Their true qi had been sealed and their pipa bones locked, leaving them like lambs awaiting slaughter. Even so, a defiant gleam remained in all three pairs of eyes-when had anyone from Dragon-Slaying City ever bowed their head to another?
Lu Changfeng sat before them and leisurely opened his left hand.
The little snake on his wrist, crimson as blood, suddenly stirred.
It released its tail from its mouth, raised its slender upper body, and slowly flicked its tongue at the three of them. Its forked tongue was scarlet as blood, gleaming eerily in the lamplight.
A strange, terrifying aura instantly spread. Formless and intangible, it nevertheless sent an inexplicable tremor through their hearts, as though something unseen were prowling through the air.
Lu Changfeng said mildly, "Do you know what this is?"
The three looked at the little crimson snake, exchanged glances, and sneered.
A mere little snake dared show off before them?
Dragon-Slaying City had slaughtered dragons for generations. They had seen dragon blood and dragon might aplenty!
Lu Changfeng paid them no mind.
He smiled, warm and harmless, yet that smile inexplicably made their hearts tighten.
"This is called [blazing wind gu]. You gentlemen come from an ancient tradition, so I imagine you haven't heard much about it."
He explained unhurriedly, "There's an old saying in the Miao Borderlands: 'Better a bite from a golden silkworm than a single wisp of blazing wind.' Once this blazing wind gu is refined, its attacks are formless and intangible. Like a scorching wind sweeping through, it eats away at true qi and burns the meridians. There's no guarding against it."
He looked at them, his gaze as calm as still water.
"Those afflicted suffer as though headwind has struck. Death would be preferable."
"You're all tough men. I'm sure you