Unfathomable Depths

Three men in black stepped out from behind the trees, sabers hanging at their waists. Their auras were steady; all were around the Eighth Layer of Meridian Opening.

The leader stared at Lu Li, his gaze sweeping over Xuandu at Lu Li's waist before he gave a cold laugh.

"Entering the Southern Wasteland alone? You've got some nerve."

"Who are you?"

"You'd best stay out of the Xue Household's business."

The leader drew his saber and pointed its tip at Lu Li.

"If you know what's good for you, hand over that little girl from the Miao Poison Sect. We'll spare your life."

Lu Li sighed.

"Why are all you Xue Household people cut from the same cloth?"

He raised his hand, and Xuandu left its sheath.

A flash of blade light.

Before the three men in black could react, the sabers in their hands had all snapped apart, the breaks smooth as mirrors.

"Th-this..."

The leader's pupils constricted sharply. Looking down at the half-saber left in his hand, cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

"Get lost."

Lu Li sheathed his blade, his tone calm.

"Go back and tell the Xue Household: keep chasing south, and I'll kill every one of you who comes."

The three men in black looked at one another, then turned and fled without daring to look back.

Tang Jiu poked his head out from behind a tree. Only after seeing them run away did he let out a sigh of relief.

"Young master, why didn't you..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

"They're small fry. Killing them would be pointless."

Lu Li shook his head.

"Let them go back and report it. That's how the Xue Household will learn to hurt."

He turned and walked back to Liu Yueling, crouching beside her.

"It's fine now. Let's