Divine Doctor and His CEO Wife-Chapter 139: Poisoning
Xu Yanran laughed in derision. "A mere group of Hongmen trash dares to demand that I kneel and apologize?"
After all, I’m a member of Dragon Soul, a legitimate special agency and a true weapon of the state! Hongmen? Just some Jianghu organization.
Although Hongmen was just a Jianghu organization, it was not to be underestimated. Historically, there was talk of a million Hongmen disciples. In China, Hongmen’s influence spread across major regions. They established branches in numerous places, controlling waterways, land routes, and many monopolistic businesses. Overseas, Hongmen was even known as the largest faction among the Chinese, with overwhelming power. It was no wonder, then, that these Hongmen disciples were so arrogant.
Luo Qingli hurriedly ran down. "Aunt Xu!"
When Xu Yanran saw Luo Qingli run down, she quickly pulled the girl behind her. "Why did you come down?"
"I saw you’d been out for a long time and hadn’t come back, so I came out to check."
A playful look appeared in the silver-robed young man’s eyes. "I didn’t expect Yuncheng City to be such an exceptional place. To think there’s not only a voluptuous, mature woman, but also a cool and aloof one. Not bad, not bad at all..."
He snapped open his folding fan, looking at the two women with keen interest, as if appraising goods. His gaze made both women’s skin crawl in disgust. A hint of jealousy flashed in the eyes of the woman beside him.
Xu Yanran stated coldly, "Tell your people to get out of my way."
"Beauty, you were the one who hit my men first. How are you the one in the right?" Qiao Yu sneered.
Xu Yanran raised her eyebrows and retorted, "They were drunk on cheap booze and tried to harass me. Shouldn’t I have done something? They couldn’t even defeat a ’weak’ woman like me. Isn’t that the real disgrace?"
Qiao Yu remained unperturbed. "Today, you two will come with me. After tonight, this business of you hitting my Hongmen people will be written off. Otherwise, the price is something not even your families can afford to pay!"
The woman beside him said coldly, "This is the second son of Helmsman Qiao of the Hongmen Jiangnan branch, Young Master Qiao Yu. You should be aware of Hongmen’s clout, so don’t make a foolish mistake!"
Xu Yanran scoffed and stuck up her middle finger. "Hongmen? Trash!"
"You... how dare you!" Qiao Yu seethed with rage. In the next moment, his body shot toward Xu Yanran, his folding fan drifting toward the acupoints all over her body.
Though his movements seemed light, acupoints were the body’s most vulnerable parts. A strike to certain acupoints could render one unable to resist, while a more severe hit could cause complete paralysis. But he had clearly underestimated Xu Yanran’s strength.
Xu Yanran was a true Grandmaster.
Such mediocre tactics might work on an average person, but against her, it was as laughable as a grandson showing off for his grandfather. Xu Yanran’s body barely moved, instantly evading several of the acupoints he had locked onto.
At the same time, her fist shot out like a dragon.
Her fist, carrying the power of two rising suns, possessed a self-sustaining force that surged directly toward Qiao Yu’s chest. That unstoppable momentum seemed as if it would pierce straight through his body.
"Damn, a Grandmaster!?" Qiao Yu, who had been so arrogant just a moment ago, felt his hair stand on end. He cursed out loud as he scrambled backward, dodging clumsily.
The folding fan in his hand was smashed into two pieces by Xu Yanran. His shoulder was also grazed by a punch. Although he had twisted his body to deflect some of the force, he still felt an intense, burning pain. After retreating seven or eight steps to get out of her attack range, he fixed her with an icy stare.
"Who are you?"
To be a Martial Arts Grandmaster at such a young age... she can’t be ordinary!
"I’m your mother!" Xu Yanran sneered, pressing her attack.
Qiao Yu calmed himself and circulated his Inner Strength to meet her. Although he was a profligate son, he had inherited enough of his father’s martial talent to have also stepped into the Grandmaster Realm.
Wherever the two of them fought, chaos followed. Neither dared to be the least bit careless. Since their power was roughly equal, the outcome would be decided by their combat skills and other variables.
In the end, Xu Yanran used the techniques Chen Xiao had taught her to force a defensive opening, landing a fierce inch punch squarely on his chest.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
After smashing through three tables in succession, Qiao Yu finally came to a stop, drenched in vegetable juice and looking utterly disheveled.
"Young Master Qiao!"
"Young Master Qiao!"
The Hongmen disciples hurried over to help him up. They couldn’t believe that Qiao Yu had actually lost to the woman before them.
Xu Yanran advanced on him. "Weren’t you acting so tough just now? Fine, I’ll give you a chance, too."
"Kneel, apologize, and crawl out of here. Then I’ll let you leave... How about it?"
Qiao Yu pushed the others away and struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Don’t be too arrogant!"
Xu Yanran sneered, "You haven’t seen true arrogance yet."
If Chen Xiao were to act, their fate would be far worse.
Suddenly, the woman who had been silent the whole time shot a palm strike at Xu Yanran. Her strength was weak, likely only at the Inner Strength level.
Seeing that her attacker was a woman, Xu Yanran didn’t take her seriously and simply batted her away. But the moment their palms touched, a sharp pain lanced through Xu Yanran’s hand. Looking down, she saw several small cuts on her palm. From the wounds, an inky blackness slowly began to spread.
The piercing pain from the wound grew stronger. Xu Yanran frowned and stared coldly at the woman. "You used poisoned needles?"
"That’s right. The poison is called Plum Blossom Ruin. It consumes a martial artist’s Inner Strength, rendering them unable to use any of their power. Circulating Inner Strength will cause unbearable pain."
"As the poison spreads, the victim’s body will slowly ulcerate until they die..."
"Generally, one will be stone-cold dead within three days of being poisoned."
The woman’s lips curled into a mocking smile, her gaze remaining chillingly gloomy.
Xu Yanran’s eyes turned to ice. She hadn’t expected the woman to use such a vicious poison. They had only had a verbal spat; she never intended to take their lives. And this woman had tried to kill her at the first opportunity?
At that moment, she dropped all pretense of politeness, a murderous intent appearing in her eyes. "Give me the antidote!"
Wei Ziqing chuckled softly. "Sorry, there is no antidote."
"Of course, if you beg us, perhaps I’ll consider it."
"Otherwise, you can just wait to die."
Sheer killing intent flared in Xu Yanran’s eyes. She was about to circulate her Inner Strength and charge forward when an intense pain erupted in her chest. Her face turned white as a sheet, and she staggered before Luo Qingli managed to catch her.
Wei Ziqing’s laughter grew even more smug as she taunted, "I forgot to remind you. The more you use your Inner Strength, the faster the poison spreads. You’d better be careful."
Qiao Yu, having recovered his previous arrogance, chimed in, "My Ziqing is a master of poison. Dealing with little karami like you is a piece of cake for her."
"If you don’t submit now, death is the only path that awaits you."
Suddenly, a graceful figure dropped down from above, landing between Xu Yanran and Qiao Yu!
The newcomer was a young man. His impassive, emotionless eyes stared directly at Qiao Yu.
For some reason, I have an intense urge to flee, but my body feels as heavy as lead. I don’t even have the strength to run!
The next moment, Chen Xiao’s ice-cold gaze fell upon Wei Ziqing. "The antidote."
Wei Ziqing crossed her arms. "Who do you think you are? You think I’ll give it to you just because you say so?"
Chen Xiao replied coldly, "I’m giving you three seconds. If you don’t produce it, I’ll get it myself."
The woman had used a deadly poison on Xu Yanran. After such a vicious act, Chen Xiao had no intention of being lenient.
