95:The Flying Dagger

Old Wu believed himself to be a master who had attained the late stage of the Aperture Resonance Realm (a high level of martial cultivation), capable of easily overwhelming even most four-star masters. How could this mere youngster possibly surpass him in strength?

As Old Wu's fist hurtled towards his chest, Shen Yifei remained unperturbed. With a sudden blur, he shot out his right hand, shaping it into a vicious claw that seemed to tear through the air, striking directly at Old Wu's incoming fist!

The next instant, Shen Yifei's claw connected, intercepting Old Wu's punch and leaving several blood-streaked gashes across his hand.

“The Jade-Shattering Claw!?” Old Wu’s face contorted in shock. He urgently cried out, “Don’t—!” Before he could finish, Shen Yifei, his face expressionless, twisted his right claw. CRACK! The sickening sound of bone shattering echoed clearly. Old Wu’s features twisted in agony, a shrill scream escaping his lips as his entire right fist instantly went limp, its bones completely shattered by Shen Yifei’s twist.

The technique Shen Yifei employed was the Jade-Shattering Claw, an external cultivation technique (a martial art that focuses on strengthening the physical body rather than internal energy). It could be performed purely with brute force, provided one's physical conditioning was sufficient. Since Shen Yifei was currently unable to utilize his internal energy (the mystical life force cultivated by practitioners of martial arts and cultivation), this otherwise unconventional and crude martial technique proved surprisingly useful.

Pulled along by Shen Yifei’s momentum, Old Wu stumbled. Shen Yifei, his expression grim, delivered a powerful kick. Old Wu flew across the room, slamming into the bathroom wall with a deafening crash.

“Cough, cough...” A trickle of blood escaped Old Wu’s lips. He wondered if he was experiencing a hallucination. This young man, without even using his internal energy, had injured him so easily with mere brute force? A trace of terror appeared on Old Wu’s face. He couldn't fathom the true extent of this young man's power.

“Are you... a master of the Absolute Vigor Realm (a martial cultivation stage known for immense physical power)?” Old Wu rasped out.

“I don’t like to waste time. Tell me where Luo Tianyao is, now. Otherwise, I’ll make you beg for death!” The chilling words had barely left his lips when Shen Yifei, with a flick of his right hand, produced a slender, silver flying dagger that spun rapidly between his fingers.

The silver blade, shaped like a willow leaf, gleamed with a sharp, lethal brilliance, exuding an aura of extreme deadliness. Shen Yifei carried only three such daggers, reserving them for emergencies due to their potent, instant-killing poison.

The moment he saw this oddly shaped dagger, Old Wu’s face instantly contorted into a mask of pure terror, as if a horrifying realization had just struck him. He stammered, “The Willow... The Willow-Leaf Dagger! You... you are—!”

A flicker of savagery crossed Shen Yifei’s eyes. “If you don’t want to die, then do as I say!”

Old Wu swallowed hard, his face a picture of dread. Rumor had it that the Blood Diamond Registry (a clandestine list of the most dangerous and elusive assassins) included a top-tier assassin whose mastery of projectile weapons was almost supernatural. Their victims were often found with willow-leaf-shaped daggers embedded in them. That assassin was also said to be in his early twenties. Could this be...?

“Please, just spare my life! Luo Tianyao made me do all of this! I... I don’t deserve to die!” Old Wu was scared out of his wits, never imagining he’d cross paths with such a demonic figure (a term for an incredibly formidable and dangerous person).

Shen Yifei clicked his tongue. “Now, take me to Luo Tianyao!”

“Yes! Yes! Of course!” Old Wu scrambled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth, and hurriedly began leading the way for Shen Yifei.

Inside the suite, Su Muqing opened her groggy eyes. Her head swam, and her body felt feverish.

“Where am I? What happened to me?” She sat up, rubbed her temples, and looked around.

Su Muqing recalled being brought here by someone. Was it Shen Yifei? No! Shen Yifei had gone to the bathroom.

“Could it be...” A terrible premonition instantly gripped Su Muqing.

Just then, the room door swung open. Luo Tianyao entered, impeccably dressed in an elegant and lavish Versace custom suit, a rose clutched between his teeth.

“Luo Tianyao, what do you want?!” A hint of panic flashed across Su Muqing’s beautiful face, and she instinctively recoiled a step. A wicked smile curled Luo Tianyao’s lips. He closed the door with a casual flick of his wrist and advanced towards Su Muqing on the bed.

“Xue’er,” Luo Tianyao said, removing the rose from his mouth with a sigh. “Are you truly so averse to me?”

Su Muqing took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Luo Tianyao, I don’t know what you intend, but please, don’t go too far. I already have a fiancé. If you continue to harass me, I will use legal means to protect myself!”

“Legal means? Haha, Xue’er, you truly say the funniest things!” A faint smile played on Luo Tianyao’s lips as he spoke unhurriedly. “What are laws worth in the face of absolute power and wealth? Xue’er, I don’t know who that fiancé of yours might be, but today, I plan to give him quite a show.”

“What kind of show?” Su Muqing’s delicate brows furrowed.

“Only the best kind of show! Xue’er, I imagine you must be feeling it by now, aren’t you? Certain changes in your body.” He flashed a wicked smile, revealing his true predatory nature.

A jolt of alarm went through Su Muqing. Indeed, ever since she’d woken up, a burning sensation had enveloped her entire body, and her cheeks felt abnormally hot. That heat was intensifying, and even the slightest friction between her thighs sent an indescribable shiver through her. This feeling was definitely not normal.

“You... what did you do to me?” Su Muqing felt her strength slowly drain away, her limbs growing heavy.

“Xue’er, there’s no need to panic. I merely slipped something into the red wine you drank earlier,” Luo Tianyao chuckled.

“You! What kind of drug?!” Su Muqing demanded in a panic.

“That’s an excellent question,” Luo Tianyao replied, grinning widely. “It’s a newly developed, super-potent hallucinogen from overseas, and also an aphrodisiac.”

“Shameless!” Su Muqing’s delicate body sagged, her mind reeling with intense dizziness. She bit her tongue, trying to maintain her sanity, and cried out, her voice trembling, “Luo Tianyao, if you have the guts, just kill me! What kind of man preys on a helpless woman?!”

Luo Tianyao sneered. “That’s because you, woman, don’t know what’s good for you! I, Luo Tianyao, possess limitless wealth and immense power. I am one of the most prominent figures in the entire Huaxia Nation (a historical and cultural term for China), wielding formidable influence in both the underworld and legitimate society. No matter how highly you regard yourself, could someone of my status possibly be unworthy of you?”

“Luo Tianyao, it’s not a matter of worthiness!” Su Muqing roared. “I simply find *you* repulsive, and that’s all there is to it!”

Luo Tianyao’s face twisted into a snarl. He pressed a hand down on Su Muqing’s legs, roaring, “You find me repulsive? What right do you have to feel that way about me! I don’t care if you detest me or not; once I, Luo Tianyao, set my eyes on a woman, she will never escape my grasp!”

Su Muqing was in a state of utter panic. She tried to struggle, but couldn't move; even the strength to lift her arm had vanished. Was her pure and unblemished body, preserved for over two decades, truly going to be defiled by this shameless beast? At this thought, two lines of clear tears streamed down her cheeks. She fantasized about Shen Yifei appearing before her, delivering a brutal beating to this scoundrel.