Just as Xiao Xiao was about to be defiled—
"Scram!"
With an angry shout, Ye Qingchen burst out of the room, his fist smashing into the man's arm.
CRACK!
The sound of breaking bone echoed as the man's arm went limp. Before he could even cry out, a kick from Ye Qingchen sent him flying.
The other two men's expressions changed, and they were about to make a move, but Ye Qingchen had already lashed out with two more kicks.
BANG!
BANG!
The pair were sent flying, crashing into the first man. The three of them rolled into a heap, wailing in agony.
"You dare humiliate Xiao Xiao? You're courting death!" Ye Qingchen's face turned icy. He pulled the pale-faced Xiao Xiao up and shielded her behind him.
"Sixth Layer Martial Apprentice!"
Feeling the powerful aura from Ye Qingchen's attack, Ye Quan's eyes bulged.
The news from the Li Family said he was only at the Fourth Layer of Martial Apprentice, but now his cultivation has reached the Sixth Layer? He advanced two entire layers after just one night of cultivation! A piece of trash like him could never accomplish that on his own! This waste of space must have some heaven-defying cultivation treasure! Family Head Li was right. Besides that Yellow-Rank, Superior-Grade Martial Technique, the Picking Leaf Hand, Ye Qingchen must have something else of value on him!
Family Head Li had promised that if he killed Ye Qingchen, everything on his body would be his.
Thinking of this, Ye Quan's heart burned with greed.
"Hmph, Ye Qingchen! That little stray you picked up stole a chicken I spent a fortune raising. She deserved to be punished! You didn't even bother to find out what happened, yet you dare strike my men. How unreasonable! Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of the family!"
Having achieved his goal of provoking Ye Qingchen into striking first, Ye Quan didn't hesitate, unleashing a punch straight at him. Since he held the moral high ground, Ye Quan was confident the family wouldn't punish him even if he "accidentally" killed Ye Qingchen—not with the Third Elder watching his back.
Therefore, Ye Quan held nothing back. The full power of a Seventh Layer Martial Apprentice surged from his body and concentrated into his fist.
"Young Master Quan, beat him!"
"How dare you hit us! You're dead, Ye Qingchen!"
Seeing the power of Ye Quan's punch, the three lackeys immediately started cheering. Ye Quan was a Seventh Layer Martial Apprentice; how could that piece of trash Ye Qingchen possibly withstand him? They could already picture Ye Qingchen being brutally beaten.
Facing Ye Quan's fist, Ye Qingchen showed no fear. He also clenched his right hand and threw a punch with all his might.
BANG!
Fist met fist. The resounding collision sent both Ye Qingchen and Ye Quan staggering back three steps.
They were evenly matched!
"How could this be possible!" Ye Quan's face was a mask of disbelief.
He was a Seventh Layer Martial Apprentice, yet Ye Qingchen, a mere Sixth Layer, had actually met his full-powered punch head-on!
The three lackeys who had just been cheering were struck dumb, like ducks with their necks wrung. The outcome was completely beyond their expectations.
Xiao Xiao's beautiful eyes widened in utter astonishment.
When did the Young Master become so strong?
Ye Qingchen's strength only fueled Ye Quan's greed.
If even a piece of trash like Ye Qingchen could suddenly become so powerful, what about him? If he got his hands on that treasure, wouldn't he become the top genius of the Ye Family's younger generation? Perhaps even the number one genius in all of Qingyun Town!
Malice rose in his heart, and he grew bold.
Ye Quan suddenly drew a dagger from his robes. Stomping his foot, he charged toward Ye Qingchen. A cold glint flashed as the dagger transformed into five streaks of frigid light, stabbing toward five of Ye Qingchen's vital points.
The Ye Family's Yellow-Rank, Medium-Grade Martial Technique: Five Shadows Stab!
A single strike could unleash five simultaneous attacks of equal power. This extremely effective technique could increase a martial artist's attack power by at least thirty or forty percent.
"How will you dodge this time?" A sinister smile twisted Ye Quan's lips. If even one of these five strikes found its mark, Ye Qingchen would die on the spot.
An immense sense of crisis washed over him. Ye Qingchen's brow furrowed, and deep within his sea of consciousness, the Dual Pupil Martial Soul suddenly trembled.
His Double Pupils snapped open!
The world before Ye Qingchen's eyes abruptly changed. Everything became incredibly clear, almost translucent. In his vision, Ye Quan's rapid charge suddenly slowed to half his original speed, and the five trajectories of his dagger became perfectly visible.
Ye Qingchen didn't dodge. Instead, he stretched his hand forward to meet the incoming dagger, plunging it directly into the midst of the attack.
Seeing this, Ye Quan couldn't help but sneer.
Daring to block a dagger with his bare flesh? He's simply seeking his own death!
But in the next moment, Ye Quan felt his hand go light. The dagger was sent flying by Ye Qingchen! Before Ye Quan could react, his arm was seized. Then, Ye Qingchen squeezed and twisted fiercely!
CRACK!
Ye Quan's arm was dislocated, the bones in his hand shattering. Ye Qingchen lashed out with a kick. Ye Quan's body bent like a shrimp as he was thrown backward.
"AARGH!"
Ye Quan crashed to the ground in a pathetic heap, letting out a howl like a slaughtered pig.
Behind him, the three henchmen were utterly dumbfounded.
Even after using a Martial Technique, Ye Quan was no match for Ye Qingchen? What just happened?
They had only seen a blur, and in the next instant, Ye Quan's dagger was gone, his arm was crippled, and he was kicked away.
"Ye... Ye Qingchen, you dare to cripple my arm? You... you have some nerve!" Ye Quan clutched his dangling arm, his teeth grinding as his face twisted in pain.
"Speak. Who sent you?" Ye Qingchen asked coldly, picking up the fallen dagger and advancing on Ye Quan.
Ye Quan had come looking specifically for him; humiliating Xiao Xiao was just an excuse to force me to attack first. Such a scheme was beyond the capabilities of a spoiled brat who spent his days bullying others. Someone else had to be pulling the strings.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Seeing Ye Qingchen approach, Ye Quan panicked, his gaze shifting away. "Someone stole my chicken, so I came looking for the thief. What's wrong with that?"
Ye Qingchen's gaze turned cold. "Not talking?"
It doesn't matter. I have my ways.
With a thought, his Dual Pupil Martial Soul trembled. Just as he was about to probe Ye Quan's innermost thoughts, a cold shout echoed through the courtyard.
"How dare you attack my grandson! Ye Qingchen, your audacity is growing!"
As the voice fell, a gray-haired elder with a stocky build and a protruding belly strode in, his face grim.
Ye Qingchen's pupils constricted. The gray-haired elder was none other than the Ye Family's Third Elder, Ye Quan's grandfather. His cultivation had reached the Fifth Layer of the Martial Artist realm.
"Grandfather! Ye Qingchen crippled my arm! You must get revenge for me!" Seeing the Third Elder, Ye Quan instantly found his backbone, his arrogance returning in full force.
"We are of the same clan, blood relatives, yet your actions were so ruthless! Today, you must be taught a harsh lesson!" The Third Elder didn't bother asking for details. His old eyes narrowed, and his figure blurred as he lunged straight for Ye Qingchen.
At the same time, Ye Qingchen stared into the Third Elder's eyes and heard his true thoughts.
Family Head Li gave a death order. I must take Ye Qingchen's life today, even if it means exposing myself!