Chapter 1048: Chapter 1048: The Farmer and the Snake

Watching Lin Tian fall, Xu Xichao’s pupils suddenly contracted, but he did not panic.

Xu Xichao swung his long blade, which suddenly became transparent, and slashed towards Lin Tian.

Clang~

The sound of metal clashing, accompanied by a burst of sparks, Xu Xichao’s long blade was severed in half.

Then came a solid kick to Xu Xichao’s chest.

"Pfft."

Xu Xichao spewed a mist of blood, crashed into a bamboo, bending it, and then was catapulted away by the bending bamboo, landing face down in the dirt.

"I don’t want to become enemies with your Xu Family, otherwise Xu Nanhai would already be dead. This kick only gave you some internal injuries and disrupted the flow of your Spiritual Qi. Now get lost!"

"Hmph, we’re already enemies. Nanhai is better off dead, my eldest brother is severely injured, and now you want to kill my third brother. Do you think that can just be overlooked?" Xu Xichao lay on the ground, blood filling his mouth, but his voice was cold.

Lin Tian looked at him indifferently and smiled, "Use your pig brain and think, wasn’t it your people who provoked me first? If I wanted to wipe out your entire family, it wouldn’t be difficult. I could start with you right now!"

After saying that, Lin Tian began striding towards Xu Xichao.

Xu Xichao lay on the ground, pointing at Lin Tian, shouting, "Kill him for me!"

The remaining thirty-five people, having been ready for some time, leaped forward like wolves.

Lin Tian took a big step forward, dodging a long whip, then grabbed Xu Xichao by the neck, lifting him up as a shield.

"One more step, and I’ll snap his neck," Lin Tian said coldly.

Xu Xichao felt a chill on his neck, recognizing Lin Tian’s strength. This guy was too fast; these people likely couldn’t do anything to him, at most only entangle him briefly. The outcome wouldn’t differ much.

"Lin Tian! I admit I’m not as skilled as you. Go ahead," Xu Xichao said, his expression twisted, feeling extremely aggrieved.

"Want me to let you down? Wouldn’t that be too easy?" Lin Tian teased with a smile.

"What do you want?!"

"I won’t make it hard for you. Just tell me, which direction did they go? I’ll let you go if you tell me, but don’t trick me. Only fools take me for a fool."

"I don’t know where they went. When I got here, I couldn’t find them either."

Lin Tian tightened his grip, causing Xu Xichao to cry out repeatedly, gasping as he said, "I really don’t know! If I did, I wouldn’t be here waiting for you!"

Lin Tian thought for a moment; they probably were more worried than he was. The Grand Elder was a Golden Core expert, after all.

"Alright, I’ll believe you this time." Lin Tian loosened his hold, letting Xu Xichao fall face-first into the dirt.

"Lin Tian!" Xu Xichao suddenly called, "If you find my third brother, I hope you spare him and bring him back!"

Lin Tian sneered, "Have you heard the story of the Farmer and the Snake? Do you think I’d do something so foolish? Among your four siblings, only Xu Dongxu has some capabilities. If I kill him, what can the three of you accomplish?"

Xu Xichao’s face flushed with anger; those words hit hard. What do you mean we can’t achieve anything? We just don’t have your monstrous talent! In a few decades, we’ll be the pillars of the Xu Family too!

"If you kill him, we’ll fight you to the end, and his master won’t spare you either! He can summon heavenly lightning, call a hundred ghosts, control corpses— even if you’re a Golden Core expert, he has ways to kill you!" Xu Xichao said viciously.

Lin Tian turned back, squinting with a smile, "You almost got me scared. If I don’t kill him, what’s in it for me?"

"All previous grudges will be written off!"

Lin Tian laughed coldly, "That’s it?"

Xu Xichao circulated his Spiritual Qi slightly, sitting up from the ground, and asked in a muffled voice, "What more do you want then?"

"Depends on my mood."

Leaving these words, Lin Tian lifted his left foot, lightly stepped forward, and darted away like an arrow released from a bow.

"Hey! Get back here!" Xu Xichao shouted loudly at Lin Tian’s retreating figure. But unfortunately, Lin Tian didn’t even turn his head.

Xu Xichao’s face grew darker, clenching his fists and heavily punching a bamboo beside him, but it still didn’t relieve his anger.

He couldn’t figure out what Lin Tian was thinking, so vague—would he kill or not?

"Follow him! Split up and search; I refuse to believe that with so many of us, we can’t find them faster. Once found, regardless of life or death, bring that Grand Elder back as well," Xu Xichao commanded.

"Yes!" the thirty-six men responded and also darted away in Lin Tian’s direction.

...

For nearly two hours, Lin Tian searched the rolling hills but saw no sign of those two. Ahead was a big river, which made no sense for them to be on the opposite side.

Could it be the wrong direction?

Lin Tian furrowed his brows and suddenly saw dried bloodstains by the riverbank. It had rained heavily last night, so the blood must have been left after the rain.

Lin Tian stood up again, looked around, but saw no one. With no choice, he followed the river downstream.

However, after the rain, the river level had risen, and not only was the river water turbulent, but also murky.

Now he only hoped the Grand Elder hadn’t fallen into the river; otherwise, finding him would’ve been impossible.

Another half hour later, Lin Tian found a figure lying on the rocks by the riverbank, their fate unknown.

Lin Tian hurriedly quickened his pace, leaped over, turned that person over, and saw that it was Xu Dongxu.

Evidently, he had been washed ashore by the river, his whole body soaked, and sand filled his hair and clothes.

Lin Tian checked his pulse; his internal injuries were severe, and his breath faint. He had clearly just survived a fierce battle.

"Tsk tsk tsk, it’s a miracle you’re still alive." Lin Tian sighed. Even injured, the Grand Elder was a Golden Core expert; this guy was only a mid-level Martial Artist. Surviving truly was a miracle.

Shing~

Lin Tian drew the Black Dragon Dagger from his waist and held it against Xu Dongxu’s heart. A little deeper and it would pierce his heart, beyond saving.

As the dagger pierced the skin, blood began to ooze, and Lin Tian hesitated.

"Damn it, I’ll spare your miserable life for now!" he cursed, retracting the dagger and pressing a palm on Xu Dongxu’s abdomen, exerting some pressure to force the water accumulation from his stomach.

Finally, he took out a Great Rejuvenation Elixir from his pocket and stuffed it into his mouth, saving his wretched life.

He scooped some water with his hands, splashed it on Xu Dongxu’s face, and did it thrice before the guy slowly opened his eyes.

"Ugh~ ah..." Xu Dongxu moved slightly, touching his wounds, and couldn’t help but cry out.

When he opened his eyes and saw Lin Tian, his face instantly turned cold.

Lin Tian also felt like he was the real-life version of the Farmer and the Snake.