Su Lai also wore a wry smile, thinking, *Damn, there really is a big shot following us.*
What should they do now? Zhang Xiaoqiang could feel that the opponent's strength was far beyond what he and Su Lai could contend with.
Since they dared to show themselves, it meant they couldn't easily disengage. Let's observe first.
Su Lai and Zhang Xiaoqiang turned around simultaneously. They saw a robust old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles, though it was clear he must have been a super handsome man in his youth. He wore a black trench coat, making him appear mysterious and powerful.
"You two little brats have good vigilance," the old man said slowly, a smile on his face.
Su Lai and Zhang Xiaoqiang tightened their grip on their weapons, their nerves taut, an involuntary fear creeping in.
This old man's simple smile made them incredibly tense. When had such a figure appeared in the martial world?
Zhang Xiaoqiang looked at Su Lai beside him, signaling if he knew who the person was.
Su Lai shook his head; he had no idea about the other party's origins.
However, he was certain that this person was definitely not from the Corpse Herding Sect.
"May I ask your purpose in following us?" Su Lai inquired.
"If it's fortune, it can't be avoided; if it's disaster, it can't be escaped. This must be for Yu Daohen."
If things went south, he would have Zhang Xiaoqiang take Yu Daohen and flee.
The old man smiled faintly, "I have no ill intentions. I only want the person on your shoulder."
Zhang Xiaoqiang and Su Lai's faces darkened. As expected, they were after Yu Daohen.
Su Lai gently placed Yu Daohen down from his shoulder and handed him to Zhang Xiaoqiang. "I'll hold him off. You take Yu Ye and run quickly."
Zhang Xiaoqiang frowned. Their combined strength couldn't defeat the opponent. "Can you handle him alone?"
Su Lai shook his head affirmatively, "Of course not."
Zhang Xiaoqiang: ...
Just as Zhang Xiaoqiang was about to say he would stay, Su Lai interrupted, "I have more experience. You quickly take Yu Ye and leave."
Su Lai's words were not without merit. In terms of overall strength, Su Lai was indeed slightly superior to Zhang Xiaoqiang, but not by much.
Zhang Xiaoqiang hoisted Yu Daohen onto his back. "How long can you last?"
Su Lai smiled faintly and took a step forward. "Less than a minute."
"Damn it!"
Zhang Xiaoqiang cursed and bolted.
Seeing Zhang Xiaoqiang carrying Yu Daohen and fleeing, the old man didn't rush to pursue. Instead, he looked at Su Lai, who stood blocking his path. "Little brat, what is this?"
Su Lai gripped his short staff, a grin spreading across his face. "My apologies, I cannot hand this person over to you."
The old man smiled faintly. "Little brat, do you think you can stop me?"
Su Lai's eyes narrowed, and he assumed a fighting stance. "How will you know if you don't try?"
The old man nodded appreciatively. "Little brat, you have courage."
As soon as the old man finished speaking, his entire body shot towards Su Lai like lightning.
"So fast!" Before Su Lai could even utter the words, the old man was already upon him.
Su Lai tried to swing his short staff to attack, but the old man's hand grabbed it.
Sensing the danger, Su Lai clenched his other fist and swung it towards the old man.
But before Su Lai's punch could land, the old man's hand blade was already aimed at Su Lai's throat.
Cold sweat trickled down Su Lai's face.
Fear, a fear unlike any he had ever known, swirled in his mind.
With a single move, his life could be taken. He, who was a master on the Heavenly Ranking, was so easily defeated.
How terrifying was this old man before him?
The old man patted Su Lai's shoulder and smiled faintly. "Your reaction speed needs more practice."
With that, the old man strode forward, leaving a stunned Su Lai behind.
"Who exactly are you?" Su Lai mustered his courage and asked the old man.
The old man slowly replied, "Fifth on the Black Ranking."
Su Lai was shocked. He turned to look at the old man's retreating back. "Are you... the Fifth on the Black Ranking, Yu..."
Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaoqiang, carrying Yu Daohen, was running at full speed, muttering, "Yu Ye, why do you keep attracting such powerful individuals?"
As Zhang Xiaoqiang rounded a corner with Yu Daohen on his back, he saw three figures standing there.
Zhang Xiaoqiang shivered, and just as he was about to draw his copper coin sword for defense, he heard a voice.
"Zhang Xiaoqiang, it's me, Tang Junsheng!"
Hearing Tang Junsheng's voice, Zhang Xiaoqiang breathed a sigh of relief. "It's Uncle Tang."
Zhang Xiaoqiang and Tang Junsheng were both from the Flame Arts Sect, so they basically knew each other, working as colleagues.
Zhang Xiaoqiang looked at the other two figures and called out.
"Uncle Hao."
"Immortal Aunt Wangyou."
Hao Tianquan and Immortal Aunt Wangyou nodded in acknowledgment.
Tang Junsheng looked at Yu Daohen on Zhang Xiaoqiang's back and frowned. "Xiaoqiang, what's going on?"
Zhang Xiaoqiang, panting heavily, explained briefly, "Uncle Tang, please cover for me. Someone is chasing me."
"Alright, you guys go ahead. I'll hold them here," Tang Junsheng nodded in agreement.
He and Zhang Xiaoqiang were from the same sect, and Zhang Xiaoqiang was even an elder. There was no reason for him to refuse.
Zhang Xiaoqiang breathed a sigh of relief. Tang Junsheng was a Black Ranking expert. With his promise to help, everything was foolproof.
"Thank you!" Zhang Xiaoqiang expressed his gratitude, then quickly left with Yu Daohen on his back.
Although Tang Junsheng had agreed, there was a chance he might change his mind later, and then they would truly have no chance to escape.