The Moment of Action

As Chen Yin Fu spoke, the entire hall fell silent, everyone turning to look at the four approaching figures.

Zhou Liang grew anxious, tugging at Chen Yin Fu's sleeve. "Brother Chen, are you really handing over the Second Young Master!?"

Chen Yin Fu snapped coldly, "Ask no more questions."

Zhou Liang said nothing further, but a nameless sorrow welled up in his heart. His gaze toward the Brocade Robe Youth was filled with pity and pain.

Though Zhou Liang understood Chen Yin Fu's decision to sacrifice his son to save the Chen Family, he was still a martial man at heart, with a streak of chivalry and no small amount of boldness.

He felt for the Second Young Master.

The Chen Family, once thriving, now had only three descendants.

Chen Wu, Chen Yu'er, and Chen Mo.

Chen Wu was promising, but still young, and far inferior to Chen Mo in both martial talent and conduct. If the Chen Family lost Chen Mo, once Chen Yin Fu grew old, the clan would surely decline.

Relying solely on Chen Wu and Chen Yu'er, they could never hold onto this legacy.

But the bandits were overwhelming in their ferocity. Zhou Liang had the will to fight them, but not the strength.

Thinking this, Zhou Liang couldn't help but cry out in grief, "Brother Chen, it's my fault for being useless."

Chen Yin Fu ignored Zhou Liang, still wearing a fawning smile toward Liu Mazi, his posture stooped and servile.

"Hahaha, old dog Chen knows how to handle things." Liu Mazi laughed heartily, then sheathed his soft sword and strode quickly toward Lu Wei with Bald Head and Axe Man.

As for the servant supporting Lu Wei, Liu Mazi paid him no mind.

The Chen Mansion's best guards had already made their move. Anyone showing up now was surely just an ordinary servant—especially one in an old robe with no weapon. Likely the most common of common servants.

When he reached Lu Wei, Liu Mazi stopped. "You've suffered. Did that Chen brat bully you?"

Lu Wei was dazed. Though his eyes were open, he couldn't speak. His limbs were limp, barely able to hold him upright.

Hm?

Liu Mazi's gaze sharpened, fixing on the servant in the old robe—Chen Mo. "What's wrong with my brother?"

Chen Mo recited the excuse he'd prepared. "He caught a chill, with a high fever that won't break. But the physician has seen him—it's nothing serious. He just needs rest."

Liu Mazi felt Lu Wei's forehead. It was indeed burning hot. He didn't suspect a thing, but shot a glare at the "Chen Mo" being supported by Qiulan in the distance. "At least that Chen brat has some conscience. If anything happens to Lu Wei, I won't let it slide."

That "Chen Mo" kept bowing and scraping, his attitude utterly obsequious.

Chen Mo pushed the Lu Wei he was holding toward Liu Mazi, his face a mask of trembling fear. "Everything that happened to Lu Wei was the young master's doing. I know nothing. I'm handing Lu Wei over to you, great hero."

Though his words were fearful, Chen Mo's eyes and ears were sharp, taking in everything.

After a quick assessment, he was inwardly startled: besides Liu Mazi, there were two Blood Rush Realm experts. No wonder they dared to invade the Chen Mansion and beat Uncle Zhou's group to a pulp. If I fought them head-on, even if I won, I'd likely be injured. Good thing I set up a plan.

Hidden in Chen Mo's sleeve was a sharp steel dagger, half a foot long—small, but plenty sharp.

He calculated again.

Closest to him now was Liu Mazi. The tall man carrying the axe was five meters to the right, fierce and murderous. The bald man with the blade was five meters to the left, alert and cautious—seemed careful, not easy to ambush.

Best to kill Liu Mazi first, then the axe man. With only the bald man left, he wouldn't be a threat.

Having made his plan, Chen Mo didn't hesitate. As he pushed Lu Wei into Liu Mazi's arms, he closed the distance between them, all while watching Liu Mazi's expression closely.

It was clear Liu Mazi thought victory was in hand, with no real suspicion. After all, Lu Wei was right in front of him.

The distance between them shrank, inch by inch.

One meter.

Half a meter.

Seeing Lu Wei's limp state, Liu Mazi's heart grew troubled.

He'd grown up with his older cousin and younger cousin. Before becoming a bandit, his family was poor, often starving. His cousin had worked as a seamstress to support him and Lu Wei.

Later, she worked herself to exhaustion, damaging her lungs, and died young, leaving only Lu Wei. On her deathbed, she held Liu Mazi's hand and made him promise to take good care of his younger cousin.

Though a bandit, Liu Mazi knew gratitude. He'd always honored his cousin's wish, indulging Lu Wei—even when Lu Wei often went to town to find Yao Jie'er, bullying others and causing endless trouble. Liu Mazi still doted on him.

Now, seeing Lu Wei sick with a fever, he felt even more guilty toward his cousin, his mind in turmoil.

At that moment, Liu Mazi reached out to support Lu Wei. "If something happens to you, how am I supposed to face your sister? Come on, let's go back. I'll find you the best doctor and get you well.

It's all that Chen brat's fault for making you suffer. Don't worry—I'll take him home, let you vent your anger on him. Then I'll hand him over to Old Woman."

With that, Liu Mazi hugged Lu Wei tightly. "Let's go, I'll take you back—"

Before he could finish the word "back," Liu Mazi suddenly felt a sharp, inexplicable threat. Then he saw a flash of silver light.

No good!

Danger!

Liu Mazi instinctively reached for his sword, but before his hand touched the hilt, a chill shot straight to his skull.

Too fast!

He tried to react, but it was too late.

A wet thud rang out. A cold dagger had been driven deep into his forehead. His eyes bulged as he stared at the "timid, cowardly" servant before him.

He tried to speak, but felt his consciousness rapidly fading. Then his vision went black, and he toppled straight backward.

At that critical moment, Chen Mo finally chose to strike!

He had waited a long, long time—for this very instant.

And in that instant, Bald Head and Axe Man, not far away, both looked toward Chen Mo's direction. Almost simultaneously, before Liu Mazi's body had even hit the ground, Chen Mo turned into a blur, charging at the Axe Man five meters away.

By the time the Axe Man realized his big brother had been killed, Chen Mo was already upon him, stabbing viciously at his chest with the dagger.

"You bastard, you dare kill my big brother? You're dead!" The Axe Man swung his axe up to block, catching the dagger with a loud clang.

The Axe Man thought he had parried the attack and that his chance to counter had come. But the next moment, he realized this house servant was no ordinary foe.

The thrust of the dagger carried terrifying force, forcing the Axe Man to stumble backward step by step, nearly losing his balance.

The Axe Man cursed inwardly.

Bam!

Chen Mo shoved the two-meter-tall brute backward in a violent retreat, pulling his left hand from his sleeve. It struck like a massive hammer, slamming hard onto the axe's flat face.

Mysterious Yin Hand, Third Form: Carry Block Strike!

Already off-balance, the Axe Man took this blow and stumbled back even faster, completely losing his footing.

Panic seized the Axe Man.

This house servant was even fiercer than Zhou Liang. Since when did the Chen Family harbor such a master?

Before the Axe Man could think further, Chen Mo's dagger slipped free, arced around the axe, and sliced across the Axe Man's throat.

Squelch!

A bloody head flew three meters away before thudding to the ground, blood spraying from the severed neck.

In an instant, two Blood Rush Realm experts lay dead!

Bald Head finally snapped out of it, shouting, "You old dog Chen, you dared to ambush us! Kill this damned house servant—"

Before he could finish, he saw the house servant grab Third Brother's giant axe and charge straight at him with murderous intent. The overwhelming force, like a tiger pouncing on its prey, nearly scared Bald Head out of his wits.