All this happened in the blink of an eye. The man in the brocade robe barely had time to turn before a sword was at his throat.
“Scoundrel, what do you want?” the man in the brocade robe roared.
For the past seven days, Lin Yun had followed the group, always appearing compliant to lower their guard.
When the old man in the Mahayana realm rushed out, Lin Yun seized the chance to take the brocade-robed man hostage.
Lin Yun had been waiting for such an opportunity.
There was another reason too. With no teammates here, Lin Yun could act boldly without worrying about others, focusing only on himself.
As the saying goes, the barefoot have no fear of those wearing shoes!
“What do I want? Don’t move, swords have no eyes!” Lin Yun said, grabbing the man’s arm with one hand while keeping the sword at his throat with the other.
“Brat, if you harm a single hair on my head, you’ll die without a grave!” the brocade-robed man bellowed.
“Don’t worry. If I’m doomed, you’ll die first, and you won’t see that moment,” Lin Yun said with a smile, tightening his grip on the sword.
The sharp blade drew a shallow cut on the man’s neck, a trickle of blood appearing.
“You…” The brocade-robed man’s face changed.
He was usually arrogant, backed by the old man in the Mahayana realm. But faced with the threat of death, how could he maintain that haughty attitude? He was terrified!
At that moment, the old man in the Mahayana realm returned, having killed his target and retrieved the magic crystal.
“You insolent fool, how dare you! You’re courting death!” the old man roared, seeing Lin Yun holding the brocade-robed man hostage, his anger flaring.
“You’re right, my courage is indeed great,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
He continued, “You stole my spoils and could have let me go. That would have been the end of it. But you insisted on keeping me, wanting me to be your free labour, your shield. Didn’t you know that raising a tiger invites trouble?”
“I should have killed you earlier!” the old man in the Mahayana realm growled.
“Too late for that. Let’s talk about something useful. Your young master is in my hands. Name your terms,” Lin Yun said, holding the brocade-robed man.
“Negotiate with me? You little vermin aren’t worthy!” the old man roared furiously.
“Is that so?” Lin Yun said, pressing the sword harder.
Though the brocade-robed man was in the Saint realm, with a sword at his throat, he dared not move.
As Lin Yun applied more pressure, the cut on the man’s neck deepened, blood staining it red.
“Elder Li, talk to him! Talk!” the brocade-robed man pleaded, frantic and anxious.
After all, he was the one injured, the one held hostage.
“Brat, what terms do you want?” the old man in the Mahayana realm asked, suppressing his rage.
“Hand over the two magic crystals you just took,” Lin Yun demanded.
“Fine, take them!” the old man said, approaching Lin Yun.
“Stop!” Lin Yun shouted, stepping back with the hostage.
Letting the old man get close was dangerous. Lin Yun had to keep his distance.
“Brat, you asked for the crystals, and now you tell me to stop?” the old man said coldly.
“Throw them to me!” Lin Yun ordered.
The old man glanced at the hostage and complied.
“Take them!”
He tossed the two magic crystals to Lin Yun.
Lin Yun, still holding the sword to the man’s throat, caught the crystals with his free hand and stored them in his ring.
“Brat, you’ve got the crystals. Release him!” the old man barked.
“Release him now? So you can make me a target? Are you foolish, or am I?” Lin Yun sneered.
“What more do you want?” the old man’s eyes blazed with fury.
“I want your young master to escort me out,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
With the old man’s speed, escaping without a hostage was impossible.
Lin Yun pressed the sword against the brocade-robed man and retreated. “Young master, you’re my shield now. Walk with me.”
As Lin Yun backed away, holding the man, the old man and the other guards followed.
“If you want your young master alive, stay back!” Lin Yun shouted, letting out a curse.
“Stay back!” the brocade-robed man echoed, panicking.
“You ruthless brat! If my young master doesn’t return safely, I’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth!” the old man said, his voice chilling.
He waved, signalling the guards to stop. He halted too.
Lin Yun, holding the brocade-robed man, vanished from their sight. They dared not pursue.
…
Lin Yun fled with his hostage for two hours.
After covering a great distance, he stopped to rest.
“Young hero, let me go!” the brocade-robed man pleaded humbly.
His attitude was a far cry from when he had robbed Lin Yun.
He feared Lin Yun might kill him and flee the border mountains. It wasn’t impossible.
Though his family was powerful, their influence was limited to their domain.
“Now you’re scared? You prey on other teams, killing and looting. This is your retribution!” Lin Yun said fiercely.
“I… I…” The brocade-robed man was speechless.
“You’re lucky to have a powerful background. Now, get lost,” Lin Yun said, sheathing his sword and shoving the man away.
Though Lin Yun wanted to kill him, doing so would enrage the old man in the Mahayana realm.
