Chapter 244 - 180: Unbelievable (2)

’These son-of-a-bitch Jianghu scoundrels, do they even know what they’re doing!?’

Suppressing his rage, Yuwen Boxi thought for a moment before finally gritting his teeth. "Except for Bian Yixia, the Gang Leader of the Hongxing Gang... release all the others for now!"

Knowing that Yuwen Boxi was fuming, his subordinates didn’t dare ask any questions and immediately did as they were told.

"Wait!"

"Send a message to Zhao Ke of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect... Does he not give a damn that such an evil fiend has appeared in Jiangnan Prefecture!?"

Before long, a reply from Yuwen Boxi came through Fu Zhouchen’s Communication Jade Talisman.

He didn’t dare waste time, because Zou Feng had made sure to add a line in his last message: if he didn’t receive a reply in fifteen minutes, he would start by cutting off one of Yuwen Zheng’s fingers.

Zou Feng wasn’t afraid of Yuwen Boxi trying any tricks. After all, with Yuwen Zheng still in his hands, faking the release of the prisoners was out of the question.

In truth, it didn’t matter to Yuwen Boxi if he temporarily released those insignificant gang members.

As long as he could rescue Yuwen Zheng, he could recapture the others at any time.

As for what to do with the gang members who were released first, along with the people from the Heart Meeting Martial Arts Hall...

Zou Feng had already discussed it with Tian Yun.

At this very moment, Tian Yun was already on her way back to Yuan Guang County.

The plan for the Hongxing Gang was actually quite simple: they definitely couldn’t stay in Yuan Guang County Town any longer.

Having been branded as rebels, the Hongxing Gang would only be a group of sitting ducks if they stayed in Yuan Guang County Town.

Therefore, their only way out was to go to Qifeng Mountain and become mountain bandits.

"Sir... the an... antidote..."

Fu Zhouchen’s reminder snapped Zou Feng out of his thoughts.

According to their agreement, once Yuwen Boxi’s side released the prisoners, it was Zou Feng’s turn to produce the antidote.

However, Fu Zhouchen and the others had no idea that there was, in fact, no antidote.

Everyone in the Yuwen Mansion was going to die. Not a single one of them would be saved, for Zou Feng had dosed them all with a potent poison.

’But they can’t die right away. It has to be in a few days, preferably after I’ve dealt with Yuwen Boxi...’

Thus, Zou Feng had set the poison to take effect in seven days.

Now, faced with Fu Zhouchen’s question, Zou Feng casually took out a handful of non-lethal elixirs, used his Hand of Poisoning to add a little something, and handed them over.

With his special additions, Fu Zhouchen and the others would immediately feel a great sense of relief wash over their bodies after taking the pills.

Furthermore, since there would be no obvious symptoms before the poison fully took effect, they wouldn’t suspect the efficacy of these "antidotes" for the time being.

Even though Fu Zhouchen was a Fifth Grade Expert, he was also severely injured in addition to being poisoned. In such a weakened state, he wouldn’t be able to determine if the poison was truly purged from his system until his wounds had completely healed.

After casually handing over the "antidotes," Zou Feng prepared to haul Yuwen Zheng away from the mansion.

’The exchange of Yuwen Zheng for Bian Yixia definitely can’t happen here.’

’Even though no one has broken through my Poison Domain yet, if this drags on and experts from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect or other sects are alerted, that might no longer be the case.’

’And if more experts gather here, even escaping will soon become a problem.’

So, Zou Feng decisively poisoned Yuwen Zheng unconscious. But just as he was about to leave, Xiaolv suddenly flew over from the main gate of the Yuwen Mansion.

It couldn’t speak, but as it flew closer, its frantic fluttering made Zou Feng realize at once that something was wrong.

’An expert at the main gate?’

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the poison fog near the Yuwen Mansion’s main gate, a heavyweight had indeed arrived.

When he appeared, the Martial Artists and soldiers surrounding the poison fog automatically parted to make a path for him.

They all thought the same thing: the Yuwen Family was saved!

The newcomer was none other than Yuwen Boxi’s "close friend," the Celestial Essence Sword Sect Elder, Zhao Ke, the "Gentleman’s Sword."

He was the very person Yuwen Boxi had first thought to ask for help.

The reason he was called the "Gentleman’s Sword" wasn’t because he was a particularly upright gentleman.

Quite the opposite. Zhao Ke was called the "Gentleman’s Sword" sarcastically due to his frequent despicable acts, especially his fondness for sneak attacks, stabbing opponents in the back, and using dirty tricks.

However, while Zhao Ke was no gentleman, his Fourth Grade strength was undeniable. Moreover, as an Elder of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect, he was a far cry from a rogue Fourth Grade Expert.

It was worth noting that when the Celestial Essence Sword Sect sent an assassination squad to kill the leader of the rebel army in Jiangnan Prefecture, the "Gentleman’s Sword" Zhao Ke had been among them.

Arriving with Zhao Ke were two Elite Disciples from the Celestial Essence Sword Sect who had just advanced to the Gang Qi Realm.

Once disciples from these Major Sects advanced to the Gang Qi Realm, most would enter the Jianghu to temper themselves through experience.

While doing so, their favorite activity was "slaying demons and vanquishing evil."

The two disciples with Zhao Ke had been temporarily staying in Jiangnan Prefecture City.

Not long after the poison fog was discovered, the two of them had already tried to force their way through in coordination with other Jianghu experts.

Naturally, they had returned in defeat.

So, they immediately called for backup, using the Celestial Essence Sword Sect’s communication methods to notify Zhao Ke, who was the closest to their location.

Soon, Zhao Ke led the two disciples-in-training and swaggered right up to the edge of the poison fog.

After a brief glance, Zhao Ke couldn’t help but sneer. "A mere poison fog was enough to stop you?"

His words seemed to be aimed at scolding the juniors of his sect, but in reality, everyone knew he was mocking all of them.

"The Celestial Essence True Gang of my Celestial Essence Sword Sect specializes in breaking through such vile things. Once truly mastered, you will be impervious to all evil and immune to all poisons!"

With that, he clasped his hands behind his back, showing no intention of drawing his sword, and strode directly into the fog.

The moment the roiling poison fog touched the Gang Qi surrounding his body, it seemed to evaporate, rapidly thinning and dissipating.

Seeing their Elder’s awe-inspiring display, the two disciples behind him swelled with pride. With their heads held high, they followed him into the fog, basking in the surrounding crowd’s looks of amazement and admiration.

It was as if they weren’t the ones who had been miserably routed by the poison fog during their first attempt to break through.

However, after advancing about twenty paces, the expression on Zhao Ke’s face, which had at first been relaxed and effortless, slowly began to change.

He was beginning to realize that the number of poisons mixed into the fog was ridiculously high.

Zhao Ke had fought Poison Cultivators from the Southern Border before and had even personally slain two who were in the Gang Qi Realm.

But just as he had boasted, with the protection of his Celestial Essence True Gang, so-called Exotic Poisons were merely unorthodox tricks that had no hope of poisoning him.

So, Zhao Ke truly disdained Exotic Poisons. Now, however, faced with so many different kinds mixed together, he was finally starting to feel that this was becoming troublesome.

His Celestial Essence True Gang was already operating at full power, and he had lost all of his earlier composure.

’I can still push through, but the problem is the exertion required. After I get through this poison fog, I definitely won’t be in peak condition to fight that Poison Cultivator...’

The reason Zhao Ke was so fond of dirty tricks was that he always played it safe, never fighting a battle he wasn’t sure he could win.

’And this situation is already showing signs of uncertainty.’

Since things were uncertain, Zhao Ke was even less willing to fight to the death for Yuwen Boxi’s sake.

’But I bragged so much earlier. Not only are my two disciples watching, but there’s a huge crowd outside. How can I just go back on my word and leave?’

Just as he was hesitating, the view before him suddenly cleared.

Without realizing it, he had pushed through and successfully broken into the poison-fog-shrouded grounds of the Yuwen Mansion.

"Elder Zhao’s Celestial Essence True Gang truly has reached the point of being immune to all poisons!"

"That Poison Cultivator has nowhere to run now!"

The two disciples, naturally unaware of Zhao Ke’s recent inner conflict, immediately seized the opportunity to flatter him.

Zhao Ke went along with it and snorted coldly. "Unorthodox tricks are nothing to worry about!"

He was feeling confident again. ’After all, a Poison Cultivator’s direct combat abilities are relatively weak. Once I’ve broken through their carefully laid Poison Domain, the rest should be easy.’

However, before the words had even left his mouth, a terrifying whistling sound suddenly descended upon him.

Zou Feng’s long-brewing Great Universal Hand came crashing down with the force of a falling sky.

After Xiaolv had warned him of the intruder, Zou Feng hadn’t rushed to escape.

’After all, I have to carry Yuwen Zheng when I leave, which will definitely slow me down.’

’If a Fourth Grade Expert gives chase, it’ll be incredibly difficult to shake them completely.’

’So, I might as well take this chance, while my Poison Domain is still up and can wear down the intruder, to hit him with everything I’ve got.’

’I’m not trying to kill him in one blow. But if I can just injure him before I leave, my chances of successfully shaking him off will be much higher.’

In truth, Zou Feng wasn’t afraid of fighting a Fourth Grade Expert.

’The problem is, if I actually kill a Fourth Grade Expert and word gets back to Yuwen Boxi, he probably won’t take the bait anymore...’