On the way down the mountain, Xiao Yiren, her hand held by Ye Qiu, beamed with a blissful smile.
The two looked like a young couple.
“Dr. Ye, you really got the better of Immortal Chongxu this time.”
“Not only did you acquire Wudang’s supreme techniques, but you also got a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu.”
“You should’ve seen, when we left, Immortal Chongxu’s face was green.”
Ye Qiu smiled, “Can’t blame me for that.”
“If Immortal Chongxu had been sincere from the start, would I have played him?”
“All in all, this trip to Wudang Mountain was quite fruitful.”
“Yiren, you’re truly my lucky star.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yiren’s smile widened, and she said, “Dr. Ye, I hope I can always bring you good luck.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
Is she confessing to me?
Just as Ye Qiu was about to respond, he noticed a middle-aged porter nearby, carrying two bamboo baskets on a shoulder pole.
The baskets were filled with mineral water.
As Ye Qiu observed the porter, the porter also noticed him.
“Boss, want some water?”
The porter spoke, revealing yellowed teeth, looking honest and simple.
“Yiren, thirsty?” Ye Qiu asked.
Xiao Yiren shook her head, “Not thirsty.”
The porter spoke again, “Boss, it’s a long way down the mountain. Buy a bottle, or you’ll have nowhere to get water if you get thirsty later.”
Ye Qiu said, “Give me two bottles.”
“Alright!” The porter, visibly excited, bent down, took two bottles of mineral water from the basket, and handed them to Ye Qiu.
“How much?” Ye Qiu asked.
“One yuan each,” the porter said.
“So cheap?” Xiao Yiren was surprised. “I heard most scenic spots sell mineral water for five or ten yuan a bottle. Why’s it so cheap at Wudang Mountain?”
The porter replied, “Miss, you don’t know. Wudang Mountain’s different from other places. Sect Leader Chongxu has ordered that prices up here must be the same as down the mountain, no ripping off tourists.”
Xiao Yiren asked, “Then how do you make money?”
The porter grinned, “Sect Leader Chongxu gives me a three-thousand-yuan monthly subsidy.”
Xiao Yiren nodded in understanding, “I get it. You’re basically an employee hired by Immortal Chongxu, right?”
“Exactly,” the porter said. “I’m a villager from down the mountain. I’ve got elderly folks to care for, so I can’t work far away. Sect Leader Chongxu gave me this job.”
“I can look after my elders and earn some money to support my family.”
“Two birds with one stone.”
Xiao Yiren sighed, “If only all tourist attractions in the country were like Wudang Mountain, not fleecing visitors. Wouldn’t that be great?”
At this moment, the porter said to Ye Qiu, “Boss, this is our local mineral water made from mountain springs. It tastes great, try it.”
“I guarantee it’s better than any mineral water on the market.”
“If you don’t like it, I’ll refund you on the spot.”
“Really?” Ye Qiu glanced at the porter, unscrewed the cap, and took a small sip.
“Boss, how’s the taste?” the porter asked eagerly.
“A bit sweet,” Ye Qiu said. “Yiren, try it, this mineral water’s pretty good.”
Saying this, Ye Qiu even unscrewed the cap for Xiao Yiren.
Xiao Yiren took a sip, then frowned, “Why don’t I taste any sweetness? And this water tastes a bit strange…”
Before she could finish, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.
“Yiren, what’s wrong?”
Ye Qiu, quick as a flash, caught her in his arms, then shook his head, saying, “I feel so dizzy.”
“Dizzy’s right. Sect Leader Ye, have a good sleep!” The porter’s simple demeanor vanished, replaced by a sinister grin.
Thud!
Ye Qiu fell to the ground.
The porter pulled out a phone, dialed a number, and when it connected, said, “It’s done, come quick.”
Four or five minutes later, a dozen people hurried over.
Their leader was a fat man in a Taoist robe, Wu Qiang, who had previously impersonated a Wudang disciple to extort money from Ye Qiu, only to be driven off by Immortal Shang Ling.
“Brother Qiang, look, I took them down,” the porter said, pointing at Ye Qiu and Xiao Yiren.
“Well done,” Wu Qiang praised the porter, then his gaze fell on Ye Qiu, turning cold.
“Hmph, some nonsense Dragon Gate Leader, still knocked out by my little trick.”
“Let’s see how arrogant you are now.”
“Boys, dig a pit later and bury this guy. As for the woman, we’ll take turns with her.”
Hahaha…
The group burst into laughter.
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.
“There’s a path to paradise, but you don’t take it. Hell has no gates, yet you barge in. Some people just love seeking death, don’t they?”
The fat man scanned the surroundings but saw no one speaking. He shouted, “Who’s there? Stop playing tricks and show yourself if you’ve got the guts!”
Ye Qiu stood up from the ground.
“You, you didn’t pass out?”
The fat man jumped in fright, turning to the porter, “What’s going on?”
The porter was equally baffled, “I saw him drink the water with my own eyes. He shouldn’t wake up for hours.”
Ye Qiu sneered, “I was just pretending to be unconscious.”
“Not to mention a bit of sedative, even the world’s deadliest poison couldn’t kill me.”
“I am the Leader of Dragon Gate, immune to all poisons.”
In truth, Ye Qiu had sensed something off about the porter from the moment he saw him.
Xiao Yiren’s questions further confirmed his suspicions.
What scenic spot in the world sells mineral water for just one yuan?
It was too illogical.
To confirm his hunch, Ye Qiu took a sip of the water and immediately noticed the taste was wrong.
The water was drugged.
But Ye Qiu didn’t call it out. Instead, he even let Xiao Yiren drink.
He did this because he didn’t want her to witness a bloody scene.
At the same time, he wanted the porter to lower his guard and summon all his accomplices.
Everything unfolded according to Ye Qiu’s plan.
Seeing Ye Qiu unharmed, the fat man began to panic.
He’d seen Ye Qiu’s skills and knew his group was no match for him.
He started begging.
“Sect Leader Ye, I was foolish for a moment. Please, be magnanimous and spare us.”
“I swear I’ll turn over a new leaf.”
“Please…”
Bang!
Before the fat man could finish, Ye Qiu struck.
Immediately, the scene filled with wails.
Ten seconds later, the fat man’s entire group lay in a pool of blood, screaming in agony.
Their limbs were all broken, permanently beyond repair.
“You don’t deserve to be human. From now on, be dogs!”
Leaving those words, Ye Qiu hoisted Xiao Yiren onto his back and headed down the mountain.
