135: Black Bear submits!

Black Blind Man stood where he was, his expression shifting erratically. His heart was like a lake into which a giant boulder had been thrown, waves surging in all directions.

He wanted to leave.

He wanted to immediately depart from this place where he had lost all face.

Even more, he needed to return to Black Prison at once to report everything that had happened here... but, in the end, he did not take that step.

Firstly, he had been stuck at the early stage of Grandmaster for a full eight years!

In those eight years, in many a dead of night, that thirst for a breakthrough had gnawed at his marrow like poisonous ants, nearly driving him mad!

Black Prison's resources!

Cruel missions!

Life-and-death experiences!

None of it could shake that damned barrier even a fraction... yet Night Owl had overtaken him and already stepped into the Peak!

This was simply an irresistible bait, hooking the deepest obsession in his heart.

Secondly, the methods Ye Chen had just displayed completely shattered his previous arrogant judgment that the youth was "nothing to worry about."

This young man was unfathomable!

If he stayed, there might truly be a chance.

If he left, he might be stuck here for the rest of his life, while also facing an enemy who could crush him at will, and the potential threat of a Night Owl whose strength had surged after leaving Black Prison.

Even in the worst-case scenario.

Black Prison was incredibly cruel; as long as he couldn't advance, there would be plenty of people to take his place... Reason and desire clashed violently, and cold sweat unwittingly soaked his back once more.

After a long time... Black Blind Man suddenly raised his head and spoke hoarsely: "Night Owl said... you were the one who helped her break through?"

Ye Chen nodded and explained indifferently.

"That's right."

"I gave her a bit of a special aphrodisiac to help clear her congested blood and qi, and lit a fire while I was at it."

"Aphrodisiac?!" Black Blind Man blurted out instinctively, his tone full of absurdity.

He had thought of many methods, but he never expected... that using an aphrodisiac could help someone step into the Peak Grandmaster rank???

"Bang!"

Night Owl slammed the table and stood up. Her cold, elegant face instantly flushed crimson, and her amber eyes nearly spat fire: "Ye Chen! If you don't know how to talk, then shut your mouth!!!"

What aphrodisiac!

That was cultivation!

It was breaking through to rebuild!

It was extreme tempering while walking the edge of Qi Deviation!

Although the process was indeed hard to talk about, being summarized by this bastard with the word "aphrodisiac" was simply an insult to her painful yet miraculous breakthrough experience!

Ye Chen turned his head and glanced at her: "Upset?"

"No kidding!"

Night Owl's chest heaved with anger as she gritted her teeth, "Of course I'm upset!"

Ye Chen shrugged: "If you're upset, keep it to yourself... I'm the one in charge here."

Night Owl: "..."

She was so choked up that a breath got stuck in her chest, and she glared at Ye Chen.

Finally.

She stomped her foot resentfully and sat back down, crossing her arms and turning her head away, leaving Ye Chen with only a crimson profile and a heaving back.

She couldn't beat him, couldn't out-argue him, and he even had leverage over her... Frustrating!

So frustrating!

Listening to this information-heavy conversation between the two, the sense of absurdity in Black Blind Man's heart was gradually replaced by a strange heat... If it were truly just a common aphrodisiac, it would be impossible for an assassin with a will as tough as Night Owl's to break through her barrier, let alone be willing to leave Black Prison to serve him!

This "medicine" was likely some secret technique he couldn't comprehend!

Black Blind Man took a deep breath, faced Ye Chen, lowered his head slightly, and spoke one word at a time.

"If... if you can truly help me break through these eight years of shackles..."

"My life, Black Blind Man's life, will be at your disposal from now on!"

"Let this oath be witnessed by heaven and earth!"

After hearing Black Blind Man's oath, Ye Chen only shook his head indifferently.

"I don't believe in oaths and such."

"I just want to ask you... what if you turn against me?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Black Blind Man's heart jolted.

Wait!!!

If Ye Chen said that... could he really help him?

Black Blind Man's throat bobbed, and he blurted out almost without hesitation.

"I... I have an illegitimate son being raised in the suburbs of Su City!"

"And three mistresses living in Hangzhou, Lucheng, and Jinling respectively."

"I can give you all their information and addresses."

"If I betray you, you can use them as leverage at any time."

He spoke quickly and urgently, as if afraid Ye Chen would change his mind.

Hearing this, Ye Chen smiled, his expression completely unconcerned.

"Fine."

"But if you really do turn against me..."

His tone suddenly turned cold.

"It won't just be them who die, but you as well."

Before his voice had even faded, Ye Chen flipped his right hand, and a silver needle over three inches long appeared between his fingers.

Although Black Blind Man could not see, he seemed to sense something, and his body instinctively tensed.

The next second—

"Whoosh!"

The sound of breaking air rang out.

That silver needle had turned into a streak of light invisible to the naked eye, plunging straight into the shanzhong acupoint on Black Blind Man's chest!

Black Blind Man's whole body shook violently!

Those long-blind eye sockets suddenly contracted, and his face was instantly filled with horror!

Because he felt it with absolute clarity—

A scorching "qi," following the insertion of that needle, had actually exploded within his meridians that had been dried up and blocked for years!

It was like sweet rain after a long drought!

Wherever that qi passed, the originally congested and sluggish acupoints loosened one after another. His withered meridians were like dead vines nourished by spring rain, beginning to greedily absorb, expand, and radiate vitality!

He had been stuck for eight years!

Trapped for eight years!

That barrier he had sought in vain began to tremble and loosen wildly under this single needle!

"Close your eyes."

Ye Chen's voice rang out indifferently, "Focus, otherwise don't blame me if you die later."

How could Black Blind Man dare to hesitate for even a second?

In the next second, he hurried to compose his mind, closed his eyelids, and sank his entire consciousness into his body, guiding that sudden, majestic current of qi.

The flow of qi became faster and faster!

More and more turbulent!

Inside the restaurant, all was silent.

Night Owl had already turned around, crossing her arms and watching coldly as Black Blind Man stood there trembling, a flash of complexity in her eyes.

Ye Chen... was much more powerful than she had imagined.

With one needle, he had loosened the realm Black Blind Man hadn't moved in for eight years... She had indeed bet correctly.

Ye Chen was more mysterious than she thought!

Behind the counter.

Yi Yue and Xiao Ya held their breath nervously.

Although they didn't understand what was happening, they could feel an invisible pressure permeating the air.

Time passed minute by minute.

The aura on Black Blind Man began to fluctuate violently, at times as weak as a candle in the wind, and at others as explosive as oil on a fire!

His face also changed accordingly, alternating between green and pale, and a trickle of blood even overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

But he gritted his teeth throughout, remaining motionless.

Finally—

"Buzz!"

A low hum emanated from within his body!

Black Blind Man's robes moved without wind, and an aura several times stronger than before exploded outward!

Grandmaster... Mid-stage!

He snapped his eyes open, and tears rolled down without warning.

Eight years... a full eight years!

He thought his life would be like this forever, unable to advance another inch, only able to linger on under the rules of Black Prison until... one day he died on a mission.

But now... he had truly broken through!

Without hesitation, Black Blind Man knelt directly on the ground and kowtowed three times heavily toward Ye Chen.

His voice was choked, yet firm.

"Black Blind Man... wishes to pledge his loyalty to you for this lifetime!"

"I will go through fire and water without a second thought!"

Ye Chen looked at Black Blind Man with a calm expression.

"I don't like verbal loyalty."

"I like to see it in action."

Black Blind Man was stunned: "In action? For example?"

Ye Chen rubbed his chin, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes.

"For example..."

"Since you are a Regional Manager for Black Prison, you should have many people under your command, right?"

"In Black Prison, there should be many like you, stuck at a bottleneck for years and frustrated with their lack of progress."

He paused, then continued meaningfully.

"Help me recruit them."

"Recruit those who have ability and ambition but are trapped due to lack of resources, opportunities, or internal strife within Black Prison."

"Bring them to me."

"As long as they can satisfy me..."

"I will give you more 'rewards'."

Night Owl: "???"

Good grief!

Why does this sound like he's running a pyramid scheme?

Black Blind Man's whole body shook, and he instantly understood Ye Chen's meaning... He was being asked to poach from Black Prison!

If it were before, he would have definitely sneered at it, even thinking it was suicidal.

After all.

Black Prison had strict rules, and the fate of traitors was miserable, let alone actively inciting other members to defect... But what about now?

He felt the surging power of a Mid-stage Grandmaster within him and thought of the barrier that had trapped him for eight years, only to crumble under Ye Chen's single needle... Ye Chen was truly incredible!

The opportunities in this man's hands could truly change one's destiny!

Black Blind Man only hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth.

"I understand! I will do it!"

"There are indeed many brothers in Black Prison like me, who have been stuck for years and are unwilling to accept it!"

"I..."

However, before he could finish expressing his determination.

Ye Chen waved his hand and interrupted him.

"Just do your job well."

"You should really like the next reward."

Black Blind Man instinctively asked: "What reward?"

Ye Chen grinned and spoke shocking words.

"For example..."

"Letting your eyes see again."