Zhang Yang looked up, taking a careful survey of the room. It was indeed one of Changjing’s premier luxury complexes; the living room alone was vast, and the entire apartment spanned nearly two hundred square meters.

Even now, a property of this size commanded a high price. The decor was exquisite, featuring nothing but high-end furniture, though sadly, some of it had been damaged during the fight between Long Cheng and the woman.

After sizing up the residence, Zhang Yang noticed a package of tea nearby—very fine tea indeed—alongside an elegant tea set. He turned back to the two still locked in combat and casually walked over to brew some tea.

There was no way that woman could escape him, not while she was in his presence. Her skill was considerable, but her mind was completely unsettled.

With a scattered mind, she stood absolutely no chance against Long Cheng. Zhang Yang wasn't in a hurry; this was a perfect chance to let Long Cheng practice a bit and simultaneously wear down her stamina.

This tea was excellent, top-grade Longjing, costing several thousand per liang. Zhang Yang wasn't usually a tea drinker, but he knew how to appreciate a good brew.

Once the tea was ready, Zhang Yang poured a cup for Wuying as well. The little fellow happily sipped away; Wuying usually enjoyed small snacks and a bit of tea—just a greedy little thing.

As for Shandian, it preferred nothing but poison. Besides water, it only consumed venomous snakes or Zhang Yang’s pills.

Even while fighting Long Cheng, the woman kept a close watch on Zhang Yang. The more she observed, the more alarmed she became.

To be brewing tea so casually at a moment like this meant one was either a top master or impossibly arrogant. Zhang Yang was so young, leaning toward the latter—the kind who looked down on everything.

But could such a person trick her into opening the door? There was something else.

She had almost escaped earlier when a tiny projectile struck her. At first, she assumed it was Long Cheng, but now she wasn't so sure.

Long Cheng didn't possess the skill to hit her with something so small. Zhang Yang, unaware of her thoughts, would have grinned widely had he known.

That supposed ‘projectile’ was merely a small coin, one he’d received as change from a meal earlier that day. “Thump!

Thump! Thump!” The woman suddenly stomped heavily on the floorboards while retreating, avoiding direct clashes with Long Cheng.

The noise was loud, causing Zhang Yang to frown slightly as he set down his teacup and looked toward them. “There is no one downstairs.

If you plan on alerting others, you should give up now. Otherwise, I guarantee the one who suffers will be you—a hundred times worse than the person who sent you to use the Gu curse!” Zhang Yang spoke calmly.

Her intention in stomping the floor was obvious: to attract outside attention, hoping someone might rescue her. Zhang Yang said it as much as a warning.

Hearing his words, a chill shot through the woman’s heart. She had actually been trying to deduce their objective earlier.

Her sole purpose here was to poison someone with a Gu curse. Other than that, she had lived reclusively.

To be tracked down like this, it was highly likely related to that act. Zhang Yang’s statement confirmed her suspicions entirely: these two men were indeed here because of that.

“Ah!” A momentary lapse in concentration allowed Long Cheng to seize the opportunity. He landed a heavy punch squarely on her left shoulder, sending her flying backward.

Seizing the advantage, Long Cheng pressed his attack immediately, stepping forward to grab the woman’s shoulder and slamming her hard onto the floor. The woman cried out in pain twice as she lay there.

Her strength had been roughly equal to Long Cheng’s, but now, after successive blows, she was badly injured. At this point, she was no match for him.

Long Cheng advanced again. In his eyes, she was merely an enemy, and one must show no mercy to an enemy; the attack must be relentless.

“Wait a moment!” The woman cried out urgently. She was still sprawled on the ground, a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth.

Long Cheng’s blows had not been light; the girl had sustained significant internal injuries. Long Cheng paused, his hand raised, while Zhang Yang turned his head to look directly at her.

Lying on the ground, the woman glanced at Long Cheng, then turned her gaze to Zhang Yang, never letting it leave him. Between the two, Long Cheng appeared taller and more robust, possessing internal energy—he certainly seemed much stronger than Zhang Yang.

Yet, deep down, she felt Zhang Yang was the more formidable one, the true decision-maker between them. “No more fighting?

Then come over here!” Zhang Yang smiled faintly and spoke softly. Long Cheng lowered his hand, watching the woman warily.

The woman glanced back at Long Cheng, then scrambled up from the floor, staggering toward the sofa. She dared not sit, instead standing opposite Zhang Yang.

She was close enough now that if Zhang Yang were an ordinary person, a quick surprise attack would certainly allow her to capture him. She could then use him as a hostage to get out.

The thought surfaced only to be ruthlessly suppressed. She had no confidence that Zhang Yang was ordinary; acting rashly now would likely lead to an even worse outcome.

Long Cheng walked over and sat down right next to Zhang Yang. After sitting, he continued to stare at the woman opposite, showing no concern for Zhang Yang.

Seeing his composure, the woman became even more certain that this young man opposite her was definitely no commoner. “Have a seat!” Zhang Yang said quietly, gesturing toward a chair opposite the sofa.

The woman looked back, a hint of confusion in her eyes. The chair was across from the sofa, not far, but still slightly separated.

If both of them were seated on the sofa, she might have a decent chance of escaping while fetching the chair—at least making it to the balcony, smashing through the not-so-sturdy isolation window, and fleeing. But she quickly smothered this impulse.

Having failed once in an attempt to run, the chances of succeeding now were slim. Judging by their demeanor, they looked capable of anything if provoked.

“What is your name, and where are you from?” Zhang Yang asked directly. “Qu Meilan, from Nanjiang!” the woman murmured.

Long Cheng glanced back at Zhang Yang. This woman was indeed from Nanjiang.

It seemed Wu Zhiliang’s claim of going to Cainan was a cover; he had secretly gone to Nanjiang, a fact Wu Zhiguo didn't know. “Why did you use Gu venom to harm my friend?” Zhang Yang pressed.

“Boss Wu found my Master and gave him a lot of money, asking him to help place a Gu curse on someone. My Master accepted the payment and sent me here with the Gu worm to help Boss Wu apply the curse.

Once the cursed person dies, I can leave. That’s all I know!” The woman spoke honestly and slowly.

She was merely an executor, taking payment for service. Now that she was captured, she could only lament her bad luck.

In her heart, she deeply resented that Wu Zhiliang. Previously, she had carefully inquired whether the person being cursed had any powerful associates nearby.

Wu Zhiliang had confidently assured her there were none, which had set her mind at ease. No associates, yet suddenly two appeared—and both were this formidable.

Wu Zhiliang had utterly ruined her this time. Had she known there were such experts around, she would have fled long ago after successfully placing the curse, rather than waiting for the victim to die.

“Remove the curse on my friend, and I will spare you!” Zhang Yang studied her for a moment before quietly stating the offer. The woman didn't seem to be lying; she was likely just a messenger carrying out orders, unfortunate enough to run into him and Long Cheng.

“I can’t remove it!” The woman shook her head slightly, delivering an answer that surprised both Zhang Yang and Long Cheng. “Can’t remove it?

Don’t you believe I can make you wish you were dead or couldn’t die? You are an internal energy cultivator too.

Have you heard of the Nine Great Tortures of my Long family?” Long Cheng immediately stood up. The woman flinched backward several steps, startled by him.

“You, you are from the Long family?” The woman was, after all, a practitioner in the same field and had some knowledge of the several renowned internal energy families in the country. The Long family was the foremost among them.

Rumor had it that behind the Long family lay the even more terrifying Xuanyuan lineage. “Yes.

If you help my friend undo the poison now, I guarantee your life!” Long Cheng nodded quickly. The Long family was relatively famous, and at this point, he could only hope to use the family name to truly intimidate her.

For Long Cheng, saving Wu Zhiguo was the most crucial matter. “Even if you kill me, I can’t remove it.

The Gu worm was personally cultivated by my Master. I was only responsible for applying the curse.

I don't know the method for removing it!” The woman shook her head again, her voice tinged with fear as she spoke. If she knew how to cure it, she certainly wouldn't refuse.

She had no ties to Wu Zhiliang and had no desire to sacrifice her life for him. But the reality was she couldn't comply, meaning she couldn't accept their terms.

Thinking of the rumors surrounding the Long family, she nearly burst into tears. “Where is your Master?” Zhang Yang asked, looking at her intently.

If this Gu worm wasn't one she personally nurtured, then it was entirely possible she didn't know the removal method. Gu worms could be administered by anyone familiar with the insect and the process, not just the cultivator who raised them.

In that case, her inability to remove the curse would be understandable. “I cannot say.

Absolutely not!” The woman’s body suddenly began to tremble, and she shook her head repeatedly. While the Long family put immense pressure on her, her Master imposed an even greater burden.

Her Master absolutely despised betrayers. She had personally witnessed a senior sister who tried to leave the sect being dragged back, tortured for three months, and eventually driven mad without ever being allowed to die.

Her Master’s methods of punishment were truly terrifying, possibly rivaling the legendary ‘Ten Thousand Gu Piercing the Heart.’ “Look up, look at me!” Zhang Yang commanded suddenly. The woman immediately lifted her head, staring blankly at him.

A subtle, mesmerizing force appeared in Zhang Yang’s eyes. The woman’s concentration began to waver, but just as quickly, her eyes sharpened again, and she looked at Zhang Yang with intense vigilance.

“What a pity!” Zhang Yang sighed inwardly. His hypnotic technique worked well on ordinary people, but its effect was significantly diminished against these internal energy cultivators; it could only serve as an auxiliary measure.

Zhang Yang suddenly flicked a poisoned needle from his hand. This needle, ground from the shell of a Black Iron Spider, could induce hallucinations—the perfect time to deploy his hypnotic art.

………… Fourth update, Chapter 29 of the Hundred Chapter Bonus Chapters! To be continued.

RT