At the same time the Zheng Clan was looking for Zheng Yaxin, in a rented house in the area of Chaotic City Port to the southwest of Xiang Island, a man was guzzling high-proof liquor.
Pain marred his face, as if any movement could tug at the agonizing pain throughout his body. Only the potent liquor could numb his perception, offering him a fleeting sense of relief.
If anyone were present, they would be utterly astonished.
Because the desolate-looking middle-aged man before them was none other than Zhou Yuanshou, the direct disciple of Master Zhou, reputed to be the future successor of Xiang Island’s cultivation lineage.
Yet, at that moment, Zhou Yuanshou had none of the elegance of a cultivator. Instead, he was full of despondency and disarray. If no one asked, he could easily be mistaken for a homeless wanderer.
"Damn it! The backlash of the secret technique is so severe. I’ve only used it twice, and the pain has already reached my bones. How did Master withstand it ten times?"
Zhou Yuanshou snarled, gritting his teeth in persistence, his gums nearly crushed, yet he could not alleviate the pain, not even momentarily.
He had already downed ten bottles of liquor. The high-proof liquor flooded his stomach like water. His brain was exhausted, yet the intense pain kept him from sleeping at all.
Whenever he closed his eyes, the pain in his brain would stab like needles, agitating every cell in his body.
Zhou Yuanshou even suspected that if the pain continued, he would go mad from the agony.
Human rationality is unreliable; any emotion that exceeds a certain limit can lead to its collapse.
"Zhou Yuanshou, is that you?"
In the dim room, accompanied by a voice, a girl stepped out from the darkness.
Zheng Yaxin.
The girl who graced the cover of a world fashion magazine and even claimed the crown of honor, now looked utterly terrified.
She was hosting her birthday party on the finest cruise ship on Xiang Island, basking in the adoration of countless men. Yet when she opened her eyes, it was as if she had fallen into a nightmare.
In a filthy, cramped rental room, filled with the murky scents of alcohol and sweat, with barely any sunlight coming through the narrow window.
Zheng Yaxin thought she was dreaming, and every element in the dream was something her subconscious least wanted to see.
It was only upon hearing Zhou Yuanshou’s agonizing screams that Zheng Yaxin abruptly awoke, realizing that she was not in a dream, but in stark, unmistakable reality.
Lin Beichen!
All of this was caused by Lin Beichen. She had to get back home quickly, before anyone else reacted, and plead with Old Master first.
She couldn’t allow her reputation to be ruined, and she definitely couldn’t let Lin Beichen stay on Xiang Island.
She couldn’t possibly repay the billions in debt.
"Sit for a moment, I’ll be ready soon."
Zhou Yuanshou said through gritted teeth. Without waiting for Zheng Yaxin to react, he suddenly launched a palm strike, and a gale mixed with spiritual qi pinned Zheng Yaxin against the corner of the wall.
With a bang.
Zheng Yaxin fell to the ground, letting out a scream.
Zheng Yaxin stared blankly at Zhou Yuanshou, a sense of bewilderment filling her heart.
Was this still the Zhou Yuanshou who had always been gentle and compliant to her?
The man before her bore no trace of Zhou Yuanshou; instead, he looked like a desperate assassin.
"I can get through this."
Zhou Yuanshou screamed, his voice echoing in the room, like the wails of a damned ghost.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhou Yuanshou finally ceased his yelling, his eyes now bloodshot.
Gradually, a blood-streaked lotus petal emerged on his forehead.
The bloodshot veins in his eyes slowly congregated in the lotus petal, which transformed from one petal to two.
Zhou Yuanshou seemed to lose his strength, collapsing heavily to the ground, which was already soaked with his blood and sweat.
Gasping for breath, he regained some strength and lifted his head to look at Zheng Yaxin in the corner.
"Do you know what I’m doing?"
Zhou Yuanshou said leisurely.
Hearing this, Zheng Yaxin shook her head repeatedly, terror flooding her heart.
Zhou Yuanshou’s tone was very strange, as if something tremendous was about to happen.
In the decade she had known Zhou Yuanshou, she had never been as frightened as she was now.
Zhou Yuanshou slowly approached Zheng Yaxin, a hint of amusement in his cold eyes.
"You have a connection to immortality. I need you."
Zhou Yuanshou said leisurely.
"Tell me every detail of how you obtained the immortal pill and how you became enemies with Lin. Don’t think about deceiving me."
Zhou Yuanshou said coldly, as a flicker of spiritual light appeared in his hand.
The glow surrounded Zheng Yaxin’s forehead, immediately enveloping her mind.
"You have a drop of my essence blood in you. If you dare lie, the blood will ignite into flames, burning you to a crisp."
Zhou Yuanshou said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Yaxin widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at Zhou Yuanshou.
Was this still the courteous Zhou Yuanshou?
"What are you waiting for? Speak up!"
Zhou Yuanshou roared suddenly, slamming his hand heavily against the wall.
The walls of the dilapidated village were very weak.
The impact of Zhou Yuanshou’s palm strike instantly smashed a hole in the wall.
Zheng Yaxin shrieked and immediately began to speak through sobs.
She didn’t know Lin Beichen; they met by chance through Mr. Li Jiang.