Li Wuya and his group, including Jin Yue'e, Li Sanlang, and Li Qilang, stepped into a quaint shop. Inside, a mysterious figure hastened to flip the "closed" sign and swiftly locked the door behind them.
As the door clicked shut, capitalizing on the dimming light that momentarily disoriented everyone, Li Wuya lunged forward with agile grace. In the blink of an eye, he was face-to-face with the man who held Jin Yue'e captive.
With calculated precision, Li Wuya delivered a swift sidekick aimed at the man's vulnerable midsection.
"Ah~"
A stifled groan of agony pierced the air.
The man's face flushed crimson, veins protruding along his neck, body taut like a bowstring. He clutched a dagger against Jin Yue'e's throat, but as his grip slackened, the blade tumbled from his grasp.
A hushed sigh of relief escaped.
Li Wuya's swift manoeuvre had brought him behind the man, allowing him to seize the opportunity. In one fluid motion, Li Qilang, perched atop a stool, brandishing a brick aloft, brought it crashing down upon the man's unsuspecting head.
Though young in age, Li Qilang's physique had been bolstered by a year-long regimen of body-enhancing tonics. Now, his physical prowess surpassed that of many adults, and his strength was nothing short of remarkable.
An anecdote came to mind: during a remote training session in the desert, Li Qilang confronted a wild bull. With a mere flurry of fists, he had felled the beast to the ground.
And thus, the seemingly indomitable eighth-ranked expert from Beiyan met his demise.
"Ah~"
Stunned by the unexpected assault on his cranium, the man grappled with dizziness. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Li Wuya closed in. His blade traced a crimson arc across the man's throat.
"Ugh~"
The man clutched his neck, crimson rivulets cascading through his fingers. His gaze, infused with disbelief, flickered between Jin Yue'e and her small band of defenders.
Their strategic error had been laid bare; their rash assault was a grave miscalculation.
To eliminate a practitioner of the eighth rank—it defied reason to assume their adversaries were ordinary mortals!
A resounding thud marked the moment of remorse, as the man collapsed to the floor, eyes glazed over.
"Brother, sister, you were rather sluggish in your response," Li Wuya quipped, casting a glance at Li Sanlang and Li Er'ya.
Li Sanlang's countenance bore traces of regret, though he refrained from verbalizing his chagrin. Hastily canvassing the premises, he ascertained the absence of additional threats before circling back.
Meanwhile, Li Wuya, Li Qilang, and Li Er'ya converged around Jin Yue'e, concern etched on their features. "Mother, are you feeling unwell?"
Jin Yue'e gazed at her youngest daughter, astonishment rendering her momentarily speechless. Then, her gaze shifted toward her youngest son, lips parting in a futile attempt to articulate her thoughts.
"What's amiss, Mother?" Li Sanlang inquired with furrowed brows.
Li Wuya interjected, employing a soothing tone, "Mother, don't be alarmed. You've been rendered mute by a strategic acupoint manipulation."
Li Er'ya, her distress palpable, implored, "What's the remedy?"
This query left Li Wuya momentarily perplexed. The intricacies of unlocking the suppressed acupoint eluded him.
Li Sanlang's voice resonated with assurance, "Our master undoubtedly holds the solution. Let's convey Mother to Dieling Pass."
Li Er'ya nodded in agreement, asserting, "Very well, let's expedite our departure from this covert haven."
"Wait a moment!" Li Wuya interjected, forestalling Li Sanlang and Li Er'ya's departure.
Li Sanlang met his companion's gaze, bafflement is evident. "Wuya, what's amiss?"
Li Qilang chimed in, breaking the silence, "We've yet to tend to the aftermath of this skirmish."
A satisfied smile tugged at Li Wuya's lips, his affectionate gesture ruffling Li Qilang's hair. "Qilang, what's detaining you?"
Empowered by Li Wuya's prompting, Li Qilang scurried away, eager to fulfil his role.
Li Sanlang, still puzzled, complied, allowing Li Er'ya to assist Jin Yue'e. Swiftly, they proceeded to discharge their duties.
Li Wuya journeyed to the rear of the establishment, intuiting the presence of a concealed chamber within the bedroom.
Entering the room, Li Wuya swiftly located the switch and activated the concealed door.
Within the hidden sanctum, two chests awaited his discovery.
Li Wuya unfastened one chest to reveal an assortment of books.
"What do we have here?" he mused aloud.
His fingers gravitated toward a tome, its title sparking intrigue—Wash Marrow Scripture!
A revelation that kindled excitement coursed through Li Wuya as he delved into the contents of other volumes.
Great Strength Diamond Palm, Iron Sand Palm, Iron Arm Technique, Carefree Sword, Bagua Fist—their titles unfurled a tableau of martial mastery.
"Brother, come hither!" Li Wuya beckoned Li Sanlang, inviting him to partake in the revelations before them.
With each passing page, Li Sanlang's enthusiasm surged, echoing the sentiment of an uncharted adventure.
"Brother, we must transport these volumes with us."
"Seize them all."
Li Sanlang procured two voluminous sacks, gingerly depositing the treasure trove of manuscripts within.
"Our prompt departure is warranted; this establishment likely doubles as a Beiyan rendezvous. We must anticipate the arrival of additional operatives."
And so, with Jin Yue'e and Li Sanlang, each burdened by a sack of tomes, the quartet—Li Wuya and his siblings—stealthily retreated through the rear exit.
Indeed, this clandestine enclave had served as a Beiyan nexus, albeit a consequential one.
Yet, on that fateful night, Li Wuya and his comrades at Tianling Tuan remained blissfully unaware of the unfolding events.
Three days after their fortuitous acquisition of two chests brimming with martial manuals, Ye Mo returned from his hiatus. Stepping into the domicile, his gaze fell upon two laden sacks. Li Er'ya, Li Wuya, and Li Qilang were immersed in their textual pursuit.
"Master, your return is impeccably timed!"
pon seeing Ye Mo, Li Wuya's eyes lit up with excitement.
"What are these?" Ye Mo approached, picked up a book, and as his gaze landed on the title, his pupils involuntarily dilated. He swiftly scanned the other books in the bags and realized that all of them were rare martial arts manuals, treasures that were worth a fortune.
Ye Mo turned his gaze towards Li Wuya and his siblings, his expression serious as he inquired, "Where did you get these books?"
Li Wuya didn't hide anything and immediately recounted the events they had experienced in Xining City to Ye Mo.
"The Beiyan operatives in that hidden shop intended to kill us, so we took preemptive action."
Ye Mo rubbed his throbbing temples, looking at the bags filled with martial arts manuals. He was momentarily at a loss for words.
These martial arts manuals were each exceedingly precious.
Even during the peak of the Ye family's influence, obtaining just one would require a significant price.
Yet now, observing these casually stacked martial arts manuals in the bags, Ye Mo felt as though these were not coveted treasures but rather discarded relics.
Ye Mo gazed at the Li siblings, oblivious to the wealth they possessed, and his emotions became exceedingly complex.
The Beiyan operatives had encountered their nemesis in the Li family.
Initially, upon hearing that the Beiyan operatives had been defeated by the Li siblings, Ye Mo might have attributed it to luck or coincidence. However, this time around, he wasn't so convinced.
His four disciples had brought him an abundance of unexpected surprises.