The old woman snorted coldly, her tone icy as she looked down on Zhou Yan, speaking slowly: "Boy, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
With that said.
The old woman's palm moved slightly, and two gleaming silver needles suddenly appeared in her hand. Her gaze was as sharp as lightning, fixed on Zhou Yan, waiting to attack and subdue him the moment his answer displeased her.
Seeing this, Zhou Yan shook his head secretly and sighed helplessly: "Alas..."
"Fine, since this granny is stubborn and misguided, then don't blame me for being ruthless." Zhou Yan pondered for a moment, finally compromising.
"Heh heh..."
Hearing this, the old woman couldn't help but chuckle: "Young man, do you really think you can contend with this old woman?"
"You're too naive..."
A cruel curve appeared on the corner of the old woman's lips: "Since that's the case, then this old woman will fulfill your wish and send you to the afterlife!"
As her voice fell, the old woman swung her right arm, and two silver needles instantly shot through the air, darting towards Zhou Yan's throat with extreme speed.
These two silver needles were the old woman's weapons, poisoned and possessing fierce corrosive properties, making them impossible to guard against.
*Ting—*
Almost simultaneously, a clear and pleasant sound rang out. Zhou Yan extended two fingers and steadily clasped the silver needles, then squeezed them with force, crushing them into pieces. They fell to the ground.
"What? He caught them barehanded?"
The old woman's eyes widened, her mind utterly shaken: "How can this be?"
How terrifying was the power of her silver needles? An ordinary martial artist would feel the corrosive force carried by the needles with the slightest touch. If struck, they would surely die on the spot without a doubt.
Yet now, Zhou Yan had caught her attack barehanded and was unharmed?
"Who exactly is this kid?"
After a brief moment of shock, killing intent burst forth in the old woman's eyes. She locked onto Zhou Yan, a strong sense of crisis surging within her. She vaguely felt that tonight she would not be able to capture Zhou Yan smoothly, and might even suffer a crushing defeat.
"Old hag, take this."
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's expression changed, and he shouted loudly. He stomped his foot on the ground, and his entire body transformed into a black shadow, instantly charging to the old woman's front. Both fists shot out, striking towards the old woman's chest like falling meteors.
"Not good..."
The old woman's pupils contracted, her heart pounding, her every hair standing on end. She hastily raised her arms to block.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
In an instant, fists and palms collided, gusts of wind erupted, and explosive force poured out. The old woman trembled all over, her blood boiling within her. She almost lost her balance, stumbling back several steps, nearly falling.
"Pfft~"
Immediately after, the old woman's throat felt a sweetness, and she spat out blood. Her face was incredibly pale. As she looked up at Zhou Yan, her eyes were filled with shock and horror.
"This... How is this possible..."
"A mere young man around twenty years old possesses such terrifying strength?"
The old woman's face was completely stiff, as if she had seen a ghost.
She had thought that with her cultivation at the peak of the sixth level of Innate realm, coupled with her exquisite needlework and bizarre poison techniques, she would be enough to suppress this young man.
Who knew that after her very first attack, she had suffered a crushing defeat.
At this moment, the old woman's body ached as if it would split, and she was gasping for breath. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat the size of beans, and her once beautiful cheeks were flushed, appearing somewhat sickly.
"This scoundrel actually injured me..." the old woman seethed with hatred.
Although it was only a minor injury and not a fatal one, it had enraged her and completely stripped her of dignity. Her resolve to eliminate this young man as soon as possible grew even stronger.
"Boy, you are quite skilled..."
The old woman glared coldly at Zhou Yan, gritting her teeth: "I admit, I underestimated your strength. However, you are still too inexperienced to fight me..."
As soon as she finished speaking.
With a whoosh, the door opened, and several men in green robes entered from outside. Each of them possessed a powerful aura; they were all martial artists.
"Boy, I'll give you a chance to live. As long as you reveal your origin, I promise not to kill you. Otherwise, you won't leave this inn even half a step..."
The old woman took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and threatened coldly.
At this moment, the old woman had made up her mind. If Zhou Yan dared to refuse, she would immediately unleash her strongest means to capture him and extort information through torture, to uncover his backer.
As long as she captured Zhou Yan, she could use him to trace back to the person behind him. At that time, not only would she have her revenge, but she would also receive a generous bounty.
Two birds with one stone, why not?
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow and chuckled playfully: "It seems you are determined to be my enemy?"
"Hmph, enough nonsense, surrender obediently!" the old woman commanded coldly. "You'd better be sensible, or I'll have to tie you up..."
"Heh heh, I'd advise you not to provoke me either." Zhou Yan smiled calmly. "Because, once you anger me, the consequences will be very severe..."
Before his words had finished.
With a *crack*, a wooden stool suddenly shattered, turning into powder and dissipating into the wind.
Instantly, the old woman's expression froze, her eyes bulged, and her face was filled with disbelief.
"This guy's strength far exceeds my expectations..."
A monstrous wave surged in the old woman's heart. At this moment, she suddenly realized that perhaps she had underestimated Zhou Yan's strength.
Not only that, but Zhou Yan's identity had also become elusive and inscrutable.
"What do you want?" the old woman stared at Zhou Yan, her eyes filled with apprehension and vigilance.
"It's very simple." Zhou Yan shrugged. "Tell me, who sent you?"
"It's none of your business who sent me." The old woman's face was uncertain. After pondering for a moment, she suddenly sneered: "However, you should understand that once I die, your secret will be exposed, and you will surely fall into an abyss from which there is no return. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Threatening me?"
A trace of mockery played on Zhou Yan's lips, and he sneered: "You can try. Let's see if I'm afraid of threats..."
As he spoke, Zhou Yan took a step forward, his gaze sharp.
"Do you really want us to perish together?" the old woman's expression was stern.
"Heh heh, perish together?"
Zhou Yan chuckled disdainfully. "Are you worthy? You're just a piece of trash at the sixth level of Innate. Do you really think you're a master?"
Zhou Yan scoffed inwardly. This old woman was merely an ordinary martial artist at the fifth level of Innate, or perhaps not even at the early stage of the fifth level.
Zhou Yan could fight existences at the ninth level of Innate and even masters. How much less of a mere minion at the fifth level of Innate.
"You..."
The old woman was furious, her gaze sinister and extremely vicious: "Junior, don't think you can ignore my hidden weapons just because of your strong physique. Today, this old woman will risk injury to exterminate you, you beast!"
The old woman roared and immediately threw out three silver needles.