The sound was deafening.

Su Qingning trembled as a great wave of warmth washed over her heart. The panic she had felt moments ago instantly subsided, all because she saw Lin Xiao.

She desperately wanted to ask Lin Xiao why he was here, but the situation was far too dangerous. This wasn't the time for questions.

Deng Bingzhong also recognized Lin Xiao's voice, and the smile on his face froze.

Under the moonlight, a dark figure stood quietly not far from him. While his clothes weren't exactly ragged, they certainly weren't in great shape.

Who else could it be but Lin Xiao?

Deng Bingzhong stared at Lin Xiao for a few moments before a vicious sneer spread across his face.

"Good, good, very good, you filthy beggar. I was going to find you after dealing with Su Qingning, but I never thought you'd damn well deliver yourself to my doorstep. Since you're so eager to court death, I'll be happy to see you off!"

Hearing this, Su Qingning panicked and screamed desperately, "Honey, run!"

Right now, all she wanted was for Lin Xiao to get away safely. The previous hurt he had caused her was completely forgotten. She just wanted him to escape unharmed. Yes, she couldn't bear the thought of him getting hurt. Not even a scratch.

Lin Xiao smiled. "Honey, how could I possibly abandon you and run? Besides, don't worry. A piece of trash like him? I can take care of him in minutes!"

His words offered no comfort. In fact, they made her furious. How could he still be boasting at a time like this? Even though she knew he was just trying to reassure her, she was still angry. Angry at his foolishness.

"You bastard, don't you get it? If you stay, we're both going to die!" Su Qingning roared.

It was rare for her to lose her temper like this, which showed just how truly angry she was.

But Lin Xiao just smiled and said, "Honey, don't be afraid. We will die, but that'll be decades from now. Definitely not today!"

Su Qingning was so exasperated she was at a loss for words.

A disdainful sneer crossed Deng Bingzhong's face. "You filthy beggar, if Pei Donglai were here today, I might be a little wary. But unfortunately for you, he's not. Garbage like you dares to bark at me? Today, you die!"

As he spoke, Deng Bingzhong rose to his feet and began walking toward Lin Xiao, one step at a time.

Su Qingning became utterly frantic. Disregarding her own safety, she threw herself in front of Lin Xiao, blocking Deng Bingzhong's path.

"Deng Bingzhong, if you want to lay a hand on my husband, you'll have to do it over my dead body!" Su Qingning declared, her resolve unshakable.

This wasn't the first time Su Qingning had shielded him from danger. The last time, when Xue Dashan had come to deal with him, she had also stood in his way without a second thought. This time was no different.

Lin Xiao was deeply moved. She was so obviously terrified, yet she stood before him without hesitation, completely disregarding her own safety. How could he not be moved? Especially as he gazed at her slender back. She looked like a lone boat on a vast ocean, as if she could be swallowed by a storm at any moment. And yet, she stood there, protecting him.

Lin Xiao smiled. Then, he gently tapped a pressure point on the back of Su Qingning's neck.

Her vision went black, and her body went as limp as a freshly boiled noodle, slumping toward the ground.

Of course, Lin Xiao wasn't about to let her hit the ground. With lightning-fast reflexes, he caught her in his arms and turned toward the parked Cullinan.

Seeing Lin Xiao's back turned, a vicious gleam flashed in Deng Bingzhong's eyes. Without another word, he lunged, clearly intending to launch a surprise attack and land a fatal blow.

But a disdainful smirk touched Lin Xiao's lips. Just as Deng Bingzhong closed the distance, Lin Xiao struck with a Dragon Tail Sweep.

BANG!

The sudden sound was jarring in the darkness.

The next second, Deng Bingzhong was sent flying. His body shot backward like a cannonball, crashing unceremoniously into the lake. Only then did he process what had happened.

He was about to speak when an excruciating pain erupted in his chest—a bone-deep agony so intense it stole his breath, nearly causing him to black out.

The way he looked at Lin Xiao completely changed. It was a look of pure shock, laced with a burgeoning fear.

Deng Bingzhong suddenly recalled the Hall Master's warning: this filthy beggar had killed many members of the Tenth Hall, and he was to be eliminated on sight. He remembered scoffing at the order. He had even told the Hall Master that it wasn't the beggar who was strong, but a man named Pei Donglai. He never expected to be proven wrong so quickly. This beggar... he was strong too. Even stronger than Pei Donglai.

Fear began to take root in his heart. Still, Deng Bingzhong had no intention of backing down. After all, his orders were to obtain that supreme treasure, no matter the cost.

With that thought, Deng Bingzhong endured the excruciating pain, took a sharp breath, and leaped from the lake. With a mighty swing of his arm, he sent a volley of cold glints hurtling toward Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao gently laid Su Qingning inside the car. Just as he finished and turned around, the deadly glints were upon him.

Lin Xiao scoffed. With a wave of his hand, the Xuantian Needle shot out like lightning, flying toward the incoming projectiles.

TING! TING! TING!

The incessant sound of metal striking metal filled the air. In the blink of an eye, the Xuantian Needle shattered every hidden weapon Deng Bingzhong had thrown. But it wasn't finished. Emitting a terrifying glint, the needle shot straight for Deng Bingzhong's face.

Recognizing the danger, Deng Bingzhong didn't dare to intercept it head-on. His body flickered as he tried to dodge, but the Xuantian Needle was faster, piercing his right eye like lightning before exiting through the back of his skull. It circled once in the air before returning to Lin Xiao's hand.

"AHHHH!"

A bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence of the night, shrill and agonizing.

Deng Bingzhong clutched his bleeding eye, howling like a wounded beast, "You animal! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

As he howled, he lunged at Lin Xiao. A dagger, glinting coldly, had appeared in his hand. He completely ignored his gushing eye, clearly intending to fight Lin Xiao to the death.

Lin Xiao looked at him with utter contempt, as if observing an ant.

As Deng Bingzhong closed in, Lin Xiao's hand shot out like lightning and clamped around his neck.

The impact made Deng Bingzhong feel as if his neck would snap. On top of that, an overwhelming sense of suffocation seized him.

Deng Bingzhong struggled indignantly, but the moment he moved, Lin Xiao sneered and tightened his grip.

A faint crunching of bone sounded by his ear. He knew it was the sound of his own neck giving way. Terrifying fear washed over him, and Deng Bingzhong froze completely.

Just then, Lin Xiao asked in a chilling voice, "You really don't know how to treasure your life, do you? Speak. What is my wife's family's supreme treasure?"

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