Upon hearing Qiao Yihong’s words, Zhang Yang finally understood the real calculations behind the Koreans’ agenda. In that case, the Japanese who came to Huaxia this time were certainly not here purely for medical exchange.

Those mere dabblers, expecting to hunt Spirit Beasts? Never mind the beasts hidden deep in the mountains and old forests; even if they encountered the Shadowless Lightning or Wind Chaser, they probably wouldn't even know how they died. Thinking of this, Zhang Yang couldn't help but utter, "Scum dare to cause trouble in Huaxia? And they dream of hunting Spirit Beasts?"

"Mr. Zhang, don't underestimate those foreigners. If they dare to come, they must have some assurance," Qiao Yihong said worriedly, seeing Zhang Yang’s nonchalance. "As far as I know, those coming from Korea this time are all young talents accomplished in medicine. Only the leader, Jin Xianchen, possesses the strength of the third layer of Inner Force; the rest are just young men at the first or second layer of Inner Force. Their only job is to locate the Spirit Beasts; the ones who will actually make a move are others."

"No need to fear. Since I now know their true purpose, I have my own countermeasures."

Zhang Yang helped Qiao Yihong up, assuring him there was no need for worry. Then, he glanced at Qiao Hu and said with a slight smile, "Let's go. I'll take you to my place and help Qiao Hu detoxify the effects of the Male-Female Grass."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang!"

Qiao Yihong couldn't help but express his gratitude to Zhang Yang again. He tugged at Qiao Hu and said, "Aren't you going to thank Uncle Zhang!"

Qiao Hu, still not grasping the full situation, only knew that the person before him had made his uncle kneel. Thus, he remained hostile toward Zhang Yang. However, seeing his uncle's instruction, he reluctantly managed a thank you.

Zhang Yang paid this no mind; Qiao Hu was just a child, and this was simply a child’s nature.

Qiao Yihong led Qiao Hu, following Zhang Yang out of the alley. The three hailed a taxi at the intersection and headed toward Zhang Yang’s villa.

On the road, Zhang Yang finally understood why Qiao Yihong had decided to help those Koreans.

Qiao Yihong’s internal cultivation technique originated from an ancestral manual of the Qiao family. The most unique aspect of this Inner Force method was its ability to allow the practitioner to conceal their aura at will, rendering them undetectable. Combined with the Face Alteration Art passed down through generations of the Qiao family, they had once enjoyed a period of brilliance hundreds of years ago.

But later, the lineage was broken, and the Qiao family gradually faded from the cultivation world’s notice. After many years of obscurity, and with fewer and fewer male descendants, by Qiao Yihong’s generation, only he and Qiao Hu’s father remained as brothers.

However, later on, because Qiao Yihong dedicated himself to cultivation, he stayed away from the city. Qiao Hu’s father, however, abandoned cultivation early, settled down in the city, married, and had children. Eventually, Qiao Hu’s father developed a severe gambling addiction, which escalated to the point where even Qiao Hu’s mother could no longer tolerate it and left in anger, disappearing without a trace.

By the time Qiao Yihong noticed, it was tragically too late.

Qiao Yihong sensed something was terribly wrong with his brother and rushed back to Changjing. But upon his return, Qiao Hu’s father, unable to bear the pressure, had already committed suicide within his own family, leaving behind Qiao Hu, who was less than ten years old.

Because of this, Qiao Yihong's cultivation came to a halt. He had to rely on his skills in face alteration and concealment, working as a private investigator doing shady business to earn commissions to support himself and Qiao Hu.

If Zhang Yang hadn't intervened in time this time, Qiao Yihong and Qiao Hu would likely have been poisoned to death by those Koreans. Qiao Yihong never would have guessed that the Korean man who approached him, Jin Xianchen, would poison Qiao Hu the very first time they met.

Thinking back now, Jin Xianchen probably intended to eliminate both Qiao Yihong and Qiao Hu after securing their cooperation. Fortunately, while assisting Jin Xianchen, Qiao Yihong managed to eavesdrop on many of his secrets.

Just as the taxi was nearing Zhang Yang's villa, Zhang Yang suddenly frowned, then waved his hand, signaling the driver to stop.

The driver halted the car, looking at Zhang Yang with confusion.

After paying the fare, Zhang Yang instructed Qiao Yihong in the back seat, "Get out."

"What is it?" Qiao Yihong asked, stepping out with Qiao Hu following Zhang Yang, looking puzzled.

They were still some distance from Zhang Yang's villa. Dusk was settling in, and there was no one around. Qiao Yihong couldn't understand why Zhang Yang had made the taxi stop here.

"Looks like someone has been waiting for me for quite a while," Zhang Yang said with a cold smile to Qiao Yihong.

"Who is waiting for us?" Qiao Yihong hadn't figured it out and looked around, seeing no one else besides the three of them.

"Not waiting for you, but waiting for me," Zhang Yang scanned his surroundings, his face filled with disdain. He stated calmly, "It seems someone has delivered themselves right to my doorstep, looking to die."

Swish!

As soon as Zhang Yang finished speaking, a flash of blade light suddenly appeared, arcing toward Zhang Yang!

A figure, faint as nothingness, inexplicably materialized beside Zhang Yang, holding a curved saber high and hacking down fiercely!

Clang!

Zhang Yang's speed was faster. In the blink of an eye for Qiao Yihong, he had already vacated his original position. The heavy saber struck the hard concrete ground with a piercing shriek.

Only then did Qiao Yihong understand what Zhang Yang meant by someone waiting for him!

Swish swish swish!

After dodging the first attack, four more ghostly, faintly transparent figures, identical to the first, appeared around Zhang Yang simultaneously. Only the large sabers they held shone brightly as they swept down horizontally!

Four blades, four directions—it perfectly sealed off any path of evasion for Zhang Yang.

Yet, Zhang Yang remained completely unmoved, letting the four heavy blades hack toward him. At this moment, Qiao Yihong, watching from the side, finally grasped the gravity of Zhang Yang's peril and broke out in a cold sweat. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed forward, intending to block one of the attackers for Zhang Yang, hoping to force a flaw in the formation of the four assailants!

Bang bang bang!

Just then, Zhang Yang spread his five fingers, transforming his fist into a palm. From between his fingers, five powerful streams of energy immediately shot out, weaving together outside his body, intercepting the four cleaving blades!

All of this happened in the flash of an eye. By the time Qiao Yihong rushed a few steps forward, Zhang Yang had already dissolved into an afterimage, effortlessly slipping free from the lock formed by the four swordsmen's attacks.

These four seemed utterly unprepared for Zhang Yang to evade so easily, and even more shocked that Zhang Yang could project energy outside his body to deflect their blades!

Qiao Yihong managed to land a punch on one of the figures, but as his fist struck the ethereal, transparent silhouette, the figure flickered, and the saber held in its hand vanished into the air.

"What—what is happening here?"

Qiao Yihong's eyes were wide open, utterly unable to believe what he was witnessing!