"Hong Qiang, if you don't show yourself now, don't blame me for not being merciful toward them."
The Sect Master of the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest spoke.
He believed that Hong Qiang had driven out all the disciples of the Abandoned Bamboo Forest but deliberately left Li Xiang and Xiao Ming behind, which meant there had to be some extraordinary relationship between Hong Qiang and them.
When he couldn't find Hong Qiang, Li Xiang and Xiao Ming would absolutely be the breakthrough point to flushing him out.
But unfortunately, even after he said this, there was still no response from Hong Qiang.
Seeing this, the Sect Master of the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest furrowed his brows slightly and said, "I'll only count to three. If you still don't show yourself after three counts, I'll kill them."
Hearing these words, both Li Xiang and Xiao Ming were so terrified that their eyes went wide. They broke out in cold sweats, trembling from head to toe.
They were truly scared out of their minds. They were almost certain that Hong Qiang wouldn't save them, so they believed they were dead for sure.
"One..."
"..."
"Two..."
"..."
"Three!"
And just like that, the Sect Master of the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest's voice rang out one after another—one, two, three.
By the time the third count fell, there was still no response from Hong Qiang. At this moment, practically everyone had already determined that Hong Qiang wouldn't be showing up.
He wouldn't appear for the sake of Li Xiang and Xiao Ming, because he was afraid. He was afraid of the Sect Master of the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest.
So at this moment, those who loathed Hong Qiang and feared Hong Qiang felt an immense sense of smugness and delight in their hearts.
Because in the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest, there was finally someone who could keep Hong Qiang in check.
In fact, even the Sect Master of the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest thought the same.
"Hong Qiang, it seems that even if they die, you still refuse to show your face."
"But you must remember—their deaths will be on your hands."
With those words, the Sect Master of the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest's expression turned cold. He waved his large sleeve, and the two bamboo stalks blazed with brilliant light, radiating killing intent, ready to take the lives of Li Xiang and Xiao Ming.
"Whoosh~~~~~~"
But at that very moment, a powerful gust of wind suddenly surged from the distance, rushing toward them at a speed that surpassed lightning, sweeping everything in its path like a storm devouring the clouds.
Wherever it passed, sand flew, stones were uprooted, soil was torn away, bamboo leaves were shredded, and billowing clouds of dust rose into the air. And yet, with all this momentum, the gust arrived in the blink of an eye and ultimately slammed into those two bamboo stalks.
"So you're finally willing to show yourself? What a pity—you can't save them."
Upon seeing this scene, the Sect Master of the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest let out a cold snort. At the same time, his eyes flashed, the killing intent within them growing even fiercer. He poured all his power into driving the two bamboo stalks, determined to block this sudden assault and kill Li Xiang and Xiao Ming.
The two attacks clashed, and the outcome had to be decided. With two sharp cracks—"bang, bang"—the powerful gust began to dissipate. But when the gust faded away, the bamboo stalks had already been reduced to powder, not even a scrap remaining.
At the same time, a massive wave of oppressive pressure descended from the sky. Everyone present, with the exception of Li Xiang and Xiao Ming, felt an immense weight pressing down upon them.
After that, two figures appeared out of thin air and landed in front of Li Xiang and Xiao Ming.
These two were none other than Hong Qiang and Chu Feng, who had just emerged from the cave.
"Heavens, that's..."
"That's Hong Qiang, and that Chu Feng as well."
"They... they actually dare to show themselves?"
Upon seeing these two, practically everyone in the Falling Leaves Bamboo Forest had their expressions change.