stubborn and unrepentant

The person who arrived was none other than Zhou Yaoyang, who had nearly been smashed into a meat patty by Long Chen. Long Chen couldn't help but marvel at how tenacious the vitality of a Martial Artist truly was.

Last time, he had been nearly smashed into a thin sheet of paper, yet now he looked as if nothing had happened. It seemed the Zhou family had spent quite a lot of money on this child.

After being thrown by Long Chen last time, almost every bone in Zhou Yaoyang's body had been broken. It had taken a massive amount of gold coins to pull him back from the gates of death.

Even with the Zhou family's financial resources, this incident had cost them dearly. Today, Zhou Yaoyang had come to beg for a few more Foundation-Strengthening and Essence-Cultivating Medicinal Pills.

After all, he was currently extremely weak. Furthermore, after falling asleep in the middle of the night, he would start having hallucinations; countless vengeful spirits would entangle him, scaring him so much that he didn't dare to turn off the lights to sleep at night.

Every morning, he would feel as if tens of thousands of steel needles were pricking his Soul, a pain so intense that it made him roll on the ground.

However, the alchemists from the Alchemist Guild had examined him several times but couldn't explain the cause. They only said it was likely due to a weak body and deficient Qi, leading to an invasion of damp evil, and that they could only try to strengthen his foundation and Cultivate his primordial essence first.

Yet, half a month had passed, and there was no improvement; instead, it was getting worse and worse. Even if he didn't sleep at night, Zhou Yaoyang would see scenes of countless vengeful spirits coming to claim his life.

By morning, his Soul was no longer just being pricked by needles, but was being roasted by raging flames, causing him pain worse than death. The current Zhou Yaoyang was gaunt as a stick, his complexion sallow, and he no longer possessed his former dashing appearance.

"Zhou Yaoyang, long time no see. How have you been lately?" Long Chen, wearing a benevolent smile, waved his hand cordially from a distance to greet him.

Zhou Yaoyang, who was already somewhat absent-minded, suddenly saw Long Chen and turned pale instantly, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Long Chen… you… what do you want?"

"That expression of yours makes me feel very awkward. I'm just concerned about you; I wanted to ask, how does it taste to have vengeful spirits claiming your life at night and your Soul being roasted in the morning?" Long Chen shook his head and said.

"You… you… how did you know? Could it be… was it you?" Zhou Yaoyang's eyes were filled with terror.

He suddenly remembered that on that day, after Long Chen had knocked him unconscious, he had fed him a Medicinal Pill.

According to the alchemist, that pill was a Viscera-Protecting Pill that could prevent him from dying of organ failure in the short term.

However, Zhou Yaoyang had always felt something was wrong. Today, with Long Chen saying this, he immediately thought of that Medicinal Pill, and he suddenly realized the truth.

"Long Chen, it must be your doing! You are harming me! You are so despicable!" Zhou Yaoyang's eyes were filled with resentment.

Thinking of the torment he had suffered these past few days, he couldn't help but grit his teeth in rage, roaring as he lunged at Long Chen.

"Slap."

A palm struck his face. The force wasn't great; it just sent him flying without taking his life.

"Despicable? How can I accept such a compliment? Even if I were despicable, I wouldn't be one percent as bad as you. Tell me, how many despicable methods have you used to deal with me over these years?"

Long Chen lightly raised his hand and said indifferently, "I'm afraid you don't even remember yourself. In this world, sooner or later, you have to pay for what you've done."

"Now that I, Long Chen, have turned things around, if I don't repay you properly, how could I live up to you?"

Taking a slap to the face actually made Zhou Yaoyang much more sober. During the days he was recovering, he hadn't given up on paying attention to Long Chen.

A few days ago, Long Chen defeated a guard of the Great Xia Empire's prince, causing a sensation throughout the Imperial Capital. That was a genuine Blood Condensation Realm expert, after all.

Now, in terms of martial power, Zhou Yaoyang was no match for Long Chen, and in terms of status, Long Chen was a noble Alchemist Apprentice, which was even less comparable.

Recalling the alchemist's words, he couldn't help but suspect that the alchemist clearly knew the trick Long Chen had played but refused to cure him, letting him suffer in vain. For a moment, he gnashed his teeth in hatred.

However, what he didn't know was that he had wronged that alchemist. The Medicinal Pill that Long Chen had refined was coated with Soul-Chasing Liquid, and apart from Great Master Yun Qi, no one could possibly detect it.

Clearly, the Marquis of the Wilds didn't have the qualifications to invite Great Master Yun Qi; let alone him, even a prince wouldn't be able to.

"Long Chen, what do you want before you are willing to let me go?" Zhou Yaoyang said through gritted teeth.

"Zhou Yaoyang, why are you so spineless? I was tormented by you for so many years, and I never once surrendered."

"Now that it's finally my turn to strike back, why are you already admitting defeat? That's so boring. You have to follow the rules of the game." Long Chen said indifferently, then turned to leave.

"Long Chen, are you really unwilling to let me go?"

"If you want to escape this sea of suffering, it's very simple. You have a sword in your hand; just put it to your neck and swipe. It will only hurt for a moment, and then you will be happy. Why beg me?"

Zhou Yaoyang was trembling with rage. When the vengeful spirits were claiming his life and his Soul was being roasted, he had indeed thought about using death to find relief.

But once that time passed, he immediately became a normal person again, full of attachment to life, which made him unable to abandon his wonderful life.

Living, he couldn't live well; dying, he couldn't afford to die. Zhou Yaoyang was on the verge of a breakdown. He didn't have the courage to commit suicide, but if things continued like this, he would soon go insane.

"Thump."

Zhou Yaoyang gritted his teeth and knelt on the ground.

"Long Chen, I beg you, let me go. I admit defeat."

Looking at Zhou Yaoyang kneeling on the ground, to be honest, Long Chen's hatred wasn't that strong anymore. Now, the height Long Chen stood at was completely different from Zhou Yaoyang's level. He didn't take such a small fry to heart.

However, Long Chen wouldn't be a pushover who repaid evil with kindness. Still, seeing Zhou Yaoyang's current miserable state, the hatred in his heart had diminished a lot.

Just as Long Chen intended to learn some things from him and reached out to touch his ring, his Soul power suddenly noticed Zhou Yaoyang's secretly clenched hands and the trace of resentment revealed in the corner of his eyes.

Long Chen pondered slightly, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth. He wiped his ring, a Medicinal Pill appeared, and he threw it directly to Zhou Yaoyang, saying:

"Take this Medicinal Pill. I hope you won't be my enemy in the future, otherwise, you will regret it for the rest of your life." After throwing the pill to Zhou Yaoyang, Long Chen turned and left.

Zhou Yaoyang caught the Medicinal Pill. Not until Long Chen had walked far away did he stand up from the ground. Watching Long Chen's retreating figure, he narrowed his eyes.

"Long Chen, if I don't make you die without a burial place, my name isn't Zhou Yaoyang."

He wasn't worried that Long Chen would poison him to death, because the scene just now had been seen by many people in the distance. If he were poisoned to death by this Medicinal Pill, Long Chen wouldn't be able to escape responsibility, so he took the pill with peace of mind.

The next day, to Zhou Yaoyang's pleasant surprise, after taking that Medicinal Pill, he never had a terrifying dream at night again, and in the morning, he no longer had to suffer the pain of his Soul being roasted.

Zhou Yaoyang let out a cold sneer in his heart: Long Chen, just you wait. When I make my move again, I will directly take your life. At that time, the one who will regret it will be you.

Seeing Zhou Yaoyang eat that Medicinal Pill, Long Chen also had a cold sneer on his face: Truly, one who digs their own grave cannot be saved. I originally wanted to spare your life, but unfortunately, you insist on courting death.

"Brother Long?"

As Long Chen was walking, a voice suddenly called out to him.

He turned his head and saw it was Fatty Yu. Long Chen discovered that Fatty Yu had actually entered the Qi Gathering Third Heaven Realm. Because he had started to Cultivate, his massive figure actually seemed to have a hint of a burly aura.

"Fatty, not bad! You've already entered the Qi Gathering Third Heaven Realm," Long Chen said with a smile.

"Hehe, this is all thanks to your blessing, Brother Long," Fatty Yu said somewhat shyly. "Brother Long, I was just thinking of visiting your residence."

"Something up?"

"Well, your little brother here has broken through to the Third Heaven, so I have to celebrate, right? Look at Shi Feng, he held a banquet; I can't be too shabby, right?" Fatty Yu said.

"He advanced to the Blood Condensation Realm, while you are only at the Third Heaven. Is it worth being so grand?" Long Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"Ahem, that's different. I couldn't Cultivate before, so in terms of the level of surprise, it's definitely no less than Shi Feng's," Fatty Yu said very seriously.

"Alright, if someone is treating me to wine, generally I won't refuse. Let's go."

"Heh, alright! I've already booked the banquet; I was just waiting for you."

The restaurant Fatty Yu mentioned was located in the south of the city. Although it wasn't as famous as the Gathering Heroes Pavilion, it wasn't too far off.

When Long Chen arrived, just as Fatty Yu had said, Shi Feng, Monkey, and the others had all arrived.

"Haha, Brother Long, you've finally come."

Long Chen also laughed, greeted everyone, and immediately took his seat. After a short while, the table was filled with wine and dishes.

"Today, to celebrate me, Fatty Yu, advancing to the Qi Gathering Third Heaven Realm, thereby stepping onto the threshold of the path of Cultivation and opening up a bright future, this first cup is a toast to Brother Long."

Everyone agreed loudly. Everyone here had changed their destiny because of Long Chen; it could be said that Long Chen was their noble benefactor in life.

Long Chen didn't stand on ceremony either. He picked up a large bowl of wine and downed it in one gulp.

Everyone was an acquaintance, so there was no need for so much restraint. They drank to their heart's content. However, except for Shi Feng and Fatty Yu, the others were only at the First Heaven of Qi Gathering; their spirit was high, but their alcohol tolerance was not.

After a few bowls, their mouths started to lose their filters.

"Brother Long, for a figure as heaven-defying, martial, and heroic as you, we are wondering, what kind of woman would be worthy of you?" someone said, emboldened by the alcohol.

Before Long Chen could reply, Monkey, who was beside him, chimed in: "Hehe, that goes without saying. At the very least, she must have the status of a princess."

"As for appearance, she must have the beauty to sink fish and drop geese, to eclipse the moon and shame the flowers."

"As for cultivation? That doesn't matter. Anyway, no one dares to bully Brother Long. Even the prince of Great Xia, Brother Long doesn't give a damn about him, so our future sister-in-law doesn't need to be that strong, haha."

"That's right. I think in our Phoenix Empire, the only one who meets such standards is the Third Princess," Fatty Yu said, his eyes lighting up.

"I've seen the Third Princess. Although she is beautiful, her temper is incredibly huge. An ordinary person wouldn't be able to subdue her," one person sighed.

"Tch, that's because she hasn't met Brother Long yet. If she meets Brother Long, even a tiger will turn into a kitten."

Long Chen was speechless. How did the conversation drift off track? However, when they mentioned the Third Princess, Chu Yao's jade-like face appeared in Long Chen's mind.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of pity in his heart. Chu Yao was actually a gentle and lovely woman, but in order to protect herself, she had to put on a savage exterior.

Thinking of the time he had spent with her, a warm current couldn't help but arise in his heart. At the same time, he felt a bit troubled, wondering if doing this was somewhat unfair to Meng Qi?

While Long Chen was deep in thought, a woman's cold sneer suddenly came:

"Audacious commoners, truly wishful thinking. Is the Third Princess someone you can discuss?"