Chapter 532: How Did You Do It?
Chapter 532: Chapter 532: How Did You Do It?
The sound of someone walking in came from the doorway, but there was no response.
Master Zhang was displeased. He frowned. Besides his own master, he was like a local tyrant here. None of his junior disciples would dare to defy him in the slightest—the consequences would be absolutely grim.
’But tonight, these three junior disciples actually dared not to answer him. This is outrageous! They’re all experienced hands, so how could they be so bold?’
And so, Master Zhang decided to turn and give these three foolish junior disciples a proper scolding. As for the reward for tonight’s work, those three could forget it. He’d already be merciful just by not punishing them.
With that in mind, Master Zhang glanced toward the doorway, only to discover something startling. The girl who was supposed to be carried in by his three junior disciples was instead standing in the entryway, very much alive, staring at him with a cold expression on her face.
"You!" Master Zhang knew instantly that something was wrong. He shot to his feet and, with a flick of his wrist, sent several talismans flying toward Su Qing.
But in the next instant, Master Zhang’s eyes went wide.
’What in the world was he seeing!’
A vine shot out from nowhere, snatching the talismans he had just thrown. They were instantly twisted into a mangled pulp, given no time to activate. Then, Master Zhang watched as countless menacing vines, moving with a speed that defied belief, swarmed across the walls, floor, and ceiling of the villa’s first floor. Not even the windows and the main door were spared; every last crack was sealed shut.
"How dare you!" Master Zhang was horrified. ’He’d never seen such a display before! Forget his own master—not even his grandmaster had this kind of power!’ This woman could actually control plants! He snatched a sword from the side of the sofa and lunged at Su Qing. Simultaneously, he flicked several small blades from his other hand, sending them slicing toward the vines in all directions.
’My reaction was fast enough,’ Master Zhang thought. ’Even if she came prepared, and even if I can’t beat her, I can at least find a chance to break for the door. Once I’m out of this villa, I’ll go straight to my master. With him here, this woman won’t be able to stir up any real trouble.’
However, Master Zhang had overestimated his own abilities and underestimated Su Qing’s power.
Su Qing barely had to lift a finger. The villa was now teeming with vines, making it entirely her home turf. She had let this Master Zhang get away last time, but today, she would absolutely not give him another chance to escape.
Soon, Master Zhang was tightly bound by the swirling vines, wrapped up almost like a cocoon. Even the sword in his hand was bent and twisted into the shape of a pretzel.
Master Zhang stared, dumbfounded, as his sword was twisted into a mangled knot. A chill shot through him. ’That sword could cut through iron like mud! It was a gift from my master for rendering a great service. I’ve kept it by my side all these years; it made me invincible against my foes. And now... she’s destroyed it in an instant.’
"Who are you?" Master Zhang thrashed with all his might, but the vines seemed incredibly resilient; he couldn’t break them no matter how hard he struggled. Left with no other choice, he glared at Su Qing with bloodshot eyes. The very same face that had so captivated him just this afternoon now filled him with an inexplicable terror. A chill shot right up his spine.
It was his instinct for danger, but this time, it had arrived a little too late.
Master Zhang was furious with himself. ’I got careless.’
’Because this is my own turf and Master is here to back me up, I naturally let my guard down. Add to that the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about Su Qing’s beauty tonight... my usually sharp intuition completely failed me.’
"That’s a funny question," Su Qing said, looking at Master Zhang, who was wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon. "Weren’t you the one who sent your three junior disciples to ’invite’ me here? Now that I’ve arrived, you’re asking who I am?"
"You did this on purpose!" All Master Zhang could think was that Su Qing had deliberately used her beauty to lure him in and make him lower his guard. ’Otherwise,’ he reasoned, ’with my intuition, I would have definitely sensed the danger. I never would have sent my men after her.’
"Think whatever you like." Su Qing smiled. "But speaking of which, you certainly are more vigilant than your three junior disciples. You really live up to your title as their senior."
"What about my three junior disciples?"
"Don’t worry. Once you answer my questions, I’ll let you see them," Su Qing said, her lips curving into a smile.
Master Zhang narrowed his eyes and sneered. "Hmph. It seems my three junior disciples met a rather grim fate. You might as well not ask. I’m not going to say anything. You won’t let me go whether I talk or not."
"That’s right," Su Qing agreed with a nod. "You’ve done nothing but evil, so I definitely won’t be letting you go. But you are going to talk. Otherwise, all my effort would have been for nothing."
"Hmph. Since I’ve fallen into your hands, I admit defeat." Master Zhang knew his fate today was likely sealed. "But at least tell me who on earth you are, so I can die knowing why."
"You’ve harmed so many people. You don’t deserve the comfort of knowing." Su Qing didn’t waste any more breath on Master Zhang. She knew that as Little Master Wen’s eldest disciple, he was privy to a great deal and wouldn’t give it up easily. That’s why she never intended to get him to confess willingly.
Before the sound of Su Qing’s voice had even faded, a few drops of gray liquid fell into Master Zhang’s mouth without warning. Before he could react, the gray liquid had already slid down his throat.
Master Zhang’s expression changed dramatically. "What did you give me?"
"Something good, of course," Su Qing said with a gentle smile that sent a cold sweat down Master Zhang’s back. He began to retch violently, trying to vomit up whatever he had swallowed, but nothing came out. He gritted his teeth and glared at Su Qing. "You’ll get nothing from me!"
With that, Master Zhang tried to bite down on the poison capsule hidden in one of his teeth. Their master had given one to each of them, to be used for suicide in order to protect their secrets.
’Today, if I don’t talk, this woman won’t spare me. But if I do, my master won’t spare me.’
But when Master Zhang bit down, his teeth met only empty air!
’What happened?’
Su Qing laughed cheerfully as a vine dangled a false tooth, swaying it back and forth beside her. "Were you looking for this? No need. It’s right here."
"You!" Master Zhang stared at the false tooth wrapped in the vine, his eyes practically bulging out of his head. "When did you take that from my mouth?"
’It was unbelievable. The false tooth had been right there in his mouth, yet he hadn’t felt a single thing when it was removed. How in the world did this woman do it?’