Chapter 71: The Farce Ends, Yu Le Refuses to Yield!

"Han... Brother Han." Zhao Hanshan could not help but take a few steps back, unable to conceal the terror in his heart.

The figure that had suddenly appeared behind Yu Le was none of other than Han Xiong, who had already completed his life-weapon incarnation and stood as imposing as a black bear.

The next moment, Yu Le felt the entire stone bridge tremble as the massive figure charged forward like a cannonball.

With a downward slap of the bear's paw, the skull of the lackey who had just tripped Han Ying was instantly shattered into mush.

This was not the end of it. Han Xiong began a massive slaughter. Before long, left entirely alone, Zhao Hanshan was grabbed by the neck and lifted into the air with one hand by Han Xiong, his bloody saber long since dropped to the ground.

Zhao Hanshan's face flushed crimson as he flailed continuously and stammered, "Han... Brother Han, this is a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding your grandmother's ghost!"

Han Xiong was consumed by fury, slamming Zhao Hanshan backward onto the ground. Dazed and disoriented, Zhao Hanshan tried to stand up, only for his bald head to be grabbed by the bear's paw and dragged like a dead dog right in front of Han Ying.

Without a word of explanation, Han Xiong pinned the bald head down and smashed it fiercely against the solid ground several times.

As the sound of cracking bones echoed through the air, Han Xiong's voice was utterly chilling, "Didn't you like making people kowtow to you? Then kowtow until you've had enough!"

Not until Zhao Hanshan's bald head was a bloody, mangled mess did Han Xiong finally release him.

"I spare your life only because you still have some use. If there is a next time, the Blood Saber Gang will be wiped from existence!"

With his consciousness fading, Zhao Hanshan raised a hand and uttered a barely audible, "Th-Thank you."

Yu Le frowned, unable to understand why Han Xiong would let Zhao Hanshan off the hook. Judging by the ferocity of his initial attack, he had seemed to want to kill everyone present.

At that moment, Han Xiong turned his head and glared fiercely, "All of you, get lost."

The vague, shadowy figures lurking in the dark vanished instantly. Startled, Yu Le quickly averted his gaze.

His heart pounded wildly. Han Xiong was able to command those ferocious beasts lurking in the shadows; did that not mean—

Yet he dared not show the slightest trace of his fear. As he pondered his next move, Han Xiong, who had already returned to his normal human form, supported Han Ying as they walked up to him.

"This farce can finally end. Come back with me!"

Giving Yu Le no chance to refuse, Han Xiong grabbed him with one hand and strode off into the distance.

Along the way, no one dared to block their path. As for the Ying-Le Gang, which had been established only a few days ago, the survivors stood there in utter bewilderment.

With both the gang leader and the deputy leader taken away, what were they supposed to do?

The members of the Blood Saber Gang, having been thoroughly terrified out of their wits, carried the heavily injured Zhao Hanshan back to the Ashes Stronghold. Lacking a leader, the Ying-Le Gang was disbanded right then and there.

Geng Xiao and the others, who had been observing from a distance, shrank back out of sight, terrified of being discovered by Han Xiong.

"It seems Little Yu's plan succeeded. I never expected Han Xiong himself to come and fetch them."

Meanwhile, Han Yuetao frowned and said, "Han Xiong is no simpleton like Han Ying. With Yu Le taken away by him, won't he be in danger?"

No one could answer her question. Reaching this point was both part of the Blazing Heaven Team's plan and a necessary risk Yu Le had to take to rescue his daughter. All they could do was place their hopes on Yu Le's performance within the Black Bear Guild.

"Let's trust Little Yu. We'll head back and wait for news, ready to move at any moment!"

"Understood!"

Han Xiong took Han Ying and Yu Le away, and the Blazing Heaven Team quietly retreated as well.

On the other hand, the old woman and her subordinates did not leave.

Once all three factions had withdrawn, the old woman approached the site of the previous melee.

"This Ashes Stronghold is rather peculiar," the old woman deduced. "Does that Han Xiong have any connection to the Blood Saber Gang?"

Her subordinate shook his head. "We haven't found any link between the two parties."

"That's strange. Han Xiong has always been ruthless and merciless, especially toward his older brother whom he has spoiled to the extreme. Because of Han Ying's life-weapon, anyone who has ever laid eyes on it was previously killed by him. Why would he spare Zhao Hanshan's life today?"

"The deadline given by the master is fast approaching, and the young master's whereabouts remain obscure. I am going to infiltrate the Black Bear Guild to investigate. As for you lot, enter the Ashes Stronghold and see if you can find any clues. These people of the Ashes Stronghold are actually colluding with ferocious beasts, and judging by Han Xiong's words, these people still serve a purpose. There must be a hidden agenda behind all this!"

"Understood!"

The four factions dispersed in various directions.

Back in the Upper District, Han Ying had been taken away by Han Xiong, but Yu Le was not allowed to follow inside. Instead, bound hand and foot, he was dragged into a dim, secluded chamber.

As the faint light flickered on, Yu Le narrowed his eyes and saw Zhong Li walking in through the door.

"Where is Brother Ying?" Yu Le asked.

Zhong Li gazed at him coldly and said, "You'd better worry about yourself first."

He stepped forward, grabbed Yu Le by the jaw, and sneered, "You've got quite some nerve, bewitching Lord Han into setting up some ridiculous Ying-Le Gang and even leading people to storm the Ashes Stronghold."

Unable to move, Yu Le stared back at Zhong Li with stubborn defiance. "What? Planning to abuse your power to settle a personal grudge?"

"Abuse my power for a personal grudge? Heh, you overestimate yourself. Let me tell you something: today, for your sake, Lord Han actually exposed his life-weapon in public. Do you know that everyone who has seen his life-weapon before is already dead?"

"And they were all executed personally by the Guild Master himself. Their deaths were utterly wretched."

"Why?"

Bang!

Zhong Li threw a punch straight into Yu Le's cheek. "You still have the face to ask why?"

Bang!

Another blow landed on Yu Le's chest. A suffocating tightness gripped his lungs as stomach acid mixed with saliva spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Zhong Li grabbed him by the throat again, his expression vicious. "Because of the type of his life-weapon, Lord Han has been mocked and ridiculed from childhood to adulthood. Yet he endured all those cold stares and raised the Guild Master by scavenging for scraps! That is why, even though he lacks any talent for cultivation, the Guild Master will go to any lengths to satisfy his every whim and protect him."

"And you! You bewitched Lord Han into forming some gang, forcing him to expose the very type of life-weapon he has always been deeply ashamed of. Once word gets out, do you have any idea how many people will mock Lord Han for this?"

Hearing this, Yu Le laughed—he actually laughed out loud.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing because none of you have the slightest clue what Brother Ying truly wants."

"Stop acting so self-righteous!" Zhong Li threw another punch, sending a wave of violent turbulence through Yu Le's internal organs.

With his eyes bulging, Yu Le let out a muffled groan, staring fixedly at Zhong Li. "You and your master... you think that simply keeping Brother Ying locked up like a canary in a golden cage and guarding his secret will ensure he is happy for the rest of his life? Am I right?"

"But have you ever bothered to ask Brother Ying if that's the kind of life he actually wants to live?"

"You understand nothing at all!"

"Bulls***!" Zhong Li rained blows down upon him, punch after punch, until blood began to seep from the corners of Yu Le's mouth.

"Hahaha, what's wrong with being a dog? That so-called Black Bear—wasn't he raised to adulthood by his older brother scavenging as a stray dog? Do you think his brother's past is a scar on his pride, or are you just terrified that with a dog for a brother, the so-called Black Bear Guild will end up being mocked as the Mongrel Bear Guild?!"

"Shut your mouth! I told you to shut your mouth!" Driven mad with humiliation, Zhong Li struck harder and heavier with every punch until Yu Le could no longer speak.

"The Guild Master ordered me to deal with you. To make sure you never bewitch Lord Han again, have you figured out how you want to die?"

Zhong Li gave Yu Le a final ultimatum.

Struggling fiercely, Yu Le raised his head to look at Zhong Li, using the last of his strength to spit out, "How I die... doesn't matter. What matters is... I lived a magnificent life!"

Spit!

A mouthful of bloody phlegm hit Zhong Li squarely in the face.

Furious, Zhong Li raised his fist high, preparing to finish Yu Le off once and for all.

At that exact moment, the heavy door of the secluded chamber was flung open.

Han Ying's voice rang out, "Stop right there!"

"Get out of my way!"

Zhong Li was sent flying by a kick from Han Ying. Just as Zhong Li was about to retaliate, Han Xiong, who had followed closely behind, shook his head at him.

"A-Le, are you alright?" Han Ying asked anxiously as he untied the ropes binding Yu Le.

Yu Le squeezed out a faint smile and asked just before losing consciousness, "Brother Ying... were these past few days... happy?"

"Happy! Very happy!" Tears welled up in Han Ying's eyes.

Regrettably, Yu Le could no longer hear him as he collapsed gently into his arms.