Che Zhenzhong soon arrived at Gaoliu Street.
Perhaps because of the fighting between the two gangs, the street was deserted, with not a soul in sight.
Che Zhenzhong gave it little thought and headed straight for the Gaoliu Branch Hall, which he had visited not long ago.
He had just turned into the alley.
A chill ran through Che Zhenzhong's heart, and he instinctively raised his arms in front of his face.
Bang!
The next instant, a fist like a heavy steel cannon slammed into Che Zhenzhong's arms, sending him flying sideways more than ten meters.
Che Zhenzhong forcibly suppressed his churning blood and only then got a clear look at his attacker.
The man was thickset and ugly, with sunken eyes, a flat nose, and a pointed, monkeylike face-the very image of a great black gorilla fresh out of the mountains.
"Well, if it isn't the young son of Escort Master Che from the Shunyuan Escort Agency?"
The "great black gorilla" withdrew his fist and looked at Che Zhenzhong with a half smile.
"Black Vajra?"
Che Zhenzhong's heart jolted. Why was this Second Refinement expert, a subordinate of Violent Bear, one of the Five Tiger Generals, here on Gaoliu Street?
Although Violent Bear and Fire Ox both served as Five Tiger Generals under Tiger Lord, they had never gotten along, and their men rarely set foot in each other's territory.
Now Black Vajra had appeared just as the branch hall was fighting the Golden Goose Gang. This was probably more than a coincidence.
Che Zhenzhong's expression shifted. "I understand now! Zhang Yan is one of yours. You set this up!"
He turned and left without hesitation!
He had to bring this news to Fire Ox.
But the next instant, he stopped, staring ahead with an ugly expression.
A burly, one-eyed man had appeared behind him at some point, blocking his escape.
"One-Eye!!"
Che Zhenzhong's expression turned utterly grim. "What is Violent Bear trying to do?!"
"Brother-in-law, Wei Sheng should be all right, shouldn't he?"
In Fire Ox's back courtyard, Niu Yong hesitated before asking.
Fire Ox frowned without speaking.
Although he had promptly made arrangements and sent Xiao Ran and Che Zhenzhong to rescue Wei Sheng,
he had still been a step too late.
By now, Wei Sheng had probably already faced Zhang Yan. Given the latter's vicious cruelty, even if Wei Sheng survived, all four of his limbs would likely be broken, leaving him crippled!
"I saw how exceptional his comprehension was and wanted to cultivate him properly, turn him into a trump card in my hand. Who would have thought that one careless move would cost me such a promising seedling..."
Fire Ox sighed softly, feeling somewhat agitated.
"Fire Ox, an old friend comes calling, and you don't even come out to greet him? That's no way to treat a guest!"
Just then, a piercing roar rang out from the outer courtyard, making even the roof beams tremble.
Immediately afterward, a powerfully built man, two meters tall and shaped like a bear, strode into the back courtyard, as relaxed as if he were coming home.
"Violent Bear?"
Fire Ox's brows knitted the moment he saw him. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome!"
"Didn't I just take one street from you? It's not like I stole your woman. Is this really necessary? At worst, once you're strong enough, I'll let you take it back."
Violent Bear grinned, but no matter how one looked at that smile, it seemed savage and ferocious, like a raging bear opening its enormous maw, ready to swallow its opponent whole at any moment!
Fire Ox remained expressionless. "Did you come here just to make snide remarks? If you're done, get lost!"
"Heh heh, I hear you found a promising seedling who took the Savage Bull Fist from Entry to perfection in a single month! With talent like that, he'd count as a genius even in those martial halls in the Inner City. Too bad he followed you. He's in for a world of suffering!"
"Hmm?"
Fire Ox's eyes widened as he instantly realized what was happening. "You're behind the trouble at the Gaoliu Branch Hall?"
"Now, now, you can't go making wild accusations without evidence!"
"I remember now! When Zhang Yan was still in the gang, he worked under you. Now that he's struck out on his own, out of all those streets, he just happened to pick Gaoliu Street, where I'm in charge. You mangy bear, you still dare say you're not behind this?"
"If you say so. What can you do to me?!"
"No! With your strength, Gaoliu Street wouldn't interest you at all..."
At this point, Fire Ox's pupils abruptly contracted, as though understanding had suddenly struck him. "So... your target is Wei Sheng?!"
"Wrong! Not just Wei Sheng, but Che Zhenzhong, Xiao Ran... and everyone under you with a chance of competing for a position among the Five Tiger Generals... This brat was lucky he didn't go to Gaoliu Street. Otherwise, we could have caught the whole lot in one net!"
Violent Bear roared with laughter, finally pointing at Niu Yong, who was shrinking into a corner. A trace of regret flashed through his brutal eyes!
"You're courting death!!"
Fire Ox flew into a rage. His blood surged, his entire body turning fiery red and radiating danger. His fist tore through the air and hammered toward Violent Bear's face!
Bang!
Cao Defa was punched several meters away, his chest seemingly caved in as he spat out mouthfuls of blood.
"You dare stand in my way with that pathetic ability?"
Opposite Cao Defa, a burly man with loose hair and a face covered in stubble sneered disdainfully.
Behind the loose-haired man stood more than a dozen sturdy men, all wearing matching brown fighting clothes embroidered across the chest with a Golden Wild Goose poised to take flight.
The Golden Goose Gang!
Zhang Yan!
Cao Defa stared at the loose-haired man as though seeing him for the first time, his eyes full of shock. "Y-you broke through to the first refinement?"
Although he was no First Refinement fighter himself, he had spent years honing himself at the threshold of that realm, and his strength was very close to it.
Yet Zhang Yan had sent him flying with one effortless punch. The tremendous force released by that blow was absolutely beyond an ordinary person. He had to be at the first refinement!
"Hahaha, you guessed right! Your reward is death!"
Zhang Yan laughed, his gaze as vicious as a jackal's, and stepped forward. The Golden Goose Gang members behind him stood shoulder to shoulder like a human wall and advanced with him, an indescribable pressure spreading toward them.
Clutching his chest, Cao Defa retreated step after step.
A Chang backed away with the crowd. Some other gang members had been injured by Zhang Yan in the earlier fighting and lay strewn across the ground, screaming incessantly!
With Fire Ox, one of the Five Tiger Generals, protecting the Gaoliu Branch Hall, ordinary gangs did not dare come looking for trouble.
As a result, almost all the gang members in the branch hall were below the first refinement.
That level was enough against ordinary people, but against Zhang Yan, a First Refinement fighter, they were rabbits facing a starving wolf, unable to withstand a single blow!
"Shut up!"
Irritated by the noise, Zhang Yan stomped on one gang member's left arm. With a crack, the bones snapped beneath his foot. The pain made veins bulge on the man's forehead. Just as he was about to scream, the toe of a shoe thrust straight into his mouth and twisted forcefully.
His jaw was instantly dislocated, and blood poured from his mouth and nose, leaving him in a wretched state.
"Quiet! Make another sound and I'll slaughter you!"
Zhang Yan stared coldly at the gang member. Sure enough, the man was terrified into silence. His body writhed like a snake from the pain, his face contorted in agony, yet he did not dare make the slightest sound.
"Zhang Yan, don't get too arrogant! Brother Fire Ox has already sent experts! If you dare provoke Brother Fire Ox, you're dead for sure!!"
An old gang member shouted from the crowd.
But he had barely finished speaking before the Golden Goose Gang members surrounded him and soon beat him to the ground, his face covered in blood.
Even A Chang was no exception, beaten until his face was bruised and swollen.
Lying on the ground, he felt somewhat relieved. Fortunately, Brother Sheng wasn't here and wouldn't have to suffer this humiliation.
"Experts?"
Zhang Yan planted his foot on the old gang member's chest and looked down at him with a mocking expression. "Where?"
Rustle, rustle!
Footsteps sounded at the entrance to the alley.
They were not particularly loud, but in the pin-drop silence, they were distinctly audible.
Everyone instinctively looked over.
Hope and anticipation even appeared on the faces of A Chang and the other branch hall members.
Zhang Yan frowned slightly, the smile disappearing from his face.
Before long,
the figure of a tall, straight-backed youth emerged from the thin mist and came into everyone's view.
"Brother Sheng?"
When A Chang saw who it was, his eyes widened, and he wondered whether he was seeing things.
Cao Defa and the other branch hall members looked utterly disappointed.
They had thought an expert had arrived to help, but it turned out to be Wei Sheng.
Granted, Wei Sheng could indeed fight, but only against those below the first refinement. Against someone at the first refinement, he was nowhere near enough!
When Zhang Yan saw Wei Sheng, however, he visibly relaxed and said mockingly,
"Your Gaoliu Branch Hall really is something! The boss stays out of sight and sends a junior to take the fall!"
Before you continue