Chapter 110: Qin Yanyun

Chapter 110: Lu Yao’s Cousin, Qin Yanyun

Jianmie only approached the three youths clad in purple after hearing the young lady with the big yellow teeth agree, and then spoke to them: “I’ve been waiting for you all this time. I never imagined you three were hiding here—it’s almost too easy to catch you!”

Jianmie’s tone implied he was only afraid they wouldn’t come, but the three truly feared he might have set an ambush with reinforcements.

Without hesitation, the leader of the purple-clad trio said to his companions, “Brothers, retreat!”

In an instant, the three vanished without a trace. When faced with choosing between treasure and their lives, they decisively chose survival.

Seeing them flee in fright, Jianmie shouted mockingly, “Come on, I’m giving you the sword. Why won’t you take it?”

The three silently cursed him in their hearts: “I don’t trust a word you say, you cunning little bastard. Trying to trick us again, huh?”

After successfully scaring them off, Jianmie relaxed slightly and then turned to flee, clearly fearful that the big yellow teeth girl might cling to him.

Once Jianmie had disappeared, Huangfu Shengqi revealed his true form and praised Jianmie quietly: “Truly an exceptionally clever youth—brave, resourceful, and bold enough to gamble recklessly on matters that could lead to utter ruin. Yet, I’ve never heard of such a person. It’s rare for someone like him to remain unnoticed. He might be a valuable friend—or a terrifying enemy.”

Huangfu Shengqi had been closely observing Jianmie’s every move. After Jianmie left, he chose not to follow, knowing that overly deliberate pursuit could repel the other.

After all, unsolicited attentions often breed suspicion.

In Huangfu Shengqi’s mind, Jianmie, a favored son of heaven, was certain to shine in the selection trials. There would be plenty of opportunities to connect; no need to rush.

Having made his plans, Huangfu Shengqi flew off toward the left.

“Beautiful lady, come with us! Being chosen by our leader is your blessing. Many girls scheme and flatter to win his favor, but few get the chance!” one of three young men in white, all at the pinnacle of the Outbound Realm, shamelessly expressed their leader’s crude intentions to a delicate-faced girl.

The girl, despite her dust-streaked appearance—no doubt from last night’s fierce thunderstorm—looked weary. Yet her clear, refined eyes shone like a spring in the desert, lucid and bright as a pool of pure water, stirring compassion in onlookers.

A lock of glossy hair danced lightly in the breeze. Her slender willow brows, elegant nose, and blooming red lips, faintly tinted with a rosy hue, framed a face as pure and radiant as jade. Her snow-white skin was flawless and exquisitely smooth.

She possessed a tall, graceful figure—soft, lotus-like arms and beautifully shaped long legs. Coupled with her tender, smooth complexion, she wore a white peony-embroidered sheer robe over a long plum blossom skirt that swept the floor, cinched at the waist with a splendid belt.

Setting aside the dust and fatigue, she was a vision of poised elegance and breathtaking beauty.

This young lady was none other than Lu Yao’s cousin: Qin Yanyun, affectionately called Qin Yan or simply Yanyun by family.

Curiously, she agreed to the proposition of the three sycophants without a word of objection or question.

Qin Yanyun smiled gently at the three Outbound Realm peak disciples, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.

That smile bewitched the three white-clad youths, leaving them dazed, as if their souls had been stolen.

Suddenly—

Smack!

A delicate, snowy hand struck all three across their faces without mercy. The three were jolted awake, bewildered and thinking to themselves, “None of us offended her. Why did she hit us?”

Just as they were about to ask, “Miss, why did you hit us?” Qin Yanyun interrupted sharply: “Who is your leader? Take me to him!”

Sensing her cultivation surpassed theirs by a great margin, the three had no choice but to obediently lead her toward the mountain peak behind.

Qin Yanyun despised nothing more than scoundrels who bullied men and women alike.

Upon reaching the summit, they saw a young man in white gazing greedily at her, igniting a fierce fury within her.

“Who are you?” she demanded.

The young man, adopting a lofty air, responded, “I am Jin Jianghua, the Holy Poison Scion of the Ten Thousand Poisons Palace. Have you heard of me?”

Upon hearing the name, Qin Yanyun thought, “So this is that scoundrel.”

She retorted, “I’ve long heard of you and intended to meet you. I didn’t expect you to come to me instead.”

Jin Jianghua smirked arrogantly, certain that Qin Yanyun was just a pretty but weak woman before him. Since she hadn’t revealed her identity, he knew nothing of her true status, seeing her merely as another target.

Just as he contemplated how to torment her, a sudden upheaval of the natural laws stirred around them—a sign of impending danger.

After confirming Jin Jianghua’s identity, Qin Yanyun swiftly summoned her sword and lunged at him.

Caught off guard, Jin Jianghua narrowly avoided her strike by leaning back just in time.

He then summoned his weapon—a whip imbued with the laws of heaven and earth—and lashed at Qin Yanyun, forcing her to retreat.

With Qin Yanyun driven back, Jin Jianghua asked suspiciously, “Why did you suddenly attempt to assassinate me?”

Qin Yanyun replied coldly, “Today, I seek justice on behalf of the women who vanished after crossing paths with you.”

Jin Jianghua’s smile turned devilish, his cruelty deepened.

“Then so be it. No matter who you are, you won’t escape my grasp today.”

He had resolved to kill anyone who knew his secrets, and Qin Yanyun was no exception. He intended to torture her mercilessly before ending her in despair.

The green venom seething from Jin Jianghua’s whip made souls tremble in terror.

Yet Qin Yanyun’s cultivation, at the early stage of the Refining Soul Realm, was evenly matched with his. Fierce and proud, she showed no intention of fleeing after her first failed strike.

Thus, a fierce battle erupted.

The Ten Thousand Poisons Palace, located in the Lujiashan Star Domain, was a place feared by all, renowned for poisons so lethal they could kill any living creature.

Jin Jianghua’s depravity was infamous: lustful to a fault, he savored destroying innocence. His cruel methods were inhumane. He delighted in hearing the agonized screams of women and seeing their terrified expressions.

He spared no one—regardless of looks or age. Whomever he chose, none survived.

He concealed these atrocities meticulously; victims’ bodies dissolved into poison, leaving no trace.

Since he began these acts at sixteen, twenty years had passed. During that time, many women from the Ten Thousand Poisons Palace and nearby areas mysteriously vanished. Every woman who encountered Jin Jianghua disappeared without exception.

Despite suspicion, no one had concrete evidence to accuse him. Ordinary families suffered silently, too intimidated by his status to speak out.

Qin Yanyun, somehow privy to this, harbored a burning rage against Jin Jianghua. Even without proof, she was determined to settle the score with him.

Their duel at the early pinnacle of the Refining Soul Realm sent ripples through a thousand-foot radius, stirring the very laws of the universe.

They fought evenly for half an hour until Qin Yanyun pierced Jin Jianghua’s arm with her sword, while he struck her left arm with his whip.

Though it appeared a battle of mutual wounds, Qin Yanyun had already lost much of her fighting strength.

Jin Jianghua licked the fresh blood dripping from his arm with a horrifying grin.

Qin Yanyun felt herself growing weaker and realized inwardly, “This scoundrel’s whip venom is invading my body.”

Seeing her falter, Jin Jianghua adopted a domineering stance over her fate. If he willed her death, she would not live.

Within moments, the venom coursing from his whip drained her strength, and she collapsed helplessly, conscious but immobilized.

Disregarding the blood dripping from his arm, Jin Jianghua approached and crouched before her, extending his pale, jade-like hands to touch her face.

To Qin Yanyun, those hands were utterly filthy, beyond words. Yet she was too weak to resist. Otherwise, she would have severed those hands and fed them to the dogs to purge the hatred burning within her.

Thus, the grim confrontation continued atop the towering peak, the air thick with venom, hatred, and the struggle for justice.