The moment the name "Ghost Hand Shentu" left the middle-aged man's lips, the faces of the Qin family warriors drained of white. Without a word, they all activated their strength simultaneously, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
The purple-robed young girl's beautiful eyes also flickered with a trace of panic.
Though she was young, her knowledge and experience were remarkably broad. Moreover, among the warriors near Maple Forest City, there were precious few who hadn't heard of Ghost Hand Shentu.
This fellow was a first-layer Dao Source Realm cultivator. But no one knew what kind of sinister art he had practiced — he was utterly vicious and cruel, terrorizing the surroundings of Maple Forest City for years. Relying on his powerful Dao Source Realm cultivation, he robbed and ambushed those weaker than himself.
For many warriors, the name Ghost Hand Shentu represented nothing short of a death sentence. If you ran into this man out in the wilderness, it meant your end was near.
And he didn't act alone. From somewhere, he had gathered a group of capable subordinates, every one of them at the Void King Realm. Ordinary people stood absolutely no chance against them and could only offer up their necks for the blade.
Not only was this man vicious and cruel, he was also extremely cunning. The City Lord's Manor, led by City Lord Duan Yuanshan, had dispatched experts to hunt him down on multiple occasions without success. The one time they had managed to corner him, they only managed to grievously wound him before he slipped away.
After that, Ghost Hand Shentu appeared to have settled down for a while. But anyone with half-decent intelligence knew he hadn't truly mellowed — he had simply become less reckless than before. These days, he only targeted those without any background or backing, never provoking the families of Maple Forest City or the Disciples of nearby Sects.
With that arrangement, the experts from those families and Sects couldn't be bothered to deal with him. And the City Lord's Manor couldn't sustain a never-ending pursuit. Combined with his fox-like cunning, he had lived freely ever since.
As it happened, the location Yang Kai had chosen for his breakthrough wasn't far from where Shentu and his subordinates gathered. So the moment any commotion arose, they detected it.
Realizing that Yang Kai was a warrior with no background or backing, and that he was at a critical juncture in his breakthrough, how could this group let such an opportunity pass? Naturally, they mobilized as one, ready to make a killing.
Only to run into the Qin family group here.
Hearing the middle-aged man's alarmed cry, the bald old man let out a cold laugh. "Since you know my name, you still dare to approach? You must be tired of living."
The moment he spoke, the Void King Realm warriors flanking him all turned their gazes over with hostile expressions, as though a single word from the old man would send them into a coordinated attack.
The middle-aged man's expression shifted. He swallowed hard, at a loss for how to respond.
The purple-robed young girl had caught her breath, seemingly having recovered some strength. She pressed her lips into a gentle smile and spoke softly, "So it's the renowned Senior Shentu. This junior was blind and unknowingly offended Senior — please don't take it to heart."
"Oh?" Shentu narrowed his triangular eyes, sizing up the purple-robed girl. He let out an eerie chuckle. "To remain so composed in front of me — this little girl has quite the nerve. Which family are you from?"
Having lingered around Maple Forest City for years, Shentu could tell at a glance that the purple-robed girl likely had some connections. Otherwise, she wouldn't have conducted herself so properly. Had it not been for that, he wouldn't have bothered exchanging pleasantries. With his temperament, he would have started slaughtering long ago.
"This junior's surname is Qin," the purple-robed girl answered softly.
"Qin!" Shentu's lips curled dismissively. "I've heard that in the Qin family of Maple Forest City, there's a girl named Qin Yu who fell ill when she was young, yet is remarkably clever and sharp. The old scoundrel Qin Zhaoyang dotes on her greatly — he even ventured deep into the Black Blood Marsh to find a Solar Blossom just to extend her life. Could it be you?"
The purple-robed girl coughed lightly and nodded. "Senior is perceptive. This junior is indeed Qin Yu. It is only by the Patriarch's kindness that I have survived until now."
"Heh heh heh..." Shentu let out a string of strange laughter. "Little girl, you really are remarkable. To face me without turning a hair — no wonder that old scoundrel Qin Zhaoyang likes you so much. But... what business do you have with me?"
Qin Yu's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She pondered for a moment before saying, "Since Senior asks, this junior will speak plainly. Are you going after that person?"
Shentu's eyes narrowed, his tone flat and indifferent. "What if I am?"
Qin Yu said, "Could Senior let that person go?"
Shentu's lips curled. "Give me a reason."
"That person is a guest elder of my Qin family, so..." Qin Yu replied quietly. "So I would ask Senior to show mercy. My Qin family will surely visit in person to express our gratitude."
"A guest elder of your Qin family?" Shentu broke into a grin, his smile full of mockery. "Little girl, you may be clever, but don't take others for fools! If this person were truly your family's guest elder, why would he choose a place like this for his breakthrough? If he really were your family's guest elder, wouldn't that old scoundrel Qin Zhaoyang be here personally to stand guard for him? Do you really think I'm that easy to fool?"
Having her words seen through so directly, Qin Yu showed not the slightest embarrassment. She smiled and said, "Senior's eyes are sharp as ever. This junior's little tricks truly can't deceive you. However... even though he may not be my Qin family's guest elder right now, that doesn't mean he won't be in the future. Could Senior perhaps see fit to..."
Before Qin Yu could finish, Shentu raised a hand to cut her off.
He stared at her coldly, his triangular eyes radiating an icy chill. "Little girl, this time I'm letting you off out of respect for Qin Zhaoyang. If you dare pester me again, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve, and a tremendous wave of force swept directly toward Qin Yu.
Qin Yu's face changed dramatically as she hastily retreated.
The several Void King Realm warriors who had been vigilantly gathered around her immediately sprang forward, positioning themselves in front of her. A series of muffled grunts rang out as all of them stumbled back several steps before managing to steady themselves.