"Zong Rui, you reckless little punk! What’re you doing out in this godforsaken place? It was a real pain in the ass to find you. I was wandering around so much I got dizzy. So annoying."

In an overgrown, wild grove next to the film crew’s campsite, the Sect Leader of the Mad Blade Sect, Ma Nanshan, scolded Zong Rui.

The Director and Li Ran, among others, were gaping in shock. Is this what a legendary Martial Artist looks like? He has a shaved head, a bushy beard, one eye, and a scarred face. Towering at nearly two meters tall, he has the build of a bear and carries a thick-bladed broadsword on his shoulder. He speaks with a heavy Northern Territory accent. He’s clearly just a bandit!

Except for Ye Lin’er, Chen Yang, and Zong Rui, this was the first time the rest of the crew had laid eyes on a Martial Artist. Ma Nanshan’s presence instantly shattered the image of Martial Artists they had always imagined.

Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu thought to themselves, They’re both Martial Artists, but the difference between Ma Nanshan and ’Master’ is just too vast.

They had already accepted Ye Xiu as their Master.

"Heh, I’m shooting a reality show here," Zong Rui said with an awkward grin before adding respectfully, "Nephew pays his respects to Uncle Ma."

Ma Nanshan waved his hand dismissively. "Cut the crap. You just jabber on all day about nonsense instead of handling real business. Now, hurry up! Where’s the little bastard I’m supposed to beat up?"

"The one who bullied me is her bodyguard. His name is..." Zong Rui began, pointing a finger at Ye Lin’er before realizing he still didn’t know Ye Xiu’s name.

"Where is he?" Ma Nanshan asked as he stepped toward Ye Lin’er, his one eye glaring. A violent wave of Evil Qi burst from his body. Ye Lin’er’s pretty face instantly paled, as if she were under immense pressure.

At the sight of this, Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu immediately stepped in front of Ye Lin’er.

Chen Yang said in a deep voice, "I have already informed him. He’ll be here soon."

"Was I talking to you?" Ma Nanshan glared at Chen Yang before turning his fierce gaze to the three men standing before Ye Lin’er. "What do you think you’re doing? Standing there looking for a beating?"

Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu remained steadfast in front of Ye Lin’er. Although they were scared to death, they knew this was the perfect opportunity to prove themselves. As long as they protected Ye Lin’er and held out until Ye Xiu arrived, he might see their loyalty and take them on as disciples.

Zhang San braced himself and said, "The man you’re looking for is my Master. This has nothing to do with Ye Lin’er."

Li Si added, "Zong Rui and his cronies have always had it out for my Master. They framed him and even had dozens of bodyguards and security personnel attack him. As a Martial Artist, surely you can distinguish right from wrong?"

Wang Wu continued, "My Master put past grievances aside to treat Zong Rui and the others for their bruises, yet he brought you here to attack my Master. This is clearly repaying kindness with ingratitude."

Hearing the three reveal the truth, the Director and Li Ran grew nervous, genuinely worried that Ma Nanshan might refuse to help Zong Rui after learning the facts. Zong Rui, however, wasn’t worried at all. He knew exactly what kind of person Ma Nanshan was.

Ma Nanshan glared at Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu with his single eye and swore impatiently.

This guy is completely unreasonable... Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu frowned, yet they stood their ground, protecting Ye Lin’er without flinching.

With a do-or-die expression, Zhang San declared, "You won’t lay a finger on Ye Lin’er unless the three of us are dead."

"Courting death!"

Enraged, Ma Nanshan raised his hand and sent Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu flying sideways with three slaps. They crashed into trees, dazed and unable to stand back up.

Seeing this, a cold glint flashed in Chen Yang’s eyes as she clenched her fists. If Ma Nanshan made a move on Ye Lin’er before Ye Xiu arrived, she would have no choice but to intervene. Meanwhile, Zong Rui, the Director, and Li Ran were stunned by Ma Nanshan’s strength. With three casual slaps, he had sent three bodyguards flying. He was truly worthy of being called a Martial Artist—so powerful!

"Ye Lin’er?" Ma Nanshan walked up to her, holding his great broadsword, its tip lifting her chin.

Witnessing this, Chen Yang’s expression hardened. "Ma Nanshan, Huang Quan declared atop Unparalleled Mountain that he would be ruthless to anyone who dared to bully and humiliate ordinary people. You attacked three bodyguards and are now threatening Ye Lin’er. Are you not afraid of Huang Quan’s Butcher’s Knife?"

Zong Rui and the others were startled; they had no idea about Huang Quan’s warning to all the martial artists within the Wanjin Mountains.

"Hahahaha..." Ma Nanshan roared with laughter, completely unconcerned. "The Wanjin Mountains are so vast," he scoffed, speaking in Mandarin now instead of his Northern Territory dialect. "How would Huang Quan ever know if a few people died in some forgotten corner?"

He’s courting death... Chen Yang’s killing intent flared. For daring to defy Huang Quan’s command, Ma Nanshan had to die.

"All of you..." Ma Nanshan pointed his sword at everyone in the film crew. "If anyone dares to speak of what happened here today, this will be the fate of their entire family."

With that, he swung his blade casually. Instantly, a tree as thick as a thigh, five meters away, was severed at its trunk.

HISS!

Everyone in the film crew, aside from Ye Lin’er and Chen Yang, gasped in shock.

My God! You really can’t judge a book by its cover. This guy is a real Martial Artist, felling a tree that thick from so far away with a single swing.

Lying on the ground in the distance, Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu had been hoping Ye Xiu would arrive to avenge them. But after witnessing that strike, they suddenly realized Ye Xiu was very likely no match for Ma Nanshan.

"Uncle Ma, rest assured, no one will speak of today’s events. I’ll keep an eye on them for you," Zong Rui promised, thumping his chest. "Just... Uncle Ma, can you wait until I’ve had my fun with Ye Lin’er before you kill her?"

These words made everyone in the film crew’s skin crawl. They never knew Zong Rui was such a depraved monster.

Ye Lin’er and Chen Yang exchanged a look. They knew Zong Rui’s life was about to come to an end.

Ma Nanshan thought for a moment. "I’ll chop those three bodyguards into pieces first. You’d better hurry up!" With that, he started walking toward Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu.

The Mad Blade Sect had never been a righteous sect. It was an evil one, notorious within the Xuanse Ancient Martial Circle. Its leader, Ma Nanshan, was especially known as a sadistic killer who took pleasure in disemboweling people and torturing them to death. Right now, he was far more interested in torturing Zhang San, Li Si, and Wang Wu to death than in simply killing Ye Lin’er.

"Alrighty!" Zong Rui rubbed his hands together and walked lecherously toward Ye Lin’er. "I’ve wanted to have you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. I never expected to finally get my wish after so many twists and turns. Come on, should we find a private spot, or should we do it right here, in front of everyone?"

The eyes of Li Ran and the Director lit up. They hoped Zong Rui and Ye Lin’er would do it right there so they could watch a real-life blockbuster.

"I’m sorry, but it looks like you’re going to be disappointed!"

Ye Lin’er suddenly looked into the distance and began to laugh. It was a sweet smile, though her beautiful eyes glistened with tears. At that moment, her heart was filled with emotion. Every single time she was in danger, her big brother always appeared.

"What do you mean?" Zong Rui asked, taken aback.

Li Ran and the others were also baffled. They couldn’t understand why Ye Lin’er would suddenly start laughing so happily at a time like this.

"Look behind you!" Chen Yang prompted.