You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

Bai Lijing's heart sank.

He awakened his memories of his past life, and in his eyes, the small crossbow in Master Yang's hand was clearly a large-caliber pistol.

At such close range, even at his peak, he wasn't confident he could save Baili Jie before Master Yang pulled the trigger.

Moreover, the energy from the demonic beast flesh within his body was receding like a tide.

The intermittent white steam emanating from his pores gradually died down, the burns on his skin faded back to their original tan color, and waves of hunger rose from his stomach. The weakness and soreness after the fierce battles began to spread to every inch of his muscles.

Baili Jing didn't even know if he would be able to stand still in the next second.

Seemingly sensing his forced composure and inner turmoil, Master Yang smiled slightly:

"You see, things have come full circle and we've come back to where we started. No matter how good you are at fighting, you're still just a peasant who can be slaughtered at will."

He nudged Baili Jie's head with his crossbow and whispered:

"I've lived in Shanghai for twenty years and seen plenty of geniuses, but what does it matter if someone is a genius?"

"Humans are not beasts after all; they cannot live on mere bravado. Young man, pick up the knife on the ground and sever your tendons in your hands and feet. That will settle the matter. I always keep my word; I promise to spare your brother's life. I will never lie to you."

Baili Jing's face was ashen; he didn't speak, but simply looked down at the scene.

The ground was littered with the steel knives of the Cao Gang disciples.

He slowly bent down, picked up one of the long knives, held it in his hand, and then closed his eyes.

He would never sever his own tendons and ligaments.

But how do we break this deadlock?

How can I cross those few short steps and save my brother?

Just as Baili Jing's mind was racing, he suddenly heard a calm young voice:

"Master Yang, you've chosen the wrong side."

Baili Jing was startled and suddenly opened his eyes.

Suddenly, Baili Jie raised his head and said the same words he had just spoken.

Master Yang was also somewhat surprised. He looked down at the boy in his arms and frowned, saying:

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Baili Jie was, after all, just a child; his face still showed a hint of fear, and his shoulders trembled slightly, but his eyes were unusually bright.

"You've caused such a commotion at the docks tonight, yet the yamen hasn't sent a single constable or bailiff to help you. Master Yang, the prefect is no longer on your side."

Upon hearing this, Master Yang chuckled as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world:

"What do you know, you little kid? So what if you're the prefect? ​​The Grand Canal Gang is the mountain that has stood strong in this area for centuries. I have Master Ding backing me up, I..."

"Even the Grand Canal Gang can't protect you," Baili Jie said calmly, coldly interrupting him.

Master Yang's smile froze again.

Across from him, Baili Jing also looked at Baili Jie with some surprise.

He always knew that Xiao Jie was intelligent. Whether before or after he awakened his past life memories, he was willing to earn money to support his younger brother's education because he firmly believed that his brother would definitely become the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Baili Jing never expected that Xiao Jie could be so calm at this critical moment, using words to break down Master Yang's psychological defenses.

Thinking of this, Baili Jing took a deep breath, suppressing the weakness in his body, and gripped the steel knife in his hand even tighter.

Bailijie swallowed hard and pressed on:

"When you came to arrest me before, you had a huge, black-haired man with you. He must be one of the top experts in the Canal Gang, right? Did he go to arrest my brother just now? Did he fail?"

"No matter how skilled my brother is, he's just an ordinary laborer. How could he have escaped unscathed without someone else intervening?"

Upon hearing this, Master Yang's expression finally changed completely.

This was also the point that terrified and puzzled him the most when he saw Baili Jing return to the courtyard.

How could Miao Han possibly fail?

However, Master Yang, being shrewd and calculating, still gritted his teeth and insisted, "That's not important. Perhaps something unexpected happened to Master Miao, but as long as I have you in my hands..."

"It is a flower that longs for beauty."

Baili Jing's eyes flashed, and in that instant he completely understood his younger brother's intention, immediately rebuking him sharply:

"It was Hua Xiangrong from Hongxiuzhao who saved me! She... was sent by the Second Master!"

Baili Jing actually had no idea who "Second Master" was, but Hua Xiangrong had indeed mentioned those two words to him before.

Faced with a life-or-death situation, he didn't hesitate and directly applied the method verbatim.

As expected, upon hearing the names "Hua Xiangrong" and "Second Master," Master Yang's body seemed to have been struck by lightning, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

"What did you say?! Second Master... Second Master actually intervened personally?! How could he interfere in Third Master Ding's family affairs?!"

In that instant, he completely lost his composure and revealed a flaw.

Almost at the same instant, Baili Jing clearly saw Baili Jie nod very slightly at him.

"kill!!"

The tacit understanding between the brothers made Baili Jing no longer hesitate!

He squeezed out the last bit of strength left in his body and pounced forward like a cheetah. The broadsword in his hand turned into a blinding white light and he slashed down wildly at Master Yang's right arm, which was holding the crossbow!

Although he was losing his vital energy and blood and no longer benefiting from the demon beast meat, he was still a man who had carried heavy loads for three years, and his solid physical foundation was still intact!

This strike was extremely fast and powerful!

Master Yang was, after all, just an ordinary scholar, and with his mind shaken, his reaction was noticeably slower than usual.

But driven by his instinct for survival, he still hurriedly aimed the crossbow at Baili Jing at the last moment before the blade was at his side, ready to pull the trigger.

However, Bailijie was faster than him!

The moment Baili Jing set off, Baili Jie gritted his teeth, raised his foot and stomped hard on Master Yang's toes. At the same time, he leaned back desperately and swung his right elbow backward, smashing it between Master Yang's legs!

"ah!!"

Having suffered a devastating blow, Master Yang let out a shrill scream and shrank back like a shrimp.

Struck by this heavy blow, his hand holding the crossbow naturally veered off course.

Whoosh!

The mechanical crossbow bolt was finally fired, transforming into a dark silver streak as it hurtled away!

However, because of this deviation, the streak of light only grazed Baili Jing's right waist and abdomen before shooting out, failing to hit him.

However, this was not the end. After spraying a cloud of blood, the crossbow bolt struck the ground at an angle about ten feet away!

boom!!

The crossbow bolts exploded with a deafening roar!

The shockwave and flames from the explosion instantly overturned most of the cabin!

Baili Jing's blade was originally meant to sever Master Yang's shoulder and neck, but the violent shockwave from behind pushed him hard.

He felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, unsure if the knife had struck him, his ears ringing, and in an instant, the world spun around him, and he lost all consciousness.

After an unknown amount of time, the acrid smoke and fumes gradually dissipated.

Amidst the ringing in his ears, Baili Jing faintly heard his younger brother's voice calling out:

"Brother! Brother, wake up! Get up!!"

The ringing in his ears gradually subsided. Baili Jing shook his dizzy head vigorously, struggled to open his eyes, and looked around with some difficulty.

The explosion of that talisman crossbow bolt sent him flying and crashing into the wooden house.

A few steps to his left, his family's wooden bookcase collapsed, pinning Baili Jie's lower body beneath it. Books rained down on him, and the boy, pale-faced, was unable to move for a moment.

On the other side of the room, Master Yang looked even more disheveled.

He lay among the broken bricks and rubble, his right hand, slashed by Baili Jing's knife, bleeding profusely and hanging limply at his side, clearly completely ruined.

But the exquisite miniature crossbow was still there, and Master Yang had caught it with his left hand!

His face was covered in blood. He pulled out a second talisman crossbow bolt from somewhere and was struggling to load it using his left hand and teeth, while muttering insane, delirious words to himself:

"As long as I get this done... as long as I bring Baili Jing's internal organs back... Master Ding will definitely protect me! Second Master can't do anything to me! He will definitely protect me!!"

No!

We absolutely cannot let him load the second arrow!

Bai Lijing bit his tongue hard, trying to use the intense pain to dispel the dizziness in his mind.

His right hand tightened instinctively as he realized that the long sword was still in his hand.

But when he tried to stand up, an indescribable soreness and emptiness instantly swept over his entire body.

His stomach felt like it was on fire, he was convulsing with intense pain, and his limbs were limp, he couldn't muster any strength at all.

He became furious, his arms bulging with veins as he braced himself against the ground again, but he only kicked up a small cloud of dust, his body still pressed against the ground.

To make matters worse, his back and right rib were burning with pain, suggesting he had suffered serious injuries in the aftershocks of the explosion.

Seeing that Master Yang was still fiddling with the crossbow, Baili Jie shouted loudly:

"No one will protect you! You've caused such a huge scene tonight, the imperial court will definitely hold you accountable! Even Master Ding himself might not be able to protect himself, how could he possibly protect a mere advisor like you?!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!"

Master Yang retorted loudly, his expression growing increasingly frantic: "How could I possibly capsize in such a ditch..."

His left hand was trembling violently. Because it was so inconvenient to operate with one hand, the arrowheads went through the slot several times but failed to be loaded.

On the other side, Baili Jing was also fiercely battling his own body.

The more he struggled, the faster the remaining strength in his body dissipated. His head began to go black, and waves of dizziness washed over him. His body seemed to be frantically warning him to pass out immediately.

Don't faint!

If they faint, both brothers will die here today!

Seeing that words could no longer sway Master Yang, Baili Jie hurriedly turned to his elder brother and called out:

"Brother! Get up quickly!"

He was also desperately trying to climb out from under the bookshelf, but he was too thin and small, and could only move two inches after a long time.

Baili Jing struggled, letting out a hoarse murmur:

"I...I'm hungry...hungry..."

Hungry?

Baili Jie was visibly stunned for a moment when he heard this word.

Then, his eyes flashed and he suddenly looked at... the dining table that was less than a step away from Baili Jinglian.

In the devastating shockwave of the explosion, one of the table legs was snapped by the blast, but it wasn't completely broken.

The entire table tilted to one side, and the dry, hard, cold steamed buns and thin slices of cured meat that Master Yang had previously rejected were now slowly sliding down the tilted table to the edge.

Baili Jie's eyes lit up instantly. As if he understood something, he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Brother! Are you just okay as long as there's something to eat?!"

Baili Jing didn't even have the strength to blink at this moment, so he could only nod his head slightly.

"Okay! I'll get you something to eat!!"

Baili Jie grabbed a book that was lying around him and, with all his might, smashed it hard against the broken table leg that was on the verge of snapping!

Click!

The already fragile wooden table legs snapped in two with a crash after being hit.

The dining table lost its balance and collapsed with a crash towards Baili Jing.

pat, pat.

Two dry, hard, cold steamed buns, along with a few pieces of salted cured meat, rolled to Baili Jing's right hand.

Do cold steamed buns still smell good?

Does the cured meat, which has already cooled down, still smell good?

some.

Baili Jing will never forget this taste in his life.

His pupils, which had begun to dilate, suddenly ignited with two violent sparks.

On the other side of the house.

Yang, the clerk, who was still trying to load the crossbow, happened to catch a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing the few pieces of cold cured meat that had rolled into the boy's hands, his movements suddenly froze.

Despair began to materialize on his face, little by little.

His only movable left hand trembled like a candle in the wind, the arrowhead frantically rubbing and colliding at the edge of the slot, but the more anxious he became, the less he could get the crossbow bolt into the mechanism.

"Hurry up...go in! Go in!!"

Master Yang's teeth chattered violently, and cold sweat mixed with blood blurred his vision.

Just a few steps away from him, Baili Jing had already made his move.

Master Yang didn't even see when he ate the steamed bun and cured meat.

This tiny amount of food, with only pitiful nutrients, was insufficient for Baili Jing to fight anyone.

But... that's enough to get him back on his feet.

Baili Jing stared at Master Yang, planted his long sword on the ground with his right hand, and knelt down on one knee.

Under Master Yang's almost terrified gaze, the blood-covered boy actually stood up little by little!

Baili Jing, carrying a knife, staggered over, stepping through the blood and rubble.

With each step, the bloody footprints on the ground became clearer.

"It won't install... Why won't it install?! No! Don't come any closer!!"

Master Yang's psychological defenses completely collapsed.

With a flick of his left hand, the crossbow bolt finally slipped from his grasp, rolled a few times on the ground, and landed in a crevice of the ruins.

Having lost all his trump cards to threaten his opponent, this cunning old fox, who had been powerful for twenty years, finally reverted to a cowardly, fearful... frail old man.

"Great Hero Baili! Valiant Warrior Baili! I am utterly convinced! I am completely convinced!!"

Master Yang collapsed to the ground, desperately backing away with his buttocks and legs, and began to wail loudly:

"Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I have silver... lots and lots of silver!"

"If you spare my life, all those silver notes will be yours! Not only that, I can use my connections to get your brother on the list for this year's autumn imperial examinations! I can make him an official! A high-ranking official!!"

He cried his heart out, tears streaming down his face, and all his former elegance vanished.

Baili Jing looked down at the old man who was making such a fool of himself, his eyes filled with undisguised indifference and disgust.

Without any unnecessary words, Baili Jing gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands, exerted force from his waist and abdomen, and brought the long sword down in a powerful arc in mid-air!

puff! !

The blade flashed across Master Yang's neck.

The head flew skyward, carrying with it a mouthful of scalding, resentful blood, and slammed heavily to the ground. The headless corpse swayed for a moment, then collapsed into a pool of blood, utterly dead.

Baili Jing stood in the center of the pool of blood, his chest heaving violently.

He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

"After all that showing off, all you have in the end is this little bit of trump card... Pshaw, just a roadside trump card."

After saying this, Baili Jing let out a long sigh of relief. He could no longer hold the long sword firmly and it fell to the ground with a clatter.

He turned around, looked at Baili Jie a few steps away, and tried to force a reassuring smile on his face, speaking in a hoarse voice:

"Xiao Jie, brother... brother saved you..."

However, before he could finish speaking, everything went black.

The meager amount of energy they had just consumed was completely depleted once again.

Baili Jing swayed, closed his eyes, and collapsed, completely unconscious.