As soon as Han Li stepped off the dock, he instructed his two porters to lead him to a nearby inn, intending to rest before considering his next steps. The porters eagerly agreed, guiding him through narrow, winding streets. However, after a long walk, it became clear that they were heading deeper into unfamiliar and increasingly desolate areas. Han Li, though still following them, began to feel uneasy. He had no experience staying in large cities, but even he could tell that inns were never located in such secluded, off-the-beaten-path areas. The absence of people and the lack of any visible establishment made him suspicious.
When they reached a filthy, dark alleyway, Han Li couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. He realized that this was no ordinary inn. It was a trap. His immediate instinct was to overpower the porters and interrogate them, but before he could act, several figures emerged from the shadows at the far end of the alley. Han Li immediately recognized them from the dock—thuggish men armed with iron rods and daggers, who were now staring at him and his companion, Qu Hun, with malicious intent. The two porters, who had been carrying the large bundle, now turned and smirked at Han Li.
Sighing internally, Han Li knew it was too late to confront the porters. They had already made their intentions clear, and it was apparent that they had been planning to rob and kill him from the start. "Kid, don't blame us for being ruthless. You've brought too much silver with you. It's your own misfortune," a rough voice called from behind.
Turning around, Han Li saw a group of seven or eight burly men approaching, including the black, muscular figure of Black Bear and the sly, rat-like face of Sun Er Gou. Both of them were notorious for their involvement in such crimes—killing for wealth. They were well aware that if they executed the plan cleanly and left no witnesses, the local authorities would never investigate. Every year, numerous people mysteriously disappeared, and the officials couldn't possibly look into every case.
With a grim smile, Black Bear gestured to the thugs around him. They immediately rushed forward, waving their weapons with malicious intent, aiming to trap Han Li and Qu Hun in the middle of the alley.
Han Li's eyes narrowed, his own killing intent rising as he observed their viciousness. These men had done this many times before, their scent still reeking of blood. "Kill them. Don't hold back," Han Li ordered coldly.
At his command, Qu Hun's eyes flashed with excitement. He let out a few guttural growls and, in a blur of motion, charged into the oncoming group. He swung his fist with lightning speed, striking one of the thugs squarely in the head. The man flew backward, slamming into a stone wall. Blood and brain matter splattered everywhere, and his skull was crushed beyond recognition.
In the moment of chaos, two other thugs rushed at Qu Hun from behind, one wielding a dagger, the other an iron rod. Without even turning around, Qu Hun swung his arm in a wide arc. With a loud crack, the two weapons flew out of their hands, their grip broken, and the men cried out in pain as their palms bled.
Qu Hun's right leg swept out in a wide arc like a scythe, landing a solid blow on the two men in front of him. They flew several meters away and crashed to the ground, unconscious. The others watched in horror, their faces pale, unsure of how to respond to such overwhelming power.
Seeing the formidable strength of the giant man, the remaining thugs hesitated, fear creeping into their eyes. But Qu Hun wasn't about to stop. He continued his relentless assault, knocking out two more of his opponents with precise strikes to the head. Without Han Li's command to stop, he showed no mercy.
Black Bear and Sun Er Gou's faces turned grim. It was clear they had underestimated the giant man. What they thought would be a simple robbery had turned into a nightmare.
"Kill that giant!" Sun Er Gou shouted, his voice tinged with panic. "Each of you gets twenty taels of silver for taking him down!"
The men around Black Bear and Sun Er Gou, who were mostly rough fighters with some martial skill, initially thought that Qu Hun was merely strong but not particularly skilled. The reward of twenty taels of silver was a powerful incentive, and they quickly moved in to surround Qu Hun.
Black Bear, however, was not as eager to fight. His muscles tensed as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had been able to rise to his current position through sheer courage and fighting ability, but even he could see that Qu Hun was no ordinary opponent. The giant's fighting skills were on another level, and even their strongest fighters might not stand a chance against him. Black Bear's face paled as he considered the danger of facing such a powerhouse.
To survive, Black Bear realized that he needed to change tactics. He couldn't afford to waste time trying to defeat Qu Hun. His only chance was to capture Han Li, who appeared to be the higher-status individual. If he could take Han Li hostage, he might have a chance to escape.
With a signal to Sun Er Gou, Black Bear started moving toward Han Li, his eyes darting back and forth as he calculated his next move.