Chapter 87: Betrayal Before the Battle

Meiyu Chen and the others reacted swiftly, drawing their weapons and positioning themselves protectively in front of Yang Cheng and Old Zhu.

Old Zhu, looking innocent, glanced at Yang Cheng and whispered, “You brought so many people—I barely know any of them. I thought they were with you.”

Ahead, Li Tianjun was startled as well; the rear was always the most vulnerable. Clearly, the person before them was one of the seven masters. Meiyu Chen was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, while the other four were in the Qi Refining stage; together, they might not even match a single Integration stage expert.

Fortunately, the newcomer seemed confused and did not appear intent on attacking. Li Tianjun called out, “Clear the way, let him pass.”

On the other side, Song Qinghuo cursed, “Dao Bai Liu, you damned fool, get over here! Stop embarrassing yourself!”

Dao Bai Liu looked about, visibly awkward, scratched his head, and gave a sheepish salute to Yang Cheng and the others. “Sorry, sorry, I mistook you for someone else.”

Yang Cheng and his companions were left speechless.

Dao Bai Liu wobbled forward, occasionally saluting the guards who stepped aside for him.

Seeing Dao Bai Liu finally leave the opposing ranks in his unsteady manner, Song Qinghuo grew even more furious, cursing incessantly.

Dao Bai Liu tried to placate him, “Brother Huo, in front of so many brothers, give me some dignity.”

“Dignity? You? You’ve ruined my reputation! Tell me, how many times have you messed up? Out of the eight of us, you’re the most useless.”

Dao Bai Liu kept smiling awkwardly and didn’t retort. Song Qinghuo’s curses grew more fluent and increasingly harsh.

“You worthless fool, if it weren’t for your dead brother, I’d have kicked you out long ago!” Song Qinghuo’s temper flared, eager to curse Dao Bai Liu into oblivion.

As the insults grew nastier, Dao Bai Liu’s face darkened. Normally, he could endure Song Qinghuo’s disdain, but today, surrounded by four or five hundred people, his pride was wounded—how could he show his face after this? The alcohol in his veins made his anger rise, and he said in a low voice, “Brother Huo, aren’t you done yet?”

Song Qinghuo had no intention of stopping. His insults turned to Dao Bai Liu’s dead brother: “Have you forgotten how your brother died? Always unreliable! If not for him, I’d never have let you join the Qinghuo Gang. He was nothing but trouble alive, and now he’s left me with you.”

This was the final straw. Though Dao Bai Liu had little fondness for his brother’s actions, he remained his only kin, and the dead should be respected. Song Qinghuo truly showed no sentiment.

Dao Bai Liu’s anger surged, his mind blank as he stared at Song Qinghuo’s incessantly moving mouth. With a shout he strode forward, “Song Qinghuo, I’ve tolerated you long enough! If the Qinghuo Gang won’t keep me, then I won’t serve it any longer! Today, I rebel!” Before his words had faded, he lunged.

Song Qinghuo was stunned, regretting his loose tongue that had provoked a mutiny at the front lines—a disastrous turn of events. Seeing the bloodshot eyes of Dao Bai Liu, he realized his opponent meant to kill, and had no choice but to defend himself. In moments, they exchanged dozens of blows.

The sudden chaos left both sides bewildered. Each attack was lethal, especially Dao Bai Liu, who aimed for vital points, clearly intent on killing.

Dao Bai Liu himself was filled with regret—his impulsiveness had him riding a tiger now. Having rebelled, if he lost, the Qinghuo Gang would never let him live. His fate would be grim.

Yang Cheng and Old Zhu exchanged shocked glances, muttering, “My goodness, they’re ruthless even to their own.”

Li Tianjun observed, confirming it wasn’t a trick. He rejoiced: with Song Qinghuo now entangled, when better to attack? He raised his blade and shouted, “Form ranks, charge!”

The guards immediately formed a charging formation, advancing in an orderly manner. The martial artists on the flanks followed suit.

Meanwhile, Song Qinghuo, anxious and flustered, realized Dao Bai Liu’s strength matched his own. Dao Bai Liu’s bare hands could withstand Song Qinghuo’s prized blade. Unable to escape the entanglement, he shouted, “Brothers, advance! Hold them off, let me deal with this traitor first!”

Dao Bai Liu, now sober, knew the power of Song Qinghuo’s Whirlwind Blade Technique, and focused all his energy on defense. His movements were agile, his palm techniques refined; he avoided Song Qinghuo’s blade, defended and maneuvered, waiting for an opening to strike. For now, they were evenly matched.

The six remaining masters led the Qinghuo Gang members, clashing with Li Tianjun’s group. The air was filled with battle cries and the sound of clashing weapons. As Li Tianjun had planned, experts faced experts, main forces battled main forces.

Duan Zhiwu led the charge, bravely advancing. He spotted, at the center of the enemy, a man wielding a long spear and commanding the gang—Hong Yunshan, the Qinghuo Gang’s second-in-command. Duan Zhiwu leaped forward, saying nothing, thrusting his sword. Hong Yunshan had no choice but to engage, and they exchanged over a dozen blows in moments, neither gaining the upper hand.

Yang Cheng, witnessing this, praised Old Zhu, “Duan Zhiwu is a true warrior!”

Old Zhu beamed with pride.

Li Tianjun, concerned for Duan Zhiwu, charged forward, taking on two opponents at once. Not only did he hold his own, but he forced them into a desperate retreat. Yan Shuihan and his two companions each found their adversaries and fought fiercely.

Meanwhile, the Qinghuo Gang clashed with the guards’ formation. Though the Gang had superior numbers, their cultivation levels varied wildly. Once they engaged, they were quickly trapped within the formation. Those outside couldn’t help, while those inside felt as if they were being mobbed. Their numbers gave no advantage. In moments, a dozen fell, though the guards were careful not to kill, only inflicting injuries.

As one group was felled, more were drawn into the formation, resulting in continuous cries and curses.

Liu Feng, the formation’s commander, stood among the warriors, flag raised, eyes darting everywhere. He alternately opened and closed the ranks, causing thirty or forty to fall in moments. His own side also suffered casualties, mainly on the flanks, where martial artists fought alone against many opponents, with little chance of victory. A Foundation Establishment cultivator surrounded by five or six Qi Refining enemies could hardly defend himself.

At the front, more fell. Liu Feng immediately directed replacements to fill the gaps, and others dragged away fallen comrades, per the young master’s instructions, to prevent additional harm.

Li Tianxing, watching anxiously, could no longer restrain himself. He glanced at Brother Cheng, and when Yang Cheng nodded, he led Li Tianhu and Li Tianbiao forward. They charged like tigers descending a mountain; wherever Li Tianxing’s iron fists landed, those with weaker cultivation collapsed, unable to fight on. After the battle atop the mountain, he had learned to control his strength, and with Yang Cheng’s strict command not to kill, otherwise many would have been lifeless by now.

Li Tianhu and Li Tianbiao, naturally combative, followed suit. Though their cultivation was lower, their agility allowed them to overwhelm half the Qi Refining opponents.

Meiyu Chen and Hua Mingzhu remained still, now the only ones left guarding Yang Cheng and Old Zhu. They took no chances.

The battle raged, cries of pain echoing everywhere. Despite the brutality, Yang Cheng, watching from the sidelines, felt his blood surge. Beside him, Old Zhu panted heavily, breath hot with excitement.