"Do you know Han Chanjuan?"
The man's face was dark as he spoke coolly.
"You... captured her?"
He An's expression changed drastically. She had gone to Watermill Head Village long ago. Had they captured her there?
At the thought of Han Chanjuan, He An's chest heaved violently. "She's only a frail woman! Whatever tricks you have, come at me!"
As he spoke, he wrenched his hands apart, shattering the shackles around his wrists and scattering the pieces across the floor.
The man wore the ghost of a smile. Stroking his beard, he said, "You're like a clay bodhisattva crossing the river, unable even to save yourself. What could you possibly protect her with?"
"If you dare hurt her..."
He An clenched his fists, oblivious to his nails digging deep into his flesh. His eyes reddened as he slowly approached, stared at the man before him, and said through gritted teeth, "I swear I'll repay you tenfold, a hundredfold. I'll slaughter every last one of you, grind your bones to dust, and scatter your ashes!"
He An's voice was resolute, each word as firm as a nail driven into iron.
The man studied the youth before him. His clothes were ragged and his body covered in wounds, yet he stood straight and tall, his keen presence as formidable as an unsheathed sword.
Flames seemed to burn in his bright eyes.
For some reason, the man did not think the youth was boasting at all. He even vaguely sensed that unless this boy was eliminated, he would become a grave threat in the future.
Killing intent stirred in the man's heart, but the thought of that incomparably radiant girl brought hesitation back to his face.
After a moment, he sighed, as though he had made his decision. "Chanjuan asked me to save