Outmatched

“You're courting death!”

Before the words even faded, Shen Xiuhan's figure exploded forward. His right leg shot out like a spear leaving its case, carrying a low, piercing whistle as it kicked straight toward Luo Wancheng's face!

Thirty-Six Paths Sky-Collapsing Kick: Spear-Thrust Kick!

The kick was unstoppable, the wind from his leg kicking up a flurry of dust from the ground.

Luo Wancheng's pupils shrank. Unable to dodge in time, he hastily crossed his arms in a desperate bid to shield his chest.

"Entangling Silk Soft Cloud Hand"!

This high-grade technique of the Luo family excelled in grabbing, seizing, locking, pinching, and tearing. It relied on soft, subtle force, making it uniquely ill-suited for direct, frontal clashes.

Leg clashed with arms.

A dull thud echoed, sounding like a heavy hammer slamming into worn leather.

Luo Wancheng felt as if a galloping horse had rammed directly into his arms. A torrential force surged over him like a collapsing mountain.

An excruciating pain, accompanied by a deep numbness, pierced straight to his bones, spreading from his arms to his shoulder blades before seeping into his chest.

Luo Wancheng staggered backward several steps, leaving a deep imprint in the ground with each stride. He stomped his foot heavily to stabilize his stance, his blood qi churning violently in his chest.

Luo Wancheng gasped. Narrowing his eyes, he glared at the youth like a venomous serpent. Alarm bells rang in his mind, but he still barked out in rage:

“Who are you? How dare you interfere in the business of the Luo family!”

Meanwhile, Shen Xiuhan had already used the recoil to leap back gracefully. Like a giant eagle spreading its wings, he shielded Ji Xue and Ji Yao behind him.

Hearing this, his expression remained cold and tranquil as he calmly replied,

“Just a nobody. Stopping you... is my duty.”

“Good, good, good...”

Luo Wancheng laughed from sheer rage, a vicious light flashing in his eyes.

“You don't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth! Today, I will cripple you!”

Before his voice even died down, the muddy ground beneath Luo Wancheng's feet exploded, leaving two footprints three inches deep. His figure suddenly lunged forward like a ravenous tiger pouncing on its prey.

His left thumb pressed into his palm while his other four fingers pressed tightly together like a blade, pointing forward.

His arm muscles tensed as force flooded into his fingertips. A sharp crack of breaking air echoed from his sleeve.

With a swift and vicious chop, his hand-blade shot out like a serpent striking, aiming straight for the carotid sinus on Shen Xiuhan's neck!

Shen Xiuhan's gaze grew cold. Instead of retreating, he advanced!

Sinking his hips like a drawn bow, he channeled a torrent of blood qi into his feet. His spine rose and fell section by section, unleashing a series of sharp pops like cracking bamboo.

He leaped into the air, his legs turning into two steel whips that left a blur of afterimages, raining down on Luo Wancheng from above!

Within a mere three breaths, shockwaves rippled through the woods as a rapid barrage of blows collided.

In a flurry of limbs, they exchanged eight blows in rapid succession!

Each collision stirred up a gust of wind, shaking the surrounding saplings and sending fallen leaves swirling through the air.

But Shen Xiuhan was undeniably stronger.

His cultivation, techniques, and combat experience completely outmatched Luo Wancheng across the board.

Luo Wancheng felt a suffocating pressure in his chest. His blood qi churned, a sweet metallic taste rising in his throat as he was forced back step after step.

His face turned a deep purple. With a furious roar, the muscles in his arms swelled as his veins bulged. Changing his palms into fists, he charged forward to meet the onslaught, heedless of his own life!

Shen Xiuhan snorted coldly.

Though Luo Wancheng was also in the Tendon Tempering Rank, his actual combat skills were far too lacking.

Let alone his body-tempering methods, movement techniques, Muxu Eye, or sword-glow...

Shen Xiuhan could easily suppress him with basic hand-to-hand combat alone!

Thus, he pulled back his leg and transitioned into a claw mid-air. His five fingers curved like iron hooks, tearing downward with a sharp whistle!

"Heavenly Eagle Wind-Tearing Hand"!

Fist clashed with claw!

Shen Xiuhan's five fingers retracted in a bizarre fashion, curling fluidly into his palm.

Then, he lightly tapped Luo Wancheng's wrist joint with his knuckles!

A crisp bone-cracking sound echoed!

“Argh!”

A searing pain shot through Luo Wancheng's wrist. He shrieked in agony, panic flaring in his eyes as he scrambled backward in a clumsy flip.

He dropped to one knee, carving a deep furrow in the dirt before barely managing to steady himself.

His left wrist spasmed and trembled uncontrollably.

His fingers could neither stretch open nor curl closed.

Enduring the agonizing pain, Luo Wancheng hid his hand inside his sleeve. Large beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, trickling down the bridge of his nose.

Yet he did not even have the leisure to wipe them away. His terror-filled gaze remained locked onto the youth in the green robe, as if trying to peer through him.

Amidst his terror, waves of disbelief crashed through Luo Wancheng's heart.

Luo Wancheng gritted his teeth, jealousy festering in his heart as a murderous intent welled up uncontrollably.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a flurry of footsteps echoed from behind him.

Immediately after, a slightly puzzled female voice sounded:

“Junior Brother Shen... what are you doing?”

Already on edge, Luo Wancheng whipped his head around, his gaze highly alert.

Shen Xiuhan also looked up.

At the corner of the path not far away, four figures had appeared at some point.

And Shen Xiuhan recognized every single one of them.

The one leading them had a bold and heroic countenance, with sharp brows and bright eyes. It was Xiao Wu, dressed in martial attire with a long saber hanging at his waist, looking exceptionally formidable.

Following closely beside him was his younger twin brother, Xiao Wen.

On the other side stood Luo Tangyin and Ding Qing.

Luo Tangyin wore a long dress bound with a white silk sash, her long hair cascading like a waterfall. Her cold and elegant aura made her look like a fairy stepping out of a painting.

Ding Qing wore tight-sleeved martial attire with a cowhide whip lashed around her waist, looking neat and capable.

It was she who had just spoken.

At first, Ding Qing was a bit confused, but seeing the scattered leaves, broken branches, and the tense atmosphere, she immediately sensed something was wrong.

She instinctively turned her head to look at Luo Tangyin.

Luo Tangyin did not say a word.

Her beautiful eyes lingered briefly on Luo Wancheng's left hand, which was hidden inside his sleeve.

Then, she looked past him to focus on Shen Xiuhan, a subtle trace of surprise flashing deep in her eyes.

After a brief pause, her red lips parted slightly, her voice as cool as a mountain spring:

“Third Brother, what are you doing?”

Luo Wancheng shook his numb left arm, forcing himself to maintain an imposing front as he snorted,

“No need to worry, Big Sister. It was just a casual spar.”

With that, he turned around, casting a dark, razor-sharp glare at Shen Xiuhan before flicking his long sleeve.

“Let's go!”

Seeing this, his lackeys quickly swarmed around him and hurried out of the forest.

Once they had gone, Xiao Wu stepped forward.

Frowning slightly, he leaned in close to Shen Xiuhan and whispered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz:

“Brother Shen, this man is incredibly narrow-minded and petty. He will surely seek revenge against you. Do you need... me to kill him for you?”