In the port of Liánhuā District, a Veridian ship called The Predator docked. Twenty men emerged from the ship. They stood six feet tall with pale skin and blonde hair. Their green and blue eyes were filled with lust, jealousy for the district's wealth, and sheer arrogance.

  Dr. Kaelen welcomed them. "Welcome to our land. I hope the journey wasn't too unpleasant."

  The captain of the group replied, "Enough chit-chat. We’re here to take the goods, right? Where are they?" He scratched between his legs. "The last batch was good. They were tasty and addictive."

  Kaelen replied, "Hold your horses. First, you have to kill a man who is causing trouble here. Then we can take the goods off your hands."

  The captain hissed, "Tshhh! Who do you think we are, to kill one man? You brought twenty of us? We have more important things to do in Veridia. Do you remember that?"

  Kaelen said, "I understand your frustration, but just one man won’t take much of your time."

  "Yeah, whatever," the captain grunted. "But make sure to bring a couple of unripe goods this time."

  As they were talking, Captain Zhào walked in casually, making sure they noticed him as his men escaped with the rescued women.

  Kaelen noticed Captain Zhào and asked, "Captain, why are you here at this hour of the night?"

  "Dr. Kaelen," Zhào replied coolly, "do you think I, the captain of this district's army, wouldn't be interested in a new ship's arrival?"

  Kaelen nodded and introduced the Veridian soldiers to Captain Zhào. "They are here to kill that so-called Crimson General. [Hahahaha]."

  Captain Zhào laughed along with them, all while another plan unfolded in his mind.

  At the same time, on the street before the one where Jian Zhi was staying, Dǔ Guǐ—owner of the largest gambling den in the district, "Yù Shé Kū" (The Jade Serpent's Den)—was searching for his gambling houses with his soldiers.

  "DAMN IT! WHO IS THE BASTARD, AND WHERE IS HE? HE MADE MY TREASURY VANISH! I'M GONNA MAKE HIM PAY!"

  As he screamed, everyone in the street began to talk among themselves. Mei Lin, who was there buying snacks for Lin Wei and Xia, noticed Dǔ Guǐ and immediately ran back to Jian Zhi.

  In the brothel house, Jian Zhi’s commanding yet protective voice struck strongly in the hearts of the women gathered.

  "Look, everyone. For the past few days, I have been teaching you the Devil's Way. The moves I've shown you are enough to survive on your own in this district against those perverted so-called noblemen. Keep practicing every day, okay?"

  The door was forced open and slammed against the wall. Mei Lin stood there, breathing heavily from running.

  "General! The head of those owners is here—in the next street! He might come here! What do we do?"

  Jian Zhi replied, "Calm down. Go drink some water and rest. Give the snacks to the kids and wait here."

  She nodded and went to see Lin Wei and Xia. Jian Zhi took The Punisher in hand and thought for a moment. and dropped it.

  "Mmm... Ladies, would you like to see the practical use of the Devil's Way?"

  They gave it a little thought before asking, "Really? Can we see it?"

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Jian Zhi said, "Yes, you can. And I will also be testing what you’ve learned so far."

  They were a little nervous, but their trust in the Crimson General was strong.

  Jian Zhi took out his Dragon Scale alloy knuckles, The Skull Crusher, and put them on. "These may look like extras, but they are very useful for breaking weapons." He turned to one of the women. "Here, Lian. Take this spare pair and fight alongside me."

  She was scared and hesitant. Jian Zhi looked into her eyes. "Lian, it’s your turn to fight your fear. Stay behind me and watch my back, okay?"

  Even though she was scared, she agreed to the request of the man who had saved her.

  "Everyone else, stay in the house and watch from the balcony. Do not come down."

  After saying that, Jian Zhi brought Lian with him out of the house. On the street, they waited for Dǔ Guǐ to arrive. Jian Zhi told her to stretch her body to loosen her muscles.

  Dǔ Guǐ soon arrived on the street with fifteen soldiers armed with shields and swords.

  "HEY! YOU BASTARDS WHO WATCHED MY BUSINESS CRUMBLE! WHERE IS THAT SON OF A BITCH WHO DESTROYED IT?!"

  As he finished his line, his eyes caught the appearance of the Crimson General.

  "Crimson armor and a black cloak... Are you the bastard who destroyed my business? How dare you, low-life, look at me with that expression!"

  Dǔ Guǐ ordered his men to attack. As they launched forward, Jian Zhi didn’t flinch.

  "Lian, take care of the one coming toward you. Remember the combo: look at the shoulder, dip and move left, 45-degree left uppercut to the liver, right hook to the nose. Okay?" He offered a faint, reassuring smile.

  After hearing those words, Lian recited the combo in her mind and took a deep breath. She looked at her foe. As the soldier swung his sword at her, she dipped, evaded, and delivered a 45-degree left uppercut to his liver followed by a right hook to his nose. She executed it flawlessly. The soldier collapsed, his nose bleeding.

  Lian couldn’t believe her eyes. "Look, everyone! I did it!" She smiled, filled with joy. "General, I defeated him!"

  Looking at her first win, Jian Zhi smiled. "That was great." He gave a thumbs-up. "Keep it up, Lian."

  Those words made Lian’s heart grow braver. She realized that even she could defeat a soldier.

  Jian Zhi had merely been playing, evading the fourteen soldiers’ swords until he witnessed Lian’s first win.

  "Okay. Playtime is over. Let’s begin."

  As he finished the sentence, he used Ghost Step with monstrous agility. No one could see him moving. Jian Zhi broke their swords using the knuckles he wore. The soldiers’ eyes filled with fear as they looked around, helpless.

  Dǔ Guǐ yelled, "Hey, you useless scums! What are you doing just standing there? Can’t you even beat one guy?!"

  They raised their shields higher, trying to protect themselves. But no shield could withstand the strength of the Crimson General mixed with his agility and the solid Dragon Scale alloy knuckles.

  "Skull Crusher."

  One straight counter-punch—directly to a soldier’s nose. The punch shattered through the shield and sent the soldier flying to land at Dǔ Guǐ’s feet.

  The other soldiers panicked and ran away.

  Dǔ Guǐ yelled in fear, "Hey, you bastards! How dare you leave me behind! Come back!"

  Using Ghost Step, Jian Zhi appeared before him.

  "Who are you calling a bitch?" Jian Zhi’s hellish, cold eyes locked onto him. His devil’s aura forced Dǔ Guǐ to his knees.

  "I’m begging you... let me go... I was just curious... and angry... please... don’t hit me... I’ll give you all my fortune... just let me go..."

  Jian Zhi replied, "Good deal. Then give all your fortune to the people you exploited it from."

  Dǔ Guǐ, desperate to live, nodded his head without knowing what would come next.

  Jian Zhi said, "But you are not forgiven. Go ask for forgiveness only after you’ve spent your time in hell."

  As he finished speaking, Jian Zhi called Lian over and told her to punch him. Then he asked all the people on the street and the women in the house to punch him. The line was long, and with each punch, Dǔ Guǐ had to ask for forgiveness—but no one forgave him.

  After taking 103 punches from the people of the village, he was on the verge of death.

  Jian Zhi whispered to him, "All the money you earned, all the soldiers you controlled... yet no one came to save you." He spat.

  Using Skull Crusher, Jian Zhi ended his misery and sent him to hell.

  The news spread to the magistrate’s office, delivered by the soldiers who had fled the scene. Will the sly fox, with the help of the pale serpents, defeat the devil? Or will the devil burn them all in hellish fire?