I Have the Martial Arts Heavenly Eye in the Storm Riders

"My God, how can I run into you in a godforsaken place like this!"

Wu Er grabbed Huai Kong's arm, looked him up and down, then glanced at Luo Xian beside him, and winked at him, saying:

"Oh, you brought your sister-in-law along?"

Luo Xian blushed.

Huai Kong helplessly slapped his hand away:

"Let's get down to business. What are you doing here all alone?"

Wu Er sighed, not answering directly, but instead looking around:

"Let's find somewhere to talk first; it's not convenient to discuss this outside."

The three of them found an abandoned hunter's hut nearby, gathered some dry firewood, started a fire, and sat around it to keep warm.

Wu Er rubbed his hands together and approached the fire. After hesitating for a while, he finally lowered his voice and spoke:

"Huaikong, do you know what Iron Lion Man has become now?"

Huai Kong didn't reply, but just glanced at him.

Wu Er then continued speaking to himself:

"Ever since the old lord passed away, he's gone completely mad."

"His temperament changed drastically; he became ruthless in his attacks, and his martial arts skills improved by leaps and bounds."

"He swept through most of the forces in the north with swift and decisive action. Sects that were originally unwilling to submit to Iron Lion Fortress were either beaten into submission or crushed."

"Now, almost the entire far north is under the control of Iron Lion Fortress."

At this point, Wu Er lowered his voice:

"He's been looking for you, sending people everywhere to inquire about your whereabouts."

"He said... he would personally tear you to pieces to avenge the murder of his father."

Huai Kong fell silent.

He didn't reply, he just stared at the fire.

Luo Xian had never seen him with this expression before—

It wasn't anger, it wasn't fear, it was a deep sorrow etched into my bones.

The death of the old lord of Iron Lion Fortress was a thorn in his side.

Luo Xian quietly reached out and grasped his cold fingers, without saying a word.

"Can't you just tell him the truth?" Wu Er couldn't hold back any longer.

"The old lord died of his own accord, you didn't kill him, so why are you taking the blame?"

"No need," Huai Kong waved his hand, his tone unusually calm.

"Hatred is also a kind of power." He said slowly, as if trying to convince himself.

"If he becomes stronger because he hates me, it will fulfill the old lord's good intentions back then."

Wu Er opened his mouth, wanting to say "You're really something," but after looking at Huai Kong's expression, he swallowed his words.

He had known Huai Kong for so many years and knew that once a man made a decision, nothing could change his mind.

Just then—

The wind and snow outside suddenly changed.

It didn't get smaller, it just got weirder.

The previously chaotic howling wind suddenly stopped, as if an invisible hand had gripped the wind's throat, and a strong, pungent, fishy smell filled the air.

Huai Kong's pupils contracted, and his hand was already on the weapon at his waist—killing intent.

"roar--!!"

A deafening roar suddenly exploded out, the sound waves were deep and powerful yet extremely violent, a sound that no human could possibly make!

The sound wave, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, swept in, causing the snow on the roof to fall in a flurry, the walls made of rotten wood to tremble violently, and the whole wooden house to emit a teeth-grinding "creak" sound, as if it would completely fall apart at any moment.

"not good!"

Huai Kong's expression changed drastically. He grabbed Luo Xian and was about to get up—

"Snap—!"

A colossal lion's head, accompanied by a stench that filled the air, smashed through the wooden wall!

Splinters of wood flew everywhere, the lion's mouth opened wide, its sharp teeth like knives, and it lunged straight at the three people inside the house!

"Be careful!"

Huai Kong wrapped his right arm around Luo Xian's waist, kicked off with his left foot, and darted to the side, barely avoiding the beast's maw.

Wu Er reacted just as quickly—without even standing up, he rolled on the spot, slipping past the giant lion's claws like a slippery eel, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Boom—!"

The hunting lodge, now without support, collapsed under the lion's rampage. The wooden beams snapped, and rubble flew everywhere, turning the entire lodge into ruins in an instant.

The three staggered out of the rubble, but before they could even catch their breath, they found themselves trapped.

Amidst the wind and snow, dozens of figures holding torches surrounded the ruins.

Flames shot into the sky in the night, illuminating the surrounding snow-covered ground as if it were daytime, and even the falling snowflakes were burned to an orange-red color.

A chilling sense of oppression permeated the air.

The leader was riding atop a gigantic male lion of terrifying size.

The mount's fur stood on end like steel needles, and it roared, its breath condensing into a cloud of white mist in the cold air.

The man on the lion's back—his golden hair danced wildly in the night wind, his eyes were bloodshot, and his violent and malevolent aura was so thick that it almost solidified.

"Huai Kong!!" The Iron Lion Man, perched atop his lion's back, looked down at Huai Kong amidst the ruins, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse as if squeezed out from between his teeth, "The blood debt for my father's murder will be repaid today!!"

Huai Kong stood protecting Luo Xian amidst the ruins, his gaze sweeping around—a circle of torches surrounded them, numbering at least thirty or forty, all fully armed.

His face betrayed no panic, but his mind raced: this place was extremely remote; apart from Wu Er, no one knew their whereabouts. How could Iron Lion Man have arrived so quickly?

"Could it be..." Huai Kong suddenly turned his head, his gaze like a knife shooting towards Wu Er.

Wu Er stood not far away, neither dodging nor panicking. A cold smile played on his lips, his composure chilling.

"Wu Er, you—"

Before he could finish speaking, Wu Er stopped moving.

He flashed forward, moving so fast that Huai Kong had no time to react. In an instant, he was behind Luo Xian, and a thin, eagle-claw-like hand gripped Luo Xian's throat tightly!

"Brother Huai!" Luo Xian exclaimed in surprise, her face turning deathly pale.

"Let go!!" Huai Kong's eyes widened in fury, and he surged with inner energy—

However, the moment he began to circulate his true energy, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his dantian! His internal energy was drained away like a flood bursting its banks, and his limbs instantly became weak and powerless, making it impossible for him to even stand.

"This is..." Huai Kong staggered back two steps, his face full of horror.

"Hehe, sorry about that." Wu Er chuckled sinisterly, "'The feeling of being poisoned by the bone-softening powder' wasn't pleasant, was it?"

"Wu Er!! You—" Huai Kong was furious beyond measure, never expecting that this brother who had gone through life and death with him, who had shared hardships with him, would actually turn against him in secret. "Why?!"

Wu Er didn't avoid his gaze, and even sighed.

"Don't blame me, Huai Kong." His tone even carried a hint of sincerity. "The three branches in the North will be transformed, and the unique sect will rise to power. How can I refuse such a price?"

"Just for this?!" Huai Kong gritted his teeth. "The bond we built together, facing death together, is only worth 30% of the gang's strength?!"

Wu Er was silent for a moment, then smiled. There was guilt in his smile, but more so, resignation.

"Friendship is friendship, business is business. Huai Kong, you're a good person, but unfortunately, good people are worthless in this world."

"mean!!"

This angry shout wasn't from Huai Kong.

It's Iron Lion Man.

The man with the iron lion's face contorted with rage as he pointed at Wu Er and cursed, "You bastard! Who told you to poison him?! I want a fair fight! Your underhanded tactics disgust me!"

Wu Er's face stiffened, and just as he was about to explain, another person walked in through the wind and snow.

Wearing a silver fox fur coat, with a cold and beautiful face and a sharp temperament—Silver Ice, Iron Lion Man's fiancée.

She didn't even glance at the furious Iron Lion Man, and said coldly, "Those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles. As long as Huai Kong is killed, who cares about the methods?"

After speaking, he turned to Wu Er and nodded slightly: "Well done. The Northern Three Branches will be honored after the matter is completed."

"Thank you, Madam!" Wu Er beamed.

"You—!!" The Iron Lion Man trembled with rage, pointing at Silver Ice and roaring, "You slut! How dare you make such a deal behind my back?! I refuse to associate with such despicable people!!"

After saying that, he didn't even glance at Huai Kong, abruptly turned the lion's head around, kicked away the men blocking his way, and rode away on the lion.

The men looked at each other, unsure whether to pursue or keep them.

Yin Bing watched the Iron Lion Man's departing figure, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. She then waved her hand and said, "Ignore him, take down Huai Kong."

"Wu Er! You traitor who betrayed your friend for personal gain! You deserve a terrible death!"

Luo Xian was being choked and could barely breathe, but she still kept cursing.

"Shut up!" The hand tightened on Luo Xian's body, and she immediately had difficulty breathing, her face turning red.

Huai Kong saw this and was anxious. He mustered his strength and prepared to rush forward and fight to the death.

"Bang!"

He was hit hard on the back of the head.

Everything went black before my eyes, my body went limp and I collapsed, my consciousness receding like the tide.

In the end, all that was left was the swirling snow and Wu Er's twisted, smug face.

Darkness swallowed everything.

"Huai Kong...take good care of Bai Ling for me..."

A bloodstained hand gripped Huai Kong's arm tightly.

The eldest brother was deathly pale, barely breathing, his eyes filled with pleading and reluctance.

"Big brother!!" Huai Kong roared in grief.

A woman in white, her face streaked with tears, sobbed uncontrollably.

"Brother Huai, do you... dislike Bai Ling?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Huai Kong waved his hands frantically.

"If you don't mind, why hesitate? Why won't you take me with you?" The woman asked tearfully, pressing closer with each step.

"I……"

Huai Kong felt a tightness in his chest, a thousand words stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single syllable.

"You just despise me! You don't care about me at all!" The woman covered her face and cried bitterly, then turned and left.

"No! Bai Ling! Don't go!" Huai Kong suddenly reached out to grab her, shouting hoarsely.

"Bai Ling! I love you! I always have!!"

"Splash—!"

A bucket of ice water was poured over her head, shattering her beautiful dream in an instant.

Huai Kong suddenly woke up, gasping for breath, cold sweat mixed with ice water streaming down his face.

Where are the beauties?

All that was before me was a gloomy, damp prison cell, reeking of decay, with flickering ghostly shadows cast by dim torches on the walls.

"woke up?"

A mocking voice came from the shadows.

Huai Kong struggled to lift his head and, through the blurry mist, could see the person in front of him.

Wu Er stood outside the prison door with his arms crossed, looking smug.

Several henchmen beside him held sharp blades and looked fierce.

However—what truly made Huai Kong's pupils shrink was the woman standing beside Wu Er.

Dressed in white, her features were as pure and beautiful as snow.

It was none other than the person who haunted his dreams.