Chapter 37

Even if Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng joined forces, he remained utterly unafraid.

Sufficient strength gave him sufficient confidence.

Just right; he also wanted to see what tricks these two fellows intended to play.

Moreover, he needed to use these two people's hands to indirectly gain access to that legendary Nine Yin Manual.

Thinking this, Ning Chuan nodded at Huang Rong, indicating his agreement to attend the banquet together.

Seeing Ning Chuan agree, although Huang Rong felt some doubts about the invitation from Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, thinking that Ning Chuan was present, she felt much more at ease.

The night was like ink, with stars dotting the sky.

On Taohuadao, inside the small courtyard where Chen Xuanfeng resided, lights burned bright and voices were loud and bustling.

A large round table stood in the courtyard, covered with various delicacies, their fragrance overflowing.

Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, Feng Mofeng, as well as Huang Rong and Ning Chuan, had all arrived.

Everyone sat around the table, and the atmosphere appeared lively and harmonious.

Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, abandoning their usual aloofness, behaved with异常 enthusiasm.

They frequently raised their cups, exchanging toasts with their senior and junior brothers, talking and laughing, as if all previous barriers had vanished into thin air.

Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly intense.

Mei Chaofeng personally carried two roasted suckling pigs, golden and dripping with oil, and came before Ning Chuan.

With a gentle smile on her face, she spoke softly: "Brother Ning Chuan, previously I was wrong; I should not have suspected you of having ulterior motives toward Rong'er and Taohuadao. These two suckling pigs were specially roasted by me for you; please taste them and see if they suit your appetite."

Having spoken, she actually took a wine cup herself and said to Ning Chuan: "I will punish myself with three cups to apologize to Brother Ning Chuan!"

After speaking, she tilted her head back and drained the wine in the cup in one gulp, doing so for three consecutive cups without changing her expression.

Chen Xuanfeng also lifted his wine cup and said to Ning Chuan: "Brother Ning Chuan, that day at the martial arts ground, I was rash; I should not have invited you to spar so presumptuously. I too will punish myself with one cup to apologize to you!"

He also drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Seeing this, Qu Lingfeng and the others showed gratified smiles on their faces.

They all believed that Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng were truly repentant and wished to resolve the previous slight unpleasantness with Ning Chuan.

"Enough, enough; we are all fellow brothers and sisters. Brother Ning Chuan is also Rong'er's savior; let us all get along harmoniously from now on." Qu Lingfeng said with a smile, smoothing things over.

Ning Chuan's heart, however, showed not the slightest ripple.

He quietly watched Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng perform their efforts, merely nodding his snake head lightly to indicate acceptance of their "apology."

He did not reveal his ability to speak human language before everyone.

He continued to maintain that mysterious and unfathomable posture of a strange beast.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes.

Everyone began talking again about Master Huang Yaoshi's recent departure from the island to visit friends.

"I do not know which old friend Master went to see this time; it has been so long and he has not yet returned." Wu Mianfeng said with some curiosity.

"I heard Rong'er say that Master seems to have gone to see the senior Hong Qigong, the Northern Beggar." Lu Chengfeng said.

"Oh? The Northern Beggar Hong Qigong?" Chen Xuanfeng's eyes flashed with a strange light, and he said casually: "Speaking of which, I once heard that after the Huashan Sword Duel, True Person Wang Chongyang once lent the Nine Yin Manual to several of the Five Greats for study."

"Master, that venerable elder, must have also perused that peerless divine art, correct?"

"I do not know what divine and mysterious qualities the Nine Yin Manual possesses, to attract heroes from all under heaven to chase after it."

He shifted his topic and spoke in a low voice: "I speculate that Master's visit to senior Hong Qigong this time might be... to discuss the mysteries of the Nine Yin Manual with the old senior together?"

His words were filled with longing and curiosity for the Nine Yin Manual.

"Junior brother! You are drunk!"

Hearing this, Qu Lingfeng's face immediately changed drastically; he suddenly slapped the table and shouted sternly.

The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly dropped to freezing.

Everyone knew that the Nine Yin Manual was an absolute taboo on Taohuadao!

Back then, Huang Yaoshi's beloved wife, Feng Heng, unfortunately died young because she forcibly memorized the lower volume of the Nine Yin Manual, exhausting all her strength.

This matter has always been the eternal pain in Huang Yaoshi's heart.

Disciples on the island also dared not mention this matter lightly.

Now Chen Xuanfeng actually spoke these words in public; it was simply like sprinkling salt on Huang Yaoshi's wound!

Scolded by Qu Lingfeng, Chen Xuanfeng lowered his head, showing a slightly embarrassed expression on his face, as if he had truly just spoken out of turn due to drunkenness.

But deep in his eyes, a trace of cruelty and determination flashed, barely noticeable.

After a moment of silence.

"Oh my... I... I feel... my head is a bit dizzy..."

Huang Rong suddenly let out a soft cry, her small hand supporting her forehead, a trace of pain appearing on her exquisite small face, and her body began to sway unsteadily.

"Rong'er, what is wrong with you?" Qu Lingfeng and the others were greatly alarmed and immediately asked with concern.

Immediately after.

"Not good... I... I also feel weak all over..."

"My internal energy... is not flowing smoothly..."

Qu Lingfeng, Lu Chengfeng, Wu Mianfeng, and Feng Mofeng, the four of them, also successively let out cries of alarm.

They suddenly felt their bodies become weak and soft, as if the internal energy within their dantian had been imprisoned by something, making it difficult to mobilize.

"Thump!" "Thump!"

Several people successively collapsed weakly to the ground, their faces filled with horror and disbelief.

Ning Chuan also shook his huge snake body at the appropriate moment, as if he too had been affected, and lay weakly on the ground.

Actually, upon sensing a barely detectable strange scent in the dishes, he secretly activated his Devouring and Strengthening talent, quietly refining the poison that had invaded his body.

With his current cultivation base in the Innate Realm and his incredibly powerful snake body, ordinary poisons were completely ineffective against him.

"The food... there is poison in the food!"

Qu Lingfeng, mustering the last shred of his strength, roared hoarsely, his eyes filled with rage and disbelief.

Who on earth would dare to poison them right here on Taohuadao?!

Just then, they saw Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng standing there with perfect composure, a cold smile on their faces, showing no signs of poisoning whatsoever.

In an instant, everyone understood!

An indescribable surge of anger and betrayal welled up in the hearts of Qu Lingfeng and the others.

They could hardly believe their own eyes!

"It... it was you who poisoned us?!" Qu Lingfeng pointed at Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, his voice trembling violently with rage.