「The next day, in Guangdong.」

In a secret room within a safe house.

Rong Zhenyu pushed open the door to the secret room and walked inside. He held a stack of telegrams, his expression somewhat complicated.

"Is there any news?"

Sun Yunyong asked Rong Zhenyu. Zhao Xuanqi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, immediately looked over as well.

"We have news."

Rong Zhenyu nodded, his expression heavy. "This time, the City Defense Army in Celestial Sea Prefecture reacted quickly. While our people were moving Zhao Qin, they were ambushed. To ensure Zhao Qin’s safe escape, Li Wenwei detonated the explosives he was carrying, successfully cutting off the enemy’s pursuit. He sacrificed himself in the process. Zhao Qin has now left Celestial Sea Prefecture according to our planned route and is out of danger for the time being."

’Li Wenwei?’

Hearing Rong Zhenyu’s words, Zhao Xuanqi paused for a moment. He recalled their first meeting—the fearless look in Li Wenwei’s eyes as he faced Zhao Xuanqi’s attack.

’That guy... is dead?’

"What’s the situation with the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked, his expression calm.

"That night, our people first made contact with Liu Changfeng. However, Celestial Sea Prefecture’s Military Officer, Hou Rong, personally led his men to surround the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall right after. Liu Changfeng stayed behind to deal with Hou Rong, buying time for the other disciples to be warned. He fought Hou Rong, was defeated, and captured. Our people were preparing to attempt a rescue, but while he was being escorted, he used the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall’s Breathing Technique to sever his own heart meridians..."

"As for the others from the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall, most escaped, but a few were arrested. The third True Inheritance disciple, Luo Moyou, has taken refuge with the Luo Family. He remains in seclusion and has publicly announced that he has severed all ties with the Martial Arts Hall. All properties belonging to the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall have been seized by Hou Rong’s men."

Rong Zhenyu said, his voice low.

’Liu Changfeng is dead too?’

Zhao Xuanqi’s expression grew even calmer.

He knew why Liu Changfeng would do such a thing.

Liu Changfeng had once said that the Martial Arts Hall was his home, and his master and martial brothers were his family. It was Weng Xiaolin who had given him a second chance at life.

’To prevent himself from becoming a pawn the enemy could use against me and Zhang Hongyun, to ensure we could focus more of our energy on rescuing Master... severing his own heart meridians is exactly the kind of thing he would do.’

Besides, knowing the situation, he could easily deduce that if he were captured, the Giant Spirit Army would never let him live, especially if Zhang Hongyun and Zhao Xuanqi were also caught.

Liu Changfeng, though his personality was somewhat conservative, was at his core an incredibly unyielding person, just like his fists.

Zhao Xuanqi gently closed his eyes. Images seemed to flash before them. When he opened them again, his expression was once more one of utter calm.

However, the Qi and Blood in his body seemed to be starting to boil.

"I’m sorry. We reacted too slowly, and our resources in Celestial Sea Prefecture are limited. Our rescue efforts weren’t strong enough."

Rong Zhenyu said with a sigh.

"It has nothing to do with you. What about my master? Is there any news?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked again.

"Yes, but it’s not good news. The Giant Spirit Army announced publicly that Weng Xiaolin has been captured, but we haven’t been able to find any specific information on where he’s being held. We even activated our informant within the Giant Spirit Military Department, but they found nothing. In the end, we accidentally got a tip from our contact at Yueguang Hospital. Half a day ago, there was an urgent, secret consultation at Yueguang Hospital, supervised by the Giant Spirit Military Department, to operate on a patient with a very serious lung condition."

"That patient with the serious lung condition was very likely Hall Master Weng. And based on our covert investigation, the surgery... seems to have failed. The patient could not be saved... The Giant Spirit Army has since locked down all information, probably to keep him as a bargaining chip to lure you and Zhang Hongyun out."

Rong Zhenyu said.

Zhao Xuanqi slowly closed his eyes. The feeling of his blood boiling within him was growing stronger and stronger.

He knew that what Rong Zhenyu said was very likely true. In his prime, Weng Xiaolin had suffered a severe injury that left a serious old wound on his lungs, which was why he hadn’t fought in many years.

If he had resisted violently when he was captured, it could very well have caused the old injury to flare up.

He was sixty-five years old, after all. His Qi and Blood were in decline. If the old wound acted up, the consequences would be dire.

’Li Wenwei is dead. Liu Changfeng is dead. Weng Xiaolin is dead. The Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall is well and truly finished...’

Who could have imagined that the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall, so imposing and at the height of its power in Celestial Sea Prefecture just a short while ago, would fall to this state overnight?

In a chaotic world, anything could happen.

’Should I blame Zhang Hongyun? He bears a great deal of responsibility, but in the end, he’s just another victim.’

’The root of it all lies with the Giant Spirit Army and the Giant Spirit Sect.’

An indescribable emotion welled up in his heart. It had been a long time since he had felt anything like it.

Liu Changfeng, Weng Xiaolin, the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall... they had all shown him kindness. And now, these people were dead before his very eyes.

’This isn’t over. Not by a long shot!’

At the same time, as this indescribable emotion brewed in his heart, the Qi and Blood in this body, a long-forgotten impulse, intensified to its peak.

Zhao Qi’s parents were killed by Warlords overnight. His family was destroyed, and he was forced to scurry like a rat in the streets, hiding here and there, a displaced refugee who had left his home behind.

How similar was that experience to what Zhao Xuanqi was facing now?

The body’s strange impulse and the fire in Zhao Xuanqi’s heart merged with violent intensity.

"I need some information."

Zhao Xuanqi muttered to himself. His gaze was utterly serene—a serenity so profound it sent a chill down the spines of both Sun Yunyong and Rong Zhenyu.

"Zhao Qi, don’t be rash," Rong Zhenyu quickly advised, worried Zhao Xuanqi would do something impulsive. "This vengeance must be exacted, but we need a long-term plan. The situation in Guangdong Prefecture is too dangerous right now. We are already arranging for an evacuation. Leave this place first, and we can make plans for the future."

"That’s right. A moment of impatience can ruin a great plan. We’ll remember this debt. Sooner or later, we will collect."

Sun Yunyong also said to Zhao Xuanqi in a grave voice.

"I’m just going to collect some interest. I’m not one of you yet, so I don’t need to listen to your orders. Of course, I’m the type to repay kindness. I will remember the favors you’ve done and the efforts you’ve made."

Zhao Xuanqi stood up and pushed open the door to the adjacent cell.

Inside the cell, Zhou Lie and Melissa were both awake. They had been bound tightly to iron chairs using a special technique, unable to move at all.

When they saw Zhao Xuanqi walk in, Melissa’s eyes showed terror, and Zhou Lie’s eyes were also filled with a kind of dread.

They were both terrified of Zhao Xuanqi.

Zhao Xuanqi walked up to Zhou Lie. Zhou Lie struggled violently, muffled sounds coming from his gagged mouth as if he was desperate to say something.

Zhao Xuanqi looked at him, his expression calm. His palm was suddenly covered by a Qi Surge, simultaneously layered with Blood Essence.

SWISH!

In a flash, his hand gripped Zhou Lie’s neck, and he gave it a light squeeze.

CRACK!!

With a sickening crunch of bone that would make one’s scalp tingle, Zhou Lie’s head flopped limply to the side. All his words remained trapped within him as his breathing ceased completely.

A great True Inheritance disciple of the Giant Spirit Sect, no different from a chicken with its neck wrung.

"Mmmph! Mmmph!!"

This act terrified Melissa, who began to tremble violently like a leaf in the wind. Intense whimpers escaped her throat as she started to struggle madly.

"Zhao Qi, you...?!"

Rong Zhenyu and Sun Yunyong were stunned by Zhao Xuanqi’s action. They wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.

"I caught them, so I have the right to deal with them. I’ve taken Zhou Lie’s life. I’ll leave this woman for you to handle. She is the daughter of the Ghost Elder, the General Director. She’s far more useful to you than Zhou Lie ever was. Consider it a bit of interest I’m paying to the National Salvation Association. As for how much you can get out of the Ghost Elder, that will depend on your own abilities."

Zhao Xuanqi said, his expression placid.

"Zhao Qi, what is it you’re trying to do?"

Sun Yunyong took a deep breath and asked Zhao Xuanqi in a heavy tone.

"I can’t destroy the entire Giant Spirit Army right now. We’ll leave that for another day. But as I said, I’m going to collect interest. Every single person who laid a hand on my master and Senior Brother Liu is going to die."

Zhao Xuanqi said faintly.