Ye Cangtian sized up Guiwu, noting that she was unharmed but emitting piercing screams.
He immediately understood that Xuanbing must have used some unsavory methods.
"Xuanbing, I had Feichen deliver a message. I didn't want her to suffer before I saw her!"
"How do you explain this?"
Ye Cangtian's expression turned exceedingly cold as he questioned.
"This... to obtain the information I wanted, it naturally required some methods."
"Don't worry, it's just some pills. They absolutely won't take her life. Once the effects wear off, she'll recover..."
Xuanbing was taken aback. He hadn't intended to explain.
But seeing the ruthless gaze of the deputy alliance leader, he hesitated for a moment before vaguely explaining the reason.
"What!"
"You actually used the Torture Pill on a woman?"
As Xuanbing finished speaking, before Ye Cangtian could say anything, the deputy alliance leader on the other side became agitated.
Her eyes were filled with fury.
She naturally knew the effects and purpose of the Torture Pill. It would undoubtedly cause anyone excruciating pain during its effect.
Some were driven to suicide by the inability to endure it, while others suffered mental breakdowns due to the intense pain.
Yet, the other party had given this pill to a woman. As a woman herself, she found it utterly unbearable.
"What is the Torture Pill?"
Ye Cangtian turned his head and asked grimly.
He had never heard of such a pill, but judging by the deputy alliance leader's expression and Guiwu's screams, he knew it was nothing good.
"This is an ancient pill discovered in the Dark Ruins."
"Its effects are extremely potent. Although it's not fatal, it will undoubtedly cause unbearable pain, a thousand times more agonizing than flaying or dismemberment..."
The deputy alliance leader turned to Ye Cangtian and explained slowly.
Upon hearing this, Ye Cangtian's rage became uncontrollable. He turned to the deputy alliance leader and said coldly:
"Deputy alliance leader, our Hua Xia Hidden Group only associates with civilized forces. It now appears you are not such a force."
"Farewell!"
With that, Ye Cangtian flashed forward, appearing before Guiwu, and then delivered two consecutive punches, sending the guards on either side flying.
He then scooped up Guiwu's delicate form and headed for the main door.
"Wait, Mr. Ye, I will give you an explanation!"
Hearing the deputy alliance leader's words, Ye Cangtian stopped.
As he turned, he saw the deputy alliance leader had already arrived before Xuanbing.
"Xuanbing, hand over the Torture Pills."
Xuanbing's expression turned somewhat unnatural. The word 'explanation' already made him feel a sense of foreboding, but he slowly handed over his Qiankun bag.
"How many pills did you give Guiwu?" the deputy alliance leader asked again, taking the bag.
"The Torture Pill's effect lasts for two hours. As of now, Guiwu has taken 30 pills..." Xuanbing replied with difficulty.
What!
Ye Cangtian, hearing this, trembled instantly. Endless rage surged to his head.
From the time he requested Guiwu, it had only been a little over two days.
And Guiwu had taken 30 pills, meaning she had been enduring this torment every moment for the past two days?
Thinking of this, Ye Cangtian glanced at the deputy alliance leader, wanting to see how she would provide him with this explanation!
Sensing Ye Cangtian's gaze, the deputy alliance leader gave him a look to remain calm and then turned to Xuanbing.
"Xuanbing, first, you disobeyed the alliance leader's orders and provoked trouble with Ye Cangtian and the Hidden Group. This is the first offense!"
"Secondly, in order to obtain information, you resorted to extreme measures, using an excessive amount of Torture Pills on a woman who had lost her cultivation. Your methods were utterly brutal and even affected the reputation of the Anti-Black Alliance. This is the second offense!"
"However, considering your dedication to the Anti-Black Alliance and your past merits, I will spare your life. But while the death penalty can be avoided, punishment for the crime cannot."
"Here are sixty Torture Pills. After taking them, this matter will be considered settled."
Saying this, the deputy alliance leader glanced at Ye Cangtian, as if asking, "Are you satisfied with this resolution?"
"If they are taken together, it's too easy for him. The pain only lasts two hours, which isn't enough!"
"I want him to take them consecutively!"
Ye Cangtian said coldly. Given the other party's ruthlessness, he certainly wouldn't let Xuanbing off easily.
"Alright! We'll do as you say!"
The deputy alliance leader readily agreed and then took out two bottles of Torture Pills from her Qiankun bag, tossing them to Xuanbing.
"Deputy alliance leader, you can't treat me like this! Your subordinates are all working for the good of the Anti-Black Alliance!"
Hearing the conversation between the two and looking at the pills in his hand, Xuanbing's face turned deathly pale, and he hurriedly pleaded for mercy.
Sixty Torture Pills, taken consecutively, would last at least five days.
While the duration wasn't long, enduring intense pain every single second, he truly lacked the confidence to get through it.
The deputy alliance leader's decision made him even more enraged and utterly wronged!
He never imagined that the other party would go to such lengths against him just to curry favor with Ye Cangtian and the Hidden Group!
"Hmph! I've already made it perfectly clear. If it weren't for the sake of the Anti-Black Alliance, you would be a corpse right now!"
"Therefore, your best option now is to accept all of this. Do not force me to take action myself!"
The deputy alliance leader snorted coldly, her gaze turning exceptionally grim, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Damn it, I've been loyal to the Anti-Black Alliance all along, yet I've ended up like this! I quit!"
"You vile woman, just wait for the Anti-Black Alliance to be laughed at by the world!"
"Also, remember this, you forced me to leave today. I will surely seek revenge from you in the future!"
Xuanbing furiously pointed at the deputy alliance leader and roared.
After speaking, he turned to leave.
He simply couldn't stand the deputy alliance leader's unjust treatment, and more importantly, he didn't want to endure the pain of the Torture Pills.
"Hmph, is the Anti-Black Alliance a place you can join and leave as you please!"
A cold snort sounded, and the deputy alliance leader's figure appeared, blocking Xuanbing's path. Simultaneously, she unleashed a palm strike, which landed precisely on Xuanbing's chest.
Pfft!
Xuanbing spat out a mouthful of blood, sent flying backward, and crashed heavily to the side.
When Xuanbing struggled to get back up, he was shocked to discover that all his cultivation had been crippled by the deputy alliance leader's palm.
"Vile woman, you are heartless! How could you strike me so severely!" Xuanbing roared in anger.
Hmph!
The deputy alliance leader snorted coldly and said grimly, "You wanted to leave the Anti-Black Alliance. This punishment is deserved. Furthermore, I warn you, if you speak out of line again, it won't be as simple as crippling your cultivation!"
"You..."
At her words, Xuanbing nearly choked on his own blood, but he truly didn't dare to say anything more, only leaving in anger.
However, as soon as he reached the doorway, he heard the deputy alliance leader's voice.
"Guards, take Xuanbing away and force-feed him sixty Torture Pills first! Remember, without my or the alliance leader's command, no one is to let him leave!"
As the voice fell, two guards immediately entered, seized Xuanbing, and dragged him out.
"Vile woman, may you die a horrible death..."
Listening to Xuanbing's curses, Ye Cangtian's brow twitched slightly.
Even he was somewhat surprised at this moment.
This deputy alliance leader, whom he met for the first time, had actually crippled Elder Xuanbing for his sake?
"Mr. Ye, are you satisfied with this resolution?"
Just then, the deputy alliance leader's voice reached him.
Ye Cangtian turned his head and glanced over, asking with a peculiar expression, "Regarding Guiwu's situation, I am satisfied. But isn't this punishment a bit too severe?"
"Hmph! Don't act like you're being wronged after getting the benefits!"
"Let me tell you, he's the only elder under my command, and he's the only one whose abilities are somewhat passable."
"But his actions today have truly angered even me. At the same time, to maintain a good relationship with the Hidden Group, I had to be harsh."
"With your capabilities, you should understand this kind of action!"
Hearing the deputy alliance leader's words, Ye Cangtian slowly nodded.
He understood that the deputy alliance leader genuinely wished to cooperate with the Hidden Group, and thus had to side with him to avoid conflict.
Since she was going to favor him, it was bound to create resentment in Xuanbing's heart.
If it were only this, she wouldn't have been so heavy-handed.
But at this moment, Xuanbing was enraged and wanted to leave the Dark Association.