Chapter 651: Demon-Breaking Hand

Old Chen was dead. He had been beaten to death in the middle of the street. By the time his body was brought back to the Exploding Star Gang headquarters, it had already gone cold.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

When Li Xiaofei received the news, he immediately rushed to the headquarters of the Exploding Star Gang. He found it hard to believe even when he saw Old Chen’s lifeless corpse with his own eyes.

This had to be a joke. He had only been here for a little over a month, and Old Chen was already in such a hurry to exit the stage? Something felt off.

But after carefully examining the body, there was no mistake, it was indeed Old Chen. He was truly dead, with no possibility of faking it. His heart and brain had been destroyed. His limbs were broken. Not a single bone in his body remained intact. The true qi essence within his dantian had completely dissipated.

Li Xiaofei stood frozen in front of the corpse. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to do.

“Brother Chen... my condolences.”

“We’ll avenge the boss.”

Huang Dinggou, and the others cautiously offered their words of comfort, their eyes carrying a trace of sympathy and pity.

Everyone knew that Li Qingchen’s greatest backing had been Li Yiyun. Now, that backing had disappeared. Given all the reckless trouble Li Xiaofei had stirred up, those he had provoked wouldn’t wait long before coming after him.

Li Xiaofei took a deep breath and asked, "How did my brother die?"

Huang Dinggou hesitated for a moment before replying, "It was Han Zhen, the Demon-Breaking Hand from Twin Shadow Tower. He used despicable means to ambush Brother Chen during the arena match."

Twin Shadow Tower! It was one of the five major factions of Chongque City and the Exploding Star Gang’s sworn enemy.

This time, the Exploding Star Gang and Twin Shadow Tower had agreed to settle the control of a key teleportation formation in District Bing-6 through an arena match. As one of the gang’s top combat experts, Old Chen, who had been using the alias Li Yiyun, had naturally been chosen to fight. His opponent was his long-time rival, Demon-Breaking Hand Han Zhen.

Based on previous encounters and strength evaluations, Han Zhen was never supposed to be a match for Old Chen. Yet, the result had been devastating. Old Chen had been killed on the spot when Han Zhen used the Three Demon-Breaking Strikes in the arena. He had stopped breathing before he could even step down from the stage.

After hearing the details, Li Xiaofei felt like something was off. He carefully examined Old Chen’s corpse. He had this eerie feeling, as if Old Chen would suddenly open his eyes, jump up, and say, "Ha! Gotcha! I fooled you!"

But he didn’t. The body grew colder as the last sliver of hope in Li Xiaofei’s heart faded away. He stood there, motionless. An overwhelming sense of sorrow, cold and suffocating like icy seawater, engulfed him.

This grief wasn’t violent but it was inescapable. He could not help but recall scene after scene from the past. The most vivid memory was still that afternoon in the slums, when the red glow of the setting sun cast its light on that man’s peach blossom eyes. Li Xiaofe could still remember the moment Old Chen had invited him to go to school, wearing that sincere smile.

A sudden wave of anger surged within Li Xiaofei.

What kind of bullshit fate is this? He might as well have stayed missing forever. We were barely reunited, and now we are separated by death.

Li Xiaofei stood silently in front of Old Chen’s corpse, his entire body frozen like stone.

“Brother Chen, you should stay in the Exploding Star Gang for now.” A tall, lanky man with a horse-like face walked over and patted Li Xiaofei on the shoulder. His tone was filled with concern. “Hall Master Li was the person I respected most. You’re his brother, and I’ll do my best to protect you. Don’t worry.”

Li Xiaofei glanced at him.

Ou Youge, Vice Hall Master of Red Shield Hall under the Exploding Star Gang, was Old Chen’s sworn brother. After Old Chen’s death, Ou Youge gained the trust of the gang leader and was appointed as the new Hall Master of Red Shield Hall.

Li Xiaofei stared at him and said, “I want revenge.”

Ou Youge nodded slightly and replied, “Leave that to me. Don’t be impatient. Focus on your cultivation first.”

He instructed the others to take good care of Li Xiaofei.

Dressed in mourning robes, Li Xiaofei kept vigil over Old Chen’s spirit in the Mourning Hall. They had barely reunited, and now he was gone. What should he do next? He needed to think this through carefully.

But before he could even reach a decision, something shocking happened. In the dead of night, Ou Youge, who had just taken over as Hall Master of Red Shield Hall, was carried back. He was dead. The new Hall Master was already gone.

Li Xiaofei was stunned.

"What happened?" Li Xiaofei asked.

Huang Dinggou, his head hanging low in grief, replied, "Brother Ou went to avenge Hall Master Li. He challenged Demon-Breaking Hand Han Zhen at Jiuyang Tower... but he was defeated..."

Li Xiaofei didn’t know what to say. Hall Master Ou had truly been a man of loyalty. A wave of wailing suddenly erupted.

It was Ou Youge’s wife. She had rushed over with their young son and daughter upon hearing the news. The moment she saw her husband's lifeless body, she collapsed in grief and sobbed until she fainted.

The death of two Hall Masters back-to-back had dealt Red Shield Hall a devastating blow. The higher-ups of the Exploding Star Gang were immediately alerted. Soon, a new Planet level powerhouse was appointed to take over Red Shield Hall. His name was Nie Yuntao.

He was the final disciple of Ma Tuo, the Left Guardian of the Exploding Star Gang. Young and full of potential, he was known as one of the gang’s four rising stars.

As soon as Nie Yuntao took charge of Red Shield Hall, he came to the mourning hall, burning incense and offering wine in tribute. He gave a passionate speech where he vowed to avenge the fallen Hall Masters.

But a few days later, the mourning hall was dismantled and Li Xiaofei was asked to leave. Shortly after, news spread that the Exploding Star Gang had relinquished control of the District Bing-6 mining zone to Twin Shadow Tower, choosing to settle the matter peacefully for now. For the time being, the incident had come to an end.

“Damn it, that bastard Nie has no spine at all. He’s only concerned with securing his position and cracking down on his own brothers. He’s completely ignoring the matter of avenging Brother Li and Brother Ou.” Huang Dinggou complained to Li Xiaofei in private.

He also revealed some troubling news, Ou Youge’s widow had gone to Red Shield Hall multiple times, demanding that the gang send experts to avenge her husband. But she had been met with cold indifference. Eventually, she had even gone to the Exploding Star Gang’s headquarters to protest.

“Brother Ou contributed so much to the gang while he was alive, yet after his death, his wife was thrown out of the headquarters... Sigh, it’s heartbreaking.” Huang Dinggou's tone carried deep disappointment.

The new Hall Master had brought in his own trusted men. Veteran members like them were gradually being sidelined.

“Brother Chen, you need to be careful. I’ve heard that the Si family is planning to make a move against you,” warned Huang Dinggou.

Li Xiaofei took out 2.5 kilograms of celestial jade and said, “Old Dog, I need you to do something for me.”

“What is it?”

“I want to join the Exploding Star Gang.”

“What?”

“Take this 2.5 kilograms of celestial jade and use it to grease the wheels. The sooner, the better—I want to become an official member of the gang.”

“You... Come on, with our relationship, you don’t need to bribe me. I’ll go ask for you.”

“Cut the crap. Take the celestial jade. This needs to get done.”

“Alright. Wait for my news.”

Half a day later, Huang Dinggou had successfully handled the matter. He brought Li Xiaofei to Red Shield Hall, where he completed the formalities for joining the gang. He received two sets of uniforms, an identity badge, and was assigned a dormitory.

“This is great! Now that you're an official member of the Exploding Star Gang, the Si family won’t dare make a move on you so easily. Brother Chen, that was a smart move.” Huang Dinggou praised him with a grin.

Li Xiaofei remained silent. Instead, he headed straight to the gang’s armory and selected a meteoric iron spear.

“Old Dog, I need another favor.”

“Just say the word.”

“Find out Demon-Breaking Hand Han Zhen’s whereabouts for me.”

“What? Damn! Brother Chen, what are you planning to do?”

“Revenge.”

Li Xiaofei gripped the spear firmly, his voice unwavering.