Lin Xiaotian's face already showed a brilliant smile, and his eyes were filled with mockery. "Did you take everything Xiao Yan told you earlier as if it were blown by the wind?"
"Since you're being ungrateful, I don't mind ending you right here and now."
"I know you're thinking I might use you as a tool, but you don't even qualify to be my tool. I said I don't like trouble."
As his voice fell, he suddenly unleashed a palm strike.
Gui Shou had already prepared to defend himself, even considering a sudden counter-attack. But in the next moment, before he could react, Lin Xiaotian's palm fiercely struck his back.
At that instant, he felt an overwhelming surge, like a tidal wave, hitting him. He didn't even have time to defend himself before a colossal force struck him from behind.
As he was sent flying, he smashed through several trees. Upon landing, he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.
He knew the vast difference in strength between himself and Lin Xiaotian. At this moment, he was not surprised. He struggled to get up from the ground, feeling the fracture in his back. His eyes were filled with utter horror, and his gaze pleaded with terror.
"I truly know my mistake now. The gap between us is too great, and I'm no match for you. If you spare me this time, I promise I will..."
However, before he could finish, Lin Xiaotian took a step forward and was in front of him. He stomped down, directly crushing his face.
Lin Xiaotian's voice was filled with mockery. "I already told you, you don't even qualify to be a dog in front of me. Are you still trying to show off your strength here?"
"If there are things I can't handle, do you think you could possibly be of any use?"
"You're no match for me. Killing you would be no different than crushing an ant."
"What use do you think I have for keeping you?"
Gui Shou's eyes showed extreme terror and pleading. "I can help you kill people. Anyone you dislike, if you're not suited to do it yourself, I can be a shadow, serving you at any time."
"I know your strength is immense, and I'm no match for you. But no matter how strong you are, you still need someone to protect your flanks."
"As the saying goes, a single fist can't fight four hands. If you don't build your own force and have to handle everything yourself, wouldn't that be exhausting?"
"I'm different. I can hide in the shadows as your shadow. I don't need anyone to know my name. I just want to live a few more years. I don't want to die, which is why I took this risk."
"Please, give me a chance. As long as I can break through to a stronger realm, I can become a knife in your hand, striking wherever you point."
Lin Xiaotian's lips curved into a slight arc. "I already gave you a chance, but you were useless."
"As I said before, if you truly had such great strength, I would naturally give you a good opportunity. But you don't even qualify to be a dog in front of me. What use do you think I have for keeping you?"
"Stop barking at me. Right now, my only thought is to kill you."
As his voice fell, he suddenly kicked out.
Gui Shou didn't even have time to react before he was sent flying backward. Upon landing, he coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood. His gaze had clearly become unfocused, and his eyes were filled with utter horror.
It was truly unbelievable. Lin Xiaotian had no intention of giving him any chance. This kick had shattered his dantian and the sea of qi.
His internal energy, cultivated over many years, surged forth, shattering his meridians. He was now like a dying dog lying on the ground. Struggling to sit up, he had used all his strength. His eyes held extreme hatred.
"Lin Xiaotian, I pleaded with you so much, and you were unmoved. Not only that, but you crippled me?"
Hearing this, Lin Xiaotian's smile became even more pronounced. "It seems you really didn't take my words to heart. But it's fine, I don't need you to remember anything. I'll take my time on the road. If anyone wants to support you, those behind them will eventually reveal their true colors."
"Giving you a quick end is the greatest mercy I can offer. Otherwise, you would wish you were dead."
"So, I don't want to hear whether you have someone behind you or not."
After speaking, Lin Xiaotian left a smile and turned, stepping out of the woods in an instant.
Meanwhile, Gui Shou, leaning against a tree, revealed a look of extreme hatred.
He struggled to stand up, but after several attempts, he felt his entire body weak and powerless. Even managing to sit up was his limit. His eyes were filled with utter despair.
He knew he had reached his limit. Previously, with his own strength, he might have lived for a little over a year. But now, crippled by Lin Xiaotian, he felt he would soon meet the King of Hell.
Under the shroud of death's crisis, fear gradually emerged in his heart, accompanied by violent trembling. "Lin Xiaotian, why did you do this? Why is Heaven so unfair? You're just a young kid in your twenties."
"How could you possibly have such immense strength? I've cultivated for over a hundred years, yet I'm still only at the peak of Grandmaster."
His unwilling voice echoed in the night.
Soon, his voice gradually calmed down, and his words became weaker and weaker.
His unresigned roar seemed to travel only a few meters.
His eyes were slowly losing focus. He knew his time was near. At this moment, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his face revealed a look of self-resentment.
He answered the call directly, his voice trembling. "The plan you gave me was useless. Lin Xiaotian didn't take me seriously at all. He has completely crippled me now, and I'm beyond saving."
"If you still want to deal with Lin Xiaotian, then I suggest you don't need to use any other ineffective methods. The best way is to capture his friends and family."
"After investigating for so long, you should already understand Lin Xiaotian's personality. He's decisive and ruthless and won't cooperate with you in any way. I suggest you do as I say."