The next second, the man moved like a blur, appearing instantly before Yang Xi like a string of shadows. His power seemed far greater than Yang Xi's.
"Speak, who exactly are you?" the man demanded, grabbing Yang Xi by the neck.
"Let me go," Yang Xi choked out.
"Still won't speak? What faction do you come from?" the man asked coldly.
"How can I speak if you don't let me go?" Yang Xi pleaded.
The man released Yang Xi.
"I really don't come from any faction," Yang Xi said, looking fearfully at the man before her.
"Impossible. You are so young, yet your strength has reached this level. Without the nurturing of a major power, it is absolutely impossible. My Zhan Lang organization is the backing of the Huaxia Empire, and we will not permit any foreign forces to infiltrate. Do you know why I waited three days to find you? Because I was constantly searching for your information, but the records showed you had no martial talent, that you were just an ordinary person. Yet in reality, your talent is so immense, you've hidden it so deeply. You must be a foreign spy, haven't I spoken correctly?" the man sneered coldly.
"I'm really not," Yang Xi denied frantically.
"If you weren't, how could there be no information about you? As long as you are a citizen of Huaxia, regardless of which faction nurtured you, some trace would be found. But there is absolutely nothing on you. The only explanation is that you are a foreign spy."
"I truly am not, please believe me. How could I possibly be a foreign spy?"
"Words are useless. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, I will have no choice but to treat you as a spy lurking in Huaxia from an enemy nation."
Yang Xi looked utterly frustrated.
"I'll take you to see someone," Yang Xi finally said.
"Who?"
"Don't ask who. In any case, this strength I possess was bestowed upon me by him."
The powerful man frowned.
"Fine, lead the way immediately. Within Huaxia territory, I don't believe you can stir up any significant trouble."
With no other choice, Yang Xi called Zhou Hong.
At that moment, Zhou Hong was in a forest park guiding Shen Yanran. He was slightly taken aback when Yang Xi's call came through.
Yang Xi explained on the phone that someone from the Zhan Lang organization had come to find her, mistaking her for a foreign spy because her cultivation records were missing. She wanted to bring this person to Zhou Hong.
"Bring him over," Zhou Hong told Yang Xi.
"Okay!" With Zhou Hong's agreement, Yang Xi dared to lead the man to find him.
About half an hour later, at the forest park, Yang Xi met Zhou Hong.
Under a large tree, Shen Yanran was playing the Guqin, while Zhou Hong sat beside her, listening with his eyes closed. Shen Yanran's Guqin playing, though not yet displaying its full power, was exceptionally beautiful.
"Zhou Hong," Yang Xi shouted.
Zhou Hong opened his eyes. He had sensed Yang Xi arriving with a powerful individual. The aura of this person was approximately at the seventy-something stage of Martial Master, similar to a Venerable he had killed when rescuing Liu Zhen Feixu in Kunlun Mountain.
Shen Yanran also stopped playing.
"Yang Xi, he didn't harm you, did he?" Zhou Hong asked urgently.
"No, but he did grab my neck and nearly suffocated me," Yang Xi said, a little dejected, still bearing a red mark on her neck.
Zhou Hong looked at the man, his anger rising. "How dare you! You dared to touch my teacher. Now, confess honestly, who exactly are you?"
"I am one of the thirty-six Wolf Lords of the Zhan Lang organization."
"Wolf Lords, dog lords, never heard of them," Zhou Hong scoffed.
"You insolent wretch! Our Zhan Lang organization is a sharp sword behind the Huaxia Empire, protecting the entire nation. How dare you insult the Zhan Lang organization!" the middle-aged man roared in anger.
"Alright, I'm not interested in your so-called organization. Why did you come looking for Yang Xi? If you're here for revenge for Wang Tianyu, then come at me."
"Do not be so arrogant. I have been dispatched on a mission, and the first task is to thoroughly investigate the background of this Yang Xi. If she is truly a citizen of our Huaxia, I will not pursue the matter. But if she is a spy lurking in Huaxia from an enemy nation, then I apologize."
"On what grounds do you claim she is an enemy spy?" Zhou Hong asked, utterly bewildered.
"Because for the past three days, I have searched for her information extensively. Unfortunately, all records of her life since birth are incredibly ordinary, at most indicating she is intelligent. Yet, the reality now is that she is a martial cultivation genius. Therefore, there is only one explanation: her official records are fabricated. She is a spy sent by an enemy power to infiltrate here. Judging by her appearance, if not from the Eastern Sun Kingdom, she must be a spy from the Eastern Sea Kingdom."
Zhou Hong let out a cold laugh. "Because you couldn't find her martial cultivation records, you assume she is a spy from an enemy nation?"
"Isn't that so? Any citizen of Huaxia would leave some record of their martial cultivation."
"Then according to your logic, I must also be an enemy spy, because my strength is even greater than hers," Zhou Hong said dismissively.
"Is that so? Your strength is even greater? I'd like to see just how strong you are." The Wolf Lord's eyes held a hint of disdain. No matter how talented Zhou Hong was at his age, he couldn't possibly be stronger than him, especially considering he was a Wolf Lord of the Zhan Lang organization.
"Then be careful!"
The next second, Zhou Hong lunged forward. The Wolf Lord hadn't even recovered from his surprise before his neck was grabbed by Zhou Hong, and he was lifted into the air by one hand.
"How is this possible?" The Wolf Lord was completely stunned. This young man's strength was actually so formidable.
"Believe it or not, I can crush you with one hand. Now that I'm this strong, do you suspect I've illegally crossed over from the heavens?" Zhou Hong asked with a cold smile.
"Hmph, kill me if you want. No one from our Zhan Lang organization fears death," the middle-aged man declared, displaying a spirit of facing death bravely.
Zhou Hong didn't kill him. He threw him to the ground, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
"I won't kill you, because you said the Zhan Lang organization is the sharp sword behind the Huaxia Empire, meaning you are part of the Huaxia officialdom. Killing you would be acting against Huaxia, correct?"
"You're wise enough!"
"Heh, it's not that I'm wise, but rather I was born in Huaxia, and naturally, I am a citizen of this country. There's no reason for me to oppose the Zhan Lang organization."
"Hmph, if you are a native of Huaxia, why hide your extraordinary talent here?"
"None of your business. In short, Yang Xi is not an enemy spy; she is a native-born Huaxia person. If you don't believe me, so be it. If you dare to harass her again in the future, don't blame me for being impolite. Oh, and don't be afraid to know that this young lady here is also very strong."
After speaking, Zhou Hong turned to Shen Yanran and said, "Yanran, show him a taste of your skill. Shatter that large rock in the distance."
"Okay!" Shen Yanran immediately took out her Guqin. The next moment, with a resonant pluck, a large rock dozens of meters away shattered from the sound.
"Ah!" The Wolf Lord yelped in shock. He had never witnessed such martial prowess.