Blood-Nurturing Gu

As he spoke, the little old man gradually increased the pressure in his hand, the muscles on his arm bulging. The force was so great that it seemed as if he intended to crush Chen Shanzhen's entire shoulder to pieces.

Chen Shanzhen was instantly in agony, wanting to howl but unable to make a sound. People were coming and going all around them, yet not a single soul noticed the abnormality of the group.

"Senior, please spare me, I..."

Chen Shanzhen pleaded in a mournful voice, though he had already abandoned all hope.

However, the next moment, the pressure on his shoulder eased slightly, causing his heart to suddenly leap with relief.

At this very moment, the little old man had caught sight of Chen Han by chance. Seeing that Chen Han wore the same attire as the man before him, he assumed the two were in league, which was the only reason he hadn't dealt a lethal blow.

Naturally, Chen Han had no desire to involve himself in this matter. Seeing the old man's grip loosen after noticing him, he felt the urge to say, "This man has nothing to do with me, please proceed, Senior." But given the three other Chen Family members nearby, he found it difficult to speak.

Chen Han and the little old man exchanged a brief glance, neither of them speaking.

The two were currently in a state of secret cooperation, and naturally, this could not be known to others.

The little old man slowly lowered his hand and leaned close to Chen Shanzhen's ear, whispering, "Young man, this old fellow will spare you today. In the future... don't be so arrogant."

Having said this, the little old man led the little girl away into the flow of the crowd, until his figure could no longer be seen.

He was truly like a phantom, coming without a trace and leaving without a shadow.

Chen Shanzhen gasped for air, and before he could even recover his senses, he stammered in lingering fear, "Go! Back to the manor, quickly, back to the manor!"

Watching the man leave, a flash of disdain crossed Chen Han's eyes. Most of the Chen Family—people like Chen Qiuyu, Chen Huaijin, and Chen Shanzhen—were, for the most part, not good people.

Having grown up in a martial arts family, the traits of fawning over superiors, acting arrogantly toward subordinates, and bullying the weak while flattering the strong were already carved into their bones; it was difficult for them to ever change.

Whether it was the Black Mountain Gang or the Chen Family, neither were good people. Of course, he, who contentedly enjoyed the martial arts resources gained through exploitation, was no saint himself.

Chen Han did not dwell on the matter for long and continued his street patrol with his junior brother.

At this moment, the little old man, who had already walked far away, looked back in the direction where Chen Han was.

Kid, you don't really think I gave you face, do you? Still too young... stay for a few more nights, and your death date will arrive...

The little old man was disheveled and unkempt, his gaze sinister and chilling, cold and heartless.

A few days later, the sun set behind the mountains, deep into the night.

The Black Market.

A lean young man walked with practiced ease toward a shop. The shop reeked of blood, and the sign bore a single, large character: "Meat."

The young man walked inside and saw a woman—a tall, voluptuous, and alluring lady with long, fair legs. The sight caused the young man's blood to boil and his heart to grow restless.

"Aunt Xue'er, it's been a long time since I've visited. How is business?"

The young man, well-acquainted with the woman's wanton nature, sat beside her without a hint of shame. He placed a hand on those long legs that could drive any man to distraction, tracing circles as he explored.

For a moment, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction, and that wicked fire within him burned ever brighter.

"Oh my, why are you so impatient, my dear nephew? Can't you see your aunt is not in the mood?"

Qing Xue rolled her eyes at the young man with a look of resentment, crossing her arms over her chest and ignoring him, letting his hand wander wherever it pleased.

"Who is it? Who made my Aunt Xue'er angry? I'll go teach them a lesson."

"A lesson? Very well, then help your aunt teach him a good lesson... I just don't know if your body can handle it, lest you be beaten to death by then..."

Qing Xue's voice suddenly turned seductive and watery, and hearing it, the young man felt a reaction. He pulled the beautiful woman into his arms, "Whether my body can handle it or not, won't you find out in a moment?"

"Is that so? I don't think so, unless you prove it to me right now."

"Then Aunt Xue'er, don't go begging for mercy later..."

As he spoke, the young man pounced on her... After a bout of passion, Qing Xue lay against the young man's chest, her face flushed with charm. Her fingers traced circles on his chest, while the young man looked as though he hadn't had his fill.

"Are you full?"

"No, Aunt Xue'er, I can never get enough, no matter how much I eat."

Qing Xue chuckled, disdainfully saying, "Who is talking to you? Don't be so conceited..."

"Then who?"

The young man looked confused, but the very next moment, a piercing pain surged from his heart. It was a sensation he had experienced before while breaking through a bottleneck—it was truly heart-wrenching.

But now, this pain had returned, and it was several times more intense than before.

The young man's entire body convulsed violently from the pain. He tried to struggle, but he couldn't move a muscle; he was so weak from the agony that he couldn't even sit up.

The young man's eyes were filled with terror, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks. He stared wide-eyed at the alluring Aunt Xue'er on his chest.

He saw that the flush of passion had not yet faded from her face, and her fingers were teasing his chest, as if she were commanding something.

Sure enough, a scene he would never forget in his life unfolded: a bloody hole burst open from within his chest, and from that hole, strange-looking insects crawled out one after another, obediently climbing onto Qing Xue's hand.

"What... is this..."

Qing Xue rolled her eyes at the young man again. "Why ask so much when you're about to die? Very well, Aunt will satisfy this last wish of yours."

"These are Blood-Nurturing Insects. They can reside in a person's heart, preferably a martial artist's."

"Every day, when this person practices martial arts and nurtures their blood and qi, the Blood-Nurturing Insect can absorb that energy—especially during the breakthrough of a bottleneck, when the efficiency is highest—and convert it into pure blood and qi stored within its belly."

Qing Xue spoke, placing a bug into her mouth and chewing repeatedly, a look of intoxication spreading across her face.

A few breaths later, her complexion became visibly ruddy, and her entire vitality climbed to a new level.

"That's enough. You know what you needed to know, now vanish..."

After tidying everything up, she put on her dress and returned behind the counter as if nothing had happened.

Before long, a person wearing a black-veiled bamboo hat entered the shop; the veil was so thick that she could not make out their face.

Yet, by their aura, she already knew who had arrived.

Was this not that young man whose body recovered quite rapidly? In just over half a year, he had restored a broken frame to the level of a Dark Force martial artist—it was simply rare.

Wait!

Qing Xue narrowed her eyes. She had practiced a secret martial arts technique that allowed her to see through clothing to the essence beneath. It was by this method that she had conquered countless martial artists, tampering with their exotic beast meat to cultivate Gu worms within their hearts.

At this moment, she stared at Chen Han, her face full of shock.

The improvement in this boy's physical strength was already rare before, but now, after only a few days of not seeing him, he has improved again—he has actually reached Transformation Force!

How could this be!!!

Such a thing was something she had never heard of, nor ever seen.

After the surprise, her gaze turned excited. This boy is definitely not simple. Either he has an extraordinary talent, or he has consumed some kind of heavenly treasure... But regardless of which, as long as I extract the Gu worms and eat them all, they can in turn nourish my own body.

"Good, very good..."

Her heart was filled with joy, and at the same time, she cast an extremely seductive glance at Chen Han, lifting her slender leg slightly, the scenery beneath her skirt appearing and disappearing.