Chapter 151: Captured

Seeing Yan Qingqing in such a state, Chen Chang's expression shifted to one of delight, followed by a loud laugh. "To have resisted the Myriad-Year Profound Mud Fragrance for this long, you have every right to be proud. However, the outcome today cannot be changed!"

His long sword flashed up and down, spinning into a dazzling web of sword radiance that enveloped Yan Qingqing's delicate figure.

Yan Qingqing's slender eyebrows were tightly locked, and her pretty face grew paler by the moment. The toxicity of the Myriad-Year Profound Mud Fragrance within her body was intensifying, and under the joint siege of so many people, she was plunged into a desperate plight.

Qu Chong's brows were also deeply furrowed. With merely a Tribulation-realm cultivation, he was utterly incapable of rescuing Yan Qingqing safely from the hands of so many experts.

Aside from Chen Chang, who was in the Zhoutian realm, there were three other experts of his own level, including Xiong Bin, alongside numerous talented prodigies watching her covetously from the sidelines.

Therefore, after hesitating for a moment, Qu Chong relaxed his tightly clenched fists.

"Puff—" Finally unable to hold on any longer, Yan Qingqing spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Her figure shot backward, and she collapsed powerlessly to the ground. Her meridians were entirely blocked, rendering her completely unable to move a fraction of an inch.

"I shall pretend to be captured. While they lower their guard, I will secretly refine the Myriad-Year Profound Mud Fragrance and catch them off guard!" Yan Qingqing silently abandoned her resistance.

"Whoosh—" Dozens of beams of light enveloped Yan Qingqing's delicate body. Given her formidable strength, everyone approached her with utmost caution, not daring to be even the slightest bit careless.

Chen Chang laughed heartily, walking up to Yan Qingqing and gazing at her jade-like visage. "Not bad-looking at all. Let's see if that punk Long Yun knows what's good for him. If he proves stubborn and unappreciative, having you serve as my bed-warming maid won't be a bad deal after all!"

With that, he reached out to pinch Yan Qingqing's flawless, delicate cheek.

Yan Qingqing's gaze turned cold, and two piercing, intimidating looks shot out like lightning, causing Chen Chang's expression to change drastically. He halted his hand mid-air and awkwardly withdrew it.

Chen Chang's face flushed red. The moment he met Yan Qingqing's gaze, he felt an inviolable aura suddenly wash over him, giving him a distinct sensation.

If he were to truly desecrate Yan Qingqing at this moment, he feared he would reap no benefits whatsoever. Moreover, it felt as though Yan Qingqing's meridians were not blocked by the Myriad-Year Profound Mud Fragrance at all.

"Humph!" Chen Chang let out a cold snort to regain some composure, then said indifferently, "Take her, we are returning to Central City!"

Rong Pian's expression, however, changed drastically. If these ancestors were to return to Central City, what would become of him? With Yan Qingqing captured, Long Yun would inevitably vent his fury upon him.

In the past, Long Yun was merely an ordinary punk in his eyes. However, witnessing his battle with Bai Changqing, his subsequent assistance to the Blood Qilin, and his deep ties with Qu Chong, Rong Pian's view had changed.

Rong Pian found himself increasingly unable to fathom Long Yun. He even felt that Long Yun always exuded an unfathomable aura, and he had no doubt that if Long Yun went all out, he himself would certainly be no match for him.

At this thought, Rong Pian hurried forward, bowed to Chen Chang, and smiled ingratiatingly. "Young Master Chen, Central City is not close from here. If Long Yun returns, he will likely waste a considerable amount of time traveling there. Why don't the few of you rest here for a few days? If Long Yun returns early, it will also be much easier to track down the Blood Qilin!"

Gazing at Rong Pian's flattering smile, Chen Chang said with disdain, "How could your little temple possibly accommodate us? Your name is Rong Pian, right? You first concealed the matter of this Long Qingqing. Considering you have the merit of luring her here just now, I will spare you this once. Yet when we fought, you dared not lift a finger to help. Now, I see no wisdom in these words of yours. Step aside!"

Chen Chang's words were utterly devoid of courtesy. For Rong Pian, who had always lorded over the West City as he pleased, this was somewhat humiliating. Yet, recalling the other's status, that surge of anger instantly dissipated.

A bitter smile flashed across his face. It seemed this scapegoat was his to bear for good!

Without lingering any further, Chen Chang led Yan Qingqing and the grand procession toward Central City.

The experts from the East, West, South, and North cities followed along. After pondering for a long time, Rong Pian also joined the entourage, as he had no desire to stay behind alone and await Long Yun's vengeance.

Furthermore, the experts from various cities harbored another motive: to go to Central City and obtain the Soul-Breaking Pill promised by Chen Chang. This was their primary objective for the trip. As long as they could help him capture the Blood Qilin, it would be equivalent to directly elevating their cultivation by a tier. Such temptation was simply irresistible to anyone.

Yan Qingqing closed her eyes slightly. Not only were her meridians blocked by the Myriad-Year Profound Mud Fragrance, but Chen Chang and several other experts had also jointly placed seals upon her body, purely out of fear that she might break free from the poison's restraints.

However, to Yan Qingqing, these seals meant nothing. Once she expelled the Myriad-Year Profound Mud Fragrance from her body, she would easily shatter these seals.

She immediately gathered her focus and held her breath. Though her true qi was sealed, the Nine-Revolution Heavenly Fire faced no obstruction whatsoever. It silently wound its way through her meridians, quietly refining the poison of the Myriad-Year Profound Mud Fragrance.

Qu Chong's brows were also tightly furrowed. Taking advantage of the general confusion, he secretly collected some of the wine everyone had drunk. He knew that the reason he and the others had not been poisoned was that Chen Chang had ordered an antidote to be mixed into the wine.

Among everyone present, only Yan Qingqing had not partaken in the wine, which was why she fell victim to it.

He had no idea whether the antidote would still be effective after the poison had taken hold, but it still offered a glimmer of hope. Therefore, he remained silent, waiting for the right moment to administer the wine to Yan Qingqing.

The pace of Chen Chang and his group was not fast; they traveled entirely on foot. On one hand, this was to wait for Long Yun, and on the other, they were in no particular hurry. Along the route, he had left extremely obvious markers.

As long as Long Yun returned to the Rong family estate, he would surely follow the markers step by step right to this place. When that time came, they would catch the turtle in the jar and capture Long Yun in one fell swoop.

At this thought, Chen Chang grew even more smug in his heart!

In the blink of an eye, a day had passed. Outside the main gates of the Rong estate, Long Yun stood rigidly. His brows were deeply furrowed, heavy with a profound sense of unease. Instead of entering through the main gate, he unleashed his movement technique and slipped inside.

The eerie silence of the guest quarters gave Long Yun a very bad omen, and his anxiety for Yan Qingqing intensified. Pushing open the door to the guest quarters, he found the room completely empty.

"Qingqing—" Long Yun called out softly, but no one answered. Their clothes and packages were still left upon the embroidered bed, yet Yan Qingqing was nowhere to be found.

Long Yun's expression changed instantly. His figure flashed out, just as a Rong family disciple happened to walk by. With a single blur, Long Yun appeared before him and grabbed the disciple by the throat.

"You..." The disciple tried to speak, but his throat was gripped tightly by Long Yun, cutting off his breath and choking off any further words.

"Obey me and listen quietly, or forfeit your life!" Long Yun said coldly. An aura of slaughter instantly enveloped the disciple, making him tremble uncontrollably from head to toe.

"Let me ask you, has Rong Pian brought anyone back recently?" Long Yun demanded, slightly easing his grip on the disciple's neck.

Gasping heavily for air, the disciple nodded and said, "Young Master Rong Pian has returned, and he brought a large group of people with him!"

Long Yun's expression grew even more ominous as he continued, "What did they do? Was there a fight?"

After a brief moment of thought, the disciple replied, "I heard there was a fight. Word is that Miss Qingqing fought with them, but she was overpowered and taken away by those people!"

"Which direction did they go?" Long Yun tightened his grip again, and the disciple's face turned a horrific shade!

"I... Cen... Central City!" the disciple forced out with immense difficulty.

Long Yun flung the disciple to the ground and spoke coldly, "You had all better pray that Qingqing is unharmed, or not even a dog or chicken will be left alive in your entire Rong family!"

The moment the final word left his lips, Long Yun's figure vanished from the spot.

Startled awake as if from a dream, the disciple broke out in a cold sweat as he stared at Long Yun's receding back. Such formidable killing intent! He had no doubt that a single thought from Long Yun would have been enough to kill him.

A bitter smile inevitably crept onto his face as he muttered to himself, "Young master, oh young master, I followed your instructions and leaked your route to him. But didn't you say I wouldn't be in any danger?"

At that moment, he felt like crying without tears. That lingering sensation was no different from walking through the gates of hell, and cold sweat had long since drenched his entire body.