Li Mu's expression was extremely complex, a mixture of shock and surprise, with a hint of bewilderment.
He simply couldn't fathom why his sister would be associating with these two men who were clearly on the verge of death.
"Brother, listen to me, they are..."
Li Qin was about to introduce Gu Zhendong and the other man to her brother, but Li Mu pulled her aside abruptly.
"I don't have time for introductions. Hurry and come with me. These two are nothing but trouble, and they probably won't make it through tonight. You shouldn't get involved with them."
With that, Li Mu turned and started to leave, intending to drag his sister along.
"Hey, brother, what are you doing? Let go, release me..."
Li Qin struggled free from her brother's grasp.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiao walked over and asked, "Brother, why do you say I won't make it through tonight?"
Li Mu said indignantly, "I already warned you this morning. You provoked people from the Hidden Sword Pavilion, and yet you haven't fled. Instead, you've returned. And if you had to return, why did you bring my sister with you... Forget it, I don't want to waste my breath. You have no idea what's going on here!"
Chen Xiao smiled, "Actually, I do."
Li Mu was taken aback, then retorted dismissively, "You know nothing!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qin said with a sigh, "Brother, he really does know."
Li Mu was stunned. "You told him everything? You two progressed that quickly?"
"Oh, brother, what are you talking about?"
Li Qin rolled her eyes at her brother, then pointed at Gu Zhendong and said, "Brother, take a good look at who this is!"
Li Mu glanced at Gu Zhendong and casually said, "I know. He's this kid's companion!"
"Look again, properly!"
Li Qin said with dissatisfaction.
Li Mu scrutinized him again, and suddenly felt that this uncle looked familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.
Gu Zhendong's voice trembled as he said, "Mu'er, it's me. I'm your Uncle Gu!"
Li Mu's body stiffened, and his eyes widened. "Uncle Gu? You're Uncle Gu Zhendong?"
"That's right, it's me! Mu'er, come here and let Uncle have a look!"
Gu Zhendong's expression was emotional, his eyes filled with concern.
When Gu Zhendong was hiding in the Mohe Sect, Li Mu was already a ten-year-old young man, so he remembered more than his sister.
Furthermore, Gu Zhendong had also taught Li Mu many cultivation techniques back then.
"Uncle Gu, it really is you..."
Upon seeing Gu Zhendong, Li Mu was reminded of the days when his parents were still alive. At that time, the Mohe Sect was at its peak, and even the Liu Sect, knowing that Gu Zhendong was hiding in the Mohe Sect, dared not act rashly.
Comparing then and now, Li Mu's eyes filled with bitterness.
He remembered more about his parents and the Mohe Sect than his sister, which meant he had endured more pain than her.
Over the years, the scenes of his family's destruction had never left his mind; instead, they replayed endlessly in his midnight nightmares.
This had also shaped his reticent personality.
"Uncle Gu, now is not the time to talk. Let's leave quickly, or it will be too late!"
Li Mu said with a look of panic.
Since this man was Uncle Gu, he couldn't just abandon him.
Li Qin asked, "Brother, what's going on? Why are you so flustered?"
Li Mu sighed and then explained the situation.
It turned out that after Chen Xiao had crippled the martial arts of Ding Yi, the Seven-Character Electric Sword, early in the morning, Master Wang the Third of the Hidden Sword Pavilion had rushed to Qingcheng by noon.
This Master Wang the Third was named Wang Tianying.
He was the third son of Wang Xingde, the Pavilion Master of the Hidden Sword Pavilion. He had a violent and capricious personality, and his strength was considerable. He was already a peak Qi Realm martial artist, just one step away from Hua Realm.
After listening to Li Mu, Chen Xiao couldn't help but frown.
Li Mu said, "Now you're scared, aren't you!"
Chen Xiao shook his head, "I'm not scared, I just regret it. Why didn't Wang Xingde come instead?"
"..."
Li Mu was speechless for a moment, then said, "Don't put on a show here. Hurry and come with me. If you don't go now, it'll be too late!"
Chen Xiao still shook his head, "It's too late to leave now. Believe me, look!"
Li Mu followed the direction Chen Xiao was pointing and saw a convoy approaching.
The convoy consisted of over ten vehicles. Apart from the two lead SUVs, the rest were all luxurious minibuses.
These vehicles were advantageous in that they could carry many people.
As expected, as the doors opened, crowds poured out, numbering four to five hundred people, encircling Chen Xiao and the others.
Li Mu's face turned pale with fear. These people were clearly disciples of the Hidden Sword Pavilion, as the weakest among them were Qi Realm martial artists. Any one of them was no weaker than Ding Yi.
Leading them was a middle-aged man in a suit and tie, a cigar in his mouth, and a cool trench coat draped over his shoulders, exuding an imposing aura.
This man was Wang Tianying, the third son of Wang Xingde, Master Wang the Third of the Hidden Sword Pavilion!
The reason they were able to find them wasn't complicated. Chen Xiao's whereabouts were not a secret, and when he left the hotel to rent a car, Wang Tianying quickly tracked it down.
The rented car had a GPS tracker, so Wang Tianying followed the GPS signal.
"Who is Chen Xiao from Jiangbei?"
Wang Tianying, with a cigar in his mouth, walked to the front of the crowd. He shrugged his shoulders, and the trench coat slid off, caught by someone behind him. The entire action was incredibly smooth, as if rehearsed countless times.
Chen Xiao stepped forward, "I am Chen Xiao. Who are you?"
Wang Tianying sized up Chen Xiao and sneered dismissively, "Hmph, listen to me. I am Wang Tianying of the Hidden Sword Pavilion. You beat my people from the Hidden Sword Pavilion and didn't flee. As expected of the Supreme of Jiangbei, you indeed have some courage."
"You're talking about Ding Yi, aren't you? A dog-like person. I hit him, so what? You traveled a thousand miles to find me, surely not for revenge for him?"
Chen Xiao said with a playful tone.
Wang Tianying sneered, "He is indeed a dog-like person, but as the saying goes, you must consider the owner even when beating a dog. You beat the dog of the Hidden Sword Pavilion without our permission, which means you're not giving the Hidden Sword Pavilion face!"
"Of course, if you hand over the spiritual artifact, then you are our friend from the Hidden Sword Pavilion, and things would be different!"
Chen Xiao smiled slightly, "So, after all this fuss, it's still about that spiritual artifact. But I'm afraid, my dear Hidden Sword Pavilion, you have no face with me, Chen Xiao. Even if I wanted to give you face, I can't!"
"Damn it, you little brat, you're quite arrogant. Do you think this is Jiangbei? The冥王殿 (Underworld King Hall) are afraid of you, but we, the Hidden Sword Pavilion, are not!"
Wang Tianying said imposingly. He had mobilized hundreds of disciples from the Hidden Sword Pavilion this time, determined to capture Chen Xiao.
Of course, capturing Chen Xiao was secondary; obtaining the spiritual artifact was the primary objective!