Chapter 122: Another Group Arrives

"Is that so!" At that moment, Lin Zhifa likely did not realize the ripple his words had just caused in Lin Hongbin’s heart.

In that instant, Lin Hongbin said to himself: Someone had taken advantage of the night to come to Jinmu Forest. His senior brother seemed to have sensed it immediately through his mystical arts and knew the intruders were not to be trifled with. Yet, despite his own formidable physical strength, he had remained completely unaware.

A wave of secret shame washed over Lin Hongbin. In the past, he had always dismissed Lin Zhifa’s chosen path as nothing more than hocus-pocus. He had stubbornly believed that, in the face of true, overwhelming power, Lin Zhifa’s methods would be shattered into pieces. This conviction had only solidified after he went abroad to Japan for further studies.

But after the battle at Wulong, and especially after his humiliating defeat by Lin Zhifa in their sparring match earlier that day, the deeply rooted beliefs in Lin Hongbin’s heart had begun to crumble. He was left in awe of Lin Zhifa’s "hocus-pocus," much like the transcendent abilities of Zhang Pu that had terrified him so deeply that he had not even dared to seize the prize from Zheng Lan.

"Master—" Another man rushed in, looking like a cornered rat, to report, "The usual methods for driving people away have been ineffective. Furthermore, these intruders are shouting that they have come tonight... tonight... specifically to capture ghosts and subdue demons..."

"Step aside," Lin Zhifa replied, waving his hand dismissively, as if everything the messenger said was entirely within his expectations.

Once again, only he and Lin Hongbin remained.

"Junior brother, would you like to go out and take a look? The people who have come tonight might be of your kind, claiming they are here to capture ghosts and subdue demons." There was a trace of a sneer in Lin Zhifa’s tone, perhaps fueled by the memory of how Lin Hongbin had once looked down on him, only to be utterly defeated in their match yesterday.

"Very well, senior brother, you wait here. I will go and deal with them!" Lin Hongbin’s thoughts, however, were entirely different. He volunteered with an eagerness that seemed almost desperate. Perhaps he hoped to vent the pent-up frustration of his defeat yesterday. Since he could not easily lash out at Lin Zhifa, he would use these intruders as his scapegoats.

Before Lin Zhifa could even respond, Lin Hongbin vanished in a flash.

"Is your nature always so impulsive?" Lin Zhifa, sitting firmly on his beast-hide armchair, muttered to the empty space where Lin Hongbin had stood, "Why not consider that those who have come this time might be your formidable adversaries?"

Unbeknownst to them, while Zhang Pu and his group were entering the foothills of the village, another group had arrived, dusty and travel-worn.

Leading them was an old acquaintance of Zhang Pu—Zheng Lan. Under the moonlight, her elegance remained undiminished; it was as if the harrowing experience at Poison Dragon Pool was merely a dream from last night, leaving no trace upon her.

"Miss, shall we find a place to stay first?" suggested a maid-like woman beside her.

"Very well. Xiao Huan, take a few people to look. This place is nothing but poor mountains and treacherous waters; there isn't even a single inn." Zheng Lan scanned the village under the night sky, her delicate brows knitting in irritation.

She immediately turned to a sturdy-looking young man from a wealthy family and said, "Young Master Luo, your father is one of the top officials in the Jinmu region. If necessary, just tell the village chief to vacate the village committee office for us."

Although, in Zheng Lan’s mind, the village committee building was barely fit for human habitation, it would at least serve to settle her people for the night. It would save them from "harassing" the villagers house by house and prevent malicious gossip about her being a pampered heiress. Besides, the homes of the impoverished villagers were, to her, even less habitable.

Zheng Lan had suffered a crushing defeat at Poison Dragon Pool. During the confrontation with Wulong, even Elder Yang, who had accompanied her from overseas, had been killed. Later, separated by a strange rain, she had nearly been abducted by Lin Hongbin, only to be saved by Zhang Pu.

Why, then, had she gathered another group and rushed here so quickly? She had arrived almost immediately after Zhang Pu’s party.

The incident at Poison Dragon Pool had been a significant blow to Zheng Lan, but she was never short of resources. The Zheng family, as wealthy overseas Chinese, held considerable influence in the interior, especially among the high-ranking officials in the Jinmu region. These officials were desperate for capital to develop the local economy, and the Zheng family was the succulent prey they craved.

Not to mention the swarm of young socialites who had previously vied for Zheng Lan’s attention, this time, the son of one of the top officials in Jinmu had come in person. This young man, Luo Binghui, was not only of higher status than the wealthy heirs who had accompanied her to Poison Dragon Pool, but his physical fitness also eclipsed them by leagues.

Luo Binghui was a skilled fighter, as his father had hired the renowned martial arts master of the region, Old Master Zhao, to be his mentor. Old Master Zhao had also come along tonight, which showed just how much the Jinmu authorities valued Zheng Lan.

As for why Zheng Lan had rushed here after her defeat, it was because she had received urgent information from the overseas Zheng family. The message stated that the value of Jinmu might even exceed that of Wulong. She was ordered to obtain samples to send back overseas for specialized research and to instruct the local officials to declare the area a restricted zone until the family reached a final decision.

When Zheng Lan first returned to Wulong Town in such a disheveled state, she had been stunned by this news. Previously, the family had focused entirely on Wulong and the "Immortal Grass," considering Jinmu insignificant. The sudden reversal, coming right after her bitter failure at Poison Dragon Pool, had left her momentarily paralyzed.

However, Zheng Lan was well-trained. Despite the suddenness, she reacted quickly, rallying a new team to rush to Jinmu, fearing that the resource might be snatched away overnight. Though she had lost many of her own people at Poison Dragon Pool, she still had others in reserve in the town. Combined with the reinforcements provided by the local officials, led by Luo Binghui, she felt ready to secure her prize.