With a flick of his hand, the delicate youth was sent flying, landing in the flowerbed to the left. Thump-thump-thump.

He took several strides forward, drew the long saber from his waist, and was about to charge out. "Hold it!" Old Master Fan roared, his voice like a thunderclap in a clear sky.

The burly man halted, turning his head. "Father, I'll go teach this young monk a lesson!

Defy us, will he!" Old Master Fan waved his hand. "Come back here, I said!" "Father!" The burly man stamped his foot, turned, and sullenly sat back in his chair, the long saber heavily sheathed.

Old Master Fan beckoned. The delicate youth quickly entered.

"Xiao Chuan, did he kill anyone?" Old Master Fan asked gently. The delicate youth quickly shook his head.

"Reporting to the Old Master, only injuries, no fatalities." "Hmm." Old Master Fan nodded, waving his hand. "Go see when he leaves, and report back to me." "Yes," the delicate youth replied respectfully, turning to leave.

The burly man suddenly shot up. "Father, are we just going to hide here like tortoises?" Old Master Fan glanced at him, ignoring him, and sat down in the central armchair, picked up his teacup, blew the foam away, and took a leisurely sip.

"Father!" The burly man stomped his foot heavily. "When did our Fan family ever endure such humiliation!

No, I must go teach him a lesson!" "Sit down, and behave yourself!" Old Master Fan pointed. The burly man gasped for breath, snorted heavily, and sat back down in the pear-wood chair, turning his head away from his father, his face dark with pique.

Old Master Fan slowly set down his teacup. "Hmph.

Look at your elder brother, then look at you. So restless and impulsive; what future can you possibly have?" The burly man bristled.

"Hmph, Eldest Brother's sluggish nature is innate; I can't learn that!" "Have you considered," Old Master Fan said, "if you go out, can you even defeat Ming Kong?" The burly man snorted. "Even if I can't win, I still have to fight." "Purely seeking death!" Old Master Fan sneered.

"A true man knows when to yield and when to advance. Let him strike; we won't retaliate.

Don't forget, we still have that girl, Pei Yao!" "Relying on a woman to save our lives? Humph, humph," the burly man turned his head away, sneering dismissively.

Old Master Fan’s face darkened, and he slammed the armrest of the chair, roaring, "Shut your mouth!" The burly man clamped his mouth shut, remaining silent, though his face still showed defiance. The elegantly handsome middle-aged man sighed, speaking in a soft voice.

"Father, never mind. Second Brother is just a reckless brute; there's no point reasoning with him." The burly man glared at him resentfully.

The elegant middle-aged man said calmly, "Second Brother, handing Pei Yao over to Shushu.com was unavoidable. Besides, Headmaster Li is a Grandmaster in his own right; how could he truly kill Pei Yao?" "In any case, our Fan family's reputation is ruined!" the burly man pouted.

The elegant middle-aged man said softly, "Is reputation more important than life itself? Are we to let the several hundred members of the Fan family suffer the wrath of Thunder Sword Peak just for the sake of face?" The burly man snorted and said no more.

"Enough, Eldest Brother, stop wasting words on him," Old Master Fan said, breathing heavily and waving his hand. The elegant middle-aged man said, "Second Brother isn't completely unaware; it’s just that this stubborn temper can’t be changed.

Ming Kong coming here aggressively was just to seek justice for the little girl; it's no great matter." "This young monk has incredible nerve!" The burly man’s face broke into a smile. "For that courage alone, he's worthy of being our Fan family's son-in-law!" The elegant middle-aged man chuckled.

"Father, Ming Kong’s martial arts are truly formidable..." Li Tianlei had already returned, reporting that he had failed to kill Ming Kong. Old Master Fan nodded and sighed.

"What a pity." The burly man said, "Father, the older you get in the Jianghu, the more timid you become! What of Thunder Sword Peak?

In my opinion, they can't handle Ming Kong..." "Nonsense," Old Master Fan waved his hand. The burly man insisted.

"Father! Think about it, if Li Tianlei can't kill Ming Kong, who in Thunder Sword Peak can?" "Thunder Sword Peak is an ancient sect of several hundred years!" Old Master Fan snorted.

"Their foundation is deep, and masters are as common as clouds. No matter how strong Ming Kong is, it's useless.

Even a tiger cannot withstand a pack of wolves!" "They may have countless masters, but can they even get in here!" The burly man laughed triumphantly, snorting. "The people from Sacred Snow Peak should be arriving soon, right?" The elegant middle-aged man nodded.

"Likely soon, within the next couple of days." "Exactly! With Sacred Snow Peak here, Thunder Sword Peak won't dare to run rampant.

It’ll be hard for them to send more masters over—" The burly man chuckled smugly. The elegant middle-aged man pondered for a moment, then looked up.

"Father, Second Brother has a point. Thunder Sword Peak might be powerful, but that's in West Zhao.

Here in Great Yan... they aren't so terrifying." Old Master Fan waved his hand.

"You two are thinking too simply! If the overt methods fail, the covert ones are even more frightening.

That monk Ming Kong... what a pity." The burly man pouted, unconcerned.

"I think it'll be fine; Ming Kong will live happily!" Right, Eldest Brother?" The elegant middle-aged man slowly nodded. "Yes, Father, I'm also optimistic about Ming Kong." Old Master Fan waved his hand.

"Let's not talk about him for now. Eldest Brother, go take a look." "Alright." The elegant middle-aged man nodded, stood up, and left, his gait powerful and his bearing extraordinary.

The burly man quickly stood up and followed. "I'll go see the excitement too..." The elegant middle-aged man glanced at him, then at Old Master Fan, said nothing more, and strode out of the main hall.

Inside the main gate of the Fan Residence, in the first courtyard, the scene was chaotic. Groans rose and fell incessantly; about forty or fifty men lay sprawled on the ground.

Li Muzhan stood in the center of the courtyard, clad in a green robe, his scalp shining as if oiled, possessing an ethereal bearing as he calmly observed the hundred-odd people surrounding him. More than a hundred people encircled Li Muzhan, packed tightly, three layers deep and three rows wide.

Each one held a saber or a sword, their gazes menacing, their bodies taut, betraying a facade of ferocity covering inner fear. It seemed they were not surrounding him to attack, but rather defending, afraid that Li Muzhan might suddenly make a move.

Li Muzhan stood with his hands behind his back, watching calmly, utterly silent. A middle-aged man raised his voice and shouted, "Monk, you have great gall!

Our Fan family is not easy to provoke. If you know what’s good for you, retreat quickly!" Li Muzhan merely smiled without speaking.

The middle-aged man pointed his long saber. "Otherwise, don't blame our Fan family for being ruthless!

We’ll take your life!" Li Muzhan took a step forward, and everyone hastily retreated a step, visibly tense—the veins on the hands gripping their weapons bulging. Li Muzhan advanced another step, and the crowd followed suit, giving the appearance of escorting him rather than flanking him.

"Hahaha... Well done, Ming Kong!

You don't lack courage!" A loud burst of laughter suddenly rang out as the burly man strode in like a shooting star, crossing the main gate and standing on the steps. After sizing up Li Muzhan a few times, he called out loudly, "At such a young age, to possess such martial arts—rare, truly rare!" The crowd quickly bowed, addressing him as Second Master.

The burly man boomed, "However, barging into our Fan family home is seeking your own doom. Clear out immediately!" The elegant middle-aged man stood beside him, frowning and watching Li Muzhan coldly.

Li Muzhan smiled faintly, his figure flickering once. Instantly, shadows flew outward, and a dozen hefty men were flung away, landing heavily near the flowerbed to join the forty-odd men already there.

The screams and groans were ear-piercing. They weren't dead, but they had suffered greatly, each howling miserably.

The surrounding onlookers felt their limbs go numb, a chill creeping up their spines. Li Muzhan’s figure flashed again, returning to his original spot.

"Good lad, looking to die!" The burly man was instantly furious. He leaped from the steps, gliding ten-plus zhang through the air, bringing his saber down in a slashing arc.

Li Muzhan evaded with a flicker, appearing one zhang away. Instantly, shadows flew out again, and a dozen men, like young swallows diving into a forest, slammed into the burly man.

The burly man had no choice but to retract his saber, cursing the men as trash while using his palms and feet to kick them away toward the flowerbed, where they landed with cries and moans. Li Muzhan flashed again, repeating the maneuver.

The dozen men became projectiles, hurtling towards the burly man. The burly man roared in anger, using concealed force (an jin) to cushion their flight, making them land slowly.

But even after landing, these men continued to wail in agony, their suffering caused by Li Muzhan’s concealed force, as if seared by a branding iron. The burly man’s face flushed red and his neck thick with rage, and he erupted into curses.

Li Muzhan remained impassive, moving among the crowd like a fish through water. Each man became a punching bag, constantly thrown toward the burly man, forcing him to exert force to catch them.

The burly man cursed ceaselessly while using his internal power to intercept the men, always wanting to rush up close to Li Muzhan, but he never got the chance. Just as he gathered force in his legs, another man would come crashing in.

He had a soft spot for the men he saw, fearing they would smash directly onto the ground, so he had to dissipate the power in his legs and shift it to his palms, gently setting the man down. One throw, one catch—their movements were perfectly coordinated.

In the span of a few breaths, all hundred-odd men were down. Only three figures remained standing in the courtyard.

"Heave-ho." The burly man was overjoyed, letting out a long breath. He swung his long saber, stalking step by step toward Li Muzhan, a savage grin plastered on his face.

The elegant middle-aged man shook his head, still standing on the steps, making no move. The burly man approached with a cold sneer.

"Lad, let’s see what you do now!" Li Muzhan smiled faintly. "Relying on a woman to seek shelter, showing no integrity or righteousness—unworthy of being a man.

I have nothing to say to people like you. Make your move!" "Nonsense!" The burly man's face immediately flushed red, and he snorted in anger.

"What do you know!" Li Muzhan watched him calmly. "Why waste more words?

Let's see what your blade can do!" "Watch my blade!" The burly man roared, his saber flashing like silver silk. Li Muzhan reached out and slapped.

Clang! With a sharp sound, the long saber flew from his hand, spinning in the air before clattering to the ground.

The burly man stood empty-handed, staring blankly at Li Muzhan. "Well done, Ming Kong!

So you dare to show off your might here..." Amidst a cold laugh, Li Tianlei materialized like a phantom, his sword tip instantly pressing against Li Muzhan’s chest. (To be continued)