As a seasoned figure in the martial world, Xiao Tianci hadn't been pushed to such a point in a very, very long time.
The most significant change after one's status and position rose was that no one dared to speak to him loudly, let alone lay hands on him.
Xiao Tianci hadn't expected me to actually dare to act ferociously in public. Caught off guard, relying on his instinctive survival awareness, he slightly turned his neck.
This slight deflection caused the tip of the steel plate to slash a bloody gash across his neck.
I had thought my show of defiance unto death would surely instill fear in Xiao Tianci, but I never imagined... he would be completely enraged by me.
Ignoring the blood trickling from his neck, Xiao Tianci suddenly reached out with both hands to grip my right hand, which was holding the steel plate, and shouted loudly, "Come on!"
"That last move was a reflex, you didn't get me. Now I'm standing still, if you've got the guts, try stabbing me again!"
Honestly, when I heard Xiao Tianci say that, for a moment I doubted Tuo Shu's words, and a thought flashed through my mind.
Did Xiao Tianci truly have no fear of death?
The answer to this question, I suspect, only he himself knew.
Since the situation had escalated to this stalemate, if I wanted to break free, there was only one choice now.
That was to go all the way!
With this thought, I gritted my teeth, steeled my resolve, and directly used the tip of the steel plate to slash towards Xiao Tianci's neck again.
This time, I controlled the force, not aiming to kill him, but simply to draw blood.
After being cut a second time, Xiao Tianci remained undeterred. Without yielding an inch, he shouted behind him, "Put your guns away! Draw your knives! Get me a knife!"
Ultimately, Xiao Tianci still didn't dare to use a firearm in such a setting.
Upon hearing this, his subordinates immediately put away their guns and drew their knives. One subordinate handed Xiao Tianci a large saber.
With the saber in hand, Xiao Tianci didn't hesitate or pause for a second. He immediately raised the saber and swung it towards me.
The situation having come to this, if Xiao Tianci didn't dodge, I couldn't retreat either. I could only brace myself and block his strike with my elbow.
As the sharp pain shot through, I knew I had taken Xiao Tianci's blow squarely.
After landing one hit, Xiao Tianci didn't stop. He raised his saber again and swung it towards me.
At this moment, his eyes turned exceptionally fierce, and his expression was incredibly ruthless and ferocious.
Since Xiao Tianci wasn't stopping, I had no reason to back down. I could only follow suit and swing the tip of the plate towards the arm holding the saber.
And so, Xiao Tianci and I continued to hack and slash at each other, one sword strike for one plate tip.
Neither of us dodged, neither of us retreated.
We were both relying on sheer grit. As soon as one side's pent-up energy dissipated, they would surely collapse and be routed.
In this scene, most people were stunned, except for Tuo.
As the situation remained deadlocked, Tuo, who was amidst the crowd, suddenly shouted, "Villagers, look! Look!"
"This is the rabble Sun Lei brought in, undisciplined and lawless!"
"They cremated the body without the family's consent, and then refused to return the ashes, demanding money instead!"
"Are you all really willing to turn a blind eye, to watch Sun Lei make this wicked, immoral money and continue to lord over all of you?"
As soon as his words fell, Tuo and his disciple quickly darted out from the crowd, and then directly engaged with Xiao Tianci's subordinates.
As soon as Tuo and his disciple made their move, those influential figures in the village rallied the other villagers to charge forward.
The power of jealousy is incredibly formidable; this was a conflict sparked by jealousy!
Guns were sheathed, knives were drawn.
With the atmosphere reaching this point, it was impossible for a fight not to break out.
Although in terms of personnel and equipment, Xingyuan Village was at a complete disadvantage, these villagers possessed formidable physical conditioning and stamina.
One by one, they were either carrying hoes and pickaxe handles, or wielding sickles and shovels, charging towards Xiao Tianci's group of subordinates.
Even though the subordinates Xiao Tianci hired were all reformed thugs, appearing fierce and exuding an imposing aura, when they encountered the Xingyuan Village villagers whose fighting spirit had been ignited, they couldn't gain any advantage!
In fact, they were subtly at a disadvantage!
Anyone who has lived in the countryside knows that the reason some villages have a fierce local custom is due to the villagers' stubborn and unyielding nature.
In rural areas, the male population is a tangible fighting force. Whichever family has more sons speaks and acts more assertively in the village.
If they encounter someone who doesn't comply, they argue, and if the argument doesn't resolve the issue, they'll start fighting!
Therefore, in rural places like this, from elders in their fifties and sixties to young men in their early twenties, everyone is a skilled fighter!
There's no technique involved; it's all brute force!
Not long after the free-for-all began.
Tuo, who had emerged from the crowd, calmly and quickly rushed to my side, kicked Xiao Tianci away, and then directly pulled me, saying, "Boss, let's get out of here while there's chaos!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Minglang's face immediately showed a look of guilt. He hesitated, "Are we... just leaving like this?"
"Those villagers came to help us, wouldn't it be wrong to just leave?"
Before I could speak, Xiao Long, who had also emerged from the melee, interjected first, "Do you think these people are genuinely here to help? They've been paid!"
"Besides, these villagers are not exactly harmless. They won't be at a disadvantage!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Long, with Tuo on either side, protected me as we dodged and weaved.
Seeing this, Cheng Minglang also quickly followed.
The moment Xiao Tianci got up to rally his men, the four of us quickly broke through the chaotic circle of both sides and sprinted all the way to the main road at the village exit.
Before getting into the car, I looked back at the dust-filled battlefield not far away. Roars and screams mingled and echoed.
Faintly, I seemed to hear Xiao Tianci's hysterical bellow.
This strategy of luring the snake out of its hole, after Xiao Tianci had gained a partial advantage, and relying on public resentment and outrage, I managed to catch up in the latter half, ultimately turning the tables on him and escaping.
However, I knew very well that this victory was only temporary.
If I hadn't been forcibly detained, Xiao Tianci would likely have already set up a vast net outside.
After enduring the last month of my detention, the real head-on confrontation between him and me would begin, a battle of revenge where we would completely shed all pretense of civility, a fight to the death!