Chapter 359: Widow?
"Don't think about playing tricks. With my ability, even if you escape to outer space, you won't escape my grasp."
An'yu's handsome face wore a cordial, gentle smile as he helped Black Widow Scarlett to her feet, his movements as polite as a nobleman assisting an elderly neighbor. Sunlight filtered through the dusty alley, illuminating his flawless features, making him look like the picture of kindness.
But Scarlett, the infamous Black Widow of the Dark World, trembled violently in his grasp.
"Yes... Yes, Master!"
Her voice shook, stammering with genuine terror. The handsome, smiling man before her was a demon. A demon far more cruel, calculating, and terrifying than herself.
Scarlett was filled with fear. Without waiting for An'yu to ask or apply torture, she poured out everything she knew about the Martial God Hall, desperate to prove her value and avoid being crushed like an ant:
"The Martial God Hall is a massive power. Among all the dark forces in the world, it consistently ranks in the top tier—a Super-Class Organization. It possesses deep foundations and tentacles spread globally, with secret bases and branch halls in various countries."
She swallowed hard, her throat dry, and continued rapidly:
"The headquarters is located on the west coast of the Flower Flag Country, hidden near San Francisco."
"The Hall Master... he has been in seclusion for many years. I haven't seen him with my own eyes, but I've heard he's at [Heavenly Human Peak], an incredibly powerful expert very close to a [Land Immortal]. There are even rumors... that he has already broken through to the Land Immortal Realm."
"The Branch Hall Masters are at least at [Great Grandmaster Peak]. I can confirm that the Hall Masters of the Yanxia Branch and the Western Branch are Heavenly Human experts. The Left and Right Protectors—myself included—are also Heavenly Human experts. The Martial God Hall has at least five Heavenly Human experts, dozens of Great Grandmasters, hundreds of Grandmasters, and over ten thousand Innate experts."
"..."
Listening to Black Widow Scarlett's account, An'yu was not surprised.
With his status as the Young Master of the Shen and An families, he had some understanding of this intelligence. After all, the Martial God Hall was wanted by superpowers like Yanxia Country, Flower Flag Country, and the Bear Country, yet they still lived so brazenly. Their strength had to be sufficient to deter national governments.
However, obtaining confirmation from a high-ranking executive like Scarlett filled in the specific gaps in his knowledge. It was refreshing to hear the internal structure confirmed.
An'yu looked down at the trembling woman. Her blonde hair was disheveled, her dress torn revealing glimpses of her pale, bruised skin. Yet, even in this state, her beauty was undeniable—a fallen angel awaiting judgment.
"Well said. Your life is spared. I like women who know how to adapt and recognize their new reality."
As his voice fell, An'yu flicked his finger.
Whoosh!
A golden beam of light shot out. A [Vitality Pill], redeemed from the System Shop, landed accurately in Black Widow Scarlett's open mouth.
Before she could react, the pill dissolved instantly.
Boom!
It didn't transform into a subtle warmth; it was a volcanic eruption of life force. The medicinal energy, pure and domineering, swept through her entire body like a tidal wave.
"Ah...!"
Scarlett gasped, her body arching violently. Her pale face visibly regained its color, flushing with a healthy, rosy glow. Her emerald eyes flashed with ecstasy and shock.
She could feel her torn muscles knitting together, her bruised skin smoothing out, and her internal organs—damaged by years of practicing forbidden arts—regenerating at a visible speed. Even the hidden injuries that had plagued her for decades vanished in seconds.
It was a miracle. A divine miracle.
Thud.
Scarlett fell to her knees, disregarding the dirt. She crawled forward and hugged An'yu's leg, looking up at him with her alluring face now wet with tears of gratitude.
"Thank you... Thank you for Master's reward! This subordinate deserves death for doubting Master's power!"
At this moment, in Scarlett's eyes, there was not only awe but also a genuine, fanatical sincerity. The fear had transformed into worship. He could kill her with a thought, but he could also heal her with a flick of his finger. He was God.
An'yu looked down at her, his eyes calm. He deeply understood the principle of 'a carrot and a stick.'
Fear commands obedience, but benefits command loyalty. If you only use the stick and no carrot, who would fight for you with their lives? If you only offer carrots and no stick, your subordinates might think you're a pushover.
"As long as you are loyal in your work, I am never stingy with rewards."
An'yu smiled as he looked at Scarlett, gently patting her head.
Scarlett closed her eyes, enjoying the touch, and rubbed her cheek against An'yu's leg, purring like an obedient, high-maintenance poodle recognizing its owner.
"Now, tell me," An'yu's tone shifted, becoming serious. "Why has the Martial God Hall always targeted Female Sword Immortal Pei Changli?"
This was the key question.
From both An'yu's intelligence network and the conversation between Scarlett and the other two assassins earlier, he had determined that the Martial God Hall had always been plotting against Pei Changli.
This time, they sent Scarlett and others to abduct Zhong Lingyin. The sky-high bounty of one billion dollars was secondary; what they valued most was Zhong Lingyin's identity as the Junior Sister of Female Sword Immortal Pei Changli.
This left An'yu somewhat puzzled.
The one who had a grudge with the Hall Master of the Martial God Hall was Pei Changli's Master, Ye Linyuan, who had passed away several years ago. Pei Changli had been cultivating in a deep valley, a recluse who had no intention of seeking trouble with the Martial God Hall.
Why did the Martial God Hall continuously target such a terrifyingly powerful Female Sword Immortal?
Was it merely to cut the weeds and eliminate future trouble?
That didn't make sense. According to the information An'yu had about Pei Changli's famous battle, the three Heavenly Human experts of the Martial God Hall did not use lethal force. Otherwise, with Pei Changli's breakthrough during the battle, it wouldn't have been so easy to repel three veteran Heavenly Human experts. They were holding back.
Although Pei Changli was formidable, she wasn't that Heaven-Defying. She wasn't a [Child of Destiny] after all.
Scarlett's blood-red lips parted slightly. Her expression became somewhat uncertain, as if she were revealing the deepest secret of her organization.
"This was not explained explicitly by the higher-ups, nor was there any need to explain it to us tools," she whispered.
"However... according to the fragments of information I gathered from the shadows, it is said that the Yanxia Female Sword Immortal Pei Changli possesses a very special [Physique]."
She looked up at An'yu, emphasizing every word:
"A physique which has a great effect on cultivation Breakthrough."
"Even the Hall Master of the Martial God Hall, who is in seclusion year-round, has rarely issued a command to capture Pei Changli alive! He wants her intact."
"This rumor is very likely true."
An'yu's expression immediately became strange upon hearing this. A flicker of understanding passed through his eyes.
'Good heavens...'
So that Fairy Pei had a special Physique!
No wonder the Martial God Hall had always plotted against Pei Changli, yet never used lethal force. They didn't want to destroy the vessel; they wanted to use it.
As for what kind of special Physique... An'yu, who had read countless urban cultivation novels in his previous life, could guess it instantly.
It definitely wasn't any "proper" Physique.
Pure Yin Body? Nine Yin Meridians? Heavenly Fragrance Cauldron?
Regardless of the name, the function was likely the same: A Human Cauldron (Furnace). By engaging in Dual Cultivation with her, one could likely steal her Primordial Yin to break through the shackles of the Heavenly Human Realm and reach the Land Immortal Realm.
At this moment, An'yu also shared the same thought as the Hall Master of the Martial God Hall: he wanted to test what kind of special Physique Female Sword Immortal Pei Changli, that aloof Fairy Pei, truly possessed.
'If it's useful for the Hall Master, it's definitely useful for me.'
An'yu rubbed his chin, a predatory light gleaming in his eyes.
Seeing An'yu lost in thought, the alley fell silent. Scarlett dared not disturb him with words. However, as a woman who had climbed the ranks of the dark world using both her daggers and her body, she knew exactly how to solidify her new position.
She saw the dangerous light in An'yu's eyes—a gleam of ambition and desire.
She moved silently.
Scarlett knelt closer, her movements fluid and seductive. Her hands, which could snap necks, now trembled slightly as they reached for the belt of An'yu's trousers.
She looked up, her eyes misty, silently asking for permission.
An'yu glanced down. He didn't stop her. He simply leaned back against the rough brick wall of the alley, his hands crossing over his chest, waiting.
Scarlett took this as a command.
She lowered her head, her blonde hair cascading down like a golden waterfall, obscuring her face but not the rhythmic movement that followed.
"Mmh..."
In the quiet, dark alley, filled with the scent of blood and decay, a strange, wet sound began to echo.
Scarlett was busy doing what she should be doing.
She served him with the utmost dedication, using every technique she knew to please this terrifying man, swallowing her pride along with everything else. She treated him like a god that needed to be worshipped physically. The friction, the heat, and the overwhelming sense of submission made her dizzy.
After a long while.
An'yu let out a deep breath, his handsome face showing satisfaction. He looked down at Scarlett, who was elegantly wiping the corner of her mouth, and nodded.
"You've done very well, I'm very pleased. You know what to do next, right?"
Scarlett smiled alluringly, her face flushed red, looking even more enchanting than before.
"Master, from now on, Scarlett will be a pawn you've placed in the Martial God Hall. Whatever you command, I will do, without fear of death."
...
A few hours later.
An'yu returned to the private villa. Even after returning, his handsome face still held a lingering sense of enjoyment.
Indeed, white beauties have a different kind of charm—wild and enthusiastic.
He walked into the misty hot spring area, wearing a loose bathrobe.
"Natsuki-chan, what's wrong?"
At this moment, after returning to the hot spring, An'yu saw Suzuki Natsuki sitting by the edge of the water, looking dazed and lost. He asked, feigning ignorance perfectly.
Suzuki Natsuki's expression was somewhat complex. Her eyes were red, and she held a phone in her trembling hand.
She looked up at An'yu, sighed softly, and said:
"Master... There was a multi-car pileup on the Akina Mountain race track. The news just reported it."
She bit her lip.
"Many people... including Echizen Takumi and Fujii Yusuke... died. The cars exploded."
At this point, Suzuki Natsuki, suddenly realizing who she was talking to, feared An'yu's misunderstanding. She quickly stood up, the water dripping from her pale skin, and explained frantically:
"Master, please don't get the wrong idea! I'm not sad for Echizen Takumi! I don't love him anymore!"
"It's just that... after knowing him for many years since we were children... and hearing that such a tragedy occurred so suddenly... I..."
She didn't know how to explain the complex feeling of relief and shock.
An'yu shook his head and chuckled, interrupting Suzuki Natsuki's frantic words. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, saying:
"No need to explain, I naturally know your heart."
A full favorability rating already explained everything. She belonged to him completely.
Moreover, a living Echizen Takumi couldn't contend with An'yu, let alone a dead one?
This multi-car pileup was naturally orchestrated by An'yu's people. It was done cleanly, leaving no trace, making it seem like a natural accident caused by reckless driving on a dangerous pass.
Through the [Nanometer Monitoring Robot], An'yu had already confirmed the visuals. Echizen Takumi was dead. Burnt to a crisp.
A dead [Child of Destiny] is a good [Child of Destiny]; otherwise, their tendency to "do sit-ups" (resurrect repeatedly) would really mess with one's mentality.
He looked down at the girl in his arms.
Suzuki Natsuki was leaning against his chest, seeking comfort from the very man who had orchestrated her childhood friend's death. She was vulnerable, wet, and submissive.
Looking at Suzuki Natsuki, whose beautiful eyes were slightly red, appearing tragically beautiful and moving, possessing the charm of a traditional Sakura Country widow, An'yu's appetite was greatly stirred...
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