Chapter 012: The Dangerous Jianghu

The Ghost Vine seemed to be able to feed on flesh and blood. The more Lihuo and Jie Gang and his people struggled, the tighter the vine constricted. In a short moment, they were already dripping with fresh blood.

Zhen Ping’er, laughing like a little witch, didn’t rashly step forward, instead, she stood on the spot, watching as Jie Gang and the others got deeper and deeper into trouble.

“It’s just outrageous, absolutely disgraceful. How can a person be so despicable?”

Yang Zhen shook his head while watching, it’s a pity such beauty wasted on a thief. As expected, the prettier the girl, the better she is at deceiving people. How can a person deceive others to be so shameless?

After a while, Jie Gang and others were powerless to resist, and the most pitiful one, Lihuo, was almost sucked dry by the Ghost Vine.

Zhen Ping’er chuckled, her long sword somehow transformed into a whip, a flash of green light appearing. She walked up to Jie Gang and the others, sneered, and said, “This is a lesson for you guys. The world of martial arts is dangerous, always be cautious when you step out. Or else, you wouldn’t even know how you died.”

“Junior Sister, be careful!”

Suddenly, Senior Sister screamed and rushed towards Zhen Ping’er. Mid-air, her face turned pale, she vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, and fell on the ground.

Zhen Ping’er’s face changed, she also fell to the ground, staring coldly at Jie Gang, and said through gritted teeth, “Despicable villain, you used poison?”

Jie Gang grinned, maliciously saying, “Zhen Ping’er, you were right. In the world of martial arts, you must always be alert. Otherwise, you won’t even know how you died.”

“You…”

Zhen Ping’er didn’t expect her words to be used against her by Jie Gang. For a moment, she looked furious, and struggled to get up, but again fell on the ground.

“Don’t struggle, this is the unique poison of the Heiyan Sect. Colourless and odourless, it can seal your True Essence and infiltrate your heart and internal organs. In a moment, you would die without a place to bury you.”

Lihuo, his entire body bloody and battered, still managed to sneer at Zhen Ping’er, then shivered as if the Ghost Vine had tightened even more, his face turning more pale.

In just a short moment, this group managed to reach a stalemate, much to Yang Zhen’s amazement.

The worst off was the Windrush Sheep behind them. At one moment it was roaring skyward in pain as the Ghost Vine entwined around it, and the next, it was poisoned and languishing on the ground. With an intense stare at the two groups, it vented its pent-up fury by snorting continuously.

“Zhen Ping’er, in this situation, we won’t benefit from each other’s misfortune. Why don’t we simultaneously remove the poison from each other, and then discuss the ownership of the Windrush Sheep?” Jie Gang coldly stared at Zhen Ping’er, his voice turning weak.

Zhen Ping’er gave a cold harrumph, as she stood up with difficulty, and said, “Are you begging for mercy?”

Jie Gang gave a strange laugh, and said, “I just don’t want to die dim-witted in here.”

Zhen Ping’er, silent for a moment, took out a jade bottle from her bosom, and said, “We’ll do this on the count of three.”

Jie Gang’s face flickered strangely, and, pulling a jade bottle from inside his dress, he said, “Alright, if anyone doesn’t open it, they will be doomed, and forever unable to reach the Dao.”

“Alright,” Zhen Ping’er nodded, pulling another jade bottle from her bosom.

Seeing this, Jie Gang sneered, “The reputation of Zhen Ping’er, the witch, is indeed well deserved.”

Jie Gang, with a wry smile, also nonchalantly switched to another jade bottle.

Zhen Ping’er, seeing this, sneered in return, “Likewise.”

Yang Zhen sighed dejectedly, “How can people be so shameless and unethical? The world is indeed a dangerous place. These groups are truly despicable. There really aren’t many upright and virtuous people like me left in the world.”

“One”

“Two”

“Three”

Woosh, woosh, the two jade bottles traced an arc in mid-air, towards each other.

“Hey! Little Strong, Little Strong, what’s wrong with you, Little Strong?”

Yang Zhen, with a startled shout, leapt from the tree. Mid-air, he conveniently grabbed the two jade bottles, landing in front of the Windrush Sheep and shouted.

“Poor Xiao Qiang, poor me, you’ve sent off my black-haired sheep to the great beyond, how will I live!”

Zhen Ping’er: “…”

Jie Gang: “…”

Everyone was startled by Yang Zhen’s cry, dumbfounded as they watched him wailing dramatically in front of the fallen sheep.

But Yang Zhen’s crying was just too overdone, forcing the edges of Zhen Ping’er and Jie Gang’s lips to quiver uncontrollably, leaving them helpless.

“Shameless!” Zhen Ping’er glared at Yang Zhen with teeth gritted.

“Shameless!” Jie Gang grimaced, looking incredibly dumbfounded at Yang Zhen.

“Was it you… did you kill my Xiao Qiang?” Yang Zhen desolately asked, turning to look down at Jie Gang and Zhen Ping’er with a gloomy expression on his face.

“Esteemed brother…” Jie Gang opened his mouth, forcing a smile onto his face.

“Don’t butter me up, who’s your brother!” Yang Zhen glowered, scaring Jie Gang, “You killed my Xiao Qiang, now, how will you make this right?”

“You are shameless!” Zhen Ping’er stared wide-eyed at Yang Zhen, “What proof do you have that this dead sheep is your Xiao Qiang?”

Yang Zhen tsked, “Compared to your shamelessness, I fall far short; tripping people up, using underhanded tactics, you’re proficient in it all.”

“You…” Zhen Ping’er’s words were cut off by her Junior Sister pulling at her clothes from behind.

All three of them were been severely poisoned. If they didn’t take the antidote quickly, they would fall dead within a quarter of an hour. This was obviously not the time for them to contend with Yang Zhen.

Zhen Ping’er struggled to her feet, “Even if I die, I won’t allow this villainous and treacherous scoundrel to succeed.”

“Great!” Yang Zhen cheerily looked at everyone, holding two bottles of antidote in his hand. One was to counteract the Ghost Vine poison, and the other was for the other poison. He weighed them in his hand, “Those who don’t want to die, raise your hands!”

Jie Gang and his companions immediately raised their hands. Only Lihuo, who was tied up like a dumpling, couldn’t raise his hand and wailed in distress.

The square-faced woman and Zhen Ping’er’s martial sister hesitated for a moment and then raised their hands as well.

Zhen Ping’er glared at Yang Zhen and then turned her head away with a snort.

People are like that; once their lives are threatened and they have to give up resisting, anything can be negotiated. The two bottles of antidote in Yang Zhen’s hand were the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“Actually, I’m a reasonable person. You just have to hand over everything you have, and tell me all the cultivation methods and martial skills you’ve practiced. Then I’ll let you go, and from then on, we’ll each go our separate ways, alright?”

“You wish!” Zhen Ping’er glared fiercely.

Yang Zhen waved his hand dismissively, “Dead people have no right to speak, nor the ability to negotiate!”

“You…” Zhen Ping’er was so angry that she spat out a mouthful of blood.

“I’m going to count to three, and if you don’t hand it over then I’m leaving!”

“One.”

Yang Zhen walked and counted.

“Three.”

“Wait… wait, I’ll give it!” Jie Gang gritted his teeth.

Yang Zhen immediately started laughing, slapping Jie Gang on the face and said, “That’s more like it. Those who understand the times are great men.”

Once someone started, the rest followed. Even the square-faced woman and the martial sister hesitantly told their cultivation methods and martial skills. Only Zhen Ping’er was still resisting, but she had already turned ghastly pale and was shaking uncontrollably.

“Now it’s only you left.” Yang Zhen cheerfully said, standing before Zhen Ping’er.