A piece of bad news and a piece of good news.
The bad news is that we failed to make the rankings; we didn't even manage to get on the new book list. I'm so embarrassed. I stayed up until 2 a.m. last night, constantly refreshing the results... I almost couldn't fall asleep.
The good news is that we have a chance to overthrow those at the top. Come on, heroes and heroines, use your recommendation votes to knock them down one by one and show them what a tight squeeze feels like.
Additionally, let me say that "Martial Peak" is definitely an exciting and passionate novel. I ask all of you to patiently read on.
After a good beating, the shopkeepers on this street, although ordinary people, displayed astonishing combat strength. These merchants, having been extorted to varying degrees in their lives, loathed such people the most. Now that they had a target to vent their anger on, they showed no mercy.
Especially the shop assistant of He's Rice Shop, who took two cloth bags and threw them over the heads of the two men, one for each. Once blinded, they received a relentless beating.
Seeing this, the crowd became even more ruthless, knowing the two men couldn't see who was hitting them and thus couldn't seek revenge later.
With the strength in numbers, Yang Kai barely had time to land a blow before being pushed out by the throng of shopkeepers.
After a while, the beating ceased, leaving the two men curled on the ground, groaning in pain. Their faces, once robust and imposing, were now so swollen that even their own mothers might not recognize them.
This situation arose because the two men had no real power; though they carried swords, it was all for show. True experts wouldn't care about the attacks from these ordinary people.
But then again, true experts wouldn't stoop to such vile deeds.
Having taken down the two men, the shopkeepers felt a sense of relief but continued to stand around, unwilling to leave.
Noticing the hostile expressions of the crowd, the two men grew terrified. One of them shakily extended a hand toward Su Mu, weakly calling out, "Su..."
Su Mu's face changed dramatically, and he roared, "What Su? Still want me to give you a bone-crushing massage?"
Yang Kai watched, smiling inwardly. He stepped forward and said loudly, "These despicable scoundrels have undoubtedly ruined countless businesses with their schemes, driving people to ruin. They are utterly detestable!"
Yang Kai's words were a bit exaggerated, but given that the crowd consisted entirely of shopkeepers, they resonated deeply, eliciting a strong sense of shared indignation. The shop assistant of He's Rice Shop spat on the ground, "Scum like them deserve death for causing trouble at our shop."
The shop assistant was merely venting, but Yang Kai seized the moment, saying, "Indeed, such people deserve death. Brother, why don't we each take one and end them, so they never again harm innocent businesses? It would be a righteous act."
The crowd was shocked. The two men on the ground broke into a cold sweat, staring at Yang Kai in horror, unable to believe that this seemingly frail youth harbored such a ruthless heart.
Su Mu's eyes widened as he looked at Yang Kai, trying to determine if he was serious. But Yang Kai's solemn expression left no doubt.
To be fair, while the two men were detestable, they didn't deserve death. Yang Kai's suggestion was undoubtedly harsh.
Su Mu stammered, "Brother, isn't this too extreme?"
"Too extreme?" Yang Kai shook his head solemnly. "If their scheme succeeded today, He's Rice Shop would likely be forced to close. How would Mr. He's family survive then? It would drive them to the brink of despair. How is it too extreme to kill them? One must pay the price for their actions."
Initially, some shopkeepers felt a pang of conscience at the thought of killing. But after hearing Yang Kai's reasoning, they found it compelling. Though uncertain, they remained silent, ready to watch the outcome. Only Mr. He seemed poised to speak, but Yang Kai's glance silenced him.
"But... but even so, we can't just kill people," Su Mu protested, genuinely panicked. This ruthless brother was a shock to him. Originally, the plan was to have these two men cause trouble at He's Rice Shop, then come to the rescue, earning Mr. He's gratitude. But this unexpected, brutal brother had thrown a wrench into the plan, intending to kill.
This was a serious problem.
Su Mu could clearly see the pleading looks from the two men on the ground, hoping he would save them, even hinting at threats. Su Mu understood their message perfectly.
We're all in this together. If we suffer, so will you. Yes, that was the look.
At this moment, Yang Kai smiled and said, "Brother, scholars use their writings to disrupt the law, and warriors use their weapons to break the rules. We people of the martial world, who among us doesn't have blood on their hands? Are you hesitating because you can't kill, or do you know these men and don't want to kill them?"
Su Mu's heart skipped a beat, and he turned sharply to Yang Kai, seeing the mischievous smile on his face.
"What do you mean by that?" Su Mu's face turned cold. Could his plan have been uncovered? But he had shown no signs, how could it have been discovered?
What he didn't know was that Yang Kai had accidentally seen through the plan by sheer coincidence. Without that glance, Yang Kai would have been fooled today as well.
Mr. He, being astute, noticed the undertone in Yang Kai's words and asked suspiciously, "Young man, what's going on here?"
Yang Kai targeted Su Mu specifically, something Mr. He couldn't overlook.
Yang Kai shook his head, not answering directly, instead continuing to stare at Su Mu. "Brother, you seem decisive, yet why hesitate today when you can perform a righteous act? Especially with me by your side, what are you afraid of?"
"What am I afraid of?" Su Mu laughed bitterly, muttering to himself, "What am I afraid of? Killing a man... who hasn't done that?"
It seemed admitting he had never killed anyone would make him inferior to Yang Kai.
Driven by youthful pride, Su Mu found himself unable to back down after being goaded by Yang Kai.
Steeling himself, Su Mu glared at the two men on the ground, who, upon seeing this, knew they were in deep trouble.
"Brother, let's proceed," Yang Kai urged.
Su Mu breathed heavily, slowly nodding.
Seeing this, the two men knew their lives were at risk. The one who had been supporting the other jumped up, pointing at Su Mu and shouting, "Su Mu, you treacherous scoundrel! We agreed that we would cause trouble at He's Rice Shop, and you would come to the rescue to earn Mr. He's gratitude. Now you want to kill us? You're worse than a beast!"
"Shut up!" Being exposed in public, Su Mu was furious.
"Hmph!" The man sneered despite his pain, "Ladies and gentlemen, we came to He's Rice Shop today at this scoundrel's behest. He has a thing for Mr. He's daughter, but she doesn't like him, so he came up with this vile plan."