"You're truly insane! You'll be executed if you kill us; we have laws now!"
One of the men, pale with fear, yelled incessantly, trying to intimidate the other.
However, it was evident that the elder before them feared nothing, not even the law.
"Executed? Who has the ability? Here, I am the law. No one can defy my will!"
The elder cackled, completely disregarding their warnings.
The men were so terrified they wept, their despair absolute.
They looked at the pile of skeletons on the ground, feeling a pang of sadness, knowing they would soon join them. Survival seemed impossible.
"Someone save us, please save us..." one of them cried.
The elder glanced at him. "You're the loudest, you're giving me a splitting headache. I'll start with you!"
He opened his palm, and a powerful suction drew the man directly towards him.
The elder pressed his palm against the man's forehead. The man felt his strength being inexplicably drained away.
Soon, his skin shriveled, his body fat seemingly sucked dry. In an instant, he became a mere bag of bones.
"Save me, someone save me..."
He gritted his teeth, and soon even his skin vanished, replaced by bloody white bones.
The man died a final death. Clattering, his skeleton collapsed onto the ground.
Seeing this, some of the surviving men fainted from sheer terror, while more wailed heart-wrenchingly.
The elder exhaled deeply, a shiver running through him from the pleasure. "This is truly marvelous. Who's next? Let me see who screams the loudest!"
The men hurriedly covered their mouths, terrified of making a sound.
The elder surveyed them, his finger suddenly stopping before a tall, burly man. "It's you. You haven't made a sound, you must have strong endurance!"
"No, no, I didn't make a sound! Don't kill me, please don't kill me!"
The man fell to his knees in terror, tears streaming down his face.
The elder chuckled, "That's not up to you. Prepare to meet your maker..."
Just as he was about to repeat his gruesome act, a surprising event occurred.
A stone flew in, striking his palm directly.
The elder's palm was split open, and blood gushed out.
He felt a sharp pain and roared, "Who dares to ambush me? Come out at once!"
At that moment, an old man and a young man walked in. They were the old Daoist and Mu Feng.
Mu Feng narrowed his eyes and sneered, "I never imagined such a devil existed in this world. Living by draining others' vitality, don't you feel ashamed?"
The elder laughed mockingly, "What are you, boy, to point fingers at me?"
Upon seeing the old Daoist, he frowned. "Hmm, why are you here? Have you betrayed me?"
The old Daoist's heart leaped with joy. He immediately rushed to the elder's side.
"Ancestor, how could your disciple betray you? He has killed all your disciples, the Qing Yu Daoist Temple is in grave danger, and he even intends to seize all your herbs and treasures. You must seek justice for your disciple!"
The old Daoist's heart pounded. He truly worried his ancestor might casually swat him to death.
However, his concern proved to be unfounded. The elder didn't overthink it, nodding. "I understand. Stand aside!"
The old Daoist let out a long sigh and stepped aside, shouting, "Boy, see? Today is your death day!"
Mu Feng showed no surprise. He chuckled, "You're quite amusing. You're poisoned yourself, aren't you worried about an antidote?"
He licked his lips. "Boy, how could this humble Daoist betray the Ancestor? When you die, your antidote will be mine!"
"You're far too naive. I only carry one antidote. If I don't survive, your life ends here!" Mu Feng looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Upon hearing this, the old Daoist's heart sank. "Impossible, I saw many antidotes inside with my own eyes!"
Mu Feng took out the small porcelain bottle and, right before their eyes, poured the antidote onto the ground.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Mu Feng stomped the antidote into dust and kicked it aside. "What about now?"
The old Daoist felt a tightness in his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
His finger trembled as he pointed at Mu Feng. "Despicable, how can there be such a rogue in this world?"
"It's truly a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Who is the rogue here? Please speak clearly!" Mu Feng stroked his chin.
The old Daoist knew that his ancestor was the only one who could save him now.
He fell to his knees before the elder. "Ancestor, you must find a way to save me! I've been poisoned by him, but I remain unbowed. I beg you to save your disciple!"
The elder smiled. "Naturally. What poison can be ignored in my eyes? After he dies, I will tend to your wounds!"
The old Daoist wiped away his tears, gratefully saying, "Thank you, Ancestor, thank you, Ancestor!"
He instantly regained his spirit and smugly declared, "Boy, what do you have to say now? You're completely finished this time!"
With no further reservations, the old Daoist began to curse Mu Feng vehemently, going back eighteen generations, as foully as possible.
"Help, save us..." The men, seeing someone arrive, tearfully cried for help.
Mu Feng nodded. "Everyone, please rest assured. From now on, your lives are safe. I will cut these people into a thousand pieces!"
"Great, we're saved, we're saved!"
"Sir, you must kill this devil, or we'll all perish!"
At this moment, everyone placed all their hopes on Mu Feng.
The elder scoffed, "What? Little thing, you think you alone can save these people?"
"Of course. In my eyes, it's as simple as lifting a finger. And you can prepare for your funeral. You've lived long enough; you must be tired!"
Mu Feng's eyes were filled with murderous intent. He would never spare this old fiend, whose karmic debt was simply too profound.
The elder chuckled, "You intend to kill me? That's the greatest joke under heaven, utterly ridiculous!"