"Miss!"
Dongmei's voice was taut with panic, yet she was powerless to act.
Just as despair tightened its grip on the two women, a calm voice suddenly rang out.
"A band of grown men, resorting to such base and despicable methods against a single woman—have you no shame?"
…
Everyone present turned toward the speaker—Ye Chu.
Dongmei's eyes widened in shock, while a fragile glimmer of hope stirred within Huangfu Shiyue's heart.
"Young man," she said, her voice trembling with urgency, "if you can help me leave this place, I, Huangfu Shiyue, shall repay you with the utmost gratitude."
At this moment she was like a drowning soul, grasping desperately at even the faintest thread of salvation.
Bald Li frowned, his voice cold. "Boy, who are you to meddle in the affairs of the White Wolf Society?"
Until now he had assumed Ye Chu was with the two women, but clearly, he was mistaken.
"Who I am is irrelevant," Ye Chu replied evenly. "I simply cannot stomach what you are doing."
Clap, clap, clap—Sima Cai began to applaud, smiling faintly. "Impressive courage, daring to meddle in my affairs."
But as his words fell, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a sinister sneer. "Playing the hero to save the damsel? You think yourself worthy?"
"Get on your knees now. I am in a generous mood today—perhaps I will only break your legs, leave you your hands so you may crawl and beg for a living."
He threw back his head and laughed, his gaze at Ye Chu brimming with scornful amusement.
Bald Li barked, "Kneel! Thank Young Master Cai for his mercy!"
Ye Chu's eyes glinted coldly. "Not a bad suggestion. I shall leave you a pair of hands as well."
Sima Cai's face darkened instantly, and Bald Li roared, "Insolent wretch! How dare you speak so to Young Master Cai!"
He lunged forward, fist aimed at Ye Chu's face.
"Watch out!" Dongmei cried.
Shiyue's eyes were clouded with worry—Ye Chu was her final hope, he could not be harmed.
She longed to intervene, but the drug raging through her body had already consumed her strength; her consciousness was blurring rapidly.
Ye Chu rose smoothly to his feet and met the attack head-on.
Bang!
Their fists collided with a bone-snapping crack. Bald Li was hurled backward, blood spraying from his mouth.
The entire room fell silent, stunned.
One strike—just one—had crippled a Body-Refinement seventh-stage expert.
Ye Chu was at least at the ninth stage.
Shiyue's hazy eyes brightened. For the first time, hope flared vividly within her.
Even Sima Cai, though startled, showed no fear.
He gave Ye Chu an appraising glance, admiration flickering briefly in his eyes.
"Impressive," he said loftily. "I'll give you a chance—become my dog."
His tone carried a haughty certainty, as though being his servant were a heavenly blessing.
Ye Chu almost laughed aloud at the sheer absurdity. "Get out of my sight."
Sima Cai's face twisted with fury. "Zhou Lao—break this mongrel's limbs. I want him to live wishing he were dead."
The gaunt elder stepped forward, his hawk-like gaze locking on Ye Chu.
"Boy, surrender quietly. If I am forced to strike, even death will be a mercy." His voice was hoarse, grating like rusted iron.
Ye Chu did not bother to answer—he merely raised his middle finger.
"You seek death!"
The old man's eyes sharpened like blades, and in a flash he lunged.
Ye Chu remained utterly unruffled. A mere Body-Refinement cultivator dared challenge him?
He sidestepped the attack and with a casual motion struck the elder's side.
The man was sent hurtling across the room, crashing into the wall with a resounding thud. Blood spurted from his lips as he collapsed, unconscious.
The hall fell into a deathly hush.
Everyone knew the elder's strength—he was a ninth-stage Body-Refinement expert—yet he had been felled with a single blow.
What realm had Ye Chu reached?
A Pulse-Opening Master!
The thought struck like thunder, leaving all present reeling.
Such a young man—a Pulse-Opening Master? Unheard of!
Shiyue was as stunned as the rest, but far more elated.
She knew she was saved.
The string in her heart that had been drawn taut for so long finally loosened, and the last fragment of her consciousness was drowned in the drug's feverish tide.
Her cheeks flushed scarlet, her trembling hands tore at her clothes, revealing swathes of alabaster skin.
Soft, enticing moans escaped her lips.
"Miss!"
Dongmei seized the moment while the black-clad men were stunned, breaking free of her captors and rushing to support the faltering Shiyue.
Sima Cai snapped out of his daze, his expression turning venomous.
"You little bastard—dare to lay hands on my people, and you are doomed! Not only will you die, but your family will be dragged down with you!"
A glacial light flashed in Ye Chu's eyes.
Swish!
In a blur he appeared before Sima Cai, clamped a hand around his throat, and lifted him off the ground.
"Say that again," he said, voice as cold as winter steel, killing intent blazing in his gaze.
Sima Cai's face turned crimson, yet he still bellowed defiantly.
"Fool! You court death! The Sima Clan is not one you can afford to offend!"
Ye Chu wordlessly tightened his grip.
Sima Cai's face darkened to a bruised purple, veins bulging on his forehead as though he would suffocate in the next breath.
At that moment, the office door burst open.
A flood of black-clad men poured in, nearly a hundred strong, sealing the room in an iron ring.
"Boy, release Young Master Cai at once, or you'll never leave here alive!"
Bald Li, blood still on his lips, had struggled to his feet, his arrogance restored.
He had secretly called reinforcements earlier, summoning every man in the building.
With this many people, surely Ye Chu could not prevail.
Ye Chu loosened his grip, letting Sima Cai drop to the floor.
Ignoring the pain lancing through his throat, Sima Cai scrambled behind Bald Li, relief washing over his face.
"Kill him! Break his limbs! I want him carved into a human swine so he learns what it means to offend me!"
His roar was wild, crazed—he had never suffered such humiliation in his life.
"Rest assured, Young Master Cai," Bald Li said confidently. "This brat will not leave this room alive."
He turned a cold stare on Ye Chu. "You are formidable, but even the fiercest tiger cannot stand against a pack of wolves. Tonight, you die."
Ye Chu's brows arched slightly. "You sound very sure of that."
Bald Li strode to his desk, opened a drawer, and drew out a pistol.
"With this many brothers and this little toy in my hand—if you still manage to walk out of here alive, I'll twist off my own head and let you use it as a chamber pot."
Dongmei's face paled.
Even a peak Body-Refinement expert could not dodge bullets—only a true Master might have a chance.
Ye Chu was too young—there was no way he could be one.
And even if he truly were a Master, surviving a shot was far from guaranteed.
A bleak despair settled over her.
Was this truly where they would fall?
…