Those Blocking the Road

"Fine." Zhao Linchuan rose to his feet as well. The Azure Light Demon-Slaying Sword appeared again, transforming into a broad Flying Sword that hovered before them.

"Wait!" Bibi Dong leaped onto the Flying Sword before he could. "This time, I'm standing in front!" She had no desire to let him take advantage of her back again.

"Fine, whatever you say." Zhao Linchuan stepped onto the Flying Sword and stood behind her, his hands seemingly casually placed on either side of her slender waist for support. "Hold tight."

The Flying Sword shot into the sky, becoming a streak of azure light speeding toward Litang City.

The night wind howled, sending Bibi Dong's long hair streaming behind her.

"Slow down!" The sensation of weightlessness from the high-speed flight frightened Bibi Dong somewhat. She instinctively leaned back, her entire back nearly pressed against Zhao Linchuan's solid chest.

"Slow down more!" she could not help shouting again.

Zhao Linchuan complied and eased their speed slightly.

Yet after flying for some distance, Bibi Dong suddenly felt something hard pressing against her from behind.

Uncomfortably, she shifted her body and instinctively reached back, intending to push away the thing that was poking her...

The instant her fingertips touched that hard, burning-hot outline, it was as though she had been struck by lightning!

She jerked her hand back and sprang away like a startled rabbit. Her cheeks instantly flushed blood-red, and even the tips of her ears were stained crimson!

"You... you're shameless!" she accused indignantly, her voice trembling.

"Nonsense." Zhao Linchuan's voice came from above her head, carrying a teasing smile. "Look, this is clearly a fine set of teeth." He even deliberately bared his teeth.

"You... you're no gentleman!" Bibi Dong was so furious that she could barely speak coherently.

"This is respect for you," Zhao Linchuan said with shameless conviction. "If I had no reaction at all to a beauty like you, wouldn't that be insulting your charm?"

"You! Get down! Let me down! I'll walk back myself!" Bibi Dong struggled in his arms in shame and anger, her coquettish complaints continuing all the way.

Only when Litang City's familiar outline came into view in the distance did Zhao Linchuan lower their altitude as she requested and gently set her down in a secluded, deserted spot outside the city.

Bibi Dong practically jumped off the Flying Sword. The moment her feet touched the ground, she hurried toward the city gates without looking back, her retreating figure radiating shame, anger, and panic.

Standing atop the Flying Sword, Zhao Linchuan watched her back vanish into the night, a helpless yet amused smile on his lips.

He controlled the Flying Sword to make a nimble turn in the air. With a flash of azure light, the long sword became a streak of light and vanished into his palm.

However, just as he was about to leave, a Sudden Change occurred!

Three men in matching dark-purple robes silently stepped out from the shadows beside the road ahead, forming a triangular formation that blocked his path.

The leader had a stern face. He stepped forward and gave Zhao Linchuan a slight cupped-fist salute, his tone formally polite yet unable to conceal the scrutiny within it. "Young Master Zhao, please remain."

"By order of a Spirit Hall Elder, we sincerely invite you to join our hall and accomplish great things together."

"With talent such as yours, you will surely be highly valued!"

"Spirit Hall?" Bibi Dong, who had only just walked a short distance away, stopped abruptly upon hearing this, her delicate brows knitting tightly.

She quietly turned back and carefully examined the three men in the hazy moonlight—their robes were luxurious, but their style was not the standard attire of Spirit Hall's core members.

More importantly, there was not a single badge or insignia on their lapels, cuffs, or even belts that could identify them as members of Spirit Hall! That was utterly abnormal!

She immediately focused, sending a thread of Soul Power voice transmission, as faint as a mosquito's buzz yet incomparably clear, precisely into Zhao Linchuan's ear. "Lin Chuan, be careful! They aren't from Spirit Hall!"

"How do you know they aren't from Spirit Hall?"

Bibi Dong immediately replied, "Spirit Hall members must bear emblems identifying their status, and they conduct themselves according to proper rules. They would never sneak around in the dead of night inviting people to join them like this."

"Oh?" Zhao Linchuan's transmitted voice carried a hint of teasing. "Sounds like you know Spirit Hall quite well?"

"I... I just know a little. Only things I've heard from others." Bibi Dong's voice noticeably weakened, revealing a trace of guilty unease.

"You leave first. I'll deal with them." Zhao Linchuan's tone allowed no argument.

"No." Bibi Dong moved and instead firmly returned to Zhao Linchuan's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. "I'll help you."

"Two Soul Saints and one Soul Douluo." Zhao Linchuan frowned slightly. "Which one can you handle?"

"Don't look down on me!" Bibi Dong raised her chin, a stubborn glint flashing through her eyes. "I can deal with those two Soul Saints. I'm confident!"

"And I've already secretly sent out a request for help. As long as we hold out for a while, reinforcements will arrive!"

"Get behind me." Zhao Linchuan shook his head without room for debate, his right hand closing around empty air.

A blinding azure radiance suddenly burst forth. Accompanied by a clear Sword Cry, the Azure Light Demon-Slaying Sword instantly materialized in his hand.

The blade hummed as chilling sword aura silently spread outward, making even the surrounding air seem to stagnate.

He pointed the sword tip diagonally at the ground, his voice cold as ice. "Gentlemen, step aside, and we'll pretend none of this happened."

"What a joke!" The leader let out a derisive snort, as if he had heard the funniest thing in the world. His robe flapped loudly in the night wind.

"When Spirit Hall acts, how can we allow some brat like you to refuse?"

"Alas." Zhao Linchuan sighed helplessly, though there was not a shred of fear in his eyes. "It seems blood will be spilled again tonight."

"Boy, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! Join Spirit Hall, and glory and wealth will be within your grasp!" another man shouted sternly.

"Bastard!" Bibi Dong finally could not endure it any longer. She stepped forward, murderous anger in her beautiful eyes, her voice carrying the majesty of the Saintess.

"Who exactly are you? How dare you use Spirit Hall's name to swindle people!"

The leader proudly puffed out his chest and raised his chin high. "I do not change my name standing or sitting—Staff, Black Robe Bishop of Spirit Hall!"

"Utter nonsense!" Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze seeming capable of piercing through his disguise.

"I know the roster of Spirit Hall's thirty-six Black Robe Bishops by heart. There has never been anyone named Staff!"

"Hmph! Where did this wild little girl come from?" The man's eyes flickered as he stubbornly argued.

"How could outsiders like you possibly know the internal affairs of Spirit Hall?"

"You wretch!" Bibi Dong laughed in extreme anger, her slender jade finger pointing directly at the three of them. "I am Bibi Dong, the current Saintess of Spirit Hall!"

"If you truly were members of Spirit Hall, how could you fail to recognize this Saintess?!"

"Saintess?!" Bibi Dong's forceful declaration struck the three men like thunder exploding beside their ears.

They looked at one another, uncertainty and shock filling their eyes. This was completely at odds with the intelligence they had received!

How could Spirit Hall's Saintess be here?

And together with the target?