master

Exiting the tavern, the night had already grown deep. Originally, Lin Wanrong intended to spend the evening with Qiaoqiao as per his wish, either by improvising in her room or making do. However, he was heartlessly chased away by Old Dong. It seemed that Old Dong's mindset needed further liberation, and it would be best if it aligned with the Qing Shan ideology.

Encountering Yushuang and Qiaoqiao, two charming ladies, continuously today, although there was satisfaction, there was also some regret. Yushuang had to observe Buddhist precepts and eat vegetarian meals at the temple, while Qiaoqiao fell ill. Additionally, she was expelled by her father. Lin Wanrong couldn't help but feel a bit remorseful.

He shook his head in resignation, walked some distance, and felt that the situation around him was a bit unusual. Although he had traversed this small path countless times before, it had never been as devoid of human presence as it was today.

Lin Wanrong, with his keen senses, was pondering when he heard faint sounds of wind. Turning around, he saw two shadowy figures, swift as shooting stars, rushing towards him.

After gaining half of Xiao Qingxuan's power, his reactions became more agile, and his vision improved significantly. From a distance, he could see that the two approaching figures had powerful martial arts. Combined with the eerie silence around, he understood that they were coming for him.

Simultaneously, two more shadows silently appeared behind him, completing an encirclement with the previous two.

Lin Wanrong observed the four, robust with broad shoulders and muscular arms. They looked like formidable characters, standing there with a fierce aura.

Inwardly cursing their audacity, he maintained a smiling demeanor and said, "Gentlemen, stopping me in the dead of night, may I inquire about the purpose?"

The leading man among the four, with a martial appearance, spoke loudly, "Lin San, our young master invites you for a visit."

"Master? Which master?" Lin Wanrong asked, his mind racing.

These four seemed formidable, and the master they mentioned must have a grievance against him. In Jinling City, he hadn't clashed directly with Cheng Ruinan yet. The only one with some grudge against him was Tao Dongcheng. Could this be his doing?

"Enough nonsense, come with us quickly," the leader of the four said loudly, reaching out to grab him.

These four individuals obviously had martial skills. The leading man's hand moved swiftly, catching Lin Wanrong off guard. However, Lin Wanrong, boosted by Xiao Qingxuan's power, quickly retaliated. Although he was initially startled, upon closer inspection, he found that the man's movements seemed to slow down. Delighted, he thought, "I've become quite powerful. Fear not, just deflect the attacks, and he won't catch me."

He heard one of the men loudly say, "Big brother, quickly subdue this guy."

At this moment, Lin Wanrong felt a slight pain on his back, having been ambushed by an attacker. Though he was resilient, it stirred his anger. "These guys are so arrogant. They're just a few thugs, not city inspectors." He silently cursed and, with a swift turn, unleashed a powerful punch.

Having obtained half of Xiao Qingxuan's power, his eyesight and reflexes had multiplied many times over. He delivered a forceful blow, appearing to be even stronger than his opponent. The thug was taken aback, realizing this person wasn't easy to handle.

The man quickly changed his tactics, attempting a swift kick. His three companions, thinking the leader was going easy on Lin Wanrong, grew impatient. One of them yelled, "Big brother, quickly subdue this guy."

As the words fell, they noticed something was amiss. Lin Wanrong not only blocked the leader's kick but also countered with a punch to his chest, forcing him to step back.

"Concentrate and fight together!" the three others shouted and charged at Lin Wanrong.

Although Lin Wanrong had only heard about 'cutting through the chaos' on TV, he relished the moment, realizing it perfectly described his situation. The joy of practicing skills in actual combat surpassed everything. Regardless of the myriad variations, the purpose was singular—to harm. Lin Wanrong, disliking martial arts, had a lazy approach. He thought, "It doesn't matter if I'm not skilled. As long as I can dodge and not let this guy catch me, I'm good."

Now, armed with abundant strength, Lin Wanrong faced the challenge. Although he suffered a hit or two, his combat experience grew richer, and he adapted quickly.

Gradually, the movements of these four men seemed to slow down in Lin Wanrong's eyes. They became full of vulnerabilities, and he finally experienced what it was like to be a master.

After ten moves, despite being surrounded, Lin Wanrong skillfully evaded every attack. Not only that, his footwork became faster, and his strikes more forceful, aiming precisely at vital points.

The four big men were struggling. Lin Wanrong, with only a few techniques like "Black Tiger Plucking the Heart" and "Immortal Stealing the Peach," seemed unconventional and irregular. However, every move constrained his opponents. The saying "wild punches kill the master" was truly exemplified.

Lin Wanrong fought more vigorously as time went on, relishing the feeling of being a skilled martial artist. His strength was comparable to having taken ten Viagra pills. If it weren't for his intention to spar with these four, the fight might have ended long ago. Finally, he truly understood what it meant to be a master.

"Four tigers, cease your actions," a voice came from behind the besieging group. The four tigers quickly moved aside, ceasing their actions.

They stopped, but Lin Wanrong didn't. His movements sped up, delivering four powerful punches to the chests of the four tigers. The large men staggered back, each sitting on the ground, struggling to maintain their balance.

"You, are you not abiding by the rules of the martial world?" the leader of the four tigers spat out blood angrily.

"You four trying to stop me alone, and now you talk about martial world rules?" Lin Wanrong laughed, "Big brother, do you believe I can turn you into dead tigers?"

The four men glared at Lin Wanrong angrily but dared not speak.

Lin Wanrong looked at the person who stopped the fight, seeing him sitting confidently on a white horse. With his thick eyebrows and large eyes, he appeared quite displeasing to Lin Wanrong. "You can't survive a day without riding a white horse, can you?" he disdainfully thought.

Feeling contempt, Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Tao Gongzi, out for a stroll so late at night?"

Tao Dongcheng glanced at his four men and scolded them with his eyes. Frustrated, he turned to Lin Wanrong and said, "Lin San, I invited you today just to ask a few questions. Don't misunderstand."

"Understand? Tao Gongzi, why not deliver any messages through servants? No need to send out four fierce tigers," Lin Wanrong mocked.

Tao Dongcheng, vexed, glared at his four subordinates. The humiliation only grew when Lin Wanrong

 continued, "On that night on Mount Zijin, I was already terrified. Seeing soldiers rushing up, how could we tell friend from foe? Seeing weapons, we were scared and ran away. Sorry for causing trouble to Tao Gongzi. I'm truly ashamed."

Tao Dongcheng's face turned gloomy. Lin Wanrong's smooth-talking had embarrassed him, but he gritted his teeth and continued, "Lin San, in the incident on Mount Zijin, let's set it aside for now. But after I begged Mr. Cheng to bring soldiers to rescue Yu Ruo and you in Dangtu, you not only disregarded my kindness but also took Yu Ruo away. What are your intentions? What are you scheming?"

Lin Wanrong sneered, "Intentions? Why would I plot against your good deeds? I'm not good at that. Plus, what did I do to spoil your affairs? I'm not skilled at that either."

"Humph! Let's not mention the events on Mount Zijin for now, but how could you dare to escape when I, with my soldiers, tried to save you and Yu Ruo? If my guess is correct, you are certainly colluding with those thieves from the White Lotus Cult, attempting to deceive the Xiao family. Despite Miss Xiao's trust in you, I bet you're nothing more than a cunning pawn," Tao Dongcheng accused.

Lin Wanrong sarcastically replied, "Your guess is quite reasonable. Why not share it with Miss Xiao? Why tell me?"

Speechless, Tao Dongcheng turned his gaze to Lin Wanrong. Lin Wanrong smiled, "Tao Gongzi, your little schemes are nothing compared to your master's. Remember that night you were together? Ever wondered how I escaped from your hands? Who sent someone to rescue me?"

Tao Dongcheng, with a stern expression, remained silent.

Lin Wanrong knew he had touched upon his doubts. What happened that night, how he escaped, and how he disrupted their plans—only a few knew. Now that he had irreversibly clashed with Tao Dongcheng, it was time to be bold. Smirking, he said, "Tao Gongzi, tell your master to behave. He's not the best in the world."

"You, you—" Tao Dongcheng couldn't contain his anger but said nothing.

"Rescuing me from the hands of the White Lotus Cult and disregarding them in front of you and your master. There aren't many people who can do that in this world," Lin Wanrong jeered.

"What kind of person are you?" Tao Dongcheng asked in disbelief.

It struck a chord with his doubts. Facing this seemingly worthless servant of the Xiao family, he felt an inscrutable unease.

"It doesn't matter who I am. I just want to advise you to be honest," Lin Wanrong said coldly.

Striking where it hurt, his words were both deceptive and strategic, Lin Wanrong's psychological warfare. Fearful of offending General Luo Min easily, Tao Dongcheng dared not act recklessly and left with a wave of his hand, "Let's go."

Lin Wanrong shouted at the four tigers, "How about you guys stay for a while? Let's continue the fight."

The four tigers looked angry yet somewhat terrified. Clearly, they were afraid of Lin Wanrong's combat prowess. Lin Wanrong laughed heartily; being a master was truly enjoyable. He still had two guns left to use.

Tao Dongcheng couldn't endure it anymore, riding away angrily, "Lin San, don't underestimate people!"

Lin Wanrong disliked Tao Dongcheng's arrogant appearance and thought, "What's the big deal? Lin Wanrong dislikes you. So what?" He decided to ignore him and left, muttering to himself, "If only I knew if he had any sisters. If he does, I'll make sure to pursue and then ditch them, tormenting him to the core." His thoughts were quite dirty.

As Lin Wanrong was about to leave, he heard a long sigh. Turning around, he saw a delicate figure standing under the eaves, gazing at him with a touch of resentment.

Lin Wanrong was dumbfounded, "Why did you come?"