“Who are you? How dare you cause trouble at Ding Wu Hall!” Ye Chu’s storming into the hall quickly roused its members. A crowd surged forward, some swinging fists, others lashing out with iron rods aimed viciously at him.
Su Rong and Liang Shan hurried in right behind him. The sight made their hearts leap into their throats. Liang Shan shouted desperately for Ye Chu to run.
“Get out of my way.” Ye Chu stared at the group smashing iron rods towards him, his expression turning cold. “I have no wish to deal with you, but do not push me.”
“Courting death. You dare make trouble here. Today you will be carried out.” The hall’s disciples roared in fury. They had never met anyone so brazen. If the mighty Ding Wu Hall could be breached like this, what face would they have left to stand proud in Yao City?
“If you insist on a beating, you have only yourselves to blame.” Ye Chu spoke calmly. His palms swept out without flourish, snapping wooden sticks in an instant. One figure after another flew backwards.
Ye Chu advanced with overwhelming dominance, clearing a path with one hand. No disciple could withstand a single blow from him. Within three metres of Ye Chu, no one could even draw close.
Su Rong and the others had spent recent days with Ye Chu. He had always appeared lazy and dissolute. Even at the Qingyang Marquis residence, he had fought with a smile on his lips, utterly relaxed. Yet now they saw a different aura on him, arrogant and unrestrained. At this moment, Ye Chu’s edge was fully exposed, wild and overbearing.
These two utterly contrasting temperaments left Liang Shan and Su Rong stunned. It was hard to grasp how such conflicting qualities could coexist in one person.
Yet with this arrogant bearing, Ye Chu swept aside everyone in his path like bamboo splitting under a blade. Alone, he reached the iron doors of the main hall.
The next instant, Ye Chu’s foot crashed into the towering doors, twice the height of a man. A thunderous explosion shook the entire hall. The massive iron doors buckled inward, tore free of their frame, and hurtled through the air before slamming down inside the hall.
The doors struck the floor with a deafening crash that startled everyone. Few even understood what had happened.
“Fang Xinyuan! Get out here!”
Ye Chu’s voice boomed like rolling thunder. Some people felt pain in their eardrums as the sound echoed endlessly through the hall.
Inside, Fang Xinyuan had been boasting to a young lady about how he had thrashed Liang Shan and how he would deal with Ye Chu. He swore that if Ye Chu ever appeared before him, he would force him to kneel and beg, then break both his legs.
But amid his bragging, the sudden roar startled him. His body shook. He nearly collapsed to the floor in fright.
Fang Xinyuan whipped his gaze towards the entrance. Seeing Ye Chu stride in, and the iron doors still ringing from the impact before him, his face drained of colour. Terror filled him.
“It’s you.” Fang Xinyuan could scarcely believe it. Ye Chu had actually come looking for trouble, and at Ding Wu Hall of all places.
Ye Chu looked at the trembling Fang Xinyuan with disdain in his eyes. If the man had not broken Liang Shan’s arm, he would not even bother with someone like this.
Ye Chu started forward to seize Fang Xinyuan, but several figures blocked his path after only a few steps. He frowned and said calmly, “Step aside.”
The men in front of him flew into a rage, glaring at him. “Where did this bastard spring from? You dare smash our hall’s doors. If you do not explain yourself today, you will die here.”
Fang Xinyuan had been paralysed with fear, but seeing the men block Ye Chu, he snapped back to his senses. Why should he be afraid? This was Ding Wu Hall. The fellow had come here to cause trouble. He was courting death.
“Ye Chu. There is a path to heaven you refuse to take, yet you barge through the gates of hell. Perfect timing. This young master has accounts to settle with you.” Fang Xinyuan grew arrogant again. He laughed loudly at Ye Chu. “Today this young master will show you what real punishment feels like.”
Ye Chu ignored Fang Xinyuan completely and spoke to the men blocking him. “Anyone who stands in my way today will answer to me.”
They had never seen anyone act so arrogantly inside Ding Wu Hall. The leader roared, “And if we do not move?”
Though shocked that one kick could deform those huge iron doors, they were not easily frightened. Ding Wu Hall had many experts, and Lord Ding Kaiwei himself was present. Why fear this one man?
Let alone him. Anyone in Yao City would have to temper their attitude here.
“If you will not move, then die.” A curve rose at the corner of Ye Chu’s mouth, forming a chilling smile. The moment his words ended, his body shot forward.
Ye Chu moved with blinding speed. People barely registered it. It seemed he had only taken one step, yet he was already before the hall instructors. His palms swung down fiercely.
Slap, slap, slap.
A series of crisp slaps rang out. The instructors were sent flying, spitting blood. Teeth flew from their mouths.
With mere slaps, Ye Chu had knocked several instructors to the ground. Everyone stared in horror, disbelief filling their hearts.
Anyone qualified to instruct at the hall had entered the realm of true qi cultivation. Yet several such men had been slapped away by Ye Chu. He seemed far stronger than the rumours suggested.
Liang Shan and the others entered just in time to witness the scene. They were stunned by Ye Chu’s strength, their expressions complicated.
They had not expected Ye Chu to act without regard for consequences, striking first inside Ding Wu Hall. This was no longer just about Fang Xinyuan. He had provoked the entire hall.
Sure enough, the hall’s members leapt to their feet, surrounding Ye Chu. They gripped wooden and iron rods, menacing.
Su Rong could not help glancing towards one side. Several figures emerged slowly from that direction.
“Ye Chu is truly finished this time.” Zhang Su’er sighed, watching the grim-faced newcomers.
None of them were ordinary. Leading them was Ding Kaiwei. Zhang Su’er did not know exactly how strong he was, only that he ranked among the top three of Yao City’s younger generation. The others were all in the city’s top ten or twenty, some even palace guards. All formidable. Ye Chu, alone, had no chance.
“Impulsiveness comes at a bloody price.” Zhang Su’er sighed. But her eyes soon brightened again. Beside Ding Kaiwei walked Pang Shao.
Liang Shan was overjoyed. If Pang Shao spoke for Ye Chu, perhaps he could escape this calamity.
Thinking this, Liang Shan ignored everything and rushed forward. “Lord Pang Shao.”
“Hm?” Pang Shao jumped at the sight of the battered Liang Shan. “What happened to you?”
“Save Ye Chu, quick.” Liang Shan had no time to explain. “He is surrounded. The hall’s people are about to attack him.”
“What? You say the one who just smashed the hall’s doors is Ye Chu?” Pang Shao was stunned. “Damn. That guy’s gone mad again? Heh heh, good. Saves me the trouble of his arrogance. Let him die.”
At those words, Liang Shan’s face lost all colour. Even Pang Shao would not save Ye Chu. How could he escape?
Ye Chu remained unaware of Liang Shan’s worry. He looked at the layers of people encircling him and spoke calmly. “I have no desire to make enemies of you. I only want certain people handed over. But if you truly force my hand, I will not mind smashing your Ding Wu Hall.”
His utterly arrogant words left everyone, including Su Rong, dumbfounded. The man had truly lost his mind. Even now, he spoke so recklessly.
“This young master would love to see how you plan to smash Ding Wu Hall.” Amid the stunned silence, a thunderous roar exploded through the hall. At the sound, Liang Shan could hold out no longer. He collapsed to the floor, face ashen.
“Ding Kaiwei has made his move. Ye Chu is finished.”
