Chapter 96: Forced
On the way, the man in black broke his promise and struck Chen Xuan, catching him off guard with a palm that knocked him unconscious.
The place they were heading was highly secretive, and the stakes were too high to risk any leaks.
Chen Xuan's eyes widened in disbelief as he was ambushed by someone like this. It was completely dishonorable.
"Damn it, you don't play by the rules!" he cursed before losing consciousness.
The black-robed man sighed; there was no other way. He had to use underhanded methods.
When Chen Xuan woke up again, he found himself in a large room. The ceiling was a bright white, with a crystal chandelier, and the room was filled with wooden furniture.
As his mind cleared, he tried to get up, only to feel a tightness around him. That's when he realized he was tied to a chair.
With a slight shake, the ropes snapped. They were useless against him.
He walked out of the room and was immediately greeted by a surprising sight: a stunning woman, her face radiant, with gem-like eyes and a delicate, straight nose, sat at a table sipping tea.
"Sit down and let's talk," the beautiful woman said, inviting Chen Xuan to join her.
Her beauty was unparalleled—rosy lips, flawless skin like white jade, and long, golden hair that shimmered with a crystalline glow.
At this point, Chen Xuan had nothing to fear anymore. He strode into the living room and sat across from her at the table.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The woman with the golden hair was indeed stunning, with a tall and graceful figure, her curves accentuated by a light pink gown that gently draped to the floor, perfectly outlining her alluring shape.
However, Chen Xuan had never seen this beautiful woman before. He had no memory of her at all.
"You don't need to know who I am. All you need to decide is whether you'll become my subordinate," the stunning woman said, her gaze intense and forceful.
She lifted a delicate hand, holding her teacup toward Chen Xuan, motioning for him to drink.
Chen Xuan glanced at the cup and his face immediately stiffened. This seemed like a setup to poison him.
The cup wasn't filled with tea, but with a black liquid that emitted a pungent smell, overpowering her fragrance. Even a child wouldn't dare drink it.
If he drank that, he was certain he wouldn't walk away from this place alive.
Chen Xuan pushed the cup aside and shifted the conversation. "Miss, shouldn't you at least tell me your name?"
"Name?" The beautiful woman paused, a flash of doubt in her eyes.
Her long, slender fingers lightly swirled the tea in her cup as if contemplating something. After a moment, she spoke. "You may call me Luo Qingsnow."
"What do you mean, 'may'?" Chen Xuan was baffled. It seemed a bit too vague.
He wanted to say something sarcastic but held back, wary of another Titled Douluo attacking him from the shadows.
"Miss Luo, who exactly are you, and what's your identity?" Chen Xuan asked, voicing the question on his mind.
He truly didn't know who this beautiful woman was. Where had this mysterious figure come from? At first, he thought she might be someone from Tiandou City, a high-ranking lady, but her appearance didn't match anyone he knew.
Chen Xuan was sure he didn't know her. Although she also had golden hair, her appearance was quite different, lacking the angelic mark on her forehead, and she had a more mature, alluring aura.
"You'll find out in time. For now, just answer my question—will you submit to me or not?" The woman's beautiful eyes shimmered like water, but they carried a sharp, ruthless gleam.
Chen Xuan braced himself. "What happens if I refuse?"
He wanted to join a powerful sect for protection, not be forced into an unknown and obviously shady organization.
Luo Qingsnow smiled but said nothing. Her stunning eyes were fixed on Chen Xuan, her lips curved in a faint smile, but the silence was oppressive.
Chen Xuan started to feel uneasy under her gaze. He had the distinct feeling that this beautiful woman was dangerous and capable of doing anything.
Being in enemy territory, Chen Xuan decided that survival was the priority.
"Miss Luo, I submit. From now on, I'll follow your every command without question," Chen Xuan said without hesitation, his face calm, though inwardly he was saying things he didn't mean.
He figured he could placate her for now, pretend to agree, and then escape this place as soon as possible. Once free, he would seek refuge with Tiandou Empire or Snow Clear River, better known as Qian Renxue, and teach this woman a lesson.
"That sounds convincing, but I don't believe you," Luo Qingsnow said with a smile, her eyes twinkling as she stared at him.
Chen Xuan's smile froze, and he felt a wave of awkwardness. He didn't know what expression to make.
This woman was no mere beauty. She was sharp and unpredictable, not someone to be underestimated.
"Drink this tea, and I'll believe you," Luo Qingsnow said, pushing the cup of poison he had previously moved aside back in front of him.
The liquid in the cup was still black, bubbling with steam, and releasing a foul stench.
"So you just want me dead," Chen Xuan said coldly, dropping the pretense.
He couldn't accept a life of subservience, being someone's puppet. That wasn't who he was.
"You don't have a choice."
The black-robed man's cold voice echoed in the room as a shadow emerged from a dark corner.
"Then let's fight. I, Chen Xuan, would rather die in battle than live as a slave," Chen Xuan declared, determination shining in his eyes as he prepared to unleash the full power of his Mangekyō Sharingan, aiming to go down fighting.
But soon, he realized something was wrong. His soul power was blocked, difficult to mobilize.
At the same time, he felt a warm flow in his dantian, a gentle force attempting to clear the blockage, though it was slow and needed time.
"Do you really think your life is still your own now that you're here?"
The black-robed man was prepared, making his move before Chen Xuan could act.
In an instant, he launched several white rings that quickly bound Chen Xuan's limbs and waist, trapping him in place.
Moving swiftly, the black-robed man grabbed the cup and forced the tea down Chen Xuan's throat.
As the liquid hit his stomach, its effects were immediate. His intestines and internal organs felt like they were being torn apart, the poison seeping into his body. His insides burned with unbearable pain.
Chen Xuan's face turned deathly pale, and he coughed up blood. If not for the white rings holding him up, he wouldn't have been able to stand.
"The poison in this tea won't kill you, but it will flare up once a year. Without the antidote, you'll die in agony as your organs are ripped apart," Luo Qingsnow said calmly, her voice cold and detached as she delivered this cruel truth.
Chen Xuan, blood dripping from his mouth, glared at the woman, his eyes cold as ice.
The black-robed man then pulled out a black pill and forced it into Chen Xuan's mouth. Once swallowed, the searing pain began to subside, and soon the agony was gone. However, Chen Xuan knew the poison had already spread to his organs, deeply embedded.
"You're mistaken about one thing. Serving me isn't the same as being a slave. You'll only need to follow my orders at certain key moments, perhaps once a month, once a year, or maybe even in ten years."
Luo Qingsnow's expression remained indifferent as she summoned a female soul master with healing abilities to treat Chen Xuan.
Feeling a bit better, some color returned to his face.
"Don't look at me like that. Serve me for ten years, and I'll grant you your freedom. Besides, being my subordinate won't leave you unrewarded."
Luo Qingsnow stood up, her graceful figure accentuated by every move, her perfect curves undeniable.
Chen Xuan had no interest in admiring her now. He wanted nothing more than to destroy this woman.
Luo Qingsnow gracefully approached him, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his mouth.
Under normal circumstances, Chen Xuan might have been moved by such a beautiful woman tending to him, but now, he felt nothing but disgust.
Ignoring his cold stare, Luo Qingsnow extended her slender hand, and with a flash of light, a piece of bone appeared. It emitted a fiery red glow, radiating the strong aura of a soul beast. The bone was eight inches long, clearly extraordinary.
"I told you, being my subordinate won't come without rewards. This is a torso bone from a 52,500-year-old Flame Wind Wolf, a soul bone that's perfectly suited for you."
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