Fury, Savagery

Rebirth Temple, inner arena.

Lu Li froze for an instant as an unbearably chaotic din reached his ears. Wild laughter and furious curses stabbed into his mind like needles.

He had come from modern society. While fleeing through Yunzhou, he had seen plenty of horrific scenes and corpses along the way—even a Jingguan—and had still managed to bear it.

But now, looking at the child's corpse on the ground, he suddenly felt like vomiting.

Pale intestines sprawled across the ground. The child's little face was ashen, and terror and helplessness seemed to linger in his lifeless eyes.

Only then did Lu Li fully understand why Tong Xinghe wanted to uproot the Myriad Life Sect entirely!

The crimes committed by villains in games were merely brushed over as background details in the story.

But now, with such naked evil laid bare before him, an indescribable fury surged within Lu Li. Violent emotions crashed through his chest, nearly impossible to suppress!

"Boss, if you can't stand seeing this, then we won't watch this today."

Seeing that something was wrong with Lu Li's expression, Tian Wang regretted bringing him here.

This place usually held dogfights, but every so often, the Huang Household behind Rebirth Temple would somehow bring in "dog children."

Tian Wang tugged at Lu Li's arm, but it was like trying to pull a pillar; he could not budge him at all. He glanced around anxiously.

He was genuinely afraid that Lu Li might do something irrational and drag him down with him.

Just then, a burst of footsteps sounded, and a slight disturbance rippled through the arena.

After the corpse had been cleared away, someone led in another yellow-skinned child. The iron chain around his neck had nearly cut into his flesh, while his opponent was a striped vicious dog dripping saliva, its fangs savage and menacing.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A dwarf struck a bronze gong, and uproar erupted as the air filled with feverish excitement.

"Bets are open! Odds are ten to one!"

The dwarf called out loudly. At once, the gamblers around them began placing wagers frantically.

"Boss, this place is run by the Huang Household. Even the authorities can't touch them, so don't do anything foolish!"

Tian Wang grew increasingly nervous, sweat beading on his forehead as he lowered his voice.

"Second Master Huang said before that anyone who can fight him gets to take the person away if they win. Otherwise, if you're feeling kind, you can spend a few dozen taels of silver to buy him back."

"The Huang Household?"

Lu Li's gaze turned cold at the words.

He stood silently where he was, his expression blank as his eyes swept back and forth over the surroundings.

"Bets closed! Release the dog!"

The dwarf gave the order, and people on either side released the chains around the striped vicious dog and the dog child's necks.

The vicious dog, starved for days, lunged forward like a dark shadow, jaws opening wide as it rushed toward the dog child curled up in the corner.

The gamblers watching wore feverish expressions. A fight between a dog child and a full-grown vicious dog could have no surprises at all. The only question was how long the former could endure.

But this time was different!

A figure shoved through the gathered crowd, leaped into the square pit, and stood before the dog child, kicking the striped vicious dog squarely in the head!

Bang!

A dull impact burst forth. The striped vicious dog flew away like a kite with its string cut, crashing into the Buddha statue before it could even scream.

Half its skull burst open, and foul-smelling blood splashed across the statue!

Everything had happened in mere seconds. The inner arena, boisterous just moments ago, fell utterly silent, with only faint sounds drifting in from the outer grounds.

Ignoring everyone's stunned expressions, Lu Li turned around, bent down to gently stroke the child, and looked toward a young man in a light purple robe whose face held a mocking expression.

"Name your price."

His calm voice rang in everyone's ears.

Lu Li looked composed as he held the trembling child in his arms. From his earlier observations, the young man before him had the highest cultivation among the crowd: Third Layer of Meridian Opening.

Moreover, he was dressed in bright, luxurious clothes. Clearly, he was the person in charge here.

Of course, Lu Li had not acted on a hotheaded impulse.

Back when he had only been at the First Layer of Meridian Opening, he had been able to fight and defeat a Third Layer of Meridian Opening martial artist with the Demon Martial Path. Now that he had broken through to the Second Layer, even if every martial artist in Rebirth Temple attacked together, they would still be no match for him.

The purple-robed young man rose from his seat and slowly walked forward. Meeting Lu Li's gaze, he lightly clasped his hands in greeting.

"I am Huang Ling. May I ask how you are addressed, brother?"

Lu Li did not move. He merely said flatly, "Just an unknown nobody."

Huang Ling's eyes shifted slightly at that, and he smiled.

"I can see that your martial arts are quite impressive. Since you wish to buy this beast, one price only: thirty taels..."

Lu Li lowered his eyes without speaking and took out the money pouch from his robes. Just then, Huang Ling's voice drifted over lightly.

"Gold."

Lu Li paused briefly. He looked at Huang Ling expressionlessly.

Huang Ling shook his head with a laugh, though the mockery on his face only grew clearer.

"If you cannot produce it, brother, you may also follow the rules!"

With that, he leaped up and landed in the square pit as well, standing opposite Lu Li.

At the same time, guards dressed in black began driving the gamblers out of the arena.

Swept along by the crowded throng, Tian Wang turned back and cast Lu Li a worried glance.

This was bad!

Tian Wang felt as though his heart had skipped half a beat.

Huang Ling was the youngest son of White Crow Town's largest landowner. When he and his elder brother Huang Shang were young, they had entered the Separation and Reunion Sect to study martial arts, developing considerable skill.

Though Tian Wang lived in Liangshui Town, he had long heard of Huang Ling's notorious reputation.

The eldest Huang son practiced fists, while the second practiced legs. Both particularly enjoyed tormenting others, and no one knew how many people had died beneath the brothers' fists and kicks by now.

Soon, curtains were drawn over the inner arena. Tian Wang was frantic with worry, yet also deeply uneasy.

"It isn't easy to make a living in the martial world. Since you are also a man of the martial world, brother, let us settle this according to the rules today!"

"If you can defeat me today, you may take this dog cub away. But if you lose, you will serve the Huang Household for ten years."

Huang Ling stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

Judging by the fluctuations of Lu Li's aura, he was only a Second Layer of Meridian Opening martial artist. Huang Ling had complete confidence that he could take him down.

"Fine!"

Lu Li gave a soft laugh, coldness gleaming in his eyes as killing intent boiled in his heart.

He knew this was an irrational move, that he should not get involved in this mess, but...

"Isn't the martial world about settling grudges and repaying kindness as one pleases? If I walk away when I see injustice, I won't be able to swallow this anger!"

Lu Li sighed inwardly. If he lacked the strength, that would have been one thing, but everyone present was beneath him in ability.

The values he had developed under the red flag would not allow him to stand by and do nothing.

Unhurriedly, he set the dog child down at the edge of the pit. At that moment, a fierce gust of wind suddenly rose beside his ear. Lu Li glanced from the corner of his eye and saw a whip-like kick already sweeping toward him.

In that flash of lightning, Lu Li darted aside and barely avoided it. Then he suddenly said seriously,

"Brother Huang, how about we set new rules?"

Under Huang Ling's slightly surprised gaze, Lu Li said slowly,

"As long as you can avoid being beaten to death by me, I'll serve your Huang Household for the rest of my life. Victory or defeat... will be decided by whose head leaves their shoulders first!"