Chapter 101: Life Hanging by a Thread!

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Life Hanging by a Thread!

Overwhelmed with gratitude, the man hastily tried to kowtow his thanks, but a soft, delicate hand abruptly yanked him back through the gauze curtains.

"Save your breath. I want to try that new position you’ve been working on. Come here..."

Down in the inn’s first-floor lobby, by the time Huang Qingzhou and Fang Xu arrived, a crowd of disciples from the Ascension Association were already gathered in small groups, chatting idly.

Seeing them, several disciples immediately stepped forward to greet Huang Qingzhou. "Senior Brother Huang."

Undoubtedly, these people were unafraid of Su Cheng’s authority. A few others had intended to come over and say hello, but after their companions tugged at their sleeves and whispered a few words in their ears, they remained awkwardly in place, their gazes darting between Su Cheng and Huang Qingzhou.

Fang Xu silently took all of this in. The way these people reacted to Huang Qingzhou clearly illustrated the dynamics of friend and foe. Figuring out these alliances would allow him to seize the initiative in whatever unexpected events might follow.

After warmly greeting the group and introducing Fang Xu, Huang Qingzhou strolled over to Su Cheng. Staring at him with a faint smile, he cupped his hands in salute. "Eldest Senior Brother."

They hadn’t completely torn off all pleasantries yet. Nominally, Su Cheng was still the Eldest Senior Brother. At the very least, in front of all their fellow disciples, Huang Qingzhou didn’t want their master’s lineage to lose face; the necessary etiquette had to be maintained.

Su Cheng gave him a lukewarm glance and said flatly, "So Junior Brother still remembers you have me as a senior brother?"

Huang Qingzhou said nothing, merely pulling Fang Xu aside to stand slightly out of the way.

Seeing this, Su Cheng’s expression turned even uglier. He simply couldn’t understand it. Within the Ascension Association, he and Huang Qingzhou had their differences, but they at least kept up the facade of a harmonious brotherhood. But now... if he recalled correctly, this trip to Fenglin Town was the first time Huang Qingzhou and this guy named Fang Xu had ever met. Why was he so hell-bent on protecting him?

"Why hasn’t Senior Sister Tianyi come down yet?" someone murmured in complaint after the group had waited for a long time without any sign of Yu Mountain Tianyi.

"Senior Brother Hu is getting impatient. Why don’t you go hurry her up?" another teased.

The speaker’s face paled, and he frantically waved his hands in refusal.

Aside from Fang Xu, everyone present had a cultivation base above the Fifth Realm of the Martial Master stage. They could all hear the noises coming from upstairs to some extent. Yu Mountain Tianyi was clearly still in the throes of passion; running up to disturb her now would just be asking for a death wish.

Observing the crowd’s reactions, Fang Xu gained a deeper understanding of Yu Mountain Tianyi. The fact that these typically arrogant geniuses of the Ascension Association were acting like this only proved how terrifying she truly was.

Not long after the noises upstairs gradually died down, the sound of a door opening and closing echoed out.

THUMP... THUMP...

A rhythmic creaking came from the inn’s wooden staircase as a pair of bare feet—flawless as if crafted from mutton-fat Jade Carving—stepped lightly down the stairs one by one.

Fang Xu turned to look. On the ankle of that pale, jade-like foot was a bizarre, scarlet tattoo. Her straight calves were perfectly proportioned, and further up was a knee-length, tight-fitting red silk dress that hugged her perky rear...

Her impossibly slender waist was loosely bound by a red sash, accentuating her ample, heaving bosom. She possessed a snow-white swan-like neck, a delicate chin, a faint small mole resting on her ruby lips, and an elegant nose. Her eyes shimmered like spring water in autumn pools, and her slightly messy hair draped effortlessly over her shoulders...

This woman... was dangerously alluring!

Born with an innate allure, the bewitching charm this woman radiated with every movement left no room for doubt. She had to be Yu Mountain Tianyi, renowned as the number one Inner Sect Disciple of the Yu Kingdom Ascension Association.

But the man behind her...

Fang Xu glanced at the short-haired man following behind Yu Mountain Tianyi. He wore a plain gauze robe left open to expose his chest, and Fang Xu found him somewhat familiar. There was a nagging sense of déjà vu about the man’s facial features.

"Senior Sister Tianyi."

"Senior Sister."

The crowd of Ascension Association disciples cupped their hands in greeting the moment they saw Yu Mountain Tianyi. With a lingering flush still on her face, she walked barefoot over to Huang Qingzhou and Fang Xu, eyeing them with a half-smile.

"Senior Sister Tianyi," Huang Qingzhou quickly cupped his hands and spoke. Behind her back, he dared to call Yu Mountain Tianyi a lunatic and complain about her promiscuous lifestyle. However, face-to-face with her now, he completely lost his nerve.

"Every time I see Junior Brother Huang, I always feel an irresistible urge..." Her slender finger lightly traced Huang Qingzhou’s jawline as she spoke in a highly seductive tone.

Huang Qingzhou hastily dodged, offering an apologetic smile as he cupped his hands. "Please spare me, Senior Sister."

Yu Mountain Tianyi rolled her eyes playfully at him but didn’t push the matter. Instead, her gaze shifted to Fang Xu, observing him with curiosity.

"Quite handsome, aren’t you? What a pity..."

The moment her words fell, her delicate body abruptly erupted with a terrifying aura! Before Fang Xu could react, a slender hand clamped directly around his throat!

"Senior Sister Tianyi!"

"Senior Sister!"

"Junior Sister Tianyi..."

The sudden turn of events sent instant shockwaves through the crowd. None of them had a clue what kind of grudge Yu Mountain Tianyi could possibly have against this kid named Fang Xu.

As Yu Mountain Tianyi slowly lifted him by the neck, Fang Xu felt the Qi Blood Power throughout his entire body violently suppressed by a terrifying force. He lost all ability to resist.

Feeling the hand tightening mercilessly around his throat, Fang Xu’s heart sank. This madwoman actually intended to kill him! But he had never offended her, had he? Could she be sticking her neck out for Su Cheng?

No!

Catching a glimpse of the short-haired man in the plain gauze robe standing behind Yu Mountain Tianyi, and seeing the pure hatred in his eyes, Fang Xu was suddenly reminded of someone!

Zhang Mingliang!

No wonder he had felt a sense of déjà vu the moment he saw this man’s facial features. The man beside Yu Mountain Tianyi bore a striking resemblance to his former "good friend," Zhang Mingliang. This man had to be the eldest son of the Zhang Family from Fenglin Town—Zhang Mingliang’s older brother, Zhang Mingyue!

"Senior Sister Tianyi!" Seeing Fang Xu’s face turn purple from the choking, on the brink of losing his life at any moment, Huang Qingzhou quickly stepped forward. "May I ask if there’s some kind of misunderstanding between you and Fang Xu, Senior Sister?"

Yu Mountain Tianyi turned her head slowly to look at Huang Qingzhou, a faint smile pulling at the corners of her lips.

"There’s no misunderstanding.

"However... I am very fond of Mingyue. Since Mingyue wants him dead, how could I bear to refuse?"

As she spoke, her other hand gently grasped the gauze-clad man’s hand behind her, pulling him to her side. "This was the brat who brought that little bitch from the Yun Family to your house back then," she said flatly. "Watch closely; I will collect some interest on your behalf."

"Senior Sister! Senior Sister Tianyi, wait a moment!" Seeing that Yu Mountain Tianyi was ready to strike the killing blow, Huang Qingzhou hastily grabbed the arm she was using to choke Fang Xu. He offered a placating smile and said, "There must be a misunderstanding here. Why don’t you put him down first, Senior Sister, so we can clear things up?"

Hearing this, Yu Mountain Tianyi raised a delicate eyebrow and looked at Huang Qingzhou with a sneer. "What? Does Junior Brother Huang wish to stop me?"

Huang Qingzhou hurriedly shook his head, then leaned in and whispered a few words in her ear.

Upon hearing his words, Yu Mountain Tianyi looked thoughtful, and the grip she had on Fang Xu’s neck uncharacteristically loosened a fraction.

"Princess..." Seeing that Yu Mountain Tianyi seemed to be hesitating, Zhang Mingyue grew anxious. He was just about to urge her on, but the moment he met her gaze, he quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak another word.

"I promised to collect some interest for you, and naturally, I won’t go back on my word," Yu Mountain Tianyi said. Yet, she abruptly dropped Fang Xu to the floor. Looking down at him, she ordered coldly, "I’ll let you live a little longer for now. Tomorrow, you will accompany me to the Tilan Mountain ruins." Her tone carried an unquestionable command.

"Senior Sister Tianyi, this..." Huang Qingzhou wanted to say something more, but he was instantly silenced by a cold glare from Yu Mountain Tianyi.

"If I wasn’t trying to avoid unnecessary trouble, do you really think I’d give him another day to live, Junior Brother?

"Alright, everyone scatter." Yu Mountain Tianyi waved her hand dismissively and turned around, preparing to head back upstairs to rest.