Chapter 255: Selling Teammates

"Who are you? How dare you interfere with Black Wind Fortress's affairs!" Gu Yueyi scrambled up from the ground, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

From their brief exchange a moment ago, he already understood that the opponent's cultivation level was much higher than his own. He could only try to intimidate them by invoking the name of Black Wind Fortress.

"Black Wind Fortress?" The red-haired man's eyes widened. He then looked at his brothers beside him and burst into laughter. "Did I hear that right? Did he just say Black Wind Fortress?"

The group roared with laughter, their eyes filled with scorn and pity.

Gu Yueyi secretly cursed, but he couldn't figure out what the problem was.

Zu An shook his head internally. A honey trap carried out like this was truly foolish.

The red-haired man was, of course, Chen Xuan, whom they had seen earlier at the Immortal Dwelling.

He subconsciously glanced at Qiu Honglei beside him. Although she appeared to be terrified, her eyes remained calm throughout.

Just then, Chen Xuan suddenly turned around and said coldly, "No wonder Black Wind Fortress's reputation has been declining lately. So it's you guys impersonating us and ruining our name."

Gu Yueyi's expression changed dramatically. "You... you are..."

The red-haired man proudly declared, "So you know who's killing you: I am Chen Xuan of Black Wind Fortress!"

Gu Yueyi swallowed hard and instinctively glanced at Qiu Honglei.

Qiu Honglei also frowned slightly. She clearly hadn't expected Chen Xuan to be so brazen, openly entering the city and even showing his face in public earlier.

"Senior Brother, you must leave quickly," she transmitted via spiritual energy, her voice low.

"Ah, what about you?" Gu Yueyi hesitated. His main concern was that his junior sister was too beautiful; leaving her here would be like throwing a lamb to a tiger, and he would likely regret it for the rest of his life.

"I have my own way," Qiu Honglei quickly replied, subtly urging him.

"Alright then!"

Gu Yueyi gritted his teeth. After all, his own life was paramount. Moreover, this junior sister was too mysterious; he often couldn't understand her. Perhaps she had some means of escape.

With his mind made up, he jumped directly next to Zu An and the other person, holding his blade horizontally across them. "Don't come any closer, or I'll kill them with one strike!"

Zu An smiled faintly. "Big Brother, didn't you just say your name was Chen Xuan too? How did you end up with the same name?"

"Shut up!" Gu Yueyi was both ashamed and furious.

He hadn't expected this Chen Xuan to be so powerful. Legend had it that the man was merely a peak fifth-grade cultivator, but their brief exchange moments ago clearly indicated he was sixth-grade!

At this moment, Chen Xuan scoffed, "They're no relatives of mine. You're using them to threaten me?"

"Especially that guy named Zu, I'd love to flay him and eat his flesh. If you really kill him, I'll only thank you."

Gu Yueyi glanced at Zu An, surprised that this fellow had stirred up so much hatred, even angering Chen Xuan. It seemed he was doomed today. "Even if you hate this Zu fellow, what about Miss Qiu? She's the most beautiful courtesan in the Immortal Dwelling. I don't believe you're not tempted."

Chen Xuan burst out laughing. "You're right, this woman is indeed good, provocatively alluring in just the right way. I quite like her."

Hearing his crude remark, Qiu Honglei was speechless.

Gu Yueyi's heart leaped with joy. "In that case, let us go, or I'll kill her!"

Chen Xuan's face darkened. "Go ask around. I, Chen, have always hated being threatened. Even if you kill her, it'll be useless. I'm not squeamish about anything; at worst, I'll have a quick thrill while she's still warm. But afterwards, I'll flay you alive, piece by piece!"

Gu Yueyi: "..."

Qiu Honglei: "..."

Zu An was also dumbfounded. *While she's still warm*?

Was this guy really that perverted?

Just then, Chen Xuan twisted his hand in the air, and the blade in Gu Yueyi's hand twisted several times, becoming like a twisted rope.

"A Metal-element cultivator!"

Zu An had already made his judgment.

Gu Yueyi reacted quickly, grabbing his two companions beside him and throwing them towards Chen Xuan. Then, without hesitation, he leaped into the nearby river. His toes barely touched the water surface as he glided several yards away.

Zu An nodded inwardly. This guy's movement technique was quite good; he could walk on water with ease, truly deserving of his fifth-grade status.

The two companions hadn't expected him to turn on his own people. Shocked and enraged, they frantically swung their weapons at Chen Xuan, trying to seize a chance for survival.

However, Chen Xuan neither dodged nor evaded; instead, he stepped directly forward, allowing the long blades in their hands to strike him.

The two men rejoiced for a moment, but their expressions immediately changed. The sound of their blades striking Chen Xuan was not the familiar sound of cutting flesh, but rather the clang of metal on stone. They could even see sparks flying from the blades.

This, however, was the last thing they saw, as Chen Xuan's large, iron-like hands gripped their necks and twisted them. Their bodies then slumped to the ground.

Zu An's brows furrowed. In that instant, Chen Xuan's body seemed to emit a golden glow, as if he had become invulnerable with bronze skin and iron bones. The blades struck him, yet left no mark.

"Is he invulnerable to weapons?"

Zu An found the situation a bit tricky. If the opponent was truly invulnerable, he would likely be at a considerable disadvantage in a fight.

On the other side, Chen Xuan didn't stop, quickly chasing towards the water's edge, clearly not intending to let Gu Yueyi escape.

At this moment, Qiu Honglei seemed to stand up unintentionally, yet she perfectly blocked his path.

Chen Xuan stopped, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at her.

Only when seeing her up close would one realize how captivating her peerless beauty was. His furrowed brows unconsciously relaxed.

Qiu Honglei curtsied. "I didn't expect Fortress Master Chen to grace us with his presence. I apologize for any slight at the Immortal Dwelling earlier, and I hope the Fortress Master doesn't mind."

Seeing the once high-and-mighty courtesan bowing respectfully before him now, her tone filled with humility and flattery, Chen Xuan felt comfortable all over.

"Haha, no harm done by those who don't know, Miss Qiu, you are too polite." As he spoke, he reached out to help her up. Seeing her graceful, delicate figure beneath the sheer veil, even Chen Xuan, who was accustomed to women, couldn't help but breathe more rapidly.

"Thank you, Fortress Master, for overlooking my small offense." Qiu Honglei subtly rose and took a step back, deftly avoiding his physical touch. "Honglei intends to prepare a banquet at the Immortal Dwelling, and I hope the Fortress Master will honor us with his presence so I can properly apologize."

Chen Xuan laughed heartily. "We can talk about apologies later. First, I'll deal with this little bastard."

"Who's the little bastard cursing?" Zu An suddenly asked.

"The little bastard is cursing you!" Chen Xuan replied instinctively.

Zu An smiled faintly. "Indeed, the little bastard is cursing me."

Chen Xuan: "..."

He finally realized what had happened and, in a fit of rage, reached out to grab Zu An's neck. "You brat, you're asking for death!"

At this point, Qiu Honglei hurriedly pulled Zu An behind her. "Fortress Master Chen, this young master is my friend. I hope the Fortress Master, in his generosity, will spare his life."

Zu An was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected her to speak up for him in such a situation.

Chen Xuan snorted coldly. "If it were anyone else, I might spare him for Miss Qiu's sake, but I must kill this fellow."

"Why? Just because I had a few words with you at the Immortal Dwelling?" Zu An was curious. From the moment the other party learned his identity, he had been generating a significant amount of rage points, and Zu An had always wondered why.

"Why?" Chen Xuan's face twisted. "Do you remember Mei Chaofeng from the Silver Hook Casino? He was my brother since childhood, someone I relied on. He was a hero, but you, you bastard, caused his death."

Zu An realized. "So, you're also from the Shi family!"

At that moment, he finally understood. Since Chen Xuan and Mei Chaofeng were brothers, Chen Xuan couldn't possibly be unaware of Mei Chaofeng's involvement with the Shi family. It was likely that the two brothers worked for the Shi family, one openly and one secretly.

Chen Xuan licked his lips, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Too bad you know too late. Today, I'll break every one of your bones and slice your flesh off, piece by piece, to avenge my poor brother!"

He mused that since Qiu Honglei had heard this secret, she should, by rights, be silenced.

However, she was too beautiful, and he was genuinely reluctant to kill her. He decided to capture her and keep her captive in the fortress later, ensuring she wouldn't leak any secrets.

Zu An couldn't help but say, "Just talk normally. Why are you licking your lips at me? You're not a beautiful woman; it's quite disgusting to watch."

Chen Xuan: "..."

Qiu Honglei, standing nearby, also watched him speechlessly. This guy's thought process was truly surprising; at a time like this, he was still deliberately trying to provoke him?

"You little bastard, you'll soon regret having a mouth!"

Chen Xuan's face darkened as he closed in on Zu An, his hands clenching audibly.

Qiu Honglei frowned and instinctively reached for the lantern hanging nearby.

Just as her fair hand was about to touch the lantern, she suddenly withdrew it.

Immediately afterwards, a cackling laugh echoed. "Handsome, who told you to come here in the middle of the night? You wouldn't even know if you got robbed and killed."

A graceful figure leaped onto the boat, and as she landed, her chest bounced, causing all the men present to watch, their gazes moving up and down.

Although the woman was masked, Zu An recognized her as Pei Mianman at first glance. After all, such a voluptuous figure was truly too striking.

After an initial moment of surprise, Chen Xuan quickly started laughing. "Hahaha, my luck is really good today! I've run into two such exquisitely seductive beauties at once. I can have a different one every day from now on."

Although her face was covered, her beautiful eyes and delicate, charming eyebrows clearly indicated she was a great beauty.

Even if one were to concede a million steps, with a figure as exquisite as hers, her looks were irrelevant.

Hearing his words, Pei Mianman's expression turned cold. "You, Chen, are quite bold."

Chen Xuan patted his lower abdomen. "I'm not just bold, I'm bigger in another place too!"

"You're asking for death!" Although Pei Mianman usually appeared charming and flirtatious, she was, at heart, still an innocent maiden. She couldn't tolerate such vulgar remarks. A wisp of black flame suddenly ignited and swept directly towards Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan's expression changed. He clearly sensed the terrifying power within the black flame and no longer dared to meet it with his body as he had before.

Seeing the two start fighting, Qiu Honglei quickly said, "Thank you, chivalrous lady, for saving our lives. If fate allows, we will repay you handsomely in the future."

With that, she pulled Zu An and leaped directly into the nearby Bright Moon River, swiftly swimming away.

"That vixen!" Pei Mianman hadn't expected her to just leave, and not only leave but also take Zu An with her. Unfortunately, she was entangled with Chen Xuan and couldn't break free immediately. She could only watch them depart.