Spiral Spear Strike

Within a crowded marketplace, seven children surrounded three. Amongst the aggressors, a single adolescent male stepped out to meet the enveloped children.

"So? Have you considered yet? I can assure you that we'll let you go if you break your own legs. Considering the wealth of your Li family, it won't be too hard to fix you up." As he spoke, snickers could be heard around the remaining opposition.

"Shut up, Gao Xue! I thought we were companions, but it looks like you'd sell me out to the Wu clan!" Staring at the several figures around him, Li Tai Shan clenched his hands tightly. He had just sneaked out of the Li clan estate to have some fun with a few friends. When had it come to this?

Upon hearing his accusation, the person at the front, Gao Xue, broke into laughter. "A companion? Us? Did you think any of us actually liked to play your stupid games? If it wasn't for the fact that you were the Li clan's young genius, no one would even bother to look at your disgusting face!"

Sneering, he continued, "Oh, but when the Zhou and Wu families get into the Five Elements Sect and become the inner disciple of master Shang, I want to see if your Li family can still act as arrogantly as it has before!"

Fuming, Li Tai Shan prepared to pounce at the one that he called 'friend' only moments ago, but a pair of arms quickly dragged him back.

"Gao Xue, at least give us a little bit more time to discuss the situation. After all, it's not exactly like Tai Shan can just break their own bones when they feel like it." The voice, coming from behind Li Tai Shan spoke calmly.

Gao Xue scoffed at the female who had spoken, before he turned to a person who was standing outside of the circle. "Boss Wu, how much time do you want to give them?" At his question, the well dressed teen, who stood outside of the encirclement shifted his head, looking at the three surrounded people.

"Luo Sha, I really don't understand why you intent on remaining on the side of that kid. Don't think I don't know that the Luo clan is remaining neutral in our conflict." The one named boss Wu spoke out nonchalantly. "You should know that whatever he offers you, it won't be worth losing your life for."

Luo Sha only shook her head. "Give us two more minutes, I need to discuss something before we can agree to your terms."

Hearing her reply, a smile crept across the face of the teen who was commanding the other teens.

"If you're still waiting for Li clan reinforcements, I'm afraid you'll have to be disappointed."

Hearing his words, Luo Sha became visibly shaken, before turning towards the third person, who had the insignia of the Li clan inscribed upon his left arm. He frowned, shaking his head, evidently bewildered by the words that had been spoken.

"Haha! Our Zhou and Wu clan's men have already intercepted the reinforcements coming from the Li estate!" One of the children surrounding the three blurted out, revealing the secret.

"Silence!" The one called boss Wu angrily reprimanded, causing the gleeful kid to shut up immediately. Unfortunately, he could not take back his words.

Li Tian, the third member of the surrounded's face turned ugly. "You already intercepted them? Impossible!"

"Unfortunately, it is possible." The one called boss Wu replied, cutting Li Tian off. "Otherwise, why would we have lured Tai Shan over to the marketplace?" As he cracked a vicious smile, he signalled for the group to begin closing in. "It looks like our little Tai Shan doesn't want to break his own legs, why don't we help him out?"

Seeing the group close in, Luo Sha stepped in front of Li Tai Shan, shielding him from the aggressors.

Seeing the meagre defense that the three had prepared, Gao Xue sneered. "Idiots, there's no point struggling! No one is coming to save you!"

Suddenly, from within the spectating crowd, a person stepped forth, before rapidly moving towards the surrounding group of adolescents.

Seeing the sudden movement, several of the assailant's eyes unconsciously turned towards the source of movement. Seeing the eyes suddenly focus on something behind him, Li Tai Shan turned around as well.

"Zhang Chun Wu?" He blurted out. Seeing the person that beat him black and blue just a few days ago, Li Tai Shan took a step back, before quickly remembering that he was still surrounded.

"Who is this guy?" Evidently, Gao Xue had not recognized the approaching Zhang Chun Wu, and he quickly stepped up to block his way. "Halt, commoner, this is a business of the Zhou and Wu cla-"

Before he could finish, Zhang Chun Wu stepped right past him, as if he didn't exist. A moment later, he had completely passed the group that were preparing to have an all-out fight.

Everyone: …

Their eyes followed him to an overturned cart, where they saw him take out his spear, and with a great shove, turn over the cart, revealing a small girl trapped underneath.

"Big brother!" The same young child who had been on the passing cart that William had stopped earlier in the day sat tearfully on the ground, finally free from the overturned cart.

"Where's your dad?" William asked.

"He couldn't pull me out from the cart, so he went to get help." The little girl responded. A moment later, she tried to stand up, but suddenly crumpled to the ground with a cry. Quickly grabbing onto her, William's hands began to tremble.

Cracking a smile, William began wiping the lines of tears away from her cheeks. "Don't worry, big brother is here now, you'll be alright. As he wiped the tears with his left hand, he clenched his right fist tightly.

Suddenly, a hand violently grabbed onto William's shoulder. "Who gave you the guts to ignore me, commoner?" An arrogant voice cracked behind him. Upon hearing the annoying voice, William, whose arm was still trembling, turned around, seeing an enraged Gao Xue.

"And you are?" He glared at the arrogant-looking kid. A moment later, he heard two different responses.

"How dare you not know who I, Gao Xue, am?!"

"The Gao family is a medium-ish sized clan. He's got some guts threatening me." The second reply from Zhang Chun Wu caused William's ears to perk up.

Remaining abnormally calm, William instead answered with a question.

"You guys did this?" He asked, pointing at the overturned carts in the distance.

Gap Xue, who was still pissed off at the unknown intruder, chortled. "Yeah, we did do that, what are you gonna do about it?"

"And you didn't check to make sure that no one got hurt?" William asked, still without any obvious emotions on his face.

"What, who cares if a few messy commoners get hur-"

Before he could process what was going on, William's arm suddenly shot out, grasping Gao Xue by the neck.

"So, you think it's very funny to bully people who can't fight back, huh?" William smiled, his hand tightening around Gao Xue's throat. "You know what, they're just commoners, and you're just a measly little Gao clan member, so you won't have any problems if I break your neck right now, right?"

Gao Xue's eyes widened, trying to break away from William's vice-like grip. Unfortunately, William was currently residing in Zhang Chun Wu's body, who had a cultivation rank at the second stage of the Foundation building stage.

Seeing their ally thrashing under William'S hold, a number of the assailants broke from the encirclement, creating a semi-circle around William.

"Oi you bastard, let him go, or you'll face the consequences of angering the Zhou and Wu clan!"

William, seeing that the group's attention had now shifted towards him, let go of Gao Xue. As he felt William's fingers loose, Gao Cue attempted to back away. before he could respond however, William spun to the side, kicking him directly in the solar plexus, sending him flying.

While he was incredibly incensed at the idiot's lack of regard for human life, William didn't actually want to kill the bastard, just a lesson for each of them would suffice.

"Damn you, the Wu and Zhou family won't let you off!" Upon seeing Gao Xue go flying, the rest of the group prepared to surround him, when suddenly the leader of the gang spoke.

"Stop."

Walking towards William, he spoke again.

"I apologize for my friend's offence, Zhang Chun Wu, he wasn't aware of your identity."

William, seeing that the other party recognized him, temporarily was immobilized. Before he could think of a response, however, Zhang Chun Wu answered on his behalf.

"Wu Ji, don't you think you should have ordered your lackey to stop before he decided to escalate things?"

In response, Wu Ji chuckled.

"I apologize for reminding him too late, the Zhou and Wu family will make it up to you." He spoke with a smile.

"Now then, I hope you'll leave this place. We," he said, pointing towards Li Tai Shan, "have a prior engagement." Zhang Chun Wu nodded in response, preparing to leave.

"Hey, you're not just going to leave now, are you?" William fiercely asked.

"I am leaving, why? Didn't you save the little girl already?" Zhang Chun Wu asked quizzically.

"Don't leave! I haven't taught them all a lesson yet! How can you let them go after they completely wrecked the are? They should be punished for damaging public property!"

Zhang Chun Wu raised an eyebrow at the foreign term, but he generally understood the point that William was attempting to get across.

"They're just commoners, aren't they? Does it matter if they get compensated? It's only a few silver coins." He confusedly asked. He remembered that William had gone on a similar rant the first day that he had awoken, also getting extremely angry that a Zhang clan servant had been assaulted. Why did he seem so sensitive about these things?

William was shocked to silence for a moment, before he spoke again. "You…" he began. However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by an arrogant tone.

"So you're the cripple of the Zhang family? No wonder you'd sympathize with commoners!" Gao Xue, who had come to by this time, spoke after realizing his identity.

Zhang Chun Wu frowned, but he still turned around, intending not to escalate the conflict.

"When I get into the Five Elements Sect, you better hold your neck out to wait for me, you damn son of a whore!" Gao Xue continued, taunting him.

Zhang Chun Wu's steps suddenly stopped.

Slowly, he turned back around, reaching for his spear.

Seeing that his taunt had worked, Gao Xue laughed, signalling the other two Gao clan members who were part of the seven to protect him. "Oh, you've finally changed your mind? What are you gonna do you son of a bitc-"

Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of the injured Gao Xue. Before he knew what happened, the side of a spear struck him in the temple, careening him into a pile of vegetables.

The other two adolescents, seeing their leader suddenly go flying, quickly drew their weapons, a rod and a sword.

Shouting, one of them dashed towards Zhang Chun Wu, who's eyes immediately locked onto the new figure.

Swinging his spear, Zhang Chun Wu easily knocked aside the sword that was coming for him, before he stabbed the head of the spear into the chest of the enemy, causing him to spit out blood.

Shocked by the sudden carnage around them, the remaining people who had surrounded Li Tai Shan turned towards Zhang Chun Wu, summoning their Prime Artifacts.

One of the combatants who had summoned a silver bow immediately stretched the bow out, as an arrow made of pure fire appeared from thin air.

"Wait, stop!" Wu Ji commanded, but he was too late. The Zhao clan youth, in his panic, had fired at Zhang Chun Wu.

Seeing the incoming arrow, Zhang Chun Wu spun his spear, preparing to block the blow. However, he suddenly paused, as if he had come across an epiphany. A moment later, he tossed the spear at the incoming arrow.

Then, he placed his right hand a few inches above his left arm.

Glancing at Zhang Chun Wu throw his spear, Wu Ji became slightly confused, before his eyes suddenly widened.

[Detected multiple hostile entities. Initiating Shadow Duel.]