Fierce Battle in the Small Courtyard, Young Master Du

"Du Chong, what is the meaning of this?"

Cao Lin's expression turned ugly as he let out a heavy breath.

"Hahaha!"

The man in black opposite him was none other than Du Chong, the young leader of the Black Dragon Gang. He sneered, "What's wrong? Isn't Stone Ox Town the territory of your Green Garment Gang? As the dignified young leader of the Green Garment Gang, are you afraid?"

Cao Lin roared, "Bastard, do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Despite his words, he was secretly cursing his luck. It was simple: he only had six men with him, while the Black Dragon Gang had over a dozen—more than double his numbers!

Du Chong said with composure, "Cao Lin, do you want to know why I suddenly appeared here?"

"Is... is there a traitor?"

Hearing this, Cao Lin was instantly alarmed.

He immediately swept his fierce gaze over the five martial artists behind him: "Who? Who betrayed me?"

The five men lowered their heads one after another, and no one spoke.

Du Chong laughed, "Cao Lin, it seems your own men have turned against you. Why don't you come back to the Black Dragon Gang with me? I promise to treat you well."

"Don't even think about it!"

Cao Lin knew exactly what that meant; going back with him was essentially becoming a hostage.

Once he was under the control of the Black Dragon Gang, the Green Garment Gang would be forced to hold back, putting them at a massive disadvantage in their future conflicts.

"What a joke. Do you think you still have a choice?"

Du Chong chuckled, "A wise man submits to circumstances. You've lived for over twenty years; you should understand that principle."

As he spoke, the dozen or so black-clad martial artists behind him brandished their weapons, surrounding Cao Lin and his men.

Cao Lin clenched his fists tightly, remaining silent.

After a long moment, one of the Green Garment Gang martial artists said tremblingly, "Young Leader, the situation is against us, perhaps we should..."

"Qin Wu, shut your mouth!"

Cao Lin exploded with rage, "Was it you who was the traitor?"

Qin Wu hurriedly knelt on the ground, his face pale with terror, "Young... Young Leader, I... I was forced..."

"It really was you!"

Cao Lin gritted his teeth in hatred, "Qin Wu, I treated you like a brother, and you actually betrayed me!"

Bang!

As soon as the words left his lips, he threw a punch.

It struck Qin Wu squarely between the eyebrows.

Thud!

In an instant, Qin Wu was knocked to the ground by the heavy blow and died on the spot.

"Du Chong!" Cao Lin turned toward Du Chong, "You turned my subordinate against me. How despicable!"

"I simply paid a little extra silver."

Du Chong replied unhurriedly.

"Enough!"

Cao Lin said sternly, "Du Chong, I fell for your trap today, and I accept that. But I will not surrender without a fight. If you have any guts, fight me one-on-one!"

Du Chong burst into arrogant laughter, "One-on-one? Fine!"

Cao Lin snorted, "You said it yourself!"

"Heh, I naturally keep my word."

Du Chong smiled, "Cao Lin, my father was able to beat your father until he was half-dead, so I can do the same to you. Since you want to test it, I'll let you have a taste of my power!"

So that was it... Shen Han, perched in the locust tree, finally understood.

Cao Ziping had been wounded by the leader of the Black Dragon Gang. The Black Dragon Gang understood the principle of capturing the ringleader first; they hadn't just dealt with Cao Ziping, but had now sent Du Chong to capture the young leader, Cao Lin, tonight.

However, neither side was a good bird. It wouldn't be a bad thing to let them fight until they were both dead or crippled.

"Fine, I will avenge my father right now!"

Cao Lin let out a roar, his fists like heavy hammers, his robes fluttering as he lunged at Du Chong.

Du Chong did not dodge or evade, instead raising his hands to meet the attack.

Bang!

Fist met fist with a dull thud.

A gust of wind was whipped up, dust filled the air, and the force of the impact even gouged a large pit into the ground within a ten-foot radius.

"You..."

Cao Lin stumbled back several steps.

His eyes were filled with shock, his arm numb, and he felt as if he couldn't catch his breath.

"Cao Lin, your cultivation is nothing more than mediocre."

Du Chong, however, stood firmly, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master!"

The members of the Black Dragon Gang, seeing Du Chong hold the absolute advantage, began to shout and cheer loudly.

The few members of the Green Garment Gang looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Cao Lin gritted his teeth, gathered all the strength in his body, and hammered toward Du Chong once again.

"Is that all?"

Du Chong remained completely motionless.

He sneered, flicking his hand casually.

Bang!

Cao Lin collapsed directly to the ground.

"Agh, my arm..."

His right arm had been struck by Du Chong's hand-blade, shattering the tendons and bones, leaving him in agonizing pain.

"Young Master..."

The men from the Green Garment Gang rushed to support him.

Du Chong laughed wildly: "It seems your Green Garment Gang truly has no successors, hahahaha!"

"Pfft..."

Blood gushed from Cao Lin's mouth.

Severely injured, he didn't even have the strength to stand up at this moment.

Both are in the Flesh Refining Realm... Shen Han thought to himself.

It was just that Du Chong must have entered the late stage of the Flesh Refining Realm, with at least eighty percent more power than Cao Lin, which allowed him to crush Cao Lin so easily.

One had to know that even within the same realm, there was often a massive gap in combat power.

"Cao Lin, do you submit?"

Du Chong wore a playful expression as he walked up to the incapacitated Cao Lin.

Facing the ruthless Du Chong, those few Green Garment Gang martial artists dared not act rashly, each of them silent as cicadas in winter.

"What... what do you intend to do..."

Cao Lin endured the intense pain, speaking with difficulty.

Du Chong chuckled: "I already said, I only need Young Master Cao to stay at my Black Dragon Gang for a few days."

"Bullshit, I'd rather die!"

Cao Lin spat out another mouthful of blood.

Du Chong laughed toward the sky: "Still stubborn when death is at your doorstep? Is this the code of your Green Garment Gang? No wonder your father lost to mine; it's because your father didn't know how to strike from the shadows."

"Shameless!"

"Since you won't cooperate, so be it. I'll just cut off your head now. Bring me a blade!"

A Black Dragon Gang martial artist immediately handed a long blade to Du Chong.

"No..."

Looking at the gleaming blade, Cao Lin finally felt fear.

No matter what, living was better than dying.

"Yo, have you come to your senses?"

"Du Chong, don't get cocky too early. My father and Uncle Li will definitely storm the Black Dragon Gang to save me!"

"With your father in that state, how many days does he even have left to live?"

Du Chong mocked.

Cao Lin kept his mouth shut.

Right now, his greatest reliance was the recovery of his father, Cao Ziping, and it was a recovery that had exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Tie up the Young Master!"

Having won a complete victory, Du Chong ordered his men to bind him.

Two Black Dragon Gang martial artists quickly complied, tying Cao Lin up tightly.

"Young Master, how should we deal with the remaining four?"

"Why ask me? Just slaughter them!"

Du Chong spoke as if it were a matter that had nothing to do with him, "But before that..."

Suddenly, he looked up toward the locust tree outside the courtyard wall.

The others did not know his intent, but they all followed his gaze.

After a long moment, Du Chong said coldly, "You rat in the tree, have you seen enough of this show?"

No sooner said than done.

Whoosh!

Du Chong hurled the long blade in his hand with great force, aiming it at Shen Han hidden among the leaves.

Clang!

Shen Han dared not be careless; he pulled the Heavy Iron Curved Blade from the Bronze Mirror and held it horizontally before his chest, blocking the incoming, ferocious strike.

Clatter!

The long blade fell to the ground.

Shen Han had no choice but to leap down, landing in the small courtyard.

"Young Master Du, so you discovered me from the very beginning."

"Damn it..."

Du Chong stepped forward, closing the distance, "You are truly disgusting to look at! Speak, who exactly are you?"