"Thanks to the Second Young Master, my body is still quite robust." Tian Long stepped forward and then signaled Zhao Kou and Wei Tian to lift Li Qing up.
Currently, Li Qing was tightly bound with layers of hemp ropes, so securely that not a single gap could be seen, resembling a zongzi.
Yan Gui An's smile grew even brighter as he glanced at Li Qing and said, "Hurry and untie him. This Brother Li is someone I want. Tian Long, you really are not being kind, how could you beat someone to this state?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the martial artist offering support behind Yan Er Shao Ye, Jing Shu, also cast his gaze over.
Next was the most critical step of the plan; martial artists who had cultivated external strength had much sharper senses. Therefore, while untying him, Tian Long had to find ways to attract Jing Shu's attention, preventing him from observing Li Qing too closely.
Otherwise, if he discovered something amiss with Li Qing's qi, it would be troublesome.
Zhao Kou and Wei Tian both felt a hint of cold sweat on their foreheads as they swiftly began to untie the hemp ropes from Li Qing.
At that moment, Tian Long mockingly said, "Hehe, Jing Tai, it’s been a while since we last met. I didn’t expect you to still be stuck at the external strength level like me."
Jing Shu coldly replied, "Hmph, if it weren't for the changes in this world, I would have long stepped into the internal strength level."
Hearing the other party take the bait, Tian Long squinted his eyes and laughed, continuing, "Hahaha, that’s true. Back when the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall was still open, the old master of the hall valued you quite a bit. What a pity, what a pity."
Mentioning the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall caused Jing Tai's gaze to flicker slightly, as if he was lost in distant memories.
At that time, the sun had just disappeared for a few years, and there were still plenty of stored grains in Obsidian City, making life barely manageable.
It was during that time that he joined the Thunderbolt Martial Arts Hall, but without the sun, it was nearly impossible to grow crops underground, and no matter how much grain was stored, it would eventually be consumed.
If it weren't for later discovering the Black Rye Mushroom, perhaps there would be no living beings left in this world.
While the two were reminiscing, the hemp ropes on Li Qing gradually loosened, revealing the thick cotton clothing he was wearing.
Yan Gui An had already begun to win over Li Qing with words, saying, "Brother Li Qing, during this time, my Yan family has had quite a bit of cooperation with you. I didn’t expect you to have a falling out with Tian Long. What a pity."
Before he could finish his sentence, Yan Gui An furrowed his brows in confusion.
As a large amount of hemp rope was untied, he noticed that on the side of Li Qing's body, there was actually an iron rod tucked away, and Li Qing's hand was tightly gripping this iron rod.
"Something's not right."
Swish!
After enduring for quite some time, Li Qing's strength suddenly erupted, and with unmatched power, he broke free from the remaining loops of hemp rope in an instant.
The iron rod he was gripping revealed its true form; it was no ordinary iron rod, but a hammer, a rather large hammer.
The large amount of hemp rope that had been wrapped around Li Qing was merely to conceal his unparalleled hammer.
"Kill!"
Li Qing charged out like a fierce tiger, having been dormant for so long, his aura erupted, exuding an unstoppable momentum.
"Good courage!"
Seeing this scene, Jing Shu was both shocked and furious, realizing that Li Qing was charging directly at him.
Before he could respond, Tian Long's lips curled into a sinister arc as he unsheathed the golden silk broadsword at his waist without a second thought.
Whoosh!
The blade flashed and struck directly at Jing Tai.
At the same time, Wei Tian and Zhao Kou, who had untied Li Qing, also sprang into action. Wei Tian moved swiftly, rushing towards the front gate of the mansion while pulling out a firecracker filled with coal ash from his pocket, throwing it into the sky at the first opportunity.
Swish!
The firecracker tore open, igniting rapidly upon contact with the air, and the bright flame shone conspicuously against the dark sky!
Tian Long's loyal followers, hiding in the corners of the streets, erupted into action upon seeing the firelight, rushing towards the grand mansion ahead.
"Kill! Annihilate the Yan family!"
"The Yan family has committed numerous atrocities. Today, our righteous gang shall uphold justice and prepare to wash the Yan family in blood."
"Kill! Brothers, charge!"
In addition to these loyal followers, thirteen ghostly figures leaped over the tall walls of the Yan family estate, storming into the mansion.
All of this happened almost simultaneously, with no more than ten breaths of time passing.
The once peaceful street suddenly became chaotic and noisy, as the righteous gang surged towards the Yan family's mansion.
At this moment, within the Yan family's courtyard, the large gate was swung open from the inside, accomplished by the quick-footed Wei Tian.
As the gate opened wide, the scene inside was fully revealed.
Jing Tai was caught off guard by the two external strength experts, Li Qing and Tian Long. He barely raised his hand to block Li Qing's strike, but was successfully ambushed by Tian Long, resulting in a massive gash from his right rib to his waist.
Blood sprayed out like it was free, filling the air with a rich, metallic scent.
"How bold! Tian Long, how dare you..." Jing Tai clutched his side wound, struggling to speak as Tian Long's strike was too vicious, showing no intent to leave him a way out.
Stumbling back, blood continued to spill from him, and his strength was rapidly draining away.
However, Li Qing did not intend to drag this out any longer. Holding the unparalleled hammer, he expressionlessly struck out again.
Bang!
This blow, Jing Tai still could not evade. In a panic, he could only continue to use his arm to block.
Yet this time, Li Qing's hammer was effective.
The Ancient Hammer Technique drove the surging strength within Li Qing, and the hammerhead made of ink-gold crushed Jing Tai's forearm, breaking it.
He was sent flying once more, blood splattering in the air, looking utterly tragic, with no hope of survival.
Boom! Boom!
Inside the Yan mansion, the other two external strength experts finally reacted, charging out from their respective directions.
"How dare you come here to cause trouble!"
"You truly do not take me, Yan Xu, seriously. Today, both of you will stay!"
These two were martial artist offerings of the Yan family, one of whom, named Yan Xu, was a close confidant of the Yan family patriarch, having even changed his surname to Yan.
Everything happened too quickly; the pampered Yan Er Shao Ye was left dumbfounded, trembling all over.
Not only was Jing Tai gravely injured, but behind him stood a boy no more than twelve or thirteen years old, holding a short knife pressed firmly against his throat, his eyes fierce like a wolf, leaving no doubt that he would slit Yan Er Shao Ye's throat.
"How could this happen... how could this happen..." Yan Gui An trembled, repeatedly muttering the same phrase.
(End of Chapter)