Lu Xueqi also walked over. She looked at Li Xiaoyu, warmth and worry in her eyes.
"Are you all right? You expended a lot of energy just now."
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Li Xiaoyu gave her a reassuring look.
As the four of them talked, Tian Buyi and the other elders approached.
Tian Buyi's expression was complicated.
He first walked over to Zhang Xiaofan and reached out to clap him heavily on the shoulder. He said nothing, but the pride and relief in his eyes spoke volumes.
Then Tian Buyi's gaze fell on Li Xiaoyu.
Looking at the young man he had once scorned, he felt a jumble of emotions.
This young man was not only exceptionally gifted and steady of character, but also possessed a rare quality: the bearing of a leader, able to unite everyone around him and bring forth formidable strength.
Perhaps Ling'er had truly made the wrong choice back then.
A grievous mistake.
"You. Well done."
It took Tian Buyi a long while to force those three words out.
For a man as conceited as he was, this was the highest praise he could give.
Li Xiaoyu bowed slightly to him, neither servile nor arrogant.
"Uncle-Master Tian, you flatter me. I only did what needed to be done."
Just as everyone was rejoicing over their victory, Li Xiaoyu furrowed his brow.
He had a feeling things weren't that simple.
Blood-Sucking Old Demon's appearance had been far too sudden and coincidental.
It seemed as though he had only been there to test the strength of the righteous side and buy time.
Buy time?
A thought flashed through Li Xiaoyu's mind, making his heart clench.
"Something's wrong!"
He abruptly looked up toward the main peak of Liubo Mountain.
"We've been tricked!"
His words froze the smiles on everyone's