"Senior, you came out!" Before Star Picking Tower, Xiao Jian waited anxiously with Yuan Ya and Liu Yi. Seeing Xiao Hua emerge, he hurried forward in delight.
"Mm..." Xiao Hua nodded faintly and looked to the side. Several yards away, Fu Zhiwen was also hurrying over, apparently having waited anxiously as well.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao!" Fu Zhiwen stepped closer, glanced at Xiao Jian and the others, then asked in a low voice, "Are these your disciples, Fellow Daoist?"
"They do not count as disciples." Xiao Hua waved his hand and asked, "Where is Old Demon Zhi Feng?"
"Senior Zhi Feng left first. Before leaving, he asked Fellow Daoist Xiao to be sure to reach the arched bridge before Liuyan River within a quarter of an hour. A Dragon Boat is moored there. If Senior cannot make it in time, then... there will be no need to go this time."
Xiao Hua nodded and asked, "Do you know that place?"
"I do. It is only several dozen yards from Star Picking Tower, right over there." Fu Zhiwen pointed and replied with a smile.
"Heh heh, would that even require a quarter of an hour?" Xiao Hua gave a cold smile and looked beyond the plaque of Star Picking Tower. In the darkness stood over a dozen burly men clad in the same Golden Armor as Duanmu Qiu, arranged in a strange formation. They appeared scattered, yet were eerie in the extreme.
"Young Master Fu, get acquainted with them first," Xiao Hua said. "In a while, follow them to Qiyang Temple."
Without waiting for Fu Zhiwen to speak, Xiao Hua swung the As-You-Wish Staff in his hand. The staff gave off a "whoosh, whoosh" of wind through the night sky.
"Where is Duanmu Qing?" Xiao Hua stepped out from beneath the plaque