The moment the voice sounded, the night grew even more silent, and all snakes, insects, and beasts vanished without a trace.
An invisible pressure, almost tangible, spread through the air.
He Qinghua's face changed again, and an involuntary trace of fear appeared in her eyes. She felt as if she had fallen into an invisible quagmire, suffocating under the pressure. Her mind was seized by that voice, unable to break free.
A strong one!
A powerhouse beyond imagination!
As soon as the middle-aged man heard the voice, his expression sobered slightly, and he gave a slight bow, saying, "Senior Sister Sect Leader."
With the voice, a figure descended from the sky.
A gray gauze dress, skin like jade, a graceful figure, noble yet carrying a mesmerizing, almost magical aura. Cold as ice, yet seductive and alluring, lofty and exuding endless charm.
The moment she appeared, the quagmire-like presence grew even stronger, as if she controlled everything. She looked down at He Qinghua with cold indifference.
"You are... the Yin Empress, Zhu Yuyan!"
He Qinghua seemed to recall something and exclaimed in shock.
Her face was pale now, stubborn and ruthless yet tinged with a hint of fragility, which made the man's eyes gleam with lust. He secretly compared He Qinghua to his senior sister beside him.
"At least you have some discernment," the woman said coldly, every move exuding the demeanor of a strong expert.
He Qinghua smiled bitterly inwardly. Such a presence could only belong to the Yin Empress, Zhu Yuyan, in the Song Kingdom.
She had never expected that today, the Yin Empress would be the one seeking her out.
Most of her will to resist faded, but she still maintained her innate stubbornness, not bowing her head. She clasped her fists and said directly, "May I ask why the Yin Empress has summoned me?"
Zhu Yuyan gave He Qinghua another glance, seemingly with a hint of appreciation, and said indifferently, "Where is Lie Huo? Did he really obtain the Demon Zither?"
He Qinghua suddenly understood.
Of course. The Yin Empress personally coming here must be for the Demon Zither.
She couldn't find Old Lie Huo and didn't know if he had truly obtained the Demon Zither.
So she came to someone who knew to ask.
Because of the Demon Zither matter, I've been close to Old Lie Huo, Old Gui, and Han Xun.
It was only natural for her to seek me out. Luring me out was clearly to avoid alerting the enemy.
To avoid scaring off the Demon Zither, which hadn't yet appeared.
Understanding this, she couldn't help but feel some anger. Seeking her out was obviously picking on the weak.
She had always held herself in high regard, proud and arrogant—how could she not be angry?
Of course, anger aside, she knew she had to yield now. Suppressing her resentment, she said, "I saw Old Lie Huo two days ago. I don't know where he is now. But he probably hasn't gotten the Demon Zither; he's likely still lurking nearby."
Zhu Yuyan listened, a thoughtful look in her eyes, then snorted coldly, "Good one, Lü Tengkong. Deliberately shifting the focus, not bad."
Clearly, she believed He Qinghua's words.
Because it matched the most likely scenario from the Yin Sect's investigation.
Comparing the two, she was almost certain of the truth.
"Heh heh, Senior Sister, since the business is done, can you hand her over to me?" The middle-aged man beside her laughed, somewhat impatiently.
His eyes were fixed on He Qinghua, as if he couldn't wait to pounce.
Though this woman wasn't as captivating as his senior sister, in terms of looks, she was no less.
It had been a long, long time since he'd played with a woman of this caliber.
He Qinghua's eyes blazed with anger as she held her whip in front of her, gritting her teeth, "Don't even think about it."
"Heh heh, beauty, don't refuse. Soon you'll experience the most wonderful thing in the world. Maybe then you'll be begging me," the middle-aged man leered.
"Even if I die here, you won't touch a single hair on my head," He Qinghua said resolutely.
Her entire demeanor radiated a spirit of fighting to the death, preferring to be shattered jade than whole tile.
The middle-aged man, having seen countless women, could tell she meant it.
His smile froze slightly, then his eyes rolled, and he laughed, "Qinghua, don't be so harsh. I, Bian Bufu, am at least a Grandmaster, a member of the Saint Sect. I should be a good match for you, right? Don't worry, I'll treat you well in the future."
"Pah! You, Bian Bufu, think you're worthy? Shameless, despicable, dirty, and vile—nothing but a petty scoundrel. Wanting to match me, He Qinghua? A toad lusting after a swan's flesh—dream on!" He Qinghua didn't hold back, as if she had forgotten all fear.
Her innate stubbornness and fierceness were on full display.
Bian Bufu's face darkened, a mix of shame and anger. How long had it been since he'd been cursed like this?
What nerve.
He instinctively glanced at Zhu Yuyan, his voice turning cold, "Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Do you really think I can't do anything if you're unwilling? I tell you, even if you want to die, I won't let you. You'll obediently become my plaything."
"Hmph, a dog-like thing, disgusting," He Qinghua snapped, showing no sign of yielding. Her true qi surged, her resolve firm.
"Senior Sister." Bian Bufu gritted his teeth, unable to hold back, and looked at Zhu Yuyan.
Zhu Yuyan frowned slightly and said coldly, "Don't mess up the big plan."
With that, she turned to leave, her meaning clear.
"Rest assured, Senior Sister. I won't mess things up," Bian Bufu said with a smile.
His eyes, cold and lustful, fixed on He Qinghua. He would have his fun with this woman, then kill her when he was done.
He Qinghua clenched her teeth, her jade-like face frosty, murderous intent blazing.
"Heh, you've got some nerve, daring to touch my woman."
Suddenly, in the tense atmosphere, a cold laugh rang out from the darkness.
An overwhelming, domineering force, almost tangible, suppressed the night.
Instantly, Bian Bufu, He Qinghua, and even Zhu Yuyan, who was about to leave, all changed expressions.
Especially Zhu Yuyan, a flash of shock crossing her face as she looked cautiously and seriously.
"Who?"
With a cold shout, a burly figure strode out of the darkness.
In no time, he was right before them.
His domineering, forceful presence grew even stronger.
With a cold glance at Zhu Yuyan, he turned his gaze to Bian Bufu.
Instinctively, Bian Bufu felt a deadly danger and couldn't help but step back.
Even He Qinghua, closest to him, felt her mind shaken as she stared blankly.
Such a strong presence!
Who is it?
And those words?
Though puzzled, she instinctively wanted to retort, "Who's your woman?" But her lips moved, and under that domineering force, she held back.
"Black Dragon Stronghold, Li Daoqiang!"
Zhu Yuyan's eyes widened, two parts uncertain, eight parts certain, as she exclaimed in shock.
Immediately, Bian Bufu and He Qinghua were even more stunned.
If there was one name most famous in the martial world over the past few months, most would say the same.
Because of his youth, his martial arts, and his money-grubbing nature.
But they didn't understand why he was here.
Also for the Demon Zither?
He Qinghua raised an eyebrow.
Zhu Yuyan and Bian Bufu grew more serious. Whether it was for the Demon Zither or because He Qinghua was truly his woman, this was trouble.
"The Yin Empress has some discernment after all," Li Daoqiang said coldly, his expression indifferent.
Beside him, He Qinghua couldn't help but smile, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
Because Zhu Yuyan had said the same thing to her earlier.
Zhu Yuyan, hearing the clearly hostile tone, a flicker of coldness in her eyes, but she forced a smile for the first time. It was like a hundred flowers blooming, stunningly beautiful under the moonlight.
Like a night spirit incarnate, a living young girl.
"Chief Li's fame shakes the world. How could I not recognize you?"
"Oh? Then why is the Yin Empress bullying my woman?" Li Daoqiang's expression remained unchanged, still cold and domineering.
"Since when did the Poison Hand Rakshasa, He Qinghua, become Chief Li's woman?" Zhu Yuyan questioned, disbelief in her voice.
"I've taken a liking to her, so she naturally becomes my woman," Li Daoqiang said matter-of-factly.
Hearing this, Zhu Yuyan was momentarily speechless, and Bian Bufu felt stifled.
Even He Qinghua's face stiffened, a strange sense of embarrassment washing over her.
"Chief Li, are you doing this on purpose?" Bian Bufu couldn't help but rage.
Seeing the beauty he was about to enjoy suddenly blocked by a tiger, he was furious. Though wary, with his senior sister here, he wasn't afraid.
"Does a lecherous dog like you have the right to speak here?" Li Daoqiang's cold, commanding gaze swept over him, his dismissive attitude brimming with dominance.
He Qinghua let out a delighted laugh.
"You—!" Bian Bufu was furious, about to speak, but Zhu Yuyan stopped him with a hand.
Her face also turned cold as she looked at Li Daoqiang and said gravely, "Is Chief Li deliberately opposing my Yin Sect?"
"Heh." Li Daoqiang sneered, speaking bluntly and domineeringly, "Alright, let's settle today's account. This woman—I've taken a liking to her. From now on, she's my woman. Naturally, I'll stand up for her. You bullied her, so this debt must be paid."
Beside him, He Qinghua's embarrassment grew, but under that domineering presence, her fiery nature couldn't muster a word, her mind unsettled.
Zhu Yuyan's face grew colder.
What an arrogant, reckless Li Daoqiang!
Whether to please a woman or to pick a fight, it was clear he didn't take the Yin Sect seriously.
What nerve.
A fierce glint flashed in her eyes as she was about to speak, but Bian Bufu couldn't hold back any longer and roared, "Li Daoqiang, don't go too far! Do you really think the Yin Sect is afraid of you?"
Li Daoqiang sneered inwardly, a murderous intent surfacing in his eyes. A majestic aura, like a thousand-zhang mountain, surged and pressed down on Bian Bufu.
Zhu Yuyan's face changed.
"Watch out!"
Her jade hand rose, and a force field like a vast ocean appeared, enveloping the surrounding area.
But the mountain was too fast, too powerful.
The next moment, the force field seemed struck by a meteor, stirring up monstrous waves.
A golden light blazed, illuminating the sea and the night.
"Boom!"
Two palms collided—one thick and powerful, the other flawless, as if the finest warm jade in the world couldn't compare.
A shockwave spread in a ring, like a level-12 hurricane sweeping through, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in chaos.
Zhu Yuyan's lithe figure retreated several zhang, her face a mix of shock and uncertainty, dark and ugly, as she stared at the spot a few zhang away.
There, Li Daoqiang had also retreated several zhang, but his other hand had somehow tightly gripped Bian Bufu's neck.
Like grabbing a chick, he casually threw him to the ground and stepped on his face.
"Did I give you too much face? How dare you bark?"
(Thank you for your support.) ······