Blockade

The inn was so quiet you could almost hear the candlewick burning inside the lantern.

The strongman's gaze swept across the inn, like a dull knife scraping across everyone's face.

Finally, it landed on the escorts.

"Hand the person over." The strongman's voice was hoarse, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

"Young Master Lu said he's willing to marry her as a concubine. If you go back obediently, you can still enjoy wealth and glory. If you force me to act, it won't be pretty..."

A Martial Artist from the Xu Family cupped his hands and smiled apologetically, his voice trembling slightly:

"Sir, the person you're looking for isn't here. We're a legitimate escort agency, we transport cargo."

The strongman glanced at him, the corners of his mouth turned down, as if he were smiling, or perhaps spitting.

"Not here? Aren't you the Xu Family's convoy? Don't force my hand."

Then, he drew his saber.

"I'll ask one last time, will you hand the person over or not?"

Swish!

A sound of air being torn apart came from behind.

A dark spear.

Shot out from above everyone's heads!

Aiming straight for the strongman's head!

"Hmph."

The strongman snorted coldly, reacting swiftly, and drew his saber horizontally in front of him.

Clang!

The spear tip collided with the saber.

Emitting a piercing sound.

Finally, with a wave of the strongman's large hand, it was forcefully deflected, and the spear flew sideways.

Before everyone could see what had happened.

The Xu Family's retainer named Xue Hai, leaped out quickly from behind the crowd.

Caught the Long Staff that was flung back.

How could the Strongman let him have his way? He raised his saber, about to cleave him.

It was at this moment.

BANG!

Another loud noise, but this time it came from upstairs.

Zhang Jinsong leaped down from the second floor.

He held a black iron Long Staff in his hand.

He smashed it down towards the Strongman's head!

The Strongman had to stop his attack on Xue Hai, turn his head, and block this blow.

"What are you still gawking at!"

Zhang Biao Tou roared.

The guards were jolted awake. Gripping their weapons, they were about to rush forward to help, attacking the Strongman together.

And at this time, Chen Feng.

Had already taken several steps, arriving at the Strongman's side.

Using the momentum of his charge, he twisted his body and threw out a Splitting Fist strike towards the Strongman's waist!

The Strongman's eyes narrowed.

He seemed not to have expected Chen Feng to attack so decisively.

To everyone's surprise, the Strongman instead grinned, showing no intention of dodging.

While blocking Zhang Biao Tou's attack, he was still able to lift his leg.

And kick towards Chen Feng!

Aiming at the calf that was rapidly approaching.

Chen Feng, without hesitation, punched out!

Fist met calf.

The muffled sound of flesh and blood colliding made everyone's hearts tremble.

The next second.

Chen Feng staggered back several steps.

Forced to create distance.

His shoulder was dislocated, and he gritted his teeth in pain. Then, enduring the intense agony, he popped it back into place.

Looking at the strongman again.

He merely swayed, a bit unsteady, with a dark bruise on his calf, seemingly forming a blood clot.

Chen Feng felt it was absurd.

Was this the hardness a human could achieve?

He had been wearing brass knuckles! After that move, it was just a minor injury?!

After assessing the situation, Chen Feng realized he definitely couldn't defeat this strongman.

This had to be handled by a Bone Forging Martial Artist.

"You all retreat first! We'll catch up!"

Zhang Biao Tou roared, also understanding that the others couldn't be of much help here.

"Retreat? Retreat where?"

The strongman sneered, raising his cleaver and slashing at Zhang Biao Tou. Zhang Biao Tou blocked with his staff, but was clearly outmatched in strength.

"Die!"

A spear streaked through the air, stabbing towards the strongman.

Zhang Jinsong and Xue Hai, cooperating with each other, attacked the strongman from both sides.

Forcing him away from the inn's entrance.

"Hurry!"

Cheng Li rushed over, followed by two women, Cheng Tingxue and the maid.

Taking advantage of the strongman being fully engaged with the other two.

Everyone filed out through the back door.

"What about the cargo? What about the cargo?"

Someone asked loudly.

"Forget the cargo, it's all worthless stuff! This mission is to escort people!"

Cheng Li shouted, and after sending the two women onto the horse carriage, he became the coachman himself. He raised the whip and swung it down quickly.

"Hurry up!"

"More people will come from behind!"

Everyone's hearts leaped upon hearing this, and they quickly mounted their horses, following Cheng Li, and rushed out of the village entrance.

Clip-clop...

The chaotic sound of horse hooves pierced the night.

Only when the sounds of clashing weapons completely faded behind them did Wang Huan loudly ask:

"What exactly is going on!"

"Who was that strongman!"

"What else are you hiding from us?"

The two martial artists from the Xu family clearly knew something, but they remained silent, merely focusing on the journey.

Meanwhile, the four escorts, including Chen Feng, were kept in the dark like outsiders.

They knew nothing.

No one liked feeling this way.

"Sorry, we just didn't want to leak any information, so we kept it from everyone," Cheng Li replied while cracking the whip.

"Actually, this mission isn't about delivering goods, but escorting Tingxue back to Pingcheng."

"Zhang Biao Tou should have told you about the danger of this mission, which is why the reward offered to everyone is so high."

The escorts were stunned. Zhang Biao Tou had indeed emphasized the danger of the journey.

The reward for this escort mission was indeed generous.

Everyone was speechless.

The horse carriage wheels rolled over the gravel on the road, making a rustling sound.

It was then drowned out by the urgent sound of horse hooves.

"Who was that strongman? And who is this Young Master Lu he mentioned?" Chen Feng asked.

"Ask, ask, ask! All you know is to ask! Take the money and do your job properly, why so much nonsense!"

A Xu Family Martial Artist shouted at Chen Feng.

"Don't worry about things that don't concern you!"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the Changwei Escort Agency guards suddenly darkened, and they immediately got angry.

Chen Feng's eyes also turned cold:

"If you don't explain clearly, I'm leaving right now."

"How dare you!"

The Xu Family Martial Artist said angrily.

"Why wouldn't I dare? This is just a private job Zhang Biao Tou took on himself, not a Mission assigned by the agency."

Chen Feng said coldly.

"You're breaking the contract!"

"I haven't taken a single cent, nor have I signed any contract, so how can there be talk of breaking it? I could even turn around and help that Strongman, and there would be no problem."

Hearing Chen Feng say this, the people from Changwei Escort Agency couldn't help but slow down their horses.

They silently supported Chen Feng.

It was as if they would leave immediately if Chen Feng left.

"You!..."

The Xu Family Martial Artist was speechless.

The curtain of the Horse Carriage was suddenly pulled open, and the Maid inside poked her head out, scolding Chen Feng:

"If you dare to leave! Our Cheng Family will make sure you regret it!..."

"Shut up!!"

Cheng Li, who was driving the horse, cursed loudly.

He was afraid Chen Feng would really leave.

This was only the first day of the return journey, and there were still several days ahead.

If they were short-handed, Tingxue would be in danger.

The Maid seemed to want to say more, but seeing Cheng Li's cold gaze, she shrank her neck and ducked back into the carriage.

Chen Feng looked at Cheng Li, waiting for an explanation.

If Cheng Li hadn't helped him before, Chen Feng would have turned and left the moment the maid spoke.

Before becoming a Personal Disciple, he was timid and subservient.

After becoming a Personal Disciple, he was still timid and subservient.

Then wasn't his position as a Personal Disciple a waste?

As a Personal Disciple, Chen Feng's every word and deed outside reflected on the martial arts school's reputation.

Therefore, Xie Fei ambushing Chen Feng could be seen as a provocation to the martial arts school.

Chen Feng crippling him was not only reasonable but also entitled him to compensation.

The basis for this was his identity as a Personal Disciple.

A maid from the Cheng Family dared to threaten Chen Feng. Even if Chen Feng had punched her to death on the spot, no one would have said anything.

Instead, they would have blamed the Cheng Family for failing to discipline their servants.

Chen Feng was not bloodthirsty and was willing to give Cheng Li face, so he wouldn't turn hostile on the spot.

But the premise was:

If you offer a way down, the other party must know how to take it.