Chapter 3

Zhang Ke locked onto Wan Anliang with a deadly gaze, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey. Wan Anliang took a few steps back, panic-stricken, and asked, "You, what do you want to do?"

"Wan, listen to me. The money can be negotiated. If the interest is reasonable, I will definitely pay it back. But if you dare to have designs on my woman, I will never forgive you, and one of us will die!"

Zhang Ke emphasized the words "my woman" with a fierce grip. Yun Xiaoxue clung tightly to Shen Shi, her eyes brimming with tears, her hands gripping Shen Shi's arm tightly.

"Mother, I am the Zhang family's daughter-in-law, and I will be for life. You can't abandon me!"

"Good child, no one can separate us!"

Both mother and daughter's gazes fell on Zhang Ke, whose slender but resolute figure was their only support!

Wan Anliang, driven by lust, had sent Liu San to collect the debt early, knowing that the Zhang family couldn't pay and would have to hand over their women. He even gathered his friends to celebrate his upcoming marriage!

But Liu San was beaten back by Zhang Ke, leaving Wan Anliang to take matters into his own hands. He didn't take Zhang Ke seriously.

"Zhang Er, let's be clear. What I want, no one can stop. Hand over the woman, and I'll let you off. I brought so many brothers; what can you do alone?"

A dragon has its sore spots. Wan Anliang's repeated provocations made Zhang Ke's eyes almost spout flames, ready to fight to the death!

Qiao Tieshan sensed the danger. If a fight broke out, Zhang Ke would be at a disadvantage with the other side's numbers. He quickly stepped in.

"Wan Young Master, it's better to break ten temples than one marriage. Even rabbits don't eat the grass near their burrows. We are neighbors; how will it look if you snatch women? I'll vouch for the Zhang family's debt and ensure it's repaid. Don't have any ulterior motives!"

"Who asked you to be the big shot! Brothers, attack!" Wan Anliang, used to getting his way, couldn't tolerate Qiao Tieshan's interference.

The thugs rushed forward at his command.

Zhang Ke knew there would be no peaceful resolution. He grabbed Qiao Tieshan's arm and shouted, "Uncle Qiao, take care of my mother and the others!"

With that, Zhang Ke lunged forward. In a confrontation, the brave win. Though outnumbered, Zhang Ke was fearless. He struck first, and in a fight, being ruthless is key!

A thug with a cleaver charged at him, and Zhang Ke targeted him, smashing the cleaver into his shoulder, creating a deep, bloody wound. The thug screamed in pain.

The heavy scent of blood made the others hesitate, but Zhang Ke didn't. He swung the cleaver at another thug's abdomen, and the man fell to the ground, howling in pain.

After taking down two, the others were terrified and hesitated to advance.

"Listen up, Zhang Er has a sister. Whoever kills him gets the sister and shares my wedding night!" Wan Anliang, enraged, shouted, and the thugs rallied, charging forward.

Bang!

Zhang Ke felt a blow to his back, not knowing what hit him. Enraged, he shouted, "Kill!"

He swung the cleaver at a thug's face, splitting it open. But the force of the blow broke the handle, leaving him with a piece of wood. The situation was dire.

"Brother Tieshan, forget about us, help Ke!" Shen Shi pleaded.

Qiao Tieshan nodded and grabbed an axe.

Suddenly, three thugs rushed over, grinning. "The Zhang family may not have much, but they have plenty of pretty women. Let's have some fun!"

Seeing the thugs heading for Shen Shi and the others, Zhang Ke shouted, "Uncle Qiao, protect my mother!"

Bang, bang! In a moment of distraction, he was hit on the back and thigh, and a cleaver slashed his abdomen, drawing blood.

Qiao Tieshan, eyes red with rage, wanted to help but couldn't ignore Zhang Ke's words. He swung the axe wildly, fighting fiercely.

Fighting alone against many, Zhang Ke was hit more and more.

"Ha ha ha, this kid is done for, let's finish him off!" the thugs cheered.

Never fall, never let your dignity and life be trampled by your enemies. Even in death, stand tall!

If you don't want to be a worm, you must fight!

If he fell, Xiaoxue and Hui'er would be doomed, and his mother would likely die. He had to fight to the end; no one would harm his family unless he was dead!

"Kill!"

Zhang Ke, eyes bloodshot, swung the broken handle, striking a thug's temple, knocking him unconscious. Another thug with a pockmarked face swung a cleaver at Zhang Ke's head.

Zhang Ke blocked with the handle, which snapped. The pockmarked thug, seeing Zhang Ke weaponless, lunged at his abdomen.

Zhang Ke, having taken down three or four and exhausted, had no weapon. Even if he dodged this blow, what then?

Zhang Ke gritted his teeth and charged at the blade!

Was this kid crazy, seeking death? Everyone was shocked. In a split second, they heard the sound of the blade slicing flesh, followed by a scream!

Everyone looked over, stunned. Zhang Ke's right hand was clamped around the pockmarked thug's neck, his left hand gripping the thug's wrist. A deep, bloody gash ran along Zhang Ke's side, blood dripping down.

Zhang Ke, despite his injury, had rushed at the thug, who, caught off guard, was choked unconscious. Zhang Ke grabbed the cleaver, now stained with his own blood.

Zhang Ke, gritting his teeth, smashed the handle into the thug's ear, and the thug collapsed, unconscious.

Being ruthless to others isn't much, but being ruthless to oneself makes one a true desperado!

They thought Zhang Er was a scholar, yet he was more ruthless than they were. Seeing Zhang Ke's wound, they were terrified, and a few retreated. No one's life was expendable, and there was no need to die pointlessly.

The thugs stopped attacking, retreating, revealing Wan Anliang and Liu San, both terrified, legs trembling. Zhang Ke approached, and Wan Anliang, paralyzed with fear, couldn't move. Liu San backed away, tripping over the gate and tumbling.

This fall snapped him out of it, and he ran down the street.

"Help! Someone, he's killing people!"

Suddenly, hooves sounded, and five or six horsemen arrived. The leader was an old man in his fifties, with a dark red face, thick eyebrows, and a broad mouth, wielding a saber.

Liu San, seeing him, clung to the old man, crying, "Sir Wan, a thug is trying to kill your son!"

This old man was Wan Anliang's father, Wan Baichuan, who had just returned from collecting debts. He was in a good mood until Liu San's words nearly made him fall off his horse.

"Who, who is so bold?"

Liu San pointed at the Zhang family, and Wan Baichuan saw a young man with a cleaver approaching his precious son, Wan Anliang.

"Brat, stop!"

Wan Baichuan spurred his horse forward.

Qiao Tieshan, seeing this, was terrified. Wan Baichuan was a hundred-householder with soldiers. If he attacked, Zhang Ke would be dead!

"Ke, come back, don't offend him!"

Zhang Ke, hearing Qiao Tieshan's shout, didn't stop but sped up, leaping in front of Wan Anliang and grabbing his throat!

"No!"

Qiao Tieshan and Wan Baichuan shouted in unison, but it was too late. Zhang Ke had lifted Wan Anliang off the ground, the cleaver at his neck.

"Brat, don't hurt my son!" Wan Baichuan shouted.

"Old man, one more step, and I'll make you bury your son before you!"

Zhang Ke's left hand tightened around Wan Anliang's throat, turning his face blue. Wan Baichuan, seeing this, reined in his horse. Anger surged, but he was a prominent figure in Daqing Fort, and someone daring to harm his son was asking for trouble.

"Boy, my son has no grudge against you. Why are you holding him hostage? Release him!"

Zhang Ke smiled coldly. Knowing Wan Baichuan's arrival meant trouble, he had taken Wan Anliang as a hostage, giving him leverage.

"Early this morning, you brought a dozen thugs to my home, trying to take my women. No grudge, you say? Are you blind and heartless?"

"Nonsense, the Wan family isn't like that!"

Qiao Tieshan approached, suppressing his anger, and bowed to Wan Baichuan. "Sir Wan, I know the truth. It was your son who started the trouble, and Zhang Ke had to defend himself."

Wan Baichuan sized up Qiao Tieshan and said, "Qiao, this isn't your son. Why stick your neck out?"

The commotion had drawn neighbors, who stood around the yard, more joining the crowd.

Qiao Tieshan bowed to the crowd. "Neighbors, I owe the Zhang family my life. Zhang Da saved me from a pile of corpses. I will always owe them. Even the Son of Heaven can't harm the Zhang family without a good reason, or he'll have to step over my dead body!"

"Good, well said!"

The crowd, though fearing Wan Baichuan's power, cheered.

"Sir Wan, the Zhang family is small, why would they dare to oppose you? There must be a reason. Let's talk it out!"

The crowd echoed, and Wan Baichuan, angry and frustrated, had to consider his son's life and public opinion. "Speak, or I'll show no mercy!"

Zhang Ke loosened his grip on Wan Anliang and said, "Sir Wan, you may not believe others, but ask your son."

Zhang Ke whispered in Wan Anliang's ear, "Wan, be smart, don't force a mutual destruction."

Wan Anliang, trembling, said, "Father, I heard Liu San and Erhu were collecting debts from the Zhang family, so I brought my men."

Wan Baichuan sneered. "So the Zhang family owes us money. Fine, these days debtors are treated like ancestors! Brothers, get ready. If anyone hurts my son, the Zhang family will pay with their lives!"

Zhang Ke pressed the cleaver to Wan Anliang's neck. "Don't force me to kill! Wan, tell the truth. Why did twenty taels become fifty, and why did you come to collect so soon? Speak!"

"Ah, ah!"

Despite his father's presence, the threat was real. Wan Anliang said, "The original interest was five percent, to be repaid in a year. But I wanted the Zhang family's child bride, so I rushed the debt, thinking they couldn't pay and would use the woman to settle it. I didn't expect this kid to fight so hard for an outsider!"

Wan Anliang, crying, said, "Father, please save me!"

The crowd erupted, realizing the true nature of the situation. Some women stepped forward, spitting in disgust.

"Outsider? They're an engaged couple. Zhang Er, you did right. A man who can't protect his wife isn't a man!"

The crowd was enraged. Zhang Ke, resolute, smiled faintly, unafraid of death. "Thank you, neighbors, for your support. Wan Baichuan, if you're willing to lose your son, come on!"

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