A Desperate Struggle

"Blue Elf?"

Ma Wei furrowed his brows tightly. This drug had appeared on the market in the last six months and was already showing a trend of becoming rampant.

With its low price and potent effects, the intense euphoria produced after consumption made countless people unable to extricate themselves; it wasn't just the lower-class citizens, but even many martial artists were deeply trapped by it.

The Public Security Bureau naturally would not allow this situation to continue to develop and had already begun to strictly crack down on this contraband.

Unfortunately, it was impossible to stop despite repeated bans; the drug dealers were like rats in a sewer—wipe out one nest, and three more would pop up elsewhere.

"What is your name? Who are you working for?"

Ma Wei stared at the man tied to the tree, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Meng... Meng Wei, I really don't know who I'm working for."

Ma Wei was instantly enraged: "If you refuse a toast, you'll be forced to drink a forfeit. You're at death's door and still want to hide the truth?

I think you're just asking for a beating. I should poke a few holes in you and let a dozen big men have their way with you!"

Meng Wei, who had been on his last breath, suddenly perked up, completely shocked.

"Big Brother, I really don't know who I'm working for.

I used to work in a circus troupe. A guy saw that I had the ability to control snakes and pulled me into this gang.

I don't know anything else; he didn't tell me a single thing."

Ma Wei scrutinized Meng Wei with a judgmental gaze. The man's expression and tone didn't seem fake; he was likely telling the truth.

"What is the name of this 'Big Brother' you mentioned?"

"I... I don't know."

"You don't know again? Are you a pig?"

Meng Wei said with a mournful face: "They told me not to ask around blindly, so I couldn't do anything about it."

"Pig!"

Meng Wei's lips moved a few times, but in the end, he didn't dare to say anything.

"How many people are in your hideout?"

Meng Wei immediately replied: "Seven, including me."

Then, he added with a face full of grievance: "Their names and their backgrounds, I really don't know any of them."

Ma Wei sneered: "What? Do you want me to praise you?"

Meng Wei shook his head rapidly.

"So, these people didn't treat you as one of their own, yet you are willing to sacrifice yourself to cover for them? How noble of you!"

Meng Wei hung his head in dejection. He had originally planned to retreat, but who knew Meng Yao would suddenly pounce out and pin him to the ground to beat him like a dog.

If he had known it would turn out like this, he should have run sooner. Now that he had fallen into the hands of the Public Security Bureau, he was completely finished.

"You should at least know what these people look like, right?"

Meng Wei nodded repeatedly.

"Fine, tell me in detail once we get to the Public Security Bureau.

Now tell me, where is your hideout?"

Meng Wei said: "Go south from here; you'll see a cave."

Ma Wei let out an angry snort and untied the vines binding Meng Wei.

Afterward, he said to Gao Teng and the other: "This is no longer your business. Go and regroup with your classmates."

"Alright."

Gao Teng agreed.

Ma Wei cautioned the few officers beside him: "Do not spread word of what Gao Teng and his companion did today. Otherwise, once the wanted posters are issued, they will definitely face retaliation."

The few public security officers looked at each other and immediately patted their chests in assurance: "Don't worry, Deputy Chief, we will keep our mouths shut."

Ma Wei nodded slightly, then bid farewell to Gao Teng and his companion, dragging Meng Wei toward the south.

"Let's go."

Gao Teng and his companion didn't linger and set off toward the outside of the forest.

On the way, Meng Yao couldn't hold back anymore and said with an expression of disbelief: "Gao Teng, you're too amazing. You actually learned snake-charming just by listening. Even my brother doesn't have your talent."

Gao Teng was a bit curious: "Who is your brother..."

"My brother attends Taiyi University. In the provincial high school practical combat duel the year before last, he ranked tenth.

But you're a bit strange. With such high comprehension, how are your grades so bad?

Thinking about the huge gap between us in the future, you must feel very sad, right?

After all, it will be hard for you to talk to a girl as pretty and cute as me again. Just thinking about it makes you feel miserable."

Gao Teng took a deep look at Meng Yao; this girl's train of thought was far too erratic.

This kind of whimsical personality was not something possessed by the common folk at the bottom of society. People raised in impoverished environments spoke and acted with extreme caution; how could they ever be this carefree?

From this, it was evident that Meng Yao must have a profound family background and was deeply doted upon by her kin.

Just as he was about to ask a few more questions, Meng Yao's gaze was suddenly drawn away, and she hurried toward the east.

"What is it?"

Gao Teng quickened his pace to follow.

Meng Yao stopped beside a corpse, covering her mouth with both hands, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"She... she is my deskmate. She was asking me questions this morning, saying she was almost at the admission standard for a regular university, saying she wanted to be a teacher after graduation. She... how is she dead?"

Gao Teng pressed his lips into a thin line and fell silent.

"Why was she left here?"

"They probably didn't have time to collect the bodies," Gao Teng said. "The situation on the island is unclear. To avoid further casualties, we must retreat immediately. Only after the Public Security Bureau lands to investigate the situation will they have the manpower to collect the remains."

"Damn it!"

Meng Yao gritted her teeth, wanting to pick up the body.

But just as she touched the corpse, a bright red venomous snake suddenly darted out from beneath it and bit her on the neck.

Even though Meng Yao possessed an extremely high level of physical strength, the fangs pierced her skin and injected the venom.

In an instant, her face was shrouded in a layer of black mist!

Gao Teng's pupils constricted, and he hurriedly reached out to grab the snake.

To his surprise, he grabbed nothing but air; the snake had vanished in the blink of an eye!

Gao Teng's heart leaped into his throat. The snake was small and ordinary, not at all like a mutated creature, yet it possessed such terrifying speed.

Suddenly, a warning sign flared in his mind. In his peripheral vision, a streak of red light shot toward the side of his neck.

The speed was absolute; he couldn't even see the snake's body, and could only rely on instinct to lean backward.

In an instant, the red light grazed his throat, and blood splattered out.

Gao Teng didn't care about the wound sliced by the scales; he kept his eyes locked on the red light, while a bold idea emerged in his mind.

The next moment, as the red light struck again, he intentionally let the venomous snake bite his neck, then seized the snake's body with a death grip!

A sharp pain exploded like an electric current; the fangs sank deep into Gao Teng's flesh, and the venom was rapidly pumped into his body.

Gao Teng's vision went black, and he violently tore the snake off, twisting his hands with all his might.

However, the snake's body was exceptionally tough. Not only was it not twisted into a knot, but it opened its mouth and bit his arm.

Gao Teng did not let go. He frantically drove the True Qi within his body, and even greater strength erupted from his hands.

The snake's body creaked under this brutal force, scales flew off, and blood flowed in torrents.

[You have gained 1385 Merit Points]

Soon, the notification sound rang out.

Gao Teng did not hesitate, preparing to steal Meng Yao's cultivation.

If he could steal her physical strength, he should be able to purge the snake venom from his body.

This was undoubtedly a massive gamble, but what other choice did he have?

Faced with such a death trap, only by fighting for his life could he find a glimmer of hope!

"Gao Teng, take this medicine!"