Peach blossoms carpeted the ground, a blood-drenched man wielding a short sword amidst the pink petals.
Blood dripped onto the fallen flowers, yet he seemed oblivious to pain.
Having fought his way through the peach tree path, Li Xin knelt, gasping, "Little fairy, I've fulfilled my promise to you."
Yu Yijun quickly retrieved bandages and medicine from her small satchel to tend to Li Xin.
Though Li Xin was covered in wounds, none were critical. As Yu Yijun was bandaging him, another figure broke through the encirclement.
They both turned to see Tang Junsheng emerge with a blank expression.
Upon seeing Tang Junsheng, Li Xin cupped his fists and called out, "Master Tang."
Tang Junsheng nodded, then turned to look at Yu Yijun. He subconsciously raised his hand, but after a few seconds of hesitation, he lowered it and walked directly towards the inn.
Yu Yijun, having finished bandaging Li Xin, helped him up and they also headed towards the inn.
When Tang Junsheng arrived at the inn, he saw three men drinking wine and gnawing on meat.
Tang Junsheng stared at Zhang Xiaoqiang, his face filled with shock. Zhang Xiaoqiang's complexion was terrifyingly pale, and he was so emaciated that he was nothing but skin and bones; a strong gust of wind would surely blow him away.
Da Hu and Su Lai beside him were in a similar state, making it hard to imagine what they had endured.
Tang Junsheng walked forward, and an old man approached him, a smile on his face. "Guest, are you here to stay?"
Tang Junsheng's face darkened as he turned to the old man. "Scram!"
The old man, with a grin, was about to speak when Tang Junsheng suddenly raised his hand and slashed towards the old man's throat.
*Splat!*
Blood gushed out, and a head tumbled to the ground with a thud, followed by the body collapsing.
Tang Junsheng walked directly towards the three men. Zhang Xiaoqiang, seeing him approach, first looked confused, then broke into a smile. "Master Tang, what brings you here? Come, try some of this peach blossom wine."
As he spoke, Zhang Xiaoqiang picked up an empty bowl and poured himself a bowl of peach blossom wine.
Tang Junsheng glanced at the peach blossom wine on the table, then at Zhang Xiaoqiang. "Stop drinking. Come back with me."
Zhang Xiaoqiang waved his hand, a smile on his pale face. "Why go back? Isn't it good here?"
Seeing Zhang Xiaoqiang's state, Tang Junsheng knew he was no longer lucid.
Tang Junsheng let out a soft snort. "Look at yourself now!"
Zhang Xiaoqiang touched his face, completely unaware of how thin he had become. "It's nothing, just lost a little weight recently."
After speaking, Zhang Xiaoqiang reached for the wine on the table, but Tang Junsheng suddenly grabbed his hand.
Zhang Xiaoqiang's expression turned grim. "What, is the Yan Shu Sect going to control even a sip of wine?"
"You're not allowed to drink anymore," Tang Junsheng said, tightly gripping Zhang Xiaoqiang's hand holding the wine.
Zhang Xiaoqiang's face darkened, his voice turning cold. "Let go!"
Tang Junsheng looked at him, incredulous. "Are you going to fight me?"
Zhang Xiaoqiang drew the bronze coin sword from his waist with his other hand, threatening, "I'll say it one last time, let go!"
Seeing that he was being completely unreasonable, Tang Junsheng snatched the wine and threw it to the ground.
"Damn it, you really think you're invincible on the Black List," Zhang Xiaoqiang cursed and swung his bronze coin sword.
Tang Junsheng raised his hand and caught Zhang Xiaoqiang's incoming sword. He looked utterly disappointed. "Look at yourself, you can't even hold a sword steady."
Su Lai and Da Hu beside them, spurred by some unknown courage, drew their weapons and lunged at Tang Junsheng.
Their current physical condition made even running a hundred meters a challenge, let alone fighting Tang Junsheng.
Tang Junsheng clenched his fist and drove it towards Zhang Xiaoqiang's abdomen.
*Bang!*
The solid punch landed squarely on Zhang Xiaoqiang's stomach.
Zhang Xiaoqiang cried out in pain, spitting out a large amount of peach blossom wine, and his eyes closed as he fainted.
Tang Junsheng calmly dodged the wooden staff and dagger swung by the other two, then knocked them both unconscious with two more punches.
Seeing that Yu Daochen was not in the surrounding rooms, Tang Junsheng finally looked towards one room, a smile appearing on his lips, and walked directly towards it.
Just as Tang Junsheng reached the doorway and was about to push the door open, a voice called out, "Stop!"
"You've come just in time," Tang Junsheng said with a helpless shake of his head, turning to face the newcomer.
He saw Yu Yijun approaching, supporting Li Xin, who was limping.
Tang Junsheng looked at Yu Yijun's icy gaze and remarked, "This is not the look a young girl should have."
Yu Yijun stared at Tang Junsheng with cold eyes. "What do you want!?"
Tang Junsheng smiled faintly, his expression suddenly turning grim. "Little girl, don't look at me with those killing eyes. You'll die!"
As soon as Tang Junsheng finished speaking, a suffocating pressure descended upon them.
Li Xin swallowed nervously and, gathering his courage, said tremblingly, "Master Tang, why trouble a little..."
Before Li Xin could finish, a wave of pressure struck him.
Tang Junsheng let out a low growl, "When I'm speaking, who do you think you are to interrupt!"
Li Xin gritted his teeth, forcing himself to endure. Blood seeped from his wounds, staining the bandages red.
Tang Junsheng walked directly towards Yu Yijun, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense.