"I gave it my all, and this is all you've got?"
Xiao Qi feigned immense disappointment, shaking his head with a sigh. "How can it be so hard to find an opponent? You, such trash, wanting to deal with our young master. Have you no sense, seeking humiliation?"
Mr. Zhang’s saber had already fallen to the ground. His arms had been severed, rendering him incapable of holding his weapon.
At this moment, his eyes were filled with disbelief and shock.
However, Xiao Qi’s words also made him feel deeply insulted.
"Even without my saber, I am not..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Qi’s palm struck his face with tremendous force.
His speed was so great that Mr. Zhang couldn't even see a blur.
A bloodthirsty smile played on Xiao Qi's lips. "Did you really think that was my full strength?"
"I was just playing with you!"
"This is my true power. When I make a move, you won't even see my shadow. How can you fight back?"
"And my strength is not even worthy of carrying our young master's shoes."
"Am I wrong to call you self-inflicted humiliation?"
The slap left Mr. Zhang’s mouth bleeding profusely, his teeth loosened. His gaze was filled with even greater shock.
He knew Xiao Qi had no reason to lie to him, nor any need to exaggerate intentionally.
Without absolute power, it would be impossible to command such a formidable individual's loyal following.
"Our master was right. I shouldn't have revealed myself, nor appeared before you. I will pay the price for my actions. At worst, it's just death."
He flicked his toe, picking up the saber. Then, gripping it with his left hand, he drew it across his own throat.
Just as he was about to deliver the fatal blow, Xiao Qi’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.
The Tang saber clattered to the ground.
"Even if you wish to die, you need our young master's consent. Your life is no longer your own. Do you understand?"
Mr. Zhang’s face turned ashen. He had initially thought Xiao Qi was deliberately exaggerating, but he hadn't expected Xiao Qi to be stating nothing but the truth.
He had prepared to end his own life before them to avoid any potential suffering, only to be denied even the chance to commit suicide.
The remaining bodyguards were utterly dumbfounded by this turn of events.
Their eyes were filled with disbelief and shock, their hearts churning like a stormy sea.
The formidable expert who seemed like a celestial being before them couldn't even contend with a mere subordinate of Mu Feng.
They couldn't fathom the depths of Mu Feng’s strength.
Mu Feng glanced at the bodyguards.
They immediately lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze, their eyes wide with fear.
Mu Feng chuckled softly. "There's no need to be so scared. I won't do anything to you."
"Wait a few minutes. When someone gives you something, it's only polite to return the favor. I need you to take him back. Consider it a return gift to the person behind him."
"However, whether he can be healed depends on whether the person behind him has the ability."
Upon hearing this, the bodyguards breathed a slight sigh of relief, but at this moment, they dared not leave.
Mr. Zhang looked at Mu Feng, a flicker of dread entering his eyes. He understood what Mu Feng intended to do.
"You don't need to scheme against me. Just give me a quick end. Our master won't waste medicine on me; I'm just his subordinate after all."
Mu Feng smiled faintly. "The more you say that, the more interested I become."
"What if I planted a Gu worm on you, and when your master helps you, that Gu worm directly burrowed into him? What do you think the effect would be?"
"You're dreaming. I will never give you this opportunity, nor will I let our master get close to me." Mr. Zhang had already made up his mind. As soon as he was out of Mu Feng's sight, he would have the people present kill him without hesitation.
Such schemes must not be allowed to succeed. He was a willing sacrifice, dedicated entirely to serving his master.
Mu Feng's smile grew increasingly subtle. He could tell what the man was thinking.
"You don't need to think about struggling. The Gu worm I've planted will only be effective on martial artists. And they absolutely cannot speak of this matter. Otherwise, no matter where they flee, they will have no way to survive."
The bodyguards nodded frantically without hesitation.
The lead bodyguard captain spoke up, "We know nothing. Tonight's events… we just grew legs, leaving our eyes and ears at home."
"Whatever you want to do is your business. It has nothing to do with us. We are merely errand boys."
Mu Feng nodded with a smile. "You are very wise. I hope you can keep your word, or my people will give you a quick end."
As his voice faded, footsteps slowly echoed from the surrounding darkness.
And the footsteps grew increasingly dense. At some point, over a hundred people had appeared around them, all dressed in black, with dark weapons at their waists.
Those individuals made no attempt to conceal themselves, revealing their forms and encircling them all.
All the bodyguards fell silent, the fear in their eyes causing their pupils to constrict violently.
At this moment, they finally understood what kind of formidable figure they had offended.
Their minds were filled with a single thought: they must not disobey Mu Feng’s words. Otherwise, they wouldn't even know how they died. These people, casually brought forth by him, each held a weapon. If they were to deal with them, they wouldn't even need to fight; a simple pull of the trigger would send them to the afterlife.
And this scene caused Mr. Zhang to widen his eyes.
It was utterly unbelievable. Although his strength was now crippled, his judgment remained.
With a single glance, he understood the strength of these individuals.
Even if one were to randomly pick from them, they would likely be no weaker than him. Why had his master chosen such a terrifying opponent?
His heart was filled with despair.
Mu Feng said with a half-smile, "Although you've seen some of my strength, you won't have the chance to tell your master."
"By then, your mouth will be unable to speak, your hands unable to move, like a piece of wood."