Chapter 52: The Ambush

The masked attackers underestimated

Tang Xiu. As he moved, his steps were silent but swift, his figure a blur of motion that was impossible to follow. Before the first attacker could react, Tang Xiu's palm struck his chest with a dull thud. The man was sent flying backward, crashing into a tree and coughing blood.

The other attackers hesitated, their confidence faltering as they saw their comrade fall so easily.

"Do you really think a group of low-level thugs can take me down?" Tang Xiu said, his voice cold and steady. His sharp gaze swept over the remaining attackers, freezing them in place.

Lei Xian grinned, pulling out a short blade from his belt. "Finally, some excitement!

Let's teach these fools a lesson."

Xu Liang, though not as eager for battle, took a defensive stance. He wasn't as skilled as Tang Xiu, but he was determined to hold his own.

The leader of the masked group barked an order. "Don't let them intimidate you!

Attack together!"

The attackers surged forward, their weapons flashing as they closed in. Tang Xiu's lips curved into a faint smirk. They were fast, but not fast enough.

He sidestepped the first swing effortlessly, grabbing the attacker's wrist and twisting it. The man cried out in pain as his weapon fell to the ground. Tang Xiu didn't hesitate, delivering a swift kick to the man's stomach that sent him sprawling.

Lei Xian, meanwhile, was laughing as he fended off two attackers at once. "Is this all you've got? I've sparred with farmers who fight better than you!" He ducked under a poorly aimed strike and slammed the hilt of his blade into his opponent's side.

Xu Liang was struggling more, his movements less fluid than the others. But he held his ground, using his agility to dodge the attacks aimed at him.

Tang Xiu quickly noticed Xu Liang's predicament and moved to intercept the attacker closing in on him. With a precise strike, he disarmed the man and knocked him unconscious with a single blow.

"Thanks," Xu Liang panted, his eyes wide with relief.

"Focus," Tang Xiu said curtly. "This isn't the time for distractions."

The remaining attackers began to falter, their confidence completely shattered.

They exchanged nervous glances, realizing that they were outmatched.

The leader gritted his teeth, his frustration evident. "Useless fools! If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."

He charged at Tang Xiu, his blade aimed straight for his chest. But Tang Xiu didn't even blink.

At the last possible moment, he stepped to the side, grabbing the leader's arm and twisting it behind his back. The man cried out in pain, dropping his weapon.

Tang Xiu leaned in close, his voice low and menacing. "Who sent you?"

The leader struggled, but Tang Xiu's grip was unyielding. "You'll get nothing out of me!"

Tang Xiu's eyes narrowed. "You seem to misunderstand your position. I wasn't asking."

With a sharp twist, he applied pressure to the man's arm, making him cry out again.

"Speak, or you'll wish you had."

The leader's resolve began to crumble under Tang Xiu's intense gaze. "Alright, alright. It was the Black Wolf Mercenaries!

They hired us to track the token and take it back."

Tang Xiu's expression darkened. He'd heard of the Black Wolf Mercenaries before-a ruthless group known for taking on any job as long as the pay was good.

"Who hired them?" Tang Xiu demanded.

"I don't know!" the man stammered. "We were just told to follow you and retrieve the token. That's all I know, I swear!"

Tang Xiu released the man with a shove, letting him fall to the ground. "Get out of my sight. And if I catch you or your friends following me again, you won't get a second chance."

The leader scrambled to his feet, signaling for his remaining men to retreat. Within moments, they disappeared into the forest.

Lei Xian sheathed his blade, letting out a sigh of relief. "Well, that was fun. But who are these Black Wolf Mercenaries, and why are they after the token?"

Tang Xiu frowned, his mind racing.

"They're a dangerous group, but they're just pawns in this. Someone else is pulling the strings. Someone who knows about the token's true value."

Xu Liang looked worried. "Does that mean we'll face more trouble in the future?"

"Most likely," Tang Xiu said. "But it doesn't change our goal. We head to the capital and find the expert who can decipher the token.

The sooner we understand its secrets, the better prepared we'll be for whatever comes next."

As they resumed their journey, Tang Xiu couldn't shake the feeling that the ambush was just the beginning. The token's mysterious power was drawing attention from all the wrong places, and he knew that the path ahead would only grow more treacherous.

But he also knew one thing for certain-no matter what obstacles lay in his way, he would not back down. This was just the beginning of his return to power, and nothing would stop him from achieving his goal.