The corpse driver's accomplices numbered over ten, each armed and with unfriendly expressions, clearly not to be trifled with.
Having just survived the great battle at Dragon Tiger Mountain, Yan Shouyi immediately classified these individuals as Li Genmiao's associates. Anger surged within him, and he gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, preparing for a deadly confrontation.
Long Feicheng, possessing only rudimentary martial arts skills, also brandished his Caiwei Sword wildly, feigning bravery and declaring:
"Don't think we'll be scared just because you have more people! I'm telling you, we have many people with us too!"
The corpse driver's accomplices sneered, "Don't think we don't know. Your group of outsiders consists of only six people, and two of them are incapable ordinary individuals!"
Seeing his origins so easily exposed, Long Feicheng felt a pang of unease, but maintained a defiant tone, saying:
"Ha! I have no idea who these 'six people' you're talking about are, or what they have to do with us!"
The other party retorted, "Your group of six, four men, one woman, and one neither man nor woman. Is that not so?"
Yan Shouyi: "..."
Long Feicheng: "..."
Long Feicheng whispered, "We're finished, totally screwed! They've been watching us all along!"
Yan Shouyi sighed, "These people have taken root here and are engaged in unsavory dealings, so they'd naturally be on high alert. Our entry into the village today was indeed too conspicuous and drew too much attention; I miscalculated."
Since the other party had already targeted them, there was no need for further pleasantries.
Suddenly, someone among the corpse driver's accomplices rang a bell. Upon hearing the sound, Yan Shouyi's gaze shifted to the corpse driver's corpse-raising grounds!
The zombies, who had already been placed in coffins, stirred restlessly, pushing open their lids and advancing to surround Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng.
"It seems there's more than one corpse driver," Yan Shouyi said gravely.
As the zombies drew near, Yan Shouyi showed no hesitation. He lopped off a zombie's head with a single stroke and, at the same time, produced several Palm Thunder talismans for Long Feicheng.
Long Feicheng was already adept at using Palm Thunder talismans, handling them with ease. The moment he received the talismans, he immediately unleashed the Palm Thunder, not targeting the zombies, but the corpse driver's accomplices.
The accomplices, agile and swift, dodged the Palm Thunder but their faces showed shock, "Palm Thunder? Are you from Mount Mao?!"
"Scared, are you? Eat this!" Long Feicheng boasted arrogantly.
Yan Shouyi, on his end, was even more decisive, quickly dispatching all the zombies.
Although the enemy had many men, none were particularly formidable. Especially the corpse driver Yan Shouyi and his companions had captured; the zombies he raised only possessed slightly more strength than ordinary people, and were no match for Yan Shouyi!
Seeing the zombies dealt with by Yan Shouyi, the corpse driver's accomplices calmed down, realizing Yan Shouyi was no pushover.
Yan Shouyi held his Zanpakuto to the corpse driver's neck, threatening, "If any of you dare to make a move, my blade will show no mercy."
With the chilling Zanpakuto at his throat, the corpse driver indeed faltered and hastily called out, "Everyone, let's calm down. Since this daoist friend is from the Mount Mao sect, we are fellow practitioners. There's no need for swords to clash; we can just talk things out!"
"Who's your fellow practitioner?" Yan Shouyi scoffed.
These individuals, making deals with the Ghost King and offering unknown items, looked like no good people. Yan Shouyi had no desire to associate with them.
The other party, unwilling to back down, reminded Yan Shouyi, "The three people you left at Xie Guilan's house don't seem strong. If you attack, we might be forced to act against them."
"Oh, are we giving you too much face?" Long Feicheng retorted angrily. "Then let's have a go and see who's faster, you or us?! Honestly, I've only known Old Weng for a few days. As for the other one, if he dies, he dies. Just leave the girl for me, and I'll thank you!"
The other party, surprised by Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng's callousness, became somewhat angry and ordered his subordinates,
"Go, capture the three outsiders at Xie Guilan's house!"
"Wait!"
At the last moment, Yan Shouyi had to relent.
Weng Qianxiang was not a concern, but if Meng Te and Kong Xuan were captured by these people, even if they survived, they would likely suffer psychological trauma for life.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi decided to compromise and negotiate with them.
He lowered his blade and said coldly, "Let's talk."
Seeing Yan Shouyi back down, the other party grew smug. "Oh? Willing to bow your head now? So the three at Xie Guilan's house have some value to you. Then I'll definitely capture them!"
Yan Shouyi's expression darkened. These people were truly brazen.
Since that was the case, he had to display some strength and properly intimidate these fellows!
He put down his Zanpakuto, feigning surrender. When the enemy relaxed their guard, he immediately used "Zong Di Jin Guang" (Soaring Earth Golden Light)!
A golden light flashed, and Yan Shouyi vanished from his original spot. Before their eyes could recover from the blinding light, Yan Shouyi had already charged before them!
His target was clear: the fellow who had just threatened to capture Weng Qianxiang.
As Yan Shouyi charged, the man was struck with terror. Those around him, snapping back to reality, lunged at Yan Shouyi with their weapons. However, their weapons bounced off Yan Shouyi, repelled by something translucent, like dragon scales!
This was the Xi Lin Kai (Fine Scale Armor)!
Covering Yan Shouyi's body, the Xi Lin Kai rendered him impervious to ordinary weapons!
Breaking through their defenses, Yan Shouyi reached the man, seized him by the neck, and slammed him violently to the ground!
"Young master!"
Everyone panicked. Even the bound corpse driver couldn't help but shout, "Protect the young master!"
"Everyone, freeze!"
Yan Shouyi pinned the so-called "young master" and said coldly, "It seems I've captured the right person, and things will be easier now—Zhu Shanzao, come out!"
With a shout, Zhu Shanzao emerged from Yan Shouyi's body!
It transformed directly into a circular form, becoming a wild boar the size of a small truck, standing like a small mountain behind Yan Shouyi, its pair of blood-red eyes fixed on the crowd.
"You, you're actually a Spirit Summoner?!"
Everyone was stunned, unable to comprehend Yan Shouyi's background. He could perform Mount Mao's Palm Thunder, and summon spirits like a Spirit Summoner, but the spirit he summoned wasn't a weasel or a fox, but a giant wild boar.
What was this guy's origin?!
With Zhu Shanzao's appearance, its sheer size intimidated the crowd.
Yan Shouyi calmly sat on the back of the so-called young master and said,
"Can we have a proper conversation now?"