The powerful pressure overwhelmed He Qiang and his men, making it difficult for them to breathe. Beads of sweat dripped from their foreheads, soaking through their clothes.
Upon hearing that Li Nianjiao had escaped, He Qiang had immediately punished a few of his subordinates as a warning to the others, and then led a group to recapture her. After a difficult pursuit, they hadn't expected to encounter a mysterious and powerful figure. Feeling utterly unlucky, He Qiang cursed his fate, believing he should have checked his horoscope before leaving home.
He Qiang himself was merely at the late stage of the Initial Profound Realm, while those following him were only at the mid to late stages of the Transforming Mortal Realm. Facing Zhong Ming, who had reached the Divine Soul Realm, filled them with despair.
Gathering his courage, He Qiang spoke in a trembling voice, "Spare us, Your Excellency! We have no quarrel with you and disturbed you unintentionally. Please show mercy!"
A flash of malice crossed He Qiang's eyes as he cursed inwardly. How could Li Nianjiao know such a powerful figure? Was this person an ally of the Li family?
After Li Nianjiao's disappearance became known throughout Tianyang City, Xu Huaiyuan had informed Zhong Ming via a messaging talisman, asking him to keep an eye out for her.
Zhong Ming glanced coldly at He Qiang and then looked at the girl who seemed about fifteen or sixteen years old. Suspecting her identity, the pressure he exerted on her was much lighter than on He Qiang and his men.
Noticing Zhong Ming's gaze and the comparatively lighter pressure on her, Li Nianjiao realized that the young man probably bore no ill will towards her.
"Thank you for saving me, young master. I am Li Nianjiao from the Li family in Tianyang City. I was kidnapped by these ruffians and managed to escape." Li Nianjiao bowed slightly.
As expected, the Li family's eldest daughter, sought by the entire city, had appeared before him so suddenly. Zhong Ming frowned slightly, recalling his nickname as a "friend of women" within the sect. His expression grew peculiar as he looked at her.
Li Nianjiao noticed Zhong Ming's expression and tilted her head in confusion. She asked hesitantly, "What's the matter, young master? Do you know my father, Li Subei?"
Zhong Ming cleared his throat. "I don't know your father."
His cold gaze shifted back to He Qiang and his men. "Who are you? Why did you kidnap her?"
He Qiang, who had just felt relieved that Zhong Ming wasn't an ally of the Li family, now felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss upon hearing Zhong Ming's question.
His mind raced. Should he tell the truth?
Sensing He Qiang's hesitation, the surrounding spiritual energy fluctuated violently. Suddenly, He Qiang felt an immense weight pressing down on him, making his body feel as if it were filled with lead. A strong sense of suffocation overwhelmed him, and he lost control of his body.
Thud—
They fell to their knees, trembling. He Qiang hastily shouted, "Spare us, Your Excellency! I will tell you everything!"
"We are from the Chen family of Tianyang City, acting on orders from Young Master Chen Yu to capture Li Nianjiao."
Seeing that Zhong Ming remained silent, He Qiang continued, "Young Master Chen Yu wants to keep Li Nianjiao to serve him."
Hearing He Qiang's explanation, Li Nianjiao's face turned pale. Her eyes blazed with fury. "I thought rejecting him would make him back off, but he resorted to such despicable means. He must be dreaming if he thinks he can have me!"
"I will report this to my father and demand justice from the Chen family!"
"So, after Li Nianjiao went missing, you guessed that the Li family would come to demand her return. Chen Yu then had you hide her in the mountains. Am I correct?" Zhong Ming asked.
Seeing He Qiang lower his head without responding, Zhong Ming understood. He had to admit, Chen Yu was somewhat clever.
Changing the topic, Zhong Ming asked, "Is Chen Yu responsible for the recent murders in Tianyang City?"
He Qiang remained silent, sweat pouring from his forehead. This was the end for him.
"Enough. Whether you speak or not doesn't matter to me. You can all die now."
With that, Zhong Ming unleashed a fist strike, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to erupt violently. A burst of light obliterated He Qiang's men, leaving only He Qiang's body behind.
Leaving the body was a deliberate move to provide evidence. Li Nianjiao, heart pounding, stared at the blood mist in horror, the smell of blood still lingering in the air.
If she had faced He Qiang's men alone, it would have been a tough fight, and she would likely have been captured again. The mysterious young man before her, however, had easily turned them into blood mist with a single punch.
She felt fortunate to be alive and bowed again in gratitude. "Thank you for saving me, young master. Without you, I would have been recaptured. May I know your name and where you are from?"
"There's no need to be so formal," Zhong Ming replied with a smile. "It was a small effort. I am Zhong Ming, a disciple of the Vermilion Bird Holy Land. I came here to handle some matters in Tianyang City."
"Vermilion Bird Holy Land?" Li Nianjiao covered her mouth in astonishment, her eyes filled with admiration. She had heard about this ancient sect from her elders since she was a child.
According to ancient records, the Four Spirits of Heaven are the Azure Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Vermilion Bird of the South, and the Black Tortoise of the North. Each deity guards one of the four cardinal directions, with the Vermilion Bird being the guardian of the South.
There have been several prominent figures in the Southern Region who believe that the origin of the Vermilion Bird Holy Land is closely linked to the Vermilion Bird itself. Thus, the Vermilion Bird Holy Land has always been the representative of the Southern Region, symbolizing a spiritual belief and an emblem of faith.
The Vermilion Bird Holy Land boasts more than one saint, with an unimaginable depth of heritage. It is a sacred sect that she has dreamed of joining since she was a child.
Li Nianjiao had speculated about Zhong Ming's identity, but she had never expected him to be a disciple of the Vermilion Bird Holy Land.
"How envious I am… It has been my dream since childhood to enter the Vermilion Bird Holy Land for cultivation. If only I could enter the Vermilion Bird Holy Land one day."
Her eyes sparkled with delight as she blinked, but her tone carried a hint of wistfulness.
Seeing Li Nianjiao transformed into a little fangirl, Zhong Ming's lips twitched slightly. He reassured her, "As long as you haven't joined another sect and you meet our Holy Land's assessment standards, you can join too."
She quickly responded, "I haven't joined any sect yet. This year, I will take part in the Vermilion Bird Holy Land's assessment."
"If you don't mind, can I call you Brother Zhong Ming?"
Well, well, this girl really knows how to forge connections.
Zhong Ming looked at the young girl with interest and joked with a smile, "You can, but only after you officially join the Vermilion Bird Holy Land. Then I will truly be your senior brother. I'll be waiting for your good news in the Holy Land."
"Alright, then Brother Zhong Ming, wait for my good news. I will definitely strive to pass the Holy Land's assessment," Li Nianjiao said with a sweet smile, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.