Death and Resurrection?

Actually, as the second-in-command among the bandits, Bald Head was quite confident in his own strength. Even after watching that servant kill Big Brother and Third Brother in succession, he still felt it was all thanks to sneak attacks.

If it came to a head-on fight, Bald Head figured he had nothing to fear.

Perhaps it was because Chen Mo's killing was too ruthless, without any hesitation at all. Instead, it made fear creep into his heart.

The other dozen or so bandits were still a dozen meters away from Bald Head. But that servant was charging straight at him, terrifyingly so—he couldn't retreat even if he wanted to.

Still, Bald Head had been a bandit for years, living a life of licking blood off the blade's edge. He was battle-hardened and quickly snapped back to his senses. Raising his broadsword, he swung it at Chen Mo.

"You only got by on sneak attacks just now. Now that we're fighting face-to-face, do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Clang!

The saber and axe collided, a sharp sound exploding across the entire Training Ground. It shook the ground, sending snow flying everywhere.

As the saying goes, the first move reveals the mountain's height.

With that single blow, Bald Head was sent stumbling backward, his tiger's mouth split open and bleeding. Panic seized his heart:

'This guy's not old, but his blood and qi are so abundant—he's no weaker than Big Brother. He's clearly a Five Passes: Blood Infusion Realm expert. I'm no match for him. Best to flee first.'

After just one exchange, Bald Head was already thinking of retreat.

But how could Chen Mo give him a chance to escape? Raising his giant axe, he madly swung it forward.

In an instant, blood and qi surged with boundless power. The massive axe was wielded by Chen Mo as if it were a kitchen knife—nimble and versatile, yet heavy and deadly with every strike. Bald Head could only hold his saber and endure, fighting while retreating.

Even so, after just a few exchanges, Bald Head felt like every bone in his body was about to shatter. His tiger's mouth was split open, and his thumb was nearly torn off.

Though they were at the same realm, their strength wasn't even on the same level.

It had almost become a one-sided slaughter.

And it was at this moment that Zhou Liang finally realized the truth: wasn't that servant the Second Young Master? What a clever scheme!

With that thought, Zhou Liang no longer hesitated. Raising his saber, he charged at the dozen or so bandits ahead. "The young master is divine! Let's all strike together and crush these bastards!"

Wei Heng and Liu Jiang followed close behind.

The other guards, emboldened by Chen Mo's actions, raised their weapons and joined in.

Without Liu Mazi and Axe Man as their leaders, how could the remaining bandits stand against Zhou Liang?

In no time, it turned into a one-sided rout.

Under the night sky, the Training Ground echoed with battle cries. Blood sprayed and spilled everywhere, soon buried by the falling goose-feather snow.

"Brother, hold your hand! This was all Liu Mazi's idea—I had nothing to do with it!" After enduring a dozen axe blows, Bald Head was finally terrified and humbly begged for peace.

But the giant axe in Chen Mo's hands didn't stop; instead, it struck even harder.

At this moment, Chen Mo felt the thrill of battle burning within him, the ecstasy of his blood boiling.

He swung the giant axe with abandon, immersed in the vortex of combat, savoring the exhilaration of life-and-death struggle.

He never expected that fighting with all his might could be so intoxicating.

His courage soared, and his bones tingled with excitement.

In the three-plus months since crossing over, Chen Mo had been training relentlessly, his original goal only to cure the Mad Demon Disease and gain the ability to survive in this chaotic world.

But now, he deeply felt that battle itself was an addictive thing.

"Since you've stepped into the Chen Mansion's gates... then none of you leave alive. Your Big Brother and Third Brother have already gone—how could you live on alone?"

As his words fell, Chen Mo gripped the axe handle with both hands and swung it down fiercely.

Bald Head raised his saber to block, but a clang rang out.

The saber was cleaved in two by the axe.

The axe's momentum didn't diminish as it continued downward, splitting Bald Head's body cleanly in half.

Bald Head didn't even have time to cry out before he lost his life.

Even so, the axe didn't stop after cleaving through Bald Head's body. It slammed heavily into the ground, kicking up a flurry of white snow. The earth shook, and the distant pines and cypresses trembled violently.

The entire scene fell into shock.

Seeing all three of their leaders dead, the remaining bandits' morale shattered. They had no will to resist left, scattering in panic as they were all cut down by the guards.

Not a single one was left alive.

Only corpses littered the ground, blood pooling everywhere. The thick, coppery stench of blood filled the entire Training Ground, lingering long after.

Hoo!

Chen Mo took a deep breath, dropped the axe, and cast a cold glance at Bald Head's split body.

"A family should take the road together, neat and tidy."

"But it's pretty boring—I was just warming up, and you're already gone."

Chen Mo clapped his hands, feeling a bit unsatisfied.

In truth, Chen Mo had already reached the Five Passes: Blood Infusion Realm not long ago. His Fuyang Saber Technique and Mysterious Yin Hand were both at their peak. Only the Blood Fire Seal remained incomplete.

It was precisely because the enemy had so many experts that Chen Mo and Chen Yin Fu had come up with this plan.

At the time, he was just being cautious.

After all, Chen Mo didn't know his own actual combat strength.

Looking back now...

He'd been too cautious.

There was no need for it—he could have just bulldozed them all.

But Chen Mo didn't think there was anything wrong with that. In a chaotic world, it was never a mistake to err on the side of caution.

"The Second Young Master is a martial god!"

Zhou Liang walked over then, carrying his blade, his face flushed with excitement. "You've only been training in martial arts for a few months, and you've already become an expert of the Blood Rush Realm. If not for the Second Young Master's careful planning and taking out the three leaders, the Chen Mansion would have been in dire straits today."

Chen Mo saw Zhou Liang walking unsteadily, covered in blood, and felt a pang of sympathy. He stepped forward to support him. "It was thanks to Uncle Zhou that I had the time I needed."

He looked up. In the distance, over thirty guards were all wounded, yet every single one stood tall and fierce, their eyes burning as they gazed at Chen Mo—admiration, awe, recognition...

Then he looked at the bandits' corpses lying in the snow, and a deep feeling stirred within him.

If the Chen Mansion hadn't had such a brave group of guards, it wouldn't have weathered this crisis so easily.

Though this was thanks to Chen Yin Fu and Zhou Liang's excellent training, these men themselves were all worthy of respect. With guards like these, the Chen Mansion's future was bright.

After all, the guards hired by other wealthy families were mostly just a transaction. Once the master faced a life-or-death crisis, those guards wouldn't risk their lives like this.

Everyone here was a martial artist—they had other ways to make a living. Why would they fight to the death for a few silver coins?

Moved by the thought, Chen Mo almost instinctively straightened up and clasped his hands toward all the guards. "Today, the Chen Mansion has weathered this crisis. My thanks to all of you brave warriors. Please return to your rooms and change your clothes. I'll send for a physician to treat your wounds. In a few days, my father and I will host a feast to express our gratitude."

In the martial world, it wasn't just about chivalry and bloodshed—it was also about human relationships and social grace.

Those worth cultivating should be cultivated. Those worth winning over should be won over.

If Chen Mo acted aloof just because he was the young master of the house, ordering the guards around like servants, they might not say anything, but they'd resent it in their hearts. That wouldn't be good for the Chen Mansion's long-term development.

The guards were deeply moved, all murmuring their praise of the Second Young Master, before dispersing to tend to their wounds.

Zhou Liang didn't leave. He ordered a few quick-footed servants to dispose of the bodies. They also needed to report to the yamen to avoid any further trouble.

The Chen Mansion had stood for decades as a prominent household, with a set procedure for handling all kinds of emergencies. As long as they followed the process, the rest of the miscellaneous matters would be handled by others.

While the servants were clearing the corpses, Chen Yin Fu hurried over to Chen Mo, his face full of concern. "Were you hurt?"

Chen Mo suppressed the lingering thrill of battle in his heart and clasped his hands. "I'm fine, Father. It was thanks to your convincing acting earlier that Liu Mazi didn't grow suspicious."

Chen Yin Fu gripped Chen Mo's shoulders tightly, tears of joy streaming down his face as he nodded repeatedly. "It was my son who was brave and clever. I only did the trivial work.

Good, so good—my son has truly grown up, able to stand on his own. I couldn't be happier from the bottom of my heart. Leave the rest here to your Uncle Zhou. Come with me to see your mother—she's a woman, and she's worried to death right now."

Zhou Liang added from the side, "Second Young Master, go see the madam quickly. I only suffered some flesh wounds—nothing serious. I'll handle the aftermath."

Chen Mo nodded and followed Chen Yin Fu toward the central courtyard.

He'd only taken two steps when he heard a scream of "Ah!" from behind, chillingly eerie in the silent night.

Chen Mo stopped abruptly and turned around. He saw a servant who had been collecting Liu Mazi's body get his head crushed in Liu Mazi's grip. And Liu Mazi was standing up from the snow.

Hiss!

Chen Mo sucked in a sharp breath.

That's impossible...

Liu Mazi's head had been pierced through with a gaping hole...