Chapter 4: Disappearance

Of course, Li Musheng had no intention of fleeing at all; he didn't even shift his buttocks from the stone steps.

Meanwhile, Zhu Fang glanced at Yu Zhentian, who was currently locked in combat with the Seven Zhahe Bandits. After a moment of hesitation, he scrambled up from the ground and bolted toward the courtyard exit, completely ignoring Yu Ermei and the other apprentice.

The other martial arts hall disciples and apprentices, seeing that Yu Zhentian was unable to spare a hand, were each only concerned with seizing the chance to save their own lives; they had no heart left to rescue anyone else.

"Did I say you could leave?"

At this moment, Zha Lao'er, who had yet to make a move, struck out with a palm from a distance. A tangible force of internal energy slammed into the courtyard wall.

The entire brick wall in front was blasted to rubble. Dust billowed, and the falling bricks and stones piled up, perfectly blocking the only path the group had for escape.

This powerful palm strike terrified Zhu Fang and the others, causing them all to stop abruptly before the pile of rubble, not daring to advance an inch further.

"Wicked disciples, all of you are wicked disciples!"

Yu Zhentian roared in anger. He had naturally seen everything Zhu Fang and the others had done.

The disciples he had valued most were greedy for life and afraid of death, betraying him, while the two apprentices he had looked down upon the most remained by his side. This left him with a complex mix of emotions.

"Take Ermei and the others! I will cover your retreat!"

Yu Zhentian’s internal energy surged as he swept his sword horizontally, forcing back Zha Laosan and the others who were surrounding him.

He then used the momentum to flip through the air, landing from the rooftop right in front of Zhang Dazhuang and the other apprentice.

However, he saw that these two apprentices were standing in place, staring at each other.

"I can move the Second Miss, but I’m not sure I can carry her very far," Zhang Dazhuang muttered. His natural aptitude was extremely poor.

After so many years at the martial arts hall, he hadn't learned much kung fu; he was just slightly stronger than the average person.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up like Li Musheng, stuck as a mere apprentice for twenty years.

Still, Zhang Dazhuang eventually set down Yu Xian and walked toward Yu Ermei.

Because no matter how you looked at it, he was much stronger than Li Musheng, who was a size thinner than him.

Seeing this, Yu Zhentian breathed a slight sigh of relief. He looked at his second daughter, thinking to himself that if they survived this ordeal, the first thing he would do was force her to lose weight; otherwise, in a life-or-death situation, no one would be willing or able to save her.

"Make sure you stay close to me!"

Yu Zhentian instructed in a deep voice. He then shifted his gaze, only to find that Li Musheng, standing to the side, hadn't moved.

Just as he was about to call out to him, Zha Laosan and the others had already closed in.

At the same time, Zha Lao'er moved, drawing his blade and landing nearby to oversee the battle.

"Unless you hand over the item, you aren't going anywhere."

Zha Lao'er was expressionless, his internal energy surging and his killing intent chilling. The aura he exuded was actually even stronger than Yu Zhentian's.

Seeing this, Yu Zhentian’s pupils constricted, and his expression turned extremely grim.

"Old Man Yu, it’s no wonder people say you’re stingy. What kind of thing is so precious that you’d rather have us all buried with you?" Li Musheng asked curiously. Yu Zhentian glared at him instinctively upon hearing this.

But remembering that this kid was one of the only two apprentices willing to stay and help, he took a deep breath and said

"This has nothing to do with you, don't ask!"

Li Musheng shrugged and turned to look at Zha Lao'er

"Why don't you tell me, what exactly do you want from him?"

Zha Lao'er swept his gaze over Li Musheng. Seeing the boy’s wet-behind-the-ears appearance, yet daring to question him, a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth

"Come here, and I’ll tell you."

"Kid, I think you're tired of living!" one of the Seven Zhahe Bandits cursed.

He swung his blade down with lightning speed, the blade light cutting through the air with a "sonic boom" as it slashed directly at Li Musheng.

Yu Zhentian saw this and immediately moved to block with his sword, but the next moment, his gaze suddenly froze.

Yu Zhentian was shocked to discover that the moment he moved, the apprentice Li Musheng had vanished from his line of sight.

At that moment, following a harsh clash of steel, Zha Laowu, who had swung the blade, was forced back half a step by Yu Zhentian’s sword.

But Yu Zhentian didn't look at his opponent. Instead, his pupils widened as he stared at the spot where Li Musheng had been standing, exclaiming

"That kid... where is he?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zha Laosan and the others, who were preparing to attack again, stopped in their tracks, suddenly becoming suspicious and uneasy.

A living person had just abruptly disappeared from their sight—how could they ignore that?

They immediately began searching for Li Musheng, when suddenly, a voice sounded from behind Zha Lao'er

"I've come over. Shouldn't you tell me now?"

Zha Lao'er’s hair stood on end, and his expression changed drastically.

But he was a veteran of countless martial arts battles; his reaction was swift. He decisively swung his blade backward, slashing behind him with the speed of a thunderbolt.

At the same time, he channeled his internal energy into his legs and dashed forward, wanting to put distance between himself and the person behind him.

However, Zha Lao'er’s blade not only hit empty air, but Li Musheng’s voice followed him like a ghost.

"Running away as soon as I arrive? That’s no fun."

As the voice faded, the entire martial arts hall courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Before the disciples and apprentices could understand what had happened, they watched in shock as the six men in black, including Zha Lao'er, stood perfectly still, as if they were wooden statues.

"I’ve sealed their acupoints."

Li Musheng’s voice came from beside Yu Zhentian.

Yu Zhentian turned his head abruptly. Upon seeing him, he instinctively took a few steps back.

"Who... exactly are you?"

Yu Zhentian looked at the unremarkable apprentice in front of him in disbelief, his aged face filled with wariness.

Li Musheng shrugged, reached out to pat Zhang Dazhuang on the shoulder, and tilted his head

"Brother Zhang, please don't stare at me like that. I know you've always been jealous of my handsome face."

"Huh??"

Zhang Dazhuang shook his head. After coming to his senses, he looked at the immobilized Seven Zhahe Bandits, then back at Li Musheng, and took a deep, heavy breath

"Ah Sheng, you make me feel like a stranger!"

Li Musheng chuckled and turned to face Yu Zhentian

"Old Man Yu, these thieves are yours to deal with."

As he spoke, he held out his hand to the old man

"Also, I forgot to tell you—I won't be staying at the martial arts hall anymore. We agreed on five taels of silver for my retirement; don't try to shortchange me like you did before."

Yu Zhentian stared fixedly at Li Musheng, the shock on his face lingering for a long time.

"Are you really that kid Li Musheng? But I remember you being a complete waste in martial arts. How could you be this..."

However, Li Musheng cut him off directly

"You aren't planning on welching on the debt, are you?"

Hearing this, Yu Zhentian was startled and quickly waved his hands.

He fumbled in his robes for a moment. Having no silver on him, he pulled out a hundred-tael banknote.

But before he could even speak, the banknote vanished from his hand and landed in Li Musheng’s grasp.

Li Musheng smiled brightly

"Not bad, not bad. It’s rare for you to be generous for once. I’ll accept this banknote!"