Lin Xiao was taken aback. He asked anxiously, "Third Master, I'm a bit of a coward, so don't try to scare me. What trouble am I in?"

To be honest, Lin Xiao wasn't afraid of trouble. With his formidable background, what was there to fear? But for his Third Master, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Machine Pavilion, to say something like that, it definitely wasn't a trivial matter. That was why Lin Xiao was so eager to know the details.

His Third Master said in a deep voice, "The word has spread throughout the jianghu that your wife's Dantian contains an extraordinary level of cultivation. Whoever sleeps with her can achieve enlightenment overnight and become the world's number one expert. If nothing unexpected happens, a large number of masters will soon be heading her way!"

Hearing this, Lin Xiao was instantly furious. He had the sudden urge to go and whip Gao Yi's corpse. It was all that scumbag's fault. If he hadn't reported the matter to the Ninth Hall Master of the Ghost Medicine Sect, none of this would be happening. But anger was useless now. The most pressing matter was to get his cultivation back and ensure Su Qingning was well protected.

"I already know about this," Lin Xiao said.

"You know?" His Third Master sounded surprised.

Lin Xiao didn't hide anything and explained the whole situation to him. After listening, the old man asked in a grave tone, "So, it was people from the Ghost Medicine Sect who discovered this?"

"Yes!"

"Kid, what's your plan?"

"What else? I need to get my cultivation back as soon as possible!"

"And what if you can't? What I mean is, should I have the First Master select a team of experts from the Martial Alliance to protect Su Qingning?"

The 'First Master' his Third Master referred to was, of course, Lin Xiao's Eldest Master, the Alliance Hierarch of the Martial Alliance.

"No need. I've already arranged for two top experts to be by my wife's side."

"Shen Jingzhe and Bei Kuang?" his Third Master asked.

As expected of someone in the intelligence business, his Third Master was incredibly well-informed.

"That's right."

"Alright then. However, I have a couple of things to remind you of."

"Third Master, please, go ahead," Lin Xiao said, a pang of guilt in his voice.

"First, get your cultivation back as soon as you can. It's not just for your own good, but for Su Qingning's as well. Second, if you need us to do anything, tell us immediately. Don't be afraid to trouble us. Honestly, the powers we've built, the money we've made—it's all been for you!"

Warmth spread through Lin Xiao's heart. "I will, Third Master."

"Good. I won't say any more. Just be careful."

"Understood."

They both hung up.

When Lin Xiao arrived at the abandoned factory, he had just stepped out of the car when he felt a faint trace of killing intent. It seemed Xiang Nai had already arrived with her people. They were really eager to die. Lin Xiao was quite pleased with her performance.

After getting out of the car, Lin Xiao deliberately made a racket as he swaggered into the derelict factory. The spacious building was completely empty; there didn't seem to be a soul inside. But based on what he'd just sensed, Lin Xiao had already pinpointed his adversaries' approximate location.

He was just about to reveal himself when the factory's large doors began to slowly grind shut. As they closed, seven figures suddenly emerged in the previously empty space. The group consisted of men and women, but besides Xiang Nai, Lin Xiao didn't recognize any of them.

"Xiang Nai, is this the target you mentioned? Why does he look like a beggar?" one of them suddenly asked her, his tone arrogant and disdainful. The speaker was a short, scrawny man who looked like a monkey, with an exceptionally sleazy appearance. The killing intent Lin Xiao had sensed earlier was emanating from him. Moreover, the moment Lin Xiao saw him, he could tell the man was merely a Profound Level Martial Artist.

Xiang Nai nodded. "Fujino-kun, that's him."

The man's sharp gaze landed on Lin Xiao. "Kid, hand over the Mountains and Rivers Diagram, and we'll spare your life!" he said in stiff Chinese, his tone insufferably arrogant.

Lin Xiao had to laugh. A mere Profound Level Martial Artist dared to act so tough in front of him? Who gave him the confidence?

Lin Xiao took out the Mountains and Rivers Diagram and waved it at him. "You want it?" he said with a sneer. "Come and get it yourself if you've got the guts."

His words enraged the man, who let out a furious roar and charged at Lin Xiao. The rest of the group watched with amusement, as if enjoying a show. A few even let out scornful chuckles, obviously mocking Lin Xiao for courting death.

Xiang Nai, however, wasn't smiling. The eyes visible above her mask held an exceptionally complex expression; it was impossible to know what she was thinking.

In a flash, Fujino was upon Lin Xiao, swinging his fist in a heavy blow aimed at his head. His speed wasn't slow—at least, in the eyes of his companions, Fujino was very fast. Seeing him strike, they began yelling excitedly, spouting some bird language Lin Xiao couldn't understand, as if Fujino had already won.

Lin Xiao stood perfectly still. The instant Fujino made his move, Lin Xiao moved as well.

Fujino was fast, but Lin Xiao was faster. He was so fast that before the jeering crowd could even react, a crisp CRACK echoed through the factory. The cheers and shouts died instantly. The noisy scene fell deathly silent. After a brief pause, a thunderous scream erupted, so piercing it was like the shriek of a demon from hell, chilling everyone to the bone.

That's right, Fujino was dead. His head had been obliterated by a single punch from Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao's gaze slowly swept over the remaining scum. Wherever his eyes went, they clapped their hands over their mouths in unison, their visible eyes filled with boundless terror. As his gaze passed over them, they began to tremble uncontrollably, and a few of the more cowardly ones wet their pants.

Xiang Nai appeared calmer than the others, but only on the surface. Inwardly, a storm was raging in her heart. She had always thought Lin Xiao was just a master of poison, that her submission to him was forced. Only now did she realize how naive and foolish she had been. The man before her was nothing short of a devil. Yes, fear was now showing in Xiang Nai's eyes, as if she expected him to blow her head apart in the next second. But following the fear came an unprecedented impulse. Xiang Nai wanted to kneel at Lin Xiao's feet, to submit to him, to be his obedient dog. She even felt that if Lin Xiao ordered her to die right now, she wouldn't hesitate for a single second. The saying that people from the Cherry Blossom Country admire the strong was absolutely true.

If Lin Xiao knew what Xiang Nai was thinking at this moment, he'd probably be speechless for a good while.

Just as the others were scared out of their wits, Lin Xiao turned to Xiang Nai and smiled.

"Xiang Nai, the rest are yours. I don't want them to see tomorrow's sun."

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