Copper Hammer

The little girl was undoubtedly Qiu Wa.

Every time Uncle Mu set sail, Qiu Wa would wait for him at the dock after school. Uncle Mu would generously take out a few copper coins and stuff them into the greedy Qiu Wa's hands. Back then, the sound of pleasant bells would always ring in the wind. This was probably the happiest time of day for the grandfather and granddaughter.

But now, this purest joy had been brutally and violently turned into a human tragedy.

"Yoho, a little brat has arrived, what a coincidence!"

The black-robed youth grabbed Qiu Wa by the scruff of her neck and easily lifted her into the air, sneering at Uncle Mu. "You old geezer, I want to see just how tough your bones are." As he spoke, he flicked his large hand, and Qiu Wa was tossed into the air.

"Qiu Wa, don't move around, Grandpa is fine, Grandpa has you!"

Uncle Mu shouted hoarsely.

Qiu Wa nodded vigorously, her lips tightly shut, her short hair flying in the strong wind.

Just as Qiu Wa was about to land, the black-robed youth's large hand lightly grasped her, and Qiu Wa was steadily caught in his palm. "Old man, if you don't kowtow to this young master right now, I might not be able to catch her next time."

Uncle Mu's stiff neck finally bent as he struggled to get up.

Qiu Wa cried out, "Grandpa, no, don't, Grandpa, I hate them, I, I want to..."

"Qiu Wa, shut up, Grandpa is fine!" Uncle Mu glared at Qiu Wa angrily.

"What are you still dawdling for!"

The black-robed youth roared with anger, raised his hand, and tossed Qiu Wa into the air again. With a thud, the wobbly Uncle Mu's knees heavily slammed onto the bluestone slabs.

The black-robed youth threw his head back and laughed, his oppressive aura filling the air. Before his laughter died down, a black shadow flashed in the air. Qiu Wa, who hadn't even reached the highest point yet, was snatched away mid-air by the shadow.

Only when the black shadow landed did the black-robed youth clearly see a thin young man with a scruffy beard.

The young man landed beside Uncle Mu, holding the flushed-faced girl in one arm and supporting the old man covered in bloodstains with the other. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped the bloodstains from the old man's face before finally speaking, "Uncle Mu, I'm late!"

Just as Uncle Mu was about to speak, he let out a series of violent coughs. The young man quickly helped him sit down and kept patting the old man's back to help him breathe.

The little girl in his arms clung tightly to his neck, her lower lip trembling as she sobbed, "Bearded Uncle, quickly take Grandpa away from here!"

Without a doubt, the person who had arrived was Xu Yi.

As it turned out, with his astonishing perception, as soon as he stepped onto the dock, he saw the commotion here. After a few more steps, Qiu Wa's shrill cries reached his ears. He focused his gaze and saw Qiu Wa being tossed into the air. This shock nearly sent his soul scattering.

He stomped his foot, shattering several bluestone slabs, and moved like a startled swan, covering more than ten zhang in an instant, snatching Qiu Wa at the last possible moment.

The moment he landed, seeing Uncle Mu's tragic state, his heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife.

Uncle Mu had saved his life. Xu Yi had never been able to express his gratitude, knowing that such a debt of kindness could not be repaid with mere words.

Although he had been staying at the Mu Family's home these past few days, their harmonious interactions had already made him feel like he had a home.

Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa were naturally family.

Upon seeing Uncle Mu and Qiu Wa being tormented like this, Xu Yi's expression remained calm, but the ferocity in his heart had already reached its peak.

As soon as Qiu Wa finished speaking, both of them responded simultaneously.

"Silly girl, Bearded Uncle is here, don't be afraid!"

"What's the hurry, little doll, this young master hasn't had enough fun yet!"

Xu Yi finally turned his head and looked coldly at the black-robed youth, who was smiling faintly. He revealed a dark iron token, which was the constable's badge he had just received. He said solemnly, "I am the newly appointed constable of this town. What is the reason for your gathering here?"

"Constable? What business is it of yours? Get lost, it's not your place to act like a big shot!"

The black-robed youth didn't respond. Zhou Yaya jumped out.

At first, he thought Xu Yi was some kind of expert. But when he heard that he was just a constable of this town, Zhou Yaya's ferocity was instantly ignited.

It was true that Furong Town had a patrol division, but they were all useless freeloaders. He, Zhou, was a prominent figure in Furong Town. A mere constable was nothing!

Xu Yi didn't even glance at Zhou Yaya, fixing his gaze on the black-robed youth. "You tell me what just happened. I don't think you'd dare to do it but not admit it!"

The black-robed youth threw his head back and laughed. "It's been a long time since I met someone as interesting as you. Fine, I'll tell you what just happened here..."

The black-robed youth, intending to make a fool of Xu Yi, arrogantly and briefly recounted everything that had happened. He then added, "You know what you need to know. I've committed many evils and am extremely wicked. Aren't you a constable? Come and arrest me!" As he spoke, he clasped his hands together and extended them towards Xu Yi.

"Ah ha ha ha..."

A group of green-clothed attendants burst into laughter.

Zhou Yaya also laughed so hard his mouth couldn't close. He reached out and patted Xu Yi's shoulder. "Kid, go wherever it's cool, don't bother..."

As soon as he uttered the word "bother," Zhou Yaya found that he could no longer speak.

His neck was gripped by Xu Yi's iron-like right hand, and he was lifted into the air. In an instant, his eyes bulged and turned dark.

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone.

No one had expected a mere constable to dare to lay hands on Zhou Yaya, a prominent figure in town.

Amidst earth-shattering shouts and curses, seven or eight bare-chested strongmen roared and charged at Xu Yi.

They were all thugs that Zhou Yaya had long kept under his employ, mostly dissolute young men who had just entered the Body Tempering Stage.

Among them, the one with the highest cultivation was the bald man charging at the forefront, holding a pair of impressively large copper hammers. He was a strong practitioner in the middle stage of Body Tempering, and much of Zhou Yaya's influence in Furong Town was propped up by him.

At this moment, a mere constable dared to seize his master in front of him, clearly showing no regard for him. The bald man's nostrils flared with anger, and he swung his twin copper hammers, creating a wind that made it almost impossible for anyone within three zhang to stand.

Taking a step forward and breaking a stone slab, the bald man leaped high into the air. His twin copper hammers swept down like a storm.

Xu Yi slightly shifted his body, using himself to shield Qiu Wa from the strong wind. With his other hand, he abruptly raised Zhou Yaya, who was tossed like a catkin towards the copper hammers.

The bald man was startled and couldn't change his move in time. He could only forcefully retract his strength and fell straight from mid-air. The heavy copper hammers crashed onto the floor, scattering碎石 everywhere.

Just then, Xu Yi moved. With a wave of his large hand, Zhou Yaya was thrown like a sack into the charging group. He kicked a copper hammer, which sprang up as if electrified. Xu Yi snatched it and, facing the bald man who had just sprung to his feet like a carp, swung it down.

The giant hammer was heavy, but in Xu Yi's hand, it felt as light as a reed. He swung it like a thunderclap. The bald man had just stood up when the copper hammer slammed into his chest. With a crack, the bald man flew backward, blood raining down from mid-air.