"Ridiculous! Do you really think you can stop a grandmaster?"

On the high platform, the "evil hero" looked at the several Su family retainers who were moving quickly and shook his head with a smile.

However, he no longer had much interest in these direct descendants of the Su family.

He was interested in someone else.

His gaze drifted further into the distance, and the "evil knight" gave a cold smile.

"Chief镖师 Lin, why are you hiding so far away? You probably never expected this to happen."

Somewhere near the high platform, Lin Ce's expression changed slightly.

The "evil hero's" gaze was naturally fixed on him.

As the person who captured him and handed him over to the Su family, it is perfectly reasonable for the "evil hero" to hate him more.

"You were able to shatter my 'Shattered Dream' before, I wonder if you can do it this time?"

With a cold laugh, the "villain" was about to take a step forward.

Lin Ce was on high alert, his fists clenched tightly, and a faint aura of menace was about to rise from the spear behind him.

But things didn't seem to be as bad as he'd imagined.

"If you dare take another step forward, I will strike with my sword."

On the other side, a cold voice came.

The voice was clearly familiar.

And its appearance at this moment made Lin Ce feel incredibly close to it.

It was none other than Grandmaster Yang Xueqing of Bishui Peak.

"What, you're going to stand up for him?"

The "evil knight" turned around and stared at Yang Xueqing opposite him with a solemn expression.

Since the other party was also a grandmaster, he naturally dared not treat him as casually as he would any other martial artist.

"Your exterior is just beginning to take shape, but I see that it is not stable. Strictly speaking, you can only be considered half a grandmaster."

Yang Xueqing said coldly, "Given this situation, do you still intend to act recklessly?"

"Half a grandmaster, what a fine half a grandmaster..."

The "evil knight" stared coldly at Yang Xueqing, then grinned, revealing his madness.

"If I, a mere half-grandmaster, were to fight you to the death here, what do you think the outcome would be?"

"No matter what, the result will just be that you will become a dead person."

Yang Xueqing's eyes flashed, clearly showing some anger.

"I have no doubt that you have the ability."

The "evil hero" was not intimidated by the other party's words, but instead said:

"However, how can you be so sure that I won't break through again during the battle and become a true 'full' Grandmaster? Since I was able to break through in the heat of battle, this situation might very well happen."

Yang Xueqing fell silent for a moment.

What the other party said makes sense.

Although breakthroughs in the heat of battle are extremely rare, since the opponent has done it once, there's no guarantee they won't do it a second time.

"Even if I didn't break through in the heat of battle, with my life-risking fight, you, who have only recently become a Grandmaster, probably wouldn't feel too good."

The "evil knight" chuckled and lowered his voice.

"At such a crucial moment, are you sure you want to damage your cultivation for this?"

Yang Xueqing raised an eyebrow.

"You know that?"

"Of course, I am not someone without a lineage."

The "evil knight" glanced at Yang Xueqing, believing he had already convinced her.

"Moreover, if you and I were to fight, there is a very high chance that all the martial artists present would die. As the master of a peak, can you really afford such a price?"

He smiled and pointed at Lin Ce in the distance.

"I only need to take him with me. Otherwise, this matter will be wiped clean, and I will never seek revenge again."

This sentence was clearly addressed to all the martial artists present.

For a moment, the martial artists looked at each other, exchanging glances, clearly quite interested.

"What do you say? If the three of us join forces, we have a very good chance of taking him down in a short time without harming others."

Yang Xueqing looked at the other two people near the high platform.

Many martial artists' gazes immediately turned towards it.

They knew perfectly well that anyone who could elicit such a response from Grandmaster Yang Xueqing must also be a Grandmaster martial artist.

However, given their status, it would be difficult for them to know the names of the two masters unless these two took the initiative to reveal their identities.

Why bother?

The other two masters exchanged a glance, and one of them spoke with a smile.

"Since this person has achieved the Outer Realm, he is naturally a Grandmaster and should be treated with respect. We are both Grandmasters, and it would be undignified for us to join forces to fight each other for no reason."

“That’s right, that’s what I think too. We came here at the invitation of the Su family head. Since you are willing to put aside your past grievances with the Su family, we naturally have no reason to make things difficult for you.”

Yang Xueqing gave the two of them a deep look.

She knew in her heart that these two masters were clearly thinking it was better to avoid trouble.

If these two don't intend to intervene, she can win on her own, but as the "evil hero" said, it's hard to guarantee that she won't harm others during the fight.

Even if she was a grandmaster, the aftermath of a battle killing numerous disciples from various sects was something she clearly couldn't afford.

Bishui Peak is gradually regaining its former glory; such a thing must never be done.

"Fine."

Yang Xueqing remained silent.

The "evil knight" smiled faintly.

He knew this would be the outcome.

These righteous people have too many concerns. Even if they achieve the position of Grandmaster, they will only be burdened with greater shackles.

It's impossible to be as swift and decisive as him.

"Come here, Chief Escort Lin, no one can protect you anymore."

The "evil knight" reached out his hand towards Lin Ce.

He could certainly crush his opponent with his newly created "Shattered Dream" exterior scenery, but that wouldn't be enough to vent his anger.

He actually enjoys slowly making the other person feel despair.

It's no wonder he acted this way; he had been easily defeated and captured by his opponent earlier, which had left a deep shadow in his heart.

We need some way to relieve this.

Otherwise, even if he achieves the status of a grandmaster, he will eventually fall back down from that level.

Which grandmaster would be truly afraid of a mere innate martial artist?

"you……"

Su Caiying, standing next to Lin Ce, gritted her teeth and stepped forward to block him.

Her decision was not made on a whim or without any planning.

She was well aware of her identity and intended to use it.

Lin Ce was the chief镖头 (chief镖头, head镖师, of her Sihai镖局, a type of security escort agency), and she certainly didn't want this chief镖头 to fall into the hands of the "evil swordsman".

However, she couldn't do it.

Lin Ce grabbed her arm with one hand and tossed her gently backward like he was holding a chick.

Su Caiying was left behind by him.

"There's no need for that."

He spoke softly and stepped forward.

"Forest……"

Su Caiying was about to speak when she suddenly felt a powerful force pressing down on her, rendering her unable to utter another word.

She glared angrily in a certain direction.

There stood the grandmaster Yang Xueqing.

And this pressure clearly comes from that direction.

"A half-step Grandmaster?"

Lin Ce walked forward, facing the "evil knight" in front of him.

"Someone before claimed to be a half-step grandmaster, but he was nothing special. I wonder what you think of your half-grandmaster status?"