"Oh? What's going on?" Chen Xiao asked in surprise. He hadn't expected the Hidden Sword Pavilion to be so overbearing, to the point where he'd encounter someone harmed by them even in a simple restaurant.
However, considering Ding Yixing's arrogant demeanor, the nature of the Hidden Sword Pavilion was understandable.
The waiter shook his head and sighed, "Mr. Chen, this matter doesn't concern you. It's best if you don't ask. I've said all I can. You can decide for yourself."
Seeing his reluctance to speak further, Chen Xiao didn't press the issue. Before leaving, he gave the waiter ten thousand yuan in cash as a reward for his well-intentioned reminder.
After leaving the hotel, Chen Xiao and Gu Zhendong headed straight for Mount Yi Wu.
Meanwhile, Ding Yi had returned home. After a simple treatment of his injuries, he immediately made a phone call.
"Third Master Wang! Your subordinate is incompetent. I failed to help Old Pavilion Master Wang reclaim the spiritual artifact, and I have disappointed Third Master Wang," he said with a tearful voice.
After speaking, he broke down in sobs over the phone.
On a luxurious villa on a small overseas island in Jiaodong, a middle-aged man, with a cigar in his mouth, heard Ding Yi's words. His face turned ashen, and a look of rage appeared in his eyes.
"Hmm? Didn't I tell you that you could mention our Hidden Sword Pavilion's name when necessary!"
On the other end, Ding Yi said resentfully, "Third Master Wang, I followed your instructions and mentioned the Hidden Sword Pavilion's name. But it was worse after I mentioned it. That brat not only injured me but also crippled my martial arts. Third Master Wang, you must seek justice for your subordinate!"
The middle-aged man took a fierce puff of his cigar. "Who is so audacious to dare disregard our Hidden Sword Pavilion? Have they eaten the heart of a leopard?"
Ding Yi replied, "Reporting to Third Master, that brat is the formidable figure who has recently risen in Jiangbei, Chen Xiao! He is still in Qingcheng!"
"Chen Xiao?"
The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. "That big shot from Jiangbei, instead of staying put in Jiangbei, dares to cause trouble in Jiaodong? Does he think Jiaodong is devoid of people? That suicidal dog! Ding Yi, keep a close watch on that brat's movements. I'm heading over there now to chop off his head!"
...
Unaware that trouble was already brewing, Chen Xiao was now moving swiftly towards the main peak of Mount Yi Wu.
The mountain path was rugged and steep, with many cliffs and precipices. Cars couldn't ascend, so they had to rely on their own feet.
Fortunately, both Chen Xiao and Gu Zhendong were no ordinary individuals. Otherwise, they wouldn't have reached the summit before morning.
The Mohe Sect was located at the summit of Mount Yi Wu's main peak.
Hurrying along, the two of them climbed to the summit before dusk. After walking a bit further, a dilapidated mountain gate appeared before them.
Seeing the dilapidated state of the mountain gate, Gu Zhendong was dumbfounded.
Chen Xiao also froze, "Uncle Gu, this can't be the Mohe Sect, can it?"
Gu Zhendong nodded. "This is indeed the Mohe Sect. But why has it become so dilapidated?"
Inside the mountain gate, the path was overgrown with weeds, looking like it hadn't been tended to for a long time.
Chen Xiao's heart sank halfway, but he still said, "Uncle Gu, let's go in and take a look first."
Gu Zhendong nodded. "Yes, let's go in and see."
The two of them stepped into the mountain gate, but the further they went, the colder their hearts became.
This was because the courtyards on the mountain were long deserted, and almost all of them bore traces of burning.
Weeds had grown in them, and it was unclear how many years they had been abandoned.
"Chen Xiao, I didn't know it would be like this. I'm truly sorry." Gu Zhendong said with a face full of apology.
Chen Xiao forced a smile. "Uncle Gu, don't say that. It's not your fault."
Gu Zhendong's face was filled with disappointment. "I never imagined the Mohe Sect would be so ruined. I don't know where my brother Li is now, and why the Mohe Sect has fallen to such a state."
Just then, Chen Xiao suddenly asked, "Uncle Gu, the brother Li you mentioned, is his name Li Muzhi?"
Gu Zhendong was slightly taken aback. "How did you know?"
Chen Xiao sighed and pointed. "Look over there, and you'll know."
Following the direction Chen Xiao pointed, they saw a tombstone hidden among the weeds.
Gu Zhendong hurried over and his expression changed drastically, his face instantly going blank.
The tombstone was inscribed with large characters: "Tomb of the Esteemed Father Li Muzhi!"
Gu Zhendong couldn't help but shed tears. "I never thought that after our last parting, we would be separated by death."
Further ahead, there were more than twenty tombstones of various sizes. Li family members, as well as all the disciples of the Mohe Sect, were buried here.
It was clear that the Mohe Sect had been annihilated.
Gu Zhendong's eyes turned red, and he was furious. "Who acted so viciously to wipe out an entire family!"
Chen Xiao shook his head. "Uncle Gu, your words are somewhat biased. If the entire family had been wiped out, no one would have erected tombstones for them. From the inscriptions on the tombstones, it can be seen that at least Li Muzhi's child is still alive."
Gu Zhendong was stunned by this remark, then gave a bitter smile.
"Even if that child miraculously survived, they would have long since disappeared by now. Chen Xiao, let's go down the mountain."
Chen Xiao said, "Since we've come, let's help tidy up the graves."
Gu Zhendong, having known the deceased Li Muzhi, had no incense. He couldn't offer prayers, but he could at least help clear the weeds around the graves.
As Chen Xiao bent down to pull weeds, he suddenly heard a "squeak squeak" sound.
Chen Xiao looked in the direction of the sound and saw a small fox looking at him, baring its teeth.
The little fox was entirely black, without a single stray hair. Its eyes were blood-red, like two rubies embedded in its head.
"Uncle Gu, look quickly."
Chen Xiao pointed, and Gu Zhendong looked, also stunned. "This little fox is very strange. Could it be a spirit fox from the mountains?"
Chen Xiao nodded. "I can feel pure spiritual energy from it. Its cultivation is no less than that of a Golden Core stage mighty being."
Gu Zhendong was greatly alarmed upon hearing Chen Xiao's words. "What? A Golden Core stage mighty being? This little beast is that powerful?"
Chen Xiao smiled slightly. "I only said its cultivation is comparable to a Golden Core stage mighty being. I just don't know if it has sentience. If it lacks sentience, then no matter how high its cultivation, it cannot exert its power, making it useless."
Gu Zhendong muttered, "Looking at this little beast baring its teeth, it's clearly untamed and wild. I'm afraid it hasn't developed sentience yet."
However, while one might say it lacked sentience, it seemed to understand Gu Zhendong's words.
Gu Zhendong's repeated calls of "little beast" annoyed the little fox.
After baring its teeth at Gu Zhendong, the little fox suddenly pounced at him.
The little fox moved with extreme speed, and in a flash, it was at Gu Zhendong's feet, biting his calf!