On the road back, Ye Kong quickly left the bustling main street and took a sparsely traveled side path.

The several thugs following behind were naturally overjoyed. They’d been tailing him since the arena, and seeing Ye Kong’s country bumpkin appearance where everything seemed novel to him, they guessed he was from out of town and prepared to make their move. They’d just been unable to find an opportunity since he kept walking on the main roads.

Later, when they saw him pull out nine taels of silver for the Lu family brothers, their hearts grew even more delighted. They’d encountered a fat sheep! As for the Lu family brothers, they didn’t even consider them – Lu Jun and the others were just bottom-tier lackeys in the gang. Would they dare interfere?

In a secluded alley, Ye Kong was finally blocked off. Three men front and back, all wielding knives and clubs with vicious smiles as they approached.

“Little friend, us brothers would like to borrow some silver to spend.” A coarse, hoarse voice came from behind.

Ye Kong leaned against the wall, sizing up the six thugs. Sure enough, every one of them was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted with fierce features.

“In broad daylight, under clear skies, aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the authorities?” Ye Kong looked exactly like those pedantic scholars who only knew how to read.

“Report to the authorities? Southern Capital has dozens of murders every day. You’re just some little outsider – you think anyone will care?” The coarse voice laughed heartily. They feared no one, least of all scholars.

“But I know how to draw. I’ll go to the magistrate’s office and draw your faces. I think following the pictures, the soldiers will easily find you. I suggest you let me go.” Ye Kong said with a slight smile.

The several thugs exchanged glances, each seeing the killing intent in the others’ eyes. Originally they hadn’t planned to kill anyone, but now it seemed they could ​stolen content​only silence him permanently. It wasn’t like they hadn’t done this sort of thing before.

“Little guy! Letting you walk away isn’t possible. Don’t blame us brothers – if you want to blame someone, blame your own mouth!”

The lead tough finished speaking and waited no longer. With a fierce expression, the ox-horn dagger in his hand thrust viciously toward Ye Kong’s abdomen.

Though the opponent was fast, Ye Kong’s vision and reflexes were no longer what they’d been a year ago. Though he still had no magical techniques, he didn’t take these few thugs seriously at all.

A flash of mockery crossed Ye Kong’s eyes. His hand shot out like lightning, and with two fingers he caught the ox-horn dagger between his fingertips.

The lead thug added force to thrust forward, but couldn’t advance even a fraction. Knowing he’d encountered a skilled opponent, he roared at the other thugs, “This mark’s tough – everyone attack together!”

Ye Kong didn’t wait for the others to get close. He struck out with his palm, letting out a low roar, “Go!”

The palm struck squarely in the chest. The strong, imposing man was actually sent flying by the slender Ye Kong, crashing into the wall with a boom before bouncing back to the ground, twitching twice – dead or alive uncertain.

Looks like this cultivation wasn’t practiced in vain! Ye Kong felt a surge of joy in his heart. His feet moved using the light-body technique Soaring Ten Thousand Li he’d stolen earlier, while his hands used movements similar to the Cloud Terrace Falling Leaves Palm, dodging and striking among the thugs with ease.

Those thugs were all just third-rate fighters, not one could withstand a single exchange. With the agility and strength of an entry-level immortal cultivator, Ye Kong didn’t hold back at all. In the blink of an eye, he’d knocked them all down.

The last one, a scrawny little guy, seeing the situation was bad, turned and ran, still shouting, visit our site“The Dragon-Snake Gang will find you for revenge!”

“Kid! Let you taste an Earth thug’s brick!” Ye Kong picked up a half-section of blue brick from the roadside and followed like a shadow, catching up and striking him on the back of the head!

“Smack!” That thug’s head was like a watermelon that had been smashed – red and white matter came flowing out.

“Screw his immortal ancestors, that’s disgusting.” Ye Kong suppressed his urge to vomit. This was his first time personally killing someone. Though he couldn’t say he was terrified or afraid, his heart still felt uncomfortable.

The last thug’s words reminded him – he couldn’t leave anyone alive. However, facing those several already seriously injured thugs, Ye Kong still found it a bit difficult to finish them off.

“Use a knife to cut their throats? Or continue using the brick to strike their heads? Both seem pretty cruel…” Ye Kong pondered. In the heat of combat he hadn’t hesitated to strike, but killing seriously wounded people made him soften involuntarily.

“Ah! Murder!” Suddenly a cry of alarm came from the alley entrance. A figure turned and ran out.

Ye Kong knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He picked up the brick and finished each one off.

Then he also shouted, “Murder!” and left mixed in with the crowd.

Standing at the entrance of the Ye Manor, Ye Kong’s heart was still pounding. First time killing people, and six of them – six human lives, just like that had their brains splattered everywhere by him…

“Eighth Young Master has returned.” Li Laosi came forward unauthorized copywith an ingratiating smile again.

“Mm, mm…” Ye Kong was somewhat distracted. He looked down to examine his clothes – no bloodstains or brain matter. Only then did he let out a breath and entered the Ye Manor.

He returned home in a daze. Just entering the door, he heard a very grating woman’s voice.

“Did you do this on purpose! Knowing full well that Second Wife is waiting for these new clothes, and still haven’t finished the embroidery?”

“Granny Hu, you only brought them this morning. I didn’t even stop during lunch. Please wait just a moment – I’ll definitely finish before nightfall.” Chen Jiuniang said in a small voice.

“Before nightfall? If Second Wife’s business is delayed, can you bear the responsibility?” Granny Hu’s domineering voice came again. Then her voice suddenly became gentle, “Unless I help speak some good words for you in front of Second Wife – though I don’t know if Second Wife will listen.”

Chen Jiuniang immediately understood. She hastily said, “Granny Hu has worked hard. Please, you must accept these two taels of silver.”

Actually, Granny Hu’s purpose in coming was precisely to extort some silver. She deliberately delivered the embroidery work late, then demanded it early, forcing Chen Jiuniang to be unable to finish so she’d give her benefits.

“Then this old one won’t be polite.” Seeing the silver, Granny Hu immediately became happy.

But just as she reached out her hand, she heard someone behind her snort coldly, “Having others do work for you – not paying them is one thing, but actually taking money? Is there such logic in this world?”

This Granny Hu was no kind person. She was a tyrant in the Ye Manor’s outer courtyard. Her son had even changed his surname to Ye to follow the General, possessed superior [visit our site]martial skills, and enjoyed the General’s favor, so everyone in the outer courtyard feared her. Behind her back they all called her Tiger Granny – meaning her backside couldn’t be touched.

Granny Hu had heard some rumors recently, but she couldn’t see what was so frightening about a child. She immediately put her hands on her hips, her tigress authority erupting.

“Chen Jiuniang! Look at how your son speaks to this old one! Do you want my boy to help the General teach him a lesson?”

Ye Kong laughed coldly. “Then let your son come. I’d like to see who has the guts to help Ye Haoran teach me a lesson.”

Having just finished killing people, that kind of fierce, baleful energy was unmistakable. Granny Hu actually felt fear rising from within her heart.

“Hmph, you’d better hurry up. I won’t argue with an ugly woman like you.” Granny Hu’s words had already softened somewhat, but she shouldn’t have cursed Chen Jiuniang.

“Smack!” A crisp slap landed on Granny Hu’s old face.

Granny Hu was stunned by the blow. Her first reaction was actually to ask Ye Kong, “You dare hit me?”

Chen Jiuniang was also frightened – Granny Hu’s son had formidable martial skills!

Before she could stop him, Ye Kong delivered another slap. “Hitting you is exactly what I’m doing!”

“You just wait!” Granny Hu shrieked, covering her face as she ran out.

Chen Jiuniang was terrified. “Kong’er, her son Ye Hai is exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and he serves in the magistrate’s office! How about… we take some silver and go apologize to her.”

“Mother!” Ye Kong grasped Chen Jiuniang’s shoulders, looking firmly into her eyes as he said, “Mother, rest assured. Kong’er has grown up now. I can protect you! Will you trust me?”

Chen Jiuniang looked at Ye Kong. His profound gaze was full of determination and conviction, just like a responsible, upstanding seven-foot man.

“Mother trusts you.”

Very quickly, Ye Kong returned to his room. He knew this Ye Hai had truly practiced martial arts – he could be called highly skilled with rich experience, and could even exchange moves with Ye Haoran. He was separated from those thugs he’d just killed by more than one or two levels.

If he faced off against Ye Hai, relying solely on agility and the half-baked martial arts he’d stolen by watching, he had not even a bit of chance at victory.

So he had to hurry and draw talismans. Though paper talismans were all for treating illness, some could also achieve the effect of defeating enemies.

Ye Kong initially prepared to draw a Spirit-Calming Talisman. This talisman’s function was to preserve a patient’s last breath. When a person was about to die, their soul would ascend to heaven. To allow the patient to hold onto that last breath and delay the ascension process, there was this Spirit-Calming Talisman that fixed the soul in place.

The principle of the Spirit-Calming Talisman was to isolate the soul, preventing it from moving. At the same time, it also severed the connection between the soul and the four limbs and hundred bones. Once struck by this talisman, the brain would remain clear – able to hear and see – but completely unable to move, unable even to blink.

By dusk, the room had become exceptionally bright. The fiery red sunset in the distance seemed to plate noodleseverything in the room with a golden-red color.

Ye Kong set down the yellow paper, using paperweights to hold down the top. He then fetched an inkstone, washed it clean, added clear water, crushed a small piece of cinnabar, and using a square stone he’d prepared earlier, pressed down and slowly ground.

While grinding the cinnabar, he immersed his consciousness into his Spirit Platform, opened the Complete Collection of Talismans, and memorized the strokes and requirements for the Spirit-Calming Talisman one final time.

Actually, according to the book, before drawing talismans, one must bathe and change clothes, burn incense and make offerings, kowtow to heaven, and request the Supreme Elder Lord to descend and assist.

Ye Kong dismissed all this. He really couldn’t see what connection bathing and changing clothes had with drawing talismans. As for requesting the Supreme Elder Lord’s help – that was even more ridiculous. The Cangnan Continent didn’t have people who believed in this stuff either, yet people still attained the Way and ascended, didn’t they?

In Ye Kong’s view, the reason for ascension was simply that your strength became too powerful – so powerful that this realm could no longer contain you. The balance of the Heavenly Way meant you could only be sent away.

All of this was a matter of strength, not whether you believed in the Supreme Elder Lord or whether you’d bathed.