Chapter 213: Ruthlessness and the Unexpected

"Two are crippled, Xiang Zhigang and Bao Chang; I reckon they've lost more than half their lives even if they didn't die."

"The Mad Beast Mao Lang had an Amulet from Master Mao, so Zhou You was wary of the consequences and didn't deliver a lethal blow, just sent him flying."

"And then there's Zhang Shiyu, who was dragged away by his bodyguard before he could even make a move."

"In today's life-and-death duel on Menqian Jie, Zhou You won a complete victory, with one opponent fleeing and three defeated."

In the Inner Courtyard of the Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall, Lu Qiang respectfully reported the events that had just occurred to his master.

A single clash had directly shattered half the street; the houses and the ground were a ghastly sight, filled with holes and craters everywhere.

The top disciples of three martial arts halls, plus the City Gate Guard Zhang Shiyu, had all kicked the expelled disciple Zhou You while he was down.

The result...

The shock in Lu Qiang's heart could not be calmed for a long time.

The first two disciples were one thing; they were only at the initial stage of Blood Qi and weren't particularly favored in the martial arts hall, so their defeat was expected.

The key was Mao Lang and Zhang Shiyu; one was the apple of Mao Laoliu's eye, and the other was the foster son most valued by Captain Ye.

These two were by no means comparable to ordinary martial artists at the initial stage of Blood Qi.

Zhang Shiyu had a personal bodyguard who was a Weapon Master at the late stage of Blood Qi, and Mao Lang wore an Amulet personally crafted by a martial arts master.

Even if they encountered enemies at the level of a martial arts master, they would still have had a chance to escape.

Yet in front of Zhou You, one was defeated miserably and his Amulet was completely ruined, while the other didn't even have the chance to make a move before being dragged away by his bodyguard.

"Sigh, I miscalculated."

Out of the blue, after hearing the report, Wang Jianxiong slapped his thigh in frustration.

Lu Qiang thought to himself that his master still cherished talent! Then Wang Jianxiong continued, "If I had known Zhou You was such a troublemaker, I shouldn't have let him leave."

"Such a sharp blade should have been used by me, held firmly by the hilt with the edge facing outward, to wound others without wounding myself."

"A moment of hesitation, and I've let a divine weapon slip through my fingers for nothing."

He sighed repeatedly, feeling somewhat dispirited, "It's too late; it's too late for regrets."

Leaving the Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall, although Zhou You bore the name of an expelled disciple, he had gained his freedom and was no longer bound.

From this day forward, it was as if the sea were wide enough for fish to leap and the sky high enough for birds to fly.

"Master, I saw that he was injured too; after leaving, he didn't go home, but headed toward Yiyao Jie."

Lu Qiang spoke of what he had just observed.

Wang Jianxiong nodded slightly, "Hmm, he is still too young; even if he were severely injured, he should have gone home first."

He stroked his beard and said coldly and cruelly, "If he goes back later, his parents will already be gone!"

"Why?"

Lu Qiang's heart trembled; one shouldn't involve the family!

"Lu Qiang, your nature is somewhat kind-hearted, and you don't think the worst of people, but the world is far more cruel than you imagine."

Wang Jianxiong patted his shoulder, signaling him to sit down and listen.

"Zhou You shone brightly today, revealing his brilliant and exceptional skills, but he just happened to offend me, Wang Laohu."

"Tell me, what will those bad seeds who secretly trip me up do to him?"

Lu Qiang thought for a moment, "Naturally, they would support him greatly, making him a thorn in Master's side."

"Exactly."

Wang Jianxiong laughed, "Even if Bao Tiefeng had his disciple beaten to death, he wouldn't pursue it, but would choose to swallow this insult."

"Zhou You saw through this point, which is why he acted so unscrupulously."

"But he still underestimated the malice of the human heart."

"Since those fellows want to use him as a blade to deal with me, how could they leave any room for error? Therefore, a Sea of Blood feud must be forged between him and me, his master, so that everyone can feel at ease and sleep well at night."

Having said this, Wang Jianxiong finally revealed the mystery. "If my guess is correct, the people sent to kill Zhou You's parents have already arrived."

"They will certainly make it look like the work of my Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall, so that Zhou You will be convinced that I am the enemy who killed his father and mother."

Thinking of this, Lu Qiang blurted out, "Absolutely not, Master, you cannot let them succeed."

"It's too late; I only just thought of it myself, and it's too late to stop them now."

Wang Jianxiong sighed, then said with indifference and coldness, "I am no longer his master, so why should I save his parents?"

"Zhou You should also understand one principle: betrayal comes with a price."

"It's getting late, why hasn't You'er returned yet?"

Zhou Laodie and his wife sat around a table full of dishes, glancing toward the door from time to time; their son had not yet returned home.

His mother couldn't help but worry, and Zhou Laodie puffed on his pipe to comfort her, "Perhaps he was delayed by something at the martial arts hall?"

He looked back and said, "Tie Niu, if you're hungry, eat first; don't wait."

Tie Niu was squatting at the doorway; hearing this, he shook his head silently and turned back to stare at the street outside.

After smoking another half-bowl of tobacco, Zhou You still hadn't returned.

Zhou Laodie felt somewhat restless; he knocked out the ash and stood up to walk toward the door, "I'll go out and take a look."

Perhaps his son was already on his way home, and he would run into him after walking a few steps.

As he stood up, his mother picked up a cloak and followed, "I'll go too; our son's health isn't very good, he shouldn't be in the night wind."

Tie Niu followed the elderly couple without a word, loyally and silently protecting their safety.

Outside, the sky was almost completely dark; one could vaguely see pedestrians coming and going, but unless they passed right by, it was impossible to see the contours of their faces.

After walking only a few steps, someone walked toward them and asked enthusiastically, "Are you Zhou You's parents?"

"Oh, yes, are you a friend of our You'er..."

Zhou Laodie raised his hand, about to greet him, when suddenly a figure flashed, and Tie Niu stepped forward to block him.

Every hair on Tie Niu's body stood on end, his short hair bristling like a hedgehog, his strength surging through his entire body, filling every last extremity.

He sensed that the stranger opposite him was more powerful and more terrifying than his grandfather, Zhou Laiwei, or even the Young Master, Zhou You.

Beneath a seemingly warm exterior, a sinister intent was Zang; he was an enemy!

"That's right, the two of you, pay with your lives."

The stranger changed his expression faster than turning a page, immediately planting his feet and striking, a sound similar to a tiger's roar erupting from his mouth.

The roar was so loud and clear that it spread in all directions, causing many residents to think a tiger from the mountains had entered the city.

This punch was thick with Qi and blood, shockingly... at the late stage of Qi and Blood.

Even though Tie Niu fought with his life, before the stranger, he was like a withered leaf, blown away instantly by the wind of the punch.

Standing before the stranger were only the two bewildered and helpless elders.

Zhou Laodie still thought he had encountered highwaymen and pleaded earnestly, "Don't hurt anyone, we can discuss the money, I'll take it out right now..."

Mother shrank behind him, and upon hearing this, she tugged at Zhou Laodie's sleeve to remind him not to give too much.

The stranger grinned hideously and swung his fist, attempting to smash the two elders' heads in one blow, so that when Zhou You saw his parents in such a miserable state, he would surely form an irreconcilable feud with Wang Laohu.

Suddenly, a red curtain rose to cover the sky and earth, like an ancient giant beast opening its maw, instantly sweeping him into it.

A short, sharp cry rang out in the night sky, and then it became deathly silent...

When Tie Niu returned, dragging his scarred and battered body, he only saw the two elders who had fainted from fright.

As for the stranger, he had long since been smashed to pieces, exploding on the spot and reduced to a thick layer of blood-mud smeared across the ground and walls.

When Tie Niu carried the two elders home, he did not notice that the Tiepian Hushunfu hanging around Zhou Laodie's neck had cracked into two halves with a snap.

(End of this chapter)