Chapter 1253: A Shock! The guy who had been thrown into the air, now lying flat on his back, spat out a string of curses, then immediately hunched over, one hand pressed to his temple and the other cradling his abdomen, which had been tossed into a turmoil of internal chaos. He groaned and cried out in pain. %&*"; Wow—what a surprise! The two companions stood utterly stunned. They had expected a mere thirteen-year-old boy to easily dispatch the opponent, but instead, this youngster moved with the grace of a eel, his attacks precise, powerful, and relentless. In just two exchanges, he first cracked his elder opponent’s nose bone with a single punch, and now had taken down another companion—both of them now frozen in place. This simply doesn’t make sense! Simultaneously, both of them thought of a completely absurd thought: back in the county, even when they’d fought alongside older peers in group brawls, they’d never felt so embarrassed as they did today. Lu Yun didn't knock the fallen dogs down—he instead spring-leaned to his feet, stepped back five or six paces, and kept a vigilant eye on the three. These three were no ordinary school kids, and Lu Yun naturally didn't dare to overestimate them. He'd decided to first assess the situation; if he truly found himself outmatched, he'd simply bolt to the school to summon reinforcements. "Hey, what's wrong with you two? Just standing there, watching the show?" The guy lying on the ground, seeing his two companions clearly shaken by Lu Yun's presence and frozen in place, completely forgetting to act, launched into a tirade. As he staggered to his feet, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes. With a swift motion across his waist, a sharp, gleaming dagger appeared in his hand. The two witnesses, seeing their companions draw swords, exchanged a glance and immediately read helplessness in each other's eyes. This was truly a major embarrassment—three grown men, facing just a child of about ten, had resorted to drawing blades. If this were to be reported back, there’d be no face left to speak of. The three sharp, gleaming daggers shone under the sunlight, casting a cold, piercing glow that seemed to blaze like scorn in the eyes of the onlookers. Yet, facing three men each wielding sharp daggers, Lu Yun remained calm. Though he wasn't entirely confident in his ability to engage in hand-to-hand combat, he had another plan: once he lured the three into the small grove, he would leverage his familiarity with the woods to skirmish with them one by one, and he was quite confident in that approach. If it came down to fighting barehanded, Lu Yun truly believed he could hold his own against these three—but given the current situation, he hadn't yet dared to risk his life. With his mind set, he prepared to enter the grove. Just as he turned, however, he spotted a familiar figure rushing toward him. It was Shi Yu. How had she come? He hadn't instructed her to keep an eye on the young ladies, Xiao Ying and the others? Without further thought, Lu Yun raised his voice and called out to the charging Shi Yu, "Shi Yu, go back—I can handle this myself." "Yet Po Yu seemed as though she hadn't heard Lu Yun's words at all, charging straight toward him with her long skirt swaying. If this had been ordinary, Lu Yun would naturally have taken the time to admire her spirited grace—though now, with her so impetuous, she not only failed to assist him but might even cause an unforeseen mishap. After all, the three before him were no longer barehanded; driven to desperation, they wielded their daggers, which would cut through any obstacle in their path. 'Hah! You're in for a treat, young man—dying with a beautiful woman at your side, isn't that something?' the burly man turned his head to watch Po Yu charging in, choosing not to intervene and letting her reach Lu Yun unimpeded. 'Miss, what's going on? What are you doing here at this very moment?' As Po Yu drew near, Lu Yun quickly stepped in to shield her. 'I'm your wife,' she said. 'Do you really expect me to stand by and watch you in danger, doing nothing? I simply can't.' Po Yi glanced at the daggers held by the three of them, and surprisingly, there was not a single trace of fear in her eyes—instead, she gently stepped forward and stood beside Lu Yun. "As long as you're mine, I'll be your ghost." Upon hearing this, Lu Yun was momentarily stunned. A warm current surged within him, rising like a powerful tide, and he smiled softly, gripping Po Yi's hand tightly. "Po Yi, I promise you won't suffer a single injury." Po Yi's unexpected appearance had completely disrupted Lu Yun's original plans. Yet, as he listened to her heartfelt words, he suddenly stepped forward, facing the three of them with a cold smile. "Come then," he said, still shielding Po Yi behind him. And then, with a sudden burst of momentum, he surged forward like a bullet launched from a gun, moving with astonishing speed and precision. The change was sudden. The three men, brandishing daggers, had been watching Lu Yun and Shi Yu tenderly exchanging words—like a couple about to part forever—when they never expected Lu Yun to suddenly charge at them, fearless and headlong. "Die!" The man with the stern face instantly grew fierce, and before he finished his cry, he swung his dagger toward Lu Yun. With remarkable speed, the man moved swiftly—within a blink, the bright dagger was already at Lu Yun's chest. "Lu Yun..." Shi Yu gasped in shock. "Hah! You clumsy kid—die!" The man with the grim expression grinned fiercely, then flicked his wrist, aiming to plunge the dagger into Lu Yun's chest. Faced with the dagger closing in, Lu Yun's pupils contracted instantly. Yet in his mind, the peculiar gait of the ancient figure from his dream suddenly came to life. Without conscious thought, his left foot slipped, miraculously evading the thrust aimed at his chest. Then, instinctively, he raised his right hand, fingers curling into an eagle's claw, and with lightning speed, grasped the black-faced man's wrist holding the dagger.