Chapter Five: The Unforgivable Betrayer

Facing the aggressive onslaught of the men in black, Lei Zheng knew the disparity in strength was too great for him to handle. With a solemn expression, he shouted, "Sir, we are from the Lei family of Lei City. Can you show some respect to our family?"

Standing beside Lei Ling'er, Yun Yi frowned, lost in thought.

"Hahaha! Lei Zheng, Lei Zheng, are you still trying to scare me with the Lei family when you are at death's door?"

With a burst of laughter, a man in black stepped through the crowd, his eyes filled with killing intent as he mocked Lei Zheng.

Seeing this man, Lei Ling'er, who was beside Yun Yi, gasped, "Jiang Hu! How did he know we were here?"

Lei Zheng’s face darkened as he stared at Jiang Hu and demanded, "How did you find out about our movements?"

"It was you who told them, wasn't it?" Before Jiang Hu could speak, Yun Yi turned his gaze toward the scarred man, his eyes cold with murderous intent.

As soon as these words were spoken, Lei Zheng and his party immediately turned their eyes toward the scarred man, their gazes filled with accusation.

The scarred man’s face fell instantly, his eyes betraying his panic as he shouted, "You little brat, don't throw baseless accusations! Brother Zheng, you have to believe me!"

"You were always lagging behind on this journey, making excuses. Scar, was it really you? Why?" Lei Zheng’s expression was grim, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he awaited an answer.

"Hahaha!" No sooner had Lei Zheng finished speaking than Scar burst into manic laughter, his face contorting hideously. "That's right, it was me! Why? Ask yourself why! I’ve risked my life for the Lei family for years, only for you to intercept the captaincy! If there is no justice, then go to hell!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Zheng was consumed by rage. He instantly drew his long saber and lunged at Scar.

"Brother Hu! Help me! You promised to let me work for you!" Knowing he was no match for Lei Zheng, Scar cried out for help.

"Hmph, I won't save a dog that bites," Jiang Hu sneered, watching with cold indifference as Scar was subjected to the attack.

"No!" Before Scar could scream, a long saber pierced his chest. Looking at the blood spraying from his wound, Scar fell, dying with his eyes wide open in regret.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

"How spectacular! Lei Zheng, who would have thought! I am the final winner!" Jiang Hu clapped his hands, mocking Lei Zheng with a cold sigh.

"Young Miss, we will provide cover in a moment. Yun Yi, take the Young Miss and go!"

"Uncle Zheng!" Lei Ling'er knew full well that this battle would likely end in tragedy, and she cried out in alarm.

Ignoring her, Lei Zheng channeled his spirit energy, erupting with the power of the seventh stage of Qi Refinement. He drew his blade and charged toward Jiang Hu.

"Jiang Hu, pay with your life!"

***

In an instant, chaos erupted. Jiang Hu’s cultivation at the early Foundation Establishment stage suppressed everyone, making it hard for them to breathe.

"Young Miss, run!" Lei Zheng’s shout snapped the dazed Lei Ling'er back to reality.

Before she could react, Yun Yi acted with lightning speed, grabbing her wrist and fleeing.

Jiang Hu, a seasoned veteran, gave a subtle look, and a man in black at the eighth stage of Qi Refinement, accompanied by two underlings, vanished into the night in pursuit.

In the dark forest, the occasional cries of birds sounded desolate. Through the jungle, Yun Yi kept weaving and leaping with Lei Ling'er.

"Hahaha, brat, just give up! Don't make any futile struggles!" The men in black trailing Yun Yi mocked him with playful, taunting eyes.

Yun Yi felt helpless. If he were alone, these small-fry would never catch him, but he was burdened by Lei Ling'er.

"Brother Yi, leave me behind. Their target is me; they won't chase you," Lei Ling'er said, wiping away the tears that stained her face as she looked at Yun Yi’s handsome features with sincerity.

"This can't go on!" As he ran, Yun Yi searched his memory, mentally simulating solutions.

Seeing the men in black closing in, Yun Yi’s expression turned solemn. He suddenly stopped and turned to face his pursuers.

"Brat, you were running quite well, why stop now?" The man in black at the eighth stage of Qi Refinement stood tall with his blade, approaching Yun Yi with a sneer. To him, killing two kids was as easy as pie.

Yun Yi took a deep breath, looking at the man with a calm gaze. "Do you really think you have us cornered?"

"Hmph, empty talk! Die!" The man in black exploded with spirit energy and slashed at Yun Yi’s face. In a flash, Yun Yi reacted quickly, channeling his energy to dodge to the side, then threw a punch into the chest of another man in black who was attacking Lei Ling'er.

"Boom!" A dull thud echoed, and the man in black was sent flying backward.

Yun Yi dared not be careless. Seeing the incoming blade, he leaped like a fish to dodge, creating distance as he faced the eighth-stage opponent.

"He's actually at the eighth stage of Qi Refinement too!" The man in black wore a solemn expression, seeing his underling killed by a single punch.

The man dropped his blade and channeled his spirit energy. Facing an eighth-stage opponent, he intended to use a martial technique, though he lacked a blade-based one. He charged at Yun Yi with a punch that crackled with sonic booms.

"Wind-Breaking Fist!" Lei Ling'er gasped. This was a Jiang family technique, and clearly, this man had mastered it to perfection; the punch whistled through the air.

"Brat! I’ve practiced this punch for over five years! You should feel honored to die by it!"

***

The man in black looked as if he could already see Yun Yi flying away from the impact.

"Oh? Is that so?" Yun Yi’s eyes remained calm. He channeled his spirit energy and struck out with a palm.

"Boom!" A thunderous crash was followed immediately by a scream of agony.

To the man’s utter disbelief, he was sent flying back dozens of steps by the palm strike, his right arm shattered and blood pouring out in a gruesome display.

"Shattering Stone Palm! A perfected Shattering Stone Palm! How is that possible!"

"Boom!" After striking down the other man in black, Yun Yi looked at the first man calmly. "Why is it impossible? Did you think I was running because I was afraid of you?"

Yun Yi curled his lips into a smile and looked at his palm. "Sorry, I was just practicing my palm technique. It’s quite useful now that I’ve learned it."

"How can this be! How could you learn it so quickly!" The man in black shouted, unable to believe such a person existed.

With his arm crippled and knowing he was no match for Yun Yi, he leaped backward, attempting to flee. "As long as I find Master Hu, you are all dead!" he thought, his eyes filled with malice.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Before the man could even turn around, there was a muffled thud.

"Squish!"

Looking down at the fist protruding through his chest, the man in black opened his mouth, but no words could escape. He stared at Yun Yi with eyes filled with shock.

***

"Brother Yun, are you alright?" Lei Ling'er asked with concern as she saw Yun Yi return, covered in blood.

"Haha, what could happen to me? This is just that guy's blood. This place is not safe; let's get out of here!" Seeing her concern, Yun Yi smiled, tidied himself up, and led Lei Ling'er toward Ying Tian City.