Chapter 209 - 106: Charge Back

Li Tieyun’s gaze returned to the Flying Horse Thieves’ mountain fortress.

The fortress was in chaos. Li Qianxiong had led a large contingent out in pursuit, leaving mostly common bandits behind. The defenses were clearly much more vulnerable.

’If I take this chance to sneak into the fortress, I might be able to find Liu Maolin and rescue him.’

Just then, a low cry came from behind him.

"Gang Leader! I know who they are!"

The speaker was the River Gang’s Vice Gang Leader, a man in his thirties standing beside him. He had been staring intently at Yang Jing as he burst out of the fortress. Now, his eyes were wide, his face a mask of shock.

Li Tieyun turned to look at him. "Oh? You recognize him?"

"I do!" The Vice Gang Leader nodded firmly, pointing at Yang Jing. "That young man is named Yang Jing, fourth place in this year’s Yuhe County tournament! A-and the one on his back is Liu Maolin! They’re both disciples of Sun’s Martial Arts Hall—fellow disciples! Yang Jing is here to rescue Liu Maolin!"

"What?" Li Tieyun froze, his face etched with disbelief.

He turned to the Vice Gang Leader, his voice laced with suspicion. "Are you sure you’re not mistaken? With skills like that, he only managed fourth place in the tournament? Just how strong must the three who ranked above him be?"

After all, Yang Jing had just taken a direct palm strike from Li Qianxiong completely unscathed, even using the momentum to escape. That level of power was already at the pinnacle of mastery. Forget fourth place; in Li Tieyun’s opinion, he was more than qualified to take the number one spot!

’Has the competition in the tournament really gotten this fierce?’

The Vice Gang Leader quickly replied, "Gang Leader, there’s no way I’m mistaken!"

He explained, "I’m not yet thirty-five, so I also entered the tournament this year. Although I lost to Xu Guangwei of the Peak of Dark Energy in the arena matches, I was in the same bracket as Liu Maolin and even traded blows with him. I know him very well. The man on Yang Jing’s back just now was definitely Liu Maolin!"

"As for Yang Jing," the Vice Gang Leader paused, his voice now tinged with confusion, "he really did only place fourth in the tournament. Back then, everyone thought he barely scraped into the top four by relying on his exquisite legwork and a good dose of luck. I never imagined... he was hiding his true strength so well!"

He still remembered Yang Jing from the tournament. While his performance had been impressive, it was nothing compared to the astounding power he was displaying today.

To go from fourth place in the tournament to being strong enough to clash head-on with Li Qianxiong in just a few short months... that kind of progress was simply unthinkable.

Li Tieyun’s brow furrowed deeply as he listened, his mind reeling in shock.

He had roamed the Jianghu for many years and seen his fair share of geniuses, but he had never encountered anyone this unbelievable.

’Fourth in the tournament? If that’s true, then the younger generation of Yuhe County is absolutely teeming with hidden masters.’

"Gang Leader, he... he’s coming towards us!"

The burly man to the side suddenly tensed, pointing ahead as he spoke.

Li Tieyun looked forward as well.

Sure enough, Yang Jing was heading straight for them, still carrying Liu Maolin on his back.

’Has he spotted us?’

This thought flashed through Li Tieyun’s mind.

Then, his expression hardened. "Get ready to provide cover," he said in a low, serious voice. "I’ll hold off Li Qianxiong. The rest are up to you. All we need to do is buy enough time for that Yang Jing to get away."

...

Yang Jing vaulted over the stockade fence and didn’t slow down, heading straight for the hiding spot of Li Tieyun and his three men with Liu Maolin on his back.

Now that he was out of the Flying Horse Thieves’ den, his Body Technique gave him the freedom to go wherever he pleased. He felt a great sense of relief.

’Next, I need to see if those four are the reinforcements Hall Master Liu sent.’

Yang Jing glanced back at Li Qianxiong and the other Flying Horse Thieves charging out of the fortress in relentless pursuit. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. ’Fighting while carrying Liu Maolin is too restrictive. If these guys are really allies, then I have no intention of running.’

Before Yang Jing even got close, the burly man leading the group of four leaped out and called in a loud, clear voice, "Young Master Yang! I am Li Tieyun of the River Gang, entrusted by Hall Master Liu to rescue Young Master Maolin! Just take him and go! We’ll cover your retreat!"

Hearing this, Yang Jing’s heart leaped with joy. ’Just as I thought.’

He immediately sped up, no longer hesitating. In just a few bounds, he was right in front of Li Tieyun.

"Young Master Yang, hurry and go! We’ll cover—"

Li Tieyun didn’t even finish his sentence before he saw Yang Jing shift Liu Maolin off his back.

Li Tieyun froze. The next instant, a body was thrust into his arms. He looked down to see that Liu Maolin had been deposited with him.

"Gang Leader Li, I’ll leave Senior Brother Liu with you. I’m going to go deal with the Flying Horse Thieves!"

The sound of Yang Jing’s voice had barely faded before he had already turned back, charging straight for Li Qianxiong.

"Wha—" Li Tieyun was stunned.

The three Dark Energy experts from the River Gang behind him were also dumbfounded.