Before the words had even settled, a group of people rushed into the villa with a clamor. At the head of the group was a middle-aged man with a steady, commanding presence.

It was none other than Zhuang Yu of the Martial Alliance.

"Dad!"

Seeing Zhuang Yu appear, the young man kneeling in the courtyard brightened up and started to rise. This was Zhuang Qing, Zhuang Yu's son.

"Hmm?"

However, just as Zhuang Qing moved to stand, a single drawn-out syllable reached his ears.

THUD!

Zhuang Qing's expression changed, and he fell to his knees again. His face flushed red, and the venom in his eyes grew even thicker.

Damn you, boy. How dare you humiliate me like this? I'll tear you to pieces later!

When Wang Wu entered the villa, he saw Zhuang Qing and the two Elders kneeling on the ground. They looked extremely disheveled and appeared to be seriously injured. Wang Wu's eyes narrowed slightly.

That guy really has a death wish. To humiliate members of the Martial Alliance right in front of Zhuang Yu… let's see how he gets out of this!

Everyone's eyes were on Lin Mu. But Lin Mu remained calm, quietly sipping his tea.

Zhuang Yu's gaze immediately fell upon Lin Mu, who was seated in the host's chair. A cold light flickered in his otherwise placid eyes.

"You are Lin Mu?" His tone betrayed no emotion.

But Tian Boguang, standing nearby, felt a bone-chilling cold. He knew that this Elder Zhuang, a potential head of the River City Martial Alliance Branch, was radiating murderous intent.

Lin Mu watched Zhuang Yu calmly and replied, "I am."

"You have some nerve, insulting the Martial Alliance like this. Aren't you afraid of being reduced to dust?" Zhuang Yu's tone was icy, a trace of his aura already leaking out. He was at the peak of Internal Energy Mastery, his power even more consolidated than that of Elders Zhou and Chen.

"And you, Guan Chengye," Zhuang Yu continued, turning to him. "You were ordered to guard River City, yet you collude with this man to plot against the Martial Alliance. Do you not fear the Alliance's retribution?"

Zhuang Yu shot Guan Chengye a look, leveling a heavy accusation. The Martial Alliance was also under the jurisdiction of the Military Department, but it was not part of the same system as Guan Chengye. In some respects, the local Martial Alliance Branches had to obey orders from the regional military departments. However, Guan Chengye held a unique but not particularly high-ranking position in the Military Department, so Zhuang Yu spoke to him with little courtesy.

"How I conduct my business is none of your concern. As for you, Zhuang Yu, you should be in Jiangling. What are you doing here in River City? I have reason to suspect you've deserted your post. Perhaps I should ask the Military Department if the Jiangling Branch has become too idle."

Guan Chengye was no greenhorn. He had been forged in the crucible of battle and tempered by years in the Military Department. His temperament, methods, and resolve were far beyond those of an ordinary person. He wasn't about to be intimidated by a few words from Zhuang Yu and let the man seize the initiative.

On the contrary, his retort made Zhuang Yu's pupils constrict slightly.

Guan Chengye seized on this subtle change. "If I recall correctly, any member of the Martial Alliance at the rank of Elder or above requires a written order from the Martial Alliance Headquarters to conduct business across prefectures. Elder Zhuang, do you have such an order?"

Zhuang Yu snorted. "I naturally have an order to be in River City. General Guan need not concern himself with it."

Guan Chengye nodded, not bothering to press the issue.

Then, Zhuang Yu turned back to Lin Mu. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Mu interjected coolly, "Is there anything else? If not, you can go."

Zhuang Yu was speechless. So was the crowd. What did he mean by that? He was the one who had them come here. Now that they had arrived, he was telling them to leave? Was this some kind of joke?

Zhuang Yu's mouth twitched, his hands balling into tight fists at his sides.

At that moment, someone leaped out, pointing at Lin Mu's nose and bellowing, "Lin Mu, don't be so presumptuous!"

"If you continue this insolence, do you not fear being held accountable by the Martial Alliance?"

The speaker was none other than Wang Wu. Seeing Lin Mu again, the hatred in his heart could no longer be contained.

His future had once been bright. Once he cultivated his Internal Energy and became a Martial Artist, he could have soared through the ranks of the Martial Alliance, his journey along the Martial Way unimpeded. But all of it was destroyed because of Lin Mu, who shattered his Dantian, ruined his Martial Way, and turned him into a cripple.

He had thought this revenge impossible, but then his uncle had unexpectedly promised to let him claim it with his own hands. Now, seeing Lin Mu acting as arrogant and brazen as ever, Wang Wu finally lost control.

He jumped forward, shouting accusations at Lin Mu. His words were filled with a hatred so deep that not even all the water in the Three Rivers Area could wash it away.

"You hate me?" The smile vanished from Lin Mu's face as he looked at Wang Wu.

Wang Wu was stunned. Isn't that obvious? Of course, I hate you! I want you dead right now, but I also can't bear for you to die so easily. I want to torture you, make you suffer every torment imaginable, and watch you die in regret and despair.

"Yes, I hate you!" Wang Wu snarled through gritted teeth. "I want nothing more than to kill you with my own two hands!"

Lin Mu nodded. "But you're not capable."

Wang Wu's mouth twitched. He felt as if a hand had closed around his heart, squeezing it with unbearable pain.

Guan Jiaojiao looked at Wang Wu with pity, shaking her head with a sigh. Of all the people to provoke, he chose this one. What terrible karma did he accrue in a past life?

"You..." Wang Wu pointed at Lin Mu, too enraged to speak.

"Because you're trash." Lin Mu's tone was as calm as ever, devoid of mockery or disdain, as if he were merely stating a fact. "Tell me, how can a piece of trash get revenge?"

Wang Wu's expression contorted, his face darkening to the point it looked like blood might drip from it.

"Lin Mu, you… you've gone too far!"

Wang Wu gasped for breath, his heart hammering in his chest as his eyes gradually turned bloodshot.

"You think too highly of yourself," Lin Mu said casually. "Before, you were an ant in my eyes. Now, you don't even qualify as an ant."

"So, get lost."

The tone was utterly contemptuous, but Wang Wu was unable to retort. He pointed at Lin Mu, his entire body trembling. The crimson in his eyes deepened as he opened his mouth, gasping desperately for air.

Then...

PFFT!

A flash of pain crossed Wang Wu's face before he suddenly spewed a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground. His eyes were wide, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish gasping for air on dry land. He stared up at the white clouds, feeling the world spin as if he were in a dream.

*Trash! Ant! Get lost!*

Each word was sharper than a blade, slicing his spirit and dignity to shreds.

"Xiao Wu!" Seeing Wang Wu vomit blood out of sheer rage, Tian Boguang's expression changed, and he rushed to check Wang Wu's pulse.

His face paled instantly.

Wang Wu's life force was fading rapidly. It was clear he wasn't going to make it.

"Trash," Zhuang Yu muttered, looking at Wang Wu with cold disdain. Just a worthless cripple whose Dantian was destroyed. Keeping him around was a waste of resources. His death simplifies things.

Tian Boguang glared at Lin Mu with bloodshot eyes and roared, "Boy, you have a venomous heart!"

Lin Mu merely gave him a cool glance and said icily, "It seems you've forgotten my warning."

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