Chapter 97: The Reason

Just as the fist was about to strike Nie Yuan, a figure suddenly darted out from the side, intercepting Cheng Feng's attack. It was Langu! Although she was injured, she still gave her all to buy a glimmer of survival for Nie Yuan.

Looking at the suddenly appearing Langu, Cheng Feng asked angrily, "Why are you stopping me? If he runs away, who can stop him? If he finds a chance to take revenge later, who can block him?"

Langu needed to interrogate Nie Yuan to get what she wanted; Nie Yuan could not die just yet.

But with Cheng Feng here, Langu could not ask directly and could only remain in a stalemate.

Cheng Feng did not understand, nor did he want to understand. Langu had played him for a fool before; now that the opportunity was lost, it would not come again. Nie Yuan dying was the greatest benefit to Cheng Feng.

Looking at the ready-to-strike Babai in the distance, looking at the undying determination in Cheng Feng's eyes.

Langu took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound as calm as possible: "Cheng Feng, you've misunderstood. I am not trying to protect Nie Yuan; I just need to obtain some information from him. This information is vital to my sect, and there can be no mistakes."

Cheng Feng frowned, clearly unsatisfied with Langu's explanation: "Why didn't you tell me directly before? It's not too late now; I can even interrogate him for you!"

Langu shook her head: "This matter is of great importance; I must ask him clearly myself. Moreover, I believe Nie Yuan will give me a satisfactory answer."

Looking at Langu's firm gaze, Cheng Feng could not help but waver. He knew Langu was always cautious and would not act without reason. However, he was truly unwilling to let Nie Yuan leave just like that.

The two remained in a stalemate, and the atmosphere became exceptionally tense. Nie Yuan stood to the side, watching the two before him, his own heart filled with mixed emotions.

Langu knew very well why she was there, but as for the suddenly appearing Cheng Feng, Nie Yuan truly did not know how deep the grudge between them was.

Nie Yuan clutched his chest tightly, fresh blood constantly spilling from the corners of his mouth. He looked at the young man before him in disbelief and asked weakly, "Kid, I have never met you before. What deep hatred could we possibly have? Is it really worth you going to such lengths to put me to death?"

Cheng Feng was young, but his strikes were ruthless and seasoned; he was clearly no ordinary person. Nie Yuan pondered secretly, truly unable to recall when or where he had offended such a figure, let alone knowing which faction the other party came from.

Facing Nie Yuan's questioning, Cheng Feng only responded indifferently: "Over half a month ago, you used the Soul-Startling Technique on me." His words revealed a hint of coldness and resolution.

Nie Yuan was shocked, his eyes widening as he stared at Cheng Feng, suddenly realizing: "So you are that young master from that night! But at the time, you clearly only had the cultivation of the Skin Refining Realm..."

A mocking smile appeared on Cheng Feng's face as he laughed foolishly: "If I needed to use Blood Refining Realm methods to deal with your useless son, wouldn't I have wasted all these years practicing martial arts?"

Hearing this, Nie Yuan's heart throbbed. He was filled with regret; he really should have increased the dosage back then, perhaps he could have avoided this disaster today. However, it was too late to say anything now; everything was beyond saving...

That said, in reality, the amount of medicinal powder he carried at the time was not much, especially a key ingredient needed for the Soul-Startling Technique—Soul-Trapping Grass—of which his stock was pitifully low. Yet, just that tiny amount was enough to make a Martial Artist at the Skin Refining Perfection stage meet their end with ease. After all, Cheng Feng's youthful appearance was truly too deceptive!

Nie Hu was about to reach the age of thirty, yet he was still stuck at the Skin Refining Perfection stage, unable to break through the bottleneck no matter what. And Cheng Feng, who looked only seventeen or eighteen, had actually successfully stepped into the Blood Refining Realm—who could he go to for justice? Since Cheng Feng entered the Blood Refining Realm, he had protected information about his own strength extremely tightly. In the Martial Arts Hall, besides Wang Tieshan and the Inner Sect Disciples, only Qian Ming knew about this.

Others were either busy with their own affairs or, because Cheng Feng kept to himself, the news had not leaked out. Recalling the situation at the time, Cheng Feng could not help but feel a lingering fear. But fortunately, relying on his powerful strength, he had managed to turn danger into safety in the end; this feeling was truly exhilarating!

He was not afraid of these crooked ways.

After answering Nie Yuan's question, Cheng Feng did not hesitate to order Babai to bring rope, quickly and skillfully binding Nie Yuan tightly. Every knot was tied with extreme firmness, as if to trap Nie Yuan forever.

Next, Cheng Feng cruelly crippled Nie Yuan's hands and feet, causing him to lose all ability to resist.

After finishing all this, Cheng Feng turned to look at Langu and said coldly: "You can ask your questions now, but don't forget, I also have some questions that need answers. So, will you ask first, or shall I begin?"

His gaze was full of provocation and threat, as if telling Langu that no matter who spoke first, they must give him a satisfactory answer.

Cheng Feng and Langu did not have a direct conflict, but having been played by Langu, Cheng Feng could only admit that his skills were inferior.

Later, killing Nie Hu was also to beat the grass and startle the snake.

To lure out this old dog, Nie Yuan.

But now that Nie Yuan had been captured, he would naturally be more guarded. If they had some inside information Cheng Feng didn't know about and he let Nie Yuan go, that would be a disaster.

Cheng Feng asked himself, besides Langu betraying him, basically no one else would associate this matter with him.

Now that Nie Yuan had been captured, Cheng Feng was also very interested in the methods of an Alchemist.

Langu looked at Cheng Feng's eyes.

That gaze, filled with madness and coldness, made even Langu, a Blood Refining Late Stage Martial Artist who was stronger than Cheng Feng, feel a faint sense of fear.

"I'll ask first. After I'm done, Nie Yuan is yours to deal with." Langu knew Cheng Feng's bottom line and naturally would not blindly cause trouble at such a juncture.

Cheng Feng looked ahead with a cold gaze and gave an order to Babai: "Babai, keep drawing your bow and nocking arrows! Stay vigilant and be ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time!"

With the arrowhead aimed at Langu below, she could not help but feel a chill, her body trembling slightly. Despite the fear in her heart, she knew clearly that even if she could not defeat the enemy, she still had the ability to escape.

Langu tried hard to suppress her inner anxiety, feigning calm as she walked in front of Nie Yuan, eyes wide with anger, and questioned him fiercely: "I won't mention the matter between you and my master for now. But I came to help you—where is the promised reward?" Her voice carried a hint of anger and resolution.

Nie Yuan laughed loudly in response: "Reward? What reward? My son is already dead; what else do I have to be attached to? How could there be any reward for you? It's nothing more than death. I have roamed the Jianghu for half a lifetime; now, with no one to rely on, I have no attachment to this world."

Langu had originally tried to use threats and inducements to persuade Nie Yuan, but when she saw Cheng Feng's predatory look, as if he were ready to put her to death at any moment, Nie Yuan knew clearly that he would likely not survive the night. In an instant, Nie Yuan steeled his heart and bit off his tongue without hesitation, committing suicide on the spot.

Cheng Feng witnessed this scene and was unable to stop it in time, a look of regret appearing on his face.

This was his first contact with the group known as Alchemists, and it had ended just like that.