C17 Miserable

As Zhang Sen watched the formidable forces of the Liu and Wang allied army approach, a sense of dread washed over him.

"Leaders of the Liu and Wang families, what brings you here today? If it's a friendly visit, the Zhang family will surely extend a warm welcome. If not, I must ask you to leave," Zhang Sen stated with an icy edge to his voice.

"Zhang Sen, after all these years of dealings, let me be clear: we've come to annihilate the Zhang family," Liu Dongsheng, the head of the Liu family, declared, pointing accusingly at Zhang Sen.

"Mr. Pengfei, our families have been close for generations. Do you really share this sentiment? If you could show leniency today, I would immediately withdraw my people from Yishui Town and be eternally grateful for your mercy," Zhang Sen implored Wang Pengfei, a note of hope in his voice.

"Mr. Zhang, my presence here today speaks volumes. Please, don't take it personally when I say I must be unyielding," Wang Pengfei replied to Zhang Yu, his tone devoid of warmth.

"If it's a fight to the bitter end you seek, then I am prepared to stand my ground!" Zhang Sen declared resolutely, realizing persuasion was futile.

"Abiao, seize the first opportunity to eliminate Liu Zhong and avenge Yu," Zhang Sen instructed his younger brother, Zhang Biao, in a hushed tone. It had come to light that Shadow had been delayed by a Demon Beast on the day Zhang Yu was ambushed by Liu Zhong, failing to intervene in time. By the time Shadow had shaken off the beast and arrived, he witnessed the tragic sight of Zhang Yu falling from a cliff. Consumed with concern for Zhang Yu, Shadow didn't engage Liu Zhong but instead hurried to the cliff's base. Despite a thorough search, Zhang Yu's body was nowhere to be found. With no other choice, Shadow returned to inform Zhang Sen of the grim events.

The news visibly aged Zhang Sen overnight, his hair turning noticeably whiter. Shadow, wracked with guilt, intended to take his own life as atonement, but Zhang Sen intervened. Zhang Sen knew the true fault lay with him for having agreed to Zhang Yu's request, setting the subsequent events in motion. Upon learning of the tragedy, Zhang Biao set out that very night to exact vengeance on Liu Zhong for Zhang Yu's death, but ultimately, Liu Zhong eluded him.

Since that time, the relationship between the Liu and Zhang families had sharply worsened, with several violent clashes resulting in casualties on both sides. The death of Zhang Yu had indirectly ignited the feud among the three families, culminating in today's all-out battle. The Liu and Wang families had united with the intent to annihilate the Zhangs.

"Mr. Pengfei, let's pin down Zhang Sen while the others swiftly eliminate the rest of the Zhang family," Liu Dongsheng rapidly strategized.

"Attack!" Before he could finish, Liu Dongsheng and Wang Pengfei leapt into action, flanking Zhang Sen in a pincer move.

"Liu Dongsheng, you've advanced to an Intermediate Great Martial Master? That explains your absence these past few days," Zhang Sen remarked gravely. In Yishui Town, he was the only one who had reached the intermediate level, with Liu Dongsheng and Wang Pengfei both at the beginner stage. This gave Zhang Sen the confidence to engage them both, knowing that either one could wreak havoc on the Zhang family if left unchecked.

"Do you think I'd risk everything without a solid plan? Surrender now, and I might consider sparing a remnant of the Zhang family. But if you choose to resist, I assure you, there won't be a single survivor," Liu Dongsheng declared icily.

"Expecting me to surrender? Forget it!" Zhang Sen, realizing Liu Dongsheng's deceitful attempt to minimize his own losses, outright rejected the offer.

"Then let's put our true strength to the test."

Wielding a third-level spirit weapon, the Mad Tiger Blade, Liu Dongsheng's every swing emitted a burst of red light. Wang Pengfei, with his natural brute strength, fought with a third-level spirit weapon, the Thousand Army Hammer, his moves powerful and sweeping. Zhang Sen, armed with a fourth-level spirit weapon, the Wind Chasing Sword, held a slight edge in weaponry. However, each clash with Wang Pengfei sent jolts of pain through his hands, forcing him to focus on evading the relentless attacks.

...

"Watch out!" In an instant, Zhang Guosheng felt a forceful shove. Whirling around, he saw Zhang Hengyuan impaled by a long sword. His mind reeled momentarily before he retaliated fiercely against the assailant, pulling Zhang Heng into an embrace.

"Why did you sacrifice yourself for me? Why?" Zhang Guosheng's voice was thick with emotion. They had held a grudge over a trivial matter since they were young, battling each other for decades, the resentment only deepening with time. Never in his wildest dreams did Zhang Guosheng imagine that Zhang Hengyuan would be the one to save his life in such a dire moment.

Coughing up blood, Zhang Hengyuan whispered faintly, "No reason. We're family, after all. We can squabble all we like when times are good, but now... cough cough... now we must stand united. I... I'm going ahead." With those final words, Zhang Hengyuan's head drooped, and he breathed his last.

"Hengyuan! Hengyuan!" Zhang Guosheng cried out, but there was no reply. "Rest easy. I will avenge you." Clutching his weapon, he charged toward the enemy that had just been confronted.

Watching Zhang Guosheng throw his life away in reckless abandon, Liu Shan felt a surge of frustration. "I'm not the one who killed you, so why are you so hell-bent on fighting me?" Yet, he had to stay alert around the now frenzied Zhang Guosheng; he wasn't ready to die himself.

"Damn it! If you're so eager to die, I'll oblige!" Spotting an opening in Zhang Guosheng's defense, he thrust his sword viciously into Zhang Guosheng's chest, sneering triumphantly. But before he could gloat, a cold sensation pierced his chest—a long sword had run him through. Zhang Guosheng had intended to trade his life for vengeance all along.

Staggering back to Zhang Hengyuan's body, Zhang Guosheng's lips curled into a slight smile. "Zhang Hengyuan, I'm no longer in your debt. Wait for me; we'll pick up our quarrel on the road to the underworld." And with that, he closed his eyes for the last time.

Scenes like this were all too common on the battlefield at that moment. Confronted with the gravest peril, every member of the Zhang family cast aside their differences and banded together. This unity dealt a devastating blow to the combined forces of the Liu and Wang families.

Witnessing such a horrific scene, Zhang Sen's heart felt as though it were being wrenched apart. Each fallen member of his clan represented a tremendous loss for the Zhang family. Yet, with Wang Pengfei and Liu Yunsheng closing in on him, he was unable to lend them aid.

"Heavy Hammer Spark!" In a flash, Wang Pengfei seized a moment of Zhang Sen's distraction to unleash the Wang family's mid-tier Profound Level martial art—the Raging Flame Hammer Technique. A fiery orb, ablaze with fury, hurtled towards Zhang Sen. With a focused mind, he narrowly evaded the fiery assault.

Enraged, Zhang Sen channeled his spiritual energy and delivered a swift counterstrike with his sword, the fierce blade qi leaving a deep crimson gash across Wang Pengfei's cheek.

"Mr. Pengfei, be cautious. Zhang Sen is formidable. To defeat him, we must bring our A-game," Liu Dongsheng warned Wang Pengfei.

"Understood."

As the intensity of their assault escalated, Zhang Sen felt an overwhelming pressure, as if a mountain bore down upon him, stifling his breath.

"Spring comes to Withered Wood!" With no other option, Zhang Sen resorted to the Zhang family's Profound Level martial art. Green rays burst forth, enveloping the space as if time had reversed to spring, the earth rejuvenating and vegetation sprouting anew.

Perceiving the potency of Zhang Sen's technique, Liu Yunsheng's blade glowed with a brilliant red hue. Amidst the dance of blade and sword, he bellowed, "Rainbow Penetrates the Sun," and his spirit weapon blade, charged with indomitable force, clashed with Zhang Sen's longsword.

The collision sent a resounding "Boom!" through the air, propelling both men backward. Scarcely regaining his footing, Zhang Sen was ambushed by Wang Pengfei's hammer. He hastily parried with his sword, but the Qianjun Hammer struck true, its impact forcing blood from Zhang Sen's lips despite the protection of his spirit weapon.

"Strike him down while he's weak, Mr. Pengfei! Now's our chance," Liu Dongsheng cried out.

"Kill!" In that critical moment, a surge of reinforcements burst forth, their voices echoing, "Head of the Zhang family, we've come to your aid!"

The sudden surge of people from the crowd startled the Liu and Wang families considerably. Initially, they suspected that the Zhang family had summoned backup, but upon closer inspection of the newcomers' attire, they realized they were merely a band of mercenaries, which quickly alleviated their concerns.

"Just a ragtag bunch, at best. The most formidable among them is merely a strongman at the Beginning Martial Master level. Once we're ready, we can dispatch him in the blink of an eye," Liu Dongsheng mused to himself.

As it happened, this group that had burst onto the scene was none other than the mercenaries led by Lei Ming. Upon hearing of the Zhang family's plight, Lei Ming, who had recently consumed the Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit and advanced to the Martial Master rank, didn't hesitate to lead his brothers to their aid with great urgency. Known for his loyalty and for having assisted many within the mercenary ranks, Lei Ming's call to arms was swiftly heeded by those he had aided before, rallying to his side without delay.