Chapter 1: Utterly Cruel

  Black night, Qinglongmen had a secret meeting point at a branch temple near Hansheng Village in Xugou Town.

  The small room was suddenly crowded and chaotic. The tea was ready, the air conditioner was turned on, and all who came were big eaters and drinkers, rough men with no refinement.

  "Feng Ge, are you really going to take action? You've decided?" a younger brother said to one of the calm and majestic men.

  The man nodded and said in a low, measured tone: "Everyone quiet! Listen to my orders! First group, follow plan A; second group, head straight for Village of the Cold Crow; third group, execute previously formulated plan B. Do you understand?"

  "I understand!"

  "Action!" After saying that, Brother Feng put on a long black cloak and puffed on a thick cigar.

  "Get barbecue and hot pot ready for me, I'll eat when I get back!"

  "Yes, Brother Feng!" Amidst the younger brother's sendoff, Brother Feng got into a black sedan and drove off into the night.

  **

  Hu Bin's home, with a loud crash, the door was smashed open, and a middle-aged man with a square face and an awe-inspiring demeanor walked in.

  "Who!...... What's going on?" Hu Papa and Hu Mama quickly got out of bed, put on their clothes, and nervously stared at the door.

  A middle-aged man came in and said in a low voice: "Hurry up and put on your clothes, wear more, it's easy to catch a cold!"

  The two of them heard this and were no longer so panicked, and involuntarily obeyed the man's orders.

  "Don't say anything, you're in danger, I'll take you to Hu Bin!" The middle-aged man acted extremely decisively, and by the time the two nodded in agreement, he had already pulled them up with one hand and leapt forward like the wind, flying and jumping in the autumn breeze.

  In Crow Village, a dog barked incessantly, and a large group of people arrived.

  Middle-aged people are self-segmented clouds, and after learning about tonight's action, they rushed to Hu Bin's home first, rescued his parents, and rushed to the cave of Xiao Hanshan - also a temporary shelter for Hu Bin and others.

  At the entrance of the cave, Duan Yun put down Hu Bin's parents and coldly shouted: "Hu Bin! Come out!"

  A dull sound, like a muffled thunderclap, surged back and forth in the cave.

  In an instant, a figure flashed at the entrance of the cave. Hu Bin stood at the entrance: "Who! ...... Uncle Duan! Dad and Mom?!"

  "Enough of this, how is your martial arts training?" Duan Yun asked.

  "So-so, just learned recently, can barely deal with a few small thugs!"

  "Tonight, the master of Qinglongmen is taking private action, targeting your family, Huang Xiuying and Fang Xiaoxin. Your family has no background or connections, so they will definitely not show mercy. That's why I went to your house in advance. However, it's inconvenient for me to go to Huang Xiuying's house, and there's also Fang Xiaoxin who needs help. How about you go and run an errand? After I settle Fang Xiaoxin, I'll quietly go and help you!"

  "Alright, no time to lose!" Hu Bin said, and led his parents into the cave, then rushed towards the town with Duan Yun.

  When the two set off, Han Ya Village was already bustling. Duan Yun's footsteps were extremely fast, and his internal strength was deep, carrying Hu Bin, they soon arrived at the town.

  "Split into two groups, be careful! Remember, the other side's goal is only Huang Xiuying, as for her family members, they won't care and don't want to cause more trouble. Especially Huang Shurang, don't underestimate him, he has enough self-preservation ability. So, when all else fails, just let Huang Xiuying escape!" Duan Yun said, then left resolutely.

  It was already midnight, without moonlight, the town was quiet and deserted, with only street lamps shining dimly.

  Fang Xiaoqin had gone to bed early, but she wasn't asleep. She was tossing and turning, thinking about some things, when suddenly she heard the window glass being lightly tapped.

  Fang Xiaoqin was startled at first, wondering if something was amiss. But then she felt a surge of joy, thinking that the light knock might be Wu Xin returning.

  Thinking of this, Fang Xiaoxin hastily put on her coat and walked near the window, softly saying: "Who?"

  "Xiao Qin?" A thick voice of a middle-aged man came over.

  Fang Xiaoqin was disappointed and a little scared: "Who are you?"

  "I'm a friend of Wu Xin! Hurry up and call your dad, someone will be here to deal with you soon! Quick!" The voice was extremely stern, carrying an aura that made one involuntarily obey.

  "What's good about that?" Fang Xiaoqin listened and believed, but she was flustered.

  "Listen carefully! First, wake up your parents, then turn on the lights and shout everywhere, saying 'thief', wake up all the neighbors. The more chaotic the scene is, the better. I'll smash some windows nearby later and call the police. As long as there are many people tonight, you won't be in trouble, got it?" Duan Yun said calmly.

  "Uh-huh, got it! Is this okay? Will it work?" Fang Xiaoxin still had some worries.

  "Go quickly! If it really doesn't work, I'll come out and help you myself, don't worry!"

  "Hmm!" Fang Xiaoxin felt a lot more at ease after hearing this, hastily put on her clothes and went out to wake up her parents...

  In an instant, several loud crashes, the glass shattered.

  "Thief! Catch the thief!" The shrill voice echoed throughout the neighborhood.

  The houses nearby lit up one after another, and from time to time someone would stick their head out.

  The alarm sounded with a "wow" sound, police cars arrived, and the residential area was in an uproar for a while, and a crisis was resolved.

  Duan Yun saw that there was nothing to do for the time being, so he hastily rushed in the direction of Huang Xiuying's home.

  But Hu Bin rushed to Huang Xiuying's home and knocked on the door with a "ding ding ding" sound, finally waking up the whole Huang Shu Lang family.

  The one who opened the door was Huang Shu Lang.

  A tired-looking Huang Shu Lang didn't open the door first, but asked in a low voice: "Who?"

  "Huang Bobo? I'm Xiuying's classmate. There's an emergency and your whole family is in danger!"

  Huang Shu Lang finally opened the door, and Huang Mama and Huang Xiu Ying also rushed out wearing their coats.

  "What's wrong, Hu Bin?" Huang Shu Lang felt a mix of excitement and ominous foreboding when he saw Hu Bin.

  "That's all! Someone is coming to catch Yinyin, I want to take Yinyin away first. Later someone will come and ask, you just say that Yinyin went to a teacher's home for a sleepover at school, and you won't be in trouble!" Hu Bin thought of Duan Yun's special entrustment on the way, and had already thought of a countermeasure. As long as he could secretly take Huang Xiuyin away, the disaster would naturally be avoided.

  Huang Shu Lang raised an eyebrow, blocking Hu Bin's path: "How do I know what you're saying is true or false? And how did you find out? In the middle of the night, what if you have ulterior motives and trick my daughter into leaving?"

  Huang Xiuying said: "I believe in Hu Bin's brother, I'll follow him!"

  Huang Xiuying's face was resolute as she quickly put on her clothes.

  Huang Shu Lang and Huang Ma were so frightened that they couldn't be persuaded, and they sighed constantly.

  Hu Bin didn't say another word and took Huang Xiuying with him to Beiyuan Park in the town.

  Huang Shu Lang furrowed his brow in contemplation for a long time before closing the door, and instead of going back to sleep, he went straight to the study, getting busy.

  "Recently, Beiyuan Park has been holding events and it's exceptionally lively. Lively places are generally safer!" Hu Bin said as he walked. However, they didn't know that a black sedan was quietly following them.

  There were quite a few people in the park, and it seemed like there were even more than during the day. Not long after entering, a large crowd had already gathered, with loud music coming from inside - it was a rock concert. The audience occasionally responded with applause, cheers, and whistles, indicating that they understood and enjoyed the music. Even on the nearby green lawn, the enthusiastic shouts of the audience could be heard, as people immersed in the thick rock music atmosphere forgot themselves and swayed gently to the music.

  Huang Xiuying glanced at him disdainfully, smiling as she looked at Hu Bin: "It's not a tune, it's not a song, the dance is not a dance, just making a racket, really ugly! We don't need to stoop to their level, why don't we go somewhere else?"

  "Hmm! There shouldn't be any problems, we just need to be careful!" Hu Bin nodded.

  The two of them went off in one direction along a shaded small path.

  After wandering in the dark forest for half a day, I felt increasingly chilly.

  "Is it cold?"

  Huang Xiuying said lightly: "It's okay!" But in her mind, she thought, if Wu Xin were here, it would be great!

  Just then, I felt a faint rustling in the air.

  Hu Bin had been practicing martial arts for a short time, but he concentrated his mind and listened carefully, and soon heard the sound. He quickly pulled Huang Xiuying to hide under a big tree on the side.

  Huang Xiuying was startled and misunderstood, "Ah!" she cried out, staring at Hu Bin with wide eyes.

  Hu Bin's eyes were fixed tightly on the front right side.

  As Huang Xiuying looked over, she saw a black-clothed masked man, and only then did she feel ashamed, regretting her uselessness, and even suspected Hu Bin.

  The black-clad masked man looked out at the position of the two due to Huang Xiuying's cry, and slowly walked over.

  Hu Bin pressed down on Huang Xiuying's shoulder, signaling her not to make any sudden movements. He himself jumped out and looked at the masked man, saying: "I don't know what brings you here, brother? Do you know who I am?" The man was taken aback for a moment when Hu Bin suddenly darted forward, making a swift movement with his palm and fist.

  That person snorted, laughing: "You think you can fight me?" With a flick of his body, he was as agile as a willow leaf, and with a sudden light turn, he managed to slip through the narrow gap between Hu Bin's fists and palms. He naturally dissolved Hu Bin's combined strength, and instead went behind him. Hu Bin didn't expect it, and in an instant, he felt a powerful force coming from behind. He turned his left shoulder and said: "Yingying, why don't you leave quickly?" As soon as the words fell, he let out a light hum, took a palm on his back, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

  But unexpectedly, Hu Bin did not retreat. Instead, taking advantage of the momentary injury, the strength in his palm suddenly increased several times. His left hand came from the side and rear, using the intent of the Frenzied Devil Staff Method, substituting his palm for a staff. He struck the person's right shoulder, aiming at the Yunmen and Zhongfu acupoints, wanting to dissipate the strength in their right hand. His right hand moved swiftly like lightning, like a long dragon suddenly appearing from behind the masked person's chest, striking several acupoints. This was the Mount Tai Piercing Clouds technique of the Five Peaks Fist, truly nimble and spiritual, with quite a bit of skill.

  But unexpectedly he was even faster, Hu Bin only felt a flash in front of his eyes, and saw a figure like a shadow flashing from the side, with a smile in the corner of his eye, his body swaying, with an indescribable elegance. Hu Bin saw that all his moves were in vain, and hastily turned around, but it was already too late.

  That man smiled and his right hand shot out like lightning, striking Hu Bin's chest.

  Hu Binqiang endured, retreated several steps, stumbled and stood firm, still stretching out his hand to make a move.

  That man sneered, "You little brat, you don't take the road to heaven, but instead come to hell where there is no door. Today, don't blame me for being impolite!" With that, his body swayed and rose like a crane, coming at Hu Bin with a steady pace. His hands seemed to move lightly and naturally, yet in the midst of this light movement, he unleashed several streams of true energy, as if one person was counting multiple arms, completely enveloping Hu Bin. Hu Bin didn't dare to dodge, using all his strength with both hands while turning his chest, instantly pushing out a burst of internal energy that scattered from his palms. As soon as his palms made contact with the opponent, he felt like he had crashed into a wall, all his true energy shattering in an instant. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, his throat sweet and sour, his body going limp and falling down, losing consciousness...

  As soon as Hu Bin shouted "Yingying, aren't you going to hurry up?", Huang Xiuying's heart was racing as she ran towards the dense forest.

  After running wildly for a while, Huang Xiuying suddenly felt a chill blow past her ear, and was so frightened that she fell to the ground with a thud.

  When I looked back, I vaguely saw the black-clothed masked man.

  "What's your grudge against me? I have no quarrel with you. What about Hu Bin? How is he?" Huang Xiuying asked angrily.

  "He's almost dead, go keep him company. Don't worry, when you die, I'll come back and strangle him, so you won't be too lonely on your way to the underworld!" The masked man said in a gloomy tone.

  Huang Xiuying retreated, and the masked man was closing in step by step.

  "Ah!" A mournful cry suddenly stopped, and the forest became eerily quiet once again.

  ****

  "What? He's so bold!" Inside Qingyuan Xiaoju, Xiao Jian shouted: "Hurry up and call her!"

  "The phone is unreachable! He's turned it off!"

  "Go quickly and find him!" Xiao Jian angrily shouted.

  A figure flashed through the dense forest, a black-clad masked man was shocked, and he countered with a palm strike, but was shaken until his meridians were completely severed.

  "It's you! You're actually from the Beggar Clan! Lei...Lei..." The firelight flickered to life, and the black-clad, masked figure gazed at the person before him, a trickle of blood slowly seeping from the corner of his mouth. He swayed, then fell over.

  He picked up Huang Xiuying's body and sighed: "You're too ruthless, a girl, you actually had the heart to do it!"

  Having said that, he flew away and encountered another person.

  "What's wrong?" the man exclaimed in surprise.

  "Brother Lei! Hand her over to me!" Duan Yun said with a sigh, holding Hu Bin in his arms.

  "It's all right, Xiao Jian already knows about it. Hand her over to Xiao Jian and let him handle it! I guarantee her safety!"

  "That's enough with just this sentence!" Duan Yun said.

  "Take him to Ah Zhen's place, Ah Zhen has some wonderful medicine that will surely make him better soon!"

  "I had exactly the same idea! See you again!"

  "Hmm!" As soon as the words fell, there was no one in the forest.

  **

  Inside Qingyuan's humble abode, Xiao Jian's icy countenance was chilling to behold.

  Xiao Jian stood with his hands behind his back, repeatedly sizing up Huang Xiuying who was lying unconscious on the bed. Tears quietly rolled down his eyes, but his facial expression didn't change in the slightest. After pacing back and forth dozens of times, he remained silent.

  In front of him, kneeling on the ground was none other than Tang Zhuo's master, Ah Feng.

  "Boss, although I acted on my own, I have a clear conscience. I did it for your own good!" Ah Feng said, still kneeling but speaking with conviction.

  Xiao Jian's face turned green with rage, and he suddenly kicked out with one foot, sending Ah Feng flying back several steps. A gash opened up on his forehead, and blood spurted out wildly.

  A younger brother quickly fetched some gauze to stop his bleeding.

  "What am I greedy for? Do you think I really want her life? Do you know how much heartache I have? Everyone says she's so noble, why doesn't she care about you, but you still can't forget her. Do you know how many people are ridiculing you? I just can't bear to see you degenerate like this..."

  With a "crack", Xiao Jian's leather shoes ruthlessly kicked and broke Ah Feng's ribcage.

  A Feng spat out a mouthful of blood and still gritted his teeth: "I'm not wrong! I'm doing it for your own good!"

  Before his words had fallen, Xiao Jian kicked out again, kicking A Feng's teeth loose and causing him to spit out several teeth, with blood flowing from his mouth.

  "Even if you kick me to death, I still say that I am not wrong!" Ah Feng said indignantly.

  "Alright, enough!" A person flashed out beside him and stopped Xiao Jian: "Ah Feng is also a kind of bitter heart!"

  "Uncle Li!" Xiao Jian's cold face showed a hint of tears: "If you hadn't arrived in time, I would have killed him already!"

  "I also think Ah Feng is a good guy with a kind heart!" Lao Li grabbed Xiao Jian's arm.

  Xiao Jian looked into Lao Li's eyes, his face sinking into calmness. After a moment, he turned around and said coldly, "Take him to get treatment!"

  Ah Feng listened and his face showed joy, saying: "Thank you, boss!"