Fighting

"Second Brother, hurry! Huh, Third—Third Uncle came too?" Young Master Luo was astonished to see Sanbao. In the past two years, Sanbao had hardly ever set foot outside the Luo Mansion.

Unlike Luo Caiguang, who was still young and impulsive, Luo Caiguang was already twenty-seven. He found it difficult to accept Sanbao as his "Third Uncle," whether because of his age or his strength. But Sanbao was indeed of the Luo family's second generation, so he had no choice but to bow and pay his respects. Deep down, however, he was clearly resistant, and his words naturally lacked warmth.

In all of Lushan Town, there was probably no one besides Sanbao who could leave Young Master Luo, a man who usually threw his weight around, feeling so stifled.

"Big Brother, are we going to give the Yan family a taste of their own medicine? Great! We've finally found our chance. They dared to provoke the Luo family..." Caiguang was already so excited he'd forgotten himself. He raced toward the entrance, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Caiyang, I'd like to go take a look. Is that all right?"

Sanbao didn't even wait for Young Master Luo to answer. He stuck close to Caiguang's side. It hardly looked like he was asking permission; he was clearly determined to go.

"Big Brother, let's bring Third Uncle along, too," Caiguang chimed in.

"Well, I'm afraid Third Uncle's health isn't quite up to it... All right, then. But if anything happens, Third Uncle, make sure you hide behind me!"

Luo Caiyang had meant to leave Sanbao behind on the grounds that he was too young and frail. Then he reconsidered. Taking him along might be a good idea. It would let Sanbao see just how formidable his "junior" was and open his eyes a little.

Being the "elder" wasn't so easy.

A group of more than twenty people hurried toward Tianxiang Street, the busiest road in Lushan Town. It was a rare sight for the two young masters of the Luo family to parade through the streets; something was definitely about to happen.

The news soon sprouted wings and flew to every corner of Lushan Town. Some people, eager for a show, hurried over in hopes of catching the action.

The crowd trailing the Luo family slowly grew from more than twenty to dozens, then hundreds. Before long, several hundred people had gathered.

Wherever they passed, people scattered to make way and show their respect. In Lushan Town, the Luo family was the very symbol of overwhelming strength.

The Luo brothers made no effort to be modest. Putting on a grand show, they led their hundreds of followers at an unhurried pace toward the Yan Mansion on Tianxiang Street.

The Yan Mansion soon received word. At that moment, several important members of the Yan family were urgently discussing what to do.

The family head, Yan Huishan, sat in the main hall, his expression grave.

"Gaojin, what am I supposed to say to you? Wuhua is young and doesn't know better, but didn't you know the Ren family has the Luo family backing them?" Yan Huishan scolded the culprit's father, Yan Gaojin, who was also his eldest son.

"Father, how could I not know the consequences? I only found out after Wuhua had already acted. I planned to take him to the Ren family tomorrow to apologize and offer compensation. Who could have guessed the Luo family would react so quickly?" Yan Gaojin, the eldest son of the Yan family's second generation, explained.

"Family head, our Yan family is the foremost family in Lushan. We're powerful and prosperous. Why should we fear the mere Luo family? They cut someone's legs off, so what? What can the Luo family do about it?"

Another member of the Yan family's second generation complained indignantly.

"Silence! Have you forgotten the strength Luo Kaifeng showed during last year's negotiations? A Spirit King, a Spirit King! Do you understand? And that's only Luo Kaifeng. There's also Luo Kaiyu, not to mention the mysterious Luo Dingyi. Our Yan family may have a thriving clan, but among our more than a hundred members, not one has reached the Spirit King realm. Tell me, what do we have to fight the Luo family with?"

One of the Yan family's first generation hurriedly retorted.

Unlike the Luo family, whose first generation had only one surviving branch, Yan Huishan had seven or eight brothers. Four of them, including Yan Huishan himself, had reached the Spirit Commander realm. One member of the Yan family's second generation had reached the same level as well. The family was undeniably powerful, but not one of them had managed to break through the shackles of the Spirit King realm. Faced with the Luo family's superior strength, they could only act with their hands tied.

Fortunately, though the Luo family was powerful, they kept a low profile. Apart from the Copper Mountain and Iron Mountain, which the Luo family controlled, the Yan family held sway over most of the town's other money-making ventures and markets. That was one of the main reasons the two families had managed to coexist peacefully.

But keeping a low profile didn't mean they feared trouble. Quite the opposite: the Luo family was unyielding on matters of principle. Last year's dispute over the Copper Mine was the best proof.

At the time, the Yan family's most gifted young man, Yan Wuji, had just joined the Hundred Leaf Sect. He was said to be highly valued by the sect, and the Yan family hoped to use that connection to claim a share of the Luo family's Copper Mine. But the Luo family wouldn't give them the time of day, and in the end they had been sent packing.

While the Yan family members discussed their options, Luo Caiyang and his group had already arrived at the entrance to the Yan Mansion.

The Yan Mansion stood in the busiest part of Tianxiang Street. A vast plaza lay before its gates, where a pair of enormous bronze lions, each over ten meters tall, stood as a symbol of the Yan family's dominion over all. It was an imposing sight.

At that moment, however, the Yan family's plaza was nearly bursting with people. The Luo brothers stood there with their chins high, looking thoroughly pleased with themselves.

"Where's Yan Wuhua? Tell him to get out here! I want to ask him what gave him the right to cut off my cousin's legs!" Caiguang planted himself in the middle of the plaza and bellowed in a booming voice.

Besides the Luo family members, the crowd of spectators behind them had swelled to more than a thousand. It turned out the Luo family hadn't come for just anyone—they had come for the overlords of Lushan Town, the Yan family. This was a true clash of titans.

As the saying went, when two tigers fought, one was bound to get hurt. This was sure to be the most thrilling spectacle Lushan Town had seen in over a decade. Anyone who missed it might never get another chance.

"Well, if it isn't the two young masters of the Luo family. What brings you to gather a crowd and make trouble at the Yan Mansion today?" asked the Yan family's chief guard coolly.

A servant had already run ahead to report the news to the Yan family members.

"What kind of nobody are you? Send out someone from the Yan family who can actually speak!" Caiguang shouted.

Luo Caiyang was the more composed of the two, but his words were just as forceful. The Yan family members were furious, yet mindful of the Luo family's formidable strength, they didn't dare so much as breathe a word.

"This is great! I've never seen the Yan family get put in their place like this."

"Exactly! Those Yan family brats usually only dare bully us ordinary folk. But the moment Young Master Luo shows up, they all turn into a bunch of turtles hiding in their shells..."

"People always said the Luo family was the strongest force in Lushan Town. I never believed it, but now I can see it's true."

"Just look at the two young masters of the Luo family. Now those are true heroes among men! I worship them..."

Sanbao listened to the crowd's varied comments behind him and watched the Yan family's reaction. His mind was as clear as a mirror: this world was even more direct than the one he had come from. Everything depended on strength.

Before long, Yan Huishan's eldest son—and the father of Yan Wuhua, the culprit—Yan Gaojin hurried to the entrance with more than a dozen Yan family elites.

"Why, if it isn't my two worthy nephews from the Luo family! What brings you here today?" Yan Gaojin called warmly, even before he had reached them.

"Yan Gaojin, quit pretending. Get your son out here. Today I'm going to cut off both his feet and get justice for my cousin!" Caiguang shouted scornfully. He didn't think much of Yan Gaojin or any other core member of the Yan family.

Yan Gaojin's face darkened, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled faintly. "Oh, nephew Luo, I'm afraid you've come at a bad time. My Wuhua said he wanted to see his younger brother Wuji, so he went to the Hundred Leaf Sect on Lishan today."

"Yan Gaojin, who are you trying to fool? Yan Wuhua was throwing his weight around in the street this morning. How could he have gone to Lishan in the time since?" Luo Caiguang shouted, his eyes blazing.

"Yan Gaojin, don't think you can use the Hundred Leaf Sect to intimidate me. Your son cut off my cousin's legs. If you don't hand him over today, don't blame me for flattening your Yan family!"

Luo Caiyang spoke at an unhurried pace, but every word was barbed.

"Master Caiyang, I'm telling the truth. My Wuhua really did go to the Hundred Leaf Sect. If you want to find him, go to Lishan."

Yan Gaojin had never felt so humiliated. But with the Luo family's strength looming over him, he didn't dare lose his temper. He clasped his hands and replied coolly.

"Since that's the case, then I'll just have to punish you for failing to raise your son."

Seeing this, Caiyang wasted no words. He launched himself forward like a hunting leopard and charged straight at Yan Gaojin.

"Impudent!" "How dare you!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Yan family guards rushed to stop him, but Luo Caiguang merely gave them a light push with both hands. Luo Caiyang sent them tumbling to either side like dead fish.

Most of these guards were only one- or two-star Spirit Generals. They might have lorded it over ordinary people and even common Spirit Scholars, but against someone like Caiyang, a four-star Spirit Commander, they were far out of their depth. Young Master Luo brushed them aside without breaking a sweat.

They were nothing compared to Yan Gaojin, a five-star Spirit General, who was no match for him either. Seeing Luo Caiyang charge without a word, Yan Gaojin's heart lurched. Those Luo boys really were ruthless—one of them even dared to start killing people in his own home.

As his legs went weak, Yan Gaojin cried out, "Father, save me!"

"Yan Gaojin, prepare to die... Golden Sand Palm!" Luo Caiyang roared, and a gigantic golden palm suddenly appeared before the crowd.

Golden Sand Palm was a mid-grade metal-element Spirit Skill, fierce in power and imposing in its momentum.

Yan Gaojin hurriedly retreated, sweeping both hands across his chest in a series of streaks of light. Soon, a palm seal took shape. It was his signature technique: the mid-grade Spirit Skill, Earth Element Seal.