Chapter 142: So-called Grandmaster

Grandmaster Ye stroked his beard, a cold light glinting in his eyes.

"A Grandmaster's strength is not as simple as you think."

"'Grandmaster' is not just a title; it is a symbol of true power."

"One who can stand against a thousand men can be called a Master. Only one who can stand against ten thousand can be called a Grandmaster."

"To become a Grandmaster, one must accumulate a vast amount of combat experience. It's not something a person like you, who just trains blindly on his own, could ever achieve."

"From now on, you'd better be more careful. When you run into a Grandmaster-level figure, don't be so quick to act tough. If you'd met one with a shorter temper, you'd already be a dead man."

"And if you died, you'd have died for nothing. The Government doesn't get involved in fights to the death between Martial Artists."

After speaking, Grandmaster Ye clasped his hands behind his back and said nonchalantly,

"If you understand, then go back and sit down. Wait for me to present you with the head of our intruder."

As he walked, he continued,

"Let me be clear. The person outside is also a Grandmaster-level expert. If you show your face recklessly, you probably won't even be able to take a single palm strike."

Grandmaster Ye nodded to Captain Chen, signaling for him to open the blockhouse door.

In his heart, Captain Chen actually trusted Mu Lin more, but since even Elder Zhou was siding with Grandmaster Ye, he couldn't say anything if he wanted to keep his job.

He opened the door, and an overwhelming presence immediately flooded in from outside.

One step, then two.

The figure of a powerful expert appeared on the first floor of the blockhouse.

The blockhouse that Zhou Qianfan had gone to such great lengths to acquire seemed to be nothing more than a stage, offering no real barrier at all.

The newcomer was none other than Jin Guangshi.

Jin Guangshi's gaze swept the room, landing on Elder Zhou.

"Zhou Qishan, I presume?"

Relying on Grandmaster Ye's presence, Elder Zhou was quite calm. "Yes, I am."

"I'm just the middleman here. I'm not the one who wants you dead. So whatever problems you have, don't look for me, understand?"

Jin Guangshi's voice was ice-cold.

As a Martial Artist who still hoped to advance his cultivation, he was extremely wary of concepts like karmic retribution.

If Elder Zhou were to die filled with resentment toward him, Jin Guangshi could forget about ever advancing his cultivation again.

Making this clear before killing him might be useless, but to Jin Guangshi himself, it was of great significance.

But Elder Zhou wasn't worried in the slightest. "I don't know what you're talking about! With Grandmaster Ye here, do you think you even stand a chance?"

Jin Guangshi glanced at Grandmaster Ye. "Oh, so that's how it is! An entire elite mercenary squad was wiped out here. I thought the Zhou Family had specially hired the regular army. But no, it's because you have a Grandmaster as your backer!"

His tone was utterly contemptuous.

"Ye Wanzhong, isn't it? The Grandmaster known as 'One Palm to the Underworld, Two Palms to Reincarnation'?"

Grandmaster Ye's expression turned ugly. That title was one he had given himself in his youth.

Now, it was just an embarrassing part of his past that even he didn't want to remember.

This was especially true after he became a Grandmaster.

That was why he had long since stopped calling himself that. He'd even put out the word that anyone who brought it up again would face a fight to the death.

But Jin Guangshi had brought it up intentionally, clearly trying to provoke him.

"Aren't you afraid of death, bringing up my past on purpose?" Grandmaster Ye's face was grim, his voice heavy.

Jin Guangshi beamed. "Bring it on. I was afraid you *wouldn't* attack!"

Ye Wanzhong could no longer hold back. His will to fight had reached its peak.

He raised a palm that had been trained to perfection and charged toward Jin Guangshi with heavy steps.

Jin Guangshi gave a flippant smile and simply traced a light arc from his shoulder, winding past his torso.

By the time he finished the strange movement, Ye Wanzhong's attack had arrived.

A palm strike slammed viciously into Jin Guangshi's chest.

The members of the Zhou Family saw it clearly and felt the scene was thrilling. A duel between two great experts—it was something you couldn't even buy a ticket to see on a normal day.

"BOOM!"

A huge bang exploded from Jin Guangshi's chest, simultaneously kicking up a massive wave of Qi Force that swept through the entire area.

Dust flew everywhere, and no one dared to open their eyes.

After a moment, once the dust had settled a bit, everyone hurriedly looked over.

Jin Guangshi was standing as if nothing had happened, while Ye Wanzhong's face was contorted in an expression of utter disbelief.

"Why didn't you fall? You're completely fine? This shouldn't be possible!"

Jin Guangshi let out a loud laugh, then stomped a leg as hard as an iron rod onto the ground.

BOOM!

Everyone felt a numbing sensation in their feet, which then traveled up their legs.

Luckily, they were all sitting, so it didn't affect them much.

Ye Wanzhong was standing less than a foot away from Jin Guangshi, and the intense shockwave shot straight up his body and into his internal organs.

His entire body was paralyzed.

"Did you become a Grandmaster by tickling people like that? Aren't Grandmaster titles a little too cheap these days?"

Jin Guangshi shook his shoulders, relaxed his chest, and suddenly released the explosive power he had stored up. Another violent force surged toward Ye Wanzhong.

It traveled up his arms and went straight for his internal organs.

The two paths of force arrived simultaneously, erupting with astonishing power at his heart meridian.

SPURT!

Ye Wanzhong fell backward, stiff as a board. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his eyes were wide open, and he had clearly lost consciousness.

The Zhou Family members were frozen like statues.

'A dignified Grandmaster expert... this fragile in front of an assassin?'

Chen Jingyun was filled with regret. 'I should have risked death and refused to open the door. Maybe then this assassin wouldn't have gotten in.'

But it was too late for regrets. He hurriedly ordered his team members to draw their weapons and aim at Jin Guangshi.

The space inside the blockhouse was relatively small, so he didn't even dare to use guns.

They could only use their titanium alloy batons, hoping their strength could withstand a single blow from a Grandmaster-level expert.

He was ready to throw his life away, as long as the Zhou Family could escape safely.

All he had to do was buy them some time.

"Run! Run! Take the secret tunnel!" Chen Jingyun yelled, his voice filled with tragic heroism.

The Zhou Family had shown him immense kindness. This was likely the last way he could repay their debt.

The Zhou Family panicked, but Zhou Qianfan was the first to come to his senses, rushing toward the hidden tunnel entrance.

Mu Lin grabbed Zhou Qianfan. "Uncle Zhou, have you ever considered that for a pre-fabricated blockhouse like this, the tunnel exit has probably already been discovered? The assassin could just be waiting there to pick you off."

Hearing this, Zhou Qianfan was so angry he wanted to slap himself.

Mu Lin was right. In this situation, taking the tunnel was just deceiving themselves; it wouldn't do any good at all.

Jin Guangshi, his face stern, walked over to the fallen Ye Wanzhong.

He raised his foot, about to stomp down hard.

Suddenly, Ye Wanzhong woke up. He scrambled back two steps and dropped into a perfect kowtow, prostrating himself on the ground.

"Spare me, good sir! Don't kill me! I just met the Zhou Family by chance! I only came to help today because a friend invited me..."

Jin Guangshi narrowed his eyes. "You're not the one who killed the last guy?"

"What last guy?" Ye Wanzhong looked genuinely bewildered.

Jin Guangshi understood at once. 'This guy is just a useless piece of trash.'

Seeing this, something inside Zhou Ying shattered.

'This so-called Grandmaster is actually such a despicable coward!'

'It goes to show that Young Master Xu isn't reliable either!'

Zhou Qianfan asked,

"Then... then what do we do?"

Mu Lin said, "I guess it's my turn to step up. Captain Chen, you and your men should back off a bit. Don't get in the way."

Chen Jingyun was horrified by Mu Lin's words. 'A Grandmaster-level figure just went down, why are you rushing up there?'

'Aren't you afraid of dying?'

"Mr. Mu, don't go! You'll just be throwing your life away for nothing!"

But Mu Lin didn't slow his pace. He said slowly,

"First, it's not for nothing. The Zhou Family has been very good to me. Protecting them is meaningful."

"Second, I'm not throwing my life away. I think I can beat this human turtle shell."

Mu Lin's words brought tears to Elder Zhou's eyes.

When people get old, their hearts soften easily.

'Mu Lin is a good kid, such a good kid!'

Zhou Ying gazed at Mu Lin's back, inexplicably feeling that this man she had once looked down upon now seemed so tall and imposing.

The sight alone was intoxicating.

Chen Jingyun ordered his team members to fall back. They had all been there during the last assassination attempt and knew it was Mu Lin who had ultimately turned the tide and saved Elder Zhou.

They were all hoping for another miracle.

Mu Lin walked over to Ye Wanzhong and casually flicked a few silver needles at him.

Ye Wanzhong suddenly snapped out of his stupor.

"Grandmaster Ye, back away. When the fighting starts, if you get caught in the crossfire, I'm afraid you'll be torn to shreds."

Ye Wanzhong was both shocked and terrified. Seeing the silver needles on his body, he thought, 'Mu Lin must have been the one who just revived me.'

Ye Wanzhong was filled with endless regret. Remembering the words he had said to Mu Lin earlier, he wished he could slap himself, slap himself half to death.

'How did I ever have the gall to say something like that?'

Chen Jingyun quickly grabbed Ye Wanzhong and yanked him back, pulling him out of harm's way.