<h4>Chapter 1464: Chapter 1457: Submit or Die</h4>


    "Was it you who secretly poisoned us?" Upon hearing Mand’s words, the middle-aged man suddenly raised his head and looked at Mand, speaking in a deep voice.


    Mand looked at the middle-aged man, tantly ignoring his murderous gaze, and smiled, "Of course, it’s me who poisoned you. Otherwise, why do you think we dare to stand in front of you and speak? Rest assured, we won’t kill you."


    "What exactly do you want?" The middle-aged man’s expression did not change upon hearing these words. He looked at Mand and asked.


    "We don’t want much, merely to give you two choices."


    Mand smiled and said, "The first, of course, is to be my test subject. I am currently researching a brand-new poison. Unfortunately, as you know, poisons must be tested repeatedly to seed. I can’t just take innocent people as test subjects for no reason! That would make me no different from an executioner—it’s against moral principles, far too cruel."


    "However, using animals for testing never achieves the ideal results I desire. After all, the difference in constitution between a martial artist and an animal is too great. What’s effective on an animal might not work on a martial artist. Fortunately, you came along, and you are my enemies, so using enemies as test subjects means I don’t have to feel any psychological burden. After all, since we’re enemies, there’s no reason to discuss humaneness. Of course, you won’t die. After the testing isplete, I’ll give you the antidote. Don’t worry—I can be quite merciful..."


    Hearing Mand’s nonchnt words, and looking at her exquisite and beautiful face, the middle-aged man and the sturdy men behind him couldn’t help but shiver, a trace of fear shing in their eyes. Who would have thought that someone who appears so youthful and vibrant could be so ruthless inside? Bing Mand’s test subjects was definitely a fate worse than death. Faced with this, they would rather choose death.


    "What is the second condition?" The middle-aged man asked with a glimmer of hope.


    "The second condition is to submit to us and be a de in our hands. I wonder which path you choose—life or death."


    With a smile on her face, Mand looked at the middle-aged man. Her manner was like an innocent little girl, giving no indication that she was the renowned poison specialist of the Netherworld Mercenary Corps; rather, she seemed like a lively, adorable girl.


    "I choose the second option. I will submit to you," the middle-aged man said without any hesitation.


    "You answered so quickly, you’re not trying to deceive me, are you? What if, after I give you the antidote, you turn against me?" Mand looked at the middle-aged man, her face full of doubt.


    Hearing Mand’s words, the middle-aged man’s expression slightly changed. He did indeed have such an intention; once Mand gave him the antidote, that would be the moment of Mand and herpanions’ doom.


    At this moment, Mand continued, "To be safe, I should add anotheryer of insurance for myself."


    As she spoke, Mand took a small ss bottle from her pocket, took out a gray, bean-sized pill, and held it in her hand. "This is the Soul Devouring Pill. I think you may have heard of it. I won’t borate on its effects. As long as you swallow this Soul Devouring Pill, I’ll help you detoxify. What do you say?"


    Hearing Mand’s words, a touch of paleness shed on the middle-aged man’s face, unable to conceal the fear in his expression. He was not from the Jiang Family but from the Yang Family. As someone from the Yang Family, he naturally had dealings with the Yama Pce, which Rose heavily developed in Beijing. He knew that within the Yama Pce, there was a poison that controls people, which was no different from the Three Corpses Brain God Pill from the martial arts novel ’The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.’ Upon ingestion, there would be no apparent difference, but once the poison was triggered, it truly was a fate worse than death.


    Moreover, the Yang Family was filled with apprehension regarding the rise of Yama Pce in Beijing and its friendly rtions with the Han Family. They had once captured a martial artist from Yama Pce who had consumed the Soul Devouring Pill and tried to decipher this poison. However, they were never able to do so. No matter how they formted the antidote, the end result was that soon after the antidote was consumed, the soul-devouring worm lurking within the pill would break out of its shell and burrow its way into the person’s brain, through their flesh...


    The shrill screams and state of being alive yet wishing for death lingered vividly. The middle-aged man still felt a chill run through his spine at even the thought of it. What was more terrifying was that this poison was not lethal; it simply rendered one’s life a fate worse than death. Ultimately, that martial artist could only find sce through suicide.


    Taking the Soul Devouring Pill to be a weapon in Yama Pce’s hands clearly indicated that this martial artist did not wish to die. Yet, when the poison took effect, it forced the unwilling into suicide. The horror of that pain was beyond imagination.


    If he follows what Mand said and takes the Soul Devouring Pill, his life would be entirely in the hands of Mand, Rose, and the others. Like a puppet, he would have to obey orders, otherwise, death would be inevitable. Unless he’s truly willing to perish together with Rose and the others. But is he really prepared to do that?


    "So, how’s your decision going? Actually, I really hope you choose the first option, so I can have a new experimental subject. Maybe I’ll even develop a brand new poison that could suppress the Tang Family. Uncle, how about choosing the first option?"


    Mand blinked her eyes, looking innocently at the middle-aged man, with eyes full of anticipation, resembling a little girl hoping for an adult to buy her snacks. At first nce, she seemed very cute.


    But this appearance made the middle-aged man and the group behind him shiver uncontrobly. In their eyes, this was not cuteness, but the smile of a devil. An experimental subject is surely a fate worse than death. Who the hell knows if they can detoxify after taking it?


    Watching the expression on the middle-aged man’s face, Rose’s lips curled into a charming smile as she said to him, "Think it over well. A good death is better than a bad life. You didn’t fight to the death with me just now, which means you don’t want to die. Since that’s the case, why work so hard for the Yang Family now that they can’t even take care of themselves? Is your loyalty to them really worth it? If you choose to submit, anything the Yang Family can give you, I, Rose, can also provide, possibly even more."


    "Besides, I don’t need you to serve me for life. Just ten years. Serve me for ten years, and I’ll set you free. By then, it’s up to you whether to stay or go. Fang Cong, you’re only in your forties now. Serving me for ten years means you’ll just be in your fifties. As a middle-stage Mythical martial artist, living for a few more decades is not a problem. Consider carefully whether you choose life or death."


    Ten yearster, the Yama Pce will have already developed and expanded thoroughly. Even if this group of middle-aged men leaves, the Yama Pce won’t fall apart. Moreover, within ten years, even if Lu Tianxing does not break through to the Earthly Immortal realm, once he reaches thete stage of Mythical, no one will dare provoke the Yama Pce.


    Rose nced at the middle-aged man, whose expression was changing rapidly, and then at the burly men behind him. "The same goes for you. Take the Soul Devouring Pill and serve me for ten years. After ten years, I’ll detoxify you. By then, stay or leave, it’s your choice. If you don’t want to submit, say so now, and I’ll send you on your way. Consider carefully—keep serving the Yang Family or choose life. You’re only in your early thirties. Ten yearster, you’ll just be in your forties. You have plenty of time to enjoy life. Are you going to abandon the next few decades for your so-called loyalty, or submit and enjoy a brand new life after ten years?"


    Rose’s words echoed in the security department, like hammering on the hearts of the middle-aged man and the burly men behind him, making their faces continuously change.


    There’s a saying that even ants struggle to survive, let alone humans. They’re not death soldiers of the Yang Family, so there’s no need to throw their lives away for them.


    They sold their lives to the Yang Family for the things they wanted, mainly enough money. But now their lives are in the hands of others. Continuing to work for the Yang Family, no matter how much money they getter, would be useless if they lose their lives—they can’t spend it when they’re dead.


    The middle-aged man took a deep breath and looked at Rose with aplex expression. He said, "Why should we believe that you’ll set us free in ten years?"


    "Do you think you have any other choice but to believe what I say now? Of course, I’ll keep my word. In ten years, I’ll definitely set you free."


    Rose looked at the middle-aged man, speaking calmly, "My patience is limited. I’ll give you one more minute to consider whether to submit or be an experiment. Your choice."


    Hearing Rose’s words, which had turned cold as ice, everyone couldn’t help but change their expressions. They knew well that this was probably Rose’sst ultimatum. If they chose not to submit, their only fate would be death.


    "I have onest question. Aren’t you afraid that if I take the Soul Devouring Pill, I might pretend to submit, only to perish with you all once detoxified?" the middle-aged man asked Rose solemnly.


    "Hahaha, if I’m willing to detoxify you, do you think I’d be afraid of you turning against me? If I want, I can take your life in an instant. You can try if you don’t believe it," Rose said with confidence, smiling.


    Hearing Rose’s words, the middle-aged man’s expression flickered in uncertainty. Finally, he took a deep breath and knelt on one knee to the ground. "Fang Cong pays respects to the Great Hall Master."