C7 Useless Trash

"Lei Ming, just hand over the martial arts technique you've acquired without a fuss. You're outnumbered and escape is impossible today. Surrender the technique and pledge your allegiance to me, then you might spare yourself. Besides, as the second son of the Liu family, following me won't be a loss for you." The words came from a young man with a sinister, effeminate appearance and eyes that resembled those of a venomous snake. From his hidden vantage point, Zhang Yu immediately recognized him as Liu Feng of the Liu family.

"Liu Feng, when we first came upon the ruins, it was agreed you'd take the Medicine Pill and Demon Crystal, while we'd only claim the martial skills. Yet here you are, turning on us so quickly. Don't you fear the consequences?" Lei Ming, a muscular man, demanded furiously.

"Consequences? Ha! I only let you hold onto that martial arts book earlier because I feared I couldn't defeat you. But now, with my family's experts here, it's time you returned what's mine. Don't be foolish. Once my Third Uncle, who's at the Martial Master Stage, arrives, you won't even have the right to negotiate," Liu Feng retorted with malice.

"Even if I give up the martial arts technique, do you honestly think you'd let us go? I'm no idiot, Lei Ming. If I'm to die today, I'm taking some of you with me," Lei Ming declared with resolve.

"Brothers, are you scared?" Lei Ming bellowed to the two men and woman with him.

"We knew the risks when we chose this life. The day of reckoning was always coming. We just never thought we'd meet our end at the hands of a traitor. Taking one down is breaking even, two is a profit. Let's take our stand, brothers!" exclaimed a young man, his face pale and his left shoulder still bleeding, the source of an earlier scream.

"Let's fight!"

"Let's fight!"

"Brave words! Attack! Kill all the men, but leave the women for me. This beauty will be a nice treat for me, and after I've had my fun, you can too," Liu Feng commanded his followers.

At that, Liu Shui, a top warrior of the Liu family, let out a lascivious chuckle and leered, "Rest assured, Young Master."

Surveying the unfolding scene, Zhang Yu covertly assessed the combatants.

Lei Ming stood out in his group as a Warrior at the Peak level. Among the other two men, the injured one was an Intermediate Martial Warrior, now likely on par with an early-stage Martial Warrior. The other man and the woman were both Peak Martial Artists. Liu Feng's side boasted a Peak Warrior, two Intermediate Warriors, a Beginner Warrior, and Liu Feng himself, a Peak Martial Artist. They clearly outmatched Lei Ming's crew, explaining Liu Feng's brazen confidence.

"Stay alert for their desperate counterattacks. Wear them down slowly. Once my third uncle arrives, they won't be able to stir up any trouble," Liu Feng advised from the sidelines.

Lei Ming's group, a seasoned small mercenary band accustomed to working together, maintained a tight defense despite their disadvantage. The Liu family members, while holding the upper hand, failed to inflict any significant damage.

"Xiaoqi, seize any opportunity to break through with Butterfly. Forget about us," Lei Ming signaled to the injured warrior.

"Understood, big brother. I'll protect our sister-in-law with my life if need be," Xiaoqi, the warrior, vowed.

In that instant, Liu Shui, the Liu family's Peak Warrior, noticed Lei Ming's glaring misstep as he scrambled to aid Xiaoqi's escape. Elated, Liu Shui lunged forward with his sword aimed at Lei Ming.

"Haha, today's glory is mine," Liu Shui gleefully anticipated.

But Lei Ming's tactics shifted abruptly, his twin hooks snaring Liu Shui's blade.

"Puff," the sword pierced Lei Ming's right chest, narrowly missing a vital spot.

Stunned, Liu Shui attempted to withdraw his sword for another strike at Lei Ming, who had evaded a lethal blow, only to find his sword irretrievably trapped.

"Die!" A thunderous roar erupted beside Liu Shui.

With a sickening "pfft," Liu Shui collapsed, the long sword piercing his heart, his face etched with a profound unwillingness. His eyes remained wide open, defiant even in death.

Xiaoqi yanked the bloodied sword free and spun around. Years of unspoken camaraderie allowed him to instantly recognize the deliberate vulnerability his elder brother had left—an opportunity crafted just for him. Thankfully, he had lived up to his brother's expectations.

Lei Ming, witnessing Liu Shui's demise, extracted the long sword from his chest, gasping for air in ragged breaths.

He had traded his own grievous wounds for Liu Shui's life. Though he had the advantage, his injuries were severe. It seemed unlikely he would survive the day, Lei Ming reflected with a bitter edge.

"Damn it, attack! Cut them down!" Liu Feng exploded with rage upon seeing Liu Shui fall, bellowing the command.

"Brothers, I've let you down today. But even on the road to the afterlife, we remain brothers!" Lei Ming called out.

"Haha, fear death? Not at all, big brother. You're too kind," Xiaoqi chuckled.

"Indeed," chimed in another, usually quiet, man.

"Good brothers." These three simple words laid bare the depths of Lei Ming's heart.

As the battle raged on, Lei Ming and his comrades sustained various injuries, while the Liu family, no longer at their peak, also suffered. Yet, the tide of victory was beginning to turn in the Liu family's favor. Exhausted from the prolonged combat, Lei Ming's group was running on sheer willpower.

Then, like a cheetah, Zhang Yu—who had long observed the fray—sprang into action, ghost-like.

With a "puff," one of the Liu family's remaining Intermediate Martial Warriors fell, his face registering utter disbelief. He died without comprehending the short sword that had sealed his fate.

The abrupt turn of events left both sides in shock.

Yet, while Lei Ming's group's faces were lit with relief, the Liu family's were twisted in fury.

Sensing the approaching individual's presence, Lei Ming, a mid-level martial artist at best, called out, "Young man, I appreciate your assistance, but you're outmatched by them. It's best if you leave quickly."

Zhang Yu strode towards Lei Ming and his three companions, whose battle had paused at his arrival. With a slight smile, he replied, "Thanks for the concern, Mr. Lei. I'm well aware of my capabilities. Handling a few lowlifes shouldn't be a problem."

Lei Ming, now with Zhang Yu by his side, refrained from urging him to leave. Desperate for help, he was grateful, even for the sake of his loyal brothers who would stand by him to the end.

Liu Feng, eyeing the young man before him, felt an odd sense of familiarity.

"Damn, Zhang Yu, it's you, you worthless trash." A moment's thought allowed Liu Feng to recognize Zhang Yu, who had changed slightly from his training.

"Hehe, I'm trash? What does that make you, someone who's not even a warrior? Less than trash!" Zhang Yu retorted with a cold laugh.

Recalling how Zhang Yu had dispatched an intermediate warrior with a single sword strike, Liu Feng knew he couldn't have done the same. It wasn't just about having a solid foundation in cultivation; it was also about seizing the right moment.

"Zhang Yu, how did you manage to cultivate? And what brings you here?" Liu Feng asked, dropping the previous insults.

"Do you really think I'd tell you?" Zhang Yu responded coolly.

After scanning the area and seeing no other members of the Zhang family, Liu Feng was convinced that Zhang Yu was on his own.

"You little runt, if I wasn't concerned about Zhang family experts protecting you, I wouldn't waste my breath! But since you're here by yourself, you're not leaving today!" Liu Feng barked viciously. "Everyone, get him! Make sure he doesn't leave alive!"

Liu Feng, along with the last two warriors of the Liu family, charged at Zhang Yu and his group.

"Mr. Lei, are you up for another round?" Zhang Yu asked, looking back at Lei Ming.

"Don't worry, young man," Lei Ming answered succinctly.

With the Creation Divine Arts and his recent training bolstering his confidence, Zhang Yu felt he could now hold his own against any ordinary early-stage martial warrior. It was this newfound confidence that had prompted him to step into the fray.

"Feel the power of my Wind Fire Thunder Fist!" Liu Feng, fully armored, bellowed.

The Wind Fire Thunder Fist, a high-level Yellow Level martial skill, was the Liu family's exclusive technique, taught only to its core members. Martial skills, as their name suggests, are methods for martial artists to channel their strength, with the spiritual energy they unleash being particularly formidable.

A blast of heat surged towards Zhang Yu, who swiftly raised his sword to intercept the blazing punch aimed at him.

With a "clang," he managed to block Liu Feng's strike, but the force of the blow left him reeling, his Qi and blood in turmoil. Zhang Yu realized he had still underestimated Liu Feng.

"Have another!" Liu Feng sneered, undeterred.

Acknowledging Liu Feng's resilience, Zhang Yu shifted his attention to the Liu family's sole early-stage martial warrior.

Another "clang" rang out as they clashed. Using the momentum from the impact, Zhang Yu slipped away, slick as an eel, to confront the Liu family's junior warrior.

"Ah!" The man let out a shriek as Zhang Yu materialized before him, scrambling to defend against the sudden onslaught. He barely had time to feel relief at evading the attack before a headless body collapsed beside him, neck gushing blood, the image seared into his vision.

In the chaos, Xiaoqi had found her moment and with a swift stroke, decapitated him.

The tables had turned. Now, it was Liu Feng and his ally against Lei Ming's group of four, plus the elusive Zhang Yu.

Realizing the tide had turned against them, Liu Feng commanded, "Prepare to retreat!"

"Thinking of escaping now? Too late," Zhang Yu declared, seeing the chance to eliminate the Liu family's forces. He rallied Lei Ming and the others, charging into the fray.

Lei Ming, witnessing the dramatic shift, hadn't anticipated that Zhang Yu's involvement would bring such a significant advantage. He called out, "Brothers, this is our final stand—take them down!" With that, he summoned every last ounce of his spiritual energy and launched an assault on the Liu family's only mid-level warrior.

With a "puff," Lei Ming was drained of strength after the strike. He coughed up blood and collapsed. The Liu Family warriors, on the receiving end of the assault, also coughed up blood as they staggered back.

As three weapons targeted his vital points, the Liu Family fighter closed his eyes, offering no further resistance.

Liu Feng, witnessing the annihilation of his kin, lost focus for a moment. Seizing the chance, Zhang Yu thrust his sword into Liu Feng's abdomen, bringing him to the ground.

"Zhang Yu, you can't kill me. The Liu family will never forgive this," Liu Feng gasped, pinned under Zhang Yu's foot.

"Forgive me? Our families have been at odds for ages. What good does it do to bring that up now?" With that, Zhang Yu's sword swept across Liu Feng's neck.

Zhang Yu fell silent as he looked at Liu Feng's lifeless body. He then searched him, taking the bag he carried and slinging it over his shoulder.

"Mr. Lei, we need to get out of here fast. If Liu Feng's third uncle catches up with us, we're done for," Zhang Yu urged.

"Right, let's get out of here first."

...

"Who would dare to kill members of my Liu family? Once I find out who it is, I swear I'll exterminate their entire lineage!" Liu Feng's third uncle, Liu Zhong, bellowed in fury upon seeing the slain members of the Liu family.

By then, Zhang Yu, the instigator, and his group had already made their escape, dozens of miles away...