Chapter 578: Wugu Forest

"You're just trying to comfort me, right?" Ye Qinglong still found it hard to believe; after all, there had been far too many bizarre occurrences along this journey.

"If you think so, then so be it." Chen Yu smiled. "We've already reached this point; even if you're afraid, it's too late. Just bite the bullet and go in."

Ye Qinglong was left speechless by Chen Yu's retort, but Chen Yu was right—even if he wanted to turn back now, it was likely too late.

That night passed peacefully, and early the next morning, everyone was packed and ready to set off.

"Apply this medicine to your bodies; it keeps poisonous insects, snakes, and ants away." Chen Yu took out several small porcelain bottles containing some medicinal powder.

He had specially prepared this powder before coming, knowing that such places were full of poisonous insects.

"What is this smell? It's so foul!" Ye Qinglong opened a bottle, took a sniff, and nearly vomited. He tossed the bottle aside and shouted, "I'm not applying this; it smells too bad."

"Don't apply it, then, and suffer the consequences." Chen Yu glanced at him; this guy just loved to contradict him.

"Apply it," Ye Qingning said expressionlessly.

"Sis, why are you always on this kid's side? I'm your brother, your own flesh and blood!" Ye Qinglong protested indignantly.

"Before we came here, I made an agreement with you that you must listen to Mr. Chen in everything. Have you just been letting those words go in one ear and out the other?" Ye Qingning said coolly.

Helpless, Ye Qinglong had to retrieve the bottle and then sloppily smeared some on his body.

Chen Yu frowned; the temper of Ye Qinglong, this young master of the Ye Family, wouldn't change anytime soon. His sloppy application was nowhere near enough to protect him from poisonous insects.

But this kid had never suffered a setback; letting him endure some hardship inside the forest would make him behave later on.

"Mr. Chen, it is rumored that this Wugu Forest is a natural barrier formed in a bitter, cold land where the Nine Li Clan was exiled after their defeat. It was meant to keep the people of the Witch Clan from leaving. It has become a curse; for so many years, very few people from inside have ever come out," Wei Hongye said.

"Yes, it is a curse, which is why the Witch Clan has remained isolated from the world for so many years—because they have no way to walk out of it," Chen Yu nodded and said.

"Then if we rashly enter, will it arouse their suspicion?" Ye Qingning asked.

"Probably not. There are actually only a few people in charge of the Witch Clan, and they should usually be at their Sacred Land," Chen Yu said. "Once we go in, we'll just act according to the situation."

"You make it sound like you've been here before." Walking behind, Ye Qinglong rolled his eyes; he just couldn't stand Chen Yu's pretentious, experienced air.

Just at that moment, Ye Qinglong suddenly felt a numb itch on his arm. He looked down, his scalp tingling, and blurted out, "What a huge mosquito!"

He saw a mosquito perched on his shoulder; it was the size of half an adult's palm, and it was staring with blood-red eyes, driving its proboscis into his arm.

"Don't move!" Chen Yu barked.

But it was already too late. Ye Qinglong raised his right hand and slapped down with a *slap*.

*Bang! * The mosquito was smashed to pieces, but at the same time, Ye Qinglong let out a miserable shriek.

His palm was covered in blood, and the clothing on his arm was completely corroded; the spot where the mosquito had bitten him was festering at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Ah! Chen Yu, what is happening? Save me, hurry and save me!" Ye Qinglong screamed as he crouched to the ground.

"Qinglong, what's wrong with you? Chen Yu, what should we do?" Ye Qingning was also shocked and hurried forward.

"This is an Eight-Sided Mosquito. We are in the deep mountains; there is poisonous miasma day and night, and the insects that breed here are highly toxic!" Wei Hongye, standing to the side, stamped his feet. "What can we do? A bite from this mosquito is lethal!"

As he spoke, one of Ye Qinglong's arms turned black at a speed visible to the naked eye, and within moments, it had turned a dark purple.

Only then did Chen Yu walk up unhurriedly. He grabbed Ye Qinglong's arm to examine it, then inserted several needles into his shoulder.

"The whole arm has turned black; this is troublesome." Chen Yu put on a furrowed-brow expression, as if Ye Qinglong's condition were extremely critical.

"Ah! Hurry and think of a way! Didn't you say your medicine repels insects? Why did it bite me? Why did it have to bite me?" Ye Qinglong shrieked like a slaughtered pig.

"Everyone else applied it carefully; only you were perfunctory. Why didn't the mosquito bite anyone else but you? Is it because you're ugly?" Chen Yu sneered.

"Why didn't you listen to Mr. Chen?" Ye Qingning said, somewhat angrily.

"I didn't! I listened! I'll really listen from now on, save me!" Ye Qinglong was scared out of his wits.

He had indeed been perfunctory when applying the medicine earlier, but he had never dreamed the consequences would be this severe. Could a single mosquito really take the life of Young Master Ye?

"It's hopeless; let's amputate," Chen Yu said irritably. He couldn't cure this kid too easily, or he wouldn't take it to heart.

"Am-amputate?" Ye Qinglong froze, then let out a howl like a dying pig. "Chen Yu, think of something! I don't want to be amputated! You—you must have a way, you must!"

"Chen Yu, stop scaring him. I know you have a way." Ye Qingning was also getting nervous. Although she could see Chen Yu was intentionally scaring Ye Qinglong, she was still worried, as siblings share a bond.

"It's really hopeless. Even if I save him this time, what about next time? He's courting death himself; no one can stop his heart from seeking its own demise," Chen Yu shook his head helplessly.

"Are you going to listen to Mr. Chen or not?" Ye Qingning was furious. She felt she shouldn't have brought this jerk here; other than causing a pile of trouble, he was completely useless.

"I'll listen, of course I'll listen! Chen Yu, save me, I promise I'll never dare to do it again!" The guy was now putting on a pitiful, pathetic act.

"Then remember this clearly: this is the only time," Chen Yu glanced at him and said. "If there is a next time, I truly will not be responsible."

"I know, don't worry, there will absolutely not be a next time." Ye Qinglong nodded solemnly. He wasn't the type to never learn his lesson; after his injury healed this time, he coated his entire body with the medicine, arming himself completely.

Chen Yu took out the Silver Needle and performed Acupuncture on him. After drawing out a large amount of poisonous blood from the wound, he applied the Antidote. Within a few minutes, the wound on the guy's arm had healed.

Once healed, the guy didn't dare to be arrogant anymore. He hurriedly took out the medicine from earlier, coated his entire body from head to toe, and then stuck closely to Chen Yu, terrified of encountering anything else in the jungle.

After this small interlude, the group continued to move forward.

It was still early, and after walking a few more kilometers, Chen Yu noticed a wisp of blue smoke in the air ahead.