"What do you mean, Du Chong?"
Cao Lin's face darkened as he breathed heavily.
"Hahaha!"
The man in black opposite him was none other than Du Chong, the Black Dragon Gang's young master. He laughed coldly. "What, isn't Stone Ox Town your Green Garment Gang's territory? You're the mighty young master of the Green Garment Gang. Are you afraid?"
Cao Lin roared, "Bastard! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
But despite his words, he was secretly cursing his luck. There were only six of them, while the Black Dragon Gang had more than ten—twice as many!
Du Chong said leisurely, "Cao Lin, want to know why I suddenly showed up here?"
"Th-there's a traitor?"
At that, Cao Lin was immediately alarmed.
His tiger-like eyes swept over the five martial artists behind him. "Who? Who sold me out?"
The five all lowered their heads, and none of them answered.
Du Chong laughed. "Cao Lin, it seems your position as young master has left you surrounded by enemies. Why not come back to the Black Dragon Gang with me? I promise you'll be treated very well."
"Keep dreaming!"
Cao Lin knew exactly what he meant. "Come back with me" really meant becoming a hostage.
Once he was in the Black Dragon Gang's hands, the Green Garment Gang would be hamstrung. In the coming conflict with the Black Dragon Gang, they'd be at a tremendous disadvantage.
"Don't make me laugh. You think you still have a choice?"
Du Chong chuckled. "He who understands the times is a hero. You've lived for over twenty years; you should understand that."
As he spoke, the dozen or so black-clad martial artists behind him gripped their weapons and surrounded Cao Lin and the others.
Cao Lin clenched his fists and said nothing.
After a long pause, one of the Green Garment Gang's martial artists stammered, "Young master, we're outmatched. How about..."
"Qin Wu, shut your mouth!"
Cao Lin erupted in fury. "Are you the traitor?"
Qin Wu hurriedly dropped to his knees, looking stricken. "Y-Young Master, I... I was forced..."
"So it really was you!"
Cao Lin ground his teeth in rage. "Qin Wu, I treated you like a brother, and you betrayed me!"
Bang!
As soon as the words left his mouth, he threw a punch.
It struck Qin Wu squarely between the brows.
Thud!
In an instant, Qin Wu was knocked to the ground by the heavy blow, dead on the spot.
"Du Chong!" Cao Lin turned toward him. "You bribed my men to betray me. How despicable!"
"I merely paid them a little more silver."
Du Chong replied without the slightest concern.
"Enough!"
Cao Lin's expression turned fierce. "Du Chong, I admit you outplayed me today, but I won't surrender without a fight. If you've got the guts, face me one-on-one!"
Du Chong immediately burst into arrogant laughter. "One-on-one? Sure!"
Cao Lin snorted. "You said it!"
"Heh, I always keep my word."
Du Chong smiled. "Cao Lin, my father nearly beat your father to death. I can do the same to you—beat you half to death or kill you outright. Since you want to try, I'll give you a taste of what I can do!"
So that was it... Shen Han, perched in the locust tree, understood.
Cao Ziping had been injured by the Black Dragon Gang's leader. The Black Dragon Gang knew the wisdom of capturing the leader to control the rest: they had taken care of Cao Ziping, and tonight they had sent Du Chong to capture his son, Cao Lin.
Still, neither side was any good. Letting them fight to the death wouldn't be a bad thing.
"Fine! I'll avenge my father!"
Cao Lin roared. His fists were like heavy hammers as his robes fluttered and he lunged at Du Chong.
Du Chong neither dodged nor retreated. He simply raised a hand to meet the attack.
Clang!
Their fists collided with a muffled thud.
A fierce gale whipped around them, sending dust billowing through the air. The force of their punches even gouged a huge pit in the ground within several yards.
"You..."
Cao Lin staggered back several steps.
His eyes were full of shock. His arm had gone numb, and he could hardly catch his breath.
"Cao Lin, your cultivation is nothing special."
Du Chong stood firm, wearing a mocking smile.
"Young master!"
"Young master!"
Seeing Du Chong with the overwhelming advantage, the Black Dragon Gang members shouted excitedly.
The Green Garment Gang members looked at one another, at a loss.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
Cao Lin gritted his teeth, gathered all his strength, and hammered at Du Chong again.
"That's all you've got?"
Du Chong still didn't budge.
With a cold smile, he casually swung his hand.
Thump!
Cao Lin fell straight to the ground.
"Argh! My arm..."
Du Chong's hand blade had shattered the bones and sinews in his right arm, leaving him in unbearable pain.
"Young master..."
The Green Garment Gang members hurried over to support him.
Du Chong laughed wildly. "Looks like the Green Garment Gang has no one to carry on its legacy! Hahahaha!"
"Pfft..."
Blood burst from Cao Lin's mouth.
His injuries were so severe that he couldn't even stand.
They were both in the Flesh Refining Realm... Shen Han mused.
But Du Chong must have reached the late stage of Flesh Refining. His strength was at least eighty percent greater than Cao Lin's, which was how he'd crushed him so easily.
After all, even martial artists at the same level could have vastly different combat strength.
"Cao Lin, are you convinced?"
Du Chong's face was full of amusement as he walked over to the incapacitated Cao Lin.
Faced with Du Chong's ruthless attacks, the Green Garment Gang's martial artists didn't dare make a move. They stood silent as mice.
"You... what are you going to do?"
Cao Lin endured the pain and managed to ask.
Du Chong chuckled. "I already told you. All I need is for Young Master Cao to stay at the Black Dragon Gang for a few days."
"Bullshit! I'd rather die!"
Cao Lin spat out another mouthful of blood.
Du Chong threw back his head and laughed. "You're still stubborn with death staring you in the face. Is that the rule of your Green Garment Gang? No wonder your father lost to mine—your father didn't know how to strike from the shadows."
"Shameless!"
"Since you won't cooperate, so be it. I'll cut off your head right now. Bring me a blade!"
A Black Dragon Gang martial artist immediately handed Du Chong a long saber.
"No..."
At the sight of the gleaming blade, Cao Lin finally grew afraid.
No matter what, living was better than dying.
"Oh? Changed your mind?"
"Du Chong, don't celebrate too soon. My father and Uncle Li will storm the Black Dragon Gang to rescue me!"
"Your father, in that condition? How many days do you think he has left?"
Du Chong taunted him.
Cao Lin fell silent.
His greatest hope now was for his father, Cao Ziping, to recover from his injuries—and to do so against all expectations.
"Tie up Young Master Cao!"
With the victory all but won, Du Chong ordered his men to bind Cao Lin.
Two Black Dragon Gang martial artists quickly tied him up tightly.
"Young master, what should we do with the other four?"
"You need to ask me? Kill them!"
Du Chong spoke as if the matter had nothing to do with him. "But before that..."
Suddenly, he looked up at the locust tree beyond the courtyard wall.
The others didn't know what he was looking for, but they followed his gaze.
After a long moment, Du Chong said coldly, "The rat in the tree. Had your fill of the show?"
In the blink of an eye—
Whoosh!
Du Chong hurled the long saber in his hand toward Shen Han, hidden among the leaves.
Clang!
Shen Han didn't dare be careless. He pulled the Heavy Iron Curved Blade from the Bronze Mirror, held it across his chest, and blocked the fierce attack.
Clatter!
The long saber fell to the ground.
Shen Han had no choice but to leap down and land in the courtyard.
"Young Master Du, so you knew I was here from the start."
"Damn..."
Du Chong advanced step by step. "You're so ugly you make me sick! Tell me, who are you?"
Before you continue