"Shall I take care of them?" Ning Beichen asked.
"No need, why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? My people will handle them," Zhang Xin shook her head. Ning Beichen was her biggest trump card, and she naturally couldn't waste him on these petty thugs. As expected, it wasn't long before Ning Beichen noticed that the trackers had disappeared. Clearly, Zhang Xin's people had already intercepted them.
"Miss Zhang Xin, where are we going now?" Ning Beichen, no longer paying attention to the trackers, turned to ask Zhang Xin.
"To the Zhang family's ancestral home in Pingding Mountain," Zhang Xin replied.
"Does Chen Qiao know this place?" Ning Beichen asked.
"He probably doesn't, otherwise, he would have already obtained the complete Daoyuan Heart Sutra," Zhang Xin said.
"Then it seems our journey won't be too peaceful," Ning Beichen remarked.
"Are you scared?" Zhang Xin asked him. Although she knew Ning Beichen was very strong, she had no idea how strong he truly was, and Ning Beichen wouldn't tell her. However, in her heart, Ning Beichen's strength was likely inferior to Chen Qiao's, as Chen Qiao had cultivated the Daoyuan Heart Sutra. Even though he hadn't broken through to become a Grandmaster yet, no one below that level would be Chen Qiao's opponent.
This gamble, Zhang Xin didn't know if it was right or wrong, but she was unwilling to wait any longer. If she waited, and Chen Qiao broke through to become a Grandmaster, she wouldn't be able to defeat him, even if she obtained the true Daoyuan Heart Sutra.
"Miss Zhang Xin, you don't need to test me. Since I promised to protect you, I won't go back on my word," Ning Beichen said, his gaze showing a hint of displeasure.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," Zhang Xin quickly apologized.
"We are on the same boat now. Let's have more sincerity and fewer tests. I need to rest. Call me when we arrive," Ning Beichen said, then closed his eyes to rest. If she couldn't even handle these petty thugs outside, Ning Beichen would have to reconsider whether he should continue helping.
The black commercial van drove along a forest path, and occasionally, the sounds of gunfire and explosions could be heard from the surroundings.
About two hours later, the van stopped at the foot of a mountain.
"Mr. Ning, we've arrived." Ning Beichen opened his eyes and heard Zhang Xin continue, "Mr. Ning, cars can't go up the mountain. We need to walk."
"Then let's go." Ning Beichen got out of the car, and he and Zhang Xin walked up the winding stone steps. Occasionally, they could still hear sporadic gunfire. It seemed Zhang Xin had gone all out to stop Chen Qiao this time.
"Has that Chen Qiao given up yet?" Ning Beichen asked.
"He won't give up. He probably suspects our purpose now. As long as I haven't obtained the Daoyuan Heart Sutra, he won't kill me, because he doesn't know if my father left any contingency plans," Zhang Xin told Ning Beichen.
"Then let's ignore him." Ning Beichen and Zhang Xin quickened their pace. About an hour later, they arrived at a house on the mountaintop.
The house was very old and dilapidated, with much of its outer plaster peeling off. Some parts were covered by creeping vines, and a small section had collapsed due to disrepair. However, the main structure was sound. The simple wooden door was locked with an ordinary brass lock, and the keyhole was already rusted. It wouldn't open even with a key. In fact, a key wasn't needed at all. Zhang Xin walked over and gently pushed, and the rotted wooden door collapsed with a bang.
The interior was full of dust and cobwebs, but the layout of the house could still be vaguely discerned. Seeing the familiar surroundings, Zhang Xin was instantly filled with sorrow and tears. She quietly picked up a broom and began to clean. Ning Beichen didn't disturb her but walked outside the doorway to observe.
After a while, Ning Beichen's brow furrowed. He saw over a dozen men approaching. Ning Beichen's gaze fell upon one of them. If he wasn't mistaken, this was Chen Qiao, as his cultivation was the highest among them, though he hadn't broken through to become a Grandmaster. The approaching men also looked at Ning Beichen, their eyes filled with murderous intent. Ning Beichen could discern the cultivation levels of these men, but they couldn't see Ning Beichen's cultivation. In their eyes, Ning Beichen was just an ordinary person with no cultivation. This wasn't because Ning Beichen's cultivation was higher than theirs, but because Ning Beichen possessed a secret technique that could conceal his true cultivation. As long as the opponent's cultivation was not higher than his, they couldn't discern Ning Beichen's level.
The dozen or so men walked all the way to the courtyard. At this moment, Zhang Xin, who was inside, also came out. When she saw Chen Qiao, her whole body trembled. It wasn't from fear, but from anger.
"My dear senior sister, why didn't you inform your junior brother when you returned? So that junior brother could host a welcoming feast for you." Chen Qiao looked at Zhang Xin with a smile that resembled a weasel wishing a chicken a happy New Year.
"I don't have a junior brother who would poison our master," Zhang Xin said through gritted teeth.
"Senior sister, are you misunderstanding me? How could I possibly do such a thing?" Chen Qiao naturally wouldn't admit to murdering his master, because no matter how justified he might seem, no one would accept such a deed.
"Hmph! Misunderstanding? Chen Qiao, you know what you've done. What are you doing here?" Zhang Xin suppressed the surging rage in her heart. At this moment, none of the people she had arranged had appeared, which could only mean one thing: her arrangements had been completely annihilated.
"Senior sister, why be like this? After all, I am also the master's disciple. Now that senior sister is back, I naturally have to come and see you. However, I didn't expect that the master had another ancestral home here," Chen Qiao said with a chuckle.
"Chen Qiao, my home does not welcome you. Get out!" Zhang Xin said furiously.
"Senior sister, why get so angry? After all, I am the master's disciple. The master's house is so dilapidated. How can I, as a disciple, bear it? Go and help my senior sister clean it up," Chen Qiao instructed his subordinates. His so-called cleaning was naturally to search for something, not to actually sweep the floor.
"You don't need to mind my business. Get out!" Zhang Xin's teeth gnashed. If she could defeat him, Zhang Xin would have already fought him to the death. However, Chen Qiao completely ignored Zhang Xin and waved his hand, ordering his subordinates to forcibly enter. He dared to poison his master, let alone Zhang Xin. However, these men were blocked by Ning Beichen.
"Miss Zhang Xin told you to get out. Do you not have ears?" Ning Beichen stood alone in front of the dozen or so men, speaking nonchalantly.