Chapter 109: Fated Enemies on a Narrow Road

Li Mu was already scheming in his mind how to revolve around seizing the Scorpion Beauty, so that he could break through from the pinnacle of the Third-Grade Concentration Realm to the Fourth-Grade Concentration Realm, and he thought it over silently.

The group of jianghu folk in the tavern were still idly chatting, one sentence after another.

"From the information I've gathered, several waves of cultivators have already rushed to Fuhu Mountain, each carving out a sector, claiming the mountain as king, and forbidding any cultivators outside their forces from approaching."

"It's not your first time dealing with the ways these cultivators act."

"Isn't it clear in your mind?"

"Not resisting is fine!"

"If you choose to resist, we might not be able to eat you, so you'd better run away!"

"So, regarding the current situation at Fuhu Mountain."

"With my meager strength, it's better to stay as far away from this muddy water as possible!"

"Don't end up with the treasure out of reach and then set yourself on fire!"

As these words were spoken, many jianghu knights in Qingfeng Tower glanced—whether intentionally or not—toward the direction where Li Mu stood.

This was plainly a tone of watching the spectacle, not minding the drama, and continued: "But this great sect has disciples everywhere!"

"When we jianghu folk pass by, those various forces entrenched on Fuhu Mountain probably won't even give us a proper glance."

"But if a great sect disciple goes, who wouldn't offer a prayer for them?"

"You say, right…?"

Listening, the jianghu knights each spoke with a tone that seemed to fear the world not being chaotic enough.

Li Mu, of course, understood.

In their hearts, each was calculating their own favorable scheme.

They merely thought that, with only this little strength, even if they truly went to Fuhu Mountain, they might not gain any advantage.

Since there's no profit to be had on my side!

Then I'd simply flip the table, leaving everyone without any meat to eat!

As the various forces successively head to Fuhu Mountain, the situation grows increasingly chaotic, and a massive melee could break out, causing countless casualties.

Only by thoroughly stirring this muddy water can we give these jianghu knights a chance to fetch chestnuts from the fire, right?

It is precisely because of this consideration.

These jianghu knights therefore chose to proactively disclose the news of the Scorpion Beauty's imminent emergence to Li Mu.

However!

For Li Mu, what kind of ulterior motives these people truly hold in their hearts.

Does Li Mu care?

Of course not!

In the face of absolute strength, any scheming is nothing but futile before Li Mu!

Moreover!

As a Heavenly Treasure that fully consolidates his cultivation foundation after breaking through the Fourth-Grade Concentration Realm: the Scorpion Beauty.

Li Mu is also determined to obtain it!

"After a brief rest, I can set off to Crouching Tiger Mountain to scout the terrain."

"Let's see if we can replicate the previous successes, then stage another snipe‑and‑clam clash so the fisherman profits!"

"Objective!"

"Here's the old white spirit and the braised horse and beef you wanted; please enjoy."

As Li Mu was silently plotting his next actions in his mind.

Behind him, the waiter's shout suddenly rang out as he carried a large platter of braised horse and beef and a jar of old white spirit.

Li Mu skillfully tore off the seal clay on the wine jar.

Quickly!

A wave of intoxicating, rich wine aroma, as if suddenly sprouted wings, surged straight into Li Mu's nose.

In that instant,

it hooked the wine bug in Li Mu's belly, making his index finger twitch.

As Li Mu was about to take big bites of meat and big gulps of wine,

suddenly, an extremely aggressive, sharp blade aura surged from the first floor of Qingfeng Tower.

It was as if an invisible gale rose on the second floor, startling the jianghu guests and wandering cultivators there, who instantly rose from their seats, each looking toward the stairwell as if facing a great enemy.

Immediately,

a towering, robust young man, slinging a gold‑backed great cleaver at his waist, strode onto the second floor with a fierce aura.

It seemed as if his whole body had turned into an unstoppable, razor‑sharp great sword, exuding an intense sense of pressure!

Very overbearing!

Between his brows, a bone‑deep arrogance and pride shone through!

Li Mu instinctively turned his gaze this way!

Song Haolin!

Unexpectedly, the newcomer turned out to be Song Haolin!

The braised beef Li Mu had just about to shove into his mouth instantly lost its aroma.

His eyes bulged round, staring unblinking at Song Haolin, his whole body on guard.

Though his face remained impassive, a murderous intent surged wildly within Li Mu.

"Heh!"

"What a narrow road for foes; I never expected to run into you here."

I really don't know—should I say it's my misfortune, or yours, Song Haolin?

Li Mu smiled cheerfully on his face, but in truth his mind had already concocted one hundred and eight crazy schemes for killing Song Haolin.

Song Haolin arrived on the second floor.

Naturally, he was the first to notice Li Mu's presence!

But then—

The moment he saw Li Mu, Song Haolin's first action was not to stride toward him, but to reach out and rub his own eyes.

Look at him!

He seemed to be wondering whether he was hallucinating.

If it wasn't a hallucination, how could he possibly see a dead man in broad daylight?

But when he was certain he hadn't mistaken his sight,

Song Haolin immediately exchanged glances with the four squad members behind him, the ones he had personally formed in the Demon Domain.

Undoubtedly.

They all saw pure, bright murderous intent in each other's eyes!

However, after having been teammates for so long,

that tacit understanding still existed!

Song Haolin and the four members of his cultivator squad tacitly chose not to strike Li Mu directly in Qingfeng Tower, after all the place was crowded.

Moreover,

to open a Qingfeng Tower in such a prime spot of a million‑person town.

One only needs to think a bit to know that the owner behind this Qingfeng Tower cannot be an ordinary person.

If they insisted on acting, they might not even manage to kill Li Mu!

And they'd end up covered in trouble themselves, which would be a loss.

To avoid arousing Li Mu's excessive vigilance, Song Haolin raised his hand, signaling the four companions behind him not to follow, and walked over alone.

He looked up and laughed, "Hahaha…"

"Look at what's happening to me here?"

"So it's you, junior brother Li Mu!"

"Truly, the world has no place we don't meet, junior brother Li Mu. That we, as senior and junior brothers, meet in this tiny Qingfeng Tower—doesn't that show we have great fate, right?"

"Hahaha…"

Upon hearing Song Haolin's words, Li Mu could basically conclude that the latter had no intention of making a move here.

Thus, he kept a neutral expression and casually pushed the aged white liquor and the large platter of braised horse‑beef toward Song Haolin.

A friendly smile appeared on his face as he said, "Indeed!"

"The world is so vast; for junior brother to meet here in Qingfeng Tower, that indeed shows our brotherly fate runs deep."

"Come, senior brother!"

"Don't just stand there, come taste it!"

"I tell you, senior brother, the braised horse‑beef here and this aged white liquor are truly superb."

"I guarantee after the first bite you'll be thinking of the second!"

"Good, good, good!"

"Then let me try; see if this beef and wine are truly as wondrous as you say, junior brother."

Both were honey‑tongued daggers, each harboring hidden motives, yet neither exposed the other's scheming, and they burst into laughter together.

Song Haolin, taking three steps in two, walked straight to Li Mu's table and, without hesitation, sat down, his great golden horse‑blade at the ready.

"Senior brother, please take a seat!"

Li Mu greeted warmly, then turned and shouted at the waiter behind him.

"Waiter!"

"Bring the wine!"

"Hahaha…"

"Perfect, after this dusty journey, I'm quite thirsty!"

Song Haolin reached out, lifted the wine jar before him, and without hesitation tipped his head back, gulping down with a "Goo‑dong, goo‑dong…"

After a hearty drink, Song Haolin set the jar down and said contentedly, "Fine wine!"

Then he turned to Li Mu, changing tone, "Junior brother Li Mu!"

"We aren't inside the Ziyang Sect now, so we needn't be overly formal; no need to call each other 'Senior brother Song'."

"I'm a dozen years older than you; you may call me 'uncle', and I'll call you 'nephew'."

"Let's not be constrained by etiquette; be relaxed!"

"Nephew, what do you think?"

"Uncle Song, you speak very rightly!"

"Since Uncle Song says so, I shall be unreserved!"

"Good, Uncle Song!"

Li Mu's booming "Uncle Song" was so loud that many martial artists and lone cultivators on the second floor of Qingfeng Tower heard it.

Seeing Li Mu's tact, Song Haolin was delighted by the "Uncle Song" call, his eyebrows lifting in joy.

He slapped Li Mu's shoulder vigorously, exclaiming, "Good nephew, good nephew!"

"Your 'uncle' call is so sweet!"

"Today's meal, uncle treats!"

Thank you, Uncle, thank you, Uncle!

Uncle is really magnanimous!

Even though Li Mu now has his head being prodded like a chick pecking at rice, his heart is full of cold sneers.

Heh!

So funny!

I called you Uncle, and you actually reacted?

Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning!

Back then, when facing that mysterious‑scaled evil flood dragon, you not only didn't help at all, but you even ran faster than a rabbit!

You sold me out, that was downright decisive!

Forget it!

I, Li Mu, have abundant means and have never had the same experience as a dead man.

For today's cheap words, I'll let you old kid have a little first.

When we leave this Qingfeng Tower, there will be a time for you to cry!

After successfully breaking through to the Third‑Grade Concentration Realm, even though in terms of realm alone there remains a sizable gap compared to Song Haolin of the Eighth Grade Concentrated Spirit Peak.

But Li Mu holds many trump cards; if he truly fights for his life against Song Haolin, he does have some grasp.

Thus, concerning how to act next to kill Song Haolin, Li Mu's mind has already begun formulating the corresponding plan.

Soon!

Li Mu and Song Haolin, each with hidden motives, started to clink cups and sing songs over wine.

That affectionate display truly matched how they addressed each other, like a pair of long‑lost uncle and nephew!

This scene caused many nearby wandering heroes and lone cultivators to silently gasp.

No wonder, the Ziyang Sect has become increasingly prosperous and powerful in recent years!

Not to mention anything else!

Just by seeing the affection between this uncle and nephew, you can glimpse a fragment of the whole!

These two are almost as close as one person; if every Ziyang Sect disciple could have affection as good as this uncle‑nephew pair.

Then the Ziyang Sect from top to bottom would have no worry about flourishing!

But back to the point!

That cultivator with a golden‑backed great cleaver hanging from his waist should be at the Eighth‑Grade Concentration Realm!

If nothing unexpected happens, this Scorpion Beauty will most likely end up in this young man's hands.

……

Between the seats.

Three rounds of wine, five flavors of dishes.

Seeing the atmosphere well set, Song Haolin smiled brightly at the table and said.

Li Mu, esteemed nephew!

Uncle, I have heard those wandering heroes mention many times that a hundred li northeast of the town there is a mountain range called Fuhu Mountain.

In this Fuhu Mountain, there is a Scorpion Beauty that is both rare and unattainable, already a hundred years old, right?

Such a heavenly treasure as the Scorpion Beauty may be of little note to cultivators of high realms.

But for those just entering the Concentration Realm, it offers great benefit.

Speaking of that.

Song Haolin's tone paused briefly, then he gave a meaning‑laden glance at Li Mu and said.