Desperate Straits

The voice was low and deep, carrying a reassuring power that pierced through the bloodshed and killing intent permeating the air, reaching everyone's ears with crystal clarity.

Then, a faint "tap tap" sound came. Though not loud, it was exceptionally clear in this tense atmosphere.

Everyone instinctively turned to look, their eyes filled with confusion and vigilance.

An old monk draped in a dark brown kasaya was slowly walking over the blue stone slabs outside the prince's estate.

His steps seemed somewhat sluggish, yet each one appeared to contain immense power.

The kasaya was covered in patches, faintly visible under the sunlight.

In the old monk's hand was a string of prayer beads made from jujube wood, the beads smooth and glossy, exuding an ancient luster.

As he walked, he gently turned the beads, murmuring under his breath as if reciting some sutra.

As the old monk drew closer, people realized that his steps, though seemingly slow, actually covered several yards with each stride.

In just a few breaths, he had ghosted into the front courtyard of the estate, stepping into this battlefield soaked in blood.

The old monk's gaze swept over the corpses strewn across the ground, and a look of compassion flickered in his originally clouded eyes.

He stopped, sat down cross-legged on the spot, pressed his palms together, and began to chant sutras in a low voice.

The sound of the sutras echoed through the air, reverberating back and forth.

Just then, a Langya Family thug covered in blood suddenly lunged, swinging his blade at the old monk's crown: "Where'd this bald donkey come from?!"

The old monk's chanting instantly ceased. At the same time, his downcast eyes snapped open, and in that moment, the air within ten yards seemed to freeze solid.

The thug's blade stopped dead three inches from the old monk's head, unable to advance another inch. A mountain-like pressure erupted from the old monk's body.

In a daze, everyone saw thousands of golden lotus platforms materialize in the void, each petal engraved with ancient Sanskrit. The old monk sat at the center, like a Buddha descending to the mortal world.

"Thud!" The thug collapsed to the ground, blood seeping from his seven orifices, his longsword clattering to the stone.

This sight sent chills down everyone's spines. Even the three Grandmasters behind the Carefree Prince involuntarily took half a step back.

"Master Dehua! You've finally come!" Two burly men in tight-fitting clothes from the Langya Family exclaimed in surprise and joy.

As the ones carrying out this operation, they had long known that Master Dehua might come. After all, it was no secret to them that Young Master Xing of Langya had visited Tianlong Temple.

Though they didn't know what benefits Young Master Xing had promised to persuade one of Great Yan's four Grandmasters—a peerless powerhouse—to come to their aid.

But today, Master Dehua's appearance clearly meant he was here to fulfill that promise.

The Carefree Prince's pupils contracted. Beneath his brocade robe, his hands clenched into fists.

Everyone in the Great Yan martial world knew that Master Dehua had shaken the realm thirty years ago with his Dragon Elephant Divine Skill and Indestructible Vajra Body. Ten years ago, he had even fought the Sword Saint, then the strongest in Great Yan, to a draw without losing.

Now, this reclusive powerhouse had suddenly intervened, clearly prepared.

"Benefactor Mu, the sea of suffering has no shore; turn back and reach the other side."

Master Dehua formed a hand seal, his kasaya fluttering without wind. "This old monk has been invited. Today, I must take Benefactor to see His Majesty and settle the charges of privately stockpiling weapons and harboring ill intent."

"But please rest assured, Benefactor. This old monk will ensure your life is spared. I swear it on the reputation of Tianlong Temple. Amitabha."

Before his words faded, the black-robed Grandmaster behind the Carefree Prince suddenly lunged, his longsword transforming into a cold gleam aimed straight at the old monk's face.

Master Dehua, unhurried, turned his palm slightly. A flash of golden light shone from his kasaya, and his left hand swept out like an elephant's trunk. The black-robed Grandmaster flew backward like a kite with a broken string, carving a three-yard-long trail of blood across the blue bricks.

"You!" The Carefree Prince's face turned ashen. He knew full well that the situation had spiraled completely out of control.

One of his three Grandmasters was lost, and with the opponent fielding a Grandmaster, continuing to fight would only lead to total defeat.

The Carefree Prince stared at Master Dehua before him, his heart filled with bitterness and helplessness.

The appearance of this Grandmaster of Martial Arts made him realize that today's matter was beyond his reach.

The other party must have promised some heavy reward to move such an extraordinary Buddhist powerhouse.

He slowly shook his head, as if he had made a difficult decision in his heart.

Then, resolutely, he stepped out from the protection of his guards. Each step was exceptionally heavy, as if bearing the fate of the entire Carefree Prince's Estate.

His eyes were filled with helplessness. To protect the safety of the Carefree Prince's Estate, he was willing to sacrifice his own freedom, even his life.

Seeing this, the men sent by the Langya Aristocratic Family immediately ordered the two burly, fierce-faced men to bring out the iron chains prepared in advance, ready to lock up Mu Rongyi.

The two men, their faces ferocious, advanced step by step toward Mu Rongyi, chains in hand.

Just as they were about to lock the chains around Mu Rongyi's wrists, at that critical moment, a crisp sound suddenly cut through the tense air.

"Ding!"

Before anyone could react, the originally unyielding iron chains burst into dazzling sparks.

Then, a terrifying force surged like a raging tide. Under the impact of this power, the chains were instantly sent flying, like a venomous snake out of control, slamming heavily into a nearby tree.

With a "crack," the tree trunk was gouged with a deep dent, having suffered a heavy blow.

The two men holding the chains were sent flying backward by the force, like kites with broken strings, crashing awkwardly to the ground.

Blood sprayed from their mouths; they had clearly sustained serious internal injuries.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily fixed on the twisted, deformed iron chains, their hearts filled with shock and horror.

Yet, even more astonishing was that the object that had sent the chains flying was nothing more than a tiny pebble!

Only then did the crowd snap out of their daze, turning in unison toward the direction from which the pebble had flown.

There, atop a tall ancient tree, a youthful figure sat leisurely swinging his legs, a pebble flipping deftly between his fingers as if he were toying with some utterly ordinary trinket.

This person was none other than the Young Master of the Carefree Prince's Estate, the one everyone there regarded as a good-for-nothing wastrel—Mu Bai.

"Young Master?!" The guards of the Carefree Prince's Estate stared wide-eyed, their faces full of disbelief.

That Young Master, who ordinarily knew only how to eat, drink, and laze about doing nothing, had just casually tossed a pebble and displayed such terrifying martial prowess, knocking back two fierce brutes—this completely overturned everything they had ever known about him.

The Carefree Prince himself was frantic with worry, his face twisted with anxiety as he shouted, "Bai'er! What are you still doing here? Get out of here, now!"

In his heart, Mu Bai was the last hope for the Carefree Prince's Estate to carry on its bloodline. Now that they were in danger, all he wanted was for his son to flee this place of trouble.

In his panic, he had even forgotten that the stunning feat just moments ago had been performed by his own son.

Meanwhile, Master Dehua, standing to the side, pressed his palms together and intoned a Buddhist greeting: "Amitabha, benefactor. We meet again."

His voice was calm and peaceful, yet it stirred a storm of crashing waves in everyone's hearts.

The crowd couldn't help but wonder—this Grandmaster of the Buddhist faith and the Young Master of the Carefree Prince's Estate actually knew each other?

Mu Bai gave a faint smile, tapped his toes on a branch, and executed a kestrel's flip as he leaped down from the tree.

The moment he landed, his toes brushed the ground, his form flickered, and he appeared in an instant not far in front of Master Dehua.

A wry smile crossed his face as he sighed softly, "Master, I really didn't want to meet you here."