Chapter 321 - Intimidating One-eyed Ba

Xue Qiming carried the girl on his back, stepping forward toward the village gate, leaving behind a chaotic field of fallen men and overturned horses.

One-eyed Ba’s expression shifted repeatedly as his gaze flickered between Xue Qiming’s face and Grandfather Lan Zhuo. However, Grandfather Lan Zhuo had long since lost interest in him, the old man's full attention fixated on the girl.

When they were still some distance away from Grandfather Lan Zhuo and One-eyed Ba, Xue Niang patted Xue Qiming’s shoulder, then swiftly slid down from his back and strode toward them.

Grandfather Lan Zhuo wasn't the first to greet her. Instead, a tall and imposing figure stepped forward to block her path. One of the Dark Miao personal guards standing by One-Eyed Ba's side intercepted her.

"Where did this thief come from? How dare you cause trouble here."

With that, the guard spread his palm wide and pressed down toward Xue Niang’s head.

Grandfather Lan Zhuo, startled back to his senses by the scene, erupted in a furious roar.

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"You dare?!"

Someone else moved even faster.

Before anyone could react, a shadow flashed before them. A whip-like kick tore through the forest air with a sharp gust!

Bang!

In an instant, the Dark Miao guard was punted away like a leather ball. His body hurtled through the air with a resounding impact before crashing into the distant crowd.

Gulp

.

A collective sound of swallowing reverberated through the air.

Only Xue Qiming stood by Xue Niang. Picking at his nails, he said, "This is a touching reunion between grandfather and granddaughter. It's fine you’re not moved to tears, but trying to steal the spotlight? Now that’s truly disappointing."

At last, One-eyed Ba displayed the presence of a true leader. Gritting his teeth, he asked, "May I ask who you are, sir? And why are you here? Surely you haven’t come all this way just to cause trouble for me, Ba Hansang?"

"Oh, not at all." Xue Qiming waved a hand dismissively, then pointed toward Shuiyun Village. "I’m merely passing through."

"Passing through?!" Ba Hansang let out a laugh of rage, utterly unconvinced by such an excuse. "Your idea of passing through seems rather domineering! I have eight thousand Dark Miao warriors here. Do you really take yourself for an army-slaying immortal?"

Xue Qiming’s eyes widened. He had no patience for such threats, and his temper flared instantly.

"Grandpa..." At that moment, Xue Niang finally spoke.

The crisp voice had barely left her lips when Grandfather Lan Zhuo fell to his knees with a thud before Xue Niang. His lips trembled uncontrollably, followed by his hands, and then his entire body.

"Ling’er..." The old man’s voice quavered as he reached out with a withered hand, gently placing it against the girl’s face. "It’s... you? You’ve grown so much..."

Xue Niang sniffled, her eyes tinged with red, yet no tears fell. She was far more resilient than before, having roamed the world alongside the Unbound Bodhisattva.

She took the old man’s hand, took a deep breath, and said, "Grandpa, about Father and Mother..."

The old man pulled the girl into a tight embrace, burying his face in her small shoulders. It was unclear whether he was comforting his granddaughter or himself. "Grandpa knows, Grandpa knows everything... Say no more... It’s enough that you’ve returned. Leave your father and mother’s matters to me."

Xue Qiming rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking rather awkward. His gaze wandered until it happened to land on One-eyed Ba, who had just shifted his own gaze from Xue Niang to him. Their eyes met and One-eyed Ba’s single eye gleamed with a vicious light as he scrutinized Xue Qiming with ill intent.

"What the hell are you staring at?!" Xue Qiming snapped, slapping him across the face.

Smack!

A loud and crisp slap rang through the air.

Ba One-eyed felt as though a wooden door had slammed into his face. Stars burst before his eyes, his head spun, and half his face went numb. Hot liquid trickled from his nose and mouth.

Even after the slap had landed, Ba One-eyed couldn’t comprehend why Xue Qiming had struck him out of nowhere. His heart bristled with injustice.

Although One-Eyed Ba had been struck into a daze, the Dark Miao warriors behind him were not.

Their leader had been humiliated! How could they not explode with fury? The Dark Miao warriors erupted in an uproar, shouting curses as they prepared to charge forward, the scene descending into chaos.

Amid the clamor, Xue Qiming rolled his neck, the cracking of his bones audible.

"What the hell are you yelling for?!" Xue Qiming roared at the Dark Miao, showing no fear. He lifted a foot and stomped down hard.

Boom!

The ground rippled violently beneath his feet. The impact sent shattered stones flying, one of which cut a bloody gash across One-eyed Ba’s face. The pain jolted him back to his senses.

A flock of startled birds burst from the forest, their wings flapping as they fled into the distance, leaving Shuiyun Village in utter silence.

The gathered Dark Miao fell silent. Not a single person dared to make a sound.

One-eyed Ba clenched his teeth, fighting to stay conscious. He dared not meet Xue Qiming’s gaze, afraid that another slap might come his way. Instead, he shot a venomous glare at Grandfather Lan Zhuo, then spat through gritted teeth, "Today, you have a powerful benefactor... I admit defeat. Everyone, withdraw!"

After hastily shouting an order, Ba Hansang turned and walked into the crowd without looking back. His retreating figure was utterly pathetic, more like a man fleeing for his life. The eight thousand warriors withdrew like a receding tide, vanishing into the dense jungle before long.

The Light Miao of Shuiyun Village did not show much outward reaction, but their expressions still reflected the relief of having survived the ordeal. Supported by others, Grandfather Lan Zhuo stood up and stepped forward, bowing respectfully to Xue Qiming. "Thank you, valiant warrior, for your aid. May I ask for your name?"

Xue Qiming quickly helped the old man up. "I wouldn’t dare accept such courtesy. Elder, please don’t be so formal. I am Xue Qiming, known as the Unbound Bodhisattva."

The old man visibly paused when he heard the title, but he quickly composed himself and gestured toward the village. "Please, valiant warrior, come inside for a discussion."

"With pleasure," Xue Qiming responded with a cupped-hand salute.

As the village gates swung open, Xue Qiming naturally took Xue Niang’s small hand and strode in with his head held high.

As he walked beside them, Grandfather Lan Zhuo narrowed his eyes at the sight and asked, "May I ask, what is your relationship with my granddaughter?"

Xue Qiming raised an eyebrow and ruffled Xue Niang’s hair with his broad palm. "This child has great potential. She is now my apprentice, learning martial arts from me."

The old man’s brows furrowed slightly. "This... may not be appropriate."

"Inappropriate?" Xue Qiming halted his steps at the words and turned to ask, "What’s inappropriate about it?"

The elder shook his head. "Lan Ling is a Miao girl. What she should be learning is certainly not martial arts."

"That’s an interesting take." Xue Qiming chuckled. "Xue Niang is my apprentice. If she doesn’t learn martial arts from me, then what should she be learning?"

The old man’s expression grew solemn as he met Xue Qiming’s gaze without a trace of fear. "But she is, first and foremost, a Light Miao. Have you ever heard of our poisonous Gu, capable of killing unseen?"

"Killing unseen? Gu poison?" Xue Qiming scoffed and reached toward the back of his head. With a flick of his fingers, he pinched out a small insect, no longer than a pinky finger. He looked at Grandfather Lan Zhuo with a mocking smile.

"You mean this?"