"Wait!!"

Their blades clashed again, sending a shower of sparks into the air. The man on the losing end staggered back two steps and then yelled out.

"This place is yours! Let me go!"

He shouted.

He had clearly chickened out.

But the other man obviously had no intention of letting him go.

The man, who looked to be in his forties, was burly and sneered. "Begging for mercy now? I gave you a chance to leave earlier, and you didn’t take it. You want to leave now? ...Too late!"

His attacks grew fiercer, his blade a silky blur as he tried to cut his opponent down in one fell swoop.

The other man parried several blows, his energy flagging. But driven into a corner, a crazed fire ignited in his eyes. "Ma the Second, don’t push me!!"

"And what if I do?"

The burly man called Ma the Second sneered.

The other man’s eyes became completely unhinged. "So you won’t let me live? Fine! Then we’ll die together!!"

In a rage, he suddenly charged. His opponent swung his blade down at his head, but he made no move to dodge. Instead, he thrust his own blade straight for the other’s throat.

’If I follow through, he’s dead for sure.’

’But I won’t make it out alive either!’

Ma the Second’s expression changed. Seeing his opponent abandon all defense in a gambit to take them both down, how could he possibly agree to such a trade?

He had no choice but to change his move, deflecting the thrust with his long blade as he retreated.

But in that instant, the tables turned. Having gained a moment’s reprieve, his opponent’s face twisted into a savage mask. He completely disregarded the risk of injury or even death.

"You won’t let me live? You won’t let me live?! YOU WON’T LET ME LIVE?!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

He roared hysterically, slashing wildly with no regard for defense.

He unleashed seven or eight slashes in a row, forcing Ma the Second into a continuous retreat.

The power of a Mingjin Martial Artist was terrifying. The seven or eight consecutive blows made Ma the Second’s arm go numb, and both of their long blades were now bent and badly nicked.

Ma the Second’s expression changed.

The two of them had been evenly matched, but now his opponent was determined to drag him to the grave, putting Ma the Second at a complete disadvantage.

"Stop!!!"

After taking several more blows, he finally roared, leaping back and putting himself at the doorway.

His opponent glared at him with bloodshot eyes, veins bulging on his forehead. He gasped for air as he roared, "What’s wrong? Come on!"

The man had become a cornered beast, his fierce eyes sweeping over the area. He was the only one left standing on his side, while the enemy numbered in the dozens.

But as his ferocious gaze swept over them, nearly everyone shivered, their eyes filled with fear.

When a Mingjin Martial Artist was truly ready to die fighting, it wasn’t that a swarm of men was useless... but a lot of them would definitely die in the process.

But obviously, no one wanted to die.

So, they instinctively took a step back.

Ma the Second’s expression shifted restlessly. Finally, he gritted his teeth. "Alright, Zhang Cheng. You’ve got guts... Get lost!"

This time, it was Ma the Second who had chickened out.

’What good would it do to fight him to the death?’

’He might take me with him, and even if he didn’t... getting injured just isn’t worth it.’

"Boss?"

"Boss?"

The others grew anxious and quickly looked at Ma the Second.

But Ma the Second raised a hand, his face dark. "What are you waiting for?! Scram!"

The man named Zhang Cheng wore a savage expression. Hearing this, his fierce gaze remained unchanged as he stared intently at the blocked main gate.

"You all back out first. How the hell do I know you won’t stab me in the back? I just want to live, but anyone who tries to stop me will die with me! Go on, try me!"

His ferocious posture terrified the men. They exchanged glances while Ma the Second’s expression flickered. After a moment of calculation, he finally gritted his teeth. "Back out!"

The crowd grumbled, but ultimately, they retreated.

Ma the Second also backed away slowly, facing Zhang Cheng the whole time.

Just like that, the group retreated out the gate.

Zhang Cheng remained on high alert the entire time, gripping his long blade, his vicious gaze sweeping his surroundings.

On guard for any sneak attacks.

The group retreated from the courtyard.

Everyone was at least five meters away from Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng also exited the courtyard and looked around.

"Still not leaving?"

Ma the Second said, his face dark.

Zhang Cheng didn’t say a word. He turned and bolted into the woods.

The crowd started murmuring again, but since Ma the Second didn’t give chase, no one else dared to. They simply watched as the man named Zhang Cheng vanished into the trees.

"Boss, we’re just letting him go like that?"

The man who had been covered in blood from cutting down the surrendering man outside the gate asked, his voice laced with resentment.

"What else could I do? You think I should have fought him to the death?"

Ma the Second asked, gritting his teeth, his face dark.

The man stammered, not daring to say another word.

Ma the Second spat on the ground.

’Damn it!’

’Being forced to back down like that, especially in front of my own men... to be honest, it’s pretty damn embarrassing.’

’But then again... what’s face worth?’

’Only an idiot would have actually fought him to the death!’

He had come here for money.

His objective had now been achieved.

Why should he fight that man to the death?

"What the hell are you all standing around for? Get inside and start looking! But let me make one thing clear: no holding out! Find anything, and you’ll get your cut. But if I catch anyone hiding something... don’t blame me for what happens next!"

Ma the Second bellowed.

His words snapped the men out of their stupor over Zhang Cheng’s escape.

He was right. They were here for money, not to risk their lives in a death match.

And Wang Hu’s wealth...

One by one, their eyes lit up, and they stared greedily at the courtyard before them.

They knew all too well just how rich Wang Hu was!

At Ma the Second’s command, they rushed into the house and began to search.

Ma the Second, however, stood in the courtyard, his fiery gaze fixed on them as he secretly worked to regulate his breathing.