Chapter 2: Abandoned by All

“Arrogant! Today, heroes from all walks of life are gathered here; how can we allow a villain like you to run wild!”

Yu Zhentian let out a furious roar, his hair and beard bristling. He raised his hand and snatched the sword from the waist of his eldest disciple, Zhu Fang, who stood nearby.

His seemingly aged body surged with blood and energy, white steam rising from his skin. The long sword in his hand emitted a sharp, piercing sword aura as he slashed diagonally upward.

Zha Laosan sneered, his figure remaining completely still. He raised his blade and slashed horizontally to meet the sword aura.

The blade light and sword aura collided with a boom, erupting in a deafening clash of metal. The powerful shockwave scattered in all directions, tearing tiles and beams from the roof.

In the courtyard, Yu Zhentian stumbled back several steps before he could dissipate the force, and was steadied by a group of his disciples.

With a “crack,” the beam beneath Zha Laosan’s feet snapped. He used the momentum to leap into the air, landing on the roof on the other side.

“Old man, your skills haven’t completely rotted away yet.” A chilling murderous intent flickered in Zha Laosan’s eyes.

The guests below, seeing that Yu Zhentian was evenly matched with his opponent, paused their retreat for the moment.

The Yu Family Martial Arts Hall was one of the most powerful in all of Shun’an City, and the old master, Yu Zhentian, had been famous for decades; his martial prowess was well-known throughout the region.

If he could handle this thief, there would be no need for them to flee.

However, at that very moment, a series of dull, air-piercing sounds arrived from afar.

Five masked figures in black leaped several times, landing on the roofs surrounding the house, encircling everyone in the courtyard in a pincer formation.

Seeing this, the martial arts guests who had come to observe the ceremony were struck with terror. There was no doubt that these arrivals were the other five of the Seven Thieves of Zha River.

“Second Brother, you’re late.”

Zha Laosan said in a muffled voice. One of the black-clad men, whose forehead was lined with wrinkles and whose temples were gray, spoke in a slightly hoarse voice

“No rush, we still have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.”

Hearing this, Zha Laosan nodded slowly, then looked at the many guests in the courtyard, smiling leisurely

“There isn’t much time left. You have six breaths remaining!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the guests in the courtyard no longer hesitated and began to flee toward the exit.

They had only come today to be guests and offer gifts, not to throw their lives away.

The Seven Thieves of Zha River were notoriously fierce; even one of them was no weaker than Yu Zhentian. It was impossible for the Yu Family Martial Arts Hall to hold off all six of them.

“Master Yu, I have an urgent matter at home, I must take my leave.”

“My skills are meager, Brother Yu, please take care!”

“If Brother Yu can rid the world of evil today, Shun’an City will remember you.”

...

Some of the prominent figures in the martial arts world and Shun’an City hurriedly left behind a few polite phrases before rushing away.

Each one feared that if they were too slow, they would be caught in the crossfire and lose their heads.

Yu Zhentian’s expression was grim. He watched the guests disappear rapidly, his face dark and silent.

He had no way to ask these people to stay, and he knew he couldn't keep them anyway.

Moreover, ever since Zha Laoer and the others arrived, the internal energy radiating from these thieves—no weaker than his own—made it clear to Yu Zhentian that these rabble would be of little use even if they stayed.

“Brother Zhang, if you want to leave, just go. No one is stopping you.”

Li Musheng was pushed to the side by the surging crowd. He turned to look at the muscular man, who was wearing a conflicted expression.

Zhang Dazhuang gripped his staff with both hands, tightening and loosening his hold. Seeing fewer and fewer people in the courtyard, he felt anxious but could not make up his mind.

“We are all people of the Yu Family Martial Arts Hall. Will these villains let us go?” Zhang Dazhuang asked in a hesitant whisper.

The oppressive aura unintentionally radiating from the six people on the roofs made it hard for him to breathe.

“I think it’ll be fine. Your surname is Zhang, not Yu.”

Li Musheng rubbed his chin, glanced at the Seven Thieves of Zha River standing on the roof with their blades, and laughed

“If you’re really unsure, just ask them and see if they’ll let you go.”

Hearing this, Zhang Dazhuang was startled. He hurriedly grabbed Li Musheng, terrified

“You’re really reckless, kid. You dare to talk to these villains? Are you in such a hurry to die?”

While the two were talking, more than half of the guests in the courtyard had already fled.

Some were in such a rush to escape that they left behind shoes, hairpins, jade pendants, loose silver, and other small items on the ground.

Although the disciples, apprentices, and servants of the Yu Family Martial Arts Hall had not yet fled, they were equally hesitant.

Everyone knew that the Seven Thieves of Zha River were notorious and incredibly cruel, never leaving survivors. Staying behind meant almost certain death.

But Yu Zhentian’s long-standing authority was heavy, and they truly didn’t dare to desert in the face of battle. Furthermore, they shared the same worry as Zhang Dazhuang: would the Seven Thieves of Zha River let them go?

“Brother Hao, these thieves are running wild in broad daylight in Shun’an City; it is utterly lawless! Today, let us join forces to rid the martial arts world of this scourge!”

Yu Zhentian gripped his long sword, turned his head, and spoke in a deep voice, his powerful internal energy causing his silver hair to dance.

Hao Shen, who had not yet left, looked at Yu Zhentian and nodded slowly

“Brother Yu is absolutely right. As the City Lord of Shun’an, I certainly cannot allow these thieves to commit evil in our city.”

Hearing this, Yu Zhentian felt slightly relieved. Hao Shen was highly skilled; with his help, his own pressure would be greatly reduced.

However, Hao Shen’s next words made his heart turn cold.

“However, the Seven Thieves of Zha River possess astonishing martial arts. I fear the two of us alone cannot handle them. Please, Brother Yu, hold them off for a moment while I go to summon the city guards, and then we shall wipe these thieves out in one fell swoop.”

With that, Hao Shen’s feet moved like the wind, and he leaped away from the courtyard with great speed.

The Seven Thieves of Zha River on the roof watched this with indifference, making no move to stop him.

“Pfft!”

Seeing this, Li Musheng couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He turned his head and said

“I told you this old man Yu is too stingy. Look, when it really matters, not a single person is willing to help him. I reckon he’ll be abandoned by everyone soon.”

Zhang Dazhuang, with his tall frame, leaned on his staff. Seeing people casting glances their way, he subconsciously shrank his head and patted Li Musheng

“Keep your voice down, they can hear you. Besides... the old master isn’t always stingy; sometimes he can be generous once in a while.”

Hearing this, Yu Zhentian, whose face was extremely ugly, turned his head abruptly and glared fiercely at Li Musheng and Zhang Dazhuang.

However, he had no energy to deal with these two apprentices who only knew a few tricks. Instead, he turned to his disciples and said

“What are you all standing there for? Pick up your weapons and fight! There are no cowards in my Yu Family Martial Arts Hall!”

Hearing this, the disciples instinctively moved to act, but when they saw that the three figures beside Yu Zhentian remained motionless, they slowly stopped their movements.

Those three were Yu Zhentian’s most prized disciples, and the three strongest in the entire hall besides Yu Zhentian and his eldest son.