Who is he?

The dozen or so people in the cells stared at the broken locks on their cell doors, disbelieving.

They were imprisoned here because they were either rich or noble, meaning they still had value to be squeezed for profit.

Most of them were not weak.

Several were Martial Masters. Even though most were injured and maimed, they could still unleash thousands of pounds of force. They had all tried to tear at the locks and bars, but to no avail.

Yet the mysterious bronze-masked man had slashed through more than ten locks with just over ten swift cuts?

And without even scratching the bars.

How strong did that require? How precise was that control?

"That cleaver he's holding... it looks like the one belonging to Yang Long, the leader of the Fierce Tiger Gang," a voice suddenly called out from one of the cells. "A martial artist's weapon is their second life. Why would he abandon it? Could it be that Yang Long is dead?"

"And where are the guards? They're gone too."

"Just now, there was fighting outside. And that bronze-masked man came in here once not long ago."

"The Fierce Tiger Gang... is it really wiped out?" Several of the prisoners in the courtyard had considerable experience and insight. They quickly pieced together part of the truth.

Finally.

Clang~ A young man in tattered purple robes pushed open a cell door and cautiously took his first step out.

Then came the second step. Though injured, his walking speed increased, and he soon rushed to the courtyard gate, struggling to open the iron door.

He pushed it open!

Outside, flames raged, and the broken courtyard wall could be vaguely seen in the distance.

But there was no movement.

"They've all left. The Fierce Tiger Gang members, they're all gone!" the purple-robed youth lowered his voice, turning back excitedly. "We're saved, we're saved."

Without further delay, he rushed out of the prison courtyard without looking back.

"Let's go."

"Escape, let's escape." Seeing this, the people in the other cells no longer hesitated, disregarding the dark sky, and rushed out of their cells towards the outside of the prison courtyard.

Among them, naturally, was Wu Qiming, covered in blood and injuries.

His strength was among the strongest of the imprisoned, but he had also suffered the most severe torture since his confinement.

"Saved?" Wu Qiming was dazed. Even though he knew there might be danger, he still struggled to get up.

He stumbled as he walked.

He walked out of his cell and then out of the prison courtyard.

The past few days in the prison courtyard had been a nightmare, and he didn't want to linger for a moment.

"This way." Wu Qiming bit his tongue, trying hard to stay alert. He hadn't been captured; he had come to the Fierce Tiger Gang's main stronghold voluntarily, so he knew some of the layout.

He struggled his way towards the main gate.

Along the way.

He saw the collapsed houses and courtyards, the numerous corpses, and the flames still burning not far away.

The high walls surrounding the stronghold were barely damaged.

"The Fierce Tiger Gang... was their stronghold directly infiltrated by an expert? And then they were brutally defeated?" Wu Qiming was shocked. "The corpses I see... are they all Fierce Tiger Gang members? Could it be that the attacker didn't suffer a single casualty?"

He couldn't imagine how strong that would have to be.

Finally.

Wu Qiming walked out of the stronghold. By this time, most of the Fierce Tiger Gang members and the prisoners from the courtyard had already fled the stronghold.

Suddenly.

Whoosh! A phantom flashed out of the darkness, instantly appearing in front of Wu Qiming, startling him greatly.

"P-predecessor?" Wu Qiming looked at the newcomer in fear.

Wearing a bronze mask, it was the mysterious expert who had previously cut open the prison gate. His strength was beyond Wu Qiming's imagination.

"Don't move," the bronze-masked man's voice was hoarse. "I'll take you."

With that.

Before Wu Qiming could react, a pair of strong arms had already clamped onto him.

Then, Wu Qiming felt himself 'flying.'

Instantly, Wu Qiming realized he wasn't flying, but that the mysterious expert was carrying him as they sprinted!

It was a pitch-black night.

Yet Wu Qiming could still feel gusts of wind whistling past, hear the occasional screams of wild beasts, and the rustling of trees.

So fast!

His speed was even faster than when Wu Qiming ran at his peak on flat ground. In the eyes of this mysterious expert, it was as if he could see everything in the darkness, with rocks, trees, and even mountain cliffs posing no obstacle.

"A Second-class Expert?" Wu Qiming was shocked.

He was a Sixth-Rank Martial Master and had seen the strength of many Third-class Experts, but they were all far inferior to this mysterious expert.

As for Second-class Experts, they were all famous big figures within Li City.

Even Wu Qiming felt that the few Second-class Experts he had seen might not be as formidable as this mysterious expert.

But a First-class Expert? Wu Qiming dared not even think about it!

One must know that the entire Li City region currently had no First-class Experts at all. How rare were they?

Why would a First-class Expert come to the small headquarters of the Fierce Tiger Gang?

Moreover.

Besides being shocked by the mysterious expert's strength, Wu Qiming was even more puzzled as to why this expert would take him away alone.

What about the others in the prison yard?

It was as if the other party had specifically come to save him!

Phew!

In just fifteen minutes, the bronze masked man brought Wu Qiming, leaping over several mountain peaks, to the foot of the Nine Cloud Mountain range.

Bang~

Wu Qiming felt his body lighten, and then he landed on the grass. Not far away, a muddy road was faintly visible.

"Remember! Don't reveal my existence. If you do, don't blame me for not warning you about the destruction of your clan and your death!" the bronze masked man said mysteriously and coldly. "Take care of yourself."

Before Wu Qiming could reply.

Whoosh!

The bronze masked man moved, disappearing into the endless darkness, leaving Wu Qiming stunned and confused.

"The calamity of clan destruction and death?"

Wu Qiming thought to himself, "It seems this mysterious expert knows me. Taking me down the mountain wasn't an accident. He doesn't want me to reveal his existence because he has a powerful enemy?"

"Who is helping me? Could it be an enemy of the General's Mansion?" Wu Qiming pondered.

He thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out which of his acquaintances, friends, or family could mobilize such a terrifying Martial Dao expert.

He didn't consider Wu Yuan.

Firstly, their height and build were completely different, and their voices were also different. Secondly, in his heart, Wu Yuan was just a decent young fellow from the clan, and he wouldn't associate him with this matter at all.

"I must listen to what this expert says," Wu Qiming decided. "Besides, the destruction of the Fierce Tiger Gang is a major event that will undoubtedly stir up immense waves."

"I only hope the General's Mansion will stop here and not cause any more trouble."

Wu Qiming recalled what the "Second Boss" had said to him, "You took someone's money but didn't return it proactively, and you even dared to haggle! If you're so ignorant, then we'll teach you to be sensible."

Undoubtedly, the one who instigated the Fierce Tiger Gang to attack the Wu Clan was the General's Mansion!

"I wonder how the clan is doing now." Wu Qiming was quite worried. "I hope nothing happens."

Wu Qiming stopped thinking.

He walked laboriously to the official road, identified the direction with a glance, and then walked along the official road towards "Li City."

"Taking the clan leader down the mountain was to prevent him from encountering scattered Fierce Tiger Gang members along the way. That was the limit." Wu Yuan silently watched the clan leader leave, limping, in the darkness.

He did not want to reveal that he had rescued the clan leader.

He also did not want the clan leader to know his true identity, at least not yet.

Having merged with the memories and emotions of his previous life, coupled with his experiences over the past few months, Wu Yuan felt a deep gratitude towards Clan Leader Wu Qiming and valued this relationship.

But this did not mean Wu Yuan wanted to reveal all his secrets to him.

Moreover.

As soon as he thought of the green jade bottle that seemed to be a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, and the mysterious token, Wu Yuan felt troubled.

"This is a matter of great importance. My current strength is not enough to bear it," Wu Yuan thought. "Besides."

"Even if I were a Heavenly Ranking Expert, how could I protect the entire clan anytime and anywhere by myself?" Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

He suddenly understood why some powerful individuals always joined large forces and established their own organizations.

More people meant greater strength!

Some trivial matters could be delegated to subordinates without having to do them personally, and the subordinates might even do a better job.

"I hope the clan leader can listen and not reveal anything," Wu Yuan sighed, quietly following behind Wu Qiming.

Two hours later.

"We've entered the town." Wu Yuan watched from afar as Wu Qiming entered a large town, and only then did he feel completely at ease.

"Return to Li City."

Wu Yuan suppressed his fatigue, chose a direction, and quickly headed towards Li City, a journey of over a hundred miles.

Finally, as dawn broke, Wu Yuan saw the majestic city walls of Li City, about five zhang high, in the distance.

The city gate had already been opened.

"Enter the city." Wu Yuan checked the banknotes and two treasures again, tidied his clothes, and then swaggered through the city gate.

Yang Long's cleaver?

It was a good blade, at least a Fourth-Rank Sharp Weapon, worth over ten thousand taels of silver, which Wu Yuan found very tempting.

But to avoid exposure, he gave it up without hesitation.

Not long after Wu Yuan entered the city, news from two towns and numerous townships near Nine Cloud Mountain had already snowballed back to Li City, reaching the ears of the Prefect and the Garrison General.

The Fierce Tiger Gang was annihilated.

The entire upper echelon of Li City was shaken!

Deep within the Xu residence, in the main hall arranged like a military camp.

"Fierce Tiger Gang leader Yang Long is dead! Second-in-command Li Ye is dead... Wearing a bronze mask? Skilled in spear techniques, swept through the entire Fierce Tiger Gang alone?" General Xu stared in shock at the information on the report in his hand.

"Who is he?"