As he stared at the black vortex, Xuanyuzi's expression changed slightly.
But soon, he realized that it was only a voice; the person who had spoken hadn't actually come over to attack.
So, with his chest puffed out, Xuanyuzi said arrogantly, "I, Qingyang Zhenren, never change my name or identity! Who do you think you are to yell at me? Do you want to die?"
"Very well, Qingyang Zhenren. Just you wait!"
The voice from the vortex was furious.
"Wait? Fine, I'll wait right here! Let's see if you dare come!" Xuanyuzi taunted even more boldly.
"Good, we'll see!" came the cold response, followed by the sound of the vortex dissipating, as if the person was now on the move.
"Let's get out of here!" Xuanyuzi said, tugging at Qin Chuan, ready to flee.
But Qin Chuan stood still, looking at him with a meaningful expression. "What's this? Are you scared?"
"Me? Scared? Of course not! It's just that my strength hasn't fully recovered, and a wise man knows not to suffer unnecessary losses!" Xuanyuzi stubbornly defended himself.
"There's no need to run. After all, Qingyang Zhenren was the one who provoked him. We just happened to be passing by," Qin Chuan said with a sly smile.
"Hmm?"
Xuanyuzi turned sharply, staring at Qin Chuan's face. The familiar smile gave him an odd sense of kinship.
"So, we're cut from the same cloth!" Xuanyuzi's eyes shone with recognition as he hurried over to grab Qin Chuan's sleeve, feeling like they were long-lost friends.
But he quickly added, "Still, even if we claim to be innocent bystanders, do you think that guy will believe us? Unless he's a fool."
"Well, maybe he is a fool," Qin Chuan said with a mysterious grin.
"What do you mean?" Xuanyuzi was puzzled.
Qin Chuan explained with a smile, "Wanna bet? If that guy shows up and doesn't trouble us, you'll follow me for a hundred years. If he comes after us, I'll owe you a favor."
"Really?" Xuanyuzi's eyes lit up with excitement.
A hundred years in exchange for a favor? No matter how you look at it, that's a good deal. He had plenty of time to spare, and besides, it seemed impossible for him to lose. After all, he had taunted the guy so boldly; how could he not come looking for trouble?
"Deal!" Xuanyuzi agreed confidently.
But then, a thought struck him, and he asked cautiously, "If he does come for us, are you sure we won't get crushed?"
"Don't worry, I'm not looking to die," Qin Chuan reassured him confidently.
"That's a relief," Xuanyuzi said, though there was a nagging feeling in his heart — he might have walked into a trap. Qin Chuan seemed way too confident, and it was his idea to place the bet. It felt like Xuanyuzi's chances of losing were suddenly much higher!
But it was too late to back out now.
Besides, if he won, he'd hit the jackpot. He was already planning an outrageous favor to ask for…
Rumble!
Not long after, dark clouds gathered on the horizon as a massive, towering figure flew toward them, surrounded by gusting winds.
It was a huge minotaur.
The creature had the head and upper body of a bull with twisted horns and blood-red eyes, steam snorting from its nose. Its lower body was composed of a billowing mass of black clouds, and together with the clouds, it formed a fearsome sight.
It was so enormous that it seemed to fill the entire sky, casting a heavy shadow over the land, and as it approached, the winds howled, and the sky darkened over a radius of tens of thousands of miles, with sand and dust swirling violently.
"I've arrived! Where is Qingyang Zhenren?" the minotaur's deep, thunderous voice boomed across the heavens like rolling thunder.
Its crimson eyes began scanning the ground below, sweeping golden beams of light across the land like searchlights.
"There," Xuanyuzi, sweating profusely, pointed nervously toward the cesspit ahead, his voice shaky.
"Hm?"
The minotaur's gaze fell on Xuanyuzi, scrutinizing him for a moment before letting out a cold laugh.
"That voice sounds familiar. You're the one who killed my subordinate and taunted me, aren't you?"
"No!" Xuanyuzi quickly denied.
"Ha! Weren't you the one boasting earlier, saying you never change your name or identity? Why deny it now?" the minotaur sneered mockingly.
"You're looking for Qingyang Zhenren. I am Xuanyuzi, not him. You've got the wrong guy," Xuanyuzi said, trying to stay calm.
"Hmph, still trying to lie? Looks like I'll have to crush you before you tell the truth!" the minotaur growled, extending a massive black hand that rapidly expanded in the sky, stretching out like a dark continent to blot out the heavens.
"I can vouch for him. He's not Qingyang Zhenren," Qin Chuan said calmly.
"Hm?"
The minotaur paused and looked at Qin Chuan, narrowing its eyes. "And who might you be?"
"Heh, you're not qualified to know who I am," Qin Chuan said, hands behind his back, shaking his head with a smile.
"You're courting death!" The minotaur's eyes flashed with murderous intent as the giant hand in the sky changed course and slammed down toward Qin Chuan.
Rumble!
The massive hand cut through the air, generating enough friction to produce bolts of lightning as it bore down with terrifying power.
But Qin Chuan remained as steady as a mountain.
At the last moment, the system's voice chimed in.
"Ding! You're about to be crushed while showing off. Activating your dignity insurance now to maintain your respect."
Whoosh!
In the next instant, the minotaur's pupils shrank in fear as if it had just witnessed something terrifying. Quickly, it retracted its hand.
"W-who are you?" it stammered, trembling.
"I already told you, you're not qualified to know," Qin Chuan said calmly, hands still behind his back.
He didn't know exactly what had happened, but it was clearly the system at work. Since things were going well, he decided to continue his act.
The minotaur's arrogance vanished, and it spoke humbly, "My apologies for disturbing you, great one. Please forgive me. I was merely here to settle a score with Qingyang Zhenren, who killed my subordinate and arrogantly provoked me."
"And have you found him?" Qin Chuan asked.
"Yes, I have!" the minotaur nodded seriously, pointing at the cesspit angrily. "That fool must be hiding in that filth. I didn't expect him to be so cunning, leaving his aura lingering around to mislead me. I almost didn't notice."
"Are you sure it's him?" Qin Chuan asked with a faint smile.
"I'm certain! He goes by Qingyang Zhenren, and his hair is so dark and free of dandruff! Who else could it be?" The minotaur, clearly taking cues from something, was utterly convinced.
"You wouldn't want to make a mistake. Why don't you ask him directly?" Qin Chuan suggested with a smile.
"Good idea. I'll go ask him myself," the minotaur said reverently, now treating Qin Chuan with utmost respect, before flying over to the cesspit.
Rumble!
It stretched out a massive hand like an excavator, digging deep into the swamp.
Crack! Crack!
The colorful beams that had sealed Qingyang Zhenren snapped, and soon the figure of Qingyang Zhenren was pulled from the muck.
"You—who are you?" Qingyang Zhenren, shocked at being plucked from the swamp, turned pale. He had no idea what was going on, but from the minotaur's fierce demeanor, it was clear this was no rescue.
"Are you Qingyang Zhenren?" the minotaur demanded, frowning coldly.
"I am not!" Qingyang Zhenren instantly shook his head, sensing something was wrong.
The minotaur glanced cautiously at Qin Chuan, then glared at Qingyang Zhenren. "Hmph, still lying to my face? It seems I'll have to beat the truth out of you!"
In fact.
The minotaur believed that the old man standing next to Qin Chuan was the real Qingyang Zhenren. But since that old man appeared to be Qin Chuan's ally, he couldn't afford to offend him. So, for the minotaur, this stinky fellow in front of him had no choice but to be Qingyang Zhenren — whether it was true or not!
He was determined to force a confession!