Racing to the Rescue

Leaving aside Mu Bai's imprisonment for the moment, Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy left the Enforcement Hall's prison and immediately headed out of the sect, racing toward Flower Ravine Creek Valley. At this point, time meant the difference between life and death for Mu Bai. The two of them were truly racing against the god of death.

They sped along with all their might, but with half the journey to Flower Ravine Creek Valley still remaining, someone came chasing up behind them.

"Junior brothers, where are you off to in such a hurry?"

Xi Bazì looked back. They were Elder Lin Chuan's two disciples. Though their cultivation fell short of Mo Deqian's, both were Third Level experts and already held elite disciple status. Their pursuit at a time like this was certainly no coincidence, and their intentions went without saying.

Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy immediately picked up speed. The expressions of the two behind them changed at once, and they stopped concealing their purpose, sneers appearing on their faces.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Then don't blame us brothers for taking action!"

Their pursuers were extremely fast, catching up to Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy within a few breaths.

"Might I ask what instructions you two senior brothers have for us, stopping us like this?"

Knowing they were no match for these two, Xi Bazì stopped and asked with a feigned smile, playing dumb.

"Nothing important. We've simply been fellow disciples for years and would like to invite you two junior brothers for a drink."

The slightly older disciple spoke in a ringing voice. Had Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy not already known exactly what was going on, they really might have thought their senior brothers wanted to look after them.

"Your master hasn't even been buried yet. You'd better hurry back to the sect and get his funeral ready!"

Sweet Potato Boy always spoke so bluntly and directly. That manner of speaking inevitably left people embarrassed and humiliated. It had to be said that someone who had survived this long must have had tremendous luck on his side. Xi Bazì silently cursed, Pighead, and tightened his grip on his sword.

"You stunted potato! You dare mock us? Then don't blame us for showing no mercy!"

Lin Chuan's other disciple flew into a humiliated rage, drew his sword, and shouted.

"You're wrong there, senior brother. Potatoes are herbaceous plants, while sweet potatoes are dicotyledons. How can you be so stupid that you can't tell them apart? Why don't you hurry back to the sect and read a few more books..."

Since all pretense had already been torn away, and they were no match in combat, Xi Bazì decided to get the upper hand with his tongue first.

"Cut the crap! Are you coming with us or not?"

"No!"

Sweet Potato Boy thrust out his neck and flatly refused.

"Surely you two senior brothers wouldn't disregard the sect rules and kill us?"

"We won't go so far as to kill you. We'll merely hold you for a few days. Given your cultivation, I suggest you show some sense and spare yourselves physical suffering!"

"Fuck, if we won't die anyway, what the hell is there to fear? I'll hold them off! Xi Bazì, go!"

Sweet Potato Boy drew a deep breath, his entire body swelling like a ball of flesh, and hurled himself recklessly at Lin Chuan's two elite disciples. Xi Bazì wasted no time on ceremony. His long legs pumping, he charged desperately ahead, trying to break through.

Both fought as though they had no regard for their lives, unleashing considerably more strength than usual. As the saying went, the soft feared the hard, the hard feared the fierce, and the fierce feared those who did not fear death. But the gulf between their cultivation levels was simply too great. Either elite disciple could easily handle both of them, so how could Sweet Potato Boy hold off the two alone? Within a few exchanges, Sweet Potato Boy's entire body had been beaten even more swollen, and someone was pressing down on his head, making him spin on the ground. No wonder people often called him "Little Top."

Sweet Potato Boy gritted his teeth and tried to break free, but his arms and legs were too short. With the other man holding his head down at arm's length, he could not touch him in the slightest, however he flailed all four limbs. All he could do was spin uselessly in place. Meanwhile, Lin Chuan's other disciple caught Xi Bazì within a few bounding breaths and beat him to the ground in three or four moves, nearly breaking his long, thin legs.

"Junior brothers, why insist on showing off your clever tongues? You should have come with us from the start."

Sweet Potato Boy was extremely stubborn. Having said he would not go, he would not go. He ducked his head and seized an opening to slam it hard into the other man's crotch.

"Aaargh!" The disciple who had been toying with Sweet Potato Boy at arm's length immediately let out a horrendous howl that pierced the clouds.

While he clutched his crotch and howled, Sweet Potato Boy struck viciously, leaping up and swinging his sword at the disciple's neck. In the flash of a spark, the other disciple hurled his sword just in time, barely deflecting Sweet Potato Boy's lethal blow. Xi Bazì seized the opportunity to take to his heels.

Sweet Potato Boy's attack failed. Having nearly been rammed into losing his descendants, the disciple lost all restraint and kicked Sweet Potato Boy far away. Not content with that, he leaped after him, raised his foot, and stomped down hard, paying him back tooth for tooth. Sweet Potato Boy clenched his teeth and refused to make a sound!

"Well, well! It isn't just your mouth that's tough. You're tough all over!"

Having suffered such humiliation, the disciple no longer cared about the sect rules. He raised his sword to stab Sweet Potato Boy's lower body. Staunch as Sweet Potato Boy was, he panicked at once and nearly wet himself.

"Stop!" At that critical instant, Enforcement Hall disciples happened to arrive. "You dare brutalize fellow disciples!"

Four Enforcement Hall disciples had arrived, each holding a Spirit-Binding Rope, their expressions stern and cold. Sweet Potato Boy turned to look at them. Never had he found Enforcement Hall disciples so adorable. They were not family, yet they felt closer than family.

"Senior brothers, you might not believe this, but they attacked first..."

"Ridiculous! Those two are only ordinary disciples. You say they attacked first? Do you take us for idiots?"

"No, no, it's a misunderstanding! We were only sparring. Senior brothers, there's no need to take it seriously."

The other disciple hurriedly released Xi Bazì as well and stepped forward with an ingratiating smile.

"Your actions have already been recorded in a Jade Slip. Whether this was brutalizing fellow disciples or a friendly contest of skill, you'll return to the hall with us and let the hall master decide!"

As they spoke, the Enforcement Hall disciples deployed their Spirit-Binding Ropes and tied up Lin Chuan's two disciples.

"Why aren't you tying those two up?"

"You two committed violence, while those two suffered at your hands. Why should we tie them up?"

"But, senior brother, I'm hurt worse..."

That disciple of Lin Chuan's wanted to cry but had no tears. He was practically ready to take off his trousers on the spot to let the Enforcement Hall disciples inspect his injuries.

"Don't throw your weight around too much, Enforcement Hall. You'd better weigh things carefully where the Eldest Sect Heir is concerned!"

The other disciple spoke bitterly. Seeing the situation turn against them, he invoked Eldest Sect Heir Zhou Detai to pressure them.

"Watch what you say. Are you suggesting the Eldest Sect Heir ordered you to brutalize fellow disciples?"

"No, no..."

Enforcement Hall disciples recorded the scene whenever they carried out their duties. Knowing he had misspoken, the disciple immediately deflated.

"Enough. No more nonsense. Just come back to the hall with us!"

In decades of living in the Spirit Taming Sect, Xi Bazì had never found the Enforcement Hall disciples so dear, so lovable, and so worthy of respect. He hurriedly pulled Sweet Potato Boy up and bowed to them in salute. They paid the pair no attention, escorting Lin Chuan's two disciples into the air toward the Spirit Taming Sect.