In an instant.
A red-robed figure flashed from the distant horizon, appearing in midair with hands clasped behind his back, gazing down indifferently at the two… and the crimson dragon beside them.
“…”
This guy doesn’t seem friendly…
Shen Mu looked up at the red-robed man standing in the air, his expression growing even graver.
The man’s dark hair flowed freely, his crimson eyes blazed like fire, and his demeanor was cold.
His red robe, embroidered with mysterious flame patterns, fluttered lightly in the wind, his every gesture seeming to carry an intangible aura of the world’s essence.
“You two youngsters, may I take this crimson dragon?” The man’s tone was less a question and more a declaration.
Jie jie jie…
At that moment, a chilling, eerie laugh came from another direction in the distant sky, followed by a cloud of gray-black mist drifting swiftly, emitting a mocking, sinister voice.
“You old thing, bullying the weak again? Truly no dignity as a senior.”
“If you’ve got the guts… how about another round with this old ghost?”
The man’s gaze turned icy. “Nether Mysterious Old Ghost, I have no interest in clashing with you today. If you insist on interfering, don’t blame me for wiping you out!”
“Hmph, I’m just a lone wanderer now. Why would I fear a hypocritical, venomous pretender like you?”
Whoosh!
As the words fell, the gray-black mist unleashed a massive, sky-covering ghostly hand, striking directly at the red-robed man!
“Stubborn fool!”
A flame-patterned spiritual blade appeared in the man’s hand, slashing out a thousand-zhang-long fiery blade light, shattering the ghostly hand with devastating force.
“Today, you and your sect will vanish for good!”
Crimson flames swirled around the man as he flashed forward, instantly engaging the black mist in combat…
Their clash sent waves of intertwined flames and ghostly energy rippling out, shaking the skies for a thousand li!
“Phew…”
Shen Mu watched their figures disappear into the depths of the sky, growing smaller, and let out a sigh of relief.
He turned to Lin Yuhe, who hadn’t moved, urging her, “Hurry and notify Master while we have the chance! What are you standing there for?”
“…”
Lin Yuhe’s expression showed hesitation as she silently pointed behind him.
“Hm?”
Shen Mu turned, puzzled, only to see a ghastly gray-black ghost face grinning at him, startling him into blurting out, “Holy crap!”
He hurriedly stepped back, about to summon his spiritual sword, but upon recognizing the ghost face, he restrained his attack.
“Who are you, Senior? Why are you toying with me?” Shen Mu quickly calmed himself, asking coolly.
“Heh… quick reflexes, kid.” The ghost face chuckled, transforming into a disheveled gray-robed old man.
“Time’s short, so I’ll keep it brief.”
The old man tossed Shen Mu a storage pouch containing a few spiritual stones. “This is a little compensation for you two. I’m taking the dragon. Now scram.”
Shen Mu glanced at the not-so-heavy pouch, feeling a bit speechless.
So, he’s treating us like beggars to shoo us away?
Is this guy any better than the last one?
“…”
Sigh…
As expected, in this world, without strength, you’re destined to be looked down upon.
Shen Mu sighed inwardly, then smirked with a hint of meaning. “Senior, isn’t this a bit too stingy?”
“This is a real dragon, priceless in any market.”
“Kid, greed will get you into big trouble. Don’t ruin your future,” the old man warned, his tone carrying a threat.
“Senior, I’m never greedy. It’s just that a legendary creature like a dragon…”
Crack.
Suddenly, the crisp sound of jade shattering rang out, and a graceful figure in white appeared behind Shen Mu, her body radiating a celestial blue halo.
Buzz!
The figure wrapped her arms around Shen Mu’s neck, her eyes shimmering with myriad spiritual charms, shielding him before softly asking, “My disciple, have you run into trouble you can’t handle?”
“…Master, this senior wants to steal my treasure and even threatened me. What should we do?” Shen Mu, though puzzled by his Master’s overly intimate protective gesture, focused on the immediate problem.
“Threatened?”
[Luo Qingling]’s gaze turned cold, her spiritual eyes, swirling with array patterns, shifting to the gray-robed old man.
“!”
The old man shuddered, instantly feeling her chilling gaze lock onto his primordial spirit, a strong sense of crisis rising within him.
“Nether Mysterious Old Ghost? Heh… impressive, setting your sights on my disciple…”
“Looks like your cultivation has recovered quite well in these forty or fifty years.”
Hearing this, the old man’s expression tightened, and he cautiously clasped his hands. “Dare I ask… which cultivator are you?”
“Wind Spirit Immortal Sect, Luo Qingling.”
Learning her identity, the old man’s murky gray eyes filled with helplessness and bitterness.
He realized he’d stepped on a major landmine.
“So, you’re the disciple of Immortal Moon. This old man meant no offense. Please, Immortal, don’t take it to heart.”
The Nether Mysterious Old Ghost was a man who knew his place. Recognizing the clear gap in strength, he forced an apologetic smile.
“This is the first time. I hope it’s the last…”
“Now get lost.”
“…”
The old man glanced one last time at the crimson-scaled dragon behind them.
Despite his reluctance, he was powerless.
This Immortal was someone he truly couldn’t afford to provoke.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Whoosh!
With that, the Nether Mysterious Old Ghost turned into a gray mist, vanishing thousands of li away in an instant.
“Didn’t expect Master to have such a fearsome reputation out here.”
Seeing the eerie gray-robed old man retreat without a fight, Shen Mu’s perception of his laid-back Master was refreshed once more.
He truly felt the meaning of “you need power and backing to make it in this world.”
“I didn’t want you to rely too much on me during your travels, so I didn’t tell you much.”
“When you return, I’ll tell you everything properly.”
[Luo Qingling]’s arms remained around Shen Mu’s neck, her voice softening.
Though those past stories were trivial to her, if he wanted to hear them, she’d gladly share.
It was a privilege reserved for him.
“…”
Lin Yuhe quietly watched [Luo Qingling] and Shen Mu interact so intimately, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.
She felt like an outsider.
“By the way, Master, can I ask one more thing?”
“Speak. What other trouble?”
“Can you save her?”