. Besides, these cause-and-effect matters in the Hundred Flowers Tower, one after another, it doesn't have to fall on you."
Honestly, back then, Master also encountered such things. That day, when he saw a bald man with a scarred face from afar on the Jade Sui River, he thought he was an unlucky person, unworthy of seeing his true face. As expected, that kind of fierce man died on someone else's territory.
But at that time, I pushed away that cause and effect, and I could still be the elder of the Hundred Flowers Tower. Yuting, everyone has their own fate. If you refuse, the world is getting more difficult. The joyous laughter, day after day, month after month, year after year, coming and going in the world of mortals, are you willing?"
In a brief silence, the melodious zither music resounded once again.
"Master, you jest. Your disciple still needs to advance step by step in cultivation, striving to climb to the top one day... "
As she spoke, the bell-like sound disappeared in a flash, as if someone had lightly tapped the screen.
"Little one, go dream for a while! This is a button left by the sect in Jing'an Dao City, the name... seems to be Dong Heng. There are countless stories in this world, as long as you start one, it can unfold in a splendid manner. I'm teaching you this opening today, and in the future, when you make your debut, singing, reciting, and striking, how far you can go depends on your own destiny!"
-
Behind a giant rock, Dong Heng's body was half buried in the yellow sand, spitting out dark blood, struggling to move his body, sinking deeper and deeper.
It seemed like he wouldn't survive.
On the side, Chu Weiyang leaned against the giant rock, playing with the deep blue dagger in his hand.
"These people in Dao City... don't seem to be clever enough..."
Many books are hard to find now, so cherish them while you can.