A group of Purple Sun Sect disciples had gathered in Guo Ren's courtyard.
"Cheng Lan, are you certain neither of those two is in their rooms?" Guo Ren asked with a sinister smile.
Cheng Lan nodded emphatically. Ever since his cousin Cheng Zhen had been thrashed by Jiang Chen, he harbored a deep hatred for the man. "Senior Brother Guo, I risked a beating to peek twice. There's nobody inside. I've searched every corner of the compound, inside and out. No one!"
Guo Ren frowned. "Strange. Where could they have gone?"
Cheng Lan snickered. "Maybe they were so desperate for release that they stumbled into the restricted areas of the Spirit Zone and got killed on the spot?"
The Spirit Zone permitted only the living quarters and the Hundred Battles Arena. Every other area was off-limits—even the examiners didn't dare trespass. Any participating martial artist who wandered in blindly was as good as dead.
The disciple called Xiao Yu was nonchalant. "Senior Brother Guo, don't worry about it. Once you're hit with that Divine Immortal's Laughter toxin, forget ordinary martial artists—even actual immortals would have a hard time keeping it together. My guess is those two already exploded in some corner."
Guo Ren was cautious by nature. No body, no proof of death—his unease lingered.
"Exactly, Senior Brother Guo. If the drug's effect is that fierce and they can't find women to vent on, they're done for. I think we should disperse. What if the examiners notice someone's missing and start investigating? It could lead back to us."
Guo Ren, however, wasn't worried about that. He sneered, "Investigate my ass. Dead men tell no tales—how would they investigate?"
Another disciple spoke up. "Time's almost up. We should head to the Hundred Battles Arena. If we're late, we'll lose victories from our record."
All the martial artists nodded and set off toward the arena.
Just as they reached the outer perimeter, Guo Ren, who was in the lead, suddenly stopped dead.
A figure stood beside the main path ahead, still as a mountain, radiating an oppressive aura.
"Is that… him?" The Purple Sun Sect disciples behind him gaped in disbelief. How could it be him? Shouldn't he have succumbed to Divine Immortal's Laughter and burst apart?
Had the kid somehow found a woman to relieve himself?
That didn't add up either—no Flowing Cloud Sect disciple had been assaulted last night.
Besides, they'd had eyes everywhere. If he'd tried to target any of the female disciples, he would've been spotted for sure.
If he hadn't gone after any women, then how had the toxin been neutralized?
Guo Ren kept his composure and waved a hand, signaling his fellow disciples to stay calm and not give anything away. The last thing they needed was to incriminate themselves without being asked.
"Guo Ren." Jiang Chen's voice was flat, but everyone could hear the infinite killing intent lurking beneath it.
"Don't bother explaining, and don't bother denying it. If you're a man, own up to it."
"Own up to what?" Guo Ren scoffed. He wasn't about to fall for that.
"It doesn't matter if you deny it. Whether you did it or not, I'm pinning this debt on you. From this moment on, you'd better pray with every breath that you never get matched against me on the arena. Because if you do, your fate will be far worse than Cheng Zhen's."
Jiang Chen snorted coldly, pushed off with both feet, and vanished like the wind, disappearing from sight.
A voice rang out through the void: "Today, any of you who come and confess your mistake to me will have my forgiveness. Otherwise—anyone present here today who meets me on the arena can take their own chances."
This was no longer a warning. It was an out-and-out threat.
"What the hell! The nerve of that guy!" one Purple Sun Sect disciple cursed.
"How is this possible? He… he looks completely fine!" Xiao Yu stammered, his face pale as dirt.
The scheme had been his idea, and he was the one who'd provided the drug. He'd tested Divine Immortal's Laughter himself before—its effects were absolutely terrifying. He'd handed over the precious substance only to curry favor with Guo Ren; otherwise he never would have parted with something so valuable.
But seeing Jiang Chen looking so alive and well, Xiao Yu knew his plan had failed.
Feeling the accusing gazes of his fellow disciples, he snapped, "What are you all looking at me for? You think my drug was fake? If anyone doesn't believe me, try it yourselves."
"Shut up!" Guo Ren barked. Discussing this openly in front of everyone was practically a confession. If the other party was hiding nearby, Xiao Yu's blabbering could have already been overheard.
Xiao Yu seemed to realize his outburst and muttered, "Whatever, the drug itself is definitely fine. There must be some other weird explanation."
In truth, Guo Ren didn't doubt the drug either. He figured Jiang Chen must have found a woman somehow.
But how had all their surveillance failed to catch him sneaking off to the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples?
Guo Ren grew increasingly paranoid.
"Let this matter end here. No one is to discuss it further," he ordered.
The other disciples nodded. Any more chatter and they'd really expose themselves. It wasn't the gravest offense, but if anyone investigated, someone would end up being made the scapegoat—and that someone would be out of luck.