Meeting an Acquaintance Again, Qin Qiaoqiao

"What else can we do?"

A dagger appeared in Xu Mu's hand, and his figure suddenly shot towards Zhao Yide.

Several disciples nearby, seeing this, immediately blocked Xu Mu's path.

Boom!

Xu Mu merely released his Gang Qi, sending them flying away.

"Insects daring to strike at me!"

Zhao Yide sneered contemptuously, but as he raised his hand, he found Xu Mu had vanished from before his eyes.

He immediately looked around and discovered Xu Mu had somehow appeared in front of Zhao Gang, the dagger already pressed against his ear.

The plump woman behind Zhao Gang, startled by Xu Mu's sudden appearance, stumbled back in fright and fell onto the ground.

"Nobody move! Or I'll send him to the afterlife."

Xu Mu calmly looked at the few people surrounding him.

The disciples who were about to make a move, seeing Zhao Gang held hostage, stopped in their tracks and looked towards Zhao Yide.

Zhao Gang's face was full of disdain. "Xu Mu, have you lost your mind? If you dare harm a single hair on my head, I'll... AHH!"

Before he could finish, Xu Mu's dagger stabbed into Zhao Gang's injured shoulder, making him scream.

"At least in your grandfather's eyes, your life is more valuable than both of ours."

Xu Mu glanced at Zhao Yide beside him. "Isn't that right?"

Zhao Yide's expression was calm, but his heart was in turmoil. His grandson possessed great talent.

He had plans to groom Zhao Gang for the position of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sect Leader.

"My grandson's life is, of course, more valuable than yours."

Zhao Yide stood with his hands behind his back, staring at Xu Mu. "What do you want?"

"Let us go."

Xu Mu said with a smile.

"Fine. Release my grandson, and you two can leave," Zhao Yide said flatly.

"Hah, do you take me for a fool? If I let him go, would we really be able to leave?"

Xu Mu pointed at Zhao Gang. "I'm taking him with me. I'll release him once we're safe."

"And what if you kill my grandson once you're safe?"

Zhao Yide let out a cold laugh.

"Then let's each take a step back. You let Dai Xingluo leave first, and I'll stay."

Xu Mu revealed a smile.

"Brother! I'm not leaving!"

Hearing this, Dai Xingluo immediately said to Xu Mu.

"Be good. I told you I would handle this matter for you."

Xu Mu looked at Dai Xingluo with a serious expression.

"Fine. Dai Xingluo, you may go."

Zhao Yide waved his hand dismissively at Dai Xingluo.

"Once this is over, I'll have you come back."

Xu Mu offered a faint smile.

[Favorability +20]

Dai Xingluo's eyes grew slightly red. Seeing the confident smile on Xu Mu's face, she immediately turned and ran down the mountain.

"I've let her go. Now, shouldn't you release my grandson?"

Zhao Yide asked coolly.

"Not so fast. It took us about twenty minutes to get here from the ruins entrance. Let's wait another twenty minutes."

Xu Mu shrugged. "I'm right here. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Grandfather! Let's just wait the twenty minutes."

Zhao Gang's eyes were now sinister. This Xu Mu must not be let off.

...

Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Mu took out his phone to check the time. Calculating, Dai Xingluo should have gotten away by now.

He put his phone away and gradually distanced himself from Zhao Gang. "Alright, I'm releasing Zhao Gang. Now can I leave?"

"You may leave! But only for the Yellow Springs!"

Zhao Yide's body was instantly covered in green Qi as he shot towards Xu Mu.

Xu Mu showed a slight smile. He knew these people wouldn't let him go.

He quickly retreated, but in an instant, Zhao Yide was already before him.

"Hand Blade Slash!"

Zhao Yide formed his five fingers into a claw and slashed fiercely at Xu Mu.

Five streaks of green light, like sword energy, shot rapidly towards Xu Mu.

Hum!

Xu Mu activated his Heaven-grade technique, Shifting Stars. Points of starlight appeared around his body.

The five streaks of sword energy vanished the moment they touched the points of light before Xu Mu.

"What?!"

Zhao Yide's face froze in shock. Before he could react, he heard Zhao Gang's scream from behind.

"Grandfather, save me!"

Zhao Yide immediately turned and saw that his own Hand Blade Slash was now hurtling towards Zhao Gang.

He instantly pushed his power to its limit.

Boom!

The ground beneath his feet cracked. In a flash, he appeared in front of Zhao Gang and blocked his own attack.

When he looked back towards where Xu Mu had been, he found him gone.

"What are you standing around for? Chase him!"

Zhao Yide shouted at the surrounding crowd.

Xu Mu had not left the Heavenly Sword Sect. He intended to go to Blazing Sun Mountain.

However, following this route, he would likely reach Icy Soul Mountain first.

Looking up at the sky, he saw it was already growing dark.

After all, it was already afternoon when they arrived here.

He now spread his perception, checking his surroundings.

Suddenly, a person appeared in his view. It was a woman with exquisite features and hair like a waterfall.

Her face was very petite; Xu Mu felt he could cover it with his spread hand.

Her chest was similarly petite, seeming like it could be covered by just a thumb.

Was the food at the Heavenly Sword Sect that bad?

He remembered Lin Qianzhu, the Sect Leader's daughter he met before, was also... approachably flat.

This woman was holding a long sword, sparring with a middle-aged woman.

"Of all people to run into..."

Xu Mu couldn't help but mutter.

"Who's there?"

The middle-aged woman suddenly looked towards Xu Mu's direction.

In a flash, she appeared before Xu Mu.

Xu Mu sized her up. She looked to be in her forties or fifties. While she still appeared relatively young, the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes were quite pronounced.

"Senior, a misunderstanding. I'm here to see Qiaoqiao."

Xu Mu smiled and waved his hand.

The young woman was none other than Qin Qiaoqiao, granddaughter of Qin Ju from the Jiangnan Qin family.

Back when he first competed in medical skills with Chen Xuan at the Qin family, it was to treat Qin Qiaoqiao's father.

"Xu Mu!"

Qin Qiaoqiao sheathed her sword on her back and walked over in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

She could never forget this man; after all, he was her father's savior.

Her grandfather had also been urging her to spend more time with Xu Mu.

Seeing this, the middle-aged woman relaxed her guard slightly. "Qiaoqiao, who is this?"

"Master, this is the miraculous doctor I told you about, the one who saved my father."

Qin Qiaoqiao explained.

Huang Min slightly frowned and looked at Xu Mu. "Why are you here?"

Xu Mu didn't hide anything, giving a rough account of what had happened.

"I see. So, it boils down to Zhao Gang wanting revenge on you."

As Huang Min spoke, Fourth Elder Cai He from Green Wood Mountain had already caught up with his men.

Seeing Huang Min here, Cai He's expression turned serious. "Elder Huang, this Xu Mu is from the Demon Sword Sect. I'm under orders to apprehend him."

"Under whose orders?"

Huang Min asked calmly.

"Our Great Elder's orders, of course," Cai He replied.

"If he's from the Demon Sword Sect, he should be brought before the Sect Leader for judgment."

Huang Min waved her hand at Cai He. "Go back and tell Zhao Yide that I've taken him to the Sect Leader."

Cai He opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his words.

This Huang Min was the Grand Elder of the Ice Soul Mountain, someone he certainly couldn't afford to provoke. He could only lead his people back the way they came.

Only after watching them leave did Xu Mu cup his hands towards Huang Min. "My thanks, Elder."

"No need for thanks. There is a matter on which I require your assistance."

Huang Min glanced at Xu Mu indifferently. "Follow me."