"Kid, you're going to die a miserable death!" Long Ao said, his voice choked with grief and indignation. "I guarantee it!"

At that moment, pinned under Lin Mu's foot, Long Ao was overcome with humiliation. His entire reputation as the leader of the Six Dragons of Jiangbei hinged on his status as a disciple of the Crane Immortal Sect. Throughout Jiangbei, no one had ever dared to offend him! Yet today, he was being repeatedly stomped on and degraded, filling his heart with a bottomless well of shame and murderous rage.

"One of the Six Dragons of Jiangbei? Please. You're more like one of the Six Worms," Lin Mu scoffed from his chair. He casually ate a grape peeled for him by Hua Meiniang, a disdainful smirk on his face. "How about we make a bet?"

"Bet on what?" Long Ao said through gritted teeth. "Don't tell me you want to bet our lives!"

"Fine by me," Lin Mu replied, leaning back in his chair. "Let's bet our lives. If you lose, your life is mine. How about it?"

"And if you lose?" Long Ao asked coldly.

A corner of Lin Mu's mouth curled up. "I won't lose."

The crowd was speechless. You don't even know what you're betting on, and you already know you won't lose? Who makes a bet like that?

Long Ao took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the intense urge to strangle Lin Mu on the spot. "Kid," he said coldly, "if you lose, the lives of you and all your people here will be under my control. How about that?"

"And her! She'll be mine too!" Long Ao pointed a finger at Hua Meiniang, a cruel glint in his eyes. This brat actually managed to get his hands on Hua Meiniang. If I win, I'll humiliate him in every way imaginable.

"Long Ao, what does this have to do with me!" Hua Meiniang cried out in alarm. How did I get dragged into this?

Before she could protest further, Lin Mu said, "Alright, I accept!"

"Bastard!" Hua Meiniang raged. "I didn't say anything! Who do you think you are, agreeing for me? What do you take me for?!"

She aimed a kick at Lin Mu, but alas, his body was now impervious to blades and spears. Her kick landed as if on solid steel, the impact sending a jolt of pain up her leg that brought tears to her eyes.

"You bastard… you're a bully!" Hua Meiniang crumpled to the ground and began to sob, a truly heart-wrenching sight.

Everyone found it hard to watch. The formidable Sister Hua, one of the Five Phoenixes of Jiangbei, had actually been made to cry by Lin Mu. If word of this got out, wouldn't every man in Jiangbei be out for Lin Mu's blood?

"Kid, just tell me what we're betting on!" Long Ao demanded, his face ashen. He had already decided that as soon as the people from the Crane Immortal Sect arrived, he would have Lin Mu killed immediately.

"Simple," Lin Mu said. "I bet that when the people from the Crane Immortal Sect see me, they will kneel and beg me to spare their worthless lives."

At these words, it wasn't just Long Ao who reacted. Even Hua Meiniang, who was crying on the ground, looked up, her eyes wide and tear-filled. "Bastard, do you have any idea what you're saying?"

She wiped away a tear and sobbed, "Don't say I didn't warn you—if you lose, this has nothing to do with me!"

Lin Mu just laughed. "What's there to be afraid of? Like I said, I won't lose."

"Kid, we'll just wait and see!" Long Ao sneered. "I'll make you regret ever provoking me!"

However, with Lin Mu's foot still on top of him, even Long Ao himself found it hard to believe his own threat, let alone anyone else.

Meanwhile, Dai Yongqing and his men hadn't dared to utter a single word. On one side were two of the most prominent figures from the Five Phoenixes and Six Dragons of Jiangbei; on the other was a madman who didn't even give the Crane Immortal Sect any face. How could he possibly dare to speak?

「About half an hour later.」

Several figures suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor. The moment they arrived, a powerful aura washed over everyone present.

"The people from the Crane Immortal Sect are here," Hua Meiniang said, her expression growing tense.

"Elder Liu, save me!" Seeing the arrivals from the Crane Immortal Sect, Long Ao's eyes lit up with hope. The hundred men he had brought were all crippled by Lin Mu, and he himself was no match for the man, having been utterly defeated and humiliated. Now, these three from his sect were his only hope.

"Long Ao, what happened here?"

Soon, the three men walked in. The one in the lead was an old man in a long robe. He had a naturally commanding presence and radiated an immense aura of power. Behind him were two young men dressed in the attire of the Crane Immortal Sect, each with a sword strapped to his back. They looked like wandering young heroes from ancient tales, except for the haughty expressions and air of arrogant superiority they wore.

"Elder Liu, please, save me!" Long Ao cried out. "Quick, kill this brat! He disrespected our Crane Immortal Sect!"

Elder Liu's gaze sharpened as he focused on Lin Mu. "Release him!" he barked.

"Hmm?" Lin Mu said nonchalantly. "You want him? Here you go."

He kicked Long Ao, sending him flying with a miserable scream.

"You're courting death!" Elder Liu snorted. Stomping a foot on the ground, his body shot out like a great roc. Amid the crowd's gasps of astonishment, he closed the distance in an instant, catching Long Ao. He grabbed the younger man by the collar and flew back to his original spot. The entire sequence was incredibly fast yet flowed as smoothly as water, a true display of a master's skill.

"Master is mighty!" the two Crane Immortal Sect disciples cheered, their expressions growing even more smug.

After setting Long Ao down, Elder Liu stared coldly at Lin Mu. "So young, yet your methods are so vicious. It seems I must teach you how to conduct yourself!"

"Master, given your esteemed status, why should you dirty your hands with a mere commoner?" one of the disciples interjected, eager to impress. "Allow your disciple to handle this."

"Very well," Elder Liu nodded. "Qing Yun, do not take his life until we have all the facts."

"Yes, Master, I understand!" The disciple named Qing Yun nodded. He exchanged a subtle glance and nod with Long Ao.

Then, he started walking slowly toward Lin Mu, a murderous intent gleaming in his eyes. He and Long Ao were close in private. Long Ao had often used his wealth to lavish gifts upon Qing Yun in exchange for the prestige of associating with a sect disciple. Whenever Qing Yun left the sect, Long Ao would provide him with the best food and drink. In return, Qing Yun had helped Long Ao solve many problems, securing his position as the head of the Six Dragons of Jiangbei. Seeing his patron humiliated so badly, he was naturally eager to get revenge. I can't kill him, but swords don't have eyes. I'm sure Master won't say anything if I just happen to cripple him.

Watching the disciple approach, Lin Mu remained completely unfazed. He spoke calmly, "Xiao Lin, you're up."

"Yes, Godfather!" Liu Xiaolin had been waiting impatiently. Hearing his name, he ran out excitedly.

"Son!" Liu Zijian cried out in alarm, lunging forward but failing to catch him.

Lin Mu smiled. "Zijian, don't worry. An ordinary disciple who hasn't even condensed his Sword Intent is no match for our son."

"But Brother Mu, Xiao Lin isn't even five years old!" Although he knew his son had received a great opportunity, Liu Zijian couldn't help but worry.

"Aren't I here?" Lin Mu chuckled. "Relax. I wouldn't let anything happen to my godson either."

"Alright then," Liu Zijian agreed helplessly. Still, how could he not be worried watching his four-year-old son face off against a disciple from a martial sect?

He wasn't the only one; the others were just as shocked.

Qing Yun's face turned ugly. "Kid, are you trying to insult me? I don't bully children!"

Liu Xiaolin, however, simply clenched his small fists and said with an innocent air, "Don't be nervous. I promise I won't use my full strength."

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