"Bzzzz!"
The moment Jin Guangming watched Sharp Sword pierce Mo Lei's head, his mind rang like a struck bell.
It was as if he had felt the giant hammer blow himself; his head spun, and his vision swam.
It took a full second or two for him to recover. Then he looked once more toward the battlefield just a stone's throw away.
Director Mo, whose status and position would have surpassed his had Jin's family not produced a cultivator, had already fallen backward, dead on the spot.
He had fought his way to where he was, and in his life he had weathered more than a few storms.
Not long ago, he had even suffered the human tragedy of losing his wife and child.
Yet now, seeing with his own eyes a great figure who had been laughing and chatting with him only moments ago, a man entirely his equal in status and standing, cut down right before him by a thug's sword, the sheer visual shock and spiritual upheaval still made his eyes fly wide. His breath caught in his throat.
An unparalleled terror spread rapidly from the depths of his heart, even eclipsing his fury and hatred toward Li ChunJun for killing his wife and child. He could not help retreating again and again.
"Die!"
"You dared kill the head of the Garrison Department! No one can save you today!"
"Li ChunJun! You'll pay for my Fourth Uncle's life!"
As Jin Guangming retreated in fear, several Martial Artists and guards, fiercely loyal to Mo Lei, were already charging at Li ChunJun at full speed, weapons in hand.
Some even summoned men from the Garrison Department and quickly closed in.
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen people had attacked Li ChunJun.
The sight made Jin Guangming, who was still retreating, realize something.
Li ChunJun was certainly vicious, but every person who had come to attend his wife and child's funeral today was a prominent figure in Guangzhou City.
In the current climate, important figures often brought bodyguards wherever they went.
And those hired as bodyguards had generally mastered External Refinement. Those with a certain standing even traveled with Internal Strengthening Martial Artists. In other words, there were so many Internal Strengthening Martial Artists here that you couldn't count them on two hands.
They might not be a match for Li ChunJun one-on-one, but if a dozen or dozens of them swarmed him, even a man of iron would be doomed. A multitude of ants could devour an elephant!
At this thought, Jin Guangming, now among the many guards, called out, "Everyone, this thug has lost all humanity and gone mad. He not only murdered my wife and child, Jin Guangming, but has now assassinated Director Mo in front of everyone! His crimes are so heinous that heaven and earth rage against him, and no bamboo grove could supply enough slips to record them all! I ask all you righteous men to step forward and join forces with us to execute this thug here! My Jin family, and the entire Mo family, will be forever grateful! We will honor you as the most esteemed friends of the Jin family!"
At his words, the many powerful figures attending the funeral were immediately tempted.
Since they had come to the Jin Family Courtyard, they all had some connection to the Jin family.
Even those who were merely close to the Jin family, or whose companies were on the same level as theirs, wouldn't mind deepening the relationship and earning the Jin family's gratitude.
What's more...
Li ChunJun had killed Director Mo in front of everyone. After murdering the head of the Garrison Department, he no longer had a place in Guangzhou City—or in all of Xuan Province and Great Shang.
On top of that, not long ago he had been jointly hunted by the business world, political circles, the martial arts world, and the underworld. He was nothing less than a public enemy.
If they could kill him, they wouldn't just be carrying out a righteous deed, as Jin Guangming had said, and bringing a wanted criminal to justice. They would also get to make a fine impression before the Jin family and all the great figures of Guangzhou City, giving themselves a little publicity.
What a quick and effective way to raise their status and reputation in Guangzhou City!
As for whether what they were doing was truly righteous...
What a joke!
In Guangzhou City, they were righteousness!
At this thought, the crowd could no longer sit still.
"Second Brother, Chairman Jin has done our Chang Le Group a favor. I'll leave this to you."
"Mr. Zhao, we'll be waiting to see you and your disciples show us what you can do."
"Apprehending a criminal is our duty! And this criminal dared kill Director Mo in front of everyone. He clearly has no regard for any of us! If we can't take him down and execute him today, what will people think of the martial arts world of Guangzhou City?"
One after another, influential figures worth hundreds of millions—or even billions—spoke up, as did Internal Strengthening experts renowned throughout the martial arts world.
Some offered their men, others their strength. They all wore an air of righteousness and spoke with fervent conviction.
Nor did their bodyguards refuse their employers' and bosses' requests.
Merchants chased fame and fortune. Why should martial artists be any different?
Killing Li ChunJun was the best way to prove how strong they were.
Even if there was only one Li ChunJun and they might not be the ones to land the fatal blow, simply putting on a good show before all the prominent figures of Guangzhou City would send their worth soaring.
The martial artists joined in the clamor.
"President Wang, don't worry. Leave it to me."
"Hahaha! I've practiced Iron Palm and Water-Walking for thirty years, all for a grand occasion like this. Only a scene like this is worthy of my full strength!"
"Third Brother, just watch! Today, our Four Dragons Society will make a name for itself throughout Guangzhou!"
Many who styled themselves righteous men swiftly sent their bodyguards into the fray as well.
At that moment, the siege had become everyone's stage for fame and fortune, while Li ChunJun, the prey at its center, was nothing more than a stepping stone for them to make their names.
As for whether they could have the last laugh...
Was there any doubt?
With dozens, even hundreds, of External Refinement and Internal Strengthening Martial Artists swarming him, only a true cultivator could stop them. Even the strongest Unity martial master would be surrounded and killed.
Besides, judging from Li ChunJun's fight with Mo Lei, he was at most a little stronger than Director Mo.
He had won so quickly only because he'd caught Mo Lei off guard, using a weapon against him while he was unarmed.
If Director Mo had been fully prepared and they had faced off properly, both armed to the teeth, it would still be anyone's guess who would come out on top.
With that in mind, one after another, External Refinement and Internal Strengthening Martial Artists surged forward, joining the dozen or so loyal followers at Mo Lei's side as they charged at Li ChunJun.
Some of the more confident Internal Strengthening experts even rushed to be first, afraid that if they hesitated, the six experts around Mo Lei would kill Li ChunJun and they'd miss this perfect chance to show off.
"Life Level 7 creature killed, experience +165!" ... Life Level: 9 (209/900) ...
Facing the six subordinates of Mo Lei and the five nearest Jin family guards closing in, Li ChunJun didn't meet them head-on. Instead, he shifted aside and dodged in one smooth move.
The greatest taboo when fighting many alone was getting trapped in a ring of enemies!
Once surrounded by dozens or hundreds of Martial Artists, even with his physique and reflexes strengthened to Level 9, he could still be gravely wounded by attacks coming from every direction—or hacked to death in a flurry of blades.
That was why even the greatest martial arts masters couldn't charge into battle on the battlefield.
If he wanted to keep killing, he had to choose a favorable "terrain" where he would never have to face attacks from more than three people at once!
And that terrain...
He had chosen it.
The stairs.
Before you continue