Chapter 23: Dividing Forces, Slaying the Black Widow

“Blinded by your own arrogance, daring to disrespect Miss Linghu—I think you’re asking for death!”

Hearing the tall, burly man leading the group threatening to seize her and Linghu Xin, Lü Ying shouted defiantly and swung her fists fiercely.

“You’ve got spirit—I like taming beautiful women like you!” The tall man licked his lips lecherously, launching a brutal punch directly at Lü Ying.

*Bang… thud thud thud…*

Their fists collided violently, and Lü Ying was pushed back repeatedly. Unexpectedly, the tall man was also a martial arts master, and his strength was equal to, if not greater than, hers.

Before Lü Ying could regain her footing, the tall man pressed forward without retreating, delivering another powerful punch aimed at her chest.

Lü Ying’s face paled in alarm, instinctively crossing her arms to block and shield her chest.

*Bang… thud…*

The tall man’s fist struck her crossed arms with a fierce impact, sending her flying backward. Lü Ying coughed up a mouthful of blood, her complexion turning ashen.

Linghu Xin and Yao Bing rushed forward simultaneously, supporting Lü Ying’s back to catch her.

Jiang Chen felt a twinge of emotion as Chu Yan suddenly stepped in front of him protectively.

“Miss Linghu, this guy’s strength might be on par with yours!” Lü Ying, blood staining the corner of her mouth, turned her head to warn Linghu Xin.

“I can see that!” Linghu Xin’s face grew serious.

Lü Ying was a junior martial arts master; she could hold her own against a mid-level master, but only a high-level master could overpower her completely.

Linghu Xin herself was a high-level master. She wasn’t afraid to fight one-on-one but dreaded facing four high-level masters at once.

Tentatively, she issued a warning: “This commotion will soon alert my mother. Even if you are all high-level masters, you will surely perish before a martial arts grandmaster!”

“Hahaha… You think we’re unprepared? Your mother is the Black Widow, right? A martial arts grandmaster has already been sent to kill her. After tonight, the Linghu Sect will be wiped off the map!” The tall man laughed shamelessly.

“What did you say?!” Linghu Xin exclaimed in horror.

It was clear they had planned this in advance, splitting their forces to target both her and her mother. Her mother was in even greater danger—her situation was more perilous than their own!

The tall man’s eyes gleamed with malice as he sneered, “Surrender now, and if you serve us well, we might spare your lives…”

“I’ll take your worthless life right now!” Linghu Xin shouted furiously, charging at the tall man without hesitation.

“You? Just a little girl like you?” The tall man sneered darkly, launching a vicious claw strike aimed at her chest.

*Bang bang bang… boom boom boom…*

Linghu Xin’s fists smashed the tall man’s claws away, and the two high-level martial arts masters erupted into a fierce, close-quarters battle. The crashing sounds were deafening, and the very air seemed torn apart.

Their strengths were evenly matched; neither could gain the upper hand.

Worried for her mother’s safety, Linghu Xin resolved to end the fight swiftly, even if it resulted in mutual destruction.

*Bang!*

*Bang!*

Amid two powerful blows, Linghu Xin took a punch to her abdomen, blood filling her mouth, but in retaliation, she shattered the tall man’s left eye with a punch.

“Ah… my eye…” The tall man screamed in pain, clutching his bleeding eye as he staggered backward.

Seizing the moment, Linghu Xin unleashed a full-strength punch toward his heart.

Suddenly, the tall man pulled out a concealed small combat dagger, stabbing toward Linghu Xin’s heart.

*Thunk!*

Linghu Xin’s face paled, instinctively twisting her body to dodge. The dagger missed her heart by a hair’s breadth, piercing just below her left collarbone—a narrow escape from death.

“Miss Linghu!” Lü Ying screamed, fearing the worst.

“Kill that bitch! Kill her!” The tall man roared furiously, blood dripping through his fingers as he held his wounded eye.

The other three burly men, all mid-level martial arts masters, no longer dared underestimate their opponent and rushed together to surround Linghu Xin.

Lü Ying charged forward to rescue Linghu Xin, and Yao Bing also joined the fight. Saving her comrades was a matter of survival for both Yao Bing and Chu Yan.

Jiang Chen gently pushed Chu Yan aside. Linghu Xin was gravely wounded, Lü Ying had internal injuries, and Yao Bing was only a junior martial arts master—no match for their foes.

“Jiang Chen, what are you doing?” Chu Yan grabbed his arm anxiously.

“I’m going to kill them!” Jiang Chen replied calmly.

“Are you crazy? Even Miss Linghu can barely hold her own! You’ll just get yourself killed!” Chu Yan’s hands gripped him tightly, fearful he would rush to his death.

“If you don’t let go, it’ll be Miss Linghu and Yao Bing who die!” Jiang Chen warned, watching as the three were thrown back, coughing up blood.

“What? Bing Bing…” Chu Yan turned her head fearfully and reluctantly released Jiang Chen’s arm.

“Die, you filthy bitch!” The tall man, now a bloodied one-eyed demon, snarled with murderous intent and stomped violently on the wound above Linghu Xin’s heart.

Linghu Xin lay on the ground, pale and helpless, unable even to rise and fight back. She could only watch as the murderous foot loomed larger in her vision.

*Crack!*

A sharp sound of bone breaking rang out. It wasn’t her bones that shattered—it was a figure appearing before her, delivering a devastating kick that crushed the tall man’s knee.

“Is that him?!” Linghu Xin’s shock was mixed and complex as she recognized her rescuer—Jiang Chen.

The young driver she had looked down upon was actually a martial arts master!

“Ah… thud!” The tall man screamed and collapsed to the ground, glaring furiously at Jiang Chen. “You little bastard, I’ll kill you!”

*Crack… ah…*

Jiang Chen stomped down, breaking the other leg. The man’s screams echoed through the entire room.

The remaining three burly men, lightly injured, immediately charged to attack Jiang Chen.

He grabbed their fists, crushed them, twisted their arms, then kicked fiercely, breaking all their ribs. They were sent flying, coughing up blood, their broken bones piercing their hearts as they died.

Linghu Xin was stunned once again, gaining a clearer understanding of Jiang Chen’s strength—he was undoubtedly a high-level martial arts master, no less than herself!

No wonder he said he could handle this—he wasn’t boasting; he had indeed saved her!

Lü Ying and Yao Bing, thrown to a corner of the room, crawled out in shock. All four burly men lay defeated, and Jiang Chen stood among them. What was going on?

“You… you dare kill members of the Bloodscale Mercenary Group? Your leader won’t let you live—you all must die…” The tall man, trembling and terrified, glared fiercely at Jiang Chen, threatening him.

“Where is your leader?” Jiang Chen asked calmly.

“He’s already gone to kill the Black Widow. He’s a martial arts grandmaster. If you don’t want to die, release me quickly…” The tall man continued to threaten Jiang Chen.

*Crack… splatter…*

Jiang Chen stepped on the tall man’s chest, crushing his heart. The man coughed up blood and died.

“Miss Linghu, where is your mother? Take me to her.” Jiang Chen turned to Linghu Xin.

He had to solve the problem at its root—the leader of the Bloodscale Mercenary Group must die.