Chapter 593: Chapter 586: A Tree

They had just emerged from the jungle when they reached the edge of this pond.

And now, Ding Meng, leading the way, once again delved into the dense forest, but in another direction within the thicket.

“Let’s go, hurry up and follow.”

“That murderer, who managed to decapitate Hua Qingfeng in the blink of an eye, possesses extraordinary strength. Everyone, be careful!”

After cautioning the two companions, Tu Ji, Ren Tianxing waved his hand and followed closely behind Ding Meng, stepping into the dense forest once again.

He had barely taken a step when a tri-colored, spindly, and small-finger-thick poisonous snake shot out from under the fallen leaves on the ground, streaking towards them like lightning.

“Seeking death!” Ren Tianxing, with the strongest ability and naturally quickest reflexes, let out a shout as he chopped his hand down onto the snake’s vital spot.

For most snakes, this location was their deadly weakness.

But his chop felt as though it struck iron.

The little snake was sent flying but, after several rolls on the ground, it flicked its tail as if nothing had happened and disappeared into the fallen leaves.

“An Iron Wire Snake from ancient times? Do such wondrous creatures still exist in this jungle?”

“Everyone, be more cautious. This kind of snake, not only is it extremely poisonous, but after biting through the skin, it prefers to burrow into a person’s body and devour their internal organs.”

“If you’re bitten and poisoned, there’s still a slim chance of survival, but if it burrows inside you, even if we are all True Immortals, we are left with only certain death!”

Seeing such a situation, Ren Tianxing couldn’t help but be startled.

He knew the force behind his casual strike very well.

Frankly speaking, even if it were to face the ninth Heavenly Tribulation, there’s a good chance it would perish on the spot under his palm chop.

Yet now, this little snake seemed completely unharmed despite being struck…

Since ancient times, medicine and poison come from the same family. As the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, he possessed profound expertise in identifying various poisons.

Upon recognizing the origin of the snake, he couldn’t help but change his expression and began to seriously caution his companions.

Compared to Ren Tianxing, Tu Ji and the others also boasted considerable expertise with poisons.

Even without Ren Tianxing’s warning, they knew the danger of the snake. While hurrying along, they kept a close watch on every move around them, much more cautious than before.

Ding Meng, leading the way upfront, was tracking the traces left on the ground by fallen leaves. When he first entered the dense forest, he was talking and laughing lightheartedly, appearing quite normal.

After carefully making their way for a mile or two, Ding Meng somehow started shaking his head from time to time, his gaze growing somewhat delirious.

“Enchantress, where will you flee?” Suddenly, he bellowed.

Leaving the others behind, he dashed on bare feet straight into a patch of low shrubs ahead.

“Have we already found the murderer who killed Hua Qingfeng so quickly?” Seeing Ding Meng’s reaction, Ren Tianxing and others felt a surge of joy.

“But isn’t this guy usually not so impetuous in his actions?”

“Now that he has found the trace of the murderer, doesn’t he know to first conceal his presence, approach undetected, surround the murderer, and then strike?”

“Let’s go, we need to hurry and follow, lest anything happen to Ding Meng if we arrive too late!”

Exchanging looks, Ren Tianxing muttered a complaint.

But considering the deep bond between Ding Meng and Hua Qingfeng, to the extent that they often exchanged wives and concubines,

Their relationship was so close that it was somewhat understandable that Ding Meng would react so vehemently upon discovering the murderer of Hua Qingfeng.

After entering the bushes, Ding Meng sprinted even faster than a rabbit.

Ren Tianxing and the others merely complained for a moment, delayed briefly, and when they entered the shrubs, Ding Meng had already disappeared.

Fortunately, with the Mother-child Yin-Yang Mirror in hand, Ren Tianxing merely needed to sense slightly to lock onto Ding Meng’s location.

By the edge of the shrubbery, a willow tree the size of an adult’s waist had been knocked over.

With his pants pulled down to his knees, Ding Meng was currently sprawled over the trunk of this willow tree.

“Enchantress, trying to escape under my watch, Master Ding? Is that even possible?”

“Captured alive and in my hands, still trying to seduce me? Do I look that shallow?”

“Tell me, do you confess your guilt, will you submit or not?”

…

The willow tree had been tormented by Ding Meng to a pitiable state.

The trunk was covered with carrot-sized holes, one after another, densely packed with at least a hundred.

Mounted on the trunk of the willow, Ding Meng, like a victorious general returning from battle, kept shouting, demanding whether the other party would submit.

As Ren Tianxing, Tu Ji, and the others who had just followed over saw the scene unfold, they stared at each other, opening and closing their mouths, unable to react for quite some time.

“Ding Meng, what the hell are you doing? Where is the killer you spoke of?” After a good while, Ren Tianxing finally reacted, nearly bellowing at Ding Meng with a roar.

That shout somewhat jolted Ding Meng back to clarity.

“Valley Master, I caught the witch alive.”

“Under my harsh interrogation, that witch became submissive like mud, completely succumbing to me!”

“According to her…”

“No, that’s wrong, I clearly caught a witch, how did it turn into a tree…”

Hastily pulling up his pants and slightly more sober now, his face was ashen as he repeatedly slapped himself hard across the face.

Amidst the severe pain, his vision alternated between a witch who lay limp and helpless on the ground like mud, and a willow tree riddled with holes.

Between these two visions, the image kept changing. By now, Ding Meng knew he had been immersed in an illusion all along.

“Valley Master, I think I’ve been poisoned…”

He quickly examined himself and when he sensed the pink filaments darting around inside his body, he reported to Ren Tianxing with a dejected face.

“Poisoned…” Within a few steps, Ren Tianxing was by Ding Meng’s side, taking his pulse and conducting an examination.

“You are indeed poisoned. It must have been the work of the killer, laying poison along the way. Such despicable and shameless acts are worse than those of beasts.”

“With my years of experience, it will be difficult to completely remove this poison, but merely suppressing it for the time being should not be a problem.”

“Let’s find the killer first. The severe poison inside you that causes hallucinations isn’t immediately fatal. Let’s suppress it for now and deal with it once we return to the sect!”

Furrowing his brow, Ren Tianxing pondered for a moment and gave the order.

“Yes, Valley Master!” Ding Meng nodded in response.

But his face still bore a trace of worry.

After all, as a True Immortal of Medicine King Valley, he had a deep understanding of medicine and poison. Ordinary severe poisons couldn’t affect him at all.

And now, not only had he been silently poisoned, but he had also been deluded by the severe poison, mistaking a willow tree for a witch and engaging in such unspeakable acts…

He didn’t need to think to know that such severe poison was extremely troublesome.

But since Ren Tianxing had already spoken, what more could he do?

“Even if I can’t remove this severe poison and I’m left with no choice but death, I must drag the killer down with me before I die!” With determination in his heart, Ding Meng silently swore.

Using his Mana, he encapsulated the pink filaments inside his body, temporarily preventing them from affecting him. Teeth clenched, he led Ren Tianxing and the rest towards the depths of the jungle once more.

“This is the place!” Barely the time for a stick of incense had passed, and Ding Meng stopped again.

He scanned the area, and soon his gaze settled on a giant tree dozens of steps away which would take about ten people to encircle.

“Judging by various traces we’ve found along the way, the killer should be here.”

“Valley Master, Tu, take a closer look at that giant tree.”

“Do you see, near the roots of the tree, that pile of fallen leaves? Doesn’t it look obviously man-made?”

“If I’m not mistaken, there should be a hollow in the trunk of the tree, only it’s concealed by that pile of leaves at the entrance.”

“I’m at least ninety percent certain that the killer who murdered Hua Qingfeng is hiding inside that hollow.”

Ding Meng, not influenced by illusions and still fully conscious, naturally wouldn’t act rashly as before.

Still a good distance away from the giant tree, the group tiptoed quietly, slowing their pace to ensure they didn’t make any noise that would give away their approach.

Ding Meng’s words were all silent, conveyed only through a secret sound transmission to Ren Tianxing, Tu Ji, and the others close by.

“Blood debt demands blood repayment. Dare to kill a True Immortal of Medicine King Valley? Do they really think our Medicine King Valley is defenseless? Do they really believe we have no way to deal with her?”

“Hiding in a tree hollow? She has chosen a fine burial spot for herself!”

“Let’s go, we’ll surround it first to avoid any mishaps. Remember, make sure to make no noise, even your breathing and your presence, suppress as much as you can!”

“Once we’re in position, before the killer realizes, everyone will strike with full force. Even if we can’t kill her in one hit, we must seriously wound her!”

His face full of killing intent, Ren Tianxing transmitted his plan to the others.

Seeing Tu Ji and Ding Meng all nod in agreement, he took the lead, making his way towards the giant tree.

As everyone got into position and prepared to act, a muffled growl, filled with suppression, emanated from within the giant tree, entering their ears.

Exchanging looks, they became even more certain of Ding Meng’s judgment.

“Now is the moment, kill…” With a nod, Ren Tianxing roared.

Almost simultaneously, the figures from Medicine King Valley erupted, hurtling towards the base of the great tree.