Chapter 18

"Ah!"

The green-robed girl entered the cave and immediately bumped into a broad back, stumbling forward. Just as she was about to burst into curses, she realized it was very familiar. In the dim light, she took a closer look and saw it was her second senior brother. She then approached him.

She tugged at his clothes, but he did not respond. She pouted in frustration and followed his gaze.

In the dim cave, there was a pile of ashes that had long since burned out, emitting a faint smoke. The charred wood crackled occasionally, sending up sparks.

This scene added a chill to the already eerie cave. What was even more terrifying was the figure sitting behind the ashes.

His face flickered with a faint blood-red light, dimming and brightening. It was vaguely discernible as a person, but in such a dim cave, with the faint smoke and the eerie blood-red light, he looked like a demon.

No wonder the three senior brothers had cried out in shock. To them, this was not just like a demon; it was a demon.

The green-robed girl, upon seeing the figure, turned pale with shock, tightly gripping her second senior brother's sleeve and shrinking behind him.

"It's fine, it's not a ghost!"

The second senior brother, with his higher cultivation and more stable personality, was also startled by the terrifying appearance but quickly regained his composure.

"I... I don't believe it!"

The green-robed girl trembled.

"Se... Senior brother, we... we should... leave!"

The three senior brothers were also uneasy, shivering and turning around, but their bodies seemed unresponsive, stiff and immobile.

"Don't be afraid. This person is probably breaking through. Can you smell the strange odor?"

The second senior brother shook his head slightly and gently patted the green-robed girl's shoulder.

"It stinks!"

The green-robed girl wrinkled her delicate nose, her eyes brightening, but then her expression turned to fear. "Second senior brother, you're lying. Is he a corpse?"

"Um... It's really a person. Have you forgotten what Master taught us? When breaking through each minor realm in the Inner Breath stage, this situation often occurs."

The second senior brother's lips twitched as he explained.

"It's really like that, junior sister. This person is indeed breaking through!"

"Yes, Master did say that!"

"I think we should kill him to avenge those three innocent adventurers!"

The three senior brothers carefully observed and confirmed that Li Chen's chest was rising and falling slightly, indicating he was alive. They immediately became fierce and full of murderous intent.

With a light clank, they drew their swords and knives, ready to kill Li Chen to avenge their earlier humiliation.

Swish!

A white figure flashed, and the second senior brother had already moved to block the three who were about to attack. He said sternly, "Taking advantage of someone in distress is not what we do. How does Master usually teach us?"

"Senior brother, why are you defending a villain?"

"Exactly, this person doesn't look good. Killing him would be a clean solution!"

"Right, Master always teaches us to uphold justice. Have you forgotten?"

The three chimed in, their voices full of anger, clearly unwilling to let Li Chen off.

"Villain, die!"

While the four were confronting each other, the green-robed girl, who had recovered her senses, suddenly cried out. She twisted her body like a graceful butterfly, a silver light flashing in her hand—a foot-long, crystal-clear dagger. She thrust it fiercely at Li Chen's chest.

"Junior sister, no..."

The second senior brother was shocked and quickly turned to stop her.

But it was too late!

Just as Li Chen was about to die from the sudden attack, he suddenly opened his eyes, which shot out a piercing light. He extended his right hand.

Swoosh!

The sharp dagger slid in his palm, the tip barely piercing his chest. The cold blade still made him feel the chill.

"You... let go!"

Caught off guard, the green-robed girl panicked, clearly lacking combat experience.

"Hmph!"

Li Chen snorted, gripping her hand tightly and curling his arm.

With his strange strength and the power of his recent breakthrough to the sixth layer, how could this inexperienced girl resist?

Even though she was not weak, with a cultivation level of the sixth layer, she had no combat experience and had forgotten to circulate her inner breath in her panic.

"Ah!"

She cried out and fell into Li Chen's arms.

"Don't move!"

With his left hand gripping the green-robed girl's delicate neck and his right hand holding her right hand that held the dagger, Li Chen coldly ordered.

"Let go of junior sister!"

"Villain, I'll kill you!"

"Looking for death, let go of junior sister!"

The three, seeing this, were furious and ready to charge forward.

They had long harbored feelings for their junior sister, never even touching her hand. Now, she was not only held by a man who looked like a demon but also fell into his arms.

How could they not be enraged?

"Shut up!"

With a cold and furious voice, the second senior brother glared at the three, who were only good at using petty tricks.

"Second senior..."

The three wanted to argue but, seeing the second senior brother's unprecedented stern gaze, they wilted like deflated eggplants, stammering and not daring to speak.

"Friend, I am Yang Rongfeng from the Qiu family of Songyang City, a disciple of Patriarch Qiu Tianyi. This is my junior sister, Qiu Qianhua. If we have offended you, I, Rongfeng, apologize on behalf of my friend!"

Taking a deep breath to calm his anger, Yang Rongfeng bowed, his gaze fixed on Li Chen, exuding a remarkable presence.

"Se... Senior brother, save... uh!"

With her body restrained, Qiu Qianhua's face turned pale. Just as she was about to speak, she felt her throat tighten and could not say a word.

"Apologize? If I hadn't woken up just now, would you have apologized? Besides, do we know each other?"

Li Chen sneered, but inwardly he was musing. The Qiu family of Songyang City sounded familiar, perhaps mentioned by Old Li.

Having been a slave in the Li family for years, he had never left Luohuang City, let alone entered the Xuan Yun Sect.

Although Old Li had told him many stories, most were about how to be a good person. As for these famous sects, Li Chen had heard of them but mostly forgot them.

"My junior sister is young and impulsive. If you release her, you can name your conditions!"

Seeing Qiu Qianhua's plight, Yang Rongfeng frowned but did not get angry. After all, they had almost killed him, and he had the grace to understand.

Moreover, Qiu Qianhua's temper needed to be tamed. Suffering a bit would be good for her, to prevent her from being so reckless in the future. Even if he could save her once, he couldn't always be there.

"Name my conditions?"

Li Chen raised an eyebrow and sized up Yang Rongfeng.

Dressed in a white robe, with a green jade belt at his waist and a long sword slung over his shoulder, he had a handsome face and an indescribable air of heroism. Standing there, he looked like a capable young hero.

"Indeed!"

Seeing his interest, Yang Rongfeng quickly nodded.