Chapter 100: Kill on Sight

As Han Li stepped off the pier, he instructed two porters to lead the way to a nearby inn. He planned to rest there first before considering anything else.

The two men readily agreed and led Han Li and his companion towards the city. However, they took many twists and turns, and after a considerable walk, there was still no sign of an inn.

Although Han Li continued to follow the porters, he noticed that the alleys they were taking became increasingly remote, and fewer people were encountered. He subtly frowned.

Even without experience lodging in large towns, he knew that an inn wouldn't be built in such a secluded area; there would be no customers coming to such a place.

So, when they were led into a very dirty and dark alley, Han Li gave a wry smile. He felt he should immediately apprehend the two men and interrogate them to uncover their intentions.

Just as Han Li was about to act, a dozen burly men suddenly emerged from the depths of the alley ahead. These men looked somewhat familiar, as if he had seen them earlier in the sheds at the pier.

These men, armed with various iron rods and sharp knives, were now staring menacingly at Han Li and Qu Hun. Meanwhile, the two porters, who had been carrying the packages, abruptly dashed into the crowd, turned, and sneered at Han Li.

Han Li sighed. It seemed there was no need for interrogation to know their intentions. He hadn't expected to encounter such a scheme of robbery and murder so soon after arriving in Doctor Mo's hometown.

"Kid, don't blame us for being ruthless! Blame yourself for carrying so much silver, or blame your bad luck!" a gruff voice called out from behind.

Han Li turned around to see seven or eight more burly men behind him. The two leaders were a dark-skinned, powerfully built man and a thin, shifty-eyed man – precisely Black Bear and Sun Ergou.

This wasn't the first time these two had engaged in robbery and murder. They understood that as long as they completed the job cleanly and left no survivors, the authorities wouldn't bother investigating the disappearance of non-locals, even if a report was made. After all, too many people went missing in this area each year for the officials to painstakingly search for each one.

So, after Black Bear finished speaking, he no longer hesitated. He signaled to the dozen men, who then brandished their weapons and ferociously charged at Han Li and Qu Hun, who were trapped in the middle.

Han Li observed the bloodthirsty ferocity of these burly men, and a trace of killing intent flickered in his eyes. He could tell that this wasn't their first time committing such acts; otherwise, they wouldn't all carry a faint scent of blood.

"Kill them. Don't hold back!" Han Li commanded Qu Hun coldly.

Upon hearing Han Li's words, Qu Hun let out a few low roars, a hint of excitement in his voice. He suddenly darted forward, plunging directly into the oncoming crowd.

With a "whoosh," he unleashed a punch, swift as lightning, striking one of the burly men on the head. The man immediately flew sideways like a sandbag, crashing into the stone wall. Blood and brains splattered onto the ground, leaving only half of his skull intact.

At that moment, a sharp knife and a thick iron rod simultaneously descended towards Qu Hun's back, exploiting the opening.

Without even turning his head, Qu Hun swung his other arm behind him in a semi-circle. With two "bangs," the weapons of the two men flew into the air as soon as they made contact with his arm, leaving their hands streaming with blood.

Immediately after, Qu Hun pivoted on one leg, sweeping his other leg backward like a scythe. The two men were instantly struck in the waist and abdomen, sent flying over ten feet away, and lay motionless on the ground.

Witnessing this scene, everyone gasped. The men surrounding him visibly showed fear, hesitating to advance.

But even as they paused, Qu Hun mercilessly struck both left and right, crushing the skulls of two more men beside him. Without Han Li's command, he wouldn't stop.

Sun Ergou and Black Bear's expressions were grim. It was clear they had misjudged; this large man was no ordinary bodyguard, but an extremely formidable opponent.

"Kill this giant, and each of you will be rewarded twenty taels of silver!" Sun Ergou, sensing an ominous premonition, hurriedly offered a hefty reward to the "experts" around him.

Upon hearing this, the men around him and Black Bear showed delight. These were crude martial artists with only a superficial understanding of fighting, so they naturally couldn't discern the vast difference between themselves and Qu Hun. They merely thought he was stronger and slightly more skilled. Thus, they felt no fear, and spurred by the large sum of money, they rushed towards Qu Hun.

After hearing Sun Ergou's words, Black Bear's facial muscles twitched. He remained silent, his face grim, and his gaze flickered uncertainly towards Han Li.

Black Bear was silently cursing his misfortune at this moment.

Unlike Sun Ergou, Black Bear had earned his current position through daring fights and real combat. Therefore, he not only possessed decent martial arts skills, enough to be considered a third-rate expert, but also had excellent judgment.

Thus, the moment he saw Qu Hun act, his heart sank. He instantly recognized Qu Hun's superior skill, realizing that even their gang leader might not stand a chance, let alone mere "cats and dogs" like them. However, he dared not turn and flee, as it was evident the giant hadn't used his full strength. If Qu Hun perceived his attempt to escape, he might die even sooner.

To survive, it seemed his only option was to target that rustic-looking young man. It was obvious the young man's status was far higher than the giant's; only by taking him hostage could he hope to escape. As for the idea of the silver, he dared not even consider it anymore. With such a formidable bodyguard, this couldn't possibly be the son of some local landlord; he was clearly a young master from a powerful aristocratic family, disguised and out for a stroll. If he could escape alive today, it would be a blessing from the gods. To also carry such heavy packages was simply out of the question!

Thinking this, Black Bear, as his few subordinates charged forward, exchanged a glance with Sun Ergou and quietly began to move closer to the center of the fray.