The voice had barely arrived when Li Qi simultaneously sensed a sharp intent.
Without hesitation! Li Qi's internal energy surged, his body reacting instantly. He raised his military saber, still sheathed, but used the scabbard to block the attack.
With a tearing sound, the hemp cloth wrapping the long blade shattered into fragments, exposing the entire blade.
But whatever the scabbard was made of, it managed to withstand the blow, deflecting the sharp intent that pierced through the air.
"The sound and the projectile arrived almost simultaneously... Is this thing supersonic?" Li Qi's heart sank. After blocking it, he focused and realized it was a flying needle.
No, it wasn't a needle.
It was... a hair?
A metallic hair? No, it was floating in the air, soft, clearly not metallic.
Light as a feather, like some animal's fur, extremely fine and soft, it rolled in the wind, even bending visibly due to the breeze.
But Li Qi looked at the scabbard of his military saber.
There was a very noticeable mark on it, as if struck by an axe, a finger-length crack appeared on the scabbard.
This military saber's scabbard was made of ironwood.
"Golden aura?" Li Qi activated his energy vision and gazed into the distance.
He realized that this hair itself wasn't extraordinary, but it carried a strand of golden aura, allowing it to pierce the sky with near-supersonic speed, easily breaking through the refined ironwood. The carrier was merely an unknown animal's hair.
Golden aura represents martial prowess, its energy is fierce, invading other objects, turning grass pale and causing leaves to fall. It destroys and decays, all remnants of its power.
This person was adept at utilizing golden aura; perhaps they were a cultivator from some sect?
Li Qi's gaze followed the path and spotted someone on a pleasure boat on the Lishui River, looking back at him.
Was that voice just now from him?
Was that hair his attack?
No, if it were an attack, it shouldn't have been just that.
Perhaps it was more of a... warning?
Though not a very friendly one.
As Li Qi remained vigilant, the voice came again.
"Haha, why be so aggressive, young friend? He's just a messenger. Why go this far?"
Along with the voice, a bald, fat man floated over.
He was very fat, bald, with a beard, wearing a wide robe, resembling a seal draped in seaweed, emerging from the water.
However, he flew over.
Descending gracefully, if he were a handsome gentleman, he would certainly attract many eyes.
But unfortunately, he was a bald, fat man.
Li Qi glanced around, noticing no one else seemed to hear the fat man's voice.
Behind him, some haulers and Uncle Six saw the fat man fly over, their eyes wide, as if witnessing a celestial being.
"Uncle Six, step back, move aside," Li Qi said sternly, waving away the bystanders, stepping forward himself, gripping the long blade, his face serious.
"You sent someone to stir trouble, then ambushed me, and now you tell me not to be aggressive? Isn't that unreasonable?" Li Qi smiled, holding the saber ready to draw, while keeping his other hand behind his waist, ready to grab the willow branch.
This was his combat stance.
He also began focusing on the progress bar of the bald, fat man.
If the opponent made any moves, the progress bar would highlight them, preventing sneak attacks.
"Haha, my bad, my bad. Please forgive me, little brother. Your concealment skills are too deep; I didn't know you were here. Otherwise, I wouldn't have disturbed you!" The fat man laughed warmly, showing no signs of hostility.
Li Qi frowned.
Knowing the other party meant no harm, he wondered how they knew about the "good news."
So he changed his tone: "May I ask what your name is and what brings you here?"
"Hey, we're calling each other brothers, why so formal? It's windy here, not a good place to talk. Why don't we go aboard my ship for a chat?" The fat man waved his hand, acting overly familiar.
Li Qi immediately showed difficulty, bowing without speaking.
"Oh, look at me! You were so tense just now, surely not possible! How about you pick a place, and I'll treat you tonight!" The fat man suggested.
Li Qi glanced at Uncle Six and the haulers behind him.
"Elder Brother has come from afar, let me be the host. Why don't you stay here for some thin wine?" Li Qi proposed.
"Alright, alright!" Surprisingly, the fat seal agreed readily.
Then, he clapped his hands.
Instantly, dozens of warriors flew out from the pleasure boat.
Li Qi could see they weren't ranked, but much stronger than the haulers, roughly equivalent to his own strength when using Ox Power Technique.
None of them were weak.
To gather dozens of such warriors!
An organization?
A sect?
How would he handle these dozens of people attacking?
Li Qi tensed up, preparing for battle, his internal energy surging, ready to activate the Ox Power Technique.
But after landing, those dozens of people bowed and greeted: "Elder Bao!"
Li Qi looked at the bald seal; he was Elder Bao?
"Go fetch some tables and chairs, prepare some food, make some signature dishes, I want to have a meal with my brother here!" Elder Bao instructed nonchalantly.
Those disciples obeyed, flying back to the pleasure boat, fetching tables and dishes. In just a few minutes, they set up a feast, steaming hot, freshly prepared!
"That's done, you can return and eat," Elder Bao casually said.
After bowing, the disciples returned, seemingly content with being ordered around.
Li Qi watched the whole process closely.
This was... a cultivation sect?
"Come, come, little brother! Let's sit down and eat first! Earlier, I was rude, I'll drink three cups as punishment!" Elder Bao sat down, pouring three cups of wine and inviting Li Qi to drink.
Li Qi hoped to avoid conflict with the other party. After all, dealing with just one person was manageable, but now... there were dozens of disciples. He wasn't afraid, but the members of Paibo Gang were.
So, he sat down, bowed, and picked up his chopsticks.
Throughout this, no one paid attention to Zhang Caitou, who was hanging limply.