Chapter 282: Crushing

Deng— deng— deng— deng—.

From below the stairs came a rapid succession of footsteps.

The woman at the front desk, with a few others, appeared on the second floor.

"Senior Brother Zhao…"

She had just spoken when she saw Jiang Cheng standing nearby.

"I understand; leave this to me, and you all go attend to your own matters."

Zhao Xiangyu said to the woman, his gaze, however, remained fixed on Jiang Cheng.

"Oh, fine."

The woman cast a slightly fearful glance at Jiang Cheng, led the group down again, and soon her voice echoed from downstairs.

It seemed the first‑floor members, curious about what was happening, gathered at the stairwell.

If it weren't for the rule that Ordinary Members cannot ascend to the second floor, they probably would have come up already.

Zhao Xiangyu inhaled deeply and said, "Friend, were you serious just now? I don't know what Senior Brother Xiao has done to offend you that makes you want to kill him, but right now you are in our Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall. As a member of the Hall, both in feeling and in reason, I will not let you take another step upward."

Jiang Cheng heard this and shook his head.

"You think you can stop me? Unrealistic."

He thought to himself.

Senior Brother Zhao really was an honest person.

If later the latter truly tried to block him, he wouldn't resort to a killer; simply knocking the latter out would suffice.

"He isn't enough; what if we add ourselves?"

A woman's voice rang out.

Bai Wei appeared at the third‑floor stairwell, her eyebrows arched like willows, her face flushed with anger.

"Friend, if you are here to spar and exchange with us, you are welcome; but if you came looking for trouble, I advise you that you can still leave now."

Zeng Zhiten also stepped out, standing at the front.

However, there was little anger on his face, more caution.

His gaze occasionally flicked toward the knife Jiang Cheng carried on his back.

"What kind of guy dares to cause trouble in our Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall? Do you not want to live?"

As the words fell, another voice sounded.

The speaker was the very target of Jiang Cheng's visit, Xiao Yuanqing.

But the latter seemed completely unaware of the downstairs remarks, now looking down from his height at Jiang Cheng, his eyes full of arrogance.

"Senior Brother Zeng! Senior Sister Bai! Xiao, Senior Brother Xiao…"

Seeing the three appear on the stairs, Zhao Xiangyu instantly felt the pressure ease, but his expression turned uneasy when he finally called out Xiao Yuanqing.

Jiang Cheng's gaze swept over the three, his brows furrowing in surprise.

Because the Tang Hall Master had not appeared with them.

With his Fifth-level Force Warrior strength, he could not have missed the commotion on the second floor, let alone the numerous surveillance cameras here.

Does he think sending three disciples is enough to handle him?

Or is he plotting something in secret? "Junior Brother Zhao, what's really going on?" Zeng Zhiten asked as Jiang Cheng looked puzzled.

He had also just received orders from his master that there was a disturbance on the second floor, urging him to hurry over and buy as much time as possible, with the additional admonition: if you can avoid fighting, do not fight.

As for the other two, they were also summoned by him.

"Senior Brother Zeng, yes, it's like this…"

Zhao Xiangyu, wary, glanced at Jiang Cheng and recounted the whole chain of events.

"What?"

After hearing it, everyone—including Xiao Yuanqing himself— wore a shocked expression.

Someone wants to kill him? And to do it in broad daylight, running into the martial arts hall? That's a rather bold nerve, isn't it?

"Junior Brother Xiao, what's really happening?" Zeng Zhiten turned around: "What grievance do you have with this person?"

"Senior Brother, I don't know either."

Xiao Yuanqing wore a bewildered look.

He didn't recognize the middle‑aged man before him at all.

As for any feud,

He couldn't recall having any with anyone.

After all, aside from going out for a meal, he spent almost all his time in the hall, leaving little chance to offend anyone. "Senior Brother Zeng, now is not the time for that," Bai Wei interjected.

No matter what hidden motives lie within.

They would not let Xiao Yuanqing be killed by the other side.

Zeng Zhiten nodded.

He looked back at Jiang Cheng.

"Friend, what exactly drives you to strike at our Junior Brother Xiao? Feel free to say it; I suspect there may be some misunderstanding."

"There is no misunderstanding."

Jiang Cheng let out a cold laugh.

"I intend to kill him."

Having said so, he headed straight upward.

It would be best if the Tang Hall Master does not intervene.

Once he catches the person, he will leave this place.

If the opponent is planning something, he is not afraid either.

"What are you doing!"

"Stop!"

Several scolding shouts rang out.

Zhao Xiangyu instinctively lunged forward in a single arrow step, reaching out to grab Jiang Cheng's shoulder.

But Jiang Cheng took a few steps forward and then dodged away, moving along the stairs toward the upper floor.

"?"

Zhao Xiangyu was stunned.

He hadn't seen at all how the other party vanished several meters in an instant.

"Stop!"

Bai Wei barked, taking the terrain advantage; her long, powerful right leg kicked toward Jiang Cheng's chest, apparently intending to kick him down the stairs.

Jiang Cheng's figure swayed to the side and dodged again.

Bai Wei was dumbfounded.

She likewise hadn't seen how Jiang Cheng evaded.

All she felt was a flash before her eyes.

"What a fast speed!"

Directly ahead, Zeng Zhiten widened his eyes; after all, he was a Level 3 Original Force Warrior.

Within the Martial Arts Hall, he ranked just below the master and Senior Brother Tang.

Therefore, the person before them could very well be a Level Four, or even a Level Five Force Warrior! Even so, when he saw Jiang Cheng heading toward Xiao Yuanqing on the right, he hurried forward and seized Jiang Cheng's arm.

Zeng Zhiten himself hadn't anticipated this scene.

But since he had caught him, he naturally couldn't let the opportunity slip.

He strained his arm, trying to pull Jiang Cheng away, but no matter how hard he pushed, even his face flushed red, the latter remained completely still, as if rooted to the ground.

The three beside him—Bai Wei and the others—were stunned by the situation.

Combined with what had happened earlier, they could no longer fail to understand that this unexpected guest's strength far surpassed theirs.

Bai Wei and Zhao Xiangyu were somewhat better off, feeling only shock inside.

Xiao Yuanqing was different.

His face was covered with terror.

Because the person before him was coming straight at him, intending to take his life!

At first he didn't take it seriously; after all, the four of them—brothers and seniors combined—were not a match for a single opponent, right? The result? Zhao Xiangyu's and Bai Wei's attacks all missed, and Second Senior Brother exerted all his strength yet could not move the opponent a hair.

He, a Second-level Force Warrior, was still weaker than Zeng Zhiten; how could he be a match? After a brief hesitation, he shouted, taking advantage of Jiang Cheng being captured, turned and fled backward, yelling as he ran, "Master, save me! Save me, master! Master!"

Just as Jiang Cheng was about to palm‑stun the nearby Zeng Zhiten and, in pursuit, break Xiao Yuanqing's legs, a voice slowly came from deep within the third floor.

"You barged into my Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall and tried to strike my disciple; do you truly think I, Tang Nian, am dough that anyone can roll, flatten, and crush?"

When the words fell, a person dressed in a blue combat suit, carrying a Light Blue Long Sword, slowly stepped out of the shadows.

(End of Chapter)