Chapter 980: Chapter 980

Zhou Yuliang was Wang Tian'an's second senior brother. He had lived in the Miao Borderlands for years, making him more familiar with the area than anyone else.

Chen Yongchang was held up by Liu Mubai in the Capital and couldn't make it here. So, Wang Tian'an contacted his second senior brother, Zhou Yuliang, in the Miao Borderlands to have him come and kill Ye Qing.

When Zhou Yuliang arrived earlier, he happened to see Ye Qing being chased. In truth, he had been tailing Ye Qing all along, waiting for an opportunity to strike. However, when he saw Ye Qing interrogating the older sister of the Fire Sang girl, he immediately had bad intentions, planning to play the hero rescuing the beauty. One, he could kill Ye Qing, and two, he could claim the Fire Sang girl's sister for himself.

Unexpectedly, Ye Qing's strength far exceeded Zhou Yuliang's expectations, leaving him unable to defeat him. Desperate, Zhou Yuliang resorted to using the sect's Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder, hoping to incapacitate Ye Qing before killing him.

"Ye, since you recognize this Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder, you should understand its potency." Zhou Yuliang sneered at Ye Qing and said, "Once hit by my powder, you're as good as dead today!"

"Hmph, since you're Wang Tian'an's second senior brother, didn't he ever tell you?" Ye Qing said coldly, "Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder has no effect on me!"

Zhou Yuliang's expression shifted as he stared at Ye Qing for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Hahaha, what a joke! Do you think you're a Peak Master who has cleared all their meridians and acupoints? Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder has no effect on you? Hmph, if you can stay standing for ten more seconds, I'll admit you're skilled!"

Ye Qing couldn't be bothered to argue with Zhou Yuliang. Since this man was Wang Tian'an's second senior brother, he was naturally Ye Qing's enemy. Without another word, Ye Qing drew the Seven-Star Ancient Sword and slashed forward.

When Zhou Yuliang saw Ye Qing make a move, his expression changed completely. Initially, he thought Ye Qing was bluffing, but Ye Qing's powerful strike confirmed his statement wasn't a lie. Could it be that the Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder truly had no effect on Ye Qing? How was this possible? Zhou Yuliang had never encountered such a situation before. Could the drug simply not have taken effect yet?

Dodging several strikes from Ye Qing, Zhou Yuliang came to a stark realization: the Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder truly had no effect, as Ye Qing's inner strength remained robust. This sudden realization left Zhou Yuliang panicked; his identity was exposed, and he hadn't managed to kill Ye Qing. This placed him in great peril.

As Ye Qing's strikes grew increasingly forceful, Zhou Yuliang gritted his teeth and yelled, "Behold my ultimate technique!"

Ye Qing immediately became more alert. At that moment, Zhou Yuliang pulled something from his waist with his left hand and threw it to the ground in front of Ye Qing. As the object hit the ground, a plume of white smoke erupted, engulfing Ye Qing and obscuring his surroundings entirely.

Not daring to take any chances, Ye Qing brandished the Seven-Star Ancient Sword in his hands to guard against a sneak attack while retreating step by step to escape the smoke's range. However, the smoke seemed widespread, and it wasn't until he took six or seven steps back that he finally emerged from it. Yet, the dense smoke still enveloped the area ahead, leaving Ye Qing unable to discern what lay within. Zhou Yuliang and the Fire Sang girl's sister were both obscured in the smoke.

Ye Qing frowned. He dared not enter recklessly, but he didn't idle either. Picking up a stone from the ground, he hurled it into the smoke. After throwing more than a dozen such stones, the smoke gradually dispersed. But to his shock, Zhou Yuliang and the woman, who had been shrouded in the smoke, had disappeared without a trace!

Ye Qing's expression darkened. He finally understood that Zhou Yuliang had used the smoke as a decoy to escape with the Fire Sang girl's sister under its cover.

Enraged, Ye Qing clenched the Seven-Star Ancient Sword and sped off in pursuit. This matter concerned Huangfu Ziyu's life—how could he afford to waste time? Yet no matter how hard he searched, there was no trace of Zhou Yuliang or the woman. Hunting through a forest in the dead of night was no easy task. After running in circles without success, dawn began to break.

After searching the woods for nearly an hour, Ye Qing grew increasingly frustrated. An hour was long enough for many things to happen, yet he still hadn't found Huangfu Ziyu. Anxiety gnawed at his resolve.

Unable to locate Zhou Yuliang or the Fire Sang girl's sister, Ye Qing abandoned his search and instead turned to look for Huo Lie and the others. But they were nowhere to be found either. It was as if Ye Qing had become the forest's sole inhabitant.

Returning to his vehicle in despair, Ye Qing stared at the empty tents and cars. Hopelessness nearly engulfed him. Given the Miao people's methods, Huangfu Ziyu falling into their hands left little hope of survival.

Standing in place silently for a long time, Ye Qing suddenly gritted his teeth, stood up, and started his vehicle, driving deeper into the Miao Borderlands. Even though Ziyu's fate seemed grim, Ye Qing would not give up. If Huo Lie and his people were heading to Zhenmu Dong, he would wait for them there. Even if he couldn't save Ziyu in time, he would avenge her!

Meanwhile, in a cave in the mountain forest, the Fire Sang girl's sister lay naked atop Zhou Yuliang. The two had been entwined for some time.

The Fire Sang girl's sister, though ruthless, was in truth an inexperienced maiden. Rescued by Zhou Yuliang, she had already developed a fondness for him. Coupled with Zhou Yuliang's handsome appearance and cunning tactics, she soon succumbed to his charms, surrendering herself to him in the cave.

Women are always their gentlest with the men they love. The Fire Sang girl's sister was no exception. She lay on Zhou Yuliang's chest, brimming with tenderness, as if she had forgotten her injuries.

"I've given you everything; you mustn't abandon me!" she murmured softly.

"Don't worry," Zhou Yuliang said with a smile. "When I give my word, I keep it! I'll marry you and stay in the Miao Borderlands with you!"

"Would you really give up the Floral World beyond and stay here with me?" Her eyes sparkled with delight, fully believing Zhou Yuliang's words.

"Of course!" Zhou Yuliang gently embraced her shoulder. "I love you, after all!"

Her face blushed deeply as she hugged Zhou Yuliang tightly, unwilling to let go.

"Enough, it's getting late!" Zhou Yuliang patted her rear and said gently, "The villain who hurt you last night might already be deep in the Miao Borderlands. We must catch up with your father quickly and warn him to be cautious of that man to avoid falling victim!"

"Ah, I almost forgot!" The woman quickly dressed and exclaimed, "That villain dared to hurt me. I'll have my father kill him to avenge me!"

Zhou Yuliang leaned close and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll avenge you too!"

Her face lit up with joy, and she turned to kiss Zhou Yuliang deeply before reluctantly leaving to find food. Casting an affectionate glance at him, she said softly, "You must be hungry. I'll fetch something to eat."

"Wonderful!" Zhou Yuliang laughed. "I've been starving, but I don't dare wander in the unfamiliar Miao Borderlands."

"Of course not. The Miao Borderlands are filled with traps. You'd better stay close to me when we leave." She beamed and exited the cave, confident in her familiarity with the area.

Watching her depart, Zhou Yuliang immediately took out his phone and called Wang Tian'an.

"Second Brother, how did it go?" Wang Tian'an's voice was tense. His priority was Ye Qing's fate.

"Ye Qing has remarkable resilience! The Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder couldn't subdue him—what's going on?" Zhou Yuliang mused.

"I don't know either. I've tried using that powder on him before, but it didn't work!" After a pause, Wang Tian'an added, "Second Brother, he didn't escape, did he?"

"It wasn't him who escaped; it was me!" Zhou Yuliang snapped. "Ye Qing's skills are formidable—he defeated me. Luckily, I had a Smoke Bomb, which allowed me to trap him and make my getaway."

"Killing him won't be easy!" Wang Tian'an said gravely. "Second Brother, why don't you contact the Gu Masters our senior brother knows in that area to help?"

"There's no need!" Zhou Yuliang replied with a smug grin. "I've already found someone better suited for the job!"

"Who?" Wang Tian'an was puzzled.

"I've convinced several Gu Masters to assist—they'll definitely help me kill Ye Qing!" Zhou Yuliang boasted.

"What?!" Wang Tian'an was shocked. "But don't the Miao people generally harbor deep hostility toward Han people? Why would they help you?"

"That's for me to handle. Just wait—soon, I'll send Ye Qing's head to you!" Zhou Yuliang laughed confidently.

Calmed by Zhou Yuliang's confidence, Wang Tian'an said, "Very well, Second Brother. We'll count on you!"

"Leave it to me!" Zhou Yuliang ended the call. Moments later, the Fire Sang girl's sister returned with food.

Zhou Yuliang joined her in eating, regaining his strength, before packing up and heading toward Zhenmu Dong. He was certain Huo Lie and the others were heading there for the Ten Thousand Gu Festival. Once there, they would find Huo Lie and incite him to kill Ye Qing.

In truth, Ye Qing reaching Zhenmu Dong might not even require Huo Lie's intervention. Ye Qing had harmed the Fire Sang girl's sister—a Han person harming a Miao was a grave offense in the Miao Borderlands. Such an act would make all of Miao his enemies. At that point, other Miao people might kill Ye Qing before Huo Lie even had the chance.