Chapter 144: Evil Anger Hard to Dispel

Right!

He replied to the message with a hint of anger. It was true that he lacked similar experience, but comparatively, he had given the other party a chance for a comeback. Yet, the other party rejected it and utterly squandered the opportunity. He didn't know if the other party's mental agility was lacking or if they were simply afraid. Regardless, he was displeased. Such an esteemed sect, such a grand faction—with this caliber of people, what right did they have to act superior? Turning back, he knocked Xun Lingyin unconscious again.

Meanwhile, Hu Yandao, seeing the message on the Mother-Child Talisman, confirmed his suspicions, and his heart instantly turned cold.

When he received the false message, it wasn't that he hadn't considered going with the flow and counter-attacking. But what would he use to kill? This matter couldn't be revealed to outsiders, so it was impossible to mobilize a large number of people for a siege. Relying solely on him and Jin Zaogong wouldn't work. Four people had made a move there, including one from the Su Yuan Sect, yet they all failed. If he and his fellow disciple went, they wouldn't be silencing witnesses; they'd be offering themselves up to be silenced.

He had also considered informing Mu Lanqing, asking her to bring Guan Yingjie, and with the two of them joining, their combined strength would surely be greater than the previous four.

Mu Fu: Your patience has no limit.

Hearing him say that, Mu Fu let out a sound of understanding, then turned his gaze towards Chao Zhilin, his light flickering, seemingly having no further plans.

Mu Fu replied, "Let's see how long he can keep running."

Mu Fu: I'm not as ruthless as they are; I don't disregard the lives of other sects. He only sustained minor injuries; the person is still perfectly fine.

Having said that, he flashed out of the cave. He then soared into the air on a Wind Eel again, quickly disappearing into the night.

The message was adorned with a simple flower pattern.

Mu Fu: If someone doesn't die, I won't be able to vent this anger. Chao Zhilin dies, or Zhu Zedao dies—you choose one!

Wu Liang, who was watching, burst into raucous laughter, "Ling Taidao, your grandpa here will see where you run!"

Guan Yingjie said in a deep voice, "Senior Sister, this time we've encountered a formidable foe!"

Wu Liang clutched his stomach, laughing, only to be kicked in the backside by Mu Fu, who found him annoying.

Su Yuanzong said with extreme embarrassment, "The people from the Bilan Sect, they... they are gone." Ling Taidao said, "Ling Tai has already contacted me using their Roaming Cloud Mountain talisman. The situation is probably not good; please confirm again."

The Mother-Child Talisman's ability to procure items was unquestionable. Soon, he had a Wind Scale in hand. "Senior Sister," he said, "I'll go with him."

Seeing another strong light flicker from the Roaming Cloud Mountain talisman on the ground, Mu Fu took it out again, raised an eyebrow, and immediately replied, "Your junior brother's life is in my hands. Do you want to save him or not?"

Mu Lanqing replied, "I don't care about their lives or deaths. With your intelligence, you should know what I care about most."

Putting down the one she was holding, she picked up the talisman used to contact Chao Zhilin. After some hesitation on how to reply, and careful consideration, she sent two words: "Shichun."

The problem was, why wasn't Mu Lanqing afraid of someone impersonating her junior brother? Wasn't she just trying to lure them over?

Zhu Zedao, who paused and looked, immediately felt that something was wrong. He asked in surprise, "What happened?"

Both were waiting for news from Chao Zhilin and Zhu Zedao. The Roaming Cloud Mountain talismans linked to them lay on the stone table when suddenly, one began to pulse with a faint light.

Mu Fu: You almost wiped me out; I had no way out. I don't care about Jin Zaogong's life or death; you can destroy him however you want.

No matter how much respect Su Yuanzong commanded, he couldn't let everyone from their Yuan Sword Palace be put at risk, especially when they were unclear about Mu Lanqing's true strength. This group using the Roaming Cloud Mountain talismans seemed stronger than they had imagined, somewhat exceeding their expectations.

Having said that, he continued to reply to the message, asking, "How do you want to vent your anger?"

He retracted the white mist into his sleeve, then swept his hand, his robes fluttering as the dissipated dust scattered with the wind.

Mu Lanqing sighed, "It's not that I thought too little; he's already disregarding life and death and will openly challenge us at the start of the grand assembly. How could he be afraid of our threats? Judging from his perspective, we've gone too far; we've pushed him to the brink."

He felt it was better to be cautious.

And Mu Lanqing continued to reply to Shichun: "What do you want?"

Mu Fu, in the wilderness, also put away the now useless Roaming Cloud Mountain talisman. "Take the living ones with us," he commanded.

"Alright," Guan Yingjie responded, and with a flash, he exited the cave. Mu Fu: I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as them. I am far from calm right now and need to cool down before we can talk further.

Mu Lanqing: I'll consider it.

Guan Yingjie: "Then I'll handle this errand. Senior Sister, you stay here and hold the fort."

He also pulled out a Wind Scale. With a spinning motion, both he and the hostage soared into the air and departed.

Ling Tai, Xiang Huyan, and Wu Liang all turned to look at the pile of Ling Taipiao talismans on the ground. Among them, a faint light flickered, quite conspicuous in the night, clearly indicating that someone had sent a message.

In a short while, the physical body of Mu Lan withered at a visible rate, quickly disintegrating into a pile of dust as if weathered away.

Everything that should be exposed has been exposed. Staying here would mean having to guard against others' schemes. It would be better to find another place to settle.

Mu Lanqing shook her head, not wanting to argue about it further. She was at a loss for words regarding her junior brothers. "Ask around," she said, "see if anyone knows about Jin Zaogong's situation. We've been too passive, too careless, completely ignorant of our opponents' true capabilities. It's truly impressive that Ling Taipiao could train such disciples; if there's an opportunity, we must definitely pay them a visit."

The seven individuals with Mu Fu exchanged glances.

This matter would undoubtedly require full confirmation; it couldn't be judged solely on partial information.

They had come here representing their sect, bearing great expectations, only to create such a huge mess. Truly, their deaths wouldn't be regrettable enough; even dying ten thousand times wouldn't absolve them of blame.

Guan Yingjie's face also turned ashen. He regretted instigating sending people into the Moon Sea to search for someone back then. His Adam's apple bobbed as he murmured, "How could this be..."

Mu Fu immediately bent down, pulled it out, and upon seeing it, was instantly amused.

Seeing that the other party remained unfazed, he then explained, "Though I haven't directly fought those wielding the Mother-Child Talismans, I've heard of them for a long time. In a real fight, even if we win, it won't be an easy victory. The leading sects of the Four Continents are among the most powerful forces in the cultivation world; even our demonic path must be wary of them. Their elite disciples are no joke. The one surnamed Chao greatly underestimated them; otherwise, the outcome would have been hard to predict."

He took out a Roaming Cloud Mountain talisman to contact Ling Taipiao.

Mu Lanqing: "We can't all be there; someone must remain here to oversee things."

For Zhu Zedao, this was expected. After confirming, he tossed the Roaming Cloud Mountain talisman he was holding back onto the stone table, then pulled out another from his pocket and sent another message: "Junior Brother Zhu, what's the situation?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xiang Huyan flashed towards Mu Lan's junior brother. Landing, he flipped his hand and caressed the air, and a stream of energy, like a python or a dragon, shot forth and directly entered Ling Tai's mouth.

When he flashed over, Mu Fu tutted, "No wonder even Ling Taipiao's disciples are no match for him. You don't seem like an ordinary demonic cultivator."

Zhu Zedao angrily replied with two words: "You dare!"

Ling Tai, waiting by a pile of Roaming Cloud Mountain talismans, let out a cold laugh. "Finally, they've arrived!"

"Hahahahaha..." Wu Liang, who had craned his neck to watch, burst out laughing.

Xiang Huyan retorted, "Do you think you look like a demonic cultivator?"

Mu Lanqing quickly took out a Roaming Cloud Mountain talisman and replied, "Zhu Ze, are you joking?"

Mu Fu immediately replied, "Don't bother; all eight of your junior brothers are in my hands!"

What she was most worried about right now was not Chao Zhilin's safety, but that Ling Taipiao's reputation might not be salvageable. The larger the sect, the more crucial its reputation.

Guan Yingjie cried out, "How is that possible?" Su Yuanzong suddenly flashed in, his expression looking quite grim.

Both were greatly shocked upon seeing the message on the Roaming Cloud Mountain talisman.

Turning to her junior brother who was about to comfort her, she said, "Some things can't be made clear through Ling Taipiao's words. Go borrow a Wind Scale; I'll personally go to Zhu Zedao's side and clarify things first."

Mu Lanqing had already turned around, her skirt swaying gently as she approached the stone table to examine it.

Guan Yingjie also didn't return to his own group. He sat inside the cave, admiring his senior sister's silhouette under the moonlight.

Ling Tai: "I know the reputation of the Mother-Child Talisman (faction/user). As long as you give me Zhu Zedao's head, everything can be discussed. Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss."

After a moment's thought, he took out the Ling Taipiao talisman used to contact Mao Zhong and sent a message: "Junior Brother Mao, what's the situation?"

Guan Yingjie glanced back, then abruptly stood up and called out, "Senior Sister, they're here!"

Seeing that message, Mu Lanqing slumped weakly onto a stone stool. On her ice-cold face, an expression of utter exhaustion and despair appeared. Her worst fears had, after all, come true.

Mu Lanqing: "Alright."

Mu Fu tilted his head to glance at Mu Lan's corpse and replied, "Just because of that one sentence from you, your Junior Brother Zhu is gone."

Xiang Huyan, who was observing, couldn't help but take a few more glances at Mu Fu, realizing that this person truly sought revenge for every grievance. Indeed, he wasn't going to let Zhu Zedao escape.

Zhu Zedao: "We don't have enough people; it might be difficult to handle."

One thing he could be certain of was that true disciples of Wukang Mountain would never do such a thing, even if beaten to death. No wonder Bian Weiying wasn't allowed to follow; if Bian Weiying knew, she would definitely stop them.

Mu Lanqing directly threatened: "It would be as easy as flipping a hand for Ling Taipiao to wipe out Jin Zaogong!"

Zhu Zedao: "Alright."

The reason he didn't contact Mu Lanqing first was also his concern that she would pull him into a risky situation.

Not knowing what amused him, Xiang Huyan and Wu Liang also craned their necks to look, and then Wu Liang chuckled.

Inside the central cave, Zhu Zedao paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.

Mu Lanqing: "It's me. How is your junior brother now?"

It was merely an angry expression in text; in reality, he wasn't angry at all, but rather quite calm. Mu Lanqing turned and exchanged glances with Guan Yingjie. Both were somewhat surprised; they had never before seen someone speak so disrespectfully about their own sect, treating it as if it were nothing.