Supreme Heir Son-in-law

Chapter 877: The Clash

The arms of Xu Ke are as solid as a towering tree rooted to the ground. Unlike Lu Zhishen, how could he uproot a weeping willow?

The scene descended into an unprecedented awkward situation. The leading man’s face turned red from exertion, yet Xu Ke stood motionless, his expression unchanged.

Xu Ke’s display turned it all into a joke.

"Why aren’t you continuing? Out of strength? Want me to wait for you?" Xu Ke’s considerate voice echoed in the man’s ear, making his expression extraordinarily awkward.

"No need," the leading man replied dryly.

He ceased his struggle, realizing how laughable he appeared. Remembering his prior actions, he wished the earth would swallow him up. He couldn’t fathom his previous irrationality, why he engaged in such futile struggles, utterly embarrassing himself.

Seeing the hostage in his grasp become compliant and cease futile struggles, Xu Ke shifted his gaze to the subordinates opposite him.

"I’ve already thrown away my weapon; now it’s your turn. You wouldn’t break your promise, would you?" Xu Ke smiled slightly, shifting his hand initially holding a knife to the leader’s throat, his slender fingers making the thick neck appear delicate and refined.

Yet, two out of the three people present had no mind to appreciate the beauty of his hands. The leader only felt Xu Ke’s hand on his throat cold and sticky, like a snake winding tightly, as if it might constrict and break his neck at any moment.

The more the leader thought, the more scared he was, yet, unable to stop thinking, under this self-inflicted torment, his cheeks soon turned pale, and sweat drenched his back, turning his white undershirt into a damp enticement.

"What are you dawdling for? Throw away the knife quickly, or do you want us all dead?" The leader, feeling the fingers on his throat tightening and desperate to avoid his fears becoming reality, shouted loudly, eyes wide open, at his subordinate still holding a knife.

Perhaps the leader’s loud voice spooked him; the subordinate’s hand shook before he threw the knife into a nearby clump of grass, a far shorter distance compared to Xu Ke’s throw, like someone with muscular dystrophy.

Xu Ke’s gaze lingered on where the subordinate’s knife landed. The man who had just attempted a cunning trick in throwing the knife stood rigid, like an animal facing a predator. If he had fur, it would have bristled.

The subordinate was on edge, expecting Xu Ke’s reaction to his earlier trick, yet Xu Ke merely glanced with a smile, not the least angry.

Feeling embarrassed but also ashamed for his earlier misjudgment, the subordinate couldn’t fathom why he had committed such a disgraceful act.

Unconcerned with the subordinate’s internal musings, Xu Ke resumed the hostage exchange, assured there were no hidden threats.

Upon escaping Xu Ke’s grip, the leader felt as though he had crawled back to the human world from Hell. As the two hostages passed each other, the captors clashed.

The subordinate, despite disdain for his earlier tactics, collected his knife from the grass and attacked the young man.

Though never having faced Xu Ke, the subordinate knew from his quickly defeated comrades Xu Ke wasn’t easy prey. Therefore, his target was the young man—killing him would suffice.

The subordinate watched intently as the knife edged closer to the young man’s back. Just a bit more and he would succeed. As a smile formed, his wrist was suddenly gripped tightly by a hand with distinct knuckles.

The owner of that hand had but a moment ago been throttling another person.

The subordinate knew Xu Ke would be tough to handle but didn’t anticipate him being this unyielding. Despite his utmost effort, breathing heavily and turning red, his advancement halted, and his knife was effortlessly taken.

Xu Ke’s relaxed demeanor only deepened the hue of the subordinate’s face, perhaps with anger or just exertion.

"Taking shortcuts won’t work," Xu Ke said with a half-smile, and the next moment the subordinate felt his wrist pain sharply, upon looking, realizing his wrist was broken by Xu Ke’s brutal force.

Still, the subordinate endured, silently bearing the pain while attacking Xu Ke with the other arm.

His fist swung toward Xu Ke’s face but turned into two fingers, intending to gouge Xu Ke’s eyes cruelly.

This maneuver was shockingly vicious, contrasting sharply with his defeated posture.

To outsiders, it was a dangerously cruel moment, but Xu Ke remained composed, as if expected. He caught the advancing fingers and broke them.

Xu Ke’s strategy was clear: whatever was extended, he broke. His immense strength and skill far surpassed the subordinate’s. Soon, the subordinate lay limp, defeated and unsteady, reduced to a worm crawling helplessly, pitifully.

Xu Ke’s fight concluded swiftly. The others’ struggle didn’t last long either, though both sustained injuries, minor or severe. Watching the young man, battered, approach him with a wretched expression, Xu Ke couldn’t help but reflect.