Chapter 2: Abandoned by All

"Arrogant! Today, heroes from all corners of the Jianghu have gathered—how dare you, villain, act with impunity!"

Yu Zhentian roared, his beard and hair bristling, and with a single hand snatch, he seized the sword at his senior disciple Zhu Fang’s waist.

His aged body surged with blood and qi, steam rising visibly; the long sword in his hand emitted piercing sword qi as he slashed diagonally upward.

Zha Laosan sneered, his body unmoved, and raised his blade to slash horizontally through the incoming sword qi.

Blade and sword qi collided with a deafening clang of metal, the powerful shockwave scattering and ripping tiles and beams from the roof.

In the courtyard, Yu Zhentian staggered back several steps to dissipate the force, supported by his disciples.

With a sharp “crack,” the horizontal beam beneath Zha Laosan’s feet snapped, and he used the recoil to leap into the air, landing on the opposite roof.

“Old man, your hands aren’t completely useless yet,” Zha Laosan said, his eyes glacial with murderous intent.

Among the guests below, seeing Yu Zhentian matched the rogue in strength, many paused their retreat.

Yu Family Martial Hall was among the top two martial schools in Shun’an City; Master Yu Zhentian, the old headmaster, had been renowned for decades, his martial prowess well known throughout the region.

If he could handle this bandit, there was no need for anyone to flee.

Yet just then, muffled sonic booms approached from afar.

Five masked black-clad figures leapt in quick succession, landing atop the four sides of the mansion, forming a triangular encirclement around those in the courtyard.

Seeing this, the martial guests who had come to observe were stunned—without doubt, these were the other five members of the Zha River Seven Bandits.

“Second brother, you’re late.”

Zha Laosan rumbled, and one of the black-clad men, his forehead wrinkled and temples streaked with gray, replied in a hoarse voice:

“No rush—we still have an incense stick’s time.”

Hearing this, Zha Laosan slowly nodded, then turned to the many guests in the courtyard and smiled calmly:

“Time is short—you have six breaths left!”

At these words, the guests in the courtyard hesitated no longer, fleeing en masse toward the exit.

They had come today merely as guests to offer gifts—not to die.

The Zha River Seven Bandits were infamous; even one of them was no weaker than Yu Zhentian—Yu Family Martial Hall could never withstand all six.

“Master Yu, something urgent has come up at home—I must take my leave.”

“My skills are too low—I wish you well, Brother Yu!”

“If you can rid Shun’an of this evil today, the city will remember you.”

…

Several prominent figures from the Jianghu and Shun’an City hastily uttered a few polite words before hastily departing.

Each feared falling behind, being caught in the crossfire, and losing their heads.

Yu Zhentian’s face darkened as he watched the guests vanish rapidly, saying nothing, his expression grim.

He could not speak to stop them—he knew he couldn’t stop them.

Moreover, since Zha Laosan’s brothers arrived, their qi signatures radiating strength equal to his own, Yu Zhentian knew clearly these rabble would be of no use if they stayed.

“Brother Zhang, if you want to go, go—no one’s stopping you.”

Li Muxian was shoved aside by the surging crowd, turning to look at the muscular giant whose face twisted in indecision.

Zhang Dazhuang gripped his staff tightly, then loosened it, tightened it again, watching the courtyard emptying—his heart frantic, yet unable to decide.

“We’re all from Yu Family Martial Hall—will these monsters let us go?” Zhang Dazhuang whispered, hesitating.

The oppressive aura unintentionally radiating from the six bandits atop the roofs made it hard for him to breathe.

“I think it’s fine—you’re Zhang, not Yu.”

Li Muxian rubbed his chin, glancing at the Zha River Seven Bandits standing with blades drawn, and smiled:

“If you’re still unsure, just ask them—see if they’ll let you leave?”

Hearing this, Zhang Dazhuang jumped in fright, grabbing Li Muxian’s arm:

“You’re insane! You dare speak to these monsters? Do you want to die faster?”

As they spoke, more than half the guests had already fled.

Some, in their panic to escape, had dropped shoes, hairpins, jade pendants, and silver coins on the ground.

Though Yu Family Martial Hall’s disciples, apprentices, and servants had not yet fled, they too were deeply hesitant.

Everyone knew the Zha River Seven Bandits were notorious, cruel, and left no survivors—staying meant certain death.

But Yu Zhentian had long held great authority; they dared not desert him in battle, and they shared Zhang Dazhuang’s fear: would the Zha River Seven Bandits let them go?

“Brother Hao, these bandits dare commit evil in broad daylight in Shun’an City—how brazen! Let us join forces today and rid the Jianghu of this scourge!”

Yu Zhentian gripped his sword tightly, turning to speak in a low, forceful voice, his silver hair whipping from the surge of his internal power.

Hao Shen, still standing nearby, glanced at Yu Zhentian and slowly nodded:

“Brother Yu speaks truly—I, as Prefect of Shun’an City, cannot allow these bandits to wreak havoc within our walls.”

Hearing this, Yu Zhentian felt a slight relief—Hao Shen was powerful; with his aid, his burden would lessen greatly.

But Hao Shen’s next words chilled him to the bone.

“However, the Zha River Seven Bandits are formidable—just the two of us cannot defeat them. Brother Yu, hold them off for a moment while I summon the city guards to net them all.”

With that, Hao Shen’s feet kicked up dust as he leapt swiftly away from the courtyard.

The Zha River Seven Bandits atop the roofs merely watched indifferently, making no move to stop him.

“Pfft!”

Li Muxian, seeing this, couldn’t help laughing, turning to say:

“I told you—Old Man Yu’s always been stingy. Look—when it matters, not a single soul will stand with him. I bet he’s about to be utterly abandoned.”

Zhang Dazhuang, tall and gripping his staff, noticed the others staring their way, instinctively hunched his shoulders and patted Li Muxian:

“Speak quieter—they can hear you. Besides… the headmaster isn’t always stingy—he can be generous sometimes.”

Hearing this, Yu Zhentian, his face livid, whirled around and glared fiercely at Li Muxian and Zhang Dazhuang.

But he had no energy to deal with these two apprentices who barely knew martial arts; instead, he turned to his disciples and barked:

“What are you all standing there for? Grab your weapons and fight! Yu Family Martial Hall has no cowards!”

At his words, the disciples instinctively moved—until they noticed the three figures beside Yu Zhentian remained utterly still, and they slowly halted their actions.

Those three were Yu Zhentian’s most favored disciples, and among the strongest in the entire hall, after Yu Zhentian and his eldest son.

(End of Chapter)