"Shameless wretch!"
Chen Qi flipped over in midair, raising her longsword again and slashing fiercely at Mu Bai, who was already embedded in the jade floor. At that moment of life and death, a cold shout suddenly rang out. Chen Jianli caught the blade between two fingers and stood tall, staring coldly into the crowd.
"Mu Bai!"
"Brother Mu!"
Chen Shichong and Chen Qi hurriedly dropped down to help Mu Bai up, their hearts filled with both anxiety and hatred. Mu Bai's entire body had gone limp, bloody bubbles welling ceaselessly from his mouth.
"What skill is there in striking someone from the shadows? Even if you're an elder's direct descendant, do you think I, Chen Jianli, wouldn't cut you down just the same?"
Chen Jianli stared coldly into the crowd. An old man with graying hair and beard lowered his head, said nothing, and turned to leave. It was Xue Dongming.
"What happened?"
"That move Senior Sister Chen Qi just unleashed was unbelievable..."
"What do you know? Someone powerful struck from the shadows, killing with a borrowed blade!"
"Elder Xue?"
"Shh, keep your voice down!"
Now that Xue Dongming had attacked Mu Bai, Mu Bai could no longer stay in the Guest Reception Hall. Even though the sect's rules forbade it, Chen Jianli brought Mu Bai back to Third Peak and assigned someone specifically to attend to his daily needs.
The young Chen Qi stayed by his side day and night, setting aside her shyness to wipe his wounds and feed him medicinal pills herself. When Mu Bai slept, Chen Qi sat on the stone steps outside, tearing pine needles apart one by one, cursing Xue Dongming aloud while blaming herself deeply inside for willfully insisting on crossing swords with Mu Bai.
"Chen Qi... Little Flag?" Chen Shichong leaned