After their defeat, the Baiying Brothers headed back to their cave where they met their leader. "Big brother Bai Yo, you must avenge Brother Wong!" "Yes, yes, that guy actually dared to kill one of us!" "Shut up," the leader commanded. "Tell me everything that happened."
The bandits proceeded to narrate everything, exaggerating every sentence to save face. They left out the part where He Yue fell from the sky, instead lying that he came from Shingzhou Village. "You say this person killed him with one punch?" he asked. "Yes, Brother Bai." "Is he a cultivator?" "No, Brother Bai. He did not use any techniques, nor did we sense his aura. He is definitely a mortal."
"Hahaha, very interesting. I, Bai Ning, vow to avenge Hong Wong with my fists. Take me to this man with incredible strength," he said, clenching his fists and releasing his aura.
The cave was filled with loud chants as the bandits shouted their war cries. The gang of over a hundred men set out, heading to the village. The group quickly arrived at the village, killing villagers near the entrance.
He Yue and Shing Xi also headed to the entrance where they saw the bandits. "Brother He, run! I know they are here for you. You are in trouble because of me. Come, let me show you an escape route," Shing Xi said, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from the crowd.
"Huh?" He wouldn't budge. She was surprised... no matter how she pulled him, he did not move. "Brother He, let's go!" she said, urgency appearing on her face. "No. They are here for me, right? Then it would be rude not to receive one's guests," he said, pulling his arm out of her grasp.
"Where is the man who killed one of my brothers?" Bai Ning roared. "Come out, or today Shingzhou Village will face my wrath. I will not spare anyone. Come out now!"
Hehehe. The bandits brandished their weapons like a pack of hungry wolves, ready to rain chaos upon the village.
The villagers were terrified. If Bai Ning truly wished it, none of them would leave alive. He was a cultivator, after all, at the late stages of apprentice rank. In a small village like Shingzhou, there were few to none. Only the old, sickly chief was at the middle stage of apprentice rank, and his son was at the initial stage. They could not resist with just blades, spears, and arrows. They could only watch as the bandits marched into the village.
"Where is this man? Is he such a coward that he hides behind women and children? I give you ten seconds, and my men will attack this village," he said, initiating the countdown. "Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four… three… two…"
"You're looking for me, right?" a voice came from the back of the crowd.
The villagers quickly parted, and a young man walked briskly to the front. Bai Ning saw him and sized him up. He had no aura leaking from him, which made him sneer. But how could he sense his cultivation when he was just a mere apprentice rank? "Hmph," he spat on the ground. "Just a mere mortal dares to offend us Baiying Brothers. Get him!" he ordered two men by his side.
The men screamed, rushing forward with their swords. He Yue did not flinch, calmly watching their movements. The first man swung his blade at him, but He Yue swiftly dodged, punching the man's ribs. Crack, crack! The sound of bones shattering could be heard as the man coughed up blood before collapsing lifeless.
"Ha Feng!" his companion screamed. "You bastard, prepare to meet your maker today!" He charged forward, slashing at He Yue.
He Yue punched, his fist clashing with the blade. The crowd was in disbelief when the blade shattered and the man's face caved in. Thump! He fell forward, lifeless.
"Impossible!" Even Bai Ning, a cultivator, was surprised. How could a mere mortal possess such strength? He did not possess that strength himself.
"Attack, all of you!" Snapping out of his daze, he ordered his men. He wanted to exhaust He Yue's energy before attacking.
He Yue clenched his fist and attacked.
Thirty minutes later, He Yue was panting heavily, surrounded by the remaining men of the hundred and twenty who had come. The rest lay on the ground, forming a pile of dead bodies. He had fought ruthlessly; every hit was fatal. They did not stand a chance. "Come," he said, snapping a man's neck.
The men hesitated, frozen in their steps. "Move aside," Bai Ning said, shoving them away. "I will be your opponent," he said, releasing his aura.
To the villagers, he seemed like a towering mountain. But to He Yue, he was a small fry. His fist grew larger in He Yue's eyes as he attacked. He Yue dodged, but his movements were sluggish-he was already worn out from the earlier fighting. Bai Ning's fist grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
"Haha!" Bai Ning laughed when he saw this and increased the intensity of his attacks. Soon, he landed a clean blow to He Yue's face, sending him flying. "Brother He!" Shing Xi screamed, wanting to run to him, but was stopped by her father. She could only stand there, horrified.
Bai Ning did not waste time, punching repeatedly at He Yue, who was on the ground. His handsome face was almost disfigured. Shing Xi covered her face, not wanting to see. "Hahaha! You thought you could beat me? You are a hundred years too early!" Bai Ning laughed.
He decided to deliver the killer blow. As his fist descended upon He Yue like a meteorite, Shing Xi screamed, breaking free from her father's grip as she ran towards him.
Suddenly, a chilling aura broke out. Bai Ning's fist was stopped midair. Even Shing Xi froze in her steps. He Yue was covered in black smoke, his eyes blood red. "I knew it...you're a cultivat...."
Before he could finish, he was sent sprawling by a heavy blow to his chest. Multiple bones fractured in his body. "Cough! You bastard!" he screamed, clutching his ribs, blood pouring from his mouth like a spring.
He Yue stood up and slowly walked towards him. He raised his foot, stomping downwards at his face. Crack! A cracking noise was heard as his foot sank into Bai Ning's face.
"Big brother!" the remaining bandits shouted as they watched their boss murdered brutally. They knelt and kowtowed fiercely, their heads thudding against the ground. "Please forgive us!" they cried.
"Forgive you?" he said. "The strong devour the weak. If it were me begging you right now, would you have let me go?" He looked down on them.
The bandits were dumbfounded, not knowing what to say. "Answer me!" he commanded. "N… no," the bandits answered with shaky voices. They were so scared they almost wet themselves. "Good. Then don't expect me to spare you," he said, crushing the nearest bandit's neck.
"Aah! Please spare us!" the thieves screamed, turning to flee for their lives. But he did not give them a chance, and soon they lay dead, horrified expressions on their faces.
Their blood seemed to float in the air towards He Yue. Even he was surprised, let alone the villagers. He turned to look at the villagers, who were all covering their faces in shock. He gave off a light smile before a sharp pain assaulted his head, and he collapsed. "Brother He!" Shing Xi cried out, running to him.