Chapter 459: Threat

The area around the apartment was tense as all eyes and ears were fixed on any possible movement. The commotion caused by Li Xiaofei had drawn too much attention.

At that moment, the slums were in an uproar. Every faction had been alerted as they scrambled to devise countermeasures. The surveillance on Li Xiaofei was relentless, leaving no room for oversight. Countless pairs of eyes watched the apartment closely.

"He still hasn't left?"

"Isn't he afraid of retaliation from Jiepeng?"

"Could it be that he's lost himself in the embrace of beauty? White Cloud Dancer Nan Hua is indeed an exceptional woman. If it were me, I'd also want to savor such an opportunity before leaving."

"Look over there! The Jiepeng have arrived."

"It's the ronin warrior squad from the Jiepeng Consulate. It seems the news has already reached their ears."

The spies and informants of various factions, whether in the open or hidden, monitored the situation while exchanging whispers. They had already noticed the sizable group of Jiepeng warriors dressed in plain clothes gathering around the apartment.

A man of medium build, with a long face, a shaved chonmage hairstyle, and a vicious expression led the group. He was none other than San Ten, the leader of the ronin warrior squad from the Jiepeng Consulate.

San Ten was a fervent imperialist from Jiepeng. Since arriving in Haijing City, he had used the protection of the consulate to his advantage to frequently challenge Great Xia warriors. His twisted hobby was collecting the ears of his defeated opponents. Each time he bested a Great Xia warrior, he would cut off both ears.

His methods were exceptionally cruel. He had hundreds of Jiepeng ronin warriors under his command. They roamed about the city, picking fights, oppressing the locals, and causing untold suffering to the innocent citizens of Great Xia.

When the group of Jiepeng ronin began to gather, the spies from various factions in the slum quickly retreated, keeping their distance. Who could predict whether these enraged ronin might vent their anger on bystanders?

It wasn’t that they were incapable of confronting the ronin. Rather, the Jiepeng ronin were utterly devoid of honor. If they won, they would press their advantage mercilessly, and if they lost, they would invoke the Jiepeng Consulate and shamelessly shift the blame onto Great Xia. No matter the outcome, it was always Great Xia that suffered the losses.

Under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, San Ten led dozens of Jiepeng ronin into the apartment.

At that moment, a robust elderly man with gray-white hair arrived briskly, followed closely by a petite, lively young girl.

"Master Long has arrived." Someone murmured in a hushed voice.

Who in the slum didn’t recognize this legendary old boxing champion who was ranked second on the Strongest List? The Qiujin Boxing Gym, run by Long Zhengfei, offered free martial arts training to any Great Xia citizen in the slum. The gym’s disciples were numerous, and its influence vast.

Master Long Zhengfei was known for his upright and kindhearted nature. His unwavering sense of justice had earned him the respect of many, especially among the grassroots martial artists, as he often stood up for Great Xia's warriors.

"Master, San Ten and the Jiepeng men have already gone inside." A disciple from the Qiujin Boxing Gym, who had been keeping watch, quickly reported.

Long Zhengfei’s white brows furrowed sharply. "These vile wolves... they truly deserve death."

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He was about to head upstairs immediately. Suddenly, a strange noise echoed from above.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One by one, the figures of the Jiepeng ronin were hurled out of the apartment like mere trash. They hit the ground with a resounding crash, shattering into fragments of ice.

Among them was none other than their leader, San Ten. When San Ten's severed and frozen head rolled aimlessly on the ground, the onlookers were struck dumb with shock.

This man was a half-step Dao Union Realm expert and a direct disciple of the Jiepeng Empire's Flying Blade Stream school. It had barely been a minute since he had gone upstairs. And yet, he had already been reduced to a lifeless head?

What made it even more chilling was that no sound of fighting had come from above. This could only mean that San Ten had been killed instantly.

The boy upstairs possesses such terrifying strength?

The crowd was frozen in disbelief.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

More bodies began raining down like a storm. Each one hit the ground and shattered into icy fragments. In no more than five or six breaths, the over a hundred Jiepeng ronin who had gone upstairs were all thrown out. Not a single one survived; every last one of them was dead.

"Frost True Qi." Someone murmured. "These Jiepeng ronin were instantly frozen to death and then thrown down... That boy wields an exceedingly rare variant of frost inner qi, and its power is unmatched."

"Could it be that he has transplanted a frost type Inscribed Treasure Bone?" Another bystander speculated, their voice tinged with confusion.

"No," Long Zhengfei declared firmly after a single glance. "This is the inner qi of Great Xia’s ancient martial lineage. There isn’t even the slightest trace of star beast energy... This boy is a prodigy in ancient martial arts."

A wave of astonished murmurs rippled through the crowd. For someone to earn such praise from the legendary boxing master Long Zhengfei was nothing short of extraordinary. No, it was a rarity not seen in millions.

Nearby, the petite and spirited young girl furrowed her delicate brows, her expression tinged with defiance. This was the first time she had heard her grandfather speak so highly of an outsider. Not even she had ever been granted such praise. A flicker of competitiveness ignited in her heart, making her determined to challenge the boy upstairs and prove her worth.

"Master Long, this boy has killed so many Jiepeng warriors. This could cause serious trouble." Someone interjected hesitantly.

"His methods are indeed... extreme," Long Zhengfei admitted, stroking his beard. "But regardless, a talent like this must be protected at all costs."

A cold, disdainful voice suddenly cut through the air.

"Old man, this time you won’t be able to protect him." Luo Hong, the deputy leader of the Haisha Gang, appeared in midair.

He gestured and the sky and ground were filled with flickering shadows. A massive force of 5,000 elite gang members surged forward, clad in combat suits and wielding weapons. Some arrived on flying devices, others walked on air, and the rest marched on the ground. Their oppressive aura blanketed the area, leaving the crowd breathless.

The onlookers were immediately gripped with fear. The Haisha Gang had mobilized all their forces.

Long Zhengfei stepped into the air with a single, firm motion. His robust and imposing frame radiated an overwhelming presence, the surrounding air twisting around him as if it couldn’t contain his energy. He seemed like a black hole, radiating a force capable of swallowing the heavens and earth.

"You think the likes of you can stop me?" The elderly boxing master of the slum, despite his advancing age, remained as domineering as ever. He showed no sign of retreat. "Let me make it clear: this nameless boy will be protected by Qiujin Boxing Gym. No one will harm him under my watch."

Though Long Zhengfei had never met Li Xiaofei and had no connection to him, the boy's actions today of slaughtering the Jiepeng warriors were enough for him to decide. He would shield him at all costs.

"Old Dragon, if you truly wish to die..." A deep, mechanical voice speaking clumsy Mandarin echoed from the distance, cold and deliberate. "Then after tonight, the entire slum will no longer have the Qiujin Boxing Gym. Why destroy the fruits of your life's work for the sake of a stranger?"

The moment this voice rang out, fear flashed across the faces of everyone present.

A Jiepeng man with disheveled hair had somehow appeared high in the sky without anyone noticing. He cradled a blade in his arms as he stood in the moonlight, blocking its glow, as if perched atop the moon itself.

"Tsukiha Meiryū?!" A grave expression emerged in Long Zhengfei’s eyes.

The strongest expert of the Jiepeng Consulate had arrived, just as Long Zhengfei expected, upon hearing of Yokoyama Chizang’s death.

This was no ordinary foe; he was an opponent to be feared. Tsukiha Meiryū held his Moon Splitting Blade close, his icy, detached expression reflecting a murderous intent that left no room for compromise.

"The killer of Yokoyama Chizang will die." He announced, his voice chillingly calm. "And anyone daring to shelter the culprit will share the same fate. This is the decision of the Jiepeng Empire."

He looked down at Long Zhengfei.

"Long Zhengfei, you have three seconds to turn back. Otherwise, I will kill you first, and then slaughter every disciple of your boxing gym to ensure your lineage is wiped out forever."

His voice reverberated across the area, striking like a hammer against the ears of everyone present. It was both a warning and an undeniable threat.