Chapter 002
Chapter 2: Forsaken by All
“Arrogant villain! Today, heroes from across the Martial World have gathered. We won’t let your evil run rampant!”
Yu Zhen Tian roared fiercely, his hair and beard bristling. With a swift motion, he seized the sword from the waist of Zhu Fang, his eldest disciple standing nearby.
Though his frame appeared aged, Yu Zhen Tian’s blood surged fiercely, steaming with power. The sword in his hand gleamed with a sharp, powerful Sword Qi as he sliced diagonally upward.
Zha Old Three sneered coldly. Without moving an inch from his position, he casually raised his blade and swung downward to meet the approaching Sword Qi.
Blade and Sword Qi collided violently, erupting into a deafening, metallic clash. The force rippled outward, shattering roof tiles and wooden beams.
In the courtyard, Yu Zhen Tian stumbled backward several steps before managing to steady himself, supported by his disciples.
Crack! The wooden beam beneath Zha Old Three’s feet splintered apart. Using the momentum, he sprang into the air and gracefully landed upon another rooftop.
“Old fart, seems your skill hasn’t fully faded,” Zha Old Three sneered, murderous intent gleaming sharply in his eyes.
Below, seeing Yu Zhen Tian match the enemy evenly, many guests halted their hurried departure.
Yu Family Martial Hall was renowned as one of the strongest martial arts schools in all of Shun’an City. Yu Zhen Tian, the Old Hall Master, had held fame for decades, and his martial prowess was well-known throughout the area.
If he could deal with these bandits, there was no need for everyone else to flee.
But suddenly, heavy sounds pierced through the air from afar.
Five masked figures in black leaped swiftly onto the rooftops surrounding the courtyard, forming a fierce, encircling formation.
Seeing this, the Martial World guests attending the celebration turned pale. Without a doubt, these were the remaining five members of the infamous Seven Villains of Zha River.
“Second elder brother, you’re late,” Zha Old Three spoke roughly.
Among the newcomers, a black-clad figure with wrinkles etched across his brow and grey streaks in his hair responded in a hoarse voice:
“No need to rush. We still have the time it takes to burn one incense stick.”
Hearing this, Zha Old Three nodded slowly, then swept his gaze over the crowd below, laughing leisurely:
“Not much time left, you all have six breaths to decide!”
Immediately, any remaining hesitation vanished from the crowd. Guests scattered hurriedly toward the exits.
They had come only to offer gifts and congratulations—not to meet their deaths.
The Seven Villains of Zha River were notorious; even one of them matched Yu Zhen Tian in strength. There was no way the Yu Family Martial Hall could resist six of them at once.
“Hall Master Yu, an emergency has arisen at home. Please excuse my early departure!”
“My skills are weak—Brother Yu, please take care!”
“Brother Yu, if you defeat these villains today, Shun’an City will remember your heroism!”
Several prominent Martial World figures from Shun’an City hurriedly uttered polite farewells before rushing away. Each feared lingering a moment longer would mean losing their lives.
Yu Zhen Tian’s expression darkened, watching helplessly as his guests quickly vanished. His face was grim, silent, knowing he could neither speak nor force them to stay.
Furthermore, since Zha Old Two and the others arrived, Yu Zhen Tian could clearly sense their formidable Qi currents—each no weaker than his own. These guests would be no help even if they remained.
“Brother Zhang, go if you wish. Nobody is stopping you.”
Li Mu Sheng, pushed aside by the fleeing crowd, turned back toward the large, muscular man whose face twisted with hesitation.
Zhang Da Zhuang tightly gripped his staff, loosening and tightening his hold repeatedly, watching anxiously as the crowd thinned.
“We’re all part of Yu Family Martial Hall. Would those villains really let us go?” Zhang Da Zhuang whispered anxiously.
The overwhelming aura emanating from the six men on the rooftops made breathing difficult.
“I think they would. Your surname is Zhang, not Yu,” Li Mu Sheng rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing upward at the blade-wielding Seven Villains of Zha River. “If you’re unsure, why not just ask them directly?”
Zhang Da Zhuang jumped, terrified, grabbing Li Mu Sheng quickly.
“You must be crazy! Talking to those murderers—do you want to die faster?”
While the two spoke, most guests had already fled, leaving scattered shoes, hairpins, jade pendants, and broken silver behind in their haste.
The disciples, apprentices, and servants of Yu Family Martial Hall hadn’t fled yet but wavered nervously. Everyone understood clearly: the Seven Villains were infamous for brutality, leaving no survivors. To remain was almost certain death.
Yet Yu Zhen Tian’s stern reputation made them hesitate to flee openly. Moreover, they shared Zhang Da Zhuang’s worry—would the Seven Villains even spare them if they tried?
“Brother Hao, these villains are openly causing chaos in Shun’an City! Today, you and I must unite our strength to rid the Martial World of these scourges!”
Yu Zhen Tian tightened his grip on the sword, turning firmly toward Hao Shen. Inner strength surged fiercely through his silver hair.
Hao Shen, standing nearby, slowly nodded.
“Brother Yu speaks wisely. As the City Lord of Shun’an City, how could I allow such villains to wreak havoc here?”
Yu Zhen Tian’s heart lifted slightly. Hao Shen possessed great martial prowess, and with his help, the burden would ease significantly.
However, Hao Shen’s next words sent a chill through his heart.
“But the Seven Villains of Zha River are exceptionally powerful. I fear the two of us alone aren’t enough to handle them. Brother Yu, please hold on a bit longer. I’ll go gather city guards and return to finish these villains together.”
With that, Hao Shen swiftly sprang away, disappearing over the courtyard walls.
The Seven Villains stood watching indifferently, showing no intention of stopping him.
Li Mu Sheng couldn’t help laughing softly.
“I’ve always said that Old Man Yu is too stingy. Look, not a single person is genuinely willing to help him when it matters. I think he’ll soon be forsaken by all.”
Zhang Da Zhuang, despite his muscular frame, shrank slightly under the gaze of others, hurriedly nudging Li Mu Sheng.
“Speak softer! Everyone can hear you… Besides, the Old Hall Master isn’t always stingy. Sometimes he can be generous.”
Yu Zhen Tian, his face already gloomy, snapped his head around sharply to glare fiercely at Li Mu Sheng and Zhang Da Zhuang. But he didn’t have the time to discipline these two apprentices with meager skills.
Instead, he turned to his disciples.
“What are you waiting for? Take up your weapons and fight! Yu Family Martial Hall has no cowards!”
Hearing this, the disciples began to move instinctively. However, seeing the three strongest disciples next to Yu Zhen Tian standing completely motionless, the rest hesitated again, slowly stopping their movements.
Those three were Yu Zhen Tian’s most talented disciples, second only to himself and his eldest son in martial skill.
(End of Chapter)