Uncle Li Steps In

Li Yanshan watched the three men stride toward them, anger flashing in his eyes. By sect rules, Dog Head Ridge belonged to all its Outer Sect Disciples. Outsiders who wanted to enter had to pay their respects first.

But these three had barged straight in without doing so. They clearly held the people of Dog Head Ridge in no regard.

The man in front was tall, with single-lidded eyes, a flat nose, thin lips, and a pointed forehead. He wore an Outer Sect Disciple's robe, and his face was grim. He was Zhang Tieniu's elder brother, Zhang Tielin.

The other two were Outer Sect Disciples as well. One was tall and thin as a bamboo pole. The other was short and dark-skinned, with the look of a monkey.

With his two lackeys in tow, Zhang Tielin marched toward Li Yanshan and Fang Chen, seething with murderous intent.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

Xiao Liu barked furiously at Zhang Tielin and the others.

Li Yanshan stepped in front of Fang Chen and asked, "Zhang Tielin, what are you doing at our Dog Head Ridge?"

Zhang Tielin had made something of a name for himself in the outer sect. He was vicious and vindictive, the sort to repay the slightest slight. Li Yanshan knew him.

Zhang Tielin stared at Fang Chen behind Li Yanshan, murder almost spilling from his eyes. Through clenched teeth, he said, "Li the Half-Blind, I'm here to take revenge on that brat. If you don't want to die, get out of my way!"

"Revenge?"

Li Yanshan's gaze sharpened. "What grudge do you have against him?"

"That brat killed my younger brother, Zhang Tieniu. What do you think I'm avenging?"

Zhang Tielin glared at Fang Chen, his eyes bloodshot. He looked like a wild beast ready to spring.

Li Yanshan frowned. Elder Yun had just told him that Fang Chen had killed two menial workers at Thousand Bamboo Ridge, but he hadn't known one of them was Zhang Tielin's brother.

He looked back at Fang Chen. "Fang Chen, what happened?"

Fang Chen hadn't expected Zhang Tieniu's brother to come after him so soon. "Uncle Li, at Thousand Bamboo Ridge, Zhang Tieniu and Tian Hu took the Exquisite Bamboo I'd cut. Then they tried to take my Cleaver. When I refused, they tried to seize it by force—and kill me. I fought back for my life and accidentally killed them! The Enforcement Hall has already passed judgment on the matter!"

Li Yanshan nodded slightly, then turned to Zhang Tielin. "Your brother brought his death on himself. The Enforcement Hall has already passed judgment on Fang Chen, and the matter is settled. Coming here like this breaks sect rules. Get the hell out, or I'll call for help!"

Zhang Tielin cursed at him. "Li the Half-Blind, spare me your talk of sect rules! I'm killing that brat today to avenge my brother. If you know what's good for you, get the hell out of my way!"

"Hmph. Big words. This is Dog Head Ridge. You think you can do whatever you like here?"

Li Yanshan faced him calmly, showing no sign of fear.

Zhang Tielin gritted his teeth. "Are you sure you want to stand up for this brat? Don't say I didn't give you a chance. I'll count to three. If you're still in my way, don't blame me for what happens next!"

"Count your mother's ass. Pah!"

Li Yanshan spat on the ground and sneered. "If you want to fight, come at me. Stop running your mouth! If you're too scared, get the hell out!"

"You bastard! You're asking for death!"

Zhang Tielin erupted with rage. A powerful aura burst from him as he kicked off the ground and shot toward Li Yanshan.

"Get back!"

Li Yanshan swept out a hand, sending a gentle force that pushed Fang Chen thirty feet away.

Zhang Tielin was already upon him. He drove his right fist at Li Yanshan's face, and the force of the blow whipped Li Yanshan's hair back before the fist arrived.

Li Yanshan's eyes narrowed. He threw a punch of his own, meeting Zhang Tielin's fist.

Boom!

A powerful shockwave spread outward, throwing dust into the air. Both men took a step back.

What power!

Fang Chen, standing behind Li Yanshan, was stunned. He was only at the First Layer of Qi Refining, far below either Li Yanshan or Zhang Tielin. Among Outer Sect Disciples, he was still at the very bottom.

Zhang Tielin looked up at Li Yanshan, surprise crossing his face.

He was at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining and had a strong body to match. Ordinary Outer Sect Disciples at the same level were no match for him.

Yet Li Yanshan, who was only at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, had stopped his attack. Zhang Tielin hadn't used his full strength, but Li Yanshan had already shown what he was capable of.

Li Yanshan looked at him with a slight, contemptuous smile. "Fourth Layer of Qi Refining? Is that all?"

"Bastard!"

Zhang Tielin charged again, swinging his fist as he roared, "Tiger Subduing Fist!"

A fierce white light flashed around his right fist, and a powerful aura burst forth.

Roar!

A resounding tiger's roar came from Zhang Tielin's body.

Li Yanshan felt a crushing pressure bear down on him. Gritting his teeth, he stirred the True Qi within him. A powerful aura erupted, and a faint golden light coated his fist as he met Zhang Tielin's punch again.

Boom!

True Qi exploded between them. Li Yanshan was hurled backward, then staggered several steps after landing. He did not stop until he reached Fang Chen.

Zhang Tielin also retreated a few steps, though not as far. He had gained a slight edge in that exchange, but he was at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, while Li Yanshan was only at the Third. He had come nowhere close to overwhelming him.

Li Yanshan regarded him with open disdain. "With strength like that, you dare come to Dog Head Ridge and cause trouble?"

"Damn you!"

Zhang Tielin trembled with rage. He had never imagined that a half-blind man at the Third Layer of Qi Refining would dare provoke him. He drove his cultivation technique to its limit, and red Fire Origin flared around both his fists.

"Skyfire Meteor Fist!"

With an angry shout, Zhang Tielin became a blur and rushed at Li Yanshan, his fists flying.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Red fist-shaped blasts wreathed in Fire Origin flew toward Li Yanshan one after another.

Li Yanshan's eyes narrowed. True Qi surged within him, his muscles swelled, and the golden light around his fists grew dazzling. He rushed at Zhang Tielin, hammering his fists into the flaming blasts.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

He smashed them apart one after another, then lunged at Zhang Tielin with a fierce expression and drove a fist toward his chest.

Zhang Tielin's gaze sharpened. He punched at Li Yanshan's chest in turn, hoping to force him to dodge or defend.

But a ruthless gleam flashed in Li Yanshan's eyes. He neither dodged nor blocked. He let Zhang Tielin's fist slam into his chest just as his own struck Zhang Tielin's.

Thud!

Thud!

Both men flew backward. Li Yanshan landed, stumbled back seven steps, and spat a mouthful of blood.

Zhang Tielin fared no better. He staggered back eight steps after landing and spat blood as well. Each breath sent a sharp pain through his chest. Li Yanshan's punch had broken two of his ribs.