Slippery

The moment the sound arrived, Li Qi almost simultaneously felt a sharp edge.

Without hesitation! Li Qi's internal energy surged, and his body reacted instantly. He immediately raised his military knife, and although it was not yet unsheathed, he still used the scabbard to block the attack.

With a tearing sound, the linen wrapping the long sword ripped into pieces, exposing the sword completely.

But no one knew what the scabbard was made of, yet it actually blocked the attack and knocked away the sharp force that was hurtling through the air.

"The sound and the hidden weapon arrived almost simultaneously... This thing travels at supersonic speed?" Li Qi's heart skipped a beat. After blocking it, he looked closely and realized it was a flying needle.

No, that's not a flying needle.

That was... a single hair?

A metal-made fur? No, it's still floating in the air; it's soft, clearly not made of metal.

Light and airy, like the fur of some kind of animal, extremely fine and soft, it floats and tumbles in the air when the wind blows, and you can even see it bending because of the strong wind.

But Li Qi glanced at the scabbard of the longsword.

There was a very conspicuous mark on it, as if it had been cleaved by an axe, with a crack about a finger's length appearing on the scabbard.

This scabbard of the military sword is made of Ironwood.

"Golden Qi?" Li Qi activated his Qi vision and gazed into the distance.

He realized that there was nothing mysterious about this hair, but the previous attack was imbued with a wisp of golden energy, which allowed it to pierce the sky with a clanging sound, flying at near-sonic speed and easily shattering the refined Ironwood. The carrier was nothing more than a hair from some unknown animal.

Metal energy represents military force; its energy is fierce and intrusive, affecting other things. Grass changes color when touched, and trees lose their leaves when struck. The reason for its destruction and decay is the residual intensity of its metal energy.

This person is very skilled at utilizing metal energy; I wonder what Dao Lineage he belongs to?

Li Qi's gaze traveled all the way to a painted boat on the Li River not far away, where a person was looking at Li Qi.

Was that sentence he just said?

Is this one hair his attack?

No, if it were truly an attack, it shouldn't be just like this.

Perhaps this could be considered... a reminder?

Although this reminder is not very friendly.

Just as Li Qi was observing warily, the voice came again.

"Haha, young man, why be so aggressive? He's just a gofer, why make such a fuss?"

Along with the sound came a bald, fat man who seemed to float in.

This man was very fat, bald, and had a beard. He wore a loose robe and looked like a seal covered in seaweed and kelp, swimming out of the water.

However, he flew here.

If he were a handsome young man, his graceful descent from the sky would surely attract countless eyes.

Unfortunately, he was a bald, fat man.

Li Qi looked around and found that there was no movement at all, as if no one had heard the fat man's voice.

However, some boatmen and Uncle Liu behind them saw the fat man flying over and were all dumbfounded, as if they had seen a god.

"Uncle Liu, step back and get out of the way." Li Qi said in a deep voice, waving away the bystanders. He stepped forward, gripped his long sword, and looked serious.

"You sent people to cause trouble and then ambushed me. Now you're advising me not to be so aggressive. Isn't that a bit unreasonable?" Li Qi smiled, one hand on his sword, ready to draw it at any moment, the other behind his waist, ready to pick up a willow branch at any time.

This can be considered his fighting stance.

He also started watching the progress bar of the bald, fat man.

If the opponent begins to act, it will be indicated by a progress bar, thus preventing a sneak attack.

"Haha, it's my fault, it's my fault. I apologize to you, brother. You're too good at hiding your anger. I didn't know you were here. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have bothered you!" The bald fat man laughed heartily, extremely enthusiastic, showing no hostility whatsoever.

Li Qi frowned.

Knowing that the other party had no intention of being his enemy, how did he know there was "good news" here?

So he changed his address. "May I ask how I should address this gentleman? And what brings you here?"

"Hey, you're calling me 'brother' already, why are you being so formal? It's windy here, not the place to talk. Why don't you come aboard and chat?" The bald, fat man waved his hand, acting all familiar.

Li Qi immediately looked embarrassed, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and remained silent.

"Oh dear, look at my brain! You were so nervous just now, brother, that won't do! Well then, brother, pick a place, it's my treat tonight!" the bald fat man said.

Li Qi glanced at his Uncle Liu and the boatmen behind him.

"Brother, you've come all this way, so why don't I be the host and you stay here for a drink?" Li Qi said.

"Alright, alright!" To everyone's surprise, the fat seal agreed without hesitation.

Then he clapped his hands.

Suddenly, dozens of martial artists flew out of the painted boat.

Li Qi could tell that none of these people were of the highest rank, but they were definitely much stronger than the boatmen, roughly at the level he had reached when he used the Ox-Strength Technique.

Neither of them are weak.

It's incredible that they could achieve this level of skill, with the combined strength of dozens of people!

Is it an organization?

Sect?

Dozens of people are attacking me... what should I do?

Li Qi's heart tightened. As he watched them fly over, he was already prepared for a fight. He had already raised his inner energy and was ready to activate his Ox-Strength Technique at any moment.

However, after landing, the dozens of people did not make a move, but instead bowed and greeted Elder Bao!

Li Qi looked at the bald seal. Was that Elder Bao?

"Go and bring some tables and chairs, and some food. Have the boatmen prepare some of their signature dishes. My brother and I want to have a meal here!" Elder Bao ordered without any hesitation.

The disciples were surprisingly obedient. They flew up again, skimming across the Li River like dragonflies, and returned to the painted boat. Some moved tables, others served dishes. In just a few minutes, they had prepared a feast, steaming hot and freshly made!

"Alright, that's all for you. Go back and eat and drink." Elder Bao said casually.

After bowing, the disciples returned, seemingly without any resentment at being ordered around.

Li Qi watched the whole thing.

This is... a cultivation sect?

"Come, come, brother! Let's sit down and have a meal! I apologize for what happened earlier, I'll punish myself with three cups!" Elder Bao sat down, downed three cups of wine, and invited Li Qi to drink with him.

Li Qi didn't want to clash with the other party. After all, it would be fine if it was just one person, but now... there were dozens of disciples. He wasn't afraid, but the Wave-Pushing Gang was.

So he sat down, clasped his hands in greeting, and then picked up his chopsticks.

From beginning to end, no one paid any attention to Zhang Caitou, who was hanging up.