"What will it take for you to leave him alone?"
As the blood wolf spirit user and the other four depraved soul masters stared at him with their wicked smirks, Yu Xiaogang's scalp prickled with fear. But he gritted his teeth and forced out the question.
"Heh heh, you want us to spare him? That's easy... spend some quality time with the five of us, and we might reconsider," the blood wolf spirit user leered, his voice thick with malice.
What the...?
The color drained from Yu Xiaogang's face as he processed the proposition. He'd already sensed the wrongness in their gazes, but this? He was a man, for heaven's sake!
As a former noble of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and a self-styled master of martial theory, Yu Xiaogang had always been prideful and held his dignity in high regard. What they were suggesting—what no ordinary man could accept—was far beyond anything he was willing to endure.
But seeing Yu Xiaogang's reaction, the blood wolf spirit user only sneered, his expression darkening as he continued to taunt, "We're reasonable men. If you refuse, well, that's fine too. But we'll be sure to take our fill of his blood."
Reasonable?
Yu Xiaogang almost laughed at the absurdity of the claim, feeling a surge of anger boil up within him. The sheer shamelessness of it!
It was clear that they didn't care about fairness or reason; their goal was to break him. They wanted him to beg, to submit—and they were using Tang San as leverage to force his compliance.
"Have you made up your mind?" the blood wolf spirit user pressed, his tone turning icier with each word. He pressed his knife lightly against Tang San's arm, drawing a thin line of blood that trickled down his skin. "Agree to our terms, and maybe we'll go easy on him. Refuse, and we'll bleed him dry."
"You… you animals!"
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. His rage and frustration threatened to overwhelm him. Why was fate so cruel to him? Why was he always the one to suffer?
Born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had been surrounded by peers whose martial spirits and innate power far outstripped his. While others awoke with powerful dragon spirits and abundant soul power, his spirit had mutated into a laughable disgrace, leaving him with a mere half-level of innate power—enough to become the laughingstock of the clan.
He had tried to change his fate, turning to the Spirit Hall and forging a bond with Bibi Dong, hoping to access the Hall's hidden resources and maybe evolve his martial spirit. But that hope, too, had been crushed.
Then he'd found someone else, someone he thought could be his partner. But he discovered she was his cousin on their wedding day, just one generation removed. He'd been shattered.
And then the livestream appeared, revealing all his secrets to the world. It turned what should have been a promising future into a living nightmare, with him and Tang San relentlessly hunted by the Spirit Hall, never knowing a moment of peace.
And now this. Here he was, faced with five men who had designs on him—something he could hardly fathom.
Yu Xiaogang felt tears well up in his eyes as he fought back the urge to scream at the heavens. Why was his life so wretched?
The blood wolf spirit user's voice cut through his thoughts, as sharp as the blade he held to Tang San's skin. "Well, pretty boy? This is your last chance. Are you going to cooperate, or do we start carving up your little student?"
Yu Xiaogang's breath caught in his throat. The sight of Tang San, beaten and helpless, filled him with a desperate sense of urgency. He knew that without his disciple, he would never have the chance to prove his theories or achieve any form of redemption.
So he squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back the burning humiliation and rage. With his hands trembling, he lowered his arms in defeat, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Fine... I'll do it. Just let him go."
The blood wolf spirit user's grin widened into a twisted smile, and he clapped his hands together in mock appreciation. "Good, good! You see? That wasn't so hard, was it? As long as you behave, we won't drain your little friend here dry."
The other four gang members laughed, their faces lit up with cruel glee as they closed in on Yu Xiaogang.
There was no escape now. In the end, Yu Xiaogang had chosen to protect Tang San, no matter the cost to himself.
And so it went, as the blood wolf spirit user turned his attention to Yu Xiaogang, sinking a needle into his arm to draw out four pounds of blood. Yu Xiaogang's face grew pale, his knees buckling as the strength drained from him, leaving him barely able to stand.
But despite his weakened state, the gang of five was satisfied. After bleeding Yu Xiaogang nearly dry, they extracted about a pound from Tang San as well—enough to fulfill their immediate needs.
Author's Note: The tension is rising in the City of Slaughter! What will happen next to Tang San and Yu Xiaogang? Will they find a way to turn the tables, or is this just the beginning of their suffering? Stay tuned for the next chapter, and thanks for reading!