Chapter 351: Ruthless

“Brothers, follow me!”

The burly man standing behind Qiao Fei, known as Da Biao, let out a roar, gripping a machete as he charged toward the summer retreat.

The machete in Da Biao’s hand was over two feet long, with a thick spine and a razor-sharp edge, forged entirely from fine steel. Even in the darkness, it gleamed with a chilling light—a weapon designed for killing.

Under his lead, the other men surged forward like a pack of wild beasts, shouting and hollering, their voices echoing through the night like a chaotic symphony of demons.

“Stop!”

Just as they were about to storm into the retreat, a figure suddenly emerged from the darkness, blocking their path.

The man was tall and muscular, with weathered features and deep wrinkles on his forehead. It was none other than Wang Xue’s father, Wang Tianping.

He gripped a thick wooden staff, standing firmly in the middle of the path. Though his expression was tense and serious, he showed no sign of retreat.

“What are you people doing here?”

The approaching thugs hadn’t expected someone to stand in their way. They instinctively hesitated, coming to a stop.

Only Da Biao, who was at the front, did not slow down. Raising his machete high, he slashed down at Wang Tianping’s head, his face twisted in a vicious snarl. “Who the hell do you think you are? Dare to block my way? Get lost!”

Wang Tianping remained calm. He took a step back and swung his staff, knocking aside the machete before thrusting forward. He struck Da Biao squarely in the chest.

Da Biao’s forward momentum abruptly stopped. His entire body jolted as if struck by lightning. Clutching his chest, he staggered back several steps, his face contorted in pain, nearly unable to breathe.

“Who are you people? Why have you come to cause trouble in our retreat?”

After repelling Da Biao with a single strike, Wang Tianping did not pursue the attack. Instead, he remained in place, questioning them once more. “If you’re looking to rob, you should go elsewhere. We have no money here.”

“Brother Biao, are you alright?”

“That bastard dares to hurt Brother Biao? He must have a death wish!”

“You’d better get lost while you still can, or we’ll chop you to pieces!”

The thugs ignored Wang Tianping’s words. Seeing Da Biao knocked back, they erupted into fury, waving their weapons, ready to swarm and hack him apart.

“You all stand down! This guy is mine!”

Da Biao took several deep breaths, suppressing the pain in his chest, his eyes flashing with malice. “I was just caught off guard earlier. Now watch how I deal with him.”

With that, he strode forward once again, raising his machete and swinging it down toward Wang Tianping.

Swish!

The blade cut through the air in a sharp arc, aiming directly at Wang Tianping’s chest.

Wang Tianping saw through Da Biao’s repeated technique and swiftly responded, just as before, swinging his staff to intercept the blade.

However, being a cautious man, he held back some of his strength this time in case of a trick.

Clang!

The machete collided with the wooden staff.

Wang Tianping’s staff was crafted from ironwood, sourced from deep within the mountains. After undergoing complex processing and being left to cure in a shaded area, its hardness rivaled that of steel.

Even when struck by a sharp blade, it only bore a faint white mark, while the force of impact sent the machete recoiling away.

“Perfect timing!”

Wang Tianping’s eyes flashed. Seeing an opening in Da Biao’s defense, he stepped forward, thrusting his staff forward in an attempt to knock him down in one blow.

But just as his staff was halfway extended, his movements suddenly froze—like a paused image.

Because at the moment he deflected the machete, Da Biao had drawn a pistol from his waistband, its dark barrel aimed directly between Wang Tianping’s brows.

“Go on, stab me again! Come on!” Da Biao’s face twisted into a smug grin as he stepped forward. “Try it, and I’ll blow your head off!”

Wang Tianping’s expression changed instantly. His grip on the staff tightened, veins bulging along his arms, while cold sweat covered his back.

Although he was physically strong and had decent combat ability from years of hunting, he had never fought against trained killers before, let alone someone pointing a gun at him.

With a gun to his head, Wang Tianping’s scalp tingled with fear. He was just an ordinary man. If Da Biao pulled the trigger, he would be dead on the spot.

Da Biao, sensing his fear, grew even more arrogant. He pressed the gun against Wang Tianping’s forehead and then suddenly slapped him across the face. “Kneel! Or I’ll put a bullet in your skull.”

Wang Tianping glared at him with bloodshot eyes, gritting his teeth. “You can kill me, but I will never kneel.”

Da Biao paused, then suddenly burst into laughter, doubling over. “Oh? Kill me, but never humiliate me? What a joke! You think you’re some noble warrior? You’re just a worthless country bumpkin! And I can humiliate you however I want.”

With that, he slapped Wang Tianping again.

Smack!

A bright red handprint appeared on Wang Tianping’s already dark complexion. These two slaps ignited a fiery rage inside him. His eyes turned bloodshot as he clenched his teeth, ready to fight to the death.

But Da Biao was prepared. He took a step back, keeping a safe distance, then sneered, “I’d think carefully if I were you. What about your family? If you die, what will happen to them?”

Wang Tianping’s face contorted. His rage began to wane.

“Alright, Da Biao, don’t waste time on this nobody. Let’s finish our job.” Qiao Fei finally stepped forward, his cold voice laced with impatience. “The longer we delay, the more likely we alert our target. Don’t forget why we’re here.”

“Got it, Qiao Fei.” Da Biao nodded, then gestured toward Wang Tianping. “Could he be the one? He’s a bit slow in the head, but he’s strong. That stab he gave me earlier still hurts like hell.”

“It’s not him.” Qiao Fei scrutinized Wang Tianping briefly before shaking his head. “Someone like him doesn’t have the skill to kill our men.”

“Then what do we do with him?”

“He didn’t kill our brothers, but he tried to stop us from avenging them. We’ll spare his life, but not without punishment. Break all four of his limbs.”

Qiao Fei’s voice was calm, as if he were discussing something as trivial as stepping on an ant.

Wang Tianping’s eyes widened in fury. He gripped his staff tightly and growled, “Over my dead body!”

“Oh? Still resisting?” Da Biao sneered before waving his hand. “Take him down!”

At his command, several burly men lunged forward, their weapons flashing in the moonlight, ready to subdue Wang Tianping.