Blow Up the Ship and Everyone Aboard!

Before long.

One martial artist after another stepped forward, took out ten taels of silver, and handed them over.

Only Lu Yun remained seated on the deck, lightly wiping the shaft of his spear with his right hand, as though he had not heard a thing.

Ye Quan froze at the sight.

He could not figure out what Brother Lu was trying to do. Was he really going to be this stubborn?

Was he truly going to go head-to-head with an Inner Strength martial artist from the Canal Gang over ten taels of silver?

"Is there something wrong with this guy's head?"

He glanced at Lu Yun, a strange look in his eyes.

The surrounding martial artists were equally astonished. They had not expected to run into something like this just by taking a boat.

Quite a few even wore expressions of eager anticipation.

The long journey had been boring as hell. Now that such a spectacle had finally come along, everyone craned their necks in expectation.

The Canal Gang members' expressions darkened.

They had not expected anyone to dare openly deny them face. The man was simply courting death.

Zhou Yong slowly walked over, his gaze icy. "Kid, are you deaf? Ten taels for passage!"

"No."

Lu Yun answered unhurriedly, still wiping the tip of his spear without even raising his eyelids.

"Good, good, good. No one has ever dared to ride a Canal Gang boat for free. I've truly had my eyes opened today."

Zhou Yong gave a cruel smile, murderous intent swirling across his face.

He did not believe that a martial artist lacked a mere ten taels of silver. The other man was clearly provoking him on purpose.

If he did not kill a chicken to frighten the monkeys today, how was he supposed to keep making a name for himself in Clear Distance City?

Several Canal Gang disciples also looked at Lu Yun as if he were already dead.

The martial artist passengers around them did not think highly of Lu Yun either, whispering among themselves.

"How many moves do you think this man can last against Zhou Yong?"

"I say a dozen or so."

"I say three. Zhou Yong has killed Inner Strength martial artists before..."

The crowd even started placing bets on the spot, making the scene rather lively.

Only Ye Quan, standing to one side, looked somewhat helpless.

Though he wanted to smooth things over, his own strength was too meager, leaving him without the confidence to speak up.

Lu Yun turned a deaf ear to the surrounding chatter and sneered at Zhou Yong. "Riding for free?"

"If the boat is gone, then there's no need for a ticket, right?"

He slowly rose to his feet, holding his spear horizontally.

Killing intent.

Was spreading.

"Haha... you've got some nerve, kid!"

Zhou Yong laughed in extreme anger.

He had lived for decades, yet this was the first time he had ever seen someone so arrogant.

Not only had the brat spoken insolently, he had even threatened to smash their rice bowl.

A mere martial artist from some tiny mountain village—what gave him the right to be more arrogant than me?

If he did not beat this man to a pulp today, he would never be able to vent the fire in his heart.

The atmosphere between the two sides grew increasingly tense. A fierce battle was on the verge of erupting.

Just then, Lu Yun moved.

"Die."

He gripped his spear tightly and suddenly thrust it forward.

"Whoosh..."

A sharp icy glint flashed through the air, carrying an overwhelming pressure as though it would tear everything apart.

"Come die for me!"

Zhou Yong refused to be outdone, drawing his blade and slashing down.

"Whoosh..."

The strike fell from above, splitting even the air apart with a piercing shriek.

A vicious grin spread across his lips, as though he could already see the other man's miserable end.

In his eyes, no Nourishing Qi martial artist could withstand his own 1,800 jin of strength.

Being blown apart was the other man's only possible ending.

The Canal Gang members all wore expressions of certain victory.

The passengers, meanwhile, watched the battlefield with keen interest, awaiting the opening of the betting.

In an instant, blade and spear collided.

Bang...

A spark burst through the air, followed by a deafening crash.

Under the impact of that tremendous force, the entire ship began to sway.

"That's impossible! You're an Inner Vigor martial artist?"

After that single collision, Zhou Yong was forced back more than ten meters, his face filled with shock.

He had actually been at an absolute disadvantage. This man's strength was at least 2,000 jin.

The moment that thought surfaced, towering waves surged through his heart.

He drew a deep breath and steadied his trembling right hand.

Lu Yun, by contrast, had not moved an inch. Like a towering mountain, he carried an imposing, majestic aura of his own.

Their exchange had lasted only an instant.

Only now did everyone present react.

The Canal Gang disciples' faces instantly froze. They stood rooted to the spot as though struck by lightning.

None of them had expected this man to be so powerful that even a veteran Inner Vigor martial artist from their gang had fallen into a disadvantage.

On the right side of the deck, Ye Quan looked utterly dumbfounded. "Brother Lu is that fierce?"

Just moments ago, he had still felt a faint sense of superiority from being from the county town. Never had he imagined that the clown was himself.

What mountain wildman was this? He was clearly a hidden dragon.

Yet in the blink of an eye, Ye Quan's expression changed drastically.

"Oh no, this hull can't withstand the two of them fighting. If they sink it..."

At that thought, cold sweat began pouring down his face.

Below them churned the surging river, icy to the bone in the depths of winter.

And they would have to swim dozens of li to reach the opposite bank, all while guarding against the possibility of strange beasts appearing beneath the river. People would really die...

They were only Nourishing Qi martial artists. Before nature's savage might, they were just as fragile.

The surrounding passengers were initially horrified, but some of the sharper martial artists quickly came to their senses and began tearing apart the ship's wooden planks.

With their lives at stake, no one had the mind to fear the Canal Gang's influence anymore.

"Brother, please calm down! I'll pay the ten taels of silver for you—don't do this... I really can't swim..."

Several weaker martial artists actually began wailing, praying frantically in their hearts: Don't fight anymore, please!

No one had any interest left in watching the spectacle while placing bets.

But the course of events far exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Die."

Lu Yun gave his opponent not the slightest chance to catch his breath.

He swung his long spear and smashed it savagely toward the man's head, like Mount Tai bearing down from above, its force terrifying.

"Not good."

Zhou Yong's face changed dramatically. He hurriedly raised his saber crosswise above his head, his qi and blood circulating madly throughout his body.

Boom boom boom...

In the space of an instant.

The long spear crashed down onto the blade, sending sparks flying everywhere. The tremendous force nearly made Zhou Yong lose his grip on the hilt.

The back of the saber was driven viciously into his shoulder, and blood slowly seeped out, staining his lapels red.

"Argh..."

A miserable scream burst from Zhou Yong's mouth. The intense pain made his entire body tremble, but before he could react—

The long spear came smashing down again, even more ferociously than before.

"Brother, let's talk this out..."

Zhou Yong's eyes were filled with terror as he hurriedly begged for mercy.

He could not block this strike. He would die!

The shadow of death shrouded his heart, making him cast aside all dignity.

As he begged for mercy, he raised his longsword over his head.

Hoping to buy himself even a moment to catch his breath.

But Lu Yun had no intention of giving him any chance to struggle.

He swung his spear around and crazily smashed it down at the man's head.

The piercing howl of it tearing through the air rang in every direction.

Then, with a thunderous bang, Zhou Yong's entire body was smashed into the cabin, leaving only his head exposed above the deck.

Blood filled Zhou Yong's nose and mouth, and his eyes had gone unfocused.

Under Lu Yun's overwhelming assault, he was already half out of his mind.

"Die."

Lu Yun leaped high into the air, gripping the spear shaft tightly as he brought it crashing down from above.

Bang...

Before Zhou Yong could react, the spear shaft slammed into his forehead.

"Ah..."

A miserable scream rang out as Zhou Yong's head instantly split into four pieces, blood spraying in all directions.

His entire body was sent plunging down into the bottom of the ship along with it.

Under that tremendous impact, the treasure ship finally could not endure any longer.

Crack...

The hull split apart, opening a huge gash in the keel.

Crash...

Immediately afterward, the surging river water poured madly into the ship through the crack.

Before long, the stern of the entire treasure ship tilted upward, while the bow gradually sank beneath the river.

From the moment Lu Yun attacked again to the moment Zhou Yong was blasted apart, only a few breaths had passed.

At this moment, everyone present was utterly dumbfounded.

Not only because of Lu Yun's domineering strength, but because the entire ship had been smashed open.

In all their years, they had never seen anyone so brutally fierce.

For ten taels of silver, he had killed a man and sunk a ship—no one would believe it if they told them. It was utterly outrageous.