CLANG!

A crisp, metallic ring echoed like a white rainbow piercing the sun. A blade descended from the sky, striking Daoist Buji's longsword with pinpoint accuracy.

CLANK!

The flash of a blade split the longsword in two, and a figure immediately followed, landing on the ground with a boom.

"Qing Yu?!" Seeing the newcomer, Daoist Buji's expression changed. "You're still alive?"

The man was one-armed, holding a red Miao Knife. It was none other than Li Xiaotian.

"No thanks to you, I managed to survive!" Li Xiaotian stared at Daoist Buji with a frosty expression. "Buji, I've been searching for you all these years. I never expected you to show up here. It seems the heavens do have eyes!"

"Master, leave Buji to me!" Li Xiaotian said, his eyes filled with undisguised hatred as he glared at the Daoist.

"Master?" Hearing Li Xiaotian's words, Buji was momentarily stunned before sneering, "If our old master were still alive, I wonder if he'd admit he was blind. He betrothed our junior sister to you, and just a few short years later, you've already taken someone else as your master."

"Traitor?" Li Xiaotian held his Heavenly Punishment Blade horizontally, his killing intent flaring. "Buji, how dare you say that? Back then, Dao Zheng's kindness toward you was immeasurable, and our master treated you like his own son. But you repaid that kindness with treachery, murdering our master and causing the entire Xiaozhuang Monastery to be annihilated!"

Li Xiaotian's voice was filled with deep-seated hatred. "Before our master died, he ordered me to personally kill you and avenge all our fellow disciples from Xiaozhuang Monastery!"

Pointing his blade at Buji, Li Xiaotian's eyes turned blood-red as he roared, "You are the real traitor of Xiaozhuang Monastery!"

This was the first time Lin Mu had ever seen Li Xiaotian so enraged. Even when facing the High Priest who had betrayed his own people, Li Xiaotian's hatred had not been this palpable. From their exchange, Lin Mu gathered that Li Xiaotian was originally from Xiaozhuang Monastery and was a fellow disciple of this Daoist Buji.

"Hahaha!" Buji suddenly burst into laughter, then ground out through gritted teeth, "I'm the traitor? I was clearly the eldest senior brother of Xiaozhuang Monastery! Why would Master pass his position to you? Was it just because he married our junior sister to you?"

"Let's not call the kettle black, Qing Yu. If you want to kill me, you'll have to show me some real skill!" Buji flicked his wrist, flourishing his sword. "I was able to wound you gravely back then, and I'm even stronger now. Killing you will be as easy as slaughtering a chicken!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling light erupted from his longsword, whistling toward Li Xiaotian.

"Buji, if you hadn't used such despicable tricks, how could you have possibly injured me?" Li Xiaotian advanced fearlessly, blade in hand. "I haven't been idle all these years either!"

WHOOSH!

He slashed out with the Heavenly Punishment Blade. A ferocious torrent of energy carrying an unstoppable momentum shot forward, shattering Buji's sword light.

"Hmm?" Buji's expression shifted slightly as he sneered, "No wonder you're so bold. It seems you have gotten much stronger."

Murderous intent gleamed in Li Xiaotian's eyes as he charged forward. "Buji, today we settle the score! For Dao Zheng, for the hundreds of people from Xiaozhuang Monastery, and for our junior sister!"

Li Xiaotian bellowed as the Heavenly Punishment Blade erupted with a blinding light. Fierce waves of blade energy howled in every direction, gouging deep ravines into the ground. Unwilling to yield, Buji met him head-on. The two exchanged blows, their sword and blade clashing, occasionally unleashing terrifying waves of sword intent and blade energy.

Watching them fight, Lin Mu realized it wouldn't be over any time soon. He slowly shook his head. The grudge between Li Xiaotian and Daoist Buji was for them to resolve. He had his own business to attend to.

"Heh, you think you can just leave?" Lin Mu had just turned when he spotted Qiao Tianhao and his son trying to slip away. He offered them an indifferent smile.

Blocked from escaping, Qiao Tianhao immediately began to beg. "Master Lin, what will it take for you to spare my son? Money? Treasures? I'll give you half of my entire fortune!"

Half his fortune was an astronomical figure, an amount that countless people could never dream of earning in several lifetimes. If Lin Mu agreed, he would instantly possess immense wealth and numerous properties, becoming one of River City's top figures overnight.

"Master Lin, I'm not boasting, but you can't even begin to imagine how much half my fortune is," Qiao Tianhao pressed, certain Lin Mu would agree. "As long as you agree to spare my son, I'll give you anything you want!"

Even though Lin Mu was a Martial Arts Grandmaster, that didn't mean he was good at business. Martial artists dedicated their lives to the Martial Way, leaving no time or energy for investments. Otherwise, so many of them wouldn't be willing to work as bodyguards for the wealthy.

However, faced with Qiao Tianhao's temptation, Lin Mu slowly shook his head.

"Sorry, I only have one demand: his life." Lin Mu pointed at Qiao Zishan. "As soon as he is dead, I will leave immediately without touching anything else that belongs to the Qiao Family. But if you continue to obstruct me, don't blame me for being merciless!"

Perhaps anyone else would have accepted Qiao Tianhao's terms without hesitation. The offer was incredibly tempting and practical. Compared to taking a life just to vent anger, most people would choose the tangible reward.

Unfortunately for them, Lin Mu was the sole exception. He wasn't short on money. Or rather, he could have as much as he wanted, whenever he wanted. He had no need to make a deal with Qiao Tianhao. Killing Qiao Zishan was a promise he'd made to his body's original owner and to himself. The Heavenly Emperor's vow is eternal!

"Lin Wudi, must you be at irreconcilable odds with my Qiao Family?" Qiao Tianhao said through clenched teeth. "Do you honestly believe I can't use my name, Qiao Tianhao, to summon countless experts to hunt you down?"

"Even a Martial Arts Grandmaster can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. You can't fight forever; you'll eventually tire." As the richest man in River City for many years, Qiao Tianhao wielded immense influence. If he was willing to pay the price, he could hire not just men like Chi Xiao or Daoist Buji, but true Martial Arts Grandmasters. The cost, however, was so high that even he would find it difficult to bear.

"If you keep pushing me, then I'll have no choice but to take you down with me!" Qiao Tianhao shielded Qiao Zishan behind him, staring fearlessly at Lin Mu. "Zishan, don't be afraid. With me here, no one will dare to touch a single hair on your head!"

Qiao Zishan was deeply moved, vowing that if he survived this, he would change his ways and be a better son to his parents.

"Right, Dad, don't worry. I'm not scared!" Qiao Zishan seemed to regain his confidence, looking at Lin Mu with a hint of pride. "Master Lin, Lin Wudi, is the price to your satisfaction? If it is, let's call it a deal."

Seeing Lin Mu remain silent, Qiao Zishan assumed he was tempted and continued, "Do you have any idea how much money my family has? Honestly, even I don't know the full amount. Just give the nod, and half of the Qiao Family's fortune is yours."

A faint, smug smile played on Qiao Zishan's face. He didn't believe there was anyone in this world who didn't love money. Everyone has a price.

"I'm sorry, but compared to the Qiao Family's fortune, I'd still rather take your life."

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