Lin Xiaotian's smile widened. "Most people probably couldn't handle it."
"After all, it's a Gu worm, no matter what."
"But I, your young master, am not an ordinary person."
"You can think of me as a living immortal; solving this little trouble is a piece of cake."
Just as Zhao Jinhai was about to say something else, a silver needle suddenly appeared.
It pierced directly into his Qihai acupoint.
"Sealing your dantian and Qihai is to prevent that little bug from crawling in. It could easily travel through your meridians directly to your heart, which is the truly fatal spot."
As Lin Xiaotian's voice faded, several more silver needles followed.
With incredible speed, they sealed the twelve major meridians of Zhao Jinhai's body.
The bridge between heaven and earth was the Ren and Du meridians.
And that was also where the Gu worm was located.
Lin Xiaotian produced a pill, which he gently crushed. The rich fragrance of the medicinal pill filled the air.
Everyone couldn't help but inhale deeply a few times.
Lin Xiaotian smirked, "Doesn't it smell good?"
Everyone nodded involuntarily.
The fragrant aroma of the medicine seemed to clear their minds, making their thoughts sharper.
"Do you also feel a bit weak and listless all over?"
This question made them all furrow their brows.
But then, everyone's expression changed.
"Be more vigilant next time. This kind of medicine is designed to relax the Gu worm, and also to make it a plaything that I can manipulate at will."
"This substance also has a significant effect on people. Today, consider it a small lesson."
"After all, you're still alive after I've taught you a lesson. If it were someone else, they might only be able to be careful in their next life."
Everyone's lips twitched.
Even Xiao Dao leaned against the nearby wall, feeling a bit weak.
Lin Xiaotian ignored the others. He placed the pill on the table beside him.
He had only crushed half of it earlier.
The medicinal fragrance continued to waft out.
At this moment, Zhao Jinhai's expression suddenly changed.
"I feel the little bug crawling out from my heart, it's so painful!"
He was a tough man, but even so, his face contorted in pain, and his gums were bleeding from clenching his teeth.
Yet, he endured it, only letting out a few muffled groans.
This earned Lin Xiaotian a bit more admiration for him.
"Very good, you can withstand it. If you had become too agitated, I would have had to seal your mute acupoint, but it seems unnecessary now."
In just a few minutes.
Zhao Jinhai couldn't help but gasp. Something tore through the skin of the acupoint on his arm.
It was a grotesque little centipede, extremely slender.
Its body was six to seven centimeters long but as thin as a strand of hair. Yet, one could vaguely discern its hideous mouthparts.
Zhao Jinhai even doubted if this centipede could easily tear through steel.
After crawling out, the little centipede shot out like a snake, lunging towards the pill on the table.
Lin Xiaotian casually picked up a transparent glass cup and covered the centipede on the table.
"See? It's quite easy to remove this little thing."
"However, it cost me a pill. This kind of medicine is what I prepared for those high-ranking individuals. They definitely have these little things in their brains. Only by removing these little things can they live longer."
"The longer they live, the more suffering they can endure."
"When mistakes are made, the primary consequence is to pay for one's actions, and their reckoning is not far off."
Lin Xiaotian smiled and took out a silver needle. He raised his neck and, with lightning speed, plunged it into the little centipede.
His hand suddenly emitted spiritual energy, transforming into an invisible palm that gently gripped the centipede. A drop of pale golden venom was squeezed out.
"Although these little centipedes are all harmful things, it depends on who possesses them."
"For example, now, this drop of venom can even be used to concoct precious elixirs."
"The medicine I used to draw out the centipede also contains this venom. It is the essence of the Gu worm."
Seeing this, the others' faces turned ashen.
They had never imagined that such a large insect could actually burrow into a person's body.
And it was such a grotesque and terrifying centipede. Even if everyone present were hardened men, they couldn't help but feel a chill down their spines.
Lin Xiaotian smiled and put away the venom. "Alright, you're fine now. If anyone contacts you again, please remember to inform me immediately. You can tell them directly that I've already turned you into my puppet."
"You can lure me to them, and they will likely set a trap. I, however, enjoy breaking through their traps."
"They will definitely come for you first, as they now consider you a traitor."
Zhao Jinhai nodded. "I've had enough of their cowardly bullying for a long time."
"If they know to come for me, I will report it to you immediately."
Lin Xiaotian's smile became more pronounced. "Excellent. From now on, you are my person."
"My first task for you is to consolidate your original channels and collect all the information, especially about the people around me. If they encounter any problems, report them to me immediately."
"I won't ask you who those people are; you probably wouldn't know anyway."
Zhao Jinhai gave a bitter smile. "Indeed, they treated me like a disposable pawn."
"When they didn't need me, they left me to fend for myself, not caring about me at all."
"There are probably many people like me."
"After all, being controlled by these little bugs, I know the pain all too well."
"I believe very few people can withstand such torment."
Lin Xiaotian smiled slightly. "If you discover anyone else, you can tell me directly, and I will help them remove these bugs."
"However, the price for my help is that they will serve me from then on."
"But it also depends on whether those people truly want to help. Do we want to bring scum into our group? I dislike such scumbags; I'll kill one if I find one."
His last sentence was also directed at Zhao Jinhai.
Without rules, there can be no order.
His bottom line was not to act recklessly.
Zhao Jinhai watched Lin Xiaotian's retreating figure, a fervent expression on his face. "From today onwards, we will be completely reborn."
"Xiao Dao, you will continue to be my assistant. And the forces we have secretly developed can no longer surface."
"After all, we now have a backer."