The wind suddenly turned chilling and piercing, an icy gust swirling back, directly piercing through the backs of the two and into their necks.
Ren Yuanhao gave a slight start, his face instantly contorting into an expression of delirious joy.
“Brat, don't laugh too soon. This ‘Thousand Snow Velvet Flower Grass’ isn't something you get for free. Since it's no ordinary item, the corresponding exchange must be considerably higher. Moreover, we haven't settled the debt for you harming my treasure.”
Old Man Sha let out a cackling laugh, his eyes flashing with sharp light.
“Hey, what if you're playing us?” Liu Yu finally spoke.
“Playing you? Do you have any other choice? You must understand that once the Love Flower Poison acts, it incites lust and attachment, making one’s body burn like flames. You're no different from a beast. If the desire isn't released, the Love Flower Poison will flow through your limbs like lava, eventually burning you from the inside out until nothing is left, turning you into an empty husk. Tsk, tsk, tsk, truly the most potent poison in the world.”
Old Man Sha’s voice was like an old erhu scraping across cold strings, dry and emotionless.
Just then, Ren Yuanhao suddenly extended his hand, smiling instead of showing anger.
“However much you want to cut, I’m at your disposal.”
“Brother, don’t listen to his nonsense. We haven’t even seen the herbs. Besides, if he needs to cut twenty or thirty pounds of flesh from you, how would you possibly survive?”
Liu Yu stepped forward, suddenly drawing his black saber, the clang of its dragon-like roar echoing incessantly!
“Oh? Are you perhaps planning to use force? Let me tell you, I might not be able to beat you, but even if you defeat me, as long as I don’t hand over the herbs, you can turn this place upside down and you won’t find them!”
As Old Man Sha finished speaking, a weak cry for help could be heard from the thatched hut.
“Old Man Sha, Doctor Sha, could you please save me first? I haven’t even breathed my last yet?”
“Noisy. Can’t you see I’m in the middle of a big deal? Besides, the anesthetic I prepared hasn’t worn off yet. If you die, won’t I lose face?”
Old Man Sha’s gaze became unusually peculiar, as if he were trying to see through the man standing before him.
“Big Brother, don’t worry about this. I won’t die.”
Ren Yuanhao waved his hand, took a step forward, and said, “Proceed, Old Man Sha.”
“Hahahaha, kid, I want to cut twenty pounds of flesh from you. You shouldn’t object, right?”
Old Man Sha picked up the boning knife again, its emerald blade spitting out an extremely cold luster.
“Twenty pounds of flesh? You might as well say you want my life!” Liu Yu pulled Ren Yuanhao from behind and said, “Brother, let’s go. Sister-in-law will be yours sooner or later anyway, this isn’t the only way. This madman really thinks he’s something.”
“Yes, yes, yes, you still have choices. And speaking of which, the Love Flower Poison stimulates desire intensely. It’s a perfect chance to experience the bliss and agony of coitus. I suspect your seeking medicine is a pretense, and you’re truly coveting her body!”
Before Old Man Sha could finish speaking, Ren Yuanhao grabbed the boning knife and plunged it into his own abdomen!
Not only did Liu Yu not react, but even Old Man Sha’s gaze became extremely strange!
“Brother! You~”
“Good boy, are you truly not afraid of the poison on my blade!”
At this moment, a strange light flickered in Old Man Sha’s eyes. For some reason, Ren Yuanhao felt that this light hid a trace of fear, a trace of regret, and he said in a low voice:
“Old Man Sha, you are a doctor. Even if I am poisoned, you won’t stand by and watch. Moreover, since you want to cut my flesh, if I die here, your reputation will surely be—”
Before he could finish speaking, Ren Yuanhao felt his tongue go completely numb!
“Brother!” Liu Yu stepped forward, his black saber suddenly pointed at Old Man Sha. “You quack, save my brother quickly!”
“Don’t point a knife at me. In this life, only I can point a knife at others!” Old Man Sha pulled the sharp tip of the boning knife from Ren Yuanhao’s abdomen and murmured, “This kid is the most reckless gambler I’ve ever seen.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a fierce wind suddenly swept through the forest, and the mist swirled like a giant dragon sucking water towards the sky. And from this dispersing mist, three slender figures suddenly appeared!
“Hahahaha, aren’t you also a reckless gambler? Am I right, Junior Sister Liu?”
This voice, to Liu Yu, sounded extremely dangerous. Even his internal energy stirred in defense. He sheathed his black saber and turned around. In the flickering shadows ahead, three figures in strange clothing and wearing ox-head masks were slowly approaching.
And Liu Yu knew very well that anyone who could stir his internal energy, even if not an esper, must at least be a cultivator!
They were coming with ill intent, that was his first feeling.
Ren Yuanhao clutched his wound. His internal energy was already in constant flux, so he didn't feel anything. What concerned him was the 'Junior Sister Liu' the man mentioned. And whether this Junior Sister Liu referred to Old Man Sha himself?
But his voice was clearly that of a man!
Ren Yuanhao’s thoughts raced. The three men had already reached within three meters of them. They seemed to glance at the coffin in front of the thatched hut before slowly stopping.
“Sister, this reunion after a long separation doesn’t seem to make you very happy. What? You don’t welcome your senior brother?”
The leading man also held an unsheathed sword, its hilt topped with a dragon whose mouth held a bead of emerald green. In the overlapping dim light, this bead exuded a faint green glow.
Old Man Sha did not answer immediately. Instead, he moved to stand in front of Ren Yuanhao and Liu Yu, then slowly grumbled, “You two have come at a truly bad time. Hurry and leave!”
“Leave? My brother is poisoned! How can you expect us to leave!”
“This isn’t poison, but anesthetic. It only causes temporary localized numbness. You two quickly help carry the person inside the thatched hut out. If you delay, neither of you will be able to leave.”
Old Man Sha’s tone became increasingly urgent, as if truly racing against time.
“Hey, hey, hey, Junior Sister Liu, is this your hospitality? At least let us come in and sit down.”
The three men took several more steps forward, their demeanor aggressive. Although their faces couldn't be seen clearly, judging by their posture, they were clearly here to cause trouble.
Old Man Sha was about to push Ren Yuanhao and Liu Yu aside, but Ren Yuanhao’s reaction was faster than he anticipated. Instead, he flashed forward and blocked Old Man Sha.
“Gentlemen, if you are here for medicine, please distinguish between arriving first and waiting your turn. Of course, if you are here to cause trouble, you’ll have to ask if my sword agrees first!”
Ren Yuanhao shook his sleeves, and ‘Cun Xue’ danced like a coiled electric dragon.