Lu Fan gritted his teeth. "Han Bing, you're truly disgusting! Even at a time like this, you're still playing dirty?!"
Han Bing only laughed. His still-swollen face made him look like a demon crawling out of hell. "Playing dirty? No, no. This is simply pest extermination, Lu Fan!"
[Ding! Host in critical danger!]
[Available Options:]
[1. Use 'Poisonous Fart Bomb' (Cost: 500 Points) – Causes extreme stun and nausea within a 10-meter radius.]
[2. 'Gambling God Mode' (Cost: All current points) – 50% chance of critical strike, 50% chance Host explodes into unrecognizable pieces.]
System, you are absolutely useless with that second option! Give me the Fart Bomb! Now!!!
[Ding! Purchase Successful. Host Point Balance: -600 (Debt limit exceeded. 10% hourly interest has been automatically applied).]
Lu Fan felt a small round object appear in his palm. Without wasting a second, he shouted at Su Yan, "Senior Sister, hold your breath if you still want to smell flowers tomorrow!"
"What do you—"
Before Su Yan could finish, Lu Fan slammed the sphere directly beneath Han Bing's feet as he laughed arrogantly.
BOOM!
There was no fiery explosion. Instead, a dense yellow cloud of gas spread at lightning speed. The smell… was indescribable. It was a mixture of a rotting rat soaked in thousand-year-old sweaty socks and the sulfur of hell itself.
"HUEEEKKKK!" Han Bing, who had just opened his mouth to laugh, inhaled the gas directly. His face turned blue, his eyes bulged, and he collapsed while clutching his throat. His lackeys had it even worse—they fainted instantly, foam spilling from their mouths.
Even the Iron-Armed Ape charging toward them abruptly halted. Its sensitive beastly nose was struck by the stench like a sledgehammer. The gigantic ape dropped to its knees, trying to cover its nose with its massive arms before violently vomiting.
"D-damn you… Lu Fan… what did you throw?!" Su Yan coughed repeatedly despite covering her nose with her sleeve. Tears streamed from her beautiful eyes from the overwhelming stench.
"A secret family weapon, Senior Sister! Let's run!" Lu Fan grabbed Su Yan's hand and leapt over the fallen tree blocking their path.
They barely passed through the sect gates as the Guardian Elders arrived, drawn by the disturbance. Seeing the elders appear, Lu Fan finally breathed in relief, though the foul smell still clung faintly to his clothes.
Several hours later, at the Healing Pavilion.
Lu Fan sat on a wooden bench, his right arm wrapped in bandages. In front of him stood Su Yan, looking at him with an extremely complicated expression. She had already changed clothes and regained her elegant appearance, though a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks—whether from anger or the earlier events was unclear.
"Han Bing was found unconscious and mentally unstable. The elders say he was affected by a strange neurotoxin that causes hallucinations," Su Yan said flatly. "And you… you owe me an explanation, Lu Fan."
Lu Fan laughed awkwardly. "Explanation? I'm just a lucky outer disciple."
Su Yan stepped closer until her face was only a few centimeters away from his. "Luck does not let you advance two levels in the blink of an eye. Luck does not grant you the power to repel someone at Late Foundation Establishment. And what kind of 'family weapon' can make an ancient ape faint so easily?"
Lu Fan fell silent. The fragrance from Su Yan's body gradually overpowered the lingering stench from earlier, making his heart pound uncontrollably.
[Ding! Su Yan has begun developing deep interest in you.]
[Hidden Mission Completed: 'Savior of the Goddess.']
[Reward: Cultivation Technique 'Heavenly Dragon Breath' (Immortal Grade).]
"How about we make a deal?" Lu Fan finally spoke, his voice slightly deeper. "I'll tell you a little secret. In exchange… Senior Sister must become my personal protector for one month. What do you say?"
Su Yan narrowed her eyes. "You dare negotiate with me?"
"It's not negotiation, Senior Sister. It's called… future investment." Lu Fan grinned widely.
Just as Su Yan was about to respond, the door of the Healing Pavilion was kicked open. An old man in fiery red robes stormed inside, his face filled with fury.
"WHERE IS THE DISCIPLE NAMED LU FAN?! HE HAS DESTROYED THE REPUTATION OF THE HAN CLAN AND DRIVEN MY GRANDSON INSANE WITH THAT FOUL STENCH!"
Lu Fan turned pale.
System… it seems we have a new and much more terrifying problem.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has attracted the attention of Elder of the Han Clan (Spirit Transformation – Early Stage).]
[Suggestion: Begin writing your will or flee to the Immortal Domain immediately… if possible.]