"Qingqing, that was really dangerous just now, do you realize that?" Chen Bing adjusted his black-framed glasses and spoke gravelly as he looked at Tang Qingqing.
Tang Qingqing snorted coldly. "Who are you calling 'Qingqing'? We've only met a few times—stop acting so familiar!"
Chen Bing couldn't be bothered to argue with the girl.
Back during the "July Reincarnation," when he was trying to win over Tang Xiaoya, he had already clashed with her more than enough.
"Sister Qianqian, are you okay? That was terrifying just now." Tang Qingqing turned to Shangguan Qianqian beside her, her voice trembling with lingering fear.
When the beast had spewed black flames at Shangguan Qianqian, she had been frozen in shock.
Shangguan Qianqian shook her head. "Don’t worry, I’m fine."
But that was a lie.
Even now, she felt weak all over, her legs unsteady, barely able to walk properly.
That bastard had been like an animal.
And it had been her first time—how could she possibly endure such rough treatment?
Tang Qingqing suddenly noticed her clothes and frowned. "Why are you wearing men’s clothing?"
Right now, Shangguan Qianqian wasn’t just wearing a man’s jacket and pants—even the undershirt was men’s wear.
Still, a beauty was a beauty. Even in men’s clothes, she looked effortlessly cool and striking.
Shangguan Qianqian hesitated, at a loss for words.
Her original clothes had long been torn to shreds—some by her own hands, and some by An Yi’s.
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.
He recognized this outfit.
It was An Yi’s!
That guy barely owned any clothes, and Lin Chen had seen this set multiple times.
But why was Shangguan Qianqian wearing it?
Lin Chen’s expression darkened as he realized something was off.
When they got back, he’d have to discuss this with Qin Yao and figure it out together.
Shangguan Qianqian quickly changed the subject. "The priority now is figuring out how to leave this place."
Everyone’s attention shifted to the three surrounding stone walls, unease creeping in.
The fourth side was a barrier—impossible to break through.
No water, no food. If they stayed trapped here, they’d die.
"Above!" Lin Chen stared upward.
During An Yi’s battle with the Colossal Beast, his sword had sliced open the ceiling of the great hall, revealing a clear blue sky.
Chen Bing examined the smooth, mirror-like walls and shook his head. "You and I might be able to escape using Qi Levitation, but the others won’t make it."
On the other side of the hall, two figures were locked in fierce combat.
Zhang Fan wielded a dagger, clashing relentlessly with Xue Ming.
Both were the type of fighters who relied on underhanded tactics, evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand.
Xue Ruirui was bound by an iron collar around her neck.
The shackles carried a strange power—when Zhang Fan told her to stay put, she obeyed without resistance, as if she couldn’t even think of disobeying.
"Let Ruirui go, kid!" Xue Ming growled.
Zhang Fan grinned savagely, gripping his triangular dagger. "And send her back to what? Be your 'medicine cauldron'? So you can raise parasites inside her body again?"
Xue Ming’s eyes turned icy as he uncorked a vial and downed its contents.
Instantly, his aura surged.
"Pathetic. Resorting to drugs?" Zhang Fan sneered, his own eyes glowing eerie green as his power also began to rise.
CRACK!
Suddenly, the entire barrier trembled.
Everyone’s expressions changed, bracing for another disaster.
The Colossal Beast earlier had already scared them half to death.
The mirror-like barrier began to fracture like spiderwebs before shattering completely.
BANG!
The barrier exploded into countless shimmering fragments, vanishing without a trace.
A man with dead-fish eyes, yawning lazily, stepped through.
"Bai Xiu!" Tang Qingqing rushed forward and threw her arms around him. "Where the hell have you been?"
Bai Xiu rubbed his bleary eyes. "Swallowed something earlier and fell asleep. Woke up right outside the hall. Did I miss anything?"
"It’s already over." Lin Chen studied the broken barrier, puzzled. "How did you get out?"
Bai Xiu held up a black pendant. "Just smashed through with this."
Tang Qingqing stared at the pendant in disbelief.
Their family heirloom could do that?
"Father… Father! I was wrong! Spare me, spare me! I’ll get stronger—"
Xiao Yike was on his knees, writhing in agony. Sweat drenched his forehead, his entire body soaked as if pulled from water, his eyes filled with terror.
He kept muttering, "I won’t die… I won’t die… I won’t die…"
Then, crimson veins began spreading across his eyes, his aura turning violent.
WHOOSH!
Chen Bing appeared behind him in a flash, delivering a sharp chop to the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious.
"This kid…" Chen Bing sighed, his expression unreadable—somewhere between pity and resignation.
Given the brutal survival rules of the Yin-Yang Demon Sect, it was a miracle this young master had lasted this long.
Mo Jiu, the Shadow Axe, bandaged his wounds and observed the scene before remarking quietly, "He’s got another personality lurking inside. Be careful."
"You Yun… You Yun…"
Elsewhere, Cheng Yuanfeng’s hoarse voice called out weakly.
When his vision finally cleared, he looked around, dazed.
The illusion had shattered.
"Old man, time to wake up." Lin Chen’s usually cold face softened slightly as he spoke to Cheng Yuanfeng.
Cheng Yuanfeng stared blankly at his prized disciple.
Then, his pupils abruptly constricted as he looked past Lin Chen.
"You Yun!"
His eyes welled with tears as he gazed at Shangguan Qianqian, emotions overwhelming him.
Shangguan Qianqian tensed, instinctively stepping back.
Lin Chen grabbed Cheng Yuanfeng’s shoulder firmly. "Look again. She’s not Shifu’s wife!"
His voice struck like a temple bell, jolting Cheng Yuanfeng back to reality.
Cheng Yuanfeng studied Shangguan Qianqian’s face—so eerily familiar—and stood frozen for a long moment.
Finally, he wiped his tears and forced a smile. "My apologies. That illusion was too vivid. I’m still not fully awake. Did I scare you, young lady?"
Shangguan Qianqian shook her head. "Not at all, Elder."
"But you… you look so much like my late wife," Cheng Yuanfeng murmured wistfully.
THUD. THUD.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Yang Tian, the White Tiger of the Law Enforcement Bureau’s Four Saints, stumbled forward, covered in wounds, carrying a massive corpse on his back.
Yan Zhi rushed over. "Yang Tian, what happened to Dahai—?"
Jiang Cheng sensed something was wrong. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he forced himself to stand, his gaze turning murderous.
Yang Tian’s voice was hoarse as he uttered, "Dahai’s dead."
"Dead?" Yan Zhi went pale.
Jiang Cheng’s narrow eyes burned with fury. "Who did this?!"
Yang Tian gently laid Wang Dahai down.
His expression was ice-cold.
The two of them had been rivals for over twenty years.
From academic grades to martial prowess, their competition had never ceased.
Back then, it was because Yang Tian had joined the Law Enforcement Bureau that Wang Dahai had followed.
Yang Tian had always assumed that even when they were old and gray, barely able to walk, this guy would still be bickering with him.
He never imagined he’d see him die so soon.
On Wang Dahai’s chest was a poisoned wound.
Investigating crimes was a core duty of the Law Enforcement Bureau.
The identity of the killer was obvious.
Noticing the three members of the Law Enforcement Bureau staring at him, Xue Ming took two steps back, raised an eyebrow, and smirked, "Don't look at me like that. I'm not the only one who plays with poison—that kid in the hoodie is a poison master too!"
Zhang Fan let out a cold snort, twirling the military dagger in his hand as he said darkly, "You really think everyone else is a fool?"
"The venom of the Five Poisons Sect, the wounds left by short blades—Xue Ming, you still dare to deny it?" Yang Tian roared, his eyes burning with fury. Gripping his greatsword, his figure shot forward like lightning!
Jiang Cheng wanted to join the fight, but the moment he tried to channel his inner energy, a surge of rebellious blood rushed up his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Careful!" Yan Zhi quickly moved to support him.
At that moment, Yang Tian's greatsword descended with the force of splitting Mount Hua, energy surging as it cleaved straight toward Xue Ming's head!
A glint of ice flashed in Xue Ming's eyes.
Shhk!
Xue Ming ducked low, his twin short blades slashing out like lightning—then retracting just as fast.
A severed arm hit the ground with a wet thud.
Blood sprayed violently.
Sheathing his blades, Xue Ming chuckled, "The man's already dead—why get so worked up?"