# 1686
Chapter 1679: Torn Apart Alive
Seeing Jialan's complexion visibly worsen, Chen the Skinned realized his mistake and sneered:
"So you're an Aberrant, is that right? You think we don't have anyone backing us up?
I'll tell you, five li east of Qingshan County sits Qinglong Stronghold, and all four leaders there are Aberrants! The First Leader strikes like a sparrow's cry, slicing a hundred heads without a trace! The Second Leader can transform into black mud, impervious to a thousand weapons! The Third Leader wields Heart-Demon Binding Art, from which none can escape! The Fourth Leader breathes crimson flames, capable of incinerating heaven itself!
Liuqing Workshop has always been on good terms with Qinglong Stronghold. If I give the word, all four leaders will come capture you immediately. You believe me or not?!"
Jialan had no intention of lingering with him. Dragging her weakened body, she stepped toward the door, only to be stopped by Chen the Skinned, who sneered:
"Since you're an Aberrant, there's no need for you to entertain guests anymore... From now on, you'll attend to my every need. Serve me well, and the benefits will be plentiful..."
"Get out of my way!" Jialan said darkly. "If I don't leave this city immediately, all of you will die!"
"Threatening me?" Chen the Skinned burst into laughter. "Interesting... Over two years ago, a young Aberrant came to our door, demanding we release his sister... Otherwise, he'd bloodwash our Liuqing Workshop. Do you know what became of him?"
"Later, all four leaders of Qinglong Stronghold struck together and dragged both him and his sister back to the stronghold. They were toyed with to the brink of death by the First Leader, who had... peculiar inclinations... Do you think your fate could be any better than theirs?"
Jialan's gaze instantly turned ice-cold.
Boom—!!
A faint blue glow flickered in her pupils. Her fist struck Chen the Skinned's chest, sending him flying like a kite with severed strings, crashing through a wall. He lay bloodied among the broken stones.
After forcing out that punch, Jialan's face grew even paler. Her form wavered, nearly toppling over. She could only brace herself against the wall as she left the wooden house, inching along the snowy path toward the city gates...
...
"Liuqing Workshop?"
At the sight of this brightly lit building before them, Lin Qiye and the others exchanged strange glances.
"Another place like this? Do we really need to go from Chang'an to here just to visit a workshop?" Lin Qiye couldn't help but remark.
"I think it looks great! Warm and lots of food to eat. Besides, what if the dance halls in Qingshan County are more interesting than those in Chang'an?" Chloe's eyes sparkled.
Gongyang Wan stood beside them, saying nothing. She lightly touched her cheek, and her features shifted into those of a delicate young man.
Seeing this, Chloe skillfully pulled out her veil hat to conceal her appearance.
Since there was no better option nearby, Lin Qiye sighed and led the three of them inside.
With silver opening doors, the four smoothly entered a private room. Soon after, an array of snacks and food was served. Outside, cold winds howled, but inside, the place was filled with women dressed in thin fabrics, their chatter creating a heated atmosphere.
Lin Qiye furrowed his brow, waving away the women who came to attend to them. He closed the door behind him.
"This... this Liuqing Workshop in Qingshan County, how is it so different from the one in Chang'an?" Chloe covered her eyes with both hands, her gaze secretly peeking through her fingers, constantly scanning the provocative women parading below. A blush crept across her cheeks.
Wu Quan sat at the table, head bowed low, eyes on nose and nose on heart, completely shutting himself out from the environment.
"Those in Chang'an are elegant dance halls, focused on appreciating dance and music in refined settings... This Liuqing Workshop is located at the western frontier, perpetually cold and icy. Naturally, there aren't many refined patrons here. What they do is merely vulgar business." Gongyang Wan, still wearing that youthful face, sipped her tea as she calmly explained.
"In any case, we'll only stay here half an hour. No need to concern yourself with anything else. Just eat and drink your fill."
Lin Qiye was indifferent. After all, for a modern person, the clothing of those women downstairs was hardly anything special. One could find far more eye-catching sights at any beach nowadays.
As everyone was eating their snacks, Gongyang Wan slowly rose and walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Lin Qiye asked.
"Restroom." Gongyang Wan replied without turning back.
As Gongyang Wan's figure disappeared, Lin Qiye, who had been eating snacks, narrowed his eyes slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he stood up:
"You two wait here. I need to use the restroom too."
...
Liuqing Workshop.
Back Courtyard.
Among the rubble of the collapsed wall, Chen the Skinned stumbled to his feet. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he cursed:
"That b*tch... how dare she hit me?! She's just an Aberrant... When I bring reinforcements from Qinglong Stronghold, I'll make her suffer worse than death!!"
He took大步向前, heading straight toward the city exit. Just then, a figure descended like a specter right before him.
"Who goes there?!"
The sudden black shadow startled Chen the Skinned into retreating several steps, his expression turning ferocious.
In the dim snowy wind, a boy with his hair in a topknot slowly approached. His cold eyes reflected the glint of frost, and the already chilling back courtyard grew even more bone-deep cold.
Upon seeing the boy's face, Chen the Skinned froze for a moment, then spoke in terror:
"Gongyang Zhuo?! How is this possible? Weren't you supposed to have been killed?!"
The boy said nothing. He silently walked up to Chen the Skinned. The latter, wearing an expression of having seen a ghost, stumbled backward until he hit a wall. With nowhere left to retreat, a vicious look crossed his face. He drew a short blade from behind his waist and swung it toward the boy's face!
"Whether you're human or ghost, I ain't afraid of you!!"
Clang—!!
Before Chen the Skinned could finish speaking, the boy had already slapped the blade from his hand with his bare hand. In that instant, the youthful face flickered and transformed into that of a beautiful woman.
"No... You're Gongyang Wan??" Seeing this dizzying display of face-shifting, Chen the Skinned was completely bewildered. He opened his mouth to say something more when a slap whistled through the air and struck his cheek!
Gongyang Wan's strength was immense. One slap sent Chen the Skinned crashing to the ground. Several broken teeth mixed with blood spit onto the snow. A ringing filled his ears.
"Long time no see... Chen the Skinned." Gongyang Wan said coolly.
"You dare hit me... you b*tch, how dare you hit me?!" Chen the Skinned was stunned by the slap. After a moment, rage surged in his heart. He jumped to his feet and roared, "You're looking for death!!"
Slap—!!
Gongyang Wan slapped him across his other cheek, sending his entire body flying. A miserable whimper escaped from somewhere nearby.
"And what if I do hit you?" Gongyang Wan sneered.
"Don't think just because you escaped the stronghold you can do as you please... You wait for me... when the First Leader and the others arrive... I'll..."
"First Leader?"
Gongyang Wan raised an eyebrow. A new face flashed across hers—a man with a menacing expression, coldly staring down at Chen the Skinned beneath his feet:
"You mean that First Leader of yours, whom I castrated, then carved up piece by piece, and devoured alive?"