Since everyone inside the room already knew who he was, covering his face at this time was no use. He slowly pulled down the cloth, revealing his face to the assembled crowd.
Ma Jingguo's lips curved upward, and his heart fluttered with joy as he stared at Mu Dishi; his world suddenly lit up. There were hundreds of people in the celebration yard, but Ma Jingguo could only see Mu Dishi.
Ma Jingguo smiled tenderly at Mu Dishi. He said, "I have always known that the person who came to Jinfeng Sect with Zhu Mingyang is you."
Mu Dishi did not answer.
Ma Jingguo continued, his gaze possessive. "Xiao shushu, do you miss me? I miss you every day."
Mu Dishi looked at Ma Jingguo coldly. "Remove your hand from me."
Ma Jingguo only smiled, tightening his grip. "I told you already, don't move."
Gu Tingfang stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Mu Dishi. "Are you the famous Mu Dishi that many people fear?" He took two aggressive steps. "I have met Mu Jiao Long many years ago. We fought multiple times, but I have never defeated him once. Today, if I defeat you, I will bring back my honor."
Ma Jingguo sneered, stepping between the two men. "Chief Gu, if you want to fight against my xiao shushu, you must go through me."
Gu Tingfang looked at Ma Jingguo, warning him. "Stay out of this. This has nothing to do with Jinfeng Sect."
Ma Jingguo gritted his teeth and glared angrily at Gu Tingfang. "I won't let anyone touch my Xiao Shushu. We have been apart for too long; I miss him very much, and I will not allow anyone to touch a single piece of his hair." He smiled, speaking with absolute shamelessness. "He is mine and no one else can have him."
Mu Dishi instantly blushed and looked at Ma Jingguo coldly. "Stop stalking."
Gu Tingfang saw his chance and struck at Ma Jingguo. But before the blow could land, Mu Dishi violently pushed Ma Jingguo behind him and commanded the group, "You guys leave now." Mu Dishi intercepted Gu Tingfang's attack, and the two powerful men began to fight fiercely.
Mu Dishi swiftly unsheathed Honglei and began swinging the renowned sword at Gu Tingfang. Just as their swords clashed, Wang Biming, Miao Mingzhu, and Wang Zedong flew over the wall and into the chaotic celebration yard.
Wang Zedong rushed directly toward Mu Dishi and immediately joined Gu Tingfang in the fight.
Wang Zedong looked at Cao Fengge, his voice sharp with urgency. "What are you waiting for?"
Cao Fengge feigned confusion. "What do you mean, Chief Wang?"
Wang Zedong clarified his demand for alliance. "Our four families should fight the enemy as one."
Cao Fengge then addressed Mu Dishi. "Mu Dishi, I have no intention of opposing you, but we have agreed that the three of us must help each other. Therefore, if you injure me or I injure you, there should be no hard feelings." He jumped, sending four needles straight at Mu Dishi, officially joining the fray.
Wang Zedong delivered a violent blow to Mu Dishi. Mu Dishi blocked Wang Zedong's blow with his left hand. Cao Fengge struck next, and Mu Dishi blocked him with his right hand. Gu Tingfang flew over from behind and attacked Mu Dishi. As a coordinated tag team, they assaulted Mu Dishi with one blow after another.
Then Gu Tingfang sent six silver leaves at Mu Dishi. Mu Dishi flew backward, released six golden needles, and nailed the six leaves to the ground. Wang Zedong seized the opening and hit Mu Dishi's left shoulder fiercely. Wang Zedong's blow caused Mu Dishi to slide backward directly toward Zhu Mingyang.
Zhu Mingyang, seeing his only hope under siege, looked up at Mu Dishi and said, "Mu-xiong, play your melody."
Yan Zhanjin, frantic, protested, "Mingyang, you are seriously injured, how can you fight them?"
Zhu Mingyang smiled, "It doesn't hurt when I turn."
Gu Yingjie pleaded, heartbroken at the thought of more sacrifice, "Don't fight. You guys go and leave me here."
Zhu Mingyang looked at Gu Yingjie, his devotion absolute. "You know I won't leave you behind."
Mu Dishi looked at Ma Jingguo and stretched his right hand toward Ma Jingguo's waist, looking for the famed guzheng.
Ma Jingguo held onto Mu Dishi's right hand and, ever playful, said, "Xiao shushu, if you want a hug just let me know. My arm is open to hug you anytime."
Mu Dishi replied coldly, "Scram."
Ma Jingguo sneered, "I refused."
Mu Dishi pulled his hand away decisively. "Play the flute melody," he commanded.
Ma Jingguo, seizing the moment, quipped, "I don't remember how to move my fingers. Maybe a kiss on the lips can evoke my memories."
Mu Dishi looked away, resorting to his famous dismissal. "Whatever." He rushed back into the fight, engaging Gu Tingfang and Wang Zedong simultaneously.
Gu Yingjie, seeing his chance to protect Zhu Mingyang, suddenly pushed the injured man toward Yan Zhanjin and rushed toward Wang Zedong.
Zhu Mingyang let out a grunt of pain. "Yingjie..."
Yan Zhanjin gripped him. "Mingyang, you are in pain."
Zhu Mingyang desperately tried to push Yan Zhanjin away. "Give me something for pain!"
"Mingyang, you are in no condition to fight anyone right now," Yan Zhanjin insisted.
Meanwhile, Ma Jingguo looked toward Miao Mingzhu and spotted something. He saw Mu Dishi's hairpin adorning her hair. He flew forward quickly and snatched the jade hairpin from Miao Mingzhu's hair.
Miao Mingzhu stretched out her hand, demanding, "Return my hairpin to me."
Ma Jingguo looked at her, his voice possessive. "This is the jade hairpin I gave to xiao shushu."
Miao Mingzhu revealed the painful truth of the object's exchange. "He traded it for your cure." She then began to attack Ma Jingguo.
Ma Jingguo looked at the hairpin, his conviction absolute. "What is mine will always be mine, and no one can take it away."
Mu Dishi knew that Cao Fengge was the weakest among the three leaders, so he attacked Cao Fengge with all his strength, causing Cao Fengge to slip back three feet. Cao Wenyan blocked an incoming attack meant for his father, Cao Fengge. Mu Dishi did not hit Cao Wenyan but pushed him away violently.
Mu Dishi spoke coldly to the young man. "Stay out of it."
Mu Dishi grabbed Gu Yingjie and flew backward toward Ma Jingguo. Mu Dishi pushed Gu Yingjie back toward Zhu Mingyang and Yan Zhanjin.
Ma Jingguo, holding the precious jade object, quickly tapped Mu Dishi's front chest, injecting a burst of internal energy. Mu Dishi looked at him coldly, gritting his teeth. "What are you doing?"
Ma Jingguo took out the jade hairpin and pinned it into Mu Dishi's hair. He smiled, satisfied. "There...perfect." He then looked directly at Wang Zedong and Cao Fengge, instantly shifting the focus from the fight to a high-stakes negotiation. "You two have something inside the treasure cave that you want. I have the key to the cave. Accept my offer and give me a date. I will bring you the key."
He looked specifically at Cao Fengge. "If I remember correctly, Chief Cao announced to the entire martial arts world that on the day you go to open the Mu treasure cave, you will welcome anyone who wants to go."
Cao Fengge confirmed. "That is correct."
Ma Jingguo presented his terms. "If the Wang and the Cao protect these three people, I will take xiao shushu to open the treasure cave."
Cao Fengge, seeing an opportunity he couldn't pass up, agreed. "I promise no one will touch him. We will go to open the Mu treasure cave on the fifteenth of this month. I don't care about the money that is inside the treasure cave. I allow anyone who is willing to go. I hope you don't take what belongs to me."
Ma Jingguo sealed the deal. "Alright, on the fifteenth of this month. I will meet you in Sword Village." He looked at Mu Dishi and smiled. He then effortlessly picked up Mu Dishi, and the two men flew over the wall, escaping the Gu Manor.
Gu Tingfang looked at Zhu Mingyang and Gu Yingjie with chilling coldness. "Take them back to the prison," he commanded, intending to resume their punishment.
Cao Fengge immediately intervened. "Leader Gu, I have a deal with Ma Jingguo, and no one will harm these three people."
Wang Zedong, equally invested, backed him up. "I also need the things in that cave. I won't let anyone take away this opportunity."
Cao Fengge delivered the final humiliation to Gu Tingfang. "If you still want them, I can give them to you when I enter the Mu treasure cave, but as for now they are under my protection." He smiled. "Happy birthday, we will take our leave now." He looked at his son. "Wenyan, let's go."