Chapter 86: Sly

The voice had just arrived, and Li Qi almost simultaneously felt a sharp intent.

Without hesitation! Li Qi's internal Qi surged, and his body reacted in an instant, immediately raising his military saber.

Although it was not yet unsheathed, he still used the scabbard to block an attack.

With a tearing sound, the coarse cloth wrapping the long saber directly shattered into pieces, fully exposing the saber.

But he didn't know what the scabbard was made of; it actually managed to block the attack, deflecting the sharp intent that had pierced through the air.

"The voice and the hidden weapon arrived almost simultaneously... Does this thing have the speed of sound?" Li Qi's heart tightened.

After blocking it, he focused his gaze and found it was a flying needle.

No, that wasn't a flying needle.

That was... a hair?

A hair made of metal? No, it was still floating in the air, soft, clearly not made of metal.

It was light and airy, like the hair of some animal, extremely fine and soft.

It tumbled lightly in the air with a gust of wind, and he could even see it bend due to the strong wind.

But Li Qi glanced at the scabbard of his long saber.

There was a very conspicuous mark on it, like it had been forcefully split by an axe, a finger-length crack appearing on the scabbard.

The scabbard of this military Dao was made of ironwood.

"Jin Qi (Metal Energy)?" Li Qi activated his Qi vision and looked into the distance.

He realized that this hair itself was not extraordinary, but the previous attack had a wisp of Jin Qi (Metal Energy) attached to it, which allowed it to whistle and pierce the sky, flying at near-supersonic speed, easily shattering the refined ironwood, while the carrier was just a hair from some unknown animal.

Jin Qi (Metal Energy) is the image of a soldier; its Qi is fierce, invading other things.

Grass changes color when brushed by it, and wood sheds its leaves when struck by it; what causes its destruction and decay is the lingering power of its Jin Qi (Metal Energy).

This person is very skilled at using Jin Qi (Metal Energy).

What Dao Orthodoxy Cultivator is he?

Li Qi's gaze penetrated all the way, and on a painted boat on the Li River not far away, a person was looking directly at Li Qi.

Was that last sentence spoken by him?

Was this hair his attack?

No, if it were a real attack, it shouldn't be just like this.

Perhaps this was... a reminder?

Although this reminder was not very friendly.

Just as Li Qi was observing cautiously, that voice came again.

"Haha, little brother, why be so aggressive? He's just a runner; why go so far?"

Along with the voice came a bald, plump man who floated over.

This man was very fat, bald, and had a beard, wearing a loose robe.

He looked like a blob of a seal draped in kelp and seaweed, swimming out of the water.

However, he flew over.

He descended gracefully from the air; if he were a handsome Young Master, he would surely attract countless gazes.

But unfortunately, he was a bald, plump man.

Li Qi looked around and found that there was no movement at all, as if no one had heard the plump man's voice.

However, some Boat Towmen and Uncle Six behind him saw the plump man flying over, and they were all dumbfounded, as if they had seen an immortal.

"Uncle Six, step back, move away," Li Qi said in a deep voice, waving to dismiss the bystanders.

He stepped forward, gripping his long saber, his expression serious.

"Your Excellency sent people to cause trouble, then ambushed me, and now you're telling me not to be aggressive.

Isn't that a bit unreasonable?" Li Qi said with a slight smile, one hand resting on his saber, ready to draw it at any moment, and the other hand behind his waist, ready to grab the willow branch.

This was his battle stance.

He also began to keep an eye on the bald, plump man's progress bar.

If the opponent started to act, it would definitely be marked by the progress bar, so he wouldn't be ambushed.

"Haha, my fault, my fault! I apologize to you, young brother.

Who knew your Qi concealment skill was so profound? I didn't know you were here, otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have come to disturb you, young brother!" The bald, plump man laughed heartily, extremely enthusiastic, showing no hostility at all.

Li Qi frowned.

He knew the other party had no intention of being his enemy, but how did he know there was a "happy event" here?

So he changed his tone: "May I ask what this elder brother's name is? And what brings you here?"

"Hey, you call me elder brother, yet you're still so distant.

It's windy standing here; this isn't a place for talking.

Why don't you come aboard my boat for a chat?" The bald, plump man waved his hand, acting very familiar.

Li Qi immediately looked troubled, cupping his hands and remaining silent.

"Oh, my brain! You were so nervous just now, young brother, so that's definitely not good!

Then, young brother, pick a place, and I'll treat you tonight!" The bald, plump man said.

Li Qi glanced at Uncle Six and the Boat Towmen behind him.

"Elder brother has come a long way; why don't I host instead?

How about you stay here and have some light wine?" Li Qi said.

"Very well, very well!" To his surprise, this plump seal agreed without any hesitation.

Then, he clapped his hands.

Suddenly, dozens of Martial Artists flew out of the painted boat.

Li Qi could tell that none of these people were ranked, but they were definitely much stronger than the Boat Towmen, probably at the level he used to be when he used Ox Strength Technique.

None of them were weak.

They could actually achieve this level, dozens of people with the strength of one ox!

Is it an organization?

A School?

If these dozens of people attacked... what should he do?

Li Qi's heart tightened.

As he watched them fly over, he was already prepared to fight, his internal Qi already raised, and Ox Strength Technique ready to be activated at any moment.

But, after those dozens of people landed, they did not move, and instead bowed in unison: "Elder Bao!"

Li Qi looked at the bald seal; was he that Elder Bao?

"You all go and bring some tables and chairs, and food.

Have the kitchen on the painted boat make some of their signature dishes.

I want to have a meal with my young brother here!" Elder Bao said without ceremony, waving his hand to give orders.

Those Disciples were surprisingly obedient, and they flew up again, skimming across the Li River like dragonflies touching water, then flew back to the painted boat.

Some carried tables, others carried dishes.

In just a few minutes, they had set up a banquet table, and it was still steaming hot! It was completely freshly made!

"Alright, you're done.

Go back and eat and drink yourselves," Elder Bao said casually.

After bowing, those Disciples returned again, seemingly without any ill will about being ordered around.

Li Qi watched the entire process.

This was... a Cultivation School?

"Come, come, young brother! Let's sit down and eat first!

I was in the wrong earlier, so I'll punish myself with three cups!" Elder Bao sat down, gulped down three cups of wine, and invited Li Qi to drink with him.

Li Qi didn't want to conflict with the other party.

After all, if it was just the other party alone, it would be fine, but now... there were dozens of Disciples.

He wasn't afraid, but the Paibo Gang people were.

So, he also sat down, cupped his hands, and picked up his chopsticks.

From beginning to end, no one paid attention to Zhang Caitou, who was still hanging.