"Eldest Brother, what is that?"
Watching the small black snake burrow into the lake, the short and chubby disciple couldn't help but ask.
"Good stuff. Just watch and don't ask. Soon, we'll reap the fruits of victory."
The tall, skinny man, resembling a monkey, grinned, his eyes brimming with lascivious delight.
Sure enough, in no time, a scream echoed from the lake.
"Haha, we've got her!"
The skinny, monkey-like man burst into laughter. He and the fat man then eagerly rushed into the lake.
Damn, Muyu is in trouble.
Just after exiting the cave, Ling Chen heard Xiao Muyu's scream. He immediately rushed to the top of a tall tree, his gaze sweeping across the lake's surface. Soon, a pale, graceful body in the water came into view.
At this moment, Xiao Muyu was clearly unconscious. By the time Ling Chen saw her, her graceful figure was already beginning to sink, as if she were about to fall to the bottom of the lake.
Moving swiftly, like a gust of wind, Ling Chen landed on the lake's surface. Treading on the water, he rapidly reached Xiao Muyu's position and then jumped into the lake.
Her figure was slowly sinking, long black hair fanned out behind her. From a distance, she resembled a mermaid.
Ling Chen swam to Xiao Muyu's side, embraced her smooth body, and then swam towards the lake surface.
Bursting out of the water, Ling Chen, holding Xiao Muyu, landed on the shore.
He looked down and saw two bite marks on Xiao Muyu's lotus-root-like arm, as if from a venomous snake.
It's a good thing it's not a serious poison.
Ling Chen placed his finger under Xiao Muyu's nose to check her breathing. He found that she was not in serious danger; the poison merely caused unconsciousness.
He took a Second Grade Detoxification Pill from the Heavenly Mansion Ring and put it into Xiao Muyu's mouth.
Just then, the monkey-like man and the short, chubby disciple appeared before Ling Chen. Their faces darkened upon seeing Xiao Muyu in Ling Chen's arms. "Who are you, brat? How dare you ruin our good time?"
So, it was you two causing trouble. Ling Chen looked at the pair. The commotion he had sensed earlier must have been their doing, and the venomous fang marks on Xiao Muyu were also their handiwork.
"Scram now, and you might keep your lives."
After a single glance at the two, Ling Chen looked away, clearly dismissing them.
"Heh heh, kids these days are getting more arrogant one after another. Kid, I don't care what your background is, but no one here cares who you are. If you lose your life here, no one will know who did it." Seeing Ling Chen completely disregard him, the monkey-like man couldn't help but sneer mockingly.
"Kid, if you know what's good for you, scram now and don't meddle in our affairs! Otherwise, you might find even dying a luxury!" the short, stout youth also sneered menacingly.
Although they both looked sleazy, they were Jianghu experts. The monkey-like man, in particular, was ranked thirty-fourth on the Heavenly List and named Yang Wei.
The other was his brother, named Yang Shuai.
Just then, the delicate body in Ling Chen's arms stirred. Xiao Muyu coughed violently a few times, spat out some water, and then regained consciousness.
"You're finally awake."
As soon as Xiao Muyu woke up, she heard Ling Chen's voice.
Feeling cool all over, Xiao Muyu realized she was undressed, with only Ling Chen's clothes draped over her. A surprised look appeared on her pretty face, "How did I…"
"You were poisoned. Can you walk now?" Ling Chen asked in a low voice.
"I don't have any strength right now. I'm afraid I can't," Xiao Muyu shook her head.
"Then hold on tight to me," Ling Chen said.
Nodding gently, Xiao Muyu, like a well-behaved kitten, clung tightly to Ling Chen, nestling in his embrace.
Seeing this, a glint of jealous hatred flashed in Yang Wei's eyes. "You little brat, quite good at taking advantage of someone's vulnerability! Just wait, your death is coming soon! As for this little beauty, heh heh, my brother and I will keep you company later. We'll definitely be better than this pretty boy!"
But now was not the time for such thoughts. Ling Chen quickly suppressed the distracting notions in his mind and looked at the Yang Wei brothers, "Just the two of you, a pair of good-for-nothings, a toad lusting after a swan's flesh? You two should go keep each other company in the underworld."
With his left arm holding Xiao Muyu, Ling Chen drew the Cloud-hidden Sword with his right. The bright Sword Light flickered, and an astonishing sharpness radiated outwards.
The two men before him had clearly ignited Ling Chen's killing intent!
At his shout, the Yang Wei brothers shot out almost instantly. In a flash, they appeared on Ling Chen's left and right. With menacing eyes, they struck out with their palms.
"Earth-shattering Palm!"
Frigid and vast True Qi gathered wildly in their palms, then, carrying trails of afterimages and a sinister gust of wind, instantly enveloped Ling Chen's vital points.
Ling Chen's expression remained unchanged as his Cloud-hidden Sword suddenly pierced outwards. Even holding the sword with one hand, the strike's momentum was not the least bit weak; it was like a white rainbow piercing the sun.
The Sword Light from the Cloud-hidden Sword, without any sign of retreat, directly and forcefully collided with the sinister palm wind of the Yang Wei brothers.
At the moment of collision, a violent gust of wind swept out. Ling Chen was forced back more than ten steps, but the Yang Wei brothers were also pushed back over ten steps, looking quite disheveled.
"What? This kid is holding someone, yet he can still block our Earth-shattering Palm?" Yang Wei's face was filled with utter shock. Ling Chen, holding a person in one arm and fighting them with the other, had actually managed to block their attack without being at any disadvantage.