Chapter 1187: The Strange Fragrance

"Ye Qing, are you all right?" Meng Guang asked with great concern, seeing Ye Yuan's pale face.

As for the steward, a Formless Realm expert, he should... be fine, right?

The others were all dumbfounded, unsure whether to be shocked by the power of the "Moon Howling Heaven Chant" or by the fact that the steward had been sent flying.

Ye Yuan clutched his chest and said, "Of course something's wrong! How could I be fine after a palm strike from the steward?"

No kidding!

With his late ninth-stage physical body, even without using any Yuan power, it wouldn't be broken by a mere Formless Realm cultivator.

Moreover, for a demon, Ye Yuan wouldn't hold back.

In that strike just now, Ye Yuan had infused the rebound force with a late Spiritual-level Dragon Wave, and a hidden force had quietly infiltrated the steward's internal organs.

Within seven days, this vibrational force would activate and shake the steward into a pulp!

The steward scrambled to his feet, glaring at Ye Yuan with uncontrollable rage.

"Kid, I held back, but you dared to ambush me?" the steward roared.

He had wanted to make an example of Ye Yuan, but instead ended up falling flat on his face, losing all face.

Although these people were as good as dead, still... where was he to put his face?

Ye Yuan quickly said, "Steward, where does this accusation come from? Disciple, I am the one injured by you!"

The steward was taken aback, then saw the bloodstains on Ye Yuan's chest, clearly showing he was injured.

Thus, he really couldn't continue to make things difficult.

He glared with tiger-like eyes and shouted, "All of you, behave yourselves! I warn you, some important places in the sect are heavily restricted. If you dare to run around and trigger the restrictions, not even your ashes will remain!"

With that, the steward flicked his sleeves and left.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, feeling bewildered, and had no choice but to part ways.

...

After returning to their quarters, Meng Guang, concerned about Ye Yuan, went to visit him.

"Ye Qing, your... your injury healed so quickly?" Meng Guang asked in surprise upon seeing Ye Yuan.

At this moment, Ye Yuan's complexion was ruddy and radiant, showing no sign of injury.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "I have some pills on me; a minor injury is nothing."

Meng Guang squinted and said in a low voice, "Ye Qing, I have some experience after all! If that steward's palm had hit me, though it might not have killed me, I'd probably be bedridden for ten days or half a month. Your background, I'm afraid, is not simple, right?"

Meng Guang was no longer young and had struggled at the bottom for a long time, so he had a good eye for people.

That was why he had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation with Ye Yuan.

Building a good relationship with promising disciples early on would make the path in the sect smoother.

But now it seemed that this Ye Qing was not just talented.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Meng, I originally didn't plan to tell you, but since you are so righteous, I might as well give you a few words of advice. This Howling Moon Sect is a dragon's den and tiger's lair for you! In the coming days, Brother Meng must be cautious in everything, understand?"

Meng Guang's heart tightened, but he didn't understand why Ye Yuan said that.

However, he was perceptive and quickly caught the implication in Ye Yuan's words. Frowning, he asked, "A dragon's den and tiger's lair for me, then... for you, it's not?"

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Brother Meng understands! But I hope Brother Meng will keep this secret for me; otherwise, this act won't be able to continue. Don't worry, within seven days, everything will be revealed."

Seven days later was the date Ye Yuan had agreed with Teng Yun to make his move.

He had come early because he wanted to investigate the secrets of the Howling Moon Sect.

Upon hearing Ye Yuan's words, Meng Guang's mind was in turmoil.

He was well-versed in the ways of the world and could see that it was because of his earlier actions that Ye Yuan had confided in him.

Meng Guang took a deep breath and said, "Rest assured, I, Meng, still have some integrity."

Ye Yuan's expression turned grave, and he nodded. "Just pretend you know nothing. Don't act rashly. Otherwise, even I won't be able to save you."

Meng Guang's heart tightened, and he nodded solemnly.

…

That night, as Ye Yuan was contemplating the Profound Turtle Body Divine Art, a strange, faint fragrance suddenly crept into his nostrils.

This fragrance was highly bewitching, inducing a drowsy, lethargic feeling.

Ye Yuan frowned, instinctively on alert.

"Such strong demonic energy! Could someone be practicing a demonic art?" Ye Yuan thought to himself.

Not daring to alert the enemy, Ye Yuan spread his perception outward.

After a short while, Ye Yuan noticed that several nearby rooms had stirred.

Then, a few figures slowly walked past his window and disappeared into the depths of the twilight.

Ye Yuan hesitated inwardly for a moment but finally gave up.

He knew that these people would probably never return.

It wasn't that he was cold-blooded; if he saved them, he would inevitably alert the enemy.

Compared to finding the demon clan's main base, these people were insignificant.

He was not a naive do-gooder; he would not lose the big for the small.

Moreover, these people were utterly apathetic.

During the day, when the steward wanted to make an example of him, these people had even cheered him on, looking excited.

Even if you saved such people, they might not be grateful.

"It seems this fragrance... is connected to the Howling Moon Sect's frequent recruitment of disciples. Four people were lured away tonight. This batch had about a hundred recruits. Three months' time, just about right. Probably, that so-called Saint Emperor needs living people to practice his art?" Ye Yuan speculated.

As Ye Yuan had expected, those people never returned after leaving.

Early the next morning, Meng Guang came to Ye Yuan's room, looking mysterious.

After entering, he stuck his head out to look around before closing the door with relief.

"Ye Qing, did you notice anything off last night?" Meng Guang said.

Ye Yuan looked at Meng Guang with slight surprise and asked back, "What's wrong?"

Meng Guang's expression changed, and he lowered his voice. "Last night, a strange fragrance came from somewhere. I was alert at first, but the fragrance was too strong; I only held out for a short while before passing out. When I got up this morning, I deliberately checked the side peak, and sure enough, several rooms were quiet! The people who came in with us are gone!"

As he spoke, Meng Guang still looked shaken.

In fact, yesterday he had been skeptical of Ye Yuan's words.

But now, his heart was pounding, and he only wanted to escape this pit of fire as soon as possible.

As Ye Yuan had said, this place was truly a den of dragons and tigers!

One could die without even knowing how!

Ye Yuan smiled upon hearing this. "It seems Brother Meng's methods are not ordinary either! That fragrance is not something just anyone can resist. Not only did you notice it, but you could even resist it for a while!"