Chapter 159
Looking at the old man with all-white hair in front of him, Xiao Chen instinctively felt a sense of crisis. He knew this was the oppressive feeling caused by the achievement in national arts.
Xiao Chen immediately put away his cautious thoughts and said respectfully, “This uncle?”
“Uncle? I’m about the same age as your master. Calling me uncle seems to make me younger,” the old man said with a laugh.
Xiao Chen also smiled upon hearing this. The old guy seemed easy to talk to. “Hehe, not at all. The master walks silently, with a ruddy complexion, clearly showing the achievement in national arts and is in great health. Calling you uncle is not too much.”
“Ha! Still a slick talker,” the elder, Zhong Xincheng, said as he handed the item to Xiao Chen, adding, “This is something your master asked me to bring to you. Take it.”
Xiao Chen took the bag with a slightly bitter expression; “Just this woven bag was sent, what good things can it have?”
Zhong Xincheng laughed and scolded, “You really don’t appreciate kindness. Would Wang Yannian send anything ordinary? If I could beat that old guy, I would have robbed his treasury long ago.”
Xiao Chen, holding the bag, looked at the old man in front of him with a wary face.
“No need to hide it. The things you use, I wouldn’t even glance at.”
Xiao Chen felt much more relaxed upon hearing this, but thinking about how people from the Donghai were searching everywhere for him, he worriedly said, “Uncle, you’re not going to just give me the stuff and leave, right?”
Zhong Xincheng, seeing Xiao Chen’s fearful look, laughed and said, “I thought you were fearless, even daring to kill the eldest son of the Li family.”
“Don’t worry. I will accompany you until you meet Li Weifeng, that old kid. This is what I agreed with Wang Yannian. But let’s make it clear, you can’t cause trouble anymore, otherwise, even I can’t protect you.”
“And don’t call me uncle anymore, just call me Elder Zhong!”
“Alright, Elder Zhong. You don’t know my current situation. I feel like everyone in Donghai wants to kill me, and I don’t even know what I did wrong for them to treat me this way.”
Zhong Xincheng sighed, “You say you were engaged to the eldest daughter of the Li family, and then you killed your big brother-in-law. What were you thinking?”
“I… I was framed by someone.”
He was set up by Su Lin, but fundamentally, it was because Xiao Chen couldn’t stand being wronged and killed indiscriminately. However, Zhong Xincheng and Wang Yannian didn’t know about these things, so Xiao Chen could say whatever he wanted.
“People are more sinister than those on your bald mountain, you know?”
“Understood!”
“Alright, go rest. I’ll accompany you to the Li family tomorrow.” After saying that, Zhong Xincheng disappeared in front of Xiao Chen.
Holding the woven bag, Xiao Chen headed towards the inn, eager to find out what exactly Wang Yannian had brought him. Upon opening the bag, there were only three items inside: a notebook, a jade pendant, and a bottle of pills.
Opening the notebook, Xiao Chen was instantly captivated. It recorded Wang Yannian’s cultivation experiences over the years, including notes about the jade pendant.
He suspected that the jade pendant was an ancient martial artifact but had never understood how to use it. Therefore, he handed it to Xiao Chen for research.
Xiao Chen delved into studying the jade pendant, unaware that danger was approaching.
On the national highway from Donghai to the suburbs, Su Lin and Li Ziyu were sitting in a car. This time, there were eight people in total: Su Lin, Li Ziyu, five martial arts masters, and an old man.
Su Lin glanced at the old man and shook his head. He was already a grandmaster, so he could clearly sense the old man’s aura, which seemed to be stuck at the pinnacle of grandmasters, unable to break through. At such an old age, a breakthrough was unlikely.
Su Lin wasn’t optimistic about this ambush, but he still came, not for any other reason but because Li Ziyu insisted on trying. He knew that if he didn’t go, Li Ziyu would definitely fail. What would happen then?
Instead of guessing, it was better to be actively involved.
Even if Wang Yannian showed up, Su Lin was confident he could escape, as he was not only a grandmaster in national arts but also in martial arts, so light body techniques were not a problem.
“Su Lin, you’ve been frowning the whole time. Do you think we’re definitely going to fail?” Li Ziyu asked, puzzled.
She couldn’t understand how, with such a luxurious lineup, Xiao Chen could possibly escape.
Su Lin shook his head, “I didn’t say we’d definitely fail, but the chances of failure are quite high.”
“Ziyu, have you ever thought about it? The Ghost Doctor is such a cunning old fox, and he has friends all over the country. What if he asks a big shot to look after Xiao Chen? What if it’s a Grandmaster? What will you do then?”
Li Ziyu frowned and then said, “There are only a few Grandmasters in Donghai, aside from those from the Li family, I haven’t heard of any other families having connections with Wang Yannian.”
“Hehe, Donghai is vast. Who knows if there are a few Grandmasters lurking somewhere?”
“Why did you still follow us here then?” Li Ziyu asked with a raised eyebrow.
Su Lin smiled, “That’s because you came too. I wouldn’t want to see my partner die just like that.”
“You are the only one here without martial strength. If they capture you and coerce those masters, I think they would be greatly hindered and might end up failing completely.”
“So, it’s better to come along and ensure your safety.”
Li Ziyu looked into Su Lin’s eyes, finding his gaze sincere. “Su Lin, you are a man shrouded in mystery.”
Su Lin smiled, “Then you better not be curious about me. As they say, a woman’s curiosity towards a man is the beginning of her downfall.”
Li Ziyu chuckled, “I have seen plenty of outstanding men. Although you’re not bad, you’re not flawless.”
Su Lin nodded, “Correct, I never considered myself a perfect man. It’s just a friendly reminder. After all, I am someone who has a girlfriend.”
“Indeed, and not just one.” Li Ziyu showed a light smile, graceful yet comforting.
Su Lin sighed, “Ziyu, you should smile more. You look much better smiling than keeping a straight fact.”
Li Ziyu immediately withdrew her smile, returning to her unflappable demeanor.
Su Lin shook his head, “Boring.”
As they approached the building, Li Ziyu coldly said, “We’re here. I won’t accompany you guys. My presence would only cause trouble.”
Su Lin sighed helplessly, “Then why did you insist on coming?”
“I need to see Xiao Chen dead with my own eyes, or at least let him know that I want to kill him. This way, even if today’s ambush fails, he will likely give up on our arranged marriage…” Li Ziyu said indifferently.
Su Lin felt somewhat helpless. Xiao Chen’s character would hardly give up, conquering a woman who wants to kill him would be even more thrilling.
As Su Lin was about to get off the car, he sensed a powerful presence on a rooftop not far away. Su Lin instantly looked over and saw an elderly man with white hair standing on the rooftop, looking towards their three cars.
“Xiao Chen, hurry up and leave. We have guests.”
Xiao Chen, who was playing with the jade pendant, immediately got angry upon hearing someone was coming for him again.
With a slight force, the jade pendant in his hand shattered, then Xiao Chen quickly felt a chill in his palm, and hundreds of golden characters appeared in the room.
These characters gradually arranged into short phrases, striking directly at Xiao Chen’s temple.
“Xiao Chen…”
“Xiao Chen…” Zhong Xincheng, not hearing any response, cursed Xiao Chen for being a lousy teammate.
He sensed Su Lin’s Grandmaster aura. At this moment, even his own safety was in question, yet Xiao Chen was hiding in the room.
Didn’t he know that every second he delayed, the longer Zhong had to hold off? He couldn’t think any longer about it. He leaped down from the building and headed straight for Su Lin.
The few masters who had just gotten off the car felt the powerful presence and changed color simultaneously: “A Grandmaster!!”
Su Lin said coldly, “Ignore him. This person is mine to deal with. You go kill Xiao Chen.”
After speaking, Su Lin lightly tapped his foot and flew past like a bullet, his movements elegant and graceful, leaving Li Ziyu in the car stunned.
“Bang!”
Su Lin and Zhong Xincheng clashed palms and retreated simultaneously. Su Lin just slightly shifted his stance and landed on a tree.
Zhong Xincheng, however, retreated seven or eight steps, each step leaving a foot imprint several centimeters deep.
“Energy projection, late-stage Grandmaster, damn it! Energy projection, such a young Grandmaster, Wang Yannian, you trickster.”
Despite expecting this, seeing Zhong Xincheng, Su Lin still wore a serious face.
“Young man, reaching Grandmaster at such a young age, who is your master?”
Su Lin sneered, “Trying to find out? If you’re scared, just step aside. I’ll go kill Xiao Chen and then come back to tell you who my master is.” Saying that, Su Lin’s figure flashed towards Xiao Chen.
At this moment, he was truly intent on killing. Even at the expense of Li Ziyu, if he could completely kill Xiao Chen, Su Lin felt it would be worth it. His nature was such that if he decided to make a move, it would be thunderous.
Zhong Xincheng’s face changed drastically. He could genuinely feel Su Lin’s relentless killing intent. If Su Lin encountered Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen would undoubtedly die.
Zhong Xincheng quickly kicked three pebbles towards Su Lin.
Feeling the force, Su Lin dodged.
Zhong Xincheng was already close by: “With this old man here today, you can’t touch Xiao Chen.”
“Then you can die.” Su Lin, aiming for a quick resolution, revealed silver needles in his hand, starting with the Taiyi Divine Needle’s Yang Flame Needle.
“Th-This… Why do I feel the breath of death?” Zhong Xincheng internally cursed at the monstrosity, thinking it was just a simple escort mission. He hadn’t expected to have to fight for his life so soon.