At the sound of the warning, the atmosphere in Peach Blossom Spring instantly grew tense.
Chen Yu, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun immediately dropped what they were doing and rushed toward the valley entrance as fast as they could. Guan Yu was concealed behind a huge boulder, his sharp gaze fixed on the narrow passage outside the valley.
"Third Brother, what's happening?" Chen Yu asked quietly.
Guan Yu shifted aside to give him a view and pointed beyond the passage. "There's movement. A few dozen people, carrying weapons, sneaking this way. Judging by their clothes, they're from the Water Ghost Gang. The one leading them is Wang Wu, whom we drove off before."
They really came! Chen Yu thought. It seemed they had indeed tracked them to the area, but had yet to pinpoint Peach Blossom Spring and were still searching.
"How far have they come?" Liu Bei asked.
"About a hundred paces from the entrance. They're moving slowly, apparently scouting," Guan Yu replied. The extraordinary perception granted by his Rayquaza power let him clearly track the enemy's movements.
Zhang Fei grinned, exposing his stark white teeth, and rubbed his hands together. "Perfect timing! I can try out the moves I've just learned on them!"
Zhao Yun's gaze was icy, white currents of air flickering around him. "These accomplices to evil won't be leaving alive today!"
Chen Yu quickly calmed down, his mind racing. This was Peach Blossom Spring's first defensive battle. They had to win decisively while minimizing the risk of exposing themselves.
"They outnumber us and may have come prepared. We can't be careless, but there's no need to fear a fight," Chen Yu said gravely. "We have the terrain on our side. The entrance is narrow, easy to defend and hard to attack. This is a good opportunity to test the results of our training these past few days and let Zhao Yun get used to his new power."
He looked at Guan Yu. "Guan Yu, your eyesight is the best. Watch the whole battlefield and be ready to provide support."
Then he told Zhang Fei, "Zhang Fei, you're the strongest. Hold the narrowest point at the entrance and let no one through!"
Next, he told Zhao Yun, "Zhao Yun, you're agile and skilled with a spear. Wait for opportunities and strike at their weak points."
Finally, he told Liu Bei, "Second Brother, coordinate from the center. Your life aura can restore our stamina and heal minor wounds whenever needed."
After speaking, Chen Yu lowered his head. He knew he might currently be the weakest fighter among them.
"Big Brother, you..." Liu Bei said with concern.
Chen Yu waved a hand, a gleam of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "I have my own arrangements. Just focus on the enemy. At the critical moment, I'll give you a 'surprise.'"
Seeing his confidence, the four nodded and accepted their orders out of absolute trust, though they did not understand what he meant.
Soon, the sounds of disorderly footsteps and hushed conversation drew closer.
"Wang Wu, is there really anyone in this godforsaken place? It's nothing but trees and rocks," one thug complained.
"Shut up! I saw that brat run this way with my own eyes! Those little bastards who injured us must be hiding nearby too! Search carefully! Find their hideout, and the boss will reward you handsomely!" Wang Wu's voice carried hatred and a trace of greed.
"The boss said he wants them alive or their bodies! Especially that new pretty boy, Zhao Yun or whatever his name is. The boss wants to 'take care' of him personally!"
Hearing that their targets were specifically Zhao Yun and his own group, Chen Yu's gaze grew colder. They really are a pack of scourges!
Soon, Wang Wu arrived before the narrow passage into the valley with dozens of Water Ghost Gang members carrying steel sabers and clubs. They hesitated at the sight of the entrance, half concealed by vines and scattered rocks.
"This place looks a little strange. Could there be an ambush inside?" a cautious thug asked.
Wang Wu swore. "What are you scared of? There are dozens of us! Are we supposed to be afraid of a few brats who haven't even grown hair yet? Get in there!"
At his urging, several thugs worked up their courage, pushed aside the vines, and cautiously squeezed into the narrow passage.
Just as the first two made it halfway through, Guan Yu swooped down like a hawk from his ambush among the boulders on either side! A powerful field of energy automatically surrounded him, a manifestation of Rayquaza's Ability, Air Lock. Moving like lightning, he curled his hands into claws and reached straight for their necks with fierce wind pressure!
Crack! With two crisp snaps, the men slumped to the ground without even screaming. Guan Yu landed silently and stared coldly at the enemies outside the passage.
"An ambush!" the thugs outside cried in fright.
Shocked and furious, Wang Wu shouted, "All together! Charge inside!"
The remaining dozens shouted and surged toward the passage, brandishing their weapons. But it was so narrow that only two could walk abreast, leaving them unable to exploit their numerical advantage, though it would have done little good even if they could all charge at once.
Just then, Zhang Fei appeared at the end of the passage like a mighty divine warrior! Faint flames surrounded his body, and his furious roar shook loose stones from the passage ceiling!
"Your grandpa Zhang is here! Die, you rats!"
He made no attempt to dodge. Facing a steel saber slashing toward him, he simply threw a punch!
Clang!
His punch actually bent the steel saber! The webbing of its wielder's hand split open, and the weapon flew from his grip. With his other hand, Zhang Fei caught a wooden club thrusting toward him and twisted hard, snapping it! He followed with a kick that sent the thug flying, broken club and all, knocking down several men behind him!
The narrow passage became a stage for Zhang Fei alone! He stood like a rock, every punch and kick carrying Groudon's Earth Power, heavy and forceful. A glancing blow injured; a direct hit killed! The Water Ghost Gang could not advance a single step!
The thugs behind them were terrified by Zhang Fei's ferocity and began retreating. Furious, Wang Wu charged forward himself, swinging a broad executioner's saber. "Move aside! I'll take him!"
Wang Wu clearly had some skill. His saber techniques were vicious as he tried to break through with technique. Though immensely strong, Zhang Fei's moves were relatively simple, and Wang Wu actually blocked his first attack.
At that moment, a white figure swept out from the flank like a gale! It was Zhao Yun!
Though he had no spear, he held his fingers together like a spear tip, Reshiram's white flaming currents curling around them. His speed was astonishing! Seizing a gap in Wang Wu's saber swings, he jabbed beneath his ribs!
Hiss!
The white current burned him. Wang Wu cried out in pain, his saber technique instantly falling into disarray. Zhang Fei seized the chance, roared, and drove a punch straight into Wang Wu's chest!
"Pfft!" Wang Wu spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground. He looked unlikely to survive.
With their leader killed, the remaining thugs collapsed completely. They shouted, turned, and tried to flee.
"Where do you think you're going?" Guan Yu had already circled behind their flank and cut off their retreat. Moving like the wind, his fists and feet striking like lightning, he targeted their joints and vital points to immobilize them.
Meanwhile, Liu Bei remained in the rear, a faint rainbow glow surrounding his hands. He enveloped Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun in a gentle life aura, relieving their fatigue and healing their minor scrapes.
Seeing that the enemy was about to be wiped out, Chen Yu, who had not expected them to be so easily defeated, quickly stepped forward.
Rather than joining the fighting directly, he concentrated and drove Arceus's power to its fullest-[Life Creation]! This time, however, he was not using it to create, but attempting to "guide" and "bind"!
His targets were the dense vines and tough weeds on either side of the passage!
Under Chen Yu's guidance, the plants seemed to be infused with vitality. They grew wildly, like venomous snakes and giant pythons brought to life, swiftly coiling around the thugs trying to escape!
"Ah! What is this?"
"Vines! The vines are alive!"
"Help!"
The thugs discovered in terror that vines, suddenly endowed with immense strength, had wrapped tightly around their ankles and wrists, leaving them unable to move. Even the wounded groaning on the ground were bundled up like rice dumplings.
The battle ended in mere minutes. Of the dozens of Water Ghost Gang members, apart from the few killed outright by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, all the rest were captured alive, securely bound by the wildly growing vines.
Peach Blossom Spring suffered zero casualties!
Looking at the enemies he had battered into disarray and the writhing "vine dumplings" covering the ground, Zhang Fei laughed with excitement. "That felt good! Really good! Big Brother, that vine-controlling trick of yours is incredible!"
As Guan Yu looked at Chen Yu, a trace of surprise and admiration flashed in his eyes as well. He knew this was far beyond what ordinary Devil Fruit powers could accomplish.
Zhao Yun was even more stirred. It was his first time personally taking part in such a battle, experiencing the strength Reshiram's power brought him and witnessing Chen Yu's unfathomable methods. His reverence for this sworn second brother reached its peak.
Liu Bei walked up beside Chen Yu. Looking at the results before them, he said with feeling, "With Big Brother directing our strategy and our brothers unstoppable in battle, we've won a complete victory!"
Chen Yu smiled faintly, his gaze cold as he looked at the terrified prisoners.
"Next, it's time for a proper interrogation. Let's find out just what their deputy gang leader and the officials behind them intend to do."
Peach Blossom Spring's first real battle had not only tested everyone's strength but also yielded their first batch of weapons and intelligence. A fighting spirit rose within the hidden valley. Chen Yu knew that after this battle, Peach Blossom Spring would no longer be content to remain secluded in a corner. The time to take the initiative was drawing near.
After the battle, the people of Peach Blossom Spring cleared the battlefield and separated the prisoners for guarding. Chen Yu decided to personally interrogate the thug who looked like a minor leader. Under Zhao Yun's burning gaze, imbued with Reshiram's aura of "truth," and the "encouragement" of Zhang Fei's cracking fists, the minor leader soon broke down and confessed everything through tears and snot. Sure enough, their target was Zhao Yun. Cui Gui, the Water Ghost Gang's leader known as "Poison Eel," had taken a liking to Zhao Yun's fighting skills and wanted to force him into the gang as hired muscle. Humiliated and enraged after being refused, he had ordered him hunted down and killed. Meanwhile, Wang Wu had harbored a grudge ever since suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Chen Yu and his three companions. After making inquiries in many places, he had vaguely gathered that they might be hiding in these wooded mountains. This trip was both to capture Zhao Yun and to take revenge along the way.
"How strong is Cui Gui? How many people does the Water Ghost Gang have? Where's their base?" Chen Yu asked gravely.
"The boss... he seems to have eaten a Devil Fruit, a Zoan. He's very powerful. There are about two or three hundred people in the gang. The base is at the Abandoned Shipyard southwest of town." The minor leader dared not conceal anything.
"A Devil Fruit User!" Chen Yu's gaze tightened slightly.
"What dealings does your gang have with the town officials?" Chen Yu asked the most crucial question. The minor leader's eyes shifted, but when Zhang Fei raised his enormous hand, he immediately caved. "I'll talk, I'll talk! Lord Zhou, the tax official at the Town Chief's Residence, and a squad leader in the Garrison have both... both taken benefits from our boss. They usually turn a blind eye to what we do."
Officials and bandits in collusion, just as I thought! Chen Yu sneered inwardly. This Flower Country is rotten to the core.
After the interrogation, Chen Yu discussed matters with his brothers.
"Big Brother, it looks like the Water Ghost Gang won't let this go. We killed their people and captured so many more. This is a serious feud now," Liu Bei reasoned, his brow slightly furrowed.
Guan Yu said coldly, "Whatever they send, we'll meet it. If they dare come again, none will leave alive!" The air currents around him stirred slightly.
"What's there to fear?" Zhang Fei shouted. "That 'Poison Eel' fellow? My fists are itching for a fight! Let him have a taste!"
Zhao Yun was somewhat calmer. "Big Brother, the enemy has a Devil Fruit User and superior numbers. Should we be more cautious, or... take the initiative and catch them unprepared?"
Chen Yu gave Zhao Yun an approving look. He truly lived up to his reputation for both intelligence and valor. After a moment's thought, Chen Yu said, "Zhao Yun has a point. Passive defense is no long-term solution. The Water Ghost Gang has been terrorizing the locals. Rather than wait for them to attack, we should root out this thorn ourselves!"
His gaze swept across his brothers. "But not through brute force. We're few in number, so we need strategy. First, we must train harder and improve our strength as quickly as possible. Second, we need to learn the shipyard's terrain and the enemy's defensive positions. Third, we must choose a favorable moment."
"What do you plan to do, Big Brother?" Liu Bei asked.
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you need never fear defeat," Chen Yu said. "Zhao Yun and I are relatively agile. Tomorrow, we'll go near town again to gather information. Ideally, we can sneak close to the shipyard and observe it. Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Liu Bei will stay behind, continue strengthening the defenses, and make the most of the time to train."
Guan Yu was uneasy. "Big Brother, it's too dangerous." Chen Yu smiled. "Don't worry. We have Reshiram's eyes of truth, making it easier to see through deception and traps. Besides, even if we can't win, escaping won't be a problem. And only real combat and pressure can draw out our potential faster."
Seeing that Chen Yu had made up his mind and that his reasoning was sound, the others stopped objecting.
Before you continue