This was the first time Chu Xuan had used Daoist mystical arts since leaving the women's prison. His master had once warned him never to use these techniques unless absolutely necessary, as they would accelerate the flare-up of the Linlong Pride Poison within him. But today, to punish the villains who had harmed his sister, Chu Xuan made an exception.
"Whoosh..."
In an instant, the clouds churned like boiling molten iron. The sky seemed to be torn apart by an invisible giant hand as a palm print, vast enough to block out the sun, slowly coalesced. The intense light blinded everyone present, and the terrifying suction force lifted sand and gravel from the ground, forming a massive vortex in the air. Accompanied by a deafening roar that shook the earth, the golden palm print descended with the force of an apocalypse.
"Boom!"
A violent explosion occurred as a massive crater instantly swallowed hundreds of armored cavalry. Flesh, armor, and weapons flew through the air like a torrential rain. When the smoke cleared, all that remained on the ground were a charred, deep pit and scattered wreckage, filled with a sickening scent of blood. The thousand-strong cavalry had been wiped out in one stroke.
"Your turn!"
Chu Xuan’s gaze was sharp as lightning, instantly locking onto Zhao Yaojin and Bai Tian in the distance. In a flash, he appeared before them.
"Stay back!" Bai Tian screamed as he attacked, but before he could even touch Chu Xuan, he was sent flying by a single punch, smashing heavily into a stone pillar. The pillar shattered with a crash, sending stone shards flying.
"This... how is this possible? I’m a Grandmaster!" Bai Tian spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing to the ground with eyes filled with terror.
"If I didn't still have questions for you, you would already be a corpse." Chu Xuan let out a cold snort, his gaze shifting to Zhao Yaojin. "As for you..."
Before he could finish, Chu Xuan had already gripped Zhao Yaojin by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Unable to even display his own influence, Zhao Yaojin lost all ability to resist; his legs kicked uselessly in the air as his face turned a deep, congested purple.
"You... let me go! I am the man of the Lingzhou Governor..."
"The Lingzhou Governor?" Chu Xuan’s voice was icy, cutting him off. "Today, no one can save you!"
As he spoke, he crushed Zhao Yaojin's throat.
"Ugh!" At that moment, Chu Keke spat out a mouthful of blood and leaned weakly against a broken pavilion pillar. The wounds on her face were shocking, blood mixed with dust staining her delicate features into a terrifying mask.
"Keke!"
Chu Xuan’s expression shifted. He discarded Zhao Yaojin like trash and flashed to Chu Keke’s side, his True Dragon Qi transforming into a warm golden light that slowly seeped into her wounds.
"Brother..." Chu Keke’s tears fell like rain, sparkling droplets sliding down through the blood. "It’s my fault for involving you, for letting you fall into danger..."
"You silly girl, it is I who let you fall into harm’s way!" Chu Xuan gently wiped away her tears, the True Dragon Qi at his fingertips brushing over her cheek. "Don’t worry, I will heal your face."
Chu Xuan carried Chu Keke out of the ruins, his aura like that of a descending deity. Bai Tian, terrified to the point of collapse, knelt in the blood-stained dirt, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. "Young Master Chu... please spare me..."
"Why does the Lingzhou Governor want me dead? And who else was a mastermind in the destruction of my family?" Chu Xuan lifted Bai Tian like a chick, the golden dragon shadow swirling around him as he tightened his grip on the man’s neck, leaving dark purple bruises.
Bai Tian looked up into the killing intent in Chu Xuan’s eyes and felt as if he were staring into an abyss; his will to resist crumbled instantly.
"It’s... it’s someone even higher-ranking than the Lingzhou Governor!" Bai Tian sobbed, mucus and tears streaming down his face. "Five years ago, his subordinates, dressed in the tactical gear of the Dragon Country’s Cangyuan War Guard, came to find me. I was just a small-time law enforcement captain then; how could I have refused?"
"I only helped them fake the scene and dispose of the bodies!"
At this point, Bai Tian grabbed Chu Xuan’s pant leg. "Young Master Chu, I was really just a pawn. Spare me..."
"Pffft!"
Before he could finish, Chu Xuan’s fist pierced his chest. Warm blood splattered onto the bricks, and Bai Tian’s eyes bulged, his face frozen in a mask of terror until the very end.
Chu Xuan tossed the corpse aside, his brow furrowed tightly. *Who exactly are the Cangyuan War Guard?* More and more people were being pulled into this. Who was it that wanted the Chu Family wiped off the face of the earth?
Lost in thought, he turned to leave with Chu Keke, but his steps suddenly faltered. A scorching heat surged from his lower abdomen straight to his brain.
"Damn it, the Daoist arts triggered the Linlong Pride Poison! This is too fast. I thought I had at least three hours!"
Veins bulged on Chu Xuan’s forehead, and cold sweat dripped from his chin. He gripped Chu Keke’s shoulders tightly, his knuckles white. "Keke... stay away from me..."
Chu Keke stumbled back half a step. Seeing Chu Xuan’s pained, distorted face, her eyes turned red with worry. "Brother, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?"
A repressed groan escaped Chu Xuan’s throat. The Linlong Pride Poison raged inside him like wildfire; in his chaotic consciousness, only the scent of the girl remained, and his scorching hands uncontrollably touched her waist.
"Brother, is it the poison they gave you earlier taking effect? Do you need... to do that to clear it?"
Chu Keke’s face burned bright red, her heart pounding wildly. From childhood, her brother had been her entire world, her only reliance in this life. In her heart, she had long decided she would marry no one but him. Touched by his burning palms, the secret longing in her heart nearly shattered her reason. Biting her lip, she took the initiative to wrap her arms around his neck.
"Brother, it’s alright. I am willing to give you everything!"
...
In the woods behind the Tingyu Building, a custom sniper rifle was set up between two ancient trees. Assassin A, wearing a bronze mask, licked his lips, watching Chu Keke’s flushed face clearly through the scope.
"The client put a fifty-million bounty on Chu Xuan’s head, but this girl is more tempting than the money. After we’re done with her, we can sell her to Daoriguo for another fortune, heh heh."
Assassin B twirled his silenced pistol, the barrel gleaming with a cold metallic luster. "Stop yapping. The client said to make it quick and bring the bodies back. If we don’t act now, they’ll be finished, and we’ll only be left with leftovers!"
As they spoke, both squeezed their triggers simultaneously. Two poisoned armor-piercing rounds left the chambers, the tails of the bullets burning with an eerie green glow as they tore through the air toward Chu Xuan’s back.
In his delirium, the golden dragon shadow around Chu Xuan suddenly surged. Sensing the impending danger, his consciousness snapped back, but what met his eyes was Chu Keke’s partially disrobed clothing, her pale skin glowing softly in the twilight. The girl turned her head in a panic, but the next second, he pressed her firmly into his arms.
"Brother, don't rush, I haven't taken off my pants yet..."
"Lower your head!"
Chu Xuan pressed Chu Keke’s head down, and with a swift grab into the air, the high-speed bullets disintegrated into dust in his palm. Fine metal fragments fell onto Chu Keke’s shoulders.
"This... how is this possible?!" Assassin A’s voice cracked as he stared through his scope.
"Whoosh!"
Chu Xuan’s figure flickered like a ghost to the foot of the tree, his crimson eyes locking onto the two men.
"Who sent you?"
"We are top-hundred assassins on the Dark Web; we won't easily divulge—"
"Crack!" Before Assassin B could finish, a bone-chilling sound of a fracture echoed. Chu Xuan expressionlessly twisted his elbow joint and stomped on Assassin A’s knee, shattering it. "I gave you a chance."
"It’s... it’s the antique dealer, Wu Zhengqing!" Assassin A screamed in collapse, cold sweat and blood dripping from his forehead. "He is hiding at the Daoriguo Chamber of Commerce headquarters right now!"
"Daoriguo Chamber of Commerce?" Chu Xuan frowned. "What is their relationship?"
Just then, Chu Keke caught up. Hearing the conversation, she said with a grave expression, "Brother, when I was reclaiming the Chu Family assets today, I discovered that the Daoriguo Chamber of Commerce holds thirty-seven percent of the shares. Their ledgers contain massive transaction records showing the Zhao Family smuggling contraband for them, and the Wei Family laundering their money..."
"Could it be that foreign powers are joining forces with domestic ones to wipe out the Chu Family?" Chu Xuan’s expression was icy. All clues pointed to this foreign entity. It seemed he would have to pay them a visit himself.
"Keke, I will take you to another hotel to rest first, then I will go to the Daoriguo Chamber of Commerce to see what’s happening." Chu Xuan gently stroked her head, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
Chu Keke worriedly grabbed his sleeve. "Brother, are you alright? Was the anomaly earlier caused by the poison?"
"Not poison, just a side effect of my cultivation." Chu Xuan felt a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, while in the women's prison, his master had used a 'Half-Yin Body' to store a great deal of Yin energy within him, which allowed him to recover quickly from the flare-up of the Linlong Pride Poison within minutes. Otherwise, those two sniper bullets would have cost both of them their lives.
Chu Keke understood; to become such a powerful martial artist in just five years, one must pay a price. But considering his condition, she still advised, "Brother, why not rest a bit more before going?"
"Don't worry, I have already recovered."
Chu Xuan flicked a blast of energy that pierced Assassin A’s skull, then picked up Chu Keke and left quickly. Nestled in his arms, Chu Keke’s mind was still echoing with the earlier intimate scene. While shy, she couldn't help but feel annoyed that she had been too slow at taking off her pants.