Believe Me, He Has a Dao Protector!

A few breaths later, Li Guanqi and Ye Feng arrived in the sky above the southern part of the city. Before them stood three Core Formation cultivators, treading empty air. On the far left was the man in black who had been spying on them in secret. Having taken off his black cloak, his appearance was now laid bare. He wore a black robe embroidered with gold; he was thin and diminutive, with pointed ears and the sunken cheeks of an ape. His beady rat eyes darted back and forth between the two boys. In the middle was the burly man with a long scar across his face from before—Yu Kai. His aura was the most potent, and the pressure radiating from him was the strongest. On the far right was Luan Ying, her face veiled in light gauze and her figure supple and graceful. The two sides stood fifteen paces apart. Li Guanqi rested his hands inside his sleeves, his back slightly hunched as he regarded them calmly. His gaze lingered deliberately on the woman on the far right. Ye Feng stood beside him, clutching his scabbard in silence. At the head of the group, Yu Kai glared at the rat-faced rogue beside him, then turned toward Li Guanqi with a faint smile. The man spoke softly. "You look unfamiliar, young friend. I am Yu Kai, leader of the Dark Blood Alliance. Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding between us. Why not come sit down at my place for a chat?" Hearing this, Li Guanqi shook his head slightly, speaking as he did. "Alliance Leader Yu, is it? I don't think... there is any misunderstanding, nor anything to discuss." At these words, Yu Kai's expression shifted immediately. Clearly, he had not expected the other party to show him so little face. A chill flickered in the depths of the man's eyes as his face darkened, and he gave a mirthless smile. "Oh? Is that so?" Li Guanqi turned toward the city gates and said softly, "From the moment the two of us entered the city, Alliance Leader Yu must have already had your eyes on us, haven't you? As for sending a beauty to receive us afterward, gifting us Blood Augmentation Pills, sneaking into our room, and finally posting a scout to watch us..." By this point, Yu Kai's eyes had narrowed. He could not help thinking to himself, *Just which great clan's disciple is this... or is he an itinerant rogue cultivator? How else could he be so seasoned? Yet isn't he far too young?* As he pondered, Yu Kai's gaze inadvertently darted around their surroundings. This did not escape Li Guanqi's sharp perception. He simply spoke up. "Stop looking. If you could so easily spot the clan's Dao protector, what bloody protection would they be providing?" At these words, Yu Kai's heart tightened! *They're definitely scions of a prominent family!!* The instant the thought crossed Yu Kai's mind, he immediately adopted a subservient, fawning expression. Bowing low, he laughed and said, "Aiya, hahaha! This lowly one failed to recognize Mount Tai. May I ask which esteemed clan or sect the two young masters hail from? Are you travelers of the wind?" Beside him, Ye Feng was thoroughly astonished. He never imagined that Li Guanqi could cow the man with just a couple of casual bluffs! On the surface, however, he remained utterly unperturbed, his expression as calm as still water. A strange smile tugged at the corner of Li Guanqi's mouth. He said softly, "Don't bother feeling me out. I'm not handing you my threshold." *(Feeling out: fishing for information. Handing a threshold: declaring one's lineage.)* Hearing this, the bowed and lowered Yu Kai broke into a cold sweat on his forehead. Beside him, the rat-faced rogue narrowed his eyes at Li Guanqi as well, but when Li Guanqi turned to look his way, the fellow hurriedly put on a flattering smile and nodded. Li Guanqi continued at his own pace. "Is Alliance Leader Yu setting up shop here in Lingchang City?" *(Setting up shop: establishing a base of operations.)* Yu Kai straightened slightly, nodding with a touch of restraint. "Indeed." "Then may I be so bold as to ask what sort of trade you conduct? Clipping the escort or taking the ladle?" *(Clipping the escort: robbery. Taking the ladle: murder.)* Before Yu Kai could speak, the skinny man beside him cut in, his tone chillingly cold. "Friend of the road, aren't you going a bit too far?" *(Friend of the road: fellow of the underworld.)* "You walk the east and I walk the west. If you're just stopping for a bite while passing through, hurry on your way—don't get yourself dragged into the fold." These words were spoken with blatant hostility, yet Yu Kai did not utter a sound. Li Guanqi cast a sideways glance at him, his eyes narrowing, his body motionless. Behind him, the sword coffin snapped open! A crimson sword hovered beside his shoulder, its point aimed straight at the man! Purple lightning coiled around the blade, and an elusive aura erupted from his person. Beneath the surging pressure, Li Guanqi tilted his head slightly toward him. Parting his lips, he spoke in a calm voice, "Would you believe I'll snuff your silkworm?" *(Silkworm: heart.)* At this, Yu Kai's face twisted in shock! Sword control!! And that aura... There was a faint sharpness to it—clear proof that he had begun grasping sword intent!! *These two... are definitely not simple!!* Looking at the youth, Yu Kai no longer harbored the slightest shred of contempt. Hurriedly stepping in as peacemaker, he waved his hand and barked, "Wei San, how dare you talk like that! Show some respect to our brother here!" After scolding him twice in succession, Yu Kai furrowed his brow, feigning deep displeasure. This blind youth before him was very likely the bodyguard of the fine-robed young master beside him. The boy was intimately familiar with underworld cant, clearly a death-sworn guard cultivated from childhood by some major clan! Yu Kai had not arrived in Lingchang City long ago, and he had no desire to stir up trouble—especially with enigmatic youths sent out into the world for clan trials. Any notion of recruiting the two under his banner vanished completely from his mind. Glancing casually around, he felt utterly convinced that the Dao protector was hiding nearby, perhaps having already drawn near without him even realizing it! Yu Kai first cupped his hands toward the empty sky in all four directions, then nodded with a smile toward Ye Feng. Seeing that Ye Feng completely ignored him and merely waved a hand toward the space behind him, Yu Kai rejoiced even more that he had not struck at once. *Just as I thought! I'm damn clever! Scions of great clans really are cut from a different cloth.* The man turned toward Li Guanqi and chuckled softly. "Don't take offense, brother. I was blind before." *Whoosh!* A storage bag appeared in Yu Kai's hand. He tossed it toward Li Guanqi, smiling warmly. "A modest gift, offered on my brother's behalf as an apology to the two young masters." Li Guanqi pocketed the storage bag without so much as a glance. Maintaining his harmless demeanor, he smiled and sheathed Red Lotus. Just as Li Guanqi was about to leave, suddenly—! Glancing down, Li Guanqi happened to see an emaciated youth being tossed out from the back gate of an estate and dumped onto the ground! This scene was so strikingly reminiscent of that night long ago amidst the howling snow! Li Guanqi trembled all over. Gazing at the youth, who had not a speck of color in his skin, his mind flashed back to the Blood Augmentation Pills from before. In an instant, everything became clear...