19. The Filthy Monk

"Who are you?" Bai Zongnan showed no fear, remaining calm and composed.

"Wang Lun of Liangshan, core disciple of the Immortal Spirit Sect," Wang Lun declared his identity.

"Oh? Your surname is Wang as well?" Bai Zongnan looked puzzled.

He couldn’t recall ever hearing of a disciple surnamed Wang in the Immortal Spirit Sect.

"Wang Lun? Which branch are you from?" Bai Zongnan pressed on.

Never before had he encountered a disciple of the Immortal Spirit Sect with the surname Wang. His own sect was a formidable force in the southwest, teeming with experts. He prided himself on knowing every core disciple, yet Wang Lun felt utterly unfamiliar to him.

"You need not concern yourself with my origins. Just answer my question, and I’ll spare your life—perhaps even send you to the Immortal Spirit Sect," Wang Lun replied arrogantly.

"And if I refuse?"

A glint flashed in Bai Zongnan’s eyes.

"Refuse? Hmph. You won’t be given a choice," Wang Lun sneered.

At that moment, the black iron staff in Wang Lun’s hand vanished, reappearing instantly in his left palm. He swung it.

The staff spun, tearing through the air.

Whoosh.

The staff sliced through the void toward Bai Zongnan.

"What!" Bai Zongnan was dumbfounded—he couldn’t even track the staff’s movement!

That blow would be nearly impossible for him to defend.

Yet, keeping his composure, Bai Zongnan’s broadsword shimmered with a faint blue light.

But in the next instant, the black iron staff crashed down on the broadsword.

Clang.

Metal rang against metal. The broadsword was knocked from his grip, tumbling out of the bamboo grove.

Inwardly, Bai Zongnan cried out in disbelief. Never had he imagined that a character from a novel could be so outrageous in this mythical world!

The broadsword was Lu Zhishen’s most trusted weapon in his life, yet it couldn’t withstand even a single strike from this strange staff?

This weapon was truly formidable!

"Damn it, had I known, I’d have brought some enchanted armor from the real world," Bai Zongnan muttered bitterly.

But now, he was cornered.

"Stop! I surrender," he declared.

"Smart monk," Wang Lun said, withdrawing his black iron staff.

This kind of treasure was a rare find, and it suited him well. Now, he had two such treasures at his disposal.

"I’m not Li Zhong—Li Zhong is my elder brother!" Bai Zongnan replied, his tone resentful.

"I don’t appreciate threats," Wang Lun said coldly.

"You—" Bai Zongnan nearly choked. Did this Wang Lun truly dare to threaten him?

"Are you sure you want mutual destruction?" Bai Zongnan suppressed his fury. Though his cultivation far surpassed Wang Lun’s, the power Wang Lun had just shown was beyond his expectations.

"Enough talk. Take me to your chief, Li Zhong," Wang Lun commanded icily.

"Fine, I agree," Bai Zongnan replied, already calculating his options.

"Women inside, come out! You two, follow me!" Wang Lun called into the bamboo grove, ordering Mrs. Yan to come forward.

Yan Po-xi’s face was pale. She had not expected Lu Zhishen to come—much less be defeated.

"Lu Da, do you still remember me?" Yan Po-xi’s clothes were torn, her fair skin exposed, the fabric shredded by the fierce winds during Wang Lun’s earlier attack.

She stepped out of the bamboo, her gaze fixed on Bai Zongnan, her cheeks flushed, lips parted with a hint of plaintive longing.

Bai Zongnan swallowed hard, steadying himself.

Who would have guessed this woman would be so lovely? But what was the relationship between Lu Zhishen and this woman in the mythic world?

Though Lu Da was Lu Zhishen’s former name, the fact that she addressed him so suggested some entanglement.

Bai Zongnan surmised there must be a connection. After all, Lu Da was a heroic figure; it wasn’t surprising that a beauty like this might have had some history with him.

He decided to cooperate with Wang Lun.

"Lu Da, I’m Alan—we grew up together..." Yan Po-xi feigned coyness, her voice sweet and delicate.

Wang Lun smacked her unconscious with a single slap and tossed her to the ground.

Seeing this, Bai Zongnan realized that Wang Lun had cast some spell to control Yan Po-xi.

His deduction had been correct!

"Now, take me to your chief, or your death will be more painful than you can imagine," Wang Lun threatened Bai Zongnan, his gaze icy and penetrating.

Bai Zongnan’s heart clenched—this was no ordinary cultivator.

He had no idea how Wang Lun had breached the sect’s formation, but it was clear the man’s strength surpassed his own.

"You’ve won. I’ll take you there. But you must promise—take only my life and no others," Bai Zongnan conceded.

"Heh. Your life is worth nothing to me," Wang Lun sneered.

"I am the third leader among the bandits. If you make any rash move, my elder brother Li Zhong will not spare you. They’ll slaughter your entire family!" Bai Zongnan said, feigning rage, hoping to instill caution in Wang Lun.

As expected, Wang Lun halted, a cold glint in his eyes, murderous intent surging.

Bai Zongnan felt a secret thrill—he had indeed managed to affect Wang Lun.

But Wang Lun was not as easily deceived as he had hoped.

"Your chief is Li Zhong? Hah! Where is your stronghold? Lead the way—now!" Wang Lun barked.

He searched his memory for information about Li Zhong.

Li Zhong had founded Twin Dragon Mountain five years prior, commanding over seventy men and reigning over the region.

This Li Zhong was also his nemesis.

Li Zhong now had more than a hundred men, all formidable fighters. In one battle, he had rescued an imperial general and was appointed as a “Flying Hawk Guard.”

Due to this, he was awarded the title and put in charge of training new recruits, ensuring the safety of the Twin Dragon Mountain bandits.

Li Zhong was the chieftain of the Twin Dragon Mountain bandits.

Among the thirty-plus factions of bandits, Li Zhong commanded the strongest, with over fifteen hundred elite men.

"Lu Da... I’ll remember you. You’d best stay out of trouble, or I’ll wipe out your entire clan!"

With those words, Wang Lun seized Yan Po-xi and disappeared into the clouds, leaving Bai Zongnan rooted to the spot.

Only when he regained his senses did Bai Zongnan realize his back was drenched in cold sweat, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

How ruthless this man was! Could he be a demon?

Bai Zongnan was shaken to the core.

He was no stranger to the bloodshed of the martial world, but never had he seen someone as merciless as Wang Lun—who could so casually take lives and threaten to exterminate entire clans with a calm face.

Wang Lun was even more terrifying than the rumors suggested.

Yet, Bai Zongnan felt no fear—only excitement. He could see Wang Lun wasn’t wantonly killing the innocent. As long as he and Mu Sheng didn’t provoke him, they should be safe for now.

Moreover, Wang Lun seemed unaware of Mu Sheng’s existence, or that they were fellow adversaries of Li Zhong.