Chapter 143: No Escape

Ye Wanzhong was overjoyed. He had thought his life was over, that he would no longer be able to enjoy the wonders of the world.

He scrambled to his feet and walked over to Elder Zhou. "Elder Zhou, it's not that I was unwilling, but his physical body is simply too tough. I can't break through his defense."

Elder Zhou just smiled. "Grandmaster Ye, you did your best. Of course, I won't blame you."

Ye Wanzhong breathed a long sigh of relief. It was a good thing he was forgiven; otherwise, he would have been in deep trouble.

'If my reputation is ruined, my future is over.'

Elder Zhou might have forgiven him, but Zhou Ying certainly hadn't. "Get away from me, you coward! Don't stand so close!"

Ye Wanzhong's expression turned grim. Seeing the cold indifference from the entire Zhou Family, he knew his reputation was now in tatters.

Mu Lin stood before Jin Guangshi, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Come. From this moment on, you'll be fighting me."

Jin Guangshi narrowed his eyes, looking him up and down. "And what are you supposed to be?"

"I'm not a 'what'," Mu Lin replied calmly. "But I guarantee you won't harm Elder Zhou. Not even a single hair on his head."

Zhou Ying pressed her lips together, incredibly moved. Ye Wanzhong, the man she'd placed her hopes in, had practically begged for his life, while Mu Lin, the man she'd looked down on, was now standing against the tide.

'Why is it like this?'

Jin Guangshi said, "Zhou Qishan must die today. If you know what's good for you, you'll learn from him and just surrender."

Mu Lin replied, "I'm no one's dog. Surrender isn't my style."

"What if everyone here has to die today? You still won't surrender?"

"Never!"

"Fine, then! I'll wipe out everyone here!" Jin Guangshi's menacing aura sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Ye Wanzhong stepped forward and bowed to Jin Guangshi.

"Senior, please feel free. This junior has other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave!"

Jin Guangshi glanced at him and said,

"Go on, then."

With that, Ye Wanzhong hastily tried to leave.

As he walked past Jin Guangshi, Jin Guangshi suddenly shot his hand out, aiming straight for Ye Wanzhong.

Caught completely off guard, Ye Wanzhong's chest was brutally pierced through.

A bloody hand emerged from his back, a terrifying scene straight out of a horror film.

Ye Wanzhong's eyes widened in shock. "You..."

Jin Guangshi gave a cruel smile. "Weren't you leaving? As you wish."

He yanked his hand back violently. The powerful force destroyed all the meridians in Ye Wanzhong's body. Ye Wanzhong collapsed to the ground, silent and still.

Zhou Ying screamed in terror; she had never witnessed such a horrifying scene.

Zhou Qianfan rushed to hug Zhou Ying, covering her eyes and comforting her in a hushed voice.

"Xiaoying, don't be scared. It's okay, don't be scared..."

Zhou Ying sobbed in Zhou Qianfan's arms. A Grandmaster-level expert like Ye Wanzhong had been killed just like that. Who else could possibly defeat Jin Guangshi?

It seemed the Zhou Family could not escape its doom. A family with a thousand-year history, painstakingly built over generations, was finally meeting its end today.

Elder Zhou couldn't hide his desolate sorrow. He bore the ultimate responsibility. He had foolishly trusted a so-called Grandmaster and opened the doors to their fortress. If he hadn't, considering the fortress was strong enough to withstand cannon fire, Jin Guangshi would never have been able to get in.

"Alright, who's next?" Jin Guangshi narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the members of the Zhou Family.

He paid Mu Lin's group no mind. 'They're just a side dish to be dealt with after I'm finished with the Zhou Family.'

'Finishing off the Zhou Family first—that's the main event.'

Even Zhou Qianfan's wife was trembling uncontrollably, hugging her husband and daughter tightly.

Their minds screamed at them to be brave, but their bodies were frozen stiff with terror.

Elder Zhou finally spoke. "Take my life, but don't take your anger out on my family. Otherwise, I will never forgive you, not even from beyond the grave."

Jin Guangshi roared with laughter. "You old fossil, trying to threaten me? You have one foot in the grave! What karma or resentment could you possibly muster? For me, crushing you would be even less trouble than crushing an ant!"

"Let me make myself clear. Every single one of you here today will die! Not one of you is leaving here alive!"

Jin Guangshi's words were like an imperial edict, completely extinguishing all hope.

"Hey, did you bother to ask for my permission before making that declaration?" Mu Lin asked.

Jin Guangshi glanced at the unremarkable man. "What does this have to do with you?"

'A guy like this is just a bonus round. He doesn't change anything. Besides, he's weak, and killing him won't create any karmic backlash for my cultivation.'

'So, it's fine.'

Mu Lin walked toward Jin Guangshi, closing the distance. "Haven't I already told you? I'm not going to let you harm the Zhou Family. Not in the slightest."

Jin Guangshi laughed. "Then I'll kill you first!"

'It won't be any more trouble than squashing that Ye Wanzhong fellow.'

Jin Guangshi turned and walked toward Mu Lin. With a casual sweep of his hand over his shoulder, his True Qi coalesced into a Protective Gang Qi, and his fists became as hard as diamond.

He advanced on Mu Lin like a primeval beast.

Mu Lin sneered. "Are you really going to attack me? Are you prepared to die? Don't blame me when you're dead."

Jin Guangshi threw his head back and roared with laughter. "I won't blame you, I won't blame you! Why would I ever blame you?"

As he spoke, he raised his fist and smashed it toward Mu Lin's head.

His fist moved with incredible speed, about to connect in an instant.

Zhou Ying couldn't bear to watch. 'Mu Lin's going to end up a corpse on the ground, just like Ye Wanzhong.'

Mu Lin tilted his head, and then his entire body shifted sideways, moving like flowing water.

Jin Guangshi punched nothing but air. His expression flickered.

'What just happened? Did I see that right? How did he dodge that?'

While he was still processing, Mu Lin snapped a whip kick at him.

Relying on his Gang Qi for protection, Jin Guangshi chose not to defend, clawing for Mu Lin's face instead.

Die!

But a leg is faster than a hand. Mu Lin's whip kick struck Jin Guangshi's shoulder. With a sharp CRACK, Jin Guangshi retreated half a step.

THUD!

Mu Lin retracted his leg but didn't stop, raising one hand high for a vicious strike.

A continuous CRACKLING sound filled the air, deeply unsettling the onlookers.

Jin Guangshi's face paled slightly. He found that his Protective Gang Qi had actually developed tiny cracks.

Although it wouldn't shatter his overall defense, this was something that had never happened before.

'This Mu Lin... he's no ordinary fighter!'

His expression grew grave. He quickly circulated his Gang Qi to repair his defense, all while re-evaluating Mu Lin.

"What's your story?"

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "Just your average joe, trying to make a living wherever I can."

Even as he spoke, the rhythm of his assault didn't slow. In the blink of an eye, he threw another punch.

Although Jin Guangshi was now on high alert, ready to counter with his full strength, he didn't even see Mu Lin's fist.

CRACK!

This crack was much louder than the previous ones. Even the Zhou Family heard it clearly.

But they were so anxious, they didn't dare let their minds entertain what that sound might mean.

"Grandmaster Zhou, is Mu Lin hurt?!"

Elder Zhou didn't dare to speculate, either.

Right now, the lives of the entire Zhou Family rested on Mu Lin's shoulders.

They had absolutely no standing to comment on the situation. They were merely meat on a chopping block; how they were to be carved up was out of their hands.

A sweet taste flooded Jin Guangshi's throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

'How can this be!?'

He was stunned to find a gaping hole had been torn in his Protective Gang Qi.

Just as he tried to mend it, he saw several silver needles appear in Mu Lin's hand and land on his body.

In an instant, the Protective Gang Qi dissipated completely, like a balloon pricked by a needle.

Jin Guangshi was still wondering how to defend himself when Mu Lin's next punch was already upon him.

BAM!

The punch sent him flying backward limply.

The whole process, though long to describe, had only taken a few seconds.

By the time the Zhou Family saw Jin Guangshi hit the ground, unable to rise, Mu Lin had already straightened his clothes and was walking back toward them.

"Mu Lin, this..."

Zhou Qianfan asked cautiously, "Is it over?"

Mu Lin smiled. "Of course, Uncle Zhou. He's in no condition to fight back."

As he answered, he kept a wary eye on Jin Guangshi.

'If Jin Guangshi were to somehow get back up, that would be a huge problem.'

"That's good," Zhou Qianfan said, looking at his father. "Dad, it's over."

Elder Zhou said, "We still can't be complacent. Mu Lin, is there any way to restrain him? I need to ask him some things."

'Of course, he wants to ask about the mastermind behind all this,' Mu Lin understood immediately and walked over.

But when he turned back to look, he was stunned.

Jin Guangshi's pupils were dilated. He was already dead.

"Grandmaster Zhou, he's dead! I'm afraid I used too much force. I'm sorry, I wasn't able to keep him alive for you."

Mu Lin mulled it over. 'I'm sure I held back. I didn't use lethal force... How could a mighty Grandmaster like Jin Guangshi be so fragile?'

Elder Zhou sighed. "Well, it can't be helped. Don't worry about it! You've already done more than enough for us."