The young lady of the merchant's family looked at the powerful punch that burst forth with layers of air, but her face showed no emotion other than calmness.

With his hands crossed and his ten fingers moving in the air, Dao Chengyi immediately felt strands of silk threads wrapping around his fist. The threads resonated, and the already solidified and indistinguishable force, along with the opponent's plucking and flicking, produced a series of muffled sounds. The sound came from the walls, the roof beams, and the floor tiles, rising from all around and creating dense cracks that covered the entire room.

Just when Hu Shang thought the rented house was going to be ruined, the music stopped, the vibrations ceased, and only a fist slowly landed in front of the young lady of the Shang family. The wind from the punch was fierce, making her veil and dress flutter.

"Not bad, then let's leave it at that as agreed."

Although they were all martial artists, this move made the others outside seem like complete novices. Dao Cheng's fist trembled, and the silk threads slipped off. Looking at the white mark on the skin, he withdrew his hand and gave the young lady an appreciative look.

"My skills are rather shallow, I'm afraid I'll make you laugh at me, fellow Daoist."

"Then this bag of gold leaves is for you, fellow Daoist. Qingmang Dou looks forward to meeting you again."

After giving the money to Ma Yunlai and checking it to make sure it was correct, Dao Chengyi nodded.

After the young lady of the merchant family finished speaking, she walked to Shang Bolai, who had completely shrunk into a quail, and kicked him. The latter fled like a frightened bird.

"That's interesting."

Daocheng looked at the dilapidated house and then at his entourage.

"Young master, your strength is unparalleled! Your talent is extraordinary! Your demeanor is exceptional! Even the most beautiful woman in Louzhou would yield to you in the face of your power!"

Ma Yunlai clapped his hands, and Gou'er belatedly gave a thumbs up. The newcomer was confused and it took him a while to speak in a hoarse, not-so-standard, clear Mandarin.

"Awesome!"

The others naturally dared not provoke the formidable man whose punch had nearly caused the house to collapse, and instead offered their congratulations.

Then Daocheng left without changing his expression and with light steps. Ma Yunlai took out a handful of gold leaves from the bag and threw them to the Hu merchant as compensation.

As for where to go next?

At this moment, Mu Qing, who had already completed the preparations, led the hostage Wen Xuan to the dock where the boat was moored. However, this time, her smooth sailing was of no use.

Indeed, just as Mu Qing was about to take Wen Xuan to find a passenger ship to leave, a chilling voice, like a booming bell, shattered all her illusions in the crowd.

"Where are you planning to take my wife, Little Green Vine?"

The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent, for all other sounds had become meaningless; all that remained was the fear of life ending.

Dao Chengyi, whose demeanor was even more refined than before and whose gentleness was even more unyielding, walked over leisurely. Behind him were two of his henchmen and an unidentified person.

"No...no!"

"I can't die here! I absolutely can't!"

With wide eyes, watching Dao Chengyi slowly approach step by step, Mu Qing's thirst for life completely overwhelmed everything else.

She stabbed Wenxuan in the abdomen with a knife, who was still trying to explain. In the latter's shock and despair, she pushed Wenxuan away and jumped into the water to escape.

"..."

"My child...my child..."

Why...why?

As Wenxuan stared at the blood flowing from her abdomen, the gray in her beautiful eyes deepened. Why...why?