Crackling sounds echoed in the air.
Within the massive hand of the minotaur, lightning sparked, enveloping Qingyang Zhenren's body.
"Ah!"
Qingyang Zhenren let out a miserable scream as electric arcs flickered around him. His neatly kept hair immediately turned into a wild, disheveled mess, with smoke rising from it.
"My hair!!"
He roared in anguish.
To him, you could cut off his head or draw his blood, but losing his hairstyle? That was unacceptable! With his once flawless hair now a mess, how could he endure this?
"Hmph, this is the consequence of lying. If you keep being dishonest, I'll burn all your hair!"
The minotaur snarled viciously, his tone full of menace.
Then, implying more heavily, he asked, "Now, tell me the truth—are you or are you not Qingyang Zhenren?"
"I am! I am!"
Qingyang Zhenren no longer dared to hide the truth. He was terrified that his hair would be burned off.
His cultivation relied on the Qingyang Wugou Sutra, and his hair was tied to his life force. If he lost his hair, his power would be halved!
"Good. Since it's you, come with me."
The minotaur felt a wave of joy in his heart. To his surprise, the man had confessed so easily under pressure.
"What do you want with me?"
Qingyang Zhenren hesitated, cautiously asking.
At this moment, he was incredibly weak, not even one percent of his peak strength, and he felt extremely insecure.
"Don't ask questions, just follow me!"
The minotaur coldly threatened, "Or else, I'll burn your hair off right now and turn you into a bald man!"
"Sigh, let's go."
Qingyang Zhenren sighed in resignation, giving in.
Although he didn't know why the minotaur wanted him, the fact that he wasn't killed on the spot meant the situation wasn't too dire.
At least there was still some room to maneuver.
"Gentlemen, I'll take my leave."
The minotaur grabbed Qingyang Zhenren with his massive hand, giving a courteous nod to Qin Chuan and Xuanyuzi before cautiously departing.
Rumble!
As the minotaur turned to leave, the dark clouds that followed him, like ink swirling in water, quickly contracted.
Qin Chuan and Xuanyuzi stood watching as the minotaur and his black clouds vanished from sight.
"I won."
Qin Chuan smiled as he spoke.
"Huh?"
Xuanyuzi was momentarily stunned.
Then, as realization struck, he sighed dejectedly, "Sigh, I lost. For the next hundred years, I am at your command."
His expression was one of dismay, as if he had resigned himself to his fate.
Qin Chuan pulled out a golden scroll from his hand and said, "Here's the contract. Go ahead and sign it."
"Uh..."
Xuanyuzi's expression stiffened as he awkwardly laughed, "Ahem, is this really necessary? Don't you trust my integrity?"
"Do you even have any integrity?"
Qin Chuan asked with a sly smile.
"You—!"
Xuanyuzi looked like he wanted to explode, but quickly restrained himself. After taking a deep breath, a bitter smile spread across his face.
"Fine, I'll sign."
He had a temper, and once he lost it, nothing could stop him—unless, of course, he couldn't win.
If he couldn't win, he'd back down instantly!
This was his survival strategy.
Soon enough, Xuanyuzi pinched his nose and signed the contract.
Then he realized he had completely fallen into a trap. The contract was unusually binding; for the next hundred years, he had no room to back out.
No way out!
For someone like Xuanyuzi, who had spent years treating promises like farts, taking advantage whenever possible, and never taking responsibility, this was agonizing.
"From now on, we have a master-servant relationship. You can call me 'Young Master,' and call Qin Zi 'Little Young Master.'"
Qin Chuan said casually.
Xuanyuzi's face twitched a few times, but he had no choice but to lower his proud head and mutter, "Yes, Young Master."
From "comrade" to "master," what a massive loss!
Qin Chuan eyed the old man and asked, "I'm curious, why didn't you fight back when I was beating you earlier?"
He'd been wondering about this since the beginning. Why had the old man been so courteous? According to the information Qin Chuan had gathered, this old guy had a bad temper and wasn't known for respecting anyone. Yet, after Qin Chuan had beaten him earlier, he hadn't retaliated. It was highly suspicious, almost like Xuanyuzi feared him.
"Uh..."
Xuanyuzi hesitated for a moment before explaining, "Because I had a feeling that if I fought back, the outcome would be even worse."
"Why?"
Qin Chuan asked.
"It's my instinct. I have a natural gift for sensing danger, and it's almost never wrong."
Xuanyuzi replied honestly.
"Huh?!"
Qin Chuan's eyes brightened.
What a useful ability! If he kept this old man around, he'd always know where the danger was.
That way, he'd always be safe.
At the same time, he could send Qin Zi out for more challenging experiences. After all, one must be refined through trials to become exceptional!
After a long pause, Qin Chuan asked again, "So, which direction feels the most dangerous right now?"
Xuanyuzi sensed the air for a moment, then pointed east with a grave expression. "That direction is ominous—there's a great danger there!"
"How great?"
Qin Chuan asked, slightly surprised.
"Well, about...this big, no, more like this big!"
Xuanyuzi gestured first as if holding a volleyball, then as if holding a basketball.
"Let's go!"
Qin Chuan decided instantly and started flying toward the east.
"Young Master, I'm afraid it's dangerous!"
Xuanyuzi called out anxiously.
"No worries. My hands are big; I can handle it." Qin Chuan turned back with a confident smile, radiating self-assurance.
He had insurance.
What was there to be afraid of?!
Besides, the greater the danger, the greater the opportunity. He wasn't going to pass up such a chance!
Meanwhile.
After flying for a long time, the minotaur finally stopped and gently set Qingyang Zhenren down.
"My apologies, brother."
The minotaur now spoke with surprising politeness.
"Huh?"
Qingyang Zhenren was completely confused. The minotaur had been so aggressive earlier, yet now he was being so courteous. What was going on?
In truth, Qingyang Zhenren had been bewildered throughout the entire ordeal.
"My friend, I know you're not actually Qingyang Zhenren. Earlier, I acted out of necessity due to the circumstances. I hope you won't hold it against me."
The minotaur spoke sincerely.
"Huh? But I am Qingyang Zhenren," Qingyang Zhenren was dumbfounded. What on earth was the minotaur talking about?
Had someone just appeared to tell him, earnestly and sincerely, that he wasn't who he thought he was?
The minotaur blinked in confusion but then assumed Qingyang Zhenren was just sulking. Apologetically, he said, "I only did what I had to for survival. Please don't take it personally."
"What are you saying? I'm Qingyang Zhenren. Isn't that clear?"
Qingyang Zhenren was beginning to feel dizzy. He even started questioning himself for a moment: Am I really who I think I am?
"Well, if you say you are, then you are. After all, no one can define who you are but yourself."
The minotaur nodded, resigned to the situation, and then introduced himself. "Let me introduce myself. I am Hei Yao, the current leader of the Black Mountain Bull Demon Clan. Judging by your presence, you must have been quite extraordinary back in the day, right?"
"I'm an elder of the Qingye Tianzong."
Qingyang Zhenren lifted his chin slightly. Mentioning his background brought out his hidden pride.
Though he was down on his luck now, he had once been someone of great standing!
"The Qingye Tianzong? Isn't that the sect that got beaten down by the ruthless Qin Wushuang, who nearly destroyed them?"
Hei Yao asked, surprised.
Qingyang Zhenren's face froze, his mouth twitching. Bowing his head in embarrassment, he muttered, "No, that's not us."
Meanwhile, as the two continued their conversation...
Qin Chuan and Xuanyuzi had arrived at the shore of a vast ocean. In the distance, floating above the sea, was a massive red sun!
The sun was half-submerged in the water, half visible above the surface, casting a warm, glowing reflection over the entire sea, illuminating the waves with an orange-red hue.
"It's huge...and so round."