Why Are You Forcing Me

Why Are You Forcing Me. Elsewhere.

The whole of Lin'an City had already fallen into chaos, countless commoners fleeing in every direction.

Ying Shuangshuang shielded Chen Zhixing beneath her, edging slightly away from the surging flow of people.

Chen Zhixing silently gazed toward the departing Chen Tianliang and the other two, feeling somewhat awestruck.

He had seen battles of the True Self Realm like this many times in the game, but compared to watching one in person like this, they simply could not be mentioned in the same breath.

In the True Self Realm, any casual punch or kick carried the power to topple mountains and overturn seas; once they truly cut loose and fought, it was no different from an Apocalypse! "Father is really fierce!"

Chen Zhixing sighed silently in his heart.

Don't be fooled by how Chen Tianliang always looked like a henpecked husband in front of his wife and child—once he really started fighting, he was so fierce he hardly seemed human.

No wonder back then he had been able, by his strength alone, to forcefully suppress the other three branches of the entire Chen Family!

"If not for the Reverse Malady, Father's achievements would probably be just as limitless, wouldn't they?" Chen Zhixing thought silently.

He tightened his hold on the Tranquil Sea Pill Formula in his arms.

He truly wanted to see just how powerful Chen Tianliang would become in this life if the Reverse Malady were resolved.

In the distance, beneath the full moon, atop the upturned eaves of a restaurant.

An utterly beautiful Graceful Shadow stood there. Her gaze withdrew from Chen Tianliang and the other two as they vanished into the distance, then shifted toward Chen Zhixing on the other side.

"This Chen Tianliang really is no simple man."

She murmured to herself, then smiled faintly and said, "As the saying goes, a tiger father will not beget a dog son. I wonder, what about you?"

Chh.

A short sword quietly slipped down from her sleeve.

Ying Shuangshuang shielded Chen Zhixing beneath her, her gaze alert as she looked all around.

"Zhi'er, don't run around—"

She was just about to speak.

All of a sudden! A fierce wind rose behind her ear.

Ying Shuangshuang's beautiful eyes narrowed sharply, and she turned back at the same time, swinging her sword.

Clang—!!! A crisp sound of metal clashing against metal exploded instantly.

A figure dressed in a loose black robe, with a hood over his head, leaped back a step.

He lowered his head to look at the dagger in his hand, then raised it to look at Ying Shuangshuang, saying with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Not bad reflexes."

"Who are you?"

Ying Shuangshuang stared coldly at the Black Robed Figure, a grave look gradually rising in her eyes.

An expert of the Spirit Wandering Realm! The same realm as her!

The Black Robed Figure did not answer. Instead, his right hand rapidly pinched seals, and he spat out a phrase:

"Shadow Art: Mirrored Flower, Water Moon!"

In an instant.

The earth seemed to turn into a rippling surface of water.

The water surface churned, and one black shadow after another, each holding a dagger, stood up from within it.

One. Two. Three. Four. In the blink of an eye, ten shadow figures appeared, attacking Ying Shuangshuang from all directions at the same time! Ying Shuangshuang's face darkened. One hand shielded Chen Zhixing, while the other rapidly drew her sword to block the attacks.

Clang clang clang! Clang clang clang!!

In an instant, sparks flew everywhere, and the sounds of metal striking metal rang endlessly! Ying Shuangshuang retreated rapidly while blocking that endless stream of attacks.

Chh! She split one shadow figure open, and it instantly turned into black water, merging into the ground.

But in less than a moment, the black water gathered once more and turned back into a shadow figure, attacking Ying Shuangshuang again.

"This is troublesome."

Fine beads of sweat rose on Ying Shuangshuang's forehead as she panted slightly.

Her heart gradually sank.

This Black Robed Figure's cultivation was evenly matched with hers; both were around Spirit Travel Third Layer.

If she could cut loose and fight, she naturally would not be afraid.

But with a child in her arms, there were far too many restraints. "Let's see how long you can hold out."

The Black Robed Figure gave a cold laugh. His right hand formed seals again, and he spat out one word: "Rise!"

In an instant.

In the empty air, countless surges of black tide, like shadows, condensed and transformed into black shadow longswords.

The next moment.

Those longswords came from every direction, blotting out the sky and covering the earth as they attacked Ying Shuangshuang all at once! Ying Shuangshuang's expression changed at the sight. Even if she could block this move, if things went on like this, she and Chen Zhixing would be worn down to death here.

"Zhixing, wait right there for me. Don't run around!"

Ying Shuangshuang thrust out her right hand, and at once, a light, drifting force lifted Chen Zhixing and set him down in an open space in the distance.

As for Ying Shuangshuang, a cold gleam flashed in her eyes. She took one step forward and instantly charged to kill the Black Robed Figure.

"I'll finish you!"

Bang—!!

In the blink of an eye, the two of them were locked in battle.

With nothing holding her back anymore, Ying Shuangshuang quickly gained the upper hand!

Amid the crowd.

Two young men dressed in coarse hemp clothes were mixed in with the flow of people, staring at Chen Zhixing in the distance with both nervousness and excitement.

These two were notorious local ruffians in Lin'an City. One was called Wang Da, and the other Li Er.

Just yesterday, someone had found them and said that as long as they took out a child, they would get one thousand taels of gold!

The two of them, who had never seen even a single tael of gold in their lives, had accepted the job at once, overjoyed.

"Wang Da, th-that should be the kid, right?" Li Er kept swallowing in excitement, but fear still stirred in his heart. "That kid's parents don't look simple at all. Are we going to—"

Smack! Wang Da slapped Li Er on the head, furious that iron could not be forged into steel. "Useless thing! So what if the kid's parents are strong? That's one thousand taels of gold! Enough for us to leave Lin'an City and live it up for the rest of our lives!"

After a pause, Wang Da gave a cold snort and said, "Ever heard the saying? As they say, one general's success is built on ten thousand withered bones; life and death are ruled by fate, riches and honor by heaven! Without even a bit of lofty ambition, you think you're fit to run the streets?"

With that, Wang Da paid Li Er no further attention. His eyes shining, he walked toward Chen Zhixing.

A look of struggle surged across Li Er's face. In the end, he gritted his teeth and followed as well.

Closer.

Closer and closer.

Wang Da looked at Chen Zhixing, now within arm's reach and seemingly completely unaware, his lips growing drier and drier.

One thousand taels of gold!

That was one thousand taels of gold!!

The next moment.

"Got him!"

Wang Da suddenly made his move, scooped Chen Zhixing up in one arm, and ran toward the depths of an alley to the side.

Wild joy likewise surged across Li Er's face, and he quickly followed.

"Hahaha, one thousand taels of gold is ours!"

Only after running all the way to the end of the narrow alley did Wang Da finally stop.

He lowered his head to look at the child in his arms, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.

"Kid, don't blame me. If you want to blame someone, blame your bitter fate!"

As his words fell.

A dagger appeared in Wang Da's hand.

Just as he could no longer restrain himself and was about to deliver the killing blow.

"I only wanted an innocent childhood. Why do you have to force me..."

A low, soft sigh suddenly sounded. Wang Da froze slightly, then looked around in puzzlement.

The alley was utterly silent. There was only him and Li Er.

As if thinking of something, he slowly lowered his head in disbelief.

He saw that the child in his arms, at some point, had long since lost the innocent, guileless look on his face.

In its place was a depth and calm like a vast ocean.

The next moment.

He saw Chen Zhixing slowly raise a hand and pat it toward his head.

"You think you can hit me?"

At the sight, Wang Da could not help laughing. Just as he was about to speak.

Bang—!!! A sound like a balloon bursting rang out.

Wang Da's entire head exploded apart like a watermelon smashed by a heavy hammer!

Blood, brain matter, fragments of skull, eyes, and teeth all burst and splattered everywhere!!

Beneath the full moon, at the end of the alley.

A child only a few months old slowly stood up from the pool of blood, his expression calm and indifferent.

Li Er stared at the child with his whole body trembling, and in an instant, a chill ran through him from head to toe, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar!