Eight Hundred Li of the Ping River Could No Longer Carry Their Young Ambitions

"Cut them down!"

Xie Han pointed his Horse Chopping Saber straight at Chu Chong and the other three, letting out a savage grin.

In an instant, Xie Han took the lead and charged forward!

"Fuck Xie Han's mother, he brought men across the line!"

Water Monkey drained the wonton soup from his bowl in one gulp, wiped his mouth, then drew a Short Blade from his back and shouted:

"East Hall brothers, there's work!"

As his voice fell, young thugs in blue surged out from the alleys behind the wonton stall, pouring in from all directions.

In the blink of an eye, several hundred had gathered.

Every one of them was young. Facing the charging Xie Han, there was little fear on their faces—only ferocity and excitement!

Most of these thugs, like Fang Xuan, came from the poorest Bamboo Raft Houses in East City of Pingjiang County. Their parents had been fishermen for generations.

Ever since Fang Xuan became Old Man Yu's right-hand man and made a name for himself in the martial world, he had become their role model.

That eight-hundred-li Ping River could no longer carry their young ambitions!

"Life and death are fated; wealth and honor are granted by Heaven!"

"Once brothers, brothers for life! We people of the martial world stake our lives for a name! Master Xuan is going to become the East Hall Master. Whoever cuts down Xie Han today will be Master Xuan's right-hand man tomorrow!"

One Line Sky swept his gaze across the thugs' faces, tore off a strip of cloth, and bound the hilt of his blade to his wrist.

Bang!!!

The next moment, One Line Sky led the charge!

The forces on both sides, one from the south and one from the north, crashed together on Ten Li Long Street like two raging torrents!

"Xie Han, I'll collect your corpse today!"

One Line Sky leaped forward, a savage look rising on his face as he viciously brought his blade down on Xie Han's head!

Xie Han merely shifted slightly aside, then lashed out with an incomparably heavy whip kick that smashed into One Line Sky's waist, sending him flying sideways into a tea stall.

"At your age, why are you still trying to run around the martial world? Go back to fishing like a good boy."

Xie Han spat disdainfully, dragging his saber into the tea stall.

One Line Sky had fallen into a heap of weeds, fiery pain blazing through his waist.

That kick had nearly burst his liver, robbing him of all fighting strength in an instant.

"Hey, what's with you? You look pretty unconvinced. Dare to open your eyes and look at me?" Xie Han said with a frown, sizing One Line Sky up and down.

One Line Sky instantly flew into a rage and cursed:

"Fuck your mother! My eyes are open as wide as they can get!"

Xie Han froze for a moment, then sneered and raised his Horse Chopping Saber, ready to truly cripple One Line Sky!

Just then.

A steel blade slashed diagonally toward the back of his head like a crescent of cold moonlight, carrying a howling gale!

"Hm?"

Xie Han narrowed his eyes and instantly turned, raising his Horse Chopping Saber horizontally.

Clang—!

The steel blade struck the body of the Horse Chopping Saber, throwing up a long stream of sparks!

Xie Han's shoulder sank slightly. He glanced at the trembling hilt, then fixed his gaze ahead.

A burly figure stood there, a scar running across one eye and stretching all the way to his jaw, staring coldly at him.

"Mad Pig? I've heard of you. You're somebody. Why not come over to my side? Old Man Yu is finished. Following Fang Xuan, you're doomed to have no future."

Xie Han smiled, casually shaking out his arm.

"Whoever dares touch my brothers, I'll cut them down!"

Chu Chong remained expressionless. After drawing a deep breath, he charged at Xie Han once more!

"Fine, fine, fine. You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Today, I'll turn you from Mad Pig into Dead Pig!"

In an instant, the two exchanged dozens of moves.

The steel blade and Horse Chopping Saber collided again and again in the air, producing crisp, ringing clashes of metal!

They fought from one end of the tea stall all the way to the other, smashing through the wall as they went!

Chu Chong fought fearlessly and viciously, striking with brutal force and utterly disregarding his own life.

Though Xie Han was more skilled than him, Chu Chong suppressed him for a time—until Chu Chong paused to draw breath.

"Charging Tiger Palm!"

Xie Han held the Horse Chopping Saber in one hand, blocking Chu Chong's descending steel blade. His other hand shot out like thunder, slamming fiercely into Chu Chong's chest!

In an instant, Chu Chong's ribs shattered. He flew backward and hit the ground, a line of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Mad Pig? Today I'll beat you into Dead Pig! And your boss, Fang Xuan—does he only know how to hide while you lackeys come out and fight for him?"

Xie Han rested the Horse Chopping Saber on his shoulder, looked down at Chu Chong, and sneered:

"As the saying goes, men fear choosing the wrong trade, women fear marrying the wrong man. We people of the martial world fear nothing more than following a soft-legged shrimp for a boss! Think it over. Why not follow me?"

"Follow your mother."

Chu Chong gritted his teeth, his eyes reddening as he tried to rise from the ground again.

A large, thick-boned hand pressed down on his shoulder, forcing him back down.

"You can't even beat trash like Xie Han. In the future, when you announce your name, don't say you're the best fighter under me, all right?"

A hearty laugh rang out.

Chu Chong looked up and froze slightly.

At some point, Fang Xuan had appeared beside him, a hint of teasing on his rough face.

"Brother Xuan," he called softly.

The next moment.

"Master Fang!!"

"Master Fang is here!!!"

The countless thugs locked in battle with the South Hall men looked toward that broad, towering figure. They first froze, then their blood surged. Excited flames flashed in their eyes, and they could not help letting out long howls.

At that moment, it was as if their empty shells had suddenly found a backbone. The East Hall thugs, who had been showing signs of flagging, saw their morale soar. Even the long blades in their hands became several degrees more vicious!

Whether it was the fearless Chu Chong or the seasoned and ruthless One Line Sky, no one in East Hall could replace Fang Xuan's position!

"Wow, you finally decided to show up? Have you been learning opera at Pear Garden lately? Playing a dan role and making your grand finale entrance?"

An exaggerated smile spread across Xie Han's face as he looked at Fang Xuan in the distance.

"Keep it down. What if you scare these coachmen and pimps from South of the City?"

Fang Xuan smiled and waved to the East Hall thugs behind him, then looked at Xie Han and said:

"Just you? Where's your Hall Master, Zheng Juexiong?"

For some reason, when Xie Han met Fang Xuan's gaze, his smile remained unchanged, yet his heart trembled faintly. An innate sense of oppression made fear creep into his heart.

Only after touching the pill hidden in his robes did confidence rise within him.

"Do I need the Hall Master to deal with you? I'm enough!" Xie Han said with a savage grin.

"Is that so?"

Fang Xuan smiled and looked upward.

He could sense that although Ten Li Long Street appeared empty, countless indistinct gazes were watching from the second floors of the inns lining both sides of the street.

He knew that many people had come to see how he would perform today.

For example, Huang Zhen of North Hall. If Fang Xuan lost this battle, Huang Zhen would immediately cut ties with East Hall, perhaps even find a way to carve off a piece of East Hall for himself!

Then there were those officials, already waiting to hand things over to Xie Han!

They did not care who became the underground king of East City. They only cared whether the newcomer was alert and obedient enough.

"I waited ten days, thinking you'd come up with something truly desperate. In the end, you just dumped a pile of shit in front of me?"

Letting out a soft breath, Fang Xuan's gaze settled on Xie Han's face, and a flash of viciousness instantly passed through his eyes!