Su Rong and Zhang Su’er covered their mouths, staring in disbelief at the youth in front of them. No one could have imagined that, at this critical moment, it would be him who stepped forward to stop Sha Tianyun.
The soldiers and citizens of Yao City also stared blankly at Ye Chu, unsure who this youth was. He had actually blocked a strike from an innate realm expert. Only those who had seen Ye Chu before stood frozen in shock.
“It is you!” Sha Tianyun’s eyes grew even colder as he glared at the youth. Murder and savagery flashed in his gaze.
“Surprised?” Ye Chu looked at Sha Tianyun, kicked away the log that had rolled to his feet, and glanced at the people lying in pools of blood around them. “An innate realm expert, no less, slaughtering ordinary people. Is that not a bit shameful?”
Sha Tianyun paid no heed to the mockery. “I have always regretted not killing you last time. Now you have delivered yourself to me. Perfect. I will deal with you first, then handle the Yao king.”
His hatred for Ye Chu was obvious. He wanted to flay him alive. He had thought he would never find him again, yet here the boy was, offering himself up.
“Why do I have to come first? Deal with the Yao king first, then me. How about that?” Ye Chu sighed at Sha Tianyun, thinking the man was too stupid to prioritise properly.
“Hmph!” Sha Tianyun wasted no more words. He raised his spiked club again and smashed it viciously towards Ye Chu. The chilling gleam of the spikes made Su Rong and Zhang Su’er clench their fists, hearts pounding with tension.
Watching the not particularly sturdy youth standing there, they felt no confidence at all. One was innate realm, the other merely intent transformation realm. Even if he had blocked one strike before, what could he do?
“To think that at a time like this, it is Ye Chu who steps forward!” Zhang Su’er stared blankly at him, a thousand emotions surging in her heart, yet she could not voice a single one.
Su Rong was equally unsettled. In this dire moment, it was Ye Chu who had stepped out to save them. The man once infamous throughout the city now stood fearlessly in front.
Her expression grew dazed. In her eyes, only the youth before her remained. It was as if all his past infamy had faded away.
“Die!”
Sha Tianyun roared. The spiked club smashed down. Ye Chu kicked up the log at his feet and swept it fiercely towards the opponent. Log and club collided with a tremendous shock. Ye Chu staggered back, his hands trembling on the wood.
Though Sha Tianyun also retreated a step, he looked far more at ease. He sneered coldly at Ye Chu. “An intent transformation realm dares to stand against me. Courting death.”
“How would we know without trying!” Ye Chu laughed loudly. He did not yield despite being forced back. Instead he pressed forward, sweeping the log horizontally. It clashed once more with Sha Tianyun’s spiked club.
“Then I will send you to your death!” Sha Tianyun snorted, a trace of disdain at his lips. He swung the club furiously, striking the log until cracks appeared.
Seeing Ye Chu sent flying again, the Yao soldiers and cultivators who had briefly dared to hope turned pale once more. Ye Chu’s ability to unleash such power at intent transformation realm had astonished them, yet it changed nothing.
The gap between intent transformation and innate realm was vast. Yao Country had many at the peak of intent transformation, but only four innate realm experts in total. That was the difference.
“Your Majesty! Leave first!” A squad of soldiers knelt before the Yao king, begging him to escape.
“Father! Go first. As long as you live, Yao Country still has hope.”
“Your Majesty, do not hesitate. There is still a chance. Go quickly!”
“…”
The people of Yao City cried out, pleading for the king to flee first. Ye Chu could hold the enemy for a moment, but not for long. He would eventually fall to Sha Tianyun. By then, escape would be impossible.
The Yao king looked at Ye Chu and the Weiyuan Marquis, his expression complicated. He too had never expected these two to step forward. One was the reprobate cursed by all in Yao City. Even in the palace, his foul reputation reached the king’s ears.
The other was the old marquis who had earned great merits for him, yet whom he had sidelined to retire at home. When Ye Chu had once attempted misdeeds against Ji Die of the imperial Ye family, provoking their fury, the Weiyuan Marquis had been forced to expel Ye Chu from the family. At that time, the king, fearing to offend the imperial Ye family, had gradually distanced himself from the marquis, eventually letting him retire.
Yet in Yao Country’s hour of crisis, it was these two who stood forth. The king felt some shame. Watching the soldiers kneeling before him, he roared angrily, “There are only Yao kings who die in battle, never Yao kings who become dogs of a fallen nation.”
“Your Majesty!” the soldiers cried.
“No more words! My mind is made up!” The king knew clearly that even if he fled, what then? The palace breached, the imperial seal stolen. The blow to Yao Country would be immense. Sand Country could seize the momentum and conquer them. It was not impossible. Besides, could he even escape? The enemy had come specifically for him. To capture him and threaten Yao Country, they would never let him get away.
If that was the case, then only fighting to the death might offer a slim chance. The grief and fury it would stir in Yao’s people might make their battle spirit soar and hold back Sand Country’s assault.
Crack!
After several more strikes from the spiked club, the log in Ye Chu’s hands finally shattered. Splinters flew everywhere. Sharp fragments occasionally struck nearby soldiers, embedding in their flesh and forcing them to retreat.
“The log is broken. Let us see what else you have to block me!” Sha Tianyun laughed wildly. He swung the spiked club horizontally at Ye Chu.
Ye Chu had been forced back, his arms trembling violently. The veins on them bulged visibly.
“To block several of my strikes, you can be proud. Among the younger generation of Sand and Yao, no one can match you. But today, you will die!” Sha Tianyun roared. The spiked club chased after Ye Chu.
Watching this, everyone could not help but sigh. They no longer held hope. The guard captain shouted, “Swear to defend the palace to the death! Form ranks! Protect His Majesty!”
Su Rong clenched her fists tightly, face pale, eyes red as she watched the youth battling an innate realm expert.
“We all misjudged him! He is the true man of courage!” Tears streamed from Zhang Su’er’s eyes. Sha Tianyun’s spiked club was about to catch Ye Chu. If it landed, would he survive?
“Ye Chu!” Seeing the club about to strike him, Su Rong could not help crying out.
Yet Ye Chu seemed deaf to her call. His body twisted sharply, narrowly dodging the blow. He lashed out with a fierce kick towards Sha Tianyun’s wrist.
“An innate realm expert is nothing to fear. I have no weapon! Are you still going to use one?”
The words, not loud, echoed through the space. Seeing Sha Tianyun indeed discard his club and retreat to avoid the kick, everyone looked at each other in shock.
Sha Tianyun had not expected to be forced to abandon his weapon. His expression darkened. He stared fixedly at Ye Chu, said nothing more, and swept out with a punch.
“I will finish you even bare-handed! Within ten moves, you will die!”
