"No, impossible. I know that woman's character very well; she would never lie. Do you have any way to prove you're telling the truth?"
Ren Yuanhao's mind replayed the story the woman had told. Her grandfather's death had been gruesome, and now, he thought, it looked as if this ring had drained all his vital energy, leading to his horrific demise.
"I don't need to prove anything to you," the man said, re-capping his hat. "My time is limited. There are some grudges I must settle. Explanations can wait for time to reveal."
The man made to dash towards the door, but Shen Lan Ni would not let him leave. With a surge of her feet, she transformed into a bright flame and blocked his path.
"You think you can stop me?"
"How will we know if we don't try?"
When it came to fighting, Shen Lan Ni never lacked confidence. She possessed an inherently arrogant demeanor, but this time, before she could even make a move, Ren Yuanhao called out to her.
"Miss Shen, this is between him and me," Ren Yuanhao, with Ye Lan's support, managed to stagger to the man's front, like a defeated eagle, spreading his arms. "Alright, if you want to leave, you can. Only if you crawl over my dead body."
"Don't wear down my patience again and again. I said, I have things to do."
"Coincidentally, I've promised someone, and I have things to do as well."
The two stood in a standoff for several seconds. The man's eyes were already glinting with chilling coldness, and Ren Yuanhao was no less determined. Although the injury to his back significantly reduced his combat power, with the newly acquired Star Absorbing Art, he felt confident he could keep this man here.
But just then, the man's figure suddenly began to fade from the sight of the three!
"Not good, it's a special ability!"
Ren Yuanhao reacted with lightning speed, realizing the man intended to escape using his ability. Without a second thought, he reached out towards him!
As he reached out, his hand grazed the man's shoulder. The uncontrollable Star Absorbing Art activated at full power. Waves of icy energy surged into his body, and his face seemed to be coated with a layer of frost!
The man who had used his ability could never have imagined Ren Yuanhao's perception was so keen. He suddenly felt as if his body were a punctured balloon, with the frozen energy within constantly flowing into Ren Yuanhao's body. His ability was instantly broken, and countless insects began to surge out of him like black smoke!
"—Damn it! I don't want to be riddled with holes by these damn bugs! I rely on my looks to make a living!"
Though Ren Yuanhao thought this, he didn't know how to end the devious Star Absorbing Art. Seeing more and more insects erupting from the man's skin, even the two women looked slightly alarmed.
"What kind of monster is this!"
Ye Lan had noticed something strange upon entering the room earlier. The electricity was on, and the light bulb was intact, yet a single candle was lit. Combined with the man's earlier statement that his family lived in a cave, this implied another piece of information: this man not only feared the cold but also likely some aversion to light!
With this thought, Ye Lan didn't hesitate and immediately flicked the light switch.
The entire room was instantly illuminated. As soon as the black smoke-like insects saw the light, they immediately fell like scattered sand. The man repeatedly lowered his head, trying to shield his eyes from the light, but his body was immobilized by Ren Yuanhao's peculiar technique. Layers of frost-like mist began to rise from his skin.
Watching the man about to be drained dry by the Star Absorbing Art, Ren Yuanhao felt anxious but could not retract his hand. Just then, the long-silent system voice finally chimed in.
"Listen carefully: intention follows the mind, deep valley fragrance, transform qi into the Shangyang and Shaocong acupoints~"
"Shangyang? Shaocong?"
Ren Yuanhao's palm was still on the man's shoulder. Immediately, following the mental guidance, he closed his fingers. The Star Absorbing Art was abruptly halted, and both staggered back several paces.
"What a potent demonic art, boy. This move is insidious and vicious. It would be wise to use it sparingly in the future."
The man retreated into a dark corner. Ren Yuanhao gestured for Ye Lan to turn off the light, and the room returned to silence. The shadows of the four fell faintly on the wall.
"As long as I don't use this technique to harm others, it's not a demonic art. I see you have a severe internal cold, my friend. Seeking revenge might not be something to rush."
Ren Yuanhao examined his palms, feeling an extreme chill. His body, having absorbed the man's energy, involuntarily shivered.
"They say a gentleman's revenge can wait ten years. If I had ten years, I wouldn't be so impatient."
The man's tone was filled with unwillingness. He curled up in the shadows, as if he didn't want anyone to see his dejected state.
Ye Lan, with her consistently meticulous mind, had already gleaned some clues from the man's body language and behavior. She took two steps forward and said softly, "My good sir, forgive my presumption, but may I venture a guess? If I am mistaken, please correct me."
The man did not deny it. He calculated that it would be difficult to dismiss the stubborn Ren Yuanhao today, so he merely nodded silently.
"The chronic ailment you and perhaps your family suffer from is likely a type of Yin cold energy. This ailment is like a curse. However, ancient wisdom suggests that the ring you possess, through a certain ritual, might suppress the curse. Is that correct?"
The man nodded, and Ye Lan continued, "The numerous insects within your body likely signify that your time is drawing near, which is why you are so flustered. However, your panic is not due to fear of death, but rather the fear that you won't be able to exact your revenge. Is that correct?"
The man remained silent, only nodding. Ye Lan added, "Therefore, even though you have obtained the ring now, it can only temporarily postpone your demise. Within this limited time, you are so desperate to take revenge. In other words, the ring currently holds little efficacy for you."
The man couldn't help but clap his hands. "Little sister, your judgment is spot on. Truly remarkable. My illness is incurable. Over the years, I've traversed mountains and valleys searching for extremely cold substances in vain. However, I don't regret it. At least I met the person I wanted to protect for a lifetime. But..."
Although the others couldn't see his expression, they could feel the regret, anger, and unwillingness in his words.
And when he uttered the words "extremely cold substances," Ren Yuanhao's heart gave a jolt. He thought, didn't the system lady remove Wang Xin's cold pulse? Isn't that substance considered extremely cold?