Drip, drip, drip.
Each keystroke, emitting a faint mechanical sound, struck Li Duo'er's heart like a heavy hammer.
It made her tremble involuntarily.
Time seemed to slow a thousandfold as Li Zhonglou's slender, fair fingers danced across the keys.
Composed and unhurried.
As if playing a piece of music on a piano.
Captivating.
It inexplicably soothed the anxiety in Li Duo'er's heart.
Allowing her to enter a state of blissful oblivion.
*Click!*
Just then, the sound of a lock opening jolted her awake.
Her large eyes widened in excitement, "It's open?"
Li Zhonglou nodded, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes, a bead of sweat already beading on his forehead.
Though outwardly as steady as a mountain, his heart had been clenched with anxiety.
After all, this was his only chance to escape.
After being brought here by Li Hanlong for so many days, his family and friends in Qin Province, were they not frantic without news?
At this moment, Li Zhonglou intensely wished to return to Qin Province and reassure them.
"Go!"
Without any wasted words, Li Zhonglou yanked open the door and strode out.
Li Duo'er intended to follow.
But before she could even lift her leg, Li Zhonglou grunted and flew back into the room.
He crashed to the ground with a thud.
His face instantly turned pale, a trace of blood foam seeping from the corner of his mouth.
His deep, sharp eyes, filled with fury, glared at a tall figure standing outside the door.
His heart burning with rage, he gritted his teeth, "Li Hanlong!"
"If you don't kill me today, I will make your life worse than death in the future!"
The sudden turn of events stunned Li Duo'er.
Her beautiful eyes widened, looking at Li Hanlong who appeared at the door. A hint of fear and panic crossed her pretty face.
"Second Uncle, how did you get here so quickly?"
Li Duo'er's voice was a little stammered.
Guilty conscience.
She didn't dare to lift her head.
The door lock had only alerted a few minutes ago. Even if Li Hanlong received the news, he shouldn't have arrived so fast.
Unless, he was already on his way and just happened to arrive.
Thinking of this, Li Duo'er suddenly realized how foolish she had been.
Since her uncle valued Li Zhonglou so much, how could he possibly let the guards withdraw without any precautions?
His personal presence was precisely to prevent Li Zhonglou from escaping.
Unexpectedly, he had caught them red-handed.
What to do?
What to do now?
Li Duo'er was completely flustered.
Like a child who had done wrong and been caught by an adult, her entire body burned.
"Heh," Li Hanlong remained motionless, his expressionless face calmly stating, "A grown girl can't stay home."
"If I hadn't come, would you have eloped with him?"
"Duo'er, I raised you like my own daughter. You betrayed me for a mere pawn?"
These words were spoken very calmly, without a trace of anger.
But to Li Duo'er's ears, they were like a thunderbolt from the blue.
She was so shocked she didn't know what to do.
She could only lower her head and meekly say, "I, I didn't..."
From childhood to adulthood, her uncle was unlike anyone else in the family. In the eyes of the Li family, her uncle was a god.
Without him, the Li family would have long been annihilated.
Although she was spoiled and willful, in the face of the imposing Li Hanlong, she instantly dared not even muster a thought of resistance.
"Shut up!" Li Hanlong rudely interrupted Li Duo'er's defense.
Frightened, Li Duo'er closed her eyes.
But this time, Li Hanlong did not slap Li Duo'er again. His gaze shifted to Li Zhonglou, who was struggling to get up.
A cold sneer appeared on his face, "Kid, you're still too young to threaten me."
"You can't escape."
"Even with Duo'er's help, if you truly escape, you'll still come back to me."
After speaking, Li Hanlong revealed a smug expression.
He had already sent his most capable subordinate to Qin Province.
To bring Li Zhonglou's mother and wife to Yong'an.
Last time, he had failed because of that beast. Now, that beast was probably gone too.
"What do you mean?" Li Zhonglou was startled, and immediately understood.
Li Hanlong's words carried hidden meaning.
"Don't guess wildly, but I can tell you, your capable assistant Xu Lie, has gone from a fierce tiger to a dead cat." Li Hanlong's eyes were chilling, "If you don't want to end up like him, then stay put inside."
"Otherwise, I don't mind crushing you."
His tone was as if he were speaking to an ant.
Holding the power of life and death, arrogant and overbearing.
*Boom!*
Before these words were finished, Li Zhonglou's head felt as if struck by lightning.
The body that had just straightened swayed violently, his face turning ashen.
All the hair on his body stood on end, a chill spreading through his heart.
Xu Lie is dead?
No, how could that be possible?
With his excellent martial arts skills, how could anything happen to him!
If something happened to him, then my mother...
In an instant, countless thoughts and possibilities exploded in Li Zhonglou's mind.
His eyes quickly turned red, bloodshot, like a wounded ferocious beast.
A terrifying aura surged from him, and he stared intently at Li Hanlong, asking, "You killed Xu Lie?"
"He is my friend, my brother!"
"You killed him?"
At this moment, an aura that was usually invisible was rising from Li Zhonglou. Especially his eyes, which seemed to want to devour people.
Utterly terrifying.
But to Li Hanlong, this was merely a rabbit turning red-eyed.
Could it truly bite?
As he stepped forward, preparing to enter the door, he replied, "Should be dead. He was shot three times, one in the heart."
"Even a fierce tiger couldn't survive."
He knew the relationship between Li Zhonglou and Xu Lie.
He hadn't intended to kill Xu Lie; he had planned to find an opportunity to recruit him later as his henchman.
Who knew that fellow was so stubborn, he'd rather lose his life than not rescue someone.
If he's dead, then he's dead.
It also served as a warning to others.
"I'll go to your mother!" At the same time, a thunderous curse erupted from Li Zhonglou's lips.
In his life, he rarely swore.
Because few things could provoke his anger.
But at this moment, he was truly enraged.
Xu Lie.
He was as close as a brother to him.
He had saved his life, and though not related by blood, he was closer than kin.
Now, to protect his mother, he had been killed.
He had changed the fate of so many people, only to have Xu Lie bear the karma for him.
Animal!
Bastard!
The anger and reason that Li Zhonglou had deliberately suppressed within him exploded and collapsed at this very moment.
He hated!
He hated the heavens for their injustice, and himself for his powerlessness.
Xu Lie died because of him, yet he could do nothing here.
No, there was still one thing he could do.
That was to kill Li Hanlong!
Anger erupted like a volcano, unstoppable.
Li Zhonglou's eyes were blood red.
He raised his hand and threw a punch, without any flourish, directly towards Li Hanlong's chest.
*Bang!*
Li Hanlong easily raised his palm to block it, a look of disdain and mockery on his face.
He sneered, "Want to avenge your friend? You're too weak, you're not qualified to..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Zhonglou threw another punch with his left hand towards his face.
*Slap!*
It was blocked again.
This scene made Li Duo'er's heart tremble with fear, her eyes filled with extreme conflict.
She knew that big brother could never be Uncle's opponent.
But Uncle had killed his good friend, and with big brother's personality, today was bound to be a fight to the death.
Both sides were people she cared about, what should she do?
Whoever got hurt, she would be heartbroken.
Yan Bin, you scoundrel, where did you run off to? Hurry back and break this up!
Li Duo'er stamped her feet anxiously.
Curse inwardly.
Just then, Li Zhonglou, held in Li Hanlong's hand, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes filled with hatred.
He forcefully pulled back his right hand.
And threw another punch.
In an instant, the disdain on Li Hanlong's face vanished, replaced by a hint of surprise.
"Oh? Anger has greatly increased your strength?"
However, he still easily blocked Li Zhonglou's punch.
But almost the moment their fists met, Li Zhonglou withdrew and threw another punch.
He gave Li Hanlong no chance to grab his fist.
He directly morphed into a blur of punches, relentlessly hammering towards Li Hanlong's chest.
*Crack crack crack!*
The explosions of fists and palms meeting were as sharp as firecrackers. Their movements were so fast that Li Duo'er's vision blurred, unable to see clearly.
The blood-red hue in Li Zhonglou's eyes gradually receded at this moment.
His sharp, sword-like gaze became vacant and hollow.
Before him, a grand, open gate materialized. Beyond the gate lay a deep, dark valley.
Towering cliffs flanked both sides, their sheer faces reaching a thousand feet, obscuring the sky above.
The valley held everything within.
The illusory scene before him instantly brought Li Zhonglou's enraged mind back to peace.
He suddenly became clear-headed.
He had broken through!
Using the rage from Xu Lie's death, he had forcibly broken through the realm he had been unable to reach for so long.
He had successfully entered the second level of the sheepskin scroll, the Shen Gu Realm.
Indescribable changes were occurring within his body, as if a vast valley-like space had been carved out in his abdomen.
The fiery currents that had been burning within him due to his anger all converged into this valley.
His limbs became light and swift, each punch he threw effortless.
Yet, he could unleash his strength without reservation.
In his hollow, vacant eyes, the entire world seemed to turn into shades of gray and white.
All trajectories of movement clearly unfolded before him.
He could even see Li Hanlong's movements.
His strength had increased more than tenfold compared to before!
"Brother Xu, I, Li Zhonglou, swear that if I do not avenge you, I will not be human in this life!" The hatred in his heart transformed into a solemn oath echoing within him.
Each punch was thrown in a straight line towards Li Hanlong's chest.
But soon, Li Zhonglou discovered that no matter how fierce his punches were, and even though Li Hanlong's movements were clear to him, he could not break through his defense.
He was still easily blocked by him.
It was only then that Li Zhonglou realized how vast the gap between him and Li Hanlong truly was.
Even if he had successfully broken through, he was still no match for this beast.
"Had enough playing? It seems you are still trash, and anger couldn't completely sublimate you." The surprise in Li Hanlong's eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp glint.
His left hand no longer blocked Li Zhonglou's punches, but instead, like a whip, it lashed out directly at Li Zhonglou's face.
*Snap!*
The air exploded.
The sonic boom disrupted Li Zhonglou's attacking rhythm, causing his movements to falter.
Before he could react, a palm had already arrived before him.
Unavoidable.
Although his consciousness could react, he simply couldn't dodge.
Li Zhonglou's pupils dilated to the extreme.
"Li Hanlong, dare to lay a finger on my junior brother, and I will level your Yong'an foundation!" Just then, a clear, sharp female voice rang out from a distance.
Rapidly approaching.