He swung his blade towards Chu Chen, shouting, "You broke your word!"
Chu Chen didn't dodge. He simply extended a finger and poked forward, using his finger to block Fang Yong's blade.
*Clang!* Fang Yong's saber collided with Chu Chen's finger, emitting a crisp, metallic ring before being sent flying.
Chu Chen slowly retracted his finger and sneered, "You're too naive."
Fang Yong's eyes were filled with terror. He found he could no longer control his saber; it thrashed wildly as if it were a runaway wild horse.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* Chu Chen stomped the ground and shot forward, appearing before Fang Yong in the blink of an eye.
Fang Yong's heart sank. He hastily raised his left hand to block, attempting to stop Chu Chen.
However, Chu Chen's palm shot out like a claw, instantly gripping Fang Yong's throat and lifting him into the air.
"Cough... Let... Let go!" Fang Yong shouted with all his might, his neck aching from the grip.
"You'd best behave, or I won't hesitate to snap your neck," Chu Chen said in a low voice, his gaze fixed on Fang Yong with the ferocity of a predatory beast.
"Cough..." Fang Yong coughed violently, struggling to gasp for air.
Chu Chen held Fang Yong aloft with one hand, cast him a cold glance, and then threw him away.
Fang Yong crashed heavily onto the muddy ground, feeling as if his bones had shattered. He was in immense pain.
"Bastard! What do you want!" Fang Yong stood up, clutching his chest, and glared at Chu Chen.
Chu Chen remained silent. He walked to a corpse, crouched down, and picked up a dagger from the dead man's hand.
"Don't... Don't come any closer!" Seeing Chu Chen's action, Fang Yong's heart trembled violently.
Chu Chen's gaze was icy. Without a word, he suddenly flicked his wrist, plunging the dagger into Fang Yong's belly.
Blood splattered, and Fang Yong let out a piercing scream. He stared at Chu Chen with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Chu Chen looked down at Fang Yong from above and said indifferently, "I warned you earlier. Only one of us will walk out of this alive."
"I admit, you are strong, but you are only one person. We are over two hundred. How can you possibly win?"
Fang Yong roared through his intense pain, his contorted face looking terrifying.
Hearing this, Chu Chen merely shrugged dismissively. "I advise you not to play any tricks. I don't like having threats around."
Though Chu Chen's voice was calm, it carried a chilling coldness that made Fang Yong shiver and dare not act rashly.
"I can let you go, but I need to take your personal guards with me," Chu Chen stated directly.
"I warn you not to lay a hand on my guards. They are all elite soldiers, not to be trifled with. Besides, they've all taken poison," Fang Yong said fiercely.
Chu Chen scoffed, "You should be glad I don't like needless killing. Otherwise, all of you would be corpses."
With that, Chu Chen turned and left, his back exuding an arrogant and commanding presence.
Three kilometers outside Jinniu Town, on a hillside, Li Zhongcheng sat on the grass, resting. He looked exhausted and disheveled.
"Li Zhongcheng, we've been tracking you for a day. You'd best surrender honestly!" Suddenly, the sound of dense footsteps approached.
Li Zhongcheng's eyes snapped open. He saw dozens of soldiers armed with steel spears closing in on him.
"It's you! You despicable, shameless wretch!" Li Zhongcheng roared in fury and immediately leaped to his feet.
"Li Zhongcheng, you can't escape. You've thoroughly violated military law. We are now under orders from the barracks to arrest you!" the leading officer commanded sternly.
"Son of a bitch! I'd rather die than be enslaved by you!" Li Zhongcheng cursed angrily. He had nothing left to lose; death was inevitable.
"Hmph! I suggest you save your strength. You have no chance of killing me," the leading officer said disdainfully, then waved his hand. "Take him away!"
"Yes, sir!" Several soldiers approached.
"You bunch of scoundrels!" Li Zhongcheng roared, struggling desperately but pinned down by the soldiers, unable to break free.
"Hahaha! Chu, we'll meet again. You've caused me to lose everything. When I regain my freedom, I will grind you into dust!"
Li Zhongcheng glared at Chu Chen in the distance with immense hatred. He knew he couldn't escape today, but he believed that as long as he could endure until Chu Chen's downfall, he would be safe.
Chu Chen stood still, his expression indifferent. He glanced at Li Zhongcheng being escorted away and murmured to himself.
"I expected this, but I didn't think it would happen so soon. It seems you don't trust me."
Chu Chen sighed softly and then slowly walked down the mountain.
"This is a gamble. I win, and you all will fight for me. If I lose, I gain nothing."
Chu Chen spoke to himself, "I'm different from you. I've never believed in brotherhood. My parents, wife, and children all died under the hooves of foreign invaders. What about you? What are your so-called brotherhoods worth?"
"You claim to serve the country and protect it, but in the end? When the country needs us, you all run faster than rabbits. When the country doesn't need us, you act high and mighty, even going after my family."
"I just want to live, that's all. This world is a jungle where the strong prey on the weak, and the strong rule. Only the strong can possess everything."
Chu Chen shook his head, his eyes filled with sorrow. He couldn't understand what his family had done to these people. For their own selfish desires, they had slaughtered his entire family!
"I hate you! I am not reconciled!" Chu Chen roared, his heart filled with extreme frustration. If not for these people, perhaps his family would be living a happy and fulfilling life right now!
"You beasts!" Chu Chen snarled, his eyes red, fists clenched, and teeth gritted. Chu Chen had always sought revenge, no matter the cost. But he had never imagined that his enemies would be so despicable and ruthless as to annihilate his entire family!
"Your Majesty, Li Zhongcheng's body has been returned. Additionally, there are four traitors, including Li Zhongcheng," a man in black reported respectfully.
"Very well. Have his head displayed on the city walls and ensure it is heavily guarded."
"As you command." The man in black bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
Night fell. Chu Chen lay on his bed, eyes closed, resting. Suddenly, a sharp sword light pierced through the void, carrying a terrifying killing aura, arriving in an instant with a vicious and cunning strike!