454: Chapter 98 Zhuge Qing Knows When to Retreat

Just as Meng Li looked towards the approaching figures in the distance, Xiao Zizai recovered, jumped out of the pit, and arrived in front of Meng Li.

"Dr. Meng, thank you."

Meng Li waved his hand: "No need to be polite, just remember to transfer the money."

Xiao Zizai was slightly stunned, then smiled and nodded.

Although being beaten up and then having to pay someone felt strange, Meng Li had indeed helped him resolve his affliction this time.

Xiao Zizai felt a sense of peace and tranquility in his heart, and he had a premonition that, barring any surprises, he wouldn't suffer an attack for quite some time.

At this moment, he also noticed people approaching in the distance.

As the distance closed, Meng Li and the others clearly saw and recognized the people arriving.

There were two groups approaching. One group consisted of only two people, whom almost everyone present recognized—Zhuge Qing and Wang Ye!

The other group comprised men, women, old, and young. Meng Li only recognized one among them—Tang Wenlong.

Combining this with the previous news, this group should be members of the Tang Clan.

"Old Wang, Old Qing, long time no see." After recognizing Zhuge Qing and Wang Ye, Zhang Chulan waved to them and greeted them with a smile.

Wang Ye and Zhuge Qing returned the greeting, then greeted Meng Li, Lu Jin, Feng Zheng Hao, and the others.

Subsequently, Lu Jin looked towards the leader of the Tang Clan group, a hint of recollection flashing in his eyes.

It was a small, thin old man with a buzz cut, dressed in black clothes, black pants, and black cloth shoes. His expression was stern, and his gaze sharp, clearly indicating he was not easy to deal with.

A moment later, Lu Jin spoke with a smile: "Brother Zhang Wang, it has been many years. How have you been?"

Zhang Wang clasped his fists together, a slight smile on his face: "Brother Lu, it has indeed been a long time."

Zhang Wang was the junior martial brother of the current Tang Clan Head, Tang Miaoxing, and the Director of the Political Education Department at the Tang Clan Martial Arts School, responsible for managing the Tang Clan's Outer Gate affairs.

Then, Lu Jin asked: "Brother Zhang, what brings you here?"

Zhang Wang replied: "We heard that the successor of the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements has issued a challenge here using the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements to all the Extraordinary People (Yi Ren), with some matches being life-and-death duels. My Senior Brother and I discussed it and decided to bring a few younger members of the clan who lack experience to see the world."

Lu Jin immediately understood.

What Zhang Wang referred to as "seeing the world" likely meant witnessing slaughter.

The Tang Clan was a school specializing in assassination, and most of its Disciples were assassins.

And a qualified assassin must see blood and be stained with blood.

However, the Tang Clan had a rule: unless accepting a mission, they were not to kill easily. Furthermore, to maintain its independence and mystery, the Tang Clan rarely associated with other organizations, including Everywhere Connect, except for missions.

In short, they only wanted to work as killers and avoid all other trivial matters.

But this was an era of peace. Although the Yi Ren circle was still dominated by fighting, due to a lack of channels or other restrictions, almost no one hired assassins.

Therefore, even if the younger generation of the Tang Clan had mastered their skills, it was difficult for them to become qualified assassins.

The Tang Clan itself was even forced to transform and establish a martial arts school.

After all, no matter how much one loved their profession, people still needed to eat.

However, the tradition of the Tang Clan cultivating assassins remained; the younger generation who mastered their skills still needed to see blood.

Since no one hired them, they had to find opportunities to gain experience themselves.

Coincidentally, when the news of Meng Li using the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements to issue a challenge reached the Tang Clan, Zhang Wang, Tang Miaoxing, and Tang Qiushan conspired, and had Zhang Wang bring over several accomplished Disciples.

It was just that...

"It seems we arrived late."

Zhang Wang glanced around, noticed the corpses of Tu Junfang and the Six Thieves, and showed a slight regret.

Lu Jin stroked his beard: "Indeed, you are late."

"The most exciting battles have already concluded..."

Saying this, he paused briefly and pointed at Meng Li: "This is Dr. Meng Li, the one who initiated this challenge using the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements. Not long ago, he knocked down Ding Shanan, one of the two magnates, with a single slap. It's highly unlikely any more fools will come here looking to die."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wang's group, Zhuge Qing, and Wang Ye were all startled.

Knocked down Ding Shanan, one of the two magnates, with a single slap?

"Old Master Lu, are you sure? Dr. Meng knocked down Ding Shanan, one of the two magnates, with one slap?" Wang Ye exclaimed in surprise and doubt.

Lu Jin said: "Of course I'm not mistaken. Chairman Feng, Xu Si, Zhang Chulan, and the others all witnessed it."

Zhang Chulan immediately responded: "That's right, we all saw it with our own eyes."

Wang Ye instantly turned to Zhuge Qing beside him, grabbed him regardless of his slightly changed expression, and said with a grin: "Old Qing, didn't you say..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhuge Qing reached out to cover his mouth.

However, Wang Ye had anticipated this and easily dodged, continuing: "Didn't you say you felt unsatisfied with your loss when you sparred with Dr. Meng in Biyou Village last time, and you wanted to formally challenge him again?"

"Come on, hurry up."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Chulan and the others immediately looked towards Zhuge Qing.

Zhuge Qing sighed, cupped his hands towards Meng Li, and said: "Zhuge Qing of the Wuhou Sect requests a match."

Meng Li looked at Zhuge Qing and stroked his chin thoughtfully: "Even knowing that Ding Shanan was no match for me, you still choose to issue a challenge."

"You want to verify something with me, right?"

Zhuge Qing nodded: "I have inherited the final techniques of the Wuhou Sect. I am here to verify how much I have improved. Furthermore, an elder in my family heard about the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements and is quite interested, so he asked me to make this trip."

"I see," Meng Li suddenly realized, then said: "Since the purpose of your challenge includes the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements, you must choose one of two options."

"First, we stop when we reach a certain point. If you lose, you give me a technique that interests me. If I lose, I give you the Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements."

"Second, a life-and-death duel. We settle both skill and life here."

"This..." Zhuge Qing showed a troubled expression.

The second option was clearly impossible. If even Ding Shanan, one of the two magnates, couldn't defeat Meng Li, challenging him to a life-and-death duel was tantamount to seeking death.

As for the first option...

"May I ask which technique of my Wuhou Sect interests Dr. Meng?" Zhuge Qing asked.

"Samadhi True Fire," Meng Li stated frankly.

Zhuge Qing's expression froze, then he resolutely refused: "Then let's forget it."

Upon hearing this, Meng Li was not surprised.

Samadhi True Fire was the supreme ultimate skill of the Wuhou Sect. It was hard to say whether it was stronger or weaker than the Eight Peculiar Skills. But trading this ancestral ultimate skill for a challenge opportunity that he was certain to lose was clearly not worth it; Zhuge Qing would have to be insane to agree.

Meng Li proposing Samadhi True Fire as the condition was not meant to make things difficult for Zhuge Qing; it was simply that this was the only thing about the Wuhou Sect that interested him.

Seeing Zhuge Qing retreat in the face of difficulty, Wang Ye felt a slight regret.

Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Meng Li and said: "Dr. Meng, my body has been acting strangely recently. Could you help me take a look?"

"I can."

Meng Li agreed and took Wang Ye aside for an examination.

A moment later, Meng Li finished the check-up and frowned slightly.

Wang Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked: "Dr. Meng, is the situation very serious?..."