It's Coming, It's Coming!

Anyone who had thrown a few punches knew how hard it was to hit a moving target without training. It took exceptional coordination. Even if a punch landed, it could easily strike the wrong spot, scattering its force and failing to do the job.

With bare fists, you were more likely to hurt yourself. Broken fingers and sprained wrists were commonplace.

But in his fury, Hong Yuan struck on gathered momentum. Almost by instinct, his hand and eye moved together, his waist and hips as one. He twisted, drove off his leg, and poured all his rage into a punch that carried a gust of wind. Like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, he lunged in for the kill.

Thud!

The heavy punch struck the back of the last burly maidservant's head with unerring precision.

That maidservant was knotted with muscle, burlier even than a grown man. How could she have expected someone among those "pretty boys" to cast fair play aside and launch a vicious sneak attack? Her body went rigid under the blow, her head felt ready to burst, and the pain was so fierce she could not even scream. Then her feet left the floor, and she crashed into the two maidservants running ahead of her. One fell headfirst to the floor; the other staggered.

That felt good. So damn good!

His bewilderment at suddenly crossing into a strange world and his anger at being picked over like livestock had all poured out through that violent punch.

Hong Yuan felt exhilarated, comfortable in every part of body and mind. Every cell in him seemed to cheer. Even the faint, throbbing pain in his knuckles felt wonderful!

Endure it?!

Endure my ass. A real man fights!

Just then, Hong Yuan blinked. Something strange floated into the lower edge of his vision: rows of dark, twisted marks, like dancing mosquitoes...

What the hell is that?

Hong Yuan was startled, but before he could look closer, a furious shout rang beside his ear. A sharp gust whistled down toward his head.

The maidservant who had staggered had regained her footing. She looked over and saw one companion lying on the ground, her fate unknown, and the other with her forehead scraped against the floor, her face covered in blood. Shocked and furious, she whipped out a staff and swung it down with a shout.

Hong Yuan had never been in a real fight and lacked experience. Otherwise, while one maidservant was down and the other off balance, he could have pressed the attack and taken out another.

But that moment's hesitation left him facing a counterattack!

Hong Yuan's scalp prickled. Suddenly, for no reason he could fathom, a warm current brimming with vitality surged from somewhere inside him and flowed through his limbs and bones. Heat washed over even his slightly torn knuckles, and their burning pain vanished.

That was not all. A cool, lucid breath rushed straight to the crown of his head. Hong Yuan felt his mind clear, as though dust deep within his heart had been swept away. In an instant, he was calmer and clearer than ever before.

It was as if lightning split his mind.

Images of the "Dragon of the Furniture Store," the "Number One of Jinmen," and "I'll Take Ten" flashed through his head. Hong Yuan dropped low and ducked!

Whoosh!

A staff swept past, whipping his hair up and scattering it. Hong Yuan spun in close. One hand shot out and seized the maidservant's staff-wielding arm, while his other fist drove straight at her face.

The broad-shouldered, thick-waisted maidservant ducked his punch and used her head like a hammer, ramming hard toward his chest.

Hong Yuan raised a knee and yanked the arm he held. The pull sent her lunging forward even faster, but her footing fell apart and she could no longer sustain her force.

Crack!

She ran face-first into Hong Yuan's raised knee. Her nasal bone snapped, and she screamed, her vision swimming and her ears burning as she swayed on her feet.

Hong Yuan snatched the staff from her hand. It was remarkably heavy. He had no idea what wood it was made of, but it felt solid, with iron bands around both ends. Straight and hard, it was the sort of staff no man could resist.

Smack!

Hong Yuan swung the staff into the maidservant's face. Her fleshy cheeks quivered, several rotten teeth flew out, and she toppled to the floor. She was not dead, but her limbs twitched.

Boom!

Only a few breaths had passed from the uproar outside, to the brightly dressed person on the dais shouting "Fire!" and turning against the Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue, to Hong Yuan's sudden attack that left two burly maidservants dead or injured.

Only then did the people in the hall react. Faces pale with horror, they cried out and scattered.

Most fled toward the hall doors. Others, seized by greed, took the chance to snatch banknotes from the people around them.

"What are you stealing for? Is this place short of silver? What's a hundred taels?"

The man being robbed roared.

The thief immediately saw his point. The Jade Wutong Immortal Realm was so lavish. Before, he had never had a chance, but now someone was clearly attacking the place. Why not take advantage of the chaos and make a fortune?

Yang Lie rolled across the floor, grabbed a fallen staff, and brought it down on the crown of the maidservant with the bleeding forehead just as she was about to rise.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Yang Lie was far more ruthless and decisive than Hong Yuan. After the first blow, he did not pause. He struck three more times, splitting her skull and killing her on the spot.

Yang Lie still did not stop. He swung back and dealt the twitching maidservant on the floor one final blow, sending her to her grave.

Only then did he turn to Hong Yuan, astonishment plain on his face. "Young brother, I took you for a frail scholar. I never expected you to be so strong—or so capable in a fight. Excellent! Join forces with us, and we'll tear down this godforsaken den of evil!"

"Us?"

Hong Yuan caught the word and raised an eyebrow. "All right!"

"No time to talk. We have to finish this before the guards outside get here! Kill!"

Yang Lie spoke quickly, his voice brimming with killing intent. He raised his staff and charged straight for the dais.

Hong Yuan was about to follow him when he caught sight again of the rows of "flying mosquitoes" floating at the bottom of his vision. He froze.

(You crossed into another world, an orphan far from home, trapped in a den of evil... Yet you did not wallow in self-pity. You swiftly accepted reality and held fast to your principles, tempering your resolve. Comprehension +1 wisp.)

(Subjected to oppression, you rose in defiance and drew blood for the first time with your life on the line. Your thoughts became clear. Comprehension +1 wisp.)

(You underwent a medicinal bath, improving your body and slightly strengthening its foundation. Root Bone +1 thread.)

(You erupted in adversity and fought a formidable foe, tempering your physique. Root Bone +1 thread.)

Huh?

Was this—?!

It's coming! It's coming!

Late, but here at last. It finally came.

Hong Yuan let out a long breath. He had known it. How could his "world-crossing perk" amount to nothing more than a single boost to his physique? Here was the rest of it.

All at once, the rows of tiny characters vanished, and another swarm of mosquito-like text appeared.

[Blessed Land Dao Lord (gray): Hong Yuan (18)]

[Root Bone: 2/100]

[Comprehension: 2/100]

[Talents: ① Qi Through All Bones (Increases muscle and bone strength, improves bodily coordination, allows blood and qi to flow freely and fill the whole body, slightly boosts short-term explosive power, and speeds recovery from injury.) ② Clear Eyes Through the Nether (Enables sight at night, clear vision several yards into the dark, keen awareness of direction, heightened observation in combat, and improved ability to track the path of attacks.)]