Chapter 684: Amazing Kung Fu

He flicked his wrist, and three iron lotus seeds shot out in a "pin" formation, striking the man's occiput, nape, and back of his heart behind Xiao Er.

This is his unique technique honed over years—three beads released simultaneously, sealing every escape route; in the jianghu, those who can retreat unscathed are few.

The man didn't even turn his head; his whole body suddenly bent backward rigidly, breaking into two pieces.

The three iron lotus seeds skimmed his robe, "pupupu" as they embedded into the nearby roof ridge, scattering broken tiles.

Lu Qi's eyes widened, his heart jolted.

What kind of ghostly kung fu is this! It's not Zhongyuan martial arts at all!

The man straightened up, ignoring the danger behind him, and together with his companion flanked Xiao Er from front and rear.

Lu Qi suddenly understood: "Bad!"

Tuan Tuan stared intently: "Uncle Lu, what's wrong?"

"They also want to capture him alive!"

Lu Qi gently placed Tuan Tuan on the roof ridge: "Miss, hold on, I'll go help!"

Tuan Tuan's two little hands clutched the sides of the ridge: "Okay! Uncle Lu, be careful!"

Lu Qi drew his twin swords, rushed into the battle formation, and fought back‑to‑back with Xiao Er.

The four of them instantly became entangled in melee.

"Clang clang clang—"

The sound of metal striking metal roared.

"Quick battle, quick finish!" Xiao Er thought anxiously: "The patrol will arrive soon!"

Lu Qi nodded.

However, those two were especially hard to handle, never losing ground, and grew more daring as the fight continued.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi knew nothing of their fighting styles, and found it increasingly difficult to deal with them.

Tuan Tuan tried to loosen her grip, sit up, and untie the Embroidered pouch at her waist, but her body jolted and she nearly fell off the roof.

She had to lie down again.

"Aiya, I can't get my shabby treasure!"

"Eh, what's this?"

Her hand suddenly brushed a protrusion on a tile; picking it up, she saw a round little seed! She didn't know which bird had dropped it.

"Great!"

Tuan Tuan quickly muttered: "Freeze those two men in black!"

After speaking, she relaxed her hand and the little seed fell.

A faint light flashed, and the seed vanished.

The next moment.

The two men in black suddenly stopped, as if frozen.

One fell back, face up to the sky; the other toppled sideways, letting out an "ah" as both rolled down from the ridge.

The tiles cracked with a harsh "kacha" as they were crushed, scattering debris.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi were both stunned; their swords sliced empty air, their bodies swayed, and they each reached out to steady the other, barely regaining balance.

They simultaneously turned to look at Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan watched with relish: "Uncle Xiao," she pointed at the fallen ones, "go catch them, they can't move now."

Xiao Er's mouth twitched, Lu Qi's lips curled slightly.

Light illuminated the room below, and a faint conversation between a man and a woman could be heard:

"Thieves?"

"Seems like it, where's the kitchen knife? I'll go check."

Xiao Er slipped beside Tuan Tuan, placed her on his back, and Tuan Tuan wrapped her arms around his neck.

Lu Qi leapt from the roof, grabbed a moaning man in black and ducked into the gap between two adjacent houses.

Xiao Er also jumped down, hauled the other one, and slipped inside.

The two crouched and covered the black man's mouth.

With a creak, the door opened.

A man lifted a kitchen knife and stuck his head out, looking around: "No one here! It's like seeing a ghost."

He retreated, closing the door.

Xiao Er wiped the sweat from his forehead: "What amazing kung fu!"

As soon as the words fell, a rush of running footsteps approached from afar.

"Where did the fight break out?"

"I heard the commotion right here."

"Spread out! Search carefully!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance: night patrol!

Both raised their hands simultaneously, their palms striking the chins of the two men in black.

A light "gok" sound.

The two men's mouths half‑opened, their chins tilted to one side.

Then Xiao Er and Lu Qi dragged them away and slipped deeper inside.

Soon, several Constables brandishing torches began searching the street.

Xiao Er placed Tuan Tuan on the ground; the three of them pressed their backs tightly against the wall.

A blaze of firelight shone in, drawing nearer.

Lu Qi clenched the iron lotus seed in his hand tightly.

A shout suddenly rang out on the street: "Boss! There are broken tiles on the ground!"

"Where?" the man turned and walked out.

The three of them felt relieved.

"Look! Boss! Could there be some jianghu master sparring on the roof?"

"Pah! You've read too many stories, what jianghu master! Even a master couldn't crush the tiles like that?"

"No one called for help; at most they're just a few petty thieves! Nothing to worry about, let's go!"

The firelight and footsteps gradually faded away.

Silence returned to the street.

Lu Qi lit the firecracker.

Xiao Er crouched, tore the black cloth from the black‑clad man's face, examined it carefully, and didn't recognize it.

He also searched the two black‑clad men and found a pile of strange hidden weapons he had never seen before.

He tossed it to Lu Qi: "You know this best; take it back and see what it is."

Lu Qi caught it and slipped it into his bosom.

Xiao Er kept searching, pulled out two tokens; Lu Qi brought the firecracker close and saw that on the token the character "Chen" was clearly visible.

"King Chen's token? Good stuff." Xiao Er unceremoniously slipped the token into his pocket.

Tuan Tuan crouched, stuck out her little hand and poked a black‑clad man's face: "Can't move? I told you to hit my family!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi both laughed.

The black‑clad man's eyeball twitched.

Tuan Tuan made a grimace at him: "If you're brave, get up and fight!"

The black‑clad man glared at her, his eyes blazing with anger.

Xiao Er frowned; how dare he look at my lady like that!

Lu Qi pinched the chins of the two black‑clad men, pulled them down and then lifted them up.

With a "click," their lower jaws snapped back into place.

Saliva dripped from the corners of their mouths, but they didn't utter a single sound.

Lu Qi praised, "They're all real men after all."

"Speak up, are you men of King Chen? What are you doing out this late night?"

The two black‑clad men turned their heads away, saying nothing.

"We don't have time to spar with them," Xiao Er frowned, "we have to hurry back; if we linger, the Palace gates will be opening."

Lu Qi was a little worried; this place isn't one for torturing people, nor could he carry them back, so he could only ask here.

He looked at Tuan Tuan: "Miss, is there any way to make them speak?"