Upon returning to the gully, Li Mingxi discovered that her red Ferrari and several cars from the Black Lion Sect had been reduced to ashes.
The gully bore the scorched marks of a fierce battle, interspersed with accumulated rainwater. As for the bodies of the Black Lion Sect disciples that Cheng Xiaofan had annihilated, they had been incinerated by energy fire, leaving not even a speck of residue.
"What happened here?" Li Mingxi asked, her face a mask of shock.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled faintly and replied, "These are the traces left by my battle with Yin Tiejiu. Doesn't it look fun?"
"...Fun?"
Li Mingxi dared not imagine the brutal and intense scene when Cheng Xiaofan clashed with Yin Tiejiu, the sect leader of the Black Lion Sect.
Gazing at the ruined vehicles, she couldn't help but let out a wry smile. "How are we supposed to get back?"
Cheng Xiaofan led Li Mingxi up a hillside and said with a smile, "There's a top-tier Hummer SUV here. We can take this."
Li Mingxi followed his gaze and indeed saw a premium Hummer SUV parked nearby.
This vehicle belonged to Yin Tiejiu. When Yin Tiejiu unleashed his energy fire to incinerate the gully, Cheng Xiaofan happened to be near this Hummer. He found the vehicle to be quite good and, deeming it a waste to let it burn, kicked it out of the gully. Fortunately, Cheng Xiaofan's kick had the right amount of force; had it been too strong, he would have destroyed the car with a single blow.
"This car is really nice, still brand new. It looks like it was just acquired. It probably cost tens of millions," Li Mingxi remarked.
Cheng Xiaofan said, "Trading a Ferrari for a top-tier Hummer SUV, you've made a huge profit!"
"Was that Ferrari yours, or did it belong to the Jianghu Affairs Bureau?"
Li Mingxi replied, "It was mine!"
Cheng Xiaofan immediately said, "Take a couple of photos of the Ferrari with your phone. I'll vouch for you with Old Lu, and you might even get some compensation!"
Li Mingxi smiled and said, "With this excellent SUV, let's just forget about the Ferrari!"
Hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan sighed inwardly. She was indeed from a wealthy family, having never experienced hardship. Regardless, that was still money! He had originally intended to give this beautiful disciple a serious lecture. Then, he reconsidered. It was her Ferrari, and she didn't care about it. Why should he worry unnecessarily?
Getting into the car, Cheng Xiaofan said, "Let's go!"
As the car started, he couldn't help but glance out the window. The sun was just setting behind the western mountain peak, looking as though it would fall at any moment. The sun set early in the mountains, and nightfall came quickly.
Cheng Xiaofan still felt a sense of dissatisfaction with this trip to Yuyan Mountain. Although he had successfully obtained the pair of bone claws this time, they were rightfully his, something he deserved. He had spent four hundred and ten billion, and then recovered it from the Black Lion Sect, effectively losing nothing and gaining nothing. It was a pity that his beautiful disciple had revealed the information too late; otherwise, he could have at least extorted another one or two hundred billion from the Jianghu Affairs Bureau.
Forget it! He still wasn't sure what the Jianghu Affairs Bureau's true intentions were in helping him. It was best not to accept money that came without proper explanation. As a descendant of Shennong, if he wished, he could find opportunities everywhere, like finding gold on the ground.
With this thought, a self-comforting smile appeared on Cheng Xiaofan's face.
"Master, what good thing are you thinking about that makes you smile so grandly?" Li Mingxi asked with a flirtatious wink, her curiosity piqued.
"...Can this smile really be described as grand?" he wondered. "What a large face one must have!"
Cheng Xiaofan rubbed his face with his hands and chuckled nervously, saying, "Nothing much, I was just thinking about seeing my goddess Bai immediately upon returning, and I couldn't help but smile!"
Li Mingxi pouted and said, "Master, didn't you just leave this morning? Are you already missing your martial wife so much?"
"What do you know, little brat? This is what they mean by 'a day apart feels like three autumns!'"
Li Mingxi immediately chimed in, "Master, you are truly a person who values loyalty and righteousness!"
As they spoke, the car had already driven into C City, and by this time, it was already dark.
"Master, let's eat something here and rest for the night before setting off tomorrow!" Li Mingxi said, pulling the car up to a hotel.
Cheng Xiaofan shook his head and said, "Mingxi, let's part ways here. Po Tianying and I need to rush back tonight."
Li Mingxi quickly asked, "If you and Po Tianying rush back, what about me?"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "That's easy. You can drive back tonight; if you don't want to drive at night, you can stay here for the night and return tomorrow."
Li Mingxi said, "That won't do, I'm scared!"
Cheng Xiaofan paused and asked, "What are you afraid of?"
Li Mingxi patted the car and said, "Master, you're asking the obvious. This car belongs to the Black Lion Sect. What if there are members of the Black Lion Sect here who recognize it? Will they let me go?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan couldn't help but laugh heartily. "All the men Yin Tiejiu brought were annihilated by me in that gully. How could there be any Black Lion Sect members here?"
Li Mingxi said, "What if Yin Tiejiu arranged for some Black Lion Sect members here as backup?"
"Whether there are or not, we have to be cautious!"
Li Mingxi's words gave Cheng Xiaofan pause. He scratched his head. Some things were better safe than sorry. If Yin Tiejiu had indeed left some men in C City, and they happened to spot this car, the situation could indeed be perilous.
"What do you plan to do?" Cheng Xiaofan asked.
"Master, you should stay in C City and spend the night with me. You can leave early tomorrow morning." Li Mingxi's eyes lit up at the prospect and she said animatedly, "And tomorrow, during the day, no one would dare to touch me with my status!"
Her reasoning didn't seem flawed. After all, Po Tianying's flight speed was practically light speed. He could fly back to Zhuxi Village early tomorrow and still make it in time for breakfast.
With that thought, Cheng Xiaofan nodded and said, "Alright, I'll do as you say!"
Li Mingxi parked the car and, after getting out, said, "Let's stay at this hotel. However, for my safety, you must share a room with me."
Cheng Xiaofan looked somewhat embarrassed and said, "Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Li Mingxi pouted and said, "Master, what's inappropriate about it? I, your disciple, don't mind. What are you, a grown man, afraid of?"
"...Cheng Xiaofan was speechless. It's precisely because you don't mind that I do! What if... Forget it, let's not dwell on 'what ifs.'"
Cheng Xiaofan bit the bullet and nodded. "Fine, I agree!"
Upon entering the hotel, they first booked a room. As the attendant handed the key to Cheng Xiaofan and they walked away, a young woman with an extraordinary aura approached and happened to spot Cheng Xiaofan and Li Mingxi from the side. Her face darkened as she asked the attendant, "Did that young couple just book a room at our hotel?"
The attendant nodded and said, "Yes, they booked one room together. The man's name is Cheng Xiaofan, and the woman's name is Li Mingxi!"
Upon hearing this, the beautiful woman with an extraordinary aura's expression grew even more grim.