The shock was only temporary, and the members of the Black Tiger Gang quickly reacted, locking their target on a young man in a green shirt walking towards the main hall.
"Brothers, get your weapons and chop this little dog!" one of them shouted.
"Kill!"
With shouts filling the air, these members of the Black Tiger Gang transformed into fierce and malevolent figures, brandishing their knives, guns, swords, and spears as they advanced towards Su Yi.
Perhaps it was due to drinking too much tonight.
Each of them was extremely excited, scrambling to be the first.
Su Yi seemed indifferent, as calm as ever.
He didn't even turn around, but the Dust Wind Sword in his hand emitted a clear and melodious humming sound, unleashing sharp and electric sword shadows in an instant.
Shadows overlapped, covering the sky.
These members of the Black Tiger Gang were nothing more than a disorganized mob. Most of them only knew some basic martial arts and hadn't even touched the threshold of martial cultivation. How could they possibly be his match?
In just a moment, bodies lay scattered on the ground, blood pooling together to form a dazzling red under the lamplight.
Some of the gang members were so terrified that they retreated in fear, their faces pale. Their hands holding weapons trembled uncontrollably.
Su Yi paid no attention to these small-time lackeys and proceeded to walk into the main hall, still carrying his sword.
Boom!
A long halberd came crashing down, accompanied by a dazzling cold light.
The attacker was a middle-aged man in a black robe with a single eye. He had been hiding on one side of the main hall's entrance, and his timing was exceptionally shrewd.
As if he had foreseen the attack, Su Yi's figure slightly shifted, causing the strike to miss.
Pfft!
At the same time, Su Yi's Dust Wind Sword sliced through the neck of the one-eyed man, sending his large head flying while his headless body sprayed blood and crashed to the ground.
The main hall was brightly lit, with only one table set up, filled with steaming hot food and wine. However, there was no one sitting in the chairs.
As Su Yi walked in, he noticed three people standing not far away—a man, a woman, and an old man. They all held weapons, wearing solemn and wary expressions.
The man spoke in a deep voice, "Friend, if we have offended you in any way, as the 'Old Qing' faction, I will apologize on behalf of our group. I wonder if you can tell us the reason and see if we can make amends?"
Su Yi scanned his surroundings and said, "Where is the entrance to the dungeon?"
The man trembled and blurted out, "Could it be that some of my subordinates, who lack wisdom, have captured your friends?"
Pfft!
Su Yi swiftly stepped forward, his sword like a flash of lightning, easily piercing through the man's throat. The man's face was filled with disbelief as he died.
"You answer," Su Yi's gaze shifted towards the woman.
The woman was already trembling in fear, her beauty fading. In response to his words, her eyes instinctively glanced towards a folding screen on the side of the hall.
Pfft!
The sword light flashed.
The woman's throat was cut open, her body slumped to the ground, her eyes wide open in an expression of shock.
"We've already told you everything. Why do you still kill?" the remaining old man shouted in shock and anger. He was completely overwhelmed with fear, his mind in chaos.
In response to him, a flash of sword light arrived.
Pfft!
His body was split in half from the middle, blood and innards pouring out like a waterfall.
"Do I need a reason to kill you?" Su Yi turned around and headed towards the folding screen.
His expression remained as calm as ever, his gaze deep and indifferent.
When Su Xuanyun was angry and killed someone, he never bothered to explain anything.
Behind the folding screen was a wall, with a hidden door carved into it.
With a single strike, the door lock shattered. Su Yi didn't delay and pushed the door open, stepping inside.
...
In the dark and damp dungeon, Feng Xiaoran crouched on the ground, tightly hugging her knees.
Her hair was disheveled, but her delicate face showed no signs of panic. Instead, she appeared calm.
Since the moment she was captured and brought here, she knew that her life was destined to be engulfed in darkness. She would never be able to live under the sunlight like before.
She had heard that when the Black Tiger Gang captured girls, they would sell them to brothels, where they would become playthings for men, subjected to humiliation and having no control over their lives.
But she was not afraid.
She would never give up on the possibility of living.
As long as she was alive, she would do everything in her power to become strong!
"Brother, rest assured, I will definitely live well. From now on... Xiaoran will protect you!" Feng Xiaoran silently vowed in her heart.
she could disregard everything else, but she couldn't let go of her brother, Feng Xiaofeng.
That was her determination to survive.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the darkness, gradually approaching their location.
"Are they finally coming?" Feng Xiaoran lifted her face, looking towards the person in the darkness. She wanted to remember the face of the person who took her, engrave it in her heart, and seek revenge in the future!
However, the underground dungeon was too dark, and she could only make out a slender figure despite her efforts.
Then, she saw the person squatting down, and a pair of deep and bright eyes came into view.
She could even see a hint of relief in those eyes.
Unknowingly, her heart trembled slightly, feeling that in her entire life, these were the brightest and most beautiful eyes she had ever seen.
Like the warm sunlight on a spring morning, it brought comfort, illuminating her dark and cold heart.
"Do you remember me, little girl?" a warm voice with a hint of laughter sounded in her ear. Feng Xiaoran's body trembled slightly as she suddenly saw the clear and handsome face that was so close.
"Su... Su Yi, brother?" Feng Xiaoran widened her eyes, feeling a bit dazed, as if she was dreaming.
When she was trapped in the darkness of the cell and suddenly saw a familiar figure appear, in that instant, it was as if endless light dispersed all the darkness.
It made it difficult for anyone to adapt.
After a while, Feng Xiaoran revealed a bright smile and said, "Brother Su Yi, so it's you who came to rescue me!"
Su Yi rubbed the little girl's head and lifted her up, carrying her on his back. He said, "Don't be afraid anymore, brother will take you home."
"Mm!" Feng Xiaoran nodded vigorously, holding onto Su Yi's arm tightly, as if afraid that this sudden happiness would slip away from her grasp.
Feeling the strength in the girl's delicate arms, Su Yi couldn't help but feel a sense of heaviness in his heart.
How desperate and helpless must Xiaoran have felt in this underground dungeon?
"You can go home too," Su Yi said, looking towards the other parts of the dungeon where many figures huddled, most of them girls in their teens.
After speaking, he turned around and walked out of the dungeon, returning to the main hall, step by step, heading outside.
"Xiaoran, close your eyes," Su Yi said softly.
This place was filled with blood and scattered bodies, a sight that could easily cause discomfort.
But Feng Xiaoran shook her head instead, widening her eyes and earnestly observing the bloodshed along the way. Her pale and delicate face remained calm.
She wasn't afraid at all. On the contrary, she felt a great sense of relief in her heart.
Until they walked out of the courtyard and reached Yu Chun Lane, Feng Xiaoran suddenly spoke, "Brother Su Yi, can you teach me martial arts?"
Su Yi asked, "Why do you want to practice martial arts?"
Feng Xiaoran hesitated for a moment but then said, "I want to protect my brother, protect him for a lifetime, and never let him be bullied again."
A flicker of uncertainty appeared in her bright eyes. "Six months ago, my brother's legs were broken by bad people, and his path as a martial artist was cut off. He doesn't say it, but I know he is in immense pain."
"When my mother and brother were young, she ran away with another man. It was my father who raised us. But when my father learned about my brother's disability six months ago, he couldn't bear it and fell ill. Within seven days, he passed away."
"Since then, my brother is the only family I have left..."
As she spoke, a sense of melancholy filled the young girl's pale face.
Then, she took a deep breath and calmly and resolutely said, "Since then, I have told myself that I must become strong, no matter the cost. Even if it means enduring endless humiliation and insults, as long as I can protect my brother, I'm willing to do anything!"
Su Yi listened silently, feeling pity, astonishment, and an indescribable emotion in his heart.
He had known for a long time that Feng Xiaofeng came from extreme poverty, and being able to join the Qinghe Sword Sect for training was already a miraculous opportunity.
But he had never imagined that their backgrounds would be so tragic.
And Feng Xiaoran, who had been living with Feng Xiaofeng, was only thirteen years old, yet she possessed a maturity and resilience far beyond her peers. This took Su Yi by surprise.
Su Yi understood Feng Xiaoran's feelings.
When he himself was fourteen years old, he left home and embarked on a treacherous journey to the Qinghe Sword Sect, hoping to change his fate through martial arts.
In the darkness of one's heart, one would fight desperately to grasp even a glimmer of light, in order to change one's destiny.
When they reached the end of Yu Chun Lane, Su Yi finally spoke, "As long as you want to learn, I will teach you the techniques of cultivation attentively."
A bright smile immediately appeared on Feng Xiaoran's face as she said, "Su Yi, brother, you know, the moment you appeared in front of me just now, I will never forget it. In the future... I will repay you well!"
Su Yi smiled and said, "As long as you and your brother live well, that is the best repayment for me."
"Then... can I marry you when I grow up?"
Feng Xiaoran said earnestly.
Su Yi was taken aback for a moment but couldn't help but laugh. He replied, "Let's talk about that when you grow up."
A thirteen-year-old girl, in her eagerness to express her gratitude, spoke without thinking, probably not fully understanding the meaning of marriage.
But it was understandable.
Feng Xiaoran also laughed, and her big eyes narrowed, resembling two clean and translucent crescent moons, shining brightly.
In her heart, she silently thought, "Su Yi, brother, wait for me to grow up, don't you dare change your mind..."
Under the night sky, the young girl's fair and delicate face was filled with earnest anticipation.
Though she was young, her features were starting to blossom. Her eyebrows were like ink, her nose was straight and elegant, her figure was slender and well-proportioned, and her skin was smooth and delicate like white cream.
Especially her eyes, slightly sunken, appeared deep and bright, like clear and sparkling gemstones. When she smiled and narrowed her eyes, they resembled a beautiful crescent moon descending into a lake, incredibly charming.
She still had a childish look, but she could already be described as a picturesque beauty, a true beauty in the making.
The only thing that marred her appearance was her untidy and slightly yellowish hair, and her clothes were adorned with worn-out patches. The cuffs even had frayed tassels, revealing her impoverished background.
Even as a young girl, she already exuded a captivating and unique charm.