Second Master and Master Ming exchanged glances, thinking indeed there is a master secretly protecting them. He said solemnly, "Who is this master? Please show yourself."

A voice echoed from the mountain, "No need for that. I ask Second Master to honor your bet and let these children go."

Second Master was, of course, not too willing to just let them leave, so he grudgingly permitted the commotion from the people below.

After all, it would be hard for him as Second Master if he let the brothers make this trip in vain.

He was just about to speak when Er Mao, who had incited the crowd before, shouted again, "Who the hell is hiding? Come out if you dare!"

"Who do you think you are, that things go your way just because you say so—"

"Ah—"

A distorted howl echoed.

Second Master was surprised and looked in Er Mao’s direction, just to see Er Mao covering his mouth with his hand, blood continuously flowing from his fingers.

Then a cold voice arose, "I am speaking to Second Master. Who are you to make a sound?"

In the canyon, Qi Er and You Er exchanged glances, a mix of surprise and amusement in their eyes.

They finally felt relieved.

The whistling of this person was extremely powerful, surely a top martial artist, though they didn’t know why he was helping them.

The bandits all over the mountain searched everywhere for the person.

But no one could find out where he was.

Second Master watched Er Mao’s miserable state and felt a chill in his heart.

The first time this person spoke, he tried to determine his location, but the voice seemed to shift from east to west, making it impossible to know where he was hiding.

He knew this man knocking out all of Er Mao’s teeth was just a warning, intending to caution him that if he didn’t let them go, he might be the next to suffer.

Second Master was displeased and said solemnly, "Senior, I never said I wouldn’t let them go."

"But isn’t it going too far for you to hurt people?"

A cold snort came from the mountain, "Too far?"

"To be honest with you, it’s good you from Niu Tou Mountain haven’t harmed these kids today. Otherwise, none of the 2,736 people from Niu Tou Mountain would survive."

The person’s voice was icy, sounding eerie to those who heard it.

Someone discontentedly shouted, "Second Master, what do you mean? They’ve threatened to wipe us all out, are we just going to be bullied like this?"

"Fight him!"

At this moment, a deep voice came from the mountain, "Your skill is profound, there are no more than three people in the world with such prowess, with only one residing in the southern borders. Might I ask if the visitor is Senior Duanmu?"

The bandits on the mountain began shouting, "Big Master!"

"The Big Master has arrived."

With the arrival of the Big Master, the bandits on the mountain seemed to find their backbone, each of them getting excited.

A faint voice echoed from the mountain, "I am Duanmu Lei."

The Big Master appeared, bowing towards the empty air, "Geng Zhong of Niu Tou Mountain greets the senior."

"It is an honor for Niu Tou Mountain to have the senior visit today. However, the words of Senior earlier were inappropriate. Even if your martial arts rank among the top three in the world, you shouldn’t threaten the lives of everyone at Niu Tou Mountain."

Duanmu Lei gave a cold snort, "I’m not threatening you all."

"I have no grievances or grudges with you all, and I am not interested in exterminating everyone at Niu Tou Mountain."

"I only advise you, Big Master, that these kids have special identities. If you don’t want trouble to befall Niu Tou Mountain, let them leave immediately!"

You Er and Qi Er saw a middle-aged man halfway up the mountain surrounded by several people, the man tall and with a charisma quite different from the bandits all over the mountain.

It must be the Big Master.