It was noon, and Chu Li suddenly knocked on the cabin.
Siao Qi rode her horse and stopped beside his cabin, "What is it?" She softly asked.
'Lady Siao, I'm quite worried. I think we'll just catch one of the Hu Ren Public House's men and ask." Chu Li said.
"You're worried that Lu Yurong will attack Chongming Town?"
"It's still possible."
"Don't worry, big brother won't be fooled."
"I think we should still ask."
"...Very well."
Siao Qi called her men over and gave the order. They immediately caught the detective behind them five hundred meters away.
The cavalry stopped and everyone went into the woods to rest.
Someone carried Chu Li down the carriage and sat on a blue stone. In front of him was a middle-aged man, plain looking. He looked like he would fit right in a crowd. He lowered his eyebrows and he stood there innocently, without a sound.
Siao Qi stood beside Chu Li. She calmly looked at the man.
"You're from the Hu Ren Public House, aren't you? You don't have to deny it. Just answer honestly and I'll let you go!"
She asked him questions personally because she was the Yi Public House's Third Lady. Whatever she said could be trusted. If she said she would let him go, he would definitely have believed her. Of course, she also wanted to know what he was thinking because she wanted to have credible information.
"Yes." The middle-aged man said in a deep tone, "I'm indeed a Protector of the Hu Ren Public House."
"What's your name." Siao Qi gently inquired.
"My name is Hu Ren." The middle-aged man immediately replied.
"Is that your real name?" She calmly asked.
"Yes." The middle-aged man quickly answered, "I wouldn't dare lie to you, my name really is Hu Ren."
Siao Qi peacefully looked at him and used her eyes to signal a Protector who was beside her.
The young Protector moved forward and used his palm to hit the middle-aged man hard enough for him to collapse onto the ground. He then stepped on the man's right palm and coldly glared at him.
"Seems like you're tired of living. You dare deceive the Third Lady!?"
The middle-aged man was flat on the ground, his face was smeared by dust and withered grass. He raised his head and yelled with determination, "I do not dare lie to you! My name really is Hu Ren!"
Siao Qi shook her head and did not say a word.
The young Protector exerted force into the man's leg.
*crack*
The sound of a crack. The middle-aged man's right palm was broken into pieces.
"AAaa—!"
The middle-aged Protector shouted in severe pain. The birds in the woods flew away in shock.
Chu Li covered his mouth. His cough was getting worse. He shook his head and sighed.
"Why do you need to force yourself to do this? All you have to do is just answer some really common questions. You don't need to play tricks on us. Even if Lu Yurong knew that you told us everything, she won't punish you."
"What I say is the truth!" The middle-aged Protector said with an implored, pitiful look, "I didn't lie to you!"
"Break his left palm too!" Siao Qi calmly said.
"Yes, Third Lady!" The young Protector replied in a deep tone. He ignored how the man was struggling and shouting in pain. He simply broke his left palm with his leg right after.
"My patience has its limits. Now, before I cripple your martial arts too, where's Lu Yurong!?" Siao Qi said.
"I—I don't know!" The middle-aged man's face turned pale. Both of his palms had already been stomped to pieces. He hoarsely sighed, "I'm just a nameless subordinate! I don't know where Lu Yurong is!"
"How about the Grandmasters?" Siao Qi said.
"They've already returned to the Public House!" The middle-aged man replied immediately.
He could tell that Siao Qi was determined.
If there were a next time, she would have actually deprived him of his martial arts. In this case, he might as well have been gone like water flowing into the river. He was better off dead.
Siao Qi looked at him and shook her head, "Seems like you don't want your martial arts anymore!"
The middle-aged man hurriedly yelled, "I swear to God! If I lied, I'll die pierced by a hundred knives and swords!"
Siao Qi said, "Kill him!"
"Yes, Third Lady!"
The young Protector stepped on the middle-aged man's energy center without hesitation.
"O—okay! I'll spill it!" The man hurriedly said.
Siao Qi did not say a word.
The young Protector exerted force at the tip of his own leg. He fiercely stabbed as the man hopelessly screamed in pain, his eyes staring daggers at Siao Qi. His gaze was so full of resentment and malicious intent that it might have pierced through her.
Siao Qi peacefully waved her hand, "Throw him to the roadside."
The young Protector picked up the man and threw him to the roadside as if he were an old, decrepit dog not worth a second glance. He then returned without saying a word.
Everyone was shocked by Siao Qi. Their movements became much lighter.
"Seems like Lu Yurong hasn't given up yet." Chu Li said.
"You're right." Siao Qi gently nodded, "He still hasn't given up, even after being forced into a situation like that. .....Where did his intelligence go?"
The both of them could read people's minds, and the man was lying. If someone was still able to stay that loyal in that situation, they were better off killed. If they were no longer a threat and were sent back, they would have probably suffered a worse fate.
"She has called out so many Grandmasters. She wouldn't be so willing if no credit was due. She's also human, after all." Chu Li said.
Siao Qi's eyes were like a ripple that fell on his face, "Can we find them?"
She knew that Chu Li had a sharp mind. He sought the best outcome and avoided calamity. He even had a sense for danger, and through this, he might be able to find out where Lu Yurong was.
"You want to gain the initiative?" Chu Li muttered.
"If we take the initiative to attack them first, I believe Lu Yurong will give up."
"That's may be true. ...Okay, I'll give it a try."
"I'll be with you." Siao Qi said.
Chu Li looked and her and did not oppose what she had said.
Siao Shi and the others continued their journey. All the Protectors followed Siao Shi closely, while Chu Li and Siao Qi silently left the convoys, activated their levitation, and went into the woods.
After fifteen minutes, Chu Li stopped in front of a ravine. He pointed down into the greenish gorge.
Siao Qi was shocked, "They're inside there?"
"I'm pretty sure, this is the most dangerous place." Chu Li nodded.
He had already seen the situation of the ravine in his mind. The six Grandmasters were all there, but he did not see Lu Yurong. He may have never met Lu Yurong before, but if she were there, he would definitely have recognized her.
The six Grandmasters were resting in the ravine, lazy and spiritless.
"Lady Siao, are you sure we should attack them?"
"Yes."
"Okay then, you go first. I'll attract them!"
Siao Qi stared at Chu Li sideways. She obviously looked like she was in conflict with what he suggested but, couldn't be bothered.
"My levitation isn't to be trifled with. They won't catch me." Chu Li smiled.
"You go and call Elder Zhao over!"
"If they get close, the six Grandmasters will be alerted. It'll be difficult for us to ambush them." Chu Li retorted.
Grandmasters had a knack for sensing danger, and did it in advance, which made them hard to ambush. If they wanted to avoid the fight, it would be difficult to catch up to them unless it was a situation similar to Siao Shi's Protectors, where they had no choice but to do so.
Chu Li suddenly realized Lu Yurong' plan, killing Siao Shi was not her aim; Killing Zhao Qingshan and the other Grandmasters was. If they wanted to decrease the power of the Yi Public House, killing one of the Grandmasters was the fastest way.
They acted as if they wanted to attack to send a message to everyone in the Yi Public House. It was like slow cooking a frog in warm water. The Yi Public House would have been slowly whittled down without even realizing it, and finally becoming the Hu Ren Public House's plaything.
Siao Qi furrowed her brows and felt unconvinced.
"Lady Siao, let me do it!" Chu Li said.
Siao Qi gently shook her head. "Don't be insane!"
Chu Li smiled, "If I can't fight them, I'll run! I'll be fine!"
He did not wait for a reply and disappeared in a flash, before appearing in the woods of the ravine.
"Chi!" With a soft whistle. A cold light shot towards Xi Wu —— The leader of the six Hu Ren Public House's Grandmasters.
Xi Wu was short and thin, and did not look like a top master. Instead, he looks more like an old farmer.
His instinct alerted him and he avoided it with a flash, but the flying blade was too fast. It brushed over his shoulder and a long cut of flesh dropped. Fresh blood dripped from the open wound.
"Who's there!?" Xi Wu held onto his shoulder and his complexion turned green. It took him a short amount of time to react to his instinct and dodge the attack. However, the time frame to dodge was far too short, so he was barely able to dodge it.
Chu Li suddenly disappeared in a flash and appeared beside Siao Qi, "We need to leave, now!" He quickly said in a deep tone.
Siao Qi and Chu Li activated their levitation skills and left, followed by six shadows flying out of the ravine. Xi Wu and the others chased the pair with their instincts to track them down.
Chu Li saw the situation he was in and it was not very encouraging, "Lady Siao, I provoked them."
He stretched out his hands and hugged Siao Qi's thin waist and disappeared with a flash.
Siao Qi wanted to struggle out of it, but she saw light and shadow distort. She felt a strong and unknown force holding her down, rendering her immobile. Suddenly, she saw a light shining in front of her eyes. It became bright again and they were already on the main road. She did not know how far they had moved.
She coldly turned to look at Chu Li.
Chu Li loosened his grip. He begrudged to let go of her warm and gentle palm, but he looked as if nothing had happened. He simply smiled and said, "Grandmasters are indeed scary. Surprisingly they chased after us, but they probably won't dare to try anything. I've already hurt one of them."
"You hurt him?" Siao Qi looked at him.
Chu Li smiled with his squinted eyes, "The fourth layer allows me to activate the Infinite Sea of Azure as much as I want."
"You may have reached the fourth layer, but you're still not a match for a Grandmaster!" Siao Qi retorted.
She suddenly understood that the Sentient Menace's fourth layer was the cultivation of the meridian. The meridians in one such person would have developed to its maximum strength. This aided the Infinite Sea of Azure, in the sense that it was akin to adding wings to a tiger. It also added another layer to the Sentient Menace, its power was completely different from before. This significantly increased his capabilities.
"Of course." Chu Li smiled, "But this time they wouldn't dare go around doing whatever they want."
"I sure hope so." Siao Qi replied.
It was noon, and Chu Li suddenly knocked on the cabin.
Siao Qi rode her horse and stopped beside his cabin, "What is it?" She softly asked.
'Lady Siao, I'm quite worried. I think we'll just catch one of the Hu Ren Public House's men and ask." Chu Li said.
"You're worried that Lu Yurong will attack Chongming Town?"
"It's still possible."
"Don't worry, big brother won't be fooled."
"I think we should still ask."
"...Very well."
Siao Qi called her men over and gave the order. They immediately caught the detective behind them five hundred meters away.
The cavalry stopped and everyone went into the woods to rest.
Someone carried Chu Li down the carriage and sat on a blue stone. In front of him was a middle-aged man, plain looking. He looked like he would fit right in a crowd. He lowered his eyebrows and he stood there innocently, without a sound.
Siao Qi stood beside Chu Li. She calmly looked at the man.
"You're from the Hu Ren Public House, aren't you? You don't have to deny it. Just answer honestly and I'll let you go!"
She asked him questions personally because she was the Yi Public House's Third Lady. Whatever she said could be trusted. If she said she would let him go, he would definitely have believed her. Of course, she also wanted to know what he was thinking because she wanted to have credible information.
"Yes." The middle-aged man said in a deep tone, "I'm indeed a Protector of the Hu Ren Public House."
"What's your name." Siao Qi gently inquired.
"My name is Hu Ren." The middle-aged man immediately replied.
"Is that your real name?" She calmly asked.
"Yes." The middle-aged man quickly answered, "I wouldn't dare lie to you, my name really is Hu Ren."
Siao Qi peacefully looked at him and used her eyes to signal a Protector who was beside her.
The young Protector moved forward and used his palm to hit the middle-aged man hard enough for him to collapse onto the ground. He then stepped on the man's right palm and coldly glared at him.
"Seems like you're tired of living. You dare deceive the Third Lady!?"
The middle-aged man was flat on the ground, his face was smeared by dust and withered grass. He raised his head and yelled with determination, "I do not dare lie to you! My name really is Hu Ren!"
Siao Qi shook her head and did not say a word.
The young Protector exerted force into the man's leg.
*crack*
The sound of a crack. The middle-aged man's right palm was broken into pieces.
"AAaa—!"
The middle-aged Protector shouted in severe pain. The birds in the woods flew away in shock.
Chu Li covered his mouth. His cough was getting worse. He shook his head and sighed.
"Why do you need to force yourself to do this? All you have to do is just answer some really common questions. You don't need to play tricks on us. Even if Lu Yurong knew that you told us everything, she won't punish you."
"What I say is the truth!" The middle-aged Protector said with an implored, pitiful look, "I didn't lie to you!"
"Break his left palm too!" Siao Qi calmly said.
"Yes, Third Lady!" The young Protector replied in a deep tone. He ignored how the man was struggling and shouting in pain. He simply broke his left palm with his leg right after.
"My patience has its limits. Now, before I cripple your martial arts too, where's Lu Yurong!?" Siao Qi said.
"I—I don't know!" The middle-aged man's face turned pale. Both of his palms had already been stomped to pieces. He hoarsely sighed, "I'm just a nameless subordinate! I don't know where Lu Yurong is!"
"How about the Grandmasters?" Siao Qi said.
"They've already returned to the Public House!" The middle-aged man replied immediately.
He could tell that Siao Qi was determined.
If there were a next time, she would have actually deprived him of his martial arts. In this case, he might as well have been gone like water flowing into the river. He was better off dead.
Siao Qi looked at him and shook her head, "Seems like you don't want your martial arts anymore!"
The middle-aged man hurriedly yelled, "I swear to God! If I lied, I'll die pierced by a hundred knives and swords!"
Siao Qi said, "Kill him!"
"Yes, Third Lady!"
The young Protector stepped on the middle-aged man's energy center without hesitation.
"O—okay! I'll spill it!" The man hurriedly said.
Siao Qi did not say a word.
The young Protector exerted force at the tip of his own leg. He fiercely stabbed as the man hopelessly screamed in pain, his eyes staring daggers at Siao Qi. His gaze was so full of resentment and malicious intent that it might have pierced through her.
Siao Qi peacefully waved her hand, "Throw him to the roadside."
The young Protector picked up the man and threw him to the roadside as if he were an old, decrepit dog not worth a second glance. He then returned without saying a word.
Everyone was shocked by Siao Qi. Their movements became much lighter.
"Seems like Lu Yurong hasn't given up yet." Chu Li said.
"You're right." Siao Qi gently nodded, "He still hasn't given up, even after being forced into a situation like that. .....Where did his intelligence go?"
The both of them could read people's minds, and the man was lying. If someone was still able to stay that loyal in that situation, they were better off killed. If they were no longer a threat and were sent back, they would have probably suffered a worse fate.
"She has called out so many Grandmasters. She wouldn't be so willing if no credit was due. She's also human, after all." Chu Li said.
Siao Qi's eyes were like a ripple that fell on his face, "Can we find them?"
She knew that Chu Li had a sharp mind. He sought the best outcome and avoided calamity. He even had a sense for danger, and through this, he might be able to find out where Lu Yurong was.
"You want to gain the initiative?" Chu Li muttered.
"If we take the initiative to attack them first, I believe Lu Yurong will give up."
"That's may be true. ...Okay, I'll give it a try."
"I'll be with you." Siao Qi said.
Chu Li looked and her and did not oppose what she had said.
Siao Shi and the others continued their journey. All the Protectors followed Siao Shi closely, while Chu Li and Siao Qi silently left the convoys, activated their levitation, and went into the woods.
After fifteen minutes, Chu Li stopped in front of a ravine. He pointed down into the greenish gorge.
Siao Qi was shocked, "They're inside there?"
"I'm pretty sure, this is the most dangerous place." Chu Li nodded.
He had already seen the situation of the ravine in his mind. The six Grandmasters were all there, but he did not see Lu Yurong. He may have never met Lu Yurong before, but if she were there, he would definitely have recognized her.
The six Grandmasters were resting in the ravine, lazy and spiritless.
"Lady Siao, are you sure we should attack them?"
"Yes."
"Okay then, you go first. I'll attract them!"
Siao Qi stared at Chu Li sideways. She obviously looked like she was in conflict with what he suggested but, couldn't be bothered.
"My levitation isn't to be trifled with. They won't catch me." Chu Li smiled.
"You go and call Elder Zhao over!"
"If they get close, the six Grandmasters will be alerted. It'll be difficult for us to ambush them." Chu Li retorted.
Grandmasters had a knack for sensing danger, and did it in advance, which made them hard to ambush. If they wanted to avoid the fight, it would be difficult to catch up to them unless it was a situation similar to Siao Shi's Protectors, where they had no choice but to do so.
Chu Li suddenly realized Lu Yurong' plan, killing Siao Shi was not her aim; Killing Zhao Qingshan and the other Grandmasters was. If they wanted to decrease the power of the Yi Public House, killing one of the Grandmasters was the fastest way.
They acted as if they wanted to attack to send a message to everyone in the Yi Public House. It was like slow cooking a frog in warm water. The Yi Public House would have been slowly whittled down without even realizing it, and finally becoming the Hu Ren Public House's plaything.
Siao Qi furrowed her brows and felt unconvinced.
"Lady Siao, let me do it!" Chu Li said.
Siao Qi gently shook her head. "Don't be insane!"
Chu Li smiled, "If I can't fight them, I'll run! I'll be fine!"
He did not wait for a reply and disappeared in a flash, before appearing in the woods of the ravine.
"Chi!" With a soft whistle. A cold light shot towards Xi Wu —— The leader of the six Hu Ren Public House's Grandmasters.
Xi Wu was short and thin, and did not look like a top master. Instead, he looks more like an old farmer.
His instinct alerted him and he avoided it with a flash, but the flying blade was too fast. It brushed over his shoulder and a long cut of flesh dropped. Fresh blood dripped from the open wound.
"Who's there!?" Xi Wu held onto his shoulder and his complexion turned green. It took him a short amount of time to react to his instinct and dodge the attack. However, the time frame to dodge was far too short, so he was barely able to dodge it.
Chu Li suddenly disappeared in a flash and appeared beside Siao Qi, "We need to leave, now!" He quickly said in a deep tone.
Siao Qi and Chu Li activated their levitation skills and left, followed by six shadows flying out of the ravine. Xi Wu and the others chased the pair with their instincts to track them down.
Chu Li saw the situation he was in and it was not very encouraging, "Lady Siao, I provoked them."
He stretched out his hands and hugged Siao Qi's thin waist and disappeared with a flash.
Siao Qi wanted to struggle out of it, but she saw light and shadow distort. She felt a strong and unknown force holding her down, rendering her immobile. Suddenly, she saw a light shining in front of her eyes. It became bright again and they were already on the main road. She did not know how far they had moved.
She coldly turned to look at Chu Li.
Chu Li loosened his grip. He begrudged to let go of her warm and gentle palm, but he looked as if nothing had happened. He simply smiled and said, "Grandmasters are indeed scary. Surprisingly they chased after us, but they probably won't dare to try anything. I've already hurt one of them."
"You hurt him?" Siao Qi looked at him.
Chu Li smiled with his squinted eyes, "The fourth layer allows me to activate the Infinite Sea of Azure as much as I want."
"You may have reached the fourth layer, but you're still not a match for a Grandmaster!" Siao Qi retorted.
She suddenly understood that the Sentient Menace's fourth layer was the cultivation of the meridian. The meridians in one such person would have developed to its maximum strength. This aided the Infinite Sea of Azure, in the sense that it was akin to adding wings to a tiger. It also added another layer to the Sentient Menace, its power was completely different from before. This significantly increased his capabilities.
"Of course." Chu Li smiled, "But this time they wouldn't dare go around doing whatever they want."
"I sure hope so." Siao Qi replied.
