Chapter 395: Dare to Be So Negligent

Hearing the ambiguous reply, Wu Jinliang understood its meaning and didn't bother saying anything more.

In fact, there were times when even Shi Chun himself was perplexed as to why well-fed and satisfied people would still seek out life-and-death feuds.

Whether they wanted to face it or not, what was bound to happen eventually did.

When Xu Anchang approached Shi Chun, he actually sensed something unusual. He couldn't detect it when standing a little further away, but moving closer, he could perceive a slight fluctuation of magical energy around Shi Chun.

Although he had doubts, he was committed to action, and it didn't deter his desire to attack. Once You Mu was also in position, their eyes met, and they both moved in unison, each pulling out a hidden dagger from their sleeve and plunging them sharply towards the vital points of their two targets.

Yet, the moment the daggers neared their targets, both felt a delaying force pulling back their attack speed. As soon as this happened, both were startled.

The swift surprise attack gradually slowed, but Xu Anchang's dagger still struck Shi Chun's back, near his heart.

Shi Chun, whose body remained still, glanced sideways, allowing the sharp blade to pierce his back.

Xu Anchang instantly realized what he had encountered and instinctively exerted a force intended for a mutual demise, but the blade, though seemingly deep within the opponent's flesh, couldn't even tear his clothes.

How could this be?

Startled by the impossibility, he channeled his energy to unleash dark magic, intending to use dark energy to break free from the restraint.

Shi Chun, however, turned, circling behind him. A dagger appeared in his hand, which he plunged directly into Xu Anchang's back. *Crunch*, blood splattered, directly severing Xu Anchang's spine.

The blade spun again and plunged into Xu Anchang's cheek, piercing through it and through his tongue.

After he was done, he left the dagger embedded in Xu Anchang's face.

To be honest, if these two hadn't chosen to attack, Shi Chun hadn't really intended to deal with them yet. But since they had already 'flipped the table,' a clear outcome was needed; there was no more postponing.

At the same time, Wu Jinliang swung his oversized greatsword through the air with a spin, and with a *chop*, he directly hacked off You Mu's jaw.

As soon as the two brothers made their move, they coincidentally acted to silence Xu and You, giving them absolutely no chance to speak.

Chu Jingting, startled by Xu and You's sneak attack, turned his head sharply to look, but before he could even utter a gasp, he found that the matter was over in an instant, instinctively standing open-mouthed and dumbfounded.

He hadn't expected those two to suddenly attack Shi Chun and his companions at that moment, nor had he expected such instantaneous consequences for the attackers.

Then he saw Wu Jinliang swing his blade again.

Since it was already a life-or-death situation, Wu Jinliang couldn't give the two guys a chance to retaliate. He continuously swung his greatsword, and after severing You Mu's limbs, he then chopped off Xu Anchang's limbs.

The two, whose limbs were clearly severed, still stood there as if unharmed, but the flowing blood, the muffled groans from their throats, and their pained eyes were horrifying to behold.

Whether it was regret or anything else, whatever the emotion, for them or for Shi Chun and the others, it no longer held any meaning.

Zhen'er paused her healing and turned to stare in this direction, her eyes filled with undisguised shock.

Wu Jinliang, who was handling the aftermath, didn't take their lives, knowing Shi Chun still had a use for them. He pulled the dagger from Xu Anchang's face, wiped off the blood on his body, and casually tossed it back to Shi Chun.

Shi Chun, who took the dagger, looked at the immobilized Xu and You, then at Li Hongjiu lying on the ground. His fingers lightly flicked the blade, making a faint 'clink' sound, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. He suddenly said to Zhen'er, "Don't stop, revive him."

Zhen'er murmured, "Oh." She didn't have a normal person's feelings about the lives and deaths of others; her surprise just now was at the sudden turn of events, and she quickly resumed the treatment.

The facts showed that Zhen'er was not exaggerating; she could indeed resolve the poisoning in this space.

When the large water ball turned gray and spilled onto the ice, Li Hongjiu, who had been unconscious, finally began to breathe evenly.

Chu Jingting scooped him up, placed an ice goat over Li Hongjiu's mouth and nose, and directly carried him away.

Wu Jinliang also released Xu and You from the immobilization spell, stuffing an ice goat into each of their mouths.

Finally, the lake surface was empty, with only severed limbs scattered about.

At the base of the tower, Old Nine's uncertain voice sounded again, "That guy isn't dead. Will Shi Chun and the others dare to come back after knowing how he was injured?"

No one responded; no one knew.

The group from Ming Shan Sect saw Shi Chun and the others return and froze before they could even greet them, all staring in surprise at the disheveled, captured Xu and You. They had frequently sent sacred fire here before, so how did they suddenly end up like this?

What was even more shocking was the thought, "Is that Li Hongjiu? How did they also capture Li Hongjiu?"

Someone, in disbelief, even stepped forward to part Li Hongjiu's messy hair to check.

At Shi Chun's signal, the disheveled Xu and You were thrown into the cave where Tong Mingshan had previously been in seclusion.

The cave dug by Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi was already occupied; they themselves were still inside, absorbing and refining the sacred fire.

Wu Jinliang, after dropping off the captives, saw Shi Chun enter afterward. Knowing what Shi Chun was about to do to the two, he turned to leave, giving a knowing grin to Zhen'er, who had followed in. But after exiting the cave, he drove away others who tried to follow.

Shi Chun also didn't want Zhen'er to see what he was about to do, and urged her away, saying, "Zhen'er, go back to the Earth Core Pagoda first, so you can keep abreast of the situation there."

Zhen'er murmured, "Mm-hmm." She was obedient and turned to leave immediately.

Shi Chun then added, "Li Hongjiu's poison won't recur, will it?"

Zhen'er replied, "It shouldn't."

Shi Chun smiled and, curious, asked, "Can everyone in the Earth Core Pagoda cure this poison?"

The poison here was clearly extraordinary, considering how people from outside tried everything but couldn't find an antidote.

Zhen'er shook her head. "Only I can cure it. 'Su' lived the longest precisely because I was by her side."

This statement sounded a bit problematic, and Shi Chun questioned, "The Fire God and the others didn't live as long as 'Su'? You only helped 'Su' and not the others?"

Zhen'er simply replied, "She could breathe normally through me. We discovered this accidentally. 'Su' didn't want anyone else to know and asked me to conceal it from the others with her."

Shi Chun was taken aback and pressed, "Did 'Su' intentionally let the others die?"

Zhen'er thought for a moment and nodded, "That's right. 'Su' didn't live much longer either. When she passed through the 'Domain of Annihilation,' she still couldn't make it and died."

Shi Chun immediately fell into a state of doubt and uncertainty. He had previously found 'Su,' as described by Zhen'er, quite romantic, but now, it seemed she wasn't so simple.

Fortunately, these were irrelevant past events, so he didn't dwell on them. He waved his hand and said, "All right, you go back to the tower and wait for me."

Zhen'er, looking like she had an important task to do, nodded vigorously and left.

As soon as she left, Wu Jinliang immediately poked his head into the cave entrance, giving two knowing chuckles towards the inside. "I wasn't intentionally eavesdropping; I was just keeping watch for you."

With that, he quickly moved stones to help block the cave entrance.

Actually, he just wanted to eavesdrop on what was happening to them, and it would be even better if he could sneak a peek.

Shi Chun gave him a disdainful look. As if he didn't know him!

Once the cave entrance was sealed, he didn't hold back. He sat cross-legged directly between Xu Anchang and You Mu, pressing both palms onto their dantians in their lower abdomens.

Soon, Xu and You began to emit terrified, muffled whimpers...

Zhen'er, back on the island in the middle of the lake, was immediately summoned to the base of the pagoda.

Normally, it was difficult to get deep into the innermost part of the pagoda, but now, Zhen'er seemed to be running in and out at will.

The Elder had already stood up, waiting with his hands behind his back. The moment he saw Zhen'er return, he immediately turned and asked, "When is Shi Chun coming to propose?"

Zhen'er looked puzzled. "Didn't he say he'd come once he had the gifts ready?"

Old Nine, standing by, instinctively asked, "Will he still come back?"

What did that mean? Zhen'er instantly felt somewhat insulted. Was he implying her man wouldn't want her anymore?

She also instinctively cast a glance that seemed to come from her very bones, and her suddenly deep gaze gave off a chilling, intimidating aura.

Both the Elder and Old Nine, caught by her gaze, instinctively stiffened and subtly adopted a respectful, deferential posture.

The entire Earth Core Pagoda seemed to fall into a dead silence.

Fortunately, the state Zhen'er had momentarily displayed was only fleeting and vanished just as quickly. She carefully replied, "He will come back; he told me to wait for him."

The Elder slowly hummed a reply, "Understood. You may go up now."

Not until Zhen'er had left and her footsteps had completely faded did the two Elders slowly seem to relax.

Old Nine whispered, "Not only does Zhen'er resemble her, but sometimes, for a fleeting moment, her expression is exactly the same, making it feel like she's back. The physical resemblance is one thing, but can that feeling be learned too? Our transformed appearances are also like the others, but we don't seem to have that same feeling."

The Elder quietly remarked, "They were always very close; they must have spent a long time together."

Old Nine thought about it and agreed, nodding slightly...

With a *clatter*, Shi Chun emerged from the cave, drawing the attention of the Ming Shan Sect group, and their eyes were filled with various interpretations.

First with the crippled Wu Shanshan, and now with the crippled Xu and You—women were one thing, but what was it with men?

The only common point was the "flawed beauty" that this person had previously mentioned. Those who thought too much vaguely suspected that this boss might truly have some peculiar preference, whereas the big guy, despite his notoriety, actually seemed much cleaner.

Shi Chun paid no attention to what they were thinking. Hearing Wu Jinliang say that Li Hongjiu had woken up, he immediately hurried over.

Along the way, Shi Chun casually asked, "Who injured him? Did he confess?"

Wu Jinliang immediately chuckled. "He confessed! He answered everything we asked. He didn't even give us a chance to use torture. He even spilled his parents' names, and even told us which woman his master, the sect leader of Yan Bao Sect, was having an affair with. Spring, I've seen cooperative people, but never anyone this cooperative. Even our brothers from the Land of Exile aren't as good as him!"

As he spoke, he saw Li Hongjiu.

After seeing Li Hongjiu's appearance, Shi Chun was also somewhat speechless. A pile of iron chains, from who knew where, had bound Li Hongjiu like a tamale, looking very much like the way Sun Shigang was tied up during the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Conference. He immediately guessed who had done it and turned to look at Wu Jinliang.

Wu Jinliang didn't shy away, merely chuckling. It wouldn't do to be careless; that guy was too dangerous.

Li Hongjiu, who was being continuously served by ice goats placed against him day and night, also turned his head to look in this direction. Seeing Shi Chun, he first let out a bitter laugh, then sighed, "Shi Chun, I say, you've already placed heavy restrictions on me; is it really necessary to tie me up like this? I'm accustomed to being laid-back and can't stand such restraints. It's too uncomfortable; quickly untie me."

*Thump*, Shi Chun heavily stomped his foot, then, looking extremely anxious, he rushed forward, patting the massive bundle of iron chains, and angrily rebuked the crowd, "I felt like an old friend the moment I met Sir, and I admire him greatly. I'd even wish to become sworn brothers with him. Who dares to treat Sir with such disrespect!"

He slapped the chains, making them clatter loudly, but showed no urgency to untie them.

The Ming Shan Sect group was instantly dumbfounded. "This style is completely wrong." They were all stunned; they hadn't realized the Boss had such feelings for this person before.

Let alone them, even Wu Jinliang was a bit bewildered. "To get some information, did the Boss need to go this far? Didn't he say the guy already confessed? Does he suspect there's still something hidden?"

Li Hongjiu was also very surprised. His eyes, now sparkling, stared blankly at the furious Shi Chun for a moment, then he tentatively asked in a weak voice, "How about... you untie me first?"

To untie or not to untie? Shi Chun immediately gave his answer, turning his head and shouting to everyone, "You've all heard what Sir said. Tell me, untie him or not?"