As dusk approached, figures on the streets grew sparse. The slums had no entertainment to speak of, so people went to bed early and rose early. Yet deep in one alley, a particular household blazed with light. Several oil-bright soapwort candles cast their radiance while inside, several people ate until grease dripped from their mouths.

“This is our brother’s good friend Li Wuda, this is Wan Zhen, this is…” Lu Jun introduced them to Ye Kong one by one.

Ye Kong smiled cheerfully, his grin carrying a hint of foolishness, as if completely unaware these men had come for his life.

Li Wuda and the others also pretended to be simple and honest, acting like they’d never seen much of the world. One after another, they wiped the grease from their mouths and bowed to Ye Kong.

“Eighth Young Master, we’re all rough men. In the future, please look after us.” Li Wuda smiled, his heart full of contempt for this Ye family eighth young master. Sure enough, he was a bit stupid. Such an idiot didn’t require him to lift a finger. Those dead thugs were probably killed by his subordinates, and today he hadn’t even brought any with him.

“Haha, I’ll definitely take good care of everyone.” Ye Kong continued his foolish grin, though his words held hidden meaning.

“That would be wonderful, we’re deeply grateful!” Li Wuda exchanged glances with his subordinates, then everyone burst into cheerful laughter.

Everyone at the table was laughing, but who knew what each was really laughing about?

They ate and drank, with some watered wine to liven things up. The group enjoyed themselves harmoniously.

“Brother Li, the moment I saw you, I could tell your martial arts dominate the world and none can match you. This little brother admires you terribly. I wonder where you’ve found such high employment?” Ye Kong took a sip of wine and asked with a smile.

Li Wuda felt refreshed being flattered like this, though he didn’t reveal details. “I make my home wherever I please,” he replied. “Wherever’s unauthorized copycomfortable, that’s where I go. The whole world is my home!”

“Brother Li truly is formidable. This little brother admires you.” Ye Kong raised his wine bowl again.

However, Li Wuda was quite shrewd. With murder and robbery imminent, why would he drink more? He barely took a sip and smiled. “Soon the moon will rise and we’ll all get to see the Lu family’s treasure jade. Let’s not drink too much and miss the main event.”

“The main event is important, the main event comes first.” Lu Jun shot Lu Yi a look.

Lu Yi immediately understood. He pushed their mother and sister into the room, instructing them not to come out no matter what sounds they heard.

“The moon’s out. Let’s see what’s so marvelous about this treasure jade.” Li Wuda was in no hurry to make his move. He’d long heard the Lu family treasure jade could reveal peerless martial arts, so naturally he wanted to see for himself.

“Then let’s go outside and look.” Ye Kong didn’t particularly care whether he saw it or not, but he didn’t want to strike first either. He just carefully stayed on guard, talismans already prepared in his hands.

The bright moon hung high in the long sky, sprinkling countless rays of cold light over this continent. In the small courtyard, they’d placed a basin of clear water, its surface bright and transparent.

One moon in the sky, one moon in the water, reflecting each other.

Lu Jun took out a flat, square piece of jade, jade-green in color. “This jade is called Shadow Jade,” he said. “Legend says it was passed down by the Shadow Tribe several hundred thousand years ago. Under moonlight, if you place this jade in water, you can see the Shadow Tribe’s dance. They say you can even cultivate peerless martial arts from it.”

“What’s the Shadow Tribe?” This was the first time Ye Kong had heard the name.

But too much time had passed. None of the others visit our sitehad heard of it either, and they all said they didn’t know. Even Lu Jun and Lu Yi shook their heads.

Li Wuda grew impatient and urged, “Just put it in and let’s see!”

Lu Jun reached out and tossed the jade pendant into the water. The moment the jade entered the water, the entire basin of clear water turned green, jade-green and leisurely, pleasing to behold.

Then they saw the jade pendant sink to the center of the basin and suddenly begin spraying threads of green smoke into the water. After a short while, the green smoke gradually condensed, and a jade-green beauty appeared in the basin.

Though this beauty was only palm-sized, her features were clearly distinguishable. Her eyebrows truly were like willow leaves, her eyes like lacquer dots. She was impossibly beautiful. Every man watching was reluctant to tear his eyes away.

Then the beauty began dancing gracefully in the basin. Her movements were exquisitely enchanting. Combined with her expression, she was mesmerizing to watch.

Though the woman was beautiful and her dance captivating, Ye Kong came from 21st century Earth. What hadn’t he seen? He quietly raised his head and glanced at the others.

He saw Li Wuda and company had already become immersed in the Shadow Jade’s beauty and dancing posture. One after another, they stared with drool flowing. What a perfect opportunity to strike! Ye Kong couldn’t help but be tempted. He might as well forget about waiting for them to make the first move. After all, their intent to harm him was already obvious. Better to strike first!

With a thought, Ye Kong’s spiritual energy immediately began circulating rapidly inside him. He grasped a Blinding Talisman in each hand, preparing to suddenly attack.

But in that instant, his eyes looked at the basin again. This time, he saw something different.

In the water above the jade pendant, there was a jade-green beauty dancing. But inside the jade pendant itself, there was also a woman’s shadow moving. That movement looked much more like martial arts.

Ye Kong’s heart stirred. The dance on the outside was just to confuse people. The shadow inside the jade was the real martial arts secret. This was why no one had been able to comprehend the Shadow Jade’s martial arts for so many years!

But then Ye Kong thought again. No, wait. Why hadn’t he seen the shadow inside the jade before? It was because he’d circulated his spiritual energy that he could see it. In other words, only cultivators could see the shadow. But why would cultivators need to learn martial arts?

Whatever. He’d watch first and think about it later.

Ye Kong stopped his premature attack and calmed his mind, memorizing all the shadow’s movements.

Who knew how long passed before the jade’s shadow grew fainter and fainter until finally it disappeared completely. Only then did everyone let out a long breath, each one praising how exquisite it was.

Some were still unsatisfied and clamored to watch it again.

But when Lu Jun retrieved the Shadow Jade from the basin, his entire person froze.

Everyone wondered what was wrong with him. Ye Kong was also startled. He raised his eyes to look at the Shadow Jade again and discovered that what had been jade-green and lustrous moments ago had now become a piece of white jade.

Lu Yi sighed. “When our ancestors passed down this jade, they said if someone comprehended the martial arts inside, the jade would become ordinary white jade and never show the dance again.”

Everyone was shocked. Then someone flattered, “Brother Li, your visit today was worth it! You’ve comprehended the Shadow Jade. Your martial arts will reach even greater heights in the future. Don’t forget to teach this little brother a move or two.”

Li Wuda said in frustration, “I didn’t! I didn’t see anything except the beauty.”

Everyone had assumed Li Wuda’s martial arts were highest, so he should have been the one to comprehend it. But [visit our site]he firmly denied it, so they all looked at each other, guessing in their hearts who had comprehended the Shadow Jade.

Only Lu Jun set down the jade and raised his eyes to look at Ye Kong. Then the others followed his gaze.

Ye Kong quickly smiled. “Everyone, my martial arts are the worst here. It definitely wasn’t me who comprehended it. I think Brother Li, you comprehended it but won’t admit it. Stop being so secretive. If you comprehended it, that’s your good fortune. No one else can take it from you.”

Li Wuda reconsidered. Then he’d just admit it. Who cared? This way his subordinates would only be more convinced of him. It had advantages and no disadvantages.

Besides, maybe he really had comprehended it?

“Haha, then I accept your kind words, brothers. This Shadow Jade martial art is profound and mysterious. I’ll need to go back and study it more. Once I’ve achieved some results, I’ll share with everyone.” Li Wuda smiled.

Ye Kong took two steps back. “In that case, this little brother will take his leave first.”

Li Wuda’s smile grew even wider. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Eighth Young Master, since you’ve come, did you think you’d be leaving?”

Ye Kong smiled foolishly. “Could Brother Li want to keep this brother for a midnight snack?”

Li Wuda and his subordinates threw back their heads in laughter again. “Midnight snack? You fool only knows how to eat! Then we’ll send you to the underworld to eat your midnight snack!”

As Li Wuda finished speaking and prepared to make his move, they were shocked to discover that the seemingly foolish Ye Kong had already rushed forward ahead of them.

The moment Ye Kong moved, both hands continuously slapped out paper talismans while his [unauthorized copy]mouth continuously chanted awkward-sounding incantations. Those gang members whose bodies were slapped with his paper talismans first froze, not knowing what the hell was happening.

Then they saw the paper talismans flash with fire, and everything before their eyes went pitch black.

“Something’s wrong! There’s sorcery!”

“Why’s it so dark!”

“I can’t fucking see!”

“Ah! My stomach hurts so much!”

Li Wuda’s martial arts were formidable after all. His long blade rang out as he drew it. Swinging left and dancing right, he actually deflected Ye Kong’s sneak attack and barely managed to split apart the two paper talismans shot at him.

“Fool, who’d have thought you knew some barbarian tribe witchcraft.” Li Wuda sneered at Ye Kong. In his view, this sort of trickery he’d never seen before must be witchcraft.

“Fool? Very soon I’ll make you understand what a fool really is.” Ye Kong had already turned all the other gang members into blind men.

A single white-robed figure stood under the moon. Though his shadow was solitary, no one dared underestimate him.

“That depends on whether you have the ability!” Li Wuda sneered. Disregarding his brothers’ lives, he casually grabbed one beside him and shoved him toward Ye Kong. “He’s over there! Take him out!”

With darkness before his eyes, the guy cursed and stumbled forward, wildly waving his blade. “Kid, give me back my eyes!”

“Go to hell!” Ye Kong dodged to the side, sweeping out his leg horizontally. One kick sent the gang member flying.

But after that kick, Ye Kong suddenly realized the move he’d just used was clearly one he’d learned from the Shadow Jade. Without knowing it, he’d used it naturally. It seemed he really had comprehended the Shadow Jade’s martial arts.

“Again!” Li Wuda had become famous in his early years. That he’d survived until now proved he was cunning beyond measure. Knowing Ye Kong was somewhat strange, he constantly pushed out his subordinates, making them test Ye Kong’s depths.

Those guys couldn’t see anything. Each one shouted and yelled as Ye Kong kicked them together, where they wildly slashed at each other with their blades.

“Hall Master Li, throwing all your subordinates out to die like this – isn’t that rather lacking in righteousness?” Ye Kong smiled calmly.

“Righteousness? I…” Li Wuda suddenly realized his identity had been exposed. He immediately twisted his head to glare furiously at Lu Jun.

Standing beside him, the Lu Jun and Lu Yi brothers had no room to maneuver anymore. They also drew their blades and rushed forward, roaring, “Li Wuda, die!”

“You two aren’t worth enough!” Li Wuda swung his hand. His blade swept out with a clang, sparks flying from the blade’s edge in all directions.

This Li Wuda’s martial arts truly were formidable. With just one strike, he knocked the blades from both Lu Jun and Lu Yi’s hands.

But just as he turned for a follow-up strike, Ye Kong’s white shadow had already closed in like a ghost. The distance of several meters was covered in the blink of an eye.

Li Wuda dared turn to engage the Lu brothers because he’d calculated Ye Kong wouldn’t be this fast. He hadn’t expected him to be much faster than imagined. He hurriedly pulled back his force to counter.

In all martial arts under heaven, only speed cannot be broken.

Obscure incantations rapidly poured from Ye Kong’s mouth. He pressed against Li Wuda and with a flick of his hand, “Freeze!”

As Ye Kong said, the moment Li Wuda was stuck with the Spirit-Calming Talisman, he immediately became as if frozen solid. His eyes stared blankly straight ahead at Ye Kong. His raised blade reflected the moon’s radiance.

But it would never come down again.

“Boom!” Li Wuda’s body toppled over, kicking up a cloud of yellow dust.

“Quick, kill him!” The Lu brothers frantically went to retrieve their knocked-away blades.

“Doesn’t he have a blade in his hand?” Ye Kong sneered coldly. Stepping on Li Wuda’s throat, he very slowly picked up the blade from his hand.

The night wind flowed gently, causing the strip of talisman paper on Li Wuda’s face to flutter, revealing a pair of black eyes filled with terror.

“Afraid?” Ye Kong smiled faintly, as if still radiating foolishness. He hefted the blade and said, “I’ve heard that the more people you’ve killed, the more you fear death. You really are quite afraid, aren’t you? But being afraid… still won’t save you from death!”

Ye Kong’s tone grew severe. Without further delay, he swung the blade. The moonlight was like water, the blade’s light like white lightning, transforming into a brilliant streak of silk as it descended.

“Stay your blade!” Suddenly from outside the earthen wall came an [unauthorized copy]angry roar. Then countless dark arrows rose up.

Bows drawn like full moons, arrows already nocked!