Miao Xiaomiao felt even more incensed. After all, Mo Junye was the inheritor of Wang Neng and Li Jie's teacher, Li Jie. They had a duty of protection, not to mention he had just saved them from the Zhan family. If it hadn't been for him, one could only guess what fate would have befallen them...

It was one thing that they lacked gratitude, but to immediately betray him when faced with danger! Where was their conscience? Where was divine justice?

As she watched the black-clad masked figures, a flash of insight struck Miao Xiaomiao: Could these all be people from the Zhan family?

"You may trust yourselves, but I do not trust you! Here, swallow this. Only after you eat it will I truly believe you!"

A masked figure in black reached out and instantly dislocated Wang and Li's jaws, then flung a small black pill into their mouths. Even from a distance, Miao Xiaomiao could smell the intense, peculiar stench emanating from the little black pill.

"Seven Poisons Pill! That is absolutely the scent of the Seven Poisons Pill! How could these black-clad men possess this forbidden medicine expressly prohibited by the Misty Illusionary Palace!"

As expected, she then heard the masked figure in black let out a sinister, low chuckle: "You two have some experience, so you must know this is the forbidden medicine of the Misty Illusionary Palace—the Seven Joys Pill! After consuming it, if you do not receive the antidote within two hours, your bodies will rot and you will die. If the time limit passes, even the antidote cannot save your lives. However, as long as you either kill Mo Junye or bring him here within two hours, I will give you the life-saving antidote! How you seize the chance to survive is up to you."

Wang Neng and Li Jie began to tremble as if shaking with the ague.

Then, the black-clad man moved his hand and said coldly, "You may go now."

Immediately afterward, Wang Neng and Li Jie regained the ability to move, yet they walked out like walking corpses. After taking just two steps, they heard the cold voice of the masked man behind them: "Act naturally. If you expose any flaws... Hmph hmph, you'll only have yourselves to blame!"

Wang Neng and Li Jie shuddered, their eyes simultaneously showing fear, but their gait immediately became much smoother. By the time they reached the corner, they had resumed their normal appearance.

What should be done now? Miao Xiaomiao urgently questioned herself. Each of these six masked men possessed the cultivation level of a Venerable! Even the weakest among them had the strength of a first-level Venerable!

Even within the Illusionary Palace, aside from the major families, other factions could not field such a luxurious lineup. Most minor powers would be considered regional overlords with just one Venerable-level master... Yet here, to deal with a person with the Ethereal Constitution who currently amounted to nothing, they mobilized a total of six Venerable-level experts!

Precisely because of this extravagant display, it was clear how determined the mastermind behind this was! It also indicated how intense and impatient this person's hatred for Mo Junye must be!

How exactly could she make Mo Junye escape this calamity?

Miao Xiaomiao was almost in despair!

The strength displayed by the opposition was far too formidable. Even if she revealed herself, at best she would only sacrifice her own life to no avail; seeking reinforcements elsewhere now would be futile as they were all too far away...

It seemed like a long time, yet perhaps only a moment later...

Slow, measured footsteps began to approach from a short distance away. Miao Xiaomiao followed the sound and almost wept from anxiety: Not far off, Mo Junye was shuffling his feet, approaching slowly step by step, completely unaware of the immense danger lurking here!

Idiot!

You... You are being far too careless! Why are you walking straight into a death trap!

Miao Xiaomiao was about to use her spiritual transmission to warn him, even preparing to directly use her movement technique to whisk him away regardless of everything—to buy a little more time if possible—when a figure flashed, and Wang Neng and Li Jie had already appeared before Mo Junye.

From afar, Miao Xiaomiao couldn't tell what the Wang-Li duo were signaling, but Mo Junye was smiling blankly, nodding repeatedly, and then followed Wang Neng and Li Jie toward this spot. Judging by his posture, he was completely unguarded...

Miao Xiaomiao finally fell into complete despair!

This scoundrel, just today in the mortal world, hadn't you said that these two had ill intentions toward you? Why aren't you suspicious now?

Unable to bear it any longer, she focused her divine sense and urgently transmitted a message to Jun Moxie: "Brother Mo, there's an ambush set up for you here! Leave quickly... Danger!"

The distance between them was now too close; forcibly using a movement technique to carry Mo Junye away was impossible. The only result of such an action would be sacrificing her own life, with no further benefit. Her only hope now was that Mo Junye would immediately turn back, that she could follow closely, find an opportunity to use the Jade Scroll to conceal them both, and then perhaps escape this disaster. But Miss Miao never imagined that the wooden-headed Mo Junye, upon hearing her risky transmission, would suddenly look up, gaze at the sky in confusion, scratch his head, and say, "Am I dreaming? Am I hearing things?"

He actually laughed self-mockingly twice, then quickened his pace by two steps, closely following behind Wang Neng and Li Jie.

"What a fool! An imbecile! A complete blockhead!"

Miao Xiaomiao was nearly driven mad: "I've never seen such a brainless pig..."

The present Miao Xiaomiao was both furious and anxious, almost wanting to rush out and grab this carefree Ethereal Constitution Young Master Mo to beat him severely to vent her frustration, but she couldn't. She was the last thread of hope for this genius Mo. Impulsiveness would only sever that final hope...

Closer...

Closer still...

Oh heavens, what should I do, boo hoo hoo...'... I really don't want him to die...'

A sinister, eerie laugh suddenly rang out, and the six black-clad masked figures simultaneously materialized. Front, back, left, and right, they completely blocked off every possible escape route for this great genius possessing the Ethereal Constitution.

"Young Master Mo Junye, we have admired your name for a long time."

The leading masked man spoke with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Ah? Who are you... What do you want? Are you robbers? I don't have any money!"

Mo Junye appeared greatly frightened, which was understandable. Caught completely off guard in the darkness, anyone would be startled to encounter six people with their faces entirely covered demanding passage.

"We are not robbers, nor do we want your money... We only want your life."

The masked man explained patiently, his eyes filled with the look of a cat playing with a mouse: "We are truly sorry. Because you offended someone you shouldn't have! Thus, we are forced to come here against our will. We hope Young Master Mo can atone for your sins."

"Atonement... I certainly will atone..." Jun Moxie said, trembling: "As long as you open a path for me, I will forgive you... I certainly won't mind..."

"We are truly very sorry. We appreciate Young Master Mo's generosity, but regrettably, we cannot allow you to pass."

The leading black-clad man said with great regret: "...We are truly sorry, Young Master Mo. Someone has ordered us to ensure you are dealt with here, and moreover, that you choose the most painful way to die... the slowest way to die... We are actually just a few minor figures who have no real authority..."

"The slowest? The most painful way to die? Do I really get to choose?"

Jun Moxie asked with feigned delight: "Is that so?"

Miao Xiaomiao, hidden behind a large rock, wished she could rush out and slap him twice: They are just playing with you, you simpleton!

...You seem quite clever, how can you be so muddle-headed now?

"Yes, since Young Master Mo is so benevolent, I shall give you the chance to choose yourself. Would you prefer to be burned alive... or drowned... or perhaps have me personally peel the flesh off your body piece by piece?"

"Can I choose neither? Isn't it about the slowest, most painful death?"

Jun Moxie pleaded pitifully: "If I were to choose the most painful and slowest death myself, nothing would compare to finding me a hundred beautiful women, stripping them all naked, and bringing them to bed, then I would take them one by one... until I either died from exhaustion or from the depletion of my vital essence. That would be the most painful and slowest death... Is that permissible?"

"Pah!"

Miao Xiaomiao was furious inside and spat out a silent curse:

This guy is facing death, yet his mind is still full of lustful thoughts..."

"That manner of death is indeed very slow... but it is a rather blissful way to die... unrelated to pain... Young Master Mo, I regret that we cannot accommodate that request."

The masked man in black was exceptionally patient. He was faithfully executing Zhan Yushu's command: to make him suffer the agony of wanting to live but being unable to, while continuously maintaining the hope of survival, ultimately torturing him to death.

"You really intend to kill me..."

Jun Moxie trembled: "Why? Why on earth? I just arrived in this place!"

"Actually, there's no particular reason," the masked man in black stepped forward, a powerful pressure emanating from him, enveloping Jun Moxie.

"It's simply because you deserve to die! Not only did you offend someone you shouldn't have, but you also captured Miss Miao's heart... Heh heh, didn't you know that Miss Miao has long been someone else's desired concubine for many years?"

Miao Xiaomiao was truly stunned this time. She was actually someone others had desired as a concubine for years... A concubine? Which fellow dared to be so audacious? In an instant, Miao Xiaomiao almost forgot her own peril and nearly rushed out to argue with this person, 'I am not like a concubine! That person has completely misunderstood! You are daydreaming, chasing after things beyond your reach, a toad dreaming of eating swan meat!'

"A concubine?"

Jun Moxie asked sorrowfully: "How could such a beautiful girl be someone's concubine? How could that person be so wicked? He is simply a toad dreaming of eating swan meat!"

His statement brought some comfort to Miao Xiaomiao's heart, but the next sentence nearly made her pass out from anger: "...If one must be a concubine... then it should only be for me! Who else is worthy?!"

Miao Xiaomiao's heart was boiling with rage... Good, Mo Junye! If you don't die today, if you don't yield today... This lady swears that if you survive, I will torment you for a lifetime, make you regret it...

"Time is running short, Young Master Mo. You should be on your way. The road to the Yellow Springs is long; take care."

The masked man in black said politely: "...If you still haven't chosen how you wish to die, then I shall take the liberty of choosing for you!"

"Wait!"

Jun Moxie took a step back, shouted loudly, then begged mournfully: "Why are you killing me? ...You haven't told me the real reason... Actually, I know it was purely a misunderstanding... It really was a misunderstanding; you must understand that."

"A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?"

This time, it was the masked man's turn to be confused. What was this fellow talking about? It didn't make any sense!

"Really, about what happened back then... it truly wasn't my fault."

Jun Moxie explained urgently: "Actually, your mother back then... I really didn't sleep with her... If you don't believe me, you can go ask your mother. If it were me, you should at least be more handsome. You can tell by looking at someone's face, really..."