CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 258: HU ZHOU’S FATHER ARRIVES

"Yo, you even called in reinforcements." The leading man said with a sly grin, "So, you’ve brought a scholar here, are you planning to reason with us?"

A burst of laughter erupted from the opposite side.

"Release my mother immediately, or don’t blame me for being rude!" Hu Zhou shouted angrily.

With his current strength, dealing with a few hooligans from the county town was a piece of cake. He called Lu Zheng mainly because he was worried the opponents might split into multiple groups or directly put a knife to Madam Hu’s neck in some unforeseen scenario.

Since mingling with Lu Zheng, his thinking had become noticeably more thorough. After all, involving Madam Hu’s safety, he dared not take risks.

The current situation was quite apparent. They knew Hu Zhou was formidable and indeed prepared a three-zhang abyss for him, just to prevent Hu Zhou from suddenly attacking.

However...

They surely didn’t know Hu Zhou’s true strength. For a cultivated Hu Zhou, a three-zhang abyss couldn’t stop him.

The reason he hasn’t acted yet is because, although Madam Hu is lying on the ground, opposite him, several men are still holding knives, one of whom has a knife poised at Madam Hu’s neck, hinting and smiling at Hu Zhou.

If he crossed the abyss and they casually slashed Madam Hu, he couldn’t bear it.

"Bring the money!" The leading man shouted, "Or we’ll kill your mother."

He laughed again, "Or we can let our brothers have some fun before killing. I must say, your mother still has her charms—ah!"

As he spoke, Hu Zhou had already stepped over the abyss, blood qi surging, demon qi rising sky-high, and his fist reached the chest of the leading man.

"Bang!"

With a punch, blood splattered, the body shattered!

"Ahhh!"

A chorus of screams erupted, the surrounding people were directly petrified with fear.

The man with the knife shivered, and his long saber sliced downward, but...

It sliced through the air!

Lu Zheng had long since deployed an illusion technique, shielding the perception of several men, easily rescuing Madam Hu to one side.

"Young Master Lu!"

"Sister, it’s alright now." Lu Zheng said with a smile.

"Martial Artist... Martial Artist?"

"Abnormal People? Are you abnormal people?"

The hooligans dominating the streets never dreamt they’d offended a martial artist.

"Spare us!"

"Spare us! Great hero, spare us!"

"Brother Hu, we’ve wronged you, spare us, we won’t dare again!"

"We’ll turn ourselves in! We’ll turn ourselves in!"

The remaining men scrambled to kneel down, continuously kowtowing, with several already wetting themselves out of fear.

They weren’t joking; they had no good intentions this time, only wanting to humiliate Hu Zhou first to vent their anger before launching their plans.

They hadn’t anticipated the leader’s words would cost him his life!

Considering Hu Zhou’s current demeanor, if they knelt a moment late, their lives would likely hang by a thread!

Hu Zhou’s chest heaved uncontrollably, having just delivered a furious punch that shattered the leader into pieces, blood splattering everywhere. Now, looking at these people around, his eyes remained red.

The ferocious and violent aura surrounding his body even distorted the air, and the spectators felt his figure and face blurred.

The hooligans were scared to death, begging tearfully and incessantly kowtowing.

"Huff—huff—"

Hu Zhou took deep breaths, unsure for a moment whether to kill or not.

Lu Zheng scanned the surroundings but didn’t speak, just watching how Hu Zhou would handle it.

"Zhou’Er!" Madam Hu called out.

"Mother!" Hu Zhou reacted, flashing to Madam Hu’s side, "Mother, are you alright?"

"I’m fine!" Madam Hu got up, her face still bruised, moving slightly, seemingly in pain.

"Mother!" Hu Zhou’s gaze turned sharp.

"Zhou’Er!" Madam Hu was about to speak when suddenly, a new person appeared on the scene.

A dark yellow robe fluttering in the wind, hair cascading over shoulders, tall stature, eyebrows sharp as blades, a square face adorned with short stubble, looking about forty years old, weathered but unable to hide the majesty in his appearance.

Lu Zheng’s eyes narrowed, true qi rapidly circulating, a Red Jade Sword held in his hand.

This person’s appearance was abrupt, even upon revealing himself, Lu Zheng hadn’t sensed his presence—he was a master!

However, the newcomer didn’t look at Lu Zheng, instead focusing intently on Hu Zhou and Madam Hu, breathing deeply, eyes carrying a hint of disbelief.

Lu Zheng felt a jolt in his heart, involuntarily swallowing, thinking... could it be...

"Jade Reishi—"

Madam Hu trembled, her body stiffened, lips quivered, turning rigidly to meet the man’s gaze.

"Yi Jun?"

Hu Zhou also noticed the man’s presence, suddenly turning his head, meeting his gaze, feeling his mother’s stiffness in his embrace, her grip on him growing tighter...

"You are... you are..."

"I’m your father!" The man stated firmly, rising a dense aura of demon qi, thick like blood or waterfall, with a fierce and savage presence.

Importantly, this demon qi was entirely of the same origin as Hu Zhou’s, claiming no blood relation would be absurd.

Gathering the demon qi, Hu Yijun glanced at the surrounding hooligans and told Hu Zhou, "My son, cover your mother’s eyes."

"What?" Hu Zhou was stunned by the words, though he still had doubts in his heart, yet intimidated by Hu Yijun’s authority, he instinctively covered Madam Hu’s eyes.

In the next moment, Hu Yijun’s frame quivered like a tiger, the hooligans immediately spurting mouthfuls of fresh blood, all tumbling to the ground, dead.

"You!" Hu Zhou couldn’t help but react in shock, quickly turning to look at Lu Zheng.

Having just killed someone in anger, he was indeed somewhat fearful, not only worried about scaring his mother but also concerned Lu Zheng would reproach him for losing control.

After all, killing people in the Great Jing Dynasty differs from slaying ghosts in the Netherworld, even Lu Zheng wouldn’t randomly kill under broad daylight.

"Master?" Hu Zhou looked cautiously at Lu Zheng, fearing a conflict between him and Hu Yijun.

"Master?" Hu Yijun glanced at Lu Zheng with a scrutinizing gaze.

Lu Zheng shook his head; he clearly wouldn’t engage in a fight with Hu Yijun.

Sighing, he spoke to Hu Zhou, "See what they prepared."

Hu Zhou was taken aback, then surveyed the area, discovering on a nearby clearing, a flying claw, and several iron shovels piled together, leaning against a large stone.

"This is..." Hu Zhou pondered, already understanding the hooligans’ intentions, filled with shock and anger, "They meant to kill me?"

Lu Zheng nodded, "Murder and bury, they weren’t far off."

Madam Hu pulled away Hu Zhou’s hand that covered her eyes but didn’t look at the bodies, just stared blankly at Hu Yijun.

Hu Yijun walked slowly to her side, crouched down, holding her hand, the two gazed at each other silently, a warm sentiment flowing through their hearts.