Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 583 You’ve been tricked!

"Remember, come find me when the time comes. If you haven't completed the task, if the bottle is empty, or if someone has taken it to research and crack the formula, I'm not giving you a second dose of the antidote."

Xu Ke added another restriction. This restriction could be easily lifted; as long as someone could figure out the formula, all of Xu Ke's schemes would be for naught.

But... was it really that easy?

"Alright, stop thinking about it and get to work." Xu Ke looked at the two men, whose expressions were clearly souring, and smiled.

This antidote could not only disrupt their unity, making them guard against each other, but it could also serve as a token of trust, making them temporarily believe him enough to carry out their tasks. It was indeed killing two birds with one stone.

"You…" Ye Lang and Han Wang exchanged glances, their faces etched with extremely unpleasant expressions.

"Oh, by the way..." Xu Ke changed the subject again, giving them no time to think. "Your car was blown up, your clothes are ragged and dusty. Have Shi Hongda take you to buy a new car and some clothes. Put on something decent before you come back, alright?"

"I glanced at the map; it's just a twenty-minute drive to the county town. With your capabilities, buying a second-hand car and clothes shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Ye Lang and Han Wang exchanged another look, their eyes wary, but they did not commit. They had been so rattled by Xu Ke's manipulations that they were now wary of something as simple as buying clothes.

Who knows what kind of scheme is involved in this?

"Seriously? You're scared of that, too? In that case, just drape straw mats over yourselves and follow me." Xu Ke shook his head, then a strange smile touched his lips. "Or is it that you've run out of money to buy things?"

At these words, Han Wang's expression shifted. "Who says we don't have money? Who says we're scared?!"

"But, if you have Shi Hongda drive us, what will you all do?"

Unexpectedly, Xu Ke turned his head and chatted cheerfully with Tang Yingchang and his men. "Look at that. They're even thinking about us. Such considerate assassins."

Tang Yingchang and the other two nodded in unison. "Such good people!"

Feeling deeply humiliated, Han Wang stormed off, roaring, "Shi Hongda, drive us out of here!"

Ye Lang hurriedly followed.

"What about the antidote? Aren't you going to take it?" Xu Ke called out theatrically.

"I'll come back for it."

"I'll be waiting for you, Brother Wang," Xu Ke called out eagerly.

The two men walked away even faster.

"Hahaha..." Tang Yingchang and his men burst out laughing.

Xu Ke couldn't help but chuckle as he picked up the antidote for the Hundred-Day Bone Erosion Poison, shaking his head slightly.

Seeing the antidote, a flash of desire appeared in Tang Yingchang's eyes, but knowing he wasn't yet worthy of it, he quickly composed himself. "Mister Xu, are you really going to give them the antidote?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Mister Xu smiled. "When they come back, I'll give it to them."

Upon hearing this, a subtle change came over the three men's expressions.

"Let's head back and see if they've left."

"Yes!"

As the four of them walked back toward the wasteland, a contemplative look appeared in Xu Ke's eyes. A single question turned endlessly in his mind—

What exactly is Tao Ranju?

***

"Why do I have to foot the bill? Why do I have to be the driver? Why do you just come out the second he calls for you?" Shi Hongda, sitting in the driver's seat, looked furious. "Are you two that obedient to him?"

Being poisoned by Xu Ke was one thing, but was Han Wang now going to walk all over him too?

"I'll pay you back when we return," Han Wang grumbled. "Are you insane, or am I? You expect me to drive dressed like this?"

The Yin Yang Elders glanced at Han Wang, then retracted their gazes. "Indeed, that would be inappropriate."

"Besides, I didn't come out just because he told me to. I called the three of you out because I have something to discuss with you," Han Wang said grimly. "Understand?"

After listening, Shi Hongda's expression became slightly unnatural. He drove around two more bends before speaking. "So, what did you want to say?"

"Are there any listening devices or a dashcam?" Han Wang asked, making sure the car was clean before speaking.

"We checked it before leaving Sui City. There's nothing," Zhuge Changyang stated confidently.

"Heh. And you still got poisoned? Impressive," Ye Lang mocked.

The three men's faces stiffened.

"Enough. There's no point in discussing that. Let's get to the real issue," Shi Hongda sneered.

Han Wang took out a sheet of paper. Being an old-fashioned man, he remained wary of listening devices. Writing it on paper, reading it, and then destroying it was safer. He placed it next to Shi Hongda's seat with a smug look. "Take a good look."

Shi Hongda glanced at it, froze for a second, and then his face broke into a delirious grin. "Excellent, excellent!"

The Yin Yang Elders and Ye Lang took one look and also laughed heartily. The car filled with an air of triumph.

"That kid never would have expected that sending me out on a shopping trip would give us the chance to reach an agreement. He has seriously miscalculated!" Han Wang was extremely pleased, his eyes filled with contempt.

He had thought it over. Xu Ke sending him out must not involve any schemes. What could Xu Ke possibly do in the one hour it took for the round trip? He realized Xu Ke must have just wanted to humiliate him. So, he simply complied with Xu Ke's request, using the opportunity to reach a consensus with Shi Hongda!

"Xu Ke, you've fallen into my trap! This time, you're dead for sure!"

***

「The wasteland.」

When Xu Ke returned, Bai Qian'er's and Tang Yingchang's groups watched him. They hurriedly took their wine chalices to the center of the clearing, sat down cross-legged, and looked on in astonishment.

"Mister Xu, what are you doing?" Tang Yingchang couldn't help but ask.

The others also exchanged puzzled looks. What was he about to do?

"Time is short." Xu Ke quickly closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.

Seeing this, everyone was even more dumbfounded.

"What's going on with him?" Duan Zhuo'e asked, utterly bewildered. "Is he cultivating?"

"Perhaps," Bai Qian'er murmured.

"Heh, cultivating while clutching that broken wine chalice? Typical nouveau riche, acting like someone's going to steal his precious cup," Fang Caizhe sneered with a disdainful expression.

"Can you go stand over there? You're being noisy," Bai Qian'er frowned, pointing toward Cultivator Qi's body.

Duan Zhuo'e nodded. "I agree."

"What did you say?!" Fang Caizhe exploded with rage.

"Shut your mouth." At that moment, Tang Yingchang barked, glaring coldly at Fang Caizhe.

Instantly, Fang Caizhe's face went deathly pale, utterly terrified. Tang Yingchang's presence was too overwhelming.

"Let's just watch for now. Don't make a sound and disturb Mister Xu. He must have his reasons," Tang Yingchang said in a low voice.

Everyone nodded.

Seeing this, Fang Caizhe's eyes burned with even more resentment, but he didn't dare utter another peep.

Once they fell silent, the entire wasteland sank into a deep stillness. There was only the sound of the wind sighing past. It was so quiet that the crisp snap of a twig falling to the ground was startlingly clear, and the gurgle of the small river was sharp and distinct.

Everyone stared at Xu Ke, rapt in silence.

In that moment when you could hear a pin drop, a faint sound suddenly echoed in the clearing.

CLICK.

It was very soft, but everyone heard it instantly.

Every single person's expression changed as they focused their gazes on Xu Ke. The sound had come from his hand.

The next moment, their faces changed drastically. The Bronze Wine Chalice in Xu Ke's hand had cracked completely; a glaring fissure had appeared.

"What's happening?" Tang Yingchang was horrified.

But before they could figure out what was happening, they were stunned by a deep boom.

BOOM—

A heavy thrum emanated from within Xu Ke's body.

Immediately after, the True Qi inside his body raged like a furious tide, making the very air across the wasteland feel as heavy as mercury. His aura instantly shot toward the sky, escalating wildly as it erupted, like a brilliant sun, blazing high in the heavens...

At that moment, everyone's mouths fell open in disbelief, their gazes fixed on Xu Ke in a stunned daze.

"He... he broke through again?!!"