"Thanks to Second Young Master Yan's good fortune, I'm still quite sturdy." Tian Long stepped forward, then motioned for Zhao Kou and Wei Tian to carry Li Qing over.
Li Qing was now bound tight with layer upon layer of hemp rope, sealed so snugly that not even a crack could be seen, like a rice dumpling.
Yan Gui'an's smile grew even brighter. He swept a glance over Li Qing before saying, "Why haven't you untied him yet? This fellow Li is someone I want. Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, you're truly not very considerate—how did you beat him into this state?"
As soon as These Words were spoken, Uncle Jing, the martial artist Guest Elder behind Second Young Master Yan, also turned his gaze over.
What came next was the most crucial step of the plan. A martial artist who had cultivated Outer Strength possessed far sharper senses.
Thus, while they untied him, Tian Long had to do everything possible to draw Uncle Jing's attention and keep him from examining Li Qing too closely.
Otherwise, if he noticed something amiss with Li Qing's aura, things would become troublesome.
A trace of cold sweat faintly appeared on Zhao Kou and Wei Tian's foreheads as they swiftly began untying the hemp ropes around Li Qing.
This Was when Tian Long sneered, "heh, Brother Jing Tai, it's been so long. I didn't expect that, like me, you'd still be stuck at the Outer Strength level."
Uncle Jing replied coldly, "Hmph. If this world hadn't changed, I would have stepped into the Internal Energy level long ago."
Upon Hearing the other man take the bait, Tian Long narrowed his eyes and smiled. He continued, "Hahaha, that's true enough. Before Thunderclap Martial Hall closed down, that old Martial Hall Master thought very highly of you. What a pity, what a pity."
At the mention of Thunderclap Martial Hall, Jing Tai's eyes flashed slightly, as though he had sunk into distant memories.
Back then, the sun had only vanished for a few years. Obsidian City still had quite a lot of stored food, and life could barely be endured.
He had joined Thunderclap Martial Hall at that time. Unfortunately, without the sun, almost no food could be grown from the earth. No matter how vast the food stores were, they would eventually be consumed.
If Black Rye Mushroom had not been discovered later, there would probably no longer be any living people in this world.
Just as the two conversed and reminisced, the hemp ropes around Li Qing loosened circle by circle, revealing the thick cotton clothes he wore.
Yan Gui'an had already begun trying to win Li Qing over with words. He said, "Brother Li Qing, the Yan family has had quite a few dealings with you recently. I never expected you to have formed a grudge with Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader. This is truly floodwaters washing over the Dragon King's temple—family failing to recognize family. But it doesn't matter—"
Before he could finish, Yan Gui'an frowned in confusion.
As a great many hemp ropes were undone, he saw that an iron rod was actually tucked against Li Qing's side, and Li Qing's hand was gripping that iron rod tightly.
"Something's wrong."
Whoosh!
After enduring for so long, Li Qing suddenly erupted with force. His overwhelmingly powerful strength snapped the few remaining loops of hemp rope around him in the blink of an eye.
The iron rod clenched in his hand was revealed in full. What iron rod was this? It was clearly a hammer—a remarkably large hammer.
The great amount of hemp rope that had been wrapped around Li Qing earlier had merely been meant to conceal his Peerless Hammer.
"Kill!"
Li Qing charged out like a fierce tiger. He had lain dormant for so long, and now his aura erupted in full, carrying an unstoppable momentum.
"Bold!"
Seeing this scene, Uncle Jing was both shocked and enraged. He realized that Li Qing was coming straight for him.
Before he could react, a savage curve rose at Tian Long's lips. Without another word, he drew the Golden Ring Saber from his waist.
Whoosh!
The blade light flashed and vanished, slashing straight at Jing Tai ahead.
At the same time, Wei Tian and Zhao Kou, who had untied Li Qing's ropes, also sprang into action.
Wei Tian moved with lightning speed, rushing directly toward the mansion gate ahead. At the same time, he pulled a firestarter filled with coal ash from his robes and threw it into the sky at once.
Whoosh!
The firestarter split apart. Upon touching the air, it rapidly ignited. This bright blaze shone with extraordinary conspicuousness beneath the pitch-black canopy of the sky!
Tian Long's trusted men, hidden throughout every corner of the streets, burst forth at their fastest speed upon seeing the flames and rushed toward the imposing estate ahead.
"Kill! Slaughter the Yan family!"
"The Yan family has committed every evil under heaven! Today, our Righteous Gang shall uphold justice on heaven's behalf and prepare to wash the Yan family clean in blood!"
"Kill! Brothers, charge!"
Besides these trusted men, thirteen ghostlike figures vaulted over the Yan family's tall walls one after another and charged into the estate.
All of this happened almost simultaneously, with no more than ten breaths between each event.
The once utterly peaceful street suddenly became chaotic and clamorous. The murderous members of the Righteous Gang swept toward the Yan family estate's entrance.
At this moment, inside the Yan residence's main courtyard, the broad mansion gates were thrown open from within. Wei Tian, whose hands and feet were exceedingly quick, had completed this task.
As the estate gates opened wide, the scene within was completely exposed.
Jing Tai had been caught off guard by Li Qing and Tian Long, two Outer Strength experts. He barely raised a hand to block Li Qing's smash, but Tian Long successfully ambushed him from the side. A massive gash appeared from his right ribs to his waist.
Blood sprayed out as though it cost nothing, filling the air with a thick stench of blood.
"You—you dare, Tian Long..." Jing Tai clutched the wound at his side. Even speaking had become difficult for him. Tian Long's slash had been far too vicious, with no intention of leaving him any way to live.
Jing Tai staggered backward, blood constantly spilling behind him as his strength rapidly drained away.
Yet Li Qing had no desire to drag things out. Holding the Peerless Hammer, he expressionlessly smashed out again.
Boom!
This blow was still impossible for Jing Tai to evade. In his haste, he could only raise his arm to block it once more.
But this time, Li Qing's hammer struck true.
The Ancient Profound Hammer Technique drove the surging force within Li Qing's body. The hammerhead forged from Ink Gold crushed Jing Tai's forearm like rotten wood, shattering it.
His entire body was sent flying sideways once more. Blood splashed across the air in a wide spray, leaving him in a miserable state. It was clear he had no chance of surviving.
Boom! Boom!
Inside the Yan estate, the other two Outer Strength experts finally reacted and charged out from two separate directions.
"You've got some nerve, coming here to cause trouble!"
"You truly don't put me, Yan Xu, in your eyes. Today, neither of you will be leaving!"
Both men were martial artist Guest Elders of the Yan family. The one called Yan Xu was a trusted confidant who usually stayed at the Yan family master's side; he had even changed his own surname to Yan.
Everything had happened far too quickly. Second Young Master Yan, who had long been accustomed to a life of ease and luxury, was utterly terrified, trembling all over.
Not only had Jing Tai been severely wounded and left at death's door in an instant, but behind him, a boy no more than twelve or thirteen years old was pressing a short blade tightly against his throat. The boy's eyes were as fierce as a wolf's, leaving no doubt that he would dare slit Second Young Master Yan's throat.
"How could this happen... How could this happen..." Yan Gui'an repeated the same words over and over in a trembling voice.