98: I read the Spring and Autumn Annals

Not long after, Fang Bai and Qi Tian found Xiao Yuan.

The latter was standing foolishly under a huge roadside sign.

This guy at least knew to stand in a conspicuous spot, otherwise Qi Tian and the others really wouldn't have been able to find him.

After Xiao Yuan got into the car, the entire vehicle chassis sank slightly.

"Xiao Yuan, how are things over at your place?"

Fang Bai asked.

Xiao Yuan scratched his head: "Pretty good. Those demon beasts later fled to our village, but they were all beaten away by the village mystic."

"Mystic?"

Qi Tian and Fang Bai exchanged glances.

Xiao Yuan chuckled foolishly: "Yeah! Our village mystic is very powerful. Back when I tried to beat him up, I couldn't beat him. Plus, he's very mysterious; even Father doesn't know his background."

Fang Bai clicked his tongue in admiration: "It seems he is a hidden master living in anonymity."

Qi Tian pursed his lips: "Those big shots only have these weird hobbies, hiding in remote places to act cool."

At this moment, Xiao Yuan pulled a few books out of his pants pocket.

"What's this?"

Fang Bai and Qi Tian both curiously leaned in.

Xiao Yuan said: "The old mystic gave them to me. He said the reason he's so powerful is all because he practiced this secret manual. He said since we know each other, he sold them to me for a hundred bucks a pop."

Fang Bai took one and started reading. The cover was actually written in crooked handwriting: Joyful Union Technique.

This name, why does it sound a bit familiar?

Fang Bai suddenly flipped open the book and ended up seeing some unsightly images.

"What the hell, which street stall did you buy this smut from?"

Qi Tian's eyes lit up, and he leaned in: "Where, where? Let me see!"

Fang Bai immediately put it away and then said calmly: "You're still young; you can't look at this."

Qi Tian: "..."

Fang Bai said speechlessly: "Xiao Yuan, you were most likely scammed by that mystic."

"But there really are martial arts techniques inside!"

Xiao Yuan picked one up and opened it. Inside, there were indeed drawings of little people in various strange poses.

"And the price of this book... 9.9 yuan Collector's Edition?"

Fang Bai and Qi Tian exchanged glances.

"Damn it! Scamming even students?!"

"Damn that mystic!"

Xiao Yuan scratched his head: "He made it sound really powerful, so I wanted to buy some for you guys to practice."

Fang Bai thought for a moment, then said: "Thanks, I'll take the one in my hand."

"???"

Qi Tian looked at Fang Bai in disbelief: "Come on, Buddy!"

"Trying to sneak a look at some smut, huh?"

Fang Bai said righteously: "I'm doing this for your own good. I'll take it to destroy it later. Besides, I only read the Spring and Autumn Annals."

"..."

Along the way, the group didn't encounter any more demon beasts, but they did run into a patrolling Demon Slaying Army unit, which led to some interrogation.

However, after Fang Bai pulled out his second-class merit medal, those Demon Slaying Army soldiers immediately stood at attention, saluted him, and let them pass directly.

Just kidding, with this kind of merit, how would they dare to stop him?

About an hour later, the car arrived at an urban village.

This was exactly where A Xiu lived.

And the people Qi Tian had arranged were already waiting there early.

After reading the investigation report, Qi Tian frowned.

"There are no signs of a struggle there. It's clear that the other party easily captured A Xiu. Their strength is at least late Third Rank!"

Fang Bai frowned and said: "The problem is, why did they capture A Xiu?"

Qi Tian shook his head, then looked at his subordinate: "Any other discoveries?"

The subordinate said seriously: "When we arrived, we encountered an assassination attempt, but we have already subdued them. Unfortunately, they were prepared; they had poison stored in their teeth and committed suicide by taking it."

Qi Tian's expression changed: "Where are the bodies?"

Soon, the group arrived at a room.

Two men were lying in the room, and their attire—wasn't that the clothing of the Red Robe Cult?

"It really is this bunch of scum! Damn it!"

Qi Tian's expression immediately turned cold.

At this moment, another subordinate hurried over and said: "Young Master, I intercepted all the nearby surveillance footage and have already pinpointed the route they took to retreat!"

Qi Tian's eyes glinted: "Let's go! Time to get to work!"

...

A dilapidated bus was driving along a winding mountain road.

Inside the bus, there were seven or eight people sitting, all wearing uniform attire. In the very back sat a young girl and an old man.

The young girl was A Xiu, and the old man was her grandfather.

"Hehe, forgive our rudeness in using this old gentleman to make you submit."

A man in white looked at A Xiu with a gentlemanly smile on his face.

A Xiu looked at him expressionlessly and said: "People from your evil cult can be this polite too?"

When she rushed home at that time, she happened to run into a group of people surrounding her house, and her grandfather had already been captured.

A Xiu also recognized these evil cult members immediately.

However, just as she wanted to fight back, the other party actually threatened her grandfather, forcing her to surrender.

So, for her grandfather's safety, A Xiu had no choice but to go with them.

She didn't know what these people wanted to do, but whatever people from an evil cult wanted to do must be insane!

The man in white chuckled: "Let me introduce myself. My name is Jin Wu, and I am one of the guardians under the Red Sin Archbishop of the Red Robe Cult. Our target this time is you, Miss A Xiu."

A Xiu frowned: "What do you want with me?"

Jin Wu smiled: "I heard that Miss A Xiu is a Space Element martial artist. Coincidentally, we are lacking exactly this type of talent. Your Space Element is of great significance to our cult."

A Xiu frowned: "So the two Space Element geniuses who disappeared from the Martial Arts Academy recently fell into your hands?"

Jin Wu snapped his fingers: "That's right! Smart!"

A Xiu's expression immediately darkened.

Two Space Element students had disappeared from the Martial Arts Academy; the official website had released a notice a few days ago.

She didn't expect that she would become the third!

A Xiu glanced at her grandfather, her eyes filled with guilt: "I'm sorry, Grandfather, I've dragged you into this."

The old man smiled kindly and said: "Child, don't overthink it. Just be yourself."

At this moment, Jin Wu looked at the old man and smiled: "Right, I almost forgot. Miss A Xiu, your grandfather also had a glorious story in the past!"

The old man looked at him: "It seems your Red Robe Cult is really not simple."

Jin Wu nodded slightly: "Well said. The power of our Red Robe Cult is far beyond your imagination. However, old man, you are already old. This is no longer your era."

The old man shook his head and did not speak to him.

Jin Wu smiled, not minding it. Then he said to A Xiu: "You had better cooperate with us obediently. On this bus, there are four Fourth Rank, three late Third Rank, and me, a Fifth Rank. Moreover, I am also a Space Element user. If you want to escape, you can't. Besides, your grandfather is still in our hands, understand?"

A Xiu glanced at him and then silently closed her eyes.

"Oh right, regarding why I didn't take your phone, hehe, those classmates of yours should have already followed the clues I deliberately left behind. When the time comes, I'll let you all reunite, haha!"