Chapter 20: Wei Zhen

Qin Chen snorted, kicking a fist-sized stone. It shot like a meteor, smashing into the fleeing youth's back.

Thud!

The boy face-planted, wailing through bloodied teeth. Qin Chen strode into the deserted garden, its gate ajar. A faint aura of danger lingered.

He pushed the door open.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two iron rods swung from behind the door—one aimed at his skull, the other his face.

Qin Chen dropped into a crouch. The rods clashed mid-air, vibrations numbing the attackers' hands. Before they recovered, Qin Chen's fists hammered their chests.

Crack!

Ribs shattered. The two thugs flew backward, spewing blood before collapsing unconscious.

Wei Zhen, bandaged and trembling across the courtyard, froze in horror.

"Where are Lin Tian and Zhang Ying?" Qin Chen's voice cut like ice.

Wei Zhen scrambled backward, howling, "T-They're inside! Dare to enter?!"

The dim room held a figure seated cross-legged—Wei Zhen's elder brother, Wei Zhen (魏真). Sunlight haloed his stern, tower-like frame.

"So you're the one who crippled my brother." Wei Zhen's gaze dripped condescension.

In the corner lay Lin Tian and Zhang Ying—bloodied, swollen, their clothes in tatters.

"Run…" Lin Tian croaked.

Wei Zhen kicked them, laughing madly. "Quiet, worms!"

Qin Chen's aura turned glacial.

Wei Zhen sneered. "Kneel. Apologize. Let my brother beat you. Then I'll mercifully let you all go."

"Rot."

Qin Chen's fist erupted like a dragon. Wei Zhen barely blocked, arms buckling under the force.

Boom!

Wei Zhen crashed through a solid ironwood table, splinters raining.

"Y-You…!" The younger Wei Zhen staggered back, eyes wide as if seeing a demon.