The Ruthless Destruction of Beauty

"Did you find someone to remove the Gu?"

Qing Xue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chen Han's mouth. Without a word, he kept walking toward them at an unhurried pace, making his intentions perfectly clear.

But at that moment, his vigilance surged.

Qing Xue didn't look afraid. Instead, she laughed, her gaze teasing, as if she wasn't worried in the least that he might take her life.

"What are you laughing at?"

Chen Han asked.

Before Qing Xue could respond, her face turned pale. All strength left her body, and her delicate frame slumped to the ground. She wasn't the only one affected; the Seven Knights of the Black Market were struck as well.

Their faces were deathly pale. They felt as if every ounce of strength had been drained from them, and they couldn't even stand.

"W-what's going on?"

"Boss, what else does this smoke do...?"

Qing Xue kept her eyes on Chen Han, her expression composed.

Her red lips parted. "This is a secret technique of my Gu Master sect. If someone afflicted with an evil Gu inhales it, the Gu will go berserk, gnawing through their internal organs in less than half an hour.

"The pain is so intense that they lose all ability to fight at the same time.

"And that's only its first effect. Its second effect is Bone-Softening Powder..."

Bone-Softening Powder!

One of the Heroic Assassins had heard of it. His expression changed at once.

"Is that the Bone-Softening Powder that can make even a Martialist collapse?"

Bone-Softening Powder was just what its name suggested: it softened the bones. Anyone who inhaled it would collapse, unless they had reached the supreme realm of Martial Master or above. For a short while, they wouldn't be able to stiffen a single part of their body.

Qing Xue giggled. "That's right. It's exactly that."

Gu Masters had all kinds of tricks, and strange, uncanny things were part of the trade. The legendary Bone-Softening Powder was Qing Xue's trump card, the one she kept hidden up her sleeve.

How could she have risen to prominence in the Black Market without powerful methods?

As she spoke, she looked at Chen Han. In terrain like this, where could he possibly hide? Her Bone-Softening Powder had already filled the entire cavern. There wasn't a safe place left.

Chen Han's brow furrowed.

He had no way to counter it. But if he couldn't kill them quickly, they would regain their strength once the poison wore off.

Then he would have no hope of turning the tables.

This woman really did have impressive methods. No wonder she'd made such a name for herself in the Black Market.

Was I really going to die here? No. I won't accept this. I won't!

Chen Han gritted his teeth. Then it suddenly dawned on him why everyone else had collapsed, while he was still standing as if nothing had happened.

He clenched his fist, hardly daring to believe it. Crack, crack!

The veins stood out on his fist, the muscles in his arm bulged in powerful ridges, and the crisp sound of his bones snapping into place rang out with startling clarity.

At last, he was sure: he hadn't been affected at all.

"Impossible!!"

At the sight of this, terror finally crept across Qing Xue's pretty face.

"That's Bone-Softening Powder! How can you be fine after inhaling so much?"

Chen Han was puzzled too. He glanced over himself, then noticed a faint, delicate fragrance lingering beneath his nose.

So it was this...

Chen Han took the sachet he'd found on Wu Duan from where it hung concealed against his chest and brought it to his nose. He gave it a gentle sniff, and at once felt clear-headed and refreshed.

The sachet he'd found on Wu Duan could actually repel poison!

"Heaven really hasn't forsaken me! It hasn't forsaken me, hahaha!!"

Chen Han first muttered to himself, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.

All eight of them looked at him differently now, as if they were staring at a demon. They were utterly terrified. Qing Xue, tall and willowy, knew she was trapped in a desperate situation; even her legs were trembling.

"You bitch, I'll fuck your mother! What the hell is going on?"

"Damn it, women always ruin everything!"

One of the Heroic Assassins immediately rounded on her.

Qing Xue had no intention of answering them. She kept her eyes on Chen Han, then suddenly spoke.

"How about this, Chen Han? Let's make a deal. Spare my life, and I'll help you. Apart from me, no one in the Black Market can remove this Gu so quickly.

"I can remove it for you right now. From this day on, I'll be yours. I'll be your slave or servant—command me as you please."

As she spoke, she discreetly opened the front of her robe, revealing a generous sweep of pale skin. "What do you say, Young Master Chen? This humble girl is still a virgin. No one has plucked her yet."

"Hero Chen, you and I have no grudge against each other. There's no need for us to kill one another."

"Exactly, exactly! If you don't mind, we brothers would gladly serve you too. Send us through fire or across a mountain of blades—we'll do your bidding!"

They wore smiles more painful than tears as they tried to curry favor and ingratiate themselves. Chen Han, who was used to being bullied, found it rather satisfying.

So this is what it feels like to be powerful. It's wonderful...

The pleased smile at the corner of his mouth slowly faded, replaced by a merciless chill.

If these people could truly be of use to him, that would certainly be ideal.

But people were unfathomable. He trusted no one but himself.

As long as he was strong enough, he didn't need companions. If one enemy came, he'd kill one; if ten came, he'd kill ten!

If one day he died at an enemy's hands because he was alone, that would only prove he hadn't worked hard enough and had let his cultivation grow slack. He'd deserve his death.

So...

"You'd all be better off dead..."

Chen Han walked slowly toward them. His expression didn't change as he spoke.

Killing them earlier might have been troublesome. They were badly wounded, but there were still eight of them—and one was a Transformation Force martial artist.

But now, killing them would be as easy as slaughtering chickens...

Chen Han knew exactly who he wanted first: the beautiful Qing Xue. He showed no mercy. Raising his fist high, he brought it crashing down into her terrified eyes, ruthlessly destroying the flower!

The Seven Knights of the Black Market were overcome with despair. If he could kill such a beautiful, captivating woman without so much as blinking, there was no need to say what would happen to them.

Just as they feared, no matter how desperately they pleaded, Chen Han remained unmoved. One after another, he took their lives, unhurriedly and without haste.

Chen Han killed them with a single punch each. After seven punches, he was the only living person left in the cavern.

He searched the bodies and buried them. Once it was all done, Chen Han left this place of trouble and stepped outside the cave.

It was finally over...

He drew a deep breath and slowly let it out. A weight lifted from his whole body.

By now, he was carrying nearly a hundred lives on his conscience.

Still, Chen Han didn't feel much about it. One by one, their faces appeared before his eyes, every one of them twisted with malice.

They had all once tried to kill him.

"Why? Why should I have to let people bully me? What right do they have? It's because I'm not strong enough... and not ruthless enough. Since they all want to come for me, then let them. Come on, all of you..."

At the thought, the killing intent around him reached a level it had never reached before.

At the Black Market, Chen Han went to Qing Xue's shop. He used the key he'd taken from her to unlock the heavy iron door, then packed up everything inside that was worth taking.

The fortune there truly shocked him. There was more Exotic Beast meat than he could carry in one trip, nearly a thousand taels in banknotes, four precious Exotic Beast hearts and livers, and all manner of strange or rare objects.

With so many eyes around, he naturally didn't dare bring any of it into the city. He found a secluded cave deep in the mountains and settled there.

With these resources, he could now break through to the third realm of the Taiji Health Cultivation Technique: lifting mountains and raising cauldrons, Steel Sinew Iron Bone!