Chapter - 423 Half a Pill of Elixir (10)

Of course, Huang Rong knew nothing of Gongsun Zhi's return. But one's countenance speaks everything: she noticed that there was a furrow in Qiu Qianchi's brow and could tell that something weighed heavily on her mind. This was a contrast to the arrogant and ruthless expression she wore when exiting the Hall. Huang Rong conjectured that something must have cropped up in the Valley and so, said a few words to verify. Qiu Qianchi's defensive response told her that she was most probably right.

"Valley-Owner Qiu, your elder brother slipped and fell into the depths of the valley himself, and was definitely not harmed by junior. If you still bear a grudge over this matter then junior will not try to avoid death, but you must first hand over the antidote to cure Yang Guo's poison," said Huang Rong. "If I do die, all my friends here will bear no grudge against you for it and will even help you fend off this pending misfortune and fight the internal enemy. Do you accept this bargain?"

Huang Rong's offer seemed extremely advantageous to Qiu Qianchi, seeing as the latter, being a cripple, could only rely on her powerful date stone skill to inflict any kind of harm. Mentioning the words 'internal enemy' also struck Qiu Qianchi's biggest worry.

Qiu Qianchi thought to herself: "Isn't this too good to be true?" Aloud, she said: "You are Leader of the Beggar Clan, so I assume you will hold true to your words. Should I strike you with three of my date stones, you will not dodge or use any weapon to deflect them?"

Before Huang Rong could even reply, Guo Fu butted in, "My mother just said she will not avoid it, but she never said she wouldn't use a weapon to deflect it."

Huang Rong smiled and said, "If Valley-Owner Qiu wants to vent her heart's hatred, then junior will certainly not use any weapons to deflect."

"Mother! How can this do?" cried Guo Fu. Her long sword had earlier been broken by the date stone's strike, and she knew its power was incomparable. Her mother was after all made of flesh and blood, how could she survive without avoiding or deflecting?

But Huang Rong thought: "The Guo family owes Guo'er a huge debt. Now that he has contracted this deadly poison, we must obtain the antidote no matter what. Her date stone skill is one of the deadliest projectile arts in the world, if I let her hit me with three stones it is indeed dangerous. Just a slight moment of carelessness will cost me my life, but how would she be willing to hand over the antidote otherwise?"

Huang Rong had chosen her words wisely, making sure that Qiu Qianchi's every need was met. The intention was to lessen her bitterness and worry. In her moment of anxiety they would help her fend off her enemy, and to lessen her bitterness she would be free to injure Huang Rong in the only way she could. Even Qiu Qianchi herself would not be able to think a more advantageous offer than this.

But Qiu Qianchi suspected it was too good to be true. She said hoarsely: "You are my mortal enemy, yet here you are, willing to take three date stones from me. What scheme are you hiding? What ill intentions do you have?"

Huang Rong went forward and said in a low voice, "There are many pairs of eyes and ears in this place, most of which harbor ill intentions towards you. I'm going to whisper a few things in your ear."

Qiu Qianchi swept a glance at all the disciples and thought: "Amongst them are many of the old thief's followers. Indeed I should be careful." She nodded.

Huang Rong went near and whispered, "Your enemy will be attacking soon. Isn't junior in a precarious situation as well? Let us quickly bury this hatchet and, no matter if junior lives or dies everyone can fight side-by-side and resist the enemy. Furthermore I am indebted to Yang Guo; I must obtain the Passionless Pill for him even if it costs me my life. If one does not know how to repay kindness, would he be any different to any beast on this earth?" Ending her sentence, she took three steps back and concentrated her gaze on Qiu Qianchi.

At the words 'if one does not know how to repay kindness, would he be different to any beast', Qiu Qianchi gave a start, thinking: "If it wasn't for that fellow Yang Guo who saved me, I'd still be all alone in that underground cave, suffering in silence." But this thought came and went as fast as lightning and her heart hardened once more. She said icily: "Your pretty words do nothing to change my iron heart. Come, come! Take three of my date stones!"

Huang Rong flung her sleeve and said, "Then I'll put my life on the line and take three of your iron date stones." As she spoke she moved backwards, stopping in the middle of the Hall about thirty feet from Qiu Qianchi. "Please fire your date stones!"

Though Wu Santong knew that Huang Rong was always full of wit and ideas, everyone was witness to the power of Qiu Qianchi's date stone skill. Now, seeing Huang Rong standing there barehanded, all their hearts beat anxiously. Guo Fu was even more worried and walked over to Huang Rong, tugging at her sleeve. "Mother," she whispered. "Let's find a place, I'll give you the Hedgehog Armor so you can put it on, then we don't have to be afraid of that old hag's deadly projectiles."

Huang Rong slid. "What's the point if I use the Hedgehog Armor to block the date stones? Wait and see your mother's method."

At this moment, Qiu Qianchi said: "Everyone else move…" before the word 'aside' left her mouth, a date stone had already been fired at Huang Rong's abdomen. Though it was just a tiny date stone, it sliced through the air so violently that the sound of its speed sounded like a shrill flute. With a high-pitched cry, Huang Rong bent over, clutching her stomach.

Guo Fu, Wu Santong and the others were horrified and before they could go over to help her up, the 'flute' sounded again – the second date stone had been fired, this time at Huang Rong's chest. Again, with a loud cry, Huang Rong swayed and moved unsteadily backwards, looking like she was about to fall.

Qiu Qianchi saw that Huang Rong was indeed true to her word, making no attempt to dodge. The two date stones had already struck the essential points of her body. With that same kind of compelling force, the iron date stones could break even a rock, what more of human flesh? But Huang Rong had sustained two date stones without falling, obviously hanging on despite the pain to receive the third date stone. Secretly astounded, Qiu Qianchi thought to her self: "At first I thought this woman looked too delicate to possess any real substance as Leader of the Beggar Clan. But now it seems like she is indeed a formidable pugilist!"

At the thought of Huang Rong's imminent death after receiving two date stones, she couldn't help but feel pleased. With a "po" sound, the third date stone left her mouth. This time, it went for Huang Rong's throat. With the stone penetrating the throat, her brother's killer would definitely die on the spot.

When Huang Rong said that she would take three hits of her date stones, she had yet to think of any good ideas, knowing that she could only do so in exchange for the Pill. She would then die and repay her debt to Yang Guo. But after having a quiet chat with Qiu Qianchi, she had a notion which invoked many thoughts in her brain, a plan struck her mind. Huang Rong had secretly picked up Guo Fu's sword. It had been broken earlier by the fired date stones. She had it hidden in her sleeve. When the dates were fired later, she could bend her elbow and use the broken sword's handle to deflect the stone. But the impact of the date stones and the sword would cause a metallic sound, so she had shouted two times to cover the sounds. This clever move had indeed perfectly prevented Qiu Qianchi from suspecting anything.