Chapter 003
Chapter 3: Hiding Strength
“We aren’t members of the Yu family. Can’t we just leave?”
First Disciple Zhu Fang did not look at Yu Zhen Tian’s darkened expression, but instead raised his gaze toward Zha Old Three, who stood atop the rooftop.
Zha Old Three suddenly burst into laughter, narrowing his eyes:
“Naturally, you may. However, you now have only two breaths’ worth of time left.”
“That’s enough.”
Zhu Fang let out a heavy sigh of relief. Without another word, he swiftly turned and dashed toward the courtyard gate. The two junior brothers beside him also followed without the slightest hesitation.
“You… you ungrateful disciples!”
Yu Zhen Tian erupted with fury, leaping up swiftly and lunging toward the fleeing trio.
He could tolerate betrayal from others, but these three disciples he had raised with care since childhood, investing countless efforts over the years. No matter what, he could not accept their betrayal.
“Run! Quickly! It’ll be too late otherwise!”
With a shout, Zhu Fang and the other two disciples struck out together, clashing fiercely with Yu Zhen Tian.
After a thunderous explosion of Qi, Zhu Fang and his two junior brothers were flung violently away, smashing into a nearby artificial mountain, cracking the solid stone.
The three disciples were seriously injured, coughing up mouthfuls of blood as they rolled onto the ground, barely able to move.
Taking advantage of this brief pause, the other martial hall apprentices immediately seized the chance, scattering and fleeing without hesitation.
Even the First Disciple was fleeing. If they stayed any longer, they would only face certain death.
At this moment, Yu Zhen Tian’s white hair was in disarray, and his body trembled.
“Why?”
He ignored everyone else, directing his question toward Zhu Fang through clenched teeth, eyes filled with both fury and profound disappointment.
“Time’s up!”
Zha Old Three raised his hand and unleashed a blade of Qi, slicing a willow tree in the yard cleanly in half.
“From this moment, anyone who dares move recklessly will end up like this tree!”
Seeing this, those who had not yet escaped immediately froze in terror, rooted to the spot and not daring to move even a muscle.
“We’re doomed!” Zhang Da Zhuang swallowed nervously, his face pale as ash while staring at the thick, severed trunk.
Li Mu Sheng shook his head silently. Zhang Da Zhuang turned to him, voice trembling as he asked, “Ah Sheng, why didn’t you escape?”
“Isn’t that what I should be asking you?” Li Mu Sheng tilted his head slightly.
Zhang Da Zhuang gripped his staff tightly, bitterness spreading across his coarse features. With a deep sigh, he said:
“Truthfully, I fear death. But if Old Hall Master hadn’t taken me in back then, I would’ve frozen to death long ago during that winter.”
“So I can’t leave, even though I know staying won’t do much good.”
By now, very few remained in the courtyard. Li Mu Sheng sat on the stone steps, nodding slowly.
“One thing is one thing. Even if Old Man Yu is selfish, stingy, and petty, favors owed must still be repaid.”
Meanwhile, First Disciple Zhu Fang, faced with Yu Zhen Tian’s furious questioning, wiped the blood from his lips and suddenly laughed bitterly.
“Master, you ask me why? Then let me ask you: where are Eldest Young Master, Second Young Lady, and the rest of your Yu family members now?”
Hearing this, Yu Zhen Tian froze in astonishment, his burning anger faltering.
Zhu Fang continued, his face gradually twisting with pain and bitterness:
“Master, you knew long ago that the Seven Thieves of Zha River would come today, didn’t you? So, you arranged to secretly send Eldest Young Master and the others away, leaving us disciples behind as sacrifices for your family, am I right?”
Yu Zhen Tian stayed silent. Zhu Fang’s expression twisted further with resentment:
“You always claimed to treat us as your own sons, but in the end, weren’t we merely pawns left behind to die in your place?”
“If I hadn’t accidentally discovered your plan, we’d have died today without even knowing why—blindly serving your Yu family until our last breath.”
As Zhu Fang spoke, the remaining disciples stared in shock.
Only now did they realize, in the chaos surrounding the Old Hall Master’s supposed retirement from the martial world, no one had seen Eldest Young Master or Second Young Lady at all today.
Everyone’s gaze shifted toward Yu Zhen Tian, standing silently in the courtyard.
Zhang Da Zhuang also looked, but upon seeing Yu Zhen Tian’s aged and weary face, he lowered his head sadly, murmuring softly:
“Oh, I can understand Old Hall Master.”
Pausing, he continued:
“But Ah Sheng, you curse Old Hall Master daily for his stinginess, so why did you also stay?”
Li Mu Sheng shrugged helplessly.
“Old Yu promised five taels of silver to each of us after his retirement. Isn’t it obvious? I still haven’t gotten my money.”
Hearing this, Zhang Da Zhuang looked deeply at Li Mu Sheng:
“Throwing your life away for five taels of silver isn’t worth it. Actually… you didn’t have to follow my example and die just to repay a favor.”
Li Mu Sheng smiled and waved dismissively.
“Once I get my silver, you can bet I won’t linger around Yu Family Martial Hall anymore.”
…
“We don’t have time to watch your tragic master-disciple drama,” came the raspy voice of Zha Old Two from the rooftop. With a wave of his hand, a masked figure hoisted two coarse burlap sacks from behind and tossed them violently at Yu Zhen Tian’s feet.
Painful groans came from within. The sacks tore open under powerful Qi force, revealing two bloodied figures inside.
“Xian’er! Second sister!”
Yu Zhen Tian’s face paled immediately. Those before him were none other than his secretly evacuated eldest son and second daughter.
“Trying tricks under our noses—you truly underestimate us Seven Thieves of Zha River.”
Zha Old Three sneered coldly down at Yu Zhen Tian, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Hand over the item. If you cooperate, I can graciously grant your family intact corpses.”
Yu Zhen Tian stiffened but gave no reply, rushing instead to examine his son and daughter. However, his fury and horror deepened upon seeing his son’s limbs shattered and his second daughter—four hundred jin heavy—covered in bleeding wounds, her pale, fatty flesh spilling through torn skin.
“You all must die!”
Yu Zhen Tian roared with uncontrollable fury, Qi surging as wind whipped violently around him. Gripping his longsword, he leapt onto the rooftop and attacked Zha Old Three and the others.
Immediately, sword Qi erupted everywhere, tiles shattered, and Yu Zhen Tian fought fiercely against five of the seven thieves, excluding Zha Old Two.
What astonished everyone was that Yu Zhen Tian, even against five opponents, did not show any sign of weakness.
“You old fox! Even now, you still hide your true strength!”
Zha Old Three’s gaze darkened. His blade flashed like lightning, each strike intended to kill. Originally, he planned to capture Yu Zhen Tian alive for questioning, but now he had to go all out just to keep him in check.
Seeing this display, Zhu Fang and the others stood frozen in shock. They genuinely had never guessed their master had hidden so deeply, his true strength far surpassing what he had shown before.
“You ungrateful disciples, quickly take Xian’er and second sister away! I’ll hold them back!”
Yu Zhen Tian’s thunderous voice echoed through the yard. Before Zhu Fang and the others could react, Zhang Da Zhuang swiftly rushed to Yu Xian, preparing to help him escape.
However, when he glanced at Yu’s heavily injured second sister, he hesitated visibly, looking urgently at Li Mu Sheng for assistance.
“Brother Zhang, leaving these four hundred jin to me alone is a bit excessive, don’t you think?”
Li Mu Sheng’s brow furrowed deeply, his displeasure clearly written on his face.
(End of Chapter)