No Need to Retreat Further

Chen Yue forced himself to steady his mind, attempting a final negotiation: "Headman He, we're just law-abiding Pearl Households. I've already passed the Imperial Court's Martial Examination at the county level, with a future of official status ahead of me. Besides, if Guild Master Zhou's men really reach your gang..."

"Incorrigible!"

He Chong's face twisted into a cruel grin. He waved his hand and barked sharply: "You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Don't blame me for being ruthless—get him! If he resists, dead or alive, it doesn't matter!"

"Yes!"

Zhou Qi's eyes had long been bloodshot with anticipation. At the command, he was the first to howl and lunge forward. Behind him, the other four gang members with drawn blades surged in unison, the small courtyard instantly flooded with killing intent.

"Dad! Mom! Get inside the house! Close the door!"

Chen Yue's pupils contracted. He roared like a thunderclap, jolting his stunned parents awake. At the same time, his right hand swept to his waist, and the crude Clam Knife was already in his grip. Instead of retreating from the charging figures, he advanced.

He activated the Roaming Mountains and Rivers movement technique, his form twisting like a ghost through the narrow yard in a bizarre arc. Moving after them, he arrived first, instantly closing in on the rightmost gang member wielding a short blade.

That gang member saw Chen Yue coming straight for him, grinned savagely, and swung his knife down in a chop!

Chen Yue sidestepped and twisted his waist, dodging the blade by a hair's breadth. At the same time, his Clam Knife shot upward from below like a white bolt of lightning, precisely slicing across the tendons of the opponent's knife-wielding wrist.

"Ah!"

The gang member let out a miserable shriek. The short blade clattered to the ground as blood spurted from his wrist.

Chen Yue didn't pause. He twisted his waist again, his right leg whipping out like a lash, carrying the immense force of the Mountain-Climbing Art, and slammed it solidly into the man's chest!

"Thud!"

"Crack!"

The faint sound of bone breaking rang out. The gang member, like a tossed sandbag, flew backward with blood frothing from his mouth, crashing straight into the three others charging right behind him.

The four tumbled into a heap, slamming into the courtyard wall.

Zhou Qi, having some martial foundation and quick reflexes, agilely sidestepped to avoid the collision. Seeing Chen Yue take down one man in an instant, his hatred and madness only intensified. Ignoring everything else, he gripped his blade with both hands and poured all his strength into a straightforward, unadorned vertical slash.

The gleaming blade whistled through the air, aimed straight at Chen Yue's neck. This strike was vicious and decisive, clearly meant to kill!

Chen Yue's eyes turned icy. Facing this lethal blow, he neither dodged nor evaded. His right hand lifted the Clam Knife to meet the descending blade.

Though crude, the Clam Knife, driven by the full force of his Mountain-Climbing Art inner breath, managed to hold against the steel blade. A harsh screech of metal grinding metal rang out, sparks flying.

The moment he parried, Chen Yue's left hand shot out in a plain Crushing Fist, slamming squarely into Zhou Qi's completely unprotected right shoulder joint!

"Thump! Crack!"

After the dull impact of fist meeting flesh came the unmistakable sound of bone shattering!

Zhou Qi's right shoulder blade and collarbone completely deformed and broke under that punch. He let out an inhuman howl of agony, his right arm dangling limply as the steel blade slipped from his grip.

Chen Yue's eyes held no trace of pity. His right leg followed through, kicking viciously into the center of Zhou Qi's chest!

"Pfft!"

Zhou Qi spat a mouthful of blood. His whole body flew backward like a torn sack, crashing heavily into the two other gang members who had just struggled to their feet and were about to charge again.

They all became a tumbling mess once more, unable to get up for a good while.

From Chen Yue's sudden eruption to the lightning-fast crippling of two men, only a few breaths had passed. Of the six originally aggressive Sea Shark Gang members, only He Chong remained standing unharmed.

Scarface He Chong's earlier grin had vanished without a trace. How could a lowly Pearl Diver possess such terrifying skill?

This was absolutely not something achievable by sneaking in a few days of crude farmhand martial arts. There was definitely something off about this kid! Could Zhou Qi's suspicion be true? Had his brother really died at this brat's hands?

After the shock came a fury that ignited into outright brutality!

To gravely wound so many of his men right before his eyes—this was trampling He Chong's face into the dirt!

"You little bastard! I'll skin you alive!"

He Chong's eyes blazed red. He let out a fierce roar, stomped heavily, and shot forward like a tiger breaking free from its cage. The thick-backed chopping knife in his hand howled through the air as he brought it down toward Chen Yue's head!

The blade's momentum was heavy and its coverage wide, clearly aiming to overpower Chen Yue by force and force him into a direct block.

Just as He Chong lunged at Chen Yue, one of the less severely injured gang members saw his boss engaging Chen Yue. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes. Ignoring the sharp pain in his chest and abdomen, he crouched low and silently crept toward the tightly shut inner room door!

If he could just control those two old folks, this kid, no matter how tough, would have to kneel!

Though Chen Yue was dealing with He Chong, his sharp senses kept him fully aware of the entire scene. Seeing that man dart toward the inner room, a cold gleam exploded in his eyes!

Facing He Chong's powerful overhead slash, Chen Yue chose not to meet it head-on. His footwork shifted again, pushing the Mudfish Slipping Through a Crack step of Roaming Mountains and Rivers to its limit. His form twisted like a boneless fish, slipping out from the edge of He Chong's blade's reach at the last possible moment.

Not only did he evade the lethal strike, but he also used the momentum to twist his body, sharply accelerating. Moving after his target, he arrived first, blocking the inner room door before the sneaking attacker could reach it.

That gang member only saw a blur before his eyes, and his target had become the demon-like Chen Yue. In panic, he swung his blade down wildly.

Chen Yue didn't dodge. His left hand shot out in a simple, direct Iron Mountain Fist, moving after the opponent's strike but landing first, like a cannonball, smashing heavily into the man's right shoulder.

"Pfft!"

The gang member's forward charge came to an abrupt halt. His right shoulder shattered, and a gush of hot blood sprayed from his mouth as his whole body was flung away violently.

"You mongrel! I'll kill you!"

He Chong's slash hit nothing, and seeing Chen Yue wound another man right under his nose, he was so furious he nearly spat blood. More than that, he felt the sting of humiliation from being belittled.

He realized Chen Yue's weakness—his parents. Instantly changing tactics, he swung his chopping knife, no longer chasing Chen Yue, but aiming a vicious strike at the wooden door of the inner room.

He wanted to force Chen Yue to defend, to force Chen Yue into a head-on clash with him!

Chen Yue's gaze sharpened. He knew he could no longer evade. His parents were right behind that door—he absolutely could not let He Chong break through! With a flick of his toe, he hooked the steel blade from the ground and gripped it in his right hand.

Just as He Chong's blade was about to touch the wooden door, the inner breath of the Mountain-Climbing Art surged violently within Chen Yue's body, flooding into his right arm. His feet stepped forward in a rapid chain, and the steel blade in his hand transformed into a streak of cold light, descending from above to meet He Chong's weapon.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Ear-splitting explosions rang out in succession within the small courtyard. Sparks continuously burst from between the wildly clashing blades.

He Chong's expression shifted completely. He felt as if he wasn't dueling with a blade against a man, but rather bracing against the charge of a maddened bull.

With every block, the savage force numbed his arm and split the web of his thumb. Sticky blood made the hilt slippery and nearly impossible to hold.