He Yuzhu returns in Siheyuan

Chapter 770 Zhang Qi's Secret Technique

Xiao Bao's sharp gaze swept over his men. They all drooped their heads, their eyes vacant, their energy drooping, like weeds wilted by a severe frost. The previous confrontation had clearly drained most of their energy, and even their spirits. Xiao Bao knew clearly that today's confrontation wouldn't end so easily.

His sight first landed on Zhang Qi who was lying on the ground. There was still blood foam on the corner of that guy's mouth, his chest was heaving violently, and he was obviously seriously injured, but he still held his neck erect, his eyes showing a fierce determination to refuse to admit defeat. Then he glanced at He Yao who was standing next to him. The man's face was so gloomy that water could drip out of it. He clenched his fists without saying a word, and the aura around him was frighteningly cold. Xiao Bao's voice suddenly turned cold, like a knife tempered with ice: "I'll give you one last chance. Just surrender and follow me back to the Law Enforcement Hall to face the punishment. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless. I will destroy your cultivation on the spot and make it difficult for you to fight again in your life."

Zhang Qi struggled to prop himself up halfway, each movement straining against his wounds. He grimaced in pain, his chest still rising and falling violently. He had no idea what was happening within the sect, so he assumed Xiao Bao was bluffing. A fierce glare flashed in his eyes. "Don't even think about it! Even if we die, we brothers will never surrender to a lackey of the Law Enforcement Hall! At worst, we'll fight to the death today and drag you down with us to hell. That way, you'll have company on your journey to the underworld!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bao laughed softly. His laughter was filled with undisguised contempt, like a stone thrown into an icy lake, causing a cold echo: "Okay, you do have some backbone. Today I will show you, a bunch of blind guys, that the people from the Law Enforcement Hall are not soft persimmons that can be easily manipulated when they are performing their duties outside. If you have any tricks up your sleeve, just use them, don't hide them, or you will feel wronged when you die later." He knew clearly in his heart that he wanted to use this incident today to set an example for the demoralized subordinates behind him - to let them see his own strength, and also let them see with their own eyes what the final fate of those who resisted the Law Enforcement Hall would be.

Zhang Qi turned to look at He Yao, his eyes filled with determination: "You know, I'm going to use that trick."

Although he and He Yao had been having a lot of arguments over the Spirit Stones, even getting into fights, they had endured so many days together in this wilderness, weathering the elements, and had forged a life-or-death bond. Now, at this critical juncture, those petty arguments seemed like trivial matters.

He Yao's face darkened instantly, a flicker of struggle in his eyes—he naturally knew what "that move" Zhang Qi was referring to. It was a strictly forbidden technique within their sect, capable of forcibly overdrawing one's potential in a short period of time, multiplying their spiritual power. However, the price of this technique was a months-long period of weakness afterward, rendering one practically useless. If one misstepped, the spiritual power would backfire, severing all of their meridians, turning them into a defenseless target, or even potentially killing them instantly.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the complicated feeling in his heart, nodded heavily, and said with an unquestionable firmness: "Don't worry, I will protect you."

Before he could finish his words, He Yao had already rushed out like an arrow from a bow, the short blade in his hand gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and he was heading straight for Xiao Bao's face. A flash of understanding flashed in Xiao Bao's eyes—he was indeed planning a round-the-clock battle, letting He Yao entangle him so as to buy time for Zhang Qi to perform his forbidden technique. But he didn't take it seriously at all. He slightly shifted his foot and easily dodged He Yao's attack as if strolling in the garden. At the same time, he shouted to his men behind him who had just recovered from their shock, "Alright, stop standing there and catch him!"

Upon hearing this, the men were instantly energized. Yes, the captain was still holding court, so what were they afraid of? They tightened their grips, howling as they charged forward, surrounding He Yao. For a moment, the clink of weapons clashing and the roar of fury echoed incessantly, the situation instantly becoming tense, as if poised to explode at any moment.

He Yao was surrounded by five or six guards, the short blade dancing in his hand like a ball of silver light, each swing accompanied by a piercing sound. He stomped his left foot into the ground, using the reaction force to soar into the air, avoiding the iron rod sweeping from the left. At the same time, his right short blade slashed diagonally, accurately striking the long sword coming from the right. A crisp "dang" sound numbed the opponent's palm and nearly let the long sword slip out of his hand.

"Oh, is that all you can do?" He Yao sneered, and as he landed, he spun around, his short blade scraping across the ground, sending up a trail of sparks and forcing the two guards in front of him back. But before he could regain his balance, there was a rustling of wind behind him—a guard, seizing an opening, swung a chain at him, the iron rings colliding with a terrifying clanging sound.

He Yao reacted quickly, twisting his waist and ducking like a loach to avoid the impact. The chain brushed past his back, sending a sharp gust of wind that made his robes rustle. He used the force of his twist to thrust his short blade backhand, striking the guard's wrist. Unprepared for such swiftness, the guard let out a scream as the chain clanked to the ground, and he retreated, clutching his bleeding wrist.

But the other guards quickly filled the gap. One guard holding a shield thrust forward, slamming it into He Yao's chest, while another swung an axe from the side, its blade flashing with a cold gleam. He Yao, caught between two opposing blows, advanced instead. His left hand slammed down on his shield, using the shield's resistance to abruptly change direction. With a slash of the short blade, like a venomous snake emerging from its burrow, it pierced the axe guard's thigh with a thud.

"Ah--" The axe-wielding guard fell to his knees with a scream. He Yao kicked him away. Just as he was about to take a breath, he saw two more guards coming from the back with the ropes in their hands swung into circles, obviously trying to trap him.

Elsewhere, Zhang Qi leaned against the broken wall, his hands forming seals so quickly they blurred. Veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat streamed down his cheeks, leaving dark streaks on his lapels. He could clearly hear the sounds of fighting behind him—the crisp clash of weapons, the guards' shouts and curses, He Yao's muffled groans... Every sound was like a whip lashing at his heart.

"Almost there... a little faster..." Zhang Qi gritted his teeth. The spiritual energy in his dantian swirled wildly, like a rapidly shrinking vortex. The air around him trembled, and the hem of his clothes moved without a breeze. He didn't dare look back, and could only stare at the ground in front of him. The dust there was slightly pulsating with the spiritual energy, forming circles of fine ripples.

Suddenly, He Yao's voice came with pain: "Zhang Qi! Hurry up! I can't hold on any longer——"