"Do you have a death wish?!"
Beishan Lie sprang to his feet and thrust out both palms, striking the two Xiu Zun masters in the chest. They hastily withdrew their killing moves and could only take his blows head-on.
"Young Sect Master!"
"Get out!"
At Beishan Lie's furious shout, the two Xiu Zun masters hurriedly retreated more than a hundred feet, still standing respectfully with their heads lowered.
"Little Sister Qi, I, Beishan Lie, hate nothing more than someone making you angry. Even if that someone is me, I won't allow it!"
Beishan Lie spoke in a low voice, his expression calm, then thrust his body toward Chen Qi's sword. With a soft puncturing sound, the blade pierced his chest.
"Consider this my apology to Little Sister Qi. In time, I will marry her!"
Beishan Lie directed the latter half of his words at Mu Bai, his killing intent already as sharp as a sword. Then he turned, pulling the blade from his chest and splashing blood across the summit terrace, before stepping into the air and departing. The two Xiu Zun masters followed close behind.
"Who was that?"
"A descendant of the Beishan Lineage, the young master of the Sword Sect. Brother Mu, you've landed yourself in trouble."
"I'm only passing through. I did nothing to provoke him." Mu Bai took another mouthful of strong liquor from the jar, then flung it away. It shattered against the summit terrace with a crash. "Besides, a pauper doesn't fear another debt!"
"What young master of the Sword Sect? He's just a rat dropping that spoils everyone's mood!"
Chen Qi cursed bitterly and sheathed her sword with a ringing scrape. She no longer felt like drinking, so the three parted and returned to their lodgings.
Early the next morning, Chen Shichong came