This time, Li Tianyun had really kicked a steel plate.
Hong Chaoyang unceremoniously unleashed her aura, pinning the great master Li to his chair, rendering him unable to move.
Li Tianyun sensed Hong Chaoyang's cultivation, which far surpassed his own by more than just one or two levels. Instantly, his legs began to tremble in fear.
He extended a trembling finger towards Hong Chaoyang. "Y-y-y-you..."
The little soldier beside them was unaware of Hong Chaoyang's aura. All he saw was Li Tianyun shaking uncontrollably in his chair. He assumed that Li was enraged by Shen Qing and the others.
Thinking that Hong Chaoyang, as a woman, might be intimidating with her weapon but still easy to defeat as a man, he let out a loud shout, as if trying to gain credit. "How dare you disrespect the great master Li! You're seeking death!!"
With that, he drew his saber from his waist, raised it high, and charged towards Hong Chaoyang.
Li Tianyun was almost driven mad by the little soldier's actions. He desperately tried to stop him, but due to Hong Chaoyang's aura, all he could manage were a few inarticulate sounds.
A smile played on Hong Chaoyang's lips. She tilted her chin slightly, clearly not taking the little soldier seriously.
She raised her hand, and with a flick of her whip, it landed across the little soldier's face.
With a loud "snap," a deep red mark immediately appeared on the little soldier's face.
Then, to the soldier's astonishment, Hong Chaoyang's whip coiled around his saber. With a sudden tug, the whip tightened, effortlessly shattering the saber into several pieces.
The broken saber clattered to the ground, jolting the little soldier out of his daze.
The pain on his face was like the bite of ants, gradually turning into a searing ache. The little soldier covered his face and let out a scream.
He looked at Li Tianyun and was shocked to see fear in the eyes of the seemingly all - powerful great master Li. Even his forehead was beaded with cold sweat.
Only then did he realize how foolish his actions had been.
The people in front of him were clearly not who they claimed to be. They were undoubtedly extraordinary beings, perhaps even immortals from Kunlun Mountain.
The little soldier's knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground. He kowtowed frantically towards Hong Chaoyang, pleading for mercy. "Mistress! Immortal maiden! I was blind and offended the immortal maiden. Please spare my life!!"
Li Tianyun saw Hong Chaoyang glaring at him. Fear-stricken, his mind raced as he tried to think of a way to call for help.
His master, under the guidance of a superior, had unfathomable cultivation. He had even easily defeated the head of the Ling family. Perhaps he could also deal with these four people.
But he was now firmly suppressed by Hong Chaoyang's aura. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't reach for his message - transmitting talisman.
"Esteemed immortal maidens and gentlemen! Everything I said before was just a joke. I just sensed the immortal aura on the document and wanted to meet you all to soak up some of your good fortune."
"Please be magnanimous and let me go. Just treat me as an insignificant nuisance. I promise to leave immediately and never show up in front of you again."
Hong Chaoyang snapped her shiny whip, and a deep crack instantly appeared on the ground.
"Great master Li, I actually prefer your arrogant look from before. Looking down on others, full of conceit. It really showed me what it means to be a lackey and look down on people."
"I'm in a bad mood today and just want to take it out on someone. Great master Li, do you think that someone could be you?"
Hong Chaoyang winked at the great master Li with a smile. Normally, it would be a charming gesture, but now Li Tianyun couldn't even think of anything inappropriate. Cold sweat poured from his body.
He forced a bitter smile, wishing he could slap himself for his thoughtless words before. "Mistress, I'm begging you. As the saying goes, it's better to resolve enmities than to create them. I have magical artifacts, talismans, and pills. You can take whatever you like!!"
Hong Chaoyang curled her lip in disgust. "What trash? I don't even bother to look at them."
"One must be punished for one's mistakes, and your retribution is me." The smile on Hong Chaoyang's lips grew wider. Without waiting for Li Tianyun to say more, she started to swing her whip.
The whip whistled through the air. In a short while, several red marks appeared on Li Tianyun's face. Hong Chaoyang even used a clever technique, making the small spikes at the end of the whip scratch across his face.
The wounds caused by the spikes were difficult to heal. Even after they healed, it would feel like being gnawed by ants.
Shen Qing and the other two watched calmly as Hong Chaoyang whipped Li Tianyun with a resounding crack.
Hong Chaoyang only stopped when Li Tianyun's clothes were in tatters and his body was covered in wounds.
By now, she had withdrawn the aura suppressing Li Tianyun, but he was too weak to stand up. He just collapsed on the ground, barely breathing.
Hong Chaoyang said regretfully, "You're already at the seventh level of Qi Refining but can't even take a beating. You should train more."
Li Tianyun was on the verge of tears. He regretted ever provoking these people. He had brought this trouble upon himself for no reason.
Shen Qing winked at Li Xinyi. Immediately, Li Xinyi stepped forward, took out two pills from her storage bag, and fed them to Li Tianyun.
Li Tianyun didn't want to take them at first, but Li Xinyi tilted her chin, and the two pills slid down his throat.
In a short while, Li Tianyun felt a searing pain all over his body, except for the wounds. It was itchy and painful, making him roll on the ground uncontrollably.
"Oh my god! What did you feed me? Why do I feel so uncomfortable!!"
Shen Qing straightened her clothes, patted the non - existent dust on them, and then slowly got up and walked up to Li Tianyun.
"You said you're the disciple of the national master, so you have the right to enter the prison. We'll be honest with you. I want to see the Ling family. You'll lead the way for us."
Li Tianyun's heart sank, and his tongue tasted bitter.
These people were really after the Ling family. What should he do?
Li Tianyun was in a moral dilemma. The Ling family was imprisoned not only because they had caught the emperor's eye but also because they had offended someone else. Both of them wanted the Ling family dead.
All his wealth and glory came from the emperor and that person. How could he betray them?
So, Li Tianyun asked bravely, "What if I refuse?"
Shen Qing raised her eyebrows and pretended to leave. "In that case, I'll surely respect your decision. But the poison you just took will make your body rot and die. You just need to struggle for twelve hours and then you can be reborn into a better life."
"Since you're so brave, just endure it slowly. We'll find another way."
"Let's go."
Seeing Shen Qing lift the curtain without even discussing any conditions, Li Tianyun quickly reached out his hand. "Hey hey hey! Immortal maiden, don't go. I'll agree. Please don't go!!"
After all, one had to be alive to enjoy wealth and glory!