Chapter 64: Poisonous Gas

Most ordinary children begin to remember things between the ages of three and six. The offspring of martial artists, however, tend to remember even earlier.

Thus, the “young man,” relying on his astonishing memory, answered Fang Qingyun’s question.

“When was the first time your father gave you a good thrashing?”

“When I was one year and four months old!”

“Wrong!” Fang Qingyun snapped coldly, “Little one, you’re not being honest. If I didn’t know the answer, you might have fooled me.”

The “young man” was momentarily stunned.

Wrong answer? Was it even earlier?

Damn it, how could you possibly know that? I’m already in my forties, and you’re just a kid not yet twenty. How could you know what happened before I was even a year old? Did you mature that early?

With a look of reminiscence, Fang Qingyun said, “I remember when your mother was pregnant with you, she wasn’t feeling well. Your father took a stick and gave you a beating to vent her anger for her, and she actually smiled at the time.”

The “young man” froze, then his face flushed scarlet.

“I’ll fight you to the death!” he roared, charging at Fang Qingyun.

A few moments later, the “young man” was sprawled on the ground, clutching his head.

He stared at Fang Qingyun in shock.

This bastard—he was even stronger than before.

Had he advanced? No, it must be that his combat experience had grown.

“You…” the “young man” finally came to his senses, glaring coldly at Fang Qingyun and gritting his teeth. “You did it on purpose. You’re using me for practice?”

Fang Qingyun looked at him with a beaming smile. “You saw through me?”

The “young man’s” expression was icy. “So, you’re not planning to let me go, are you? You’d better think it through. I’m a high-ranking martial artist from the Research Institute. If you kill me, they won’t just let it slide—the Institute will come for you, and even Generals will be sent after you.”

“You’re a martial artist yourself; you should know what a General-level martial artist means. You’re no match for them.”

Fang Qingyun raised an eyebrow. “In the past two days, I’ve spent money to dig up some dirt on your Research Institute. Impressive—your methods are nothing if not domineering. But even if I don’t kill you, will your Institute just let me go now?”

“They will! I swear they will!” the “young man” said immediately. “I, Shen Yuan, vow that as long as you spare me, I’ll find a way to smooth things over for you. It’s just some guards, nothing major.”

Fang Qingyun shook his head with a gentle smile. “You’re lying. But don’t worry, I have no intention of killing you.”

Shen Yuan eyed Fang Qingyun warily.

“Don’t look at me with such suspicion,” Fang Qingyun said with a smile. “What I want is for you to tell me some private secrets about the higher-ups in the Research Institute—secrets that could destroy them. As a high-ranking member, you must know something. Think of it as the price to buy your life.”

Shen Yuan shuddered, gazing at Fang Qingyun in terror. “Haven’t I already told you plenty?”

“That’s not what I want! I need something even more secret.”

Shen Yuan’s expression darkened, and he trembled slightly.

“Don’t tell me you know nothing—I won’t believe it. And if you have no value, there’s no reason to let you live.”

By the end, Fang Qingyun’s expression had turned icy, the murderous aura radiating from him making Shen Yuan shiver uncontrollably.

“You can take a gamble, see if I care about your status as a high-ranking martial artist from the Institute!”

Shen Yuan grew agitated.

Fang Qingyun was absolutely capable of killing.

Should he reveal some secrets? What exactly should he say? Real secrets, or just make something up?

“Think carefully before you speak,” Fang Qingyun said, lifting his chin. “You have three minutes.”

With that, he shot off into the distance.

Shen Yuan’s eyes flickered.

He’d heard it too—someone was approaching at great speed.

Another high-ranking martial artist, most likely.

Three minutes? Fang Qingyun was going to deal with this new opponent in just three minutes?

A dull thud rang out.

Fang Qingyun was already fighting the other martial artist.

But before Shen Yuan could even begin to decide whether to run, a scream sounded—no more than five breaths later.

“That fast?” Shen Yuan’s voice changed with disbelief.

He hadn’t even resolved to escape, and the fight was already over?

And then, Shen Yuan watched as Fang Qingyun strolled back, dragging a man behind him.

Shen Yuan was dazed until Fang Qingyun gave him a kick, snapping him back to reality.

“Aren’t you the top scorer in the college entrance exams?” Shen Yuan couldn’t help but ask. “How are you this strong?”

Some special geniuses don’t even need to take the exam—they become martial artists before the test. Spiritual energy doesn’t work on them. They’re all scions of great families.

Fang Qingyun was clearly not one of them.

Anyone who could take the college entrance exam would at best be a quasi-martial artist.

It had only been a few days since the exam—how could Fang Qingyun possibly possess such strength? He’d easily defeated Shen Yuan, and then dispatched another high-ranking martial artist in only a few moves.

Where had this monster come from? Was he aiming to defy the heavens?

No wonder the Research Institute was after him. Even I want to dissect you and see how many secrets you’re hiding.

“The world of geniuses is beyond your comprehension!”

Fang Qingyun smiled brightly. “Well, have you made up your mind?”

He glanced at the martial artist he’d just captured. “You too. Trade the Institute’s secrets for a chance at life. Understand?”

The man’s nose was bruised, his face swollen. He stared blankly at Fang Qingyun, then at Shen Yuan.

Clearly, he was still reeling.

None of those sent to hunt Fang Qingyun could have imagined this young man would possess such combat prowess.

At first, their only concerns had been his long-range sniping and his summoned beast.

But Fang Qingyun hadn’t used either—he’d flattened his opponent with his fists alone.

“Alas!” Shen Yuan let out a sigh. “Fang Qingyun, even if I tell you, what’s the point? Do you really think you’ll survive this? Let us go—we’re willing to buy time for you by holding off two high-ranking martial artists. That’s the best we can offer. We’ll even swear it on our martial path.”

“I don’t believe that!” Fang Qingyun shook his head, chuckling. “What’s a martial path? Can you eat it?”

Shen Yuan retorted seriously, “How can you, as a martial artist, show no respect for the martial path… cough, cough, then what do you want?”

Fang Qingyun silently rotated his gun, aiming it at Shen Yuan. “I want the Research Institute’s secrets.”

“Impossible!” This time, it wasn’t Shen Yuan—it was the high-ranking martial artist Fang Qingyun had just captured. He’d finally come to his senses, sprang up, and bellowed, “Don’t even think about getting any secrets out of me!”

“Oh?” Fang Qingyun glanced at the Poisonous Miasma Swamp. “I believe you’ll talk.”

With that, he hefted his gun with one hand, grabbed Shen Yuan with the other, and headed for the depths of the swamp.

“What are you doing?” Shen Yuan’s face changed dramatically—he clawed at the ground, grabbed at weeds, and finally just hugged the other martial artist’s leg.

“Damn it, what are you doing?” the high-ranking martial artist shrieked.

“I’ve heard there are treasures deep in the Poisonous Miasma Swamp. Let’s go have a look—maybe we’ll get lucky!” Fang Qingyun’s tone was light and casual.

“No, no!” Shen Yuan cried out in terror. “Fang Qingyun, even General-level martial artists can only survive in the Poisonous Miasma Swamp for a few hours at most. If you go in, you’ll die for sure—absolutely!”

The Poisonous Miasma Swamp was well-known in the Aoki District. It was vast, with rare materials and strange monsters within. The Research Institute had stationed itself nearby partly to study it.

If they could crack the secret of the swamp’s poison, the resources inside would be enough to make the district’s leaders laugh in their sleep.

For now, though, it was a place so deadly that even General-level martial artists could be killed by its poison.

“If you want to die, go ahead, but don’t drag me with you!” Shen Yuan screamed.