Chapter 44: A Formidable Foe Easily Captured!

Li Changqiu's voice resounded with sinister gentleness from within the depths of the fog.

"If you wish to kill me, you'll have to step in here as well."

Yun Yang smiled and retorted mockingly, "Oh no, I wouldn't dare step into this Soul Reaping Smoke of course... but you, do you dare to come out instead?" There was a hint of triumph in his voice.

Li Changqiu began to feel a sense of discomfort as his voice turned harsh. "What do you mean?"

Yun Yang continued to stand by the door and answered nonchalantly, "Sir Li's battle with the Residence of Marshal's undercover guards was a brave one indeed; one man going up against so many! However, Sir Li would have ultimately lost as the experts from the marshal's residence are far more skilled than any ordinary person. When Sir Li attempted to escape, you used the Soul Reaping Smoke exactly the same way you are now. You managed to wipe out every expert whom you had ambushed at the Residence of Marshal. It was only after that episode that we understood Sir Li's vile tactics. We learned that once the Soul Reaping Smoke is summoned, it will remain in place and will not dissipate for a period of approximately fifteen minutes"

"Within this quarter hour, anyone who steps into the insidious smoke would lose consciousness and have their soul absorbed by Sir Li. Not only does it protect you, the energy derived from the absorption of souls could even help to replenish your cultivation base."

Yun Yang, who was dressed in resplendent purple, exuded an undeniably terrifying aura. "The Soul Reaping Smoke is a long lost tool of the School of Dastardly Poison, it's vile properties vague and mysterious. However, I do know that once the smoke is released, one of the two opposing parties must die. Even as I am unable to enter, you too are trapped within the Soul Reaping Smoke.

"Your only possible escape route is when you bolt out after devouring your enemy's soul as they charge into their deaths unknowingly! This is your last resort." Yun Yang spoke coldly, "Perhaps you were unaware but you have played right into my hands. All I had to do was to wait for you to summon the Soul Reaping Smoke."

Li Changqiu asked hoarsely, "Who are you?"

Yun Yang did not deign to answer but continued lightly, "After your fight that night, I've already established that your cultivation base is at the seventh heaven. In terms of individual combat, there truly aren't many individuals that could threaten you in Tiantang City now."

"My method of blending poisons could only disrupt most of your combat power but it would not leach away all of your strength, and I would still be at risk. Your mystical Qi would still need at least three to five breaths to be completely depleted."

"If we fought amidst the duration taken for these three to five breaths, even though you would be unable to cultivate mystical Qi, you could still inflict a great deal of damage if you unleashed the Force of the Soul in a retaliatory strike! Unfortunately, I am still not competent enough to capture you without taking harm upon myself."

"Now that you stand within Soul Reaping Smoke, you are unable to leave." Yun Yang said, "Therefore, I'm standing here talking to you because with each sentence you I speak, the poison within you will consume another flow of your mystical Qi. Since I am in no particular rush, this would be my best chance to have a pleasant conversation with you."

Yun Yang continued, "You can't come out and I have nothing pressing to attend to. It's not often that I get to speak to my enemy, so I could just do this all day!"

A hacking cough emanated from within the thick mists of the Soul Reaping Smoke. Li Changqiu had obviously been agitated by Yun Yang's words and had spat out a mouthful of blood. He could also distinctly feel his cultivation base degenerating, even his dantian and meridians were all slowly reducing.

"What poison is this?" Li Changqiu hissed in anger, "Tell me!"

Yun Yang answered, "Why, since you wish for me to talk more, I'd love to explain it as well. There are many things in this world that are harmless, even beneficial, to the body when consumed on its own."

"Two items combined may be even better for the body. Three is fine too, four is also alright. But when these four medicines are consumed and combined with the fifth medicine that was soaked in alcohol, it can achieve an incredibly desired effect."

Yun Yang smiled, "It's enough that you only know that there are five medicines, you need not know any more of their details. Sir Li, your quarter hour is up."

Indeed, the fringes of the Soul Reaping Smoke had already faded out.

"Who are you?" Li Changqiu sighed hopelessly. He already held a sharp dagger placed against his chest.

"If I were from the Residence of Marshal, I wouldn't have come alone.." Yun Yang laughed softly, "I have heard that Sir Li possesses a portion of the School of Dastardly Poison's legacy, so I wished to learn from Sir Li."

Li Changqiu snorted, "You wish!"

Yun Yang replied lightly, "Sir Li, you need not worry. Only my people stand in this room now and there are only two of them. The information you divulge would go no further than this chamber. As long as Sir Li is willing to cooperate, I will have no reason to take your life as well." Yun Yang smiled amicably, "It is only reasonable for me to leverage on favorable conditions to achieve my objective. Of course, Sir Li's cultivation experience sharing is something I'd definitely want as well."

Li Changqiu laughed, "You actually believe I would share my cultivation experience when you're treating me this way? You are an optimist indeed!"

Inwardly, he heaved a sigh of relieve.

So that is his objective. I may yet have a chance to stay alive.

Contemplating the change in his situation, his resolve to take his own life began to falter.

Young fool, do you not know? Experts of the seventh heaven would always have a chance at indestructibility. As long as there's still a breath of life, even if their dantian and mystical Qi were completely destroyed, a sliver of energy will still remain!

As long as one stays alive, regardless of the severity of injuries, one could recover their entire cultivation base within a year. Once your father recovers his cultivation base... I could annihilate all of you tiny ants in just a single breath!

Yun Yang could sense the man's will to live gradually increasing. He was inwardly relieved as well. It would have been a waste if he had expended so much energy and almost exposed his identity only to capture a dead man!

"Young fool, you can only hope to succeed! I would rather die than see your wish fulfilled." Li Changqiu hollered arrogantly.

"Oh, I don't know about that. We still have lots of time." Yun Yang chuckled lightly.

The Soul Reaping Smoke had dissipated entirely as the room regained its clarity. Li Changqiu's body formed a heap on the floor as his pair of eyes glared at Yun Yang; looking to swallow him whole.

Yet he could not even move his finger.

"Butler!"

Yun Yang shouted with his arms still folded behind his back.

"Here!"

A silhouette appeared like a spirit and went over to Li Changqiu; a finger was pressed precisely on his chest as a palm struck his dantian. With a loud crash, the dust on the floor rose up in the air, swirling about in the room.

Li Changqiu gritted his teeth but did not retaliate. He continued to smirk as he lay on the floor.

"His mystical Qi is no longer existent," Lao Mei turned around to inform his master.

"Very well. You can now bind him with sixth level mystical beast tendons." Yun Yang did not move forward but continued to issue orders from afar.

Hearing his words, Li Changqiu's last hope died away. He had held back his last bit of energy, thinking to use all his life force to take the foolish youth hostage if he wandered over carelessly himself. He would never have thought that the young man would still be so cautious after successfully extinguishing his cultivation base with blended poison and after his guard had locked his meridians and struck his dantian to naught!

Sixth level mystical beast tendons... Even if his cultivation base had been undamaged, it would still be impossible for him to break away!

Lao Mei quickly bound Li Changqiu up with two mystical beast tendons and stuffed him into a black gunny sack after carefully rendering him unconscious with well-placed slaps.

"Done." Yun Yang clapped his hands.

Throughout the entire ordeal, he had stood still, his two feet never moving, yet he had managed to capture a seventh heaven expert alive!

Lao Mei picked up the black bag and spoke, "Young master, I shall head back first."

Going back separately would be part of Yun Yang's plan, of course.

"This must be absolutely infallible."

"It shall be so."

Lao Mei hoisted the bag onto his shoulder and flew out with a rush of wind swirling around the empty space where he had stood. Within the blink of an eye, there was no trace of him left to be seen.

...

Footsteps echoed from the steps as Yun Zuiyue gently descended the staircase. Her eyes shone with life as she clapped. "Young master is possessed of such amazing tactics! I am duly impressed."

"It is all thanks to Lady Yue's cooperation." Yun Yang bowed politely and spoke with genuine warmth. "If it weren't for Lady Yue, such a dangerous feat would not have been so easy."

Yun Zuiyue blushed prettily and smiled, "Then, you folks will have to thank me profusely."

Yun Yang chuckled in agreement "That would be an understatement! Lady Yue, Cirrus House now..."

"...Has no one else." Yun Zuiyue laughed, covering her mouth as she said, "When I served the dishes, there were only a few of us left in the Cirrus House. I had my other sisters sent out to play for a bit."

Yun Yang kept silent for a heartbeat and said, "Then among those who know about this now are you, Lady Xue'er, the maid who served the dishes earlier, me and my butler. A total of five people."

"The maid does not know, she left after serving the dishes. But you forget to include the one in the sack, so it's still five people." Yun Zuiyue smiled an impish smile, "Have I counted that correctly?"

Yun Yang spoke with utter seriousness, "My lady, this is of utmost importance; I have to remind you time and again that I seek Lady Yue's understanding."

Yun Zuiyue nodded in understanding and said, "Xue'er is my little sister."

Yun Yang was faintly surprised as he replied, "My apologies, I was not aware.."

Yun Zuiyue sighed and said, "It's... right for you to be more cautious." Her eyes were clear when she looked at Yun Yang and said, "Your methods frighten me. Could it be that your status is too low?"

Yun Yang smiled bitterly. "Compared to my brothers, I still have a long way to go. Thank you for your help, Lady Yue. Please take care. I shall take my leave now."

Yun Zuiyue spoke softly, "Must you call me Lady Yue?"

Yun Yang was stunned as Yun Zuiyue continued with to speak in a voice, gentle yet adamant, "Is it so hard to call me sister-in-law?"

Yun Yang's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed with difficulty. Finally, he gently replied, "Sister Yue, please don't put me in a tough spot."

Yun Zuiyue's expression visibly dimmed but she then forced a smile and said, "I would be greatly pleased to hear you call me Sister Yue."

Wretched misery rose in Yun Yang's heart.

"In the future... if there's anything else you need help with... or if there is any news..." Yun Zuiyue looked at Yun Yang pleadingly and said, "Please don't forget about Sister Yue..."

Yun Yang was silent for a while before he said, "I won't. You have my word on it."

Yun Yang left the Cirrus House quietly. Having walked a distance, he turned back to see the red robe still standing by the door of the Cirrus House in an anguished daze.

Yun Yang felt as if a huge rock was bearing down on his chest, the feeling heavy and miserable.

"This life has been devoted to the nation, how else could there be love for passion."

Thinking of the two-lined poem his fifth brother, Supreme Flame, would always recite whenever he got drunk, and looking at the selflessly devoted woman in red who still stood waiting, Yun Yang could only feel his heart overflow with bitter grief.