Chapter 262: This Boy Is Truly Remarkable!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Amid a string of dull explosive blasts, Tang Haishan, a master at the Earth Altar Realm's Three Flowers Gathering stage, couldn't even leave behind a single complete last word before being torn apart and battered by the violent claw force, his body splitting into pieces on the spot, scattering across the ground as several chunks of remains—dead beyond any doubt!

【Corpse discovered. Pick up?】

"Yes!"

……

In the alley, for a moment only the crackling of burning flames and the clash of blade and steel from Su Donglai's direction remained.

But very soon…

Boom!

Accompanying a dull, thunderous crash, Su Donglai's blade momentum poured forth like a raging torrent, finally cutting down the last assassin who had been entangled with him; the corpse slammed into the collapsed brick rubble beside them.

Having no time to regulate his breathing, Su Donglai's figure flickered as he swiftly flashed to Chen Mu's side. His gaze fell on Tang Haishan's gruesome remains, and an unconcealable look of shock surfaced on his face.

Although he had just been fighting two opponents at once, the pressure Chen Mu faced here—especially the crushing might of that Earth Altar Realm expert, like a landslide or a tsunami—he had felt it with perfect clarity.

Tang Haishan—Su Donglai didn't know him personally, but the aura of a Three Flowers Gathering expert at the Earth Altar Realm couldn't be faked!

Chen Mu had not only instantly cut down two Innate Realm perfection-stage cultivators, but had also slain an Earth Altar Realm peak expert in a head-on fight!

This level of strength far exceeded his previous imagination, and a wave of horror rose unbidden in his heart.

However, Su Donglai was no stranger to the jianghu. Suppressing the pounding in his chest, he tilted his ear toward the urgent whistling of wind from afar and said urgently, "Brother Chen, the 'Bai Yun Guard' is coming. You go first! I'll handle things here. These assassins clearly came for me!"

He didn't want to drag Chen Mu into trouble—the man who had just done him a great favor and saved his life.

Chen Mu naturally also realized that the target of these assassins was clear, aimed primarily at Su Donglai. The mastermind behind it was self-evident—nine times out of ten it was He Zaiyun, who had lost the martial-arts-tournament-for-a-husband and harbored a grudge!

He nodded at once, without false courtesy, and said quickly, "Alright. Brother Su, be careful. Contact me anytime if anything comes up."

As his words fell, his figure had already melted into the shadows beside him like green smoke, and after a few bounds he vanished at the end of the alley.

No sooner had Chen Mu left than a squad of Bai Yun Guards, composed of Innate Realm experts, came streaking through the air like divine soldiers descending from the heavens, swiftly surrounding the ruined stretch of alley and encircling Su Donglai, who remained on the spot.

……

A quarter of an hour later, in the brightly lit great hall of Hua Shanhe's residence.

Su Donglai, along with the corpses of Tang Haishan and four other assassins, all appeared together in the hall.

At the head seat of the hall sat Hua Shanhe, one of the five vice city-lords of Bai Yun City.

Hua Shanhe was nearly a hundred years old, but his face looked no more than fifty or so. His bearing was scholarly and refined, like a learned grand scholar, yet the aura faintly emanating from him was as deep as an abyss or a vast ocean, inspiring awe in any who beheld him.

In front of Hua Shanhe, Su Donglai gave a detailed account of the ambush, omitting the specific names of the techniques Chen Mu had used, but making clear that it was Chen Mu who had stepped in to help, allowing them to turn the tables and kill the powerful enemy.

Just as he finished speaking, a burst of urgent footsteps came from outside the hall.

In came Hua Baobao, wearing a pink long dress, her skin Bai Xi, her features beautiful, her bearing gentle and charming. Lifting her skirt, she hurried in, completely disregarding the corpses still in the hall, and rushed straight to Su Donglai's side. Her beautiful eyes were full of tension and concern as she looked him up and down, and she asked anxiously,

"Donglai! Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Her voice carried a slight tremor.

A warm current welled up in Su Donglai's heart. He hurriedly soothed her, "Baobao, I'm fine. Thanks to Brother Chen being there."

"That's good." Only then did Hua Baobao let out a slight breath of relief.

Hua Shanhe, on the head seat, watched his daughter in this state, deliberately pulled a stern face, and said with a jealous edge, "Hmph! Truly, a grown daughter can't be kept. In your eyes there's only your Brother Donglai. Your old man, such a big person sitting right here—can't you see me?"

Only then did Hua Baobao realize she had ignored her father. Her pretty face flushed red. She hurriedly let go of Su Donglai, walked to Hua Shanhe's side, hugged his arm and gently shook it, and said coquettishly, "Daddy~ What are you saying! Your daughter wasn't— wasn't just anxious for a moment! Please don't tease your daughter anymore."

Then her expression sobered, and with a touch of anger she said, "Daddy, Donglai was attacked right here in our Bai Yun City. This matter absolutely cannot be let go just like that!"

Her gaze swept over Tang Haishan's corpse, and her delicate brows knit slightly. "This man—Donglai doesn't know him, but I do recognize him. He's one of the 'Four Spirit Generals' under Uncle He Yan… Vice City-Lord He, nicknamed 'Bone-Breaking Hand' Tang Haishan. His strength is terrifying; he long ago stepped into the Earth Altar Realm peak. If he made a move, it must have been on the orders of Vice City-Lord He or He Zaiyun!"

Hua Shanhe patted his daughter's hand, his expression calm, but a flash of harshness passed through his eyes. "Of course it won't be let go just like that. Whether He Yan knew about it or not, the fact that he indulged He Zaiyun in committing violence is undeniable!"

"Hmph, to dare lay a hand on my future son-in-law—seeking death!"

"First thing tomorrow morning, I will personally go to the He residence to demand an explanation from He Yan!"

Hearing this, Su Donglai hurriedly bowed and saluted, "Thank you, Uncle Hua!"

Hua Shanhe waved his hand, his tone softening somewhat. "Since we're family, there's no need for such formality. Besides, He Zaiyun's move was aimed at you in the first place."

After a pause, he reined in his anger and, with a hint of curiosity, turned to look at Su Donglai and asked, "Donglai, you said earlier that the one who killed this Tang Haishan was that Inspector of the Town Martial Bureau, Chen Mu?"

"Yes."

Su Donglai nodded. "It was Brother Chen. I met him in Zhenzhoucheng, Jiangnan Circuit. Just now, if Brother Chen hadn't stepped in, this junior would likely have met with misfortune tonight."

Hua Shanhe couldn't help but sigh with emotion upon hearing this. "Slaying a Three Flowers Gathering expert like Tang Haishan head-on… this boy is truly remarkable! It seems the ninth place on the Hidden Dragon Ranking is far from his limit. Such youth, such temperament and strength—the young are truly to be feared, truly to be feared!"

His tone was full of admiration.

Su Donglai seized the moment and said, "Uncle Hua, Brother Chen has come to Bai Yun City this time to capture a defector from the Town Martial Bureau. This junior would like to lend him a hand…"

Before Hua Shanhe could respond, Hua Baobao at his side cut in first, "That's only right! Chen Mu just saved Donglai—we absolutely must help with this!"

Su Donglai, however, did not respond immediately. Instead, his gaze turned to Hua Shanhe, awaiting the latter's decision.

Although it was a bit chauvinistic of him, Su Donglai was no fool.

Chen Mu had guided him to defeat He Zaiyun on the dueling platform, and had helped him devise plans to win Hua Baobao's heart—these matters were secrets between the two of them, and could not be revealed to anyone.

Su Donglai had been fretting over how to find an excuse to bring it up with Hua Shanhe, and now the timing was perfect!

Sure enough.

The moment Hua Baobao spoke up, Hua Shanhe didn't overthink it and said with a smile, "This matter isn't difficult. Donglai, go ask young friend Chen tomorrow exactly who he's looking for. A portrait would be best. Once you have the information, hand it to A-Sheng. He'll arrange people to find the target."

"Thank you, Uncle Hua!"

Hearing this, Su Donglai's face lit up with joy, and he bowed deeply to Hua Shanhe.

A-Sheng, full name Lu Xiaosheng, was Hua Shanhe's most capable subordinate, one of the Five Spirit Generals, and an Earth Altar Realm Five Qi Chaoyuan expert!