A Weapon in Hand, Murderous Intent Arose!

Without sparing the scarred man on the ground another glance, Chen Yan walked to the side, picked up the money pouch, helped the woman who had long been frightened senseless to her feet, and placed the pouch back in her hand.

"Your money pouch. It has now been returned to its rightful owner."

Only when the pouch landed in her hands did the woman seem to wake from a dream. She clutched it tightly in both hands and kept bowing in thanks.

"Thank you... thank you..."

Chen Yan smiled, then turned around. His smile vanished as he expressionlessly nudged the scarred man lying on the ground with his foot.

"Lead the way."

The scarred man trembled as he crawled up from the ground, his face deathly pale. Clutching his broken hand, he lowered his head and did not dare look at the young man before him.

Carrying the Guangong Statue on his back and taking the Yellow Paper and cinnabar, the two had not yet left the alley when they heard the woman shout from behind them.

"B-Be careful!!"

Chen Yan did not turn back. He merely raised a hand in a wave, his voice echoing by the woman's ear.

"After tonight, there will be no more Blood Wolf Gang in Shanxi."

The woman stood there blankly, staring foolishly at the young man's lean yet mountain-like, towering back. At some point, tears had already streamed down her face.

Since ancient times, all manner of underground organizations that used violence to obtain money had existed among the people.

In ancient times, they were called fighting houses. Later, they gradually developed into gangs and alliances.

They flaunted their brutality and savagery, bullied men and women, robbed, extorted, coerced, blackmailed, trafficked people, gambled... committing every conceivable evil.

Especially in the Martial Dynasty, some gangs even had Blood-Changing Martial Artists among their members. They secretly controlled all underground activities and feared not even the authorities.

The Blood Wolf Gang was precisely such an existence in Shanxi Town.

By the time Chen Yan followed the scarred man out of the alley, the sun had completely set and night had fallen.

Led by the scarred man, Chen Yan arrived in the most "prosperous" part of Shanxi Town.

If the shantytown was Shanxi Town's refugee camp, then this place was its gathering ground of gaudy lights and decadent pleasures.

All kinds of gambling dens, entertainment houses, and brothels operated here. Drunks, reeking of alcohol and staggering on unsteady feet, could be seen on the streets at any moment.

From time to time, Thugs dressed in short, fitted martial attire loitered at street corners and alley mouths, sweeping their malicious gazes over passing pedestrians in search of fat sheep to prey upon.

Half an incense stick later, Chen Yan and the scarred man stopped before a restaurant.

Inside, all sorts of burly men bared their chests and arms. The place buzzed with voices as cups were raised and exchanged.

Two Thugs stood guard at the entrance. When they saw the scarred man, they could not help but freeze.

"Sixth Brother?"

But they quickly noticed that something was wrong with the scarred man's complexion, especially his left hand, which was bent at a bizarre angle. Then they looked at the calm-faced youth behind him, and vicious light immediately flashed in their eyes.

"Kid, you..."

Before the words had even left his mouth, a blur flashed before his eyes. The next second, pain exploded in his chest, and his whole body flew into the air, hurtling backward into the restaurant hall.

Crash!

Tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks were smashed to pieces along with him, soup splashing across the floor.

At once, the Blood Wolf Gang members throughout the hall exploded into uproar, curses rising everywhere.

"Fuck your mother! Who ate a bear's heart and a leopard's gall to dare cause trouble at the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters?!"

"Where did this little bastard come from?!"

"Kill him!!!"

Everyone looked toward the entrance. A youth stood in the doorway, holding the scarred man suspended in midair with one hand gripping his throat. His calm eyes swept over the people in the hall.

"Who is Bloody-Eyed Wolf Pang Heng?"

"Bold indeed!! You dare call the gang leader by name!!!"

"You little bastard! Put Sixth Brother down, or don't dream of leaving here alive!!"

Facing the vicious, threatening expressions throughout the hall, Chen Yan nodded calmly.

Then his fingers tightened.

"Stop!!!"

"Put Sixth Brother down!!!"

"Wait!"

Yet all they heard was a crisp crack.

Crack—

The scarred man's eyes bulged abruptly, shot through with blood. Veins stood out on his forehead, his face reddened, and blood seeped from the corners of his mouth. He went completely still.

As if throwing away a dead dog, Chen Yan flung the scarred man's corpse into the hall, knocking over a host of tables and chairs.

Chen Yan tilted his head and looked at the people inside, asking again in the same calm voice.

"Who is Pang Heng?"

This completely enraged everyone in the hall. Curses erupted like thunder.

"You little beast!!! You're courting death!!"

"Kill him!!!"

"Kill!!!"

In an instant, the entire headquarters erupted, cries of slaughter filling the air.

Chen Yan calmly watched the Blood Wolf Gang members charge at him, cold light flickering in his eyes.

"Baleful Intent pierces the sky, blood light covers their heads. Not one of you is innocent. Every last one deserves to die!"

The instant the word "die" fell, Chen Yan stepped forward, striding on the wind. His five fingers clenched, and he drove a fist ahead.

With a muffled bang.

The man charging in front was sent flying off the ground, vomiting blood wildly. It was clear he would not survive.

After throwing that punch, Chen Yan only grew faster. Like a tiger pouncing upon prey, he plunged into their midst, charging and crashing through them. In the blink of an eye, several figures were sent flying by his impact.

They did not even have time to let out a scream before falling silent forever.

Blood qi like an ox!

At that moment, Chen Yan's Third Blood Qi Realm physique was displayed to the fullest. Wherever his fists and feet went, tremendous force erupted. Not a single person could withstand even one move from him.

In mere moments, not one person remained standing in the entire hall. Groans and wails covered the ground.

"Stop!!!"

Only then did an angry roar ring out from upstairs.

Next, a middle-aged man with a hooked nose, broad cheeks, a hollowed face, and upright brows descended from the second floor. What drew the eye most was his right eye—a blood-red eye that made him look like a vicious ghost.

Without question, this middle-aged man was the Blood Wolf Gang's leader—Bloody-Eyed Wolf Pang Heng!

Pang Heng stormed down from the second floor. When he saw the wreckage filling the hall, his fury surged even higher.

But when he saw the only youth still standing in the hall, his pupils suddenly contracted.

There was no other reason. The youth's blood qi surged and roiled, shooting into the heavens. How could Pang Heng fail to see that this young man before him was a Third Blood Qi Realm Martial Master?

Forcing down the fury in his heart, Pang Heng said in a deep voice.

"May I ask what path this friend comes from? Pang has never met you before. Why have you attacked my Blood Wolf Gang so viciously?"

At the center of the hall, Chen Yan slightly raised his head and looked at Pang Heng, his gaze indifferent.

"You are Bloody-Eyed Wolf Pang Heng?"

"Indeed, I am Pang."

Chen Yan nodded slightly.

"I came today to borrow something from Gang Leader Pang."

"Borrow what?"

Pang Heng froze.

"Your head!"

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Heavy, low footsteps suddenly rang out. As the words fell, the youth's figure shot forth like a flood dragon.

From afar, he looked like a tornado sweeping straight toward Pang Heng, air waves rolling around him with terrifying momentum.

An icy, piercing killing intent flashed between the youth's brows!

"What?!"

Pang Heng was both shocked and enraged. He wanted to dodge, but he was firmly locked down by killing intent and could not move at all!

Shing!

A long blade left its sheath, turning into a streak of icy brilliance. Beneath the candlelight, its fierce blade light carved a beautiful arc.

"Spare him!"

At that moment, a sharp shout rang out.

The next instant.

A tall, powerfully built figure appeared at Chen Yan's side, bringing with it a fierce gale. A fist came crashing down at Chen Yan like mountains toppling and seas overturning!

That punch was incomparably vicious. The evil wind howled, like a battlefield general mounted on horseback and swinging a war hammer—ferocious beyond measure!

Under that immense pressure, Chen Yan's heart was clear as a mirror, still as water. Everything within thirty feet of him lay within his senses.

His gaze turned cold. Chen Yan stomped down as well, sending shattered stones flying. A fiery red flush rose onto his face as he shouted low.

"Get lost!"

The muscles in his left arm bulged, veins twisting like earthworms. His five fingers clenched into a fist, and he smashed it forward.

Boom!!!

The immense forces collided, unleashing a violent shockwave that swept up and pulverized the surrounding tables, chairs, and rubble.

"Hm?"

The newcomer let out a startled sound.

But in that instant, Chen Yan—

Twisted his body.

Shifted his step.

His blood qi erupted!

A streak of icy blade light suddenly flared, pouring forth alongside his surging blood qi!

Slash!

Pang Heng, who had thought he had escaped disaster, suddenly widened his eyes. Shock and disbelief still filled them.

The next second.

That enormous head, still wearing its stunned expression, abruptly folded backward. Blood sprayed like rain as it crashed heavily to the ground.

The headless corpse dropped to its knees with a thud, the stench of blood assailing the nose!