Unexpected reinforcements

Silence descended upon the entire hall.

The robbers, whose faces had previously been contorted in arrogant expressions, froze.

One among them stepped forward, stopping before the giant man who had been sent flying and embedded in the wall.

“Hey, Hu, are you alright?”

“You’re not trying to mess with us, are you?”

A faint groan escaped the giant man.

“If you’re really putting on an act for us, don’t blame us for reporting it to the boss.”

“I… help me… call an ambulance.”

After uttering the word ‘ambulance,’ the giant man’s head lolled to the side, and he completely lost consciousness.

No matter how much his companions tried to reassure themselves, they were forced to accept a grim reality: Xǔ Tiānlí was far from as simple as he appeared.

Feeling their gazes return to him, Xǔ Tiānlí rubbed his knuckles and spoke, “I’m in a hurry.”

“Who’s next?”

The robbers exchanged glances, their faces quickly clouding with a menacing gloom.

Their unspoken answer was delivered through action:

Attack together!

“Get him!”

“Don’t get too arrogant!”

“Even if each of us just spits, we could drown you!”

Facing their fierce onslaught, Xǔ Tiānlí suppressed the urge to retreat, his expression solemn as he met their challenge.

Meanwhile, deep within the abandoned factory.

“What’s all that noise outside?”

“How should I know?”

“Maybe it’s the Heaven’s Will Bureau attacking?”

“Don’t scare me!”

“I’ve never gone against the Heaven’s Will Bureau before.”

“I’ll be struck by divine lightning!”

“Stop messing around.”

“With our level, they’d consider using the Heavenly Thunder System a waste of electricity.”

The two robbers guarding the cell door heard the commotion from outside and, unable to bear the silence, began to chat.

“We’re not even a gang, so why did we take a job like this and provoke the Heaven’s Will Bureau?”

“How would I know?”

“You should be aware that it’s hard to make money in any business these days.”

“We’re just using a few underhanded tactics.”

“I joined a major faction, yet I’m living like a gang member.”

“Save it.”

“If there’s money to be made, that’s a win.”

“Who cares if it’s a gang or an agency?”

As they chatted, both men involuntarily glanced at the cell behind them.

The hostage remained safely inside.

Because the leader had forbidden anyone from touching her, Qiao Yíng hadn’t suffered much.

If anything, she hadn’t eaten a single meal since waking up, and her stomach was rumbling with hunger.

She had, of course, overheard the guards’ conversation and knew what was happening outside, a flicker of anticipation even stirring within her.

‘I can’t believe Uncle Féng brought people so quickly.’

‘But why are they fighting for so long out there?’

As the Wufeng City Branch Head, Féng Yè was already a Tier-3 Spirit Wielder.

Although he had no hope of reaching the Tier-4 in this lifetime, it was enough to solidify his position.

‘Strange, aren’t these guys only Tier-2 at most?’

‘In front of Uncle Féng, they should be like speed bumps.’

‘Why haven’t I seen him yet?’

‘Did Uncle Féng not come?’

‘Did only his subordinates show up?’

‘Or perhaps, the enemy concealed their true strength, deliberately waiting for Uncle Féng to walk into a trap?’

‘No, popping champagne at halftime is a huge taboo.’

Far from cheering for victory prematurely, Qiao Yíng was even worried about what would happen if everyone who came to rescue her was wiped out.

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

‘Like shouting loudly to make them notice my location sooner.’

‘If they rescue me, they won’t have any lingering worries.’

After lying on the ground and pondering for a long time, Qiao Yíng had to let out a heavy sigh.

She truly couldn’t do anything useful here.

‘I should just hold onto hope and let someone rescue me soon.’

“Hey, got a cigarette?”

“Aren’t you afraid the boss will find out?”

“The boss might have run out to meet the fight.”

“How could he possibly notice us here?”

“The thought of people fighting fiercely for us out there just makes me want one even more.”

“You sly dog, you really know how to enjoy yourself.”

Despite his complaints, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to his companion.

With a flick of a lighter, the cigarette tips ignited, and the two men immersed themselves in blowing smoke, filling the otherwise earthy cell with the pungent smell of tobacco.

Qiao Yíng, however, frowned.

Due to certain reasons, she was strictly required to maintain her image.

Not only did she despise smoking herself, but no one around her dared to smoke in her presence, forcing her to inhale secondhand smoke.

Noticing her expression, the two guards let out contemptuous laughter.

And just then—

Bang.

The sudden sound caused all three to look up, turning their attention to the direction from which it came.

The corridor, which had been relatively bright moments before, now seemed to deepen into a profound gloom, as if an unspeakable horror might emerge at any second.

“Was that… a footstep just now?”

“A delusion, perhaps?”

“Or have the people outside already finished fighting?”

The two guards stared intently at the end of the corridor, forgetting to extinguish the cigarettes in their hands.

Footsteps sounded again.

This was no delusion; someone was genuinely approaching them.

Accompanying the approaching footsteps was a gradually intensifying and strange flow of air.

“What… what’s going on?”

They both noticed that the airflow within the windless room had begun to converge in that direction, as if something were drawing it in.

The two guards were merely ordinary individuals equipped with spiritual weapons.

Having never witnessed such an anomaly, they instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.

With a spine-chilling creak of a door opening, the true owner of the footsteps finally appeared before them.

It was a tall, adult woman.

Her dark hair danced in the swirling air, and her golden eyes stared directly at them—or, more precisely, at Qiao Yíng, who was confined in the cell.

“So, you’re here?”

“Master Qín!”

Upon seeing the newcomer, Qiao Yíng’s face immediately lit up with joy, and she twisted her body, attempting to stand up.

Initially, she had thought she’d misjudged, but she hadn’t been mistaken at all.

She never expected to encounter her in such a place.

‘Did Uncle Féng actually manage to invite her?’

‘This is a sure thing now!’

‘Pop the champagne!’

As she excitedly nearly spun around, the two guards were on edge.

Even knowing that the woman nearby was causing the abnormal airflow, they didn’t immediately flee.

“Who are you?”

“Don’t come any closer!”

“We’re not to be trifled with!”

Watching them display their weapons, Mù Qīngyǔ stood with one hand on her hip, her expression impassive: “I’ll give you five seconds to leave this place, or don’t blame me for being merciless.”

“You… you tell us to run, and we just run?”

“Wouldn’t that be a massive loss of face?”

One of them actually wanted to flee but was stopped by his companion’s words.

“Just an act.”

“Even if you can change the direction of the wind, it doesn’t mean you’re dangerous.”

“Indeed, indeed.”

Qiao Yíng scoffed, even secretly hoping they would charge forward so she could witness Master Qín’s heroic display firsthand.

‘But these two small fries, in front of a hidden master, probably couldn’t even withstand a single finger.’

Mù Qīngyǔ was not angered by their provocation; instead, she let out a small laugh: “Third time’s the charm.”

“I’ll give you one last chance.”

“Leave, or don’t?”

As the last word left her lips, the gathered airflow suddenly erupted, stirring up a considerable gust of wind inside the room.

The old, rusty cell door rattled violently in this gale, subtly threatening to collapse.

The two guards were blinded by the sand stirred up by the wind, their expressions instantly crumbling.

“Go!”

“We’re going right now!”

“Survival is paramount!”

“I don’t want to die before I can spend my money!”

They dropped their weapons and scrambled past Mù Qīngyǔ, not daring to even glance at her.

Once they had scurried away, Mù Qīngyǔ ceased the commotion and quickly approached the cell door.

After enduring the fierce winds, she merely extended a finger and lightly tapped it.

The cell door crashed down, raising a cloud of dust.

Although she coughed from the dust, Qiao Yíng’s face was still beaming with joy: “Thank you for your assistance, Master.”

“But did you just let them go?”

“I don’t wish to commit meaningless slaughter.”

In truth, there was simply no other option.

If Qiao Yíng hadn’t been an audience, Mù Qīngyǔ might have considered engaging the two robbers in a fight, but that would have been far too undignified.

To maintain her image, she had to devise such an eccentric method, relying on her aura to scare the enemies away.

Her ‘Qi Accumulation Art’ certainly generated a powerful presence, enough to intimidate ignorant outsiders.

However, if they had defiantly charged forward, Mù Qīngyǔ was certain she would have run faster than a rabbit.

‘What good is an image if your life is on the line?’

“A Master is truly a Master.” Qiao Yíng, completely unaware of Mù Qīngyǔ’s inner thoughts, felt a deep sense of admiration.

“Let’s go.”

“There’s no point in staying here.”

“Don’t make Branch Head Féng worry about you any longer.”

“Alright.”

Qiao Yíng followed closely behind Mù Qīngyǔ.

“However, Master, what’s the situation outside?”

“How many people did Uncle Féng send?”

“His people aren’t here.”

“Ah?”

“It’s my good-for-nothing student who’s stalling for time.”

“A… a single person?”

Qiao Yíng’s mind flashed back to the scene of Xǔ Tiānlí causing a commotion at the martial arts hall.

Perhaps his individual strength was indeed excellent, and ordinary small fries couldn’t do anything to him.

“But the leader of these robbers is also a Tier-2, just like me.”

“Can your student really handle it, Master?”

“Are you doubting his combat ability, or my judgment?”

“Uh, I’m actually worried about his safety.”

‘You’re worried about him now?’ Mù Qīngyǔ grumbled internally.

“Are you two very close?”

“No, he put himself in danger to save me.”

“I don’t want to owe someone a life.”

Mù Qīngyǔ stopped, glancing towards the factory’s main entrance.

If they continued straight, they could exit through the small entrance she had used to sneak in, avoiding all enemies.

However, Qiao Yíng also had a point.

Xǔ Tiānlí had faced Hèlóng, who was also Tier-2, and yet Hèlóng had still managed to escape.

Just in case, it would be better to check.

If something happened to him, Mù Qīngyǔ would be utterly distraught.

“Let’s go.”

“We’ll go see my troublesome student.”

“Alright!”

Qiao Yíng excitedly followed behind Mù Qīngyǔ, her admiration for strength making her eager to see what Xǔ Tiānlí could truly accomplish when facing a genuine Tier-2 opponent.