The two subordinates brought by Zuo Youren approached Chen Xiao with fierce looks, their hands itching.
The two men were tall and fierce-looking, clearly not to be trifled with. They were brothers, the elder named Da Long and the younger Er Long. Before following Zuo Youren, they had spent years on the streets, notorious for their recklessness.
While their cultivation of Body Refining Fourth Level was not considered high, it was more than enough to bully the weak. Zuo Youren had valued their despicable and shameless methods, which was why he had recruited them.
They had not disappointed, assisting Zuo Youren in bullying the innocent and perpetrating countless insidious schemes, having committed every kind of evil.
The sleeping powder that Xiao Liu Zi and Wang Ke had fallen victim to was their doing.
Although the killing intent Chen Xiao had previously unleashed had startled them, once they confirmed Chen Xiao's cultivation was only at Body Refining Second Level, they looked at him as if he were a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"Take this flying kick!" Er Long roared as he charged at Chen Xiao.
"Hoo!"
With a kick, he brought forth a whistling sound that tore through the air.
Er Long was confident in his leg techniques. He couldn't recall how many people had coughed up blood and died after being struck by this very leg.
The most satisfying way to defeat someone was to crush them in their area of expertise. So, upon seeing Er Long's kick, Chen Xiao quickly raised his own leg to meet it.
"Overestimating yourself!" Er Long rejoiced. He hadn't expected this Body Refining Second Level brat to be so reckless, completely unaware of how to avoid his sharpest blow. He could already hear the sound of Chen Xiao's leg snapping.
"Crack!"
As their legs collided, the sound of bone breaking indeed rang out.
However, it wasn't Chen Xiao's bone that broke, but Er Long's!
"Ah!" Er Long let out a piercing scream and fell backward. His lower leg was bent outward at a hundred and eighty degrees, a gruesome sight.
"My leg! My leg!" Er Long wailed, trying to use his hands to straighten it. But upon touching it, he discovered the bone had snapped directly at the point Chen Xiao had kicked it, with only skin and flesh still connected.
"Er Long, how's your leg?" Da Long asked anxiously upon seeing his brother injured.
"Big brother, my leg, he broke it!" Er Long said, nearly in tears.
Seeing his brother's tragic state, Da Long instantly lost his composure. He ferociously punched at Chen Xiao, roaring, "You little brat, I'll kill you!"
Chen Xiao narrowed his eyes, then casually extended a hand. Da Long's punch, which carried immense force, was easily blocked by Chen Xiao, his fist held firmly in Chen Xiao's grip.
Chen Xiao smiled contemptuously, softly uttering a few words, "You are too weak!"
"How is this possible?" Da Long's eyes widened. He couldn't believe Chen Xiao had so effortlessly blocked his punch. This could only happen when there was a vast disparity in strength, yet the Chen Xiao before him was clearly only at Body Refining Second Level.
"You've had your turn, now it's mine." Chen Xiao's face was full of mockery. He secretly circulated his vital energy, clenched his other hand into a fist, which then radiated a yellow light. He then struck Da Long in the abdomen.
"Liu He Quan, Cui!"
This was the second stance of Liu He Quan, the 'Cui' (Crushing) Fist. When used against an opponent whose movements were restricted, it delivered a devastating blow.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, Da Long's face instantly turned ashen. His breathing hitched, and he felt as if all his internal organs had been shattered.
Chen Xiao released his grip, and Da Long collapsed like a puddle of mud, his fate unknown.
In just one round, two Body Refining Fourth Level martial artists had fallen to Chen Xiao, reduced to wrecks.
"Now, it's your turn!" Chen Xiao flashed a sinister smile, his gaze locking onto Zuo Youren.
Zuo Youren stared blankly at Chen Xiao, his legs trembling uncontrollably. He instinctively shuffled backward, but a high wall stood behind him, blocking his escape.
He deeply regretted choosing this dead-end alley. Now, he couldn't even run.
But who could have imagined Chen Xiao was so powerful? Two Body Refining Fourth Level martial artists were utterly defeated by Chen Xiao in a single exchange. Was this the combat strength of a Body Refining Second Level martial artist?
"You, what do you want?" Zuo Youren felt a profound fear, his words already becoming incoherent.
"Hahaha, you ask what I want? Weren't you the one just now clamoring to take my life?" Chen Xiao looked at Zuo Youren with amusement.
"No, you can't kill me! If you kill me, my grandfather will never let you off!" Zuo Youren shouted hysterically.
Chen Xiao approached Zuo Youren step by step. "At this point, do you think I'm still afraid of your grandfather?"
"I won't kill you if you give me a reason!" As he spoke, Chen Xiao reached Zuo Youren, playfully toying with his prey like an old cat.
"Because... because..." Zuo Youren cowered against the wall, with no further retreat.
Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in Zuo Youren's eyes. He then violently flung something towards the Chen Xiao before him.
Chen Xiao's expression changed drastically. Was it a hidden weapon?!
Looking at Zuo Youren's face, there was no trace of fear. His previous fearful demeanor was all an act. He had only been luring Chen Xiao closer and making him lower his guard to create an opportunity to throw his hidden weapon.
He didn't believe that at such close range, Chen Xiao could still react and dodge.
Just as he had thought, Chen Xiao was indeed hit. Although Chen Xiao had immediately dodged to the side, he was too close to Zuo Youren. A caltrop deeply pierced Chen Xiao's arm.
Chen Xiao gritted his teeth and pulled out the caltrop, but the blood from the wound had already turned black and emitted a foul odor.
The hidden weapon was poisoned!
"Despicable!" Chen Xiao gritted out.
"Haha, they say all's fair in war. I won't hide it from you, the caltrop is coated with my exclusive secret formula, the Blood Coagulating Powder. If you don't take the antidote within a day, your whole body will fester and you will die." Zuo Youren had regained his arrogant demeanor.
Chen Xiao leaped forward, grabbing Zuo Youren by the neck. "Hand over the antidote, or you will surely die before me!"
"I never carry the antidote on me. If you want it, you'll have to come home with me to get it." Zuo Youren had a cunning plan. If Chen Xiao didn't go with him, he would die without the antidote. If Chen Xiao did go home with him, with so many experts at his house, Chen Xiao would still be doomed.
How could Chen Xiao not see through his intentions? A cold smile played on his lips as he said, "You truly don't fear death!"
It had to be said, although Zuo Youren's actions were despicable, he was also a tough character. With Chen Xiao's hand around his neck, he was struggling to breathe, yet he still managed to say intermittently, "If you have the guts... you, kill me... now!"
"Kill you now? You think too highly of yourself!" Chen Xiao grinned mysteriously.
"Slap!" A crisp sound rang out. Zuo Youren's head tilted to the side, and a bright red handprint instantly appeared on his face.