Lin Xiao didn’t raise any objections, instead saying calmly, “The Black Wind City lord is a Martial King powerhouse, and he has a fourth-tier beginner spirit controller behind him. Miss Qing, aren’t you overestimating me a bit?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t ask Young Master Lin Xiao to take on Black Wind City directly,” Qing Yun shook her head. After a brief pause, she continued, “In reality, what the city lord has is just a map and a fake key. Even if he reaches the tomb’s location, he won’t be able to enter. That’s why he’s putting them up for auction. If I’m not mistaken, the map being auctioned is probably fake too.”
Lin Xiao was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected there to be such a twist with the Junzang map and key auction. If he hadn’t known this, he might have gone all out to bid or fight for them.
The real key, it seemed, was likely with Qing Yun’s father, which explained why the city lord had imprisoned him.
“What a cunning Black Wind City lord!” Lin Xiao cursed inwardly. Selling the Junzang map and key would undoubtedly fetch a hefty sum, bringing in substantial profits.
Moreover, it would divert everyone’s attention while he secretly searched for the real key and the tomb on his own.
The city lord was killing two birds with one stone—a brilliant scheme.
Fortunately, Lin Xiao now knew the truth, or he’d have been played for a fool by the city lord.
“I plan to expose this at the auction, create chaos, and use the opportunity to act in the city lord’s mansion dungeon to rescue my father,” Qing Yun said, a resolute glint flashing in her eyes. It was clear she was determined to seize this chance.
“However, in the dungeon, there’s a ninth-level Heavenly Martial expert and over a dozen other Heavenly Martial powerhouses. Neither my brother nor I have the strength to handle it, no matter who goes.”
At this, Qing Yun’s pleading eyes turned to Lin Xiao. “Young Master Lin Xiao, you have many strong fighters under your command. If you could send a group to hold off those people, my father could escape safely.”
Under Qing Yun’s intense gaze, Lin Xiao maintained his composure, sighing with feigned calm, “Miss Qing, what you say makes sense, but that’s still the city lord’s mansion. Their foundation isn’t weak. Even if we manage to stall the city lord and the spirit controller, there’s no guarantee we’ll come out on top.”
“Besides, how can you be so sure the map and key in the city lord’s hands are fake?” Lin Xiao’s gaze fixed on Qing Yun.
Qing Yun understood his implication. A trace of reluctance crossed her face, and she bit her lip before answering decisively, “Because the real key is with me. If Young Master Lin Xiao helps, I’m willing to give you the true key.”
Lin Xiao’s eyes lit up instantly. If he had the key, even without the map, he could track others to the location.
Even if it came to a fight, snatching just the map would be far simpler than taking both.
“While the Martial Lord’s tomb is important, to me, my father’s life matters more than the Junzang map,” Qing Yun said, her eyes brimming with determination. Then, with a hint of nervousness, she added, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but saving my father is too critical. That’s why I dare to say this—I wouldn’t carry the key on me.”
Lin Xiao pondered for a moment under Qing Yun’s watchful gaze before breaking into a warm smile. “You win. I’ll agree to help rescue him.”
“Phew!” Qing Yun let out a long breath of relief, her chest rising and falling. She had been prepared to resort to another method if Lin Xiao refused.
Thankfully, it hadn’t come to that. Looking at Lin Xiao again, her expression carried a mix of emotions before she said earnestly, “Thank you!”
Seeing Qing Yun’s reaction, Lin Xiao could guess what she’d been thinking. He chuckled, “Taking someone’s goods means solving their problems—it’s only fair.”
This was a transaction, after all. If Qing Yun hadn’t offered something valuable, he wouldn’t have easily agreed to help a stranger, especially in a place like the chaotic lands where normal logic didn’t apply.
“Lin Xiao, come out and die!”
Just then, a sudden shout erupted from the distance.
“Mo Yi?” Lin Xiao’s brows furrowed instantly. He recognised that voice—it was unmistakably Mo Yi from the Mo Alliance.
And now, Mo Yi dared to come looking for him?
Hearing the commotion, Qing Yun’s brows also creased.
“Let’s go!” Lin Xiao’s figure flickered as he darted out of the room and rushed out of the inn.
Qing Yun followed closely behind. At that moment, countless figures streamed out of the inn, with Ling Hu, Wang Long, and others quickly joining Lin Xiao’s side.
*Whoosh!* A petite, graceful figure darted forward, stopping beside Lin Xiao.
It was Hu Yue. Her gaze didn’t immediately shift forward but instead landed on Qing Yun.
“Dressed like that…” Hu Yue’s pretty face flashed with surprise as she spoke, “But in such a hurry—you two didn’t have time to get up to anything, did you?”
Her words instantly deflated the tense atmosphere. All eyes turned to Qing Yun and Lin Xiao.
Qing Yun froze, caught off guard by Hu Yue’s sudden remark at such a moment. Seeing the odd looks around her, her face flushed red, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Lin Xiao was equally speechless. This girl was something else—coming out with a line like that at a time like this.
“Stop fooling around!” Lin Xiao finally scolded awkwardly before shifting his gaze forward, changing the subject. “Those are Mo Alliance people.”
His words snapped the others back to attention. They shook off their thoughts about Lin Xiao and turned cold gazes forward.
“It really is the Mo Alliance. I can’t believe they still dare to show up,” Wang Long couldn’t help but say, eyeing the emerging figures. Lin Xiao had defeated Mo Yi long ago, and even Ling Hu could sweep through anyone in the Mo Alliance aside from Mo Yi.
With Ling Hu’s current strength, he might even be able to take on Mo Yi. Even Wang Long himself felt confident enough to challenge Mo Yi. The Mo Alliance coming to them—wasn’t that just asking for trouble?
But as the figures ahead became clearer, his brows furrowed slightly.
There were seventy or eighty people in total. Beyond familiar faces like Mo Yi, Mo Chang, and Mo Xuan, there were others he didn’t recognise.
Leading them was a gaunt middle-aged man, his eyes glinting like a venomous snake sizing up prey. Behind him stood a group with hostile gazes.
This group outnumbered the Mo Alliance, with over forty members.
Their strength varied widely, averaging slightly weaker than the Tianmen disciples.
The Mo Alliance’s thirty-plus members, however, had an average strength on par with Tianmen’s disciples. Together, the two forces were roughly equal to Tianmen.
Of course, that was excluding their top fighters.
“Hmph, bringing along a bunch of extras and thinking they can take on Tianmen? What a fantasy!” Ling Hu snorted coldly beside Lin Xiao, his sharp gaze fixed ahead. His fists clenched, a surge of battle intent radiating from him.
He didn’t believe Mo Yi could pull off anything impressive.
“Without confidence, we wouldn’t have come knocking!”
Mo Yi’s icy voice rang out. As he approached within a dozen yards, he stopped, his cold gaze locking onto Lin Xiao.
“Lin Xiao, isn’t it a coincidence? Running into you even in Black Wind City.”
