Luna Xiao glared coldly at Andrew Qi and asked, "Andrew Qi! It seems you've been plotting this for a long time. Are you really so dissatisfied with me being the leader of the Thirteen Enforcers?!"
"Hmph—That's right! Luna, if you know what's good for you, hand over the Dragonseal Jade Signet. I promise I'll make the Thirteen Enforcers more glorious than ever! Plus, for your late father's sake, I'll let you walk away alive. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Andrew Qi replied coldly.
May Gu, watching the scene unfold, realized things had reached the point of no return—there was nothing left to discuss. Without hesitation, she decided to strike first. She pressed her lips with her left hand—"Beeep—"—and let out a sharp, urgent whistle, signaling her bodyguards outside the hot spring to rush in for backup.
But May Gu quickly noticed that her bodyguards outside weren't coming to help as she'd expected. There was no movement at all. She whistled a few more times, but still, no response.
"Hahaha—Fox Gu, stop whistling. Your men probably won't get the chance to save you!" Andrew Qi looked at her and sneered darkly.
Seeing Andrew Qi's sinister smile, May Gu felt a wave of dread. She knew Andrew was famous for his cunning and ruthlessness. She immediately demanded coldly, "Andrew Qi, you old bastard, did you set up my men?!"
"Heh—What do you think?" Andrew Qi retorted with a cold smile.
"Ah—ah—bang—bang—" Suddenly, chaotic gunshots and agonized screams erupted outside, but it was brief, and soon everything fell silent.
May Gu instantly understood—her men outside were probably doomed. She glared at Andrew Qi and shouted, "You old bastard, go to hell!" With that, she flashed forward, channeling her inner power and thrust both palms at Andrew Qi, launching an attack—
But just then, Warren Cloud, who stood beside Andrew Qi, stepped forward with a roar, throwing out both fists to meet May Gu's attack. "Boom!" With a thunderous crash, both retreated several steps—neither gaining the upper hand.
"Warren Cloud, you traitor! Take this!" May Gu lunged forward to strike again, but as soon as she gathered her inner energy, a wave of dizziness hit her chest. The energy she'd just summoned scattered, her vision darkened, and her limbs went weak. She staggered, nearly collapsing, but Luna Xiao quickly reached out to steady her.
Luna Xiao supported May Gu, asking with concern, "Are you okay, May Gu?"
May Gu shook her head, saying, "I'm fine! Even if it costs me my life today, I'll kill those two traitors!"
With that, May Gu struggled to stand, but another wave of dizziness hit her. Her body went limp, nearly falling backward, but Luna Xiao quickly caught her and checked her pulse. Luna's face changed, and she glared at Andrew Qi, demanding coldly, "Andrew Qi, what did you put in the wine?!"
"Heh—Of course I knew you'd resist, so I spiked the ceremonial wine with Bonemelt Powder! It'll slowly scatter your inner energy, and for the next twelve hours, you won't be able to gather it!" Andrew Qi sneered sinisterly.
"Bonemelt Powder from the Five Venoms Sect!!" Luna Xiao exclaimed, quickly trying to channel her own energy. Sure enough, her whole body felt weak, and the energy she'd gathered instantly dispersed.
"Hahaha—Luna, don't bother forcing your energy. The harder you try with Bonemelt Powder in your system, the faster it'll scatter!" Second Elder Qi laughed viciously, then turned to Warren Cloud and said, "Elder Cloud, give Elder Gu the antidote!"
"Hmph—You brat, lucky you picked the right side!" Heavycloud Wan grumbled, then reached into a cave in a nearby rockery, pulled out a small porcelain bottle, and handed a tiny black pill to Shawn Young. "Kid, swallow this and you'll be fine!"
"Okay, got it—" Shawn took the pill, pretended to swallow it, but quickly slipped it between his fingers while Heavycloud Wan and Andrew Qi weren't looking.
"Heh—Luna, stop resisting. I advise you to surrender and hand over the Dragonseal Jade Signet! I won't kill you; I'll just strip your powers and let you live as an ordinary person. You won't survive past thirty anyway! Consider it a few extra years of life!" Andrew Qi said, thinking himself merciful.
"Oh? Is that so? What about her?" Luna Xiao asked, still supporting May Gu.
"Hmph—That vixen just insulted me. Leaving her alive would be trouble! She must die!" Andrew Qi's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
"Then there's nothing left to talk about! No matter what, I'm not giving you the Dragonseal Jade Signet, and I won't let you kill May Gu!" Luna Xiao's face turned cold as she pulled May Gu back a few steps.
Andrew Qi continued to sneer at them, not making a move yet. He said to Luna Xiao, "Heh—Luna, I know your skills are deep, and your Ninefold Mystical Arts are powerful. But today, your opponent isn't me!"
"Andrew Qi, what tricks are you playing?" Luna Xiao steadied May Gu at the edge of the pool, suppressing her discomfort, then quickly tapped a few acupoints on herself to block the poison's spread. She forced her energy to rise, preparing to attack Andrew Qi.
"Heh, Luna, your skills are impressive—you're able to resist the Bonemelt Powder for now. But I have a friend who's been dying to test your abilities. So, I'll let him handle you!" With that, Andrew Qi stepped back and struck a nearby rockery, shattering a stone. Suddenly, a flare shot into the sky, bursting into a dazzling red light—a clear signal.