VIP Volume, Chapter 025: The Undying Cockroach

The force behind this punch was enough to kill any ordinary person without martial prowess—it was a blow meant to take a life. Chen Tianlei felt a pang of regret, silently blaming himself for being too hasty and striking too hard. The punch had been so swift and powerful that he hadn’t even heard Ye Xiaoxuan scream—he was dead before a cry could escape. It seemed imperfect, somehow unsatisfying...

Suddenly, the sound of wind whooshed past his ear. Enduring the pain in his eyes, Chen Tianlei forced them open, only to be startled into a retreating step. Before he could utter a word, he felt an excruciating pain below his waist!

Ye Xiaoxuan had already darted before him, and, seizing the moment when Chen Tianlei was dazed, he kicked him squarely between the legs!

No matter if you were a martial guard or a martial king, man or woman, a kick to that spot was like a venomous snake being seized by the throat.

But Ye Xiaoxuan had no intention of killing this poisonous serpent—he hadn’t used his full strength.

Even so, Chen Tianlei leapt three feet off the ground in agony, clutching his crotch, his face contorted in pain as he glared at Ye Xiaoxuan, looking as if he wished he could crush him alive!

Ye Xiaoxuan gave Chen Tianlei a look of feigned apology and said, “Sorry, I misjudged my strength. Can you still muster some force? Go ahead, kick me back—don’t hold back, aim for my stomach!”

Chen Tianlei felt as if he was about to explode with rage—this brat was clearly provoking him!

Now truly incensed, he forced himself to endure the pain. His left foot slid back, and in a blur, he shot toward Ye Xiaoxuan like a shadow. In a flash, he rammed into Ye Xiaoxuan’s chest like a cannonball, sending him flying.

Even an old shepherd would’ve suffered broken bones and spat blood from such a blow.

Yet as Ye Xiaoxuan soared, he flung out his arms like wings, and as he spun through the crowd attacking the old shepherd, he bowled over four more thugs. One, who was facing away from him, spat blood on the spot.

Then, to Chen Tianlei’s horror, Ye Xiaoxuan, after crashing to the ground, rolled over and sprang right back up, grinning and running toward him, shouting gleefully, “Hello there, I’m back!”

Bang! Having learned from his previous mistakes, Chen Tianlei didn’t waste words. With a spinning side kick, he sent Ye Xiaoxuan flying again, then dashed a few steps forward and delivered a flying kick to Ye Xiaoxuan’s head.

Ye Xiaoxuan spun through the air like a spinning top, flying in the direction of the old shepherd.

By now, seven or eight of the thugs attacking the old shepherd had been knocked out—ironically, all by this fellow spinning through the air! The remaining four or five, though still surrounding the old shepherd, were visibly distracted, a chill running down their spines, nervously watching the airborne figure, never knowing when he might crash into them.

Their fighting spirit had all but vanished, their attention fixed on the man ricocheting about the doorway.

As Ye Xiaoxuan came hurtling back, the thugs exchanged a look and scattered in unspoken agreement, leaving him to spin helplessly toward the old shepherd.

The old shepherd, no fool, ducked and covered his head, and Ye Xiaoxuan crashed into the wall just behind him, smashing a gaping hole in the mud-brick.

“Pah, pah!” Ye Xiaoxuan pulled his head free of the wall, dusting himself off, and shouted at the old shepherd, “Come on! I’m here to save you—couldn’t you at least catch me?”

The old shepherd, panting, replied, “Catch you? I’m lucky I still have the strength to talk!”

Chen Tianlei was on the verge of collapse—the good-for-nothing had become indestructible, like an unkillable cockroach!

As he watched Ye Xiaoxuan, tenacious as a leech, rush back again, Chen Tianlei snatched up a nearby chair and smashed it over Ye Xiaoxuan’s head, then shouted to his men, “Attack! Use whatever means necessary—kill him!”

Now not just the four or five remaining thugs, but even those Ye Xiaoxuan had knocked down earlier, got back to their feet.

One of the thugs kicked Ye Xiaoxuan from behind, sending him flying straight into the large water vat in the house, while the rest, brandishing their cleavers, charged after him!

“Stop!” A thunderous shout rang out from the doorway—Ye Dajun appeared, kicked a thug flying, snatched the cleaver from his hand, spun past two more attackers, and pressed the blade to Chen Tianlei’s neck.

“Huh?” The old shepherd eyed Ye Dajun curiously, muttering, “This kid’s power has grown overnight? That’s the skill of someone about to reach the rank of Martial King!”

Chen Tianlei realized Ye Dajun’s skills had vastly improved, but before he could react, the cold edge of a cleaver was at his throat.

But he was a man who’d seen the world. Though fear gnawed at his heart, Chen Tianlei forced a scornful expression and sneered, “You’d better keep your hand steady. If I get so much as scratched, I guarantee your whole family won’t live to see the sun rise.”

Ye Dajun snorted coldly and replied, “If anything happens to my family, I’ll take yours in return. Let’s see which lives are worth more—yours or ours!”

Chen Tianlei’s face changed; he was momentarily lost for words. The reasonable fear the reckless—there’s truth in that.

Tonight’s events were beyond bizarre, far exceeding his expectations. He had no plan for this outcome, and it left him at a loss.

Ye Dajun’s sudden surge in power was one thing, but it was that good-for-nothing who was most terrifying—you couldn’t kill him, so what could be done?

It seemed the two brothers had stumbled upon some fortuitous encounter! Had they apprenticed themselves to some bearded immortal, or perhaps swallowed a legendary elixir that granted decades of power in an instant?

Chen Tianlei ran through every martial arts tale he’d ever read, and came to a single conclusion: tonight’s plan had failed—he must not linger here!

His mind made up, he feigned magnanimity and said to Ye Dajun, “Alright, let’s call it even for tonight. We’re leaving!”

Ye Dajun made no move to stop them, withdrawing his cleaver and letting them go. From a distance, the sounds of Chen Tianlei’s men could be heard cursing at the village entrance: “Who the hell was so damned shameless as to steal all our car wheels?!”

They had arrived with bluster, fought without rhyme or reason, and now left in utter disgrace. Chen Tianlei hardly knew what he’d come here for tonight!

Watching his men push the car down the road, Chen Tianlei fumed, vowing in his heart that the Ye brothers and the old shepherd would pay him back a hundredfold for tonight’s humiliation!

“How did you suddenly get so strong?” the old shepherd asked excitedly, pulling out his pipe, tapping it on his shoe, striking a match, and taking a long drag as he looked at Ye Dajun.