Chapter 94

Long Chen carried the Wandering Duke for dozens of miles before throwing him to the ground. The Wandering Duke was already severely injured, and this throw caused him to spit out another mouthful of fresh blood.

He had been pinned to a tree by Long Chen’s arrow, the terrifying force shattering his internal organs. However, as a Blood Condensation Realm expert, his body contained a large amount of vitality, so he wouldn’t die immediately.

"Zhou Weiqing, how should I kill you?"

Long Chen looked at this duke, who was once a formidable figure in his eyes, his voice filled with coldness.

If it were just a personal grudge between them, Long Chen wouldn’t mind giving him a quick death. But now, seeing the bodies of the villagers and the grief on the hunters’ faces, he hated this bastard to the core.

He didn’t know how to kill Zhou Weiqing to ease his anger; he just coldly stared at the Wandering Duke, needing to think of an appropriate method.

"Long... Long Chen, don’t kill me. I’ll tell you all the secrets I know. Please let me off, I was forced into this."

The Wandering Duke’s face was ashen; he could feel his life slipping away rapidly. The only one who could save him now was Long Chen, a Pill Cultivator.

To save his life, this duke, who was usually pampered, had no qualms and began to beg Long Chen.

"Is it meaningful to say this now? I already know everything was orchestrated by the Fourth Prince. Once I return to the capital, the truth will be revealed. Why should I listen to your rambling?" Long Chen sneered.

"No, no, Long Chen, things are not as simple as you think. If you promise to spare me, I’ll tell you something extremely urgent, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed," the Wandering Duke said urgently.

Long Chen’s heart stirred, and he coldly said, "Speak. If it truly helps me, I won’t mind sparing your life."

The Wandering Duke was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Your family has already been thrown into the Heavenly Prison, awaiting execution."

"What?"

Long Chen’s face changed drastically, and he roared, "Nonsense, are you trying to deceive me?"

"No... I absolutely wouldn’t dare to deceive you," the Wandering Duke said hastily.

"Aman would return to the capital and protect my family first. How could they be thrown into the Heavenly Prison? Besides, even if Aman didn’t notify them, how could Master Yun Qi stand by and do nothing? Do you think I’m an idiot?" Long Chen said angrily.

"Your Highness, you don’t know. Aman did indeed return to your home first, but he couldn’t protect your family," the Wandering Duke said.

"Why?"

"Cough, cough... I..." The Wandering Duke tried to speak but suddenly started coughing violently, unable to continue.

Long Chen sneered inwardly; the Wandering Duke was being clever. He produced a pill and threw it to him, saying, "Swallow it; it can heal your internal injuries."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The Wandering Duke was overjoyed and quickly swallowed the pill. He had always harbored the thought that Long Chen, like his father, was a man of his word.

However, he only promised to spare his life, not to heal his injuries. If Long Chen left, he wouldn’t last more than a few hours, and the spiritual energy in his blood would be depleted, leading to his death.

In those few hours, he couldn’t leave the forest or find help, so he would die for sure. The Wandering Duke was indeed clever.

"If I tell you everything, will you keep your promise and not harm me?"

After swallowing the pill, the Wandering Duke was pleasantly surprised to find his ruptured organs slowly healing, proving that Long Chen’s pill was very effective.

However, to be cautious, he repeated his request, fearing that Long Chen might renege, leaving him in danger.

"Rest assured, I guarantee it with the Long family’s reputation," Long Chen sneered.

Hearing this, the Wandering Duke felt relieved. Given Long Chen’s pride, the chance of him breaking his word was slim.

"Aman returned to your home and immediately informed your mother, but they didn’t leave the Long family."

"Why?"

"Because they were all poisoned," the Wandering Duke answered.

Long Chen’s face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, "Who did it?"

"Your mother’s family. They are actually spies for the Fourth Prince, secretly monitoring the Long family.

When Aman returned to the Long family, he was very weak and almost exhausted. Just as he was informing everyone to leave, your family was all poisoned.

It was a hidden poison, usually dormant in the body. I believe, with your knowledge, you’ve heard of ‘Soul-Parting Powder,’ right?" the Wandering Duke said cautiously.

Long Chen’s face turned extremely grim. The Wandering Duke’s mention of Soul-Parting Powder confirmed he was telling the truth.

Soul-Parting Powder was a rare drug, not highly toxic, but it could confuse the soul, putting the victim into a false death-like state. Only those with strong soul power could resist it.

Moreover, this drug was colorless and odorless, making it impossible for ordinary people to detect. Once the victim smelled the Soul-Calling Incense, they would immediately fall into a deep sleep.

Long Chen never imagined the Fourth Prince’s plan was so deep, and he hated his mother’s family for stabbing the Long family in the back. Thinking of his mother being captured, he was extremely anxious, wanting to return to the capital immediately to save her.

"Master Yun Qi, what’s the situation there?" Long Chen suddenly felt strange; why didn’t Master Yun Qi intervene?

"At that time, Master Yun Qi was in seclusion, refining pills. Besides, this matter was done very secretly, and Master Yun Qi didn’t know. By the time he found out, your family was already in the Heavenly Prison.

Master Yun Qi personally went to the palace to request the Empress Dowager to release them, but she showed the image of you killing the Xia Prince, leaving Master Yun Qi helpless," the Wandering Duke said.

Long Chen cursed himself for being too careless. Clearly, the image was brought back by the Ying Duke.

Killing Xia Changfeng was just a part of the Fourth Prince’s plan. Although Master Yun Qi was highly respected, his special status prevented him from directly interfering in imperial affairs, leaving him powerless.

"Chu Xia."

Long Chen gritted his teeth, seeing the Fourth Prince’s mocking face, his heart filled with murderous intent.

"Is there anything else?" Long Chen took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.

"There’s one more thing: the execution."

The Wandering Duke’s face changed slightly, speaking cautiously. He was afraid that Long Chen, in his rage, might strike him dead.

"They’re using my family as a substitute for me?" Long Chen’s fists clenched tightly, the anger in his eyes almost tangible.

"Probably," the Wandering Duke said.

"Hmph, the purpose is likely to lure my father," Long Chen sneered. Despite his extreme anger, he could still analyze the Fourth Prince’s intentions.

In the Fourth Prince’s eyes, Long Chen was just a pawn. Using him to create the current situation was to lure out Long Tianxiao.

It was clear that the capital was now a dragon’s lair and a tiger’s den, waiting for Long Tianxiao to fall into the trap.

Being used as a pawn was a terrible feeling, but for Chu Yao, Long Chen was willing to be a pawn.

The Fourth Prince’s actions were unbearable, not only targeting Long Chen but also his entire family, threatening their lives.

"Chu Xia, you wait. If I don’t cut off your head this time, I won’t be Long Chen."

Long Chen suddenly thought of something and asked, "When is the execution date?"

The Wandering Duke was startled, "Calculating the days, it’s the day after tomorrow."

Hearing this, Long Chen didn’t waste any more time with the Wandering Duke. He summoned Xiaoxue and rushed out of the mountains.

"Roar."

As they ran, Xiaoxue let out a roar.

Long Chen was slightly stunned, "You want me to ride on your back?"

Xiaoxue growled, and without waiting for Long Chen’s consent, she nudged him with her head. Long Chen felt his body lighten and was lifted into the air, landing on Xiaoxue’s back.

Xiaoxue, after being enlightened by the Forest God, was now taller than a horse and over ten feet long, no longer the small creature she once was.

"Roar."

Xiaoxue growled again.

Long Chen smiled, "Don’t worry, I’ll hold on tight and won’t fall off... Ouch."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiaoxue took off like a bolt of lightning, nearly throwing Long Chen off. He quickly grabbed onto the fur on her back.

Long Chen finally experienced the terrifying speed of a second-stage magical beast. The trees on both sides flew by, making him dizzy, and the howling wind made it difficult to keep his eyes open.

"Good job, Xiaoxue."

Long Chen praised her. He had been worried about not making it back to the capital in time, but with Xiaoxue’s speed, it was no longer a problem.

His worries dissipated, and his eyes were filled with determination as he looked at the rapidly receding trees: Capital, I, Long Chen, am coming.

...

The Wandering Duke, seeing Long Chen leave, finally relaxed. He had saved his life, but his heart was filled with hatred.

He had been defeated by Long Tianxiao in his youth, his dantian damaged, halting his cultivation at the initial Blood Condensation stage.

Now, after many years, he was defeated by his son, and even more brutally. If not for his groveling, he would have lost his life.

Thinking of this, the Wandering Duke gritted his teeth, but a sinister smile appeared on his face. Once Long Chen went to the capital, he would never come out alive.

However, before that, he needed to do something: kill the villagers. Long Chen must have left them many pills.

"Ahh."

Suddenly, the Wandering Duke let out a scream, feeling intense pain in his arm. He looked down and saw a dark red ant biting him.

"Heart-Eating Ant?"

The Wandering Duke was terrified, recognizing the small ant as a highly venomous insect.

These ants were not powerful, only slightly toxic, but their bites caused excruciating pain, as if the heart was being gnawed.

The Wandering Duke slapped the Heart-Eating Ant dead, but suddenly his eyes filled with fear. The surrounding trees were covered with Heart-Eating Ants, a vast, overwhelming swarm.

The Wandering Duke suddenly remembered the pill Long Chen gave him and the mocking look in Long Chen’s eyes when he handed it over.

"Ahh..."

At that moment, thousands of Heart-Eating Ants, smelling the Wandering Duke’s unique scent, swarmed him, biting him relentlessly. To them, he was a massive, delicious meal.

The screams of agony continued. The Heart-Eating Ants’ venom wasn’t lethal, but the pain was unbearable, causing him to convulse and unable to move.

The most painful way to die is to clearly feel endless pain, unable to even lose consciousness, until he became a pile of bones.