C25 They Left

"Break!" Niu Li commanded coolly as the wind swirling at his palm collided with the oncoming tip of the ghost nail.

A sharp, clear sound rang out as the first ghost nail rapidly shrank, red powder spinning and scattering in every direction.

In an instant, the ghost nail was reduced to nothing, leaving behind a scattering of red iron dust on the floor.

The second ghost nail followed suit, shrinking away to nothingness under the astonished stares of onlookers.

Inside the Creating Ring, the Elf's complexion was ashen. "Big brother," she cried, "the magic drain from compressing the Wind element is too much. I can't keep up."

Niu Li had already sensed the strain. The magic power expended to pulverize the ghost nails was pushing him and the Elf to their combined limits. He had wanted to maintain his expert facade, but the circumstances no longer permitted it.

With a flicker in his eyes, Niu Li acted as the third ghost nail bore down on him. The wind at his fingertips dispersed, enveloping the ghost nail and halting its rapid advance.

In that moment, Niu Li casually reached out and caught the ghost nail.

Turning to Yinggui's hiding spot, Niu Li declared, "I'll keep this ghost nail as a souvenir. Are you up for another round?"

All eyes traced Niu Li's gaze as Yinggui emerged from the shadows.

"You're incredibly strong. I couldn't even get near you. I admit defeat," Yinggui said, a true man in defeat, undaunted by the loss.

Niu Li breathed a quiet sigh of relief. While he might have managed another display of power, his reserve of magic was now spent.

"Well then, take this failure with you. If his backers seek vengeance, they know where to find me," Niu Li said, his even tone sending a shiver down the spines of those present.

"Many thanks, senior," Yinggui said with fervent respect, then hurried over to Young Master Yun. After swiftly pressing several points on his body, he hoisted him up and left the hall.

Silence pervaded the hall as everyone's eyes remained fixed on Niu Li, waiting to see what the formidable man would do next.

Niu Li tilted his head back slightly, a surge of excitement and a sense of grandeur swelling in his chest.

He was indeed becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Still, Niu Li wasn't so full of himself to believe he was unbeatable. His recent skirmish with Yinggui had relied on psychological tactics and the Elf's magic to intimidate his opponent. In a true fight, he feared he might not have the upper hand against Yinggui.

This realization made Niu Li all the more determined to harness natural energy to expedite the Elf's leveling up. As the Elf grew stronger, so would he.

"Little brother, I had no idea you were so formidable, yet you kept it a secret from me," Miss Long's frustration had completely evaporated, replaced by a mood that was exceptionally buoyant. Her face was a mix of surprise and seduction, with a tinge of sadness woven through her expression.

"Brother, don't pay her any mind," the Elf interjected.

Niu Li remained silent, unsure of what to say. The Elf was, after all, his most reliable support.

"Dear brother, are you going to leave me?" Miss Long mistook Niu Li's silence for a sign that he was about to depart, revealing his identity. A profound sense of loss welled up inside her, leaving her surprised by her own sudden surge of emotion. Her captivating eyes began to mist over.

Niu Li's headache intensified as he sensed the Elf's puffed-up eyes and hurried breathing within the ring, finding himself in quite a predicament.

"I actually do have some matters to attend to, so let's keep in touch for the future," Niu Li finally said, opting to prioritize the Elf's feelings. She was, after all, his stalwart ally.

At his words, the Elf inside the ring burst into cheers, her mood flipping from annoyance to jubilant laughter.

Miss Long paused, her gaze lingering thoughtfully on Niu Li. After a moment, she spoke softly, "If that's the case, I won't press the matter. But here, take my card. If you ever find yourself in Hong Kong, be sure to look me up. I'll make sure you're well taken care of." With that, she produced a golden business card and extended it towards Niu Li.

"What a sly fox," the Elf scoffed with even greater disdain, yet she made no move to intervene with Niu Li's actions.

Without hesitation, Niu Li accepted the object handed to him.

As he held it, Niu Li found himself at a loss for words.

The business card was indistinguishable from any other, except for its weight; the golden card felt as if it were crafted from solid gold.

The card was sparse on details, listing only a name and a phone number.

"Loong Xiaomian!"

Niu Li committed the name to memory. Grasping Loong Xiaomian's hand firmly, he promised, "Mian, I'll definitely come back to Hong Kong to see you. If anyone dares to bully you, you must let me know. I'll make sure they regret it."

"Alright, I'll be counting on you to look after me when you do," Loong Xiaomian said, her eyes crinkling with joy.

"I'm Niu Li. Make sure you remember that." With those final words, Niu Li decisively turned and strode away, not sparing a glance for anyone else in the hall.

Only after Niu Li had vanished from sight did Loong Xiaomian's smile fade. Her demeanor shifted to that of an ice queen as she turned her cold gaze upon Tang Qiu sprawled on the ground.

Tang Qiu was wracked with discomfort, clueless about what Yinggui had done to his body, leaving him completely immobilized and struggling to speak.

A young man with a devil-may-care attitude stepped in front of Tang Qiu, looking up at Loong Xiaomian with a wry smile. "Miss Long, I hope you can be forgiving."

"I haven't mentioned what I intend to do, but this visit to H City has been a letdown because of the Tang Family. The cooperation Old Master Tang spoke of is off the table. You don't have the standing to be involved in this affair," Loong Xiaomian said with a sneer before turning to leave.

"You certainly have quite the temper. Are you saying that even with my personal apology, you won't afford me any courtesy?" A robust yet aged voice called out from the entrance. An elderly man with a flowing white beard and a cane made his way inside, flanked by two venerable figures whose sharp eyes hinted at their profound abilities.

"Old Master Tang." Upon seeing the elderly man, Loong Xiaomian's icy expression melted away, and she greeted him with respect. His status was indeed prestigious, and they were renowned masters in their own right.

"Yes," Old Master Tang said with a smile, nodding his head before turning his gaze to Tang Qiu on the ground. A flicker of resignation crossed his eyes, yet he approached with measured steps.

He squatted down and gave Tang Qiu's shoulder several firm pats, reviving sensation in Tang Qiu's rigid body. There was a bit of soreness, but it no longer hindered his movement.

Tang Qiu hurried to his feet, his face flushed with embarrassment. He faced Old Master Tang, at a loss for words.

Old Master Tang let out a quiet sigh. "Unless you take the time to seriously reflect, you'll never be ready for the big leagues."

The shame deepened within Tang Qiu, yet he bit back any retort. His recent blunders left him without a defense. He had once believed that brute force was the answer to everything, but that notion had failed him. Now, having been bested in combat, he had brought shame upon the Tang Family.