After seeing Xu Ke kick Sun Luo away, Yang Qing stood frozen to the spot. It wasn't that she didn't want to move; she simply couldn't. She was terrified. Utterly terrified.

She knew Xu Ke had killed Wong Teng and Li Jun. She had even heard that he had taken down an expert at the Innate Great Perfection realm. But to Yang Qing, those were just stories, abstract concepts. In reality, she had no clue how formidable Xu Ke truly was. Her impression of him was still stuck on his previous, disheveled appearance, so she had never been afraid to be alone with him.

But tonight was different. Before coming here, she had witnessed Sun Luo in action. After Wong Ting had contacted her, he had dispatched Sun Luo. To show off in front of Yang Qing and intimidate her with his "Innate Expert" title, Sun Luo had shattered a stone pier with a single punch.

At that moment, Yang Qing began to question reality. Is this real? Shouldn't this kind of thing only happen in TV dramas? From that moment on, she was filled with confidence in Sun Luo. She believed that with his abilities, it would only take one punch to smash Xu Ke's head in.

So when she heard that Sun Luo wanted her to use information from Wong Ting to distract Xu Ke while he launched a sneak attack, she had internally scoffed at his caution. Why would such a powerful expert fear a loser like Xu Ke? Is defeating someone at the Innate Great Perfection realm that impressive? You're an Innate Expert, Sun Luo! Can't you just smash his head in with a single punch?

But in that moment, Yang Qing realized how wrong she was. Gravely, terribly wrong.

An expert as powerful as Sun Luo had to resort to a sneak attack, yet Xu Ke had still been able to turn and send him flying with one punch. How could something so unreal possibly happen? But it had, right before her very eyes. The sight made her blood run cold, filling her with utter panic.

She had only dared to walk so confidently into Xu Ke's room because Sun Luo was backing her up. But now, Sun Luo had been instantly defeated by Xu Ke. What was she supposed to do now? Yang Qing certainly didn't believe that Xu Ke was the type to go easy on her just because she was a woman.

Of course, while Yang Qing felt she was doomed, the fact that Xu Ke had retreated a few steps instead of advancing proved that Sun Luo was not so easily dealt with.

Just as expected, while Yang Qing was overcome with anxiety, Sun Luo got to his feet. His face was grim as he growled, "You dare to injure me? You're seeking death!"

Seeing Sun Luo stand up, Yang Qing's heart relaxed slightly. Thank goodness! However, a thread of worry remained. After all, Sun Luo's face, now crooked from Xu Ke's punch, hardly inspired much confidence.

Sun Luo was seething with rage. If he had reached the realm of Protective True Qi, Xu Ke couldn't have hurt him at all. But he was only at the Innate Initial Stage. At best, he could manage the lowest level of Vitality Essence Release—infusing his fists and feet with True Qi. He was a long way from generating Protective True Qi, let alone injuring someone from a distance.

"Your own skills are sloppy, yet you blame me for hurting you? How absurd!" Xu Ke sneered, gathering True Qi in his hands as he watched Sun Luo warily.

Sun Luo was skilled with hidden weapons, and his True Qi was inherently soft, so his defensive power wasn't formidable. That's why it had been easy for Xu Ke to injure him. But in a true fight to the death, given that Xu Ke hadn't fully recovered, the situation would be incredibly dangerous.

That was why, just a moment ago, he had secretly dialed Wang Wu's number without letting the call connect. If I can't beat him alone, of course I'll call for backup!

Trembling with rage, his eyes boiling with murderous intent, Sun Luo snarled, "Good. Very good. You're still talking so boldly now. I hope you won't be on your knees begging for mercy later."

"I originally planned to just knock you out and take you back," Sun Luo said through gritted teeth. "But now, it seems killing you outright would be better!"

He believed Xu Ke hadn't succumbed to his poisoned hidden weapon, not because Xu Ke was formidable, but because he, Sun Luo, had orders to capture him alive and take him across the border. That was the only reason Xu Ke had managed to wake up and even launch a sneak attack on him. But now, he was on high alert. Xu Ke would never get another chance to hurt him!

Hearing this, Xu Ke sneered, "Anyone can run their mouth. Stop posturing, old man!"

"Posturing my ass!" Sun Luo roared. A dozen poison darts flew from his hands, shooting straight for Xu Ke's face in an overwhelming volley that sealed off every possible escape route.

As Sun Luo attacked, Xu Ke's pupils contracted. The last time he faced a storm of hidden weapons from Ouyang Shuang, he had closed his eyes and used a movement technique to evade. It had looked as effortless as a willow catkin drifting in the wind, but that maneuver had consumed a substantial amount of his True Qi. In his current, still-injured state, he simply couldn't muster the focus to execute that technique again. He would have to use another method.

WHIZZ! WHIZZ! WHIZZ!

Hearing the sound of the poison darts slicing through the air, Yang Qing's face went pale. I'm not going to get hit, am I?! But she had no time to dodge.

Just then, Yang Qing saw Xu Ke charging toward her. A look of astonishment flickered in her eyes. Is he… trying to save me? A flicker of heartfelt emotion touched her. But before that feeling could even blossom, she was coughing up blood. Xu Ke, you're utterly shameless!

Because as Xu Ke lunged, he had grabbed her and used her as a shield against the poison darts. Show mercy to a beautiful woman? Impossible. As far as Xu Ke was concerned, Yang Qing had been planning to help Sun Luo kill him. Using her as a shield was just giving her a taste of her own medicine.

THWIP!

Most of the poison darts missed, but one sank into Yang Qing's arm.

Sun Luo's pupils shrank. "You're despicable!" he roared, both shocked and furious. He didn't particularly care about Yang Qing, but what enraged him was that Xu Ke would use his accomplice as a human shield right in front of him. Wasn't this a blatant show of contempt?

But just as Sun Luo finished his curse, Xu Ke made an even more despicable move. He flung Yang Qing straight at Sun Luo, whose expression changed dramatically.

"Elder Sun, save me!" Yang Qing shrieked in despair. The poison from the dart was a paralyzing agent that was already beginning to take effect, causing her to lose control of her body. If she fell, she would land on the other poison darts scattered on the floor. I'll definitely be pierced through… True panic set in.

Yang Qing's cry shattered Sun Luo's focus again, and her flying body completely blocked his line of sight. As she hurtled toward Sun Luo, Xu Ke threw three small knives, followed closely by a dozen silver needles—a hidden and terrifying attack. He had thrown every projectile he had on him.

Seeing Yang Qing flying at him, Sun Luo instantly twisted his body to dodge. He knew that if he tried to catch her, he would be vulnerable to Xu Ke's inevitable follow-up attack. He had to dodge. Abandoning my companion is the only way to win!

But Sun Luo never imagined that as soon as he sidestepped Yang Qing, a dozen silver needles would be rushing straight for his face.

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