Jiang Cheng felt his self-esteem was seriously undermined.

"If a tiger doesn't show its might, do you think I'm a sick cat?"

"The Black Exhaust Group isn't my enemy, so I didn't act against you. But if you keep pushing, aren't you just an old man hanging himself, seeking trouble? Aren't you just looking for death with a lantern? Aren't you asking for it by bringing a big knife onto the latrine?"

Even when Jiang Cheng ventured into the Black Exhaust Headquarters, his mindset was merely to find the Little Flaming Crow, as long as the enemy didn't go too far. Everyone should leave some space for future encounters.

Unexpectedly, the Black Group didn't recognize kindness, not only kidnapping his disciple's pet but also setting a trap with escalated intentions to harm his female disciple.

This was too much! It was so excessive that even Jiang Cheng couldn't endure it. When he saw his female disciple staggering toward their enemies, his heart ached with sadness and rage.

The heartbreak needs no explanation. His female disciple disobeyed his instructions and left their hiding place, which caused trouble and hardship for herself and for him.

He was furious because even a child could tell what situation his female disciple was in, yet the leader of the Black Exhaust Group sent his top henchmen against her! Wasn't this putting his female disciple in a deadly peril?

Jiang Cheng was a very protective person.

His pupil, no matter how wrong, was his responsibility as a teacher. Outsiders, meanwhile, had no place interjecting in his matters, according to Mr. Ye!

Thus, Jiang Cheng had no mercy on his enemies. Standing against the incoming attackers, Jiang Cheng didn't take them seriously, though the head of the Black Exhaust Group had some skills, making Jiang Cheng consider having a contest with him.

Jiang Cheng dragged his longsword on the ground, the sword tip etching thin and deep lines in the earth.

He walked leisurely, a mildly amused smile on his lips.

The five people in front of him, were they relying on their numerical advantage to attack him?

Didn't they know that in the eyes of a supreme martial artist, no matter how many people there are, without sufficient strength, they are useless?

The five men circled Jiang Cheng, centering on him and rotating slowly. Each pair of eyes flashed with a fierce light, eager to slash him with one sword stroke.

Not long ago, this person before them had just killed their comrade, causing these five to feel a united front of hostility.

They vowed to avenge their fallen comrade!

However, they had seen how their comrade, unaware of the situation and not understanding their opponent's strength, acted rashly, resulting in his swift death in a single confrontation.

Now, they wouldn't repeat the same mistake.

Jiang Cheng's longsword hung nonchalantly on the ground; one hand leaned on the sword, the other casually pocketed, as if not seeing the five enemies before him.

He waited quietly for the five in front of him to launch their attack.

Jiang Cheng appeared relaxed and at ease in front of his five foes, not taking them seriously at all.

The five opponents before him were also battle-hardened veterans who knew they had to remain patient in such situations. Hasty moves would only present their adversary an opportunity.

Thus, they cautiously encircled Jiang Cheng, waiting for the right moment to attack. Ba Lv supported Yanran, standing behind Jiang Cheng, cautiously watching the people at the Black Exhaust Headquarters not far from her.

Surrounded by enemies, though knowing Jiang Cheng's strength, she was equally aware of the Black Group's high-ranking members' powerful skills. In a one-on-one fight, any of the five would surely not be Jiang Cheng's match, but with all five attacking him, the outcome was uncertain.

This made Ba Lv feel anxious. Yes, she was very tense.

Faced with enemies surrounding them like a pack of predators, she knew if Jiang Cheng was defeated, she'd face an unimaginable fate.

The thought of the Black Exhaust Group's methods against captives sent chills down Ba Lv's spine.

She had personally witnessed how several leaders from the group tortured a prisoner they had captured. Ba Lvluo recognized the man as a significant figure in the opposing group, famed for his boldness and fearlessness in battles.

In several previous battles, this man had killed many from the Black Exhaust, so the group's members gnashed their teeth at the mention of his name, eager to eliminate him.

The man also knew he was in the enemy's sights, so he was usually very cautious. Yet, everyone has moments of laxity, and after drinking one day, he was caught by the persistent Black Group after wandering with only two subordinates.

Capturing this hated enemy, the group prevented his suicide by thoroughly examining him to ensure no hidden devices, then knocking out his teeth to stop any attempt to bite his tongue.

To Ba Lv, this wasn't merely pulling teeth — it was like smashing them out with a hammer.

Yanran was a tough guy, but even he couldn't endure the tortures meted out by the group without screaming in agony.

In the following days, members of the Black Exhaust Group reveled as though it were a festival, daily watching those leaders torture the captive. If they desired, they could join in too.

Ba Lv witnessed this and refused to partake in such inhumane treatment of prisoners, so she avoided the scene after awhile.

Until one day, when she saw several people carrying a pile of meat, and blood dripped continuously as they walked, even with her broad experiences, she couldn't discern what kind of animal the meat came from.

Out of curiosity, she took a few more glances.

The subsequent scene was unbearable for Ba Lv to recollect. For a long time thereafter, she would vomit upon seeing any bloodied food, like steak.

Later, she overheard the group's casual conversations, reportedly the tough guy began begging for mercy after just a few days of tortures, which made his tormentors even more excited, escalating their cruelty.

Even when he was tortured beyond recognition, the tough guy's nerves remained intact enough to stay painfully conscious.

In their idle chatter, members lauded the torturers for their almost surgical expertise in human anatomy.

In this moment, Ba Lv couldn't help but shudder, imagining the miserable fate awaiting herself if captured by them.

As she thought about this, she inadvertently tightened her grip on Yanran's hand.