Long Xiao was locked in a cage. Outside, Xiao Ming and Luo Tianshui, who were waiting, didn't know this. After waiting for a while and seeing only the short man come out, they sensed something was wrong.
"Little guy, why did you come out alone? Where's Brother Long?" Xiao Ming asked, stepping forward.
The short man looked at Xiao Ming, then at Luo Tianshui, and said, "That kid just now, he ran into an acquaintance and is chatting. He told you to go in and find him."
As the two were about to enter the iron gate, they felt something was amiss. Luo Tianshui asked, "Who is Brother Long chatting with?"
"An old woman, seems like his mother-in-law."
Xiao Ming, who had just stepped through the iron gate, stopped. He thought to himself that Brother Long wouldn't be chatting with his mother-in-law. This short man was lying.
Xiao Ming turned around and swung his cleaver towards the short man's neck. The short man slid forward, like a loach, dodging Xiao Ming's cleaver.
Xiao Ming and Luo Tianshui used the 'Ghost Profound Steps,' moving with extreme speed, but they couldn't hit the short man.
Seeing that the two had realized they were tricked and weren't fooled, the short man immediately dispersed his qi, intending to control Xiao Ming and Luo Tianshui.
Luo Tianshui had little qi and couldn't project it outwards. Although Xiao Ming had abundant life qi, he didn't know how to project it. Therefore, neither of them could contend with the short man's qi.
The two moved their feet with difficulty, trying to escape the short man's control. The short man walked towards them with a smile and knocked them both flying with a single punch each.
Spitting blood, they fell to the ground like tattered rags. Xiao Ming's chest caved in, and his nose and mouth were filled with blood.
Luo Tianshui was less severely injured than Xiao Ming, but several of his ribs were broken, and his mouth was full of blood.
Seeing that the two were beyond saving, the short man snorted and said, "What kind of trash dared to intrude on my laboratory? Seeking death."
The short man turned and left, certain that the two would die, so he didn't make another move.
After the short man had gone far away, a cracking sound came from within Xiao Ming, and his caved-in chest began to recover.
Once he had recovered somewhat, Xiao Ming got up and went to Luo Tianshui's side, asking, "Brother Luo, can you hold on?"
Luo Tianshui struggled to get up and said, "I'll manage. I have medicine."
He took out a few small pills from his pocket and swallowed them. Before he could fully swallow, he coughed, spitting out the pills along with fresh blood.
Xiao Ming sighed, grabbed Luo Tianshui's hand, and infused him with some life qi.
Xiao Ming had been cultivating 'Dragon Abyss' for a short time, and it was still a bit unpolished. Thus, it took him five minutes for Luo Tianshui's injuries to show signs of improvement.
Luo Tianshui felt his body rapidly recovering. He looked at Xiao Ming and asked strangely, "Xiao Ming, how do you have life qi within you?"
Xiao Ming chuckled and said, "I cultivate life qi. This kind of qi is suitable for becoming a doctor. You can call me Doctor Ming from now on."
"Get lost. Relying on your own qi as a doctor, you won't be able to treat many patients before it's all used up," Luo Tianshui said, baring his teeth at Xiao Ming.
While the two were healing their internal injuries, Long Xiao and the people in the cage had started fighting.
Although these people had no qi, their physical strength was immense, and their speed was incredible. It was difficult for Long Xiao to subdue them quickly.
At first, Nan Gongyue stood by and watched. After a while, she let out a strange cry and rushed in, also wanting to take a bite out of Long Xiao.
Long Xiao used 'Chimei Xiaoyao Steps' to move quickly within the iron cage. A group of people surrounded and pursued him, trying to bite him.
While dodging, Long Xiao took out silver needles, looking for an opportunity to incapacitate one of them first.
To Long Xiao's surprise, when he tried to prick a fat man with a silver needle, it felt like stabbing into an iron plate; it wouldn't penetrate at all.
Long Xiao was stunned, and the fat man punched him, sending him flying.
The punch was heavy, making Long Xiao feel short of breath. Although the symptom vanished instantly, it still shocked him.
He hadn't detected any qi emanating from the fat man's body. This meant the punch was delivered using only his physical strength.
Long Xiao didn't dare to linger. After taking the punch, he quickly moved away from his original position. The moment he moved, several hands reached out to grab him.
With no other choice, Long Xiao sped up, shouting as he ran, "Little guy, hurry up!"
The 'Crimson Flame Worm' flapped its wings vigorously at the iron lock. The lock was only just starting to glow red and hadn't melted yet.
"Can you do it? I can't hold on much longer," Long Xiao shouted.
The 'Crimson Flame Worm' couldn't melt the iron lock and flew towards the people in the iron cage.
A wave of heat swept over, setting the clothes of several people on fire. Long Xiao, afraid of burning Nan Gongyue to death, rushed over to help extinguish the flames.
After the fire on Nan Gongyue was put out, she looked at Long Xiao foolishly and asked, "Who are you? Why are you helping me?"
"Mom, it's me, Long Xiao. Why don't you recognize me?" Long Xiao asked Nan Gongyue, looking at her strangely.
"Oh, you're my good son-in-law, Long Xiao! You've come to rescue me, haven't you?" Nan Gongyue said happily.
Long Xiao nodded and said, "Yes, I came to rescue you. Why are you still attacking me?"
"I wasn't attacking you. What nonsense are you talking about? If you're here to save me, how will we get out? I see you've been locked in too."
Long Xiao waved at the 'Crimson Flame Worm' and said, "Go burn it again quickly."
The 'Crimson Flame Worm' flew to the iron lock and began to flap its wings again, burning the lock. Nan Gongyue stood aside, watching curiously, like a child watching her toys.
The other people, having just put out the fire on themselves, didn't dare to attack Long Xiao anymore. The iron cage was filled with the smell of roasted meat. The people sniffed the air and looked at each other, as if the person next to them was a rare delicacy they wanted to bite.
While the people were looking at each other, Long Xiao went to the entrance of the iron cage, waiting for the 'Crimson Flame Worm' to break the iron lock.
After a minute, the 'Crimson Flame Worm' had made the iron lock glow red, but it still hadn't melted.
Long Xiao was getting impatient. He saw that the people in the iron cage had stopped looking at each other and were now all focused on him.
"Crimson Flame Worm, get away quickly!" Long Xiao shouted urgently.
The 'Crimson Flame Worm' flew back to Long Xiao's shoulder. Just as the people were about to make a move, they saw the 'Crimson Flame Worm' staring at them menacingly, and they quickly retreated.
Long Xiao knew there was no more time to wait. He reached out, grabbed the glowing red iron lock, and twisted it with all his might.
A puff of green smoke rose, carrying the smell of burning and roasted meat. Long Xiao shivered in pain. He continued to exert force; if he let go now, all his efforts would be in vain.
With a click, the red-hot iron lock snapped. Long Xiao removed the lock, his right hand trembling, and threw the lock on the ground.
He kicked open the iron gate and shouted, "Mom, we can go now."
Long Xiao, holding his injured hand, rushed out of the iron cage. The others followed and also left the cage.
Long Xiao expected Nan Gongyue to follow him. After a few steps, he looked back and saw Nan Gongyue climbing onto the roof of the iron cage. The others, like spiders, some clinging to the top of the cage, some to the ceiling.
These people's hands seemed to have suction cups. The moment their hands touched the wall, they could adhere firmly.
"Mom, we should go," Long Xiao shouted loudly.
His shout, instead of making her move, caused Nan Gongyue to zip up to the roof and hang from it.
"Who are you? Do we know each other?" Nan Gongyue asked in a sweet, charming voice.
"I am your son-in-law, Long Xiao," Long Xiao replied.
Nan Gongyue let out a cackling laugh and said, "Whose son-in-law are you? How could I have a son-in-law like you?"