Broken Sword

Just as the five long swords were less than three feet from Lin Qi, Enzo drew his sword and sprang forward. The trembling tip of the Stabbing Sword was about to touch the men when the metal gate behind them, adorned with intricate, exquisite openwork patterns, suddenly swung wide. A huge figure, like a giant bear from the far northern ice fields, burst out.

"Hahaha! Young master, you're back?" His voice boomed like thunder, sending a shock wave visible to the naked eye rippling in every direction. A thick iron chain flew from his sleeve, and amid its ear-splitting clank, a black iron hammer as big as a child's body tore through the air with a howl.

The five men's swords shattered inch by inch. The chain, writhing like a monstrous python, slammed into their waists and bellies, tearing their flesh and nearly snapping their spines. They screamed in agony, spewing blood as they flew far away, then crashed into the deep snow and lay there, unable to get up.

The huge figure landed heavily behind Arthur. As Arthur staggered backward, his face changed; he collided with the exceptionally brawny body behind him, as if he'd run into a hill he couldn't budge. Lin Qi's fist slammed into him without hesitation. Seizing the instant Arthur couldn't move, Lin Qi drove his fist into Arthur's face. Arthur grunted, clenched his teeth, and was sent flying by the blow.

At the instant Lin Qi's fist struck Arthur's face, a thin layer of pale golden light welled up around Arthur. Sacred, imposing, and brimming with power, the golden radiance flashed and vanished. It absorbed every bit of the force in Lin Qi's punch—enough to shatter a bull's skull—and Arthur suffered no real harm.

A few tiny flecks of ash drifted from between Arthur's fingers. Lin Qi withdrew his fist and sneered darkly. "A protective charm? Hah, the Sun God's protective charm, no less. And it was drawn by a high-ranking cleric, too. It's far stronger than that Dawn protective charm I used last time!"

Faint golden light kept flickering beneath Arthur's skin, showing just how powerful the protective charm he'd used was. Compared to the shoddy one Lin Qi had used last time, Arthur's was a genuine masterpiece produced by a high-ranking cleric of the Church.

Arthur smiled faintly. Though Lin Qi's punch had sent him flying, he flipped in midair and landed steadily on his feet. He nodded at Lin Qi and smiled as if nothing had happened. "Lin Qi, why attack me the moment you get back? What happened back then is in the past. Have you forgotten Father's words?"

Lin Qi snorted. The Iron Hammer, who had just burst through the gate and nearly beaten Arthur's five subordinates to death, snorted as well. He glared at Arthur and said darkly, "Young Master Arthur, if I ever see your men lay a hand on the young master again, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Iron Hammer slowly reeled the long, thick chain and massive hammer back into his sleeve. With a vicious grin, he looked at the men sprawled in the snow, wailing in pain, and snorted. "I know where all your families live! You'd better remember the young master's face, too! If you dare show him the slightest disrespect again, I swear your families will all be eaten by flying-winged sharks!"

The five men stared at Arthur in terror and despair. Arthur, whose face was just as grim, obediently bowed slightly to Iron Hammer and put on a smile. "Uncle Iron Hammer, you've misunderstood. It was just a little misunderstanding. What happened this time wasn't quite what you think."

Iron Hammer waved his hand, domineering and overbearing. His face darkened. "I don't need an explanation, and I never listen to explanations! Anyway, Young Master Arthur, the young master can hit you if he wants! If your men dare attack him, I'll injure them this time—but next time..."

Iron Hammer made no effort to hide his hostility toward Arthur. He gave him a sinister smile and raised his hand, drawing it across his throat in a threatening gesture.

Arthur's expression changed again. He lowered his head and answered in dejection. The men Iron Hammer had sent flying with his chain struggled on the ground for a while before finally hauling themselves upright. They staggered over and helped up the middle-aged man Enzo had wounded with his sword.

Another shadow shot out of the gate. Unlike Iron Hammer, whose massive frame resembled a giant bear, this man was short and shriveled, like a dried-up monkey. Iron Hammer radiated heat like molten lava, but the moment this man appeared, a chill wind swept over them. Everyone suddenly felt cold to the bone.

"Young master, you're back?" the shadow cried out in delight, then whirled around Lin Qi several times at breakneck speed.

Lin Qi shouted back just as happily, "Uncle Butcher Knife, it's been three years!"

With a series of cackling laughs, Butcher Knife brought his dizzyingly swift dash to a halt. He was a short, skinny middle-aged man, no more than five feet tall. His skin was fairly fair, but with his triangular eyes, slanting brows, and mouthful of rotten yellow teeth, he was a sight no one cared to behold. Patches of dry, yellow hair sprouted across his scalp, while the rest was covered with scars left by fire.

Lin Qi and Butcher Knife embraced warmly. Lin Qi, broad and muscular, lifted Butcher Knife right off the ground, as if an adult were picking up a child.

Butcher Knife soon realized how bizarre the sight was, given their enormous difference in size. Cursing, he wriggled out of Lin Qi's arms and kicked him hard in the rear. "Three years, young master! What have you been eating in Berely? You're almost as big as the master now!"

After another few cackles, Butcher Knife's sinister gaze suddenly settled on Arthur. Arthur shuddered. He hurriedly bowed slightly to Butcher Knife, not daring to say another word, then immediately led his five subordinates away down Black Mountain Beech Mountain, supporting the badly wounded middle-aged man.

Butcher Knife gave a sinister smile and suddenly called out, "Young Master Arthur!"

Arthur turned around without thinking and answered respectfully, "Uncle Butcher Knife!"

Butcher Knife chuckled. He gestured toward the middle-aged man's horse sword, which lay in the snow a few steps away. A thread-thin black filament shot from his sleeve and wrapped around the sword, snatching it into his hand. Butcher Knife flicked his right hand. A few thin flashes of cold light passed, and the fine-steel horse sword suddenly snapped into more than ten pieces with a series of crisp cracks.

A sheen of cold sweat spread across Enzo's forehead. Lin Qi's Uncle Butcher Knife was another monster!

Butcher Knife spoke in a sinister voice. "Next time I see your men disrespect the young master, you won't get off this lightly!"

Arthur didn't dare make a sound. He bowed deeply to Butcher Knife, then plastered on a smile and hurried away with his men.

Lin Qi beamed. Iron Hammer and Butcher Knife each grabbed one of his hands and, overjoyed, pulled him through the courtyard gate. Iron Hammer had taken only a few steps when he glanced back and spotted Enzo. He swept out his hand, and an iron chain whipped around Enzo. Iron Hammer hauled him inside like a scarecrow.