Ji Feihua's body shuddered slightly, and a surge of internal force sent his red robe billowing. The transparent dome above his head instantly burst into a curtain of rain, scattering in every direction. His cold gaze fixed on the black meteor hammer hurtling toward him, and he spread the fingers of his left hand. In the blink of an eye, the hammer reached him. Like a stone sinking into the sea, its thunderous roar vanished as Ji Feihua caught it firmly in his palm. Then he lowered his arm and smashed the hammer into the bridge before him. Crack! The bridge broke again. The tremendous force pulled the chain taut and yanked the Black-Clad Man out of his saddle. Gripping the chain with one hand, the man tried to draw the sword on his back with the other, but before he could complete the movement, Ji Feihua swept a kick across his chest. It struck like a snapping whip, shattering his ribs inch by inch. The broken ends pierced his lungs, and bloody froth poured from his mouth and nose. His body flew backward again, his back crashing into his mount's head, and man and horse slid off the collapsing, tilting bridge into the water.
Blood welled through the black lake water like black smoke.
Having dispatched three assassins in an instant, Ji Feihua said coldly, "Since you're here, why don't you dare show yourselves? Why send your men to die for nothing?"
Crack! Crack! The stretch of bridge still above water collapsed bit by bit. Ji Feihua looked toward the lake. Beneath the distant surface, two streaks of orange light raced toward his feet at astonishing speed, forming a vast angle across the pitch-black water.
The point where those two streaks converged was none other than the Thatched Cottage