Chapter 83: The Scorpion's Stinger

Chapter Eighty-Three: Scorpion Tail Needle

When Qin Wan’er returned, Chou Yan, who had been in a state of extreme vigilance, had already awakened. It was the nearly soundless footsteps landing that startled Chou Yan from her alertness. Xu Yun hadn’t heard the arrival of the Red Scorpion at all, most likely because he was distracted by the sight of Qin Wan’er, whose beauty was as pure as snow.

“Heh, I didn’t expect that after all these years, the Fox Sovereign could still be so dutiful,” Red Scorpion smiled faintly, his tone casual. “I really envy Feng Qiansui for having you as a helper.”

Chou Yan scolded the shadowy figure of Red Scorpion in the darkness ahead. She had anticipated that Red Scorpion would eventually find this place tonight, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon!

Red Scorpion continued, “No one thought you could survive after being struck by the Sevenfold Palm. It’s a miracle. The Green Ghost is quite taken with you now—if you’re willing to surrender, I’m sure he won’t make things difficult for you. As for the three you killed in Gong You’s group, we won’t pursue it.”

“In your dreams!” Chou Yan’s body was taut, her gaze never straying from Red Scorpion. Even if it meant perishing together, she would not yield an inch.

Despite Red Scorpion’s relaxed expression, he remained highly alert. He knew that even injured, Chou Yan was still a top-tier expert. “Fox Sovereign, I’ve said all I need to say. If you refuse to see reason, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”

Chou Yan sneered, “Let’s see what you’re capable of!”

No sooner had she spoken than a flash of silver appeared in her hand—the flexible sword Longyuan shot toward Red Scorpion’s face like an arrow loosed from a bow! Red Scorpion had anticipated Chou Yan’s attack and leapt backward, landing on the corridor windowsill. With a cold smile, he flipped out and landed lightly.

As soon as Red Scorpion touched down, Chou Yan followed him out the window. She didn’t want to fight him indoors for fear of harming others.

“Fox Sovereign, are you sure you want to fight?” Red Scorpion’s cold smile betrayed his surprise at Chou Yan’s lightning-fast strike—even Green Ghost had said she’d been struck by the Sevenfold Palm, so how could she still move so quickly?

Thanks to Xu Yun’s Nine-Cycle Returning Soul Pill, Chou Yan’s injuries had mostly healed. Only she knew this—while not fully recovered, at least ninety percent of her strength had returned.

“I’ll settle my score with Feng Qiansui in due time,” Chou Yan’s body erupted with a powerful killing aura. When Gong You’s underlings had come a few days ago, she had been unable to exert herself, but now things were different.

Red Scorpion was momentarily shocked—this was not someone who’d been struck by the Sevenfold Palm. No wonder those three fools had fallen here!

Longyuan’s flexible sword shimmered in the night, its chilling blade infused with Chou Yan’s fierce killing intent, giving her the appearance of a demon cloaked in darkness. This was the true might of a top-tier underground expert!

Red Scorpion’s smile faded; his icy eyes were sharp as lightning. “Since you refuse to cooperate, I have no choice…”

In an instant, two masters clashed, their momentum as overwhelming as the waters of the Yellow River cascading from the heavens!

Chou Yan’s flexible sword darted like a silver serpent, each thrust aimed at Red Scorpion’s vital points, the sword’s light leaving marks like abstract paintings. Red Scorpion dodged nimbly, each movement perilously close but never struck.

Suddenly, Red Scorpion flipped through the air, arms outstretched, and two cold beams shot from his hands! Chou Yan’s expression changed, retreating several steps, Longyuan sword raised to defend. Red Scorpion’s hidden weapons struck her sword with a crackling flash of sparks.

Her face paled—it was the Scorpion Tail Needle!

This was Red Scorpion’s notorious hidden weapon in the underworld, steeped in poison over forty-nine days to infuse the needle completely. The venom was potent beyond compare; a touch to the skin brought agony worse than death, a puncture proved fatal, and if the needle entered the body, survival was impossible.

“Fox Sovereign, since you refuse to see reason, I have no reason to be polite,” Red Scorpion’s voice was chilling, as if from the abyss. “Do you really think Green Ghost’s interest in your abilities means I won’t dare kill you?”

Though their exchange had been brief, Chou Yan knew she was no match for Red Scorpion. She had given it her all and failed to harm him, while he had effortlessly repelled her attack with two Scorpion Tail Needles.

There was no time to lose. As Chou Yan wondered how to counter his venomous needles, Red Scorpion launched a full assault! His true terror lay in his right leg—the real source of the Scorpion Tail Needle!

Red Scorpion leapt into the air, cold glints flying as he descended like a mountain crashing down! Chou Yan, alarmed, swung Longyuan swiftly, flashes of electricity and the crisp chaos of steel colliding filled the air. She couldn’t count how many needles she blocked, yet some still grazed her ear with a chilling hiss!

In desperation, Chou Yan stepped left to evade the remaining needles. She knew that even fully recovered, she couldn’t guarantee avoiding every attack; these needles were simply too fine and fast!

How could she contend with such a deadly hidden weapon?

Suddenly, pain seared her left shoulder! While dodging the needles, she was struck by Red Scorpion’s internal-force-infused right palm, gasping for breath as she staggered backward, her meridians thrown into disarray and blood surging into her mouth.

“Hmph…” Red Scorpion’s triumphant laughter echoed. “Everyone knows my Scorpion Tail Needles are fiendishly poisonous—those struck are either dead or crippled. But they all overlook my other skills! Fox Sovereign, my palm and fist techniques aren’t weak either.”

Chou Yan hadn’t expected the hidden-weapon master to possess such fierce palm skills, and now she regretted it, but it was too late. She couldn’t withstand twenty moves from him.

“But now it’s too late—soon you’ll be dead!” Red Scorpion pressed forward, fists and palms whistling toward Chou Yan’s face.

Chou Yan suppressed the blood rising in her throat, retreating and dodging, Longyuan sword flashing in her hand. Though on the defensive, she never gave up attacking.

Red Scorpion’s assault grew fiercer, like a rising tide. Each time his right foot lifted, several Scorpion Tail Needles shot out. Chou Yan was reduced to desperate evasion, yet needles still grazed her skin.

At this point, Chou Yan had no time to think of her own fate. She cared not for herself, but for Guoguo’s future…

Boom! In dodging the needles, Chou Yan’s chest was struck by another palm, sending her reeling, her footprints leaving a dark trail on the ground. She told herself she must not fall—if she did, she would become a target for his needles, shot to pieces like dice!

Only one thought flashed through her mind: Xu Yun! What are you doing!?

Chou Yan summoned all her strength, dodging another dozen Scorpion Tail Needles, but then took another punch, her grip loosening as Longyuan clattered to the ground. This time she truly couldn’t hold on, blood surging up and spilling from her mouth.

Every martial artist knows that failing to suppress this surge of blood means certain defeat.

Her body was marked with countless wounds from the needles, the poison already invading her system. To have lasted this long was beyond ordinary endurance—finally, her legs buckled, and she could no longer stand.

Red Scorpion sneered, “So the violent Fox Sovereign is nothing special after all. Hmph, you were something in the underworld, but tonight I’ll give you a swift end…”

With that, Red Scorpion leapt into the air, flipping once and raising his right leg high, shouting, “Silver Needles Rain!”

Chou Yan quietly closed her eyes. She knew that this move would pierce her through with Scorpion Tail Needles. If death was her fate, she only hoped Guoguo would survive this disaster: Xu Yun, I trust you…

…

Xu Yun sat naked in the bath, staring at Qin Wan’er, who had just “collided” with him and wrapped herself in a towel, sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Could you hand me my clothes?”

Qin Wan’er’s gaze was murderous.

“Uh, just my pants will do,” Xu Yun tried again.

Qin Wan’er continued to glare.

“Underwear at least?” Xu Yun was near tears—he couldn’t very well stand up naked.

Qin Wan’er gritted her teeth. “Xu Yun, you pervert! I… I won’t let you off!”

“Can we settle this tomorrow?” Xu Yun said helplessly. “There’s a ‘guest’ outside—someone you’ve been dreaming of catching, the wanted criminal.”

What?! Qin Wan’er’s furious glare faltered.

Xu Yun looked serious. “I swear, I’m not wrong.”

Why would that person come here to trouble Chou Yan? Qin Wan’er’s face was full of questions, and why was Xu Yun so certain?

“Um, could you give me my pants first?” Xu Yun pleaded again. “If you don’t want to, could you at least stop staring? People get shy, you know.”

Hmph! As if I want to look at you! Qin Wan’er nearly spat blood, quickly turning away. Damn Xu Yun! No matter what, Qin Wan’er decided to get dressed and see who was outside.

Whether or not it was the S-class wanted criminal, she wouldn’t let any thief sneaking into her house in the middle of the night get away! She also wanted to use this chance to figure out who Chou Yan really was, and why she had so many enemies.

Qin Wan’er stepped out first, and Xu Yun followed, dashing out after hurriedly donning his pants. He knew well how dangerous Red Scorpion was, and how perilous Chou Yan’s condition remained.

Just as Red Scorpion’s move “Silver Needles Rain” was about to strike Chou Yan, Xu Yun leaped through the window like lightning, his fist charged with chilling force as he struck Red Scorpion’s right leg with an eagle’s ferocity!

Boom!

Red Scorpion was blasted several meters away, his body crashing heavily into a thick willow tree by the roadside. The massive tree, too large for a single person to embrace, toppled with a thunderous crash.