"Ah, Uncle, I was just being careless," Xie Chong said dismissively.
"Careless? Throughout history, how many martial artists have met their end with a single moment of carelessness! If it weren't for our proximity to Dragon's Coil Mountain, and if there weren't an otherworldly expert residing here, you would have already had your seventh day of mourning!"
Xie Liheng's anger grew as he spoke. Xie Chong felt a sense of helplessness. Although he feared nothing, he truly feared his uncle.
Just then, a young Daoist acolyte approached to inform them that Master Dao Yuan wished to see them in the front hall for a discussion.
Thus, the uncle and nephew left their guest room and proceeded towards the front hall.
As they stepped out, they heard a string of melodious laughter. The uncle and nephew turned to see two women walking towards the back of the estate, chatting and laughing.
One of the women was familiar to both of them – Yan Yu.
They were unaware of Yan Yu's true identity, but they had been informed that this woman held an extraordinary position on the mountain, possessed formidable martial arts skills, and had a rather short temper, advising them not to provoke her lightly.
When Xie Chong's gaze fell upon the other woman, he found himself unable to look away.
Good heavens, what a beautiful woman!
Xie Chong was looking at Wang Bingxia.
As a young man in his early twenties, full of youthful vigor, it was only natural for him to be captivated by such a beautiful and radiant young lady.
However, a slap landed on the back of his head.
"What are you staring at? It's so impolite to stare at a lady. Where has your upbringing gone?"
"Uncle, as the saying goes, 'A fair lady is a gentleman's desire!' If I look a little longer at a pretty girl, it won't cost me anything..."
"You little rascal, you've got all sorts of excuses. Why don't you go take the civil service exams! Stop thinking about such trivial matters and focus on bringing that malevolent entity that injured you to justice!"
The two entered the front hall and immediately spotted Ling Tian sitting in a corner.
Xie Liheng stepped forward proactively, cupped his fists, and bowed, "Esteemed Immortal, ladies and gentlemen, my nephew Xie Chong's injuries have mostly healed. We have been guests on your mountain for many days, and we are very grateful. We are preparing to take our leave! However, the malevolent entity remains at large, and I cannot rest easy!"
"Very well, I wish you a smooth journey. Oh, and this is my disciple, Ling Tian! You two should exchange contact information. If you need any assistance down the mountain, feel free to find him!" Master Dao Yuan said.
Ling Tian stood up and greeted the two men.
Xie Liheng appraised Ling Tian. The young man was youthful yet possessed an extraordinary demeanor. It was understandable, he thought, that a disciple of someone as divine as Master Dao Yuan would not be lacking.
However, Xie Chong, standing beside his uncle, did not hold Ling Tian in high regard. In his opinion, this young man was merely of high school age and did not appear particularly robust. Even if he had been practicing martial arts since birth, his skills might not surpass his own.
Furthermore, although his uncle, Xie Liheng, revered Master Dao Yuan as a deity, he had never witnessed Master Dao Yuan in action. Xie Chong acknowledged that these elders were very knowledgeable and skilled in medicine, but he did not believe they possessed great martial arts prowess.
After all, the Xie family hailed from a branch of the Xingyi Men, the Xingyi Bagua Men. In the martial arts world of China, Xingyi Men was a vast and ancient lineage. Their branch, Xingyi Bagua, cultivated both internal and external aspects, emphasizing practical combat, which allowed their tradition to remain potent today, unlike many others in China that had degenerated into mere showmanship. It was precisely due to the formidable strength of the Xingyi Bagua Men that Xie Liheng had become one of the elders of the Righteous Alliance.
"Brother Ling Tian, it's not that I don't trust you, but the opponents we face are malevolent forces. These individuals possess exceptionally high martial arts skills and employ all sorts of bizarre techniques. Fighting them requires absolute vigilance and no room for luck, or one might even pay with their life. I wonder, are you prepared?"
Ling Tian looked at him indifferently, "Then let's go. Who's afraid of whom?"
"Little brother Ling Tian, what I mean is, I'm concerned your strength might not be sufficient..."
The room fell silent. Xie Liheng felt a pang of embarrassment. He knew his nephew too well; he could tell what kind of trouble the boy was about to stir up just by looking at him. It was clear the young man was looking for a confrontation.
"Xie Chong, what nonsense are you spouting? If Master Dao Yuan is allowing little brother Ling Tian to participate, he must have confidence in his abilities..."
"Uncle, it's not that I don't trust the Daoist Master, but the opponent is simply too ferocious... The Daoist Master's martial arts might be formidable, but without having faced that person, it's uncertain who will emerge victorious..."
Xie Liheng grew anxious. His nephew was being stubborn at this moment, which was bound to offend someone.
Just then, Ling Tian's fourth master, the King of Assassins, Xiang Yuntian, stood up.
"Alas, young friend Xie has a point. Let's see what this young man is made of. Ling Tian, show Mr. Xie your strength and let them understand your caliber!"
"Very well, I shall gladly comply!"
Since his fourth master had spoken, Ling Tian felt indifferent. He understood that in this world, the meek were often preyed upon, and the kind were taken advantage of. Being friendly to others did not guarantee they would reciprocate with friendliness or respect. For those who did not respect you, there was no need to be polite; display your true strength and fight until they respect you!
The group proceeded to the backyard, where a large wooden structure stood – the training hall. It was here that Ling Tian's masters had taught him and some of his fellow disciples martial arts.
Ling Tian went to his room and soon emerged, clad in a training outfit. The sapphire blue training suit paired with white athletic shoes gave him a distinctive air, further accentuating his ethereal aura.
At this moment, his sixth master, Yan Yu, having heard that Ling Tian was about to spar, arrived with Wang Bingxia to witness the event. In the short time they had spent together, the two women had become close confidantes, and Yan Yu treated Wang Bingxia as if she were her own daughter. Yan Yu had shared many embarrassing stories from her childhood with Wang Bingxia and even revealed some of Ling Tian's secrets, advising her on how to win his heart.
Bingxia felt a touch of nervousness upon hearing that Ling Tian was about to fight someone. When she saw Ling Tian in his training attire, her eyes sparkled with affection.
In the training hall, Xie Chong, having shed his outer jacket, noticed Wang Bingxia by the sidelines. A surge of energy seemed to course through him. He wanted to defeat Ling Tian with his utmost strength, to display his masculine charm in front of this beautiful woman!