After the discussion ended, the three unanimously decided to team up against the enemy.
"Just follow the plan. Old Li, lie low and make sure that thing doesn't notice you."
Jun Mo Li pressed down on Li Tonghui's back as he spoke.
"Hurry up and go—don't keep hanging around here." Li Tonghui rolled his eyes.
Jun Mo Li and little Jun Bai appeared together in front of the Stonehide Lawachurl. The Stonehide Lawachurl pounded its chest and charged toward the two of them.
"Dodge!"
Jun Mo Li and little Jun Bai evaded in opposite directions.
The Stonehide Lawachurl landed between them.
"Attack!"
Jun Mo Li shouted, then charged forward with his sword.
A streak of crimson shadow coiled around the Stonehide Lawachurl like a chain, binding its body and arms.
With the Stonehide Lawachurl's strength, breaking free from this restraint wasn't difficult. But as long as its movements were restricted for even a moment, it would be enough for Jun Mo Li to complete all his preparations.
Sword light flashed. Jun Mo Li unleashed his absolute limit of speed. Streaks of afterimages appeared in his hands as he slashed toward the armor on the Stonehide Lawachurl's chest.
Hundreds of slashes concentrated on the same spot. Tiny cracks had already begun to appear in that tough armor.
"——"
The Stonehide Lawachurl roared furiously as it broke free from little Jun Bai's binding and punched toward Jun Mo Li.
A crimson shadow flashed past, wrapping around Jun Mo Li's body and pulling him back to little Jun Bai's side.
"Old Li, get to work!"
Li Tonghui flipped up like a carp, stood on a rock, crouched halfway, and gathered all his power into his legs—just like a grasshopper coiling to spring.
The next moment, explosive force surged forth, leaving cracks all over the rock. The youth shot forward like an arrow toward the Stonehide Lawachurl.
"Rock Shatter Fist—Charge!"
Li Tonghui aimed straight for the gap Jun Mo Li had created and unleashed a punch carrying his full strength.
Li Tonghui had always lost, but it depended on who the opponent was.
This youth was also an outstanding prodigy.
The explosive Rock Shatter Fist slammed into the Stonehide Lawachurl. Large cracks spread across its body, nearly covering the entire armor.
The Lawachurl beneath the armor took a heavy blow and nearly lost its footing.
But it was still just a little short.
"Just a little more!" Li Tonghui shouted.
"Then let's do it again!"
Jun Mo Li responded, then gave little Jun Bai a look.
Little Jun Bai understood. He extended his crimson short sword and crossed it with Jun Mo Li's long sword.
Li Tonghui landed steadily on the overlapping blades, crouched again, and began gathering power once more.
"Use Rock Shatter Fist to smash that rock armor to pieces!" Jun Mo Li shouted, suddenly exerting force with his arms.
"Tonghui-ge! Go!" Little Jun Bai shouted with a smile, also applying force with his hands.
"Oh——"
Li Tonghui shot toward the Stonehide Lawachurl like a cannonball, gripping his knuckle dusters tightly.
Rock Shatter Fist—the fist that shatters stone.
This thousand-times-tempered punch seemed fated to shine in this moment.
"Rock Shatter Fist—Double Charge!"
A cluster of flames appeared on Li Tonghui's knuckle dusters.
Carrying that flame, Li Tonghui's unstoppable Rock Shatter Fist struck the Stonehide Lawachurl once again.
A pillar of fire erupted from the point of impact.
A Pyro Vision quietly appeared in Li Tonghui's clenched fist.
Fragments fell away. As the Stonehide Lawachurl collapsed heavily to the ground, its protective armor shattered and scattered everywhere.
"Now it's your turn!"
"Got it!" ×2
Jun Mo Li and little Jun Bai stepped forward at the same time.
The long sword was drawn. What appeared before Jun Mo Li's eyes was that same sword that had once cleaved the waterfall.
Time had passed, but the boy from back then had now grown enough to recreate that strike.
"This sword is called—Waterfall Sever!"
The fast sword slashed out, cutting across the Stonehide Lawachurl's body.
The Stonehide Lawachurl hadn't even reacted yet and was still trying to stand up from the ground. The next moment, a deep wound reaching the bone appeared on its chest.
"——"
Before the Stonehide Lawachurl could finish roaring, a crimson shadow coiled around it like a chain, binding all its remaining movements.
"Bye-bye."
Little Jun Bai smiled, exerted force with his wrist, and once again unleashed his finishing move.
The spinning blade harvested the Stonehide Lawachurl's life until it finally returned to being a crimson short sword.
Having taken three finishing blows in succession, even a life force as strong as the Stonehide Lawachurl's could no longer endure.
It collapsed with a thunderous crash, unable to rise again. Wisps of black qi rose, signifying that its life had completely ended.
With the leader gone, the group of monsters attacking Qingce Village lost their backbone. They scattered and retreated, no longer advancing on Qingce Village.
Jun Mo Li, Li Tonghui, and little Jun Bai watched this scene. As they breathed sighs of relief, they looked at each other, smiled, and then simultaneously fell backward onto the ground, laughing up at the sky.
...
Three days later.
"In the end, I still got scolded～" Jun Mo Li's eyes were full of helplessness.
He really hadn't expected his own mother to pin everything on him without giving him any chance to explain.
The final result: little Jun Bai received all of Mom's comfort, while he received all of Mom's scolding.
Sons deserve rights too!
"Don't say anymore—I finally managed to forget it." Li Tonghui was equally helpless.
He hadn't fared much better than Jun Mo Li.
"So, Tonghui-ge, what exactly is this important thing you called us here for today?" Little Jun Bai noticed the mood was off and quickly changed the subject.
"You'll know when we get there." Li Tonghui smiled.
Soon, under Li Tonghui's lead, the three arrived at a pavilion in the bamboo grove.
"There's actually a pavilion in this place?" Jun Mo Li asked in surprise.
"I built it." Li Tonghui said proudly.
"Tonghui-ge is so amazing!" Little Jun Bai clapped. "So just say it directly, Tonghui-ge. I haven't practiced forging yet today."
"Martial and sword training can wait. I think what's important right now is more urgent."
Li Tonghui said as he proudly produced three wine cups and a small porcelain bottle.
Jun Mo Li and little Jun Bai tilted their heads, not understanding what Li Tonghui meant.
"This is something I heard from a storyteller when my dad and I went to the Guili Assembly—at Fengdeng Lou."
"Swear to the heavens, offer wine to the sky, and after that, you're sworn brothers. After the battle three days ago, we've gone through life and death together. Our relationship can no longer be described as ordinary friends."
"So, I want to swear brotherhood with you two."
"Sworn brothers..." Jun Mo Li muttered to himself, then gave a helpless smile. "Does our relationship still need this kind of formality to prove it?"
"There's no harm in making it official." Li Tonghui laughed. "If we don't swear brotherhood, wouldn't this bottle of wine I saved up pocket money for ages to buy at Fengdeng Lou go to waste?"
"Drinking it straight wouldn't be a problem either." Jun Mo Li teased. "But since you really want to, I can go along with it."
"It's just... sworn brotherhood has an order. Among the three of us, who gets to be the eldest brother?"
Little Jun Bai's gaze shifted back and forth between his two older brothers.
No matter who became the eldest, he would still be the youngest.