《Beginning with the Ubume Bird》 Chapter 1 - 1 The End of the Big Gun Chapter 1: Chapter 1 The End of the Big Gun Editor: Larbre Studio Hebei, in a small county town that took some searching on the map. She looked through the car window at the night market covered in dust and stains, the mor of voices carrying far, the streets filled with the greasy scent wafting from hotpot restaurants. The owner of the barbecue stall was shiny-faced with oil, as people wrapped tightly in their coats passed through the dense smoke. Cramped, awkward, cold, and rough. The woman had heard simr remarks before. But she never had much of a deep experience with them. This was probably herst chance, she sighed, and said, ¡°Here we are, Mr. Bai, let¡¯s get off.¡± In the north at this time, the wind was strong. The woman was wrapped in arge trench coat, concealing her body¡¯s curves, followed by a man in his thirties, standing upright and erect, sporting a neat buzz cut. One after the other, they stepped into a shabby audiovisual store. This dismal line of business was indeed rare nowadays. The old televisions were a bit damp, and a young Dou Wei was screaming hoarsely on the green-tinged screens. Stacks of martial arts novels were piled everywhere, Liang Yusheng, Gu Long. There was also Ni Kuang, and in the warm-colored ss cab were assorted records and videos from the end of thest century, along with some pixted, and even ck-and-white, old photos. Teddy Robin, Samuel Hui, n Tam holding microphones gazing at each other, beside them written ¡¯84 Space Tour Concert.¡¯ On the wall hung an old-fashioned poster, inscribed with the words ¡°Rouge Button,¡± and Anita Mui in the painting, dressed as a man, her neck and eyes faint like smoke. ¡°What can I get for you?¡± The voice was clear and gentle. Not like that of a rough northern man. Surprisingly, the owner of such an old-fashioned store was a tall and thin young man, seemingly no more than twenty-five years old. He was wearing a ck T-shirt, hisplexion pale. ¡°Excuse me, are you Mr. Li Yan?¡± The woman asked with a smile. ¡°Ah, yes, that¡¯s me.¡± The woman in front of him had a high and straight nose, shallow eye sockets, and attractive features, exuding a spirited and sharp elegance. There was a tidy vigor about her entire being. Li Yan nced surreptitiously at the silent buzz-cut man behind the woman, and responded, ¡°I am a director from the Chinese Martial Arts Association, from Guangdong. My name is Lei Jing, Lei Hongsheng was my grandfather.¡± The woman revealed a set of white teeth, ¡°By seniority, I should really be calling you ¡®senior brother.''¡± She gripped Li Yan¡¯s palm, warm and strong on contact. Li Yan¡¯s eyes were as if covered with a thinyer of dust, only revealing a glint of light when he heard the name ¡°Lei Hongsheng.¡± ¡°Oh, please take a seat, don¡¯t mind the small space.¡± The woman sat down on a chair nearby with casual ease, silently sizing up Li Yan. Grandfather¡¯s old photographs with this man from earlier times were still kept at home, yet it was difficult to connect the sharp and defiant young man in the photographs with the owner of this audiovisual store. ¡°I often heard grandfather mention senior brother; he always reminisced that you were the most talented person he ever met.¡± The man turned around to fetch a sk, inquired while making tea, ¡°Is the old man still robust?¡± The woman¡¯s gaze dropped, ¡°He passed away earlier this year.¡± Li Yan¡¯s hand remained steady, not spilling a drop of water as he put down the sk, and looked deeply at the woman. ¡°Is there something I can help you with?¡± The woman pressed her lips together, then said, ¡°I was hoping senior brother Li woulde to Guangdong and serve as an advisor for the association.¡± Li Yan raised an eyebrow and replied, ¡°You must have heard what kind of person I am, Miss Lei. Speaking honestly, in the martial arts world, the name Li Yan is quite notorious. How could you think I could be of help?¡± Lei Jing was silent for a while, then smiled charmingly, ¡°Rather than notorious, one might say your reputation is fierce. Perhaps those people don¡¯t respect you, senior brother, but they will certainly fear you.¡± Li Yan couldn¡¯t help butugh upon hearing this. ¡°Sounds quite reasonable. Unfortunately, you¡¯re toote.¡± The man picked up his cup, ¡°Miss Lei, are you familiar with modern medicine?¡± ¡°Um, what are you implying, senior brother?¡± ¡°AML.¡± Lei Jing was startled for a moment, then a dark cloud swept over her heart. She ventured a guess, ¡°Acute myeloid leukemia.¡± Li Yan took a sip of water, ¡°I was diagnosed with this disease a month ago. Your family¡¯s elder is aware that I have no rtives.¡± He smiled, ¡°So, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you anymore.¡± The woman looked down at her nails for a while before speaking dryly, ¡°The medical conditions in the south are much better than here, and I know some well-known doctors abroad. Leukemia is not a terminal illness, and even if you have no siblings, it¡¯s entirely possible to find a matching bone marrow donor.¡± The woman lifted her head, her whole demeanor became much more sharp. ¡°I might be putting you in a difficult position bying here this time, but¡­¡± Lei Jing weighed her words carefully. ¡°The Association is my grandfather¡¯s lifelong dedication. I can¡¯t stand by and watch it be a tool for some politicians to seek power or profit.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about seeking power¡­¡± Li Yan suddenly interrupted the woman¡¯s words, drained his ss of hot water, and fiddled with the cup in his hand. He smiled at the woman, radiating an aura of fierce confidence. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t handing over the Association to you be seeking power? Can you tell me how you¡¯re different from those politicians you detest?¡± Li Yan¡¯s words were quite impolite, causing the man with the buzz cut sitting next to them to furrow his brow. The woman¡¯s face remained calm as she elegantly exined, ¡°The Chinese Martial Arts Association was founded by my grandfather. I¡¯ve been involved with the Association¡¯s affairs since I was sixteen. No one knows it better than I do, nor loves it more.¡± Li Yan shook his head and put down his cup, ¡°When I shook hands with Miss Lei just now, your hands were very soft, you haven¡¯t practiced martial arts, right?¡± The woman pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯ve been frail since childhood and the martial arts in my family are too domineering. So I only practiced some breathing techniques to cultivate my qi.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s it,¡± Li Yan said, bowing his head and suddenly veering off-topic, ¡°Do you like reading wuxia novels, Miss Lei?¡± Lei Jing was a bit bewildered by the question, but she tried to answer, ¡°Jin Yong?¡± ¡°Lao She, Soul-breaking Spear.¡± The woman clearly did not understand what Li Yan meant, but the buzz-cut man beside her narrowed his eyes. ¡°In any case, I really don¡¯t have the strength to help you with your problems, thanks for your kindness. If you two would like to stay for a meal, I¡¯ve cooked dumplings; if not, please feel free. Also, light some incense for Mr. Bai for me.¡± With the conversation reaching this point, there was clearly no need to continue. After a long while, Lei Jing silently stood up, but she didn¡¯t leave immediately. Instead, under Li Yan¡¯s gaze, she took out a business card and ced it on the table. She said, ¡°So many people have told me about how domineering Li Yan is, they would never imagine you like this now.¡± Li Yan cocked his head, remaining silent. ¡°But my grandfather always admired you, always has. Do you know how he described you?¡± Lei Jing looked directly at the man, mimicking her grandfather¡¯s tone. ¡°A martial artist should first cultivate a trace of fierceness in their heart. In my lifetime, I¡¯ve met many young men, but only this scoundrel has just the right amount, exactly that trace of fierceness.¡± ¡°Whether you ept my request or not, I sincerely hope that trace of fierceness in your heart hasn¡¯t dissipated.¡± After speaking, Lei Jing turned and left with the middle-aged man. Li Yan sat there stunned for a while, bent down to pick up the two cups of hot water and drank them both. Then he chuckled; ¡°What a formidable girl.¡± He took a tissue to wipe his nose, not minding the patch of bright red on it, casually tossing it aside. He then sprawled out on the sofa. ¡°That trace of fierceness¡­ Heh.¡± Li Yan covered his forehead with his right hand, recalling the old man with the bushy eyebrows who seemed vigorous in spirit. His smile carried a hint of bitterness. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Bai¡­¡± ¡°Thud¡± A pair of glossy ck leather shoes stepped onto the floor of his home. Li Yan recognized the owner of the shoes as the buzz-cut man who had followed Lei Jing. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Li Yan sat up and looked up, feeling a chill run down his spine as his chestnut-colored pupils contracted involuntarily. The doorframe creaked under the grip of the man¡¯s pale fingers. He hunched like a beast, with the flesh on his face dangling down in bloody tatters, strings of white sinews sticking out. His face was beyond recognition. Upon hearing Li Yan¡¯s question, the man slowly lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes bulging outwards, as ferocious as a demon. Li Yan breathed in the cold air one gulp at a time. Apanied by the vigorous percussion music on the television screen was the sound of his sharp, forceful curse. ¡°Fuck!¡± CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Larbrestudio From 15 Feb 2020, Coins spent on books that aren¡¯t selected will be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 2: Mo and the Gu Huo Bird Chapter 2: Mo and the Gu Huo Bird Editor: Larbre Studio This is definitely not human! As Li Yan¡¯s thoughts turned, the hideous monster viciously swung a whipping leg at him. Like a streak of ck lightning, it struck toward Li Yan¡¯s temple. Li Yan instinctively extended his arm to block, but the massive force sent him flying to the side. Before Li Yan could get back up, a domineering shadow smashed down on him. He was toote to dodge and was hit in the right shoulder with such force that his whole arm went numb. Then, before his eyes, a sinister toe-kick came at his face. This barrage of kicks came down like a sudden downpour, leaving him absolutely no room to escape. If this kicknded solidly, Li Yan would either be dead or crippled. Without thinking, he reached out with both hands towards the t-headed man¡¯s flying leg. His left fingers silently dug viciously into the side of the man¡¯s knee! ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Thump.¡± The t-headed man¡¯s right foot hit Li Yan¡¯s elbow, but he fell to his knees on the ground. That blurry, flesh-torn face was now facing Li Yan. In the blink of an eye, the previously passive Li Yan reached out and grabbed the t-headed man¡¯s shoulder, leaned back, and the upper body of the man uncontrobly toppled forward! A fierce light shed in Li Yan¡¯s eyes, and he quickly rolled over, right leg pinning the man¡¯s neck. There was a snapping sound, and the t-headed man¡¯s entire arm was wrenched off! He then pressed against the t-headed man¡¯s lower back, grabbed his other arm, and with a clean pull, disregarding the cringing sound of breaking bones, his right foot kicked hard against the man¡¯s shinbone. The kick was both fierce and urate, twisting the man¡¯s lower leg out of ce in an irregr fashion. Only then did he stand up, looking down at the t-headed man who was struggling on the ground, particrly lingering on the rotting face. Watching the t-headed man who couldn¡¯t get back up for a long time, Li Yan let out a breath and turned his head to pick up his phone. And the man on the ground, against all belief, suddenly burst up, opening his ghastly white teeth to bite at Li Yan¡¯s thigh! As if he had eyes on the back of his head, Li Yan twisted his waist and swung his body into a flying kick. His right foot, with a whooshing sound, viciously hit the man¡¯s temple. The t-headed man¡¯s neck bone was kicked clean through! His head, like a broken spring, twisted a full ny degrees, hanging at an eerie angle on his neck. The brutality was beyond description. Li Yan licked his gums and spat out a mouthful of blood: ¡°Still trying to be intimidating, huh?¡± His murderous gaze swept back and forth over the man¡¯s body, the icy aura tinged with the smell of blood billowing out without restraint¡ªnone of the mild temperament of a music shop owner remained. ¡°Brilliant, truly brilliant. Tan¡¯s Leg Disciplines emphasize an unending momentum. Once you take the lead, it¡¯s basically impossible for the opponent to make aeback. I didn¡¯t expect it to be overturned by a fierce move like ¡®White Horse¡¯s Sudden Hoof,¡¯ a reversal from defeat to victory. It¡¯s said that the Li family from Hejian are unmatched in both spear and sword, but your grappling skills are also impressively sharp.¡± He lifted his head to look at the short and fat man standing at the doorway. The man was wearing a white tank top, bell-bottom pants, and slippers. His hair was greasy and unkempt. The three words ¡°messy fat otaku¡± summed him up perfectly, with not a single detail out of ce. But Li Yan keenly noticed the pitch darkness behind the fat man. There was no moonlight outside the door, no neon lights, no smoke from barbecue stalls, and no roar of cars¡ªjust a sticky ckness that was terrifyingly dark. ¡°Where¡¯s the woman?¡± Li Yan red at the fat man in front of him. ¡°You have a very strong adaptability, and your skills and reactions are top-notch. Very good.¡± Feeling Li Yan¡¯s increasingly hostile gaze, the fat man smiled and pointed to the ground. Li Yan nced to the side with the corner of his eye, only to discover that the body of the man on the ground had vanished without a trace! Only the overturned sofa and the mess around confirmed that everything had actually happened. ¡°Was I dreaming?¡± Li Yan touched his forehead. Perhaps nothing had happened. Maybe he had just drunk three cups of hot water and fallen asleep on the sofa. There were no dress shoes or men with flesh falling off their faces¡ªnothing at all. ¡°I have nothing to do with those two guys just now. The only thing inmon is that we are all very interested in you. Don¡¯t worry, I just borrowed a thought from that t-headed man to say hello to you, that¡¯s all. They knew nothing about this.¡± ¡°` Li Yan didn¡¯t speak, waiting for the fat man to continue. ¡°Hmm, let me introduce myself, uh, what¡¯s my name again?¡± The fat man reached into his pocket and turned out a mess of things, such as crumpled vitamin wrappers, a hair salon discount card with a nude woman on it, used and indeterminate pieces of toilet paper, and so on. Finally, he managed to find a dirt-smudged ID card. It clearly read Wang Xyang in big characters. ¡°Anyway, just call me Wang Yang, but you can also call me by another name.¡± The fat man smirked mysteriously, ¡°Mo.¡± Li Yan nced at him and snorted. ¡°Demon, fancy a dumpling?¡± Wang Yang was momentarily taken aback, then burst intoughter, which grew more and more hysterical. ¡°You, hahaha, you¡¯re too funny. Hahahaha¡­¡± Li Yan narrowed his eyes. He could swear to the Third Ancestor Grandfather that he really wanted to brutally stamp the sole of his shoe on this greasy fat man¡¯s face, provided he could do it. ¡°I can save your life.¡± The fat man suddenly stoppedughing. Li Yan stared at him and asked, ¡°Do you have my matching bone marrow?¡± ¡°That¡¯s child¡¯s y.¡± Wang Yang shook his head. ¡°I can give you something better.¡± Li Yan let his hands hang down and pondered for a long while until Wang Yang grew impatient. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± Wang Yang spread his hands. ¡°Just give it a try and you¡¯ll know, but remember, this is a path of no return¡­¡± ¡°Sounds a lot better than waiting to die.¡± A cold and sharp light shed briefly in Li Yan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s hear it.¡± The fat man¡¯s mouth twisted into a smile, his expression turning unusually dark and solemn: ¡°So,e.¡± Behind him, a tide of abyss-like darkness surged forth,pletely swallowing the horrified Li Yan. ¡­ At that moment, Li Yan felt himself falling, darkness enveloping him, and a myriad of bizarre, incredible visions floated before his eyes. ck chains crossing the sky, a majestic hall cast from millions of pounds of green bronze, the golden-red Albatross swirling in the sky, the heavy dark clouds nurturing rich purple-blue Thunder sma, and in the great hall, watching him, countless vast and mysterious shadows. Li Yan¡¯s blood was scorchingly hot, turning his visionpletely red. And within the crimson veil, he saw clearly one of those vast and mysterious dark figures¡­ With eighteen wings of varying lengths interconnecting, nine heads that seemed fierce and strange, one neck dripping with fresh blood¡­ ¡°Awaken her, my walker.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Li Yan couldn¡¯t make a sound, only able to scream in his mind. Cold, darkness. ¡°` Chapter 3: Zi Xu Passes the Checkpoint! Chapter 3: Zi Xu Passes the Checkpoint! Editor: Larbre Studio When Li Yan opened his eyes, what greeted him was a row of white fluorescent tubes; the noisy cheers around him and the pungent smell of cigarette smoke gave him a headache. He sat up, feeling the concrete floor beneath him, and looked around. Li Yan was sitting against a wall, directly facing a five-meter square fighting ring. To his left, hundreds of seats rose in disarray, filled with people who were screaming at the top of their lungs, frantically waving white paper tickets in their hands, their eyes bloodshot. ¡°Is this, underground boxing? Where¡¯s that fatso?¡± Li Yan murmured to himself. At that moment, in the midst of the deafening noise, a distinctly hoarse and deep voice clearly reached Li Yan¡¯s ears. ¡°Esteemed Walker, wee to Yan Fu. We¡¯ve prepared a new identity for you that won¡¯t arouse anyone¡¯s suspicion. Please feel free to cause a scene.¡± Following that, Li Yan clearly saw some ck sooty characters on the wall beside him: Time: AD 1986 Location: Mong Kok, 22.35 degrees northtitude, 113.5 degrees east longitude. North of the New Territories of Hong Kong, Kowloon City, cramped, dirty, crowded, dark as night, drug dealing, smuggling, murder, robbery. Casinos, brothels, opium dens, heroin lounges, dog meat restaurants abound,wless, rampant criminal forces. This is the city of sin, the city of trash, the city of violence, and also the city of exorbitant profits¡­ The requirements for this Yan Fu event are as follows: 1. Fight to the seventh round in the Kowloon boxing ring. 2. Obtain any fragment of the Sink Hook Chen Record Book. 3. Awaken the Gu Huo Bird from the Sink Hook Chen. (Uponpleting any one condition, the Yan Fu event officially begins.) You can stay for a maximum of one month. (Please note that if you lose the boxing match, regardless of the current progress of the Yan Fu event, you will return immediately.) Mo¡¯s gift: Gain additional purchase privileges (1/1) Your personal information is as follows: Name: Li Yan Status: Fever, inmmation, bleeding. Expertise: Ancient Martial Arts 81% Li Yan stood up, stared at the line about his expertise for a while, feeling there was something unfinished about it, but he couldn¡¯t quite figure it out yet. As Li Yan was pondering these things, a hand reeking of sweat and cheap cigarettes lunged towards his head. ¡°Smack.¡± Li Yan grabbed the wrist of the iing hand, just as he was about to exert force, he heard a string of curses like exploding soybeans beside his ear. ¡°Standing there like a zombie? Fuck! Get up on the stage and box.¡± He nced at the man who had spoken, who was probably in his forties, wearing an ill-fitting suit. His face was filled with bulging flesh, his eyes round and the size of soybeans, looking a bit fierce but also somewhatical. Li Yan quickly lowered his head, released the man¡¯s wrist, and with a sidelong nce at the wall, sure enough, saw nothing but chaotic nicotine stains, making any words indiscernible. The man had initially been startled by Li Yan¡¯s gaze but, seeing Li Yan lower his head, he quickly recovered his arrogant demeanor, straightened his suit, spat on the floor, and muttered, ¡°Dumb as a rock.¡± ¡°If he really managed to bring me to Hong Kong in 1986, then there¡¯s no reason why my illness couldn¡¯t be cured.¡± Li Yan walked towards the ring in silence, his heart trembling slightly. ¡°Next up, please wee tonight¡¯s highest-stake fighter. He¡¯s really something, iming he¡¯ll clear all levels tonight and defeat all six boxers below the stage.¡± The greasy, powdered host on the stage shouted into the microphone with an exaggerated tone, trying to whip up the atmosphere. Li Yan didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit ufortable in this environment. The monster in the video store had stirred up a long-absent ferocity in him. He walked to the edge of the ring, about to step up, but was stopped by a security guard wearing ck sunsses. ¡°Over there.¡± The man pointed towards a few boxers standing underneath the ring. Just then, a roar like a tidal wave erupted from the crowd. Li Yan looked up to see a dark-skinned, muscr man with crossed arms stepping onto the stage. ¡°Cha Chai! Cha Chai! Cha Chai!¡± Li Yan looked at the man known as Cha Chai on the stage with a smile that was not quite a smile. He was wearing a tight tank top, his body rippling with muscles, and his knees and elbows were covered in thick calluses. As if feeling Li Yan¡¯s gaze, Cha Chai turned his head and stared straight at Li Yan below the stage. After exchanging nces with Cha Chai for a while, Li Yan walked towards the five boxers waiting below the stage for Cha Chai to choose from, but internally he was secretly astonished. He saw a trace of dull red glow on this man¡¯s body, which seemingly went unnoticed by others. What was more interesting was that when he sized up the few boxers around him, he noticed the same red glow emanating from them as well, just fainterpared to Mo. The host on the stage shrugged his shoulders and said in a deliberately nonchnt tone: ¡°There¡¯s no need to say how fierce Cha Chai can be. Those who bet on him to win are in for a profit today. Next, please, Cha Chai, choose your first opponent for the day.¡± Cha Chai¡¯s wolf-like vicious gaze was fixed on Li Yan until he walked to the center of the boxers, then he raised his hand to signal the host and pointed his finger at Li Yan! A chorus of boos rose from the audience. This pale-faced, tall, and thin young man did not look like a fighter at all. Some of the seasoned bettors at the ring were sure that this was a face they had never seen before¡ªeither a hotheaded hooligan out to make a quick buck or a student so deeply in debt that he had been forced into the ring. The host nced at the slip in his hand and shouted loudly. ¡°Cha Chai has chosen boxer Li Yan. Li Yan, onto the stage!¡± Li Yan loosened his shoulders and neck and flipped onto the stage. Cha Chai shed a cruel smile and made a throat-slitting gesture at the expressionless Li Yan. Li Yan watched Cha Chai, who was swaying from side to side, leaned his body slightly back, and took the stance of a Bagua stepping pattern. Some of the audience whistled from below. ¡°Kid, ying Bruce Lee won¡¯t help you win.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just the first fight; just pick an easy target to knock around, and theter fights will be more lively.¡± Many in the crowd came with the expectation that Cha Chai would win six consecutive matches, not to mention those who had ced bets on him to win outright. This man named Cha Chai was born in the Trang province of Southern Thand and followed a Muay Thai master known as the Comet of Southern Thand, Naifo! He had studied Muay Thai for twenty years and had kicked down who knows how many sour orange trees! Without sufficient strength and confidence, Cha Chai would not have dared to im he would fight his way through the matches in Longcheng. Suddenly, Cha Chai rushed over, hurling a fierce and fast punch straight at Li Yan¡¯s face. A barely perceptible hesitation of his left foot, and his knee was already poised to thrust. This was amon Muay Thai offensive routine: using the punch as a feint to open up the fight with a knee thrust. Once gaining the upper hand, it would lead to a torrential downpour of elbows and knees! Li Yan stepped to the left, slightly bent his left palm to catch Cha Chai¡¯s wrist, lifted it, and his right hand shot straight past Cha Chai¡¯s right arm, hooking towards Cha Chai¡¯s neck. This ghostly speed startled Cha Chai. His knee hadn¡¯t even lifted yet, but his opponent¡¯s palm was less than a foot from his throat! Instinctively, he dodged to the left, only for Li Yan to vanish from sight! Before he could recover, there was a sensation as if a small hammer had firmly struck his knee pit. Cha Chai¡¯s lower body copsed, and he fell to his knees, beads of cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Behind him stood Li Yan, with an icy look on his face, just getting to his feet. In the front row of the stands, a man wearing a gold chain around his neck and dressed in a white suit tilted his head and muttered to himself: ¡°Subduing Zi Xu? Bagua Palm?¡± The man in the suit saw it clearly: Li Yan had passed under Cha Chai¡¯s armpit and kicked straight into the pit of his right knee. It was indeed the ¡°Subduing Zi Xu¡± from the Bagua Palm! Astonishment swept through the audience. What was going on? The Thai was knocked to the ground in the first exchange by an unknown neer. Many angrily threw their tickets to the floor, the crowd was incensed, and they all questioned whether Cha Chai was throwing the fight. Cha Chai stood up with a dark expression, moved his right leg a bit, and raised his fists at Li Yan. ¡°My turn.¡± This time, Li Yan lunged forward with a swift step, his right punch aimed at Cha Chai¡¯s cheek. Cha Chai guardedly protected his face and firmly blocked the punch, but Li Yan¡¯s right leg sprang up, kicking towards Cha Chai¡¯s groin¡ªthe very move Cha Chai had intended to use! A fierce light shed in Cha Chai¡¯s eyes. Li Yan¡¯s fighting style was a great insult to him. Despite a lingering pain in his knee, he didn¡¯t hesitate tounch a knee strike. But what Cha Chai failed to notice was his leg didn¡¯t lift very high andcked power. As his leg was still in the air, Li Yan suddenly twisted his leg outward in a swift motion, unleashing astonishing speed and viciously striking Cha Chai on the side of his knee! ¡°Pop.¡± The shouting from the crowd abruptly ceased as they clearly saw Cha Chai¡¯s knee joint snap from Li Yan¡¯s brutal kick, his lower leg now at an unnatural angle. Cha Chai lost his bnce and copsed to the ground. Li Yan touched his nose, which was already trickling with two streams of fresh blood. He nced at the host with wide eyes and tilted his head, ¡°Announce it.¡± The host stared nkly at Cha Chai lying on the ground and swallowed hard before stammering out: ¡°The, the winner of this boxing match, Li Yan.¡± Cha Chai, who boasted he would fight his way through the matches, was floored in the first round, even leaving the experienced bettors in disbelief. Li Yan on the stage, expressionless, raised his hand: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it about fighting through the matches? Since Cha Chai lost, who will fight me next?¡± Chapter 4 - 4 Flowered Shirt 9 and Wensheng Fist Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Flowered Shirt 9 and Wensheng Fist Editor: Larbre Studio The boxers below the stage exchanged looks; Li Yan had knocked down the Thai Cha Chai with just a nce, and no one was willing to step into the ring at that moment and seek misfortune. ¡°Hahaha,d, the boxing rings of Longcheng are only open when there¡¯s betting involved. Just now, someone bet on Cha Chai to fight the challenge, and that¡¯s why you had your match. If no one bets to fight you, then you can only step off the stage.¡± The man speaking was the one in the white suit who had broken Li Yan¡¯s stride. With his pink shirt unbuttoned, revealing a corner of an Asura tattoo, the exceptionally pale man wore a smile, pulling out a thick stack of banknotes from his chest. ¡°Those scattered eggs aren¡¯t your match. Do you have the guts to fight one of my men? Win or lose, these fifty thousand are yours.¡± The Kowloon City¡¯s boxing arena had its own hierarchy. Just like the fourth-tier match Li Yan fought earlier, a boxer would earn five thousand for a win. Now the gold-threaded suit man was offering fifty thousand right off the bat, which would take Li Yan ten whole matches to earn. In 1986¡¯s Hong Kong, a bowl of Chow Mein cost ten dors,rge and satisfying, while a pack of Marlboro was twenty dors. Fifty thousand, no doubt, was a huge sum of money. Li Yan didn¡¯t particrly care about the fifty thousand Hong Kong dors at first¡ªhe could only stay here for a month, and whether he would have the life to spend that money was a different story altogether. However, when his gaze fell upon the fifty thousand, a peculiar phrase shed before his eyes. Hong Kong dors: Fifty thousand. A valuable item, can be exchanged for five Yan Fu points. This kind of item can only be exchanged after verifying its ownership. Note: Even a single Yan Fu point is something you yearn for. The little-eyed fatty, who was initially arrogant towards Li Yan, came over with a forced smile. ¡°Shanjiu, Shanjiu.¡± The white-suited man didn¡¯t even spare him a nce, his eyes fixed on Li Yan on the stage. ¡°So, what¡¯s it gonna be? Will you fight or not?¡± ¡°Shanjiu,¡± The fatty¡¯s back was drenched in cold sweat, yet still managed to force a smile. ¡°Shanjiu¡¯s excited, willing to bet on fists. You can pick any boxer here, and I¡¯ll make sure they fight for you to see. But bringing your own man onto the stage, that¡¯s not proper.¡± Shanjiu¡¯s attention finally shifted to Fatty¡¯s greasy face, his tone unkind: ¡°Fatty, are you an idiot? You expect me to spend fifty thousand to watch trash fight in the fourth ring? Are you treating me, Hua Shanjiu, like a sucker?¡± ¡°Shanjiu, how would I dare,¡± Fatty tried to say more, but Hua Shanjiu interrupted him directly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to speak. I¡¯m simply letting my man down for a bit of fun, and I¡¯m paying enough for it. Which rule in themittee¡¯s book says outsiders can¡¯t enter the ring? If Taishuai mes me, I¡¯ll apologize to him, okay? Beat it while I¡¯m still in a good mood.¡± Fatty was caught between a rock and a hard ce. Around fifty ruffians, all with malice in their eyes, were sitting around Hua Shanjiu. They stared at him intimidatingly. He sneakily nced at themittee¡¯s registration staff, and upon seeing them nod, he scurried away dejectedly. ¡°Kid, you¡¯re in luck!¡± He walked over to Li Yan, grinding his teeth, muttering under his breath. ¡°This guy is the one carrying the momentum in Heung Sheng, a head figure in the underground, you get it? Fight impressively, then take a few punches and lie down on the ground¡ªyou¡¯ll get fifty thousand just like that, you know?¡± Li Yan blinked, ¡°The underworld, huh?¡± ¡°Be smart about it, and fend for yourself.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Li Yan looked rxed, even though his status bar indicated high fever, bleeding, and inmmationplications from leukemia. His physical condition was quite poor; not to mention the weakness, he would asionally bleed from his gums or nose without any apparent reason, and there was even a time he fainted suddenly during practice. Yet Li Yan felt that this was the most exhrating moment he had had in months. The flesh-and-bone impact of punches, the rolling briny taste of blood between his teeth, everything stirred that deep-seated fury within him¡ªa powerful sensation of being alive. Hua Shanjiu cracked a toothy smile, patting the shoulder of a freckled young man beside him. ¡°Zhou, I know you¡¯re eager. Go on the boxing ring and have a bit of fun with this Bagua Palm master.¡± Zhou wasn¡¯t tall, with a sharp short haircut, emitting an aura of ferocity from his eyes. He stood up, didn¡¯t take the corridor, but instead vaulted from the stands directly down. Then he ascended the stage. Hua Shanjiu watched the cold-faced Zhou, shaking his head with a smile. His little brother had Shandong roots and came from a traditional martial arts heritage; not the kind that learned superficial moves for three to five years, but someone who had immersed himself for over a decade. He had the qualifications to teach in any of Hong Kong¡¯s national arts centers. Skilled and sharp, he was one of his most capable lieutenants. Zhou suffered a great loss in his early years when sparring with a Bagua Palm martial artist from Cheng school, resulting in five broken ribs and a deaf right ear. Hence, he had always hoped to fight a descendant of Bagua Palm again to avenge that defeat. However, Bagua Palm is mostly taught in the Jingjin area, and Bagua Palm martial arts schools in Hong Kong are extremely rare. Inside Kowloon City, Shanjiu indeed knew of a legitimate heir to the Bagua Palm, but even if you lent him ten times the courage, Shanjiu wouldn¡¯t dare to seek out that person for his brother to practice with¡­ Zhou, standing on the boxing stage, cupped his hands in greeting, not looking like a gang member, but instead possessed some of the air of an old-school martial artist. ¡°Du Family Fist, Zhou Weitao,¡± he said. Li Yan looked at him. ¡°Hejian, Li Yan,¡± he replied. Zhou¡¯s brow furrowed imperceptibly, a sh of anger in his eyes as he lunged forward, elbow aiming straight for Li Yan¡¯s chest! Li Yan lightly stepped back half a step, dodging the brunt of Zhou¡¯s elbow, his left arm scooping up from below to redirect Zhou¡¯s elbow while his right foot aimed a kick at Zhou¡¯s shin. The moment Li Yan made contact with Zhou¡¯s elbow, he felt his opponent¡¯s force both release and retract in an instant, piquing his curiosity. ¡°Quite interesting,¡± he mused. Fire sparked in Zhou¡¯s eyes; he executed a spinning step to dodge Li Yan¡¯s kick, his left fist hammering down from an angle towards Li Yan¡¯s temple like an iron hammer! Li Yan narrowed his eyes and, instead of moving forward, retreated, angling his footsteps to crash into Zhou¡¯s embrace, his right hand turning into a w aiming to grasp Zhou¡¯s fist, which was positioned at a 60-degree angle, seeking to break Zhou¡¯s wrist. Coming from the old Hong Fist, Du Family Fist excels at grappling and elbow strikes. Zhou scoffed at the sight of Li Yan trying to use grapple counter moves against him. Ignoring Li Yan¡¯s grip on his left hand, Zhou ducked and reached with his w towards Li Yan¡¯s groin. Li Yan¡¯s reflexes were incredibly fast as he met the advance with his knee, repelling Zhou¡¯s palm. At the same time, his right hand put force outward, intending to twist Zhou¡¯s left hand. But unexpectedly, a very strange force came through the hand, and Li Yan couldn¡¯t twist Zhou¡¯s hand at all, as Zhou¡¯s fist rapidly headed for Li Yan¡¯s chin. ¡°Master!¡± Li Yan finally recognized, the small-time gangster he encountered on the underground ck boxing ring of Kowloon City, was actually a master of the Du Family Fist who perfectly understood the essence of solid and fluid fist techniques! He released Zhou¡¯s wrist and retreated sharply. Shanjiu leaned forward, his eyes glued to the ring, and only when he saw Li Yan back away did he unclench his fists. Zhou on the stage stared coldly at Li Yan and slowly said, ¡°You¡¯re pretty arrogant.¡± Li Yan squinted and smiled, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect that a little gang member would turn out to be a Du Family Fist expert. It¡¯s a pity that the true transmission of Wensheng Fist was wasted and strayed off the path.¡± These words seemed to hit a nerve for Zhou, who spat out and gave Li Yan a cold, continuous sneer. ¡°You, a fugitive killer from the maind to Longcheng, what right do you have to talk about me going off track? If Dong Haichuan knew he had such a disciple, he would probably leap out of his coffin to clean up the sect.¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t take Zhou¡¯s mockery to heart,ughing as he said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to get serious.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask for more.¡± No sooner had Zhou¡¯s words fallen than Li Yan, who was at least five steps away from him, unexpectedly flew right before Zhou in a blink of an eye! That pale, cold face pressed directly against Zhou¡¯s eyes! Just like a ghost! At that moment, a clear voice rang out. ¡°It is rare for Brother Shanjiu to grace us with his presence in Longcheng to watch the kung fu fight, but I didn¡¯t hear that Hong¡¯s stick has followed our Coachman in Longcheng,¡± someone said. Upon these words, everyone turned their gaze toward the stage. Outside the hall, a crowd of about thirty or so men in ck suits, looking stern, with handguns tucked at their waists, made their approach. The moment Shanjiu saw this, his face darkened swiftly. Chapter 5: Kowloon City Tournament Chapter 5: Kowloon City Tournament Editor: Larbre Studio As the speaker stepped into the arena, the crowd on either side retreated like a tide. This was a young man in his twenties, wearing a leather jacket, tall and slender with a bit of a baby face, looking as innocent as a student still in school. Hua Shanjiu leaned back in his seat and said nonchntly, ¡°Red Ghost, you scared the hell out of me. What¡¯s going on? Has Mr. Wu turned against us, saying we¡¯re now so overbearing we¡¯re chased out of Longcheng even for watching a match?¡± The young man called Red Ghost walked over to Hua Shanjiu, sat down next to him, lit a cigarette, and mumbled, ¡°The feud between Mr. Wu and the coalition has nothing to do with us who make our living off the ring, we¡¯re with Taishuai. But you treating my ring like a chicken coop, hopping in and out whenever you want, isn¡¯t that breaking our rules? If anyone whoes to watch the fights thinks they can just jump into the ring, how are we supposed to handle the betting slips, right?¡± Hua Shanjiu snorted and pointed at Li Yan in the ring. ¡°Let me put it straight. Zhou has been wanting to find a master of Bagua Palm for sparring for a long time now, and you must have heard about it. It¡¯s not me, Hua Shanjiu, causing trouble. I fear that outside of this ce, your men won¡¯t even want to see me. At the end of the day, Mr. Wu and Taishuai both work on the Executive Committee of Kowloon City, they run into each other all the time. I understand that you don¡¯t want to get involved with this stench on me. Let¡¯s be clear, I¡¯m not looking to disrupt Longcheng¡¯s rules, just wanting my guy to have a fight with one of your boxers. If you can¡¯t even agree to that, then let¡¯s justy it all out.¡± Red Ghost folded his arms and slowly shook his head. ¡°Rules are rules. I don¡¯t care about the rest, but today, having your man in the ring is causing trouble in Longcheng.¡± Hua Shanjiu burst outughing in frustration, ¡°Fine, then there¡¯s nothing to talk about¡­¡± ¡°Shanjiu!¡± Zhou jumped down from the ring and called out to Hua Shanjiu, then addressed Red Ghost. ¡°You just mentioned that I followed the Coachman from Kowloon City. Does that mean, as long as I follow the rules and fight in the ring, I can sparr with him?¡± Red Ghost¡¯s eyelid drooped. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to start from the first match. If the Executive Committee determines that your performance is simr and someone is willing to ce a big bet, then of course it¡¯s not a problem.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll start from the bottom at Longcheng¡¯s ring.¡± Red Ghost nodded, his indifferent gaze turning towards Hua Shanjiu. ¡°What does Shanjiu say?¡± Hua Shanjiu¡¯s face was dark and menacing, but he said nothing. Zhou moved closer to Hua Shanjiu, his throat bobbing, ¡°Shanjiu.¡± Hua Shanjiu nced at him sideways, ¡°When does a boss ever not take care of his own men?¡± Zhou grinned sheepishly. ¡°Shanjiu, I can handle this myself.¡± Hua Shanjiu muttered something under his breath that sounded like cursing. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Hua Shanjiu stood up from his seat. About forty or fifty people stood up and walked out, some thugs ncing provocatively at the seated Red Ghost as they left, but Red Ghost ignored them. Before leaving, Zhou approached Li Yan. ¡°The Master Li, there aren¡¯t many who fight traditional martial arts on the rings of Kowloon City. Today was unsatisfying. Once I get my footing in the rings of Longcheng, we¡¯ll have a proper fight.¡± Li Yan nodded, saying, ¡°I say, Master Zhou, does that fifty thousand from your Shanjiu still count?¡± Zhou was taken aback, then after a while, nodded with a peculiar expression on his face. ¡°It counts¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°You¡¯ve gained five Yan Fu points. You¡¯ve unlocked additional purchase privileges for this Yan Fu event (0/1)¡± Your purchase limits are as follows: [A Fleeting Glimpse] Category: Skill scroll Quality: Common Grants the ability to obtain personal information of others, with a certain probability of uncovering their weaknesses. You can use this skill directly, consuming one Yan Fu point each time you gather someone¡¯s information, or you can choose to spend ten Yan Fu points to purchase this skill. Once bought, you can use this skill freely. [es Hematopoietic Cell Enhancer] Category: Consumable Quality: Fine Origin: Big Ben Research Institute Has a strong therapeutic effect on physical damage caused by blood and hematopoietic cell anomalies. It can also enhance the vitality of the user¡¯s blood, and ordinary people have a very small chance ofprehending the skill: Blood Activation. Mo¡¯s message: While it can¡¯t cure your illness, it won¡¯t make you fight with an injury. You can spend ten Yan Fu points to acquire it. [es Hematopoietic Cell Completer] ¡°` Category: Consumable Quality: Rare! Origin: Big Ben Research Institute Has an extremely powerful healing effect on blood and cellr pathology and can also enhance the blood vitality of the user. People with normal body functions will acquire the skill after consumption: Blood Vitalization. You can obtain it by spending three hundred Yan Fu points. Please note that the additional purchasing privileges gifted to you by Mo can be activated once during each Yan Fu event, and after three Yan Fu events, the gift will vanish. Mo¡¯s message: Neer, I think I¡¯ve been quite generous. After reading this information, Li Yan instantly felt enlightened. es Hematopoietic Cell Completer! This was what the fat man promised could cure his illness. And what he needed to do was earn enough Yan Fu points! It was only then that Li Yan truly started to ponder what it meant to confirm ownership. After all, it determined the way Li Yan would make money, and in this world, there were too many ways to earn money quickly. Li Yan sat in a corner, pretending to be lost in thought, while mulling over his n. A figure walked up to him, looking down at him. It was Red Ghost. ¡°Your name is Li Yan, right? How long have you been in Hong Kong?¡± Li Yan looked up, pretending to rub his eyes. ¡°Just recently.¡± The young man known as Red Ghost squatted down. ¡°From now on you follow me, boxing under me. Money, women, I¡¯ll see that you¡¯re well taken care of, understood?¡± Li Yan nodded coolly. Red Ghost smiled. ¡°Come with me.¡± As he said this, he turned and walked upstairs. Li Yan got up silently and followed, scrutinizing the young man with a kind appearance but known as Red Ghost. Even Li Yan himself didn¡¯t notice that after looking at Red Ghost for a short while, a ripple of ck appeared in his pupils! ¡°You have acquired some information. Viewing it will cost one Yan Fu point. Would you like to view it?¡± Li Yan thought it over for a moment and eventually decided not to view Red Ghost¡¯s information, merely following Red Ghost up the stairs. The two walked up to the rooftop, one after the other, with a haphazard array of antennas on the concrete roof making it a tricky ce to set foot. As far as the eye could see were clustered, twisted, and tall buildings; they were rudimentary, run-down, and crowded. But they were also bustling, impressive, and full of vibrant life. ¡°Kowloon Walled City, sounds scary just when people talk about it, but it¡¯s actually nice here. I¡¯ll take you for a dog meat hotpot sometime. You¡¯ll love it so much you might swallow your tongue,¡± Red Ghost said. ¡°Longcheng is a well-known enve, no one meddles with it, yeah. Mysia, Macau, Taiwan, you wouldn¡¯t believe how many fugitives run out of options and flee here every year. Some end up being thugs for the triads, but most end up on Kowloon City¡¯s boxing stages. Just like you.¡± He paused, then added: ¡°Ny percent of Hong Kong¡¯s Miss Baise from here. Half the poption of Kowloon City has used drugs. Firearms, smuggling, human trafficking, gambling dens, brothels, it¡¯s chaos. And Liansheng, 14K, Hong Yian, the gangs are everywhere.¡± He held up a finger. ¡°But in Longcheng, it¡¯s not allowed by the Executive Committee, and no one dares to stir up trouble. If the Committee says something, not a single gang dares to say no. Here, the Governor doesn¡¯t hold as much sway as the Committee, you get me?¡± Without expecting Li Yan to reply, Red Ghost went on. ¡°Boxing in Longcheng, you¡¯re living off Taishuai. Taishuai, that¡¯s the Executive Committee member of Longcheng. He¡¯s the behind-the-scenes boss of all the boxing stage businesses in Longcheng. I heard about your fight from Fei Bo; you were pretty fierce today, huh? Two moves and you took down Cha Chai? Even Fei Bo said he misjudged you.¡± ¡°When I arrived in Hong Kong I wasn¡¯t used to the climate and got seriously ill. It¡¯s only recently that I¡¯ve started getting better.¡± Red Ghost nodded in a nomittal way. He did not press further, but lit a cigarette and said: ¡°Taishuai appreciates the younger generation with powerful fists the most. You have potential.¡± Li Yan gazed at the cramped and decaying buildings in front of him, seemingly casually asking: ¡°Red Ghost, I heard I fought on the fourth ring. How much can you earn from the higher rings?¡± Red Ghost sniffed. ¡°The fourth ring, huh? It¡¯s a small venue, typically only workers from Longcheng and shop owners watch. You get five thousand for a win and still a thousand if you lose. The first five rings are open daily, as long as someone bets on you going up, you can make money. The sixth ring isn¡¯t open every day; fewer fighters, probably three or four times a week. Fighters get thirty thousand for a win, five thousand for a loss, and there¡¯s a variety¡­ If a Waterpipe (avish gambler) is willing to put down more money, anything goes: cage fights, weapon fights, you can make a few hundred thousand in one night. Though, often, people die.¡± Red Ghost spoke lightly, but Li Yan could imagine what it was like on stage, two people brandishing des, gambling with their lives, blood soaking the floor while the onlookers roared with increasing frenzy¡­ With these thoughts, a hint of chill shed through the corner of Li Yan¡¯s eyes. ¡°` Chapter 6 - 6 One Month, 3,000,000! Chapter 6: Chapter 6 One Month, 3,000,000! Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°p.¡± Shoes stepped into the polluted water, sshing uprge, muddy sprays. Rats, not much smaller than cats, scurried past Li Yan in fright. A rotten stench permeated the air, drifting from the fish ball factory behind the building. No matter how legendary Kowloon City may seem in the eyes ofter generations, dirtiness and decay were its true colors. The dazzling ces within the city were, at least for the current Li Yan, out of reach. Li Yan¡¯s thumb fiddled with a string of keys, belonging to one of the rooms inside this apartment with its mottled walls. The keys were a wee gift from Red Ghost, so Li Yan didn¡¯t have to squeeze into a room with those low-tier fighters. It was only a fifteen-minute walk from here to the ring on Longjin Road, which was convenient for Li Yan. A fighter in Longcheng needed to find himself a suitable manager, also known as a Longcheng Coachman. The manager arranged when the fighters would enter the ring and how they would fight. Li Yan¡¯s previous manager in Longcheng was the small-eyed fat man called Fei Bo. And now, naturally, his manager was Red Ghost. Compared to Fei Bo, who could only strut his stuff in the fourth ring, Red Ghost was a famous figure across all the rings in Longcheng. He made his debut using the name Chen Minhong at thirteen and became the lord of the sixth ring by twenty-one. Fierce inbat and heavy-handed, the nickname Red Ghost spread from then on. After stepping down from the ring, he worked with Taishuai, bing one of the most relied-upon managers by his side, and even the chairman of themittee, Wu Haoxi, would greet Red Ghost with a beaming smile and call him ¡°Ah Hong.¡± To work under Red Ghost was considered a cause for celebration for someone like Fei Bo, akin to setting off firecrackers and buying roast goose. However, Li Yan, whom Fei Bo saw as having ascended to the heavens in one step, was now fumbling with a few dozen coins in his pocket, his face sullen without any hint of self-satisfaction. ¡°Three hundred Yan Fu points, which means a full three million Hong Kong dors. Should I go rob a bank or what?¡± Even though Mo had given Li Yan three Yan Fu incidents¡¯ time to gather these three hundred Yan Fu points, clearly, Li Yan couldn¡¯t wait that long. He aimed to aplish it all at once within 1986 in Kowloon City¡ªto earn three million Hong Kong dors in a month! ¡°Meow~¡± Li Yan looked down to see a ginger kitten pacing back and forth near his feet, asionally bumping its nose against his trousers. ¡°Ah Mi.¡± A childish female voice came from the stairway; Li Yan looked up to see a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl wearing a washed-out white shirt, barefoot, and frail-looking, with a somewhat fearful expression. ¡°Meow~¡± At the call of its owner, the kitten leaped over to the girl¡¯s side and began to purr contentedly. ¡°Sorry, sir, Ah Mi always likes to wander off.¡± Li Yan smiled, ¡°Your cat is very cute.¡± With that, he entered the apartment to find the room number Red Ghost had told him about. ¡°Little sister, do you know where room 413 is?¡± The girl nodded at his question, picked up her cat, and gestured for Li Yan to follow her. After about a minute or two, the girl stopped and pointed to the number on a room nearby. ¡°This is it.¡± ¡°Thank you, little sister. Here, let your brother buy you some candy.¡± Li Yan took out two pieces of milk candy from his pocket and handed them to the girl. He had bought the candy on Longjin Road to ease his pain. ¡°Xiu, who are you talking to sote?¡± A woman¡¯s voice came from the room behind Li Yan. It was a bit hoarse and clearlycking strength. ¡°Nothing, mom, I went downstairs to look for Ah Mi.¡± Seeing the candy in Li Yan¡¯s hand, the girl hesitated, but after hearing the voice from the room, she quickly said goodbye and hurried back inside. Li Yan peeled off the candy wrapper and popped a milk candy into his mouth, not thinking much of it. He took out the key and unlocked his room door. Having a mother and daughter next door was preferable over the kind of troublemakers that flitted around elsewhere¡ªit was thest thing the current Li Yan wanted. The room was cramped but fairly clean. The only issue was the strong fishy smell from the fish ball factory in the back of the apartment; even with the doors and windows tightly shut, the odor was still noticeable. Since Li Yan was just looking for a ce to rest his head, he wasn¡¯t too concerned, giving the ce a quick tidy before falling into a deep slumber. ¡­ Late at night, inside a gambling stall. ¡°Open! A big twelve.¡± As the dice stopped spinning, the middle-aged man with disheveled hair and a receding hairline copsed to the ground, the faint smell of alcohol still on him. Among the crowd gathered around the gambling table, some were ted, while others gritted their teeth in frustration, but no one spared a nce at the pale-faced man who looked as though he was about to have a heart attack, as if he were a pile of trash that needed to be swept onto the streets. ¡°Come on, ce your bets, no more bets.¡± Hei Yatai, with his messy hair and teeth ckened by smoke, holding half a cigarette between them, was shouting with a flushed face. ¡°Wait, wait, I¡¯m betting small this time.¡± The red-eyed middle-aged man screamed hoarsely in panic. ¡°Got the money, old man?¡± Hei Yatai swallowed a lump of phlegm, shouting at the middle-aged man with a defiant tone. His piercing gaze could easily see that the man had not a single penny left on him. If he dared to cause a scene now, demanding to gamble with his fingers or something, Hei Yatai would surely have him dragged out back, strip him naked, and throw him into the sea to feed the sharks. The middle-aged man¡¯s lips trembled as he took out a t wooden box from his chest. ¡°How much is this worth?¡± When the wooden box was opened, it revealed a piece of pale yellow rice paper with gold embossed patterns intertwined on it, depicting a vividly lifelike Kui Niu, its golden fur clearly visible, standing on one foot on the earth, sitting back and howling up at the sky. On the back of the paper were dense lines of small characters. Without a second thought, Hei Yatai pped both the wooden box and the paper inside onto the middle-aged man¡¯s face! ¡°Damn your mother, bringing a box of toilet paper here to trade for money? What do you think this is, Hell money? If you¡¯ve got no cash, then get the hell outta here!¡± The middle-aged man stumbled backwards from the blow, with streaks of blood flowing down from his nose to his lips, onto the ground. He got up and started to walk out, muttering to himself. ¡°Blind to the goods, it¡¯s an antique.¡± He brushed the dust off his body and wobbled out, oblivious to the fact that wandering the cramped streets of Kowloon City in such a drunken state was an invitation for trouble¡­ ¡°Lousy guy, talking nonsense¡­¡± While he was stillining, he didn¡¯t notice a figure sneaking up behind him and, catching him off guard, a chunk of concrete struck him hard in the back of the head! The middle-aged man fell down at the sound, and the figure crouched down, frantically searching his pockets, finding nothing and just as he started to feel vexed, he noticed the impressively gilded rice paper clenched in the man¡¯s hand. Without a second thought, he snatched it up, nced around to see no one nearby, and turned to leave. But at that moment, a hand suddenly gripped his pant leg tightly, tripping him to the ground. The middle-aged man¡¯s head was bloody, and he moaned. ¡°Save, save me, save¡­¡± The man shook all over, desperately kicking at the middle-aged man¡¯s chest, trying to make him let go, but his grip was very tight and he wouldn¡¯t loosen it at all. Panting heavily, rage rose from his heart, courage grew from his anger, he groped for the bloody concrete block that had fallen to the ground, raised it high with both hands. And smashed it down hard! ¡°Bang!¡± Li Yan¡¯s palm came crashing down, hitting the other¡¯s face, immediately causing him to lose consciousness. ¡°This young fe is sharp, winning five bouts in one night.¡± ¡°What the hell, it¡¯s clear this guy isn¡¯t of the fourth ring¡¯s level, why are they still letting him fight?¡± Red Ghost leaned by the fighting ring, waving his hand to signal Li Yan toe down. ¡°What¡¯s up, Red Ghost?¡± Li Yan asked half-jokingly. Red Ghost sighed with a bitter smile. ¡°If you keep fighting like this, even idiots will blindly follow you, turning my ring into a joke, follow me, you¡¯re fighting thest bout today in the big ring.¡± ¡°Alright. Where to?¡± Red Ghost flicked his cigarette butt to the ground. ¡°Fuyi Building.¡± Chapter 7 - 7 Goju-Ryu? Crane Cry Fist! Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Goju-Ryu? Crane Cry Fist! Editor: Larbre Studio Red Ghost mentioned that Fuyi Building was also located on Longjin Road, a rather towering blue-ck skyscraper. While taking the elevator, Red Ghost casually said to Li Yan, ¡°The people whoe here to watch the boxing matches are all either rich or noble, spending at least several hundred thousand in one night. The boxers here get a cut of that, so if you want to hold your ground, you¡¯ll need to find a big patron to back you up. I¡¯ll handle that for you. When the timees, just make sure you don¡¯t say the wrong thing.¡± The elevator soon reached its destination and came to a halt. As the doors slid open, Li Yan¡¯s eyebrows raised involuntarily. The entire building above the tenth floor had been opened up, creating a space about thirty-something meters high when looked up at from below. It featured a four-tiered viewing tform, and sixteen tasselednterns hanging high above. Red carpets lined the upstairs wooden balustrades with intricate carvings, and in the center stood a marble ring, surrounded by columns of Han white jade, exuding an air of the ancient and ssical. Waitresses in ck tailcoats were seen moving back and forth, serving drinks to the guests. Two-meter-high television screens on all sides ensured that the patrons could clearly see the action on the ring from any angle. ¡°How¡¯s that? Impressive setup, right? You¡¯re out of luck today; if it were another time, there would be bunny girls to see.¡± Red Ghost said jokingly to Li Yan as a waitress in a ck tailcoat hurried over. ¡°Red Ghost, Mrs. Deng is making a fuss to see you.¡± Red Ghost rubbed his face and said to Li Yan, ¡°The big patron has arrived.¡± With that, he led Li Yan onto the esctor and turned to enter a private box. Li Yan didn¡¯t quite understand why women would fancy the bloody scenes of the boxing ring. It just goes to say that the world is full of wonders. The two entered a small box room. As soon as the door was opened, they saw the floor covered in brown ss shards, with the whirling, coloured lights flickering unstably. On the coffee table were foreign liquors and desserts of brands Li Yan couldn¡¯t recognize. A thirty-something-year-olddy lounged on the sofa, her big wavy hair, long legs and wasp waist entuating her charm, and her seductive phoenix eyes had deep dimples on her face. Her mouth seemed to curl upward unconsciously, adding a bit of fierceness to her demeanor. ¡°You make me call for Red, and you y dead instead? If he¡¯s not at Fuyi, did he run outside Longcheng for a drink?¡± ¡°Judy, Red Ghost really did step out,¡± the waitress in the ck tailcoat said with a troubled look as another employee cleaned up the broken bottles all over the floor. ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯m right back,¡± Red Ghost, just entering the room, immediately said. ¡°Everyone out.¡± The waitresses scattered like pardoned souls, while Li Yan¡¯s eyes moved between the young woman and Red Ghost. He was thinking of excusing himself when Red Ghost gave him a stern look. ¡°Judy, what¡¯s got you so fired up? You¡¯ll get wrinkles.¡± Red Ghost sat next to Judy, picked up two sses of wine, and spoke sincerely to the woman. The woman took a ss and, with an unsatisfied tone, tilted her chin up, ¡°Ah, you ghost finally show up. I haven¡¯t seen you all night. What have you been up to? Did you know I came to Longcheng and deliberately avoided me?¡± ¡°Of course not. I went to check on some new blood under my wing,¡± Red Ghost said innocently, and with his youthful face, his appeal to the woman was indeed significant. ¡°Yan,e over here.¡± Li Yan reluctantly walked over, squeezing out a smile for the woman. ¡°Judy,¡± Judy scrutinized Li Yan from top to bottom. His cheeks were gaunt, cheekbones prominent, and his chin sculpted a beautiful dimple. His eyebrows inclined slightly upwards, and his gaze was steady. Judy sipped the golden liquid, her lips bing even more luscious and red. ¡°Thed¡¯s kind of handsome, but can he hold his own? I fancy a good-looking fighter, but it¡¯s embarrassing for me when they get knocked down in the first round or two. Thest boxer I backed lost, and that punk He Changhong actually mocked me¡­¡± As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up. ¡°Why don¡¯t you fight, Red Ghost? No matter the price, I¡¯ll back you.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Red Ghost nodded and downed the ss of Western liquor in one go. ¡°But we should give the neer a chance. If Yan loses, I¡¯ll step in and wipe the floor with Mr. He on behalf of Judy.¡± Judy revealed a sweet smile. ¡°It¡¯s a deal,¡± she said, facing Li Yan. ¡°Little brother, you betterst a long time.¡± Li Yan smiled faintly with his head bowed: ¡°You¡¯re joking, Judy. Red Ghost is my boss. It would be more embarrassing for me to make my own boss fight than to throw myself into the sea.¡± The womanughed heartily, ¡°Hey, if you can withstand it, I¡¯ll definitely dote on you.¡± Li Yan¡¯s temples twitched subtly, but he kept a pleasant smile on his face, not showing a hint of it. ¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t say I don¡¯t look out for you. Judy is a major Waterpipe in the Longcheng rings. Her deceased husband was the Taiping Gentleman, and she herself is worth over ten billion. She spends seven or eight hundred thousand every night just on drinks. Cling to her fragrant, plump thighs, and you¡¯re set for life.¡± Li Yan mimicked Red Ghost¡¯s earlier gesture, rubbing his face and asked through a grimace, ¡°So, what do you want me to do?¡± Red Ghost patted Li Yan on the shoulder. ¡°Win tonight¡¯s fight and you¡¯ll secure your spot in the sixth arena. Show some style. It¡¯s been a while since I took on new blood; don¡¯t make me look bad.¡± ¡°Style I have, but no flirty stuff. As long as you don¡¯t ask me to sell myself, I¡¯ll fight a tiger for you.¡± Red Ghost¡¯s smile deepened, creating a dimple, ¡°Get on stage.¡± Li Yan was the first to enter the ring, ncing over the spectators who were gesturing their bets, and eventually settled his gaze on Judy, through the ss wall of the private booth. The woman was holding a wine ss, revealing a stretch of her fair wrist, and she raised her eyebrows at Li Yan on the stage. ¡°With a worth of ten billion, three million is just a drop in the bucket.¡± Amidst the increasingly loud cheers, Li Yan turned his head toward his final opponent of the day. A man in his thirties with a sallowplexion stepped onto the stage, dressed in a ck practice outfit, his expression indifferent. This man, Cheng Hunan, was a fugitive wanted by the Japanese government. He had raped and killed seven young women in Hokkaido and brutally dismembered hisst victim, a girl of only fourteen. Unknown to Cheng, the girl was the only daughter of an Inagawa-kai vice-chairman. He was marked for death by the Inagawa-kai, and in desperation, fled to Longcheng. It was an understatement to say that taking one step out of Longcheng would lead to an ugly death for him. Cheng Hunan was skilled with firearms and daggers, and also proficient in the Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate. Before Li Yan, he had already won three fights that night. His lightest opponent had both arms¡¯ bones dislocated and kidneys shattered, knocked unconscious on the ring. As the white towel hit the floor, Li Yan rushed forward the moment he could, his right hand chopping like lightning,nding on Cheng¡¯s blocking elbow, while his left palm struck at Cheng¡¯s neck with ferocious temper. Everyone was stunned to see this new face daring to reach out for Cheng Hunan, but Red Ghost¡¯s attention shifted to Li Yan¡¯s left foot, which had quietly stepped half a pace forward. Cheng twisted his waist, the back of his fist colliding with the arm Li Yan had struck out with, then extended his right hand straight out, reaching for Li Yan¡¯s upper arm. The moment Cheng¡¯s hand touched Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, a smile flickered on Cheng¡¯s lips. He hadn¡¯t expected this tall, thin young man to be so fragile. But his grasp was relentless¡ªhis fingers tensed, his thumb hooked like iron, viciously gouging at Li Yan¡¯s shoulder de! As Cheng got hold of Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, a chorus of deep sighs rose from the stands. During the previous three matches, no matter the situation, once Cheng got up close and grasped a shoulder, unleashing his joint techniques, his opponent had almost no chance of turning the tables. Unexpectedly, the supposedly restrained Li Yan suddenly lifted his right leg to the sky, using the previously advanced left foot as a pivot. His right foot, like a rising dragon,shed out violently with the tip of his shoe striking Cheng¡¯s jaw, sending Cheng¡¯s head snapping back and blood spurting into the air, his grip loosening in the process. Li Yan pursued relentlessly, darting forward and seizing the wrist of the reeling Cheng. A fierce light shed in the corner of his eye. ¡°Your Goju-Ryu might as well bow to the White Crane Sect. Today, I¡¯ll make you pay respect to your forefathers.¡± Chapter 8: Clues! Chapter 8: Clues! Editor: Larbre Studio Goju-Ryu Karate, although not as popr as Kyokushin-ryu Karate, which gained fame due to Masutatsu Oyama, is still one of the more well-known and practical styles within Karate. And indeed, it originates from the traditional martial arts of the southern styles. The founder of Goju-Ryu, Chojun Miyagi, was a student of the celebrated Karate master Kanryo Higaonna. In turn, Higaonna learned from Xie Zhongxiang of Fujian, who was known as ¡°Ru Si¡± after. Chojun Miyagi himself also went to China to study boxing. Both their techniques were handed down from the Nan Shaolin White Crane Sect. Even the name Goju-Ryues from the phrase ¡°the method is to be supple and firm,¡± found in the ancient military text ¡°Book of Military Preparedness¡± from the Ming dynasty. As for why modern people flock to learn Goju-Ryu, dismissing traditional martial arts as mere flowery fist and embroidery leg, this situation is quite ironic¡­ The reasons are veryplex and difficult to rify in a few words. Though Li Yan was born into a northern martial arts family, he had spent a full seven years in Guangdong; coupled with his strong foundation and high talent, his understanding of southern martial arts was on par with that of his southern peers of the same age. When he said he wanted to show Cheng Hunan the skills of the White Crane Sect, it was not just empty talk! Li Yan¡¯s fingers formed a w, hooking onto Cheng Hunan¡¯s wrist and twisting it outward, while his left three fingers together resembled a bird¡¯s beak, jabbing fiercely into his armpit like an iron spike, Cheng Hunan, a veteran of many battles, despite suffering a huge disadvantage, reacted extremely quickly. Instead of attempting to increase the distance, he endured the pain in his right arm, as if it had been pierced by a steel nail, and lunged into Li Yan¡¯s arms, wrapping his right hand around Li Yan¡¯s waist like a steel whip, brawling like a street fighter, and attempted to bite Li Yan¡¯s ear! If onecked amplebat experience, even an older generation martial artist with a higher skill level than Li Yan could easily have the tide turned against them by such bestial biting and tearing. Sadly for Cheng Hunan, 25-year-old Li Yan¡¯sbat experience was astounding, earning him the nickname ¡°Hejian Skinny Tiger.¡± These four words were earned by Li Yan through blood-infused blows. The moment Cheng Hunan¡¯s arm made contact with Li Yan¡¯s waist, Li Yan¡¯s right elbow had already smashed viciously into Cheng Hunan¡¯s face, with a thud of a dull thump! Blood and sweat sprayed out, and two broken teeth twirled through the air, flying out of the ring. Cheng Hunan was staggered by the direct elbow strike, while Li Yan¡¯s hands, quick as arrows, mmed brutally onto his body! The spectators below the ring saw clearly that only Cheng Hunan¡¯s heels were touching the ground, his body seemingly broken in half, resembling a shattered doll, bearing the brunt of Li Yan¡¯s pounding fists. The Crane Cry Fist techniques of Twin Arrows! Single Split Bucket! Left Right Splitting Palm, Twin Snakes Spitting Venom! Grasp Hammer! Crane Top! All poured upon Cheng Hunan without pause! Large patches of blood soaked through, and the fierce punches almost turned Cheng Hunan into a pulp. ¡°Silk~¡± The gamblers were dumbstruck, their throats seemed to be choked, their eyes wide open, immovably staring at the blood-drenched body of Cheng Hunan. They were unaware of their cigars burning down to the end. It took three full breaths before Cheng Hunan fell to the ground with a thud, blood soaking through inrge clumps, and streams of bloody froth sprayed from his nostrils and mouth, which after a moment, stopped convulsing¡­ There was silence above and below the stage. Li Yan stood up straight, blood dripping from his fingers onto the boxing stage, drop by drop. He shook his fists and turned to look at the stands. Only then did Fuyi Building erupt with screams and shouts like a tsunami. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Now that¡¯s satisfying!¡± ¡°I bet a million on this kid to take him down, I¡¯m backing him all the way!¡± ¡°Handsome, give us another round with weapons!¡± Li Yan looked around at the audience in the stands, a sh of crazed bloodlust in his eyes, but it quickly receded. Red Ghost nodded his head in satisfaction. ¡°Well fought.¡± The small private box had darkened, obscuring any activity inside. Beneath the enchanting disco lights, seductive and continuous panting could be heard¡­ Slender palms groped in the dark, oblivious to knocking over a champagne flute, and after a while, found an opened bottle of champagne. Judy¡¯s face was flushed, and beads of sweat dripped down her smooth corbone. She picked up the bottle of wine and poured it over herself in a gentle stream. She turned over and, propping herself with her arm, gazed at Li Yan on the screen, her alluring face rippling with seduction as the corners of her mouth curved upward. ¡­ ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that it requires the trouble of bringing out Li sir?¡± A member of Kowloon Walled City¡¯s Executive Committee and the chief of the Longcheng security team, Si Lizheng, smiled as he brewed a cup of tea and handed it to a stern-looking elderly man with graying hair. Li Yaoguang, Chief Chinese Detective of the Hong Kong Police Force, renowned as the White-Haired Detective. ¡°Committee Member Si, I¡¯ll be straightforward. I want to deploy the Flying Tigers to handle a case in Longcheng.¡± Si Lizheng shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Since when does the Hong Kong police need to report their investigations to the Committee? What Li sir says goes.¡± As he spoke, he sipped his tea, a hint of sharpness shing in his eyes, ¡°But to call in the Flying Tigers, it must be something serious. Someone try to assassinate the Governor?¡± Li sir ced four photographs on Si Lizheng¡¯s desk. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal with them?¡± Si Lizheng asked casually. ¡°The Mafia.¡± Si Lizheng¡¯s brows furrowed as if scalded by the tea. ¡°The leader is called Dong, with a criminal record. The other three are from his hometown. Four days ago, they robbed Fengbao Bank of over 4.6 million Hong Kong dors, jewelry worth around 20 million, and a collection of antiques. During the heist, they killed five security officers. The robbers are skilled shooters with bold nerves, hard to deal with. When the police encircled them, one of them got shot. Though we recovered most of the stolen goods, the whereabouts of the antiques remain unknown. We¡¯ve locked down Tseung Kwan O and Kwun Tong. We¡¯ve searched every hospital in Hong Kong, to no avail,¡± he said. As Li sir spoke, he pulled out another photograph of a middle-aged man with a receding hairline. ¡°This man was the manager of Fengbao Bank and has been fired by the bank. We¡¯ve always suspected that he was coborating with the Mafia, maybe even the one who brought them in. Butst night, his body was found in Kowloon City, beaten to death with a blunt object, and our leads havee to a dead end,¡± he said. As he said this, the old man knocked on the table: ¡°This case has shocked the whole of Hong Kong. The entire city only has private clinics in Kowloon City that would take them in. And with that bank manager found dead here, I hope the Committee can help us locate them,¡± he said. Si Lizheng did not hesitate for long. After weighing his options, he replied with certainty. ¡°Give me three days. If these people are really in Longcheng, I will find them within three days.¡± Li Yaoguang¡¯s furrowed brow rxed slightly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in Committee Member Si¡¯s hands. These people are desperate and capable of anything. If you find them, don¡¯t spook them; leave the rest to the police.¡± ¡°Police-citizen coboration.¡± Si Lizheng smiled amiably, ¡°By the way, what antiques did they steal? I¡¯ll have someone check for leads.¡± Li Yaoguang handed over a list of the stolen antiques. Si Lizheng nced over the list, and the first line read prominently: A masterwork collection of ancient novels, the ¡®Sink Hook Chen Record Book¡¯ by Lin Yutang! Chapter 9 - 9 Day 5 Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Day 5 Editor: Larbre Studio Cheng Hunan died a tragic death. This was also the first time Li Yan had ever killed someone. Li Yan found it hard to feelpassion for someone like Cheng Hunan. However, he was aware that if it had been him who had died in the ring, those gamblers would have cheered hysterically just the same. He prided himself on being more clear-headed than others in that he didn¡¯t delude himself with thoughts like ¡°I¡¯m just enforcing justice, that kind of person deserves to die.¡± To know that Cheng Hunan had died up there while he could survive, had nothing to do with so-called good and evil. ¡°Beneath the eyes of a fierce tiger, there lie no ravines¡­¡± Li Yan, in front of the mirror, washed his hands, murmuring to himself. With people like Hua Shanjiu from Lian Sheng, Zhou who yed Wensheng Fist, his manager Red Ghost, Dashuihou Judy, and the unseen backstage boss Taishuai¡­ Li Yan faintly felt he was on the verge of grasping something, three million Hong Kong dors, the ancient Sink Hook Chen Record Book, and perhaps even more. Exiting the restroom, Li Yan made his way to the lounge to find the Red Ghost, drawing the gazes of many fighters along the way. The dark-skinned Filipino, the fierce-looking Mysian, the expressionless Vietnamese, and even a big ck man with a scar-riddled face, all different shapes and shades, emitting red glows light and deep. Through these past few days, Li Yan had basically understood the function of the red glow. The red glow would only emanate from someone if they harbored animosity towards you. The higher the threat level they posed, the more intense the red on their body would be. This seemed to be a special treatment as ¡°Yan Fu incarnate,¡± invisible to others. Among these people, the one with the deepest red was a Vietnamese man inbat gear, wiping a dagger. At least in Li Yan¡¯s opinion, the red aura was not less intense than that of the Wensheng Fist master Zhou, perhaps even more so. As for those who posed no threat, they would emit a glow of white light of varying degrees. He walked through the lounge and saw the Red Ghosting towards him. ¡°This is for you.¡± The Red Ghost stuffed a stack of banknotes into the shirt pocket over Li Yan¡¯s chest. ¡°I¡¯ll open an ount for youter, and deposit the money you won from the match.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± Li Yan pointed to his pocket. The Red Ghost looked at him with a half-smile. ¡°That¡¯s from Mrs. Deng. Take it and buy some nice clothes; she wants to have dinner with you tomorrow.¡± Li Yan nodded, saying nothing. ¡°You must be hungry after fighting for so long,e on, let¡¯s go have ate-night snack.¡± Li Yan¡¯s gaze flickered momentarily. ¡°Red Ghost, I¡¯ve just seen blood, and I¡¯m not feeling too well, how about another day.¡± ¡°The more you see blood, the more you need to replenish,e on!¡± Li Yan grinned and didn¡¯t insist anymore. With more contact, he found that Red Ghost, this man, was much morepassionate than he had thought. Contrary to what Li Yan had imagined, Red Ghost didn¡¯t take him to any brothel-like ce, but instead brought him to a smoky hot pot stall. This left Li Yan somewhat disappointed. The hot pot arrived quickly, bubbling milky broth filled with red chili peppers, which was mouthwatering. ¡°This dog meat hot pot tastes really authentic, give it a try.¡± Red Ghost motioned and picked up his chopsticks, putting a bite into his mouth. The two of them ate till their noses sweated, and then Red Ghost casually asked, ¡°By the way, Yan, which sect did you learn martial arts from? I saw you were using Bagua Sect techniques before, why did you switch to ying White Crane today?¡± Li Yan looked at Red Ghost with a smile. ¡°Red Ghost seems to be quite knowledgeable about traditional martial arts.¡± Red Ghost shook his head: ¡°Nah, who¡¯d dare to say they¡¯re knowledgeable about martial arts in Longcheng, and that too on Taishuai¡¯s turf? My little insight is also thanks to Taishuai¡¯s guidance.¡± Li Yan¡¯s heart stirred, ¡°Taishuai is well-versed in traditional martial arts?¡± ¡°Honorary President of the Hong Kong National Art Association, a pair of legs that have probably kicked apart countless martial arts schools in Hong Kong, Taishuai¡¯s reputation as Longcheng¡¯s ringmaster was built on his fists and feet¡ªdo you think he¡¯s got skills?¡± Li Yan hummed in acknowledgment, then asked, ¡°What is Taishuai¡¯s martial arts heritage? Hong Fist? Choy Li Fut?¡± Red Ghost looked at Li Yan with annoyance and scoffed, ¡°Damn it, am I asking you, or are you asking me?¡± Li Yanughed and replied, ¡°I once took a na?ve apprentice role under a Master of the White Crane Sect in Guangdong,¡± while speaking, his eyes shed. ¡°Ever heard of Lei Hongsheng, Red Ghost?¡± Red Ghost thought for a bit and shook his head. ¡°Nah.¡± Li Yan nodded and didn¡¯t speak further. While eating the meat, he nced up and saw a familiar figure. A bleached white shirt, ill-fitting cloth shoes, and underfoot, an orange kitten nuzzling against her pants leg from time to time. The girl from across his door, seems her name was Xiu. She must havee out to help at night, since living in Longcheng didn¡¯t afford much luxury, but now, she seemed to be in trouble. ¡°Are you blind? Clumsy!¡± A young man with a nose ring and a strand of red in his hair pointed to the wet spot on his pants and cursed loudly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Xiu¡¯s face turned pale as if she was shocked to the core. ¡°Sorry to your mom! Bring the boiling water.¡± While speaking, the young man grabbed the kettle from the table and sshed the water towards the girl¡¯s face. Xiu instinctively dodged to the side, and the scalding water spilled onto the ground, raising a cloud of white steam. ¡°You dare to dodge?¡± The man with a nose ring gritted his teeth, raised his hand, and pped her across the face, making a loud smack. The girl¡¯s cheek swelled at a visible rate, and the man grabbed her hair and yanked her towards him. The girl¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears from the pain, her body curled up, and the little orange kitten around the man cried out loudly, creating a chaotic scene. ¡°Lick it clean.¡± Suddenly, the man engrossed in his rage felt a severe pain in his wrist, apanied by a faint cracking noise, followed by a blur in front of his eyes as a size 41 leather shoe, with a muffled gust of wind, almost ttened his nose! He flew backward, not only toppling tables and stools but also getting drenched by a boiling hot pot. ¡°It¡¯s just some boiling water. Shall I apologize on behalf of the little sister? How about that?¡± Li Yan had a rxed smile on his face as he pulled the girl aside and spoke to the fallen nose ring man. Things escted quickly, and over a dozen gang members stood up, surrounding Li Yan with gleaming machetes in hand. ¡°Nobody move!¡± Li Yan raised his eyebrows, and, surprisingly, it was the nose ring man who spoke. He staggered to his feet, his face filled with bitter venom. ¡°Looking pretty tough there. Which gang do you roll with?¡± Hearing this ssic line from a Hong Kong movie, Li Yan almostughed out loud. He didn¡¯t respond, just shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s so exhrating to y the hero, huh? You dare to hit someone from Heshunchang?¡± Seeing that Li Yan remained silent, the nose ring man¡¯s arrogance intensified. He circled Li Yan a couple of times, his crooked nose looking somewhatical yet sinister. The nose ring man snatched a fruit knife from one of his men and pped it on the table. ¡°Hey, since you like ying the hero so much, why not go all the way? Drive this knife into my neck, and it¡¯s all over. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill¡­¡± Before the spittle-flying nose ring man could finish his sentence, Li Yan¡¯s hand had already pulled the fruit knife from the table and thrust it towards the man¡¯s neck! ¡°Putsch.¡± The sound of the de cutting through skin made the nose ring man copse instantly. He fell to the ground on his ass, his hands desperately clutching the handle of the knife, his eyes bulging out as a warm fluid flowed from his crotch. It took him a while to realize his neck felt cool. The fruit knife had passed through his cor and back out again, the coldness of the de causing the man to break out in goosebumps all over his neck. ¡°I thought you were not afraid of death.¡± Li Yan looked down at the nose ring man with a half-smiling, half-mocking expression. ¡°Kill him for me!¡± The nose ring man roared hysterically. A sh of ferocity crossed Li Yan¡¯s face as he was about to make a move, but then the voice of Red Ghost, exaggerated like a student, called out from the table. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s some intense knife action, what a treat for my eyes.¡± The nose ring man red fiercely in that direction, but upon seeing the sweaty face of the man eating hotpot at the table, the fierce expression copsed instantly. ¡®Red, Red Ghost Bro~ You, you¡¯re here too.¡± Red Ghost nodded with a smile, ¡°Good boy, but I¡¯ve never seen you before. What are you doing at Heshunchang?¡± The nose ring man wiped away his sweat, his voice trembling, ¡°Heshunchang Four Three Two Straw Sandal Red Head Cai, disciple of the big boss Shandao Peng.¡± ¡°Oh, if you¡¯d said Siyan Peng, I¡¯d know who you were talking about.¡± Red Ghost wiped his mouth. ¡°I frequent this ce. It¡¯s hard work for this youngdy, why so irate? Apologize to the youngdy, cover the damages for the tables and chairs, and leave.¡± The nose ring man nodded with a ttering smile, hurried over to the little girl with an amiable and pleased expression. ¡°Little sister, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m a rough guy. Please forgive my rudeness. I want to say I¡¯m sorry.¡± Xiu hid behind Li Yan and didn¡¯t dare to speak. ¡°Boss!¡± Red Head Cai took out Hong Kong dors from his pocket and handed them to the owner of the hotpot restaurant, patting his chest, not minding the spill on his own head, ¡°I¡¯ll cover all the damages here.¡± Having said that, the nose ring man looked towards Red Ghost. ¡°Red Ghost Bro, what do you think~¡± Red Ghost raised his hand. The nose ring man, as if pardoned, left the hotpot stall with his gang of ruffians in a sorry state. ¡°Don¡¯t let it ruin the mood, keep eating.¡± Li Yan pulled Xiu to sit down, replying, ¡°Still, Red Ghost Bro has the clout.¡± With a mouthful of dog meat, Red Ghost mumbled indistinctly. ¡°Maind has opened up and reformed, still messing with gangs? It¡¯s a dead end.¡± Li Yan took a big gulp of baijiu, the alcohol burning his face red. He remained silent. Today was his fifth day in Kowloon City. Chapter 10 - 10 Reversal of Life and Death (1) Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Reversal of Life and Death (1) Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°That said, I didn¡¯t expect you to like this style, no wonder you had no reaction when I introduced Judy to you,¡± Red Ghost nced at Xiu, who was sitting beside him with her head lowered. ¡°She¡¯s my neighbor, the keys to the apartment were given to me by you, remember?¡± ¡°The apartment on Su Miao Street.¡± Red Ghost suddenly realized. Li Yan picked up a kitten that was ying under the table and ced it on Xiu¡¯sp, ¡°When do you get off work? I¡¯ll take you home and apply some safflower oil, you¡¯ll be fine by the next day.¡± Xiu bit her lip and nodded. ¡°Right, Yan.¡± Red Ghost pulled an Ericsson phone from his pocket and slid it across the table. Li Yan looked at it and eximed exaggeratedly. ¡°Wow, Red Ghost, you¡¯re so good to me, giving me both an apartment and a mobile phone. Just to rify, I¡¯m not gay.¡± Red Ghost gave Li Yan a look and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to fight in the ring tomorrow, go buy yourself a nice suit, and wait for my call to meet Judy. If you try to disappear on me, I¡¯ll throw you into the sea.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll definitely remember.¡± Li Yan said with a yful smile as he took the phone. The two continued to eat untilte at night, when Li Yan finally escorted Xiu back to her apartment on Su Miao Street. ¡°It¡¯s sote, your mother must be worried about you. Go inside, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± Li Yan said kindly to the girl, ncing at the door of apartment 412 next to Xiu. Xiu looked up at Li Yan for a while, then spoke crisply, ¡°Thank you, ah¡­ Brother Yan.¡± Li Yan scratched his head, smiled at the girl, and walked into his own apartment. ¡°Bang.¡± After the door closed, most of the lights in the corridor went out, casting the girl¡¯s face in a mix of shadow and light. ¡­ ¡°Ss~¡± As soon as he closed his apartment door, Li Yan broke into a cold sweat from the pain. He stuffed several pieces of candy into his mouth, but it was to no avail. The pain deep in his bones made Li Yan¡¯s face appear somewhat deranged. Since he stepped out of the ring, Li Yan had been feeling bouts of bone pain, which was one of the reasons he initially refused Red Ghost¡¯s offer. The liquor at dinner had somewhat kept the pain at bay, but when he returned to his apartment, the pain became more intense and relentless. After a while, as the bone pain gradually subsided, Li Yan, soaking wet with sweat, slowly rxed his body. He caught his breath and then pulled out some cash from the pocket over his chest to count it. True to Red Ghost¡¯s reputation as a big spender, the amount thrown at Li Yan to buy some clothes was a full thirty thousand, plus the fifty thousand that Red Ghost would pay him for winning the boxing match tomorrow. This would bring his Yan Fu points to a total of thirteen. Just to be safe, as soon as the money came in tomorrow, he¡¯d exchange it for the ES Cell Enhancer first. If he were to have an attack while in the ring, that would be a real mess, especially since he still had no lead on that ancient novel, the Sink Hook Chen Record Book. Lying in bed, Li Yan thought about all this and gradually drifted off to sleep. The next morning, Li Yan rented a suit from a photo studio in Repulse Bay, took the bus on a long detour, and genuinely admired the Hong Kong of 1986¡ªa sight hard toe by inter years. If Li Yan were a bit more carefree, he could have watched a movie starring Anita Mui or Leslie Cheung or even asked for their autographs. In his audio-visual store, there was a long-treasured photo of n Tam¡¯s Space Odyssey concert happening around these days. The band Beyond, which had been together for three years, released their first album ¡°Goodbye Ideal¡± this year. Hong Kong in 1986 held too many moments that had passed, never to return¡­ Unfortunately, Li Yan still had to hustle for his life, and these ideas could only remain on paper. By the time Li Yan returned to Su Miao Street, it was around 2 in the afternoon. Kowloon City was as crammed and dim as ever, with junkies, their faces pale and breathing out clouds of smoke, a stark contrast to the affluent scenery of Repulse Bay. As he entered the corridor of the apartment building and turned the corner to go upstairs, a hurried figure bumped into Li Yan¡¯s arms. Li Yan instinctively grabbed the other person¡¯s wrist, only to find the reaction as swift as his own, and the way that person held his wrist subtly carried the vor of military capture techniques. Li Yan looked at the person in surprise. The man was in his thirties, dressed in a checkered suit, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, exuding a heroic air, except his eyes were full of bloodshot veins, as if he hadn¡¯t had a good sleep in a long time. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± The man released his hand and gave Li Yan an honest smile. ¡°No worries.¡± Li Yan took a step forward, then turned back as if he had remembered something. ¡°Brother, where are you from?¡± The man paused, then after a while, he answered. ¡°My hometown is in Hebei, a small ce, Anwen County.¡± Li Yanughed out loud and patted the man¡¯s shoulder hard: ¡°My hometown is in Hejian, not far from yours. I¡¯ve even pissed behind the broken temple in Anwen County!¡± Li Yan had, of course, been to Anwen County since it happened to be the birthce of Dong Haichuan, the grandmaster of Bagua Palm. ¡°Oh, fellow townsman?¡± Hearing this, the man¡¯s eyes lit up as well. ¡°My name is Li Yan, what¡¯s your name, brother?¡± The man shook Li Yan¡¯s hand with a heartyugh. ¡°He Andong, they all call me Dong.¡± ¡­ An hour earlier, Fuyi Building. ¡°The area north of Longjin Road is Taishuai¡¯s territory. Although I¡¯m responsible for the security of Kowloon City, it would be better for you, Red Ghost, to send people when ites to finding someone on Taishuai¡¯s turf.¡± Si Lizheng pushed up his nanmu sses, his weather-beaten face appearing indifferent. Red Ghost smiled shyly and said, ¡°Uncle Lizheng, there¡¯s no need for such formalities. We ring-coachmen hardly have the spare effort to help the police find people. You can search wherever you like, Uncle Lizheng, as long as you don¡¯t turn our ce upside down, there won¡¯t be a problem.¡± Red Ghost¡¯s straightforwardness made Si Lizheng somewhat ufortable. ¡°How about asking Taishuai first? I¡¯m not in a hurry.¡± Among the five members of the Longcheng Executive Committee, Chairman Wu Haoxi dealt with drugs and was Hong Kong¡¯s biggest drug lord. Two others dealt with human trafficking and the flesh trade, leaving Si Lizheng with gambling and Taishuai with only a fighting ring, the least territory among the five. Even Wu Haoxi, who had the most swagger, had to show Taishuai respect, because Taishuai was crazy enough to be feared. After all, it was just a minor issue, and Si Lizheng didn¡¯t want to upset Taishuai over it. ¡°If I bother Taishuai with such a trifle, wouldn¡¯t I get my legs broken? Uncle Lizheng, do as you please.¡± Red Ghost spoke with ease. After all, the business of a ring-coachman was practically conflict-free, unlike Wu Haoxi, who was constantly shing with major crime syndicates. ¡°That¡¯s settled then.¡± Si Lizheng nodded, and a person looking like a bodyguard quickly entered through the door. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve found them!¡± Upon hearing this, Si Lizheng put down his cigar and smiled at Red Ghost. ¡°Seems like we really won¡¯t be needing Taishuai¡¯s help after all.¡± Then, turning his head, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± ¡°They found a familiar traditional Chinese medicine clinic, and the doctor there quietly alerted the police. The cops have already entered Longcheng!¡± ¡°Which clinic is it?¡± Si Lizheng asked, while Red Ghost, acting as if it was none of his business, pulled out a cigarette and lit it for himself. ¡°Inside the apartment at No. 22 Su Miao Street.¡± The lighter nearly burned off Red Ghost¡¯s eyebrows. He leapt up and yelled at the man, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡­ ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d run into a fellow townsman here, it¡¯s not easy. What brings you to Hong Kong?¡± Li Yan passed over a cigarette, asking with a hint of interest. Although Li Yan had onlye to 1986 Hong Kong a few days ago, the intense feeling of foreignness and distance still made him feel somewhat lonely; only, with his strong will, he wouldn¡¯t easily show it. Now, He Andong¡¯s familiar hometown ent made Li Yan feel an incredible closeness. He Andong¡¯s expression darkened upon hearing the question. ¡°I originally brought a few fellow townspeople to try our luck in Hong Kong for wealth and prosperity, but then¡­¡± ¡°Are there other townspeople with you?¡± ¡°Oh, they don¡¯t stay here.¡± He Andong¡¯s gaze wandered for a moment, then he said, ¡°Enough about me, what brings you to Hong Kong?¡± Li Yan shook his head at him, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe me even if I told you. Let¡¯s drop it. It¡¯s still early, and I know a great dog meat hotpot ce. My treat.¡± He Andong hastily waved his hand, ¡°Forget it, forget it¡­¡± Their warm atmosphere was interrupted by a series of urgent vibrations. ¡°I need to take a call.¡± Li Yan said. He Andong nodded to indicate that it was okay. ¡°Hello, Red Ghost, it¡¯s only two o¡¯clock, what¡¯s the rush?¡± ¡°Where are you right now?¡± Red Ghost¡¯s voice was extraordinarily hurried. ¡°Inside the apartment.¡± Li Yan furrowed his brow; he could hear the urgency in Red Ghost¡¯s tone. ¡°You bloody fool! Stay in the t and don¡¯t move. That building¡¯s hiding a bunch of Mafia, the Flying Tigers are already on their way, watch out or you¡¯ll get caught in the crossfire!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Li Yan hadn¡¯t caught on. ¡°The apartment you¡¯re in is hiding a gang of Mafia, bloody murderers, led by Dong. Heartless bastards, they kill without blinking!¡± ¡°Ah, now I understand~¡± Li Yan let out a sigh, ¡°But, Red Ghost, can I give you a little bit of advice? Is that alright?¡± ¡°You¡¯re giving me advice at a time like this? Go ahead.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re on the phone, try to keep your voice down. You¡¯re shouting so loud that the person next to me can hear everything clearly, and it¡¯s pretty embarrassing for me.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Beep.¡± Li Yan hung up the call and quietly looked at the Dong in front of him. ¡°Fellow townsman, tell your friends not to speak irresponsibly, throwing around words like ¡®heartless¡¯ is not nice, it¡¯s hard to listen to.¡± Dong said with a smile. ¡°Meow~¡± A kitten, spry and mischievous, suddenly appeared, pawing clumsily at Li Yan¡¯s trouser leg. ¡°Ami, you¡¯re being naughty again.¡± The girl ran downstairs, picked up her orange kitten, looked up at Li Yan with a rare smile, and said, ¡°Yan.¡± ¡°Being heartless isn¡¯t just a matter of saying so.¡± Interestingly, Li Yan had been conversing with Dong in a Hebei dialect close to standard Mandarin, but now he had switched to Cantonese with a slight ent. ¡°Behave, Xiu, do you have any change on you?¡± Li Yan patted the girl¡¯s head. ¡°Yes.¡± Xiu nodded her head. ¡°Do brother a favor, would you? Go out to the street and buy a bag of candy for me, okay?¡± The girl obediently nodded her head and turned to leave, then quickly turned back around. ¡°You¡¯ll wait here for me.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Li Yan smiled, nodding his head as he watched the girl leave with the kitten. Then he slowly turned his head. In front of him was the dark mouth of a gun barrel and a thick red light that made it impossible to keep his eyes open¡­ Chapter 11 - 11 Reversal of Life and Death (2) Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Reversal of Life and Death (2) Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Brother, please forgive me, I don¡¯t want to do this either.¡± Li Yan pressed his lips together, not speaking. In He Andong¡¯s hands, the Type 54 ck Star was held with a steadiness that clearly revealed years of rigorous training. At this moment, through Li Yan¡¯s eyes, the intensity of the red glow emanating from He Andong¡¯s body could be described as boiling, and it even showed a faint trend of turning purple-ck. After all, the gun barrel was pressed against his chest. The other party was an old, shrewd, andposed big-time criminal; there basically wasn¡¯t much chance of turning the tables. ¡°Killing me now doesn¡¯t make much sense, does it?¡± ¡°Turn your head around.¡± Li Yan took a few deep breaths, his teeth grinding with a crunching sound. Yet, without much hesitation, he promptly turned his head. But what He Andong didn¡¯t see was the ripples of ck that flickered in Li Yan¡¯s eyes as he turned! ¡°You have obtained some information, would you like to view it? Viewing will cost a few Yan Fu points.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± In an instant, a cold sensation surged into Li Yan¡¯s brain. ¡°You have chosen to use ¡®A Fleeting Glimpse¡¯ on the target, to obtain information about the target or discern the target¡¯s weaknesses, and from now on, you will not be prompted and Yan Fu points will be directly deducted.¡± ¡°Target locked: He Andong. This lock can be lifted at any time.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, you did not discover the opponent¡¯s weakness. If the target remains under ¡®A Fleeting Glimpse¡¯ for a prolonged period, the chance of discerning their weakness will increase.¡± You have obtained the following information: Name: He Andong Status: Fatigued, minor injuries. Proficiency: Firearms 39%/100% Skills: 1. Well-Trained: Enhancement of all-aroundbat skills. 2. Cold Killer: 87/100 (Locked) Threat Level: Deep Red Evaluation: In principle, we do not support unarmed confrontation against firearms without any inheritable abilities. Of course, with threats below ck, you still have a chance to win. Good luck. If ten thousand Hong Kong dors only bought him the text above, then Li Yan could basically dere himself AFK and flip off Mo, the dead fatty. ¡®A Fleeting Glimpse¡¯ could be ranked alongside the ES Series Elixirs as one of the purchase rights Mo had granted to Li Yan; there was no doubt about its utility in Mo¡¯s opinion! Even though it was just the moment before he turned his head, Li Yan still distinctly felt as if He Andong, seen through his eyes, seemed to have separated from the entire world. The contraction of every muscle, the slight rise and fall of his chest, were all so clear and apparent to him¡ªeven the slight deformation of the skin on his index finger as it pressed against the trigger was in to see. Such a surreal experience was unprecedented for Li Yan. If it had been before He Andong pulled out his gun, within eight steps, Li Yan was confident that he could bring He Andong down on the spot under this state! However, after Li Yan turned around, that odd state disappeared without a trace. All that was left was the cold barrel of the gun pressed against the coarse fabric at his back. Li Yan had no doubt that if he made any sudden moves, He Andong would pull the trigger mercilessly, and the bullet would pierce his lungs diagonally, ending his life shortly thereafter; talk of Bagua Palm, Crane Cry Fist, or a high talent in ancient martial arts at 81%, was all bullshit. ¡°You walk the way I tell you to walk.¡± He Andong whispered in Li Yan¡¯s ear. ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t go back to report. Maybe the Flying Tigers can¡¯t surround this ce in time yet. Using me as cover and rushing out now might be your only chance to survive.¡± Li Yan said half-truthfully. He Andong was silent for a while before answering calmly, ¡°I brought them out, and I will definitely bring them back.¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts unreadable. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He Andong pushed Li Yan down the stairs. After winding through several passages, they came to a house. The alleyways in Kowloon City were so narrow that they barely allowed more than a shoulder¡¯s breadth, and the apartments were even worse to speak of. The two had not been walking long before they arrived in front of a door. ¡°Knock on the door.¡± He Andong said softly. Left with no choice, Li Yan knocked forcefully on the metal gate. Before long, an old man with sunken eye sockets and wearing a white coat opened a crack in the door, peering at Li Yan through the iron bars. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°Uncle Wen, it¡¯s me.¡± He Andong¡¯s head peeked out from behind Li Yan. ¡°Dong? Howe¡­¡± ¡°Uncle Wen, let us in first; I¡¯ll exin to you in a moment,¡± Uncle Wen pursed his lips subtly and nodded, proceeding to unlock the chain on the door. He Andong, pushing Li Yan into the room, found what appeared to be a private clinic. The ce was divided into an inner and an outer chamber, reeking of disinfectant, which even overpowered the fishy smell wafting through the entire apartmentplex. On a stretcher bed in the inner roomy a man who groaned softly from time to time. His body was wrapped in bandages, and nearby, a te contained seven or eight distorted bullets. Besides, there were two despondent men: one standing by the stretcher bed and the other silently smoking in a chair. ¡°Brother Dong.¡± ¡°Brother Dong.¡± The man sitting in the chair stood up, and the one on the stretcher also called out to He Andong. He Andong pushed Li Yan to the man who had stood up, keeping the ck Star handgun aimed at Li Yan. ¡°Gao Cheng, get a rope and tie his hands. Be careful, this guy might have some training.¡± Li Yan¡¯s situation seemed to have worsened, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. To him, this was far better than if He Andong had really attempted to break out with him in tow! This wasn¡¯t modern maind China, and the ones surrounding them weren¡¯t People¡¯s Police. If you think those Hong Kong police shouting ¡®Long Live the Queen¡¯ would care about the safety of the people above all else, you must be kidding! So he didn¡¯t believe the police would hold back out of concern for harming him in the face of these murderous thugs. By then, he feared he might end up as coteral damage in a shootout. Even if not, Li Yan didn¡¯t want to take that bet. To stay alive, he couldn¡¯t rely on others! ¡°Dong, didn¡¯t we have an agreement? Why did you bring another person here?¡± Uncle Wenined. With a naive smile, He Andong said to the old man, ¡°Sorry, Uncle Wen. I¡¯ve got another forty thousand in my bag, on top of the twenty thousand from before. Take it all. We might have to stay here a bit longer, and I¡¯m counting on you to treat my brother¡¯s injuries.¡± The old man¡¯s expression softened a bit, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so polite, Dong. We¡¯re good friends; I¡¯ll definitely help you out if you¡¯re in trouble.¡± As he turned, presumably to retrieve something, He Andong¡¯s face shed with cruelty. His right hand rose, and the muzzle of his gun spat out a blinding burst of me. Uncle Wen¡¯s head was smashed to pieces in an instant; blood and brains sttered, somending on Li Yan¡¯s face with a sickening pale smear. Li Yan grimaced, letting the vile stuff on his face slide off, while marveling at Dong¡¯s ruthless decisiveness. Although Red Ghost hadn¡¯t rified over the phone why the police had been able to find this ce so quickly, there was little doubt that this old man in a white coat was the prime suspect, and there was clearly no time left for him to prove his innocence¡­ ¡°Brother Dong, what have you¡­¡± The man sitting by the bed stood up in shock as well. He Andong lowered his hand and said, ¡°He snitched. The police will be here any minute, we need to get out now.¡± ¡°What!¡± The two men¡¯splexions turned ashen in an instant; the one by the bed slumped into a chair, seemingly in utter despair. Kowloon City was not like the area outside; it was too congested and ustrophobic, and with its intricateyout, once the police had them cornered, there¡¯d be no escape! ¡°What about Jin?¡± Gao Cheng reacted more quickly, but his question silenced everyone. ¡°Dong¡­ Brother Dong¡­¡± Jin on the bed trembled, calling out weakly. He Andong quickly approached, taking Jin¡¯s hand. His gaze was firm and steady. ¡°Jin, do you trust me, Brother Dong?¡± ¡°Dong¡­ Brother Dong¡­¡± ¡°Do you trust me?!¡± He Andong bellowed. ¡°I do¡­¡± ¡°Listen. In Hong Kong, you won¡¯t get the death penalty for piracy. Stay here, the police will take you to the hospital. Just wait for me. As long as He Andong is breathing, I¡¯ll break into the jail and rescue you¡­¡± With his mouth agape, Jin¡¯splexion grew paler as he listened. ¡°No way!¡± The man by the bed suddenly looked up, protesting. Chapter 12 - 12 Reversal of Life and Death (3) Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Reversal of Life and Death (3) Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°No way!¡± The person by the bed suddenly raised their head. He Andong and the person locked eyes for a while, his gaze indifferent yet fierce like a tiger¡¯s. The person¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down once, saying, ¡°Brother Dong, you¡¯ve said before, you wouldn¡¯t leave Jin behind¡­¡± ¡°You all promised me, once we¡¯re out, you¡¯d listen to me.¡± The person tilted their head back, the veins in their neck bulging. ¡°Listen to you? Listen to you till we leave our own people behind? We all trusted you with our lives, and this is how you treat your brothers?¡± He Andong raised his hand and suddenly pressed the muzzle of the gun against his forehead, his eyes bloodshot. Gao Cheng stepped forward in shock. ¡°If I, He Andong, intended to abandon my brothers, I wouldn¡¯t havee back. Last warning, leave!¡± ¡°Brother Dong, please don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Shoot me then, take my share along with it!¡± ¡°Shut the hell up!¡± ¡°Now we¡¯ve lost the money and our lives; what¡¯s left, just a few pieces of worthless paper?¡± The person screamed hysterically and with a sweeping motion, knocked the suitcase from the table onto the floor, golden Hong Kong dors scattering everywhere, apanied by two sheets of paper with embossed golden patternsnding with them. ¡°I told you to shut up.¡± Gao Cheng was also enraged. ¡°Crack.¡± Amidst the rising growls of anger, this crisp sound seemed so trivial. Yet it sent an involuntary shiver down the spine of the blood-eyed He Andong¡­ Slender fingers with prominent joints, devoid of any ordinariness, seamlessly picked up the scalpel from the te and stabbed it into Gao Cheng¡¯s neck. Sudden change! A jet of blood sprayed out, staining the cracked wall paint. He Andong turned his head in a daze. An incredulous expression was on Gao Cheng¡¯s face as his remaining warmth rapidly drained with the blood, behind him was the gaunt and pale face of a man. ¡°Brother¡­ Brother Dong.¡± In that lightning-fast moment, He Andong felt somewhat bewildered. Who exactly did I bring back? Li Yan¡¯s left thumb was forcibly dislocated by himself, looking somewhat deformed. His wrist was entangled in a mess of ropes, a scalpel mostly buried in Gao Cheng¡¯s neck, the figure hidden behind Gao Cheng¡¯s body. Almost instinctively, He Andong lifted his hand. The person by the bed quickly drew out the pistol tucked in their waistband, their eyes filled with bloodshot veins. ¡°Chengzi!¡± ¡°If I pull out the knife, he dies immediately.¡± ¡°If you pull it, you die!¡± ¡°Back off!¡± Four people in a standoff, blood dripping from Li Yan¡¯s wrist onto the floor covered in banknotes, a scene filled with cruel irony. He Andong made a move as if to rush forward, but Li Yan pulled Gao Cheng¡¯s neck backwards, pushing the knife in deeper. Countless specks of dust were dancing in the dim light, everyone¡¯s breathing growing heavier. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Let him go, and I¡¯ll let you walk away.¡± ¡°Bro, are you joking?¡± He slowly moved his feet, another person sidestepped closer, the two of them inching in from left and right like predatory beasts closing in on their prey. ¡°Let Chengzi go!¡± ¡°Move again, and I pull out the knife.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare pull it!¡± ¡°Well then shoot.¡± The back and forth between the people sped up. He Andong tried several times to raise his hand to fire, but Li Yan would suddenly jerk to a halt, the de stirring slightly on Gao Cheng¡¯s neck. ¡°Throw your gun away and I¡¯ll let him go.¡± ¡°In your dreams.¡± ¡°The police areing; we¡¯re dead either way. Might as well go down fighting.¡± ¡°Do it then!¡± ¡°Do it then!¡± ¡°Do it then!¡± The roar of anger rose one pitch after another. With each step Li Yan took backward, He Andong¡¯s gun barrel rose higher, and with each rise of He Andong¡¯s gun barrel, the knife in Li Yan¡¯s hand was gripped tighter. The three men paced back and forth on the muddy bloodstained ground scattered with bills, knocking over tables in their tug-of-war; the assortment of small andrge surgical tools nged together noisily. Jin, lying on the bed, clutched the sheets tightly, his ashen face growing even more unsightly. He Andong¡¯s gaze was incredibly cold, so cold that it was uncertain whether he would turn Li Yan and Gao Cheng into sieves the very next moment. But Li Yan¡¯s eyes were exceedingly obscure, as if veiled in ayer of dust or like an unfathomable ancient well. Like two pythons fighting over food, each wary of the other¡¯s troublesome nature and yet unable to relinquish the feastid before their eyes. ¡°Buddy, I, He Andong, admit defeat today. I will count to three, we¡¯ll both drop our guns, and you release the hostage. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Li Yan agreed immediately. ¡°One!¡± Li Yan¡¯s toes curled like hooks, moving slightly forward. ¡°Two!¡± The man who started sitting at the edge of the bed alternated his gaze between Li Yan and He Andong, his expression somewhat tense. ¡°Three!¡± As soon as He Andong¡¯s voice fell, that man clenched his teeth and let go of his Type 54 pistol, and He Andong also threw his Type 54 handgun forward at Li Yan. Yes, thrown forward¡­ He Andong crouched and rolled forward, as if he had practiced the move countless times in his mind. Almost simultaneously with the pistol hitting the ground, he had rolled over and picked up the gun like lightning¡ªlifted it¡ªaimed! In front of him was Gao Cheng, stumbling over from Li Yan¡¯s shove, his own gun now pointing at Li Yan, who no longer had a hostage! Gao Cheng¡¯s eyes had already lost their luster, blood spurting from his neck like a gushing fountain! Li Yan pulled out a scalpel! ¡°You!¡± He Andong roared as his finger pulled the trigger. A streak of silver light pierced his wrist, and with a pain-induced reflex, the gun dropped to the ground! That was a snapped scalpel de Li Yan had stealthily stepped on when the four men shed and knocked over tables. Li Yan lunged forward like a starving tiger! He sent the gun flying with one kick, followed by a thumping kick to He Andong¡¯s throat, flipping himpletely over, a mouthful of fresh blood spraying into the air. Then, with a tiger¡¯s leap, he charged at another man reaching for the gun! A vicious roundhouse kicknded on the man¡¯s abdomen! As his right leg touched down, he pulled and swept backward, forcing the writhing man to kneel, then his left elbow coiled around the man¡¯s head like a python, the scalpel drawing a bloody line across his neck. The blood rushed out eagerly. ¡°Thud.¡± Li Yanid down his limp body with an expressionless face and turned to walk toward He Andong. The scalpel in his hand was drenched in blood! Suddenly, Li Yan felt something catch at his waist¡ªthe Jin on the bed was gripping his waist with both arms. ¡°Bro, run!¡± Everything felt like a nightmare, as the tall and thin man brought back by Dong had seemed to transform into a devouring demon in an instant, turning the cramped clinic into a purgatory. Without a second thought, Li Yan turned and swung his hand, driving the handle-held scalpel into Jin¡¯s temple, blood sttering all over Li Yan¡¯s sleeve. Even though he was already dead, Jin¡¯s arms still clung tightly around Li Yan. He Andong crawled to his feet, not thinking of escape, but reaching for the distant gun! ¡°Damn!¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes reddened, his left hand inconvenience, he stabbed the scalpel repeatedly and fiercely into Jin¡¯s head, the blood quickly soaking the stretcher bed. He Andong, his mouth full of blood, charged at the Type 54 before him like a wild beast, throwing caution to the wind. No quarter given! Both men had eyes filled with ferocious killing intent, the world before them stained crimson. He reached it! ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± He Andong rolled over to lift his hand, but Li Yan was already right in front of him! The scalpel stabbed down at his face! ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± ¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, these Mafia guys are ruthless. If they dare to resist or attempt to flee, shoot immediately, and if necessary, they can be killed on the spot. Do you understand?¡± The oppressive riot shields pressed forward, the mobile unit surrounded the entire apartmentplex, inching closer, and fifty-six-year-old Li Yaoguang, followed by two police officers from the mobile unit, his mp5k submachine gun in hand, stormed through the door! Blood and bills covered the floor, and the roomid sprawled with four corpses. A tall and thin man facing Li Yaoguang, his suit and face smeared with blood, was reaching out to close He Andong¡¯s wide-open eyes¡­ ¡°Hands on your head! Stand up slowly!¡± Li Yaoguang roared. Li Yan crouched down and slowly stood up as instructed, the ck ripples in front of his eyes gradually calming down. ¡°This Fleeting Glimpse state hassted nine minutes and forty-three seconds, failed to discern the target¡¯s weaknesses, five Yan Fu points consumed.¡± ¡°You have disengaged the target lock.¡± ¡°The target is dead.¡± Chapter 13 - 13 Judy and the Night Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Judy and the Night Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Name?¡± ¡°Li Yan.¡± ¡°From where?¡± ¡°Hebei.¡± ¡°What did youe to Hong Kong for?¡± ¡°Visiting rtives.¡± A uniformed police officer pinched a ballpoint pen between two fingers, nced at the man across the table, and quickly recorded something on paper. ¡°In your statement, you said you were kidnapped by them, but due to infighting, then¡­¡± The police paused, a note of incredulity in his tone. ¡°You killed all four of them by yourself?¡± ¡°Officer, it was self-defense.¡± The police looked at Li Yan. ¡°Do you know those people are from the same ce as you?¡± ¡°I knew. Because they were fellow townsfolk, I chatted a bit more with them.¡± ¡°Chatted a bit more? You are saying you have no connection with their case? Do I look like a fool to you?¡± ¡°Who can be sure about these things?¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°Officer, think clearly.¡± The officer, who had half risen from his seat, looked at Li Yan with his eyes slightly closed, then sat down angrily again. Not long after this man arrived at the police station, calls came in from aw firm. The superiors were vague in their attitude, clearly someone was protecting him. Plus, there was no evidence that this man named Li Yan was connected to the case. With the bail paid in full, it had already been difficult to keep him at the station over night. Remembering how the man before him, appearing weak and ill, had killed four armed robbers with just a scalpel, the uniformed officer felt a chill down his spine. An older man, carrying a teacup and with mostly white hair, pushed open the door. ¡°Sir Li,¡± the uniformed officer stood up. ¡°You, go out. Close the door.¡± Li Yaoguang waved his hand and sat opposite Li Yan. He raised his eyebrows to neatly stack and put aside the papers on the table. ¡°How was your night?¡± ¡°The tea was awful. The couch too narrow.¡± ¡°This a station, did you think it was a hotel?¡± Li Yaoguang stared at the man in front of him. ¡°To kill the Mafia we¡¯d send a riot squad after, just with a scalpel, in a matter of minutes? Boxers from Longcheng are so formidable, you might as well reorganize the special forces.¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t speak, just calmly looked at the old man. ¡°How long have you been in Hong Kong?¡± ¡°Around a month or two.¡± ¡°How¡¯s it been?¡± ¡°Fine. I don¡¯t feel tired.¡± The elderly man smiled,¡±I am originally from Xiamen, Fujian, but grew up in Hong Kong. My father pulled rickshaws in Yau Matei when he first came here, living a meager life. But he didn¡¯t join gangs or engage in shady business. When I applied to be a police officer, back then everyone had to bribe the examiner, but he refused to do so. I was stuck in uniform for seven years, but I never thought he was wrong.¡± He stared at Li Yan, ¡°No matter how down on your luck, that¡¯s no excuse formitting crimes.¡± Li Yan cracked a smile, ¡°You should¡¯ve said those words to those dead ghosts. I haven¡¯t been in Hong Kong long; even the streetwalkers in Temple Street haven¡¯t seen me. But¡­¡± Suddenly he stopped smiling, ¡°Uncle, reasoning doesn¡¯t fill an empty stomach. If one day Hong Kong no longer had any Mafia, do you think it would be because you talked them out of it? If someone bets their life on something and dies, it¡¯s their loss. But there¡¯s no need to stand on a corpse and make snide remarks, right?¡± Li Yaoguang wasn¡¯t angry, after a pause he said, ¡°Now I¡¯m inclined to believe you¡¯re not involved with them. Someone with your rity wouldn¡¯t rob a bank.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got keen insight, Uncle.¡± Li Yan joked, but his thoughts went to the man who died by his hand, his face indifferent as he proposed robbing a prison. Was he, clear-headed enough? Li Yaoguang continued, ¡°After you finish this cup of tea, once yourwyer arrives, you can leave. But speaking of which, how much do you earn boxing in Longcheng?¡± ¡°Certainly not as much as robbing a bank.¡± ¡°It¡¯s high risk after all.¡± ¡°Boxing in the ring isn¡¯t low risk either, and I have high expenses, barely making ends meet.¡± ¡°How about taking on an additional job?¡± Li Yan was taken aback, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Li Yaoguang¡¯s tone remained the same, ¡°I¡¯m asking if you¡¯re interested in bing an auxiliary police officer?¡± ¡°Old man, are you joking?¡± Li Yaoguang handed Li Yan a business card. ¡°Whenever you think I¡¯m not joking, call this number.¡± He looked down at his watch, ¡°It¡¯s about time. You can do as you please.¡± Li Yan hesitated for a moment, took Li Yaoguang¡¯s business card, and got up to leave. ¡°By the way, that gang of Mafia robbed the bank and took a batch of antiques intended for a charity auction. Most of them are now missing; did you hear them mention anything about that when you were kidnapped?¡± Li Yan stopped in his tracks. ¡°Who knows? If it were me, I would have fenced the loot by now. Seeking fortune, one wouldn¡¯t run around with those items.¡± Li Yaoguang nodded thoughtfully. ¡°So the smaller items might still be carried on the person?¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Li Yan mmed the door shut behind him as he walked out. The elder pondered for a long while before letting out a wry smile. ¡°Everyone¡¯s dead now, what¡¯s the use in thinking about this.¡± ¡­ ¡°` You¡¯ve obtained 2 fragments of the Sink Hook Record novel. You¡¯ve officially initiated the Yan Fu Event! The event requirements are as follows: Awaken the residual soul in the fragment of the Record Book with the image of the Gu Huo Bird. Failure will result in the deduction of all points for this Yan Fu Event and the rescission of the purchasing rights unlocked in this event! The location of the Sink Hook Record fragments will be announced sporadically, within a valid range of five kilometers. Please pay attention to iing messages at that time. Be aware that obtaining more fragments of the Record Book will bring you higher returns! Be aware that all of your actions during this Yan Fu Event will grant you additional purchasing rights and higher settlement rewards. The more significant the impact of your actions, the greater the settlement reward! This principle applies to the vast majority of Yan Fu Events. Note: Do you remember what was said when you first entered? Make a big fuss, Esteemed Walker. It¡¯s all fate¡¯s y. Li Yan couldn¡¯t help but sigh as he hastened through the interrogation room and saw the waiting Red Ghost. ¡°How¡¯s it? Did those cops give you a hard time?¡± Red Ghost was still in his usual attire, a ck leather jacket that made him look somewhat youthful, his face adorned with a smile. ¡°Thanks for your trouble, Red Ghost.¡± ¡°It was Taishuai who helped, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have got out so quickly.¡± ¡°Taishuai knows about this?¡± Li Yan was indeed curious about this ring fighter Taishuai whom he had never met. ¡°Yeah, who doesn¡¯t know about the Yama of Kowloon City who single-handedly killed a bunch of armed ruffians? Everyone sees you as a superhero.¡± ¡°Stop joking with me. I was nearly half dead; I¡¯m nning to go to the Heavenly Queen Temple to burn incense and repay blessings. Also, how did you exin things to Judy?¡± ¡°All¡¯s well that ends well.¡± Red Ghost patted his shoulder. ¡°The bail money was paid by Judy. You can exin it yourself over dinner.¡± With that, he nodded in the direction of someone a short distance away. Li Yan followed his gaze. Judy was sitting at the desk, opposite the foreignwyer who bailed out Li Yan. This was the first time Li Yan saw Judy in formal attire. She wore a white-cored ck sweater, with a top hat, resting her wrist on her neck, listening intently, her lips instinctively curled upward, exuding charm and grace. Li Yan unconsciously touched his nose. Compared to the enchantingly beautiful Judy from that night, the woman before him now, serene as a deep blueke, indeed gave him a feeling of being struck by something. ¡°I just stirred up a ho¡¯s nest, and now I¡¯m going to have dinner with her; doesn¡¯t seem right, does it?¡± ¡°Wow, she¡¯s worth over a hundred billion, with long legs, big chest, pretty face, and she¡¯s chasing after you. What kind of tone is that? Are you a revolutionary hero going to his execution?¡± ¡°No, listen to me¡­¡± On the other side, Judy already finished the paperwork. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at this, Charles, we¡¯ll be in touch if anythinges up.¡± Judy stood up, reached out with her soft, pale hand to bid farewell to thewyer, then turned her gaze toward Li Yan and Red Ghost and walked over. She sized up Li Yan from head to toe and nodded in approval. ¡°The shirt¡¯s not bad; it suits you well, just a bit thin.¡± ¡°The coat got dirty, so I had to make do. I haven¡¯t thanked Miss Judy yet for helping me.¡± Li Yan licked his dry lips as he replied. Judy reached out to grab Li Yan¡¯s arm. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to buy a new one.¡± Red Ghost took advantage of the moment to speak up: ¡°Then I won¡¯t bother you two.¡± Judy gave him a look: ¡°You¡¯re in such a hurry to see Taishuai, I couldn¡¯t keep you even if I wanted to.¡± Red Ghost gave a chuckle, patted Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, and left. Judy muttered under her breath, and Li Yan only caught bits of it. ¡°I don¡¯t know what she has that¡¯s better than me¡­¡± ¡°Miss Judy, what did you just say?¡± Judy turned around, her eyes smiling as she looked at Li Yan. ¡°I said, you can just call me Judy from now on.¡± Li Yan smiled wryly, not sure how to respond for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Judy tugged at Li Yan¡¯s arm, her eyebrows and eyes carrying a hint of amusement. ¡­ In the spacious restaurant, only Li Yan and Judy sat together, while the piano in the room yed the melodious tune of Richard yderman¡¯s ¡°Autumn Whisper.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I bought a ready-made suit, but it looks pretty good on you.¡± Under the candlelight, Judy¡¯s eyes scanned Li Yan back and forth, with a hidden hint of¡­ ardor? Li Yan drank as if downing the liquor, ignoring the surprised look from the waiter nearby. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and asked, ¡°Miss Judy, to be honest, I¡¯m quite curious; how much do you really know about me?¡± Judy, cutting a piece of ck truffle steak, didn¡¯t look up. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s put it this way, I understand why someone would spend money to promote a boxer, no matter the cost, but I don¡¯t really get why a woman would invite a felon who just killed four people to dinner and specifically buy him an expensive suit.¡± Li Yan looked at his sleeve with some distress; the suit alone cost as much as the ES Cell Enhancer. Judy crossed her arms, her backhands supporting her chin as she thought for a moment. Instead of directly answering Li Yan¡¯s question, she emptied her wine ss. ¡°How about we y a game? We each ask each other one question. No lies, no avoiding answering, and no talking about unrted things, or else you have to drink a ss. Conversely, the other person drinks.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Li Yan agreed as readily as when he promised He Andong to release the hostages¡­ Judy was the first to ask. ¡°When Red Ghost first introduced me to you, well, probably something about the big waterpipe of Longcheng, what were you thinking when you saw me?¡± Li Yan¡¯s nails unintentionally scratched the table. This woman¡¯s performance tonight was obviously not as domineering as it had been in the Fuyi Building, almost sly. So, Li Yan decided to tell the truth. ¡°At that time, I thought, this woman is worth billions; if I¡¯m desperate, I could find a chance to kidnap her and squeeze out some money, which would be enough for me to live on for the rest of my life¡­¡± ¡°` Chapter 14: The Whereabouts of the Fragment Chapter 14: The Whereabouts of the Fragment Editor: Larbre Studio Judy¡¯s expression faltered for a moment; she set down her knife and fork, wiped her hands with a napkin, thought for a short while, then suddenly nodded and poured herself a ss of fortified wine. ¡°Although it injures my pride, I like honest people,¡± she said. Her high heels hooked onto Li Yan¡¯s pant leg with a maic allure in her eyes. ¡°If you really kidnapped me, would it be just for money, that simple?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know; we¡¯ll see when it happens,¡± he answered. Li Yan originally thought that today¡¯s dinner would be very awkward, but, pushed into a corner, he found it not so hard to ept. ¡°Your turn, is it the same question as before?¡± she asked. Li Yan nodded. ¡°These kinds of things actually vary from person to person,¡± said Judy, tilting her head and resting her palm against her cheek. ¡°Bloodlust and violence, some people face these with fear or even disgust, yet there are those who find them deeply fascinating. Fists, sweat, flesh, and even killing.¡± She speared a piece of foie gras, chewed it thoughtfully, and with slightly parted crimson lips, she said, ¡°I am thetter.¡± ¡°Actually, there are many on the Longcheng arena¡­¡± ¡°Too ugly.¡± Judy interrupted Li Yan. Li Yan was taken aback, and could only awkwardly reply, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s reasonable.¡± ¡°In all of Longcheng, I only had expectations for Red Ghost, until I saw your fight with Cheng Hunan.¡± Her cheeks flushed, she beckoned Li Yan closer with a curl of her finger, ¡°Come closer to me.¡± Li Yan leaned in, facing a woman with long, curved eyshes and eyes deep as autumn waters as she spoke, her fragrant breath wafting onto Li Yan¡¯s face. Li Yan swallowed uncontrobly, instinctively recoiling, and he picked up his wine ss to pour himself another, then drained it. His usually steady wrist was trembling. Judy watched and chuckled softly. In twenty-five years, Li Yan had never met a woman as unrestrained and sensual as Judy. He did not consider himself inexperienced, yet this woman¡¯s few words had unsettled him deeply. ¡°My turn again, what did you do beforeing to Hong Kong?¡± Judy asked while pouring herself another drink andughing as if she had said nothing before. Because he had drunk too hastily, Li Yan¡¯s breathing had grown heavy. ¡°Me? I wandered with my dad from a young age, going many ces, north to south. After my dad passed away, I worked as a security guard, did business on the sea for a while, taught students in a martial arts school, and even sold pirated, er, electronic watches for a time.¡± Judy reached for the wine bottle and drank directly from it. ¡°My turn to ask.¡± Li Yan smacked his lips, ¡°Then Miss Judy, what was your life like before you got married?¡± Judy raised her eyebrows slightly and took a while to respond. ¡°I was an orphan. Not long after my adoption, my father died, and to this day, I can¡¯t clearly remember what he looked like,¡± she said. Li Yan listened quietly, not saying a word. ¡°My mother¡­ she was very good to me. Just too busy with work to spend time with me.¡± Suddenly, Li Yan looked up at Judy, and she, unblinking, stared back at him; the two held each other¡¯s gaze for a while, and the atmosphere became subtly charged. After a long moment, Li Yan grinned, showing his teeth, and raised his ss to finish off the wine. Interestingly, Li Yanpletely refrained from mentioning Judy¡¯s deceased husband, while Judy showed no interest in probing why Li Yan had killed someone and fled the country. Of course, even if she asked, at most Li Yan would make something up on the spot. To this day, he still couldn¡¯t understand how Mo, or rather Yan Fu, managed to ensure his false identity was wless. It¡¯s not difficult to make someone disappear without a trace, but to make someone appear in another world silently and without the slightest slip-up, that power was truly terrifying. ¡°My turn,¡± Judy interjected, ¡°Did you have a girl you liked back on the maind?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°Oh~¡± Judy didn¡¯t know whether to believe him or not. But she drank with gusto. Judy¡¯s capacity for liquor was much greater than Li Yan had imagined, but ultimately she was no match for a pure Northman like Li Yan. After a few rounds, Judy was clearly inebriated. She leaned on Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, her speech already slurred, while Li Yan nced towards the door. Standing there were several female bodyguards, looking dashing in sunsses, now fixing him with an unfriendly stare. Li Yan waved his hand. ¡°Your boss is drunk. Take her home.¡± ¡°Mr. Li Yan isn¡¯ting with us?¡± An older female bodyguard asked in a peculiar tone. Li Yan looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m taking a taxi back to Kowloon City.¡± ¡°Then please be careful on your way.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Li Yan supported Judy and got her into the car, watching the vehicle pull away. He then undid the buttons, put the suit back into the bag, and wearing the thin shirt he had rented from the photo studio, he jogged off to hail a cab. ¡­ ¡°Li, what do you think of him?¡± In the back seat of the car, Judy crossed her arms, not exhibiting the slightest sign of drunkenness. ¡°This man is a deep schemer.¡± The female driver didn¡¯t even turn her head as she spoke. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated? I think he¡¯s quite cute.¡± Judyughed heartily, ¡°Judy, he single-handedly killed four Mafia members barehanded. Such a man can be very dangerous when provoked; don¡¯t y with fire.¡± Judy changed her posture, crossing her long left leg over the right. She pursed her lips, her tone hinting at a desire to win. ¡°What that crazy woman can do, I can do as well.¡± Li rolled her eyes and after a moment of silence, said, ¡°Anyway, if he dares have any malicious intentions towards you, I¡¯ll blow his head off with a single shot.¡± The car sped on, carrying the sounds of the woman¡¯s carefreeughter. ¡­ At the entrance of Kowloon City, a silver metal te bore the words Kowloon City. Shaking off several hookers and junkies who had approached him, he walked through the cramped alleyways, stepping over piles of old newspapers and filthy water. It was at this moment that Li Yan finally found the energy to spare a moment¡¯s thought for the Yan Fu incident. Originally, ording to Li Yan¡¯s n, he should have been able to trigger the Yan Fu incident by fighting to the seventh ring in Kowloon City¡¯s arena. Unexpectedly, an unforeseen coincidence led him to get two fragments from He Andong, achieving this point ahead of time. It was clear that the whereabouts of the other fragments were also inextricably linked to He Andong and his group. Li Yan had searched thoroughly at the time and found that He Andong and his group had only two fragments; the police had stated that all five fragments of the antique novel, the Sink Hook Record Book, had been taken by He Andong. So, where were the remaining three? There were two possibilities: one was that He Andong disposed of them. Indeed, He Andong and his group had cashed in arge number of antiques that were not easy to carry. The piles of Hong Kong dors that Li Yan had seen were partly the cash from these sales. Considering their hurried flight from the police and that the antiques were still in their possession before Jin got shot ¨C which had been confirmed by the police ¨C it was very likely that they had disposed of these antiques within Kowloon City! The other possibility was an inside job by the bank staff, who might pilfer the items if they failed to catch the Mafia and there were no witnesses to prove anything; they could quietly pocket the goods. This possibility also existed. If Li Yan wanted to find the five fragments, especially the Gu Huo Bird fragment, he would have to start from these two points. Considering that the locations of the five fragments were reported to him every 24 hours, Li Yan felt that it wasn¡¯t too difficult to find them in the remaining half a month. On the roadside, a blonde, blue-eyed middle-aged nun was distributing papers, probably about attending church services for disaster relief and healing. She spoke tortuous Cantonese, making Li Yan want tough. He remembered being a child in Guangdong, when a local kid had pointed at his nose and said, ¡°If you can¡¯t understand, then go back to the countryside,¡± which led him to give the kid a beating while clutching at his cor. Li Yan was about to walk away when he suddenly felt a searing pain in his chest! ¡°The location of the Sink Hook Record Fragment has been reported. Please pay attention to receive it.¡± Before Li Yan¡¯s eyes, a three-dimensional map suddenly appeared, showing the entire geography of Kowloon City, resembling a sand table. Four gold-red me icons were spread throughout Kowloon City, two merging together at his location and one of the mes less than a hundred meters away from him, was moving! Li Yan abruptly turned around, ignoring the old man selling things on the street, stepping directly over the woven basket, and went through the intricatework of streets toward the location of the me. ¡°Out of the way! Out of the way!¡± Strangely, the speed of that me also began to increase suddenly! Chapter 15: The Strong One Chapter 15: The Strong One Editor: Larbre Studio Li Yan kept his eyes locked onto the golden-red me on the sand tray, relentlessly pursuing it. After passing through seven or eight alleys, a deep, hoarse male voice finally reached his ears. ¡°End of report, the reportsted one minute.¡± Li Yan¡¯s pace came to an abrupt halt as he let out a somewhat disheartened sigh. Of course, it wasn¡¯t all for naught¡ªat least he now knew that there were indeed two more fragments of the map in Kowloon Walled City, and the entire area spanned no more than five square miles. It wouldn¡¯t take too long to find those two pieces. Li Yan scrutinized every face before him. At the moment the sensation vanished, he was only about fourteen or fifteen meters from the golden-red me. Perhaps all it would take was a turn, or entering one of the shops, and he might find the person with the fragments. ¡°Hey, friend, we¡¯re not doing business today, be smart and clear off.¡± A few menacing thugs¡ªshort of tattooing ¡°gangster¡± on their foreheads¡ªsaid to Li Yan. They stood guard in front of a tent, its curtain drawn, obscuring the view inside. This was likely a heroin stall run by some gang in Kowloon Walled City, where one could find many such tents and shanty buildings. Venturing inside, one woulde across a sprawl of addicts lying around, shrouded in smoke. Li Yan wasn¡¯t sure if the person he was looking for was inside, but that didn¡¯t stop him from wanting to take a look. Li Yan sniffed, affecting a swallowing motion as if he was a real addict. He stepped forward, indistinguishable from an actual junkie craving a hit. ¡°Bro, I know the drill, the entry fee is seven fifty, right? I¡¯ll give you ten.¡± The thug waved his hand impatiently, ¡°No goods, brother, try somewhere else.¡± Li Yan found it amusing¡ªhe had gone through the trouble of disguising himself as an addict only to encounter a drug den out of stock. What a rarity. ¡°What¡¯s all the noise about? Shanjiu is pissed.¡± A short-haired man poked his head out from the tent and spotted Li Yan. ¡°Is that you?¡± Li Yan, also surprised, greeted the man with his mouth agape. ¡°Hello there, Master Zhou.¡± ¡­ ¡°Wow, look who it is if it isn¡¯t the hotshot Yan Wang of the City. What brings you here sote? Has Taishuai¡¯s bowl of rice not filled you up, looking to join a gang and make a name for yourself?¡± The spacious tent echoed with Hua Shanjiu¡¯s jeering remark as he greeted Li Yan with a strained smile. Hua Shanjiu was Li Yan¡¯s first financier after arriving in Hong Kong. Without his fifty thousand, Li Yan couldn¡¯t even muster up the points to maintain ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse¡± during his fight against He Andong. Even though Hua Shanjiu¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t friendly, Li Yan took no offense. He replied, ¡°Shanjiu, I can¡¯t afford your joke. Calling oneself ¡®Yan Wang¡¯ in Kowloon City? I wouldn¡¯t have enough lives for that. Some sneaky thief stole my wallet, and I¡¯ve chased him all the way here. I wanted to see if he had ducked inside. I didn¡¯t expect to run into you.¡± ¡°With your skills, how could any petty thief steal your wallet?¡± Zhou found it hard to believe. ¡°That¡¯s not quite right. There are specialists in every trade.¡± Li Yan gave a vague reply, then said, ¡°How about it, Master Zhou? Running into me like this, why not have a spar to fulfill your long-standing wish?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. In a few days, we¡¯ll naturally meet in the ring.¡± Zhou¡¯s tone was cool. ¡°Our Zhou has only entered the ring a few days ago, achieving four consecutive victories, making those Vietnamese monkeys jump around with his Chinese martial arts. Who wins and who loses when you meet in the ring is still uncertain.¡± Hua Shanjiu chimed in; he loved watching fights the most. He had lost face that day at Red Ghost¡¯s, and it was a bit embarrassing. But after watching his brother dominate the ring these past days, any dissatisfaction had long since vanished. Although he was a formidable fighter of the alliance, Hua Shanjiu didn¡¯t put on airs and seemed approachable. However, anyone inquiring in Kowloon City would remember the fierce Hua Shanjiu of those days, who, armed with only a hollow metal baton, dared to go to Yau Matei and nt a g with less than a hundred underlings, earning him unyielding respect. Li Yan didn¡¯t pay much attention to Hua Shanjiu¡¯s words. He couldn¡¯t gauge Zhou¡¯s depth during the brief encounter, but he didn¡¯t think he would lose. With ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse¡± at his disposal, he was even more confident¡ªover ny percent sure of defeating Zhou in the ring. The thought of being beaten by Zhou and ending his 1986 trip to Hong Kong was something Li Yan hadn¡¯t considered. ¡°But Shanjiu, why are you so free tonight? The den is as empty as if it doesn¡¯t even have a half a fly.¡± Li Yan casually remarked, but Hua Shanjiu¡¯s face darkened immediately, and he scoffed coldly, ¡°Wu is trying to wipe out my bases. He thinks it¡¯s that easy? To hell with him, I¡¯ll have him sleeping with the fishes in a few days.¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t pick up the conversation, but in his view, when one resorted to such harsh words, it was likely that the alliance was being pressured too hard by Wu Haoxi. As Hua Shanjiu continued to curse, his gaze returned to Li Yan. ¡°Well, any interest from Taishuai in getting involved? How long can she defend Longcheng¡¯s ring? Wu¡¯s tyranny hasn¡¯t started yesterday. Hasn¡¯t she felt it serving on themittee together?¡± Li Yan quickly waved his hand and joked, ¡°Shanjiu, I¡¯ve only been in Hong Kong for a few days, I haven¡¯t even seen Taishuai, don¡¯t scare me like that.¡± Hua Shanjiuughed heartily, not taking it to heart. In truth, neither Wu Haoxi nor the alliance wantedplications at this time, much less dragging other members of Longcheng¡¯s executivemittee into the mix, especially Taishuai, a notorious madwoman. Hua Shanjiu was merely joking, and besides, he didn¡¯t believe that Li Yan, a neer to Hong Kong, could influence the current situation in Kowloon Walled City. Let alone him¡ªhis manager, Red Ghost, wasn¡¯t capable either. ¡°By the way, Shanjiu, as a neer, I don¡¯t know much. Is there anyrger pawnshop in Kowloon Walled City?¡± ¡°Why are you asking this?¡± ¡°When I came from the maind, I had a family heirloom with me, and I wanted to see how much I could sell it for.¡± Such a lie came as easily to Li Yan as farting, with over four thousand variations and no fear of being caught. No matter how detailed Hua Shanjiu¡¯s questioning was, Li Yan could always spin the story round. However, he didn¡¯t get the chance to show off his skills, as Zhou on the side had already chimed in. ¡°Across the street, there¡¯s a pawnshop called Lixing Daya. The owner offers fair prices, has wide connections, and will take anything. Not many in Kowloon City are in the pawn business, after all, if you have something valuable, you wouldn¡¯t pawn it in the Walled City. If you want a high price, you should go outside Kowloon City.¡± Li Yan was overjoyed and excused himself before heading out. ¡°Master Li!¡± Zhou called out to Li Yan with a burning gaze, ¡°I¡¯ll see you on the fighting ring.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you on the fighting ring.¡± Li Yanughed heartily and headed straight for Lixing Daya. ¡­ ¡°With all these new fighters on the ringtely, Taishuai must be thrilled.¡± Liao Zhizong, the leading coachman of Kowloon Walled City and Taishuai¡¯s most trusted manager, was 56 years old and picked up a form from the table. The photo showed Li Yan, with Zhou¡¯s form beside it. ¡°It¡¯s the first time Ring Six of Kowloon Walled City has been this busy,¡± he mused. ¡°Yeah, when I was fighting, there weren¡¯t nearly as many tricks,¡± said Red Ghost, also holding a form, the photo on it featuring a person wearing a ferocious green mask. ¡°Wu Eng, hehe, what a yful name.¡± Red Ghost chuckled with a hint of scorn. Despite the good recent results of this neer on the form, such pretentiously mysterious moves were generally only unted in some low-level rings and didn¡¯t quite catch his interest. ¡°By the way, Uncle Liao, where¡¯s Taishuai?¡± Liao Zhizong nced at Red Ghost. ¡°A significant figure hase to our Longcheng fighting ring, and Taishuai has gone to meet him.¡± ¡°Significant?¡± Red Ghost¡¯s curiosity was piqued. Liao Zhizong pulled one of the forms out andid it in front of Red Ghost. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± Red Ghost took a look. ¡°Xu Tianci.¡± The photo showed a young man around eighteen or neen years old, with tiger teeth showing when he smiled, still carrying a hint of youthfulness. Red Ghost frowned inexplicably. ¡°Taishuai went to see this kid?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a fighter who recently started in the Longcheng rings and hasn¡¯t lost yet.¡± ¡°Uncle Liao, you said he¡¯s only just arrived, so it¡¯s normal he hasn¡¯t lost yet. Even if he really is unbeatable, why would Taishuai want to see him alone?¡± Liao Zhizong waived his hand. ¡°Taishuai is seeing him not because of his record, but mainly because of his grandfather¡­¡± Red Ghost almost blurted out, ¡°What, his grandfather is the Governor of Hong Kong?¡± but he held back. ¡°Who¡¯s his grandfather?¡± Liao Zhizong unusualy disyed a serious demeanor and spoke with gravity. ¡°Xu Shangtian.¡± Xu Shangtian, a direct disciple of Ye Wen, was one of the four great masters of Wing Chun and hailed as the ¡°King of Thoughtful Prospects¡±. He had once set a record of thirty-two consecutive victories on the fighting rings of Kowloon Walled City, to the point where no one in Kowloon Walled City dared topete anymore. Chapter 16: Acquiring the es Hematopoietic Cell Enhancer Chapter 16: Acquiring the es Hematopoietic Cell Enhancer Editor: Larbre Studio In Lixing Daya, Li Yan found nothing useful. He heard that an old Taoist, hooked on drugs, had sold an item at a low price because of its questionable origin. Its description resembled a fragment of the ¡°Sink Hook Chen Record Book¡± from an ancient novel, but it had already been sold. The shop owner couldn¡¯t remember the specifics clearly, and Li Yan¡¯s indirect inquiries yielded no results. In the following days, Li Yan experienced several reactions, one of which was a fragment that remained stationary. It was only after some inquiries that he learned it was located where the Longcheng Committee held its meetings, essible only to a few members of the Executive Committee and their close associates. Another fragment seemed rather cheeky, moving away when Li Yan approached and sneakilying closer when he ignored it. After several encounters, Li Yan was almost certain that the person holding that fragment was aware of his existence! Perhaps, he was just like Li Yan. At first, Li Yan hadn¡¯t considered this possibility, but after repeatedly pondering his encounter with Mo, he was almost certain he wasn¡¯t the only one walking as a Yan Fu. Over the past few days, the two hadn¡¯t met. Compared to Li Yan¡¯s aggressive nature, the other party was more cautious. Yet Li Yan could feel that his patience was wearing thin and a confrontation with this potential adversary was imminent. It waste in the evening, and Li Yan sat on his apartment bed, gently rubbing the pale yellow piece of the record book in his hands. While it looked brittle, it felt exceptionally tough. The two fragments in his hands each depicted a monster. One looked like a sheep but not quite, like a pig but not quite, with eyes of pale red lines that were particrly enchanting. In the bottom left corner was the character ¡°Ao.¡± Li Yan flipped the paper over to reveal tiny, dense text. ¡°During the time of Duke Mu of Qin, a man from Chen Cang unearthed a strange object; it resembled neither dog nor sheep, and no one could identify it. While presenting it to Duke Mu, they encountered two young boys. The boys said, ¡®This is called Ao, usually found underground consuming the brains of the dead. To kill it, you must pierce its head with cypress.¡¯ Ao then said, ¡®Those two boys, named Chen Bao; whoever captures the male shall be king, the female shall be a hegemon.¡¯ The Chen Cang man released Ao and pursued the two boys, who transformed into pheasants and flew into Pinglin. The man reported this to Duke Mu, who organized arge hunt and indeed captured the female.¡± Li Yan turned to look at another fragment, depicting a strange person with five eyes and flowing hair and beard. In the bottom right corner were the words ¡°Qi Gong Tribe.¡± On the back, it read, ¡°Qi Gong Tribe, skilled in wondrous craftsmanship, could make flying vehicles to travel far with the wind.¡± ¡°Quite interesting.¡± Li Yan frowned; the fragments of the record book exuded an air of ancient mystery and elegance. Unfortunately, despite being twenty-five years old, he wasn¡¯t familiar with these ancient Chinese myths and legends and found it difficult to discern any secrets within them. Gu Huo Bird, Ao, Qi Gong Tribe, and even the creature that the fat man imed to be¡ªMo, these were supernatural beings found in Chinese mythological texts, merely fictional tales. Yet the fat man had indeed brought Li Yan to Kowloon City. In his fight with He Andong, Li Yan personally experienced the supernatural effects of ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse.¡± The hoarse and deep voice that called him an Esteemed Walker, Yan Fu, but then, what exactly is Yan Fu? ¡°I¡¯ll consider these issues when I get back.¡± Li Yan decided not to dwell on it any further and converted his Hong Kong dors into Yan Fu points, leaving a little over two thousand on him. Today was the tenth day. Li Yan had been victorious in consecutive fights, umting just over one hundred eighty thousand in cash, equating to eighteen Yan Fu points. To gather three hundred Yan Fu points within a month at this rate seemed unlikely, but Li Yan had his ideas. He had figured out that only legitimately earned Hong Kong dors could be converted into Yan Fu points. Either through contractual forms of ie, like earnings from the ring or even a construction worker¡¯s wages, or problematic funds from illegal activities like robbery, which had to wait forty-eight hours before being eligible for conversion. Li Yan had hidden some Hong Kong dors robbed by He Andong and his men to confirm this. Of course, with the police around, it wasn¡¯t much money. Besides, borrowed money, no matter how long you held onto it, could never be converted into Yan Fu points, even if you had no intention of repaying it. ¡°You have spent ten Yan Fu points to purchase the es Hematopoietic Cell Enhancer. This item can only be bought once during this Yan Fu event.¡± es Hematopoietic Cell Enhancer: Slightly useful. Usage instructions are as follows: 1. When treating various blood diseases, including abnormal hematopoietic cells, it has a strong soporific effect; please use it in a safe area. 2. Esteemed Walkers with bloodline abilities or those with blood mutations due to inheritance may experience unpredictable results upon injecting this product; use with caution. 3. This product does not cure blood diseases; if your condition is serious, Esteemed Walkers should purchase the ES Cell Supplement. In recent days, Li Yan¡¯s condition had be increasingly dire. Originally, he only had a few months to live, and with continuous brutal fights in the ring, he increasingly felt he couldn¡¯t hold on. Once, after a match that ended in the blink of an eye, he couldn¡¯t stop the nosebleed afterward. Even Red Ghost noticed something was off with Li Yan and urged him to take a break. So, he decided to use the enhancer immediately, fearing the worst. He was faced with a syringe that looked like a metallic handgun, filled with a sense of futuristic technology. Interestingly, when Li Yan injected the content into his body, the used syringe turned into a ck data stream and vanished. The enhancer worked wonders; soon, Li Yan felt his eyelids grow heavy, his body heated up, and after securing the two fragments, he fell into a deep sleep. He slept straight through to the next afternoon at four o¡¯clock! When Li Yan opened his eyes again, the world seemed brand new! Every breath he took was full of a thrilling sensation! Fever, bleeding, and the most dreadful bone pain¡ªmany times Li Yan had endured, sweating coldly in secret. Onlookers saw him dominate the boxing ring, and not a single opponent couldst more than fifteen breaths in front of him, Yama¡¯s reputation was bing more and more prominent ofte. But only he knew that a quick victory was his only path to sess; in that state, he simply didn¡¯t have the stamina for a long fight. Li Yan stood up, palms turning inward and outward, feet shuffling and hooking, left elbow bent, right hand covering the elbow, knees together, twisting his waist, wrapping his hips¡ªa set of Single Change Palm techniques flowed like passing clouds, smooth without a hint of stiffness. But only Li Yan knew the subtle changes in his power flow. For a moment, he even felt as if he hadpletely recovered! The Ericsson phone on the bed suddenly rang. Li Yan picked it up and answered; it was Judy¡¯s voice on the other end. ¡°Yan, are you free tonight?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a boxing match tonight, so of course, I am. What¡¯s up? Judy, do you need someone to carry your shopping bags again?¡± The woman on the other end giggled, ¡°I bought a bit more, and you¡¯re still making fun of me. I¡¯m so bored. Come with me to Fuyi tonight to watch the fights. There¡¯s a new fierce blood on the sixth ring, youe and see if he¡¯s an opponent.¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem with Judy¡¯s instructions.¡± Li Yan groped around on the bed, grabbed his jacket, and draped it over himself. ¡°What time in the evening?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there around eight. Don¡¯t make me wait.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Li Yan hung up the phone with Judy. The wall was lined with shopping bags, filled with clothes, a watch, ties, and even cologne that Judy had bought for Li Yan. He had neatly arranged and ced them to one side. His expression changing unpredictably, he nced at these items, his thoughts inscrutable. ¡­ Fuyi Building ¡°Brother Yan, what brings you here? You don¡¯t have a boxing match today.¡± ck Swallowtail greeted Li Yan with a smile. These days, they had be quite familiar with Li Yan¡¯s face. After all,pared to those fugitive killers from Vietnam and Myanmar, Li Yan was much more approachable. ¡°Zhen, can you go to the kitchen and get me a bowl of char siu? I¡¯m really hungry.¡± Li Yan said to the ck Swallowtail waiter. ¡°There¡¯s no char siu in the kitchen. I¡¯ll get you something else.¡± ¡°Alright, make it quick. I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± Li Yan leaned against the red brick wall on the second floor, pulled out a stool from behind the curtain, and sat down. Although the stands in front were spacious, they were full, and Li Yan didn¡¯t want to join the crowd. He chose to sit by the curtain, overlooking the boxing ring. ¡°Okay, wait for me,¡± Zhen said, hurrying away. The boxer on the stage was his acquaintance Zhou; his opponent was a veteran from Vietnam, holding a tri-edged military spike, while Zhou had a pair of brass knuckles. ¡°Weapons fight?¡± Li Yan muttered to himself, having never fought with weapons since he arrived in Kowloon City. He looked on with extra interest. Compared to the tri-edged military spike, Zhou¡¯s brass knuckles were at a disadvantage. Li Yan had once held a Chinese Type 56 military spike and knew quite well of such a weapon. The round puncture it caused couldn¡¯t heal easily, extremely venomous in nature. Even if it struck non-vital areas like the arm or leg, it could still be fatal due to excessive blood loss. However, looking at the situation on the field, it seemed that Zhou had the upper hand. ¡°Buddy, don¡¯t mind me sitting next to you?¡± Li Yan looked up and saw a woman dressed in sportswear. Her features were soft, her eyes elongated, and her long ponytail reached her waist. ¡°Not at all,¡± Li Yan replied, pulling out a chair for her. She thanked him and took a seat, taking a palm-sized porcin jar from her pocket, uncorking it to reveal a strong smell of alcohol. The woman took a swig and nced up to find Li Yan looking at her. ¡°Baijiu?¡± Chapter 17 - 17 Entangling Dragon Eye-Snatch Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Entangling Dragon Eye-Snatch Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Neat?¡± ¡°Baijiu.¡± ¡°Not many women enjoy drinking baijiu.¡± ¡°Bad habit, but hard to quit.¡± Li Yan said no more. He just took a longer look at her, a young woman wearing a tracksuit, with a long ponytail, holding a small bottle of baijiu in her hand. She was quite eye-catching. The woman watched the white marble ring calmly, her eyebrows suddenly raised. At first, Li Yan thought his gaze had displeased her, but heter realized that was not the case; it was Zhou on the tform that had moved her. The Du Family Fist might not sound famous, but it is one of the four great renowned boxing styles of Shandong, also praised as the Wensheng Fist. The movements of the Vietnamese fighter were rapid and concise, his fighting style fierce, and his dagger thrusts were both ferocious and swift, narrowly missing Zhou¡¯s vital points, sending chills down the spectator¡¯s spine. Suddenly, Zhou knocked aside the Vietnamese¡¯s dagger, swayed to the left with slightly bent knees, changing from his original stable and angr steps. His brass knuckles, quick as a specter, swept toward the Vietnamese¡¯s neck. It was at this moment that the woman¡¯s eyebrows shot up. The Vietnamese retracted his right hand to strike at Zhou¡¯s wrist, not expecting that when the dagger hit the brass knuckles, Zhou¡¯s wrist trembled ever so slightly, causing the dagger to falter. The Vietnamese was shocked, a chill passing before his eyes, as Zhou¡¯s other set of brass knuckles had already pierced his eyelid! ¡°The hand techniques have the vigor of Wensheng Fist, while the steps and moves are from Taiji Plum Blossom Mantis¡¯s Entangling Dragon Eye-Snatch. Wensheng Fist with its long bridge andrge stance, and Mantis with light steps and agile movements. To blend the two to this extent indicates mastery, thisd is quite the talent. Red Ghost¡¯s follower who practices Bagua Palm is seasoned and fierce, with more experience than this one, but he is bloated with false strength, nothing but a paper tiger. If thisd discerns the truth and falsehood, victory is still up in the air.¡± These were the ponytailed woman¡¯s quiet musings, yet they caused a sudden sinking feeling in Li Yan¡¯s heart. The woman tilted her head to finish off the neat baijiu, smacked her lips, and got up to leave. Li Yan suddenly called out to the woman, ¡°Miss, do you enjoy watching boxing that much?¡± ¡­ ¡°You lost, step down from the ring.¡± The brass knuckles had just scratched the Vietnamese fighter¡¯s eyelid, drawing blood that soaked through his eyshes. He swallowed hard, hisplexion flipping between pale and flushed. Eventually, he put down his dagger, raised his hands high, and walked off the ring, ignoring the boos from the crowd. Ruan Hongzhi nodded his approval. With this fight, Zhou had achieved ten consecutive victories on the ring, bing quite the sensation. However, Zhou¡¯s restraint made his fights unfulfilling to many bettors, and the excitement was not high. The rule for the boxing ring was either to be knocked out cold or to be beaten out of the ring; otherwise, the bout wasn¡¯t considered over. Zhou, however, seemed to hold back just enough in his strikes. Of the ten opponents he had defeated, all suffered only superficial skin wounds, with the exception of a Mysian who had sneaked an attack after being subdued by Zhou and subsequently lost an eye. ¡°Mr. Ruan, when can I fight Li Yan?¡± After stepping down from the ring, Zhou asked with an indifferent tone. Ruan Hongzhi cracked a smile, ¡°These days, the ring has seen a surge of talents, and you and Li Yan are not the only fighters with ten consecutive victories. Since Red Ghost stepped back, no one is qualified to be the sixth ring¡¯s champion, and it¡¯s been a long time since the seventh ring was open. Besides, ording to the rules, only those with more than twelve consecutive wins are eligible to challenge the seventh ring. So it¡¯s either the next fight or the one after¡ªyou two are bound to sh.¡± Zhou¡¯s expression softened a lot, ¡°Then that¡¯s good.¡± The woman turned to nce at him, her breath carrying the scent of alcohol: ¡°Are you hitting on me?¡± Li Yan touched his nose, ¡°Just making conversation.¡± The woman gave a chuckle, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I¡¯m quite happy to have a handsome guy hit on me.¡± She scrutinized Li Yan for a while, ¡°You look familiar. Do youe here often to watch the boxing?¡± ¡°More or less.¡± Li Yan nodded and then asked, ¡°Miss seems to have quite the insight into traditional martial arts?¡± Thatment seemed to scratch where she itched, and she hooked up the corner of her mouth, saying, ¡°In my youth, I had the privilege to be a disciple of the Bagua Palm master, Zhang Chenjin, making me an heir of the Yi Style Bagua Palm.¡± Li Yan said with a smile, ¡°No wonder you could identify Taiji Plum Blossom Mantis at a nce and even name the Entangling Dragon Eye-Snatch technique. If you told me you didn¡¯t understand Northern martial arts, I¡¯d have a hard time believing that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m from Tianjin. It¡¯s what my family exposed me to,¡± the woman replied nonchntly. Although Cangzhou is the true home of Northern martial arts, the most prosperous period for Northern martial arts in the Republic of China was indeed in Tianjin. If the woman¡¯s ancestry was tied to the Tianjin martial artsmunity, it would be natural for her to recognize Wensheng and Taiji Plum Blossom Mantis techniques. She must be the daughter of a grand martial arts academy in Hong Kong, her manner revealing the refreshing aura of a martial artist. Li Yan tentatively asked, ¡°You mentioned someone fighting with Bagua Palm on the ring earlier, have you seen him box?¡± ¡°The one named Li Yan? I¡¯ve watched a couple of matches from the sidelines. He¡¯s quite poprtely, with a beauty named Waterpipe backing him up, drawing a lot of public attention.¡± ¡°Who is that? Care to point her out to me?¡± Li Yan inquired on purpose. ¡°He¡¯s not scheduled to fight today, and even if you asked me to identify him, I wouldn¡¯t be able to. I never paid attention to his appearance. I just remember that his technique is not authentic Bagua Palm, likely from one of the scattered Northern masters.¡± Since the woman was from the Yi Style Bagua Palm lineage, it wasn¡¯t surprising for her to see through his own background. Li Yan nodded subtly, with a half-smiling expression, ¡°It sounds like the miss doesn¡¯t have much confidence in him. Why don¡¯t you borate? I was actually thinking of making some money off him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to say, and I wouldn¡¯t say Ick confidence in him.¡± The woman fell silent for a while, ¡°The essence of Chinese martial arts lies in weaponbat. Without weapons, it¡¯s hard to discern levels of skill. However, that person may have some chronic ailment. It may be wise to be cautious if you n to bet on him.¡± ¡°I feel like he¡¯s very formidable, and that Zhou might be no match for him,¡± Li Yan responded earnestly. The womanughed out loud, ¡°Win or lose, it¡¯s all good.¡± Her eyes danced over Li Yan, ¡°We¡¯ve talked so much, yet I don¡¯t know how to address you, sir?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± After hesitating for a moment, Li Yan mused that if Judy saw him having such a merry conversation with a young woman, the scene would indeed be quite amusing. He then asked, ¡°And you, miss, may I have the honor of knowing your name?¡± ¡°Me.¡± The woman tilted her head, her smile radiant, ¡°My surname is Yu, call me Yu Shu. People in the martial artsmunity respectfully refer to me as Taishuai.¡± ¡­ Chapter 18: The Companion Appears Chapter 18: The Companion Appears Editor: Larbre Studio There was a moment when Li Yan wondered, ¡°Is this woman ying me?¡± But the woman¡¯s expression was dead serious. Seeing Li Yan not speaking, she moved closer to him, bringing with her a whiff of alcohol, and squinted as she patted his shoulder. ¡°Yes, the Taishuai you¡¯re thinking of,¡± she said. ¡°Taishuai¡­ is a woman?¡± Li Yan asked incredulously. Yu Shu chuckled lightly, ¡°Even if it¡¯s surprising, you should still introduce yourself first.¡± ¡°His name is Li Yan, right? Does the Taishuai of Kowloon City not even recognize his own fighters?¡± A voice full of allure rang out. The click-ck of high heels grew from a distant echo to a close presence. The woman was dressed in a in white long-sleeve shirt, striding on beige high heels, her ck capri pants sleek and slender. With casual gold-rimmed sses, she was the spitting image of an urban beauty. Judy approached with a hearty smile, seamlessly linking her arm with Li Yan¡¯s. She turned to Li Yan and asked sweetly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to wait for me in the stands, why did youe here?¡± ¡°There were no seats in the stands, so I came here. Do you know Judy?¡± Li Yan inquired. ¡°Your boss¡¯ boss, huh. Didn¡¯t Red Ghost introduce you?¡± Li Yan looked at the young face that seemed about his age, hesitant. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°People from Fuyi Building call me Taishuai, you can call me that too. So you¡¯re the new blood of Red Ghost, I thought you were some yboy who came to Kowloon to have fun.¡± Li Yan nodded and said, ¡°Taishuai.¡± Turning to Judy, Yu Shu said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Mrs. Deng.¡± Judy¡¯s face paused, but she still forced a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Taishuai. You¡¯re still as beautiful as ever, but as a woman, we should always learn to dress up.¡± ¡°Mrs. Deng is right, I¡¯ll keep it in mind. Do rmend me some suitable makeup if you get a chance, Mrs. Deng,¡± Yu Shu said. ¡°Certainly¡­ I¡¯ve got an appointment with Yan and have to leave now,¡± Judy replied, hastily. Yu Shu watched the two leave and could not resist saying, ¡°Take care, Mrs. Deng.¡± A server named Zhen, carrying a fruit tter, walked over, not seeing Li Yan anywhere. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Looking for something?¡± Zhen jumped in surprise before turning around and seeing Yu Shu¡¯s face. ¡°Taishuai¡­¡± ¡°Shush~¡± Yu Shu grabbed a slice of orange from the tter and popped it into her mouth, asking with her mouth full, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you attending to the guests? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯ll get on it now,¡± said Zhen, as she quickly scurried away. Yu Shu looked up to see Li Yan and Judy enter the private room, chewing the fruit in her mouth thoroughly before shaking her head slowly. ¡°Stupid woman.¡± ¡­ ¡°This bastard, she did it on purpose,¡± Judy said, her anger barely contained as she mmed her handbag onto the sofa. She caught a glimpse of Li Yan, who was silent, and nudged his trouser leg lightly with her high heel. ¡°Dammit, are youughing at me?¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes curved into crescent moons. He shook his head, ¡°Judy, although we haven¡¯t known each other for long, this is honestly the first time I¡¯ve seen you so flustered.¡± Judy observed Li Yan for a moment, then suddenly asked, ¡°Have you never met Yu Shu before?¡± ¡°Never,¡± replied Li Yan, shaking his head. In his mind, the Taishuai, one of Kowloon City¡¯s five executives, should be a shady old man over forty, just like Si Lizheng from the public security team that Red Ghost had introduced him to after the incident with He Andong. Li Yan had already strategized about Kowloon City¡¯s five big shots, but the young woman with a ponytail sipping on white liquor somehow threw him off his game. ¡°She good looking?¡± Li Yan, serious, said, ¡°As my background boss of course she¡¯s good looking, but she can¡¯tpare to you, Judy.¡± Judy didn¡¯t say anything, but her mouth curled up, clearly pleased. She tilted her head, sizing up Li Yan, finding him more and more agreeable. Red Ghost is a fine horse, and if Taishuai can have someone as good as Red Ghost be utterly devoted, I can do the same. ¡°By the way, did you know, Kowloon City has seen quite a few new faces recently, fierce ones at that.¡± ¡°Are you talking about Zhou?¡± asked Li Yan. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not only him,¡± Judy said, nodding toward the fighting ring. Li Yan nced casually and saw the end of a fight. A menacing, scar-crossed, bald many stagnant on the stage, his neck wound flipped outward, gushing blood through his hands that desperately clutched his throat. The blood soaked his hands in a rampant flood, quickly staining the entire ring red. The opponent was not very tall, around one meter seventy, wearing a ferocious blue Evil Ghost mask with a dripping weapon in hand. In his grasp was a smoking pipe with a steel edge on the outside of the bowl and two sections made of iron; the middle was mottled Xiangfei bamboo. ¡°This is¡­¡± Li Yan¡¯s mouth curled up with interest. ¡°Lanmian Sou!¡± Lanmian Sou is a unique weapon from the northern leg-flicking boxing style, closely resembling a smoking pipe, yet it is undoubtedly a lethal weapon. Judy sat down next to Li Yan and whispered, ¡°His stage name is Wu Eng, his real name is unknown, ha, he truly is an odd one.¡± ¡°Judy, you have time to pay attention to this guy, do you actually want to support his fight?¡± Judy nced at Li Yan, ¡°Are you jealous, hehe.¡± Li Yan smiled and said nothing, sometimes it¡¯s not bad to let a woman¡¯s imagination run a little. Taking off her sses, Judy said coolly, ¡°The one supporting his ringside is He Changhong, I¡¯ve disliked that idiot for quite some time. I don¡¯t care about winning or losing a fight, but losing to him is uneptable. This Wu Er has been quite poprtely, hey, Yan, give me the real deal and I won¡¯t me you, how confident are you facing him?¡± With a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, Li Yan said, ¡°If it¡¯s about making Judy unhappy, then I definitely have a 120% chance of having this loser carried off the ring.¡± Judy let out a snort ofughter and punched Li Yan in the chest, seriously saying, ¡°I¡¯m talking serious with you, he¡¯s up for another fightter, I have the recordings of his regr fights, take a look.¡± As she reached for the top videotape from a tall stack on the table, Li Yan pressed down on her hand. His face was close to Judy¡¯s, his gaze cold as floating ice on the ocean. ¡°Judy, if I say I have 120%, then I definitely have 120%.¡± Judy looked at Li Yan, blinked, and suddenly pecked Li Yan¡¯s face like a dragonfly skimming water, leaving Li Yan stunned. Judy stepped back and muttered under her breath, ¡°Idiot, thinking you can charm me, no chance.¡± Li Yan felt his mouth dry and his chest suddenly burning, when a deep and hoarse voice suddenly rang in his ear. ¡°The position of the Sink Hook Chen Record Book has been reported, please stand by to receive!¡± Now? Li Yan frowned at first, but then his pupils contracted sharply and he rushed to the ss, looking down beneath the ring. Beside the ring, Wu Eng had just removed his green Evil Ghost mask and was hiding his face under a cloak; he suddenly looked up, his hand on his chest, his eyes unbelievably trained on Li Yan behind the fourth-floor box ss! ¡°Hello,¡± Li Yan mouthed with a smile on his face. His eyes beheld a face that was excessively young and tender, belonging to the youth known by the stage name Wu Eng. ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate!¡± ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate!¡± Both were startled. ¡°You have discovered a fellow traveler!¡± ¡°You have discovered a fellow traveler!¡± ¡­ ¡°Well done!¡± In another box, a young man in a sharp suit with a twisted faceughed heartily. ¡°Uncle Lei, it seems the fighter I backed has the upper hand, tonight you¡¯re going to splurge.¡± Sitting opposite was a middle-aged man with thinning hair, hisplexion not so good but he still barely maintained hisposure, wiping sweat from his forehead as he forced a smile. ¡°The new blood on the ring sure is fierce. Tony is the oldest veteran favored in the sixth ring, and I didn¡¯t expect him not tost twenty rounds against this kid. Mr. He, your eye for talent is exceptional.¡± The deceased Tony was naturally not in the middle-aged man¡¯s considerations. The young man¡¯s smile could not be hidden as he motioned with a hook of his finger, and a ck Swallowtail approached, bowing and asking, ¡°Mr. He?¡± ¡°Give Wu Er 200,000 and tell him it¡¯s forte-night snacks on me.¡± ¡°Certainly, Mr. He.¡± The ck Swallowtail strode out of the box quickly. ¡°Uncle Lei, winning and losing in the ring doesn¡¯t matter much; what¡¯s important is to have fun. I, He Changhong, am not a petty man. As for the Dali Commercial Firm issue, I will talk to my pops, there won¡¯t be a problem.¡± Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man¡¯s face lit up, as he calcted his profits and was inwardly delighted. ¡°With Wu Eng being so formidable, Mr. He must have made a fortely.¡± ¡°Just pocket money. You don¡¯t know, but the number of fighters willing to go against Wu Er has dwindled. Even if I¡¯m willing to be the bookie, no one is willing to bet.¡± Meanwhile, the door of the box suddenly opened, and a flirtatious woman with a coquettish voice entered, followed by Wu Er who had taken off his mask. The woman was above average in looks but had a voluptuous figure and revealing clothes which left men thirsty. Surprisingly, Wu Er had a rather delicate face; if not for the prominent Adam¡¯s apple, one might mistake him for a pretty schoolgirl. But the boy¡¯s thin, tight lips and the asional cold glint in his eyes sent chills down the spine. ¡°Mei, what brings you here?¡± He Changhong¡¯s arms were casually stretched across the back of the sofa as he spoke in aid-back tone. ¡°Mr. He, Wu Er said he wanted toe personally to thank Mr. He for the snack money.¡± The woman said with a seductive smile. Wu Eng nodded gently, ¡°Mr. He.¡± ¡°Oh, Wu Er,e take a seat,¡± invited He Changhong, handing the youth a ss of sparkling wine. ¡°You fought brilliantly!¡± He Changhong praised the youth with a beaming face. ¡°Mr. He,¡± the youth suddenly spoke up. ¡°What is it?¡± Interrupted, even by his own favored fighter, He Changhong felt a bit displeased. ¡°I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a famous Dashuihou Judy in Kowloon City, and she doesn¡¯t get along with Mr. He¡­¡± In the youth¡¯s eyes, there seemed to be deep ravines. Chapter 19 - 19 Take It All Away Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Take It All Away Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` You¡¯ve encountered a fellow traveller! You¡¯ve obtained the following information Name: Zhang Mingyuan Status: None Specialty: Ancient Martial Arts 69%/100% Skill: A Fleeting Glimpse Inheritance: ??? Fellow traveller: A term used for those who may have conflicting interests but share the same goal while walking the path of Yan Fu. Killing a fellow traveller will not grant any rewards. Li Yan still had two objectives for this Yan Fu event, one was to reach the seventh arena in Kowloon City, and the other was to awaken the remaining spirit of the Gu Huo Bird from an ancient novel. For the former, Li Yan had already won ten consecutive battles, so winning two more did not pose a great difficulty. Thetter, however, was much more troublesome. Actually, from another perspective, the requirement of the Yan Fu event was to awaken the remaining spirit of the Gu Huo Bird, but it didn¡¯t specify that it had to be done alone. The designation ¡®fellow traveller¡¯ had already exined a lot. In principle, Li Yan and Zhang Mingyuan couldpletely join forces to seek information about the Remaining Pages of the Gu Huo Bird. However, the content of the Yan Fu event clearly stated that the more remaining pages one obtained, the higher the reward would be, and there were at most only five pages. So who would take more? Who less? The incandescent lights in the Fuyi Building never went out, but there were certainly plenty of deste corners. Li Yan sat on the steps to one side, flipping through the information A Fleeting Glimpse had brought him, thus contemting. ¡°Here hees.¡± Li Yan suddenly spoke up. At his words, Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s footsteps hesitated, then he stood about three meters behind Li Yan. ¡°Actually, when I heard in the ring that there was someone named Li Yan, I should have guessed it was you.¡± Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s voice was very clear. ¡°Hejian Skinny Tiger.¡± Li Yan grinned, always feeling a bit embarrassed hearing such things from someone else. The martial arts circle in the north wasn¡¯t big, Zhang Mingyuan knew Li Yan, and Li Yan also had some guesses about the youth¡¯s background. He turned around, controlling his tone, ¡°I¡¯m not one for empty talk, but today¡¯s an exception. We alle here for our reasons, and I won¡¯t ask about your past if you don¡¯t ask about mine. Hand over your remaining page to me, I¡¯ll look for the Gu Huo Bird. You take this time to earn more points and just wait to leave. How about it?¡± Zhang Mingyuan shook his head, speaking slowly, ¡°I just saw He Changhong, said I wanted to fight you. He¡¯s not on good terms with that woman who¡¯s backing you, and agreed without hesitation.¡± Li Yan raised his eyebrows in surprise at this and remained silent. The Yan Fu event rules made it clear that once one lost a fistfight, one would return immediately, regardless of the event¡¯s progress, and would no longer be able to interfere with anything that happened during the event. ¡°I¡­ tend to be straightforward.¡± Zhang Mingyuan pondered before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t really want to work with others, can¡¯t trust them. Let¡¯s settle it with a fight in the ring. The loser gets nothing, the winner takes it all.¡± Li Yan let out a quietugh, stood up, pping his bottom, and walked towards the elevator. ¡°So do you agree or not?¡± Zhang Mingyuan called after him. In a mixed environment like Kowloon City, the game between the two could be extremelyplex. Zhang Mingyuan knew his limitations. At just neen years old, although he had been practicing martial arts since childhood, his experience was too limited. He didn¡¯t have the confidence to outwit an old hand like Li Yan who had been famous for a long time; rather, he preferred the straightforwardness of the ring. Thus, he was a bit apprehensive that Li Yan might not ept the challenge. ¡°See you at the ring tomorrow.¡± Li Yan tossed back the words before entering the elevator. As the elevator doors slowly closed, Li Yan¡¯s eyebrows suddenly knitted together. ¡°It¡¯s not him.¡± Li Yan returned to Judy¡¯s private room door. As his hand touched the handle, the door opened by itself, and a line of people came out, led by a young man with a distortedplexion. He Changhong sized up Li Yan and then let out a strangeugh, ¡°Yama, right? I¡¯m going to see who meets Yama tomorrow.¡± Li Yan was startled, but those people had already walked away. He walked into the room and saw Judy sipping wine impassively and Red Ghost deep in thought beside her. ¡°Yan, what kind of weapon do you need? I¡¯ll get Red Ghost to prepare it for you right now.¡± ¡°Weapon?¡± Li Yan probably understood that the man who had just left was He Changhong, the one mentioned by Zhang Mingyuan. When Judy asked him what weapon he wanted, Li Yan immediately recalled the heavy iron-wrapped staff in Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s hand. ¡°` Within Bagua Palm, there are many peculiar weapons, but as Taishui Yu Shu said, the Hejian Li n is a scattered family; Li Yan is only proficient in one or two types of weapons from the Bagua Sect, yet naturally, within the Li n, there are family martial techniques involving various arms. ¡°Red Ghost, get me a long sword, at least one meter long, one meter three would be best.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Red Ghost replied with a muffled voice. ¡­ ¡°Yan.¡± At dusk, Red Ghost suddenly called out to Li Yan. He tossed him a cigarette and, as Li Yan lit it, began to speak. ¡°I asked you to get a health check some time ago, did you go?¡± ¡°Red Ghost Bro, you¡¯re not usually so naggy. I know my own body.¡± Li Yan responded with a cigarette in his mouth. Whether Red Ghost was sincere or not, he really took good care of him. ¡°Have you seen Taishuai?¡± ¡°I have,¡± Li Yan nodded. ¡°When Taishuai saw you practicing boxing, he said you had weak qi and excessive force, possibly suffering from a serious illness. If there¡¯s something you don¡¯t want to tell me, I don¡¯t mind. But you¡¯ve only been in the fortress for a dozen days; I don¡¯t want to be collecting your body so soon. If it¡¯s really bad, take some rest. I¡¯ll talk to Judy.¡± Li Yan looked into Red Ghost¡¯s eyes for a long while before shifting his gaze away. ¡°Red Ghost Bro, with your kind of personality, you¡¯re not suited for making a living in Kowloon City.¡± ¡°Taishuai said the same thing.¡± Red Ghostughed a bit self-deprecatingly and turned to Li Yan: ¡°I¡¯m serious, Taishuai said if you continue fighting like this, your body won¡¯t hold up.¡± ¡°Red Ghost Bro, will Taishuaie to watch me box tomorrow?¡± ¡°Maybe, maybe not. It depends on her schedule. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Make sure she watches me finish the fight.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± By the time Li Yan returned to his apartment on Su Miao Street, it was already after ten at night. Li Yan, holding his nose, opened his apartment door; he still wasn¡¯t ustomed to the smell of the underground fish ball factory behind his building, and he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling it was getting stronger. Soon, there was a knock on the door. Li Yan opened it to find the young girl with an innocent and slightly shy look on her face. ¡°Xiu, what¡¯s up sote?¡± ¡°Yan Bro, my mom heard that you live alone and specially made you some barbecue pork as thanks for looking after me.¡± Xiu held out the food container to Li Yan. ¡°Thank your mother for me.¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t stand on ceremony; sometimes, when he came backte and hadn¡¯t eaten enough, Xiu¡¯s mother would always send him some prepared food, and it tasted quite good. ¡°By the way Xiu, I noticed your house doesn¡¯t turn on the lights at night recently, always using candles. Is there a short circuit?¡± Improperly connected circuits weremon in Kowloon City, resulting in frequent contact failures. ¡°Yes, there has been an electrical fault for a long time.¡± Xiu lowered her head, looking a bit hesitant to meet Li Yan¡¯s gaze. ¡°Let me take a look at your house and see if I can fix it. I haven¡¯t met your mother yet.¡± Xiu suddenly looked up, her denial crisp and clear: ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary.¡± ¡°Oh, alright then.¡± Li Yan blinked somewhat puzzledly. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be leaving then.¡± Xiu hopped away cheerfully, much more lively than when Li Yan had first seen her. Li Yan opened the food container back in his room, and the rice was still steaming. The chopsticks broke the yolk of the egg, releasing a golden red heart, a few tender green vegetables were ced around the edge of the bowl, covered with arge slice of barbecue pork, a sight to whet the appetite. Li Yan leaned his elbow on the table, gazing at the barbecue pork rice, feeling for a moment that life in the fortress had its own vor. Chapter 20 - 20 Main Frame of Combat Sword 24! Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Main Frame of Combat Sword 24! Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` In the Year of the Tiger, on the twenty-fourth of June, burial is to be avoided, and religious rituals should be performed. Fuyi Building. Judy and Red Ghost sat on the sofa in the private room, their gaze fixed on the weapon in Li Yan¡¯s hand below. Li Yan wielded the Octahedral Han Sword, 1.3 meters long and three fingers wide, with a de that shimmered and a blood groove that was dark and grim. The sword had an air of severity to it, engraved with the eightrge characters ¡°ÆøÉúÍò¾°»·³ÉÇüÁú¡±. Zhang Mingyuan held the Lanmian Sou, measuring ny centimeters long with a bowl as wide as four fingers plus. Iron wrapped both ends, and the middle was a spotted wooden shaft. The mouthpiece was shaped like a bird¡¯s beak, slightly curved. ¡°Ah Hong, where did you get this sword? Can it be relied upon?¡± Judy was somewhat uneasy. ¡°Chill, Judy, this is a private treasure of Taishuai, a sharp weapon that has seen blood. There won¡¯t be any problem.¡± The 1.3-meter Han Sword didn¡¯t sound very long, but in the hands of Li Yan, it was clearly longer than one would imagine from a typical iron sword, creating a pronounced visual pressure. Yu Shu was sitting among the crowd, her shiny ck ponytail draped over her chest, listening to the whispers of the gamblers around her, mumbling to herself: ¡°The Han Sword is fierce, and it drains a lot of energy. He doesn¡¯t seem like someone seeking death foolishly; could I really have misjudged him?¡± Atop the white jade tform, the two men stood facing each other. Zhang Mingyuan took a deep breath. The people of Kowloon City might not have heard of the name Hejian Skinny Tiger, but it was as loud as thunder to him. A Fleeting Glimpse showed a gap with Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s ancient martial arts mastery at an astonishing 81%, which meant that Li Yan was surprised to hear that he had challenged him to a duel on the tform. Yet, Zhang Mingyuan did not think he was certain to lose. The young man bowed with his hands together, ¡°Branch Gate Sect, Zhang Mingyuan.¡± Li Yan examined the Han Sword in his hand and, upon hearing this, raised his head to reply, ¡°Hejian, Li Yan.¡± Zhang Mingyuan gripped the shaft of the Lanmian Sou with one hand, bent his legs slightly, and his footsteps made a hissing noise against the floor as he charged towards Li Yan like a hawk skimming the ground. Li Yan flicked upwards with his hand, and the sword de, like a whip of steel, shaved towards Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s wrist. Zhang Mingyuan did not dodge or avoid, instead, he hooked the mouthpiece of his Lanmian Sou around the Han Sword¡¯s de and redirected the sword to the side. His body surged forward like an arrow released from a bow, aiming the de on his Lanmian Sou at Li Yan¡¯s sword-holding fingers! ¡°Got you!¡± Zhang Mingyuan bellowed angrily. Li Yan didn¡¯t have time to retreat. He made a snap decision to loosen his grip on the hilt, leaned back, twisted on his tiptoes, and his right leg swung back, aiming his heel at Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s head. ¡°Not good!¡± Judy was so shocked to see Li Yan forced to drop the Han Sword in one move that her hand trembled, spilling her drink on her clothes without her noticing. Zhang Mingyuan was overjoyed. He leaned back to avoid Li Yan¡¯s right foot, waiting only for it to pass over him before he would close in without giving Li Yan any chance to catch his breath. But as he dodged Li Yan¡¯s right foot, a sword edge unexpectedly shed before him, targeting his neck! What! Almost instinctively, Zhang Mingyuan performed a backbend, narrowly avoiding a shed throat but still sustaining a long cut from his neck to his chin. Li Yan¡¯s supporters saw clearly. As Li Yan let go of the hilt, he caught the falling Han Sword with his left hand while spinning mid-air. Using his right leg as cover, the Han Sword traced arge semi-circle, aiming to chop at Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s neck. Zhang Mingyuan could avoid Li Yan¡¯s right leg, but not the 1.3 meters of the Octahedral Han Sword! From Hejian, the Li family was unparalleled with spear and sword. The Main Frame of Combat Sword had twenty-four moves, and now he used the Hidden Moon stance! ¡°Wudang Sword?¡± ¡°` Yu Shu took a sip from a small wine jar, speaking with evident interest. Zhang Mingyuan wiped the blood trickling down his neck but refrained from rashly attacking again, instead he slowly paced around Li Yan. Li Yan was in no hurry, switching the Octahedral Han Sword to his right hand, his eyes fixated on Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s footwork. Blood dripped slowly down the de of the Octahedral Han Sword, and within moments, the edge of the sword was as white as snow. Li Yan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Good sword!¡± No sooner had the word ¡°sword¡± hit the ground than Zhang Mingyuan pivoted and charged at him again! Li Yan sprang forward with a light kick off the ground, flicking his wrist and sending his long sword from below upwards towards Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s crotch. Zhang Mingyuan, holding the smoking pipe, met Li Yan¡¯s de with the bowl, andunched into the air! The inch-long kick from his probing foot aimed at Li Yan¡¯s neck was something even Li Yan hadn¡¯t anticipated, and Zhang Mingyuan managed tond a hit! With his feet locked around Li Yan¡¯s neck in mid-air, Zhang Mingyuan twisted at the waist, his legs erupting with power like a sh flood, Lanmian Sou¡¯s straight-piped mouthpiece aiming directly for Li Yan¡¯s eyes! Suddenly, Zhang Mingyuan let out a muffled grunt, his legs went soft, and he fell to the ground, immediately rolling to stand up with blood pouring from his right ankle. Li Yan retracted his sword with a flick of his wrist, the sharp weapon like an extension of his arm. Just moments before, Lanmian Sou was less than a foot away from his eyeball, yet he showed no fear. Looking at the pale-faced young man, Li Yan said, ¡°You are no match for me. Step down and concede, or else don¡¯t me me for what happens.¡± Grinding his teeth, Zhang Mingyuan stood up, ¡°Not by much.¡± Li Yan narrowed his eyes and gestured to Zhang Mingyuan with a crook of his hand. Zhang Ming stood his ground, with dark ripples swirling in his eyes. ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate!¡± ¡°You have chosen to use A Fleeting Glimpse on your target.¡± ¡°Target locked: Li Yan. This lock can be removed at any time.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, you have not discovered the weakness of your opponent. If the target remains in the state of A Fleeting Glimpse for a prolonged period, it will increase the chances of you discerning their weakness.¡± You have obtained the following information: Name: Li Yan Status: None Talent: Ancient Martial Arts 81%/100% Skills: None (Li Yan has not purchased A Fleeting Glimpse; He Andong used itst time by directly spending Yan Fu points.) Threat Level: Deep Red Remark: As a neer facing the event of Yan Fu for the first time, this man has not experienced the power of Yan Fu. Trust me, this is your only chance. Li Yan attacked swiftly; the longer A Fleeting Glimpsested, the higher the probability grew of finding the target¡¯s weakness. He hadn¡¯t discovered any weakness when facing He Andong, but Li Yan didn¡¯t want to try it for himself. The Han Sword shed with the tobo pipe; the dark ripples in Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s eyes became more intense, his hand wielding Lanmian Sou flickering like lightning. At the same time, he raised his right knee, the Emperor Lifting Leg embedded in his probing foot kicked towards Li Yan¡¯s calves. Li Yan¡¯s Han Sword came shing down, repelling Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s leg, while Zhang Mingyuan, under the state of A Fleeting Glimpse, seized on Li Yan¡¯s moment of new weakness, and with a raised hand, Lanmian Sou¡¯s beak-shaped mouthpiece aimed for Li Yan¡¯s neck! This was it¡­ Li Yan sighed inwardly, having used A Fleeting Glimpse himself and understood this skill, which was categorized as of normal quality. For a person with no fighting experience, after using A Fleeting Glimpse, they would feel as though the opponent¡¯s movements were extremely slow, with even the slightest details visible. But for individuals skilled inbat like Li Yan and Zhang Mingyuan, A Fleeting Glimpse would quicken their reaction speed, allowing them to respond more smoothly, an extraordinary effect. Not to mention, the Zhang Mingyuan from before, facing Li Yan¡¯s sword, didn¡¯t have such visual acuity and reflexes. Chapter 21 - 21 The Power of Yan Fu Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Power of Yan Fu Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` Li Yan¡¯s left hand deflected Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s punch, as his Octahedral Han Sword aimed to graze his shoulder. At that moment, the treacherous nature of the Lanmian Sou as a peculiar weapon was fully revealed. Zhang Mingyuan flicked his wrist, and as the smoke pipe aimed at Li Yan was deflected, the sharp de sliced across Li Yan¡¯s face, leaving an inch-deep wound. Without a care, Li Yan¡¯s fingers shaped like a bird¡¯s beak, poking Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s wrist, nearly touching his armpit with the Han Sword. In desperation, Zhang Mingyuan leaped back, increasing the distance between them and barely managing, with great risk, to retract the Lanmian Sou in time to avoid Li Yan¡¯s sword edge. Li Yan, unbothered by his broken appearance, casually tossed the Lanmian Sou down from the stage and coldly watched Zhang Mingyuan not far away. At this moment, Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s right wrist was bruised purple, with blood flowing from his feet and neck; unarmed, he looked utterly wretched. However, his eyes were filled with a wild gleam, showing not the slightest sign of discouragement. Inside the private room, He Changhong¡¯s face was gloomy. He had made big promises in front of Judy, but now it seemed that Wu Eng probably was no match for this Yama. He Changhong didn¡¯t care about losing money, nor did he consider Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s life of any importance. However, the face he lost in front of Judy was something he couldn¡¯t bear. Li Yan lunged forward with a low stance, his Octahedral Han Sword shing fiercely towards Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s legs! Zhang Mingyuan sprang off the ground, dodging Li Yan¡¯s swift sword strike, aiming his right foot at Li Yan¡¯s sword-holding hand. With a slight lift of his hand, Li Yan deflected with his sword de, forcing Zhang Mingyuan to twist in the air and flip tond. Before Zhang Mingyuan could catch his breath, the imposing Han Sword was already chopping down on him. Unable to avoid it, his right arm was sliced open with a long wound. To all onlookers, Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s chances of turning the tables were now nonexistent. Without the Lanmian Sou, he had no means to block and was at the mercy of Li Yan¡¯s ferocious swordy, crushing like the relentless, dark tide of a stormy sea. But the moment Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s arm was cut, he didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, he charged at Li Yan as the Han Sword fell, throwing caution to the wind. ¡°Seeking death!¡± Even if Li Yan were to discard his sword at this moment, Zhang Mingyuan, covered in wounds, wouldn¡¯t be his match. And Li Yan had no need to discard his weapon. With a flick of his wrist, the falling Han Sword rose like an angry dragon, its tip thrusting obliquely at Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s knee. Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s eyes bulged. The oue of today¡¯s battle hinged on this very moment. He rose fluidly, kicking off from the body of Li Yan¡¯s sword, spinning in mid-air and delivering a kick, embodying the essence of the ¡°thud of snapping foot and whip-like crack.¡± Hidden Flower Hangs from the Leaf Kick! Before Li Yan¡¯s eyes, the red radiance of Zhang Mingyuan suddenly dimmed, tending to turn ck! A chill ran through Li Yan¡¯s heart as he suddenly recalled the series of question marks from A Fleeting Glimpse. Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s blood-drenched chin lifted slightly, his pupils revealing a ferocious beast making a howling pose¡ªits body engulfed in mes, with a nine-tiger body, and a tail curved like a hook! The ¡°ssic of Mountains and Seas: Western Seas¡± states: ¡°The Enlightened Beast, with the body of a beast, the likeness of a tiger, stands on Kunlun facing east.¡± ¡°Snap!¡± Li Yan¡¯s chin was hit by the kick, his body arching back. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. A strange tiger roar sounded in his ears, as if a stick had plunged into his brain and stirred it violently! ¡°Ugh!¡± Even with Li Yan¡¯s will, he couldn¡¯t suppress a pain-filled cry. This soul-shuddering agony was far beyond what an ordinary person could endure. ¡°You have faced the Power of the Enlightened Beast!¡± ¡°You have acquired some information. Viewing it requires spending some Yan Fu points. Would you like to view it?¡± ¡°Yes!!!¡± ¡°Name: Zhang Mingyuan Specialty: Ancient Martial Arts (69%/100%) Status: Fury Spirit! Skill: A Fleeting Glimpse Legacy: Eyes of the Enlightened Beast. Fury Spirit ¡°` [Eyes of the Enlightened Beast. Fury Spirit] Type: Inheritance Quality: Rare (can only be obtained through a special reward afterpleting the rted Yan Fu event.) With every movement, one will wield the Power of the Enlightened Beast; each attack will burn the opponent¡¯s soul and can be added to any weapon, though the effect at a distance is only 30% that of closebat. In agonizing pain, Li Yan¡¯s grip loosened, and the Octahedral Han Sword fell to the ground. Zhang Mingyuan had justnded on the tips of his toes and, pushing off with his instep, swung a heavy kick at Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, sending blood sttering from the already injured right leg under the force of the blow. Li Yan¡¯s right arm felt as if struck by lightning. He rolled on the ground to distance himself, the intense searing pain voraciously devouring his will. If he had been an ordinary person, by now he would have been writhing in pain all over the floor. Li Yan¡¯s fingers trembled slightly with the pain, his entire right arm hanging limp and clearly unable to be raised. Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot; maintaining this state was not easy for him either. He flicked up the Han Sword with his toes, grabbed it with one hand, and charged toward Li Yan. The situation was reversed in an instant! Li Yan¡¯s gaze was exceptionally indifferent, as if the disabled right arm was not his own. His lips barely moved as he whispered, ¡°Even the overwhelming power of the Enlightened Beast must hit its mark to be effective.¡± Zhang Mingyuan stabbed at Li Yan with the Han Sword in hand. Li Yan twisted his step to the right; his body swung around Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s arm like a specter, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Zhang Mingyuan. Stepping forward and turning, he raised his left hand and smashed his fist into Zhang¡¯s chest. Bagua Palm Sixty-Four Secret Techniques, Stride and Lift the Garment! Cross Shift the Tower! Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s face turned pale with fear, immediately realizing that swordy was not his forte, especially since the Octahedral Han Sword was considerably longer than typical longswords, and he could not control it. It was toote for regrets; almost instinctively, Zhang lifted his knee, intending to use the thrusting knee technique from his Lotus Leaf Leg to force Li Yan back. However, just as his knee rose, Li Yan¡¯s right foot followed like a venomous snake, fiercely kicking Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s shinbone. It was also a masterstroke from the thrusting foot repertoire¡ªthe Entangling Silk Leg! At the same time, Li Yan¡¯s knuckles crushed down ruthlessly on Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s chest, causing him to spit out blood. Then he turned his fist into a w, grabbing Zhang¡¯s shoulder, sliding down the arm to snatch the Han Sword, and with a sideways elbow, he pressed Zhang to the ground. The sharp sword de, like a guillotine, bore down on Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s throat! ¡­ ¡°Ha~huh~¡± Zhang Mingyuan, with blood traces remaining at the corner of his mouth, stared into Li Yan¡¯s detached eyes, feeling a pin-prick pain throbbing between his eyebrows. ¡°Zhang Daojing, who is she to you?¡± Li Yan¡¯s voice was particrly hoarse, his throat damaged by the power of the Enlightened Beast. Coughing up flecks of blood, Zhang Mingyuan, chilled by those slightly reddened eyes, replied involuntarily, ¡°She¡¯s my sister.¡± Li Yan was silent for a moment, and a drop of blood trickled down the Han Sword resting on Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s neck, making a faint plop sound. ¡°You¡¯ve broken my right arm; this injury will trouble me greatly for the next month. I should kill you to vent my anger.¡± Li Yan spoke coldly and dryly, pausing with each word. Dropping the Han Sword, he grabbed Zhang Mingyuan by the cor, flipped him over, and tossed him off the ring. ¡°Thud.¡± Zhang Mingyuan fell heavily to the ground, covered in dust. ¡°How do you know the Entangling Silk Leg from my thrusting leg techniques?¡± Zhang Mingyuan called out with some unwillingness. Li Yan struggled to his feet, cradling his right arm and limping down from the ring, his forehead¡¯s veins bulging. Upon hearing Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s question, the pain caused him to grit his teeth, and he replied irritably, ¡°Go home and ask your sister!¡± In the private box Red Ghost let out a heavy breath. The duel had gone through several twists and turns, but in the end, it was Li Yan who had clinched the victory. Seeing him wielding the Han Sword with force behind the de and with no significant bodily damage, it was the best possible oue. He turned to look at Judy but found her face flushed with excitement. ¡°Red Ghost, you, step out for a moment, and close the door behind you when you leave.¡± Chapter 22 - 22 I Can Give You Better Chapter 22: Chapter 22 I Can Give You Better Editor: Larbre Studio Water, mixed with red, pitter-pattered against the sink as Li Yan wrapped an ice pack around the spot on his right shoulder where Zhang Mingyuan had kicked him; the relief was marginally better than nothing. ¡°When you dropped your sword, I was really afraid that you¡¯d lose.¡± The neer, sporting sharp short hair and hands wrapped in bandages, was none other than Zhou, proficient in both Wensheng Fist and Taiji Plum Blossom Mantis. ¡°You¡¯re not so idle as to watch my match, are you? By the way, who are you fighting next?¡± ¡°The four hottest fighters in the ring recently: you, me, Wu Eng, whom you¡¯ve just defeated, and thest one.¡± Li Yan licked his teeth, making sure he had spat out all the blood in his mouth, then turned to look at Zhou. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down.¡± Li Yan, with his defiant nature, had rarely respected his peers in the martial arts circle, but he genuinely admired Zhou, who was stubborn, cool on the outside but warm within. Zhou had earned Li Yan¡¯s regard; having followed his organization into turf wars in earlier years, Zhou had gained unparalleledbat experience and even developed his own unique fighting style. Taishuai calling him a genius was a testament to his recognition. In this era, traditional martial arts might not be able to prop up the signboard of national arts written personally by Sun Yat-sen, yet there were still countless talents in its realm. In Li Yan¡¯s time, a master like Zhou would have been exceedingly rare. That day, when he refused Lei Jing¡¯s invitation, partly it was because his own life wasn¡¯t long for this world and, on the other hand, seeing the inevitable decline, what did it matter if he was the Hejian Skinny Tiger? It was worth a gamble for riches and honor, but anything more was nothing but wishful thinking. Lei Jing wanted to use him to overpower those old men in the national arts association, but in any case, the association falling into the hands of those who knew nothing about national arts was a foregone conclusion. Such a mess wasn¡¯t worth Li Yan¡¯s life. Zhou, uncharacteristically, let a slight smile show: ¡°Heal up. I don¡¯t want to take advantage while you¡¯re down. Your swordsmanship is not bad; I¡¯ll personally see how good it is when the timees.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll see something even better,¡± Li Yan said,ughing. Someone knocked on the washroom door. ¡°An, Shanjiu calls for you. The match is about to begin.¡± Zhou nodded: ¡°Got it.¡± He turned back around: ¡°There¡¯s something else.¡± Li Yan tried to move his right arm, winced in pain and said, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Gongsun Yang and Zhang Yi are far from being great men!¡± Zhou, having said his piece without dragging his feet, turned and left. Li Yan opened his mouth to respond, but seeing Zhou had already gone, he frowned deeply, untied the melted ice pack, and threw it into the trash. ¡°So much for ¡®wealth cannot be pursued through immoral means.¡¯ Can¡¯t he just speak inly instead of acting like some intellectual?¡± This phrasees from ¡°Mencius¡±; the rest which is well-known goes ¡°Wealth cannot corrupt them; force cannot bend them; poverty cannot sway them.¡± He probably knew about Li Yan and Judy¡¯s affair and thought Li Yan was after Judy¡¯s wealth, cozying up to a wealthy woman. Li Yan found such people to be rather twisted, having mixed with the right society only to turn around and preach to others about avoiding moral corruption for wealth, but he didn¡¯t find them detestable. The blood on the marble ring had already been wiped clean; the crowd in the stands was noisy, buzzing with discussion. ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± ¡°That guy with the brass knucklesst time was lethal, his movements were unnaturally fast.¡± ¡°Right? And look at his opponent, clearly a student, grinning so brightly. Is he acting in a drama for housewives?¡± ¡°No, I heard that student¡¯s really vicious when he fights.¡± Zhou, this time stepping into the ring, wasn¡¯t wearing his usual pair of iron knuckles but instead was holding a Nine Rings Broadsword, looking even more fierce than Li Yan¡¯s Octahedral Han Sword. Below the stage, Hua Shanjiu appeared cheerful, speaking to a man beside him who was wearing sunsses, ¡°Here, Le, this is my top fighter, Zhou. He¡¯s never lost once he steps into the ring, and today will be no different!¡± Ruan Hongzhi hurried to catch up with Zhou, following the calm man and urgently saying: ¡°Hey, Zhou, you¡¯re my protege after all, so don¡¯t say I don¡¯t look out for you. This opponent¡¯s no ordinary guy; in ten matches, his opponents either ended up dead or crippled. Drop that merciful heart of yours and go in hard.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never held back. It¡¯s just not necessary to be ruthlessly thorough.¡± Zhou leaped onto the ring, sizing up his opponent with a nce. An eighteen or neen-year-old boy, very handsome, who was now squinting and smiling, with tiger teeth. It was hard to imagine this was the person Ruan Hongzhi described in such an exaggerated tone. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to say beforehand,¡± the handsome youth suddenly spoke up. Zhou looked at him quizzically. The youth licked his lips: ¡°Once you¡¯re on the ring, life and death are out of the question.¡± Zhou pursed his lips and let out a coldugh without replying but just bowed his hands in greeting. ¡°Du Family Fist, Zhou Wei¡¯an.¡± The youth returned the gesture with due formality. ¡°Wing Chun, Xu Tianci.¡± ¡­ Li Yan walked into the medical room, where Zhang Mingyuany on a makeshift sickbed, swaddled by the ring nurse like a zongzi. ¡°Wow, you are really tough, still okay after losing so much blood. This wound nearly reached the spine; does it hurt?¡± Li Yan coughed dryly at the doorway, drawing the attention of the two.¡± ¡°I have something to say to him, could the nurse sister please step out for a moment?¡± Li Yan stared with a half-smile at the nurse¡¯s hand resting on Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s thigh. The nurse suddenly retracted her hand, clumsily wiped her hands on herself a couple of times, and scurried away with small, quick steps. ¡°The fragment.¡± Li Yan reached out his hand. ¡°You¡¯re really straightforward, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zhang Mingyuan gave a wry smile and motioned with his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s in my embrace. My left hand¡¯s cartge is shattered, and you sliced a forty centimeter long wound on my right hand¡ªdon¡¯t be so cruel as to ask me to get it for you myself.¡± Li Yan, with a stern face, sat down beside Zhang Mingyuan and reached into his embrace. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Down more.¡± ¡°Nothing here.¡± ¡°A little further down.¡± Li Yan indeed felt something with the texture of paper, and upon pulling it out, he saw it was a piece of rice paper with embossed golden patterns, depicting a one-legged Kui Niu, its head thrown back in a howl. ¡°Where¡¯d you get this?¡± ¡°Lucky find. Paid two thousand bucks for it at Lixing Daya. Some old Taoist with a drug fit smashed in the skull of an unlucky guy walking through Kowloon City at night, robbed it off him and pawned it. For anything more, you¡¯d have to ask that ghost.¡± Zhang Mingyuan looked at Li Yan, ¡°You¡¯ve got two pieces yourself, where¡¯d you get them?¡± ¡°Those five fragments were robbed from a bank¡¯s vault by a gang of fierce bandits, and I killed those bandits.¡± Upon hearing that, Zhang Mingyuan sharply inhaled. It¡¯s impossible to rob banks in Hong Kong with just a fruit knife. Even someone like him with the Enlightened Beast legacy couldn¡¯t take on several sharpshooters with nothing on the line¡ªhe could hardly imagine how Li Yan managed it alone, as he¡¯s supposed to be just a regr person. ¡°By the way, is this your first time being involved in a Yan Fu event?¡± ¡°Second time,¡± Zhang Mingyuan answered somewhat dejectedly. ¡°Was it a fatso who brought you in?¡± Zhang Mingyuan paused, taken aback. ¡°No, it was a very beautiful woman who brought me in, someone I¡¯ll never forget for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°What rewards do you get afterpleting a Yan Fu event?¡± Li Yan threw another question. Zhang Mingyuan honestly replied, ¡°Afterpleting a Yan Fu event for the first time, you¡¯re guaranteed to receive one Yan Fu heritage, like my Enlightened Beast.¡± At this, a glint of fervor shed in Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Unless you¡¯ve owned it, you can¡¯t understand that feeling, that extraordinary power.¡± ¡°Cut the crap and get to the point. What¡¯s the use of bbering so much? If it were useful, I¡¯d be the one lying here, not you.¡± The young man¡¯s cheeks flushed from being provoked: ¡°If I hadn¡¯t gone for that Han Sword, the oue might not have been so certain.¡± Li Yan patted Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s shoulder forcefully, his tone menacing, ¡°You¡¯re already bedridden, why give yourself misery, right?¡± He lit a cigarette, then asked, ¡°What else? Whates next?¡± ¡°After a Yan Fu event is over, all your actions are tallied. The higher the evaluation after the tally, the more Yan Fu points you get and the higher purchasing authority you have.¡± ¡°What¡¯s purchasing authority?¡± Li Yan knocked on the table, feeling like he was getting to the good stuff. ¡°It¡¯s rted to everything that appears in this Yan Fu event. I don¡¯t know how else to describe it.¡± He recalled, ¡°Myst Yan Fu event took ce in the thirteenth year of the Republic of China, near Phoenix Mountain in Xiangxi, where a corpse outbreak urred at a charity hall. In the end, the local warlord ttened the entire ce with artillery fire! And in the purchasing authority I sawst time, there were terms like Corpse-Driving Skill, and even Purple Zombie, Blood Zombie and such. But my Yan Fu points were far from enough; I couldn¡¯t even afford a White Zombie, not to mention Purple Zombies, which were darkened out, beyond my purchase.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the most efficient way to raise my purchasing authority?¡± Li Yan probed further, his heartbeat quickening slightly. Suddenly, he remembered the fat man¡¯s sinister smile and his words. ¡°I can offer you something better.¡± ¡°If you ask me, the most efficient method is¡­ killing people!¡± Chapter 23 - 23 Martial Virtue Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Martial Virtue Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Murder¡­ Hehe.¡± Li Yan yed with his fingers, remaining silent. Suddenly, Zhang Mingyuan remembered something and said, ¡°Right, in about an hour or two, my Power of the Enlightened Beast will dissipate, and your right arm will be fine.¡± Li Yan¡¯s expression rxed somewhat; he still had several tough battles to fight in Kowloon Walled City, and if his right arm was disabled, it would be very troublesome. ¡°Onest thing, is it you who¡¯s been ying cat and mouse with me these past few days?¡± Zhang Mingyuan shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it. You can go in peace.¡± Li Yan stood up, ready to leave. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with my sister?¡± Zhang Mingyuan asked, tilting his face upward. Without a second thought, Li Yan replied with a saucy Beijing-inflected ending, ¡°Old lover, eh.¡± ¡°You!¡± Zhang Mingyuan was furious and attempted to sit up, but Li Yan had already walked out the door. After leaving the door, Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°This kid really can take a beating.¡± With punches and kicks being blind, not to mention des, the fact Zhang Mingyuan survived a pounding from Li Yan right over his heart should have been enough to kill a man. Zhang Mingyuan took Li Yan¡¯s three swords, one w, one punch and had barely lost his fighting capability, which was a level of physical resilience even Li Yan found troublesome¡ªprobably another benefit of the Yan Fu Heritage. The Ericsson in his pocket started buzzing. Li Yan nced at the number and pressed the answer button. ¡°Red Ghost. What¡¯s up?¡± The line was filled with noise, swearing, and shouts blended together, but a pleasant female voice came through clearly, ¡°Is that you, Yan? Come down to the boxing ring, take a young man out the back door of the building, and use the stairs. If anyone dares to stop you, beat them to death.¡± Li Yan was startled, ¡°Taishuai?¡± The call had already been disconnected, and with thoughts racing, Li Yan quickly headed towards the boxing ring upstairs. ¡­ ¡°I won¡¯t let anyone leave through this door today without ughtering this fucker.¡± The man had thrown his white suit onto the ground, revealing a body of taut muscle. His tattoo of a demon with wide angry eyes seemed ready to devour someone. Hua Shanjiu was covered in blood with veins on his face nearly bursting. Several hundred members of the society had the tenth floor of Fuyi Buildingpletely surrounded, each with a defiant expression. More than fifty armed men in ck suits were expressionless, simply standing in the way of Hua Shanjiu and the others, while Taishui Yu Shu was sippping wine leisurely off to the side. ¡°Hua Shanjiu, you think you¡¯re so great, surrounding us with a few hundred people. We came to Longcheng to watch a fight, not a gang war. What are you trying to do? If you want to make trouble, at least weigh your own capabilities.¡± The speaker was a man in his fifties, impably dressed in a suit. His hair was perfectly groomed, and he carried an air of inherent authority. These gamblers were either rich or noble, outnumbering those present, and they showed no fear even against an established society like the association. In the end, the association¡¯s fourteen hitters were also subordinate to Kowloon¡¯s Hua Shanjiu. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t weigh enough, perhaps Elder Zheng, you could see if I do?¡± The surnamed Zheng transferred his gaze to the speaker. A silence fell. The man had been sitting quietly in the stands not making a sound, just cleaning his sses, until the elder spoke and then he came forward. He stood up from the stands and walked in front of Hua Shanjiu, his demeanor rather schrly. ¡°From the association, Chang Kaile here. Let me first apologize to Elder Zheng and to all the bosses for the disturbance,¡± ¡°Le, there¡¯s no need for such formality. Actually¡­¡± The man raised his hand, and the elder Mr. Zheng, like a duck with its throat seized, abruptly fell silent. ¡°Ajiu is a bit rough around the edges, speaking hastily in the heat of the moment. I hope no one takes it to heart. If any of the bosses wish to leave, feel free to do so at any time. If any of the bosses wish to stay and watch, Fuyi doesn¡¯t drive anyone away, but after all, this is a private grievance between us and Fuyi. I hope everyone refrains from intervening.¡± After he finished speaking, he bowed respectfully to the stands and the private rooms, staying bent over for a full five seconds before straightening up. Standing in the stands, Old Mr. Zheng was caught between a rock and a hard ce, uncertain whether to sit or leave, when Yu Shu finally spoke up, ¡°Mr. Zheng, Taizi Le is also reasonable. Since he has admitted his wrongs, you should let bygones be bygones.¡± This exit was handed to him just right, and the older man, seizing the opportunity, stuttered an agreement and hurried off with his people. The other gamblers also got up, eager to stay out of the turmoil. With most people gone, the Fuyi Building suddenly became much emptier. Yet, some really stayed behind and didn¡¯t leave. These people were the true scions of Hong Kong¡¯s wealthiest families¡ªto them, the society was a novel and exciting, yet not intimidating. Any one of them getting into trouble in Kowloon City would prompt the Hong Kong British Government to seize the opportunity to organize a third military-police operation into the city, tearing down Kowloon City, the eyesore they coveted, and Fuyi could hardly bear the consequences. It was at this moment that Li Yan arrived. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Red Ghost Brother.¡± Li Yan asked in a low voice. ¡°Zhou lost,¡± said Red Ghost grimly, Li Yan nced at the boxing ring, only to see the ground covered in dark brown blood. ¡°His right hand was chopped off, he took two shes in the abdomen, and his intestines spilled all over the floor. He was taken by Hua Shanjiu¡¯s men to get medical assistance. Fuyi¡¯s people are causing trouble now.¡± Li Yan looked towards the crowd. Besides Taishui Yu Shu and Zhou¡¯s manager Ruan Hongzhi, there was the red-eyed Hua Shanjiu and a young man Li Yan didn¡¯t recognize. Words like ¡°the rules of the Kowloon boxing ring¡± and ¡°life-and-death agreements¡± could be heard intermittently. ¡°That¡¯s Taizi Le, the son of Fuyi¡¯s Dragon Head Chang Shen. Chang Shen is getting too old and is about to retire. He practically runs the whole of Fuyi.¡± Hearing the name Taizi Le, which sounded much like a domestic yogurt brand, Li Yan didn¡¯t have time to ask more and simply said, ¡°Taishui has asked me to take a young man away first. Who is it?¡± Red Ghost led Li Yan backstage, where a young man with his abdomen wrapped in bandages sat. His body was covered with seven or eight bloodstains, but none were deep, except for the serious knife wound on his stomach which, despite being bandaged, was still oozing blood slowly. The young man looked rxed and his eyes lit up when he saw Li Yan enter, ¡°Are you Yama?¡± Li Yan ignored him and said to Red Ghost, ¡°Is it him?¡± Red Ghost nodded, ¡°Get him safely out of Kowloon City. Even if he dies, he can¡¯t die on our watch.¡± The young man seemed oblivious to the coldness in Red Ghost¡¯s words, still smiling carefreely. ¡°Understood, leave it to me.¡± Li Yan looked at the young man, ¡°Can you walk by yourself?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Stick close.¡± Li Yan led the way, exiting through the back door of the arena hall, following the stairs down, with the young man chattering non-stop behind him. ¡°My name is Xu Tianci, what¡¯s yours?¡± ¡°If I win against you, it means I will have no more opponents in the ring, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been training in martial arts for more than a decade, but haven¡¯t had as much fun as these few days in Kowloon City.¡± ¡°That Zhou is quite a fighter, the Nine Rings Broadsword almost made my arms go weak, but unfortunately, I¡¯m faster. Do you know the Eight Chop Sword? Two shes and I cut open his belly.¡± Suddenly, Li Yan came to a stop, his face wearing a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, ¡°You practice traditional martial arts, do you believe in martial morality?¡± Xu Tianci paused, then after a moment shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s outdated.¡± Li Yan burst into loudughter, charged forward, lifted his leg as if a ferocious dragon raising its head, and fiercely kicked Xu Tianci¡¯s bleeding stomach! Xu Tianci was kicked a meter away, blood droplets spraying in the air, and his back hit the wall, causing the white ster to fall in a cascade. Li Yan stood still, his tone cold, ¡°I think so too.¡± Chapter 24 - 24 A Bold Heart Gambles for Wealth and Honour Chapter 24: Chapter 24 A Bold Heart Gambles for Wealth and Honour Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°If you¡¯re not dead, then run, do you want to end up minced meat at the hands of the Heung Shing guys?¡± Xu Tianci wiped the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and the smile on his face finally disappeared. ¡°This kick, I will definitely return it to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Li Yan¡¯s tone was cold and harsh as he turned and walked downstairs; his pocket suddenly buzzed with the sound of his phone vibrating. He looked at the phone, cleared his throat twice with a cough, and answered the call with a soft voice. ¡°What¡¯s up, Judy?¡± The woman on the other end of the line sounded resentful. ¡°Where the fuck have you been?¡± ¡°I, I¡¯m working.¡± Xu Tianci looked over at Li Yan with a puzzled expression at the smiling face, their pace not slowing down. Two Heung Shing guys were squatting near the stairwell, smoking and eyeing the exit. They saw two men walk out side by side, one of them on the phone. ¡°Buy a car, what the hell for a car, Judy? You¡¯re so generous, why not give me the cash instead?¡± ¡°Still need money without a business, eh~¡± ¡°Wow, how dare I. No, definitely not.¡± The man whispered, speaking in a soft and tender voice to the person on the other end of the phone. The two Heung Shing guys exchanged a smile, looked away from them, and when they were three or four steps away, one of them suddenly blinked and stood up abruptly. ¡°Hey, buddy ahead, wait a second.¡± He hurried a few steps to grab Xu Tianci¡¯s shoulder; the man on the phone suddenly turned around, delivering a fierce side kick to his chin. The kick skewed the man¡¯s body and toppled him to the ground. The other man dropped his cigarette butt, instinctively reached for the crooked leg knife at his waist, and then a blur rushed at him, a ck shadow carrying a gust of wind smashing into his face! ¡°Noises, oh, I¡¯m working, of course there are noises.¡± Li Yan stepped on the de of the crooked leg knife, flicked his foot upwards, and grabbed the knife in his hand. He pulled Xu Tianci¡¯s arm and ran down to the next level. ¡°Ball Boy, what¡¯s happening?¡± A gang of Heung Shing guys heard themotion and hurried up the stairs only to face Li Yaning down. ¡°Fuck, this son of a bitch has such sharp ears, ah, no, not you Judy, I wasn¡¯t talking about you.¡± Li Yan tossed the Ericsson to Xu Tianci, grabbed the stair railing with his left hand, andunched himself into the air, sweeping his legs like steel whips at the crowd, his right foot nting on a Heung Shing guy¡¯s chest. With a flip like a sparrow turning in the air, he powered up from his waist and smashed his fist hard against the man¡¯s cheek! Xu Tianci stood to the side, holding the still-ringing Ericsson: ¡°Yan, what the hell are you doing, why is it so noisy around you? I don¡¯t see you with Taishuai. Wow, it¡¯s quite bustling this time, Taizi Le doesn¡¯te to Kowloon City often, thinking that bringing a few hundred gangmittee members would make him untouchable, Taishuai must be nuts. He¡¯s making quite a fuss here, probably won¡¯t make it out of Fuyi Building today. Did you hear what I said?¡± ¡°He¡­¡± Xu Tianci opened his mouth towards the phone. ¡°Heard you, of course I heard you.¡± Li Yan shook off his sleeved fist and walked up, snatched the phone away, and red at the eager Xu Tianci. ¡°Judy, I¡¯ll be done here soon, I¡¯ll call you back.¡± Li Yan hung up the Ericsson and gave Xu Tianci a meaningful look. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡­ ¡°Yu, we¡¯ve been sitting here ¡¯til our asses are growing sores. Are we really gonna wait for the guy to show up?¡± Hei Yatai shooed the fierce water mosquitos around him, spitting a lump of thick phlegm into the filthy puddle. The man nced at him, replying impatiently, ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°No, seriously, Yu. Taizi Le rarelyes to Kowloon City, and now that there¡¯s trouble, you¡¯ve got us here being mosquito food while everybody else is sucking up to him in the Fuyi Building, for fuck¡¯s sake! Even a loser like Geesi Keung, who usually runs first when there¡¯s trouble, knows enough to stay close to those in power.¡± Although the others remained silent, they clearly shared Hei Yatai¡¯s sentiments. In this group, aside from Hei Yatai who had been around four years, the rest were just fresh out of school. But don¡¯t underestimate these kids who ditched their textbooks for the baptism of fire. Aside from a few who thought a body full of tattoos was cool and who didn¡¯t expect to pay for meals or collect protection money for ying games, most who joined the fringes did so to make a living and seek fortune. Thus, these kids could be ferocious, risking their lives to stand out. Now that a gang leader¡¯s son was in the Fuyi Building, it was natural for the low-level thugs to want to be around him. The man took a deep drag of his cigarette, stamped out the butt on the ground, and let out a coldugh. ¡°With such a big fuss, did you happen to see the student who cut An open from belly to bowel while you were at Fuyi?¡± Hei Yatai was taken aback, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Taishuai may have the smallest turf in Kowloon City, but he¡¯s known for fighting hard! Staying there would bring misfortune rather than luck. As for that student.¡± The man bared his ghastly white teeth, ¡°You can bet your ass Fuyi Building told him to get the hell out of town. I¡¯ll just wait at the gates of Kowloon City. Once I¡¯ve nabbed him and brought him before Le, who do you think will be credited for the catch?¡± After the man spoke, the others nodded in agreement. Maybe because they¡¯d been waiting too long, the man asked Hei Yatai casually, ¡°Oh, by the way Tai, that pathetic gambler who wanted to trade toilet paper for cash at your stallst time, has he been back?¡± Hei Yatai shook his head like a rattle drum, ¡°Yu gave me a heads-up to keep an eye out, and he hasn¡¯t shown up since then.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± The man replied indifferently, reaching into his pocket for another pack of cigarettes, but with a sidelong nce, the pack fell to the ground with a tter. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Hei Yatai shouted excitedly. Rustling sounds followed as a dozen or so men stood up, each holding a gleaming weapon. ¡°Yu, there are two people¡­¡± One of the kids turned his head, but was startled by the man¡¯s grim expression. The man known as Yu swallowed hard, his eyes shing with cold light, his voice tense and ecstatic, ¡°Tai, didn¡¯t I tell you to get a piece from the Vietnamese, just in case? Give it here, quick!¡± Hei Yatai was stunned. In his view, although the opponent was a trained fighter, with serious injuries ¨C he had seen Zhou¡¯s Nine Rings Broadsword sh the kid¡¯s belly with his own eyes. With their side numbering over ten and armed to the teeth, even bringing a hunting hook, they shouldn¡¯t have any trouble taking down the kid. He answered, despite the almost murderous look in the man¡¯s eyes, ¡°Yu, getting a gun from the Vietnamese takes time. You pushed too hard, I¡­¡± The man didn¡¯t speak, his gaze lingering on the tall, thin figure by the Kowloon City metal sign. He turned back, scanning the excited yet anxious young faces, his own expression twisted with conflict. ¡°You didn¡¯t secure a gun, did you?¡± ¡°I thought¡­¡± ¡°Is there one, or not?¡± ¡°¡­No, no there isn¡¯t.¡± The man¡¯s gaze bore into Li Yan¡¯s figure fiercely. From between gritted teeth, he managed to grind out one word. ¡°Retreat!¡± Chapter 25: The Feast Chapter 25: The Feast Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Hail a cab yourself, and be more careful when you go out in the future; the people from He Liansheng won¡¯t let this slide easily.¡± After walking two blocks from Kowloon Walled City, Li Yan said this to Xu Tianci. Xu Tianci¡¯s strikes were brutal, indeed, but both had signed a life-and-death waiver before stepping onto the stage. Once they entered the ring, life and death were in their own hands, and there were no hard feelings, especially since Xu Tianci¡¯s injuries were not light. Logically, He Liansheng should not make trouble. Unfortunately, things in this world never go by the book. If He Liansheng wanted topletely eliminate Xu Tianci, they only needed influence, not reason. ¡°These guys are senseless, they don¡¯t follow the rules.¡± Xu Tianci stiffened his neck, appearing unconcerned about He Liansheng. Li Yan nced at him and slightly sneered in his heart, but said nothing. ¡°Fifteen days, I will definitely heal within fifteen days.¡± Li Yan acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard Xu Tianci¡¯s words and turned to walk eastward. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not the way back to Kowloon Walled City, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to a game arcade to y pinball. Back to Kowloon Walled City? I¡¯d have to be out of my mind to go back there right now.¡± Li Yan licked his lips. Taishuai, Hua Shanjiu, Taizi Le, and that Wu Haoxi he had never met¡­ Kowloon Walled City tonight would probably be even more explosive than some might expect! ¡­ Maybe the name Taishuai hadn¡¯t been used for so long it was nearly rotting away, or perhaps Taizi Le really would brave the mountains of knives and the pans of oil for his brothers. The men from He Liansheng poured into the city incessantly, and the situation was gradually spiraling out of control. ¡°Of course, I follow the rules, but they are the rules of the underworld. I am very fair. If that kid cut off one of my brother¡¯s arms, he has to offer up one arm inpensation. If he sliced open my brother¡¯s belly, he just has to stab himself. After that, my men will immediately withdraw from Kowloon Walled City.¡± On the opposite side, sitting to the left and the right, were Red Ghost and Liao Zhizong. In front of them sat a woman dressed in a tracksuit, her long, smooth hair hanging down to her waist. She wore a dignified smile on her face: ¡°The boxing ring of Kowloon City has been around for decades, and there haven¡¯t been many who dared to run wild here. Moreover, no one who caused trouble here has walked out alive afterwards. Young Master Chang, think carefully.¡± Taizi Leughed softly, speaking at a leisurely pace. ¡°Speaking of that, I¡¯m rather curious. Miss Yu, how does a youngdy like you, manage to secure a position among the five influential leaders of Kowloon City? There are so many heroes in Kowloon City, did Taishuai persuade them one by one? It must have taken a lot of effort¡­¡± Taizi Le emphasized the word ¡°persuade,¡± his tone brazen and unrestrained. But before he could finish, a gust of wind rushed at him, an overwhelming pressure making him instinctively open his eyes wide! ¡°Ah Hong.¡± The words had barely left Yu Shu¡¯s mouth when Red Ghost¡¯s foot abruptly stopped right in front of Taizi Le¡¯s nose. In that tense moment, there was no hint of hesitance. Taizi Le¡¯spanions, as if waking from a dream, had just raised the cleavers in their hands when Taizi Le stopped them. Red Ghost withdrew his right foot little by little, his face cold and somber, as he slowly retreated behind Yu Shu. Taizi Le¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed up and down. Red Ghost was at least four or five steps away from him, and not just him; even the two men behind him, who had nearly fought their way to power with their fists and feet and were known as the most famous of He Liansheng¡¯s Twin Red Clubs, had not seen Red Ghost¡¯s movements clearly. ¡°Taishuai¡¯s temper is so fiery, I was just making a joke (I was just kidding).¡± Taizi Le forced a smile and spoke. The civil and military sides under Taishuai were never to be underestimated. Chen Minhong was the previous Sixth Ringmaster, and since stepping back in recent years, not a single person in Kowloon¡¯s boxing ring had dared to im the title of the Sixth Ringmaster, which speaks to his intimidating presence. Liao Zhizong was even more formidable, a veteran of the Hongmen. The former big boss of Shanghai¡¯s Hongmen, Xiang Qianhai, had him as a close aide, and he was the former grandson-inw of the elder statesman of Hongmen, Zhong Yangzhao. Back in the day, when Dr. Sun Yat-sen joined Hongmen to orchestrate a revolution, his sponsor was Zhong Yangzhao! If hierarchy was to be considered, Taizi Le should actually call Liao Zhizong ¡®Uncle.¡¯ For many years, people thought that Liao Zhizong was the Taishuai of Kowloon Walled City; even Taizi Le was convinced that Yu Shu was just bait dangled by Liao Zhi; he himself was the real power behind the boxing ring of Kowloon City. Yu Shu didn¡¯t take up Taizi Le¡¯s conversation. She scrutinized his expression for a while before slowly shaking her head, uttering words that made Taizi Le¡¯s heart skip a beat. ¡°Young Master Chang, I actually quite admire your courage and boldness, but you¡¯re underestimating that old ghost Wu Haoxi too much¡­¡± ¡­ In the dark alley, a boy walked with a pop stick dangling from his mouth, his eyes aimlessly wandering. On his back, he carried a loose bundle. Ahead of him was a restaurant painted red, with a sign bearing the golden letters ¡°Fuxiang Restaurant¡± on a blue background. The boy stood for a moment, violently cracked the pop stick between his teeth with a crisp snap, and then stepped into the restaurant. The owner of Fuxiang was Wu Haoxi¡¯s son-inw. Wu Haoxi, over sixty and without a son, usually had lunch here. ¡°I always said Taizi Le, that yboy, would eventually squander all his old man¡¯s fortune. He Liansheng is in hot water right now, and he actually ran off to the ring to fight for his underlings?¡± The biggest drug lord of Hong Kong and the chairman of the Kowloon City council, Wu Haoxi bore a square face with drooping eyelids. He listened quietly to his son-inw¡¯s words, and after a while, he spoke: ¡°I haven¡¯t met this young man Chang Kaile, but he has a good reputation. His father, Chang Shen, is almost on his deathbed, and not all the old-timers in He Liansheng are loyal. The others are all fair-weather friends, while Hua Shanjiu is one of the few thugs truly loyal to Taizi Le. It¡¯s not strange for him to make such a big scene¡­¡± There were about seven or eight people sitting around the table, all close associates and juniors of Wu Haoxi. They all more or less smiled upon hearing the words. Helian Sheng was known to be thergest ¡°He¡± (Harmony) organization in all of Hong Kong. However, spreading their influence too thin wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing. Dealing with just Wu Haoxi alone has already caused Chang Shen a major headache; if they were to provoke Taishuai from Kowloon City, who was notoriously tough and brave, Helian Sheng surely wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it. The boy ascended the staircase, his expression tight. He looked around in confusion, out of ce in the bustling, lively environment of the restaurant. Wu Haoxi received a phone call amid the feast. The voice on the other end was anxious, but Wu Haoxi didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids; his rxed flesh drooped inyers, resembling a monk deep in meditation. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s up?¡± The man who had previously made sarcastic remarks about Taizi Le filled Wu Haoxi¡¯s cup with wine and asked. Wu Haoxi did not answer, his toneced with amusement. ¡°Ignorant fools are fearless!¡± The man blinked, not understanding the old man¡¯s sudden sentiment. ¡°After entering the city, Helian Sheng¡¯s people didn¡¯t go to Fuyi Building but took Longjin Road to New Street instead.¡± The man¡¯splexion changed, he tilted his ss and wetted his sleeve; others at the table also began to stand up. New Street was Wu Haoxi¡¯s stronghold, where most of his men, equipment, and funds were concentrated. ¡°What¡¯s the panic!¡± Wu Haoxi rebuked. ¡°Dad, I didn¡¯t consider thoroughly enough.¡± The man¡¯s expression darkened. He had thought that Taizi Le wanted to pick a fight with Taishuai, and Helian Sheng didn¡¯t stop them froming into the city. Gleefully hoping to watch the tigers fight, he hadn¡¯t expected Helian Sheng toe charging at him with overwhelming force. ¡°A feigned path to crush Guo¡ªsuch an old trick.¡± The old man gently patted the table, leisurely lifted his cup, and guzzled down the liquor, his face flushed from the strong fumes. ¡°Chang Shen, your son is not half bad.¡± He pulled out his chair, intending to rise, when he suddenly caught sight of a boy with dirty hands inside a cloth bag. A chilling sensation sobered up the slightly tipsy man, and almost by instinct honed through years of battling, the old man violently flipped the table! ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± The boy squinted an eye shut, his arms numbed by the recoil, and wisps of smoke trailed from the barrel of the gun. The bullets pierced through the table, one grazing the old man¡¯s shoulder, another hitting Wu Haoxi¡¯s son-inw squarely in the neck. ¡°Ah Jun!¡± Wu Haoxi¡¯s eyes reddened. The boy clumsily handled the gun, his head tilted back as the barrel shook uncontrobly. A burly thug fearlessly pounced over, pinning the boy to the ground. Squeezing the boy¡¯s frail arm against the floor, the handgun was sent flying. Wu Haoxi rushed over in huge strides. Before he could get a clear look at the boy¡¯s face, his expression suddenly tightened, and with a swift motion, he lifted the boy¡¯s clothes to reveal a gaunt body with a circle of yellowish detonators. !!!!!! Outside the restaurant, a man tugged at a cigarette, its ember glowing dimly bright in the dark. Suddenly, gunshots rang out from inside the restaurant, and without hesitation, the man pulled out a remote control from beneath his clothes and pressed the button! ¡°Boom!¡± ¡­ ¡°You¡¯ve arranged to contact themittee members privately. Si Lizheng is a fence sitter and won¡¯t make any bold moves. Mrs. Hua, who lives off the flesh trade, has long epted your money. The smuggling czar, Yu Shu, has some background, so he¡¯s practically one of your own. Kowloon City hasn¡¯t seen firearms used on its streets for many years, and you want to change that. Your n was thorough enough to be considered brave and smart.¡± Taishui Yu Shu spoke in an even tone, ¡°But you miscalcted two things.¡± Taizi Le leaned back, his expression flickering but still said in a careless manner, ¡°I¡¯d like to hear the details.¡± ¡°First, Wu Haoxi has been dominating Longcheng for so many years, controlling over eighty percent of the drug sources in all of Hong Kong. He¡¯s a tough bone to chew; Helian Sheng will lose a few teeth trying to uproot him. Second¡­¡± The woman¡¯s smile suddenly vanished, veins on her forehead bulging as her voice turned ice cold! ¡°You motherfucker, using me as a human shield, think I¡¯m a pushover? Fuck your moth-eaten mandarin duck butterfly bullshit, I wouldn¡¯t give a damn about your sorry ass even if you were thest man in the West. Today, if anyone from Helian Sheng is here, no one is walking out of this building upright!¡± Chapter 26: Momentum Like Boiling Soup Chapter 26: Momentum Like Boiling Soup Editor: Larbre Studio A severed forearm, dripping with a string of blood beads, spun in the air to trace an arc, and thudded onto the ground. ¡°Kill those motherfuckers!¡± The same fit men from He Liansheng, known as Wang Shui, Yang Hao furiously shouted, along with himself behind him, a group of people with red cloth tied around their wrists. He Liansheng proudly imed to have a membership of over fifty thousand people, with fit men spanning over a dozen regions, and today in Kowloon Walled City alone there were a full ten groups! ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± A subordinate of Wu Haoxi clutched his throat, blood continuously flowing from his mouth, slowly falling to the ground with unwillingness in his eyes. The man in the ck windbreaker with two tiger tattoos on his arm spat out and cursed while he was changing the magazine for his pistol, ¡°Fucking hell! Wang Shui, are you out of your mind, using a couple of machetes like targets? Do you think the pistols at your waist are firewood?¡± Wang Shui¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°Scared of what? Right now in the city, there are at least two thousand brothers, we¡¯ll surround and kill every one of Wu¡¯s motherfucking subordinates!¡± An uncontroble voice of delight intervened. ¡°Xo has seeded!¡± Upon hearing this, several fit men from He Liansheng all felt a surge of spirit. ¡°Wu is really dead? The heavens want He Liansheng¡¯s prosperity to blossom.¡± Suddenly, the man in the ck windbreaker frowned, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t there been any news from Le¡¯s side?¡± As if it were an ominous signal, the intense sound of explosions, reeking of gunpowder smoke, spread throughout. ¡°Da da da da da da¡­¡± The muzzles, spitting out mes incessantly, slowly advanced, and several He Liansheng tough guys, who charged at the forefront, were instantly struck by nearly a hundred nted bullets, their bodies torn apart like a puppet on strings by the overwhelming kic energy! The shiny ck firearms reflected a cold gleam, a German HK product, the MP5K submachine gun. Before Wang Shui could react, a grenade pulled a white trail of smoke andnded at his feet. ¡°Get down!¡± Blinding shes and numerous sharp shrapnel sted in all directions! After the smoke cleared. The man with the tiger tattoo struggled to stand up, shaking his head, with streaks of blood seeping from his ears, he looked around nkly, his eyes seeing what was left of Yang Hao, dismembered¡­ Within the smoke, several figures slowly approached. The man with the tiger tattoo roared as he stood up and pulled the trigger; a sudden gust of wind dispersed the smoke, revealing the full picture of the opponents in the smog. Without a doubt, they were men of Wu Haoxi, shouldering RPG-17 rocketunchers, coldly aiming at the man with the tiger tattoo. ¡°Fucking hell¡­¡± Even the man with the tiger tattoo hadn¡¯t noticed, his words were trembling with terror¡­ ¡­ ¡°tter tter tter tter tter.¡± One by one, the steel balls rolled out of the machine, Li Yan casually grabbed a handful, then let them slip through his fingers, lost in thought. It was the crazed influx of He Liansheng ruffians into Kowloon Walled City that made him realize something was off. He Liansheng, known as thergest organization in Hong Kong and Kowloon, had no reason to be foolish enough to establish enemies with both Wu Haoxi and Taishuai, and as he had exited the Fuyi Building with Xu Tianci, they had encountered little resistance. Logically, they should have been informed as soon as they left the building, and Taizi Le and Hua Shanjiu, who were looking for trouble with Xu Tianci, should have immediately sent someone to chase after hearing of his escape. There was no need to argue with Taishuai and nothing to gain from doing so. Yet, as they made their way out of Kowloon City, not a ghost of a follower was in sight behind them. The situation that night would either evolve into a three-way battle, or Zhou was just a distraction, and Taizi Le¡¯s real goal that night was to wipe out Wu Haoxi. Recalling Hua Shanjiu¡¯s dark countenance that day, Li Yan felt that thetter possibility was increasingly likely. He had no idea what Kowloon Walled City would look like tonight; perhaps it was a moonless and sunless night, hidden beneath the cramped, leaking pipes. Li Yan wasn¡¯t afraid of chaos in the city; what he feared was its absence. The city now was like a boiling cauldron of water. Such a night was destined for guns and gunpowder. If Li Yan wanted to fish in troubled waters, he also had to be wary of stray bullets. His opportunity woulde after the chaos in the city had subsided and before a new order was established. Li Yan turned the knob,unching the steel balls without paying any attention to the numbers on the machine, the cigarette between his fingers nearing its end. If Kowloon City got reshuffled tonight, where would that fragment from themittee¡¯s office end up? And that guy, who had been incredibly patient in spying on him, where was he now? He had wondered if that person was a fighter from the Kowloon boxing arena just like Zhang Mingyuan, given that both their requirements in the Yan Fu incident involved fighting to the seventh round of the Kowloon arena. However, after much thought, Li Yan couldn¡¯te up with a suitable candidate. Li Yan had also suspected Xu Tianci. When he kicked Xu Tianci, it was partly because the kid rubbed him the wrong way, and partly to test him; if he was the observer, it made no sense for him to bepletely unguarded against him. Moreover, there were no ws in his acting even after Li Yan made his move. Besides, whether it was himself or Zhang Mingyuan, their identities were either that of an outsider who had just arrived in Hong Kong, or that of an orphan who had recently lost their parents and came to the boxing arena to make a living. In short, there wouldn¡¯t be anyone too familiar with themselves. Li Yan had heard Judy mention Xu Tianci, a remarkable person, the biological grandson of Xu Shangtian, who could address Ye Wen as ¡®Grand Master¡¯. Li Yan couldn¡¯t imagine how Yan Fu had managed to arrange an identity for such a person; just the change in habits and temperament would give him away to others. And if the person wasn¡¯t a fighter from the Kowloon boxing arena, it meant his mission was different from Li Yan¡¯s, which is to say¡­ not a fellow traveler. Caught in the strange and mysterious Yan Fu incident, Li Yan couldn¡¯t think of a more benign term for other operatives than fellow travelers. If not a fellow traveler, the contradictions would only be more pronounced! The night had grown deep, and it suddenly urred to Li Yan that when Mo had brought him here, the night had also been thick and intractable. And in just over ten days, he seemed to have gradually adapted to the life in Kowloon City. The patchy yet bustling Longjin Road, the cramped high-rises nearly touching each other, the children running barefoot on the concrete rooftops with faces slightly turned upwards. Red Ghost, Judy, even the shy girl next door. What kind of strong will was needed to wander endlessly through time and space without weariness? As Mo had said, there was no turning back on this path; after all, he was just a passerby. ¡°It¡¯s still early.¡± He exhaled thest smoke ring, threw the cigarette butt on the ground, and stomped it out firmly, saying so. ¡­ Fuyi Building ¡°The smartest thing about you is that you didn¡¯t use firearms on my turf, eh, Qiqi! Uncle Zong, turn down the air conditioning a bit,¡± Yu Shu said, draped in a ck jacket but still sneezing. Chen Minhong (Red Ghost) had bloodstains on his fists. Dressed in a grey short-sleeve shirt, he was surrounded by four or five unconscious members of the United Victory gang sprawled haphazardly around him. ¡°The top brass of Kowloon¡¯s red poles are getting worse with each generation, is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± ¡°You dare to mess with United Victory, the Kowloon boxing arena will never have peace again,¡± Hua Shanjiu dered defiantly. Hey on the ground, his meniscus in both knees crushed by Red Ghost, his ever-present metal nunchuck long since lost, and the blood flowing from his head down his neck. ncing around, one could see the entire tenth floor of the Fuyi Building covered with over a hundred gang members, not a single one able to stand. A man in a ck suit approached Red Ghost. ¡°Brother Red Ghost, Taizi Le has brought over three hundred guys, and everyone inside the Fuyi Building has been cleaned up. What¡¯s the n?¡± Upon hearing this, Chen Minhong looked at Yu Shu. ¡°Throw these scumbags out on the street, keep Taizi Le, wait for his father, Chang Shen, toe redeem him,¡± Chen said. Liao Zhizong came over with a frown. ¡°It¡¯s a mess out there. Wu Haoxi¡¯s men are even deploying rocketunchers; the City hasn¡¯t seen firearms in nearly ten years, and with all this uproar now, the Hong Kong British Government won¡¯t let this slide.¡± ¡°Are the guests who left okay?¡± Yu Shu asked. ¡°They¡¯ve all been sent out of the City.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s fine.¡± Yu Shu took a few steps forward and addressed the wealthy guests who had been quietly watching the spectacle from the booths: ¡°You¡¯ve heard about the situation in the City by now. I have to trouble everyone to stay inside the building for now. First thing in the morning, I will personally escort you out of the City. If there¡¯s any inconvenience, I hope you all can understand.¡± ¡°Whatever you say goes.¡± He Changhong¡¯s face was flushed. The City was small, and he could vaguely hear the explosion from New Street this way, let alone the thrilling melee of hundreds just in front of him, which made this yboy secretly impressed with the reckless behavior of the City¡¯s inhabitants. Judy looked worried. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of a retaliatory strike from the iing United Victory troops if you hold Taizi Le?¡± Taishuai shook his head: ¡°United Victory doesn¡¯t have the strength for that anymore.¡± Chapter 27: The Wily Old Steed Chapter 27: The Wily Old Steed Editor: Larbre Studio On the morning of June 25th, Year of Bingyin, arge number of riot police poured into Kowloon Walled City, and with the smoke of gunfire clearing, it resembled a ghost town. That afternoon, Chief Chinese Inspector Li Yaoguang of the Hong Kong Police Force gave an interview to the media, announcing the police had dismantled a major drug trafficking ring in the city, capturing more than fifty criminals. There were no casualties among the police officers. On the same day, the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau arrested over three hundred people from He Liansheng, including a Nepali individual. On June 26th, Year of the Tiger, at noon, Chang Shen, the Dragon Head of He Liansheng, arrived at Fuyi Building to request a meeting with Taishuai and left twenty minutester. On June 27th, Year of the Tiger, south of the Walled City, near Kai Tak Airport, at the Lihua Hotel. ¡°Yan, over here.¡± Li Yan, wearing a sky-blue denim shirt and holding a light yellow shopping bag with two fingers, walked towards the direction from where the man called him. ¡°Wow, new clothes? Looking sharp! Just came back from a date with Judy?¡± ¡°Red Ghost, where¡¯s the restroom? I need to change my clothes.¡± ¡°Why the hell change? Clothes are made to be worn. Come with me.¡± Red Ghost pulled Li Yan over and walked up to the bar. ¡°This is Uncle Zong.¡± The man before him, with graying temples, extended his right hand towards Li Yan. ¡°Liao Zhizong.¡± ¡°Uncle Zong.¡± Li Yan shook Liao Zhizong¡¯s hand, responding neither humbly nor arrogantly. ¡°Ruan Hongzhi, you know him, Zhou¡¯s manager.¡± ¡°Wow, Red Ghost, stop bringing it up, because of that boxer of mine the whole city has turned upside down.¡± Ruan Hongzhi had a naturally hooked nose, which gave his face a somewhat stern appearance, but when he opened his mouth, it was clear he was a talkative person. ¡°Brother Hongzhi.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal, I¡¯ve had my eye on you for a long time¡ªjust that Red Ghost beat me to it.¡± ¡°This is Mei, also a boxing manager in Kowloon.¡± ¡°Sister Mei.¡± Li Yan nodded his head. The woman, with her arms folded across her chest, said half joking, half seriously, ¡°Your fight made Wu Er run back home to the maind. Millions in bets evaporated in the ring, and you even caused me to lose my big cash cow, He Changhong. How do you n topensate me?¡± ¡°Eh, so that Wu Er I foughtst time has left the Walled City?¡± Li Yan feigned surprise. ¡°Weren¡¯t you chatting away with that kid in the infirmary? How do you not know he¡¯s left Hong Kong?¡± Yu Shu shook the water droplets from his hand and settled at the table with an air of casual authority as he casually asked Li Yan. ¡°Taishuai.¡± ¡°Taishuai.¡± ¡°Taishuai.¡± ¡­ Everyone at the table, except Liao Zhizong, promptly stood up. ¡°Please, sit.¡± Yu Shu replied offhandedly. Li Yan asked, ¡°Taishuai, why have you specifically asked to see me today?¡± Yu Shu put down his chopsticks and looked directly at Li Yan. ¡°` ¡°Apart from Xu Tianci, there¡¯s no one on Kowloon¡¯s boxing ring that can fight like you. That kid is just messing around, regardless of how you win or lose, the title of the sixth challenge¡¯s champion will undoubtedly be yours. Of course, I have to take care of the future pir of Kowloon¡¯s boxing ring.¡± ¡°Taishuai, you¡¯re joking. I¡¯m not qualified to be a champion, and besides, one can¡¯t eyes the swords and sabers in the ring. Once I¡¯ve earned enough for my wife¡¯s dowry, I¡¯ll retire to the countryside,¡± ¡°Hong Kong is a good ce. Stick around. Fight for a few years, retire, and be a Coachman in Fuyi Building, earning money by collecting Waterpipe fees. Or is it that¡­..¡± Yu Shu¡¯s eyebrows twitched, ¡°You¡¯re unwilling to work with me?¡± Li Yan remained silent for a while before suddenly breaking intoughter. ¡°How could I be?¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s settled. Let¡¯s eat.¡± As the dishes were served at the banquet, Mei opened her mouth and asked, ¡°Taishuai, is it true that tonight Chang Shen is hosting a banquet with the Hongmen elders to negotiate a truce with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Uncle Zong handle the discussions; I just need to show up,¡± Taishuai said, then let out a coldugh. ¡°He Lian Sheng underestimated Wu Haoxi¡¯s counterattack, leaving them on shaky ground now. They¡¯re looking to ally with other Hongmen organizations to pressure me, not knowing how much they¡¯ll have to cut.¡± As early as thete Qing dynasty, Hong Kong already had arge number of societies. In the first year of Xuantong, the former Heavenly Master Mountain¡¯s Bixuetang Red g¡¯s ¡®Five ck Bone Brothers¡¯ convened with more than a dozen other lodges to suggest adding a ¡®He¡¯ (peace) character in front of all Hongmen lodge names, signifying the importance of harmony. Since then, Hong Kong¡¯s societies starting with the character ¡®He¡¯ have burgeoned. Meanwhile, Red Ghost asked Li Yan a question. ¡°Tonight, do you want to see what Chang Shen, the sitting Dragon Head of He Lian Sheng, looks like?¡± Li Yan lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before shaking his head and replying. ¡°Red Ghost, do you know which hospital Zhou is in?¡± ¡­ At the same time, on Longjin Xiguan Street, inside a delicate vi. Chang Shen was sitting across from an old man in a bathrobe. ¡°Le has made a name for himself with this fight.¡± ¡°Heh, but he has also nearly wiped out your He Lian Sheng,¡± the old man said with a hint of amusement in his tone. Today, Chang Shen was sixty-one years old, with thick ck eyebrows, but his demeanor could not hide his weariness. ¡°Sir Gu, he¡¯s my only son.¡± The person opposite him said with a bit ofughter in his voice: ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? Can Yu Shu really skin your son and tear his bones to pieces and swallow them? You don¡¯t have to y dumb. He Lian Sheng¡¯s people suddenly entered the city. They act fiery and young, but their ns are meticulous¡ªeverything¡¯s ounted formittee, Vietnam gang, even the O unit of the police had been taken care of in advance. In two days, Hong Kong¡¯s biggest drug lord¡¯s power was gone. You¡¯re telling me this was your son¡¯s handiwork?¡± Chang Shen¡¯s face grew even more bitter. ¡°I¡¯m buried up to my neck. If I don¡¯t support my son now, should I just watch as He Lian Sheng falls apart?¡± ¡°With Wu Haoxi gone, can your He Lian Sheng take over the Thand Six-Faced Buddha¡¯s territory?¡± Chang Shen was worldly-wise, and he immediately understood the other¡¯s implication. ¡°Maybe seventy percent.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say sixty percent, and give the rest to the other ¡®He¡¯ character societies as brothers, and I¡¯ll help you speak for them.¡± Chang Shen furrowed his brow and after a while, he sighed, ¡°Sixty percent it is¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t want to talk anymore. Instead, he bid farewell to Sir Gu and got into a ck Ford car; the engine roared, and he left the vi. ¡°My son fights for his life, and with one word from you, Bai Gubiao, you want forty percent. Fine, just fine,¡± said Chang Shen. He ran his withered fingers over the leather couch. A pyrrhic victory was still a victory. He was throwing out a huge bone of forty percent of the profits. In an exchange for getting his son back, he intended to shut up other Hongmen lodges that were drooling with greed. As long as they could hook up with the Thand Six-Faced Buddha, He Lian Sheng could quickly replenish the lost manpower. When the time came, he could settle scores with these ¡°loving brothers¡± himself. Now grievously weakened, He Lian Sheng couldn¡¯t afford to entangle with the desperados of Kowloon City any longer. But this Taishuai¡­ Chang Shen saw through the car window a withered old tree with branches weighed down by the wind, a look of indescribable emotion shed in his eyes. He tightened his clothes and suddenly remembered the days when he was young and worked as a Coachman, when his favorite pastime was copying poems from the newssheet stands. Two lines of which he still remembered. Bearing grudges, I clench my teeth recalling old hatreds; when prospering, I wield my pen to write new themes. Without ambition to stir the winds and clouds in life, it would be to waste the heavens¡¯ gift of a towering figure. ¡°` Chapter 28 - 28 Clouds and Mud Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Clouds and Mud Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` Saint Mary¡¯s Hospital in Hong Kong After being out of the spotlight for three entire chapters, Li Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief, once again returning to his rhythm. The chaos that had reigned in Kowloon Walled City for several days was about to subside. Those still standing in the ce seemed to have no losers; He Liansheng had reced Wu Haoxi, with all the interests of the major and minor gangs in Hong Kong touched. Arge chunk of business had freed up in Kowloon Walled City, and even Taishuai had adhered to her usual principle: ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me.¡± Everyone was happy¡­ Li Yan, holding a fruit basket, arrived at the ward¡¯s door just in time to hear Shanjiu¡¯s loud voice. ¡°Zhou, I really had no idea about this beforehand. That day, Le suddenly came to the City wanting to watch you fight. Of course, I was happy about it. Then, seeing you get knocked down by that jerk, I got angry and caused trouble at Fuyi. I didn¡¯t know Le already had a n.¡± Zhou, lying in the hospital bed, had a pale face and heavy eyelids. ¡°Shanjiu, I don¡¯t mean anything by it, I also took an oath to Guan Gong before joining the brotherhood, I wouldn¡¯t doubt a brother. Now that it¡¯se to this, whatever you say, I¡¯ll believe. You say you didn¡¯t know about Taizi Le¡¯s n, I won¡¯t ask anymore.¡± Shanjiu, leaning on a crutch, was about to say something when he caught sight of Li Yan gently knocking on the ss door. ¡°You dare to show up?¡± Shanjiu¡¯s eyes reddened. Li Yan walked in and put the fruit basket on the table. He leisurely grabbed a stool for himself while he addressed Shanjiu. ¡°Shanjiu, grievances have their source and debts their debtor. Your leg was broken by Red Ghost, Zhou was injured by Xu Tianci. The night Kowloon Walled City had trouble, I was outside the City fighting all night over paikamkhau (the nickname for small steel marbles). No matter how you calcte it, this debt shouldn¡¯t fall on my head, right?¡± ¡°You are Taishuai¡­¡± ¡°Taishuai is Taishuai; I am me. At best, I¡¯m just a fighter trying to earn my keep on her fighting stage, trading my life for money.¡± Shanjiu was momentarily at a loss for words. Li Yan continued speaking. ¡°Shanjiu, if you don¡¯t mind, shall we two martial artists have a word in private?¡± Zhou¡¯s gaze had been fixed on Li Yan since he entered. Hearing this, he nodded at Shanjiu, who red at Li Yan but still left with a grimace. Li Yan picked up a fruit knife from the table and started expertly peeling an apple while asking, ¡°How¡¯s the injury, no lingering problems?¡± ¡°Got medical attention in time. The arm was reattached. It might hurt when it¡¯s rainy or cold, and I¡¯ll have to lie in bed for half a year, but it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Li Yan silently listened. Zhou spoke lightly, but Li Yan understood that Zhou, having had his arm broken, would never regain full strength in that hand. His martial arts skills were mostly gone¡ªit was as if he was finished. As he peeled the apple, Li Yan said, ¡°Retire from it all. Once this incident is over, whatever you owe them will be paid off.¡± Zhou smiled weakly. ¡°Did youe here just to tell me this?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Li Yan said forcefully, unconsciously putting strength into his hand as he did so, and the long apple peel fell into the trash can. ¡°In my current state, there¡¯s no difference whether I retire or not,¡± Zhou said, still managing a smile. ¡°You should look after yourself.¡± Li Yan handed the apple over, but Zhou slightly shook his head. ¡°Can¡¯t digest it; my intestines would rot. I can only live on glucose drip now.¡± Li Yan put the apple to his mouth, expressionless, and forcefully bit into it. The two sat in silence. After all, Li Yan and Zhou Wei¡¯an didn¡¯t have a deep friendship to speak of, and neither was inclined to make a shallow rtionship seem deep, so the atmosphere quickly grew heavy. The only sound was Li Yan silently munching on the apple. After a long while, Li Yan stood up. ¡°I¡¯m off; rest well.¡± ¡°Master Li.¡± As he walked to the door, Zhou suddenly called out to Li Yan from behind. ¡°Thank you.¡± Li Yan paused, then left the room without looking back. ¡­ After leaving the room, the somberness that had enveloped Li Yan also dissipated. The brief encounter, like passers-by in a foreignnd, who wouldment those who have lost their way in the impassable mountains? Zhou had exited the stage, but he himself was still in the game. Shanjiu, holding onto his crutches, lit a cigarette in the hallway, ¡°Sir, you can¡¯t smoke in the hospital,¡± a nurse in white rubber-soled shoes approached and said. Shanjiu exhaled deeply, red at the nurse, but ultimately snuffed out the cigarette. He saw Li Yaning out, approached him leaning on his crutches, and called out, ¡°What did you say to Zhou?¡± Li Yan did not answer but got straight to the point, ¡°Shanjiu, I have a favor to ask of you.¡± ¡°Ask me for a favor?¡± Shanjiuughed in disbelief. ¡°You got brain damage from a fever or what? Why should I help Taishuai¡¯s people?¡± ¡°` Li Yanughed and straightened Hua Shanjiu¡¯s shirt for him. ¡°I¡¯ve said before that Taishuai is Taishuai, and I am me. I¡¯ve been in Hong Kong for less than a month, just scraping by for food. Whether it¡¯s Taishuai or He Liansheng, I don¡¯t want to take sides. Brother Shanjiu manages an entire district¡¯s worth of people; surely he¡¯s not like those reckless figures, always ying tough without seeing clearly, allowing themselves to be blinded by misced loyalty, and getting yed by others.¡± By the end, Li Yan¡¯s tone was mocking. Hearing this, Hua Shanjiu¡¯s expression cooled: ¡°Even so, I have no reason to help you.¡± Li Yan lowered his head and sniffled softly, whispering to Hua Shanjiu, ¡°Today, He Liansheng was holding a banquet and offering a toast as an apology from Taizi Le to Taishuai. After tonight, Taizi Le can go home and sleep peacefully, right?¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Li Yan thought of Yu Shu¡¯s words at the banquet and said indifferently, ¡°The profits that He Liansheng has given to other gangs include a share for Taishuai.¡± Hua Shanjiu¡¯s pupils dted, and he stared intently at Li Yan. Sess! Li Yan said no more but just looked at Hua Shanjiu with a smiling gaze. Hua Shanjiu suppressed the displeasure in his heart and asked coldly, ¡°What do you want me to help with?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like Brother Shanjiu to help me find something. Also, I¡¯d like to have a talk with Taizi Le.¡± ¡°What the hell is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very simple, just a piece of paper.¡± ¡­ Kowloon, Cheung Sha Wan Road, No. 2, Block C, the Wing Chun Martial Arts Hall. Xu Tianci sat restlessly below the stage, watching his fellow disciples practice their punches. An old man sat opposite him, with a chessboard filled with ck and white characters between them. ¡°Tianci, you need to concentrate when ying chess.¡± The old man always had a habit of ncing downward at the corners of his mouth, looking quite stern. Xu Tianci pursed his lips and picked up a ck piece, letting it fall with precision. The old man shook his head as a white piece fell, gradually cornering the ck pieces. ¡°You look forward without considering the consequences. It¡¯s the same with boxing and with chess, no improvement at all.¡± Xu Tianci stuck out his tongue but said nothing. ¡°I heard you went on the ring and severely injured a Master of Wensheng Fist. Seems you¡¯ve also stirred up trouble.¡± Xu Tianci studied the chessboard, cing his piece while saying, ¡°Grandfather, you caused quite a bit of trouble back in your day, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Impudent boy, now you¡¯re listing my faults,¡± the old man said with augh and a curse before pausing and adding, ¡°Don¡¯t go there anymore.¡± Xu Tianci responded with silence, his fingers holding several ck pieces. ¡°You always talk about ascending the ring and epting life or death without resentment, but some people fight on the ring to make a living. These people die on the ring without holding any grudges. But you fight for pride; your death in the ring would be pointless.¡± ¡°Grandfather.¡± Xu Tianci touched his chin, pondering the chess game, and said: ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing martial arts for over a decade and never understood why. To strengthen the body? To protect the country? But why do we always have to defend, to guard? Why do we, practitioners of Chinese martial arts, always have to be the challenged party? Why must we wait for someone to challenge us, insult us by name, and only then do we don our traditional garments and retaliate unhurriedly? Why wait for the ¡®Sick Man of East Asia¡¯bel to be pped on us before we desperately argue that Chinese martial arts should not be insulted? How touching. Why can¡¯t I take the initiative to promote my skills, to fight because I¡¯m stronger? Why can¡¯t I challenge other schools? To the extent that the whole of Hong Kong knows my name, to make them fear the words ¡®Wing Chun,¡¯ to stop them from gossiping.¡± Xu Tianci spoke lightly and quickly, his pupils slightly reddened. The old man sighed, at a loss for words momentarily, only managing a wry smile, ¡°At your age, you¡¯re still walking in the clouds.¡± Xu Tianciughed: ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m only neen. I surely can¡¯t bury my face in the mud so soon, right?¡± As he spoke, he made another move. The old man was taken aback; as Tianci¡¯s piece fell, the previously stable situation on the board was suddenly torn open, and Xu Tianci¡¯s aggressive style revealed apelling aura. The old man looked at the board for a long time, then at the smiling young face before him and suddenly felt that he had never truly understood this child. ¡°Grandpa, I won,¡± Xu Tianci grinned, revealing his canine teeth. The old man¡¯s lips trembled slightly, his heart a mix of three parts relief, three parts sorrow, and four parts bitterness. It took a while before he bit back his words: ¡°If you break, don¡¯te looking for me.¡± ¡°Once on the ring,¡± Xu Tianci¡¯s words hammered down like nails into the ground. ¡°Life and death without resentment!¡± Chapter 29 - 29 Various Matters Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Various Matters Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` On June 28th, Year of Bingyin, favorable for trading, marrying, nothing prohibited. Li Yan, wearing a pair of vividly colored shorts,y under a sun umbre, clenching a form in his hand. In just a few days, he would have a boxing match with Xu Tianci. ¡°Worried you¡¯ll lose?¡± Li Yan chuckled and tossed the boxing match form aside, his gaze naturally falling on Judy, who was walking toward him. The sapphire blue swimsuit perfectly showcased the woman¡¯s curves, her tender and round cheeks, and the slightly upturned chin added a few degrees of sweetness to her smile. These days, Li Yan¡¯s life had been exceptionally lush. Now, hardly anyone below the seventh ring was willing to face this ¡°Yama¡± in the ring, and Li Yan, who was just one match away from ticking off the ¡°Fight to the seventh ring in Kowloon City¡± in the Yan Fu case, was in no hurry at all. He didn¡¯t take the initiative to fight any matches, except for maintaining his condition by practicing at the Fuyi Building every day and being inseparable from Judy. Inseparable my ass, Li Yan cursed inwardly. His eyes scanned over Judy a couple of times before he suddenly asked, ¡°Judy, you hungry?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Judy sat down next to Li Yan, her legs together and her palms supporting her cheeks. ¡°How about I treat you to wonton noodles?¡± ¡°Ha?¡± ¡­ The wisps of steam dissipated in the air, and the shop buzzed with noise. Judy took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. Her fair palm pressed against the table, forcibly suppressing her anger: ¡°Speak to me now, and I¡¯ll pretend nothing happened.¡± Li Yan lifted the big bowl in front of him, slurping it hungrily, burying his face in it and ignoring Judy¡¯s words. A dangerous smile appeared on the woman¡¯s face: ¡°I spend millions every night to support your fights, and I spend thousands on calvin klein underwear for you, and now you want to break up with me over a bowl of wonton noodles that¡¯s barely eighty bucks?¡± Judy¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it almost drew the attention of everyone in the shop. Even Li Yan nearly choked on the broth in his mouth. Li Yan put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and suddenly raised his hand. Judy bit her lip, waiting for Li Yan to exin, but instead, he signaled for the waiter toe over. ¡°Another bowl, thanks.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Judy mmed the table and stood up, her eyes nearly spewing fire. Li Yan snorted withughter: ¡°Come on, Judy, don¡¯t get so worked up. This isn¡¯t like you at all.¡± ¡°Listen to me¡­¡± Judy¡¯s tone was dark, ¡°If I wanted, I could have you swimming in the sea by tonight. I guarantee by tomorrow, there¡¯d be no more ¡®Yama¡¯ in Kowloon City. Believe it or not?¡± Li Yan steeled himself and said, ¡°Judy, it really scares me when you talk like this in front of me, but let¡¯s settle each ount clearly. In the boxing matches, I never made you lose money. The clothes and watches you bought for me have been shipped to your vi in Repulse Bay, postage on me. We¡¯ve been together for barely twenty-something days, if it¡¯s not working out, break up, we haven¡¯t slept together, so no loss on either side, you get it?¡± Judy¡¯s teeth ground together; she gave a nod. ¡°Good, very well.¡± She grabbed her handbag, and after onest look at Li Yan, she left without any hesitation. ¡°Wait.¡± With a cold snort, Judy asked reluctantly, ¡°What else do you want?¡± Li Yan thought for a moment and replied nonchntly, ¡°Anyone who practices martial arts knows a bit of medicine. The sedative prescription I made for you the other day is a family secret. It¡¯s very effective for insomnia and palpitations. You may be frustrated with me, but take care of yourself; your body is your own.¡± The woman turned around, her teeth clenched, and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to flush it down the toilet when I get back!¡± The sound of her high heels receded. Li Yan bowed his head, dipping some greens in the soup, taking a couple of bites. The bowl of wonton noodles Judy left was barely touched. She couldn¡¯t even get used to eating in Lan Kwai House, naturally, she wouldn¡¯t care for the food stalls in Causeway Bay or Temple Street. Li Yan reached out, pulling Judy¡¯s leftover bowl of wonton noodles in front of him and started devouring it without a second thought, silent for a long while. The apartment at 22 Su Miao Street, everything about this ce was fine except for the pungent smell from the fishball factory. Li Yan could have chosen to live in the Fuyi Building, which offers air conditioning, drinks, and even women. But he didn¡¯t move. During the day, Kowloon City had poor lighting; even at noon, Li Yan felt an unshakable chill. ¡°Meow~¡± Li Yan picked up the lively kitten with a smile, and the kitten didn¡¯t struggle, looking around curiously. He looked up at the number te on the door, not in a hurry to return to his own room 413, but instead he went to room 411 where Xiu and her daughter lived¡ªsure enough, the door was open. ¡°Xiu, your Ami ran out again. Xiu?¡± Li Yan gently pushed the door. ¡°Creak.¡± Even with Li Yan¡¯s willpower, the pungent smell in the room made him frown; he could hardly imagine how such a frail girl like Xiu could live in such conditions. ¡°With the factory smelling so bad, you should close the windows properly.¡± Li Yan put down the cat and went to secure the window shut. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°` The raspy voice by his ear sent shivers down Li Yan¡¯s spine, making him subconsciously raise his knees, but realizing this was Xiu¡¯s home, his mind flicked like lightning from a kick to a retreat, and he lightly stepped back two paces to take a better look. The skin was coarse and wrinkled, lips tight in a dark purple hue, eyes dead like those of a fish; the wary gaze reminded Li Yan of the Dragon Granny from ¡°July 13th¡±. Li Yan opened his mouth with residual fear, ¡°You¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°Snow Maiden and the Seven Friends, seven little dwarfs~¡± ¡°Snow Maiden and the Seven Friends, seven hearts together~¡± ¡°The seven dwarfs, so many schemes~¡± ¡°The witch won¡¯t sleep well after meeting them~.¡± Xiu wiped her face, holding the crumpled money in her hand. She climbed the stairs step by step, humming an unknown nursery rhyme. It wasn¡¯t until she reached the front door of her home that she realized it wasn¡¯t locked properly, and then she heard the sound of a man¡¯s voice inside, scaring her so that her mouth fell open as she pushed the door and entered. Li Yan stood on a stool, fiddling with the light bulb. In the kitchen, a woman wrapped in an apron was stir-frying something. ¡°Xiu, you¡¯re back.¡± Li Yan nodded to the girl. ¡°Li, Brother Li?¡± ¡°Your cat ran out, so I brought her back and took the opportunity to change the light bulb for you.¡± ¡°Li boy, stay and have dinner with us.¡± The woman¡¯s voice came from the kitchen. ¡°Sure. Thank you, Auntie.¡± Li Yan looked at Xiu, who was silent and looking down, and said with a smile, ¡°Hey, Xiu, Brother Li will give you a hundred bucks if you go buy some pork to bring back, okay?¡± ¡°No need, we¡¯ve got plenty at home.¡± Xiu suddenly lifted her head, answering with a radiant smile. Li Yan looked deeply into her eyes. ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡­ The light bulb flickered with a crackling sound and then brightened up. The three of them sat around the table. ¡°See, I told you it would work.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t yet thanked Li boy for always looking out for my girl.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Auntie. Your char siu tastes really good. Ah, but it¡¯s odd; even with the windows closed for so long, the room still smells. I¡¯ll bring some incense next time, good for warding off evil spirits.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°I always eat in rice, I¡¯m really sorry.¡± ¡°We¡¯re neighbors; no need to feel sorry.¡± A smile cracked on the weathered face of the woman, ¡°Xiu is still young, and it¡¯s so chaotic outside. I¡¯m always worried something might happen to her. At my age, I only have one daughter; if something happened to Xiu, I¡¯d be resentful even as a ghost. Don¡¯t you think?¡± Li Yan smiled but didn¡¯t say anything more. The meal was fairly harmonious. ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± ¡°ng.¡± Xiu closed the door, then silently turned around to find her mother sitting motionless in a chair, her face a pallid gray. Facing the number 411 on the door, Li Yan stood for a while, then picked up his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Red Ghost, are there any spots left in the building? I¡¯m thinking of moving there¡­¡± Li Yan¡¯s tone hesitated, ¡°Red Ghost, I¡¯ll call you backter.¡± With that, he hung up the phone. ¡°Hello? Hello?¡± Red Ghost called into the phone a few times, only to hear a series of busy signals, ¡°All this supernatural stuff,¡± he muttered. Opposite Li Yan, a blond man in a deep red vest walked over; Li Yan recognized him as a thug from Hua Shanjiu¡¯s entourage. ¡°Le wants to see you, says he found the thing you were looking for.¡± Chapter 30 - 30 Its time to show some real skills. Chapter 30: Chapter 30 It¡¯s time to show some real skills. Editor: Larbre Studio Chang Kaile had already turned thirty this year and had been involved with the affairs of Hongmen for over ten years, yet his father, Chang Shen, still possessed an unparalleled influence over the organization¡¯s branches. If you mentioned Chang Kaile¡¯s name, there wouldn¡¯t be many in Hongmen who would react; they only recognized Taizi Le. Chang Shen had cultivated Chang Kaile for thirty years. In terms of intelligence and determination, Chang Kaile was certainly notcking. Such an awkward position should have changed overnight. Yes, it should have. As new talents emerged in the underworld, Taizi Leunched a surprise attack on Kowloon City, dethroning Hong Kong¡¯srgest drug lord. Chang Shen took the opportunity to step back, and it was only natural for Chang Kaile to take the seat of the presiding officer, h h h. Unfortunately, the fierce counterattack from Wu Haoxi¡¯s men and Taizi Le being detained in the boxing rings of Kowloon altered everything. Chang Kaile couldn¡¯t forget the woman in Fuyi Building with her eyebrows sharp as knives. After he returned, Chang Shen didn¡¯t say anything, nor did he ever mention the matter of stepping down. Before this event, Chang Shen had firmly patted his shoulder, assuring him that the seat of the presiding officer of Hongmen was his to take¡­ ¡°Here¡¯s the thing you wanted.¡± Taizi Le¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse. Sitting across from him was Li Yan, with several of Hongmen¡¯s bodyguards behind him. Hua Shanjiu, leaning on a cane, was seated by his side. Beneath his palmy a sheet of gold-embossed, patterned rice paper. Li Yan nced down, where the exotic beast with eighteen wings of varying lengths and nine fierce, bizarre heads, one with a neck gushing blood¡­ He took a deep breath, reached out to grab it, and suddenly Taizi Le¡¯s left hand, hanging under the table, shot up, and with a chop, a paper cutter was thrust toward the gap between Li Yan¡¯s fingers and into the table. Even though he knew he wouldn¡¯t get hurt, Li Yan¡¯s instinct was to clench his fingers, his wrist gave a slight jerk, pulling and tugging to the side. Taizi Le¡¯s palm ached from the strike, and the paper cutter ttered onto the table. Instantly, the room filled with the sound of safety catches being pulled back, a fierce glint in Li Yan¡¯s eyes as his right hand grabbed the paper cutter and shed at Taizi Le¡¯s throat! ¡°Stop!¡± The paper cutter rested against Taizi Le¡¯s fair neck, while Li Yan himself was held at gunpoint by three or four dark muzzles. ¡°Put down the guns,¡± Taizi Le said. One by one, the men of Hongmen lowered their arms, and Li Yan slowly withdrew his right hand. ¡°Le, that¡¯s not a joke you can afford to make.¡± Li Yan¡¯s expression was half-smiling, half-serious. ¡°I found the thing you wanted, now I¡¯ll ask, and you¡¯ll answer,¡± Taizi Le said coldly. Li Yan leaned back with an air of indifference. ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of paper; I just wanted to test your sincerity, Le. I¡¯m telling you Taishuai is colluding with other Hongmen factions, isn¡¯t that worth the ticket price?¡± Li Yan knew there was a fragment in the hands of themittee, a ce usually inhabited only by Wu Haoxi, chairman of themittee. With Hongmen entering the city, it was very likely that the fragment had fallen into their hands. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry after all, to these people, this object really wasn¡¯t much different from scrap paper. ¡°You expect me to believe that just because you say so? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot?¡± Li Yan¡¯s gaze fixed on Taizi Le¡¯s face, his smile fading instantly: ¡°Chang Kaile, I¡¯m risking being thrown into the sea by Taishuai¡¯s men to talk to you, and you think I¡¯m joking with you? You say you don¡¯t believe, so why are you sitting here bullshitting?¡± Watching Li Yan barely containing his anger, Chang Kaile¡¯s doubts subsided slightly. He chuckled and slid the fragment over to Li Yan, tossing him a cigar as well. ¡°All of Kowloon City knows that you, Yama, are Taishuai¡¯s most favored upstart. sting your own boss¡¯s secrets suddenly, everyone needs to think it over.¡± Li Yan snorted coldly, slipping the fragment into his pocket. ¡°So do you believe me now or not?¡± ¡°You say Taishuai has collusions with the Hongmen triads, where¡¯s the evidence?¡± ¡°Evidence? Is it not evidence that you and Lian Sheng firebombed Wu Haoxi, and then Taishuai took a potshot at you right after? Is it not evidence that your old man went to the Hongmen uncles to mediate peace talks, and they demanded a cut right off the bat? Is it not evidence that Taishuai released hostages right away, without any benefit for himself, as soon as you made concessions to Lian Sheng?¡± Li Yan¡¯s words were like sharp swords, piercing Taizi Le¡¯s heart. When he was born, Lian Sheng was already a well-known name in Hong Kong and Kowloon, so this future sessor of Lian Sheng never had to experience the bloody struggles from the bottom up. In his eyes, when you¡¯re in the underworld, you talk money, you talk manpower, you talk brains. Honor, face, and even rules should be worthless in the face of naked interests. Taishuai of Kowloon City might sound intimidating, but you¡¯re just a guy holding the underground boxing business, and among the fivemittee members of the City, you¡¯re the least noticeable. You can¡¯tpare with Lian Sheng¡¯s wealth and manpower, whose influence spreads across all of Hong Kong and Kowloon. My men caused trouble at your venues, true, but we can talk about it. After a few words with you, I rushed off to take down Wu Haoxi. I, Chang Kaile, had a good hand, so why the hell did this crazy woman just flip the entire table? But if she had been prepared from the start, all of it made sense. Upon this thought, Chang Kaile was fuming. Anyone who lost a significant number of men only for someone else to sweep in and take the cake, pping you across the face while doing so, would not be in a good mood. Remembering the veiled scorn of the old-timers in the gang and his own father¡¯s ambiguous silence, Chang Kaile clenched his teeth. His facial expression unchanged, he asked, ¡°Why are you telling me all this? Has Taishuai treated you badly?¡± It was time to disy some real skills¡­ Li Yan pursed his lips, struggling to control his facial muscles. ¡°Good? He¡¯s been incredibly good to me.¡± Li Yan looked straight at Taizi Le: ¡°Do you know who¡¯s been backing my arena at the Kowloon boxing ring?¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s Judy from Hang Seng Cargo Ships, right?¡± Chang Kaile said sullenly. For people like them, they were nowhere near the same level as the tycoons from the Ho¡¯s or Hang Seng. Lian Sheng rose to power with capital backing, of course, but even so,pared with someone like Judy¡ªworth billions and wielding the title of a Taiping Gentleman¡¯s wife, with connections in political and business circles¡ªLian Sheng was vastly inferior. Li Yan getting involved with a woman like that was a meteoric rise, but Chang Kaile didn¡¯t really look down on Li Yan. Not just anyone could live off a rich partner; the man hadnded that meal, so naturally, he had his capabilities. ¡°Taishuai¡­ told me to break up with Judy¡­¡± ¡°For what?¡± Chang Kaile was taken aback. Judy was a well-known big spender at the Kowloon boxing ring; why would Taishuai pass up the chance to make money? Li Yan nced at him: ¡°When a woman wants a man to break up with another woman, what do you think it¡¯s for?¡± Upon hearing this, Chang Kaile¡¯s thoughts spun, and he couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°You¡­¡± Li Yan¡¯s expression turned ugly, he gritted his teeth and said: ¡°I was just ying around with her at first, who knew this woman couldn¡¯t keep her role straight after getting into bed, forcing me toe clean with Judy, pick that star, you a Kowloon City¡¯s crazy woman with a chest as t as a washboard, how can youpare with her? If it weren¡¯t for her, I¡¯d be drinking foreign wine on Judy¡¯s yacht by now, why would I still be fighting to the death in the ring?¡± Hua Shanjiu standing by was also stunned. Chen Minhong (Red Ghost) was Taishuai¡¯s loyal enforcer for many years; everyone in Kowloon City knew that he was devoted to a woman, obviously being smitten, but with Li Yan¡¯s words, Hua Shanjiu suddenly saw the man, one who could knock down seven or eight of Lian Sheng¡¯s men with bloodied fists and elbows, with green all over his head¡­ Chang Kaile pondered over Li Yan¡¯s words back and forth, recalling the woman with the jacket and the razor-sharp eyes, and then looking at the disgruntled man in front of him, wearing clothes that didn¡¯t add up to more than two hundred dors. Though somewhat hard to ept, on closer thought, it seemed not wrong at all. ¡°As long as Taishuai stands, I won¡¯t have peace, and if she confronts Judy, my second half of life¡­¡± Li Yan licked his lips but didn¡¯t say a word, his unsaid implications overflowing. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Chang Kaile couldn¡¯t help asking. Li Yan¡¯s expression was almost manic. ¡°Five million, give me a month, and I¡¯ll help you take down Taishuai. We work together inside and out. We¡¯ll drive out and ughter everyone in the Fuyi Building.¡± Chang Kaile¡¯s eyes glinted with shock and excitement, while Li Yan smirked secretly, full of murderous intent. ¡°In a month, I¡¯ll be home sleeping, you rotten banana¡­¡± Chapter 31 - 31 The Dead and the Living Chapter 31: Chapter 31 The Dead and the Living Editor: Larbre Studio How to put this, actually, such things rely on improvisation on the spot¡­ at least before Li Yan met Taizi Le, he didn¡¯t expect to seed so easily. In Chang Kaile¡¯s opinion, what Hejin could offer Li Yan, Judy, or even Taishuai could provide too, and with less risk. They needed only a seemingly reasonable exnation¡­ ¡°So that¡¯s what he said.¡± Chang Shen sat on the sofa, his palm supporting his cane, and his expression was strange. Hua Shanjiu sat below him, silently nodding. Chang Shenughed: ¡°It¡¯s more exciting than the TV series on the wireless station.¡± After thinking for a while, he continued, ¡°It seems that Le is not nning to tell me about this matter.¡± Hua Shanjiu responded with silence, his expression a stark contrast to that of the previously hearty fellow from Yau Ma Tei. ¡°How much do you believe that man?¡± Hua Shanjiu thought for a long time before finally saying while observing Chang Shen¡¯s expression, ¡°Unless that kid¡¯s heart is clouded by porkrd, he would never dare to cheat Hejin¡¯s money.¡± ¡°In fact, whether what he said is true or false doesn¡¯t matter¡­¡± The older man¡¯s eyelids drooped. ¡°At his age, it¡¯s normal for Le to have his own thoughts. But now is absolutely not the time to tear our faces off with Taishuai. I can wait at my age; what can he not wait for?¡± ¡°So, should I go persuade Brother Le?¡± Chang Shen shook his head: ¡°He¡¯s feeling angry inside right now; you can¡¯t suppress it too forcefully.¡± The old man pursed his lips, and in that moment, there was an ominous air about him. ¡°Take care of that boxer, cleanly.¡± Chang Shen squinted his eyes, ¡°Five million? He has the fate to earn it but may not have the life to spend it.¡± ¡­ When Hua Shanjiu left Chang Shen¡¯s room, his expression was icy cold. ¡°Dachun!¡± The guy in the red singlet with blonde hair walked over. ¡°Shanjiu, you were looking for me.¡± ¡°When you went to find that kid, did you know his door number?¡± The man from Kowloon remembered for a moment, indeed having seen Li Yaning out of a room. ¡°I remember, it¡¯s 411.¡± ¡°Are you certain there¡¯s no mistake?¡± ¡°You can trust me, Shanjiu, I¡¯m absolutely sure.¡± ¡­ ¡°You have obtained a fragment of the Sink Hook Record Book*1¡± ¡°You have acquired a fragment of the record book painted with the Gu Huo Bird!¡± The Gu Huo Bird flies by day and hides at night; it belongs to the category of spirits and gods, with feathers bing birds when clothed, and transforming into women when unclothed. Known by many names; the Sky Emperor¡¯s maiden, the nocturnal roamer, Hook Star, Hidden Flight. The bird bears no children but delights in taking human young, raising them as its own. Nowadays, those who do not wish their children¡¯s clothes exposed at night, do so because this creature covets love, marking clothes with blood as a sign, then taking the child. Hence, people name it a ghost bird. Sink Hook Record Fragment: Gu Huo Bird Category: Yan Fu Talisman Quality: Special A Yan Fu Talisman still housing a sliver of a lingering soul, it yearns for a mother¡¯s soul that wishes to linger with her children and is unwilling to depart, toplete itself. Remark: Every encounter in this world is never coincidental, I think, you know what you need to do. In Li Yan¡¯s hands, the hot-stamped rice paper seemed to retain some warmth. The depiction of the Gu Huo Bird with its eighteen pping wings appeared indeed to have a touch more spirituality than the other three fragments. He pulled out the other three fragments from the pocket inside his shirt. A series of messages popped up. Sink Hook Record Fragment: Kui Niu Category: Remnant Quality: Special After being devoured by the Gu Huo Bird, stronger legacies or other rewards can be obtained at settlement. The same for the other two fragments. ¡°Do you wish to devour it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The Gu Huo Bird has devoured the remnants of the Kui Niu, Ao, and the Qi Gong Tribe¡¯s souls. You will obtain a stronger legacy or other rewards at settlement.¡± In Li Yan¡¯s hands, the hot-stamped rice paper suddenly burst into a pale golden me, yet it did not burn the skin¡ª the gold patterns curled within the fire. In the air, Li Yan heard continuous, muffled roars like those of dragons and tigers. Li Yan¡¯s face was devoid of any expression, even bearing a hint of heaviness. Do ghosts and deities exist in this world? Li Yan didn¡¯t dare to assert, but he felt that even if they did, one should at most respect and keep a distance from them. Having lived for twenty-five years, not a long time but not short either, he could discern between the smell of fish and the stench of decay. Today, what he smelt in Xiu¡¯s home was the stench of decay¡­ It was emanating from the body of that hoarse-voiced, desated-looking woman whose gaze upon her daughter was filled with nothing but tender love. If he had any desire to investigate further at that moment, by the time he left apartment 411, not a single ounce of that curiosity remained. But now, Yan Fu¡¯s hint was all too clear, using the soul of Xiu¡¯s mother toplete the Gu Huo Bird in the Sink Hook Record Fragment! ¡­ In the night of Kowloon City, Li Yan squatted silently in a corner under a streemp, the light dim, cigarette butts scattered at his feet. On Li Yan¡¯s mind were the image of that girl named Xiu, her pale feet, her trembling eyshes, and thete-night snacks she asionally brought to him. For the first time, this man who hade to Yan Fu to fight for his life, who made determined and deadly decisions, felt a touch of reluctance. Reluctance to shatter the already fragmented dream of the girl. In his daze, his gaze suddenly shifted, and in the darkness, he faintly saw the face of a pale middle-aged man with severe dark circles under his eyes. His hands and feet trembled uncontrobly¡ªan addict through and through. ¡°Scram.¡± Li Yan¡¯s voice was quiet but filled with intense anger. The man¡¯s eyes wandered over Li Yan, as if weighing something, but eventually, he retreated slowly. Li Yan took a deep breath and stood up, only to feel somewhat dizzy. ¡°Sorry, she¡¯s already dead, but I need to live.¡± ¡­ Fuyi Building Li Yan walked into the room, facing a weapon rack that disyed a chilling de, engraved with the words ¡°Energy birth myriadndscapes, rings forming a bent dragon¡±. The Octahedral Han Sword. He took down the sword and turned to leave when suddenly, he heard a woman¡¯s voice at the door. ¡°Taking my sword sote, where are you headed?¡± ¡°Taishuai?¡± Li Yan raised an eyebrow, showing no sign of panic. ¡°I have some personal matters to take care of, it has nothing to do with the arena.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s speak Mandarin, it¡¯s easier for everyone. If you¡¯re not in a hurry, can we talk for a bit?¡± Li Yan imperceptibly pursed his lips and nodded: ¡°Sure.¡± Yu Shu walked in, took a seat on a chair, and said with a bit of a headache: ¡°What¡¯s going on with you and Judy?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Women, you know.¡± Yu Shu continued in a sincere tone, ¡°Once you¡¯ve been to bed it¡¯s easy to get confused about where you stand. You should let her know¡­ Hey, why do you look so pale?¡± Li Yan blinked: ¡°Me? No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Yu Shu didn¡¯t seem to dwell on it, and went on: ¡°Managing the arena isn¡¯t easy, you should understand my position. It¡¯s not a loss for you to y along, right?¡± Li Yan gave Yu Shu an odd look. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, talk. If there¡¯s an issue, we can sit down and discuss it,¡± Yu Shu said. ¡°Taishuai,¡± Li Yan replied with some frustration, and not just because of Xiu¡¯s mother¡¯s matter. ¡°Everyone says that the toughest fighter in Kowloon City isn¡¯t the Red Ghost, it¡¯s you. Why don¡¯t we put on some gear and have a friendly spar?¡± Yu Shu tilted her head, her waterfall-like hair cascading down. ¡°Heh, you¡¯re pretty fired up, huh?¡± ¡°Ran into some unpleasant matters.¡± ¡°No worries, I¡¯m good at helping people cool off.¡± In the rtively spacious room, the two stood opposite each other. Li Yan held the Octahedral Han Sword, its cold light gleaming, his expression solemn. Yu Shu wielded a thick-backed, dark green and ck broadsword, its de uneven, and a ponytail hanging down to her waist. Bagua Sect, Battle Body Sword. ¡°Bagua, Yu Shu.¡± ¡°Hejian, Li Yan.¡± Chapter 32 - 32 Ghosts and Tigers! Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Ghosts and Tigers! Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°I won¡¯t let him get away with it, definitely not.¡± Judy, d in a high-necked purple robe with traces of wine at her lips, saw that her wine ss was empty. Li opened her mouth beside her, wanting to say something but unsure what to say. It was iprehensible to Li why men would not be drawn to Judy like flies, especially those who prospered at dawn but died by dusk. However, for Judy that was certainly not a bad thing. ¡°Madam, your phone.¡± A maid with braided hair came over. Judy picked up the receiver, her voice low and maic. ¡°Hello? Mr. Charles, it¡¯s sote, what¡¯s the matter? The case? Wasn¡¯t the case closed?¡± Judy listened quietly to what thewyer on the other end was saying. ¡°Alright, Charles, I¡¯ll consider it. I¡¯m a bit tired; let¡¯s connect some other day.¡± Judy hung up the phone with her brows deeply furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Judy?¡± Seeing Judy¡¯s troubled expression, Li asked. ¡°The auction house that suffered an antique robbery wants a private meeting with that fucker. They said some unique pages from the masterpieces of the Republic of China were missing among the antiques that had been recovered. If he took them, they¡¯re willing to pay a high price to buy them back.¡± Li knew she was talking about Li Yan. ¡°Why would someone like him have such refined taste, to steal antiques?¡± Li couldn¡¯t help butugh wryly. ¡°No¡­¡± Judy shook her head, as if recalling something, ¡°Once when changing clothes, I saw it on him.¡± ¡°You watched him change clothes? Or was it you who was changing?¡± Li¡¯s eyes widened. Judy red at her, thought for a while with her head down, then lifted her gaze. ¡°Li, contact the auction houseter to rify the provenance of that item. Also, help me find out where these kinds of items have been sold recently. Make it fast.¡± ¡­ The thirtieth day of the sixth month of the Year of the Tiger, suitable for burial, Lifespan Wood¡­ The sky was dim. The man held a long object in his hands, tightly wrapped in cloth. Bowing his head, he avoided the wastewater at his feet and pushed open the door of the apartment at 22 Su Miao Street. The fragment at his chest was growing hotter, as if it craved something. The apartment¡¯s walls were covered with chalk graffiti andrge patches of cracked ster. ques with numbers passed by Li Yan¡¯s eyes¡ªsome rooms were lit, others deserted. When he stood in front of the door marked with 411, Li Yan clenched his fist and pushed lightly. To his surprise, the door swung open. An overpowering smell of blood struck him, so strong that not even the stench could mask it! Li Yan¡¯s pupils contracted as he involuntarily took two steps back. The cold, faint light spilled in, preventing the room from being pitch ck. The woman sat in a chair, motionless. She faced Li Yan with an indiscernible expression. ¡°Ha, Auntie, staying up sote?¡± Li Yan¡¯s gaze was as sharp as a hawk¡¯s as he strode into the room. He marched right up to the woman and unceremoniously pulled out a chair to sit on. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Auntie?¡± Li Yan cocked his head to one side, the woman sitting opposite him remained motionless. Gritting his teeth and enduring the stench, Li Yan walked over and, aided by the dim light of dawn, finally saw the woman¡¯s face clearly. Huge patches of ck putrefaction were shocking to the eye, a few green-headed flies settled on her already dposing face, and in some areas of her body, putrid fluids had begun to leak out. ¡°Sss¡ª¡± Li Yan instinctively held his breath. Suddenly, the woman¡¯s tightly closed eyelids snapped open, and her withered, stinking ws struck at Li Yan¡¯s neck! A sword light, like refined steel, shed across, slicing off a withered, pitch-ck arm that soared high into the air, and dark, putrid blood spattered all over the ground. Li Yan¡¯s eyes were wide open, the gleaming de spun in the air, drawing a swift arc as it chopped towards the ghastly, horrifying head of the corpse ghost. The diminutive, emaciated corpse unexpectedly jerked back with no warning, and the de only grazed its neck, leaving a wisp of dark, sticky blood on the sword tip. ¡°Die!¡± Li Yan showed no intention of shrinking back, leaping like a tiger jumping across a stream, and his de plunged ferociously into the heart of the corpse ghost, piercing it straight through! With a twist of his wrist, foul ck blood gushed out, drenching Li Yan¡¯s chest. Li Yan attempted to withdraw the Han Sword but found the force in his hand dissipating ineffectively. The predicament before him was one of bizarre and dangerous nature like never before, the ruthless ferocity wasid bare without any hesitation, as he let go of the sword hilt, kicked the ground with his left leg, andunched a powerful kick onto the sword hilt, pushing the entire Han Sword through the body of the corpse ghost, leaving only the hilt exposed. Then, without any hesitation, he picked up a foldable stool on the side and mmed it onto the head of the corpse ghost! The folding stool shattered instantly, and wood chips flew everywhere, leaving only a broken nk in Li Yan¡¯s hand, fresh and newly splintered. It was either Li Yan¡¯s excessive force or the poor quality of the stool, but an unfortunate incident urred that made Li Yan¡¯s heart sink¡ªan errant splinter of wood shot towards his eye. With Li Yan¡¯s reaction speed, he managed to close his eyelids before the splinter could reach his eyes, but he also lost sight of the corpse ghost. The wooden splinter cut Li Yan¡¯s eyelid, and when he opened his eyes again, his right eyelid was stained red with blood. The corpse ghost that had been in front of Li Yan had vanished! Without thinking, Li Yan twisted around, his back twisting like a dragon, his fist-back like a steel whip, hammering towards his rear! There was nothing behind him¡­ ¡°Ha¡­ ha¡­¡± Li Yan was panting heavily, looking around the room and seeing no movement. He steadied his breath and shouted: ¡°Xiu! Are you there? Ah¡­¡± Suddenly, Li Yan felt a sharp pain at his waist¡ªa boning knife pierced into his waist precisely! The man¡¯s agility was terrifying, as his clothes were touched by the de, he instinctively reached back to grasp the assant¡¯s shoulder, but again, he found nothing. Amidst the sudden chill, he could only clench the knife handle, only to discover that the knife was actively burrowing into his waist! Li Yan had no choice but to pull out the sharp knife, covered the bleeding wound on his waist with his left hand, pressed himself against the corner of the wall and surveyed everything before him cautiously. The few exchanges did not resemble the overwhelming suppression of a fierce ghost over a mortal but rather seemed like an evenly matched battle between a sharp and ferocious beast and a terrifying, mysterious ghost. ¡°Heh heh, auntie, it seems you¡¯re even more hot-tempered than me.¡± Li Yan could actually still manage augh, though the icy coldness in his eyes was almost bursting forth. ¡°If I¡¯m to die just like that, I¡¯d still be fiercer than you. What do you say, shall we meet again in the underworld?¡± ¡°Ting-a-ling ting-a-ling ting-a-ling¡­¡± Pots and pans in the room swayed, Li Yan¡¯s right hand gripping the sharp knife, his eyes unblinking, allowing the blood from his eyelid to paint his vision a bloody red. The room fell silent as though the corpse ghost had departed. Ten seconds, thirty seconds, one minute, two minutes¡­ Li Yan¡¯s eyes were incredibly sore, but he dared not blink. Sweat trickled from his forehead to the tip of his nose, then dripped onto his lips, soaking into his mouth, tasting unbearably salty and fishy. Finally, Li Yan couldn¡¯t help but blink, and in the less than half a second of darkness, a rotten face oozing ck blood abruptly pressed against his nose! ¡°Pfft!¡± Li Yan actually spat out a mouthful of bright red tongue blood, spraying it all over the face of the corpse ghost! Chapter 33 - 33 Follow Me Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Follow Me Editor: Larbre Studio Many have said that drawing ghosts away with the blood from the tip of one¡¯s tongue is incredibly effective, but such matters are always difficult to discern between truth and fiction. However, today Li Yan could responsibly say that using the tip of his tongue¡¯s blood to drive away ghosts really hurt¡­ Immune to piercing through the heart, moving objects through the air, teleportation¡ªif these were things that Li Yan and Zhang Mingyuan could handle together, Li Yan couldn¡¯t think of a better method. A shrill scream pierced Li Yan¡¯s ears, causing him pain. The ghostly corpse screamed in agony as it retreated, with plumes of white smoke steaming from its body. Without hesitation, the man stepped forward and fiercely hacked at its skull with the sharp knife in his hand. Then, a cry of rm erupted. ¡°Mom!¡± Li Yan¡¯s heart trembled, and he kicked the ghostly corpse in the chest, sending it flying away, as he looked somewhat conflicted towards the source of the sound. Barefoot, Xiu was pale-faced, with her skirt and hands smeared with blood, and to Li Yan¡¯s surprise, the girl was tremblingly holding a handgun, her eyes reddened as she aimed it at him. Xiu¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡°Don¡¯t hit my mom.¡± ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate!¡± Name: Zhang Changxiu Status: Shade Erosion (Loss of vital energy and lifespan due to prolonged contact with yin objects.) Threat Level: White ¡°Where did you get the gun?¡± Li Yan¡¯s face was expressionless as he walked toward Xiu. ¡°Don¡¯te closer, I will shoot.¡± Li Yan seemed not to hear the girl¡¯s words, his pace unceasing as he approached her. Suddenly, Li Yan felt a gust of wind at his left ear and, without a second thought, ducked down and threw a high kick, sweeping across the face of the ghostly corpse and sending it flying to one side. With that kick, Li Yan could clearly feel that his opponent had weakened considerably. Xiu closed her eyes in despair, her pale fingers pressing on the trigger, only to find that the trigger seemed welded in ce; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t pull it. ¡°Your safety is on.¡± Li Yan grabbed the girl¡¯s wrist, took the handgun, slid off the safety, and fired a shot into the empty space, the loud bang startling Xiu into a jolt. ¡°Let go of my girl!¡± The grotesque ghostly corpse screamed hoarsely but dared not make any more rash moves. Li Yan¡¯s expression wasplex. After a moment of silence, he let go of the girl¡¯s wrist and said, ¡°Xiu, go inside for a while, I want to talk to your mother.¡± The girl bit her lower lip but didn¡¯t move an inch. ¡°Good girl, go inside.¡± The woman was hideous and ferocious, yet her tone was exceptionally gentle. The girl¡¯s throat seemed to be stuck with something, and with a swallow and a tearful plea, she begged, ¡°Brother Yan, please, I¡¯m begging you, don¡¯t kill my mom.¡± ¡°Xiu, go inside!¡± The woman¡¯s tone sharpened somewhat. Li Yan pulled the girl¡¯s arm, dragging her back into the room, facing the woman while his back was against the door, fumbling to slide the bolt. The sound of Xiu banging against the door caused dust to shake off and fall. ¡°Why do you all have to disturb me? I just don¡¯t want my girl to be left alone and pitiful without anyone to care for her.¡± Li Yan met the woman¡¯s interrogation with silence, his expression, however, was resolute. ¡°Madam, I must see you off today, and I will entrust someone to take care of Xiu, believe it or not, it¡¯s up to you.¡± ¡°How will you take care of her? Send my girl to Poleung Kuk?¡± The woman asked sharply. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about that, even if Xiu enters Poleung Kuk, it¡¯s better than waiting to die with you!¡± Li Yan answered coldly. ¡°But¡­¡± his voice dropped, ¡°I am only here to save my own life, and have no right to preach to you¡­¡± He took out the scalding Remaining Pages of the Gu Huo Bird from his chest and gently exhaled, ¡°In the end, we¡¯ll let our actions speak.¡± The woman¡¯s swollen, fearsome eyes stared at the gold-embossed rice paper depicting the nine-headed, eighteen-winged Gu Huo Bird; initially confused, her gaze gradually shifted to eptance. ¡°You want my soul?¡± ¡°Not me, it.¡± The woman cackled eerily. ¡°It¡¯s all the same¡­ I can agree to your request, but I have a condition.¡± ¡°Ha, if we continue this fight, it seems I have a better chance of winning.¡± Li Yan¡¯s smile did not reach his eyes. ¡°Indeed.¡± The woman fell silent for a moment. ¡°You said you would take care of Xiu. I want you to swear it.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t swear. And for thest time, no matter what, I will find a way to take care of Xiu, believe it or not, that¡¯s up to you.¡± The man still refused. Rather than make a promise he might not be able to keep, Li Yan would prefer to risk his life to carve out a path. The choices humans make are rted to their circumstances and character. Li Yan, knowing he might encounter ghosts, chose to take the Han Sword that he could wield as an extension of his arm, instead of seeking help from Wong Taisin ¡ª and it was for that exact reason. The woman watched Li Yan with a cold stare, and the situation suddenly became tense. After a long time, the wound on Li Yan¡¯s waist had stopped bleeding. He stepped forward, his de aimed directly at the woman. ¡°Remember your words!¡± The woman looked at Li Yan deeply and unexpectedly copsed to the ground with a thud, as the Remaining Pages of the Gu Huo Bird suddenly emitted a fierce golden-red light. With a shrill cry like a sobbing song, a light red blood spot seeped from the woman¡¯s forehead, twirling into the air and into the pages, followed by a blood-red me that enveloped the pages as well as Li Yan¡¯s right arm! Li Yan remained calm, the blood-red me burned for about seven or eight seconds before it naturally extinguished. Li Yan was unharmed. He opened his palm and the pagesy there quietly; the originally pale golden patterns had turned into a sinister blood-red, especially the eight pairs of eyes, which seemed alive, slowly streaming with light. ¡°You have awakened the remnant soul of the Gu Huo Bird!¡± ¡°You havepleted the most critical part of this Yan Fu event.¡± ¡°You have earned the right to end this Yan Fu event! Please decide whether to end it within ten minutes. If you refuse to end it, you can only return to the real world afterpleting all the requirements of the Yan Fu event.¡± ¡°Your current iplete requirement is: Fight to the seventh round at the Kowloon Boxing Ring. Failing toplete this task will affect your settlement reward.¡± Now was not the time to end it. Li Yan thought silently. ¡°Refuse to end!¡± ¡°Good luck, Esteemed Walker.¡± Meanwhile, in a KTV on Temple Street. ¡°The target haspleted the most critical part of the Yan Fu event and has obtained the right to end this Yan Fu event. If they choose to end it, your event is deemed a failure, and you will be returned instantly!¡± ¡°The target has refused to end this Yan Fu event.¡± ¡°Leaving your fate in another¡¯s hands is the most foolish thing, Esteemed Walker.¡± In the pink light, the man¡¯s face looked awful, and he violently threw the ss in his hand. Li Yan approached the fallen woman step by step. Her body, now devoid of a certain obsession, was rotting and stinking, the odor nauseating. Li Yan took off his clothing and covered the upper half of the woman¡¯s body. He then turned and opened the door to the inner room, where Xiu was curled up in a corner, her hands wrapped around her knees, her eyes hollow. What shocked Li Yan was that the room was filled with five or six dismembered corpses, lying scattered about. The blood wasn¡¯t dry yet, and there were signs of it being washed away. Li Yan bent down to examine the drag marks on the floor. These people must have broken in during the night and then been killed by Xiu¡¯s mother; and without a doubt, the one who dragged the bodies into the inner room, her clothes and hands stained with blood, was Xiu. The damp, foul-smelling apartment, the mother turned fierce ghost lying motionless in a chair, the girl struggling to drag the corpses and meticulously cleaning the blood¡­ How could she not be aware of the strangeness of her mother, with whom she lived day and night? ¡°Are the guns from their bodies?¡± Li Yan walked over to the girl. Xiu¡¯s gaze was dull; she seemed not to hear Li Yan¡¯s words. Li Yan reached out to help the girl up, but she pushed him away violently. Xiu was like an angry young beast, her eyes red and swollen, ring fiercely at Li Yan. Li Yan, not the least bit discouraged, extended his hand again. Xiu pounced, biting Li Yan¡¯s hand viciously. Li Yan knelt down, as Xiu¡¯s bite drew blood from his hand. His face was expressionless, his right hand resting on the girl¡¯s cold back. ¡°Come with me¡­¡± Chapter 34 - 34 Flaws! Chapter 34: Chapter 34 ws! Editor: Larbre Studio Fuyi Building Li Yan leaned against the doorway, sucking on a cigarette butt, while Xiu¡¯s hair in the room was dripping wet, having changed into a loose-fitting piece of clothing, borrowed from the ck Swallowtail in the building. ¡°You¡¯ll stay here for the next few days. After a while, I¡¯ll find a way to get you out of Kowloon City.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to bother, I don¡¯t want to see you ever again.¡± Her voice was hoarse from crying. Li Yan couldn¡¯t help butugh upon hearing that. ¡°Fine, suit yourself.¡± He thought to himself, ¡°I won¡¯t be able to stay for many more days either.¡± Li Yan had a bandage wrapped around his waist and flipped through the contact list on his phone, his gaze shifting back and forth between the numbers of Li Yaoguang and Judy. He had a good impression of that half-gray haired police inspector, but that was the extent of it. In the end, he still set his gaze on Judy¡¯s number. Just then, his phone suddenly vibrated in his hand, and looking at the caller ID, it was actually Judy. Li Yan¡¯s face showed aplex expression as he pressed the answer button, ¡°Hello?¡± There was no sound on the other end of the call. ¡°Cough cough, how have these days been for you, my prescription¡­¡± ¡°I flushed it down the toilet.¡± The voice on the other end was indifferent. ¡°Oh~ as long as you¡¯re blowing off some steam.¡± Li Yan scratched his eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡± Judy¡¯s voice was tinged with sarcasm, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to you that I flushed those bizarre scraps of paper down the toilet too?¡± Li Yan was startled, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡± ¡°Where did you hear that from?¡± A shadow crossed Li Yan¡¯s heart; out of the five fragments, he had four in his possession, while the remaining one should be¡­ ¡°Humph.¡± Judy hung up the phone without any hesitation. Li Yan frowned and dialed back, but no one answered. He rushed downstairs, asking the people of Fuyi Building to help take care of Xiu, then he left the city fortress and headed for Judy¡¯s usual residence, a small vi. Judy snapped her phone shut and looked at the man before her with her phoenix eyes. He wore a dark, striped suit and gold-rimmed sses, voraciously devouring the cake in front of him. Nobody could tell that this man was the hot new yer in Liansheng circles, referred to on the streets as Yu. ¡°The money can be given to you anytime; where¡¯s the thing I want?¡± Yu looked around, a few female bodyguards, led by Li, were watching him with an indifferent gaze. The glint of deep crimson in a fleeting glimpse reminded Yu that these women were not only dangerous but also hostile towards him. Yu licked his lips, ¡°How about we discuss the price first?¡± ¡°One hundred thousand, for one.¡± Yu didn¡¯t respond, seemingly not satisfied with the offer. ¡°Two hundred thousand.¡± Judy didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°This¡­¡± The man hesitated. Judy let out a coldugh, ¡°Li, let¡¯s go.¡± She stood up and nced at the man, ¡°You¡¯re from Liansheng, aren¡¯t you, Yu? So greedy, destined to have a promising future as a gangster. I have high hopes for you.¡± ¡°Wait, wait,¡± the man hastily stood up, as though he¡¯d choked on the cake, coughing embarrassingly for a while. Li watched the man pouring water down his throat in a desperate attempt, a hint of contempt in her eyes. ¡°Two hundred thousand, then. Two hundred thousand.¡± ¡°Give me the stuff, take the money, and leave.¡± Judy was not one to dawdle. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t carry something worth two hundred thousand on my person.¡± The man grinned, revealing his stark white teeth. ¡°So what are you suggesting?¡± Judy¡¯s smile bordered on mocking. ¡°Come to my ce to get it.¡± The man spoke casually. Judy sized up Yu for a moment, then suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°Alright, no problem.¡± If anything happened to her, the entire He Liansheng gang would be dragged down with her. She really didn¡¯t take seriously a triad member who could drop dead in the streets at any moment. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Yu agreed and turned around but was promptly blocked by a tall figure. ¡°Wow, beauty, I almost bumped into you.¡± Yu whistled flirtatiously. Li, who stood at an impressive one meter seventy-eight, smiled as she wiped the cream from the corner of his mouth and leaned into Yu¡¯s ear. ¡°Just a reminder, don¡¯t get any funny ideas.¡± Yu nced at the half-exposed gun barrel intentionally revealed at Li¡¯s waist. A Belgian M1923 Browning, a real man¡¯s gun. The man swallowed hard. ¡°Got it, got it.¡± ¡­ Before Li Yan obtained the third fragment from Zhang Mingyuan, he had encountered someone who also possessed a fragment. This person had skirmished with him for several days and was always active in the cold streets among the numerous gangs in Kowloon Walled City. Li Yan guessed his disguise must be that of a triad member. During his encounter with Zhang Mingyuan, when two fragments appeared simultaneously at Fuyi Building, the fragment changed hands, and it made sense for his identity to be figured out as a consequence. Interestingly, after the He Liansheng incident, this person silently left the Kowloon Walled City, exceeding the five-kilometer detection range, and had not reappeared since. Li Yan had been confident that this person would eventually show up on his own, but now, nearly a month had passed, and the man had vanished without a trace. He had not expected to hear about this person again until it came through Judy¡¯s phone call. Li Yan never underestimated his opponents, especially such a patient one. And now, the point of entry chosen by his opponent indeed posed a tricky situation for Li Yan. Judy¡¯s day-to-day security was managed by a security firm registered in Singapore. Her female bodyguards were exceptionally skilled; armed with pistols, even he would have to flee. But if someone was plotting with ill intent against one unprepared, the oue wasn¡¯t easy to predict. The best he could hope for was that the woman, who would coldly wish to shoot him whenever they held hands, had quality training. ¡°Sir, the area ahead is private property; taxis can¡¯t go any further.¡± The driver turned and said to Li Yan. ¡°What¡¯s the use of putting on such airs?¡± Li Yan threw down a banknote and grumbled as he jogged toward the vi district. Five minutester, Li Yan reached the fence¡¯s gate and started buzzing the inte. ¡°Hello, sir, who are you looking for?¡± The voice from the speaker was polite yet distant. ¡°Is Miss Judy in?¡± ¡°Sorry, we can¡¯t disclose our boss¡¯s whereabouts. That¡¯s our professional ethic.¡± Li Yan took a deep breath, ¡°If I remember your voice right, you are called¡­ banana?¡± The woman facing the surveince camera scoffed with her arms crossed. Of course, she recognized Li Yan, as Judy had almost used his picture for target practice in thest few days. ¡°Where exactly is she? I have something very important to discuss with her.¡± ¡°Sorry, without the boss¡¯s instructions, we can¡¯t reveal anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not joking, your boss might be in life-threatening danger.¡± Despite her professionalism, the woman didn¡¯tugh out loud. Men, huh, heh. ¡°Sir, if you have something to say, you might as well speak up now. I¡¯ll pass on the message.¡± Li Yan pursed his lips, looked around, and then grabbed a brick thudding it against the iron bars! ¡°Security, security.¡± Banana screamed in rm. Soon, several burly guards approached with fierce expressions, their electric batons sparking incessantly. Li Yan spat dismissively, his eyebrows beginning to raise sternly. Chapter 35 - 35 Serpent Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Serpent Editor: Larbre Studio ¡­ The phone vibrated insistently, and Li Yan was struck with a thought. He tossed the stun gun aside and pressed to answer. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°¡­Hello.¡± After a brief silence, a man¡¯s voice came through the line, causing Li Yan to grimace as he chewed the inside of his cheek in frustration. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Twenty minutes, Wu Sheng Day Rental Apartment on Bn Street, I¡¯ve cleared the ce out for you today.¡± After those words, the caller hung up. Li Yan pocketed his phone without paying any attention to the ring horns and turned to leave, leaving behind a ground full of groaning security personnel. ¡°Bang!¡± The brightly colored sign of Summer Lotus Bathing Beach was kicked in by a man. It was daytime, and the bathhouse wasn¡¯t crowded. Several young men with brightly dyed hair strutted over, with conspicuous bulges at their waists. Li Yan looked around. ¡°Excuse me, fellows, would anyone be kind enough to lend me a motorcycle?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll lend you a guava!¡± A crowd surged forward hooting loudly. ¡­ Bn Street, a well-known red-light district in Hong Kong. Conveniently located, heavily popted, with hourly hotels, restaurants serving Eastern and Western cuisines, mahjong parlors, nightclubs¡ªthere¡¯s no end to the nightlife. Day-rental apartments, hmm, probably just what you¡¯re thinking¡ªavable for rent by the day. The whine of the motorcycle¡¯s turbo was apanied by a long trail of exhaust fumes. Li Yan got off the bike. ¡°How could Judy possibly get into trouble here?¡± The crowd was shoulder to shoulder, the street bustling. Even the most obtuse person could sense just how odd the choice of location was. Li Yan had a Crooked Leg Knife wrapped in old newspaper tucked into his belt, along with a pistol he had found in Xiu¡¯s room. There was no point in letting such things go to waste by not using them. He looked up at the sign of the Wu Sheng Apartment, and, coincidently, at that moment, he felt a burning sensation in his chest. ¡°Position of the Gu Huo Bird ancient novel shards has been reported. Please be ready to receive.¡± ¡°Heh heh,¡± Li Yan grinned as he stepped into Wu Sheng. ¡­ Yu smoked one cigarette after another, his expression unhurried. He had prepared for this day for too long to be concerned about a slight dy. Your requirements for the Yan Fu event are as follows: 1. upy the position of ¡°Red Pole¡± or higher in any Hongmen society. 2. Ensure that all targets involved in the Yan Fu event are removed from y! Number of remaining targets: 1 3. The Serpent must devour at least three ancient novel shards (must include and prioritize devouring the Gu Huo Bird). You have notpleted targets 2 and 3, with the second task being the most crucial. Completing it will qualify you for return. Please note! You have only ten hours left to reach the deadline for your return! On a cursory look, the cramped room of no more than three or four square meters contained two corpses in appalling states, one with several saucer-sized pieces of flesh cleanly excised, exposing smooth bone severances, as if erased by a rubber. The other¡¯s head had vanished, its neck bone viciously snapped! ¡°If it¡¯s money you want, we can talk about it.¡± Judy¡¯s hands were tied with rope, her face pale, her body trembling uncontrobly, yet she still spoke with effort. There were bloodstains on her cheeks, and seeing Yu unharmed, it was clear the blood wasn¡¯t his. ¡°An event like Yan Fu, taking ce in a booming era like 80¡¯s Hong Kong, even with restrictions in ce, is indeed a good ce to rack up points,¡± the man mused, murmuring words Judy couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°There are too many people and too many eyes here, you won¡¯t get much out of kidnapping me. I can cooperate with you to leave this ce, but you have to call and get the person you have sent to the hospital.¡± Judy was referring to Li, who had been shot through the lung and was intermittently coughing up blood, her face deathly pale. Yu tossed away the empty cigarette pack, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this chick is hot enough for my liking. I wouldn¡¯t let her die so easily without having my fun. As for leaving this ce, what a joke.¡± Yu gave a thumbs down. ¡°This is my turf.¡± It was already Yu¡¯s fourth Yan Fu incident, and although the oues of the previous trials were hardly satisfactory, after three settlements and meeting certain conditions, he could still obtain a power that defied convention. Just like now¡­ Maybe it wouldn¡¯t be long before he introduced himself to some neers as, um¡­ Serpent. That sounded pretty good. Judy clenched her teeth as she stared at Yu for a while. ¡°Aren¡¯t you an orphan? How is your Mandarin so good? You¡¯ve never been overseas. How could you possibly recognize Li Yan who grew up on the maind?¡± Yu smiled and exhaled a ring of smoke, ¡°If you knew to investigate me in advance, why didn¡¯t you check up on your paramour?¡± As he was speaking, his eyes sharpened and his face darkened as he walked over to the window, catching a glimpse of the corner of Li Yan¡¯s clothing as he entered the apartment. ¡°Really just showing up like that?¡± Yu¡¯s face showed some astonishment as he turned to look at Judy again, then suddenly let out a coldugh. It was true that he had detected Li Yan¡¯s identity before anyone else, but that didn¡¯t make up for the substantial gap between them, yes, the substantial difference between him and Li Yan. Before venturing into the Yan Fu world, one often mastered abilities that were out of reach for ordinary people,monly known as specializations. Such specialization, at least for the first two or three incidents, was the foundation of one¡¯s livelihood in the Yan Fu journey and also rted to the direction of future development. His specialization was advantageous in investigation, but his directbat capability was nearly nonexistent. ¡°Biological Affinity: 63%¡± This specialization was much rarer than Ancient Martial Arts, unfortunately, it also made his Yan Fu incidents painfully challenging. But now, paired with his incipient inheritance abilities, the situation was vastly different. Serpent¡¯s Fang¡¤Binge Category: Inheritance (only obtainable through special rewards afterpleting Yan Fu incidents) Quality: Rare The Serpent is in a state of hunger at the start of a Yan Fu incident. After release, it can be fed and Serpent Points spent to satiate it, the higher its satiety, the greater its power. Please note! Once the Serpent is released, it can only move within a two-hundred-meter radius. Going beyond this range will result in severe bacsh. There are many restrictions, but¡­ Once fully developed, Yu could take on a small special forces team! ¡­ When Li Yan entered the day rental apartment, he frowned. The air was pungent, and the corridor, along with every room, was extremely cramped. The corridor was only two or three meters wide, and the rooms were barely over three meters. ¡°What an borate n.¡± Li Yan sighed inwardly. If he had brought his Han Sword along, it would be difficult to wield in such a narrow space. In this case, the motorcycle and Crooked Leg Knife he¡¯d borrowed were almost serendipitous. What¡¯s more interesting is that there were at least three bodyguards with guns beside Judy. If he had the power to confront firearms directly, there would be no need to employ such tricks, nor would there be any need to use Judy to threaten him. The reason behind this was worth pondering¡­ Li Yan did not think his opponent was very clever. If the adversary had been truly wless, or had exceptional abilities, they would not have waited until now to make a move. If it weren¡¯t for some other matters that Li Yan still needed to attend to, he would have already ended this Yan Fu incident. Moreover, entrusting one¡¯s entire scheme and anticipation on the passive approach that one wille upon hearing of Judy¡¯s situation was something Li Yan disdained. If the opponent remains indifferent, all your cleverness is wasted, isn¡¯t it? A chilling thought shed through his mind. Burn this ce to the ground, force him out! Even if it harms the innocent, they are merely unremarkable people of this world. After all, he had known Judy for only about twenty days. A man isn¡¯t a man without ruthlessness, and besides, she might not even get into trouble¡­ Even if one steps back, the truth and illusion of this world are hard to determine. The people here might just be like NPCs in a game; if killed, then they are just killed. It was tempting, but in a sh, it passed. Lei Hongsheng praised him for having three parts of evilness. These three parts refer not only to ruthlessness in action but more so to an integrity that remains unaffected by circumstances or so-called interests and positions. The evilness is important, but the three parts are even more crucial. ¡°Before the tiger¡¯s eyes, there is no abyss¡­¡± Li Yan softly recited the words he had said when he killed Cheng Hunan, stepping into the apartment, his gaze growing sharper. ¡°In front of a coward, there are obstacles everywhere.¡± Chapter 36 - 36 Is the Snake Ferocious? Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Is the Snake Ferocious? Editor: Larbre Studio Li Yan couldn¡¯t see anyone in the apartment, with his left hand grasping the knife handle in a reverse grip and his right hand holding a gun, his shoes stepping on the silent corridor. The women who usually lounge on the dpidated sofa with legs crossed, waiting for clients, had vanished without a trace. Used stic wrappers littered the floor, and the usual yapping sounds from inside the room were nowhere to be heard. Suddenly, Li Yan dropped to a crouch and rolled on the ground, hearing a loud bang next to his ear. The light red sofa burst open violently, springs and cotton flying everywhere. Yu, hidden behind the wall, clenched his teeth, finding Li Yan¡¯s animal-like keen senses somewhat troublesome. He exhaled slowly, then popped his head out again, and suddenly, with a roar of gunfire, the man¡¯s vision went dark! Li Yan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly, the air filled with a teeth-gritting sound of metal shattering that sent chills down one¡¯s spine. He was far less confident in his marksmanship than his swordsmanship. Based on the fact that he hadn¡¯t even unlocked a specialization in firearms, it was clear that Li Yan was only slightly better than those who had never touched a gun. ¡°Didn¡¯t hit him?¡± Yu emerged from behind the wall with a grim face. Without a second thought, Li Yan raised his hand and pulled the trigger. Amidst the mes of gunfire, bullets with tremendous kic energy shot into Yu¡¯s body. ¡°Crunch, crunch¡­¡± A barely visible serpent, surrounded by ck mist, about three meters long and as thick as a man¡¯s arm, coiled around the man. Some bullets struck its smooth scales, sending sparks flying; others were bitten by the Serpent as they were about to hit the man, swallowing them as easily as if they were peanuts. ¡°You¡¯ve faced the Power of Serpent!¡± ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve discovered Predator!¡± Name: Li Jiangyu Status: Binge! Specialization: Biological Affinity 63% Skills: 1. A Fleeting Glimpse 2. Yellow Turban Talisman (1/3) 3. ??? Inheritance: Serpent¡¯s Fang¡¤Binge Predator: In an irreconcble event contradiction with those who activate A Fleeting Glimpse, it can only be resolved by one party withdrawing or even dying. A Predator who kills will gain all the purchasing rights the other has acquired in the current Yan Fu event and 30% of the settlement reward and has a certain chance of devouring their inheritance. Predators killing their prey will not receive rewards, but there is a one hundred percent chance of devouring the counterpart¡¯s inheritance. Predator status can be obtained through certain special items. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Having seen the introduction to the Serpent¡¯s inheritance, Li Yan already understood. He put away his gun, took two steps forward, and elerated. Within two or three strides, like a ghost, he charged straight at the Serpent! ¡°Seeking death!¡± Yu, confident in his Serpent, whose satiety had reached its limit, saw Li Yan charging towards him. His thoughts shifted and the serpent¡¯s head, swift as lightning, aimed a bite at Li Yan¡¯s neck. Just as the fangs were about to make contact with Li Yan, who was running at full speed, he rxed his knees and propelled his waist forward, sliding on the ground in a bizarre kneeling posture¡ªnarrowly avoiding the Serpent¡¯s lunge. If he had a draw speed like He Andong¡¯s, he could have pulled out his gun and shot at this time, and with the Serpent unable to turn back in time, he could have killed Li Jiangyu on the spot. Unfortunately, Li Yan was incapable of that, and He Andong,cking Li Yan¡¯s extraordinary reaction speed, wouldn¡¯t have been able to dodge the Serpent¡¯s bite. So without thinking, Li Yan brandished the Crooked Leg Knife in his hand and flung it towards Li Jiangyu. Li Jiangyu, seeing Li Yan¡¯s ferocious approach, also raised his pistol. The bright machete whirling through the air and the bullets sparking with fire punctured the atmosphere in quick session, hissing as they tore through the void. Perhaps it was a run of bad luck, like the wood shavings sshing into Li Yan¡¯s eyes, that even the heavens thought was extremely unjust, or maybe it was just that Li Jiangyu¡¯s shooting was poor. In any case, of the three bullets fired, only one grazed Li Yan¡¯s elbow, but the Crooked Leg Knife struck true,nding squarely on Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ah~!¡± Yu couldn¡¯t help but cry out as his Browning, which already packed a considerable kick, fell to the ground. Li Yan, with his knee braced against the ground, pounced toward the fallen pistol, but felt a cold chill creeping up his spine, and in the eyes of the agonized Yu before him, a malicious glint flickered. ¡°Hmph!¡± Midair, Li Yan awkwardly twisted his body, leveraging his waist strength to lean sideways, yet an intense burning pain still spread across his back. Li Yan hit the wall with a thump and, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, swung a sweeping kick at Li Jiangyu¡¯s ankles while his right hand reached for the pistol at his waist. Li Jiangyu staggered from the sweeping kick, causing the Serpent¡¯s dance to falter briefly. But it was only for a breath¡¯s time before the Serpent whipped around in the air. The cold triangr eyes obscured Li Yan¡¯s view just as he was about to raise his gun to fire! ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± Li Yan emptied the pistol¡¯s magazine into the gaping maw of the Serpent, but the creature was unstoppable! It rammed Li Yan, who was by the corridor¡¯s edge, into a cramped side room. Li Yan rolled into the corner, covered in dust and bloodstains, arge patch of skin and flesh scraped off his left palm, bloodied and blurry. Meanwhile, the Crooked Leg Knife had passed clean through Yu¡¯s shoulder, the pain nearly knocking him out. Trembling, he picked up the pistol with his unharmed left hand, only to find that its magazine was empty. In desperation, he threw the gun aside and staggered toward the room filled with wall dust where Li Yan was. ¡­ ¡°Li. There¡¯s noise from below.¡± Judy swallowed hard and spoke to the weak woman behind her. Pale-faced, Li used her teeth to gnaw at the prickly rope binding Judy¡¯s hands. Mumbling, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, jump out the window and get away.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s Li Yan.¡± Li¡¯s lips and gums were pierced until they bled, and finally, she bit a small hole in the rope. Spitting out blood-tainted saliva, she said with a touch of malice: ¡°It¡¯s no use whoes; that damned Serpent can¡¯t be killed.¡± Li had lived for twenty-eight years and had never witnessed such a grotesque scene, with the Serpent twining around men impervious to des and bullets. Itpletely overturned Li¡¯s understanding of the world. ¡°If that guy Yu is so powerful, why did he bother to call Li Yan here at all.¡± Initially, herpanions were bitten into sieves by the Serpent, warm blood spraying everywhere. One moment they joked andughed with her, and in the next, their heads were bitten off. The terror almost caused Judy, who led a life of luxury, to lose control of her dder. But gradually, Judy calmed down. That man, he clearly had a fear of Li Yan. ¡°Judy, discussing this now is useless. Jump out the window and let the people on the street call for help!¡± Li, usuallymanding and impressive, now looked deathly pale, substantially more disheveled than usual. Judy¡¯s lips were trembling lightly, and as soon as Li bit through the ropes, she rushed out to retrieve the guns from the bodies. ¡°Judy, don¡¯t be foolish!¡± Seeing Judy going for the guns, Li¡¯s eyes widened as she yelled loudly. Judy expertly disassembled the pistol, took the yellowish bullets out, and tossed them into the gaps in the floorboards. ¡°These things are useless against that monster, but they can hurt you.¡± Judy nced at the bright red wounds on Li¡¯s body, bent down to remove her white high heels, then ran barefoot to the window. Her eyes reddening, she took onest look at Li. ¡°You¡­ take care of yourself.¡± Chapter 37: Fierce Tiger! Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Fierce Tiger! Editor: Larbre Studio Li Yan looked around; the room was so spartan that he couldn¡¯t even find a vase. The only thing of quality was the hard shower head. Blocking the doorway was Li Jiangyu, with the Serpent dancing around his body. Li Yan shook off the dust from his body, his toes plowing the ground, his back slightly hunched. The Serpent¡¯s body moved with tension, its ck Scales flowing like water. The two men silently faced each other. A full water drop trembled on the edge of the still-wet metal shower head, before falling. ¡°Plop!¡± As the snake moved, the man moved! A ghastly white fang came straight at him. Li Yan twisted his left foot, turned his body within the Bagua Palm¡¯s mother stance and dodged the snake¡¯s head¡ªinstead of following up with the usual covering palm, he kicked off the ground with powerful calves, stabbing forward with the ¡®picking¡¯ technique from the ¡®lying down child¡¯ stance, his foot aiming for the side of the Serpent¡¯s head. To Li Yan¡¯s chagrin, it felt as though his foot had kicked a piece of resilient cement block. Reacting quickly, within a single breath, he changed from kicking to leaping away using the momentum. Li Jiangyu, seemingly frightened by Li Yan¡¯s ferocity in the corridor just moments earlier,manded the Serpent to slither back and protect him without a second thought when Li Yan dodged the snake¡¯s head again. The ground was pockmarked with arge area, as if a smooth cement surface had been scooped out with a shovel. The Serpent twisted irritably, casting an unsatisfied nce at its host. It had almost swallowed his calf a moment ago¡­ The snake¡¯s mouth only had four teeth, but the pit on the ground clearly couldn¡¯t have been made by just four teeth. It seemed the Serpent¡¯s teeth possessed some special power that could swallow a piece of whatever they touched. ¡°The straight charge is quick, but turning is not as agile. Moreover, the farther it is from the master, the slower it bes¡­¡± Li Yan analyzed coolly, as if he hadn¡¯t almost lost a leg just moments before. The Serpent in front of him was fierce and swift in its lunge and bite, but its dodging was quite rigid,cking the agility typical of snakes. Of course, only Li Yan had the license to belittle the Serpent¡¯s dodging speed; ordinary people had no chance of evading it. Li Yan thought of Zhang Mingyuan, whose pupils burned with an Exotic Beast. The Eyes of the Enlightened Beast do not make one an Enlightened Beast. The fangs of the Serpent are not the Serpent itself. It¡¯s just a part of it. With a ¡°swish¡± of his step, Li Yan surprisingly took the initiative to close in! Li Jiangyu, sensing this, did not release the Serpent coiling around him, but instead met Li Yan head-on! ¡°You understand, don¡¯t you?¡± Although he wasn¡¯t very impressed with Li Jiangyu¡¯s overly passive and weak tactics, his response at this moment was undoubtedly the correct one. A Serpent that protected Li Jiangyu could even block bullets, so naturally, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid of the unarmed Li Yan. On the other hand, if he released the Serpent, he would give Li Yan an opportunity to exploit. ¡°How can one capture tiger cubs without entering the tiger¡¯sir?¡± Li Yan mantraed inwardly, a fierce glint shing briefly in his eyes. He twisted his knee and waist, his instep taut as a drawn bow, bursting forward like a sharpened sword¡ªLi Jiangyu¡¯s vision blurred, and Li Yan had vanished, approaching rapidly with a violent whistling noise by his ears. ¡°Sss!¡± Li Jiangyu lost sight of Li Yan¡¯s figure, but the Serpent did not! Coiling like a chain, the Serpent¡¯s head struck like lightning, biting towards the back of Li Yan¡¯s iing fist. Its triangr eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty intent, chilling to the bone. ¡°What will you do now?¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t flinch. His upper arm rose slightly, changing his fist into a palm. With a swing of his forearm, the Serpent¡¯s head, as it arrived to bite, slipped past like an eel to the right. ¡°Smack!¡± Bullets are fast, but they are inanimate. Li Yan¡¯s fist was slower, but it was alive. The four sharp fangs closed together in vain, as the palm before the Serpent¡¯s eyes slid rightwards like a slippery fish. Blood sprayed everywhere! Li Yan seemed oblivious as he flipped over, bending at the waist, left hand supporting on the ground, and his right foot raised high, kicking towards Li Jiangyu¡¯s head. Stomping kick! Crushing stone into powder. The hissing Serpent, whose taste had not passed, let out a furious hiss. Its headunched forward to swallow Li Yan¡¯s right foot, but its neck stiffened, slowing by a fraction. It was Li Yan¡¯s right hand, supposed to be swallowed whole by it, that stopped it! Bagua Palm, Concealed Flower under the Leaf. Die! His foot struck Li Jiangyu¡¯s temple squarely. His vision darkened, a buzzing sound rang in his head, and a fiery, salty taste crazily surged from his mouth and nose! The Serpent, as if struck by thunderp, wildly writhed in the air, beyond control. ¡°Thud.¡± Li Yan¡¯s arm went limp, and he fell to the ground, sweating profusely, his whole body soaked. A prompt from A Fleeting Glimpse sent a chill through his heart. ¡°Target has activated the Yellow Turban Talisman: Healing Charm!¡± ¡°Healing Charm: Activates when receiving potentially fatal injuries, forcibly freezing the injury at a level that won¡¯t cause immediate death. Slowly restores to 30% of the original state of injury.¡± (Permanent disabilities cannot be healed.) Behind Li Jiangyu, the figure of a middle-aged man with a clear face, a crane robe, and a purple crown suddenly shattered. He spat out several mouthfuls of ck blood and staggered towards the outside of the house. Li Yan bit his teeth and rolled up to his feet. With a couple of leaps, he caught a glimpse of the disgraced Li Jiangyu climbing up the stairs. Li Yan looked down at his right hand. His little finger and ring finger were gone. Blood spurted from the twitching wounds like a child¡¯s water gun¡­ Arge piece of flesh was missing from his palm, and the bare bones were exposed. He tore off his clothes to make a bandage for his right hand, the intense pain making him inhale sharply. Suddenly, he touched his nose. His left hand was covered in red. ES Hematopoietic Cell Enhancer Instructions: This product cannot cure blood diseases fundamentally. If the condition is severe, please purchase the ES Cell Supplement from an Esteemed Walker. Li Yan cracked a smile, then suddenly, heughed aloud, his masculine voice echoing through the entire apartment. ¡­ ¡°Madman, monster, how can there be such a person¡­¡± Blood drops speckled the ground. Li Jiangyu¡¯s face was filled with terror. ¡°Timing, location, harmony, I calcted them all, why, why?¡± A Fleeting Glimpse clearly showed that man was a novice, with no legacy upon him. The only remarkable thing was his specialization level over 80%. Li Jiangyu, having been through several Yan Fu incidents, had only seen one Esteemed Walker with a specialization as high as 79%. That person¡¯s strength was indeed far above his own¡­ Li Jiangyu¡¯s vision flickered between light and dark, as if a hand were stirring inside his skull. ¡°That woman, he cares so much about that woman, there are two guns on the corpse, I still have a chance!¡± ¡°Bang.¡± Li Jiangyu burst through the door, his eyes threaded with blood as he scanned left and right. Li, still dazed and bewildered, looked at the man whose mouth and nose were bleeding, a Crooked Leg Knife protruding from his shoulder, and blood dripping steadily to the floor. Therge snake was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Where are they? Where!¡± He roared at Li, who was crouched on the ground. ¡°Ask your mother!¡± The cracked-lipped Li sneered. ¡°Damn it!¡± The furious Li Jiangyu kicked Li¡¯s wound. Li groaned in pain, coughing up a string of pinkish blood froth, her face pale as death. Li Jiangyu nced at the loose hemp rope and the open window, his face a picture of madness. He picked up a handgun from the ground and dragged Li up by her cor, intending to leave. A tall and lean figure blocked the door firmly, Li Yan¡¯s hand on the door frame. The man¡¯s clothes were ragged, his tense muscles barely concealed, his right hand wrapped in a bloody bandage. Yet his eyes were filled with a soaring fighting spirit, and his demeanor radiated an air of defiance. ¡°So eager to run off, not going to entertain your daddy a bit longer?¡± Chapter 38: A Thought Arises Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Thought Arises Editor: Larbre Studio Li Jiangyu was startled and raised his pistol, but Li Yan wasn¡¯t a bit slower, pointing the dark muzzle of his gun at the other man. Sweat appeared on Li Jiangyu¡¯s palms. ¡°Chang Shen¡¯s gunmen couldn¡¯t kill you; you¡¯re not even afraid of the Serpent. This can¡¯t be your first Yan Fu event¡­¡± He clenched his teeth, a chill suddenly running through his heart. ¡°Are you a Renegade?¡± Li Yan frowned, suddenly recalling the fragmented corpses in Xiu¡¯s house. ¡°You say Chang Shen sent people to kill me; it turns out you really are with United Victory.¡± Li Jiangyu pursed his lips and said nothing. Li Yan nced at the gun in Li Jiangyu¡¯s hand. ¡°An M1923? You can¡¯t hold that steady with your left hand, can you?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you try?¡± Li Jiangyu hissed through clenched teeth, though somewhat blustering inside. Li Yan licked his gums, tasting the sweetness and blood in his mouth. ¡°Let that woman go, and I¡¯ll make you a deal. We both throw away our guns, how does that sound?¡± Yu¡¯s temples throbbed with ck veins. Thick ck smoke swirled around his body, gradually condensing into the shape of a ck python. Li Yan¡¯s eyes widened. If Li Jiangyu had the Serpent with him now and held a pistol in his hand, the advantage he¡¯d gained by sacrificing his right hand would vanish into nothing. ¡°Shoot, his gun has no bullets!¡± Li, who could barely stand, suddenly spoke out. Not loud, but startling enough for both men. In the end, Li Yan reacted slightly faster and threw his gun over. Why didn¡¯t he shoot? Because his gun also had no bullets. The Serpent bit the pistol but stumbled, as if it might dissipate at any moment. Li Jiangyu¡¯s eyes bulged with rage, and Li Yan¡¯s fist was already in his face! The Serpent hissed furiously to the sky, shattering like ss continuously. As its body shattered into countless pieces, a ck streak aimed straight for Li Yan¡¯s forehead amid the fragments! Blistering, fierce, and terrifying. That was the taste of death. There was no dodging it¡­ Li Jiangyu¡¯s faced bled from every orifice, eyes bulging outward. ¡°You¡¯ve detonated the Serpent voluntarily. The inherited ability will now enter a cooldown period due to a Yan Fu event.¡± ¡°Your Expertise forcefully drops by 10%.¡± Hisst skill, Inheritance Detonation! ¡°Detonate your inheritance actively, paying a huge price for a lethal strike.¡± Get past this obstacle first¡­ Li Jiangyu¡¯s gaze was sinister, ¡°You have discerned your opponent¡¯s weakness!¡± A Fleeting Glimpse suddenly gave Li Yan a hint! Weakness Revealed: The next attack (including but not limited to gunfire, ded weapons, toxins, and any other actions that can harm the opponent) will have its release speed increased by 100%, and its damage intensified by 100%. ¡°Da¡± A handnded on the handle of the Crooked Leg Knife on Li Jiangyu¡¯s shoulder. Drawing the knife and sweeping across in one fluid motion, a ghastly line of blood appeared on Li Jiangyu¡¯s neck. The ck streak also pierced through Li Yan¡¯s forehead! Li copsed to the ground, staring nkly at the two motionless men. Blood dripped down thickly. After a while, she struggled to reach for Li Yan¡¯s pant leg. ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± Li Yan looked down, gazing indifferently at the woman. ¡°You¡­¡± Li found herself at a loss for words. Li Yan, bypassing his injured right hand, picked up Li tenderly, not mentioning the smooth feel of her skin. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital. Where¡¯s Judy?¡± Sirens sounded outside the window. Holding Li, Li Yan went to the window to see Judy in the police car looking around frantically, then catching sight of Li Yan holding Li and looking down at her from above, his dirt-streaked face raising an eyebrow at her. ¡°Huh!¡± Judy slumped into her seat. ¡­ ¡°You killed the Predator!¡± ¡°You have obtained all the purchasing rights the opponent acquired in this Yan Fu event and 30% of the final rewards.¡± ¡°Since you possess no inheritance, unfortunately, you do not qualify to devour the Serpent.¡± ¡­ ¡°In three months, I want to see Chang Father and Son in Stanley Prison.¡± Sitting in a wheelchair, Judy sped her hands on the table. The person opposite to her was quite old, his face buried in the shadows. He nced at a soup spoon and exchanged words with Judy in proficient Chinese. ¡°Miss Judy, I fully understand your sentiments; I assure you, the government will not tolerate such heinous criminals running wild in Hong Kong.¡± Judy narrowed her eyes. ¡°Mr. George¡¯s Chinese is really good, but I hope you are not just cating me.¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± The man shook his head. ¡°However, I would still prefer Miss Judy to call me by my Chinese name.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m counting on you, Uncle Zhong.¡± Judy¡¯s face blossomed into a smile. She stood up and picked up the hat thaty beside her. ¡°In that case, I must take my leave now.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± George stood up. ¡°My two friends died in that ident, and I have to attend their funeral.¡± Judy¡¯s bright eyes dimmed, her appearance stirring pity. ¡°That¡¯s very unfortunate.¡± The man sighed and shook his head. ¡°Uncle Zhong, I¡¯ve heard that Chang Shen and his son are involved in organized crime and drug trafficking on arge scale in Hong Kong. You must investigate thoroughly.¡± ¡°You can count on that.¡± The man nodded. On July 2nd of the Year of the Tiger, Li Yaoguang received a call from The Governor. The moment he hung up, he knew Chang Shen was finished. ¡­ ¡°Achoo~¡± After finishing his third bowl of wonton noodles, Li Yan let out a loud sneeze. The salty, fishy sea breeze tousled his hair, and sitting across from him with her legs crossed was Judy, wearing a pair of white sandals, her sparkling toes exposed. At the moment, the two were on a dining boat called Treasure Seafood House, one of Hong Kong¡¯s most famous floating restaurants. The boat had a discement of 3300 tons, could seat nearly four thousand people, and cost 32 million Hong Kong dors to build, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters that made it resemble a pce. It¡¯s worth mentioning that this boat had been featured in Stephen Chow¡¯s 1990s film ¡°God of Cookery,¡± serving as the very boat where the final ¡°Sorrowful Rice¡± was made¡­ Today, the entire boat was reserved for just Judy and Li Yan. ¡°Have you had enough to eat? Let¡¯s talk after you¡¯ve eaten well¡­¡± ¡°I think I could have another bowl,¡± Li Yan answered earnestly. Judy snapped her fingers and said to the approaching waiter, ¡°Get this gentleman another ten bowls of wonton noodles.¡± She said to Li Yan with a cheerful smile, ¡°We have all night.¡± The waiter retreated with a smile. This woman had rented the entire boat and ordered thirteen bowls of wonton noodles; he certainly wouldn¡¯t have objected, even if Judy had asked for thirty or three hundred bowls, as he would¡¯ve instructed the kitchen to prepare them immediately. ¡°That¡¯s too much¡­¡± ¡°Why did you break up with me?¡± Judy¡¯s smile was forced. Li Yan shrugged. ¡°Why not ask the Magic Conch?¡± Judy swallowed hard, suppressing the urge to curse. ¡°Is it because of Taishuai?¡± When Judy asked this, her eyes were filled with a murderous re. ¡°Who?¡± Li Yan was slow to catch on. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb.¡± Li Yan shook his head. ¡°A sharp sword needs a suitable scabbard to rest, not another sword sharper than itself.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± Li Yan took a sip of hot soup: ¡°These wonton noodles are really good. Later, you should call the chef over, and I¡¯ll ask how they¡¯re made.¡± Judy watched the man in front of her, not looking too pleased. ¡°This way, when I leave Hong Kong, I can make them myself.¡± Li Yan said this and then looked directly at Judy. The woman¡¯s pretty eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t speak. The woman took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m asking you, where are you going?¡± Judy¡¯s gaze was serious, and her voice was raised. ¡°What¡¯s important is not where I¡¯m going, but that I must leave.¡± Li Yan¡¯s expression became grave, ¡°Speaking of breaking up, I¡¯ve been thinking, was I out of my mind? You¡¯re beautiful, have a sweet voice, sexy, ande from a wealthy family. A quick fling, take the money, and run¡ªwho could find me?¡± Li Yan seemed to be talking to himself, yet also exining to Judy. ¡°To be honest¡­¡± Li Yan looked at Judy seriously. ¡°I thought you were just ying at first¡­¡± Some issues might be clich¨¦, but clich¨¦ does not mean they don¡¯t need to be faced. People develop feelings over time, and one thing leads to another, naturally, with an understanding to draw the line. But Li Yanter realized it wasn¡¯t so. He couldn¡¯t identify the exact moment¡ªit might have been when Judy flipped her hair revealing her earlobe, or the time when sheughed with her eyebrows arched¡ªbut suddenly, he had an absurd epiphany. ¡°This girl isn¡¯t bad, don¡¯t hurt her.¡± Once this nagging, wholesome idea took root, it just wouldn¡¯t go away. Chapter 39: Heaven and Water Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Heaven and Water Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°To be honest, I thought at first you were just ying around,¡± Judy slowly sat up straight, lowered her crossed leg, and lifted her chin towards Li Yan. ¡°Who¡¯s ying around with you?¡± As she spoke, she stood up and walked out. After a few steps, she suddenly turned around, her beautiful eyes ring. ¡°Let¡¯s go, aren¡¯t we eating?¡± Li Yan smacked his lips and stood up, calling the waiter over. ¡°Could you pack this up for me, thanks.¡± Judy stepped off the dining boat and jumped onto a sea fishing painting boat. Li Yan followed closely behind. ¡°Where to?¡± He asked. The boat floated on the sea, drifting with the current, with the warm yellow light inside the cabin exceptionally soft. ¡°Just drifting around.¡± Judy took off her hair clip, letting her hair cascade down. Stretchingzily, Li Yan walked into the cabin and took it all in with a nce. ¡°Is that all you wanted to say?¡± Judy asked. Li Yan, looking down, said, ¡°Seeing as I rushed to save you in such a frenzy, do me a favor. I have a neighbor¡­¡± As Li Yan was speaking, he suddenly felt a tickle in his nose. Just as he was about to look up, warm lips pressed against his. Surging like a wildfire. Li Yan turned around and pinned Judy down, with the sound of her silver-bell-likeughter ringing in his ears. His chest muscles pressed tightly against Judy¡¯s full bosom. ¡°Did you actually listen to what I was saying?¡± The woman wrapped her hand around Li Yan¡¯s waist, gently biting his earlobe. ¡°Very clear.¡± She pinched Li Yan at the waist and said through gritted teeth, ¡°If you shrink back at a time like this, then don¡¯t ever im to be a man in the future.¡± Li Yan stared at Judy, the sound of his swallowing distinctly audible. He cracked a smile, his eyes rippling in a different way. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said and then buried his face again. The dark sea was deep and vast, with two white fish cutting through the surface, their light-colored tails flicking a fleeting glimpse, before disappearing into the water. They stirred up a trembling ripple, reflecting the scattered stars in the sky. Drunk, unaware of the sky above the water, the full boat presses down the river of stars¡­ ¡­ ¡°What are you doing?¡± The woman¡¯s voice was both shy and annoyed. ¡°My right hand is inconvenient, let¡¯s switch positions.¡± ¡­ ¡°Try the char siu I made.¡± Li Yan, wrapped in an apron, had a rare tenderness in his eyes and eyebrows. Xiu didn¡¯t say a word. Li Yan raised his bandaged right hand. ¡°I¡¯m already this pitiful, give me some face, huh?¡± After a pause, the girl eventually asked: ¡°Where did you gost night?¡± ¡°Had some private matters to deal with.¡± Li Yan threw the spat into the sink. ¡°Right, I¡¯ve taken care of the paperwork for your school. I¡¯ll introduce you to someone in a bit, a distant rtive from your family. I had to go to great lengths to find her, and she¡¯s willing to be your guardian. It¡¯s more fitting, both legally and emotionally, than me.¡± ¡°My family fled famine toe here; how could we have any rtives in Hong Kong?¡± ¡°Your mother said so before she left, no doubt about it.¡± Li Yan spoke with certainty. Xiu¡¯s eyes were downcast. ¡°Don¡¯t think I can be easily fooled just because I¡¯m young.¡± A girl who knew her mother had died, yet acted as if nothing had happened, and whose first reaction upon seeing corpses scattered everywhere was to drag them into a room to keep them hidden from view, could not be easily fooled. Li Yan sat down beside Xiu and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Your mom would want you to live well, too.¡± The girl did not respond, but instead picked up her bowl and chopsticks and silently shoveled rice into her mouth. At two in the afternoon, Judy, wearing light blue jeans and a pair of ckdies¡¯ leather shoes, came to Li Yan¡¯s ce. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Auntie to have been in Hong Kong until she died without me ever seeing her.¡± Judy¡¯s eyes were swollen with tears. ¡°But she left a daughter, and I¡¯ll definitely take good care of her. Come on, call me Judy.¡± Xiu¡¯s little face was timid, a stark contrast to her silence and darkness in front of Li Yan. It took a while before she finally uttered under Judy¡¯s encouraging gaze. ¡°Judy.¡± Watching the two embracing and weeping, Li Yan couldn¡¯t help but sigh that women are born actresses. ¡­ ¡°That little girl is quite interesting,¡± Judy said as she lit up adies¡¯ cigarette, leaning on Li Yan¡¯s arm. ¡°I told you to acknowledge her as your cousin, hoping that she won¡¯t be gossiped about in the future. There¡¯s no need to cater to her too much; just let her finish school.¡± Judy smiled nomittally and turned her head to look at Li Yan with curiosity. ¡°Even with an injured right hand, you shouldn¡¯t have lost to that Wing Chun kid.¡± As far as Judy was concerned, Li Yan was able to kill Yu who kept a serpent, which was an inhuman feat. Even if Li Yan now told her he could shoot down nes from the top floor of the Hong Kong Government House, she wouldn¡¯t question it at first. Li Yan cocked his head. The Yan Fu Heritage of Li Jiangyu was indeed intimidating. Anyone would find him invincible when the huge snake that made bullets seem like candy swirled around him, immune to des and guns. But Li Yan didn¡¯t think so. The Serpent was dangerous, but Li Jiangyu¡¯s quality was not high. At times, the panickedmands of Li Jiangyu, as the host, could negate the Serpent¡¯s natural predatory instincts. Moreover, with the host being the biggest weakness of the Serpent and being restricted to moving within two hundred meters after release, this superhuman power had great potential but wasn¡¯t particrly practical at the moment. The inherent vulnerability of the human body meant that a fight to the death was fraught with instability. Eyes, groin, heart, neck, spine. If both parties were physical beings, having fists hard enough to smash the opponent¡¯s bones was enough; there was no need to cleave diamonds. After all, the world of Yan Fu doesn¡¯t have health bars. Of course, if Xu Tianci faced Li Jiangyu, in that case, Li Yan would think more highly of Li Jiangyu. Li Yan¡¯s own victory over Li Jiangyu was mostly due to his superior will and courage; in terms of brute strength, the Serpent¡¯s bulletproof skin, the speed faster than bullets when coiling around Li Jiangyu, and the bizarre strength that devoured everything upon contact were indeed unsolvable. But from another angle, Zhang Mingyuan may not necessarily be weaker than Li Jiangyu. The Power of the Enlightened Beast could burn souls, meaning Zhang Mingyuan¡¯s punches and kicks might be effective against the Serpent. In the end, this was not a video game where theter bosses are stronger than the earlier ones. Everyone has a chance to win; it all depends on mindset, courage, and luck. If he had the Serpent, how would he use it? Li Yan couldn¡¯t help but wonder. After the Yan Fu event ended, he should also inherit something mysterious and unpredictable like Zhang Mingyuan and Li Jiangyu. ording to Zhang Mingyuan, a heritage was the most precious thing in the world of Yan Fu. It was only during the firstpletion of a Yan Fu event that there was a hundred percent chance of obtaining it. After that, the difficulty of obtaining a second or even more Yan Fu heritages would increase exponentially. ¡°Do you hope I win?¡± Judy¡¯s eyes shone like a little girl¡¯s, capable of reducing a big gang like He Liansheng to ashes with a single word. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then I shall say¡­¡± Li Yan took the cigarette from Judy¡¯s hand and took a drag. ¡°I will definitely beat him.¡± Chapter 40 - 40 Before the End Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Before the End Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` On the sixth day of the seventh month in the Year of Bingyin, it is auspicious to repay the gods and form alliances. Li Yan reyed the video tapes of Zhou and Xu Tianci. Xu Tianci wielded the Butterfly Dual des, his movements fluid as a dragon gliding through the water. Zhou wielded a single Nine Rings Broadsword, his de shing wildly like sttered ink, at one point suppressing Xu Tianci to the extent that he couldn¡¯t strike back. Li Yan watched the Wensheng Swordsmanship, as unpredictable as mercury spilling onto the ground, until his palms began to sweat. Twenty-one shes, exactly twenty-one shes¡ªLi Yan admitted to himself that he couldn¡¯t find any opportunity to counterattack. And it was these twenty-one shes that left Xu Tianci covered in bloody marks. It was here that Li Yan¡¯s eyes sharpened. Counterattack! Sure enough, within the recording, Xu Tianci¡¯s waist exploded with power, his left and right hands shing against the rings of the broadsword, leveraging the momentum tosh forward. Zhou, with his seasoned experience, thrust his broadsword upward to press against Xu Tianci¡¯s neck. Xu Tianci shrugged his left shoulder and braced his wrist against Zhou¡¯s forearm, stabbing his Butterfly des towards Zhou¡¯s eyes. The tip of the butterfly de almost grazed Zhou¡¯s eyelids, chilling to the bone, while the Nine Rings Broadsword had already drawn a thin line of blood on Xu Tianci¡¯s neck! Whoever retreated would die. In the end, the brute force of the Nine Rings Broadsword prevailed, and Zhou let out an angry shout, pressing Xu Tianci to retreat step by step. The rapid patter of footsteps tightened the audience¡¯s hearts. ¡°ng~¡± Xu Tianci was forced to the edge of the tform, his body beginning to fall. But Li Yan could clearly see that Xu Tianci¡¯s foot had not missed its mark; it was firmly nted on the marble floor! With Xu Tianci¡¯s stumble, Zhou was convinced that he had misstepped, and with an ebb and flow of strength, changed his pressing attack to a horizontal shove, hoping to push the unbnced Xu Tianci off the tform. Sudden change! Xu Tianci surged up like a hawk pouncing skyward, his Butterfly des sweeping against the Nine Rings Broadsword, prying open the central guard of Zhou¡¯s chest and stepping forward while raising his waist. His Butterfly des hooked over the wrist of Zhou¡¯s sword hand. Blood sttered in all directions, and a half-forearm soared into the sky while the Nine Rings Broadsword ttered to the ground with a metallic ring. Xu Tianci did not stop there. His knees hit the ground and his dual des sliced in a cross pattern like a butterfly threading through flowers, leaving a ghastly X across Zhou¡¯s belly¡­ Li Yan silently turned off the video tape, his face calm. ¡°He uses his head; he¡¯s quite the fighter.¡± Was Zhou wronged in his loss? Wronged, yes. If he hadn¡¯t held back his force at the end and instead continued to push Xu Tianci off the tform without hesitation, the situation might have been vastly different. Was Zhou wronged in his loss? Li Yan didn¡¯t think so. A loss was a loss. In a fight where life and death hang in the bnce, if you aim to hold back, you must be prepared to pay the price. Besides, what makes you think your opponent isn¡¯t feigning weakness? Li Yan himself had used this tactic before, deliberately showing his opponent a w in order to quickly end a boxing match. ¡°Xu Tianci uses the Eight Chop Sword, the true legacy of Ye Wen. Do you have any confidence?¡± Red Ghost asked. Li Yan nodded. ¡°Still using a sword?¡± This time, Li Yan declined. ¡°I¡¯ve injured my right hand, and although the Han Sword is fierce, it¡¯s too taxing on my stamina. I want to switch it up.¡± ¡°Switch to what?¡± ¡°Against the Eight Chop Sword¡­¡± Li Yan pondered deeply; he had note across the authentic Wing Chun Eight Chop Sword in Guangdong and felt a twinge of excitement at the prospect. ¡°The Bagua Sect has a signature weapon, the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes.¡± Yu Shu, who had been sipping his drink in silence, gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°You n to use one with just your left hand?¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough,¡± Li Yan stated sinctly. ¡°Arrogant.¡± Taishuai shook his head, smiling. Red Ghost nced at Taishuai, then at Li Yan, and stood up with a hearty p on his thigh. ¡°I¡¯ll get it ready.¡± With his departure, only Li Yan and Yu Shu remained in the room. ¡°Drink?¡± Yu Shu seemed to pull out a bottle of liquor from nowhere. ¡°No, thank you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The two sat in silence, the atmosphere strange yet harmonious. ¡­ The Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes, a peculiar weapon passed down by the Bagua Sect¡¯s founding master Dong Haichuan, consisted of a pair of crescent des connected in opposition, resembling a distorted mathematical letter x with a gap in the center for gripping. It was an even rarer set of dual short des than the Butterfly Dual des. ¡°Thud!¡± Li Yan¡¯s left hand wielded the circr de, chopping it down on the Wooden Dummy. ¡°The Mandarin Duck Halberd is meant to be used with both hands. Using it only with your weaker left is too risky,¡± Yu Shu warned him. Li Yan tightened the bandage on his hand and turned to look at the man. ¡°Red Ghost, since I¡¯ve been in Longcheng for so long and haven¡¯t had the chance to spar with you, why don¡¯t we have a go?¡± ¡°No problem with a friendly spar.¡± Red Ghost tapped his cigarette ash, then added, ¡°By the way, Yan, how have I treated you at Fuyi Building? How have I treated you?¡± ¡°` ¡°Correct.¡± Li Yan tossed the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes aside and quietly watched Red Ghost. Red Ghost rubbed his temples, exhaled, and looked grimly toward the window. ¡°I grew up living off charity, never trained in boxing, but naturally, my fists got tough through fighting.¡± He held up a finger, ¡°I remember favors. Taishuai took me in when I had no food, I¡¯d give my life for her. But tell me, when I¡¯m good to others, how do they treat me?¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t speak; instead, he silently addedyer uponyer to the bandage on his right hand. ¡°Alliance Victory is finished, you know that, right?¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Judy¡¯s enraged, the whole Hong Kong gang is shaking with fear, with your poprity, could you have forgotten?¡± Red Ghost¡¯s tone became even colder as he spoke. ¡°Brother Red Ghost, cut to chase.¡± Red Ghost stood up. ¡°Someone came to me yesterday iming you¡¯re ying both sides, plotting to flip Fuyi¡¯s table, is that true?¡± Li Yan nodded. ¡°I did say that.¡± Red Ghost didn¡¯t move at those words, just looked at Li Yan, ¡°Why betray me?¡± ¡°I said I would, but I never did,¡± Li Yan replied calmly. ¡°Is it because if Alliance Victory doesn¡¯t fall, in just over half a month you¡¯d attempt to usurp the leader?¡± Li Yan chuckled; he would leave Hong Kong tomorrow, the words back then were merely to bluff Taizi Le. Back then, after he and Judy broke up, he didn¡¯t want to continue making money through her channel, so what to do? Switch the sky for the earth, trick Alliance Victory¡¯s money ¨C that was Li Yan¡¯s initial thought, but ultimately, ns couldn¡¯t keep up with changes. Now, faced with Red Ghost¡¯s questioning, Li Yan indeed felt awkward, though he never intended to follow through from the start. However, he wasn¡¯t worried about falling out with the people from Fuyi Building but was concerned about the events of that night getting exposed¡­ ¡°Brother Red Ghost,¡± Li Yan chose his words carefully, trying to ensure that nothing he said could trip him upter. ¡°Did you discuss dealing with me with Taishuai?¡± ¡°Of course, I did,¡± Red Ghost said with a bitter smile. ¡°She knows, told me to behave.¡± ¡°Since Taishuai said so, let me fight tomorrow¡¯s boxing match.¡± Red Ghost bit his thumb, stepped in front of Li Yan, ¡°Now with Judy backing you, who would dare to touch you?¡± Li Yan looked at the man who had taken great care of him since day one here, thinking everything hade to this point; he might as well y along. A very presumptuous smile appeared on Li Yan¡¯s face. ¡°Exactly, Brother Red Ghost, think about it, Taishuai¡¯s temper is so fiery and she didn¡¯t even touch me, you should consider it yourself.¡± Red Ghost, with a baby-faced smile, also let out augh, leaned forward on his left foot, and his right hooknded hard on Li Yan¡¯s face. Li Yan could dodge, could block, but he didn¡¯t, just watched as his face was hit. Blood spattered. Red Ghost stepped forward twice, his knee hitting Li Yan¡¯s stomach, and while Li Yan bent over in pain, his fists pounded on Li Yan¡¯s back. The first punch Li Yan took willingly, the second knee hit he remained calm, but at the third punch to the back, Li Yan started to lose his temper. He shoved Red Ghost off with his shoulder, touching the blood at the corner of his mouth. ¡°That¡¯s about enough, I¡¯ll hit back if you keep going.¡± ¡°Bring it on!¡± ¡°Dammit!¡± Both charged forward! ¡­ On the seventh day of the seventh month of the Year of the Tiger, all is well. ¡°The two of you, what are you trying to tell me?¡± Yu Shu rarely put down his wine bottle and red with widened eyes. Liao Zhizong kept shaking his head beside him. The others wanted tough but didn¡¯t dare. Li Yan¡¯s mouth was bruised, he didn¡¯t speak, and Red Ghost, sporting two ck eyes, looked sullen. He noticed Ruan Hongzhi barely suppressing a grin and red at him with his panda eyes. ¡°Laugh,ugh at your own damn head.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Yu Shu stopped Red Ghost. ¡°Li Yan has a fight today; we¡¯ll discuss everything else after it¡¯s done. Go on stage.¡± She walked past Li Yan, patted his shoulder, and whispered: ¡°Have a safe journey.¡± Chapter 41: The End (Part One) Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The End (Part One) Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Creak~¡± Pushing open the door, Li Yan wiped his face with a towel he had around his neck, walked over to the wooden dummy, picked up the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes, and gently wiped them across. Name: Li Yan Status: Severe injury to right hand Specialty: Ancient Martial Arts 82%/100% One month of intense and dangerous sessive fights had actually increased Li Yan¡¯s proficiency by another percentage point. Beyond that, just yesterday, Li Yan had used the ES Cell Supplement, and with his right hand disabled, he still dragged his ill body onto the stage, which was truly reckless. A slender figure stood at the door, wearing sunsses. ¡°Are you dressed for a long journey?¡± Li Yan smiled and walked over, reaching to hold her waist. Judy smiled sweetly. ¡°After this fight,e out with me for Xiao Ye.¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes flickered, but he smiled and said, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°By the way, to see you off.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It took a while for Li Yan to speak, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I checked your ount. You withdrew all the money from the bank. It¡¯s surprising that a fighter like you could earn more than five million.¡± Li Yan touched his nose, fumbling in his breast pocket. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, you can take this.¡± Judy took it in her hand. It was a cigarette holder with a blue bead set in it, quite in the Republic of China style. ¡°Is it a family heirloom?¡± The woman asked. ¡°Bought it in Wan Chai yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°With this, your fingers won¡¯t get stained yellow when you smoke. Besides, it looks really good on you, like a movie star.¡± Li Yan seemed a bit awkward, stretching his jacket. ¡°Take care.¡± Judy lowered her head and yed with the cigarette holder for a moment. ¡°When will you be able toe back?¡± ¡°I will definitelye back if there¡¯s a chance.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± The woman pursed her lips and smiled, revealing a shallow dimple. ¡°I left a gift in your room, remember to take it.¡± Judy pressed close to Li Yan¡¯s body and hugged him gently. Then she turned and left without a word of entreaty. Walking down the corridor, Judy took a bunch of documents and photos out of her handbag and threw them into the trash can. The topmost photo was of a younger Li Yan. From birth to present, all the information wasprehensive, without a single w. However, Judy knew that the man in the photo was not him. ¡­ Walking out of the room, Li Yan¡¯s brows were slightly furrowed, his stride steady. He walked towards the tumultuous tenth floor of the Fuyi Building step by step. At the edge of the stands sat an old man with steep brows, his expression calm, out of ce with the fervent atmosphere around him. On the ring, Xu Tianci¡¯s eyes were on the ceiling until Li Yan stepped onto the stage, then he shifted his gaze to him, seeing the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes in Li Yan¡¯s hands, his lips curled up slightly. ¡°The stranger the weapon, the faster you die, haven¡¯t you heard that before?¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t react, as though he was lost in thought. ¡°Hey, did you hear¡­¡± ¡°Hejian, Li Yan.¡± The muscles on the man¡¯s face twitched slightly. His gaze was stern and cold. Xu Tianci grimaced. The Butterfly Dual des crossed in front of his chest. ¡°Wing Chun, Xu Tianci.¡± After saying this, Xu Tianci stepped forward, hands on the Butterfly des, while Li Yan stood steady with horse stance below the waist, unmoved. Xu Tianci¡¯s steps grew faster, turning his stroll into a sprint. When he was less than two meters away from Li Yan, his knees bent slightly and he lunged towards Li Yan with a leap, his Butterfly des thrusting at his chest. ¡°ng¡± In the brief moment their short weapons shed, Xu Tianci inwardly cursed, realizing his mistake. The straight de met the curved edge of the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes, and with just an upward flick of Li Yan¡¯s wrist, the rolling curved de would pierce his own wrist. The youngster, knowing the danger, quickly used his other de to pin the circr de from above and below, attempting to press down on Li Yan¡¯s weapon. Li Yan flicked his thumb, which was holding the ax handle, using Xu Tianci¡¯s downward pressure to let the Mandarin Duck Halberd spin arge circle between his four fingers! The Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes had four cutting edges, inside and out. With such a rotation, one slip could sever Li Yan¡¯s own thumb, but as the circr de spun, Li Yan deftly avoided the inner de, and the outer de stabbed into Xu Tianci¡¯s left hand! ¡°Stomp stomp¡± Xu Tianci¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He raised his right hand as if to brush past Li Yan¡¯s neck, but it was a feint, and he retreated repeatedly. Li Yan did not pursue, saying indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the authentic Eight Chop Sword before, today I feel honored to witness it, not in vain. This thing in my hand is called the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes, almost nonexistent in the south, let me show you¡­¡± He raised the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes. ¡°That move just now was called ¡®Reunion of the Sun and Moon¡¯.¡± Xu Tianci¡¯s injury on the back of his hand was not deep, and he did not care, instead bing even more excited. ¡°It¡¯s a pity it¡¯s one-handed, not authentic.¡± ¡°If it were both hands bleeding, it would be your neck, not the back of your hand.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± Xu Tianci bent forward, this time his Butterfly Dual des proactively shing against the weapon in Li Yan¡¯s hand. ¡°ng¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes shifted, and Xu Tianci¡¯s other hand had already sliced toward his neck with a backhand strike. Li Yan could twist his de to ruin Xu Tianci¡¯s wrist at most, but Xu Tianci¡¯s now free right-hand knife could stab directly into Li Yan¡¯s neck. After all, it was a one-handed halberd. Li Yan¡¯s brows furrowed, and he stepped back with his right foot, dodging with half of his body. Xu Tianci let out a longugh, rushing forward to fill the gap left by Li Yan, his hands pressing against Li Yan, and with a forward thrust of the Butterfly de in his left hand that was shing with the Mandarin Duck Halberd, he chopped towards Li Yan¡¯s chest. With half of his body just dodged and his weight on his left foot, Li Yan had no way to avoid! To Xu Tianci¡¯s surprise, as Li Yan retreated half a step back with his right foot, he didn¡¯t just stop there but turned his body about 150 degrees to the left, offering his left arm to him. ¡°To choose a lesser of two evils shows decisiveness.¡± Shift your stance to the enemy¡¯s side, to lure the enemy into breaking their arm! Eight Chop Sword! At that moment, the Butterfly de cut into Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, at least two inches deep, reaching the bone! With the hand holding the weapon injured, what will you use to beat me? The fierce-looking Xu Tianci mentally roared, yet his vision went dark in front of him! It was Li Yan¡¯s right hand wrapped in bandages! Xu Tianci rushed forward, but Li Yan stepped back further, and Xu Tianci was struck by Li Yan¡¯s right hand! The index and thumb exposed from the bandages curved into ws and unhesitatingly stabbed into Xu Tianci¡¯s eyes! ¡°Tianci!¡± The old man stood up, his grey-white eyebrows trembling. ¡°Aaaaahhhhh!¡± Xu Tianci roared like a raging beast but clung desperately to his weapon, cutting across Li Yan¡¯s shoulder and stabbing his Butterfly Dual des towards Li Yan¡¯s chest. Li Yan leaped back lightly on his calves. His hand carried traces of blood and blurry mucus. His left arm¡¯s wound was quite deep, and blood had spilled all over the ground. Li Yan still did not counterattack, but calmly watched Xu Tianci. ¡°This move is called ¡®Gold-threaded Brow-wipe¡¯.¡± ¡°Huuh~ huff~¡± Xu Tianci¡¯s left eye had be a fierce and terrifying bloody hole, and his right eye was also swollen, with stars wheeling before him. Enduring pain that would make an ordinary person faint, he bit his lower lip until it bled: ¡°The Bagua Palm, lively steps and fierce hands, impressive.¡± Li Yan said nothing, nor did he urge him off the stage but stood in the ready stance, eyes fixed on Xu Tianci. ¡°Come!¡± The neen-year-old youth roared and charged at Li Yan again! The Butterfly Dual des, one held upright, the other reversed, their cold gleams like refined steel, one shed towards Li Yan¡¯s heart while the other aimed to sever Li Yan¡¯s right wrist. Li Yan twisted his waist, leaning his body to the side to dodge the dual des, the Mandarin Duck Halberd shing against the t de of the young man¡¯s overhand cut. As the round edge of the Mandarin Duck Halberd spun in reverse, the young man¡¯s left hand switched from a normal grip to a reversed grip, both reversed-grip des hugging the edges of the Mandarin Duck Halberd from top to bottom. Li Yan¡¯s eyes widened, sensing something was off. Eight Chop Sword, Binding Knife Technique. Li Yan, experienced and cunning, but with one hand greatly hindered, had to pull back his wrist to prevent Xu Tianci from sealing his de movements. The young man not retreating a bit, switched the des from an inward to an outward cut against Li Yan¡¯s wrist, from top to bottom like two dragons emerging from the sea, from Li Yan¡¯s arm upwards, one on each side, aiming straight for Li Yan¡¯s neck! ¡°Shii!¡± Blood sttered. Li Yan kicked at Xu Tianci¡¯s shin, himself shocked, hastily retreating. From chest to neck, two wounds, each eighteen centimeters long, barely missed shing his throat! His own sword-wielding wrist was also cut open. It could take no more force. Eight Chop Sword, Plowing Knife Technique! ¡°Hahahahaha~¡± The youth was actuallyughing, and with his bloodied and battered eye sockets, he gave off a strong visual impact! ¡°This move!¡± he pointed his de at Li Yan, ¡°Eight Chop Sword, Twin Dragons Emerge from the Sea.¡± Li Yan took a deep breath, looking at Xu Tianci¡¯s undiminished fighting spirit on his face, the shades of departure in his heart gradually dissipated, and for the first time on the ring, he revealed a fierce smile: ¡°Wing Chun¡¯s knife work absorbs and softens, remarkable.¡± In unison, the two eximed, ¡°Come!¡± Chapter 42: The End (Part Two) Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The End (Part Two) Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°ng!¡± ¡°Crash.¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s exhrating.¡± The grating sound of des shing one after another was enough to make one¡¯s ears hurt, as the Mandarin Duck Halberd hooked onto the Butterfly Dual des. The sharp weapons shifted back and forth between the two fighters, one moment the halberd lingering near Xu Tianci¡¯s throat, the next the dual des grazing Li Yan¡¯s heart, both moves highly dangerous. Sweat beaded at the tip of both their noses. After about four or five exchanges, Li Yan found himself at a disadvantage. His wrist had been injured, and his movements with the circr de became increasingly stiff. The Mandarin Duck Halberd, with its long andrge hooked shape, excels at entangling and locking swords and other ded weapons. Although it wasn¡¯t at a disadvantage against the Butterfly Dual des, it couldn¡¯t be considered to have the upper hand either. Li Yan might not have been unfamiliar with the principles of the Entangling Knife, Binding Knife, Plowing Knife, and Eight Chop Sword, but encountering them inbat proved to be a major setback. The Gold Thread Entangling Hand gave him an edge over the rashly advancing Xu Tianci, but when it came to the exchange between the Eight Chop Sword and the Mandarin Duck Halberd, Li Yan had to admit that he was outssed using the halberd single-handedly. Both were unfamiliar with the nuances of their opponents¡¯ weapons. Even though Li Yan wielded the halberd with one hand and Xu Tianci was half-blind, the adaptation speed of the young man to the tricky weapon fight was faster than his own. Neen years old, truly a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, Li Yan¡¯s wrist had been shed, and anyone with experience knew that a horizontal cut to the wrist isn¡¯t fatal ¡ª it¡¯s not a lethal wound. But in such a state, agilely using the Mandarin Duck Halberd, which demanded a great deal of finger strength and wrist power and could easily injure oneself, was unrealistic. After another collision of force and de, Li Yan barely managed to push Xu Tianci back. Before the young man could close in again, Li Yan threw away the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes to face the sharp Butterfly Dual des with his bare hands. Li Yan¡¯s action was stunningly unexpected. Despite the ghastly wounds on his body, the audience thought the oue was still uncertain with Xu Tianci¡¯s eyes one blind and one injured. Discarding his weapon at such a moment was tantamount to severing one¡¯s own lifeline. Xu Tianci crouched and charged forward, the half-blinded pain in his eyelids reflecting Li Yan¡¯s face. He shed downwards, aiming for Li Yan¡¯s abdomen. With nothing in his hands, Li Yan couldn¡¯t simply block; that would be a joke. He was forced to retreat repeatedly as the Butterfly Dual des licked at his blood, fast as a startled swan, cutting so close that Li Yan teetered on the brink of peril. ¡°Why discard the halberd?¡± Red Ghost turned to ask Taishuai. ¡°Fighting¡­¡± Yu Shu twisted his face, ¡°requires brains.¡± Soon, new cuts appeared on Li Yan¡¯s body; coupled with the continual bleeding from his chest, the intense movement caused blood to spray out like water from a faucet, making one wonder if he would bleed to death if the fight continued. Xu Tianci showed no signs of slowing down his de work. Despite the throbbing, exploding pain from his eyes to his skull, his attacks remained ferociously sharp and swift. ¡°Let¡¯s see who gives in first!¡± A young man¡¯s lone courage. Li Yan was gradually forced into a dead corner of the leitai, where avoiding the Butterfly Dual des became impossible. Xu Tianci remained relentless, his twin des ever swift. ¡°Tss¡­¡± Li Yan¡¯s feet slipped to the edge of the leitai, a fierce light shed in his eyes, and seizing the moment the young man¡¯s de swung down, he charged at Xu Tianci. With the dual des firmly in his grasp, Xu Tianci was blind to Li Yan¡¯s approaching hands. Incapable of seeing Li Yan¡¯s hands, Xu Tianci instantly drew back his des to defend, de against palm; Li Yan dared not force the confrontation. The Butterfly de came shing back, aiming for Li Yan¡¯s right arm. That was not all; the other de followed suit, shing at Li Yan¡¯s lower body, seemingly aimless but tracking every possible move Li Yan might make with his feet. Zhang Mingyuan had lost to Li Yan¡¯s unique foot jabbing skill before. ¡°I won¡¯t lose where Wu Eng lost!¡± Li Yan¡¯s weight shifted to the left, his right arm swinging back to dodge the de while his left hand, unbeknownst to when, already touched the back of Xu Tianci¡¯s hand! ¡°Discard the halberd to wager on grappling?¡± Xu Tianci¡¯s thoughts shed like lightning; ready to take a de to his thigh if it meant breaking his own wrist. Xu Tianci didn¡¯t bend his wrist, and even if Li Yan was skilled at grappling, it wasn¡¯t certain that he could immediately snap it. But a knife wound to the thigh was imminent. Then a sh of insight struck him; he leaped backward, seeming willing to forego his strike rather than have his wrist seized. But as Xu Tianci leaned back, he suddenly raised his leg! Li Yan was already cornered in the dead end of the leitai. With his left foot having twisted to avoid the Butterfly des, his center of gravity was already unstable. And Xu Tianci¡¯s high whip kick, utterly foreign to Southern Fist styles, sent Li Yan flying off the leitai! This kick, returned to you! Astonishment rippled through the crowd above and below the leitai. ¡°That¡¯s wrong!¡± The moment Xu Tianci¡¯s kicknded on Li Yan¡¯s chest, a chilling realization struck his heart. ¡°I¡¯ve been had!¡± That kick had no force behind it; Li Yan hadn¡¯t been sent flying, but had leaped up on his own power! Li Yan¡¯s legs coiled around Xu Tianci¡¯s neck like two steel whips, twisting and pulling Xu Tianci into the air with a powerful twist of his waist! Arched upper body, somersaulting, a knee ready to ram against Xu Tianci¡¯s head. The bandaged right hand caught the Butterfly des dancing in the air! Xu Tianci¡¯s eyes reddened with exertion, the only de left in his hand stabbing upward! But right after the strike, a torrent of regret flooded over him. What am I doing? Both men fell to the ground, one after the other! Xu Tianci hit the ground first. The two Butterfly des shed against each other. Li Yan hovered above, his eyes zing like bright mes, a vigor not seen since his illness long ago. He smiled, ¡°You¡¯re no fun at all, not sticking to the rules.¡± Xu Tianci¡¯s face was covered in blood, his eye sockets blurry and shut. When he was lifted into the air by Li Yan, he resisted, his neck would snap; if he didn¡¯t resist, he would be thrown off the tform. To die or to lose was his choice, and although the youth was fierce, he still followed his instinct to live. Yet, in mid-air, out of anger and indignation, he hadshed out with his knife, attacking his opponent even though he knew he had already lost. ¡°I lost.¡± ¡°Go to the hospital now. You can still save your other eye. You¡¯re young, and being blind would ruin you.¡± Li Yan stood up and hobbled back. Behind him, Xu Tianci stilly there. A group of young men and women suddenly jumped off the tform, rushing toward Xu Tianci, their expressions filled with sorrow. ¡°Jing,¡± the old man¡¯s eyes were red and swollen. The middle-aged man by his side quickly responded. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Take Tianci to the hospital. Also, starting today, no one from the Shangtian Wing Chun National Art Gym, from top to bottom, is allowed to set foot in Kowloon City. Did you hear me clearly when I said this?¡± The middle-aged man stared deeply at the limping Li Yan leaving the scene, unwilling to speak. ¡°I¡¯m asking you, did you hear me clearly!¡± The old man¡¯s hair and beard were bristling, like an angry lion. ¡°I heard you clearly, master.¡± The man answered bitterly, his teeth clenched. ¡­ ¡°You havepleted all the requirements for the Yan Fu event.¡± ¡°You will settle and return in ten minutes.¡± Li Yan refused the doctor who came to treat his wounds, simply bandaged himself up, and headed to his room. Xiu had gone to enroll at school today, she¡¯d return to find him gone. Would she be unhappy? Judy, she didn¡¯t seem to be in the suite¡­ Red Ghost, forget it. Thinking this, Li Yan encountered Yu Shu on the way; they passed by each other without a nce¡­ Actually, when you think about it, Mo, Gu Huo Bird, Serpent, Taishuai, they all fit together, don¡¯t they? Li Yan entered his room and first saw the box on the bed. He reached out but found the box was locked, requiring a code. There was a note on top. ¡°Here¡¯s a hint. What I told you the first time we went to Victoria Harbour.¡± There was a lipstick mark on the paper. Li Yan frowned and thought for a long while. One minute, three minutes, five minutes. Li Yan picked up the Mandarin Duck Halberd and smashed it against the box, prising it open. The box burst open. Full of bricks of glowing yellow gold. ¡°Gold, a valuable material, each brick can be exchanged for a hundred Yan Fu points, no upper limit.¡± A whole box, twenty bricks. Two thousand points! Under the gold bricks, there was also a piece of light gold rice paper! It was nk of any exotic beast, only a bold and unrestrained handwriting. ¡°You are the White Elephant, ah White Elephant.¡± ¡°You have discovered the Yan Fu Talisman!¡± ¡°You may choose to use this talisman to initiate a Yan Fu event or to enhance your initial status during any Yan Fu event.¡± (Regarding the phrase on the paper, you can Google Lu Xun, Lin Yutang, White Elephant) Li Yan nced out of the corner of his eye and noticed a meal box on the table, still steaming. Wonton noodles. ¡°Heh.¡± Li Yan reached for it, but his body, including the hand he had extended, began to dissipate into the air bit by bit. Like specks of dust, fading into nothingness¡­ ¡°You havepleted this Yan Fu event. Total number of Yan Fu eventspleted: 1.¡± ¡°Your evaluation for this Yan Fu event is: Upper Auspicious (Evaluations are divided into six levels: Great Auspicious, Upper Auspicious, Below Auspicious, Most Auspicious, Middle Auspicious, Least Auspicious).¡± ¡°Settlement begins!¡± Chapter 43 - 1 Settlement Chapter 43: Chapter 1 Settlement Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` Countless mottled lights and shadows twisted and danced before Li Yan, like mes leaping in a gusty wind. Cha Chai, Cheng Hunan, He Andong¡­ One after another, figures shed by crazily. The gloomy and cramped fortress, the fat rats scurrying through the filthy sewers, the tumultuous boxing ring with sewage flowing everywhere, the girl¡¯s half-turned face rising beneath the angry, antenna-crossed, smog-filled skies¡­ The blood-stained weapons, the dusky gun muzzles sparking with fire, the men¡¯s roars andughter, finally freezing on the image of a colossal python leaping towards the sky, its fierce fangs in clear sight. Li Yan stared dumbfounded at his right hand, his fingers intact, all the wounds on his body vanished without a trace, and even his mental state was surprisingly good! Li Yan had no time to look around as a voice sounded in his ear. Neither male nor female, instantly forgotten after hearing it, yet it was definitely not the hoarse and deep male voice Li Yan had heard before. ¡°Under certain conditions, Walker¡¯s state restoration does not require any points.¡± The settlement report is as follows: ¡°Upper Auspicious¡± evaluation settlement Yan Fu points: 500 points (Base 200 points with 150% bonus) Purchasing authority quota: 195% (Personal action 76% + Fullpletion of Yan Fu event 30% + Three unfinished chapters excluding Gu Huo Bird 30% + Killing the Predator 59%) ¡°You also possess one of the remaining Yan Fu relics, which you can contribute to this settlement to enhance your purchasing authority.¡± It referred to a relic that Li Yan had found in Li Jiangyu¡¯s residence after killing him, a piece of rice paper painted with a shark. ¡°There is a mermaid in the reed pond. She transforms every five days, sometimes into a beautiful and exotic woman, and sometimes into a man; her transformations are exceedingly diverse.¡± ¡°By contributing the Yan Fu relic, your purchasing authority quota increases by 10%, reaching the peak value of 200%, and you arepensated with 500 Yan Fu points.¡± ¡°You have exchanged for Gold, and your current Yan Fu points total 3204.¡± Special reward forpletion of the Yan Fu event: The content of this Yan Fu event is the Gu Huo Bird, and you will randomly draw an item infused with the Power of Gu Huo Bird (including but not limited to consumables, skill scrolls, oddities, inheritances). Given that this is your first timepleting a Yan Fu event, this reward will be forcibly deemed as an inheritance, and this inheritance cannot be traded. A burning heat surged through Li Yan¡¯s chest as the impressive drawing of the Gu Huo Bird spontaneously ignited before he could react, burning away without a trace. Li Yan lifted his clothes to see a burn mark on his chest, with strands of golden-red mes burrowing into his wound. He instinctively pressed on it, but couldn¡¯t touch even the tail of the me, and the next moment, the burn on his chest vanished without a trace. ¡°This¡­¡± [Inheritance: Spirit of the Gu Huo Bird ¡¤ Hook Star] Gu Huo Bird revival status: 9%/100% (The inheritance is tied to the Walker¡¯s fate; increasing the revival status will enhance the Walker¡¯s lifespan and physical fitness. Full revival doubles lifespan.) The holder gains a permanent solidified state: Hook Star. [Hook Star]: Enhances the holder¡¯s 90% explosive power and attack speed (passive skill). [Blood Dip]: Use your own blood as a primer to lock onto an enemy, umting all damage inflicted on them to subsequently determine and detonate at will. The more damage dealt beforehand, the greater the Blood Dip damage. [Blood Dip Damage dispels demons! Filthy Gods! ys ghosts! Banishes apparitions! Corrodes Dragon Tiger Qi!] After Blood Dip damage takes effect, the power of Hook Star temporarily disappears, with the duration depending on the Blood Dip damage dealt. During the disappearance of the Hook Star state, Blood Dip cannot be activated. Li Yan tried jumping around and burst intoughter, ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel all that special.¡± But he wasn¡¯t disappointed. Just being alive and well was the best oue, and as for extending one¡¯s life, who knows when they¡¯ll die? Only then did Li Yan begin to observe his surroundings. He stood on dark stone bricks, in a room with nothing but a bed. In front of him were two doors, one half-open. The other was tightly secured with iron chains. That half-open door felt incredibly familiar to Li Yan. It was the way back home. ¡°I want to view my purchasing permissions.¡± Li Yan murmured to himself in a low voice, as if addressing a clerk at a bank or government department. ¡°Your purchasing permissions have been listed. Please note that items can only be purchased in this room and you may not make purchases once you leave.¡± A quick scan by Li Yan revealed many things that surprised him. For example¡­ Cold weapons: ¡°[Nameless Han Sword], with qi forming myriadndscapes, the de bends into a dragon. A sharp weapon meant for killing. It costs 10 Yan Fu points. Such items bear no special properties and can only be carried on one¡¯s person.¡± Li Yan, after returning, indeed couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the Han Sword. He owned several sharp weapons, some crafted by contemporary masters and worth a fortune, yet none were as handy as this nameless Han Sword. Not being able to bring it out was a small disappointment. ¡°Ten thousand yuan, quite cheap.¡± The ck ripples converged, and a Han Sword wrapped in rhinoceros hide with a gleaming cold light appeared in Li Yan¡¯s hand. Li Yan gripped the sword handle and swept it forward with a twist of the wrist, emitting a crisp slicing sound like water hitting pebbles. The love sword practitioners have for a fine de is indescribable, true through the ages. The Li n of Hejian was famed for being unrivaled in both spear and sword. Li Yan had practiced the sword for ten years and the spear for fifteen, confident that his swordsmanship was approaching perfection, and his spear skills had reached a considerable level. ¡°Qi forming myriadndscapes, the de bending into a dragon; I shall call you Ring Dragon.¡± ¡°` Li Yan caressed the back of his sword and flicked it gently. Ring Dragon Han Sword. In addition, the Zi Wu Mandarin Duck Axes Li Yan once used, along with all kinds of long and short weapons, were all avable, but Li Yan simply nced over them without much interest. Li Yan continued looking down. Firearms category: ¡°[Colt M1911], magazine capacity: 7+1 rounds, muzzle velocity: 253 meters per second, rate of fire: 50 rounds per minute, operating mode: short recoil barrel. It is worth mentioning that this model, said to be the most produced automatic pistol in the world, originated from Colt¡¯s old rival John Browning of FN. Note: Pistols are impressive, but trust me, in the Yan Fu world, they¡¯re not worth overestimating. You can spend 15 Yan Fu points to exchange for it and ites with two magazines. One Yan Fu point can be exchanged for five magazines, with no upper limit. [Type 82-1 stic ball-bearing grenade without a handle], filled with 62 grams of TNT, effective killing range of 6 to 10 meters. You can spend 8 Yan Fu points to exchange for it. The limit is twenty pieces. [RPG-18 Rocket-Propelled Grenade Launcher]es with ten rockets. You can spend 200 Yan Fu points to exchange for it. Please note that these items possess no special abilities and can only be carried on your person. Please note that only firearms purchased with Yan Fu points can be brought into Yan Fu incidents, any other firearms will be stripped away upon entering Yan Fu incidents. Simr firearms were abundant. Li Yan also saw some guns with usage requirements, such asrge-caliber sniper rifles. Li Yan didn¡¯t n to exchange for powerful firearms, at least not right now. Cold weapons can be said to be collectible, but how would you exin bringing a rocketuncher back to a music store? They¡¯re not easy to hide either. It made sense to Li Yan that these items were avable for exchange, after all, there wasn¡¯t much incredibly unbelievable about this experience. What Li Yan encountered the most were still fists and weapons. However, the items that came next piqued Li Yan¡¯s interest even more. Exotic items, consumables Fighting Essences! [First Level Muay Thai Fighting Essence]: Enhances closebat specialization by 3%, only effective for those with less than 60% closebat specialization. (Specializations below 30% not shown) 10 Yan Fu points each. [First Level Karate Fighting Essence], [First Level Free Combat Fighting Essence]¡­ Li Yan swiftly scrolled through the options. [Second Level Maga Art Fighting Essence]: Enhances closebat specialization by 5%, firearms specialization by 3% Effective only for those with less than 70% closebat specialization. 50 Yan Fu points each. [Second Level Ancient Martial Arts Essence (Foot Poke)]: Enhances closebat specialization by 6%, other descriptions as above [Second Level Ancient Martial Arts Essence (Wing Chun)]: Same as above Useless to me¡­ Li Yan¡¯s own Ancient Martial Arts specialization had already reached 83%, clearly these lower-level items couldn¡¯t be used, [Fifth Level (max) Ancient Martial Arts Essence (Bagua Palm)]: Enhances closebat specialization by 10%, cannot be used to break through the bottlenecks of 70%, 80%, 90%. No other restrictions To exchange for it, you need 200 Yan Fu points, limited to one piece. This is¡­ Li Yan understood. The items in the Yan Fu incident would be his purchasing permissions, including the opponents he faced. After spending 200 points to exchange for this essence, Li Yan casually bought four [Second Level Firearms Essences] to make his shooting a bit more urate. Five streaks of light, fourrge and one small, surged into Li Yan¡¯s body. ¡°You have unlocked Firearms Specialization.¡± Current Firearms Specialization: 38% Current Ancient Martial Arts Specialization: 89%+4% (suffix not shown) Unable to break through the 90% bottleneck. Li Yan suddenly thought of Zhang Mingyuan; his Ancient Martial Arts specialization was 69%, apparently he, too, was stuck at a bottleneck. Additionally, Li Yan exchanged for a Colt Pistol and magazines, trying to fire two shots at the shrinking gate. Two shes of fire passed without surprise, having no effect, but Li Yan did feel that he was more skilled when holding the gun. This was a level of proficiency usually attained through thousands of trials and tribtions. Li Yan clenched his fists, the items that followed grew increasingly inconceivable. Exotic items, Hongmen Tattoo enhancement! Chapter 44 - 2 Tattoo! Chapter 44: Chapter 2 Tattoo! Editor: Larbre Studio Exotic Item ss, Hongmen Tattoo Enhancement! First to catch the eye was a blue dragon with four ws running across the shoulder, signifying the Azure Dragon Coiling Arm. Ever heard of Chen Haonan? Effect: Grants an exemption from stray bullet damage of 5%. Speeds up wound healing by 5%. Costs 20 Yan Fu points. Besides that, there were two ck flood dragons intertwined across the chest, signifying the Double Dragons Churning the River. Effect: Grants an exemption from stray bullet damage of 10%, speeds up wound healing by 10%, and has a slight deterrence effect onmon shade entities. Costs 50 Yan Fu points. Li Yan flipped through roughly seven or eight tattoos, Koi, Zhong Kui, Yasha Fighting Tiger, Fight Yama, Evil Ghost Prajna, and many others, including a ck dragon that almost covered the entire body, capable of providing a 40% exemption from stray bullet damage. However, it had no other attributes. After looking through them, Li Yan finally set his sights on three patterns. The first was four three-wed blue imps with fierce expressions carrying a dark coffin, locked up tightly by a dozen ck chains. Four Ghosts Carrying the Coffin! Effect: Grants an exemption from stray bullet damage of 25%, speeds up wound healing by 25%, with the added status: Strong Fortune and life reduction. Costs 500 Yan Fu points. Requires a purchase authority of 120% or higher. The second was a pool of bewitching ck lotuses, nine in total, some blooming brightly while others were buds about to unfurl. Effect: Grants an exemption from stray bullet damage of 25%, speeds up wound healing by 25%, exempts from the Shade Erosion state that continuously drains vitality and lifespan whening into contact with shade entities, and adds the status: Attraction to Spirits (affinity with shade entities). Costs 800 Yan Fu points, requires purchase authority of 150% or higher. The third was a strange fierce beast, bleeding from its seven orifices, with wings and four legs, its body resembling a wolf and its head a bear. Effect: Grants an exemption from stray bullet damage of 30%, speeds up wound healing by 20%, with the added status: Fierce! (makes all ghosts retreat) Costs 1100 Yan Fu points, requires purchase authority of 180% or higher. Only one Hongmen Tattoo can be active at a time. These three tattoos were the most expensive of all the tattoos, and they all came with a fixed status, but even the cheapest Four Ghosts Carrying the Coffin cost five hundred points. And before this, the essence ofbat along with the handgun had cost him just over 400 points. However, Li Yan had briefly scanned earlier and was confident that his more than three thousand Yan Fu points were a substantial sum. There was no need to worry about not having enough. The description of Strong Fortune from the Four Ghosts Carrying the Coffin felt too abstract, and Li Yan didn¡¯t find it reliable. The Dark Lotus Tattoo was clearly not suitable for someone of the martialbat type like himself, so he chose thest tattoo. That beast was called Chaos. Skill Scroll Category [A Fleeting Glimpse], omitted [Yellow Turban Talisman: Qi Healing] After cleansing the wound, this can be released on moderate or lesser injuries that don¡¯t cause disability, causing wounds to heal slowly. For moderate and above injuries, it prevents them from worsening (exceptions such as special attribute bullets, lead shot, steel balls, etc. are expelled from the body through flesh movements). Cannot be used in battle and requires 300 Yan Fu points. Reminder: Since this skill scroll was obtained as an additional privilege from killing a Predator, and the Predator had also purchased a limited-use defective product, this skill can only be used 20 times during each Yan Fu event, even after purchase. What resonated deeply with Li Yan was the Yellow Turban Talisman: Healing Charm that Li Jiangyu used, which was shamelessly effective, equivalent to forcefully pulling life back from the brink. Unfortunately, it seemed he couldn¡¯t buy it for himself. Even so, Li Yan felt that this item was very practical. Although it was described as slow recovery, being able to ensure the wound didn¡¯t worsen was already life-saving. In many environments without modern medical conditions, people could die from minor wounds due to infections. In a protracted battle, this item was akin to carrying abat nurse, one that didn¡¯t even need bandages or antibiotics. [Cold Killer: 87/100 (Unlocked)] Mission-based skill. Unlocking it grants a clue to some legacy. Costs 200 Yan Fu points. Special Category: [Yan Fu Story Jar]: ¡°Upper Auspicious¡± or above evaluation can make the purchase. Costs 50 Yan Fu points. Limited to one time only. Description: Daqian Yanfu contains everything under the heavens. All that is heard within Yan Fu is true; smash it, and you will obtain an item of fantasy that exists only within stories. The above items are all the purchase permissions for this time, and these permissions will remain until the start of the next Yan Fu event. Mo¡¯s gift will be refreshed at the next Yan Fu event. That¡¯s all? Li Yan looked over the disyed purchase permissions and nced at his Yan Fu points. It seemed that even if he bought everything he wanted, there would still be a lot left over¡­ Having points to spare? Now that¡¯s a happy problem to have. Li Yan hadn¡¯t considered that his Upper Auspicious rating was just 500 points, and ording to the recent settlement, even the top-tier Gold rating was only 600 points (base plus 200%). The 59% from the Predator¡¯s purchase overflow of 5% was the major contributor, which was hard to replicate. This meant that for quite a while, the points Li Yan gained from rating overflow would not be enough. He had met all the requirements for the Yan Fu event, and his rating was exceptionally high, but even so, after spending on pits and winning streaks, and the use of the ES Cell Supplement, he only had 1204 points, just barely enough to get by. And Judy¡¯s golden gift to Li Yan was worth a staggering 2,000 points! Only with great wealth can one have an imposing presence. After enhancements, Li Yan¡¯s personal information wasn¡¯t that shabby anymore. Name: Li Yan Status: Hook Star, Fierce! Specialty: Ancient Martial Arts: 89%+4% Hot Weapon Skills: 38% Skills: 1, A Fleeting Glimpse 2, Yellow Turban Talisman: Qi Healing 3, Cold Killer: 87/100 (unlocked) Inheritance: Gu Huo Bird Spirit: Hook Star At a nce, Li Yan, who had just experienced a Yan Fu event, had already overwhelmed Li Jiangyu on paper. Considering that Zhang Mingyuan, aside from the basic reward, had gained nothing, it could be said that even if he unleashed the full Power of the Enlightened Beast, he would certainly not be a match for Li Yan. Li Jiangyu was too passive, with his highest rating in several Yan Fu events being only moderately satisfactory. He had obtained the identity of the Predator through a special item, thinking it was a sure thing and would at least earn him an excellent rating; unexpectedly, he lost his life. All these had cost Li Yan just over 2,000 points, meaning there were about 1,200 points left. Frankly, evenpleting just one Yan Fu event wouldn¡¯t necessarily yield that much. Li Yan flipped back to the hot weapon category. In fact, these items were value for money; a pistol was so cheap it didn¡¯t cost twenty points, and the most expensive ones were under a hundred points, yet they were surprisingly powerful. A thousand-plus points worth of tattoos couldn¡¯t withstand them¡­ On the other hand, these items were quite bulky and extremely inconvenient to carry. How much ammunition could a fully armed soldier carry without resupply? How many guns could he carry? Was he supposed to walk around with an RPG on his back? That said, Li Yan still decided to purchase as many hot weapons as possible before the next Yan Fu event started. The more confident one was in their physical abilities, the more they would understand the advantages of firearms. Just as he was about to leave, Li Yan remembered the exaggeratedly described Yan Fu Story Jar. To acquire an item that only existed in tales, would it be the Purple Green Flying Sword from the Legend of Sword and Fairy or the Cloth from Saint Seiya? 50 points? Buy! ¡°You have acquired the Yan Fu Story Jar.¡± What he saw was an oval cylindrical object simr to a tea tin, well-sealed. Li Yan gently pinched it with his finger, and the jar cracked open, spilling fragments to reveal a gentle glow floating in the air. First, it expanded, then contracted back, and finally, itnded in Li Yan¡¯s hand¡ªa half-torn page smeared with dried blood,pletely obscuring the original text. [Blood-soaked ck Magic Torn Page]: Wearing it will slightly reduce ck magic resistance. Note: Zhazha four, zhazha four, Nast Nada zhazha four¡­ What kind of crap is this!? Li Yan stuffed the item into his pocket in a slightly disordered manner, opened the half-closed door, and revealed a long staircase. He stepped into the shadowy stairway, surrounded by silence. ¡°Thud, thud, thud.¡± His footsteps echoed on the metal staircase, one step at a time. Through the obstructions, Li Yan could see a messy scene below: an overturned sofa, spilled water, a TV left on, ying Zhou Xiaoou¡¯s ¡°Legend of the Hungry Wolf,¡± changed by someone unknown. Li Yan paused the screen with the remote, propped up the sofa, tidied up the clutter around him. The sky was already faintly bright, the ss door of the store was open, and a cool breeze blew in. Hey on the sofa, everything feeling like a dream. ¡°Beep~¡± The CD was swallowed by the DVD yer, and after a ck and white image appeared, a lively keyboard sound mixed with drumming and bass followed, and Zhou Xiaoou¡¯s voice, tinged with roughness, resonated out. I don¡¯t know where I was born Whether I¡¯ll cry when Ie into this world I don¡¯t know where I¡¯m going I¡¯m singing a song without a country I don¡¯t know where you were born Whether anyone cried when you died I don¡¯t know where you¡¯re going Your gravestone points to the deste sky Li Yan rested his elbow on the table, his nose on the back of his hand, as the increasingly intense and even hoarse voice stimted his inner ear, but he listened with relish. Suddenly, he started tough,ughing more and more unrestrained. It was the feeling of being vividly, powerfully alive. Chapter 45 - 3 Thus Have I Heard, Yan Fu Walks Chapter 45: Chapter 3 Thus Have I Heard, Yan Fu Walks Editor: Larbre Studio The next day, after getting off the ne, Li Yan headed straight for the site of the now-demolished Kowloon Walled City. This was something a person engulfed in mysteries like his own would definitely do. Kowloon Walled City Park, Longjin Righteous School. In front of the long corridor, styled like a garden in the south of the Yangtze River, there were engraved red characters on stone: It¡¯s like a dragon, divining that in another year the carp will transform, dragons will rise,pletely washing away the barbaric smoke and egg rain Knowing this ford, I wish from this origin to search the streams, trace back evenly to divide the Soviet Sea and Korean tide ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about?¡± Hearing the old man say this, Li Yan kept a calm face, ¡°I know that the City was demolished before the handover, and a lot of things inside are no longer remembered. But Mr. Hou, are you sure you don¡¯t want to think about it more carefully?¡± The old man shook his head. ¡°Young man, I think you¡¯re telling a story; I lived in the City for over a decade. It¡¯s true the City hadmittees and security teams, but as for Taishuai and Liansheng, they sound like something out of a movie.¡± A hint of wistfulness appeared in the old man¡¯s eyes. ¡°It was just a slum, nothing special.¡± Li Yan sat in silence for a full minute. ¡°I¡¯ve disturbed you.¡± He got up and walked out, the first thing he did was to pick up his phone and search for the names of all the past Chinese Police Commissioners during the colonial era of Hong Kong. There was no Li Yaoguang¡­ Gloom in Li Yan¡¯s heart grew heavier. ¡­ ¡°Gong Ruxin? Of course, I know her.¡± The man across from him in a crisply tailored suit nodded. If Li Yan remembered correctly, this office building was under apany owned by Judy. And Gong Ruxin was the name of Judy¡¯s deceased foster mother. Li Yan¡¯s heart surged with tion; he coughed and said: ¡°Her daughter¡­¡± As soon as Li Yan began to speak, he was met with a strange look from the man. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, but until Mrs. Gong passed away, she didn¡¯t have a daughter¡­¡± ¡­ Hong Kong, Kowloon City Park, Jingxi Word Paper Pavilion. The orange sunlight filtered through the shade of the trees, scattering on the path paved with small cobblestones, clean and tidy. The park was adorned with various Lingnan-style potted nts, presenting a picturesque scene. Who would know that once fifty thousand people lived cramped here? As evening approached, the number of visitors in the park dwindled. Li Yan held a bottle of beer, his eyes reddened, humming casually. ¡°Snow Maiden and her seven dwarf friends, Seven diligent people in Snow Maiden and the Seven Friends¡­¡± ¡°Sir, is this your first timeing here for fun?¡± A sweet-smiling strange girl with a visor cap walked past Li Yan. ¡°No,¡± Li Yan subconsciously shook his head, ¡°Oh, no, yes.¡± Li Yan corrected himself. The girl did not mind; she picked out a balloon with a Snow White pattern from the colorful batch she held in her hand and handed it to Li Yan. ¡°Thank you.¡± The man nodded, and the girl walked away with a smile. Li Yan, holding a beer in one hand and the balloon in the other, looked somewhatical. He staggered to his feet and walked on, humming in a hoarse voice: ¡°Seven men had seven thick sticks, facing Snow Maiden singing un un un, one hole stuffed with seven thick sticks, un till old Snow Maiden rots. Heh heh heh¡­¡± Li Yanughed with blurry eyes. ¡°Fuck!¡± He violently threw the beer can in his hand, which crashed into the trash can with a loud bang. ¡°Why the hell are you so mad? You¡¯ve just recovered from a serious illness.¡± Li Yan turned his head. Mo. All around, silence pervaded, even the scorching red sunset seemed to freeze in time. ¡°It¡¯s all fake?¡± ¡°Think about it, it should be obvious that people can¡¯t travel through time. Have you ever heard of the grandmother paradox?¡± Li Yan squinted his eyes tightly, silent for a long time. ¡°But it¡¯s not all fake.¡± The fat man¡¯s face bore a greasy smile as he continued, ¡°There are no two identical leaves in this world, but you can grab a handful of simr ones any time. If everything were a dream, how could your sickness have healed? Of course, maybe you¡¯re still living in a dream.¡± The fat man gave Li Yan a disgusting final jab. ¡°Parallel worlds?¡± Li Yan pondered. ¡°Right, but not entirely.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Parallel worlds are correct, but the gaps and changes between worlds are probably much greater than you imagine.¡± ¡°Continue.¡± Li Yan said with interest, relieved to think of Judy as a person from another world. If she had to cross over thirty years and the hot-bodied mature woman turned into a saggy-breasted auntie, Li Yan really wouldn¡¯t know how to face her. ¡°Mankind has always tried to explore the universe, but in fact, we know very little about the very earth beneath our feet and can hardly see the so-called reality and the infinite possibilities of the future¡­¡± The fat man breathed on his sleeve, wiped clean the flower bed beside him, then sat down. ¡°A scientific giant who just died proposed the theory of parallel spaces, believing that in another timeline, he would be full of energy, loving sports and running.¡± ¡°Actually, he could have done much more¡­ like spiritually transnting himself to a distant, affluent to hook up with alien girls, or riding a broomstick and kicking a football through the sky¡­¡± ¡°Harry Potter?¡± ¡°Nothing of the sort, just possibilities.¡± The fat man smacked his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand.¡± Li Yan furrowed his brows. ¡°We Chinese say, ¡®The master speaks not of strange powers and chaos.¡¯ Suppose, just suppose, the witches burned in medieval times truly possessed extraordinary powers that were simply eradicated. Then, if some medieval prince went mad and dered that the witches weren¡¯t evil and used their power to start a magical revolution as momentous as the Industrial Revolution, your life now would bepletely turned upside down. That¡¯s the concept of possibility.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m starting to understand, and that story you mentioned isn¡¯t bad either.¡± Li Yan forced a smile. ¡°Or take for instance¡­¡± the fat man, pointing to the ground. ¡°From this moment on, the revival of qi begins, and the so-called qigong techniques that were popr during the qigong craze suddenly be real overnight, various cultivation sects emerge, and the rules of the world change ordingly. Then, parallel worlds be not so parallel.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I¡¯d definitely think you¡¯re bullshitting me.¡± ¡°Does my theory have any major ws?¡± ¡°Not at all, but your wild ideas sound very familiar to me¡­¡± At the end, Li Yan let out a coldugh. Unfazed, the fat man stated, ¡°I¡¯m talking about possibilities, and the human imagination is as boundless as possibilities.¡± ¡°So, the background of the Yan Fu incident is intricately connected to the world as you know it, yetpletely different.¡± Mo brought his ten fingers together: ¡°Yan Fu, formally known as Nanyan Futi, is the legendary World Tree that nurtures worlds. Each fruit on the tree is a brand-new world. And we humans are like thedybugs that roam between the fruits, sipping their juice.¡± ¡°That is¡­ Yan Fu roaming.¡± Chapter 46 - 4 Taishuai! Chapter 46: Chapter 4 Taishuai! Editor: Larbre Studio The fat man turned his head to look at Li Yan with an obscure expression. ¡°There are some unexpected events I must deal with right away. If you have any questions, ask now. You might not have the chance to see me again in the future.¡± ¡°Can you exin in detail about the ways of strengthening, inheritance, specialization, and skills in the world of Yan Fu?¡± Li Yan cut right to the chase. ¡°Let¡¯s start with inheritance. In Yan Fu, aside from a very few exotic types, inheritances are divided into ten sses, namely, Heaven, Earth, Human, Divine, Ghost, Luo, Scale, Feather, Fur, and Jie.¡± ¡°The first five sound much higher-ss than thetter five.¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Mo shook his head. Looking at Li Yan, he said, ¡°Inheritances in Yan Fu do have different levels of advancement, but there are no ranks of nobility between the categories. For example, the Vermilion Bird belongs to the Feather ss, while Mo belongs to the Ghost ss, but the Vermilion Bird is higher than Mo.¡± ¡°What about the Gu Huo Bird?¡± Li Yan asked. Mo smiled without answering, only saying, ¡°But right now, this Vermilion Bird cannot beat me, so you don¡¯t have to worry too much about the hierarchy and categories of inheritance.¡± After pausing, he continued, ¡°As the degree of awakening of an inheritance increases, the physical quality of the bearer, and even their lifespan, will also improve. However, the ten sses each have different focuses. Typically, the Enlightened Beast belongs to the Fur ss, and its recovery ability and resistance to hits will be more notable.¡± With a flick of his finger, the fight onstage between Li Yan and Zhang Mingyuan sprung to life before their eyes, showing the image of the young man facing setbacks but standing firm. ¡°The Serpent belongs to the Scale ss, its own improvement is slow, but it can suppress creatures under itsmand with ease.¡± He flicked again but, unexpectedly, it didn¡¯t work this time. ¡°Strange, the struggle between you and Li Jiangyu was clearly recorded, oh well, these things happen often.¡± Mo didn¡¯t take it to heart, ¡°And your Gu Huo Bird, it belongs to the Feather ss, so your speed improvement is quite noticeable.¡± ¡°The Jie ss advancements are more bnced, while the Luo ss excels at handling objects.¡± ¡°Of course, these are the usual cases. In Yan Fu, all sorts of anomalies exist. If one day you encounter a Feather ss inheritance that is surprisingly resistant to blows, don¡¯t be too shocked.¡± ¡°What about the main focuses of the first five inheritances?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when wee to it.¡± Mo chuckled. ¡°From this, you can infer that if you possess both Feather and Fur inheritances, both your speed and strength will see notable improvement. And if you have several Jie ss inheritances, you can be a superhuman. Of course, the more inheritances you have, the more you need to invest.¡± ¡°How do you increase the Awakening Degree?¡± ¡°Devour Yan Fu Talismans that contain the power of inheritance. This is also the rich fruit that Yan Fu bestows upon us beetles.¡± Mo had the look of a soothsayer. ¡°However, you can have several inheritances, but ultimately you can only be the Proxy Traveler of one. When I first entered Yan Fu, the inheritance I acquired was Fight, the exotic beast recorded in the ssic of Mountains and Seas, which wields the power of me. But in the end, I felt Mo suited me better.¡± A me emerged from the tip of his finger, then he quickly snuffed it out. ¡°How did you get the title of Mo?¡± ¡°Six Yan Fu incidents, or the inheritance restoration reaching 100 percent. Then you have the right topete for the title of all your inheritances. The rarer the inheritance, the morepetitors there are.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying, if I want to call myself Gu Huo Bird, it sounds pretty bad.¡± ¡°If I remember correctly, the woman who once obtained this title called herself Xia Huo. However, clearly Tao Wu or Taotie would be more fitting for you, provided you can get it.¡± ¡°Moving on to skills. There are two sources for skills: one is by increasing the Awakening Degree of the inheritances you have, and the other is purchasing them through authority. However, there¡¯s something to pay attention to: conflicts can ur between skills and even between skills and inheritances. Yan Fu will warn you about this; just pay attention.¡± ¡°Lastly, specialization. Let¡¯s just say, the level of a person¡¯s specialization represents how much of their own strength they can bring into y. If both fall off a cliff and gain a lifetime of internal strength, one is the World Sanda Champion, and the other is the head of Nanshan Elderly Care Home, who do you think would win?¡± ¡°Inheritance is like your job in the game, specialization is the operation.¡± Li Yan summarized. ¡°That¡¯s the general idea.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a Renegade?¡± ¡°A pest.¡± Mo¡¯s expression was indifferent. ¡°Anything else?¡± Li Yan thought for a moment. ¡°If you have no other advice for me, that¡¯s all.¡± Mo looked somewhat surprised. ¡°That¡¯s all? Don¡¯t you want to ask what the purpose of experiencing Yan Fu events over and over again really is? Or who set these things up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m only concerned with what it can bring me. Of course, if you¡¯re willing to tell me, I¡¯m very willing to listen.¡± Li Yan¡¯s words were half true, half false. Mo looked at him meaningfully, then stood up and stamped his foot decisively. ¡°I¡¯ve recruited many neers, but there are very few who can get an Upper Auspicious evaluation on their first time; my luck has been goodtely. I hope this luck canst a little longer.¡± He looked at Li Yan: ¡°Let me exin the rules to you. First, all grudges between Travelers must be settled during a Yan Fu Event. You are not allowed to interfere in the lives of other Travelers in the real world by any means. Second, do not divulge any information about the Yan Fu Event. Third, try not to use the inherited powers and artifacts that clearly do not belong to this world. Self-defense is permitted when necessary, and someone will cover for you, but at the same time, you will be subject to scrutiny. Fourth, a Yan Fu Event starts every two months. Find a ce where there are no people around, so as not to scare the children. If you want to return to that room, just meditate in a secluded ce, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°So the second half of my life is to be spent in the throes of death six times a year?¡± Mo gave him a nce. ¡°No matter how negative your response is, Yan Fu won¡¯t erase anyone¡¯s life. However, if you want to break free from the shackles of your destiny and take charge, you¡¯ll have to fight for it, right?¡± ¡°Well then, I hope to see you again in the future.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± The two exchanged smiles. ¡­ ¡°ng!¡± Li Yan, bare-chested, his muscr arms glistening with sweat, stopped the ringing of the Ring Dragon Han Sword. In front of his chesty a strange beast resembling both wolf and bear, lying prostrate and bleeding from all seven orifices, while its fur eerily trembled! Li Yan exhaled softly and ced the Han Sword on a rack, wiping the sweat from his neck with a warm, damp towel. When waving the Ring Dragon, Li Yan even felt that he could cut through bullets. A fast runner doesn¡¯t necessarily have a lot of strength, but someone with quick explosive power definitely does. The Hook Star had given Li Yan a delightfully potent force. Just now, when waving the Ring Dragon, he had executed five sword shes within the span of one breath. The ringing of the sword continued even after he stopped moving. This was probably the most confident that Li Yan had felt about his skills in twenty-five years, but also the most anxious he had felt about the future in the same period. The audio-visual store was now closed, and at the moment, Li Yan had returned to his family home in Cangzhou, practicing in the martial arts room of the ancestral house. The vast Cangzhou Li n had already divided among this generation; he had a good rtionship with a few cousins who each had their own careers, none of them remained in the ancestral home, and the doors had been locked for a long time. Li Yan¡¯s return to his ancestral home, along with the procurement and setting up of equipment in the martial arts room, had taken quite some time. In front of him was a Colt pistol and 10 magazines, as well as 20 hand grenades. After tonight, it would be two months. A ringtone sounded from the mobile phone, and Li Yan nced at it before answering directly. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°¡­¡± On the other end, there was a long exhale, ¡°Heh, hearing how strong your voice is, looks like you¡¯ll still be around.¡± The voice belonged to a young man. ¡°I found an old Chinese medicine doctor, and my illness is improving.¡± Li Yan responded with augh. ¡°I went to your store and didn¡¯t see anyone; where are you now? I¡¯lle to find you.¡± Li Yan nced at the clock. Four more hours¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve still got life in me; I won¡¯t wait around for your mourning.¡± ¡°Is your illness really improving?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°How much money will it take?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Li Yan sat on the couch, ¡°Right, how¡¯s Zhang Daojing doing? I haven¡¯t seen her for many years.¡± Li Yan¡¯s mouth curled up slightly, reminding her of Zhang Mingyuan, who bore some resemnce to her sister. ¡°Daojing, I don¡¯t know either, I heard she¡¯s been in Shandong for many years.¡± ¡°What¡¯s she doing in Shandong?¡± ¡°What else? Got married, isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°Oh~¡± Li Yan responded, her expression distant. ¡°Hey, seriously, can traditional Chinese medicine cure your disease?¡± The voice on the other end was filled with surprise but still carried a hint of doubt. ¡°Give me the address, I¡¯ll check it out tomorrow.¡± ¡°You think you can just go see a master like that?¡± ¡°Yan Zi, don¡¯t y dumb with me. Are you really¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯lle see you in a little while,¡± Li Yan suddenly said. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ll have your sister-inw cook up a feast for you.¡± The man on the phone was incessant, and Li Yan listened intently, tilting her head and holding the phone to her ear, asionally responding while she slowly pressed bullets into the gun chamber, fingers caressing the gun body. ¡­ 1986, Hong Kong ¡°You¡¯re punching like you¡¯ve got no strength left. Did you go soft from messing with women?¡± Red Ghost, with a cigarette in his mouth, shouted with a bit of scoundrelly air. ¡°Hit harder! Do you get it?¡± heined. ¡°Lately, the fighter pool in Kowloon City has beencking, all kinds of trash stepping into the ring. Everyone be on your guard. It¡¯s not like Fuyi vanishes and there¡¯s nobody left to fight, you hear me?¡± Liao Zhizong approached with a grim face, and a single sentence made Red Ghost¡¯s expression turn savage. ¡°Ah Hong, something¡¯s happened to Taishuai.¡± ¡­ That night, in Kowloon City, the rain poured down torrentially, flooding Longjin Road half a street deep, with some areas submerged waist-high. Yu Shu stepped through the ankle-deep water, ncing at Mei ahead with a tense demeanor. Speaking softly, ¡°Where¡¯s the person you mentioned?¡± ¡°Just ahead, that house there.¡± ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡± She nodded. Suddenly, several fire-red lotus flowers bloomed amidst the downpour, thousands of bullets spraying from the gun muzzles, unleashed in an instant! Like an unstoppable torrent of steel, they swept through the crowd. ¡­ Blood stained half the long street red, dozens of bodies stacked up, Yu Shu holding an umbre, draped in a ck jacket, her brow furrowed. ¡°Taishuai, I really don¡¯t know what happened?¡± Mei knelt in the rain, her eyes vacant, her face smeared with blood. Her slender legs shook uncontrobly. Red Ghost¡¯s face was stone-cold. Yu Shu crouched down, pinching Mei¡¯s chin. ¡°We¡¯re all family here, I¡¯ll of course believe whatever you say. I remember when you first came to Hong Kong to work in the horse parlor, when any man could have you for two hundred bucks. You tell me you¡¯re with me, I¡¯d believe you then. You¡¯ve been with me for so many years, why wouldn¡¯t I believe you now?¡± ¡°Taishuai¡­¡± The woman stood up to speak but swallowed a mouthful of rain instead. Yu Shu draped her coat over Mei and helped her to her feet. ¡°Drink some ginger soup, go home, and get a good night¡¯s sleep. I know it¡¯s been tough for you taking care of your brother by yourself. If you really run into trouble, just tell everyone, would I not care?¡± Mei copsed to the ground with a ssh. ¡°Taishuai, I was forced to do it, they kidnapped my brother¡­¡± ¡°So, you admit it?¡± Yu Shu¡¯s tone remained unchanged. Mei looked up bewilderedly, her pupils reflecting the gleam of a sharp de. The knife plunged into the woman¡¯s temple, leaving only the hilt protruding. Her body thudded to the ground, and a trail of blood bubbles floated far away on the water surface. ¡°Ah Hong, toss her body further away, Uncle Liao, you take the others back first,¡± Liao Zhizong looked at Red Ghost, then nodded. Red Ghost picked up the body, then left. The entire long street, aside from the storm, blood, and corpses, was left with only one living person, Yu Shu. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing out, or are you waiting for me to kill myself?¡± One by one, footsteps approached from a distance. Tall and short, fat and thin, they wore raincoats, yet if one observed carefully, not a single raindrop fell upon their heads. One, two, three, four, five¡­ eleven people. A burly man emerged from the group. He pulled off his hood, revealing a face marred by scars. ¡°Those who betray Yan Fu will ultimately be abandoned by Yan Fu¡­¡± ¡°A grown man talking like that; don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡± Yu Shu spat out in contempt. Her gaze suddenly turned to the middle of the crowd. ¡°Fatso, you¡¯re quite capable; even Emperor Jiang couldn¡¯t find me, yet you managed to stumble upon a loophole.¡± Mo stepped out from the group with aplex expression. ¡°I was meant to cultivate new talents, didn¡¯t expect to catch a big fish instead. So many Yan Fu fruits, I must be lucky. To think I¡¯d find Taishuai¡­¡± ¡°Even if you¡¯ve found me, what can eleven Proxy Travelers do to me?¡± The woman tilted her head. ¡°We¡¯ll find out if we try.¡± Another person stepped forward, a woman¡¯s voice speaking. ¡°Hahahaha~¡± Taishuai burst into uproariousughter. A colossal ck moon rose high into the sky amidst the raging storm and lightning snakes, the woman¡¯s hair dancing with the wind. ¡°Taishuai¡­¡± The tempest seemed to pause for a moment. Yu Shu turned her head, ncing at Red Ghost, who stood frozen. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to throw her further away¡­¡± Chapter 47 - 1 Japanese Pirates! Skeletons! Nekomata! Chapter 47: Chapter 1 Japanese Pirates! Skeletons! Nekomata! Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Esteemed Walker, you are about to trigger a Yan Fu event!¡± ¡°You possess an additional Yan Fu Talisman.¡± ¡°You may choose to use it to rece this Yan Fu event.¡± ¡°If you do not wish to rece it, you can choose to sacrifice it to elevate your status in this Yan Fu event.¡± ¡°After the status elevation, you will obtain more assistance.¡± ¡°Sacrifice.¡± [You have sacrificed the manuscript of Lin Yutang, and you will be granted a higher status in this Yan Fu event.] Li Yan suddenly opened his eyes! The first thing he did was to grasp the Ring Dragon Han Sword tightly in his hand, pushing himself up from the ground, his five fingers sinking into the blood-soaked, soft earth, oozing outrge amounts of slippery blood. Li Yan looked at the bloodstain on his hand and smiled. ¡°A bloody start, a good omen.¡± The break of dawn cast a pale light across the sky, the ground was covered with rotten and withered ck leaves. Broken gpoles, scattered sword fragments, half-submerged cartwheels in piles of fallen leaves, and, most shockingly, the stacked, severed limbs and remains. Li Yan himself was dressed in a close-fitting short tunic, with a waist armor that was already cracked and broken, resembling the attire of a soldier from an ancient battlefield; he felt inside his pocket, where a pistol and ammo clipsy quietly. In his left hand, he held a case with twenty hand grenades inside. ¡°The modern weapons you exchanged for have been delivered. You must carry them with you at all times and may not hide or transfer them to someone else by burying or any other means. All spent casings and parts will disappear if you abandon them or move more than 200 meters away.¡± Li Yan couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved that he didn¡¯t purchase a rocketuncher, which would have been impossible to carry around. On the skirt of his tunic, the blood merged with the soil, tracing out words. Date: 1592-1593 Location: Pyongyang, at 40 degrees northtitude and 127 degrees east longitude Having quenched thest sparks of civil strife at home, Toyotomi Hideyoshi boldly sent his forces to invade Joseon, unleashing a flood of Daimyo troops hardened by a century of incessant warfare. Within a month, the three capitals of Joseon had fallen and all eight provinces had copsed! King Xuan fled to Yizhou and sought aid from the suzerain state, the Ming Dynasty. The Wanli Emperor appointed Shanxi General Li Rusong as Governor and Minister of War Song Yingchang to lead forty thousand Ming Army troops on a forced march across the ice to Pyongyang¡­ The Joseon called it the Renchen War for National Defence, the Japanese called it the Bunroku Keicho War, and the Ming Dynasty referred to it as, The Renchen Japanese Disturbance. Three-eyed guns, matchlock guns, Tiger Cask Cannons, hundred-shot firearms, strong crossbows, ¡°wolf fang¡± maces, field katana, iron cannon, siege towers, watchtowers, spike carts. This was the era when gunpowder weaponry was on the rise, but cold weapons still dominated the battlefield! The requirements for this Yan Fu event are as follows: 1. Survive until the first trteral negotiations tomorrow morning. 2. ~ The words written in blood suddenly turned into iprehensible scribbles, the blood writhing like anguished snakes, and then all the characters blurred and dispersed! After a while, the blood reformed into words, with the content drastically changed! The requirements for this Yan Fu event are as follows: [Acquire a Yan Fu Talisman with the Power of Yazi.] [Kill at least three Sengoku period Japanese Exotic Beasts.] [Kill at least one Sengoku period Daimyo leader!] [Take down Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s First Army Commander Konishi Yukinaga!] The formal beginning of the Yan Fu event will be upon thepletion of any of the aforementioned requirements. Remark: You owe me a life; now I want you to repay it. Li Yan¡¯s face was expressionless as though he wasn¡¯t surprised by the strange happenings in front of him; he remembered the ck light that struck his forehead just before Li Jiangyu died. You have gained a special proficiency in this Yan Fu event: Horse Riding 70%, which will be forgotten after the event ends, or you can spend 700 Yan Fu points to permanently acquire it. Your status has increased in this Yan Fu event. Your current military rank is: Chief Banner. Mo¡¯s gift refresh required 12 hours, please be patient. Li Yan stood up, tearing off his already cracked half-armor, his promotion brought with it a surge of memories like a film reel. Li Yan¡¯s current identity was that of a Chief g Officer under the Great Ming General Zu Chengxun,manding three smaller banners, roughly twenty men. Before the departure of Li Rusong¡¯s forty-thousand-strong army, due to misinformation from Joseon, the court had once sent Zu Chengxun with over three thousand men to Joseon to destroy the Japanese pirates, only to suffer a great defeat. Now, Li Yan was one of the Ming soldiers left behind on the battlefield. Suddenly, Li Yan¡¯s ears twitched, and he held his sword with one hand as he moved stealthily towards the source of the sound. ¡­.. The whirling cool breeze tore at the tattered banners. Li Yan gripped the Ring Dragon in his hand, loading his bullets. He slowly approached a dark mass. It was a wild beast,pletely rotten, buried headfirst in a pile of corpses, roughly the size of a calf. A crunching sound emanated from beneath it¡­ The sound suddenly stopped, and the beast fiercely turned its head. A ck arrow had pierced its skull. The flesh on the upper half of its face was gone, revealing ghastly white eye sockets, from which a fierce light beamed through two gloomy green mes. Its white teeth chewed on flesh that still steamed with warmth, and a severed human finger was clearly visible! What a brute! ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate¡± Exotic Beast of the cat-demon category, capable of controlling corpses (incapable of using malice-based transformations). Its teeth and ws carry a rotting poison. Threat level: Light Red. Li Yan pulled the trigger, sending one bullet into its eye socket, another hitting its forelimb, and a third into its rotten torso. The bullets burst into a shower of flesh with a stter, yet the cat-demon seemed unaffected, expelling the bullets from its body with a clinking sound in the span of a single breath, the projectiles falling onto the broken des on the ground. Li Yan holstered the Colt Pistol and blocked with the Han Sword in front of his chest as the cat-demon pounced at him like lightning, its sharp ws aiming straight for his heart. Dazzling sparks suddenly erupted, and an instinctive squint from Li Yan gave the cat-demon the chance to bite towards his neck with its foul-smelling teeth. The sword de turned like a t boat in water, creating ripples. Kneeling, Li Yan skimmed beneath the cat-demon, his sword slicing through the soft underbelly of the beast before he kicked upwards, sending the creature flying with a Hawk Flips Over maneuver. The Ring Dragon was positioned horizontally before him, ck blood streaming along the de. The Twenty-Four Mother Stance, Silver Python Emerging From the Cave Stance. The cat-demon rolled on the ground, its underbelly intermittently oozing ckish-red organs. Li Yan¡¯s expression darkened; even though he hadn¡¯t been bitten, his neck felt an unbearable itchiness. The cat-demon¡¯s limbs were deeply embedded in the soil, its eyes indifferent. Its forelimbs exploded with power as it leaped away, attempting to escape. No such luck. Li Yan charged forward. The cat-demon¡¯s attempts to shake him off with a few leaps failed as the Ring Dragon, cleaving through the air, bifurcated the cat-demon with the force of a thunderous tempest! Amidst the sttering of ck blood, the front half of the cat-demon in midair managed to turn around, flying towards Li Yan with its gaping maw. In Li Yan¡¯s pupils, those rows of stinking teeth were getting closer. Draw the sword, strike again! The ringing of the swordsted for an eternity~ The whole process was unbelievably fast. Hook Star: enhances the holder¡¯s burst strength and attack speed by 90%. ¡°ck, ck.¡± Two lumps of flesh fell to the ground, one after the other. Cleft into three pieces by Li Yan¡¯s twin strikes, the cat-demon finally stopped moving. ¡°You have killed the Exotic Beast, cat-demon. Progress in the Yan Fu incident has increased.¡± Li Yan covered his neck, rubbing up and down. His palm was clean, but the itching sensation lingered for a long time. Off to a bad start! Li Yan cursed at his misfortune and turned to leave, when suddenly a bloody hand reached out, grasping at his leg! Just as the Ring Dragon Han Sword was about to fall, he heard a faint cry from someone nearby. ¡°Save¡­ save~¡± Chapter 48 - 2 Unaware of Fun Chapter 48: Chapter 2 Unaware of Fun Editor: Larbre Studio Li Yan sheathed his long sword at his waist and carefully pulled the man from beneath the pile of corpses. The man¡¯s abdomen, wrapped inmer armor, had been pierced by iron pellets, coating Li Yan¡¯s hand with spotted traces of blood. His forehead burned like charcoal, and had he not been so robust, he would have likely breathed hisst already. ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate.¡± ¡°Name: Deng Tianxiong. Status: High fever, moderate injury.¡± Without much hesitation, Li Yan pulled open the man¡¯s clothes and ced his palm over the man¡¯s wound. A faint white light emanated from his hand. Yellow Turban Talisman: Qi Healing The man groaned in pain. The gruesome wound writhed at a visible rate, and pellets crusted with blood were forced out. Li Yan gently prodded with the tip of his sword, revealing fresh red flesh. The wound was still horrific, but the blood vessels sealed by themselves, and the subtle white light lingered around the injury, undissipating. The man gasped for air, hisplexion regaining some color. He muttered in amazement: ¡°Heavenly Master Tao¡­¡± ¡°Brother, what should I call you?¡± Deng Tianxiong swallowed. ¡°Chengwu Camp¡¯s Sixth Division Colonel Deng Tianxiong, may I know who you are, brother?¡± ¡°Chengwu Camp¡¯s Second Division General Banner Li Yan.¡± Deng Tianxiong blinked, struggling to rise, but Li Yan held him down. ¡°This humble one pays his respects to Lord of the Banner.¡± The military structure of the Great Ming wasplex, with variations in different ces. Taking the Qi Family Army as an example, twelve men made a squad, three squads a banner, three banners apany, fourpanies a division, two divisions a regiment, three regiments a camp. In today¡¯s terms, a Chief Banner is roughly equivalent to a toon leader. ¡°How is your injury?¡± Deng Tianxiong looked troubled. ¡°Milord¡­ the magic is miraculous.¡± ¡°Brother Tianxiong, I need not tell you the situation we¡¯re in. Let us look around. If there are any surviving brothers, we should save them if we can; and if we cannot, we must make the hard choices.¡± ¡°But our current situation¡­¡± Deng Tianxiong¡¯s expression was filled with despair. More than three thousand brothers nearly all lost, amidst the icy snow of a foreignnd, anyone would feel the destion and helplessness. ¡°Our Great Ming has a million celestial soldiers. A temporary setback does not spell defeat; the court will surely retaliate. Brother Deng, your life is spared for the purpose of ying the enemy. How can you be disheartened so?¡± Li Yan spoke calmly, yet with a persuasive determination. Deng Tianxiongposed himself and suddenly knelt again. ¡°What are you doing, Brother Deng?¡± Li Yan hurriedly helped him up, but had Deng Tianxiong truly intended to resist, Li Yan could not have prevented him from kneeling. ¡°My first bow was to the court and the authorities above. This bow is to my lifesaver. I, Deng, am a simple man and not good with words, but if Lord of the Banner does not mind, I, Old Deng, am ready to devote my life to yourmand.¡± Li Yan narrowed his eyes imperceptibly, but his face revealed nothing. ¡°We arerades-in-arms who shared life and death today. Why speak of such things? Let¡¯s first see if we can save a few more brothers.¡± Deng Tianxiong heartily agreed. Name: Deng Tianxiong Status: Moderate injury, Qi Healing. Expertise: Military Skill 72%, Horsemanship 66%. Skill: Well-Trained Threat Level: Blue (Friendly) The Qi Healing Technique could only be used twenty times during this Yan Fu incident, yet Li Yan was willing to expend a few more uses here. In the midst of theplex and unpredictable Renchen Japanese pirate upheaval, individual power was truly minuscule. Whether the position of General Banner would grant him a few dozenzy men who would respond without obedience, or a few dozen fierce and agile warriors who were ready to fight where directed, depended entirely on his own abilities. If he did not recruit a few trustworthy soldiers now to form the core of his unit, once they reached the Ming Army Camp, a mere General Banner would hardly be stronger than a front-line soldier. ¡°` The two men then found about a dozen more Ming soldiers who were still breathing, but most of them had severe injuries. One soldier had even been cut in half at the waist, with his entrails spilling out. He moaned in agony, unable to find death until Li Yan cleanly cut his throat, granting him release. ¡°Save me, save me~¡± Li Yan followed the sound and came across a middle-aged man in iron armor, with facial hair that extended over his neck. He had an arrow in his back that had pierced through to the front, and his right leg was trapped under a broken cannon barrel, turning his face pale. ¡°I am a Centurion of Chengwu Camp, save me¡­¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes shifted, and he knelt on one knee. ¡°This subordinate pays respects to the Centurion.¡± ¡°Save me!¡± The man¡¯s voice grew louder. ¡°Do not panic, my lord. I will rescue you right away.¡± Li Yan stood up, shook his leg armor, and leaned forward. ¡°Quick! Quick!¡± The man called out weakly. Li Yanid his hand on the cannon barrel, his eyes downcast. ¡°Your Excellency must see, our brothers have been scattered by the Japanese pirates. As a Centurion, you are likely the highest rank among the survivors, the backbone of us all¡­ May I know what your ns are for the next step, to organize the brothers?¡± ¡°First get that thing off me, call more people over, it¡¯s killing me.¡± Li Yan slowly patted the cannon barrel. ¡°No need.¡± With his palms wrapped around the cannon barrel and his waist and legs exerting force in a twist, he moved the dark half of the cannon barrel aside. The Centurion¡¯s right leg had been crushed by the cannon, and the bone was horribly disfigured. Li Yan pretended to help the man stabilize his broken leg and asked, ¡°Why not gather the brothers and search for the main force in the direction of the Yalu River¡­¡± ¡°Are you insane?¡± The middle-aged man growled lowly, ¡°There are at least tens of thousands of Japanese pirates in Joseon territory. We would be wiped out before we even got started.¡± Li Yan, without lifting his eyelids, said, ¡°Then what do you suggest, my lord?¡± ¡°First, we hide and change into the clothes of Joseon civilians. We must make long-term ns.¡± Li Yan spoke gently, as if he was somewhat troubled. ¡°We are the Ming army, the heavenly forces. If we cannot kill the enemy in battle, we should regroup at the camp as soon as possible. Your stance seems to have a hint of cowardice before the enemy.¡± ¡°What do you know, this is a strategy of advancing by retreating.¡± ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to reconsider?¡± ¡°Impudence! I am your superior, do you dare to defy orders?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s face turned stern with inner panic. The man binding his leg did not hastily apologize as imagined. He paused his motion, his gaze shifted to the man, and he curled his lips upwards, filled with a sinister air. ¡°My lord, you really don¡¯t understand the situation~¡± ¡°What do you¡­ mm~¡± Li Yan¡¯s palm rested on the nape of the Centurion¡¯s neck, his four fingers pressed into a w against the spine, and the middle-aged man¡¯s body shuddered, hisplexion turning from white to purple. His mouth opened and closed, but he could not utter a word. About ten breathster, a wetness seeped from the middle-aged man¡¯s trousers. Hisplexion had turned a dark purple, indicating he was no longer alive. Li Yan squatted for a while, his hand reaching to close the man¡¯s eyes when a stuffy male voice suddenly came from behind. ¡°Lord of the Banner~¡± ¡°` Chapter 49 - 3 General Translation Chapter 49: Chapter 3 General Trantion Editor: Larbre Studio Li Yan remained expressionless, his finger silently moving from the man¡¯s eyelid to the spot above his philtrum, before he heavily sighed and turned around. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Brother Deng.¡± Deng Tianxiong, a stout man like an iron tower, still exuded a strong sense of oppression despite his injuries, standing like a javelin. ¡°We¡¯ve caught a spy, possibly one of the Japanese pirates.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s a Japanese pirate, just kill him. There¡¯s no need to tell me.¡± Li Yan smiled faintly. ¡°Spare him! Spare him beneath your sword!¡± Li Yan shifted his gaze; the speaker was a man in a light blue cloth shirt and a round-bottomed silk hat, about thirty years old, so frail he looked like he could be blown over by a gust of wind. He was brought over stumbling, supported by two Ming soldiers. Li Yan had previously used the Yellow Turban Talisman on six people, three of whom, like Deng Tianxiong, had regained their ability to move, and the other two were also stabilizing from their injuries. After a few days of rest, they would no longer be in critical condition. ¡°This man was hiding inside a barrel. When I lifted the lid, he began to speak in Japanese,¡± Deng Tianxiong pointed at the man. ¡°Heavenly soldiers guide us, heavenly soldiers guide us.¡± The man, weak and dripping with cold sweat, pleaded: ¡°I am a trantor from Hanyang Prefecture. I apanied Deputy General Cha all the way to Pyongyang.¡± Li Yan nced over him. ¡°You understand Japanese?¡± When his profession was mentioned, the man seemed to calm down somewhat. He looked over at the young man who had asked the question. Slim and with high cheekbones, his eyes shone like stars, d in a grey, half-sleeved shirt, his blood-stained leg skirt fraying. Gathering his wits, the pale-faced man disyed a hint of schrly grace: ¡°Since childhood, I¡¯ve traveled the seas with my father. Not only do I understand Japanese, I also know a little of thenguage of red-bearded foreigners.¡± Li Yan¡¯s face blossomed into a smile, waving the Ming soldiers to release his shoulders. ¡°May I know how to address you, brother?¡± ¡°Since childhood, I¡¯ve greatly admired Han culture. My family name is Song, and my given name is Zhongji. As the second eldest in my family, inspired by the order of elder and younger brothers, hence my name is Song Zhongji.¡± ¡°A fine name.¡± Li Yan patted the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Trantor Song, within enemy territory, my brothers and I are seeking a way to survive. We intend to head south back to our camp. On this journey, we shall need your assistance.¡± ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Song Zhongji bowed deeply, though inwardly he grumbled bitterly. At that moment when the lid was opened, he thought he had been discovered by the Japanese pirates. That¡¯s why he called for help in Japanese. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be the Ming Army. Although the Ming Army was an ally, most of them were arrogant towards the people of Joseon. These men were particrly bold, thinking they could force their way back to camp even though the Japanese pirates had nearly conquered the whole territory of Joseon. It¡¯s as if they assume Konishi Yukinaga, currently in control of Pyongyang City, is dead. Now in such dire straits, Trantor Song harbored resentment towards the Ming Army. He had mocked the fragility of the Joseon troops all along the way, and now, weren¡¯t they easily crushed at the slightest touch? And yet, they were dragging him along to face death. While cursing in his heart, the face of this trantor official showed no sign of discontent. It was clear at first nce that this man was ruthless. Now still maintaining a semnce of respect, if Song showed any sign of indiscretion, this man would likely turn on him and kill him as easily as ughtering a chicken. Li Yan moved closer to Deng Tianxiong, whispering, ¡°Tianxiong, keep an eye on him. We are strangers in a strangend, and to survive we need this man. If he dares to run, kill him without mercy.¡± The problem was he didn¡¯t let Trantor Song get away, ncing at him now and then. Phrases like ¡°keep an eye on him¡± and ¡°kill him without mercy¡± carried on the wind to Song¡¯s ears. He felt a chill all over, yet he maintained a smile andposure on his face. About the duration of an incense stick, in the vast battlefield, Li Yan and his group had found over twenty survivors, but only nine could be brought together. Others were either too seriously wounded or unable to move and had to be left behind. Some of those people were still defiant, while others wept bitterly, begging for mercy. Li Yan¡¯s face was stern, but Deng Tianxiong was gritting his teeth. Including Li Yan himself, out of the ten, seven could walk. They took turns supporting the three injured. These people, exhausted and battle-weary, couldn¡¯t withstand a fight. An encounter with the Japanese pirates would make Li Yan¡¯s efforts in vain. However, once they recovered from their injuries, theirbat capability would be unmatched by any individual fighter. Ten people in a line, they set out toward the foothills as the early morning sun melted the snow. ¡­ ¡°Bang bang bang¡­¡± A face appeared behind the wooden door, a man in his forties, his face weather-beaten. Song Zhongji swallowed, speaking in a Pyongyang-ented Joseonnguage: ¡°Old man, we are soldiers of the Great Ming, here to fight the Japanese pirates, you¡­¡± As soon as the man heard the two words ¡°Great Ming,¡± he was already forcefully pressing the door board, his tone filled with panic: ¡°Go somewhere else, don¡¯t harm me¡­¡± Li Yan might not understand thenguage, but he was no fool. He pushed up forcefully with his elbow, a cold sneer appearing on his face. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not up to you.¡± How could a vige man struggle against the seasoned Li Yan, enhanced by the Gu Huo Bird? The door board was pushed open with a violent shove, and the viger stumbled and fell. A woman¡¯s startled cry came from inside the house. One by one, the soldiers d in military attire streamed in, most bearing weapons, their bodies exuding a thick scent of blood. Initially, the viger picked up a kitchen knife from the chopping board, but the fierce-looking Deng Tianxiong red at him, scaring him into dropping the knife. There were two women in the inner room, likely the man¡¯s wife and daughter. The girl, just reaching puberty, shrank into the corner of the kang, trembling uncontrobly, while the older woman knocked her head on the ground repeatedly, pleading for mercy. ¡°Tell him we¡¯re the official army, not Japanese pirates; our brother has been injured and we just want to ask for a bowl of hot water,¡± Li Yan said to Song Trantor with an impassive face, ¡°No tricks, no harming lives.¡± Song Zhongji helped the woman up, jabbering away for quite a while before the family calmed down. ¡°Which one of you brothers has some broken silver on you?¡± The soldiers looked at one another, until a short-statured private spoke up. ¡°My mother made me a longevity lock, it¡¯s pure silver.¡± This man, Wang Sheng, though not as proficient in Military Skill with only 70% of Deng Tianxiong¡¯s capability, possessed a skill called the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Listening Skill, making him a great hand for reconnaissance. ¡°Hand it over.¡± Wang Sheng obediently passed the item forward. Ever since Li Yan had demonstrated his miraculous Qi Healing Technique and saved their lives, several soldiers started to look up to this Chief Banner as their leader. Li Yan weighed the longevity lock in his hand, feeling its substantial heft. He ced the longevity lock in the woman¡¯s hand, then turned to Deng Tianxiong. ¡°Search around, grab whatever food or useful items you can find,¡± he instructed. Continuing, he motioned for Deng Tianxiong to bend down. ¡°If you find any broken silver, take some too¡ªyour own judgment on the amount. Wang Sheng¡¯s longevity lock is worth a fair bit, let¡¯s not shortchange ourselves.¡± Deng Tianxiong nodded and set about rummaging through the house. The rest of the soldiers entered the room, sitting around by the door board, appearing somewhat restrained. The elderly woman inspected the silver lock in her hand, biting it with her teeth. She then nced over at the soldiers who, ever since entering the house, had obediently squatted aside; her gaze flickered for a moment before she turned to enter the kitchen. Li Yan watched his battle-wearypanions, feeling as if a tense string was tightly wound within his heart. Breaking out of this encirclement was a formidable challenge. ¡°Song Trantor, ask this old man to find us a few sets of clothes; include it in the silver lock I just gave,¡± Li Yan said. Song Zhongji spoke in a flurry once more, and after a while, he brought forward two sets of coarse clothes. ¡°The family isn¡¯t well-off, this is all they have,¡± Song Trantor said, trying to smile. Li Yan was about to speak when a sergeant peeking through the crack of the door suddenly whispered urgently. ¡°Lord, there are Japanese pirates!¡± Song Trantor¡¯s palms trembled in fright, the clothes almost falling to the ground, but they were caught by Li Yan. ¡°Wang Sheng, help the badly injured brother into the back kitchen; the rest of you get down to the cer. Tianxiong,e with me to change clothes,¡± Li Yan quickly ordered, still maintaining order within his rapid speech. After a few words, the nine soldiers moved swiftly as if they were gears lubricated with oil. Soon, only the old man and his daughter, Song Trantor, Deng Tianxiong, and Li Yan remained in the room. A brash bout ofughter and conversation grew steadily closer. ¡°Bang!¡± The wooden board was heavily mmed. ¡°%#@#£¤#¡± ¡°` The people at the door started cursing angrily. The old man¡¯s face was covered inyer uponyer of sweat. Suddenly, the door was kicked open. Two ronin walked in, one after the other. ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate.¡± Japanese pirates (Hidetada Masasuke¡¯s troops) Specialty: Military Skill 70% Ability: Shinin-ryu Swordsmanship! Japanese pirates (Hidetada Masasuke¡¯s troops) Specialty: Military Skill 70% Ability: Firearm Shooting Just two ordinary Japanese pirates, yet they possessed as high as 70% proficiency. Li Yan¡¯s brow imperceptibly furrowed. ¡°Hey, you!¡± One of the bald-headed ronin with a shiny forehead and holding a sword pointed at Song Zhongji. Song Trantor looked somewhat bewildered. ¡°You,e here!¡± The ronin beckoned with his finger. Even if one couldn¡¯t understand, the meaning was clear. Song Zhongji swallowed hard, and Deng Tianxiong subtly nudged his waist. ¡°If you try any tricks, you¡¯ll be the first to die!¡± Song Trantor walked over with an apologetic smile, greeting them in Japanese. Li Yan leaned against the water jar, with the Ring Dragon Sword just behind it, and his hand holding a firearm buried in a pile of firewood beside him. Should there be the slightest oddity in the two Japanese pirates¡¯ demeanor, he was ready to strike immediately. Hearing Song Trantor speak Japanese, the two men looked at each other in surprise, then burst outughing. The pirate carrying the firearm patted Song Trantor on the cheek. ¡°What, you speak Japanese?¡± ¡°A little, a little.¡± The pirate with the firearm looked around. ¡°Why are there so many people in your house?¡± ¡°Guests, they are guests.¡± Song Trantor reacted quickly. The pirate with the sword took two steps forward: ¡°Guests, you say?¡± He grabbed some dried sweet potatoes off the table, recently found by Deng Tianxiong, and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing loudly. Without invitation, he walked up to Li Yan, his ck teeth nearly touching Li Yan¡¯s neck. ¡°Hey, can you speak Japanese?¡± Li Yan had a dumbfounded look. The ronin, feeling his short stature wasn¡¯t imposing enough, grabbed Li Yan by the cor and shook him vigorously: ¡°Oh mah ha i kou ga? (Are you an idiot?)¡± Li Yan remained unresponsive. The pirate spit out disdainfully: ¡°Baka (Idiot.)¡± He swept everything on the table into his clothing, rifled through the cupboard, and muttered, ¡°Knew I wasing, so you took everything out in advance, huh? Very thoughtful.¡± His vulture-like eyes swept around the room and suddenly locked onto a young girl curled up at the head of the kang bed. Deng Tianxiong¡¯s fists tightened, while Song Trantor stepped in front of the pirate¡¯s gaze and said with a bow and a grin, ¡°Sir, I know where there¡¯s food.¡± The pirate with the sword drew his de, which was extremely long with a ck edge, and pressed it against Song Trantor¡¯s belly. ¡°Move.¡± Song Trantor¡¯s face twitched, and after a moment of hesitation, he silently moved aside. ¡°` Deng Tianxiong had just lifted his foot when it was kicked from behind by Li Yan, who had approached unnoticed. Then, he heard Li Yan¡¯s whispers near his ear, ¡°He¡¯s not your daughter. What¡¯s the rush? Do you think escaping death was so easy that you can afford to y the hero?¡± ¡­ The two ronins¡¯ faces were filled with mirth as they pointed at the girl on the kang. They muttered to each other for quite a while, until atst, the one with the firearm on his back licked his lips and approached. The one holding the knife stood to one side, swallowing saliva. Li Yan seemed oblivious, his eyes cold and indifferent as he stared at the old man. The old man, kicked to the ground, knelt and beseeched pitifully, babbling in words Li Yan couldn¡¯t understand. Deng Tianxiong watched the old man¡¯s bowing head with an internal chill. Song Trantor¡¯s face trembled, ncing at the impassive, wooden-faced Li Yan, then to the knife-wielding ronin who was now pressing down on the girl. His hands and feet shivered. The girl¡¯s screams mingled with the sound of cloth tearing, exposing her pale flesh to the air. ¡°ng~¡± A tter came from the kitchen suddenly, followed by a woman¡¯s desperate shriek as she rushed out wielding a kitchen knife. ¡°Fuck your ancestors!¡± Song Trantor yelled, his hands fluttering like chicken ws as they lunged towards the ronin. The ck de glinted like a gaping maw, aiming for Song Trantor¡¯s neck. The salty tang of the sea filled the air. A cold smile crept over the ronin¡¯s lips. ¡°Ting~¡± ¡°Tss~¡± The sword light was like a stream of autumn water. A parry! A wrist flip! A horizontal sh! Blood spurted from the ronin¡¯s throat. His eyes bulged unbelievingly as he gazed up at the gaunt face before his nose. Li Yan¡¯s lips moved slightly: ¡°¤ª¤Þ¤¨¤Ï¤¢¤Û¤¦¤«?(Are you an idiot?)¡± Thud! The ronin on the kang jolted awake and reached for his firearm, only to have his wrist seized by Deng Tianxiong. He cried out, facing the fiercely bared teeth of Deng Tianxiong. The ronin tried kicking at Deng Tianxiong while a continuous, high-pitched ringing of a sword filled his ears. ¡­ ¡°Bang!¡± Li Yan pressed Song Zhongji¡¯s head down onto the table. ¡°Song Trantor, did I not say to avoid tricks? Or do you admire Han culture so deeply that even your angry curses before facing death have to be in our Hannguage?¡± Right before Song Zhongji had lunged, he had spoken in fluent Great Ming Mandarin. If he were truly indignant and acting on instinct, his mother tongue would naturallye out. Song Trantor¡¯s head was held down, but he was far from thepliant man they first met. His eyes were bloodshot as he cursed loudly in Mandarin: ¡°What kind of heavenly soldiers are you? Bullshit heavenly soldiers! What has the yearly tribute to the court brought us? Your three-thousand-strong defeat! Usually, you act so high and mighty, yet when our wives and daughters are humiliated, you dare not make a peep. When the people of Great Ming are oppressed, do you also stay silent? Are citizens from Ming Country people, while those from Joseon are not?¡± His spit flew as his teeth gnashed loudly. Li Yan grabbed the man by the cor, tossed him onto a chair, then kicked the edge of the chair, tipping it and the man over to the ground. Song Trantor¡¯s back mmed against the chair, causing him to gasp in pain, unable to speak for a long time. These broken soldiers were painstakingly gathered by him, and even out of sheer principle, Li Yan couldn¡¯t allow a mere trantor to dete their already low morale. ¡°It¡¯s not for a low-life like me to say whether the people from Ming Country are worth more than those from Joseon.¡± Li Yan held a teacup in his hand, ¡°But I would like to ask you, are the lives of Joseon¡¯s people valuable, while those of Great Ming¡¯s soldiers are not?¡± He pointed to the old man nearby. ¡°We risk our lives in battle to protect your Joseonnd and people. If he won¡¯t let us in, if the townspeople are afraid of death and ignorance, I don¡¯t mind.¡± Li Yan grabbed Song Trantor¡¯s neck, still groaning, and stared intently into his eyes. ¡°But what I want to ask you is, howe this bastard dares raise a kitchen knife against our soldiers of Great Ming, but when faced with Japanese pirates breaking into his house and dishonoring his daughter, all he knows is to bow and beg for mercy?!¡± He threw the man in his hand to the ground, his eyes fierce. ¡°I fucking ask you, why doesn¡¯t he dare to lift a knife against the Japanese pirates?¡± Song Trantor¡¯s lips bled, but he couldn¡¯t utter a word, lying on the ground, scanning the circle of Ming Army soldiers who looked at him coldly. ¡°If you want others to respect you and value your life as much as theirs, then show them why your life is worth something.¡± Chapter 50 - 4 Ghost in the Mountains Chapter 50: Chapter 4 Ghost in the Mountains Editor: Larbre Studio Northeast Barrel Category: Matchlock Gun Quality: Ordinary Firing Rate: 1 round/minute Range: 200 meters Requirements: Military Skill specialization above 50% or Firearms specialization above 65% Li Yan flipped the long firearm back and forth, his fingers tracing the curved hook of the firing mechanism before tossing it to Wang Sheng. ¡°Lord, this¡­¡± The somewhat youthful-faced Wang Sheng clutched nervously at his palm. ¡°Among us, you are the youngest. Keep it for self-defense.¡± Deng Tianxiong, with his hair fluttering, stepped in, bringing with him a hissing cold wind. ¡°Lord of the Banner, both corpses have been thrown into the ice holes. No tails left behind.¡± Li Yan positioned the other ronin¡¯s wakizashi upright, his brows slightly furrowed, ¡°Then we can¡¯t stay here much longer¡­¡± His eyes shifted to Deng Tianxiong, ¡°The Japanese des are not bad. Can you adapt to using one?¡± Deng Tianxiong scratched his head, smiling awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m still morefortable with the des from Great Ming.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t insist. The wakizashi was well-crafted, but if it wasn¡¯tfortable to use, it was better not to force it. ¡°I can use it.¡± A voice came from beside the stove. The man speaking had deep wrinkles on his face, was blind in the left eye, and his face resembled a piece of ck and hard tree bark. His belly was wrapped tightly with cloth, making him look somewhat cumbersome. Everyone else called him Diao Xiayan, an old acquaintance of Deng Tianxiong. ¡°When I followed General Qi, I practiced with a wakizashi in his camp.¡± ¡°Old Diao, you¡¯re seriously injured. Are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡± Li Yan asked. He wasn¡¯t being stingy; counting Li Yan himself, out of the nine Ming soldiers, only six had des. In a real fight, those with des in hand would be the first to charge. This man was one of the three seriously wounded, with arge hole in his belly made by a spear, clearly not in a condition to lead a charge. ¡°No problem.¡± The man then fell silent, saying no more. Li Yan handed over the de. The man took it, wiped it with his sleeve, examined it for a moment, and then suddenly spoke up. ¡°Lord of the Banner, that ronin was not of low status¡­¡± ¡°How can you tell?¡± Old Diao bit off a piece of dead skin from his dark purple lips and began, ¡°On the battlefield, organized infantry carry long spears, and the Japanese pirates are no different. Many peasant soldiers would rather tie a dagger to a long branch than use a shorter sword. A well-crafted wakizashi like this one is typically worn by those of higher status among the Japanese pirates, like ¡®ashigaru¡¯ or even ¡®hatamoto¡¯.¡± ¡°Uncle Diao, you seem to know quite a bit about the Japanese pirates,¡± Wang Sheng joked. Old Diao¡¯s remaining eye swiveled. ¡°When I was single-handedly fighting the Japanese pirates, you were still in diapers.¡± ¡°Bragging¡­¡± Wang Sheng replied incredulously. Old Diao cackled strangely, his words light and indifferent, ¡°Compared to General Li¡¯s neat and efficient swordsmanship, I¡¯m indeed not worth mentioning.¡± Li Yan knew the one-eyed old man wasn¡¯t lying; his Military Skill specialization was only 63%, which was average in this group, but he possessed one particr skill. Cold Killer (92/100) Unlike He Andong, this was the age of cold weaponry. Just like the recently mentioned matchlock gun, it was good to be able to fire once a minute. In melee, what counted was the weapon in hand. Meaning, ny-two people. Most of them were in by that old soldier with a de or even bare hands! Wang Sheng, though young, was an excellent scout. Deng Tianxiong had broken through the 70% barrier that even Zhang Mingyuan hadn¡¯t achieved. And then there was Diao Xiayan¡­ Li Yan had saved these men, each with their own unique skills. Under Zha Dashou¡¯smand, those 3,000 men included strong soldiers from Liaodong Town and the legendary Qi Family Army. Even if the intelligence was inurate and they had underestimated the enemy, it took quite a force to nearly annihte such an army, one that had been through a hundred years of the Warring States period. Li Yan wasn¡¯t too familiar with the Warring States period so revered by countless people; he only remembered a name: Ghost Hachiro. Honda Tadakatsu¡­ A cold smirk appeared at the corner of Li Yan¡¯s lips. The Zhang Fei of the Warring States period? ¡°` ¡°Song Trantor¡­¡± Li Yan began. The man who was alone wiping vegetable oil on himself looked up after Li Yan spoke. He had be a lot more subdued and no longer pretended to shiver in fright, but instead constantly kept a cold expression on his face. ¡°We want to avoid the Japanese pirates and head towards the Yalu River. Which way should we go?¡± Song Trantor grabbed a handful of soil and began drawing with his fingers. Before long, he had sketched a reasonably urate topographic map. ¡°Go this way, circle around from the bottom of She Mountain, there¡¯s a small fort here. When the court set up defenses here, there were probably about twenty men, I don¡¯t know how the Japanese pirates have arranged things, but it¡¯s definitely not arge number. If you can avoid them, you¡¯ve seeded by half.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too far,¡± Li Yan shook his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it faster to follow this river?¡± Deng Tianxiong chimed in. ¡°The riverbanks are crawling with Japanese pirates, if you want to court death, don¡¯t drag me into it.¡± Song Trantorughed coldly, his attitude much firmer. Deng Tianxiong wasn¡¯t offended, as the other was a local and literate. He knew better, and that¡¯s what¡¯s good about being the big-headed soldier; one listens to advice¡­ ¡°I think She Mountain isn¡¯t too treacherous. Can¡¯t we just go straight through?¡± Li Yan inquired. Song Trantor hesitated for a long time before he uncertainly said, ¡°You can try, but it¡¯s very dangerous. The chances of being discovered are high.¡± ¡°The longer the night, the more dreams,¡± Li Yan murmured. He had his own considerations. Circling She Mountain was not only time-consuming and strenuous, but the area that Song Trantor pointed out was also open terrain where the probability of encountering Japanese pirates was indeed low. However, if they were spotted, the pirates had cavalry and they wouldn¡¯t be able to run. Crossing She Mountain was not only faster, but even if they were discovered, the mountainous terrain was rough, and cavalry couldn¡¯t enter, giving Li Yan a chance to fight. The moment Li Yan and the others huddled together, pointing and discussing, the girl who had brought a bowl of hot soup for her mother stayed by the side, watching everyone chatter over the small mound of earth. Suddenly, she spoke up. ¡°What did she say?¡± Song Trantor looked puzzled. ¡°Nothing important, children say the darndest things.¡± Li Yan scratched his itchy neck with some irritation, ¡°Just say it if you¡¯re told.¡± Helplessly, Song Trantor said, ¡°The little girl said She Mountain is haunted; are you really taking a child¡¯s words so seriously?¡± ¡°Ghosts? I, Old Deng, have lived for over thirty years and have yet to see one. If it¡¯s a male ghost, that¡¯d be something but if it¡¯s a female ghost, heh heh¡­¡± Deng Tianxiong was nonchnt. It was Diao Xiayan who was picking his teeth as he spoke: ¡°The existence of ghosts might be nonsense, but there¡¯s a saying that when a country is about to fall, monsters appear. With all the dead around here now, who knows if something wicked could reallye forth.¡± Song Trantor bit his lip. The mention of the country¡¯s impending doom didn¡¯t offend him, but the reference to dead bodies everywhere struck a chord in his heart. After the Japanese pirates invaded, they ughtered wantonly, with sixty thousand dead in Jinzhou alone. Li Yan andpany had seen countless emaciated corpses by the roadside and bodies strung up in trees, pecked by crows, on their journey. ¡°There are ghosts,¡± Li Yan touched the tattoo on his chest, seemingly casual. ¡°Then, all the better¡­¡± ¡­ As night fell, more than six hours had passed since Li Yan and the others had set out. To the west of the walls of Pyongyang City, among the haphazardly positioned huts of the vige. ¡°So, Shin Hachiro and the other one left the troop and said they¡¯d catch up with us, and then¡­ they died just like that. How can I exin this to Mr. Hidetada?¡± The man was dressed in a in white Wu garment with pale cloud embroidery. With the scent of sake on his slender fingers and white neck, he gazed at the damp bodies dragged before him, his cultivated face showing a hint of distress. ¡°Drifting along the icy river, probably done by something like the Joseon Volunteer Army,¡± the samurai beside him shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Such a clean job doesn¡¯t seem like the work of that rabble.¡± The man gently shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s the regr army.¡± ¡°So, should we chase after them?¡± the samurai asked. ¡°Of course, I will go personally. Give me five Red Guards. They don¡¯t have many men; otherwise, we would have encountered them on our way here.¡± The yellowed bucket with a crack dropped into the well with a ssh. The worn hemp rope creaked under the burden, and the clear well water leaked out from the sides of the bucket. The man scooped adleful and drank; it was refreshingly cold. Content, he gestured, and two Japanese pirates holding a child not even ten years old threw him into the well with a ssh. ¡°Fill it,¡± the man said, then turned away from the roaring mes behind him. He squatted down, ran his index finger over a corpse¡¯s throat and tasted it. Chilled blood clung to his clean fingernails, sharp upon his tongue. His expression turned surprised. ¡°Such a swift de.¡± ¡°` Chapter 51 - 5 Encounter? Encounter?! Encounter! Chapter 51: Chapter 5 Encounter? Encounter?! Encounter! Editor: Larbre Studio Snowkes danced and twirled, draping a thinyer upon the dark mountain rocks. Heavy footsteps crunched upon the ground, making a creaking noise. Li Yan¡¯s steps halted. ¡°My lord, what¡¯s¡­ huh?¡± Deng Tianxiong¡¯s words came to an abrupt stop. The overburdened dry branches on the trees snapped under the weight, and the umted snow rustled down, revealing a fenced farmhouse to everyone¡¯s surprise. ¡°Tianxiong, how long have we been walking?¡± ¡°A whole day, we have already reached the middle of the mountain.¡± ¡°No vige ahead, no store behind. We walked to the middle of the mountain, wishing for some wolf dung to warm ourselves, yet here we see a household.¡± Li Yan pondered for a while; by this time, a pale crescent moon had appeared in the sky, and everyone¡¯s cotton robes were like paper mache, utterly unable to withstand the wind and snow. Compared to frostbite, the so-called Mountain Ghosts seemed not so frightening after all. ¡°Let¡¯s go, take a look.¡± Everyone adjusted their clothes, their expressions guarded; in the wild mountains, the sudden appearance of a farmhouse would make anyone uneasy. Approaching the farmhouse, Song Trantor called out loudly, but unexpectedly, a delicate face appeared at the door! The woman had long hair coiled into a bun, with rosy cheeks. Her thin linen winter clothes could not conceal her graceful figure, and her big watery eyes looked curiously at the people. ¡°Heh heh, thisss looks really spirited.¡± Diao Xiayan spoke with a feigned voice, his wordsced with an unmistakable wariness. Wild mountains, snowy night, a woman living alone. A fine story. ¡°Uncle Diao,¡± Wang Sheng murmured softly, ¡°I heard from my mother, when traveling in heavy snow, there may be a martens that transforms into a woman. If you don¡¯t harbor ill intent, she¡¯ll turn you into stone, but if you do, she¡¯ll gouge out your heart and liver~¡± Song Trantor stepped forward and bowed deeply, speaking to the woman. After some time, he returned to Li Yan and said: ¡°She says she lives alone and agrees to let us stay for the night.¡± He lowered his voice as he spoke. ¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡± ¡°Even a blind man could see that.¡± Li Yan replied coldly. The people filed in, and the crackling fire brought a wave of warmth to everyone inside the house. The bright oilmp lit up the whole room; the fire in the center zed fiercely, with a pot hanging over it, cooking taro and the like. ¡°That big pot, the youngdy can¡¯t finish it herself, can she?¡± Li Yan smirked, raising an eyebrow. The woman, not understanding Li Yan¡¯s words, just smiled reservedly. She scooped a full bowl from the pot and handed it over to Li Yan, her loose winter clothing gaping at the chest, revealing her creamy corbones, her smile enchanting. The men stared intently at the woman, with the impatient Wang Sheng even reaching for his firearm. Li Yan watched her for a while, then suddenly burst intoughter, seizing the woman¡¯s slender wrist. Ignoring the soup that spilled all over, he forcefully pulled her into his embrace, his hand wandering freely over her legs. The woman instinctively struggled, and a chill shed deep in Li Yan¡¯s eyes as he whispered beside her ear: ¡°Miss has been living in the deep mountains for so long, must be very lonely. We from Ming Country have traveled a long way, just right to ease thedy¡¯s chamber loneliness¡­¡± ¡°p!¡± Deng Tianxiong grimaced, touching his face and swallowing his saliva. The woman¡¯s eyes were red and swollen, her body trembling with rage, and with a lifted hand, a stark red handprint remained on Li Yan¡¯s face. She retreated continuously and rushed into the inner room, locking the door behind her. ¡°¡­¡± Li Yan raised his head and spoke with all seriousness: ¡°Everyone take turns keeping watch. We leave at dawn, and if all goes well, we should walk out of She Mountain before dark tomorrow.¡± ¡°My lord, about the woman¡­¡± ¡°We leave first thing tomorrow morning.¡± Deng Tianxiong wisely kept his mouth shut. ¡°Gurgle~¡± All eyes fell on Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng¡¯s face turned red. A soldierughed and scooped up a bowl for Wang Sheng. ¡°Hold on.¡± Li Yan suddenly spoke up, frowning thoughtfully for a moment. He pulled out a pancake from his bosom, tore a piece off, and threw it to Wang Sheng. ¡°Eat this.¡± The others exchanged nces and nodded in agreement. Wang Sheng caught it and looked around. ¡°What are you looking at, kid? If General Li tells you to eat, just eat,¡± Diao Xiayan scolded with augh. Wang Sheng scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed, and squatted in the corner tearing small bites off the tough, rigid pancake. Bubbles gently simmered from the iron pot, and the aroma of the grains dispersed, yet no one spoke a word. Li Yan swept his eyes across the group, ncing over everyone¡¯s resolute yet silent expressions, feeling somewhat moved. This ce might not seem as dangerous as the life-and-death perils of the ring, but Li Yan couldn¡¯t afford to rx for even a moment. Surviving in the ring required skills, but to break out from here, to stay alive on the battlefields in theing days, those skills were far from enough. The deep trust in the eyes of these soldiers weighed heavily on Li Yan¡¯s heart. ¡°General Li, while we have a fire going, I¡¯ll go out and get some clean ice blocks. We can melt them into water for everyone to drink on the road.¡± Diao Xiayan suddenly spoke up. ¡°Uncle Diao, you rest, I¡¯ll go,¡± a burly soldier stood up, pping his palms together. Others chimed in, but Diao Xiayan was not having any of it and merely nced at the soldier. ¡°Are you implying that I¡¯m too old to even manage this simple task?¡± ¡°Uncle Diao, how can you say that¡­ With your injury¡­¡± ¡°Injury my ass. You look big and strong, but if we were to try it out, I bet I could take you down. Believe it or not?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡ªYou¡¯re being unreasonable. I meant well¡­¡± Diao Xiayan waved his hand dismissively and looked towards Li Yan with his one eye. ¡°General Li, what do you say?¡± Li Yan looked outside at the snow that was slowlying to a stop and said, ¡°Be back before it gets dark.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Diao Xiayan said, grabbing his saber and heading outside. ¡°Uncle Diao.¡± Wang Sheng, with his cheeks still bulging, ran over and handed over his firearm. ¡°Take this with you. If you run into a roe deer or something, shoot it and bring it back to fill our stomachs.¡± Old Diao sized up Wang Sheng and patted him on the head: ¡°You¡¯re the one who speaks sense, kid.¡± ¡°Heh heh.¡± Wang Shengughed foolishly at his words. Old Diao, shouldering the firearm, pushed the door open; the whooshing cold wind skewed his dry white beard. Squinting his eyes, he stepped his boots into the expanse of white outside the house. Everyone huddled around the fire, and with a Joseon woman who had just been teased in the inner room, no one feltfortable speaking loudly. Time passed slowly. Just as Li Yan was about to clear his throat and say something to lighten the mood, an unexpected male voice came from outside the wooden door. ¡°Excuse me.¡± (In Korean) The door creaked open, and a young man dressed in a fur coat appeared at the entrance, with red lips, white teeth, and a refined appearance. Deng Tianxiong¡¯s eyes hardened, but he quickly realized they had changed out of their Ming Army uniforms on the road. They looked more like hunters and farmers than soldiers; there was no need to be overly anxious. The man asked something in Korean, and Song Trantor immediately stood up with an ¡°Ah!¡± and walked over warmly. The two exchanged a few words, probably somethings like ¡°Your ent sounds like you¡¯re from Pyongyang?¡± ¡°Up the mountain to seek shelter¡± ¡°So am I!¡± ¡°Fortunate to meet you¡± or something of that nature. The atmosphere seemed quite harmonious. Four men with grim expressions followed the young man in, each armed with a sword with a fiery red scabbard. ¡°Sir, take a look at their swords,¡± Deng Tianxiong said in a low voice. Unexpectedly, the man who was chatting happily with Song Trantor suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with shock and excitement, and he asked in very standard Chinese, ¡°Great Ming people?¡± ¡­ Diao Xiayan, with tworge chunks of ice wrapped in his clothes and his saber hung at his waist, shook the snowkes from his hair as they fluttered about. He was indeed getting old, old enough that he could barely withstand the wind and frost. Maybe one day he wouldn¡¯t be able to grip a sword steadily, and then it would really be time for his son to take over. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. In the snow, a wild musk deer was looking around cautiously. A smile spread across Diao¡¯s orange-peel-like face as he raised his firearm and took aim at the musk deer with his one good eye. ¡°Bang!¡± The musk deer fell to the sound of the gunshot. Diao Xiayan frowned, ignoring the dead animal on the ground, and slowly turned around. Twenty meters away, a dazzlingly red Doumaru Samurai armor stood quietly as if it was a bright red me erected on a snow mountain. From under the kibito-shaped star helmet seemed to float a formless ghost; two glints of cold light hovered in the air. Arm guards, Kote gloves, Suneate shin guards, Kawa-gutsu shoes¡ªall linked together, exuding an indescribable aura of deterrence. Grand, imposing, and grim. Diao Xiayan, wearing a threadbare woolen shirt, with his hair covered in snowkes, looked shabby and miserly. The two standing together looked like a warrior and a beggar¡­ The one-eyed old soldier threw the ice and firearm on the ground and tore off the blood-stained cloth from his injured belly, winding it around the wrist of his saber hand, tightening the knot with his teeth with a fierce determination, his gaze as wild as a lone wolf. ¡°Wokou pirate¡­¡± Chapter 52 - 6 Chaos Chapter 52: Chapter 6 Chaos Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` The man in the fur robe looked at Deng Tianxiong, ¡°A person from Great Ming?¡± Deng Tianxiong¡¯s mind buzzed. The four men with fiery red scabbards were utterly baffled. Wang Sheng was the first to react! The youth¡¯s half-crouching body lunged forward in an instant. His jaws clenched tight, the fine fuzz on his lips quivered as his sword struck out like the abrupt crack of spring thunder, aiming for the man¡¯s legs. ¡°Ah~¡± ¡°Eh?¡± The room immediately descended into chaos. A soldier flipped a cauldron, and the boiling water soared into the air, while Deng Tianxiong¡¯s feet pushed off from a long sword, his soles forcefully flicking outward, and the de whooshed through the air, its tip aiming directly between the man and the fiery red scabbard guards! The sound of the wind was subdued by the burning fire pit, the mes twisted and trembled wildly. The room darkened instantaneously, casting everyone¡¯s shadow long and thin. Wang Sheng¡¯s de had already grazed the man¡¯s calf. The nearest red scabbard guardsman, yelling in an iprehensible birdnguage, whipped his slender de into a ghastly red arch but was blocked for a moment by Deng Tianxiong¡¯s sword, failing to protect his master. Wang Sheng¡¯s indifferent face remained unfluctuating, his grip on the sword tightened by a fraction. Suddenly, his neck turned cold as the slithery chill spread through his body in an instant, and the strike, so close at hand, seemed impossible to deliver. The onlookers¡¯ eyes were wide with shock. A tangle of wet ck hair, appearing out of nowhere, had wrapped around Wang Sheng¡¯s neck. The youth¡¯s eyes bulged as his grip weakened helplessly, and before the sword hilt could drop, a ze of red sword light had already risen from below,shing toward the youth¡¯s face! ¡°Bang!¡± The lingering sound meandered, the mournful wail of the sword de incessant in their ears as the warrior kept stepping back, his hands shaking non-stop¡­ Li Yan held a gun in both hands, the ck muzzle aimed directly at the man in the fur robe, his resolute cheeks reflecting the firelight into a fiery red. ¡­ ¡°You¡¯re out of bullets, so what are you still aiming at me for?¡± The man appeared calm and collected. ¡°Bang!¡± Firelight erupted, the man¡¯s eyebrows twitched, his face a picture of shock. The bullet grazed past his hair, the burned scent faint but discernible. Li Yan¡¯s gaze was fierce: ¡°Why don¡¯t you guess whether I¡¯m out of bullets yet?¡± The man looked down, then suddenly began tough. His pale hand reached out swiftly towards Wang Sheng. ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± Firelight burst forth in quick session, two bullets scraping past the man¡¯s neck, the smell of gunpowder overpowering the scent of food in the air. Not just the man, even Deng Tianxiong and the others were left dumbstruck. Li Yan raised his gun slightly. ¡°Guess again?¡± Deng Tianxiong rushed over and pulled Wang Sheng back, ripping off the strange ck hair from his neck and desperately pinching his philtrum. ¡°There¡¯s something off about this guy, I was obviously aiming for his chest.¡± Li Yan maintained hisposure, but internally he was puzzled. At the moment he fired, Li Yan had a vague feeling that the bullet seemed to pass through a shadow¡­ From the first shot, Li Yan had aimed for the enemy¡¯s vital points, but the shot was deflected by the warrior with a sword ¨C more precisely, the bullet hit the sword¡¯s edge. Even with the aid of Hook Star, Li Yan wouldn¡¯t dare im he could sh a bullet with a sword. The subsequent shots were even more bizarre; to others, it seemed like Li Yan was toying with his prey, but Li Yan had no such leisure ¨C he simply hadn¡¯t hit the target and was only pretending to be impressive. A Fleeting Glimpse, activate Red Guard Warrior! A special force from the Country of Kai. Status: Without Armor (Defense reduced by 70%, Agility increased by 40%) Expertise: Military Skill 77% Skills: True Shinin-ryu Sword Skill Soul of Kai Strong Army (Groupbat strength increased) Threat Level: Light Red Threat Level*4: Deep Red Kobayakawa Masakazu, the youngest of the Kobayakawa family. Status: Daimyo¡¯s Blood (Protected by Demonic Strength, all damage reduced by 10%, damage reduced by 25% when walking on Yan Fu) Expertise: Ancient Swordsmanship 79% (Shinto Munen-ryu) Skills: Ghost Taming Technique (Nanako) Threat Level: Red Ghost Taming Technique? Li Yan flexed his fingers. The shock on Kobayakawa¡¯s face would not fade for a long time: ¡°The firearms of Great Ming have advanced to this extent?!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°` Kobayakawa quickly came to his senses, because the man¡¯s aplice had a surprised look on his face, just like his own. His eyes shifted, gazing at the Colt Pistol with insatiable greed. ¡°The Wanli Emperor¡¯s army seems to be quite far from Pyongyang.¡± He didn¡¯t care about the barrel of Li Yan¡¯s gun and said leisurely, ¡°Are you the remnants of the routed army?¡± Deng Tianxiong spat on the ground, ¡°Japanese dwarf, you¡¯ve learned Mandarin quite well.¡± ¡°Did you hide in the mountains to avoid our search?¡± Kobayakawa took two steps forward, and Li Yan took a step forward, lifting the gun slightly. The meaning in his eyes was very clear. The man showed no fear, he looked around, tilting his head: ¡°And your men are badly injured.¡± Apart from Diao and Song Trantor, the remaining seven were all wounded, already struggling from the long march. Probably only two or three people like Deng Tianxiong could handle a few rounds with these vigorous Red Guard warriors. ¡°One shot each, how much trouble could that cause?¡± Li Yan¡¯s face showed disdain. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you shoot?¡± Kobayakawa asked with a smile. ¡°Bang!¡± Li Yan turned the gun and fired at the warrior farthest from Kobayakawa! The bullet entered the man¡¯s shoulder, and blood sttered out. The warrior cried out in pain, and Deng Tianxiong and the others clearly saw a withered hand that came from nowhere block the bullet before it hit the warrior. The bullet passed through the hand and was deflected off course. Li Yan realized something and roared, ¡°Fall back,¡± and all the Ming Army soldiers quickly distanced themselves from Kobayakawa. At the same time, Kobayakawa grimaced and beckoned his warriors closer to him. The unknown always incites fear, but Li Yan was an exception. The Ghost Taming Technique, Nanako, was, frankly, no different from the Serpent. When Li Yan shot at Kobayakawa, Nanako moved almost too fast to see. When he shot at the warrior further away, Nanako¡¯s speed slowed considerably. However, one was a fierce attack, while the other was akin to a curse. The situation suddenly became deadlocked. Kobayakawa nced at the roof without showing any trace. On the beam above, a woman with reversed joints, white¨Cdressed and ck-haired, was hanging upside down and slowly crawling towards Li Yan and his men¡­ ¡°Lord Kobayakawa, let¡¯s rush over together!¡± A warrior whispered. Kobayakawa gave him a look as if he were an idiot and said with a fake smile, ¡°I certainly won¡¯t die if he shoots me carelessly¡­¡± ¡°Lord Li, that little Japanese is haunted,¡± whispered Song Trantor. Li Yan touched his neck without changing his expression, the itch had imperceptibly turned into a stinging pain. It¡¯s never the good spirits thate through; he cursed inwardly, licking his lips and saying, ¡°It¡¯s already dark. Old Diao should have been back by now.¡± Meanwhile, Kobayakawa also frowned, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Yamamotoe back?¡± Bothments dropped at almost the same time, and they both gave each other a surprised nce. Their expressions changed rapidly. ¡­ Nanako had already crossed the beam, her body seeming to sprout from the wall itself, like a mother spider choosing her prey. With her resentful eyes hidden behind thick ck hair, she dead-eyed Wang Sheng, who stood against the wall with pale lips. Her withered ws reached out slowly¡­ A delicate white hand wrapped around Nanako¡¯s withered palm, and a charming face pressed against Nanako¡¯s ck hair, forcefully standing between Wang Sheng and Nanako. ¡°Heh, hah~¡± The eyes of the woman in front of him were tender like water, smiling sweetly at him. Nanako opened her mouth in a silent scream. She looked no more than a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, while the woman before her was a voluptuous beauty, likely in her twenties. She held Nanako in her arms¡­ ¡­ Past the fence, an unfathomably dark entrance presented itself, the semnce of warmth blown away by the cold wind without leaving a trace. Footstep after footstep was imprinted in the snow, blood seeping through clenched fingers. A red katana was carried on the back, the arms wrapped in shifting bandages, tangled hair danced wildly, and turbid eyes bulged outward. His purple and cracked lips were tightly sealed. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡­ ¡°Wait!¡± Kobayakawa said, his gaze eerie. ¡°We can¡¯t wait anymore!¡± Li Yan gripped the Ring Dragon Han Sword tightly, clenching his teeth hard. ¡°Crack~¡± The smell of gunpowder was tangible, and the sound of boots entering the room was pronounced, immediately drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Diao Xiayan was soaked in blood, his vividly red abdomen heaved with his breaths, his disheveled and dry hair hung over his shoulders, and his cracked and reddened hands clutched a braid, with the bloody head at the end of the braid swinging in the wind. The old man stood straight, his single eye filled with a murky red. ¡°General Li, the Japanese have gone up the mountain.¡± Chapter 53 - 7: Fight for Life and Death Chapter 53: Chapter 7: Fight for Life and Death Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Bang!¡± While everyone was slightly dazzled by the old soldier¡¯s figure, Li Yan didn¡¯t hesitate to pull the trigger, a sh of gunfire burst out, and hit a Red Guard in the neck exactly! ¡°Nanako!¡± Seeing the Red Guard copse to the ground limply, Kobayakawa eximed in shock and rage. ¡°Kill!¡± Li Yan discarded the empty pistol and took the lead with the Ring Dragon Sword in hand. ¡°Yi Kezou!¡± Kobayakawa¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as he drew the katana from his waist and lunged upward to meet Li Yan. Deng Tianxiong sprinted forward, his fists wrapped in the sound of wind and dried grass roots, charging at a Red Guard with an injured shoulder first,pletely ignoring the two fierce shes of red lighting from either side. A soldier yelled out, flinging his long sword that buzzed through the air, and Deng Tianxiong, as if he had eyes on his back, twisted his ankle and dodged the pincer attack of the red shes, while the long sword swirling behind him struck exactly against the two red katanas! Deng Tianxiong caught the hilt in midair, rolled on the ground to rise, and his sword swept toward the lower bodies of the two men in a fluid motion, perfectly in sync with the soldier behind him! As the sword light approached, the two Red Guards maintained an indifferent expression, one even curling his mouth into a hook. ¡­ On the other side, Li Yan charged at Kobayakawa. ¡°ng!¡± Kobayakawa involuntarily gasped when the autumn water-like de of the Ring Dragon Sword shed with the katana. ¡°This man from Great Ming has such great strength.¡± The tall, slim man from Great Ming before him was full of murderous intent, his eyebrows inverted like the edge of a tempered de, and when his sword swung down, it looked as dark and overwhelming as a mountain copsing. The Ring Dragon Sword and the katana collided several times, their shing sounds bursting in the air, and within two breaths¡¯ time, Kobayakawa was quickly at a disadvantage! ¡°Could this man be one of Great Ming¡¯s ferocious generals?¡± Kobayakawa¡¯s forehead sweated, but his heart wasn¡¯t totally flustered. Although he didn¡¯t know why Nanako had suddenly lost contact, the Feeding Ghost Skill was still notpletely useless inbat, and after all, the ghosts Kobayakawa fed were not only Nanako¡­ He smirked from the corner of his mouth, ¡°Come on!¡± Under Li Yan¡¯s fleeting glimpse, every shift in Kobayakawa¡¯s expression and breath was in to see. As the opponent¡¯s katana sliced cunningly from under the armpit, Li Yan¡¯s eyes moved, and seeing Deng Tianxiong¡¯s location, he furrowed his brow deeply: ¡°Tianxiong, release your grip!¡± With that, he ced his left arm behind his back, twisted his waist to dodge the katana, and leaped towards Deng Tianxiong! ¡°Damn it!¡± Kobayakawa was furious, the other man¡¯s behavior clearly showing no regard for him. He gripped the hilt with both hands, slightly lifting his forearm to the upper left, and four ck infants with vacant expressions crawled from behind onto Kobayakawa¡¯s shoulders. Ordinary soldiers couldn¡¯t notice, feeling only that the man¡¯s aura suddenly turned dark and obscure. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this!¡± The ck infants screeched as the katana turned pure ck, and with the screech, it shed at Li Yan with a swiftness that was a fraction faster than Li Yan in Hook Star mode! Li Yan twisted at the waist midair, a howling wind echoing past his ears, the malevolence in his eyes instantly intensifying! He turned his head to the right, squatted left, switched the Ring Dragon Sword from his right hand to his left, flipped it from behind and thrust forward, instantly striking back with a turnabout spear move! Twenty-Four Moves of Main Frame of Combat Sword, Azure Dragon Turning! He¡¯s been fooled! Kobayakawa felt as if a bucket of cold water was poured over him, realizing he¡¯d fallen for Li Yan¡¯s trick. It was already toote to withdraw his sword, as the Ring Dragon Han Sword, nearly one meter three in length, roared towards his face! At this life-and-death moment, he rolled his tongue, emitting a strange syble. Feeding Ghost Curse: Teleportation Thwack! The sword tip pierced through not Kobayakawa, but the ghost girl named Nanako. ¡°Roar!!!!!¡± Kobayakawa, having reached the wall at some point, spat out a mouthful of old blood with a snort! The roar of the Exotic Beast seemed to trample through the destion of ancient times, bringing with it an unparalleled ferocity that surged into his brain! When hunting bandits, capture their leader first! Li Yan shook off his long sword, disregarding the trembling Nanako in front of him, and charged toward Kobayakawa. ¡­ Deng Tianxiong hunched over, his Goose Feather Sword mere two inches from chopping into the calf of a Red Guard. To his right, a Red Guard flipped his wrist, sending a katana slicing toward Deng Tianxiong¡¯s belly. Another Red Guard raised his sword to stab downward, aiming straight for Deng Tianxiong¡¯s wrist. The Red Guard with a bullet in his shoulder leaned on twopanions, gripping a Wakizashi in his right hand. With the de trembling, three sword-bearing Ming Army soldiers stepped forward, unable to gain any advantage. Instead, he found an opportunity and sliced open the arm of one of the Ming soldiers. ¡°Tianxiong, let go!¡± Deng Tianxiong¡¯s heart trembled, a cool sensation pricking at his backhand. He had intended to fight it out, but at Li Yan¡¯s roar, he clenched his teeth, withdrew his hand from the hilt, and rolled over to Diao Xiayan¡¯s side by the door. However, his fingers and chest had both been grazed by shallow cuts. Coldness enveloped Deng Tianxiong¡¯s heart. The Red Guards¡¯ swords were even faster than he had imagined. At this moment, the three Red Guards formed a triangr formation, a sh of red light appearing in their eyes. The Soul of Kai! The Red Guard who had forced Deng Tianxiong to drop his sword flicked up the Goose Feather Sword with his de tip, held the handle horizontally with his left hand, and with a cold smirk on his lips, he nced darkly at the severed head in Diao Xiayan¡¯s hand, looked around, and gestured to everyone with a crooked finger. Now, every Ming soldier who could stand up surged forward! ¡°Diao, fall back!¡± Deng Tianxiong yelled out. There was no sound behind him; Deng Tianxiong nearly ground his teeth to dust but did not look back. Instead, he seized thebat sword from Diao Xiayan¡¯s hand and roared forth, with nothing but the sound of the wind whistling behind him. ¡­ Kobayakawa¡¯s vision darkened as he shook a small white rice ball from his sleeve and swallowed it. The pain in his head eased a bit. He had just raised his head when the Ring Dragon Sword pounced! ¡°Tssk!¡± Kobayakawa tilted his head, the sword tip stabbing into the wooden nk. He lifted his katana in a backhanded stroke. Just as he raised his arm, the de of the Ring Dragon Sword made a crisp sound as it swept across his neck. ¡°Order your men to stop.¡± Li Yan said coldly. Kobayakawa licked his lips, ¡°Protected by fate, impervious to a hundred ghosts¡­ I¡¯ve caught a big fish.¡± ¡°Go to hell.¡± Li Yan flicked his wrist, and the Ring Dragon sliced through Kobayakawa¡¯s arm but got stuck inside. Kobayakawa¡¯s face turned pale, and two streams of murky ck air billowed out from his nostrils. Li Yan raised his sword to sidestep the ck air. The Ring Dragon blossomed like a white lotus, striking Kobayakawa¡¯s crotch, chest, and throat, emitting a series of metallic ngs. At the same time, the red glow on Kobayakawa¡¯s body grew denser. Nanako roared in agony, ck air scattering in all directions from her body. When the Ring Dragon Sword aimed at Kobayakawa¡¯s throat failed to pierce through, Li Yan made a snap decision. With a swipe of his finger across the de, a drop of fresh blood fell along the edge onto Kobayakawa¡¯s body. Blood Dip! Kobayakawa, the Red Guards, Deng Tianxiong, and even Li Yan at this moment all had bloodshot eyes. Song Trantor hid in the corner, his throat parched, fists clenched tightly. Blooms of blood and severed limbs tumbled before his eyes. He grabbed a convenient wooden nk but never mustered the courage to step forward. ¡°Ah~¡± Within the deste house, a woman¡¯s sigh, its origin unknown, sounded. Kobayakawa¡¯s eyes bulged, and he clutched his face with both hands as stream after stream of ck fluid poured uncontrobly from his mouth and nose, making him look utterly wretched. ¡°General, strike now!¡± The force went straight through to the back of the de. The Ring Dragon Sword swung, and a head soared into the sky! Chapter 54 - 8: She Mountain Woman (Part 1) (Major Revision!) Chapter 54: Chapter 8: She Mountain Woman (Part 1) (Major Revision!) Editor: Larbre Studio Blood, with its intense metallic smell, sshed all over the walls, causing Kobayakawa to involuntarily look up to the ceiling before crashing down abruptly. ¡°Thud¡­¡± His vision was awash in red, filled with horrifically contorted and wailing evil spirits lunging at him. Kobayakawa blinked hard, his gaze finally settling into darkness. ¡°Target is in a state of bacsh; probability of discovering its weak point has increased by 500%.¡± ¡°You have discovered the target¡¯s weak point! The speed of your next attack has increased by 100%, and the damage dealt is deepened by 100%.¡± ¡°Target deceased.¡± ¡°You have triggered Blood Dip, causing additional damage of 0%. Hook Star status temporary loss for one hour.¡± No time to nce at these notifications, nor to ponder whose voice the woman¡¯s was, Li Yan moved swiftly, Ring Dragon sword glistening. His eyes scanned the scene in a sh as he hurried away. ¡°Lord Kobayakawa!¡± An eagle-eyed member of the Red Guards cried out upon seeing the severed head of Kobayakawa, eyes about to burst. His heart in disarray, he made a sloppy move with his wakizashi, severing the arm of a soldier, only to have the man tackle him down. ¡°Splurch!¡± Deng Tianxiong leaped up, twisted his waist to dodge a strike to the face, his sword describing a semi-circle in the air. With a forceful sh, the wound in his abdomen tore open, sttering blood alongside the sharp de onto the Red Guard who was clutched at him! In A Fleeting Glimpse, the red light emanating from the wounded Red Guard quickly faded, while the remaining two Red Guards¡¯ glow intensified! Soul of Kai (3): With less than five people, only the most basic status enhancement can be provided. Soul Sucking: Fallen Red Guards provide theirrades with offensive and defensive enhancements, the specific values determined by the fallen one¡¯s abilities. Another Red Guard, his katana stained with blood, did not hesitate to impale the fallen Red Guard along with the Ming soldier clinging on to life, then made a backward jump to avoid being encircled by the Ming Army. Thest Red Guard took advantage of the moment Deng Tianxiong¡¯s sword momentum was spent, stabbing toward his shoulder, while the Ring Dragon Sword was already cleaving down! The Red Guard fearlessly counterattacked, and the sharp ngs of weapon shes rang out. Suddenly, the Ring Dragon Stab broke through the encirclement, aiming for that shoulder. The Red Guard pushed off the ground, retreating backward to stand back to back with hispanion, both eyes coldly watching the four blood-soaked, silent as mountains, weary Ming soldiers surrounding them. In this chaotic battle, several people moved with precision, their weapons flowing between pairs or trios, des crisscrossing each other. Bloodlight and swordlight twirled together. Within the confines of the small tile-roofed housey no fewer than five corpses. The fate of Diao Xiaye was unknown, Wang Sheng could barely stand. Li Yan, looking at the two breathless Ming soldiers fallen before the Red Guards, said softly: ¡°All fall back, cover my formation.¡± Deng Tianxiong¡¯s face twitched, but he stepped back with the others. He then saw Li Yan wink at him¡­ Li Yan took off the scarf from his head, his toes wriggling inside his brown boots, the broad de of the Ring Dragon Sword pointed directly at the two men. In Li Yan¡¯s eyes, one Red Guard was a mild shade of red, while Kobayakawa was bright red. But to the Red Guards, Kobayakawa Masakazu¡¯s threat level was undoubtedly pitch ck! His swordsmanship was in no way inferior to the average Red Guard¡¯s, with Nanako¡¯s Hair that drained one¡¯s ability to resist the moment they were touched, and all sorts of bizarre, toxic Ghost Skills. Unless more than five Red Guards together initiated the Soul of Kai to suppress most of Kobayakawa¡¯s ghosts, even the remaining three Red Guardsbined would not match Kobayakawa. Having just exchanged a few moves with this Ming militarymander, it was clear he was stronger, but there was no way he could kill Lord Kobayakawa with the help of a fierce ghost. ¡°There¡¯s no way you could kill Lord Kobayakawa. You must have used some trick!¡± The two Red Guards stood shoulder to shoulder, the one on the left shouting loudly. Li Yan couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying. He thought for a moment, then jerked his chin at the man, speaking in Japanese he had learned from a ronin before heading up the mountain. ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± The two Red Guards exchanged nces and then charged at Li Yan. ¡°Throw your swords!¡± All of a sudden, Li Yan shouted. The others were taken aback, but Deng Tianxiong had the fastest reaction, throwing his Goose Feather Sword at the two Red Guards. Amidst the whistling of the des, the others snapped out of their daze and threw their weapons as well. Song Trantor, who had been eagerly watching, saw the situation unfold and, as if finally finding an opportunity to let off steam, flung his wooden nk with all his might. Such a trick might not work on someone with sharp reflexes, let alone battle-hardened Red Guards. With a deft movement, they parried the iing weapons with their katanas, the most ridiculous being a rotting wooden nk that flew in from god knows where. One of the Red Guards snickered and sliced diagonally with a red de glow, shredding the nk into tiny pieces that filled the sky. It was when the shattered nk obscured their vision that they felt a sinking feeling. Cunning Ming Army, they cursed, bracing for Li Yan¡¯s ambush beneath the debris. But as the pieces hit the ground, Li Yan hadn¡¯t moved. They were met with the dark muzzles of guns. ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± ¡­ Li Yan examined the wounds on Diao Xiayan¡¯s body, silent and thoughtful. The old soldier had two through-and-through wounds to the chest, a fifty-centimeter wound on the right thigh. But the most fatal was the gap in the abdomen where a long section of intestine had been severed, the blood loss was shocking. In the icy snow, this was an inevitably fatal situation. ¡°My lord,¡± Deng Tianxiong looked hopeful but found himself unable to speak. ¡°He can be saved.¡± Li Yan nodded slightly, gesturing for the ecstatic Deng Tianxiong to step aside, his gazending on the Gift of Mo that had refreshed on its own. ¡°Mo¡¯s Gift 0/1¡± 1. Divine Blood ¡°` Type: Consumable, coating material. Quality: Rare Applied to cold weapons, it can break through a certain degree of National Destiny Dragon and Tiger Qi blessing or the Demonic Strength protection of a Daimyo. Ineffective against officials of the Ming Dynasty of the third rank or above. One hundred Yan Fu points per bottle, up to three bottles. 2, False Qiong Qi Blood Type: Consumable Quality: Common After being fed to warhorses, it will temporarily increase the horse¡¯s speed and endurance, and ignore the effects of gunfire, high-level exotic beasts, and shadowy entities. Ten Yan Fu points per serving. No limit (Overconsumption will lead to the death of the warhorse). 3, Grass Returning Pill Type: Consumable Quality: Rare Used at the brink of death, it will heal all wounds within five breaths! And plunge the user into a severe weakness for three days, losing the ability to move. Two hundred Yan Fu points per pill, up to two pills. After exchanging for hand grenades, Li Yan had about a thousand and some Yan Fu points left, enough to buy everything avable in the purchase permissions. The Grass Returning Pill was a pale purple ginseng, only the size of a thumb, cool and smooth to the touch. The ginseng melted in the mouth, and not long after, it slid down Diao¡¯s throat into his stomach. The wounds on the old soldier¡¯s body healed at a visible rate, even the injuries in his abdominal cavity stopped bleeding. The surrounding soldiers looked on in amazement, their gazes toward Li Yan were as if he were a deity. ¡°When I was young, I encountered a wandering Taoist. Three big pancakes in exchange for a set of sword techniques, a pill, and a spell, that¡¯s what you all saw earlier.¡± Li Yan casually exined. Tales of the wondrous and supernatural have existed since ancient times. Such stories of youngds encountering wandering Taoists are marketable even inter times, let alone in the entertainment-scarce Ming Dynasty. A group of soldiers listened with shining eyes, both respecting and envying the Lord of the Banner. ¡°That woman has disappeared!¡± Song Trantor came over, his face a picture of shock and uncertainty. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Li Yan was silent for a moment before he spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much, let¡¯s rest for the night. We¡¯ll bury the brothers¡¯ bodies first thing tomorrow morning.¡± Song Trantor nodded with aplex expression. Thinking from another perspective, with two groups of people fighting in their own home, perhaps the woman was scared and took the chance to flee when no one was paying attention. The night deepened, and the people took turns to keep watch, while the rest gradually fell into slumber. Li Yan, pillow a bone bowl, had his eyelids twitch slightly. He had to hit the road early the next morning, but the itchy pain on his neck tormented him for most of the night, only allowing him to lightly sleep in the second half of the night. This itchiness might not affect Li Yan¡¯sbat effectiveness, but it was certainly not a long-term solution. In a daze, he smelled a rich fragrance; he felt as though he was bathing in a sea of flowers, with the clearughter of a woman in his ears. Suddenly, he felt a cool, sweet touch on his lips, that moistness slid down all the way to his neck. That moistness lingered on his neck for a while, and he distinctly felt the pain in his neck gradually fade away and finally disappear, leaving only a soft sensation. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Li Yan exhaledfortably, the weariness and pain between his brows eased a lot. ¡°General, sweet dreams.¡± ¡­ ¡°Damn, actually saw a ghost.¡± Deng Tianxiong gasped in shock; at that moment, the many Ming Army soldiers were sleeping on a vast expanse of white snow, with rooftops, beams, houses, and fences all gone without a trace! If it weren¡¯t for the bodies of Kobayakawa and others lying on one side, Deng Tianxiong would have almost thought he was dreaming. Only a pot hung over the fire pit, with mes licking the bottom of the pot, and taro bobbing up and down in the rich soup¡­ ¡°Maybe a deity has revealed themselves¡­¡± Wang Sheng marveled. ¡°You were half-dead yesterday, howe you¡¯re so lively today? Why are you smiling so happily, did you have a wet dream or something?¡± Wang Sheng¡¯s face flushed red, suddenly remembering the girl in white with ck hair from his dream the night before, who shyly apologized to him, and he stutteringly denied it repeatedly. Li Yan opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and rid of all fatigue and pain. ¡°How long have I slept?¡± ¡°Just past the fourth watch. Sir, She Mountain truly has ghosts.¡± Deng Tianxiong gestured and described to Li Yan with an exaggerated tone. Li Yan, unperturbed, listened quietly, and then called over a soldier, pointing to the cooked food in the iron pot. ¡°Serve me a bowl to taste.¡± ¡°` The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 55 - 9: She Mountain Woman (Part 2) Chapter 55: Chapter 9: She Mountain Woman (Part 2) Editor: Larbre Studio Song Trantor rummaged through Kobayakawa¡¯s body, jogging all the way to Li Yan¡¯s side. ¡°Do you know who this man is?¡± ¡°For the Red Guards to serve as his escort, his status must not be low,¡± Li Yan replied. He was holding a magatama he had found on Kobayakawa¡¯s body. ¡°He is the son of Kobayakawa Takakage!¡± (Amander of the Sixth Army of Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s forces, holding a rank equivalent to Konishi Yukinaga, our target mission.) Li Yan snickered upon hearing this. ¡°In that case, it seems we have established quite a meritorious service, haven¡¯t we?¡± ¡°At least a promotion of one rank!¡± Song Trantor said with conviction. Li Yan nced at Song Trantor. ¡°We¡¯vee a long way, and Song Trantor has also exerted effort. If we are to discuss rewards for merit, we certainly won¡¯t forget to include a share for Song Trantor~¡± Song Trantor¡¯s face turned red, and he could not help but hear the teasing in Li Yan¡¯s words. When the Red Guards Army attacked, he had slipped away early. Even if he couldn¡¯t help being a civilian, he was, after all, unharmed. Those Ming soldiers with serious injuries sacrificed themselves fearlessly, even using their bodies to block swords to stop the Red Guards, which made him feel ashamed. He cleared his throat, and said earnestly: ¡°General Li, you are looking down on the Joseon officials and people too much. Even if we can¡¯t help, we would not dare take the credit for our allies¡¯ achievements.¡± ¡°Hmm~¡± Li Yan lowered his head and touched his wrist guard.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°Heh.¡± ¡­ ¡°Diao! Old Diao!¡± The veteran soldier¡¯s eyes roved back and forth, before him was Deng Tianxiong¡¯s ginger-yellow face. The sunlight reflecting off the snow was blinding. He turned his head slightly and saw two freshly filled small mounds. ¡°Old Diao, how are you feeling?¡± Seeing Diao Xiayan¡¯s fingers twitch slightly, Deng Tianxiong, whose mood had dampened due to the loss of two brothers, was on the verge of tears. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t die.¡± Li Yan walked over. ¡°Not dying is the real trouble,¡± Diao Xiayan said hoarsely, the single eye flickering. ¡°General Li, let me speak frankly; I¡­¡± ¡°Speak frankly, and I will make sure to bring you back!¡± Li Yan nced at the old man and added a stick to the fire. Wet with snow, the firewood crackled loudly as it burned. The old man¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed twice, and he turned his head away. ¡°You dragged your severely injured body back with the head of that Japanese pirate, are you seeking a reward? For your son?¡± Diao Xiayan did not speak. Li Yan looked at Deng Tianxiong, who continued, ¡°The court has decreed years ago that for beheading a Japanese pirate, a reward of twenty taels of silver is given; for one from the Red Guards, a hundred taels, and a promotion of one rank for those below Centurion.¡± Li Yan thought deeper and, smiling at Diao Xiayan, said, ¡°You don¡¯t quite trust me, do you?¡± ¡°My lord, Old Diao doesn¡¯t mean that.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Li Yan nodded, then suddenly stood up. ¡°Everyone,¡± he began, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°The road back to camp is not an easy one. If you¡¯re willing to follow me, it means entrusting your lives to my hands.¡± He paused and continued, ¡°I, Li Yan, as the Chief Banner, am but a small military officer of menial rank. Even if you truly follow me back to the camp, there¡¯s no reward money or military honors to be had. As for that General Zu who has returned in defeat, I reckon he is being flogged in the Ming Army Camp right now¡­¡± The soldier with thick eyebrows opened his mouth, ¡°Chief Banner, don¡¯t talk like that. All of us brothers are well aware of how much you¡¯ve shouldered along this treacherous journey.¡± At these words, everyone resoundingly agreed, speaking up all at once. ¡°Had it not been for Lord of the Banner, we probably would have fallen here just now.¡± Whether it was the sheer strength disyed in killing Kobayakawa or the directives along the way, Li Yan had gradually established his authority among these people. Not to mention the extraordinary firearms and the spellcasting that saved lives. Li Yan raised his hand, and everyone fell silent. ¡°I say these things, not to have you indebted to me, but to establish a military pledge to you all.¡± He looked around him. ¡°I lead you all back to camp, not to send you to your deaths, but to strive for wealth and future prospects.¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°I, Li, consider my skills second to none. To speak impudently, if not for the constraints of fate, I would really like topete with those generals who are also under Great Ming and boast of their valor, just to see who truly deserves the title of general.¡± He held a bowl of hot water, his words striking home. ¡°Today, General Cha has suffered a great defeat; the imperial court will not let this go. As therge army presses on tomorrow, it should be the time for us brothers to rise to prominence.¡± He pointed at the corpses on the ground. ¡°The reward money and military honors, we¡¯ll all share. My share will be given to the two brothers who died in battle today. Iy my words here¡ªif you trust me and are willing to follow me, surviving this chaos of the Japanese pirates, I promise you, for every one of you, a position as Banner Officer.¡± Everyone was momentarily stunned, only Old Diao¡¯s gaze shifted subtly. The most unreliable thing in the world is human favor. As well as those who constantly speak of it. There were words Li Yan had wanted to say, but couldn¡¯t find the right moment. Now, having lost only two soldiers was actually quite fortunate, but morale was still inevitably low. Li Yan took the opportunity to express his sentiments. He didn¡¯t expect these men to bepletely devoted, but he wanted them to understand that following him, their Chief Banner, meant a chance to live, to be promoted¡ªfar more substantial than mere favors. Deng Tianxiong was the first to stand up. ¡°Lord of the Banner, I won¡¯t repeat what I¡¯ve said before. Even if you said nothing, I, Old Deng, would still firmly follow you.¡± The others stood up one by one, their faces flush with emotion. Diao Xiayan, unable to move, just leaned against a rock, sighing. ¡°If General Li doesn¡¯t disdain this old skeleton of mine, then I¡¯ll quit ying coy. If there¡¯s any way in which Old Diao can still be of use, just say the word.¡± Song Trantor stood not too far away, his feelingsplex as he observed this small military head of the Ming Country deliver an impassioned speech, his brow proud. Li Yan¡¯s tongue grazed his upper teeth, silently nodding his head. ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡± The party had been traveling for half a day and were about to exit She Mountain when Wang Sheng suddenly looked up and said loudly. ¡°Guys, do you hear a woman¡¯s singing¡­¡± Li Yan stopped and listened attentively for a moment. ¡°It seems there is, and yet it seems there isn¡¯t¡­¡± One of the soldiers frowned, and Li Yan¡¯s eyes swept across Song Trantor¡¯s face, which was a mix of surprise, confusion, and utter disbelief. ¡°Song Trantor, what is this song about?¡± ¡°The She Mountain Woman¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Song Trantor steadied himself and exined, ¡°There¡¯s a tale of the She Mountain Woman that travels through Pyongyang. It is said that she was the thirty-sixth wife of Hengxiong, the son of the heavenly emperor. After Hengxiong went to war, he never returned, and the She Mountain Woman has been waiting for him deep within She Mountain ever since.¡± Li Yan touched his intact neck and let out a wry smile. ¡°The daughter-inw of the Joseon heavenly emperor?¡± Deep within She Mountain, the woman¡¯s voice wafted gently, and she held hands with a frail girl dressed in white, watching as a troop of ant-like figures receded into the distance from the foot of the mountain. Chapter 56 - 10: Breaking Through (1) Chapter 56: Chapter 10: Breaking Through (1) Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°` Song Trantor¡¯s tales, although bizarre, could not be dismissed by them as they truly encountered such sinister events, and they had no choice but to believe. After all, the empty house and woman that disappeared overnight were indeed difficult to exin withmon sense. What puzzled Song Zhongji was that the Chief Banner of the Ming Country¡¯s army suddenly took a keen interest in Joseon¡¯s folklore, bombarding him with questions all along the way. Especially regarding certain obscene temples and illicit worship of local Wild Gods, those not mainstream among the rural areas were asked in great detail, over and over, without showing any signs of annoyance. Their journey after leaving She Mountain was without much incident. The team¡¯s target was notrge to begin with, plus with the scouting of Wang Sheng and his men, they managed to encounter the Daimyo¡¯s armies with their diverse family banners from a safe distance, always without hazard. Until¡­ Tiny specks of phosphorus fires scattered and drifted among the vast hills, while the bright moon hung high amidst the night sky. Looking down from Li Yan¡¯s feet, as far as the eye could see, there was an endless expanse of dead bodies. Most of them were pierced by long spears and arrows, with their blood flowing down the wooden shafts and spreading over the dry brown earth. The crows perched on the bodies refused to leave even at the sight of people; Deng Tianxiong swung his long sword, startling a flurry of ck feathers into the air. The cruelty of cold weapon warfare was like a blunt knife smashing bones, brutally forcing people to avert their gaze. ¡°Is there a chance?¡± Li Yan asked Wang Sheng. Little Wang Sheng shook his head in low spirits. ¡°Song, are you fucking ying us?¡± Deng Tianxiong asked, somewhat annoyed. ording to Song Trantor, the hills in front of them rolled on and on, with only two main roads that could station troops, no more than a few dozen men. If they avoided the main roads, crossing these hills wouldn¡¯t be difficult, but the reality was, the Japanese pirates inhabiting the hills were like an imprable pouch. Just from the surrounding area Wang Sheng had scouted, there were at least hundreds of Japanese pirates, and, looking at the distant fires from Li Yan¡¯s vantage, surely there were a few thousand more! ¡°I don¡¯t know why this is happening. Normally, there wouldn¡¯t be so many people stationed here.¡± Song Trantor was also panicking. ¡°Unless¡­¡± Li Yan interjected, ¡°the troops of Great Ming arrived sooner than we anticipated.¡± Everyone was stunned by his words. ¡°You mean, two armies facing each other?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn Song Trantor asked. Li Yan narrowed his eyes towards the field of corpses lying in front of them. ¡°I think, if we cross these hills, we¡¯ll be able to see the camp of Great Ming.¡± Although it was an unexpectedplication, with just a few words, Li Yan managed to stir everyone¡¯s spirits. ¡°But, how do we get across?¡± Song Trantor¡¯s tone was dry, just ncing at the bodies, turned into hedgehogs by arrows, made his scalp tingle. Li Yan patted his shoulder. ¡°We need to cross the hills, not sh head-on with the Japanese pirates. If we move quickly, it¡¯s not that dangerous. As long as we have horses.¡± Song Trantor, not focusing on the truthfulness in Li Yan¡¯s words, asked subconsciously. ¡°Where are the horses?¡± ¡­ The Japanese pirates, gathered around the campfireughing loudly, were cleaning the armor beside them, appearing rxed. Not far from the tents, about thirty glossy brown warhorses were tied up. ¡°General Li, are you serious?¡± At this moment, Diao Xiayan, unable to move on the back of a soldier, also looked shocked. ¡°Make sure you remember what I taught you. My life is in your hands now,¡± he said. The men looked at the oval-shaped, sharp-edged objects in their hands, swallowed hard, and nodded seriously. ¡°Kill, take the horses, take the armor,¡± Li Yan said, word by word. ¡­ ¡°This is so boring, it¡¯s obvious the enemy isn¡¯t going to attack from behind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s much morefortable to y dice by the fire than to patrol or something.¡± ¡°Hey, Saito, you lost, haha.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± The man grumbled as he fished out a Copper Coin from his belt. The words ¡°Tong Bao¡± and ¡°Qing¡± were inscribed on it. Yes, it was the Copper Coin of the Ming Country; the Japanese pirates did not have the technology to forge their own Copper Coins. He nced out of the corner of his eye, then suddenly shouted, ¡°Hey, who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Hey, are you trying to welsh on the bet, man of the Saito family?¡± ¡°` Someone spoke discontentedly, and immediately someone jabbed him, followed by the nging sounds of weapons melding into one. The crowd¡¯s faces were solemn. The shadow of a figure, elongated by the light, advanced from a distance, its face indistinct. ¡°Is it that thing again?¡± A Japanese pirate asked, trembling. ¡°It¡¯s the third time already. Should we go back and report to the general?¡± On the battlefield strewn with corpses, terrifying monsters would asionally arise. Saito had once encountered a horrific corpse, its body festering, yet possessing enormous strength¡ªit killed at least a dozen soldiers before the general himself stepped in to y the creature. There were also monsters that devoured bodies and women¡¯s voices that howled in the night; just hearing about them sent chills down Saito¡¯s spine. ¡°Hey, Saito, go take a look.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me, bastard?¡± A sliver of moonlight shone on the man¡¯s face, causing the faces of a few Japanese pirates to rx. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Holding his long spear, Saito approached, the sharp tip wavering in front of the man¡¯s chest. ¡°Hey, where are you from?¡± The soldier behind him saw the man¡¯s twisted arm bend backward, revealing a sh of cold light, and couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes in shock. The Ring Dragon Sword, sinuous as molten metal, narrowly grazed Saito¡¯s throat. Although a slight push on his spear would have pierced the man¡¯s chest¡ªthe reach of the long-handled weapon was greater than that of swords¡ªSaito was too slow to react and ultimately fell, clutching his throat and twisting in agony. ¡°Enemy attack!¡± The troopmander bellowed, torches lit up one after another, and many of the Japanese pirates leapt up, grabbing their short swords and long spears, having been asleep in their clothing. Some scattered Feather Arrows from their pouches and drew their bows to full; just as they aimed at the man, they realized the sword was already upon them. The man moved as if he were in a realm of his own, his steps so agile he seemed to possess ghostly speed, and each swing of his long sword invariably sshed with the light of blood. ¡°Swish!¡± An arrow finally grazed Li Yan¡¯s scalp, with at least seven or eight crossbows targeting him, yet under the Ring Dragon Sword, four or five souls had already been reaped. The long sword pierced the throat of a warrior who hadn¡¯t had time to don his armor, and Li Yan turned and ran, dodging flying arrows with bounding leaps, soon running to where he was nearly out of sight. ¡°Is he a monster? How can he be so fast?¡± ¡°There¡¯s only one person!¡± ¡°Chase!¡± It was unclear who shouted urgently. The warriors mounted their horses, hastily put on their armor, squeezed their horses¡¯ nks, and chased after him closely. Some, quick on their feet and near where Li Yan had attacked, mounted their horses and gave chase as soon as the thought of retreat sprang into Li Yan¡¯s mind. Others, just waking up, stumbled toward their horses in a daze. The group of several dozen men quickly stretched out in a line. An inconspicuous object, taking advantage of the night,zily flew into the crowd. ¡°Boom!¡± The explosion tore through the bodies of every Japanese pirate with flying shrapnel. Horses, spooked by the st, neighed restlessly and beat the ground with their hooves. Pull the pin, yank the cord, throw! ¡°Boom!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± The explosions rang out in quick session, audible even from miles away. While the crowd was still dumbstruck by the surprisingly lightweight and deadly weapon, Deng Tianxiong knew the essence of warfare was swift action. ¡°Kill! Grab the armor! Mount up!¡± ¡­ Billowing dust rose like a rampaging earth dragon, with the Japanese pirates on horseback drawing their bows tightly. ¡°Swish!¡± ¡°Swish!¡± ¡°Swish!¡± The man in front ran with speed that seemed inconceivable, and yet he was being caught up by horses. The fierce arrows tore through the grass, kicking up stones and dust. ¡°Thud!¡± It seemed an arrow struck the man in the neck, and he fell backwards, rolling down the slope! More than twenty riders crossed the downhill stretch, scanning the terrain with furrowed brows. Just as they were about to turn their horses, several round objects with trailing mes flew towards them! The ground exploded, stones shattered, and dust filled the air. In the aftermath of the devastating st and subsequentndslide, Li Yan got up¡ªhis mouth mped on a steel arrow, his forehead dripping with sweat. He spat out the arrow with a ¡°Ptooey¡± sound and called out to Wang Sheng, who was rushing towards him. ¡°Strip the armor, break through!¡± Chapter 57 - 11: Break Out (Part 2) Chapter 57: Chapter 11: Break Out (Part 2) Editor: Larbre Studio ¡°Enemy attack! Enemy attack!¡± The signal re hissed as it soared into the sky, scattering sparks blossomed into a spectacle of color, forming in the air eightrger and one smaller, ring-shaped magatama, the family crest of the Daimyo of the Uesugi n, to whom the thousands of Japanese pirates defending these hills swore their allegiance. The deste, lonely hills seemed to have been seared with a hot iron at one corner, as unrest and turmoil rapidly spread. A cacophony of horse hooves, shouts, and bowstrings twanged in unison. Li Yan was d in red armor, connected with saltpeter-treated cowhide, straddling a ck Mane Warhorse at the vanguard, capturing the attention of eighty percent of the Shangshan Legion¡¯s gaze. The armor had been stripped from one of the Red Guards whom Diao Xiayan had killed; because they had to traverse the mountains, of the five Red Guards apanying Kobayakawa, only this one wore the weighty armor. Along with six red-scabbarded katanas and the family magatama found on Kobayakawa, these were the entirety of the spoils of war from the She Mountain battle, not to mention the food rations and cotton clothes. The others were also donning the ckmer armor plundered from the Shangshan Legion¡¯s Cavalry, their crotches tightly mped around the saddles, bodies hunched close to the horses¡¯ backs, indistinguishable from the night¡¯s inconspicuous grey geese. Fewer than ten men, yet they drove almost twenty horses, swiftly weaving under the stars and moonlight. A long line of torches converged into a fire dragon, the Japanese pirates with their family crest gs trailing, brandishing spears and short bows, charging toward Li Yan, only to be gradually outpaced by the horses. The direction in which Li Yan and his men charged was a line of over a hundred ck-d Cavalrymen, disquiet horses snorting between the ranks, as squads of braided Japanese pirates raised shortbows, arrows cascading over like water. The riderless horses hadn¡¯t run twenty meters before they were pierced by arrows and copsed in a heap, warm horse blood sttering everywhere. ¡°Pfft!¡± Arrows prated faces with gruesome results. The burly soldier with thick eyebrows who¡¯d been assisting Deng Tianxiong fell backwards on his horse, the rapidly running animal¡¯s front hooves kneeling on the ground, itsrge head pulled down by tremendous inertia, tumbling far out. The whooshing of the wind swept over Li Yan¡¯s head. He held up the makeshift shield that had been bound together from wood and vine by the group; arrows from time to time prated the soaked wood, making a dull thudding sound. His armor¡¯s seams were pierced by two or three arrow feathers, and another nced off his helmet, the metal¡¯s mournful cry buzzing in his ears. Wang Sheng and Song Trantor ran together in the middle of the group, gritting their teeth as they parried the locust-like swarm of iing arrows with their bows. Wang Sheng had ropes tied around him, with Diao Xiayan bound to his back. ¡°Wang, do you still have the Fire Thunder that the lord gave you?¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The weakened Diao Xiayan asked loudly. ¡°Yes, Uncle Diao, why are you asking for it?¡± ¡°Bring it to me, and give me two arrows too.¡± Crouching low, Wang Sheng pulled an arrow from the quiver and handed it along with the hand grenade to Diao Xiayan behind him. Somehow, Diao Xiayan quickly wrapped the Fire Thunder between the two arrows using strips of cloth. ¡°Hold it, draw your bow!¡± Wang Sheng instinctively set up the bow and arrow, the two arrows bound together pointing ahead. ¡°Use all your strength,¡± the elder Diao¡¯s arm reached forward, pulling the ring. ¡°Fire!¡± ¡°Whew!¡± The oddly-shaped object twisted and turned through the air, flying into the formation, instantly causing a huge st! Arge swath of Japanese pirates fell like wheat before the scythe, the middle region littered with severed limbs and disfigured flesh smeared across the hills, a sight too horrific to endure. The cavalry lineup of the Uesugi n experienced a slight disturbance but quickly assembled at the call of the g-bearer General. As the distance between the horses from both sides narrowed, a cavalry officer with a crescent helmet raised his katana high. The Japanese pirates abandoned their bows and drew their des as both teams charged, looking down it seemed like a short arrow shot towards a long snake. The sound of horse hooves was like thunder! Li Yan charged ahead! Beneath the bright full moon, manes flying, horses collided, the sounds of des meeting were sharp and intense, and the sparkling beads of sweat flew out, scattering with the cool moon halo! The brutal closebat where every sh met flesh, the agonizing screams of horses crashing into each other, the rich scent of blood and sweat in the nostrils, and the tiny tongues visible in the open mouths of the screaming Japanese pirates¡­ Li Yan¡¯s blood surged like a pump, waves of heat crashed against his head, and his temples throbbed violently. Even engaging with the most skilled martial artist in hand-to-handbat was far less exhrating than the scene unfolding before his eyes. This was a brutal confrontation that the safe and secure people ofter generations could not imagine, this was the irrevocable age of cold weapons! Li Yan let out a long howl, his Han Sword sang as if it were spring water striking a rock, the leaping Ring Dragon Sword cut through the enemies with ease, unstoppable as a tiger among sheep. The cloth wrapped around the handle of his Ring Dragon Sword was already soaked through with spilled blood, nearly flowing into his palm. Li Yan¡¯s grip became slippery, and he instinctively reduced his strength by a third to prevent the Ring Dragon from slipping out of his hand. ¡°I should have learned from Diao and the others to bind the sword to my wrist¡­¡± Li Yan was trained in martial arts, with a Main Frame of Combat Sword that was proper and grand. Binding the sword to his hand would restrict many of the sword techniques he could perform, hence Li Yan, who had been practicing swordsmanship for over a decade, subconsciously rejected the crude method of the Binding Knife. This was a different approach between military skill matches and civilian weapon fights. As a modern person who hadn¡¯t experienced these, Li Yan was indeed confused. On top of that, he had been so conspicuous on his journey that no one thought General Li did not understand these things, nor did they remind him. A Naginata slid past Li Yan¡¯s neck, which he avoided with a lean back. Li Yan steadied his horse and focused, the cavalry officer with the crescent helmet had eyes like fire, the de of his Naginata aimed directly at him. ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse, activate.¡± Name: Mori Tsunemoto, g-bearer General. Status: Command (Morale of subordinates weaken upon his death or defeat) Expertise: Military Skill 71% Ability: Command (Increases the range of subordinate archers) Threat Level: Deep Blue Remark: If he were to dismount, he would not be an opponent for the Red Guards Army. This g-bearer General was mumbling furiously, iprehensible to Li Yan, who just charged forward, sidestepped the Naginata, and the Ring Dragon cut off his arm; then with a flick of the de upward, ripped through the throat of this human buff. The Japanese pirates around were terrified. They watched their general, who just a second ago was shouting like a fierce demon, ¡°I will be your opponent,¡± get shed from his horse by the man opposite him. Li Yan, covered in blood, snatched a long spear with a single de, tied the Ring Dragon to his horse, and danced the long spear into the crowd like a sharp knife slicing through butter, leading his men, unstoppable. ¡°Break out!¡± His eyes were as sharp as a hawk¡¯s, and his words carried an imperious tone. The Ming Army seemed to be inspired by him, even Song Trantor was shouting at the top of his lungs, a small group of fewer than ten people yet with the momentum of thousands of soldiers! ¡°Break out!¡± Chapter 58 - 12 Breakout (3) Chapter 58: Chapter 12 Breakout (3) Editor: Larbre Studio The ashen hooves sank deep into the mud, as a handful of ck Mane Warhorses burst out from among the sword formations of the Shangshan Legion. Each rider was in a sorry state, with one or two arrows stuck in their bodies. Li Yan¡¯s spearhead was smeared with flesh and blood, with stains of blood in the crevices of his armor. Only his pair of eyes remained bright and clear, shining like great stars, evidence of his ferocious battle to fight his way out!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The entire squad formed a wedge with Li Yan leading the charge. A few brothers with lighter injuries were spread out on the wings, while Deng Tianxiong brought up the rear of the formation. In one hand, he wielded the Goose Feather Sword so tightly that no wind could pass through. An arrow had struck his chest, but the armor had prevented it from prating deeply. Aside from Li Yan, Deng Tianxiong had the lightest injuries. It was only natural that he should undertake the crucial role of covering the rear ¨C second in importance only to leading the assault. However, as Li Yan cut a path through the enemy camp and the pressure on him eased, the situation for Deng Tianxiong holding the rear became perilous all at once. Their horses weren¡¯t any stronger than those of their enemies and couldn¡¯t shake them off quickly. As time passed, more and more Japanese pirates encircled them, and it seemed they would soon be trapped in an inescapable situation. At this moment, Deng Tianxiong faced three or four cavalrymen wielding long spears. In his right hand, he clutched a blood-drenched Goose Feather Sword; in his left, a broken spear. Waving his sore arm, he parried two spear points and trapped another spear shaft under his arm, his neck veins bulging with effort. Li Yan turned his horse around, yelling to his brothers on both sides to protect the horses in the center and push forward. Spurring his mount, he charged back into battle! A few riders broke away from the melee and, undaunted, charged at Li Yan, who until just moments ago had seemed invincible. Li Yan thrust his spear forward, which was parried by the foremost man. Without hesitation, he pushed forward, but the attacker was experienced in spear fighting, sidestepping Li Yan¡¯s de, drawing a short knife from his saddle, and aiming a stab at Li Yan. Simultaneously, another cavalryman arrived, spear aimed at Li Yan¡¯s chest. Li Yan let out a heartyugh, put all his force into a vicious shake of his wrist, and the semi-bent spear shaft pped against the long shaft, sending the spear tip bouncing upwards like a cunning serpent, aiming deviously for the enemy¡¯s eyes. The man¡¯s head burst open as it was pierced, and the spear¡¯s momentum didn¡¯t stop there, burying itself into another opponent¡¯s neck. Li Yan leaned back to pull out his spear, shaking off the blood and flesh. A flick of his wrist created three dazzling spear flowers, driving back thest two attackers. He then galloped toward Deng Tianxiong. The Li n of Hejian, unmatched in both spear and sword. The sword, Twenty-Four Moves of Main Frame of Combat Sword. The spear, Marquis Huan¡¯s Eight Spears. Marquis Huan, otherwise known as Yan people Zhang Yide. Countless arrows were nocked to bowstrings, and the staggered cold light shot out, enveloping Deng Tianxiong. Deng Tianxiong¡¯s pupils reflected the twinkling arrowheads. With a tiger¡¯s roar, he forcibly snapped the spear shaft, dropped his weapons, shifted his seat towards the back of the saddle, and with the back of his hand, grabbed onto the saddle, flipping beneath the horse¡¯s belly. Blood spurted like fountains, and the horse riddled with arrows copsed with a pitiful whine. Deng Tianxiong grabbed a long knife from the ground just as three mounted soldiers approached, their spears pointing downwards as they thrust at him! The long spear whistled fiercely, sweeping away the spear that was about to pierce Deng Tianxiong¡¯s chest. As the horse galloped past, a hand reached out to Deng Tianxiong. ¡°Tianxiong, get on the horse!¡± Deng Tianxiong passed his left hand over and, with a kick of his leg, flipped up behind Li Yan. ¡°My lord¡­¡± ¡°Hold tight.¡± Li Yan maneuvered his spear like a dragon emerging from the sea, hooking an adjacent Japanese pirate and tossing him off his horse. The spear drew a wide circle, warding off the surrounding men and horses. nting his feet firmly in the stirrups, he mounted another horse and called out to Deng Tianxiong, who was still on the original mount. ¡°Tianxiong, just charge ahead!¡± Deng Tianxiong didn¡¯t bother with any nonsense like ¡°What about you, my lord?¡± and pped the t of his de fiercely on the horse¡¯s backside as a surging wave of armed troops moved to confront Li Yan. Li Yan took a small porcin bottle from his bosom, pressed it against the restless horse¡¯s neck, and stuffed the contents from the bottle into the horse¡¯s mouth. Faux Qiong Qi Blood: After consumption, it temporarily enhances the horse¡¯s speed and endurance. It ignores the effects of gunfire, high-level Exotic Beasts, and malevolent spirits. The horse¡¯s mane quivered, its eyes instantly filled with blood stria, and a blood-red mist burst forth from its mouth. The surrounding ck Mane Warhorses couldn¡¯t help but retreat. The horses engulfed by the bloody mist knelt down with a thump, so frightened that they defecated and urinated uncontrobly, creating a nasty mess. ¡°Is it that effective?¡± Li Yan twirled his spear with both arms, slicing through the throats of two cavalrymen who had no idea what had just happened, then he turned his horse to leave. But within a few breaths, the blood-red mist had dissipated, and the Shangshan Legion¡¯s cavalry charged at him again. The horse, invigorated by the Qiong Qi Blood, snorted vigorously. Its misty breath rose in the chilly frostlight, creating a beautifully eerie scene. Li Yan fought while retreating. No longer straining his horse¡¯s endurance, he watched Deng Tianxiong run far ahead. Just as he was about to spur his horse forward, he noticed the immense troops of the Shangshan Legion were suddenly in disarray. Looking left, amidst the billowing dust, a cavalry unit forcefully broke through! The leading rider, on a Green-Mane Dawan, donned intricate scale armor on its head. The rider, sporting a winged helmet with a towering plume, wielded the Profound Edge Great Spear¡ªa one-point-seven-meter long weapon¡ªin an Azure Tiger Head Beast Swallow Armguard. The steed charged forward with a fierce neigh, and at the spear¡¯s point, men and horses tumbled. The front of the great spear was a dark, broad de; the back, a thick club studded with long nails. ¡°What a weapon!¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes lit up. However, the man caught sight of Li Yan d in his bright red heavy armor and narrowed his slender eyes, veering his horse towards Li Yan! ¡°Sel¡­¡± Li Yan knew he was toote. Extending his arm forward defensively, the man flipped his spear with tremendous force and weight, bringing the nail-studded club down fiercely. A surge of blood welled up in Li Yan¡¯s chest. In the blink of life and death, there was no time for niceties. He lowered his spear, causing the dark Shuo Stick to instinctively dip, spun the spear shaft in his palm, and pped it toward the other¡¯s head. The great spear was so weighty that Li Yan¡¯s half-hearted block caused the club end to lose its leverage, making it impossible for the other to raise his spear for a counterattack in time. The man yelped in surprise, kicked hard with both legs, and leaned back to dodge the spear shaft. Since he couldn¡¯t lift the great spear for the moment, he simply pped it backward, raised his arm across, and flipped the back half of the spear de over, shing a dark arc straight for Li Yan¡¯s chest. ¡°ng!¡± The spear and great spear collided. ¡°Friendly fire!¡± ¡°What a fine Hebei spearman.¡± The two men eximed in unison, locking eyes for a moment. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha, my brother, you truly are brave! How many of you dared to charge into the Japanese pirates¡¯ cavalry unit?¡± ¡°Commissioner of the Chengwuwei Command Banner, Li Yan, reporting with my brothers to join the camp as ordered.¡± ¡°A fine warrior.¡± The two withdrew their weapons as a blue tidal wave of cavalry thundered from behind. Gazing into the distance, Li Yan saw the green-d cavalrymen wielding long swords with Three-eyed Firearms slung behind them, followed by guard troops with round, red-topped helmets carrying halberds, soldiers equipped with Thunderp Cannons on their backs, three men carrying a short barrel tiger drum cover, the sound of rolling wheels as soldiers pushed the Great General Cannons, carrying nozzles, rockets, and a dense sea of heads as far as the eye could see¡­ The man looked at Li Yan: ¡°Did you enjoy yourself tonight, brother?¡± Li Yan licked his lips and smiled, ¡°I was just about to strike down the foe.¡± The man pointed to the sky with his long sword and bellowed: ¡°The Commissionermands that by the tenth of January, the grand army must reach the walls of Pyongyang City. Brothers, muster all your strength! ughter these Japanese pirates, set up camp, and feast on pork.¡± Chapter 59 - 13 Returning to Camp Chapter 59: Chapter 13 Returning to Camp Editor: Larbre Studio Lead clouds shrouded the white moon, and mist enveloped the entire hill. Li Yan stood high up, removed his Star Helmet and arm guards, and looked down below. At this moment, the entire battlefield was filled with severed limbs and broken bodies. The family crests of the Daimyo, trampled into the ground, were covered with mud and footprints, and the air was thick with the rich scent of saltpeter. Layer uponyer, the Ming Army formations spiraled like vortices. In the center of the vortex, a drop of ck saliva fell, and the two-stories-tall Pointy-Eared Demon with blood-red eyes was clutching two horse corpses, swinging them left and right. This demon had white hair, red skin, and a round belly, marked with the ck traces of gunpowder. ¡°String!¡± Atop a Green-Mane Dawan, a spear-wieldingmander shouted loudly. Dressed in ck leather armor with a scarf binding his hair, Archer Troops stepped forward in neat rows, Iron Spine Bows held high, dark arrowheads aimed straight at the demon. ¡°Aim!¡± The sound of bowstrings being drawn was indescribable, each longbow pulled to a full moon oozing with terrifying explosive power. ¡°Destroy!¡± Dark clouds covered the sky. The Evil Ghost roared unwillingly, itsrge feet mming into the ground as it ran towards the direction of the Green-Mane Dawan, only to be ruthlessly prated by the ck tide of arrows, turning it into a porcupine in an instant. The demon fell to its knees powerlessly, its eyelids slowly closing. ¡°What the hell is this thing? It can heal even after being pierced through by a firearm?¡± ¡°I heard it climbed out from a pile of corpses.¡± ¡°And I heard it transformed from the leader of the Japanese pirates?¡± ¡°Pure nonsense~¡± ¡°For real, when decapitated, it sprang out from the neck.¡± ¡°Over two stories tall, huh? Jump and let me see.¡± A few infantrymen chatted quietly in the front row. ¡°Lord, perhaps I should take a look.¡± The speaker was carrying a Bright Red Banner, raising his head to ask themander. ¡°No need.¡± The spear-wieldingmander advanced on his horse to the front of the demon, still having to look up to see the ghost¡¯s face clearly from atop his horse. Suddenly, the demon with a dozen arrows lodged in its face opened its eyes! The rider¡¯s eyes widened in anger, and he swung his spear forward fiercely, smashing arge bloody hole in the demon¡¯s chest. The Evil Ghost roared in pain, its massive body falling backward, kicking up a cloud of dust. High above, Li Yan with A Fleeting Glimpse, saw with his own eyes ¨C the moment thatmander raised his spear, a ck berserk bear wielding sharp ws emerged behind him! ¡°Interesting.¡± Li Yan nodded with some excitement, having great expectations for his harvest this time. Themander caught his breath, and after a while, cursed out loud. ¡°Son of a gun, scared the hell out of me.¡± With that, he waved his hand. ¡°Bury the pot, ughter a pig.¡± ¡­ The furnace zed fiercely, and the man sitting beside the desk had two light brows, the muttonchops on his face did not make him seem rough but rather possessed a calm and leisurely demeanor. ¡°From Hitachi in the east, through the South Sea to the Four Provinces and Nine States, from the north from Akita, Sakata to China, the territories of each Daimyo supply tworge ships per hundred thousand koku. For every harbor, every Centurion provides ten sailors. If there are any surplus, they are assembled in Osaka. The required construction costs shall be presented ording to the budget¡­¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The man spoke. He thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, ¡°How about the Tokugawa Family?¡± ¡°Preparing for war actively, Sakai Tadatsugu as the main general, Honda Tadakatsu as the vanguard, twenty thousand extra mariners, tenrge ships.¡± The man clicked his tongue, ¡°Tiqi Tiger Scout has been sending messages for two years, always emphasizing that the Tokugawa has a double heart, so howe Toyotomi Hideyoshi set out for Joseon and Tokugawa is so enthusiastic?¡± The reader of the letter remained silent, but there wereughs from the side. ¡°The affairs of the world are inherently unclear, no one is a tapeworm in Tokugawa Ieyasu¡¯s stomach. The Japanese pirates are but a scab on the skin, hearing that on the inds of Japan, a few peasants dare to call themselves Daimyo. Such clowns jumping about, why should General Li bother to worry.¡± The speaker was a man in his twenties, dressed as a Taoist, wearing a lotus crown and a blue embroidered skirt, holding a golden bell, with a Ten Greatest Spirit Banners in front of him. With red lips and white teeth, he had a handsome appearance. The man lowered his eyes and said, ¡°Yi Gaogong speaks sense.¡± The man¡¯s name was Li Rusong, the current Shanxi General appointed as Governor by the Wanli Emperor, and the leader of the Joseon expeditionary force. Of course, Li Rusong knew that things were not as optimistic as the Taoist made it seem. Just from the recent spy¡¯s letters, it was evident that Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s invasion of Joseon was a near national effort, with at least a hundred thousand men across nine armies, and with Japan being strife-ridden, the quality of the troops was exceptionally high, and they had richbat experience, known as Japanese pirates, but in truth, formidable enemies¡­ ¡°Damn that¡¯s thrilling! Uncle~¡± The man had broad shoulders and a straight waist, and as he removed the Azure Tiger Head Beast Swallow Armguard from his arm, he barged into the tent. He saw Li Rusong with a cool expression sitting beside the desk, and a young Taoist with a smile sitting below him, so he promptly bowed in greeting. ¡°Lord Governor.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°The Japanese pirates on the hill in front have been scattered.¡± ¡°Are there any captives?¡± ¡°Uhh¡­¡± The man¡¯s eyes darted around as he spoke, ¡°Lord Governor, as our troops charged, we encountered a small group of soldiers, brothers who got separated from General Zha¡¯s forces in Pyongyang. These men were impressive; seven or eight Cavalry broke through the Japanese Cavalry hard. They¡¯ve been fighting their way from Pyongyang, and they¡¯re now waiting outside the main camp for orders. Also, the leader, the Chief Banner, asked me to hand this over to you.¡± Next to him, Yi Gaogong gently sipped his tea cup, his eyes flicking to the side, his brow lifting imperceptibly. Li Rusong picked up a red hook jade that his nephew passed to him and examined it for a long while. ¡­ Li Yan pressed a wet towel to his face, his upper body bare, with a few shallow wounds that had already scabbed over. ¡°It¡¯s like a dream, I always thought I wouldn¡¯t make it back.¡± Wrapped in bandages across his chest and exposing a tuft of ck chest hair, Deng Tianxiong let out a chuckle. He leaned in close to Li Yan, ¡°Lord, what do you think will be our next arrangement?¡± ¡°What arrangement would you like?¡± Deng Tianxiong held up a finger, ¡°Five Red Guards, plus that Daimyo¡¯s son, not to mention the reward money. Such great service, it wouldn¡¯t be too much to promote you to a Centurion, right?¡± ¡°If all the Chief Banners of Ming Country were like Lord Li, the Japanese pirates would have been cleaned up long ago.¡± Wrapped in a nket and sipping on a hot soup, Song Trantor joined the conversation. Wang Sheng, who sat on the mat, also joined the conversation, ¡°I also think that general today seemed to appreciate the Lord quite a bit.¡± ¡°Who is that general?¡± someone asked. ¡°Shen Heyan, the Gueri General from Shanxi, this time serving as the vanguard of the central army,¡± Wang Sheng whispered, ¡°Lord Li Rusong¡¯s personal nephew~¡± Even Diao Xiayan, whoy squinting in the corner, perked up, ¡°General Li¡¯s great reputation precedes him; a famous general since the eradication of Bo Bai in Ningxia.¡± Li Yan was about to speak with a smile when suddenly someone roughly pulled back the curtain, letting in a swoosh of cold air that made everyone shiver, turning the already pale and coughing Diao Xiayan even paler. ¡°Which one of you is Song Zhongji?¡± The voice that broke in was very cold and carried a hint of insolence. Li Yan, who was sitting on the bed, turned his head to see a man in loose bell-bottomed pants standing at the doorway. His military boots stepped into the tent, scanning every person inside. ¡°Who is it?¡± Li Yan turned around, the ck Chaos Tattoo on his chest facing the man, water dripping down his neck among the damp strands of hair, his hand resting on his thigh. The two of them, one standing, one sitting, locked eyes. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking at someone who hasn¡¯t been hit.¡± The tent suddenly became tense as if swords were drawn and crossbows cocked. ¡°I am, I am.¡± Song Trantor walked up with an apologetic smile between the two. The man looked at Li Yan for a while then said to Song Trantor, ¡°The Governor requests your presence.¡± ¡°Right, right.¡± Song Trantor agreed, ncing at Li Yan. But Li Yan lowered his head, not even looking back at him. Song Trantor¡¯s eyes shifted subtly, bowing politely to the visitor, ¡°Please lead the way, General.¡± ¡°General is too grand a term. I¡¯m just a standard-bearer,¡± the man replied courteously to Song Trantor. The two left the tent one after the other. ¡°What¡¯s this about? They¡¯re looking for that Korean trantor, but not for you, Lord?¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Deng Tianxiong¡¯s voice was loud, and as Li Yan looked up, he noticed a handsome boy standing at the tent entrance. The boy wore a white Daoist robe and a wooden hairpin. About thirteen or fourteen years old, his expression timid. ¡°May I ask if this is Li¡­¡± ¡°Outrageous!¡± burst out Deng Tianxiong, his shout startling the boy so badly he fell to the ground with a thud. ¡°Hey, where are you from?¡± Only now did Deng Tianxiong notice the boy, his eyes round as bells, staring at him. ¡°I, I~¡± The young boy¡¯s eyes welled up and he started to cry, ¡°The Master¡­¡± Chapter 60 - 14 Awakening Degree 10% Chapter 60: Chapter 14 Awakening Degree 10% Editor: Larbre Studio The Taoist Boy cried and wailed, causing an awkward situation for everyone present. Li Yan tossed a towel over his shoulder and approached the boy, first taking a moment to appraise the boy¡¯s expensive silk Daoist Robe. Only then did he speak. ¡°What brings the young Mage here?¡± Li Yan¡¯s features were far easier on the eyes than Deng Tianxiong¡¯s, and despite the Fierce Chaos Tattoo on his chest, the well-proportioned bones and muscle contours full of vitality could not be overlooked. The Taoist Boy sniffled and asked in a childish voice, ¡°Are you Li Yan, General Li?¡± ¡°Indeed, I am.¡± Li Yan replied without any change in expression. The little boy stood up, patting his pristine white Daoist Robe, and then bowed deeply to Li Yan with utmost formality. ¡°My senior brother heard of General Li¡¯s bravery, especially your heroics in breaking through the encirclement amidst the chaos of battle and returning to camp with a band of valiant soldiers. He admires your courage and noble heart, so he sent me to offer a wee reception.¡± ¡°May I inquire who the brother of the young Mage might be?¡± ¡°A high disciple of Heavenly Master Tao, Yi Yu.¡± After speaking, the little boy stepped in front of Li Yan, looked up at him with his round, wide eyes, and gestured to a seat nearby, inviting Li Yan to sit down. Li Yan did as he was gestured, and the Taoist Boy pulled a light purple talisman from his sleeve, formed a hand seal with one hand, and stuck it to Li Yan¡¯s chest. A pale purple me burst from the talisman, startling everyone else to step forward. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Li Yan yelled out, his face a mix of surprise and joy. Only then did everyone realize that, after the mes had passed, all of Li Yan¡¯s various cuts and arrow wounds were healed, the skin restored to its original state without a trace of injury. At the same time, the light purple talisman faded slightly in color. Shangxiao Tongbao Purple Gold Nine Divine me Talisman Category: Consumable Quality: Legendary ??? What surprised Li Yan even more was the flood of information text that emerged in front of his retina. Heposed himself and then instructed, ¡°Help Old Diao up.¡± Several people rushed to assist Diao Xiayan to his feet, while Deng Tianxiong showed his gratitude to the Taoist Boy with a gesture of thanks, ¡°We are indebted to the young Heavenly Master.¡± Li Yan, meanwhile, moved aside, feeling a burning sensation in his eyelids as a carousel of images shed before him: the ck corpse-eating cat, Nanako, and the ck baby, the red-skinned fierce spirits, the bear of ck fury behind the spear-wieldingmander, and finally, that purple talisman! An agreeable female voice reached Li Yan¡¯s ears. ¡°Your exploration of the Yan Fu event worldview has reached over 60%!¡± A change of voice? Li Yan clearly remembered that thest time the Yan Fu event was narrated, it was by a deep, hoarse male voice. ¡°You have unlocked all of Esteemed Walker¡¯s exploration notes concerning this fruit!¡± Name: Li Yan Proxy: None Yan Fu Events Completed: 1 Recorded Yan Fu Fruits: Earth-Jiazi 259 (renameable) Scale-Ding You Twenty-Four (Yan Fu event ongoing) Li Yan recalled the words Mo had said. ¡°Yan Fu, more formally Nanyan Futi, is a legendary tree that nurtures worlds. Each fruit upon the tree represents a brand-new world~¡± Li Yan tried to ess the first fruit. ¡°Esteemed Walker, in the previous Yan Fu event, your exploration of the worldview reached 42%, insufficient to acquire the exploration notes of this fruit.¡± ¡°Please note! The ess to this Yan Fu Fruit has been locked, barring all Esteemed Walkers entry or exit.¡± Lock authority signed: Mo, Yu Shiqie, E¡­¡± Li Yan¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment before he opened the second fruit, which was the world he was currently in. What appeared before him was a scroll of withered ck bamboo, carrying the strong style of the pre-Qin period. ¡°Goddammit, the level of firearm technology in the Southern Ming here is at least fifty years ahead of Redbeard from Hond; it¡¯s inconsistent with the information in my world!¡± ¡ª Anonymous ¡°Hehe, this so-called inner strength is indeed deceptive, but the level of cold weaponry is high, which should yield a good amount of high-level closebat specialty essences.¡± ¡ª¡ªAnonymous ¡°In Xinghua Vige, Shanxi Lu¡¯an Prefecture, I encountered the remains of a fish-headed humanoid. This fruit must not be an ordinary non-magical ne fruit.¡± ¡ª¡ªAnonymous So far, the records are very sparse, withrge nk areas on the bamboo slips. ¡°Dragon Tiger Qi! The Dragon Tiger Qi that can break through the bottleneck of inheritance awakening degree! This is the secret of this fruit! Emperor, nobles, civil officials, military generals, anything works, as long as one receives the official imperial seal, they can obtain this thing!¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡ª¡ªAnonymous The following bamboo slip seems to be covered with writing, filled with fervor in every word and line. ¡­ Many of the descriptions that follow are of no significance to Li Yan, who continued to flip through the records. Thest entry. ¡°Hehe, a gold rush, huh? Without the suppression of the Dragon Tiger Qi, when the timees, gods and demons will run amok, and this fruit will surely be increasingly fierce.¡± ¡ª¡ªMountain Ghost Li Yan pondered for a long time, he gained quite a bit of useful information from these records, but they weren¡¯t of much help with his Yan Fu incident target. In fact, judging from the notes, his life would have been much easier had it not been for these dybug¡± predecessors of his¡­ In the end, Li Yan named the fruit from thest incident Judy and then closed these things, turning to look at the crowd gathered around the mat. Old Diao stroked his belly, slowly getting up, his wounds all healed, and even the scars from past injuries were so faint they were almost invisible. Li Yan and his party of ten had three men killed in battle, excluding Song Trantor, Li Yan had retrieved five lives on this trip; all were now cured of their injuries by the Taoist Boy¡¯s talismans, each one a tough man able to endure, fight, and train again. Deng Tianxiong flexed his wrists; he had ripped open his wounds repeatedly in the fierce battles before. Even with Li Yan¡¯s Qi Healing Technique, full recovery would have taken a month, but now he was as vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger. ¡°If we encountered She Mountain¡¯s Red Guards now, it¡¯s still uncertain who would win or lose,¡± he said in a low voice. He muttered this to himself. In the battle of She Mountain, it was almost entirely due to Li Yan¡¯s efforts that they were saved from disaster. Kobayakawa and three Red Guards died at his hand; Diao Xiayan fought the Red Guards with severe injuries, the ferocity he showed when entering the abandoned hut with a human head in hand was moving, while the Ming Army lost two brothers just to take down one Red Guards member. Something that Deng Tianxiong, proud as he was, could hardly ept. The Taoist Boy handed over a wooden box and a jade amulet. ¡°The box contains the reward money from my Senior Brother to all of you. As for the jade amulet, my Senior Brother specifically requested to give it to General Li, Li Yan, who killed young Kobayakawa.¡± ¡°The Tuanzu Waist Amulet, it has effects of calming the mind, aiding sleep, and dissolving impurity. This Yan Fu Talisman contains the power of Bai Ze and, when used, increases the awakening degree of any inheritance by 7%.¡± Li Yan had some doubts in his mind. He didn¡¯t understand why the Heavenly Master Tao from Dragon Tiger Mountain would join the military expedition, and even less so why it would be a Taoist from Heavenly Master Tao bestowing the reward on him. The Taoist Boy opened the box, revealing three shiny gold ingots inside. The breathing of everyone in the tent became a bit heavier, Li Yan nced at the faces of his soldiers and chuckled. ¡°Then I shall graciously ept.¡± ¡­ After the delicate-looking Taoist Boy left, Li Yan picked up the ingots and weighed them in his hand. ¡°Tianxiong, go ahead and distribute it among the men.¡± ¡°Then, will you take¡­ forty percent?¡± Deng Tianxiong looked at Li Yan¡¯s expression. These ingots could also be exchanged for Yan Fu points, but Li Yan waved his hand: ¡°I said back on She Mountain, my share should go to the brothers we lost on the way.¡± Having said that, Li Yan walked out of the tent, leaving with the words, ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you to handle, I¡¯m going to take a walk.¡± The soldiers in the tent looked at each other, their eyes fixed on the gold in the box, swallowing their saliva. ¡­ Your inheritance, Gu Huo Bird Spirit, has devoured the power of Bai Ze! Your current awakening degree of Gu Huo Bird Spirit is 16% Hook Star status boost as follows: Enhances attack speed and explosive force by 160%! Your inheritance: Gu Huo Bird Spirit¡¤Hook Star breaks through the 10% peak! Blood Dip gains a special attribute: Guaranteed Hit, effective range: ten meters Li Yan quietly savored the slowly strengthening feeling within his flesh and blood, his eyes drifting over a wild grass beside the tent. It was long into winter. Yet, this grass stubbornly swayed with the wind. A military boot stepped on the nt, drawing Li Yan¡¯s gaze upward. The man wore loose bell-bottom pants, with eyebrows standing tall like des. The two locked eyes for a long while. ¡°Haha, brother, we meet again!¡± Shen Heyan stepped out from behind him, enthusiastically pped Li Yan on the shoulder. Chapter 61 - 15 The Headless Corpse Chapter 61: Chapter 15 The Headless Corpse The speaker was likely in his twenties, with a fair and cleanplexion, yet his aura was filled with an air of valor. ¡°This humble officer, Li Yan, greets the General.¡± Li Yan restrained the fierce light in his eyes, speaking evenly. This Shen Heyan was the cavalryman who rode the cyan Dawan horse and wielded the iron spear during the night of the breakout; he was a fifth-rank military officer in court, which meant he possessed the Dragon Tiger Qi. The ck bear Li Yan had seen that day symbolized his rank (bear crest embroidered on the chest for the Ming Dynasty¡¯s fifth-rank military officers). ¡°The items you and your brothers seized from the Japanese, I¡¯ve already presented them to the Lord Governor.¡± ¡°You have my thanks, General.¡± ¡°Brother, let¡¯s speak frankly as we are both from Great Ming; in this campaign against the Japanese, I, in my capacity as the Chief Military Officer, lead the forward right cavalry brigade of thirteen hundred men. Now that you¡¯ve returned to the camp to follow mymand, there¡¯s no need to go back to your ancestral general. How about you join me instead?¡± ¡°I shall abide by the orders from above.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Li Yan bowed slightly and then raised his head, ¡°May I have the honor of learning the General¡¯s esteemed name?¡± ¡°My surname is Shen, Shen Heyan.¡± The young man pulled over the man in bell-bottoms. ¡°This is Song Yi of the Right Army, bearing the battle g at the forefront. Both of you share the same school of spear techniques; you might even be from the same hometown.¡± The man¡¯s face appeared stern, and Li Yan took the initiative to bow slightly in greeting. ¡°I¡¯m from Hejian, may I ask where Brother hails from?¡± After a long while, the man reluctantly answered, ¡°Baxian County.¡± Scratching his neck, Shen Heyan chuckled, ¡°Old Song always has this sort of temperament, please don¡¯t take offense.¡± ¡°At first nce, Vanguard Song seems like a stern and upright person, dealing with such people saves much trouble. Why would I take offense?¡± Li Yan smiled, his face free of any care in the world. ¡°General¡­¡± A junior officer hastened forward to Shen Heyan¡¯s side and whispered something to him. ¡°Is that true?¡± Shen Heyan raised an eyebrow and let out a cold smirk, ¡°Then they can¡¯t me me for not leaving anyone alive.¡± With that, he quickly said to Li Yan, ¡°Brother, once I¡¯ve dealt with some trifling matters, we shall chat more.¡± Li Yan watched them leave, his mind still pondering the connection between military officers and the Dragon Tiger Qi. ording to the exploratory records, Dragon Tiger Qi was not exclusive to the Great Ming, it was just known by different names. For example, the Demonic Strength of the Kobayakawa¡¯s Daimyo bloodline was also a form of Dragon Tiger Qi, Killing someone with Dragon Tiger Qi would make the option of Dragon Tiger Qi avable in the purchasing authority, but it was supremely rare and extremely dangerous, which is whyter travelers, like Yan Fu, chose another path: enfeoffment. With the Ming Dynasty¡¯s highly developed examination system, for the travelers of Yan Fu hoping to earn titles and imperial enfeoffment through examinations was like daydreaming. Of course, even without studying, there were many who gained significant authority in the Ming Dynasty through the emperor¡¯s favor, such as Liu Jin, Feng Bao, Wei Zhongxian¡­ Cough cough¡­ Military merits! Without a doubt, the vast majority of Yan Fu travelers obtained Dragon Tiger Qi through this approach. However, Li Yan thought further; in addition to these three methods, to attain imperial enfeoffment, there were shortcuts, such as the Heavenly Master Tao¡­ As these thoughts crossed his mind, Li Yan started to feel hungry and so he stepped out of the camp. Speaking of which, although Li Yan had little recollection of the historical Renchen War in his memories, considering the domestic public opinion environment, the war was rarely mentioned, which probably meant it was a victory. ¡­ The Ming Army Camp was stationed within Suzhou City, less than a hundred miles from Pyongyang. The Ningyuan Earl, Shanxi General, and concurrently Beiwo Governor Li Rusong sat to the right of the table, while to the left sat Mage Yi Yu from the Heavenly Master Tao, known as the Grandmaster Gaogong of the Divine Zephyr Purple Abode and a protector of the nation. The head of the table remained vacant. The gathering included Joseon dignitaries like Liu Chenglong, Joseon military leaders like Li Yi, as well as Ming military leaders like Li Rumei and Li Rubo among others. Song Trantor took thest seat, feeling anxious inside. ¡°What about Lord Minister?¡± Liu Chenglong asked. ¡°Minister Song imed to be ill, no need to wait for him,¡± The speaker was Yi Yu, who smiled carelessly and casually bit into a pear from the desk, sttering juice everywhere. Li Rusong¡¯s expression was a bit awkward, but he still coughed. ¡°Let¡¯s begin~¡± The topic of discussion was the n to take Pyongyang, with everyone chiming in about terrain, troop formations, provisions, firearms¡­ the conversation was heated. Yi Yu was like a y statue, not uttering a word, as it seemed Li Rusong and others did not intend to ask for his opinion either. This Master Gaogong from the Heavenly Master Tao yed with a thumb ring, appearing amused. ¡°Master Brother, Master Brother~¡± a Taoist boy tugged at Yi Yu¡¯s clothes, ¡°There is in the city¡­¡± ¡°Shh¡± Yi Yu ced his index finger to his lips. ¡°Fei, eat if you¡¯re hungry. Don¡¯t talk about idle matters, don¡¯t ask about them,¡± he said. ¡°Oh~¡± After calming his junior, Yi Yu threw away the pear core and secretly curled his lips. ¡°Great Three Pure Ones above, without any tricks, how would these bumpkins know the methods of our Heavenly Master Tao¡­¡± ¡­ The morning brought a drizzle of rain thatsted a while, as muddy sshes rose from boots stepping on the road. At the gates of Suzhou City, the streets were crowded with disced Joseon citizens, huddled together in the cold wind, their eyes numb, Li Yan found a food stand to sit at, gestured for a bowl of pork offal soup, and handed over a few copper coins. The stall owner, her apron stained with oil, was so frightened that she immediately waved her hands in refusal. Li Yan ced the copper coins beside the chopping block and carried the big bowl over to the only small wooden table under the felt cloth. ¡°Old man, make some room.¡± When the diner at the wooden table lifted his face, it surprised Li Yan. With his square face and purple beard, and eyebrows soaring like wings, the snow and mud sttered on his straw coat and pant legs, he carried a long sword at his waist. Though his body was slightly hunched, he exuded an air of authority without anger. The man shifted aside and smiled at Li Yan. The wind tossed the straw hat hanging on the birch railing as Li Yan huddled beside the old man. He quickly finished the soup in just a few mouthfuls. The taste was not great, but at least it warmed his body. Ripples spread across the pond as the purple-bearded elder watched the empty, deste street. Raindrops fell on the refugees¡¯ faces and slowly slid down their cheeks. He seemed to reflect on something, and then sighed, ¡°The sanctuary seeks the exiled for their wisdom. Mr. Jia, your talent is unmatched. It¡¯s pitiful in the dead of night, an empty seat awaits, asking not themon folk but the demonic powers.¡± ¡°Is the old gentleman also with the Ming army?¡± Li Yan asked casually. ¡°I am a staff officer under Governor Li, not of official rank,¡± the old man replied, looking Li Yan up and down. ¡°The entire Ming army poured into Suzhou City, homes requisitioned, granaries sealed, discing the locals. It¡¯s unfortunate, but war necessitates it, soldiers need sustenance. However, what¡¯s owed to the people shouldn¡¯t be shortchanged. You, young man, with the stare of a hawk and the air of a wolf, seem to still have some decency left.¡± Li Yan pulled at the corner of his mouth, taking it as apliment and showing no desire to continue the conversation. The old man stretched and grabbed his hat, ready to leave, when he suddenly paused. ¡°Hmm?¡± Li Yan abruptly stood up. He saw it clearly from the corner of his eye, a headless ck corpse darted around the street corner! ¡°Close the city gates!¡± The chaotic sound of hoofbeats from around the corner broke through the silence. Mounted on a horse, the Ming soldier¡¯s eyes were red with rage, his helmet torn apart, hair disheveled and bloodied, and his armor dented and battered. Behind him, seventeen or eighteen riders kicked up the muddy earth as they charged toward the city gate like thunder. Chapter 62 - 16 Blood Dip and Grade 3 Peacock Chapter 62: Chapter 16 Blood Dip and Grade 3 Peacock Between the thin wind and rain, a headless corpse rushed across the street, pursued closely by a dozen riders. With a shout from the Ming Army chasing the monstrous corpse, the soldiers guarding the city gate immediately lifted the heavy wrought iron bolts, and the massive gate closed shut like a giant mouth. The headless corpse was almost entirely stained with blood, its skin disying a sinister purplish-ck hue, fingers broad and joints erged, moving swiftly like a tiger or leopard¡ªit was not at all inferior to the horses. The monstrous corpse snapped the neck of a refugee who failed to dodge in time and threw the body at the pursuers behind it; the corpse tumbled three or four times in the air before smashing into the lead horseman. The rider didn¡¯t hesitate, channeling all his strength into the long knife in his hand, his tongue pressing against his upper teeth, and with the horse¡¯s momentum, he shed forward! The body was cleaved in two by this de, and the horseman burst through a cloud of blood¡ªit was Shen Heyan! Shen Heyan was filled with shock and rage. He had long known that for nearly a hundred years, monsters had been rampant and all sorts of inconceivable events were no longer new. A few years ago, the White Lotus Sect rebelled, and the traitor Xue Yuying actually possessed the power to summon winds and call forth rain, witnessed by tens of thousands of soldiers, which caused an uproar throughout the court. However, he never imagined that by beheading a few escaping Japanese pirate captives, he would create such a troublesome headless monster! ¡°Liver and marrow spread across the wilderness, a thousand miles of red earth, indeed monsters are rampant,¡± he said.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The old man was not flustered as his hand reached for the long sword at his waist. ¡°Old sir, lend me your weapon,¡± Li Yan said as he grabbed the long sword from in front of the old man, stepping forward toward the long street. ¡°You young¡­¡± The old man was initially a bit irritated, but when he saw Li Yan¡¯sposed gaze and the long sword raised to block the street, his displeasure diminished somewhat. A Fleeting Glimpse A Night Fiend Corpse, transformed by Shinto secret arts, strong as a tiger and swift as a monkey, extremely difficult to deal with. Status: Lucid (retains thebat experience from before death) Specialization: Military Skill 73% Skills: 1, Resentful me 2, Bone-corroding Blood 3, Malice Turns to Ghost Can be considered as one of the three Exotic Beasts targeted in the Yan Fu event. Threat Level: Red Li Yan frowned, considering that this monstrous corpse was not restrained by his Chaos Tattoo; it indeed was the most troublesome opponent in this Yan Fu event. He flicked the tip of his long sword, while the ghastly corpse suddenly burst forward with astonishing speed, reaching ahead of the sword¡¯s edge, its ck ws aiming for Li Yan¡¯s throat. But at that moment, a drop of fresh red blood silently fell onto the back of the corpse¡¯s neck¡­ Facing the w with the thick stench of blood, Li Yan lightly leapt backward, his long sword ringing as it cleaved three twisted shes through the air. Hook Star granted Li Yan an attack speed and explosive power of up to 160%, allowing him to nearly seamlessly strike three swords! If the monstrous corpse was a fleeting glimpse across the horizon, then Li Yan was like a peal of thunderous lightning under the dense dark clouds. In an instant, the arm of the monstrous corpse was cut into three parts, but Shen Heyan shouted from a distance, ¡°Back away!¡± Even without themand, Li Yan had already been tapping his calves in quick session, distancing himself at least three to four meters from the corpse. A drop of ck blood fell onto Li Yan¡¯s cotton robe, quickly corroding arge hole through it. Li Yan¡¯s eyebrows quivered; looking at the long sword in his hand, he discovered that in no time at all, the upper half of the de had been corroded away. Only two-thirds of the sword remained, and the initially congealing ck blood turned into dried-up purplish-ck. ¡°Bone-Eroding Blood¡­ suited for the Fur ss to fight with.¡± After thinking about it, Li Yan still felt he was more suited to deal with Kobayakawa, or mages like Serpent. The monstrous corpse quickly stopped bleeding and pounced like a cheetah. ¡°Find a way to break his limbs!¡± Li Yan thought to himself, he flicked his sword clean, tucked it behind his waist, his eyes flickered fiercely, and he positioned his feet in a buckling step stance, with no intention of retreating. The purple-bearded elder took a sharp intake of breath, wanting to stop Li Yan, but it was toote, As the monstrous corpse lunged, Li Yan stepped forward, bracing against its terrible neck, and his right foot kicked at its knee. The kicknded smoothly on the knee of the monstrous corpse, but Li Yan¡¯s heart sank! That monstrous corpse changed its embracing hand to a grabbing one and clutched at Li Yan¡¯s garment, its fingers sinking into Li Yan¡¯s chest. ¡°Sslush.¡± The monster¡¯s hand held only a piece of cloth, but Li Yan was gone; caught off guard, Li Yan twisted underfoot and slipped through the wound on the monstrous corpse¡¯s chopped right shoulder to its backside, grabbing the shoulder de with his left hand and the shin with his right. With a forceful flip of his palms, he mmed the entire body of the monstrous corpse onto the ground! The Night Fiend Corpse staggered, instinctively trying to brace itself with its arms, forgetting that Li Yan, with eyes red, was standing by! He stepped forward, arched his back, grasped the opponent¡¯s arm with his palm, and hooked his foot underneath. Twisting his foot, he slid sideways, turning wrong-footed. Man and corpse pushed against each other¡¯s limbs; Li Yan¡¯s arms and thighs bulged with veins, and the blood vessels in his neck throbbed with cast-iron strength. ¡°Crack.¡± The left arm of the monstrous corpse was twisted off, hanging helplessly, as the Bone-Eroding Blood congested at the fracture site, unable to flow out. Suddenly, the Night Fiend Corpse¡¯s aura drastically changed to one of burning heat, toxic resentment, and utter danger; Li Yan got goosebumps on his neck and quickly withdrew. The monstrous corpse shook violently, a blood glow enveloped its body, and from a distance, it looked as though it was on fire! The fight between the twosted only seven or eight breaths; the horse had just arrived but retreated repeatedly, spooked by the resentful mes. In the center of that me was a red glow surrounded by a purple-ck light, quite out of the ordinary. Wearing a rxed smile on his face, he pointed his finger at the red glow and made an imperceptible gun-shooting gesture. Pantomiming with his mouth, he said, ¡°Bang!¡± The sound of shattering ss rang out, and the monstrous corpse copsed. ¡°Blood Dip has reached a lethal point, damage burst. Damage bonus for this attack is 142%, Hook Star status is invalidated for 15 hours.¡± ¡°Target is dead.¡± ¡°Your Yan Fu event progress has increased.¡± Li Yan loosened his waist, drawing the long sword from his back, and sheepishly saluted the elder with his hands. ¡°In an emergency, drastic measures must be taken, my apologies, elder.¡± The elder stared at Li Yan for a while ¡°Young brother, you truly are¡­ Hmm?¡± The elder¡¯s beard and hair bristled, his purple beard fluttering gracefully. A heat spread across Li Yan¡¯s chest tattoo, his eyes widened as he glimpsed a ghastly figure behind him clutching a bloody seven-holed head, groaning in agony, melting snow and ice. But Li Yan knew that the ghostly creature hadn¡¯t touched him, and the Fierce state that the Chaos Tattoo could trigger had not been activated. In the foreground, behind the purple-bearded elder, a Peacock slowly dissipated. Dragon Tiger Qi, Peacock, a third-rank official of the current dynasty. Chapter 63 - 17 Songs Strategies Chapter 63: Chapter 17 Song¡¯s Strategies Raging mes rose, and the ckened dead bodies crackled in the fire, emitting a foul stench that was unbearable, causing people to cover their noses and walk away. ¡°My lord.¡± Shen Heyan¡¯s armor was corroded and in disarray, his expression uglier than ever. The elder with the purple beard wiped his sword¡¯s de with his sleeve, his face showing a hint of distress. ¡°Heyan, what¡¯s happened here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my negligence.¡± Shen Heyan¡¯s body was deeply bowed. The elder didn¡¯t say much after hearing Shen Heyan¡¯s ount, pondering for a moment before speaking. ¡°From today on, spread lime in the barracks twice daily, morning and evening. If simr incidents ur, burn the bodies on the spot.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The several soldiers from the Vanguard Right Camp looked at each other, puzzled. The elder was d in straw clothing, his trouser legs caked with mud. His thick eyebrows stood tall, his face square, and his purple beard prominent¡ªhardly resembling a court-appointed official. They did not recognize him, but Shen Heyan did. The elder was named Song Yingchang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, a third-rank court-appointed official, and also the Minister of War in charge of preparations against the Japanese during this Renchen War, overseeing all matters rting to the campaign. In effect, he was even the superior of his own uncle. The elder grunted affirmatively. He nced at Li Yan, who remained silent and head bowed, suddenly asking, ¡°Young man, what¡¯s your surname and given name?¡± ¡°I am a Chief Banner under General Zu Chengxun, and I just returned to the camp yesterday.¡± Li Yan¡¯s attitude was very humble, although Deng Tianxiong was moring that Li Yan could be a Centurion, Li Yan himself was not so optimistic. In the Ming Dynasty¡¯s regtions, a Centurion was of the sixth rank, with two Chief Banners under hismand. On the surface, the Chief Banner was just below the Centurion, but in reality, Chief Banners held no official rank. If Li Yan wanted official recognition, he would likely have to start as a ninth-rank Patrol Inspector and then climb up to Centurion step by step. The war continued, and Li Yan was not worried aboutcking military achievements. What he feared was theck of connections within the court. ¡°I see.¡± Song Yingchang hummed, then said no more. Shen Heyan¡¯s eyes shifted, and he suddenly coughed dryly, ¡°My lord, the Governor and others are currently discussing matters in the camp. Howe you¡­?¡± Song Yingchang looked at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°General Li is a renownedmander of our time, who does not need a bookworm like myself to direct battles. His Majesty gave me the task of Minister of War, but then appointed that Yi Daoist as Military Supervisor to act as a check upon me. Your uncle is also unhappy in his heart. I might as well keep out of sight; considering that old Daoist¡¯s sense of propriety, he likely won¡¯t be meddling.¡± A strangeugh suddenly came from the street corner. ¡°Lord Song¡¯s words are suffused with a sour tone, much like a jealous concubine who¡¯s fallen out of favor. It truly diminishes the breadth of mind one would expect.¡± As the drizzle ceased, a group of young men and women dressed in silk Daoist robes approached, surrounding the authoritative and majestically robed Mage Yi Yu. Song Yingchang rolled his eyes. ¡°Yi Gaogong is not in the camp but hase to the city gate to keep this old manpany and eat the dust?¡± Yi Yu nced at the mostly dried-out corpse on the ground. ¡°If I had note, Suzhou City would suffer an outbreak of disease by tomorrow.¡± Upon hearing this, Song Yingchang was also startled. Yi Yu took the Shangxiao Tongbao Purple Gold Nine Divine me Talisman from the hands of his junior brother, Fei, formed a seal with his right hand, and directed it at the corpse. A pale white ball of fire surged from the talisman paper. Li Yan was at least four and a half meters away from that me, yet he felt a scorching st of heat assault him. Even more rming to Li Yan was the faint sensation of a tremor within his soul, as if something inside him was wailing. The corpse that seemed charred to a crisp suddenly shattered into thousands of ck spheres which scattered in all directions. Yi Yu sneered, and the pale white fire morphed into myriad sparks that followed like shadows. Like maggots on bones, they bore into the ck spheres, turning them into a pile of white ash without leaving a trace. Li Yan saw clearly that this purple talisman, known as the Nine Gods me Talisman, showcased only two types of mes, one purple and the other white. The purple me saved lives, and the white me killed enemies, and even this was immensely powerful. Let alone the seven other mes he had not yet seen. ¡°Do the Japanese have such troublesome things at their disposal?¡± Shen Heyan gnashed his teeth. Yi Yu shook his head. ¡°Just a little trick. I heard that within thend of the Japanese, there is a sect called Shinto with numerous followers. I estimate this person must be one of them.¡± His eyes flickered as he pondered to himself, ¡°In recent centuries, the fortunes of countries have drastically declined, giving rise to rampant evil spirits. The Japanese havee out in full force, disying a do-or-die attitude. Could it be that¡­¡± He shook his head again. If Toyotomi Hideyoshi was going all in, wasn¡¯t the Great Ming equally determined to win? The Emperor¡¯s words of crushing the rebellion still echoed in his ears. This time, in the campaign to crush the Japanese in Joseon, victory was assured with no room for defeat. ¡°On the battlefield, if there are many such evil spirits, we must be more vignt.¡± Song Yingchang cautioned Shen Heyan. ¡°On the contrary.¡± Yi Yu interjected. ¡°Our Celestial Empire of the Great Ming has the protection of the Dragon Tiger Qi and the Hua Gai canopy. Spirits dare not intrude, and external evils retreat. Even though we¡¯ve suffered some decline over the past century, there is still a formidable heavenly authority. Wherever our army goes, secondary mystical practices can hardly unleash even a fifth or third of their power. How often do we hear of monstrous beasts and evil spirits attacking our soldiers in Joseon, yet which of those incidents became significant? Haven¡¯t they all been vanquished by the army? Thus, Lord Minister need not worry. On the battlefield, these things are inconsequential.¡± Yi Yu¡¯s words were heartfelt, but unbeknownst to him, they touched a nerve in Song Yingchang. Wiping the corner of his eye, he replied as if offhandedly. ¡°Dragon Tiger Qi and the talk of a century¡¯s decline, you Taoists have been preaching this for more than a decade. I fear that even falsehoods would be truths.¡± His expression was stern. ¡°How can the fate of the nation rest on the words of Taoists? Throughout history, a nation¡¯s fall was due to five failings: domestic troubles, external threats, false peace, starvation among the people, failure to carry out rewards and punishments¡­¡± He nced at Yi Yu, ¡°And petty men rising to power.¡± Yi Yu chuckled. ¡°Lord Minister Song, as I recall, when you were the Patrol Inspector in Shandong and reached a deste vige, there was a man-eating tiger that had been terrorizing the locals. Upon your arrival, this tiger fled to the mountains and never returned. At that time, it was touted as an admirable anecdote. You don¡¯t believe in the Dragon Tiger Qi, so how would you exin that?¡± Song Yingchang remained unflustered. ¡°A person should live without shame under heaven and over earth, harboring righteous qi within one¡¯s heart; what is there to fear from beasts?¡± Yi Yu waved his hand. ¡°I won¡¯t argue with someone who¡¯s shamelessly old.¡± Li Yan watched and listened silently, standing with a group of mounted scouts from the vanguard right camp, not showing any intention to speak. Governor General Li Rusong, Minister of War Song Yingchang, and Military Supervisor Yi Yu were the three leaders of the Ming Army this time; two of whom Li Yan had encountered at the gates of Suzhou City. But Li Yan knew that as a Chief Banner, he had no reason or standing to strike up a conversation. The more one said, the more mistakes could be made. Besides, from the current situation, these three individuals held different positions, and it seemed that the Taoist from Heavenly Master Tao was somewhat ostracized. Li Rusong had only summoned the Joseon trantor he had brought and showed no intention of acknowledging Li Yan. Li Yan was not disappointed, but a person from Heavenly Master Tao had brought him reward money and a jade pendant. It looked like if not for the limits of his authority, he would have even taken care of promoting Li Yan himself, which indicated certain implications. Shen Heyan, wanting to smooth things over, cleared his throat before saying: ¡°Come to think of it, Yi Gaogong would certainly not leave the meeting halfway. How are the matters within the camp proceeding? Has a time been decided for deploying troops to Pyongyang?¡± Song Yingchang also voiced his concern, asking, ¡°The Emperor is eager to exterminate the Japanese pirates, and the army cannot afford to dy long. Rusong, when do you n to dispatch troops to Pyongyang? Have you discussed a specific time?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Yi Yu was halfway through his response when the long sound of a horn suddenly filled Suzhou City, indicating full military readiness. Shen Heyan¡¯s expression changed; it was the signal for the entire army to prepare. Yi Yu¡¯s face turned solemn. ¡°Today at the hour of shen, we prepare the troops. Tonight, we surround Pyongyang.¡± Chapter 64 - 18 The Enemy Approaching the City Chapter 64: Chapter 18 The Enemy Approaching the City The bugle call waned, with heavy footsteps, shouting, and the clinking of armor all melding into one, the camp was a scene of haste. ¡°General Li, General Li.¡± Song Zhongji looked around to see no one else, grasped the hem of his robe, and hurriedly ran to Li Yan¡¯s side. Li Yan and the others were currently changing into their armor, getting ready to depart, and couldn¡¯t help but smile when they saw himing. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Song Trantor? What are you doing here instead of running around the Joseon camp? Hey, Tianxiong, have you seen my boots?¡± ¡°Listen to me.¡± He grabbed adle, scooped up a gulp of cold water, and stuttered as he followed Li Yan, who was searching for his boots in the tent. ¡°Whom did you write about?¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®whom did I write about¡¯?¡± Li Yan did not understand. ¡°How could you not know? The Kobayakawa Masakazu you killed is the most beloved grandson of Mori, one of the Five Elders of Toyotomi. The report of your military achievements is now pressing on Governor Li¡¯s desk; the documents rmending you have almost reached Yizhou.¡± Li Yan paused, ¡°The military exploits haven¡¯t been sent back yet, how could they be rmending me¡­ Oh.¡± His mind was quick, and he naturally understood. Kobayakawa Masakazu was considered a great start for Great Ming since entering Joseon. If it were during the Battle of Pyongyang, perhaps his death wouldn¡¯t count for much. But at this particr moment, his demise was a rare opportunity. Such a meritorious deed would not let only one person take all the credit. If the rmendation came after the report of military exploits, naturally, no one else could share a bit of this merit. But if one were promoted first and then the military exploits were reported, it meant that the person who promoted Li Yan had the vision to recognize talent¡ªthe newly promoted talent was able to make remarkable achievements immediately. Compared to this, the merit that Li Yan risked his life to earn would naturally seem much less significant. In Song Trantor¡¯s view, the name that should appear on the promotion document should of course be written by Li Yan himself, whether it named his old superior Zu Chengxun or someone else. But as someone born and bred in the Celestial Empire, Li Yan understood naturally. With such convoluted maniptions, what say did he, a subordinate, have in the matter? The mere notification from his superiors was already a great honor given to him. Li Yan didn¡¯t feel indignant. As the overall situation was already decided, it was better to think about what benefits he could gain from it. ¡°There¡¯s no final decision on this matter yet. Did youe just to tell me this?¡± His attitude became much kinder. ¡°Listen,¡± Song Trantor¡¯s face was solemn, ¡°Tomorrow the great army will attack Pyongyang. Before dusk, the Lord Governor will promote you to Ninth Grade Patrol Inspector in front of the troops, and you will choose your division to follow. Remember, one is the five thousand Qi Family Army under the Chief Military Officer of Ji Town, Wu Weizhong, and the other is one and a half thousand elite cavalry under the Xuanfu Assault Commander Zhang Jie. You must choose one of these two forces to join your post and achieve remarkable deeds.¡± Li Yan¡¯s body stiffened, and his eyes sharpened. ¡°How do you know this?¡± ¡°This morning, Minister Liu Chenglong from Joseon and your Ming Army Governor discussed the attack on Pyongyang; I was also present at the meeting.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Li Yan sat on the couch. ¡°Then why are you telling me this?¡± Song Trantor was somewhat annoyed. ¡°I¡¯m taking the risk of losing my head by telling you this.¡± ¡°So, what do you want?¡± Li Yan also furrowed his brows, ¡°Having returned to the Joseon officialdom, why bother with us rough folks? A great battle is imminent; I don¡¯t have time to beat around the bush with you. If you want me to do something, just say it outright.¡± ¡°You, you!¡± Song Trantor was left speechless with frustration. ¡°I thought about the life and death we¡¯ve shared and took great risks to tell you this. Well, just consider it a bout of foolishness on my part, and this trip was in vain.¡± With that, he waved his sleeve as if to leave. Li Yan¡¯s eyes flickered for a while but eventually, he held him back and bowed with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m a simple man, not good with words. Brother Song, please don¡¯t take offense. I will remember today¡¯s encounter with deep gratitude. If there¡¯s ever a day you need my help, just ask.¡± Song Trantor left in a huff, and Li Yan quietly contemted after sending him off with a few words. ¡°Ninth Grade Patrol Inspector? Chief Military Officer of Ji Town? Xuanfu Assault Commander?¡± ¡­ The wine cup fell to the ground, with the dark-red wine and moss-green shards scattering everywhere. Konishi Yukinaga stood atop a tall building, dressed in brocade and with two short guns at his waist, pinching a letter between his fingers, his eyes bloodshot. This letter was shot into the city gates from outside just after midday, its handwriting bold and brimming with murderous intent. ¡°Marching hastily to the river¡¯s edge by night, saying that the Three Korean States are unsettled. The Ming ruler¡¯s banners stand majestic by day; the heroes unleash joyful toasts by night. Spring brings strong hearts with killing force; arriving here with a chill not yet left from the spectral miasma. Victory is not just talk, jest, and calction; in dreams, I often recall riding over the battle saddle!¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Konishi Yukinaga read and remained silent for a long time, while from behind the castle¡¯s battlements in the distance, the desperate shouts of the Japanese defenders could be heard. The Ming Army had arrived. Before the hour of Shen had ended, the vanguard of the Ming central army galloped past the gates of Pyongyang City¡ªOrdinary Gate, Mitai Gate, Changqing Gate, Seven-Star Gate, Zhengyang Gate, Hanian Gate¡­ Under the Japanese longbows and firearms, the cavalry divided into squads, and after passing each gate, a thousand-strong squad was left behind, the rest of the army pressing on. Snowkes swirled down from the sky, and the north wind howled. Amid the long, dull bugle calls, the sound of horses¡¯ hooves, footsteps, and wagon wheels were like thunderclouds rolling in. The army of Ming Country, twenty thousand strong, and three thousand Joseon troops, had Pyongyang City sewn up tight! Shen Heyan stood at the front of the formation, less than ten steps away from the enemy¡¯s bow range, with restless warhorses neighing behind him and a forest of swords and spears looming tall. The enormous iron spear before him was filled with an oppressive visual impact. ¡­ In front of the troops, Li Rusong adjusted his helmet and armor, his eyes clear and piercing as if he possessed divine radiance. Li Yan, wearing chain mail, was inconspicuous among the crowd. He listened quietly as Li Rusong arranged the troops and issuedmands, bursting with vigor. Suddenly, a name leaped into his ears. ¡°Where is Li Yan, former Chief Banner of the Chengwuwei? Everyone¡¯s gaze simultaneously turned to him. Li Yan showed no sign of panic, leaping up and kneeling on one knee. ¡°This subordinate is here.¡± ¡°You have made meritorious contributions by killing enemies when returning to camp. I n to report this to the court and grant you the position of Patrol Inspector of Long¡¯an Prefecture. During wartime, you will join the Right Army with twenty men under yourmand. Speak freely if you have a preference for any particr division.¡± Li Yan stood up but immediately bowed deeply to the ground. ¡°Being able to kill enemies for our nation makes everyone a true hero. I dare not hold any disdain or pickiness. The only matter I wish to speak about concerns the position of Patrol Inspector.¡± His words made everyone present furrow their brows. Yi Yu was holding a cdon tea cup, and with a snap, the lid crashed onto the cup. He shook his wrist nonchntly and remained silent. ¡°Speak your mind,¡± Li Rusong said, his face as still as water. ¡°Killing enemies when returning to camp was done together with my brothers under mymand. When I led them back, I vowed that each one would be a Banner Officer. Now that I have been promoted and my rank has risen, yet several of my brothers have not received their due positions, I dare not ept this job.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± At first, Li Rusong thought Li Yan was unhappy with the insignificance of the official position offered to him. But now, it didn¡¯t seem to be the case. ¡°I am willing to trade this ninth-rank Patrol Inspector position for five of my brothers to each be granted the position of Banner Officer.¡± A buzz went through the seated officers at his words. ¡°Do you realize that a Banner Officer does not belong to any rank and is merely amoner? They can be dismissed at any time. Besides, you have risked your life, and you are actually giving away your credit just like that,¡± someone said. ¡°If I don¡¯t do this, I cannot face the three brothers who died along the way,¡± Li Yan said with firm resolve. Vice General Yang Yuan nodded slightly, admiringly eximing, ¡°He is a real man.¡± Li Rusong now found himself with a headache. Li Yan¡¯s request seemed justified and righteous; it was difficult for him to refuse. To others, it looked like he was giving up his official status and taking a loss. But anyway, granting the positions of five Banner Officers, even if eachmanded a fullplement of fifty men as a Chief Banner, that would amount to two hundred and fifty men. Even if eachmanded only twenty to thirty men as a minor banner, that still added up to a substantial number of more than one hundred men! To the seated generals, the more prominent ones were local Deputy Commanders with a thousand to several thousand men under theirmand, and those of lesser status were fifth or sixth-rank military officers with hundreds of foot soldiers and cavalry, ranging from as few as four or five hundred to as many as seven or eight hundred. Even if it were only temporary, with these words of Li Yan, he would be giving away the equivalent of nearly half of a sixth-rank general¡¯s troops in this battle. As he hesitated, Song Yingchang spoke up: ¡°To have such a loyal and righteous Chief Banner is really rare. Lord Governor, I think it¡¯s okay to agree to his request.¡± Seeing even the Minister of War, Song Yingchang, speaking up for him, Li Rusong also nodded slightly. Deciding to be generous, he allocated to Li Yan the positions of two Chief Banners and three minor Banners, a total of one hundred and sixty men. Coupled with Li Yan¡¯s own position as Chief Banner, he now hadmand over two hundred and ten men. How many men can a ninth-rank Patrol Inspector have under hismand? At most thirty, which isn¡¯t as many as his own Chief g Officer position; the Dragon Tiger Qi? He will have it sooner orter; it doesn¡¯t look good to be covetous, does it? ¡°Wu Weizhong, Chief Military Officer of Ji Town, where are you?¡± Li Rusong asked. ¡°Your subordinate is here,¡± came the reply. A military officer came forward from the crowd. ¡°The walls of Pyongyang City are high and thick, in harmony with Peony Peak to the north. To conquer Pyongyang, Peony Peak must be taken first. At dawn tomorrow when we attack the city, you will lead five thousand infantry to assault Peony Peak.¡± ¡°Your subordinate obeys.¡± Having said this, Li Rusong turned and spoke, ¡°Where is Xuanfu Assault Commander Zhang Jie?¡± ¡°Your subordinate leads one thousand five hundred men to dress in Joseon civilian clothes and meet up with Governor Li Yi¡¯s forces at the southwest city gate. The Japanese do not respect Joseon¡¯s military strength; they will surely underestimate it. Tomorrow during the attack on the city, you will join the Joseon Army to secretly make your way to the gates of Pyongyang City. At that moment, reveal the Ming Army¡¯s gs and catch them off guard with a surprise attack.¡± ¡°Your subordinate obeys.¡± ¡°Center Army Yang Yuan and Right Army Shen Heyan to lead five thousand men to attack the Seven-Star Gate, armed with twenty Great General Cannons and fifty Tiger Cask Cannons. Left Army Li Rubo and Brigadier Li Fangchun to lead five thousand men to attack the Ordinary Gate, with ten Great General Cannons and thirty Tiger Cask Cannons. I will personally lead the main force and the Shenji Camp¡¯s Bird Gun squad for the push.¡± ¡°Heyan,¡± Li Rusong continued, ¡°I suspect Konishi Yukinaga will attack our camp tonight. You take eight hundred Fire Bow Soldiers from the Right Army to set an ambush and ensure he has no return.¡± ¡°Your subordinate obeys.¡± Shen Heyan grinned widely. Li Rusong nced at Li Yan. ¡°Tonight, you will also join Heyan on this mission.¡± Li Yan bowed his head deeply. ¡°Your subordinate obeys¡­¡± Chapter 65 - 19 A Small Taste of Great Skill Chapter 65: Chapter 19 A Small Taste of Great Skill That night. Two torches stuck in the cracks of the earthen wall were alight, the mes flickering weakly, a great big banner with the character ¡°Li¡± unfurls in the wind above the campgrounds. In the viscous night, as dark as ink, riding on a ck Mane Warhorse and wearing a ck eye patch, Fujiwara¡¯s lips were tightly pressed together. Behind him were several hundred Japanese soldiers armed with swords, spears, and bows, lying prone on the slopes, silent as crows scattered across the hills and fields. The sound of the plowed earth whispered, and the night raid team, handpicked by Konishi Yukinaga, spread out like the dark shadows that swiftly envelop after sunset, rushing towards the Ming Army Camp! Fujiwara took the longbow passed to him by a subordinate, pulled out three feathered arrows from his quiver, aimed at the watchtower, his thumb pressing hard against the bowstring, his eyes filled with a chilling intent. ¡°Twang~¡± The arrows flew off the string, the first arrow knocking over a torch and sending sparks flying, the second buried its head into a crack in the earthen wall, the me snuffed out by the swirling wind, and in the ensuing gloom, the final arrow hissed towards the colossal ¡°Li¡± character gpole in the camp! ¡°Whoosh!¡± A brief arrowhead tore through the air, shredding the darkness, and it sliced the arrow aimed at the Li character g into two pieces! In the pitch-ck darkness, where one couldn¡¯t see their own hands, Song Yi, carrying a bright red banner on his shoulder, eyes sharp as a hawk¡¯s, put down his short bow and gave Fujiwara, who had shot the three arrows, an icy smirk! ¡°Damn it!¡± Fujiwara¡¯s face turned pale with shock. The Ming Army surged from both sides like a tide, and Shen Heyan¡¯s tiger-like roar echoed across the camp. ¡°Extinguish!¡± ck arrows soared toward the Japanese pirates, apanied by the hissing of gunpowder explosions, and a rain of bronze pellets shot through the sparks. A swath of Japanese pirates fell, clutching their wounds, abruptly ambushed, yet the group led by Fujiwara didn¡¯t break but charged headlong into the Ming Army¡¯s volley of arrows, risking their lives! Shen Heyan, typically the first to charge, disyed a remarkably calm military quality this time, directing the first squad of gun troops to fall back and reload, allowing the squad behind them to step up, all the while having soldiers wielding four-meter Wolf Halberds resist the charge of the Japanese pirates. Fujiwara, holding two long-handled field greatswords, wearing a feather cloak over his armor that was half-destroyed by the lingering mes. Seeing that his opponents had no intention of engaging him at close quarters, while his own soldiers were being cut down like wheat by rounds of arrows and gunfire, he knew it was a lost cause. Atop Pyongyang City walls, approximately three thousand iron gun troops were ready to cover him; retreating now would preserve at least half of his forces¡­ With this thought, Fujiwara no longer hesitated, ordering the rear guard to turn front and to pull out. ¡°Sir, they¡¯re running!¡± A sharp-eyed junior officer called out. Shen Heyan was unconcerned, ¡°That¡¯s no longer my concern~¡± A bout of uncontroble warhorse neighing rose from behind the Japanese pirates, as Li Yan, d in chain armor, rested a ck spear shaft against his elbow, with seventy or eighty Dawan horses with blue coats trampling the frozen earth and blocking Fujiwara¡¯s and the others¡¯ path. Deng Tianxiong and Wang Sheng, among others, rode on horseback, spread out their forces. Like a nail, they fixed the Japanese pirates in ce before them. ¡°Advance, Wolf Halberdier Team!¡± As Fujiwara looked on grimly, Shen Heyan behind himmanded, and the irond Ming Army slowly closed in, preparing for a pincer attack. Li Yan turned his head to the side, realizing it had only been seven or eight days since he entered the Yan Fu event, yet he now controlled nearly a hundred horsemen. ¡°To see how far I can go in this Yan Fu event, it¡¯s up to this foundation of troops¡­¡± ¡°Watch out, sir!¡± Deng Tianxiong shouted as Fujiwara¡¯s de came shing down! ¡°Kill!¡± Deng Tianxiong thrust his Hook and Sickle Spear forward, and the blue-maned cavalry pierced the Japanese pirate formation like a sharp sword, the muffled sound of des cutting through flesh apanied by a flurry of white snowkes ringing in the air. ¡°ng.¡± Appearing distracted, Li Yan¡¯s right hand miraculously lifted to intercept the descending katana, his spear de rising from below to parry the tachi, the hook of the de catching the t of the sword. Fujiwara roared in fury, and his left-handed de swept horizontally towards Li Yan¡¯s right ear. A ck aura rose from behind him, tangible yet formless, indistinguishable in shape. Name: Fujiwara Michi (Saber Cavalry General) Specialization: Military Skill 76% Ability: Great Tachi Ghost sh (enhanced by Demonic Strength) Remarks: A Hatamoto Warrior under a Daimyo, also a noble, endowed with a trace of Demonic Strength for protection, which can be used to nullify certain levels ofbat damage, but also to boost attack power. The individual before him clearly belonged to thetter category. Whether the Dragon Tiger Qi of the Great Ming or the Demonic Strength of Japan, in the end, they¡¯re the same thing, a miraculous product unique to the Yan Fu Fruit. Just like Li Yan¡¯s Gu Huo Bird inheritance, Dragon Tiger Qi is a transcendental system full of countless mysteries, and ording to records from those who have traveled through Yan Fu, those with an inheritance who obtain Dragon Tiger Qi are significantly empowered as though a tiger had gained wings. Li Yan held his spear across, grunting as he took Fujiwara¡¯s hit, his palm going numb, surprised that he hadn¡¯t encountered such strength ever since strengthening his Gu Huo Bird powers. This time he left, he expected to at least snatch a seventh-rank Marshal position to take a good look at what mystery this Dragon Tiger Qi really held. Li Yan flicked his wrist, jabbed the spear tip upward, and thought to himself. Suddenly, Fujiwara let out a strange scream, bringing the two Great Tachis together, lifting them high with both hands as the purple-ck veins on his arms bulged, and his eyes protruded roundly like a fierce ghost¡¯s. Great Tachi Ghost sh! Li Yan¡¯s eyes grew fierce, and the ck spear shaft suddenly quickened several times over. Sparking fringes flew off like fireworks, and the gleaming spearhead frenziedly licked Fujiwara¡¯s flesh¡ªhis neck, chest, thighs¡ªpuncturing seven or eight bloody holes in an instant. Fujiwara Michi¡¯s throat made a gurgling noise as he fell from his horse to the ground, never managing to deliver that sh before dying. Li Yan pped the spear shaft on the horse¡¯s rump, the spear flourished and weaved as he disappeared into the midst of the enemy ranks. ¡­ Outside the city, the killing shouts gradually subsided, and thousands of iron gun forces eagerly awaited the returning raiders and pursuing Great Ming troops, but they never saw a shadow. Pyongyang City inside was deste, like a realm of ghosts. After the Japanese captured Pyongyang, they ughtered mercilessly. The bodies clogged the rivers, andter when Li Rusong captured Pyongyang, he found the vast city popted only by a few thousand weak women and children¡­ Konishi Yukinaga spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning as he pondered how to break the siege. The few thousand troops at Peony Peak were out of contact, morale inside the city was low, reinforcements from Geoje Ind were long overdue, and Kuki Yoshitaka had proven to be useless, fleeing in panic from a no-name like Li Suncheng, almost causing the Joseon ind supply lines to fall and forcing himself into this predicament. ¡°Just a little more time would be nice, as long as we can hold out for a bit longer¡­¡± ¡°Hey, Konishi old man, are you asleep?¡± Behind the paper-paneled window, a shadow holding a long sword called out to the inside. Upon hearing the noise outside, the powdered courtesan involuntarily shivered, and Konishi Yukinaga opened his eyes, sitting up from the woman¡¯s thighs. ¡°Hidetada brat, it¡¯s sote, what do you want with me?¡± The door was pushed open with a tter, and arge, horned Evil Ghost¡¯s head was thrown in, rolling with eyes wide in terror, as if it had seen something even more frightening than itself before dying. ¡°These kinds of things are bing more frequent in the city, old man; you better tell your men to restrain themselves a bit!¡± While saying this, he strode in, touched the obediently sitting kimono-d woman¡¯s rear end, and said with a sneer, ¡°Especially idiots like Endo and Sakata, who only cause trouble for me. It would be much easier if I chopped off their heads.¡± This man was dressed in a white monk¡¯s robe, in his early twenties, with ck leg bindings, a shaved head, and twelve prayer scars on his crown. He carried a ck wide-de katana on his shoulder, exuding an indescribable aura of malevolence. A young Japanese monk carrying a long sword? ¡°Such minor ghosts can¡¯t be causing you trouble, right? After all, back home, um¡­¡± Konishi suddenly stopped talking, sighed, and then said, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll make sure the men understand.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The monk named Hidetada cocked his head and sat down on the tatami. He casually grabbed some dried fish from a te and popped it into his mouth. ¡°Speaking of which, old man, could you figure out a way to get me out of Pyongyang?¡± ¡°Why is that, Hidetada?¡± Konishi Yukinaga was somewhat displeased but still asked patiently. ¡°Because it¡¯s dangerous outside, there are the Great Ming troops. Staying here means either I get blown up by cannons or beheaded,¡± Hidetada Osho said, rubbing his temples in frustration. ¡°You lot who have lived so long, prepared to die by seppuku without regrets, but I sure don¡¯t want to just die on the battlefield like this.¡± ¡°Damn, do you even deserve to be a descendant of the Hidetada family?¡± The monk nced sideways and muttered, ¡°Anyway, if the city falls, I¡¯ll be slipping away on my own.¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Hidetada added as if he remembered something. ¡°Fujiwara¡¯s unit has beenpletely wiped out~¡± ¡°What? I clearly¡­ damn it.¡± Konishi Yukinaga took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his feelings of defeat. ¡°Anyway, if things be desperate, I¡¯ll help you escape from the city. The Kobayakawa¡¯s are already¡­ I can¡¯t let you die here without rhyme or reason.¡± ¡°That would be more than great~¡± Hidetada stood up. He furrowed his brows and seemed about to say something more but then shook his head. ¡°Never mind, with the pride of the Great Ming people, they shouldn¡¯t care about such things. There shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡± Chapter 66 - 20: Fierce Battle at Peony Peak Chapter 66: Chapter 20: Fierce Battle at Peony Peak ¡°` Dawn was breaking as Li Yan, holding the Ring Dragon Han Sword, gazed into the distance. The snow-covered Peony Peak shuddered with its forest sea, picturesque and poetic. A cannon fire in front of Pyongyang City shook off the snow from the mountain, momentarily lifting everyone¡¯s spirit. Ji Town¡¯s Deputy Officer Wu Weizhong drew his long sword and bellowed, ¡°Pass mymand, attack the mountain!¡± ¡°Attack the mountain!¡± With a downward sweep of his hand, more than a hundred Ming soldiers surged up Peony Peak behind Li Yan! Li Rusong¡¯s allotted quota was a total of eighty cavalrymen and more than one hundred thirty infantrymen, equipped with long spears or short knives and twenty crossbows. Among them, Deng Tianxiong and Diao Xiayan were appointed as Chief g Officers, while Wang Sheng and two others served as Junior g Officers. In principle, Li Yan, merely a Chief g Officer, had no authority tomand equals such as Deng Tianxiong and Diao Xiayan. However, principles were just that, and now the General Li, who openly dered in front of all the soldiers that he was willing to exchange his official position for each of his brothers to be promoted to a g officer, was somewhat of a celebrity in the Right Army camp where Deputy Officers were a dime a dozen. ording to Li Rusong¡¯s orders, the fire bow soldiers and the Wolf Halberdier Team who had ambushed the night before, including the cavalry led by Li Yan, were not required to join the first round of the siege at dawn. However, Li Yan, known for his extraordinary vigor far beyond ordinary men, volunteered to take part in the assault on Peony Peak. The Ji Town soldiers, under the Great Ming banner, collided fiercely with the Japanese army stationed on the mid-slope of Peony Peak! And Li Yan once again saw a simr radiance to that of the Red Guards Army, but this time, it was emanating from the Ji Town soldiers themselves! Ji Town Strong Army (5032!) Basic enhancement: Attack, defense, and speed increased with numbers. Destroy Japanese Pirates: When facing Japanese pirates, increase attack power by 50% and armor pration by 50%. Mandarin Duck Array (activated with more than 10 people): Increase attack power by 150% when facing Japanese pirates, Jintown: (activated with more than 500 people): Increase offensive and defensive capabilities by 150% during coastal defense, The Ji Town soldiers formed teams of twelve: two with bird guns, two with Wolf Halberds, two with vine shield, four with long spears, and two leading with trident halberds topped with explosive charges. The teams, interspersed with long sword soldiers, plunged into the enemy ranks, sweeping the Japanese to the ground with the long Wolf Halberds, followed by stabs from the spears, and support from the firearm soldiers. They were like whirlpools on the mountainside battlefield, crazily decimating the ranks of the Japanese pirates. Diao Xiayan, basked in the same glow as the Ji Town soldiers, shed his long sword against the katana of the Japanese. His one eye gleamed with a cunning brilliance. The men led by Li Yan wound around the nk of the battlefield, rtively more fragilepared to the battle-tested Ji Town soldiers. It was not surprising for Diao Xiayan, formerly a Ji Town soldier, to enjoy the bonuses of the Ji Town Strong Army. However, Li Yan did not have this privilege, and each member of this unit stationed at Peony Peak was skilled with over 60% specialization in military skill, with at least 20% of them having a specialization of 70%. For Li Yan, who had just entered Yan Fu, being entangled by more than four Japanese could be somewhat overwhelming. But that was the Li Yan who had just entered Yan Fu. The Ring Dragon Sword whistled through the air, severing a neck and sending a head flying high. Li Yan moved gracefully like a dragon through the boiling battlefield, his Ring Dragon Sword, heavy and forceful, swept into the crowd, causing several arcs of blood to spurt forth with each strike. Having reached a breakthrough of 89% in Ancient Martial Arts Specialization, with the Hook Star state adding 160% to his attack speed and explosive power, and the readily avable Ring Dragon Han Sword, Li Yan cut through the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter. The Ring Dragon Sword, still gleaming as if fresh despite the fresh blood, but the blood of the Japanese pirates kept dripping off its master, like an evil ghost incarnate. ¡°Your mission-type skill Cold Killer has been unlocked!¡± A thought shed through Li Yan¡¯s mind as a thick, bloody ck light rushed towards his face. He had no time to dodge and rolled on the spot, covering himself with a smeared mix of flesh and dirt, in a rather sorry state. A Japanese, helmeted in foreign fashion and d in ck armor, coldly stared at Li Yan. He sprinted with his knee at ny degrees, swinging his Naginata towards Li Yan¡¯s head. Li Yan raised his Ring Dragon Sword from below, shing it with the descending naginata, prompting the sword to emit a mournful cry. ¡°Woo~¡± Li Yan found his feet sinking into the mud, a ringing in his ears, while the Japanese man stepped back half a step before lunging forward once again with a fierce chop! Li Yan twisted his calf and rolled away to evade the de once more. Another Japanese pirate took the opportunity to swing his katana at Li Yan¡¯s belly. Li Yan on the ground leveraged his Ring Dragon Sword against the attacking de, twisting with force, and the katana was sent flying away. His sword then swept upward, lightly tapping the throat of the swordsman. ¡°` ¡°Thump.¡± The Japanese pirate who thought to pick up an easy prize clutched his throat and knelt to the ground. The armored Japanese tightened his lips, not uttering a word, and without ncing at his fallenrade, he ced his naginata by his calf and charged forward with explosive speed. Li Yan held the Ring Dragon horizontally in front of his chest, gently spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood that had pooled under his bitten lip. Name: Goto Kagi Warring States Great General! Status: Ox Ghost, Daimyo¡¯s Seal Specialization: Naginata 89% Skill: Reaping sh (Passive) Reaping sh: Increases sharpness by 30 when using naginata-type weapons. (Standard cold weapons have a default sharpness of 10) Ox Ghost: Attack power increased by 100%n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Daimyo¡¯s Seal: A vassal personally sealed by Konishi Yukinaga, protected by Demonic Strength, exempt from 10% of all damage, 25% damage exemption when traversing Yan Fu, The naginata struck fiercely once more. With no room to dodge in the chaotic battlefield of Peony Peak, Li Yan took a stance, and the Ring Dragon shed once again with Goto Kagi¡¯s naginata, a droplet of blood unconsciously falling onto the back of Goto¡¯s neck. With a sudden burst of power, the two were evenly matched, but Goto was almost without hesitation. After withdrawing his de, he struck again, and Li Yan, with a numb wrist, decisively stepped forward twice, thrusting his longsword straight ahead recklessly. Goto¡¯s vision blurred, the Ming soldier who was clearly in front of his de edge had ghostly moved two steps closer, the naginata¡¯s handle smashing onto his shoulder, while a chill spread across his own waist and abdomen. ¡°Damn it!¡± Li Yan cursed angrily, the naginata handle hitting the shoulder armor te, the pain piercing deep into his bones. The Ring Dragon pierced into Goto¡¯s rib cage armor, entering the flesh shallowly. Goto Kagi roared like a tiger. Withdrawing his de, he struck again; from the start of their sh, he had used only this singr, extremely swift strike, pressuring Li Yan to the point where he could barely defend. Li Yan leapt backward, running towards the chaotic battlefield where the Ming army and Japanese pirates were entangled. Goto, seeing him escape with bloodshot eyes, chased after him, but his armor weighed much more than Li Yan¡¯s, and the surrounding Japanese were simply unable to stop Li Yan. In desperation, Goto grabbed a Japanese pirate at his feet whose right leg had been severed by Li Yan and, moaning in pain, he hurled him towards Li Yan like a sandbag! Li Yan, who was running towards the central battlefield, paused, swerving to evade a thrust from a junior officer¡¯s spear, and with a ringing sound from the Ring Dragon, he drew a bloody line from the junior officer¡¯s crotch to his right shoulder. With a kick, Li Yan toppled the Japanese pirate¡¯s corpse, snatched the spear, and turned to strike, sending the Japanese pirate who had been used as projectile flying to the side. nting the Ring Dragon Sword in the ground, he pointed the spear straight at Goto. ¡°Second round,¡± he said coldly. Goto silent, his body poised like a predator ready to pounce, his naginata horizontal, charging with a thick stench of blood! Li Yan thrust directly with a horizontal spear technique, the spearhead resisting the de of the naginata. ¡°Screech¡­¡± The grating sound of metal on metal echoed, the spear shaft bending into an arc under the fierce force of the naginata. Goto strained his arms, but at the sound of Li Yan¡¯s shout, he flicked the spear shaft, and the spearhead, agile as a python, darted towards Goto¡¯s wrist. ¡°What (no need for ¡®Nani¡¯ now¡­)¡± Goto broke into a cold sweat, pressing down the naginata to narrowly avoid the spearhead, but with his momentum exhausted, he watched helplessly as the mud and blood-stained spearhead plunged straight into his chest! Chapter 67 - 21: Breach the City! Chapter 67: Chapter 21: Breach the City! The sh at Peony Peak was raging, and at this moment, before the gates of Pyongyang City, the Great General Cannons and stone-throwing fire arrows burst forth in a dazzling disy. The muzzle-loading ng Cannons, with their short front ends, long barrels, and thick walls reinforced by seven or eight iron hoops, unleashed a fierce barrage alongside the mighty Red-clothed Cannons, which were fixed to the ground with iron mps in various unique styles of General Cannons. Dense ck smoke billowed, and the orange mes spread along the walls of the city. Explosions deafened the ears as countless arrows and iron bullets hit the walls, blood sttering continuously and staining the merlons red. The Ming Army¡¯s firearms were of various designs ¨C Three-eyed Firearms, mp-target Guns, Crutch Guns, and more ¨C but these weapons were far less powerful and uratepared to the swift and fierce firepower of the Japanese pirates manning the iron guns atop the city towers. Only the Bird Guns had a range and power that were somewhat satisfactory. Li Rusong only watched for a moment before ordering the g to be waved. Within the square formation of Ming soldiers, all wearing ck helmets with red tassels, carts wheeled forward, each carrying something resembling a barred crate. As the wicks, which burned fiercely, were inserted into the muzzles, the mes beneath them sparked hundreds of fiery arrows that shot out from the crates in eager session. Hundred Ferocious Tigers Rushing Arrows! mebat vehicles charged at the front, while dozens of pointed wooden ¡®siege donkeys¡¯ bearing Ming soldiers rushed to the gates below. Tall siegedders were ced against the walls still warm from the mes. Ming soldiers, their heads wrapped inted scarves and d in fish scale armor, ascended thedders bearing rattan shields and short swords in their mouths. Pots of boiling oil and rocks rained down like dumplings. Every now and then, soldiers would tumble down from the battlements. Banners stirred amidst the frenzy, cries of battle boiled over, earth and pebbles flew, dust covered the fields, and the world was bathed in a murky red. ¡­ Goto Kagi kept retreating, blood seeping from his chest. Li Yan wielded his iron spear, sttering the guts and viscera of two Japanese pirates trying to stop him. Amid the flying blood and organs, a glint of cold light, like a vengeful spirit iming lives, lunged at Goto. Enraged, Goto bellowed and countered with his Naginata. The sh sounded like a muffled hammer blow to the heart, even sparking in the process. The furious and tireless exchanges between the two men were hard to follow. The force of their blows sent a terrified Japanese pirate, who failed to dodge in time, crashing to the ground as Li Yan¡¯s whirling spearhead burst his head open. If Goto¡¯s Naginata were an unstoppable raging bull, then Li Yan¡¯s long spear was a barbed iron whip, a predatory python. With a strict and dignified presence, his Ring Dragon Spear in hand resembled the authoritative might of heaven itself; Marquis Huan¡¯s Eight Spears turned into a fierce and sinister storm, elusive and violent, licking Goto Kagi¡¯s flesh, tracing bloody flower after bloody flower on his body. ¡°Chng~¡± The Naginata and long spear scraped past each other, their edges sparking as they met. The tes of the great armor cracked and flew off. The blood-drenched spearhead pierced through Goto¡¯s neck armor, taking arge chunk of flesh from his neck. In that moment, a wild, bloodthirsty gleam shed across the wounded Goto Kagi¡¯s vision. ¡°ng.¡± The spear waspletely severed by the Naginata, leaving a smooth, burr-free cross-section as the once dragon-like spearhead suddenly wilted and fell to the ground. ¡°Die!¡± Goto Kagi roared as he raised the Naginata. That moment, the joy of ughter seemed to warm all his wounds. In the back of his mind, he thought he heard the sound of shattering ss. At least a dozen blood arrows burst forth from his body, gently falling onto the broken half of the long spear lying on the ground. Goto, like a blood-filled gourd with an expression of disbelief on his face, copsed to the ground with a thud. ¡°Blood Dip has reached the lethal point. Burst of damage. Bonus damage 201%, Hook Star status is ineffective for 21 hours.¡± ¡°Target dead.¡± ¡°Your Yan Fu event progress has increased.¡± ¡°Your purchasing privilege rating has significantly improved!¡± Li Yan felt a darkness before his eyes as he struggled to his feet, picked up a Wakizashi, maneuvered through the enemy throngs with a ¡®battle in all directions¡¯, and made his way to the side of the Ming soldiers with his Ring Dragon Sword in hand. Wu Weizhong¡¯s fish scale armor was sttered with blood. The slightly grey-hairedmander watched as Li Yan killed Goto Kagi, his eyes brightening as he shouted, ¡°Goodd!¡± ¡°The general is dead~ The general is dead~¡± A mournful cry came from somewhere, signaling the copse of the frontline, which started from a small corner and threatened to spread rapidly. The Japanese pirate who had cried out was beheaded, and Goto Kagi¡¯s lieutenant, with bloodshot eyes, bellowed. ¡°General Goto¡¯s orders! Retreat to the earth fort! General Goto¡¯s orders! Retreat to the earth fort!¡± Wu Weizhong snorted coldly, silently cursing their stubborn resistance as the Ji Town Soldiers gathered around the top of Peony Peak. The battle for Peony Peak had lost all suspense. ¡­ ¡°Light the fuse!¡± Pyongyang City¡¯s gates had nearly fallen, including the heavily guarded Seven-Star Gate by Konishi Yukinaga, which was violently sted open by the Tiger Cask Cannon Camp of the Ming Army! Rolling gun smoke poured out from the shattered gates as a Bright Red Banner led the way into the city. Song Yi, without armor and wearing a short-sleeved cotton jacket over his sleeves, carried a red banner of over a yard long on his left shoulder and grasped a gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear that was as thick as a wrist in his right hand. Behind him, hundreds of cavalry streamed into the city. The charging horses rampaged down the streets of Pyongyang with infantry following close behind to deliver the final blows when abruptly, a Ming cavalryman reined in his horse, his eyes unbelievingly wide. Several horsemen took notice of the anomaly, one after another, bringing their steeds to a stop. Through the haze and the intertwining ck smoke of the long street, a massive ck foot emerged from the mist, revealing itself before everyone¡¯s eyes. A few Ming soldiers armed with Bird Guns and bows did not hesitate to take aim and fire. Bullets and arrows submerged into the shadowy beast, which shuddered under the impact but then steadied itself. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, it¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t seen them before.¡± A Junior g Officer waved his hand dismissively, the first row of bird gunners stepped back, the second row took aim, and the archers set their arrows aze with fire beforeunching another simultaneous volley. The rockets extinguished upon hitting the monster, the smell of gunpowder and tung oil filling the entire street. A gust of wind swept away the dense fog and ck smoke, revealing the entire street at a nce. Lying on the stone-paved road littered with corpses, nearly a hundred bloated Evil Ghosts stood or squatted, their expressions dull and vacant. Small, red, fanged demons knelt over mutted corpses, gnawing at the flesh, blood dripping down from the corners of their mouths. In the shadows of narrow alleys, rotting, ragged corpses peered out, eyeing the brightly armored Ming Army in the street. All varieties of malevolent spirits filled the entire street! ¡°What kind of monsters are these¡­¡± The Ming junior g officer¡¯s voice trembled. The small, fanged demons, their teeth clogged with strands of flesh, hissed and leapt with lightning speed to pounce on a Ming soldier¡¯s face, no one having time to react. ¡°Bang!¡± A burst of blood sprayed out. Song Yi, expressionless, shook the blood and flesh off his spear, the Great Banner on his shoulder dancing fiercely.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The scene unfolding before his eyes was like purgatory, yet his expression remained unchanged. ¡°Vanguard Lord¡­¡± The junior g officer snapped back to his senses. ¡°Shut up!¡± Song Yi snapped coldly. His eyes turned towards the long street, the sunlight reflecting a cold gleam that converged on the tip of his Tiger Head Spear. ¡°You bunch of useless trash!¡± ¡­ ¡°Hidetada, how long do you think those demons can hold off the Ming Army?¡± Konishi Yukinaga looked haggard, nearly crushed by the ferocious firepower and bravery of the Ming Army that had dismayed the battle-weary old warlord. The glimmer of hope for the Land of the Rising Sun mentioned by Lord Hideyoshi, could it really be seized? ¡°Well, that would probably depend on the resolve of the Ming Army¡­¡± Hidetada, gesticting with his arms, bending at the waist, hopping and jumping as if exercising, replied to Konishi, ¡°Those demons are suppressed by the karmic energy of our nation, but this time, Great Ming hase prepared, with firearms, cannons, and evenmanders. So, the demons in the alleys of Pyongyang City are doomed to be no match for the Ming Army. About a day, they might dy it that long.¡± Konishi braced himself to ask another question, ¡°I heard¡­ that the Emperor of Great Ming deeply believes in the Heavenly Master Tao from Dragon Tiger Mountain, and this campaign is even led by his current favourite disciple. If he takes action¡­¡± ¡°If a priest that has control over Demonic Strength takes action, it won¡¯t take more than two hours for the demons inside Pyongyang City to be purgedpletely.¡± ¡°What do we do in that case?¡± Konishi looks troubled. ¡°So¡­.¡± Hidetada finally stretched, his warm-up done, grabbing the ck katana from the table. ¡°Consider it a final effort before we run away.¡± Hidetada pulls open the wooden door. ¡°If that guy dares to enter Pyongyang, I¡¯ll chop him down.¡± The sunlight struck Hidetada, gilding his face with ayer of gold. ¡°Old Konishi, I really like your servant Miyako, if I make it back, send her to me!¡± ¡­ ¡°Lord Gaogong¡¯s orders! All those without official ranks, return to camp for further orders. Each archery unit receive five hundred talisman arrows to y the demons. Lord Gaogong¡¯s orders¡­¡± ¡°I will never go to the front line, never in this life.¡± Yi Yu¡¯s head shook like a bobblehead. Spittle flew as he spoke with righteous indignation. ¡°The principle of our Heavenly Master Tao is to save the dying, help the injured, and support the people. And now you ask me to go to the front line to y demons? Aren¡¯t those demons transformed from the innocent citizens of Joseon? This does not align with our sect¡¯s principles!¡± Chapter 68 - 22: The Power of Yazi Chapter 68: Chapter 22: The Power of Yazi Song Yingchang¡¯s face didn¡¯t look good, and Li Rusong remained silent, lost in thought. Sitting in the chair, Fei swung his legs back and forth. He tilted his face upward and asked, ¡°Senior brother, are you scared?¡± Yi Yu¡¯s face turned red, and the veins on his forehead bulged out as he argued, ¡°Observing precepts cannot be considered fear¡­ Observing precepts!¡­ Can matters of a monk be considered fear?¡± He continued with inexplicable words, things like ¡°Equal Inheritance Regardless of Rank,¡± and ¡°The Twenty-seven Precepts,¡± which made everyone fall silent, filling the camp inside and out with an awkward air. ¡°Enough,¡± said Song Yingchang, interrupting Yi Yu¡¯s endless chatter. ¡°Since Yi Gaogong is unwilling to enter the city to exorcise demons, let¡¯s think of other solutions.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Upon hearing that he didn¡¯t have to enter the city, Yi Yu nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken. Knowing he was in the wrong, he generously offered to provide all the necessary supplies for exorcising the ghosts. Each officer in the camp received a True Martial Demon-subduing Pendant, and he also contributed a thousand Vajra Talismans, a thousand Mountain Moving Talismans, and three thousand Evil Dispelling Talismans. In the end, iming that the long march had brought miasma into their bodies, he pulled Fei along to leave early. The fierce battle at Peony Peak, the siege of Pyongyang, and the subsequent streetbat. The Ming Army¡¯s attack on Pyongyang raged for a full day and night, during which all over two thousand defenders of Peony Peak perished, over five thousand Japanese pirates were killed or wounded in the city, and the Ming Army suffered casualties of just over two thousand five hundred troops. Although Pyongyang City had been captured, Konishi Yukinaga still upied the various earthen forts built within the city and was highly determined to resist. Once the street fighting began, the Ming Army¡¯s heavy guns couldn¡¯t be brought in. In contrast, the Japanese¡¯s expert use of matchlock guns andrge cannons came into y, and with the added problem of demons in the city, the situation was at a stalemate for a while. ¡°Zimao, do you have any good ideas?¡± Song Yingchang said to Li Rusong. ¡°Even without the trouble of demons, I have no intention of continuing the relentless assault.¡± Li Rusong replied, ¡°There are many earthen forts in Pyongyang. The Japanese rely on civilian dwellings and tall stone walls for counterattacks, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. Konishi Yukinaga still has nearly ten thousand men. Their morale may have dwindled, but they disy the desperation of cornered soldiers. Blind aggression will only lead to unnecessary losses for our forces. Therefore, I¡¯m nning to write a letter to Konishi Yukinaga, saying we only want Pyongyang City and are willing to guarantee their safe passage out of the city with the honor of the Celestial Empire¡­¡± Song Yingchang took over, ¡°And then draw the snake out of its hole and capture them all!¡± Li Rusong was taken aback. He had entertained the idea but had concerns about Song Yingchang¡¯s bureaucratic background and possible objections to the n. He was surprised to find Song Yingchang was even more ruthless than he was. ¡°Ahem, Lord Minister,¡± Li Rusong ventured cautiously, ¡°Such action might tarnish the reputation of our great empire.¡± ¡°All is fair in war! Zimao, after so many years in the military, how can you still harbor such old-fashioned notions?¡± Song Yingchang twirled his beard, expressing his dissatisfaction to Li Rusong. Li Rusong¡¯s gaze flickered, then he showed a smile, ¡°The Lord speaks the truth.¡± After pondering for a while, he added, ¡°However, Konishi Yukinaga is no fool; he won¡¯t easily believe us. If I were him, I would divide the troops, cover each other during the retreat, and alternate withdrawing. The rear guard would deploy heavy armor and firepower, while the front guard would be lightly equipped, ready to sacrifice their arms if necessary. If wee to blows, we¡¯ll still be caught in a difficult fight.¡± ¡°So?¡± Song Yingchang knew Li Rusong must have another strategy in mind. Li Rusong walked over to the Joseon map presented by Liu Chenglong and pointed forcefully downward, ¡°ce cannons on the Datong River. While the Japanese are crossing the river, cut them down from the middle!¡± ¡­ ¡°General Luo Shangzhi was the first to climb the city walls, a reward of five thousand taels of silver.¡± A junior officer holding a redcquer tray approached Luo Shangzhi, on it were fifty ingots of gold. ¡°Chief Banner Li Yan decapitated the Japanesemander Goto Kagi, a reward of two thousand taels of silver.¡± Li Yan epted the tray, nodding slightly at the junior officer. ¡°Much obliged.¡± ¡°General Li is too courteous,¡± the junior officer responded softly. ¡°General Wu praises your spear skills as sharp,paring you to Zhao Zilong,¡± said the junior officer. Li Yan raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Someone else cut into the conversation. ¡°The spear skills of Changshan are clever, those of Zhuo Province are fierce; both are fundamentally different. People only know of Zhao Zilong¡¯s Changshan spear but not Zhang Yide¡¯s Zhuo Province spear. It¡¯s a taboo among the descendants of Zhuo Province spear practitioners. Tell your General Wu, those who practice the Zhuo Province spear would not appreciate his words,¡± said Song Yi, carrying the Tiger Head Great Spear, his body smeared with intertwining blood, looking fearsome. The junior officer was momentarily at a loss for words, Li Yan gave a light smile, ¡°General Wu¡¯s praise is unwarranted; I am unworthy.¡± The junior officer gave Li Yan an embarrassed smile, ¡°I had forgotten that both you, General Li, and the vanguard Song are descendants of the Zhuo Province spear tradition.¡± He continued, ¡°Right Army¡¯s vanguard Song Yi led the charge and contributed to breaking into the city, a reward of two thousand taels of silver.¡± ¡°No need, I only need a meal and my whole family is fed. During the attack on Pyongyang, my vanguard camp suffered the greatest losses, so take this silver and use it tofort the brothers in my camp.¡± Song Yi¡¯s face was stern and unyielding. There were thirty-two people in the room receiving rewards, and they all found Song Yi¡¯s words awkward. Luo Shangzhi sneered and said to Song Yi: ¡°There seems to be something wrong with what you said, General Song. We all fought together to take Pyongyang. Just because your vanguard camp suffered heavy losses, does it mean the rest of us just stood by watching?¡± Once Luo Shangzhi finished, a man with a hooked nose immediately chimed in: ¡°Exactly. If everyone is being rewarded together, and only you distribute the reward silver to your subordinates, does it make the rest of us stingy? The Governor himself providespensation for the fallen soldiers, so is there a need for you to curry favor by ying the generous benefactor?¡± The ce erupted into chaos. Song Yi looked around the room and only when it became quiet, did he speak indifferently, ¡°General Luo¡¯s troops are brave and fierce, having killed hundreds of Japanese pirates on the towers of Pyongyang City. They certainly weren¡¯t just standing by.¡± He then sized up the man with the hooked nose. ¡°But as for your Chenwu Guards, Cao Zhiping, haha, they look good and have nice figures, but they¡¯re just missing a couple of milk nipples. Otherwise, they¡¯d be perfect for staying home and nursing babies.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. ¡°You!¡± The man was enraged, his anger reaching new heights as he drew his long sword and shed at Song Yi. A sharp gleam shed in Song Yi¡¯s eyes, and he swung the shaft of his Tiger Head Great Spear towards the man¡¯s head. ¡°ng.¡± An iron spearhead, perfectly straight, intervened from the middle, supporting both of their weapons. It was Li Yan. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Song Yi asked coldly. Li Yan stared at Song Yi: ¡°We¡¯re all hot-tempered here. Let¡¯s just settle it with words and be done. Drawing weapons could harm the camaraderie among brothers.¡± The man with the hooked nose was the first to retract his sword. Song Yi was famously capable of fighting against a whole army, and that man had already regretted his action as soon as he drew his de, grateful that Li Yan had stepped in to mediate. Song Yi shouldered his Tiger Head Great Spear and walked away. Watching Song Yi¡¯s retreating figure, the hooked-nose man cursed bitterly, ¡°Little horse thief.¡± The faces of the crowd were dark with discontent, clearly bearing grudges against Song Yi. Luo Shangzhi called out to everyone, ¡°Forget it, let him be. We¡¯re here to celebrate. Come to my tent; I¡¯ll treat everyone to a drink.¡± Luo Shangzhi, who came from the Shenji Camp in the Capital City, held a big brother status among those Liaodong, Ji Town, Shanxi, and Baoding adjutants. He made a point of patting Li Yan on the shoulder: ¡°I have heard old Wu sing high praises of General Li, saying you¡¯re rare to find in this world. You must honor us with your presence. After we take down Pyongyang, leading a chief banner is certainly within your reach.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worthy, not worthy.¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes remained fixed on Song Yi¡¯s distant figure, his gaze deep and solemn. ¡­ This fierce battle had honed Li Yan and his hundred soldiers, and the various adjutants had also acknowledged this General Li, who had ughtered Goto Kagi on the battlefield. Especially among the troops from Ji Town, Li Yan had significant prestige. Twenty ingots of gold, each worth twenty-five points, provided Li Yan with five hundred Yan Fu points. In addition, Li Yan¡¯s ¡°Cold Killer¡± ability had now been unlocked. ¡°Cold Killer (Unlocked)¡± ¡°Passive skill, attacking has a certain chance to trigger a Killing Intent Attack, intimidating the enemy for half a second to two seconds.¡± This skill is a prerequisite for using certain items (including but not limited to the Yan Fu Heritage, consumables, skill learning scrolls, equipment, wonders). Note: When you acquire a Yan Fu Talisman that possesses the Power of Yazi, it will provide you clues to unlock the Yazi Inheritance. Yazi, one who must repay even the smallest kindness and will certainly avenge the slightest grudge, bloodthirsty andbative, with a fierce and unyielding character. Often depicted on weapons. (Note: Undoubtedly, ancient battlefields are the best ces to obtain such Yan Fu Talismans.) Chapter 69 - 23: The Descent! Chapter 69: Chapter 23: The Descent! Peony Peak was covered in immacte snow, and Li Yan had moved away from the camp. Leaning on an old locust tree that looked like a ghost¡¯s w, he saw the copsed fort of the Japanese pirates, from which wisps of ck smoke were rising. In addition to unlocking the skill ¡°Cold Killer,¡± the Yan Fu event for Li Yan had also officiallymenced due to the killing of Goto Kagi, a Warring States Great General. You have killed a Warring States daimyo. You have officiallymenced this Yan Fu event! The event requirements are as follows: Kill Konishi Yukinaga, themander of the first army corps of Hideyoshi¡¯s forces. The Ming Army will intercept the fleeing Japanese pirates along the Datong River as they retreat from Pyongyang, which presents your best opportunity. The content of this Yan Fu event far exceeds the limit of your walking ability! The content of this Yan Fu event far exceeds the limit of your walking ability! You may choose to give up this Yan Fu event and obtain one month of free action time. Upon giving up, 30% of your purchase rights and assessment will be deducted, but the points and items you have gained through this event will not be erased. You have gained one conversation, transferring connection¡­ Li Yan heard a rustling sound by his ear, like the tearing of the air, yet heavy and soul-stirring. Just hearing it gave an indescribable sense of vastness. A thick male voice spoke. ¡°You, the one walking the Scatter tier of Scale¡¤Ding Yin¡¯s Twenty-Four Fruits, listen carefully, immediately¡­¡± What followed was a chaotic and shrill noise. The man¡¯s voice came through intermittently. ¡°Immediately¡­ must¡­ ept¡­¡± Li Yan hesitated no longer. ¡°ept!¡± ¡°You have epted this Yan Fu event!¡± ¡°Verifying¡­¡± ¡°Due to an error in the assignment of this Yan Fu event, ¡®Hou Tu¡¯ will offerpensation to the walker.¡± ¡°You will obtain a Comrade of the ¡®Ten Cities¡¯ level to assist you.¡± ¡°Yan Fu Fruit location secured! Content transmission for this Yan Fu event isplete! Deploy Comrade!¡± Comrades: Other walkers whose interests fully align with the person undertaking the walk. When Comrades fight together, all basic attributes (including but not limited to attack, attack speed, recovery, defense, and burst strength) increase by 30%, stacking with the enhancements provided by their heritage. If one Comrade dies, all remaining Comrades will have their heritage awakening level forcefully reduced by 10%! Deduct 5000 Yan Fu points. ¡°The rtionship with your Comrades willst until the end of this Yan Fu event.¡± A warmth filled Li Yan¡¯s eyes, and he let out a stifled grunt as his ck pupils uncontrobly flickered with purple-ck sparks. A profound ck hole slowly peeled away from Li Yan¡¯s pupils, a surreal and bizarre spectacle. Li Yan stepped back a few paces and hammered his fist onto the trunk of the old locust tree. Its withered branches trembled as the ck hole expanded from the size of a pearl, to the size of a human head, and then to the size of a basin. The face of a young man appeared on the other side of the ck hole. The young man looked around expressionlessly, and when the ck hole was big enough to fit half of his body, he sighed, ready to step through. A slender, pale hand rested on the man¡¯s shoulder. A woman¡¯s face emerged from the darkness behind the young man¡­ Her pale face was dotted with bloodspots, and her hair, which fell straight to her waist, made her seem much more demure. ¡°Excuse me,ing through.¡± The young man turned his head in disbelief. When he saw the face before him, the surprise in his eyes quickly turned to fear. ¡°Taishuai?¡± The man gripped the edge of the ck hole, struggling to lunge forward, but Yu Shu was pulling his shoulder tightly. With a stern face, Li Yan walked over. The panicked young man¡¯s eyes were filled with hope. ¡°Save me! Save me! She¡¯s a defec¡­¡± Li Yan lifted his foot with mud-caked military boots and kicked the terrified young man¡¯s face, again and again! ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡­ Time rewound to before the first Yan Fu event when Li Yan had set out to find Xiu¡¯s mother. Fuyi Building. ¡°Ha~ha~¡± Li Yan sat on the ground, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth, his body wet and bedraggled as if he had been fished out of the water, yet his eyes were fiercely sharp and excited. Yu Shu walked step by step towards Li Yan, the long ponytail swinging left and right behind her. ¡°Your fire has died down quite a bit, hasn¡¯t it, Wanderer?¡± ¡°Is it you?¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes were filled with disbelief. ¡°You mean that Predator who has been spying on you but hasn¡¯t had the guts to make a move? I¡¯m not that stupid.¡± Yu Shu bent down, her nose almost touching Li Yan¡¯s face. ¡°I need you to do me a favor.¡± ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°Then I will kill you.¡± ¡°Fine, I agree.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°¡­ Every year, Wanderers are born in Nanyan Futi by the hundreds, but less than half survive more than six Yan Fu incidents, and more than ny percent struggle in vain in this drifting cycle, like that poor Predator, who got scared out of his wits early on, because Yan Fu doesn¡¯t annihte any Wanderers, so he chose to drift on like this. After three Yan Fu incidents, he didn¡¯t even touch the threshold of the ¡®Ten Cities,¡¯ such scum¡­¡± She stared at Li Yan: ¡°The favor I need, I will let you touch a higher threshold much sooner.¡± ¡­ Under the withered and wrinkled old locust tree, a man and a woman leaned on the tree, their backs to each other. ¡°Silence them.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me.¡± Li Yan¡¯s gaze shifted: ¡°Your injury isn¡¯t light, huh?¡± ¡°Probably only the strength of ¡®Ten Cities¡¯ left, or else I wouldn¡¯t have been able to fool Hou Tu.¡± ¡°Was it Mo who was chasing after you?¡± Li Yan asked, his mouth questioning, but his eyes were surreptitiously sizing up Yu Shu. ¡°That fatso cked off; I owe him a favor. Next time we meet, I¡¯ll leave him a whole corpse.¡± The woman squinted as if she were dozing off, her ck jacket saturated with bloodstains. Her fingers clutched at the cor, almost crushing the dried blood clots on the windbreaker. ¡°How high is the standard of ¡®Ten Cities¡¯?¡± Li Yan asked as if it were nothing. ¡°Twice as strong as you are now,¡± Yu Shu answered. She stood up and asked Li Yan behind her: ¡°So, have you decided? Make a move? Or hold back?¡± Li Yan remained silent. Yu Shu sneered and turned around, reaching out toward Li Yan¡¯s chest. A ming arrow burst through the sky, heading straight for Yu Shu. Li Yan¡¯s Ring Dragon exploded into action, flipping and striking upwards. ¡°Ding~¡± The arrow was knocked away by Li Yan, and Yu Shu¡¯s hand halted in front of him. The sound of warhorses¡¯ long neighs rumbled, and nearly a hundred cavalrymen surrounded Yu Shu and Li Yan, their bowmen with red tassels and ck tops pulling their longbows, arrows wrapped with Heavenly Master Tao¡¯s demon-banishing talismans, the tips smeared with poison. Dozens of Bird Guns aimed at Yu Shu, while Deng Tianxiong, Wang Sheng, Diao Xiayan led more than two hundred soldiers of the Ming Army, staring at the oddly dressed Yu Shu with malevolence in their eyes. ¡°Lord of the Banner!¡± ¡°Everyone, step back!¡± Li Yan ordered coldly. Deng Tianxiong inhaled sharply and tightened the reins, rxing the encirclement slightly. Li Yan stared at the bloody jacket in Yu Shu¡¯s hands for a long time before asking: ¡°Is Red Ghost dead?¡± Yu Shu did not speak, a sh of fierceness crossing her face that remained calm even in the face of two hundred Ming soldiers. Li Yan¡¯s expression darkened momentarily, almost imperceptibly, before he recovered. His voice deep, he said: ¡°This time, it¡¯s my turn to say, do me a favor¡­¡± Yu Shu didn¡¯t move at all; her fingers touched the bloodstain on the jacket, her long eyshes trembled once, and she slowly said, ¡°You should first consider how to exin my origins to Li Rusong and the others~¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern.¡± ¡°All right then.¡± Yu Shu shook her long, brisk hair and threw the leather jacket over her shoulder, revealing a white short-sleeved shirt on her upper body and form-fitting blue jeans on her long legs. She stepped forward into the midst of the Ming Army, casting a nce at Deng Tianxiong. ¡°What are you looking at? Back to camp.¡± Chapter 70 - 24: Exchange Chapter 70: Chapter 24: Exchange Yi Yu ced the ¡°Dongxuanzi¡± on the desk and quietly examined the Chief g Officer standing before him. There were only two of them in the entire military tent. To one side, a lotus-petal brazier emitted wisps of smoke, creating a very subtle atmosphere. Li Yan wore a verdigris ancient mountain-patterned armor, with the gleaming Ring Dragon Han Sword at his waist, his gaze steady, his stance erect. If upon entering Li Yan resembled a fierce, unting me, then now, his head wrapped in ated scarf, his waist encircled with chainmail, and his feet booted, he was like a surging active volcano, having tamed much of his unbridled ferocity. After a good while, Yi Yu finally spoke, ¡°General Li visitste at night just to discuss this matter with me?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Li Yan replied. Yi Yu slowly shook his head, ¡°This matter is of great importance, you should go to Governor Li or Lord Minister Song Yingchang. I am not in a position to decide.¡± He watched Li Yan with a smirk, ¡°Governor Li¡¯s nephew, Shen Heyan, has always thought highly of you, moreover, your superior, Zu Chengxun, is an old subordinate of Li Chengliang (father of Li Rusong), and you are considered a direct descendant of the Li n. If you propose it, Lord Governor would at least give it a try.¡± In his heart, Li Yan thought, ¡°Song Yingchanges from a civil official background, and Li Rusong has been campaigning for years; those twobined don¡¯t have as much interest for me as your Heavenly Master Tao, of course I¡¯vee to you.¡± His expression, however, was very respectful, ¡°Lord Governor¡¯s and Lord Minister¡¯s opinions are certainly vital, but in my opinion, to achieve something in this matter, the consent of Yi Gaogong is indispensable.¡± Yi Yu¡¯s face softened, feeling rather ttered, but then he seemed to remember something and said with a queer tone, ¡°One is the Beiwo Governor and the other the Beiwo Lord Minister, where do I, a mere Patrol Inspector and Military Supervisor, get the chance to speak?¡± Upon hearing this, Li Yan lifted his head in frustration. ¡°How can someone like Yi Gaogong belittle himself so?¡± Yi Yu was startled at Li Yan¡¯s intense reaction. Li Yan, feigning the naive simplicity of a clueless soldier, touched his head helplessly before saying, ¡°When my troops and I first returned to camp, it was your disciple who cast a spell that saved the lives of my brothers-in-arms. I¡¯ve even heard that the silver distributed at that time was actually from Mage Yi¡¯s own pocket, this is¡­¡± ¡°Ahem, such a trivial matter, General Li, you needn¡¯t take it to heart. You and your soldiers risk your lives and shed blood, a few pieces of mere silver are nothing but worldly possessions, what does it amount to?¡± Yi Yu said with a look ofpassion, yet internally he mused, ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t even know I imed his military exploits for myself.¡± ¡°Of course, I know it was you who pulled the strings, submitting the rmendation before the battle report, snatching away my credit.¡± Li Yan sneered inwardly. That day, when Li Yan spoke out against the proposition to promote the Patrol Inspector, Li Rusong¡¯s expression remained unmoved, and even Song Yingchang¡¯s face had a trace of a smile. Seeing Yi Yu act unnaturally at that time, it was clear who the scoundrel was that had stolen his military merits. Li Yan bowed his fist in salute, saying earnestly to Yi Yu, ¡°In any case, Yi Gaogong has shown me immense grace, and after much deliberation, I could think of no one more suitable than yourself. As for Lord Governor, I¡¯d like to ask Yi Gaogong to ry the matter on my behalf.¡± Yi Yu pondered for a moment, clearly tempted. It wasn¡¯t Li Yan¡¯s persuasive words; rather, this matter required just a word from him. It wouldn¡¯t take much effort, and there were des to be had, unlike old Song Yingchang, who was constantly looking for opportunities to kick him down into the clutches of the Japanese pirates. ¡°And furthermore¡­¡± Li Yan hesitated as if he had more to say. ¡°General Li might as well speak frankly,¡± Yi Yu asked with some curiosity. ¡°I, I have a significant destiny with the Heavenly Master Tao,¡± Li Yan began, ¡°that year when I was still a coachman feeding horses in Liaodong, I encountered a wandering Taoist¡­¡± Li Yan recounted the event when he protected Deng Tianxiong and the others, leaving Yi Yu bewildered, muttering after a long while, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a person in our Dragon Tiger Mountain lineage.¡± After a pause, he continued, ¡°Show me that spell you mentioned in action.¡± Li Yan walked over to a withered plum blossom in the vase on the desk, his hands generating ripples of white light. The shriveled and curled petals visibly regained vitality, and one after another, tender white buds started to sprawl out. Yi Yu¡¯s eyes narrowed, he hadn¡¯t seen Li Yan use any talismans, nor chant any magical incantations, and most importantly, he felt not the slightest hint of Dragon Tiger Qi. He remembered that Li Yan was still without official rank. A spell that could be cast without Dragon Tiger Qipletely overturned what Yi Yu had thought he knew! Yi Yu¡¯s expression fluctuated, while Li Yan stole a nce at him; he had been taking a chance. Whether the Yellow Turban Talisman belonged to the same sect as the Heavenly Master Tao from Dragon Tiger Mountain was something he couldn¡¯t determine. But judging by the reactions of Deng Tianxiong and others, there seemed to be some connection. Suddenly, Yi Yu pped his thigh, his face lighting up with realization. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it! This is undeniably a spell passed down from Dragon Tiger Mountain. Now I remember¡ªthe unfettered roaming Taoist you mentioned is indeed the legendary Master Hu Shuode from the Heavenly Master Tao!¡± Li Yan: ¡°???¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Yi Yu, beaming, pped Li Yan on the shoulder, ¡°Technically speaking, you should be calling me ¡®Senior Brother¡¯. Good Junior Brother,e, take a seat. You¡¯re not going anywhere tonight; your Senior Brother is going to treat you to a feast.¡± Li Yan stepped back, instinctively grabbing Yi Yu¡¯s wrist without using force, but instead asked earnestly, ¡°So you¡¯re saying that my old benefactor genuinely belongs to Dragon Tiger Mountain?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s undoubtedly a spell from our Dragon Tiger Mountain!¡± Yi Yu replied with conviction, warmly seizing Li Yan¡¯s hands. Yi Yu¡¯s attitude had taken a 180-degree turn, and in just a few sentences, he went from calling Li Yan ¡®General Li¡¯ to ¡®Junior Brother Li¡¯. ¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Junior Brother, do whatever you wish to do; I¡¯ll speak to Governor Li on your behalf,¡± Yi Yu said while holding a bowl of millet and Liaodong ginseng porridge, having robustly mentioned ¡°The Twenty-seven Precepts¡± earlier that morning. He chatted with Li Yan about family and trivial matters over a cup of tea until his voice turned hoarse. Then he casually asked, ¡°Speaking of which, Junior Brother, to your Senior Brother, it seems like there might have been some omissions in your learning of this spell.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Li Yan had an inkling of understanding in his heart. ¡°I can¡¯t really exin it, so how about we validate and exchange our knowledge of this spell to improve and address any gaps¡­¡± As Li Yan was pondering, the voice of Yan Fu started to ring out. ¡°Master Gaogong Yi Yu from Dragon Tiger Mountain is attempting to exchange skills with you for the ¡®Yellow Turban Talisman: Qi Healing¡¯.¡± ¡°After the exchange, you will lose the ¡®Yellow Turban Talisman: Qi Healing¡¯ skill and gain an exclusive skill from the Heavenly Master Tao of Dragon Tiger Mountain.¡± ¡°The exchange list is as follows.¡± Chapter 71 - 25 Reencountering the She Mountain Woman (Part 1) Chapter 71: Chapter 25 Reencountering the She Mountain Woman (Part 1) Li Yan gasped in surprise, ¡°Dugong, Five Thunder, Fu Mo, Big Dipper, True Martial, Xuan Nv, Hua Gai ¨C seven major categories!¡± All sorts of magic techniques, talismans, and mantras were almost all-epassing. He casually nced over them. Beidi Fengdu Capture Demon Thunder Talisman: A damaging skill, consuming fifteen moments of Dragon Tiger Qi, and one sheet of genuine talisman paper. Taixuan 6 Caves Talisman: Can summon the ghost soldiers of the six caves, consuming ten moments of Dragon Tiger Qi, and one sheet of genuine talisman paper. Tai Xuan Zhu Xie Fu: Drawing it requires the consumption of one moment of Dragon Tiger Qi, no consumption when using it. Nine States Commander Talisman: The talisman covers a ten-zhang square area, takes fifteen moments of Dragon Tiger Qi to draw, no consumption when using it. River Map Life Protecting Star Gang Mantra: Forms a protective divine aura, consuming five moments of Dragon Tiger Qi. Besides these, there were also the Chaos Life Red Talisman! Hundred General Talisman! Nine Heavens Soldier Talisman! Duzhang Talisman! Wudou Bagua Protective Talisman! At this moment, Li Yan truly understood what the concept of the endless secrets of Yan Fu was; this was just one Yan Fu Fruit. The vast system of talismans alone was dazzling. However, all these talismans required Dragon Tiger Qi to use. Yi Yu picked up a peanut with his chopsticks, munching loudly, ¡°Junior Brother Li, if you can achieve the rank of Centurion in the army, all these talismans and mantras of mine are at your disposal.¡± Yi Yu was well aware that Li Yan¡¯s Yellow Turban Talisman had nothing to do with Dragon Tiger Mountain, but this did not hinder his determination to have it. Talismans that do not rely at all on Dragon Tiger Qi, this is of great significance for me¡­ for Dragon Tiger Mountain. Li Yan didn¡¯t speak. Whether it was the protective capabilities of the River Map Star Gang Mantra, the Jie space of the Nine States Commander Talisman, or even the ability to summon the expendable six-cave ghost soldiers, all were things he desired. He hesitated, searching through them for a while; his gaze swept across a mantra, and suddenly, a wave of excitement surged in his heart, as if something was cheering jubntly. Nine Phoenix Talisman: Summons nine phoenixes to subdue demons and expel evil. Creation requires twenty moments of Dragon Tiger Qi, no consumption when using it. Nine Phoenix Talisman: A Yan Fu Talisman with the power of the Nine Phoenixes, the Gu Huo Bird can increase its Awakening Degree by devouring it. Each time you devour the power of the Nine Phoenixes, there¡¯s a chance that your Blood Dip Skill will undergo a mutation. ¡°Senior Brother Yi, may I inquire about the mysteries of this Nine Phoenix Talisman?¡± Li Yan¡¯s tone was very calm, but his desire was nearly uncontroble. He knew all too well that the so-called Uncle Hu Shuode was a joke. Still, as they exchanged nces, there was an unspoken understanding between them. ¡­ Li Rusong put pen to paper, writing something to the effect of ¡°unwilling to take livespletely,¡± ¡°giving you a way out,¡± ¡°otherwise, it will be toote for regrets.¡± He then stamped it with the seal of Li Rusong, the Beiwo Governor of Great Ming, and had it sent swiftly to Konishi Yukinaga. He looked up, first at Li Yan, then at Yi Yu, who was blowing tea foam off his tea and looking totally at ease. Li Rusong had a fair impression of Li Yan. The young man was brave and knew when to advance or retreat. What was mostmendable was his humility; he had a good reputation among his colleagues. He suddenly thought of that standard-bearer vanguard in his army who had followed him for many years along with his nephew, and he couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly. If Song Yi had half the vision of this young man in front of him, with some effort, Li would at least have promoted him to a fifth-rank guerri. He wouldn¡¯t still be just a vanguard by now. ¡°Yi Gaogong has something to tell me?¡± Li Rusong¡¯s attitude was neither cold nor warm. ¡°Governor Li, I¡¯ve thought of a way to help you eradicate the evil spirits and kill the Japanese pirates.¡± Yi Yu was full of confidence. ¡°Oh? Is Yi Gaogong willing to enter the city to eliminate the demons now?¡± Li Rusong was somewhat invigorated; Hidetada estimated that the Ming Army could sweep away the evil spirits in a day, but that was a scenario without counting the cost, and the actual situation was not that optimistic. Those generals who were apanied by the Dragon Tiger Qi mightpete bravely in killing the enemy, but when facing these evil spirits, they would also feel somewhat intimidated inside. Moreover, Li Rusong indeed couldn¡¯t afford to lose these high-ranking officers. Without inflicting casualties, the progress in sweeping away the evil spirits was especially slow. Especially after Li Rusong had set the n to strangle at the Datong River, the Ming Army, intent on annihting the main force of the Japanese pirates, became even more negligent in the task of exterminating the spirits. ¡°No no no.¡± Yi Yu cleared his throat, ¡°The nation¡¯s fate is waning, liver and marrow are spilled everywhere, hence demons run rampant, gods and ghosts dance together¡ªJoseon is in such a state right now. Although these demons tend to retreat when facing the grand army, in reality, these ghosts and spirits that are especially active due to the decline of Joseon¡¯s national fortune, the numbers in Joseon are already rmingly high¡­¡± As Yi Yu said this, Li Yan was reminded of the ck cat again. The idea from Yi Yu, of course, mirrored Li Yan¡¯s own thoughts. As a mere General, despite gaining some fame for breaking through the encirclement and killing Goto at Peony Peak, that was all to his credit. Without Yi Yu¡¯s help, Li Yan wouldn¡¯t have been able to speak with Li Rusong. During the process of the previous Yan Fu incident, Li Yan had simr reflections.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om In this Yan Fu incident that was mentioned, what about the exotic beasts and demons that did not belong to Sengoku period Japan? For instance, after encountering the She Mountain Woman, Li Yan naturally sensed that this divine yet demonic woman was helping him, or rather, helping the people of Great Ming¡­ ¡°So what?¡± Li Rusong failed to follow Yi Yu¡¯s train of thought; those blood-thirsty spiritscked intelligence but were inherently cruel. They were troublesome existences for both the Japanese pirates and the Ming Army. ¡°But besides these bloodthirsty evil ghosts, there¡¯s another kind of spirit in present-day Joseon.¡± Yi Yu painstakingly exined, recounting the words that Li Yan had told the night before. If Hidetada Osho were here, he would have bitterly smiled that someone finally paid attention to it. ¡°That is, the obscene temples in the surrounding area of Pyongyang, those disreputable wild gods among the rural folk, those spirits mentioned in the Joseon folklore records!¡± ¡°What does Yi Gaogong mean?¡± Yi Yu pulled out a red silk-wrapped seal, bestowed by the emperor of Great Ming to oversee the military governors. ¡°How can there be intact eggs under an overturned nest? If Joseon perishes, this bunch of y and wood statues won¡¯t fare much better. Great Ming has been the suzerain state of Joseon for nearly two hundred years, and these spirits have received worship from the Joseon people for at least three or four hundred years. With a mighty enemy at the door, nobody should expect to stand idle.¡± Pointing at Li Yan, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m prepared to assign General Li to rally these wild spirits of Joseon. With thebined seal of Ming Country and Joseon as evidence, I will conscript them to strangle the evil spirits.¡± Chapter 72 - 26 Reencountering the She Mountain Woman (Part 2) Chapter 72: Chapter 26 Reencountering the She Mountain Woman (Part 2) ¡°Whether it seeds or not, with this pretext, I can insert a local Wild God identity for you. If anyone asks, hey, what do you think of the title ¡®She Mountain Woman¡¯?¡± ¡°The idea isn¡¯t bad.¡± Yu Shu held a red gourd water bottle in her hand, inside was Diao¡¯s treasured sorghum wine. Weighing the gourd in her hand, she said, ¡°Konishi Yukinaga is quite tempted by Li Rusong¡¯s letter advising him to abandon the city. You don¡¯t have much time, and even if you really manage to muster a teamposed of the Ming Army mixed with Joseon Wild Gods, killing Konishi Yukinaga won¡¯t be an easy task.¡± After a pause, she continued, ¡°Hideyoshi¡¯s and Tokugawa¡¯s elite troops are hastening to aid during the night, among them not a few who have left bold strokes in the history of the Sengoku era. The situation may change at any moment. Once Pyongyang City falls, Konishi Yukinaga¡¯s troops will have suffered over forty percent losses, and the army¡¯s morale will be scattered. But with over eight thousand soldiers, if he is determined to flee, even you¡ªa Junior g Officermanding just over two hundred men¡ªmight be able to ensure your own safety, but I fear you won¡¯t have the capability to interfere with the situation.¡± ¡°Do you have a better n?¡± Li Yan wasn¡¯t bothered by Yu Shu¡¯s harbingering words and calmly asked. Yu Shu¡¯s eyes were fixedly staring at Li Yan. ¡°I can help you kill Konishi, and in this Yan Fu event, I can increase the awakening degree of the Gu Huo Bird to over 60%. Take it as your reward for helping me this time. Want to consider it?¡± Li Yan gave a wry smile, voiceless, and asked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you reduced to only the strength of the Ten Cities now?¡± Yu Shu narrowed her eyes without responding to Li Yan¡¯s teasing, ¡°You just tell me whether you agree or not.¡± ¡°With such a good deal, where there¡¯s no need for a life or death struggle, why wouldn¡¯t I agree?¡± ¡°Good.¡± Yu Shu nodded, extending her right hand, pinching the little finger with her left, and bending it outward. Droplets of blood sttered onto Li Yan¡¯s face. Under Li Yan¡¯s incredulous gaze, Yu Shu had broken off her own pinky. She brought the bloodied little finger to Li Yan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Eat it.¡± The woman¡¯s face was impassive, her long hair disheveled, and though she no longer looked as sharp as she did at the beginning, she had gained a few shades of a cool and detached temperament. Li Yan swallowed, his eyes falling on the severed finger. You have acquired some information. The Dropped Finger of Taishuai! A Yan Fu Talisman imbued with strong Yan Fu Force. It can be swallowed to assimte the Yan Fu Force within it. After the Gu Huo Bird consumes it, it will increase inheritance awakening degree by 50%! And acquire the Taishuai Force ¡¤ Devour. The Awakening Degree will automatically bypass the 40% peak and obtain the 40% peak reward. Please note! The Yan Fu Force has disappeared from the records of Nanyan Futi! Rashly consuming the Taishuai Force can lead to irreversible unknown effects! Please note! The Yan Fu Force has disappeared from the records of Nanyan Futi! Rashly consuming the Taishuai Force can lead to irreversible unknown effects! Li Yan fell silent for a while before saying, ¡°If Red Ghost were here, he¡¯d definitely eat it without hesitation.¡± He stared at Yu Shu: ¡°The Red Ghost died as an ordinary person, right?¡± ¡°Some things I couldn¡¯t understand before, now I do. So, what will it be? Eat, or not?¡± Yu Shu¡¯s expression remained unchanging, she was still draped in the leather jacket with bloodstains and did not intend to clean the blood off. This woman, known as Taishuai, had been presenting Li Yan with multiple-choice questions ever since she arrived¡ªact, or not, eat, or not. Li Yan felt that he had made the right choicest time and this time would not be different. Li Yan shook his head in refusal, ¡°If it can be reattached, do it quickly. The streaming blood fment is spoiling my appetite.¡± Without saying anything more, Yu Shu silently reattached the pinky, and in just a moment, it was as good as new. ¡°When the timees, help me dy an opponent you think I¡¯ll definitely struggle against, and consider it returning the favor.¡± After pondering, Li Yan said this. Yu Shu nodded, indicating agreement. ¡°Lord of the Banner.¡± A nimble Junior g Officer came over and, with a salute, said to Li Yan, ¡°The horses are ready.¡± Fei embraced the neck of a battle horse, his entire body hanging off the horse¡¯s back, his face looking somewhat cramped. Li Yan approached and said, ¡°Little mage, are you holding up okay?¡± ¡°No, no problem.¡± The little Taoist reached out to touch the horse¡¯s mane, ¡°She¡¯s very well-behaved.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Along the way, we will still need the help of the little mage.¡± ¡°Just call me Fei, that¡¯s what the people on the mountain call me.¡± The little Taoist wore an embarrassed smile on his face. Yu Shu¡¯s gaze lingered on this exquisitely delicate little Taoist for a long time before he asked, ¡°Pyongyang is so vast, where will you go to find the local deities?¡± ¡°The first stop¡­ She Mountain, I suppose.¡± ¡­ Wang Sheng held up his thumb, covering his right eye to observe the sun in the sky, then gestured towards the distant hills. Only then did he speak, ¡°My lord, there¡¯s no mistake. It is here that west encountered Kobayakawa.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Yan looked around, the surroundings were a vast expanse of snow. The group of more than twenty people, carrying bird guns, longbows, banners, leather armor, and the seal they had demanded from Joseon, entered She Mountain. The snow-covered forest was the same as always, but there was no sign of the fence-surrounded farms nor the beautiful, alluring vige wives. They had been wandering in the mountains for two hours, but hadn¡¯t even seen a single wild animal, let alone the She Mountain Woman. Li Yan sighed and looked towards Fei. The little Taoist went to an open area and took out a talisman from his bosom. Although Li Yan did not understand, he had by chance learned the name of this talisman spell that night. The Dugong Searching Mountain Talisman. Unexpectedly, just as Fei raised his hand, the talisman paper flew away seemingly without wings. ¡°Huh?¡± Fei scratched his head and reached into his bosom to take out another talisman paper, but the result was the same ¨C his hand was empty once again. Li Yan took a step forward, intending to walk up, while Yu Shu, with his arms crossed, stood to the side and kicked Li Yan¡¯s boot. ¡°This kid is no simple character, just watch.¡± Fei, with a huff, pulled out a third piece of talisman paper, but this time a muffled grunt came from the air. ¡°Mm~¡± The little Taoist reached back to grab and unexpectedly pulled a figure out of the white void. The figure was dressed in white with ck hair, a young and tender face, around fourteen or fifteen years of age, her right hand covered in bright orange mes, in pain to the point of tears welling up in her eyes. Wang Sheng uttered a sound and couldn¡¯t help but step forward.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Fei waved his sleeve, extinguishing the bright orange me, and demanded in an irritated tone, ¡°Why did you steal my talisman paper?¡± ¡°Mage, please calm your anger,¡± A woman wrapped in a blue headscarf stepped out from the air, slowly revealing herself, dressed in a blue short jacket and a long skirt, with two long ribbons tied into a butterfly knot right over her right breast, their long ends fluttering in the wind. She performed a respectful bow towards Fei and said, ¡°My sworn sister was overly protective of me; in a moment of urgency, she rashly bumped into the little mage. I hope the little mage will not take offense.¡± Fei let go of the girl and took two steps back before he spoke seriously, ¡°Then she should apologize to me.¡± The girl floated behind the woman, revealing only her head, and growled lowly at Fei. The woman turned her gaze to Li Yan, lowered her eyes slightly, and in a soft voice said, ¡°General, we meet again.¡± Chapter 73 - 27 Taking Everything for Oneself Use Chapter 73: Chapter 27 Taking Everything for Oneself Use Li Yan stepped forward two paces and bowed deeply, ¡°Li Yan of the Ming Country¡¯s Liaodong Town General g, greets the great She Mountain Woman.¡± The She Mountain Woman¡¯s crystalline eyes wandered over Li Yan, her arched brows lowered as she replied gently, ¡°Guests are to be weed. Last time, General, you did not trust my words; perhaps this time you are willing to drink the soup I¡¯ve made¡­¡± Li Yan coughed, ¡°Back then, we were fleeing and struggling, naturally panicked and suspicious, which is why we offended you. Your soup had a very good taste.¡± With a sweet smile, the She Mountain Woman lightly tapped with her finger. Ash-colored tiles and wooden fence posts rose from the ground, and in no time, a farmhouse appeared before everyone. Leading the girl by the hand, she turned to nce back at Li Yan and the others, then pushed the door open and entered. The others followed closely into the house, where a bright fire burned and an iron pot exuded a fragrant aroma as always. The She Mountain Womandled out a bowl of hot soup filled with the scent of grain and handed it to Li Yan. Stirring with a wooden spoon, her smile was as warm and weing as the day before. Just as Li Yan raised his arm, a hand reached between the two of them. ¡°Excuse me, do you have any alcohol to drink here?¡± Yu Shu took the bowl from the She Mountain Woman¡¯s hand and asked earnestly. The She Mountain Woman¡¯s gaze shifted slightly as she replied, ¡°Underneath that window sill, there is homemade rice wine. If the youngdy doesn¡¯t mind, she may try it.¡± ¡°Hmm~¡± Yu Shu finished the soup in one gulp, thanked the She Mountain Woman, and turned to leave. Li Yanposed himself, ¡°On that day, we were pursued to She Mountain by the Red Guards. During the fierce battle, the enemy leader suddenly exposed a w. I suspect it was the great She Mountain Woman who assisted us. For this life-saving grace, I have yet to express my gratitude.¡± The She Mountain Woman untied her indigo cloth headscarf, allowing her ck hair to cascade freely, and said softly, ¡°General, you are imbued with ancient fierce energy; spirits with less than a hundred years of cultivation cannot even approach you. Even if I hadn¡¯t intervened, that man wouldn¡¯t have been able to trouble you. What life-saving grace is there to speak of? It is our duty to lend a hand when the Ming Country sends troops to assist us. General, you must have something straightforward to discuss, so speak inly.¡± Such behavior from the She Mountain Woman indeed saved Li Yan a great deal of effort. Li Yan pondered for a moment and then said frankly, ¡°Since that is the case, I will speak directly. Your country is now truly at a critical juncture of survival. As the saying goes, ¡®Without the skin, where can the hair attach?¡¯ We havee with a letter bearing Emperor Xuanzong¡¯s Seal, hoping to recruit the assistance of the celestial beings and deities to repel the great enemy.¡± Li Yan instructed someone to retrieve the seal and letter from a package. The She Mountain Woman¡¯s eyes hardened as she saw the red, hazy glow of the seal, which was the light of the Joseon¡¯s National Destiny Dragon Tiger Qi. She quickly read through the letter and couldn¡¯t help but let out a wryugh, ¡°I presume the Joseon official who stamped this letter must have felt quite hollow inside.¡± Her smile was tinged with a touch of bitterness, ¡°What celestial beings and deities¡­ I am but a lone spirit of the mountains. General, we are well aware of what you speak. If Joseon¡¯s national destiny perishes, we wandering spirits of the wilds will also fade away. Ever since our country¡¯s fortunes dimmed, many wild gods have disappeared without a trace, to my knowledge. It angers me that I rely on She Mountain for my existence and cannot take even a half step away from it in this lifetime; I truly cannot be of help to you, General.¡± Li Yan smiled in understanding, and the She Mountain Woman continued, ¡°However, I do know of some wild creatures and demon gods within the realm who, either because their temples have been destroyed or their followers ughtered, indeed harbor thoughts of attacking the Japanese pirates alone. General, you may gather these individuals¡ªthey could be of some use.¡± Yu Shu, who was sipping the rice wine from the side, made a tsk-tsk sound from time to time, while Li Yan¡¯s expression remained serious: ¡°Please enlighten me, great one.¡± ¡°In the West Double-Flower Square Vige, there is a Niutou Chantanner whose entire worshiping family was killed by the Japanese pirates. Moreover¡­¡± After a lengthy discussion, the She Mountain Woman ced the indigo headscarf from her hand into Li Yan¡¯s palm. ¡°With this as your guide, General, you are sure to find what you seek.¡± Li Yan held the still warm headscarf in his hand, and words began to form before his eyes. You have triggered a special Yan Fu event! The requirements for this Yan Fu event are as follows: form a teamposed of the Ming Army and supernatural beings. Once assembled, this team will carry a special status. Judgment criteria: One, the team must have at least one Ming Army general of ¡°Ten Cities¡± strength or higher. Second, all ghost creatures and Wild Gods must be rated at least a ¡°Walkers of the Ten Cities¡±. Sessfully resolving this incident in Yan Fu will significantly increase your purchasing authority limit and wille with an additional special reward after thepletion of the Yan Fu incident. The girl with ck hair and white clothes silently floated over, growled at the She Mountain Woman, and the woman frowned and locked eyes with the girl. ¡°This girl seems to be a ghost kept by the chief of the thieves,¡± Li Yan probed. ¡°Her name is Nanako. She¡¯s another unfortunate soul.¡± The She Mountain Woman fell silent for a moment before speaking, ¡°I have something I¡¯d like to ask of the general.¡± ¡°But speak, my lord,¡± ¡°Nanako, she wants to go with you.¡± Li Yan nced at Nanako, who seemed a bit afraid of him, shrinking back continuously. ¡°In that case, very well,¡± Li Yan nodded. The She Mountain Woman stirred the grains in the pot, her Joseon-style, voluminous skirt softly touching the ground and her long sleeves nearly reaching Li Yan¡¯s feet.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Apparently reminded of something, the She Mountain Woman sighed lightly, ¡°General, when you leave, returning to She Mountain will likely be an unlikely hope. Since awakening my spiritual awareness hundreds of years ago, I have hardly spoken to a few people, and now the sister I just acknowledged is also leaving, this is really¡­¡± Her appearance was gentle and charming, with not a trace of the fierce appearance of the She Mountain Spirit or the Heavenly Consort, but more like an ordinary woman waiting for her husband to return home, even her momentary loneliness was indistinguishable from theirs. Li Yan was at a loss for words and remained silently contemtive. For some reason, Nanako, who chose to leave She Mountain, finally attached herself to Wang Sheng¡¯s scabbard; seeing Wang Sheng¡¯s flushed face, Li Yan touched his neck but didn¡¯t inquire further. The group had descended from She Mountain and it was nearly midday, a north wind blew at the foot of the mountain, but Li Yan¡¯s blue headband fluttered to the west. Recalling the She Mountain Woman¡¯s words, Li Yan, without hesitation, led the group westward. Behind them, the woman¡¯s singing floated from She Mountain, melodious and touching. In the snowy expanse of the mountain, the She Mountain Woman¡¯s singing ended; her eyes moved expressively as she slowly turned back. Yu Shu stood at the doorway, arms crossed, wearing a ck jacket smeared with blood, green vines binding her long hair into a ponytail, and a red gourd wine jug dangling from her forefinger. Her eyes were slightly squinted. ¡°Miss, is there anything else?¡± the woman asked softly. Yu Shu¡¯s expression was inscrutable, her gaze roaming over the She Mountain Woman, her smile growing increasingly unrestrained. ¡­ ¡°Hey, let¡¯s get moving,¡± Yu Shu, leaning against a tree, opened her eyes and looked up at Li Yan, asking, ¡°How long have I slept?¡± ¡°About half an hour,¡± Shortly after they left She Mountain, Yu Shu suddenly suggested they rest, and Li Yan readily agreed. All the while, Li Yan kept an eye on Yu Shu, uncertain of the woman¡¯s depth. Yu Shu imed she was now only at the level of Ten Cities, which Li Yan did not believe. However, after interacting with her for the past couple of days, this Taishuai, notorious in the realm of Yan Fu, had done nothing but sleep, indulge in wine, and indulge in food without showing any additional signs, which indeed puzzled Li Yan. Yu Shu stood up, mounted her horse, and her legs pressed against the horse¡¯s belly. She seemed a bit drunk, mumbling on horseback, ¡°Life¡¯s vibrant, flesh and spirit intact, traversing Yan Fu, seizing all for oneself, heh heh¡­¡± Chapter 74 - 28 Niutou Chantan, Nine-Winged Sudu Chapter 74: Chapter 28 Niutou Chantan, Nine-Winged Sudu This was a vige so deste that no human footprints could be found¡ªcharred, copsed walls, and bloodstains visible everywhere indicated something dreadful had urred here. When Li Yan stepped into what was known as Shuanghua Square Vige, he immediately saw the massive monster seated amidst the ruinous dwelling¡¯s remains, the Niutou Chantan. Niutou Chantan doesn¡¯t refer to a bull¡¯s head, but rather a type of sandalwood material. Over ten meters tall, with the texture of a tree, the giant¡¯s amber patterns were streaked with blood-red lines; its limbs and torso were robust and twisted into shape by interweaving branches. Atop the wrinkled, golden rings of its head was a sprout, green and dewy, swaying in the wind. Its traditionally imposing and majestic body was now covered in bloody flesh, looking particrly fierce and terrifying. ¡°Scram!¡± The voice, like a muffled thunder, spooked the horses into restlessness.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Niutou Chantan Status: Lightly injured A Wild God formed by the incense offerings of the people; possesses the strength of Vajra. Threat: Purple-Red (can match the extreme) Unfazed, Li Yan said, ¡°We are soldiers of the Ming Country, following the order of your King, to incorporate you into our army to eradicate the Japanese pirates. Here are the seal and the documents.¡± Li Yan had prepared for the other party¡¯s resistance, but to his surprise, the fierce-looking Niutou Chantan¡¯s bloodshot eyes cleared upon hearing the words ¡®Ming Country.¡¯ ¡°Let me have a look.¡± The Niutou Chantan swept itsrge hand, and Li Yan ced the letter in its palm; the sandalwood giant stared at the fiery-red seal on the document for a while before exhaling deeply. ¡°So you are the Chief Banner, Li Yan, mentioned in the letter?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, but a Chief Banner Officer is too junior. If you want me to obey, you need to be at least a Centurion.¡± Li Yan couldn¡¯t help butugh upon hearing this. He wasn¡¯t afraid of it making demands; he feared there would be no way tomunicate. ¡°Want to meet someone with a higher rank? Fine.¡± Li Yan walked up to the Niutou Chantan, looking up at it. ¡°If you knock me down, you¡¯ll meet a higher official.¡± Standing up, the Niutou Chantan said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll kill you by ident, and the Ming imperial court will me me.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t, I assure you.¡± Li Yan removed his armor and drew the Ring Dragon Sword. ¡°Come on!¡± The Niutou Chantan, perched upon the copsed beam, was silent for a moment before it suddenly mmed down its fist! Li Yan raised his eyes; the dark fist came crashing down like a cloud engulfing the sky, causing a tingling sensation across his skull, Mud sttered, dust filled the air, and the ground shook as if an earthquake had urred. The Niutou Chantan¡¯s gaze shifted as it quickly pped its hand toward its own back. ¡°Ka~¡± A sh appeared on the Niutou Chantan¡¯s calf, and Li Yan flew backward, dodging its palm. He sprinted forward and leaped high into the air, plunging the Ring Dragon Stab into the Niutou Chantan¡¯s lower back. A yellow palm whistled toward him. Li Yan, flexing his arms, nimbly twisted his body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the swinging arm of the Niutou Chantan. The harsh friction noise continued incessantly as Li Yan, holding the long sword, slid from its lower back to the right thigh, leaving a scar approximately seven meters long on its body. ¡°Cease!¡± The Niutou Chantan called out in a muffled, breathless voice. Li Yan withdrew the Ring Dragon Sword. ¡°How about that?¡± The Niutou Chantan turned around and took two clomping steps back, its wheel-sized eyes fixated on Li Yan: ¡°They say that the high officials of the court aren¡¯t necessarily good fighters, and good fighters don¡¯t necessarily be high officials. Now I believe it.¡± ¡°You care a lot about the imperial court, huh?¡± Li Yan asked casually. The Niutou Chantan cracked open itsrge mouth,ughing out loud and shaking the snowkes from the trees. ¡°We who are born wild, who dares im that they don¡¯t care about the imperial court¡¯s acknowledgment?¡± Li Yan grunted in acknowledgment. He said no more. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to go this smoothly.¡± Diao Xiayan¡¯s expression was particrly rxed. ¡°He intentionally lost to me, just to kiss up. These so-called ghosts and wild gods have even more schemes than humans,¡± Li Yan whispered to Diao. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± Yu Shu also came over, and Li Yan wasn¡¯t sure if it was an illusion, but Yu Shu¡¯s tone seemed somewhat disappointed. ¡°In the birch forest to the east of Pyongyang City, the Nine-Winged Sudu.¡± ¡­ A crow with blood-red pupils watched the unwee intruders, screeching sharply as it flew up the tree trunk, its ck feathers drifting down. The colossal Niutou Chantanner walked at the forefront, each step sinking into the thick mud. The robust branches crisscrossed and entangled, hiding the sky, and the ghastly red sunset had not a trace of warmth. Frozen corpses hung from the branches, with tattered swords, armor, wheels, and banners strewn about; the blood had long since frozen into red iceyers, and a faint scent of blood permeated the air. ¡°I think we¡¯re in for a fight here, what do you say?¡± Wang Sheng spoke to himself, cradling his sword¡¯s scabbard. ¡°Cough cough~¡± Diao Xiayan red at Wang Sheng. The Niutou Chantanner suddenly halted, raising its head sharply as three feather-like swords lunged at its eyes. The Niutou Chantanner swiftly closed its eyelids, and a series of clinking metal collisions echoed. The feathers fell to the ground. Then, a woman¡¯s sharp, shrillughter rang out. ¡°Old wood, you¡¯re not wee here. Take your people and get out!¡± ¡°Sudu, these are envoys from the Ming Country,¡± the Niutou Chantanner spoke hoarsely. ¡°The olddy doesn¡¯t care whose envoys they are. If they take another step forward, I¡¯ll hang them all on these trees~¡± The voice echoed inyers uponyers. A gust of wind swept up and with it, a whirl of withered ck leaves danced chaotically, sweeping in from all directions. The Niutou Chantanner shielded the others, but still a massive ck storm slipped through the cracks, racing towards them. Little Fei pinched a talisman paper between his fingers, pointing three fingers upward. ¡°Halt!¡± The talisman paper quickly burned to ashes, and the storm came to an abrupt stop, leaving the Niutou Chantanner covered in rotting leaves. The figure gently floated down, dark ws grasping tightly to a branch. Nine grey wings foldedyer byyer, the creature¡¯s lower body was a single bird¡¯s w, while its upper half was surprisingly that of a beautiful woman, the curves hidden only slightly by the ck feathers, making her appear bizarre and seductive. Sudu¡¯s gaze fixed on Fei, her bright red tongue licking her lips. ¡°This littled is really handsome~¡± The Taoist boy shrank his neck, with only the talisman paper in his arms offering some sense of security. Nine-Winged Sudu Status: Intact An evil bird revered by the Mahan People as a worshipful totem. Threat: Violet red parable to the limit) ¡°Sudu, are you not aware of the current situation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m very clear on it~¡± The Nine-Winged Sudu sneered coldly, ¡°I have no interest in the King of Joseon¡¯s investiture. When the olddy was nourished by the Mahan tribes, this elm bumpkin didn¡¯t even know where it was. Even if the Japanese pirates upied Joseon, I would still live my own life. As for the Ming Country? Heaven and earth are vast, I couldn¡¯t care less about their demise!¡± ¡°Sigh~¡± Yu Shu sighed for no apparent reason, ¡°Such a good attitude, what a pity~¡± Li Yan gestured for the Niutou Chantanner toe back and didn¡¯t bother to retrieve the Joseon¡¯s seal or letters; it was clear this wicked bird wouldn¡¯t be swayed by such things. He clutched his chest and slowly approached the Nine-Winged Sudu. ¡°Hey, mortal, if you take one more step, I will make sure your body parts will be separated.¡± The Nine-Winged Sudu frowned. If it wasn¡¯t necessary, he didn¡¯t want to provoke the Ming Army any more than he wanted to provoke the Japanese pirates. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear¡­¡± Li Yan lifted his head, his gaze cold andmanding as it met that of the wicked bird. The Nine-Winged Sudu¡¯s voice faltered, a chill running down its spine, every single feather bristling on end! Chapter 75: Permanent apology note, not a eunuch!!! Chapter 75: Permanent apology note, not a eunuch!!!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Well, I can¡¯t seem to write the third chapter, not even if I had two more hours. I can¡¯t write the story I want afterward, and the roughness of the details earlier has reached a threshold I can endure. In short, this is an ident caused by a salted fish author¡¯s conceit andck of self-awareness about his abilities. This salted fish should take this as a warning and offers a profound apology, This chapter will be permanently kept for readers to castigate, and I will remember this failure. Workes to fruition in the wee hours. Chapter 76 - 29 Mountain Rain Chapter 76: Chapter 29 Mountain Rain A drop of fresh blood, from nowhere, fell onto the face of the Nine-Winged Sudu. Blood Dip! Before Sudu¡¯s eyes, the tall and thin, armored man loomed everrger, a sense of suppression and fear seeping from her very blood quickly clutched at her heart. In a daze, she saw on Li Yan¡¯s body the silhouette of a ck-haired, white-feathered Exotic Beast with the body of a bird and a human face, its eighteen wings folding together. The Gu Huo Bird. ¡°Thump.¡± Sudu almost fell to her knees before the man, her face flushed red, sweat pooling from the tip of her nose and dripping down. ¡°You, you are~¡± Her eyes were hazy, her tone filled with irrepressible joy. ¡°Let¡¯s find the next one~¡± Yu Shu said, his voice melodious. ¡­ ¡°The three brothers, Gao Yina, Gao Yina, and Fu Yina, live not far away. These three little ghosts are timid and afraid of trouble, certainly reluctant to step forward; you don¡¯t need to say anything, my Lord. I¡¯ll deal with them. Jin Yanwa is one to march only when the prize is sure; appeal to his interests, and you are sure to win him over¡­¡± Sudu circled Li Yan, chirping excitedly, asionally throwing him coquettish nces, her face rippling with affection. ¡°You¡¯ve been talking all the way, don¡¯t say anymore.¡± Li Yan, mounted on his horse, was annoyed. ¡°Okay.¡± Sudu immediately closed her mouth, her big eyes blinking. The manner in which the Nine-Winged Sudu acted toward Li Yan could almost be described as fawning, a shift so sudden that even the Niutou Chantanner was left agape in surprise. Li Yan¡¯s thoughts fluttered; Niutou Chantanner, Nine-Winged Sudu, one a rural Wild God sustained by incense offerings, the other a Joseon ancestral Exotic Beast totem, not to be underestimated in strength. And this was only the beginning; once this journey to recruit wild gods ended, he wondered to what extent the strength of his troop¡ªa mix of Ming Army and Joseon Wild Gods¡ªwould have expanded! ¡­ Reflected in the pool of blood was a deste and rebellious face, eyebrows nted down like the edge of a knife, a Tiger Head Great Spear resting on his shoulder, his fingertips covered in fresh blood. The six-cornered Evil Ghost, with its body a bright red,y against a gray stone wall, its head pierced by arge hole, its chest cavity torn open by the spear¡¯s head, a gruesome death. ¡°Thank you, thank you.¡± The exhausted and dirty Joseon old woman with tears streaming down her face, her withered white hair fluttering in the wind, dragged her grandson, making constant bows toward Song Yi, uttering iprehensible words. Song Yi¡¯s helmet with plume was shattered, blood flowing over the mottled armor pieces and dripping down his leg guards. He paid no attention to the old woman, impatiently tore off his already ragged helmet, and turned to leave¡­ The camp was, as always, quiet and tense, gs fluttering, smoke rising from censers, soldiers prim and proper, knives and spears glinting coldly. asionally, the pungent smell of sulfur could be smelt, but the stench of blood had already faded. Voices were faintly heard throughout the camp. ¡°Konishi Yukinaga¡¯s men are leaving the earthen fort. They¡¯re organizing to evacuate the city in batches.¡± ¡°The brothers lying in ambush at Datong River have set up the cannons; the horse feed is ready. There¡¯s a tough battle tonight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like beating a drowning dog; the Japanese pirates already have low morale. If weunch a mid-route ambush, they¡¯ll probably be so scared they¡¯ll all fall into the ice holes of Datong River.¡± ¡°If I chop off a few more heads of Japanese pirates this time, I¡¯ll use the reward money to renovate the old family home.¡± ¡°Then get a tender wife, right, old Kang?¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om asionally, the shrill howls of Evil Ghosts could be heard from within Pyongyang City, but the Ming Army, chatting and joking among themselves, paid no mind to it. After all, this was not Great Ming¡¯snd. Their knives were sharpened, aimed at the troops of Konishi Yukinaga. In such a situation, the vanguard camp looked oddly out of ce as they returned to their encampment with blood all over them, carrying a few wounded soldiers. ¡°Hey, who¡¯s this if not our vanguard Lord? What happened, lead your brothers to exorcise demons and got yourself¡­¡± The Tiger Head Great Spear flew at the speaker¡¯s face, its piercing edge like a venomous snake gripping the throat tightly. Song Yi, his scarred cheek bleeding, stared at the man, his men behind him like a pack of wolves. The man swallowed his saliva; without saying another word, he turned to leave. ¡°Carry the wounded brothers to the physician; where are those Taoists from Heavenly Master Tao? Fetch them.¡± Song Yi didn¡¯t bother with that man anymore; wiping the blood from his face, he turned to his men and spoke. ¡­ ¡°` ¡°How did ite to this?¡± Shen Heyan hung his helmet on the rack, his toneced with a tinge of reproach. ¡°There¡¯s a fierce ghost in the city, not so easy to kill.¡± Shen Heyan raised his eyebrows, ¡°If it¡¯s not easy to kill, then don¡¯t kill it. How many people in the whole camp are risking their lives to y demons and ghosts? You blockhead?¡± Song Yi bandaged himself in silence. He picked out two small ck jars from his leather pouch and tossed them to Song Yi. ¡°Heyan, drinking leads to trouble, let¡¯s forget it.¡± Song Yi refused instinctively. ¡°What¡¯s better than killing enemies while drunk?¡± Shen Heyan uncorked the mud seal, and immediately the fragrance of wine filled the air: ¡°Buddha¡¯s Hand Soup, this is imperial wine.¡± Shen Heyan gulped down a mouthful, his expression rxed and content. ¡°It dispels cold and relieves pain,e on.¡± He patted Song Yi¡¯s shoulder twice, and the oilmp cast his face a fiery red. Song Yi pursed his cracked lips, tilted his head back for a drink, but ended up tossing the jar away, cursing in a rare outburst. ¡°This is damn vinegar!¡± Shen Heyan burst into heartyughter, merrily took another swig, the jar in his hand contained the genuine Buddha¡¯s Hand Soup. Song Yi spat twice, his bitter smile unceasing: ¡°You¡¯re a family man, how can you be so childish?¡± Shen Heyan passed over his own jar of wine, grinning, ¡°When someone offers you a drink and you refuse, in the end, you might even lose out on vinegar.¡± Song Yi took the wine jar, gulped down several mouthfuls, as if he didn¡¯t catch the double meaning in his words. The two drank heartily, mostly with Shen Heyan talking and Song Yi responding with a few words. ¡°We¡¯ve been colleagues¡­ for seven and a half years,¡± Shen Heyan counted, ¡°With your disposition, you won¡¯t get ahead.¡± Song Yi remained silent, while Shen Heyan¡¯s face turned crimson, pping the table with a resounding thud. ¡°Wait for me, wait for me to promote you.¡± He stood up, slipped on the Azure Tiger Head Beast Swallow Arm Guard, donned the Phoenix Wing Helmet with Plume, fastened the buckles of the Fish Scale Armor, drained the liquor, and set down the jar, his face now thick with a murderous aura. ¡°You¡¯ve carried the banner for me for over seven years, rest this battle, and tend to your wounds with peace of mind.¡± ¡­ Tang Baizhan was a junior officer in the Ming Army, in charge of guarding the watchtower. By this time, Konishi Yukinaga had already left the city, traveling ten miles out. Li Rusong had promised to let him pass but had ambush forces waiting at Datong River early on and personally led the main troops to cut off Konishi¡¯s retreat. The magnificent Ming Army had just marched from the city. Tang Baizhan watched the troops leave, the leading Shen Youji looking really imposing. Though he wouldn¡¯t join the battle, his life would certainly be safe, a stroke of fortune indeed. With these thoughts, Tang Baizhan stretched outzily. ¡°Baizhan, where¡¯s your Thousand-li Mirror?¡± someone kicked him, ¡°Check out what that is over there?¡± Tang Baizhan sat up cursing and took out the Thousand-li Mirror for a look. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just a tree¡­ Huh?¡± Amidst the rising dust in the distance, an endless stream of bizarre monsters caught the eye. A tree man three zhang tall, resembling an angry King Kong. A half-woman, half-bird creature with glossy ck feathers. Threerge balls of varying fur colors hanging in the trees. A massive frog that could leap dozens of meters with a single jump. And various other birds and fierce beasts¡­ Niutou Chantan, Nine-Winged Sudu. Gao Yina, Fu Yina, Jin Yanwa, Ende Magpie, Iron-Eating Fox¡­ A chaos of demons. An overwhelming force of several hundred in size, led by a dozen racing Green-Mane Dawan horses. ¡°The one riding at the front looks like one of our brothers,¡± someone spoke up. Tang Baizhan craned his neck for a look: ¡°Yo, that¡¯s indeed our Great Ming¡¯s armor.¡± Li Yan sped on horseback, veins throbbing on his neck, shouting loudly: ¡°Quickly notify the Lord Governor, the Japanese pirates¡¯ reinforcements have arrived!¡± ¡°` Chapter 77 - 30: Man proposes, God disposes Chapter 77: Chapter 30: Man proposes, God disposes Li Yan dismounted and hurried to the city gate, shouting upwards. ¡°Where is the Governor?¡± ¡°The Governor has already left the city and is chasing Konishi Yukinaga towards the Datong River.¡± Tang Baizhan¡¯s face was pale. Li Yan took a deep breath and turned to speak. ¡°Diao, you lead the men to defend outside the city and wait for my message.¡± Then he said to Tang Baizhan, ¡°Open the gate, take me to see the Governor.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t make that decision.¡± Tang Baizhan looked distressed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yang Yuan, the deputy general of the central army, with a treasured sword hanging at his waist, walked up to the city wall. He was Li Rusong¡¯s deputy, and at this moment, the elite of the Ming Army were all deployed with a vow to keep Konishi Yukinaga at the Datong River mouth, but there were still more than ten thousand troops in the city, now under hismand. After repeating Tang Baizhan¡¯s words, Yang Yuan recognized this recently famous Chief g Officer, and without much hesitation, with hisrge palm pressing on the powder-stained stone bricks of the city wall, he shouted to Li Yan, ¡°I can let you into the city first, while you ry the message to Lord Minister, and let him decide.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Li Yan agreed without hesitation. Yang Yuan waved his hand: ¡°Lower the ropedder.¡± ¡­ ¡°Where did you see the Japanese pirate reinforcements?¡± Shocked by this news, Song Yingchang took a few steps towards Li Yan, his eyebrows raised in amanding presence, nothing like the shabby straw-hatted figure Li Yan had first seen. ¡°To avoid offense, please step back, Lord Minister.¡± Li Yan bowed his hand. ¡°No need,¡± Song Yingchang said. ¡°Just tell me.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Yan still stepped back two paces and pulled something from his chest, which turned out to be a magpie with its wings folded. The magpie fluttered into the air as soon as it saw the light, circling around the tent, its silver-gray wings and golden-red beak scattering speckles of light, an extraordinary sight. ¡°Divine Ende Sparrow, at your service, Lord,¡± A crisp, childlike voice came from the magpie¡¯s mouth. Everyone in the camp exchanged incredulous looks. Song Yingchang remainedposed and asked, ¡°So, did you see the Japanese reinforcements?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In its small, dark eyes, the middle-aged Ming official before it had behind him a five-colored peacock with a cold and detached gaze. Although both birds, the Ende Magpie felt no kinship; the peacock gave it the impression of an unfathomable abyss. Still, it felt warmer near this general. Contemting this, the stifled Ende Magpie flew back to Li Yan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I indeed saw the Japanese troops, a mess of banners intermingled, many horses, many people, and many firearms and weapons.¡± Song Yingchang frowned. As soon as the Ende Magpie began to speak, he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to get any detailed information about the Japanese reinforcements from this exotic bird. Those without military experience couldn¡¯t tell the difference between ten thousand and a hundred thousand soldiers with just a nce¡ªall appeared as an indistinguishable, dense mass. And even more so for a bird. ¡°My lord, I¡¯ve inquired in detail. Among the Japanese reinforcements, there were at least seven or eight n banners, including those of Mori, Hidetada, and even Tokugawa. They weren¡¯t arge army, but surely elite. When the Ende Magpie noticed them, they were about 120 li south of Pyongyang City. If they are marching nonstop, they should be about 80 li from Pyongyang City by now.¡± ¡°Yeah yeah yeah. Lots of jumbled patterns,¡± The Ende Magpie echoed in its babbling voice. Song Yingchang nodded and his gaze softened a lot as he looked at Li Yan. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Yi Gaogong ordered you to gather the wild gods and spirits of Joseon. How effective has it been?¡± Song Yingchang didn¡¯t believe in ghosts and spirits and scoffed at Yi Yu¡¯s words, thinking they were just excuses for being scared of battle. But Yi Yu was favored by the emperor, and in the court, there were quite a few scribes vehemently advocating for the Heavenly Master Tao, so he turned a blind eye to it. However, the Ende Magpie that Li Yan brought back was right in front of him, and he had to admit that this approach seemed workable. ¡°Reporting to my lord,¡± Li Yan straightened his back. ¡°It¡¯s a notable sess!¡± Guided by the She Mountain Woman¡¯s headscarf, the process of gathering the wild gods for Li Yan went extremely smoothly. Most of the ancient and powerful wild gods and spirits had been recruited, and despite Yu Shu¡¯s several requests for rest, which dyed the process, it only took a little more than a day. It was while gathering the rtively weak Ende Magpie flock that he learned from these little creatures about the approaching Japanese reinforcements, so he quickly led his group back to Pyongyang City to report. ¡°Right Army Chief Banner Li Yan, heed the order!¡± Song Yingchang¡¯s eyes turned serious. ¡°Your subordinate is here.¡± ¡°Take my personal seal, ride swiftly to the Datong River, and report verbatim to the Governor everything you¡¯ve told me. Also, tell him, ¡®A cornered wolf might be let loose, but the Tiger¡¯s Head must not be lost.¡¯ He must think long and hard,¡± he instructed. Even though Song Yingchang, an official of the Ministry of War, might not use troops as skilfully as Li Rusong, his mind was definitely calm. When the forty-thousand-strong Ming Army first entered Joseon, they were unstoppable, and they conquered Pyongyang within two days in January, prompting the Joseon official Ryu Rusong to exim that the celestial soldiers were brave and fierce. But now, with the tides of battle reversed and the Japanese being well-supplied, the situation called for steady, careful action and absolutely no recklessness. What Song Yingchang feared most at this moment was Li Rusong letting his martial temper get the best of him in his pursuit, and by some ill fate running headlong into the reinforcements¡ªthat would be a regrettable mistake! Song Yingchang handed his personal seal to Li Yan. The moment Li Yan took it, his body felt immediately warm. ¡°You have obtained the personal seal of a third-rank official from Great Ming.¡± ¡°You have been blessed with Dragon Tiger Qi!¡± ¡°Since you are not the direct owner of the Dragon Tiger Qi, you can only receive the most basic status enhancement.¡± ¡°All types of damage you receive are reduced by 15%.¡± ¡°Your damagees with the Dragon Tiger Qi¡¯s burning and stunning effects.¡± ¡°National Destiny Dragon and Tiger Qi counteract each other.¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± Song Yingchang patted Li Yan¡¯s shoulder hard. ¡­ With a ng, the city gate was broken open at a corner. Li Yan rode out on a Qing Mane Horse, with a Ring Dragon Han Sword slung over his shoulder and a Raw Iron Hook-Scythe Spear on his back. ¡°Nine-Winged Sudu!¡± Li Yan shouted loudly. ¡°Lord, it¡¯s fine to just call for Sudu.¡± Nine-Winged Sudu flew out of the crowd, his eyes shining with light. ¡°You can fly fast; head to the Datong River first. Don¡¯t bother helping. Stay high in the sky, look for a three-zhang tall ck Dragon g, that¡¯s where the Lord Governor is. Once you find it, hurry back to me! I have an important message.¡± Nine-Winged Sudu was an Exotic Beast with hundreds of years of intelligence, understanding the situation incredibly quickly. ¡°Lord, I can carry you, why don¡¯t we¡­¡± Nine-Winged Sudu looked awkward and hopeful. ¡°Hurry up.¡± ¡°Understood¡­¡± Nine-Winged Sudu replied glumly. Three furry balls perched on the back of the Chantanner were chatting with each other. They were the Liangna brothers, who had known Nine-Winged Sudu for over a hundred years. Their rtionship was deep andplex.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°Was Big Sister just¡­¡± ¡°Right, right, right, she was just¡­¡± ¡°I think she was¡­¡± ¡°Everyone follow me; the chance to distinguish ourselves is here.¡± He then looked towards the local spirits and Wild Gods of Joseon. ¡°Once the battle is over, our Governor will personally write to the king of Joseon, promising you golden statues and temples.¡± The Jin Yan frogughed loudly. ¡°We naturally trust the words of a general from the Celestial Empire.¡± ¡°If you trust me, then charge forward, and don¡¯t ck off.¡± Li Yan pulled on the reins and led everyone towards the Datong River. ¡°You¡¯re really going like this.¡± Yu Shu rode up alongside Li Yan. She watched him like a Ghost, observing how Li Yan racked his brains and strategized with hardship. ¡°You don¡¯t seem so foolish.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Yan asked in return. ¡°The incident at Yan Fu has been difficult for you, but the rewards are especially rich. If you now report that the Japanese pirates¡¯ reinforcements areing, and Li Rusong returns to camp and lets Konishi Yukinaga escape, it will be difficult to kill himter. Now Konishi Yukinaga is in a precarious situation at the Datong River, this is the best chance. While you still have power, suppress this information, instigate Li Rusong and Konishi Yukinaga into a fight to death, and you can fish in troubled waters.¡± Yu Shu whispered beside Li Yan like a witch tempting a mortal. She did not mention that if Li Yan dyed the message and hindered the war efforts, it could lead to Li Rusong being surrounded, or even the failure of the entire Renchen War! However, she thought that Li Yan didn¡¯t care about these things and had no reason to care. Li Rusong and Great Ming of this world had nothing to do with Li Yan¡¯s own world. This world and the one he came from were like two simr but distinct leaves. The life and death, and even the so-called national fate of Great Ming, had nothing to do with Li Yan¡¯s world. In Yu Shu¡¯s eyes, this man was not a sadistic lunatic, but he was decisive, willing to act, and knew when to make sacrifices and choices. In this regard, Red Ghost was much inferior to him. He knew what he should do. But Li Yan shook his head: ¡°It¡¯s not worth it.¡± ¡°Thepassion of a woman.¡± Yu Shu sneered. Li Yan smiled indifferently. He could unhesitatingly kill a Centurion who might affect his own future when he first arrived, yet he refused to heed Yu Shu¡¯s words. This had nothing to do with the rise and fall of Great Ming; on this issue, he agreed with Yu Shu. He just preferred to solve problems in his own way. Whether a person can see the situation clearly and distinguish advantages and disadvantages is a matter of ability; but whether they use fists or brains to break through is a matter of character. It¡¯s hard to say whether there are more dead people who thought themselves clever or those who acted recklessly. After all, man may make many ns, but it is the heavens that have the final say¡­ Chapter 78 - 31: Ambush at Datong River! Chapter 78: Chapter 31: Ambush at Datong River! ¡°` Under the cover of night, the piercing cold wind cut to the bone as a thickyer of ice formed on the Datong River. Konishi Yukinaga¡¯s horse hooves tapped on the ice, scrutinizing his own disheveled soldiers before lifting his gaze to the moonlight, falling silent. While stationed in Pyongyang, Konishi Yukinagamanded over fifteen thousand men, along with those on Peony Peak, totaling seventeen thousand. But in just a few days, his most esteemed general, Goto Kagi, perished at Peony Peak, and three thousand of the elite musketeer troops suffered heavy losses, with countless soldiers wounded or dead. By the time Konishi Yukinaga fled Pyongyang, including the injured and disabled, he was left with fewer than eight thousand men. ¡°Old Konishi, cheer up, at least we¡¯re still alive, aren¡¯t we?¡± Hidetada, dressed in a monk¡¯s robe with only a ck sword at his waist and bearing no other weapons, had not taken a single step out of the Ming Army¡¯s tent. He, too, had ultimately found no opportunity to strike. Konishi Yukinaga¡¯s face was grim as he reined in his horse, suddenly wheeling around to face thousands of bewildered Japanese soldiers on the river, shouting loudly: ¡°Today, we have indeed suffered a defeat, but it won¡¯t be long before we roll back the soil and return¡­¡± The rumbling of cannon fire cut off Konishi Yukinaga¡¯s impassioned speech, as continuous bursts of orange mes exploded on the river! At that moment, the stark contrast between the billowing ck smoke and the pristine white snow was so vivid. Hidetada¡¯s head buzzed, and he pped the back of his horse with his scabbard, yelling at the top of his lungs. ¡°Quick, cross the river!¡± The Japanese pirates immediately fell into chaos, scrambling to cross the river, disintegrating into disarray.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Dense cannonballs crashed into the ranks of the Japanese pirates. The clear ice cracked open with gaping fissures, andrge chunks of ice copsed, with horses panicking and neighing loudly, their hooves iling uselessly until, along with their Japanese riders, they plunged into the icy abyss! ¡°Despicable, shameless!¡± Konishi Yukinaga stamped his foot and beat his chest, his eyes almost bursting with fury. On the opposite bank of the Datong River. Shenji Camp Deputy General Luo Shangzhi¡¯s eyes fastened on Konishi Yukinaga, who was standing erect with a peach-shaped helmet, and cried out, ¡°The one with twin rabbit ears on his head is Konishi. Don¡¯t let the bandit chief get away!¡± The cannons continued to roar. Japanese pirates who had made it halfway across the river wanted to turn back, but the fierce cannonballs smashed down, sending shards of ice flying everywhere. Many Japanese pirates fell hopelessly into the river where the icy, rushing waters immediately swept them away before they could cry for help. Others, struck directly by the cannonballs, met a gruesome end. Some lucky few managed to climb back to shore, where they exchanged bewildered looks with Japanese pirates who hadn¡¯t had the chance to cross the river, not knowing what to do as the sounds of battle cries approached from behind. Their thousands of torches illuminated the Datong River as if it were broad daylight, with Shen Heyan d in heavy armor, his dark great spear aimed directly at the Konishi troops. Behind him, a tidal wave of cavalry surged forward, all bearing long spears, and without engaging in closebat, the cavalry formations pushed straight through, forcing the Japanese pirates crowded by the Datong River into the waters! Endo Kenjiro, captain of Konishi¡¯s musketeers, was leading over a thousand matchlock gun-wielding soldiers, fearlessly exchanging fire with the ambushing Ming Army in an attempt to buy time for Konishi and the others. ¡°Are we going to die?¡± In his despair, Endo Kenjiro felt a sense of detachment bubble up. ¡°Forty-nine years of life but a dream, one¡¯s glory and a cup of wine¡­¡± ¡°Bang.¡± Hidetada Osho struck him on the helmet with the back of his sword, his handsome face contorted with such ferocity that it seemed filled with malice. ¡°You fool! Trying to match Muskets against Ming cannons? Have all soldiers drop their firearms and take up swords, charge through!¡± Snapping out of it, Endo Kenjiro immediately ordered his men to abandon their guns and break through. Hidetada Osho let out a fierce howl, his neck veins bulging like writhing snakes, with his eyes and mouth gaping open as three ck holes. Under the night sky, on the river surface, a vast ck shadow shed by. With Hidetada at the center, the frost-white ice suddenly turned pitch ck and rapidly began to spread. The shattered ice quickly stabilized. Perhaps it was Hidetada¡¯s illusion, but as he looked up, he seemed to see a dark figure circling in the sky¡­ Themotion he was making on the river did not go unnoticed by Luo Shangzhi on the opposite shore. ¡°Bring me my bow.¡± Luo Shangzhi took the horn bow and fitted an iron thumb ring, his brawny arms pulling the bowstring taut. A long arrow screeched toward Hidetada. The arrow passed through, and Hidetada abruptly turned his head as the spreading ck ice momentarily halted. ¡°Hit?¡± Luo Shangzhi was uncertain. The monk swiftly turned around, a dense ck aura spewing from his eyes, a long arrow clenched between his teeth. Before Luo Shangzhi on the river, everything went dark; it seemed as if a serpent¡¯s head was charging directly at him. He let out a startled cry, reeling backward on his horse, feeling a sudden pang in his heart. ¡°General!¡± Those beside him were shocked, trying to support Luo Shangzhi, but he suddenly righted himself, firmly sitting back in the saddle. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± As Luo Shangzhi spoke, a chill ran down his spine. ¡°Where did this unspeakable monke from?¡± ¡°` Behind him, the once majestic dappled leopard was now whimpering quietly, with strands of blood in its eyes. Hidetada had a faint ck aura streaming from his seven orifices, making him seem like a demon. Konishi Yukinaga spurred his horse into a gallop, ordering the troops behind him to block the cavalry of Shen Heyan, while he led the elite soldiers in an attempt to carve a bloody path to escape. Just then, an amber-hued colossal figure plummeted into the battlefield like a meteorite. Niutou Chantan! He had a Ming Army ck Dragon g stuck in his neck, nonchntly knocking aside dozens of arrows with a thunderous voice. ¡°I am Niutou Chantan, under themand of Liaodong Town General g Li Yan, here by the order of the Joseon king and the Ming Country Governor to provide support!¡± The soldiers of the Shenji Camp looked at each other with uncertainty in their hearts, but the Great Ming Dragon g could not be faked. Three furry balls charged into the river, their hair sharp as spikes, like three unstoppable chariots plowing into the crowd. A guileless voice came from within the fluff: ¡°I am Liang Yina, Gao Yina, and Fu Yina, under themand of Liaodong Town General g Li Yan, here by the order of the Joseon king and the Ming Country Governor to provide support!¡± Tigers, magpies, and Wolfmen arrived in quick session. A storm of ck feathers mixed with mes and shards of ice boomed into the ranks of the Japanese pirates, as Nine-Winged Sudu danced in midair, her figure graceful. ¡°I am Nine-Winged Sudu, under themand of Liaodong Town General g Li Yan, here by the order of the Joseon king and the Ming Country Governor to provide support!¡± ¡­ Li Rusong gazed at the Datong River, turned red by fire. The faint sound of the tumult of battle came bubbling up; the ice held firm under Hidetada Osho, but that did not keep Konishi¡¯s soldiers from being scattered and sliced apart. The battlefield by the Datong River suddenly plunged into chaos ¨C Ming Army, Japanese pirates, Joseon troops, and even Volunteer Army groups all joined the fray, shing together. Victory in this battle was undeniable; the only question now was whether they could seed in ying Konishi Yukinaga, inflict heavy casualties on the Japanese troops, or possibly, annihte them. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy¡­¡± Li Rusong sighed, the battlefield growing increasingly chaotic while the terrain on the opposite side of the Datong River was distinctly open. The Japanese pirates could be considered valiant; with more than half dying violent deaths since the fighting started, their will to resist still proved astonishingly strong. Luo Shangzhi did not have many men on hand: intercepting was possible, but if Konishi Yukinaga managed to cross the river, breaking through under the protection of his troops would not be difficult. ¡°Besides¡­¡± ¡°The Lord Minister has said that a dying wolf may still run wild, but the tiger¡¯s head must not be lost, hoping your lordship will n before acting.¡± Li Yan knelt on one knee, holding in his hand the makeshift seal of Song Yingchang. The duck that¡¯s been cooked could still fly away¡­, Li Rusong¡¯s expression darkened. Li Yan¡¯s face was expressionless. Although Song Yingchang¡¯s words implied that he was advising Li Rusong to retreat, Li Yan felt that Li Rusong would not just let Konishi go. If it were him, he wouldn¡¯t let him go either! Your butt decides your brain, the perspectives of the pen and the gun are different, and Li Yan believed that he understood Li Rusong better than Song Yingchang did. ¡°Within Joseon territory, our Great Ming has eight hundred Tiqi Tiger Scouts, and you im that the Ende Magpie saw the Japanese pirates, but the Tiger Scouts have not reported back; there¡¯s doubt about the truth in this, that¡¯s the first point.¡± ¡°Even if what you¡¯re saying is true and Japanese reinforcements are on the way, I captured Pyongyang just at dawn yesterday. The reinforcements couldn¡¯t possibly know that; the closer they get to Pyongyang, the more cautious and probing they would be, they certainly wouldn¡¯t rush in blindly, that¡¯s the second point.¡± ¡°The Toyotomi Army has more than a hundred thousand troops; hearing that the celestial soldiers have entered Joseon, all have gone to guard the Joseon capital (Hanyang), where their main stronghold lies. At Jade Terrace, Joseon¡¯s Li Suncheng cut off two of the Japanese pirates¡¯ supply lines ¡ª the Japanese are short on provisions, and after such a long trek, how many can their reinforcements possibly be? Eight thousand? Ten thousand? We have forty thousand men. That¡¯s the third point.¡± A smile yed at the corners of Li Yan¡¯s mouth, though he kept his head lowered. He knew that if Konishi were killed, there would still be a chance for him. After thinking it over, Li Rusong decided to give it a try. As the gs signaled back and forth, he said, ¡°Pass on mymand, order the Gueri General Shen Heyan to lead four thousand light cavalry to chase down Konishi. Even if it proves impossible, bite down on them and don¡¯t let go. The main force will cross the river to pursue immediately. After crossing the river,mand the Joseon troops and Wu Weizhong¡¯s troops to disperse like a; on one hand to ughter any isted Japanese pirates, and on the other, to scout for military intelligence. If they encounter any trace of Japanese reinforcements, they are to report back immediately.¡± As he spoke, he looked toward Li Yan. ¡°How about your troops? Have they been gathered?¡± ¡°They are currently in front of the Datong River,¡± Li Yan replied respectfully. ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t be idle either. Cross the Datong River and kill Japanese pirates,¡± Li Rusongughed heartily. ¡°Your subordinate obeys themand,¡± Li Yan turned, mounted his horse, and grabbed the Raw Iron Hook-Scythe Spear to head towards the Datong River. ¡­ By the shore of the Datong River, the mes were as red as blood; all sorts of Joseon Wild Gods stormed the lines at will, while Shen Heyan chased relentlessly across the river, his horse¡¯s hooves trampling over countless corpses of Japanese pirates. Konishi Yukinaga¡¯s troops were fleeing in a sorry state, while Hidetada¡¯s torn monastic robe fluttered wildly. He turned his head to look back at the fluttering Great Ming Dragon g; a mighty warrior, unstoppable with the Profound Edge Great Spear in hand, with a sh of crazed red sweeping across the bottom of his eyes¡­ Chapter 79 - 32 Charge! Chapter 79: Chapter 32 Charge! The ck Mane Warhorse crouched low, the man with the shaven pate touched the horse¡¯s neck with his fingers, before himy a dark, raging torrent. ¡°Please do not forget the promise of your Lord Regent. Kyushu Ind belongs to us now.¡± Above the raging torrent, the ck-haired woman ferrying people bowed low, pushing the long reed to move the raft. As the ferrywoman departed, the dark torrent gradually withered and dried up until it finally disappeared. Behind the man, samurai d in splendid feather cloaks and wearing deer antler helmets gripped their horse¡¯s nk, speaking in a low voice to the man. ¡°To give up the whole of Kyushu Ind in order to rush to the aid of Pyongyang, is this truly Lord Hideyoshi¡¯s decision?¡± The samurai¡¯s face was full of reluctance. ¡°Give up? Are there any living people left on the whole of Kyushu Ind? It has long been overrun.¡± The man said expressionlessly, ¡°Kogoro, our country is finished. Don¡¯t you understand? This war is ourst hope.¡± The samurai fell silent. The man gazed toward the southwest, and of endless plenty, the Celestial Empire that for nearly a thousand years no one within the country dared covet. ¡°Besides, our goal is not to rush to the aid of Pyongyang, but to defeat the armies of the Ming Country.¡± The warhorse tossed its head and whinnied as the wind and snow shook the forest; behind the samurai, a sea of heads moved, endless at first nce. ¡­ The Hook and Sickle Spear whirled into the crowd, slicing open the bellies of two samurai Japanese pirates, then piercing through the face of another. Li Yan twisted the spear, sending a spray of blood and flesh scattering. The matchlock guns of the Japanese pirates fired in unison, their barrels spitting out countless bullets. The Niutou Chantanner paid no attention to the iron bullets and arrows, flicking them away as if swatting flies, and the wounds it sustained healed in no time. With a flick of its tongue, the Jin Yanwa snapped a Japanese soldier in two, its back full of gunshot marks. Others like the Iron-Eating Fox and Wolfman did not fear the Japanese pirates¡¯ matchlock guns much either. It was the shing wounds from the pirates that caused more harm. Still, a considerable number of iron bullets headed straight for Li Yan! The Nine-Winged Sudu fluttered high behind Li Yan, and a storm of ck feathers swept past. Two gun pellets brushed by Li Yan¡¯s side and shoulder. Other ammunition was whisked away by the ferocious winds of the ck feathers, its destination unknown, while by then, Li Yan and his men were less than ten steps away from the firearm squad. Deng Tianxiong, Wang Sheng, and others charged into the firearm squad on horseback, tearing a big hole for their brothers behind them. A Japanese man d in ck armor and donning a demon mask galloped toward Li Yan, shouting, ¡°The Ming man on the horse, I am Liusheng¡¯s Sakon Tayu, dare you fight a one-on-one duel with me?¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t even nce at him. The archer cavalry behind him immediately opened fire, turning the self-proimed Tayu into a porcupine. In the heat of battle, the chief military officer Zu Chengxun shouted loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t cling to the fight, these men are trapped turtles in a jar. Charge across the river, capture and kill Konishi Yukinaga!¡± As his voice fell, an assortment of local monsters and gods mixed with Green Mane Cavalry wielding bows and knives had already been engulfed by the Japanese pirates and burst forth, leaving only a handful of shadows behind. ¡°Whose troops were those again?¡± Zu Chengxun¡¯s eyes widened as he shouted to those beside him. ¡°Sir, it seems they were originally with our Chengwu Guard, a man called Li Yan.¡± One of his men replied. Zu Chengxun blinked, ¡°Is that so? Do I have such a person under mymand?¡± He pped his thigh, ¡°Well done! Worthy of the soldiers I brought up!¡± ¡­ Konishi left arge number of troops to cover his rear while he led about three thousand men in an attempt to break out of the encirclement of the Ming Army. Luo Shangzhi had initially nned to bombard the Datong River surface, intending to drown Konishi Yukinaga in the river, naturally meaning more guns than men.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Unexpectedly, because of Hidetada¡¯s interference, Konishi managed to break through the Datong River with three thousand troops. Luo Shangzhi, with only seven or eight hundred men, made a decisivemand, letting the dead-set Arrowhead Vanguard cut into Konishi¡¯s troops in the middle, holding back the majority of the Japanese pirates. Konishi Yukinaga did not dare linger, choosing to abandon nearly two thousand men behind him, taking slightly over a thousand surviving soldiers to flee desperately. Suddenly, the sound of approaching horse hooves grew closer from behind. Konishi, revitalized, thought Endo Kenjiro had broken through. When he looked back, his soul almost fled in terror. A wave of blue-armored cavalry closed in, the Bright Red Banner of the Right Army rolling vividly under the torchlight, led by Shen Heyan, still as fierce as ever. Wherever his Great Spear went, men and horses alike were sent tumbling. ¡°We can¡¯t shake them off with our horses; if this continues, we¡¯ll all die here.¡± Hidetada at this moment was surrounded by seven orifices of dark qi dancing, gone was his usual irreverence, appearing solemn and cold. Konishi let out a sigh, removed his peach-shaped helmet, and tossed it behind him, revealing his half-white hair and his bald forehead: ¡°Let¡¯s split up and run, whoever can make it out.¡± Hidetada looked at him deeply, ¡°Konishi Yukinaga, take care.¡± Shen Heyan¡¯s Profound Edge Great Spear was stained with blood froth, and the chaotic Japanese queue before him suddenly split into two groups, one to the left and one to the right. ¡°Sir, should we divide our forces?¡± A general asked. If only Song Trantor were here, taking one side each, then the merits would be secured¡­ Shen Heyan thought with some annoyance. Seeing more people on the left and fewer on the right, he shouted loudly, ¡°Wang Liang, take fifteen hundred brothers and chase to the right. I¡¯ll lead the others to the left.¡± ¡­ Li Yan and his group were crossing the Datong River when they happened upon the scene where Endo Kenjiro was entangled with Luo Shangzhi. Seeing Li Yan with the Great Ming Dragon g behind him, Luo Shangzhi opened his mouth to shout but was startled by Li Yan¡¯s expression. ¡°Lord Luo, where is Konishi Yukinaga?¡± Li Yan asked first. ¡°He has already charged past, and Chief Military Officer Shen is leading people in pursuit. Youe to my central army first, and kill the enemies before us.¡± Among the Japanese, Li Yan immediately spotted Endo Kenjiro, with a ckcquered helmet and iron armor, his face hidden behind a red demon mask, his face boiling with killing intent. ¡°They are nothing but chickens and dogs; why make such a fuss?¡± He spurred his horse into a gallop, his Raw Iron Hook-Scythe Spear pointing straight at the enemy formation. ¡°Follow me in the charge!¡± Niutou Chantan and Jin Yanwa were like two colossal guardian deities, smashing into the ranks of the Japanese pirates, impervious to sword and spear, unstoppable in momentum. The banner-bearer of a Konishi troop felt a chill on his cheek; a sh appeared below his eye. As he instinctively looked up, he saw a grayish silver magpie with golden-red beak pping its wings and looking down at him. The banner-bearer gripped his long spear as a numbness suddenly spread down his neck. Just as he was about to turn around, a flood of golden-red Ende Magpies engulfed himpletely! After the tide of magpies swept over, only scattered armor was left. Each tiny Ende Magpie was drenched in blood and flesh, their eyes gleaming red. This horrifying sight directly caused the Japanese pirates ahead to lose their will to fight and throw down their long spears and flee. Endo Kenjiro wielded his snow-sharp Field Katana, thrusting it into a Wolfman¡¯s chest and then kicking him away. The hefty gray wolf howled in agony as it fell to the ground, where shortly its fur dissipated, leaving behind a stark naked man with two copper coin-sized wounds on his chest, gushing with blood. ¡°You bunch of¡­¡± Endo Kenjiro breathed heavily, his body enveloped in a thick aura of ck mist that faintly took the shape of a scorpion and petals. A small red furry ball rolled to Li Yan¡¯s side, revealing wet eyes. It yelled at the Nine-Winged Sudu behind Li Yan: ¡°Boss, that armored Japanese hurts me a lot. I can¡¯t beat him.¡± Li Yan burst out angrily, ¡°Sudu! Lead them to scatter the enemy camp, avoid the armored Japanese. Leave the rest to us!¡± The Green Mane horses kicked their hooves high as Li Yan charged straight for Endo Kenjiro. In his hands, the ordinary-looking Hook and Sickle Spear glowed with bit by bit of red light, Divine Blood: When applied to cold weapons, it can break the enhancements of National Destiny Dragon Tiger Qi to a certain extent, or the protection of Demonic Strength. It is ineffective against Great Ming officials of rank third ss or above or against Daimyo. Endo Kenjiro was shouting something as he shed his long sword at Li Yan, who responded with a wrist-flick quick thrust of his spear. The Field Katana blocked the spearhead, and both men simultaneously pulled back their weapons, the hook of the spear de firmly wedging in the de of the sword. As the horses spun past each other, Kenjiro lifted his katana to sh at Li Yan¡¯s chin, but Li Yan pulled back his spear to dodge, prompting Kenjiro to turn his horse around and swing his katana down again ¨C a cold sensation struck his forehead, sending shivers down his spine. Triggering a passive skill, Killing Intent Attack! Li Yan tilted his head, the katana grazing the red tassels on his helmet and striking his shoulder armor, while his spear thrust sharply upward, piercing straight through Kenjiro¡¯s throat! Blood trickled down the spear shaft, dripping like a curtain of red beads. Li Yan summoned his energy from the Dantian and uttered the only proper Japanese phrase he had learned from Song Trantor: ¡°The leader is dead; drop your weapons and spare your lives!¡± ¡­ The mountain road was rugged. Hidetada halted his horse, with a group of Japanese warriors behind him. They were surrounded by ck Dragon gs from left and right. Shen Heyan, with the solitary look of a lone wolf, swept his gaze left and right, suddenly spat out a curse and muttered bitterly, ¡°Damn thief, making it easy for Wang Liang that kid.¡± The monk drew out a ck katana, his wide sleeves billowing with the wind and snow. He stared at Shen Heyan on the horse, d in Fish Scale armor, his smile stretching nearly to the back of his head, hideous and terrifying. Chapter 80 - 33 Heavens Singular Plan (Part 1) Chapter 80: Chapter 33 Heaven¡¯s Singr n (Part 1) Name: Li Yan No current representation: None Completed Yan Fu incidents: 1 Ongoing Yan Fu incidents: 2 The main Yan Fu incident progression is as follows: 1. Obtain a Yan Fu Talisman with the Power of Yazi: 0/1 2. Kill Esteemed Walker Konishin/o/vel/b//in dot c//om 3. Kill three types of Warring States Exotic Beasts: 2/3 4. Kill at least one Warring States Daimyo General: 3/1 (Exceeded) The special Yan Fu incidents you¡¯ve triggered: Form a teamposed of the Ming Army and Wild God exotic spirits. Progress is as follows: First, the team must have at least one Ming Army leader with strength above ¡°Ten Cities.¡± (Not achieved) Second, the overall assessment of all exotic spirits and Wild Gods must reach three ¡°Ten Cities¡± Esteemed Walkers or above. (Already achieved) Your team has gained a strong army status: Bright (Deficient) (Yan Fu incidents not fullypleted, the troop has no right to name: 482) Basic enhancement: Increase attack, defense, and speed by 50% (fixed value) Bright: All soldiers in the army deal 50% more damage to demon spirits, demon spirits inflict 50% less damage on the Ming Army, and are immune to all intimidation-type auras. National Destiny Dragon and Tiger Qi (Demonic Strength) reduces damage from all Joseon Wild Gods in the army by 50%. Esteemed Walker, please take note! Esteemed Walker, please take note! Esteemed Walker, when a Yan Fu Esteemed Walker leads an army in a strong army status, they will receive tributes from their subordinates upon settlement! In Li Yan¡¯s view, this was a very bnced yet practical strong army status. Its characteristic was having no specific characteristic. It was useful against Japanese pirates, as each of the Wild Gods had their own divine abilities. Exotic spirits like Niutou Chantan and Nine-Winged Sudu could take on a hundred foes without breaking a sweat, but National Destiny Dragon and Tiger Qi (Demonic Strength) was their nemesis. With the added Bright state, these Joseon Wild Gods already had no clear weaknesses. It was also useful against demon spirits, with the Ming Army¡¯s arrows and firearms causing higher damage and mitigating the likelihood of casualties. Li Yan¡¯s personal information is as follows. Specialization: Ancient Martial Arts 89+4% Firearms 38% Status: Hook Star, Dragon Tiger Qi, Fierce! Heritage: Gu Huo Bird Spirit 16% Skills: 1. A Fleeting Glimpse 2. Blood Dip 3. Cold Killer In addition, he was equipped with a Colt Pistol filled with bullets and seven hand grenades. ¡­ Li Yan pulled on his horse¡¯s reins and looked back, the soldiers behind him were covered in blood, carrying carved bows, firearms, long spears, and short des. Deng Tianxiong, Diao Xiayan, Wang Sheng¡­ Each of them stared at him with beaming eyes. On the shoulder of Niutou Chantan was the Liang brothers, Nine-Winged Sudu soared high into the sky, the bodies of various strange Wild Gods and monsters bore the bloodstains of battle, even the usually docile Ende Magpies had a fierce glint in their eyes. Li Yan felt somewhat dazed. In just a month, he had gone from a mere Chief Banner who fled back from the battlefield to a Great Ming officer controlling a force akin to a magical version of a special forces squad. A force of several thousand Japanese pirates, just like that, were bloodily ughtered by Li Yan and his men along the way. ¡°Sir, they¡¯ve split their forces.¡± Nine-Winged Sudu flew back. ¡°Which side has more men?¡± ¡°The left.¡± Without a second thought, Li Yan ordered, ¡°March to the right!¡± The signal cannon roared to life, and Konishi Yukinaga took a deep breath, inhaling the de-like cold wind and snowkes into his lungs. He was originally able to shake off the pursuit of the Ming cavalry behind him, but out of nowhere, a team with gs fluttering appeared, the volunteer army organized by the Judge of Huangzhou from Joseon, Wang Yu. Although this force had weakbat capabilities, they firmly blocked Konishi¡¯s escape route, allowing Wang Liang to catch up. Wang Liang, a man in his thirties from Shanxi, had dark skin and a resolute gaze. Upon seeing the Japanese hindered, he led his cavalry to charge into the fray without concern for whether Konishi Yukinaga was among them. In the dark night, a sh of lightning suddenly red, illuminating the ferocious faces of everyone on the battlefield. As thunder rumbled and raindrops with the scent of earth fell, torches were extinguished by the rain, plunging everything before them into darkness. The Joseon volunteer army, Japanese soldiers, and the Qing Mane Horse cavalry of Ming Country entangled together, the situation growing ever more chaotic. Konishi Yukinaga fixed his gaze on his family banner of ¡°Nakatsugu Giyoun Mamoru¡±, held his long sword high, and as the ¡°Nakatsugu Giyoun Mamoru¡± fluttered in the wind, it suddenly split in the middle. Dark clouds rolled, lightning shed, and a massive scorpion shadow enveloped the entire battlefield. ck cherry blossom petals fell into the mud, eerily beautiful. Wang Liang only heard his warhorse beneath him whimper and uncontrobly flee the battlefield! He looked around; more than half of hisrades¡¯ horses were doing the same, some even defecated and copsed on the spot, utterly debilitated. A wakizashi, out of the darkness, suddenly chopped down, knocking off Wang Liang¡¯s helmet; he retorted with a spear thrust into the heart of the Japanese pirate, then crouching and twisting, he reached for his iron-carved great bow. The long arrow sped towards Konishi Yukinaga, with his characteristically shaved moon-shaped hairdo and arge bald spot at the front! A blood-red de shed, and amidst the air filled with the howling of evil ghosts, the long arrow was chopped into two pieces. The samurai sheathed his sword to protect Konishi, prominently wearing a luxurious and majestic red cuirass. Red Guards! In the midst of the chaos, firearms and longbows lost their organization. Most people grabbed their weapons, shing hard against each other, Konishi was cornered, but the men around him were undoubtedly loyal retainers; the innermostyers even included a force of two hundred Red Guards. Wang Liang, with over a thousand cavalrymen, was not of the Ji Town Soldiers or the elite with the strength of the Shenji Camp, causing the situation to be stalemated for the moment. ¡°Boom!¡± The intense sound of the explosion turned all heads, the shrapnel of thousands of grenades shredded the battlefield, tearing several Japanese and indistinguishable Joseon volunteer soldiers to pieces. A bold lightning bolt struck, and on the edge of the battlefield, a wild and brutal unit, with ck Dragon gs of Great Ming thrust into their midst, charged into the Japanese ranks! ¡°Right Army of Liaodong Town General g Li Yan is here! Right Army of Liaodong Town General g Li Yan is here!¡± The Ende Magpies trembled, and the tangible Demonic Strength of the Daimyo that swept the field like substance prevented these weaker Wild Gods from entering the fray, leaving them to chirp and chatter, creating noise for Li Yan and his men. Li Yan led the charge, his hand holding a raw iron hook-scythe spear that emitted a red glow at the tail, his blue-maned warhorse¡¯s eyes filled with blood, snorting clouds from its nostrils as if they were solid, clearly having ingested Qiong Qi blood! He spotted the old man surrounded by the Red Guards, raising his sword to the sky. ¡°You have located your target: Konishi Yukinaga!¡± Without hesitation, Li Yan shouted, ¡°Chantanner! Sudu! Jin Yanwa! Disrupt the formation of the red-armored Japanese. The rest of you, charge with me!¡± Lightning danced wildly, the fine raindrops hitting the hook and sickle spear sshed into a myriad of droplets. Diao Xiayan¡¯s saber pierced through the chest of a Japanese pirate, his gray hair and beard sticking together with dried blood. Deng Tianxiongughed wildly, swinging his Goose Feather Sword as a head soared into the sky. Nanako¡¯s delicate hands gripped a Japanese pirate¡¯s neck, and Wang Sheng dispatched him with a spear thrust to the head. Niutou Chantan fought bravely, Nine-Winged Sudu was eerie, Jin Yanwa was somber; leading Li Yan Troop, bright with battle fury, they fearlessly rushed towards the Red Guards! Chapter 81 - 34 Heavens Sole Calculation (Part 2) Chapter 81: Chapter 34 Heaven¡¯s Sole Calction (Part 2) The Japanese pirates on the outer perimeter simply couldn¡¯t stop several powerful Wild Gods led by the Niutou Chantanner, and with the cavalry troops of the Volunteer Army¡¯s vanguard Wang Liang and others eyeing fiercely, they also couldn¡¯t spare much effort to obstruct them. Soul of Kai (264) Basic Amplification: Attack and defense increased by 86% (declines with personnel loss) Soul Sucking: Omitted Li Yan Troops (Unnamed) (482) Basic Amplification: Attack, defense, and speed increased by 50% (fixed) Bright: Omitted Before long, Li Yan and his men engaged in close-quarterbat with the Red Guards Army, which had arranged themselves in a scale formation. The Niutou Chantanner, like a war fortress smeared with blood-mud, when the Red Guards¡¯ horses charged, both men and horses were crushed to pieces, with blood and bones sttering everywhere. The Red Guards Army, famous for facing death without fear, couldn¡¯t help but feel their scalps tingle at such a sight. The Jin Yanwa toad, despite being struck by two des on its webbed feet, used its tongue to pierce through the skull of a Red Guard. As that Red Guard fell, the Jin Yanwa knew something was amiss; its tongue flickered like lightning, jabbing into the Red Guard¡¯s ankles, crippling but not killing. Meanwhile, the Niutou Chantanner and Jin Yanwa started to umte wounds on their bodies, and local demons like the Iron-Eating Fox were quickly dismembered by the chaotic des of the Red Guards after just a few exchanges. The reckless sacrifice of these local demons allowed Li Yan¡¯s troops, protected by the Nine-Winged Sudu, to directly reach Konishi Yukinaga, who was guarded by Hatamotomanders. Under the enormous shadow of the scorpion and the flutter of ck petals, these Japanesemanders were particrly fierce. Except for Li Yan, others were generally at a disadvantage. ¡°ng~¡± Kato Tora, wielding a long spear, confronted this young Ming individual, who was clearly the enemy leader. After only a couple of exchanges, his arms numbed. The rainwater seeping into his mouth tasted bitter: ¡°He¡¯s out of my league.¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes turned red, as his Raw Iron Hook-Scythe Spear lifted the opponent¡¯s shoulder armor, then he swept back overhead. Had this spear hit solidly, Kato Tora might have lost his eyes! Marquis Huan¡¯s Eight Spears were originally horseback spearmanship techniques. Apart from spearmanship, horsemanship was also crucial. Since Li Yan was born in current times and not well-versed in horsemanship, when he first entered the fray, Yan Fu had blessed him with a 70% special proficiency in horsemanship. However, unlike spearmanship, which he had practiced through the years, his horsemanship didn¡¯te from continuous hard training, so his mountedbat disyed some roughness. However, after days of constant adaptation, Li Yan¡¯s mounted spearmanship had improved by more than a notch. As the spearhead threatened Kato Tora, one rider abandoned his current opponent to intercept Li Yan¡¯s thrust for Kato Tora. This man wore a swallowtail helmet and a white Feather cloak, his broad katana shing with the Hook and Sickle Spear. Kato Hyo. Kato Tora¡¯s fear slightly subsided. A scorpion¡¯s tail emerged behind him, stinging a delicate hand that had appeared out of nowhere. A girl¡¯s voice of sorrow filled the air. ¡°Nanako.¡± Wang Sheng shouted in rm and swung his long sword, which Kato Tora dodged with a tilt of his head, causing the scorpion tail to vanish as well. Seeing Wang Sheng unarmed, the Japanese pirate shouted and thrust his long sword towards his midsection. Wang Sheng tugged the saddle tight, twisting away from the de, and with a look of horror in the pirate¡¯s eyes, a backward arch hit his cheek. After dealing with that Japanese pirate, Wang Sheng crouched low and stretched his arm to hook a long spear near a Japanese corpse, while a Red Guard evaded an attack from a local demon, striking down with his long sword towards Wang Sheng¡¯s head. A wisp of chilly ck hair wrapped around the Red Guard¡¯s head, the body of the Japanese pirate paused, but still, the de swung down! ¡°Bang!¡± A bullet pierced through his armor and thigh. Taking advantage of the Red Guard¡¯s pain, a spectral tiger pounced and took him down. A faint white mist retracted into Wang Sheng¡¯s scabbard, and Nanako could fight no more. Li Yan, holding off both Kato Tora and Kato Hyo¡¯s weapons with one hand, still had his Colt Pistol smoking from the shot. The Colt Pistol belted at Li Yan¡¯s waist was originally his trump card. Small in size, powerful in force, draw and fire ¨C especially amidst therge gaps in mountedbat, what couldpare to a pistol? That shot was meant for Konishi Yukinaga, but catching sight of Wang Sheng in danger, Li Yan fired almost without thinking, not only losing the upper hand but also engaging both Japanese generals with his left hand, leaving only the right to parry. There was no time to turn the pistol around. But so what? Li Yan¡¯s eyes were cold as swords. As the two Japanese generals roared and pressed down on his weapon, Li Yan flicked his wrist, hurling the Colt at Kato Tora¡¯s eyes. His right hand loosened, the Hook and Sickle Spear pushed to the left, freeing both hands. Li Yan gripped the spear shaft, leaned back on his horse, and with a surge of strength, he swung the iron spear in a wide arc, not only forcing the two back but also shattering Kato Hyo¡¯s chest armor. Then, sitting upright on his horse, he thrust the spear without any gap towards Kato Hyo. Despite facing two enemies, he did not retreat the slightest! Kato Hyo¡¯s katana shed with the hook and sickle spear, while alongside him, Kato Tora¡¯s spearhead jabbed towards Li Yan¡¯s face. Unexpectedly, when the spearhead touched the de of the katana, it twisted sharply, spraying the rainwater from the blood groove onto Kato Hyo¡¯s face, and the body of the spear swung straight over, hitting Kato Tora¡¯s spear. Kato Tora, after being struck several times by Li Yan¡¯s long spear, trembled slightly in pain, dreading the ferocity of the man¡¯s spear technique and the explosive power that came with each swing. Then, something Li Yan couldn¡¯t have imagined happened: the warhorse he was riding, its eyes red, seized an opportunity and bit down on the neck of Kato Hyo¡¯s steed with its mrs! The teeth of the blue-maned warhorse were covered in scorching horse blood, its eyes blood-red as it bit off a chunk of flesh from Kato Tora¡¯s mount¡¯s neck! Kato Hyo was unsteady on his horse, and Li Yan¡¯s long spear was already upon him! In the midst of dark clouds, another bolt of lightning split the sky, and Kato Hyo clutched his throat, his face quickly turned ashen amidst the bubbling pink foam in his mouth. Kato Tora let out a mournful scream as a dark scorpion emerged behind him, the spear held high above his head and chopping down. Li Yan twisted the spear around and thrust it up with his hand, roaring strangely without fear, facing the scorpion figure head-on. The Daimyo¡¯s Ghostly Power confronted the Chaos Tattoo! It was hard to say who would win, but when Kato Tora¡¯s spear was just over three inches from Li Yan¡¯s helmet tassel, Li Yan¡¯s long spear had already pierced Kato Tora¡¯s chest. ¡°Konishi, meet your death!¡± Li Yan withdrew his de, eyes wide, his face spattered with blood, which made him look even more ferocious. Konishi Yukinagamented as the Kato brothers, hisst trump cards, proved no match for this man from the Ming. Clutching his katana, with Joseon¡¯s volunteer army in front and Ming cavalry on both sides, and the ferocious Mingmander attacking like thunder in the rainy night, he had no ce left to retreat. ¡°Red Guards, charge!¡± Konishi shouted, resolved to die. A wave of panic and noise came from the direction of Joseon¡¯s volunteer army. Amid the chaotic battle under the night rain, visibility was only provided by the asional sh of lightning, leaving everyone uncertain of what was happening. At this moment, Li Yan was determined to kill. His spear-like troop was less than twenty meters from Konishi! The noise first intensified, then gradually died away, as if a steel tidal wave had surged into the chaotic battlefield. A crude, barrel-thick bolt of blue-purple lightning shed, and for an instant, the entire battlefield was as bright as day. Wang Liang caught a fleeting glimpse, feeling all the blood rush to his head, his brain nearly bursting! A mass of warriors, a forest of swords standing tall, and¡­ the war banners of the Warring States Daimyo. The sound of the wind and rain was relentless. The standing hollyhock of Honda Tadakatsu! The Sanguisorba bird of Liusheng Zongyan! The syble ¡®Bi¡¯ of Uesugi Kagekatsu! The ivy of Hidetada Masasuke!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Andstly, the symbol of the Temple Guardian. The unparalleled warrior of the Westernnds, Tachibana Muneshige! ¡­ The icy currents of the Datong River were swift, the clear ice chunks colliding with each other, tinkling melodiously, when a lean yet powerful arm burst from the water, sshing wildly. Hidetada Osho rose from the surface, a ghastly scarlet gash running through his cheek to the back of his ear, while his ragged robes were stained with stubborn blood. With a fish clenched in his teeth, he wed at the muddy bank, greedily sucking the blood and juices from the fish, while gripping a severed arm with his calves, the arm¡¯s pale fingers nearly embedded into the monk¡¯s own flesh, refusing to let go even when severed. Wrapped around the severed limb was a blue tiger-headed beast arm protector. After a while, Hidetada spat out the shriveled fish, and uncontrobly burst into loudughter, his voice echoing through the fields as the dark clouds overhead gathered thicker¡­ Chapter 82 - 35 Heavens Sole Calculation (Part 3) Chapter 82: Chapter 35 Heaven¡¯s Sole Calction (Part 3) ¡°` The heavy rain poured down in the dark night, and Li Rusong gritted his teeth in hatred. Luo Shangzhi¡¯s Shenji Camp, Wu Weizhong¡¯s Ji Town Soldiers, and even the Liaodong Town troops under themand of Zu Chengxun had already converged in front of the Datong River. Thousands of Ming Army soldiers were searching in a-like pattern to capture and kill the remaining Japanese pirates. With his rich military experience, Li Rusong roughly estimated that more than six thousand Japanese pirates were annihted before and after the battle at the Datong River. Added to the several thousand killed previously in Pyongyang, Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s First Army Corps was essentially wiped out. The Ming Army¡¯s casualties were just over three thousand, most of which urred during the earlier siege. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t catch up with Konishi, this battle has certainly demonstrated the might of our Celestial Empire,¡± he said. Li Rusong pondered for a moment then asked, ¡°What about the reinforcements for the Japanese pirates mentioned by that Chief g Officer named Li Yan from the Right Army? Have there been any updates?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve sent out seven scouting teams; none have sent back any reports yet,¡± someone respectfully said. It was widely said that Li Rusong was a cunning and seasoned general, a famousmander of the time. However, what the general didn¡¯t say was that after the battle of Pyongyang, it was the Shenji Camp from the capital, as well as the Ji Town and Baoding fort soldiers, who genuinely started to admire and ept this Commander-in-chief from Shanxi. ¡°Old General Wu, do you have any news?¡± Li Rusong asked. Wu Weizhong shook his head with a smile and said, ¡°Unless the Japanese pirates can fly, it¡¯s impossible.¡± Li Rusong nodded but still sighed, ¡°The roads are slippery with the night rain in the mountainous terrain of Joseon. We¡¯re carrying a lot of gunpowder and weaponry that¡¯s been dampened by the rain, so it¡¯s really not suitable to pursue. If He Yan can¡¯t catch up to Konishi, then it must be that the fate of the Japanese leader is not yet at its end.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, He Yan took four thousand cavalry to chase Konishi, but now not a single person hase back with a report?¡± asked Li Rubo from the side. ¡°The Chief g Officer under mymand, who has the surname Li, hasn¡¯te back either. He¡¯s been leading those native Joseon Wild Gods with such a formidable presence,¡± Zu Chengxun interjected. ¡°Marching in the rain¡­ it¡¯s unavoidable¡­¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Just as Luo Shangzhi was about to speak, Li Rusong suddenly interrupted him. ¡°You said seven scouting teams have been sent, and not a single one has returned?¡± Li Rusong¡¯s tiger-like eyes fixed on the junior officer who had just spoken. ¡°Yes.¡± Li Rusong pondered for a good while, rested his arm on the desk, and then said, ¡°Since we can¡¯t pursue Konishi in this heavy rain, there¡¯s no need to wait any longer. The army will set out immediately and return to Pyongyang.¡± Before the people in the camp could ask questions, a disturbance suddenly arose outside the camp. Angry shouts, pained moans, and chaotic mor all melded together, creating quite amotion. It felt like a bowl of cold water tossed into boiling oil, explosively sttering all at once. Zu Chengxun lifted the camp curtain, shouting angrily, ¡°Who the hell¡­¡± His voice choked as if something was lodged in his throat, and he impulsively drew his long sword, but couldn¡¯t help stepping back as if he had seen something shocking. In front of the tent stood a stern-eyed woman in a leather jacket with her long hair flowing. Soaked from head to toe, a steady stream of rainwater dripped down her white chin. On her back, she carried a man in thick patterned armor with pale lips, closed eyes, and blood trickling down from his hand. His body was riddled with dense shrapnel fragments, and he had a bloodied, gaping wound on his back. ¡°Save the Lord of the Banner first! Save the Lord of the Banner first!¡± Diao Xiayan¡¯s hoarse voice and cracked palms grasped a medic by the cor, his wounds bleeding continuously due to his agitated emotions. Wang Sheng was silent, holding a short arrow in his hand, his temple throbbing with pain from the arrow that had lodged straight into his left eye. Niutou Chantanner sat with his head bowed to the side, his body covered with countless knife wounds and arrows. Nine-Winged Sudu had one wing cruelly severed, with a gruesome trail of blood running from his shoulder across his chest to the root of his thigh. Now, hey lifelessly on the back of Jin Yanwa, who himself was covered in wounds. Deng Tianxiong fell in battle. ¡°What happened?¡± Li Rusong stepped out of the crowd and asked loudly. Wang Sheng swallowed and was just about to speak. Suddenly, a battered cavalryman rushed in, the blood-stained horse hooves creating a ruckus, and the lead rider copsed in front of Li Rusong. ¡°Lord Governor, arge number of Japanese troops have attacked our left nk, bearing the battle gs of Ukita Hideie and Kobayakawa Takakage. There are no less than eight thousand of them. And behind us, Fukushima Masanori and Mori Terumoto are leading more than six thousand men close at hand,¡± the rider reported.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Where did theye from?¡± Wu Weizhong shouted, unable to contain his anger and stepping forward. ¡°` ¡°Besides that¡­¡± The rider¡¯s voice choked up, ¡°General Shen Heyan and Konishi¡¯s remnants entangled in a fierce fight, and unfortunately, he was killed in battle.¡± ¡°Who did you say?¡± Li Rubo¡¯s eyes reddened, his gaze almost piercing the rider in front of him. ¡°Zizhen!¡± Li Rusong roared, interrupting his grief-stricken younger brother. ¡°A y pot lingers by the well and must someday break, a general on the battlefield cannot escape death.¡± His voice was calm, even somewhat cruel. Li Rusong¡¯s eyes were fixed intently on Wang Sheng¡¯s face, sensing that the news this young soldier brought might be even worse. ¡°How did your unit fare?¡± ¡°As we pursued Konishi¡­¡± Wang Sheng gasped for breath, ¡°suddenly we encountered arge force of Japanese troops, led by the Third Armymander Hidetada Masasuke, including troops from Tokugawa Family¡¯s Honda Tadakatsu, the eldest son of Liusheng Zongyan¡¯s Liusheng Chang, Uesugi Kageshige, Tachibana Muneshige, an allied army of five families, at least ten thousand strong.¡± With each name Wang Sheng uttered, the expressions of those present darkened. By the time he spoke of the ten thousand strong, everyone was shaking their heads in disbelief, and Luo Shangzhi was especially disturbed, murmuring, ¡°This is beyond warfare¡­¡± Li Rusong¡¯s expression was as still as water as he calmly said to Wang Sheng: ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard, and it¡¯s no small feat to have returned safely.¡± ¡°Lord Governor¡­¡± Wang Sheng opened his mouth, intending to say more, but seeing Li Rusong¡¯s dismissive gesture, he found himself speechless. Li Rusong patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder and turned to return to camp, aware that Wang Sheng had more to say, but at this moment, with the situation as precarious as a pile of eggs, he had no desire to listen further. ¡°Hey.¡± Yu Shu¡¯s soft call was distinctly audible, drawing everyone¡¯s attention toward her. ¡°Thud~¡± A round head was tossed by Yu Shu onto the ground, rolling a couple of times. Yu Shu pointed at Wang Sheng with her index finger, then with her thumb over her shoulder. ¡°Konishi Yukinaga¡¯s head, they¡¯ve brought it back.¡± The head rolled on the ground, its eyes wide open from the torrential rain, filled with an unwillingness, like a person who grasps at a life-saving straw only to drown in the end. With a moon-shaped shaven crown and hair in ck and white, it was indeed Konishi Yukinaga. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were attacked by arge army? How did you still¡­¡± Li Rusong raised his eyebrow. ¡°Li Yan and his troops from Liaodong Town General g¡­¡± Yu Shu cut off Li Rusong¡¯s questioning with a dispassionate tone. ¡°They plunged into the enemy ranks, charging less than a hundred meters in front of the allied forces of the five families, spearing through the First Armymander Konishi Yukinaga with the Han Sword, decapitating him, and then fighting chaotically, with great casualties among their troops.¡± She turned around, facing the Li Yan Troop, exhausted and wounded, some even on the brink of death. She spoke deliberately, causing shocked expressions and continuous murmurs of discussions among the crowd. ¡°On the side of the allied forces of the five families, the Red Guards Army was annihted, the Third Armymander Hidetada Masasuke was killed in battle, Uesugi Kageshige fled the battlefield without his horse, General Tachibana Muneshige was lightly wounded, General Liusheng Chang had his right arm chopped off by Deng Tianxiong from Li Yan¡¯s troops, Li Yan himself dueled with Honda Tadakatsu on horseback. Within two exchanges, his iron spear was destroyed, and he was gravely injured, he fought for his life with Fire Thunder, striking Honda directly, leaving him in an unknown state of life or death. Wang Liang¡¯s Cavalry handled the rearguard, and the entire army was wiped out.¡± Yu Shu¡¯s eyes nkly surveyed Li Rusong. ¡°Lord Governor, now that we are faced with enemies on both sides, it is a matter of life and death. How we will decide rests with you.¡± Thunder boomed suddenly, and the people in the encampment fell into silence. ¡°Ah~¡± Li Yan, on Yu Shu¡¯s back in his final moments, let out a pained scream, envisioning the scene where hisrades-in-arms were beheaded, their bodies torn apart, anguish pounding in his heart like a mallet. His killing intent was so palpable it was as if he had bitten down until his teeth shattered. ¡°Dragonfly Cutter!¡± The Dragonfly Cutter, Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s beloved spear, one of the three great famous spears of Japan, so named because it could sever a flying dragonfly when simply stood upright. Chapter 83 - 36 Heavens Sole Calculation (Part 4) Chapter 83: Chapter 36 Heaven¡¯s Sole Calction (Part 4) Li Rusong, on this sortie to chase down the enemy, led fewer than ten thousand men, and ounting for earlier losses, he now had just over seven thousand left, with chariots, firearms, and cannons all avable. As for reinforcements, the elite troops of nine regiments, including Tokugawa, Uesugi, Hidetada, Ukita, Mori, Liusheng, Tachibana, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s forces, numbering nearly twenty thousand, appeared at Pyongyang almost like gods and demons, which was almost beyond belief! Li Rusong made a snap decision, taking advantage of the fact that the Japanese pirate reinforcements had not yet encircled him and the cover of the dark rainy night, he sent riders on fast horses to break through the encirclement and seek help from Pyongyang. Li Rusong did not attempt to break through towards the Datong River, but instead chose to meet the enemy by retreating to the mountains, away from the ins. He positioned stakes and deer horns to trip up the hooves of horses and lined up a hundred or so sidecars in a circr formation. The wood-covered iron sheets with firing holes had musketeers lying in ambush behind, with several Franconian cannons loaded on top of the cars. With the heavy rain soaking everything, neither the firearms nor the cannons could be used, leaving only the tall shields, unsheathed swords, and drawn bows prepared and waiting. The first toe into contact was the foot-soldier phnx of the Ukita n. ¡°Draw!¡± Luo Shangzhi yelled at the top of his voice, and the Ming Army¡¯s bowstrings were pulled taut, each horn bow looking like a water gate filled to the brim. ¡°Aim!¡± The sound of sleeves and leather rubbing together was apanied by the chilling gleam of the arrows. ¡°Fire!¡± Like a flood bursting forth and birds returning to the forest en masse, countless Japanese fell into bloodied pools of water. The Japanese pirates mostly used light bamboo bows, whereas the Ming Army was already equipped with iron-tire bows and boxwood bows that required iron thumb rings to assist in drawing them, with significantly higher ranges. This handed the Japanese a significant disadvantage right from the start. The chariots with iron armor stood like high walls before the Japanese pirates, with protruding spears and arrows flying furiously consuming the lives of Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s soldiers, The other ranks of Japanese rushed forward, striking fiercely at both nks of the Ming Army, whether on foot or on horseback, rapidly filling the gaps left by fallen soldiers, ¡°Form up the chariots, mount up and follow me to charge!¡± Luo Shangzhi roared, and the thousand or so cavalry emerged from the formation one after the other, charging at the thinned ranks of the Japanese with a disregard for their own lives¡­ The fierce battle continued until dawn when the torrential downpour had ceased, with mud and blood blurring the entire battlefield. Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s main forces,manded by Hidetada Masasuke and consisting of elites from five ns, finally arrived btedly. Ukita Hideie¡¯s face darkened as he was about to condemn the allied forces for dying and causing substantial losses of his men, only to find that everyone in the camp was draped in white robes. The atmosphere was oppressive. Honda, who was famed for being unscathed in battle, was now bandaged around his chest, and Liusheng Chang¡¯s right arm had been torn off. Hidetada Masasuke was nowhere to be seen, and in his ce sat Hidetada Masasuke¡¯s younger brother, the monk Nen Enman, who was guarding Pyongyang with Konishi. Nen Enman¡¯s originally handsome face now sported an ugly centipede-like scar, and his body was also heavily injured. Ukita Hideie licked his lips: ¡°What¡­ what happened?¡± ¡­ ¡°Song Yingchang! I¡¯m telling you! You are disregarding His Majesty!¡± Yi Yu screamed his lungs out as two burly guards tugged at him. His Ten Absolute Banners were lost somewhere during the scuffle, and his crown and scarf fell to the ground in a struggle, leaving him looking panicked and furious. Song Yingchang¡¯s eyes narrowed as he said coldly, ¡°Order it to be announced that the Military Supervisor, aware of the dire situation, wishes to personally join the battle in ce of His Majesty on the front lines when the drums and bugles of the three armies sound. If the Governor is not rescued in a day, the Military Supervisor will not leave the front line for a day, and the same holds true for all the mages of the Heavenly Master Tao.¡± ¡°I was personally appointed by His Majesty to supervise the military. You don¡¯t have the right to do this! This is personal vendetta! Abuse of power! I will strike the Jingyang Bell, beat the Dengwen Drum, I will tell His Majesty¡­¡± Song Yingchang watched Yi Yu, then suddenly bowed deeply. ¡°If the Japanese really possess sorcery, then having Master Gaogong at the front line for even a moment could save the lives of our soldiers, and for that, on behalf of the thirty thousand soldiers and officers in the city, I thank the Mage for his noble spirit.¡± ¡°You old thief! You old thief! I¡¯ll never let this go,¡± Yi Yu shouted. Song Yingchang looked downcast: ¡°After this battle if we¡¯re still alive, I¡¯ll give my entire career and life to your Heavenly Master Tao, how about that?¡± Not until Yi Yu was dragged away did Song Yingchang exhale a breath of turbid air and abruptly threw his teacup away, pointing at Yang Yuan¡¯s nose and cursing, ¡°There have always been rumors about your Li Zimao acting arrogantly and stubbornly! I originally thought those were just rumors! I didn¡¯t expect! I didn¡¯t expect!¡± Yang Yuan remained silent with his head bowed. Song Yingchang, shaking with rage and with no outlet for his anger, continued, Wasn¡¯t I aware of the suspicious nature of the Japanese pirates¡¯ raid? But I sent word to you, advising you to think thrice! Think thrice! Did you, Li Rusong, pretend not to hear? In truth, as themander responsible for defending against the Japanese, I am the leading hand in the Ming Army¡¯s entry into Joseon. If I had given a direct order to retreat, and you, Li Rusong, disobeyed, that would be insubordination! I entrusted you with authority considering your specialization in the field, using a roundabout way of advising instead of ordering a retreat, but what was the result? You¡¯re telling me that along with themander and a batch of generals, 8,000 people were surrounded by 20,000 Japanese pirates? ¡°Lord Minister, no matter what, we have to rescue Lord Governor first,¡± Yang Yuan said, steeling himself as he bowed with his hands sped. ¡°You arrange it.¡± Song Yingchang, as irritated as he might be, wouldn¡¯t overstep his role. ¡°You can decide the details of the battle; my men from Xuanfu won¡¯t interfere.¡± The nearly fifty-year-old Song Yingchang spoke slowly but resolutely, still with a fiery temper. ¡°In the midst of the great battle, I will go to the front lines with Yi Gaogong, to beat the drums for all of you.¡± ¡­ Sticky blood glued his clothes to his skin, and it felt like a hot coal was stuffed in his throat. The salty, fishy warmth filled his mouth and nose, and a mixture of gold and red stars danced chaotically before his eyes, while his head thundered. Screams and roars came at him, mixed with scorching hot blood sprayed in his face! ¡°Hiss~¡± Li Yan shuddered abruptly in bed, his fingers gripping the sheet tightly. After the thick, indissoluble blood, numerous scattered beams of light flickered chaotically, rushing in like a tide. In the darkness, an overbearing force approached: the banners of the Japanese Army fluttered, the mountains of swords and seas of spears loomed, and the face of a Japanese general with red cheeks, wearing a deer antler helmet, was bearing down with a spear. Niutou Chantan, riddled with holes and covered in cut marks; Nine-Winged Sudu with bloodied feathers and half a wing sliced off by Liusheng Chang; and many more faces dyed red with blood. Ming Army troops, sessively pierced through the chest by long spears; Wang Liang¡¯s over a thousand cavalrymen who cut their way through and used their flesh to block the joint forces of the five ns; Deng Tianxiong, who fell from his horse with severe injuries and was trampled under the iron hooves of the Japanese pirates¡­ ¡°Rip~¡± The bedsheet was torn open with arge gash, and cotton spilled out.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Li Yan¡¯s eyes snapped open, his whites dense with red veins. ¡°I¡¯ll ughter all of you, I swear I¡¯ll ughter all of you.¡± ¡­ ¡°Old Jin Yan, what do you mean by this?¡± ¡°My meaning is clear¡ªif General Li is dead, we shouldn¡¯t have been busy for nothing.¡± ¡°Say that again, I dare you.¡± ¡°You woman are biased, I won¡¯t argue with you. What do you say, Chantan?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early to talk about this now.¡± ¡°So, Niutou, you mean to wait for Lord of the Banner to die then start your scheming?¡± ¡°Why do you bite at everyone you see, woman?¡± ¡°ording to me¡­¡± ¡°About you¡­¡± On the spacious campgrounds, the Wild Gods of Joseon, who usually fought on their own, were now a tumultuous crowd, mostly with pessimistic attitudes. Only Nine-Winged Sudu, with its jug-like mouth, engaged in loud disputes with the rest. Yu Shu, with his hands behind his head, was lying down for a rest, truly annoyed by the noise. ¡°Shut up, all of you.¡± Suddenly, there was silence. The Ming people didn¡¯t have a keen sense for ghosts and deities, but these beings made their living from such things. After a while, Jin Yanwa muttered, ¡°I¡¯m just trying to think of a n for everyone.¡± ¡°What n?¡± As the tent p was lifted, Li Yan walked out, his expression grave. Chapter 84 - 37 The War That Cant be Lost Chapter 84: Chapter 37 The War That Can¡¯t be Lost Li Yan¡¯s eye sockets were sunken, his lips chapped, and he looked extremely haggard, but the cold, chilling light in his pupils was enough to send a shiver down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Lord of the Banner~¡± ¡°Lord of the Banner~¡± Everyone¡¯s spirits lifted, feeling somewhat reassured with a steadfast leader who had been through many battles with them. ¡°What¡¯s the current situation?¡± ¡°We¡¯re encircled. Hideyoshi¡¯s forces have mounted several attacks, but the Lord Governor beat them back.¡± Li Yan tilted his head back; though it wasn¡¯t yet dark, he could already see the pale crescent moon in the east. ¡°Have I been asleep for nearly a day?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°This can¡¯tst long, the Japanese pirates are growing impatient.¡± Li Yan looked around; the soldiers on the field and even those bizarre demons and Wild Gods were all eagerly awaiting hismand. Seeing no one else speak, he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°We¡¯ve all been through life and death together, there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t talk about¡­¡± Suddenly, his brow furrowed, and he spoke with a fierce tone, ¡°So I¡¯ll speak inly. Right now, we¡¯re all grasshoppers on the same string, and if we lose this fight, no one can escape. If we really go to battle, the Japanese¡¯s des will strike my head first. Anyone who talks behind our backs or sabotages us, will be punished by militaryw.¡± Jin Yanwa spread his hands, ¡°Lord of the Banner, this old toad feels wronged¡­¡± Li Yan waved his hand, ¡°Old Jin Yan, you don¡¯t have to exin. When fighting, you and Niutou Chantan are at the forefront; I¡¯ve seen it with my own eyes. The words I spoke earlier weren¡¯t meant for you.¡± Jin Yanwa smacked his lips but said nothing more. Though Li Yan¡¯s response seemed rough and overbearing, Jin Yanwa felt a lot more secure in his heart. Fighting to this point, looking out for oneself was no longer possible. It was just afraid the Ming Country would disavow themter or treat them as expendables, casting them aside. If the Ming people were all talk, this nearly thousand-year-old Jin Yanwa frog would really consider taking the chaos as a chance to flee, which was far better than throwing away its life for nothing. Li Yan approached Wang Sheng. The young man before him looked agitated, but one eye was wrapped in gauze, which added to Li Yan¡¯s feeling of oppression. He thumped Wang Sheng¡¯s chest but said nothing. Li Yan looked at Yu Shu. During thest ferocious battle on a rainy night, Yu Shu had carried Li Yan on her back, leading a group of people to retreat. She left Wang Liang and others to cover their rear, but from the beginning to the end, she had not made a move. ¡°Shall we talk?¡± The woman stood up, her ck leather shoes clicking crisply on the ground as she walked. The two of them, one after the other, entered the tent. ¡­ ¡°I need to thank you for carrying me back.¡± Li Yan took out a pale purple ginseng the size of a thumb, holding it between two fingers. ¡°Get to the point. I don¡¯t like beating around the bush.¡± ¡°Very directly, the process of gathering these demons was too rushed. Without you, they probably would have scattered the moment I passed out¡­¡± Yu Shu shrugged nomittally. ¡°I killed Konishi Yukinaga, and Yan Fu has signaled that I¡¯vepleted the most crucial part and can return, but I refused. Regardless, this Yan Fu event is drawing to a close, and there are some things I just have to get off my chest.¡± Li Yan clenched his fists. ¡°This is my second Yan Fu event, much harder than the first. Heh, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever been close to death in a fight¡­¡± Saying that, Li Yan was about to throw the Grass Returning Pill into his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re not going to die, half is enough for you. Crush the other half and boil it for your men to share.¡± Li Yan nced at her from the corner of his eye, put the Grass Returning Pill away, and couldn¡¯t help coughing twice, hisplexion wan. ¡°Setting aside the difficulty, this Yan Fu event has also given me a strange feeling, like someone bought the wrong model.¡± After a pause, Li Yan continued. ¡°What I say next, you listen. If it makes sense to you, it¡¯s right. If you don¡¯t know, you don¡¯t know.¡± Yu Shu looked at Li Yan with some surprise. She had thought about many reasons why Li Yan would seek her out, such as toin about why she never takes action, or to seek a way to break through from this obviously far more experienced person. It just never urred to her that Li Yan was only asking her these questions. ¡°In the records of the previous Yan Fu Fruits, there was a mention of the Dragon Tiger Qi. From the description, it seems that this is something that is required only when the awakening degree of Yan Fu Heritage walkers reaches the bottleneck of 40% or even higher. This also indirectly proves that this Yan Fu Fruit should note from someone like me who has only experienced one Yan Fu event and entered with a mere 9% awakening degree as a Gu Huo Bird.¡± ¡°This is because of me. As a Renegade walker like you, you normally wouldn¡¯t be able toe into contact with Yan Fu Fruits of the sequence before ¡®Ding¡¯ and within the first fifty. ordingly, your permissions haven¡¯t been unlocked either, such as high-status identity matching, world view knowledge purchase permissions, and so on. So often, you wander around like a headless fly, although thinking of collecting Wild Gods as a method is quite clever.¡± Yu Shu was very matter-of-fact. These words reminded Li Yan of the sequence of this world. Scale-Ding You Twenty-Four. ¡°I am a Renegade. I don¡¯t have so many scruples. Whatever you want to know, I can tell you frankly, there¡¯s no need to guess.¡± With that, Yu Shu sat on the edge of Li Yan¡¯s bed. ¡°Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, and Yan Fu Fruits within the first fifty of the sequence are recognized to have extremely high upper limits, and the walkers have almost no constraints in the free world. Additionally, each fruit has a high degree of development.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®degree of development¡¯?¡± Li Yan had a faint idea in his mind. ¡°Within this fruit, the rich Dragon Tiger Qi can suppress all things! Monsters, Wild Gods, demons, and even Taoist magic, in the face of the vast national destiny of the Dragon Tiger, are suppressed to almost nothing. Therefore, the first walkers of Yan Fu thought this was just an ordinary no-demonic ne, and its sequence was ranked quitete.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t until Yan Fu walkers discovered the secret of this ce and took the opportunity to grab a massive amount of Dragon Tiger Qi that thend became rife with abnormalities, and the danger level of the fruit kept rising.¡± ¡°Of course, having a lot of Dragon Tiger Qi doesn¡¯t necessarily mean being strong. Take Song Yingchang for example. He ranks high in the Ming Country as a third-rank official, controlling over three hundred moments of Dragon Tiger Qi. No evil can harm him, ghosts retract, and even his body is healthy, destined for a long life. But that¡¯s all there is to it. In principle, a kitchen knife is enough to end his life.¡± ¡°And while monsters run rampant, the diluted Dragon Tiger Qi can also be used by some ordinary people, such as the Heavenly Master Taoists who were conferred by the court and who can use Dragon Tiger Qi to draw talismans. These people, well, they¡¯re rtively tricky.¡± ¡°Mo says that being a walker is like being a beneficialdybug, but ording to what you say, it doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡± Li Yan still had his doubts. ¡°No, from the perspective of Yan Fu, walkers are indeed developing the world.¡± Taishuai spread her hands. ¡°Heavenly Master Tao outside, talismans inside, Dugong, Five Thunder, Fu Mo, and so on, all the exquisite curses and spells developed based on Dragon Tiger Qi.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°Creatures like Niutou Chantanner and Nine-Winged Sudu, these kinds of extraordinary monsters.¡± ¡°Under the prevalence of demonic forces, vigers join together to protect themselves, and strong warriors are born out of such high-level martial skills.¡± ¡°Survival space beingpressed by demonic forces, frequent wars between nations lead to the continuous refinement of warfare equipment and military tactics.¡± ¡°This is what is known as ¡®development¡¯.¡± Yu Shu spread her palms. ¡°Yan Fu is indifferent, using all things as cannon fodder. With monsters running wild and bizarre urrences, for Yan Fu, this is beneficial.¡± Li Yan frowned tightly. He didn¡¯t disagree with Yu Shu¡¯s words, but he suddenly thought of another issue. ¡°Are you this knowledgeable about all the fruits?¡± ¡°At least I am about this one.¡± ¡°Coincidence?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Yu Shu appeared very patient. ¡°The fruit and events that you Renegades walkers enter are decided by a high-ranking walker named Hou Tu. I used some means to ensure that your next entry into the Yan Fu event would be into this fruit, and I took advantage of the loopholes in thepensation mechanism to escape.¡± Li Yan¡¯s thoughts spun. He knew Taishuai chose this ce for her own reasons, but this had little to do with him. What concerned Li Yan more was something else. ¡°If a great country like the Ming Country is in a state of emergency due to the loss of Dragon Tiger Qi, and if Joseon¡¯snd has fallen with ghosts guing everywhere, then what about the Japanese homnd?¡± Japanese pirates who never retreat, Daimyo troops pouring out, Tokugawa and Hideyoshi working closely together¡ªall this made Li Yan more convinced of his thoughts. ¡°Just as you imagined,¡± Yu Shu smiled faintly, her smile somewhat meaningful. ¡°Once the Land of the Rising Sun, it is now a destend overrun by monsters. And so, this Renchen war, for the Japanese, is a battle for their very survival.¡± Chapter 85 - 38 Yuzi Bows His Head, The Fiery Skull Chapter 85: Chapter 38 Yuzi Bows His Head, The Fiery Skull ¡°Good, good.¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t know what he was thinking about, but he kept nodding. His thumb gently tapped on the table, recalling the information on the Japanese pirates¡¯ generals that he had obtained through ¡®A Fleeting Glimpse¡¯ during that rainy battle. It took quite a while before he spoke. ¡°Among the Sengoku Allied Army, the leader of the Shinin-ryu Four Heavenly Kings, Liusheng Muneshige of Tamba, is old in years. This time, it was his eldest son Liusheng Chang who led the troops. His right arm was severed by thebined efforts of Tianxiong and Nine-Winged Sudu, losing much of hisbat strength. As for the likes of Ono Sadayuki and Shishi Renjiu, they are no match for me alone, so they are not worth mentioning.¡± Li Yan¡¯s words could be considered extremely arrogant, and with scars both deep and shallow on his body, raising his voice risked tearing his wounds, which didn¡¯t add much credibility to his statement. Yet it was this very man who, under the noses of the Sengoku Allied Army, first killed Commander Konishi Yukinaga of the first squad, then targeted Commander Hidetada Masasuke of the third squad. Of the ninemanders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s forces, he had overthrown two by himself. Indeed, the allied forces had been negligent, and their movements had been hampered by the many Wild Gods of Joseon, but without a doubt, in that night of bloody rain and battle, it was Li Yan who alone imed the greatest merit of the entire Renchen War. ¡°Honda Tadakatsu, unparalleled in the Easternnds, and Tachibana Muneshige, unparalleled in the Westernnds, one with Kachiten and the other with the famous sword Hatsuyuki. Relying on the advantage of their weapons, both barely qualify for the evaluation of ¡®Ten Cities¡¯ in Yan Fu. If I encounter them again¡­¡± ¡°To be precise, a Deputy of Ten Cities, roughly equivalent to 39% of the Awakening Degree of the Gu Huo Bird, facing the first bottleneck of Awakening Degree,¡± Yu Shu interrupted Li Yan, adding to his statement. Li Yan frowned and asked, ¡°Among the Sengoku Allied Army, is there anyone stronger than those two?¡± Yu Shu stared at Li Yan for a while. ¡°There is one.¡± ¡°Kill him for me, and we¡¯ll be even.¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Alright~¡± Yu Shu nodded her head, seemingly amused, and asked, ¡°This incident in Yan Fu is so challenging, and you barely survived what was essentially my fault; why let me off the hook for your favor so easily?¡± Li Yan grinned, not caring even as the smile pulled at his wounds. ¡°You expect me to cling to your leg and beg you to help me lie down and fight the Warlords of Sengoku?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a possibility.¡± Yu Shu¡¯s expression was calm as she looked straight at Li Yan, cing her little finger on the edge of his cracked lips. ¡°Consider following me from now on?¡± Li Yan shifted back, raising his eyebrows and looking at Yu Shu with a shrug of his shoulders. ¡°Red Ghost follows you because he wants you. I don¡¯t have that thought.¡± Yu Shu¡¯s eyebrows sank, but she did nothing, only lowering her head with a chuckle. ¡°So be it then.¡± Li Yan left the tent with faltering steps, without another word. ¡°Why not leave? Having killed Konishi and Hidetada, your evaluation in the Yan Fu incident is definitely above ¡®Upper Auspicious¡¯. Staying here means a narrow escape from death; are you aiming for the ¡®Great Auspicious¡¯, or are you eyeing Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s Kachiten?¡± Li Yan paused in his step. ¡°Consider it all if you will, but it doesn¡¯t really matter.¡± Li Yan looked up at the outside of the tent, his throat quivering, ¡°I haven¡¯t had many friends in the first half of my life, and there are still a few left. But it¡¯s difficult to speak of life-and-death matters lightly in this chaotic world. Yet here, over two hundred people entrusted their lives to me, willing to charge forward at the draw of a sword, sincerely calling me ¡®Lord of the Banner¡¯.¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes reddened at that moment with his back turned, the fallen corpse of Deng Tianxiong seeming to emerge before his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t need guns or evaluations; all I want now is to kill all those bastards.¡± ¡­ ¡°Lord Governor, General Li would like to see you.¡± There were many in the Ming Army named General Li, but when it came to the name General Li at this moment, there was absolutely no mistaking it. ¡°Let him in.¡± Li Rusong had not closed his eyes for a day and a night, but he remained vigorous; not a trace of the loss of his nephew or fatigue showed on this man. His regard for Li Yan had been continuously elevated, and after that night, he even thought this general could be ennobled. Li Yan entered as told. Li Rusong looked up, but there was a momentary daze in his expression. The man before him was clearly severely wounded, his body wrapped in bulky bandages exuding a strong medicinal smell. His face was deathly pale, his eyes sunken, his skin clinging to his bones, yet he did not exhibit any signs of dejection or loss of will. It was as if all his vitality had sunk into his bones, giving his tall and lean frame an oddly intense presence. Li Rusong was struck by the term ¡®zing skeleton¡¯. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Li Rusong was sparing with words. Only those familiar with him knew that he only took on such a demeanor when facing people close to him, like Shen Heyan. ¡°This subordinate would like to request something of Lord Governor.¡± ¡­ Overnight, the torrential rain had washed away the snow, leaving muddy slush strewn across the mountain paths. The woods were a murky mess, no longer pristine as before. ¡°To die at twenty-four, my damned elder brother truly had a hard life,¡± Hidetada Osho, or Nen Enman as he used to be called, looked up at the scattered corpses and the cloven deer antlers on the hillside while tearing at the dried saury in his hands. ¡°No, Nen.¡± The man who spoke was d in ck and red armor, with a red-faced countenance, a bald head, with only two tufts of ck hair on his temples, The founder of the Ise-Kuwana Domain, Honda Tadakatsu, is a descendant of the Honda family¡¯s first generation. He has been known as ¡°Ghost Hachiro,¡± ¡°Mikawa Flying General,¡± and ¡°Japan¡¯s Zhang Fei.¡± This year, at forty-four years of age, Honda Tadakatsu is a battle-hardened veteran, his prowess arguably at its zenith. Perhaps in a year or two, or maybe after three or four years, he would struggle to wield his beloved Kachiten, but at least now, the de ¡°unscathed in battle¡± is no exaggeration. ¡°The death of Masasuke weighs heavily upon me. We only had our eyes set on the main Ming forces by the Datong River and underestimated that mysterious army that appeared out of nowhere.¡± Honda Tadakatsu said. ¡°Ah, I had such concerns earlier, but I did not expect the Ming to act so swiftly. Nevertheless, you managed to defeat that troop, did you not?¡± Honda lightly stroked the bandages on his stomach, the fierce expression of the young Ming soldier who had thrown a Fire Thunder straight at him still lingering in his mind. He said with a wry smile, ¡°But at the cost of our squadron¡¯smander.¡± ¡°Old brother Ghost was only the nominal leader.¡± Nen Enman dismissed it, ¡°You, old uncle Honda, are the backbone of the allied forces, even the unruly Muneshige would admit that.¡± ¡°Although we didn¡¯t recover the bodies, those monsters have been greatly weakened and won¡¯t be able to y a significant role in the uing siege. You must realize that if such a troop were to charge, our men would have had a hard time holding them back; we could have lost our advantageous position for nothing. But now, the deciding power is still in our hands.¡± Nen Enman scooped up some snowkes, feeling their coarse hardness. ¡°Using the Ming governor as bait, we¡¯ll annihte the Ming reinforcements.¡± ¡­ Swords, spears, sabers, halberds stood arrayed like a forest, and the rumbling of chariot wheels marched alongside fluttering banners. Countless Ming soldiers surged over the horizon. ¡°Lord Gaogong, youe from the Heavenly Master Tao on Dragon Tiger Mountain and are adept at divination. Are you sure there won¡¯t be another downpour within the next three days?¡± Yi Yu rolled his eyes upon hearing this, his tone sarcastic, ¡°When the sky shows the scales of carp, there¡¯s no need to turn the grain in the sun the next day. Do you still need to ask me that?¡± Yang Yuan nodded upon hearing the reply and said to the Ming generals around him, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s do it tonight. Our army will strike from the nk of the allied forces, with the heavy cavalry leading the way, bow riders and Bandang Cavalry (firearm-wielding cavalry from Liaodong Town)unching a cover attack. Like a swarm of bees in the night, we do not seek to inflict many casualties, only to make sure Lord Governor sees our coordinated attack with forces inside and outside, breaking the Japanese forces!¡± He paused, then continued. ¡°In the current situation, we urgently need an elite cavalry to rush to the aid, to be the first to break through the enemy lines. Among the Japanese pirates, there will surely be those knowledgeable in warfare. If I were them, I would most definitely set up an ambush on the way. It is an obvious trap that we must break through. The Daimyo Allied Army is in dire straits, with an urgent march and no supplies, their situation no less severe than ours. Now, only a battle fought with the readiness to die will prevail. Which general is willing to lead this charge?¡± There was nock of courageous and generous generals present, many of whom were direct descendants of the family of Li Rusong. With Li Rusong trapped, they were eager to fly to his aid, but at that moment, all eyes turned toward one person at the edge of the group. He wore a red, round-top hat and mountain-patterned armor that gleamed on his bronze-armored shoulders. Over his shoulder, he carried a nine-foot-long red Great Banner, and his expression was cold and grim. The vanguardmander of the Right Army, Song Yi, volunteered for battle. Yang Yuan was silent for a while, ¡°I do not doubt the bravery of Commander Song, but the elite of your vanguard are currently besieged. With only a few dozen cavalry under yourmand, the task would be too great.¡± Song Yi nted the Great Banner into the ground and stepped forward from the crowd. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the generals, whose expressions varied. ¡°Gentlemen¡­¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om He swallowed hard before continuing: ¡°My fellow brothers in arms, I have been brash and arrogant, disregarding everyone in my past interactions.¡± He paused, then spoke much more fluently. ¡°Please do not take my immature words to heart. Here, I offer my apologies to everyone.¡± With that, he bowed deeply regardless of his armor. Yang Yuan opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, remained silent. ¡°Theplications of this situation are clear to everyone. Brothers, I earnestly request¡­ to borrow two thousand cavalry for the Right Army.¡± Song Yi spoke very slowly, word by word: ¡°I am prepared for death in this battle and seek no credit or reward, which should be given to the brother who lends the troops. You all hear me clearly and can bear witness. I am entrusting this to you all.¡± He bowed again, his voice growing louder, ¡°I implore you, my brothers!¡± Silence. After a prolonged silence, a voice finally broke through. ¡°You say you seek no credit or reward, heh, in the end, Commander Song, isn¡¯t that because you look down on us? Do you think we¡¯re after your credit and reward?¡± Song Yi quickly added, ¡°I have no such intention.¡± The person stepped forward, his voice also loud. ¡°Credit and reward should go to whom they are due. We haven¡¯t stooped so low as to covet the achievements of others. I have issues with you, but the debt owed to General Shen, who fell at the hands of the Japanese pirates, won¡¯t be left unsettled by any of us. I¡¯ll lend two thousand cavalry, but it is for General Shen, not for you. Please cease mentioning rewards and credit.¡± Liu Kang, the Guerri Warfare Commander from Baoding, also spoke, ¡°The Japanese pirates pose a great threat; two thousand men might not be enough. Baoding Prefecture is an important military horse supply. I have a thousand horsemen with copper and iron armor at my disposal, which I will give to Commander Song.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have cavalry, but I do have a few hundred sets of chainmail. If Commander Song finds them useful, take them. Since you¡¯ve called us brothers, I¡¯ll ignore those nonsensical words you said afterwards.¡± A scar-faced staff officer said as much. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only fair.¡± After the silence was broken, approval grew louder. Song Yi clenched his fists and, moved by the stirring sentiment among the generals, found himself choked up and could only offer a salute with his fists sped. ¡°Thank you, my brothers!¡± Chapter 86 - 39 East-West Confrontation Chapter 86: Chapter 39 East-West Confrontation ¡°` That night. ¡°Dong~ Dong~ Dong~¡± The sonorous sounds of the watch drums echoed, Song Yi mounted his horse, the shing of armor tes from the Great Ming cavalry behind him melded into a continuous din, long tassels hung from their helmets, deep red as blood. Song Yi looked straight ahead, casually touching the armor on his abdomen. The gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear on his Desheng Hook nted forward menacingly. Raising both hands, he tied the red Great Banner to the Tiger Head Spear. This spear was an ancient relic, over three meters in length with a gilded tiger head at its tip, its maw clutching the de, and ¡°Siji¡± engraved at the base of its shaft, the entirety gleaming with the luster of white gold. With a flick of the reins, he spurred his horse forward, galloping off with a surge of mounted soldiers closely following behind, making the ck earth beneath them shudder. The point of the teal iron spearhead was aimed directly at the howling Japanese Allied Forces. ¡­ The nging sounds of battle and cries had ceased for some time, dozens of damaged Ming Army nk chariotsy scattered and tilted at the foot of the mountain. The battlefield fell silent, save for the pping wings of crows with bloodshot eyes. The looped and tied nk chariots on the slope were stained with blood, and the bamboo spikes and iron caltrops in the ditches were overwhelmed by corpses, the inquiries and spear gaps choked by blurred flesh and blood. The Ming soldiers holding their spears leaned against the chariots with the pungent scent of blood for a make-do nap, relishing in the rare moments of rest. ¡°Ssh ssh ssh~¡± The water in the bronze basin churned, wafts of steam billowing up. Luo Shangzhi sat on the ground with a thump, trembling as he removed his spattered cuirass, the slightest lift of his arms consuming immense effort. He pinched a piece of apricot-yellow talisman paper between his fingertips and gave it a flick. The talisman paper rapidly disintegrated to ash, and Luo Shangzhi¡¯s expression visibly brightened. He gazed towards the enemy¡¯s formation, a bitter smile on his face. ¡°How many charges have we made?¡± ¡°Five.¡± The deputy next to him tossed his blood-soaked towel into the copper basin where the bloodstains rapidly spread. He answered, ¡°Why not let General Wu Weizhong take over?¡± ¡°That old guy is too timid, he¡¯s no good in a fight.¡± Luo Shangzhi grabbed a warm towel to wipe his face and seemed to remember something. ¡°What about the crew under that General Li¡¯smand?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, the Governor seems to have other ns for them, using all of the high-quality talismans from Heavenly Master Tao that Yi Gaogong sent on those men.¡± The deputy spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°I heard that General Li entered the Lord Governor¡¯s tent, and it was more than half an hour before he came out. After that, no one knew what they were up to.¡± ¡°If he manages to break through, I¡¯d actually be happy about it.¡± Luo Shangzhi licked his lips, a look of worry in his eyes. Most of the loop-tied nk chariots had been severely damaged, and the deer fences were almostpletely destroyed. Li Rusong had arranged the nk chariots into a war formation, turning field battle into a siege. The Allied Forces conducted severalrge-scale encirclements but could not prate the Ming chariot formation. Still, the Ming had lost over three thousand soldiers, and the cavalry, ever more critical for a breakthrough, were dwindling, making it increasingly difficult to counter the next assault. The Allied Forces¡¯ charge horn sounded once again, amongst a myriad of family banners, iron cavalry, musketeer squads, archers, and pikemen,yer uponyer. The Ashigaru generals Awazan Gangchang, Oda Hiroshi, and Dashin Nobuyasu all took to the field together, with Tachibana Muneshige leading the team¡ªa few thousand from the Daimyo Allied Army pressed on. ¡°The battle chariot formation of Ming Country has nearly fallen apart. This will be ourst charge!¡± Tachibana Muneshige, holding a Hatsuyuki Samurai Sword, with a Mugamae Rib Stand Helmet on his head, wearing a dark blue Feather cloak, his eyes sharp, shouted loudly. It is worth mentioning that this peer of Honda Tadakatsu, known as the unmatched warrior of the Western countries, was only twenty-five years old this year, the same age as Li Yan. Watching as the Allied Forces surged forward once more, Luo Shangzhi gritted his teeth. ¡°An Qingguo, apany me for one more charge.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The deputy An Qingguo nodded in agreement. Suddenly, amidst the night, a ze erupted, and the resounding booms of gunpowder explosions reached them, causingmotion at the rear of the Japanese pirates¡¯ formation. ¡°The reinforcements led by Yang Yuan are here!¡± Luo Shangzhi sprang to his feet, just as he unsheathed his long sword, themand from Li Rusong arrived. ¡°Everyone, break through!¡± Tachibana Muneshige turned with a sudden start, his face dark yet not at all surprised. He turned, drawing the renowned de Hatsuyuki, and shouted at the top of his lungs: ¡°Charge!¡± As the two armies shed, flesh and steel collided. Tachibana Muneshige plunged into the crowd, shing all around him when a de with a greenish edge hurtled toward him head-on! ¡­ In the spacious mountain path, Song Yi¡¯s warhorse thundered beneath him, and before himy a ck cavalry defense line of the Japanese Allied Forces! ¡°` ¡°` The six foremost Sengoku cavalry generals brandished the heraldry of Hidetada on their backs, a paulownia-crested banner fixed firmly behind them. Foreheads were wrapped with white headbands, their eyes locked on the Ming cavalry, brimming with a tragic and furious intensity. Inoue Kunie, Kuriyama Toshiyasu, Hidetada Kazunari, Hidetada Toshiaka, Rize, Naoyuki. The renowned warlords of the Hidetada Eight Tigers had suffered, with two perishing in the rainy night sh against Li Yan¡¯s forces and the Five n Coalition, one in by Li Yan from horseback, another pierced through by the tongue of Jin Yanwa. The remaining six were all here. Song Yi, silent, plucked the Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear from his back while galloping, flipping his arm, pointing the spear tip directly at the oing iron tide. ¡°That man looks familiar to me.¡± Perched high, Priest Nen Enman looked down at the torrential flow of the Great Ming¡¯s iron cavalry weaving through the mountain pass, his gaze settling on the leader carrying a white-gold spear. Memories surfaced, his heart sinking abruptly. He loudly inquired to Honda at his side. ¡°Lord Honda, has that Highness already taken to the field?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Honda Tadakatsu nodded, a smile appearing on his face: ¡°When Ming Country¡¯s Governor thinks reinforcements are near and prepares to emerge from his iron shell, he will have no inkling of the kind of demon gods he will face.¡± ¡°Is that so? What a pity.¡± Priest Nen Enman¡¯s expression darkened for a moment, but remembering the chance to y the Ming Army¡¯s Commissioner, he realized nothing was more important, sighing.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°Lord Honda, I fear he can only be taken down by you.¡± ¡°What is it, you know that leading Ming man?¡± A jolt shot through Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s heart. ¡°Glimpsed him from afar.¡± Priest Nen Enman recalled the day when the Ming Army breached Pyongyang. He, as a monk intent on killing Yi Yu of the Heavenly Master Tao, had roamed the city and witnessed a scene that he could never forget¡ªa seemingly endless tide of monstrous ghosts that even he, a professional exorcist, couldn¡¯t withstand. Amidst the ck tide, a nine-foot Great Banner furiously waved, and within that mass, a blood-sttered white-gold spear danced violently. ¡°Ha, I had thought that with such a grievous wound, even if he didn¡¯t perish at the hands of those monsters, he¡¯d be unable to partake in the ensuing battles. How relieved I was not to see this man on the Datong River. The likes of the Hidetada Eight Tigers stand no chance against him.¡± The spear tip abruptly erged before his eyes, and Inoue Kunie¡¯s body was sent flying backwards. The horse beneath him whinnied in anguish as Hidetada Toshiaka and Rize watched with bulging eyes, a streak of blood floating past them. The remaining five tigers roared in fury, their sharpnces thrusting towards the Ming general d in bronze, wearing a Devouring de shoulder piece. The blood-red plume swayed gracefully as blood speckled Song Yi¡¯s cheek. He had in a general first, his gaze remaining remarkably calm. His Tiger Head Great Spear swept horizontally, tracing a white-gold arc across Hidetada Toshiaka¡¯s throat, flesh scattering as Toshiaka tumbled from his horse. Meanwhile, severalnces remained at least a foot away from Song Yi. Two iron streams shed in the valley¡ªone horizontal, one vertical. The teal and ck horsemen intermingled in disarray, the Ming¡¯s ck dragon cavalry and the paulownia-crested banners dancing together. Rize was both shocked and enraged. Any of these men would have been renowned generals amid the chaos of domestic war, let alone the Renchen War, where few could rival them. Six men joined forces, and even that highness from before may not go down without a fight. Yet just one charge, merely the span of three or four breaths, resulted in two falling by the hand of this Ming figure. Song Yi seemed blind to the deaths of these cavalry generals. His spear lunged forwards swiftly¡ªhis duty was to carve a path, these Japanese pirates were for the numerous following Ming soldiers to deal with. ¡°Release arrows!¡± Someone roared themand, and a tidal wave of arrows sshed against him. Song Yi lifted his Tiger Head Great Spear, the thin red Great Banner upon it gathering up¡ªimpossibly, the arrows couldn¡¯t prate! Four tiger generals, infuriated by Song Yi¡¯s disregard, spurred their horses forward. Song Yi¡¯s shoulders shook. The white-gold Tiger Head Great Spear twirled among several longnces. A continuous shing of weapons wove into a single thread, five long poles entangled, dazzling to the eye. ¡°Boom~¡± Consecutive shattering sounds resonated¡ªthe fragments of broken arms flew, and under the astonished gaze of the cavalry generals, the Tiger Head Great Spear¡¯s blossoms shook, four ck blood flowers burst open one after another on the heads of the Hidetada tiger generals. Song Yi¡¯s legs gripped his horse¡¯s belly, evading ance that came shing diagonally. His focus was now on the Japanese general in front of him, helmet adorned with deer antlers and a red demon mask, and the peerlessly sharp cross spear. Kachiten. ¡­ ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s tone was filled with shock and anger. On the battlefield where swords, bows, and gunpowder flew, two riders faced each other. Li Yan, d in mountain-patterned armor, seemed unfazed by his injuries as he rode, his helmet¡¯s fringe fluttering. ¡°Where are those monsters of yours?¡± Tachibana Muneshige sneered coldly. ¡°#£¤%*@&?¡± Li Yan disregarded him, facing the sword named Hatsuyuki Samurai Sword. His own sword was drawn horizontally. The de shimmered green, buzzing softly. Li Rusong¡¯s sword, named Biyuan. ¡°` Chapter 87 - 40 Breakthrough "10 Cities Chapter 87: Chapter 40 Breakthrough ¡°10 Cities ¡°` A drop of ck blood from nowhere fell on Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s neck. Li Yan, armored and sharp, held the green-tinged Biyuan Sword and the pristine Hatsuyuki Sword, which reflected each other¡¯s brilliance. The two confronted each other for a short while¡­ Clouds spread and rolled away, iron horses crossed frozen rivers. Legendary Sword Biyuan Category: Weapon Quality: Rare Sharpness: 40 (Ordinary weapons are below 10 by default) Inherent Attribute: Green Wave (3% attack power transferred into true damage) To eliminate traitors for the country, to employ strategy and bait¡ªno great deed can be done without significant benefit! Note: This was the treasured sword given to Li Chengliang by a Great Ming general before his death. For some reason, Li Chengliang never talked about the true owner of the sword. ¡°It doesn¡¯t fit my hand well, but its attributes suit me,¡± Li Yan said. Compared to Ring Dragon, Biyuan was a lot lighter, and it was natural for Li Yan, who was ustomed to heavy swords, not to favor it. However, the true damage from Green Wave, coupled with Blood Dip, was like adding wings to a tiger for him. At first, Tachibana Muneshige was extremely surprised by Li Yan¡¯s appearance, but he quickly regained hisposure. That night, this Ming person had been stabbed in the chest and seriously injured, but considering the Heavenly Master Tao of Ming Country, under potent medicine, it was possible for him to recover in a short time. But the damage to the powerful and strange Wild God Team could not be replenished. Just one person from Ming wouldn¡¯t have too much impact on the situation. It would also serve as revenge for an arrow¡¯s grudge! For Li Yan, the painstakingly formed team had been greatly damaged; over a hundred brothers who entrusted their lives to him were killed or maimed, and his heart was filled with murderous intent. Yet, for the young and spirited Tachibana Muneshige, to have hismanders killed in front of him one after another was a disgrace of the highest order. Wearing a sky-blue Feather cloak, Tachibana roared, and his warhorse¡¯s hooves thundered. With a ¡°Tang Zhu¡± move, the Hatsuyuki Sword came chopping down. Li Yan gripped the treasured sword with four fingers, ignoring the iing de, and thrust the main frame of hisbat sword towards Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s throat with a heavy, ruthless style. Tachibana was startled and instinctively drew his sword to block. Thetter half of the Hatsuyuki Sword collided with the tip of the Biyuan Sword. Li Yan held his wrist steady and charged forward with the help of his horse¡¯s power. Sparks flew as the Biyuan Sword slid against the Hatsuyuki Sword, erging before Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s eyes. As the swords shed and rubbed against each other, the horses passed by. The clinging sound of Hatsuyuki and Green Wave resonated incessantly. Biyuan sessively cut through the Feather cloak and armor, leaving a deep wound on Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s shoulder. It is worth mentioning that blood and dark energy entangled in Tachibana¡¯s wound for a while before gradually dissipating. Taking advantage of the situation, Li Yan reined in his horse and turned back toward Tachibana Muneshige. A warrior with the Giou guardian emblem on his back saw his chance, primed the gunpowder, hooked the chamber all in one breath, and without even aiming at Li Yan, a stray arrow pierced through his neck. The warrior¡¯s eyes widened, blood frothed from his mouth, his body nted as the Matchlock Gun red, the bullet flying off to who knows where. Ming Cavalry and the Japanese pirate vanguard entangled in pairs. Spears and arrows were stained with blood, and from time to time, someone fell from their horse. Others, pierced by several wounds, cried out in pain but did not die, helplessly watching horseshoes the size of bowls continue to fall¡­ Name: Tachibana Muneshige (Takahashi Mora) Official Position: Junior Fourth Rank Lower Left Guard Monitor (High-ranking Daimyo¡¯s Ghostly Power) ¡°` Status: Sessor of the Daimyo (protected by Demonic Strength, all damage reduced by 15%, harm caused by walking through Yan Fu is reduced by 30%) Specialization: 89% in the Ancient Martial Arts of Dongying (Takahashi n Battle Sword Skill) Active Techniques: Great Iai sh, Lesser Iai sh, Flying Horsen/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Passive Technique: Nirvana plete recovery from near fatal injury without side effects, consumes all Demonic Strength, temporarily loses the Sessor of the Daimyo state) Sword Gun Tooth (apanying the Hatsuyuki Sword): Each time weapons sh, a judgment is made, and upon a sessful judgment, inflicts intense damage on the opposing weapon with a lower sharpness value, the extent of the damage depends on the difference in sharpness between the two weapons (Kachiten is the same as the Gun Lance Fang, with corresponding properties) Remark: Tachibana Muneshige was originally part of the Takahashi n before he seeded his father-inw, Tachibana Michiyuki, bing the head of the Tachibana family. With his astonishing talent, he achieved a level of swordsmanship equal to the older generation of famous warlords, prompting Toyotomi Hideyoshi to exim him as unmatched in the western countries Threat Level: Purple-Red (capable of matching the ultimate) Overall Evaluation: Ten Cities level! (Deputy) ¡°This madman!¡± Tachibana Muneshige nced at the wound on his shoulder, ¡°Does he want us to perish together?¡± He sneered coldly, lifted his head to meet Li Yan¡¯s indifferent gaze, and suddenly felt a chill in his heart. That look was not at all like that of a desperado who had lost his reason. It was more like a tiger from the northeast, lying in wait among the snow-capped mountains for its prey Li Yan¡¯s Biyuan Sword pointed straight at Tachibana Muneshige. His intent to kill was unmistakable ¡°He¡¯s sure that I don¡¯t dare to fight to the death,¡± Tachibana Muneshige thought somewhat embarrassingly That day, Li Yan rode fast through a downpour, challenging several Japanese warriors, but was pierced through the chest by three thrusts from Honda Tadakatsu. Tachibana Muneshige believed himself to be no less than that unrivaled swordmaster from the east, and naturally did not take this man from Great Ming very seriously. Yet, within a short exchange, it was he who suffered a slight disadvantage This was not a gap that could be bridged by a mere weapon Tachibana Muneshige took a deep breath, summoning up all his focus What he did not know was that, when Li Yan had awakened from critical injuries and sought a sword at Li Rusong¡¯s camp, Li Yan¡¯s specialization in Ancient Martial Arts had already increased from 89%+4% to 93%! Peak breakthrough! At that moment, Li Yan clearly heard two sentences from a pleasant female voice ¡°Regrettably, this breakthrough in specialization did not awaken the personal talent of the Esteemed Walker. Please continue to strive.¡± ¡°Your overall strength has been evaluated to be at the Ten Cities level, but since a considerable part of ites from an external force (the Biyuan Sword), you do not qualify to apply for the Ten Cities level Walker review.¡± At this moment, Li Yan, despite the Gu Huo Bird not reaching the typical Awakening Degree of 39% required for a Ten Cities level Esteemed Walker, still reached a ¡°Ten Cities¡± levelparable to Tachibana Muneshige, relying on his high 93% specialization in Ancient Martial Arts and the Biyuan Sword Li Yan turned his horse around and charged unremittingly at Tachibana Muneshige. Despite Tachibana¡¯s youth, he was seasoned in battle and did not spur his horse forward. Instead, he stared at the falling Biyuan Sword in Li Yan¡¯s hands. Leaning back on his horse, he swung the Hatsuyuki Samurai Sword in an upward nt, chopping at Li Yan¡¯s hand. As Li Yan raised his hand to dodge the de, Tachibana fiercely tightened his legs around his horse¡¯s midsection and forcefully arched upwards from his waist. The Hatsuyuki Sword naturally thrust toward Li Yan¡¯s chest! ¡°Not good!¡± The sinking feeling in his heart was not Li Yan¡¯s, but Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s. As he rose up in his signature thrust, what should have been a proud improvisation turned sour. Li Yan, who appeared forced to raise his hand under pressure, simply flipped his wrist gracefully. The Biyuan Sword drew an arc, its tip pointing upwards, radiating cold light. It was as though Tachibana Muneshige had thrown himself upon Li Yan¡¯s sword! Chapter 88 - 41: The Strangulation of the West Chapter 88: Chapter 41: The Strangtion of the West Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s heart hardened, and he tilted his head to let the Biyuan Sword pierce his own left corbone as the First Snow continued to head straight for Li Yan¡¯s chest. As the two horses intertwined, Li Yan released the reins, leaned to avoid the long sword, and at the moment his mount caught up to Tachibana¡¯s horse¡¯s tail, he suddenly reached out to pull out the Biyuan Sword, carving arge gash from Tachibana¡¯s left shoulder. The flickering green light and the ck Daimyo¡¯s Ghostly Power swirled over Tachibana¡¯s wound for a moment before vanishing. Having been bested in their two exchanges, Tachibana Muneshige, in a frenzy, swung his First Snow broadly to drive Li Yan back, then turned his horse to press the attack! The two horses tangled fiercely. Swords and sabers on horseback thrusted, picked, poked, knocked, spun, and shook, with First Snow and Biyuan nging continuously in the air. The murky mix of yellow-white snow and mud sttered everywhere under the stomping of eight restless hooves, and Tachibana Muneshige bit his lip, feinting with his sword before he turned his horse to flee. Throughout, Li Yan maintained an expressionless face. Seeing Tachibana retreat, a fierce light filled his eyes. His horse¡¯s eyes turned red, snorted loudly, and joyfully chased after Tachibana. However, just as Li Yan¡¯s horse was about to close in on Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s back, a chill suddenly ran through Li Yan¡¯s heart. ck ripples spread across the battlefield, and Tachibana Muneshigey t on his horse, a brilliant arc of sword light emerged, and ck ripples burst forth. The Iai sh! The Biyuan Sword struck straight down, and the drop of blood on Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s neck deepened into a bewitching allure. Detonating voluntarily, Blood Dip! ¡°Pfft~¡± Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s eyes and nose burst withrge globs of ck blood, and he coughed up mouthfuls of blood foam before he cked out and fell from his horse. ¡°You have triggered Blood Dip, causing additional damage of 132%. Hook Star status is temporarily gone,sting for 14 hours.¡± Elsewhere, a pir of blood shot into the sky; a horse¡¯s head tumbled through the air, the horse slumped to the ground with a thud, plowed forward more than two meters, tossing Li Yan from its back! Li Yan rolled twice on the ground to dissipate the force, and as hey there, the venomous-eyed Japanese cavalry took the opportunity to spear him! At least six spears jabbed savagely toward Li Yan! The repeated thuds of spears striking the ground rang out, and as the snow and mud sshed around, the spears all grazed off Li Yan¡¯s armor. In a short time, as the rolling Li Yan lost momentum, several experienced Japanese cavalry shouted out, thrusting their spears. Li Yan performed a Swallow Scooping Water maneuver, and with the Biyuan Sword whistling as it spun, several spearheads were sent flying. One Japanese was caught by a sh and, losing his bnce from the force, fell from his horse, his body was cut in half midair by Li Yan, spilling blood and steaming viscera onto the ground. Li Yan staggered back a couple of steps, blood pouring from his belly, where a twenty-centimeter-long wound looked ferocious and ghastly, like the gaping maw of a ferocious beast. Had it not been for Blood Dip detonating and altering the sword¡¯s trajectory, that Iai sh might have cut Li Yan and his horse in two. Without his horse, Li Yan parried a cavalryman¡¯s saber with his longsword and looked up at Tachibana Muneshige. At this moment, Tachibana was falling off his horse, and a thick ck aura suddenly enveloped him. Several Ming cavalrymen also saw an opportunity and stabbed continuously at the ck air, producing a series of metallic ngs, to little effect. Suddenly, Tachibana Muneshige rolled out from the ck mist, his Feather cloak in disarray, with no sign of his helmet, but he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, appearing spirited and vigorous. Nirvana! Li Yan avoided the sweeping saber of a Japanese cavalryman, and a Ming cavalryman charged and stabbed the Japanese in the chest. As swords and spears shed, the two horses became entangled and paid no further attention to Li Yan, still standing. Li Yan shook the blood and flesh off the Biyuan Sword, seemingly oblivious to the wound in his abdomen, and faced the also dismounted Tachibana Muneshige, exuding intense murderous intent. Just kill him one more time. Despite his ragged appearance, Tachibana Muneshige wasn¡¯t particrly panicked. He tore off his shredded feather cloak and, facing Li Yan, shed a cold smile as he pointed in the direction of the Ming Army¡¯s formation. Li Yan¡¯s eyes flicked to the side and, suddenly, a fierce roar of battle cries rose. A group of about two hundred armored Japanese troops charged into the Ming Army¡¯s formation, puncturing several holes in their ranks in an instant. Some cavalry even drew near to the core of the Ming Army¡¯s position. These men wore helmets adorned with gold foil in a unique peach shape. Both cavalry and infantry formed their ranks, their ferocity hard to withstand. They were special forces with an enhanced status, the Western Army. Tachibana Muneshigeughed heartily, ¡°Men of Great Ming, war is not something that can be decided by the bravery of a single person.¡± In the gaps of the vehicle formation, Luo Shangzhi led a contingent of cavalry in four or five columns, carrying the Dragon g of Great Ming as they charged forth! They too were special forces with enhanced status, from the Shenji Camp in Kyoto. But Li Yan¡¯s heart sank even further. The Ji Town Soldiers and the Shenji Camp were among Li Rusong¡¯s most elite troops, and they wouldn¡¯t fear Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s Western Army. However, after battling fiercely for a full day and night, suffering heavy casualties, utterly exhausted, and with Luo Shangzhi himself having blunted two des, facing the freshly reorganized and ferocious Western Army was a cause for concern. But at this moment in battle, would Li Rusong not be prepared? Brief cries of ¡°Look!¡± ¡°Destroy!¡± echoed asmands. A swarm of dark, cube-shaped objects flew through the air. The Western Army, in the midst of their momentum, paid them little attention. Some raised their cane shields to block them, some even tried to push them aside with their long spears.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om But there were some among the Western Army who had charged ahead during the previous night¡¯s brutal battle; they felt a chill around their necks, reined in their horses, and desperately tried to flee. On one side, Tachibana Muneshige was also scared out of his wits, for he had personally seen Li Yan pull out a few of these round, ck objects and hurl them at Honda Tadakatsu, who was close at hand¡­ and he vividly remembered Honda¡¯s horse that was sted into a sieve. These objects were certainly not grenades, but firearms from the Shenji Camp¡¯s charioteers. Poisonous Fire Skrks. This was the same Poison Fire Cannon described in the ¡°Military Preparedness Treatise,¡± which used hedges to encase the gunpowder, pasted over with dozens ofyers of paper, with poison-dipped iron caltrops hidden in the hollow interior. Fired with the wind, they could reach hundreds of meters. Irregrly shaped chunks nged onto cane shields, and with a sizzle, the gunpowder exploded. The poisoned iron caltrops spread out in a fan shape, enveloping a portion of the Western Army. The cavaliers who had carelessly tried to swat them away with their spears got a face full of caltrops and looked horrifically disfigured. These firearms were among the few remaining supplies Li Rusong had after the torrential rain, now revealed, instantly causing chaos within the allied forces. After the bombardment by the cannons, infantry and cavalry burst forth. A bright redmanding g stood in the distance; Li Rusong, in full armor, rode a spirited horse with hooves shing white, positioned in the central army, pointing his sword at the Daimyo Allied Army. The drums and gongs of each camp sounded loudly, with Shenji Camp¡¯s Centurion Luo Shangzhi, Deputy Commander An Qingguo, Chief Military Officer Zhang Jie from Xuanfu, Chief Military Officer Fang Shihui from Ji Town, Staff Officer Wu Weizhong, Staff Officer Zu Chengxun from Liaoyang Camp, Deputy Commander Li Fangchun¡­ The valiant generals were in full array, des and horses shing, as they plunged into the melee with the Daimyo Allied Army! The Ukita Faction and the forces of Tachibana and Ukita joined the fray, marking the grandmencement of this epic battle! Chapter 89 - 42 Ghost Rider and... Chapter 89: Chapter 42 Ghost Rider and¡­n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Xuanfu Gueri General Zhang Jie collided with a Japanese pirate general, both were surprised by the other¡¯s strength as they simultaneously eximed in astonishment. Former Tiqi Tiger Guard who specialized in collecting information about the Japanese pirates, Fang Shihui, who had considerable knowledge of the various Daimyos, shouted, ¡°Old Zhang, be careful! That Japanese brigand is called Shishi Renjiu, known as Shengmoli Zhitian, the top fierce general under Tachibana.¡± Zhang Jie sneered, ¡°Putting aside the skill of the Japanese, they really do have some resounding fancy names.¡± With those words, he spurred his horse forward to meet his opponent, his iron spear dancing wildly like a frenzied python. Fang Shihui turned his head to look at the Japanese major general in front of him, d in light armor with a Sun Moon Helmet. Ishida Mitsunari. One of the five Bugy¨­ of Toyotomi Hideyoshi¡¯s army, ¡°Haha, now this is a big fish, not as tough as Tachibana Muneshige, but unfortunately, those guys don¡¯t realize what they¡¯ve got,¡± he said with a smirk that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. Fang Shihui smiled insincerely. Wu Weizhong, who was nearly fifty but could still eat three bowls of rice in one meal, was sweating profusely. In front of him was a young man wearing a pale white patterned kimono and a white headband, missing his right arm. One of the Shinin-ryu Four Heavenly Kings, the eldest son of Liusheng but the Master of Tamba, Liusheng Chang. ¡°This little Jap is tough to handle, even with an arm missing,¡± he cursed. Above the battlefield rife with flying arrows, the situation became increasingly tense. ¡­ Li Yan tore apart a golden talisman paper to stop the bleeding from the wound on his lower abdomen. Xuan Nv Record Spirit Talisman: To create it requires half a moment of Dragon Tiger Qi and a piece of talisman paper. Usage has no cost It stops bleeding and promotes cirction; it¡¯s extremely effective at healing external injuries. Seeing Li Yan¡¯s actions, Tachibana Muneshige hurriedly advanced, but Li Yan stomped the ground and met him head on. Just as a mix of azure and white radiance flickered, A Goose Feather Sword was thrust in ntwise, causing Tachibana Muneshige to recoil in shock and swiftly retreat. Centurion Sun Shoulian of the Left Army Infantry battalion secured the ck sash around the handle of his great sword, biting it tightly with his teeth. The gleaming de of the great sword was ced horizontally across his chest as he stood along with Li Yan. Li Yan feigned an attack, nning to outnumber and overpower their enemy. However, Sun Shoulian stopped him with an outstretched hand. ¡°You go protect the Governor; I will deal with this Japanese,¡± he said. Li Yan scrutinized the new arrival with a Fleeting Glimpse, his face showing a mix of desire to speak and hesitation. The man touched Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, speaking urgently, ¡°Japanese pirates from the Western Army are quickly approaching the Lord Governor¡¯s side, their leader is incredibly fierce and no one in the army can stop him. The bravest under the Lord Governor is Song Yi, who carries the Great Banner, and since you¡¯re from the same martial school, you can¡¯t be much less. Hurry and go to the rescue!¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes shifted, as if remembering something important, and he promptly said to Sun Shoulian, ¡°General, it can¡¯t be done. Do not engage too deeply in the fight.¡± After speaking, he turned back and charged towards the direction of Li Rusong¡¯s battle array. Tachibana Muneshige saw Li Yan depart but his gaze flickered, and he didn¡¯t give chase. Sun Shoulian¡¯s fingers lightly touched the back of the sword, and suddenly, he lunged at Tachibana Muneshige with a powerful ¡°sh of Mount Hua¡±! Tachibana met the attacker, his sword collided with the Goose Feather Sword, and a grating sh rang out as a notch was chopped into the broad de by the first snowfall. Sun Shoulian didn¡¯t care; his Goose Feather Sword was thick, and its de could take the damage, making it perfect against the Japanese¡¯s sharp but thin-edged weapons. Unexpectedly, Tachibana withstood the strike, retreating quickly half a step, his shoulders flinging aside the Goose Feather Sword, and he counterattacked with an upward diagonal sh. It was a Reverse Cross-Cut! Sun Shoulian cried out in pain as his foot was severed by the sword, falling to the ground. Several Japanese swordsmen surged forward, their sharp des chopping down in session, and bright red blood flowed from the gaps between bodies¡­ ¡­ Left Army Deputy Commander Li Ning, in disbelief, clutched his chest, where blood sprayed from several wounds with each breath, pooling around his feet. He fell into the snow, half his face buried in the dirty snow, exposing one murky eye, while in front of himy the corpses of Ming Army soldiers who had died tragic deaths. Seeing Li Ning fall, the man shook off the flesh fragments from his ck single halberd in his left hand and urged his horse forward. Among the Western Army, d in a gold-foil peach-shaped helmet, this person stood out conspicuously. He was wrapped in ck armor with ck and white talisman papers attached all over, even covering his face securely. He wielded ck short halberds in both hands, and a putrid smell emanated from his armor. Others had various family crests on their banners, but only his featured two columns of three copper coins each. The gazes of those around were filled with horror, even his allies felt uneasy in his presence. To them, this person was the most fearsome demon, or perhaps¡­ Ghost Rider. As the Ghost Rider charged, there was an indescribable numbness in his eyes. My name¡­ seems to be Sanada Yukimura, I don¡¯t quite remember. When I willingly sacrificed my flesh tobat the demons on Kyushu Ind, all I remembered was the posthumous Buddhist title given to me by the monks: Great Light Hall Lord Temple Moon Mountain Heart-Transmitting Great Lay Priest. ¡­ The deep red wine gourd at his waist swung wildly, the ck jacket draped over his shoulders, and the white cor fluttered in the briny wind, making his pale neck appear exceptionally beautiful. ¡­ But it seems the opponent is just an ordinary human; what a frail lord. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, Ieyasu, heh, they¡¯re all unreliable. ¡­ ck leather shoes stepped into the murky slush, and she casually picked up a Goose Feather Sword, disdainfully flicking the blood off it. ¡­ The people before her charged recklessly towards her. Like ants rushing into me, several cannonballs hurtled toward her, feeling like mere irritations. Her armor was forged by several high priests with over five hundred units of Demonic Strength. As I shed casually, several heads flew over my head. I could feel the pulsing mes of life extinguished. ¡­ She stretchedzily, swinging the sword in her hand a few times and trying to hop on her feet, then leaped high, her azure jeans ringly bright. ¡­ I really don¡¯t want to kill; it¡¯s meaningless. Why don¡¯t they understand? If we don¡¯t exterminate those demons, when the Daimyo¡¯s Ghostly Power suppressing the nation¡¯s fortune runs out, it will be the disaster that could destroy the country or even the world. Even if we flee elsewhere, what then~ ¡°ng!!!!!!¡± The ck armor shattered into fragments in an instant, and a piece of ck withered arm flew through the air, not a drop of blood in sight. The ck single halberd spun through the air,nding with a thud into the ground. The Ghost Rider was sent flying by a blow, his withered body tangled in heavy armor, rolling through the air, colliding with several warhorses, breaking their bones and muscles, until he finally came to a stop in front of a por tree. The Ghost Rider trembled, trying to stand, only to find his right arm gone. What caught the Ghost Rider¡¯s eye was a pair of slender ankles. ¡°Enjoying the inner monologue? If it¡¯s not satisfying enough, I can let you recite another poem, I know you guys enjoy that.¡± Yu Shu stepped forward two paces, holding a Goose Feather Sword she had picked up randomly. A ck and brown mixed jacket hung over her shoulders, and the white shirt beneath it bore scattered mud spots. ¡°Not reciting? Then let¡¯s finish this.¡± The long sword fell, and the armor crafted by the strength of five hundred units of Demonic Strength sliced apart as easily as tofu. The Ghost Rider, no, Sanada Yukimura looked up at the sky and slowly closed his eyes. Yu Shu threw away the long sword and looked up, locking eyes with the man rushing down the slope towards her. ¡°¡­¡± Li Yan, rushing over, cursed something under his breath, then turned and headed towards Li Rusong. Chapter 90 - 43: Profound (minor revision in this chapter) Chapter 90: Chapter 43: Profound (minor revision in this chapter) Priest Nen Enman¡¯s face was twisted in conflict as a pure ck Buddha bead in his hand cracked into several pieces. ¡°Who is that woman? Is she some powerful wild god lying hidden?¡± He withdrew his gaze and looked towards the battlefield below, fragmented into several parts. ¡°However, the fight isn¡¯t over.¡± ¡­ A stream of blood spattered out. Armed with a horsemen¡¯s de lent to him by Song Yi, Baoding Liangxin cut down a Japanese spearman and reined in his restive mount with all his might, although he struggled to keep the horse under control. ncing around, the sky was beginning to brighten with the predawn light, and everywhere unfamiliar banners fluttered. The vanguard cavalry of Song Yi had disappeared without a trace. The banners of various colors were wildly dancing in the wind¡ªthe Ming Army and the Japanese soldiers from various daimyo mixed together into utter chaos. ¡°How can there be so many people?¡± Liang Xin¡¯s heart was filled with shock and suspicion, but on the bloodstained battlefield where flesh and blood flew in all directions, there was no time to consider such things. He simply had to charge forward. The Daimyo Allied Army did not close the encirclement to intensify their efforts in eliminating Li Rusong¡¯s troops, who were desperately holding on at the center. Instead, they gathered about five thousand of the finest warriors from various families to form a charge led by Tachibana Muneshige, attempting to employ Rider Ghost Beheading tactics. As for the main force of the Allied Army, nearly twenty thousand strong, they extended along the route where Yang Yuan was rushing to provide assistance! The Hidetada cavalry line was just a facade¡ªonce Song Yi plunged directly into it as the tip of the spear, the grand army¡¯s attempt to press forward was met with a bloody resistance, and the casualties far exceeded Yang Yuan¡¯s initial expectations. The desperate resistance of the Japanese pirates made Yang Yuan even more certain that Li Rusong¡¯s position was precarious, leading both armies¡¯ main forces into a stalemate. The dark mountains and the mixed yellow and white ins converged. Tens of thousands of men tangled and killed each other there¡ªthe mass of people surged and roared, and their fighting spirit soared to the sky! Therge contingent of Ming infantry and cavalry, like a wedge thrust into the midst of the Japanese pirates, was surrounded by the encroaching Japanese. Despite the Japanese pirates¡¯ usual bravado, which should have put them at a disadvantage, the Ming Army burst forth with a terrifying morale no one had anticipated. Even as des and spears bore down on them, they fought fiercely with their weapons, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Yang Yuan, who should have beenmanding from the center, was now at the front lines. Arrows and iron bullets grazed dangerously close, but he was not concerned for himself and stayed close to an old man d in Mingguang armor, with a sword at his waist and white hair and beard. A deep blue g with a me pattern on the border disyed a prominent Song character. There was also an apricot-colored g with the Bagua pattern and a book-shaped knife emblem¡ªa symbol of Heavenly Master Tao. In between the two gs was a tall bright red banner with a leopard tail design, bearing the inscription ¡°Commander of the Three Armies¡±! In the Great Ming army, where red was supreme, the ¡°Imperial g¡± was decreed by the Wanli Emperor specifically for Song Yingchang and Yi Yu. Wherever the Imperial g pointed, it was as if the Wanli Emperor himself was present. This closely guarded elite force of five hundred soldiers was the reason why countless men in the Ming Army fought selflessly to the death. Song Yingchang¡¯s face was calm, undisturbed even by blood sttering onto it. Yi Yu¡¯s face was pale, his veins clearly visible. The most ferocious battle was taking ce right in front of him. Limbs and torsos were thrown about wildly. A lightly armored Japanese pirate, gutted, frantically tried to stuff his protruding intestines back into his abdominal cavity. The sight made Yi Yu¡¯s cheeks puff in and out. Yet he still managed topose himself, assuming an air of dignity. He gazed for a moment at Priest Nen Enman, who was looking over the battlefield from the hillside, and then, as if by tacit agreement, the two averted their eyes from each other. ¡°Brother, I am ready,¡± Fei said with serious expression on his tender face. He produced a handful of purple and gold talismans, Beidi Fengdu Capture Demon Thunder Talisman, Capital Nine Oscitions Divine Light Imperial Decree, Shangxiao Tongbao Purple Gold Nine Divine me Talisman¡­ Others might be unaware, but Yi Yu watched with trepidation, responding diplomatically, ¡°Hmm, just hold them steady.¡± He watched Priest Nen Enman peering at the battlefield and muttered to himself, ¡°So you¡¯re a Shinto priest from Shingon Shinto, eh? The snipe and m fight, while the fisherman benefits. We all rely on the National Destiny Dragon and Tiger Qi to make our livings, and we all understand the rules. If you don¡¯t act, neither will I. Let¡¯s not stir up any trouble¡­¡± ¡°Lord Hidetada, shall we not take action?¡± A courtdy guardian around eight or nine years old asked. Priest Nen Enman shook his head: ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± As the heir of Shingon Shinto, he indeed possessed methods that required a lengthy preparation time but could turn the battlefield into an Asura hell in an instant. The current standoff between the two armies provided the perfect opportunity. However, the presence of the young Taoist priest under the Heavenly Master Tao g made him anxious. If the priests of the two nations unleashed their powers, it would consume a vast amount of National Destiny Demonic Strength, Given the worsening domestic situation day by day, it was not appropriate to engage in a grand-scale magical duel. A few minor tricks might still be doable¡­ On the other side, Yi Yu, scrutinizing the battlefield, suddenly eximed. Thunderous booms sounded like thunderps; the Japanese iron gun troops were specifically targeting the Ming soldiers with shields, avoiding the cavalry in an attempt to split the battlefield. A volley of shots rang out, and countless Ming soldiers fell, their wounds pouring blood like spouts. ¡°Kill!¡± Liang Xin ran a Japanese soldier through the throat with his spear, his mount racing past the body of the in enemy. His long spear thrust forward, charging into the Japanese gunner squad. Suddenly, the earth shook, and his blue-maned horse went wild, throwing him to the ground. Liang Xin, now on the ground as Zuo Zhenghao, desperately swept his spear about but couldn¡¯t fend off the ovepping strikes of the Japanese Sword Squad targeting his head and face. He roared with rage as he lifted his spear to block, only to have his vision obscured by a katana dripping with hot blood. And this was not an isted case¡­ ¡°This Japanese priest ys dirty, sabotaging our Great Ming¡¯s warhorses,¡± Yi Yu cursed. On the other side, Hidetada watched in disbelief as several Ming soldiers, riddled with long arrows, continued to fight bloodily, their superficial wounds already starting to heal, and muttered, ¡°It goes both ways.¡± ¡°Lord Hidetada!¡± A shrill scream from his servingdy, Hime Mamoru, rang out. Amidst the banners of blue, white, and green within the ranks of the Japanese pirates, that towering bright red banner stood out menacingly, irresistible like a tidal wave of blue iron at its forefront. The Tiger Head Great Spear tore through the Kudzu Leaf Pattern g with a ¡°ripping¡± sound, heading straight for Priest Nen Enman! The rider¡¯s head cloth was askew, his body covered in blood. Both shoulder pads bearing the image of the mythical swallow beast had been smashed to pieces, the left leg along with its leg armor torn away, and a bowl-sized section of flesh on his chest scraped away, yet his eyes shone brilliantly, filled with supreme sharpness. Song Yi, vanguard of the Right Army. ¡­ Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s spear tip dripped with blood as he clutched his sliced-open right nk, hisplexion ghastly pale. ¡°Chase!¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om He staggered to seize a subordinate¡¯s warhorse and gathered his scattered Eastern army, rushing after Song Yi. ¡°Ming Country actually has cavalry like this! The Ming cavalryman¡¯s armor is mismatched, obviously cobbled together¡ªhow is this possible?¡± Honda Tadakatsu couldn¡¯t clearly describe whether he had won or lost in his brief but brutal sh with that Ming vanguard, but when that vanguard charged with the Bright Red Banner, his men, who had the special state ¡°Unhorse¡± were unable to stop him. Song Yi¡¯s troops had forcefully scattered them, and the moment the vanguard brandished his Tiger Head Spear, the battle-scarred Honda smelled death. ¡­ ¡°Lord Hidetada, perhaps we should retreat temporarily,¡± Priest Nen Enman nced at the young priest: ¡°The Ming Country¡¯s suprememander (referring to Governor Song Yingchang) is in the battle array, and Lord Honda is still fighting desperately on the battlefield. Are you telling me to run away?¡± Hidetada hesitated for a moment and then sighed, ¡°Besides, it¡¯s toote. We can only stop him.¡± The heavily armored cavalrymanders shouted and thrust their long spears at Song Yi. A thick iron wall formed in front of the vanguard camp, crashing into the blood-stained Tiger Head Great Spear. Bone shattered and tendons snapped as agonized cries filled the air. At that moment, everyone who blocked the way died. The pair known as the Kato Twin Heroes, Iida Naokage and Morimoto Ikkyu, attacked from the left and right. Priest Nen Enman¡¯s gaze flickered, and suddenly he shouted, ¡°Let the g bearer pass! Cut him off at his nks!¡± Without hesitation, the two spread out to intercept the middle segment of the vanguard cavalry. With no one to stop him, Song Yi headed straight for Priest Nen Enman¡¯smand g, the white gold spear in his hand dazzling as if it were the sun in all its glory. ¡°A vanguard officer, a sixth-rank Ming military leader, with the prowess of a ghostly strength for twenty moments. Even with military might, I can hold you off, and once the old Lord Honda arrives, you will be trapped like a turtle in a jar.¡± Priest Nen Enman gripped his katana, his face twisted into a savage grin: ¡°I am a descendant of the Hidetada family, the son of Longguang Ruoshui Yuanqing. I am the true disciple of the Shingon Shinto master, Nen Enman, who possesses the ¡®Dragon Tiger Qi¡¯ for eighty moments. Furthermore¡­¡± He roared, ck mist spewing from his eyes, nose, and mouth. From behind him amidst the swirling Kudzu patterns, a massive ck serpent burst forth! ¡°Who wille to your aid from your Ming Country¡¯smanders?¡± Song Yi, his body riddled with wounds yet with an icy expression, witnessed the intense ck aura behind the monk. Ripples of emotion briefly disturbed his otherwise cold eyes before being reced by an overwhelming tide of murderous intent, his bloodstained armor roaring like thunder. The vanguard camp¡¯s horses whinnied loudly¡ª Song Yi led the charge, the red banner hanging from his white gold spear shining brightly. The blood-stained banner measured five feet tall, three feet wide, and made of bright red silk, as devastatingly beautiful as blood. The center of the g featured a ck dragon embroidery, with a me pattern along the borders and nine streamers fluttering in the wind. If Li Yan were here, a fleeting glimpse would have revealed the information encoded in this great banner: The Nine Banners, an artifact of the Yan Fu Talisman imbued with the Power of Yazi. All soldiers under the banner bearer¡¯smand with more than 55% specialization in military skill will automatically be the special unit ¡°Great Ming Vanguard,¡± receiving the ¡°Beacon Fire Golden Flow¡± enhancement status, to a maximum of 5000 men. Beacon Fire Golden Flow: Where the spears point, no army can withstand. The banner bearer¡¯s horse charge will receive attack bonuses from all ranks of the vanguard soldiers, with the specific bonus dependent on the vanguard camp¡¯s numbers and the distance of the cavalry charge. If the Beacon Fire Golden Flow is interrupted, the attack bonus will disappear. Current attack bonus: 30956% (approximately three hundred and nine times) ¡°Pfft¡­¡± The Tiger Head Spear pierced through the ck serpent, through the katana, through Priest Nen Enman¡¯s chest! The warhorse reared and shrieked, the Tiger Head Great Spear impaling the opponent in mid-air, and under the first ray of dawn, the scene was eternally set. Chapter 91 - 44: Pick Two! Chapter 91: Chapter 44: Pick Two! Below the Ming Army¡¯s three brightly fluttering enormous gs. ¡°Charge!¡± Yang Yuan stayed close to Song Yingchang, shooting an arrow from his short crossbow into a Japanese pirate¡¯s throat. Song Yingchang, d in light armor, scanned back and forth with his slender eyes. He nced at the body of a Japanese lying prone under Yang Yuan¡¯s horse and suddenly shouted, ¡°Be careful!¡± The fallen Japanese pirate leaped up with a swoosh, stabbing Yang Yuan in the chest with a sparkling katana as blood sttered across the pirate¡¯s face. Yang Yuan grasped the katana with his fingers, with the figure of a gray bear looming behind him. Amidst the chaotic cries of battle, one after another corpse of a Japanese pirate sprang up, rolling with long des towards the crowd. The shield bearers positioned themselves in front of Song Yingchang and Yi Yu, with spears piercing towards the pirates from all directions, their tips plunging into flesh with unceasing squelching sounds; still, a few nimble Japanese managed to break through, closing within three feet of Song Yingchang. Song Yingchang¡¯s purple beard flew in disarray as he drew his longsword to stab, but suddenly a violent wind arose, and sharp ck feathers sliced through the air like des. Several blood arrows burst from the bodies of the soldiers, the katanas drooping powerlessly. On one side of the Nine-Winged Sudu, the feathers were pure ck, while on the other side, they were golden yellow. ¡°Under Commander Li Yan of the Liaodong Town General g, Nine-Winged Sudu, at your service, Lord.¡± ¡°Old Song, look at what that demoness is holding in her hand.¡± Yi Yu shouted in surprise, and following his words, Song Yingchang saw that in the hands of Nine-Winged Sudu was a jade scroll with a ck rhino horn, dim and lusterless. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s edict?¡± Song Yingchang was both shocked and furious. Nine-Winged Sudu (Dragon-Tiger Qi Enhanced) Status: Intact Evaluation: Ten Cities Note: Bathed in the Dragon Tiger Qi of Great Ming, once officially ennobled, it willpletely shed the identity of a demon. ¡­ The surging tide of blue iron finally subsided¡­ Shattered ck de fragments embedded in Song Yi¡¯s shoulder, his face smeared with globules of blood. His three-meter-long Tiger Head Spear pierced through the chest of a man in gray monk robes, with beads of blood cascading from the edge of the Great Banner. Song Yi carried the monk on the tip of his spear as his warhorse continued its relentless charge forward. Nen Enman¡¯s round eyes moved erratically, his hands weakly grasping the spear. Vast amounts of ck blood sshed as the two men, locked in a gaze, Nen Enman making a gurgling noise in his throat, his eyes rolled back, his expression a mix of crying andughter. The monk¡¯s body quickly dried up and crumbled, turning into a cloud of ck ash in the strong wind kicked up by the warhorse¡¯s run, the blood-stained robe falling limply. The mournful neighing of warhorses rang out one after another as the crazed Honda¡¯s Eastern Army unleashed all their bullets and cannonballs, with the other Daimyo Allied Army troops also joining the fray regardless of everything. Iida Naokage and Morimoto Ikkyu led their cavalry into the vanguard camp. The death of Nen Enman plunged all the Japanese soldiers into madness. Breaking through Hidetada¡¯s cavalry line, through Honda¡¯s Eastern Army blockade, through nearly ten thousand warriors of the Allied Army, through Kato and Hidetada¡¯s guards, the seemingly ceaseless charge of the blue vanguard finally came to a halt. The stream of golden fire was broken. The Tiger Head Great Spear¡¯s tip mmed into the mud. Song Yi pulled a ck de fragment from his face and suddenly looked back to see that fewer than a thousandrades remained from those who had charged with him. A few exhausted soldiers from the Ming Army fell from their horses, their patchy armor studded with arrows. They did not rise again. Song Yi turned his horse around, only then realizing that in his dazed charge through the ranks of ten thousand, he had taken down more than a dozen souls of Sengoku warlords. Only when he stopped did he feel an excruciating pain in his calf. He reached down to touch it, only to find nothing¡­ Several iron bullets had pierced through his armor, flesh, and bone, leaving gaping holes in his shoulder. Old wounds on his abdomen and chest burst open, and if one looked closely, they could even see the dark red viscera writhing.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Led by the Eastern Army, the Daimyo Allied Army encircled and decimated the vanguard, once so dominating across the fields, now reduced to fading blue smudges. Honda Tadakatsu charged forward, brandishing his whip and calling Nen Enman¡¯s name until he saw the blood-soaked monk robe on the ground. He stopped his horse, his face flush with rage and his eyebrows furled. Mounted on his horse, Song Yi angled his steed¡¯s head, leveling his Tiger Head Spear at Honda Tadakatsu as beads of blood rolled off his pale green chin. His body covered in scores of wounds of varying depths, which profusely bled, puddling beneath the horse within mere breaths. Iida Naokage and Morimoto Ikkyu, each wielding a long spear, charged forward; the Ming vanguard was clearly on theirst legs. If not now, when else better to strike? Song Yi, his eyes cast downward, suddenly lifted his head. His Tiger Head Spear gently touched the long spears before his wrist flipped, the spearhead whirling to knock Morimoto¡¯s spear from his grip, slicing across Morimoto¡¯s throat and then jabbing, flesh and all, into the back of Iida¡¯s hand! ¡°Ah~¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Come!¡± All three men¡¯s eyes were wide with rage¡ªone in pain, one in fury, one in madness. Honda Tadakatsu arrived on his Flying Horse, his Kachiten shing with the Tiger Head Great Spear. ¡°ng~¡± Song Yi, his body soaked in blood, spat out blood as his Tiger Head Spear let out a mournful cry, slipping from his grasp! Honda¡¯s Kachiten flipped upward, aiming straight for the wavering face of the faltering Song Yi. Suddenly, a crisp sound of a sword¡¯s hum, a pale green sword light streaking through the air, Honda deflected the Biyuan Sword with the butt of his spear, relentlessly swirling his spearhead towards the teetering Song Yi. A solemn and shocking roar sted forth, its sound waves spreading out. Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s mount faltered, and his long spear missed its mark, barely skimming past the head of the falling Song Yi, tearing only his headscarf. ¡°Lord, look at the mountain,¡± called a soldier from Honda¡¯s Eastern Army. Honda nced up to see the battle cries and nging of weapon collisions intensify on the slope. The banners marked with Chantanner patterns of the Japanese pirates swarmed down the hill. Honda Tadakatsu initially rejoiced, thinking the Ghost Rider had seeded, only to see Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s disheveled state and feel his heart sink again. Tachibana Muneshige, covered in blood, fled desperately, his armor in tatters. Behind him, Niutou Chantan, his entire form shrunken yet more formidable with each gold and crimson swirl of his figure, seemed even more vigorous, muscles bulging as if he were a god challenging the heavens. Niutou Chantan (Dragon-Tiger Qi Enhanced) Status: Intact Rating: Ten Cities His fist smashed down at Tachibana who, pulling on his horse¡¯s reins, dodged it while the mud beside the horse¡¯s hooves exploded outward. A blue silhouette rode fiercely towards the fray, entangling with Tachibana Muneshige. The two horses fought as they moved, quickly nearing Honda¡¯s line of defense. Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s ck Mane Warhorse was boosted by the skill ¡°Flying Horse,¡± while the Blue-Maned Warhorse¡¯s red eyes red with a wolf¡¯s hunger, far from any equine docility. It was Li Yan. Worth noting, Li Yan, who had thrown the Biyuan Sword, was not unarmed; he held the renowned Hatsuyuki Sword in one hand. Tachibana Muneshige, on the other hand, had only an ordinary katana which, within a few exchanges, looked jagged like a saw. Honda shook off the Kachiten, his spearhead quivering with cunning as it vibrated. After several shes with the Hatsuyuki Sword, which was too short to gain the upper hand, Li Yan decided to throw it at Honda Tadakatsu. As Honda withdrew his spear for a block, Li Yan picked up the Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear lying on the ground and barred it in front of Song Yi. Honda blocked the Hatsuyuki Sword¡¯s de with his spear shaft and with a flick of the spearhead sent the katana flying towards Tachibana Muneshige. ¡°Catch!¡± He roared like a tiger, his face flushed with amanding presence like that of a mighty Vajra. Tachibana Muneshige caught the Hatsuyuki Sword, his face turning shades of blue and red before finally ring furiously at Li Yan. Atop his horse, Li Yan¡¯s fingertips lightly touched the whitish-golden spear shaft, his gaze fixed on therge red banner g adorning it. Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear Category: Weapon Quality: Rare Sharpness: 100 Inherent Attributes: Vacant, vacant. Nine Banners, a Yan Fu Talisman possessing the Power of Yazi, slightly functional. When used, it will increase the awakening degree of any heritage by 20%. You are not the owner of the Nine Banners, and thus cannot absorb the Power of Yazi contained within. Li Yan swung the Tiger Head Great Spear and said to Song Yi behind him, ¡°This thing¡¯s not bad, let me use it.¡± Chapter 92 - 45 Disharmony Chapter 92: Chapter 45 Disharmony ¡°This thing isn¡¯t bad, let me use it.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Song Yi¡¯s eyelids grew heavier, but he still forced a smile at Li Yan, who was standing in front of him. ¡°Take it then.¡± Li Yan burst outughing, raised his hand and threw a porcin bottle. The Tiger Head Great Spear swept past with a dull whoosh, shattering the bottle and causing the deep red liquid to drench the spear tip. The red banner on the pole fluttered constantly, incidentally sweeping away three or four flying arrows. Divine Blood: When applied to a cold weapon, it can dispel certain degrees of Demonic Strength protection and blessings. Honda Tadakatsu charged on his horse, his Red Deer Horn Helm exceptionally dazzling, the chill from his Kachiten menacing. ¡°Chantan, cover me.¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes zed like wildfire, and with a tiger¡¯s roar, he rushed towards Honda without hesitation. The blood on the Great Banner slowly dried to a dark red, while a sensation of fullness suffused Li Yan¡¯s every inch of flesh. Joy and satisfaction bubbled up from his soul, apanied by the pleasing voice of a woman echoing in his ears. Your legacy, Gu Huo Bird Spirit, has consumed The Power of Yazi! Your Gu Huo Bird Spirit¡¯s Awakening Degree is now 36%! Your Blood Dip cooldown has ended! Your Hook Star state has been activated! Hook Star state boosts the following: Increased attack speed and burst strength by 360%! ¡°ng!¡± The Kachiten and the Tiger Head Spear shed like two dragons, striking and biting, the heads of the weapons collided with a bang, sending sparks flying in all directions. After over ten exchanges, Honda Tadakatsu seized a moment when Li Yan¡¯s shoulders fumbled, turning his great spear into a cudgel and smashing it toward Li Yan¡¯s face! Name: Honda Tadakatsu Rank: Middle Minister Status: Daimyo (Protected by the strength of demons, all damage reduced by 20%, damage from walking through Yan Fu reduced by 40%!) Red Bowl (Honda Tadakatsu, honored by the precepts of Chief Priest Ryoshinobi, has armor strength equivalent to 50% of his own life force, and his healing speed after injury is increased by 100%) Skill Proficiency: Spear Technique 89% Buddhist Studies 44% Active Skills: Twenty Strikes (Consecutive stabs), Forty Strikes (Rapid consecutive stabs), Demonic Eighty Strikes (Consecutive stabs imbued with the strength of demons). Passive skill: Gun Lance Fang (Kachiten) Li Yan¡¯s hand gripping the spear shaft creaked as he blocked the iing Kachiten. The Tiger Head Spear¡¯s point slid down along Honda¡¯s spear shaft. In the blink of an eye, the spear tip deviously stabbed onto Honda¡¯s own hand back! ng! The Hatsuyuki Sword flicked up the tip of the Tiger Head Spear, forcing Li Yan to retreat fruitlessly. Tachibana Muneshige spurred his horse and joined the fray¡ªa triangr battle of horses began. However, this probe by the Tiger Head Spear also revealed to Li Yan a troublesome piece of information: Honda¡¯s special state ¡°Red Bowl¡± granted armor strength that was not limited by vital points. As previously mentioned, no matter how astonishing a person¡¯s vitality, if his throat or heart were pierced, he¡¯d be left with only one path¡ªdeath. But Honda¡¯s Red Bowl wasn¡¯t simply about boosting his life force by 50%; it was like donning ayer of armor without a single weak point. Before breaking this armor, Honda Tadakatsu was effectively invulnerable to any vital spot. It was clear that Honda Tadakatsu didn¡¯t have Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s stubborn passive ability to resurrect, but instead, he possessed a prowess in battle that was even more terrifying than that of Tachibana Muneshige! The Tiger Head Spear and the Kachiten shed again, then recoiled from each other. Li Yan quickly pulled his spear back, the tail end grazing past the head of Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s horse, not allowing Tachibana, with his shorter weapon, any chance to close in. Meanwhile, his warhorse and Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s horse crossed paths, and inspired, Li Yan lifted the spear shaft and chopped downward, letting the spear head be pulled down by gravity. With such a move, there was no force behind it¡ªthe spear head¡¯s drop was so slow that it couldn¡¯t possibly harm Honda. But Honda Tadakatsu, a veteran of the battlefield, immediately saw the viciousness of the move and, without hesitation, mimicked Li Yan, sending his Kachiten in a reverse downward chop. Back-to-back atop their horses, the spear and sword collided between them. The weapons hooked together, producing a crisp nking sound. Li Yan felt the difference in his grip and knew that Honda hadn¡¯t been fooled. Yet since the arrow was already on the string, he had no choice but to let it fly. He squeezed his horse¡¯s nks, and both men simultaneously dragged their weapons backward, pulling the spear shafts! ¡°Dismount!¡± Both men bellowed out loud! Marquis Huan¡¯s Eight Spears, riding the dragon in reverse. This technique was originally designed to hook the enemy around the waist and drag them off their horse with the power of a charge. But now, with their weapons locked together, it was a test of strength. Honda, known for his raw power, was no match for Li Yan who was now enhanced by the Gu Huo Bird¡¯s 360% burst power! Honda lost the battle on horseback. The Blue-Maned Warhorse, fueled by the blood of Qiong Qi, raised its front hooves, spewing a torrent of saliva. Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s body involuntarily arched backward, his deer horn helmet shaking violently as he lost his bnce. Just as he was about to be hooked off his horse by Li Yan, being a decisive man, he considered letting go of the Kachiten. However, as soon as the grip on the Kachiten loosened, Li Yan proactively flicked open his gun scythe. Because Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s Hatsuyuki Sword was already shing towards Li Yan¡¯s chest. ¡°Annoying!¡± Li Yan exploited the long weapon¡¯s advantage to the fullest, thrusting the tail of the Tiger Head Spear from behind, reaching Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s right eye before his opponent. Not only did he force Tachibana Muneshige back, but the Blue-Maned Warhorse relentlessly circled Tachibana Muneshige, already nning to kill him first! Honda Tadakatsu turned his horse around, the shock in his heart beyond words. He had served the Tokugawa since he was ten and had fought on the battlefields for nearly thirty years. His spear technique had reached its peak, and as he aged, he believed he could progress no further. Tachibana Muneshige was not his match in mountedbat, but at such a young age, his understanding of war formation and sword technique was no less than his own spear technique. This had already astounded him greatly. And this man from Ming Country, who had been dismounted from his horse by his own three spearsst time due to a weapon¡¯s disadvantage, seemed to have an even deeper understanding of spear technique! He spurred his horse forward towards Li Yan and Tachibana Muneshige, who was in mortal danger, thrusting the Kachiten into battle to try to drive Li Yan back. Li Yan¡¯s Tiger Head Great Spear swirled like a flying dragon, his body arching back to let the Kachiten pass, then twisting the spear to strike Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s chest with the Tiger Swallow Spearhead, which was locked with the Hatsuyuki. Tachibana Muneshige spat out arge mouthful of blood, clearly intent on killing. Honda Tadakatsu snorted coldly, straightened his waist, and the sharp spear tip stopped abruptly, hovering in ce before hammering down towards Li Yan¡¯s forehead! The warhorse flew past, and Li Yan, lying on the horse, watched as the cross-shaped spear tip whizzed over his head before forcefully pressing down, breaking him out in a cold sweat. The Tiger Head Spear raised like an angry dragon, blocking the Kachiten, and as the two were deadlocked, Tachibana Muneshige, with blood dripping from his chin, gritted his teeth against the agony of his insides being churned and swung the Hatsuyuki Sword at Li Yan¡¯s head. With this, Li Yan was suddenly surrounded by danger. The sharp Hatsuyuki Sword drew ever closer as Li Yan narrowed his eyes, while the drop of brilliant red blood on Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s neck deepened in color. ¡°Puchi~¡± A length of sword tip, as if cutting through tofu, pierced through Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s back armor and emerged from his chest, the sword tip carrying a hint of green. Song Yi threw the Biyuan Precious Sword, then let his arm fall limply, his fatigued face settling into calm. From nowhere, a long arrow shot out toward Song Yi but was nonchntly blocked by the Niutou Chantan amidst the cavalry shing with the Japanese pirates on the field. Tachibana Muneshige¡¯s face turned ashen as he fell weakly off his horse. It was clear he was not going to survive. Li Yan clicked his tongue, though what he regretted was unclear. Honda Tadakatsu closed his eyes in pain. With the battle turning out this way, regardless of who won or lost, Japan would be grievously weakened. Moreover, since Tachibana Muneshige had been chased down by the men of Ming Country, it was likely that the Ghost Rider would also fail in his beheading mission. Ahead, the bright Chief Banner of the Li family could be seen from a corner of the banner spear, and behind it, three bright banners ¨C one long and two short ¨C were held high, the words ¡°Commander of the Three Armies¡± exceptionally clear! ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Honda Tadakatsu withdrew the Kachiten, his horse retreating a few steps, he removed his deer horn helmet and looked directly at Li Yan. Li Yan straightened up, his Tiger Head Great Spear flickering with a flourish, his voice filled with a surging desire to kill. ¡°How do you wish to die?¡± Honda Tadakatsu took a deep breath, his voice full of energy as he shouted out. One call after another, hundreds of men nearby retreated, leaving arge open space for the cavalry of the vanguard. ¡°Hey!¡± Honda Tadakatsu pointed at a soldier dressed as a Japanese man with stubbly beard and yellow teeth. He whispered something into the man¡¯s ear. The scruffy-looking Japanese soldier¡¯s face changed again and again before finally approaching Li Yan¡¯s horse. ¡°Lord Honda holds the Tokugawa Family¡¯s seal, and he is willing to represent the Tokugawa faction to negotiate peace with Ming Country.¡± This was something that Tokugawa Ieyasu had instructed Honda Tadakatsu from the beginning: should the situation be unwinnable, to offer his own seal as a plea for peace with Ming Country was also an option, since there was no reason for the Tokugawa people to die for Hideyoshi¡¯s ambition, even if that were the hope of the entire Japan. ¡°Are you a man of Ming?¡± Li Yan asked coldly. Regardless of the state of the battlefield, the fact that Li Yan, Song Yi, and fewer than a thousand men were surrounded by nearly ten thousand men led by Honda Tadakatsu was undeniable; yet Li Yan was not moved by Honda¡¯s offer of negotiation. The bearded man hesitated for a long while before finally responding in a muffled tone, ¡°Yes.¡± No sooner had the bearded man¡¯s words hit the ground than the Tiger Head Great Spear tore through the air, its fierce spearhead whipping across the man¡¯s head like an exploding rotten watermelon, misting blood everywhere. Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s eyes immediately reddened, he brandished his cross-shaped long spear and charged at Li Yan, while the Japanese pirates surged like a ck tide toward the vanguard. Li Yan, mounted on his horse before the crowd, his ck hair dancing, the spear tip dripping with white and red. Four gray-white hooves kicked up the ck earth, the Liaodong Town Chengwu Guard Command Banner spear shook, and he charged forward on horseback. ¡°Come!¡± Chapter 93 - 46 The Final Battle Chapter 93: Chapter 46 The Final Battle The cries of battle were boiling, and the nging of metal rang high. Dozens of warhorses, harnessed to nk chariots, surged down the hillside with the terrain. Long spears and step bows stood tall like forest trees amidst curling gunpowder smoke. An Qingguo, d in wrought iron armor, had just cut down a Hatamoto warrior wearing a Sun Moon Helmet, when suddenly a whoosh sounded, and his warhorse was struck in the right eye by a stray arrow, immediately falling dead. He himself tumbled into the mud, utterly disheveled. Seeing this, Luo Shangzhi pulled the reins tight in his hand, his horse cutter shed past a Japanese pirate who thought to take advantage of the situation. An Qingguo rolled, steadied himself on his sword¡¯s tip just as he stood, and his gaze slid into the distance where he suddenly cried out in rm. ¡°General, the Japanesemander¡¯s banner has fallen!¡± Startled by the exmation, Luo Shangzhi strained his eyes to look into the distance. ¡­ Eight horse hooves intermingled in disarray; two blue-ck horses circled and crossed one another, turning around only to charge back into battle, the rhythmic tapping of their hooves intense. The cutting edge of the Kachiten thrust toward Li Yan¡¯s shoulder, and although the Tiger Head Great Spear was already at Honda¡¯s throat, Li Yan had to press down his elbow, the spearhead trapping the Kachiten. After several exchanges, Li Yan caught several opportunities to pierce through Honda¡¯s chest or skull, but was forcibly dissuaded by the ¡°Red Bowl¡± making it hazardous for him to strike. His own Tiger Head Great Spear would fail to mark while a backhanded Kachiten could pierce his own throat. As the two horses drew nearer, each spear thrust at the other¡¯s spear shaft aiming for the fingers grasping their weapon. The length of the Kachiten and the Tiger Head Spear was nearly indistinguishable to the ordinary eye, but both Li Yan and Honda were acutely aware, that the Kachiten was longer. Honda abruptly pulled on the reins, and Li Yan did the same. Four hooves rose high as the two spearheads intersected, then suddenly, Li Yan, leaning back, pushed forward his speared hand, the spear tip piercing out from his left hand, his right arm swinging with the momentum transferring through the spear shaft. The Tiger Head Spear tip swept horizontally, abandoning Honda¡¯s gripping fingers andshing out at Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s horse¡¯s head. Both unexpected and underhanded, the move, however, did not escape Honda¡¯s eyes. The two almost simultaneously changed their tactics, aiming to strike at each other¡¯s horse¡¯s head. The Tiger Head Spear thudded against the horse¡¯s head, several foot-long jets of blood spraying from the warhorse¡¯s nose and mouth, that horse unlikely to live. The Kachiten, however, missed¡­ Yes, it missed. The drooling Blue-Maned Warhorse, as if with a mind of its own, jumped in response to the Kachiten¡¯s swinging blow. The spear tip only grazed its neck, drawing a line of blood. The blue horse¡¯s eyes turned red, snorting of its own ord, with a sh of pride in its eyes. In his half-lifetime of ceaseless battle, Honda Tadakatsu had never seen such a beast! The dying ck horse¡¯s legs went limp, and Honda Tadakatsu looked up in panic as the blue horse¡¯s front hooves mmed into the ground, surging forward. Li Yan leaned forward in his saddle, his Tiger Head Great Spear thrusting straight at Honda Tadakatsu. With the expended momentum of the Kachiten, it was toote for Honda to withdraw his spear to counterattack; Li Yan could stab at least two more times in that duration! ¡°ng~¡± A phantom Alms Bowl glowing red appeared out of nowhere in front of Honda, shattered by the Tiger Head Great Spear into a spider web of cracks. Li Yan rxed his left hand slightly and, with a tilt to the side, mped his right arm around the Tiger Head Spear, then rode forward, exerting a fierce thrust! The Red Bowl waspletely prated. It was then that the Kachiten finally grazed past Li Yan¡¯s earlobe. Honda rolled away, dodging the two spontaneous thrusts from Li Yan. As the Blue-Maned Warhorse passed his armor, his rough palm grasped a corner of the Kachiten and pressed down; the spearhead was spurred to rise high like a living creature. Matched against mounted cavalry, Honda¡¯s face showed no hint of fear. ¡°Ssshh¡­¡± A vanguard cavalryman was pierced through the chest by seven or eight long spears; their warm blood sttered across Li Yan¡¯s back, the sticky sensation trailing down to his lower back. The Niutou Chantan could roll over and crush several Japanese soldiers, but he couldn¡¯t be everywhere to protect all of the Ming Army. In less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the vanguard camp had lost more than half its men. Li Yan¡¯s expression turned steely as he brandished his spear and his horse charged at Honda, the Tiger Head Great Spearshing down from a higher position, carried with astonishing mounted force. Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s toes were angled backward, and as the Tiger Head Great Spear thrust toward him, he let out a tiger¡¯s roar. The Kachiten flickered out seven or eight spear shadows, repeatedly colliding with the spearhead of the great spear. Forty Strikes! The short, shing sounds of the weapons, nging incessantly, sent waves of force through the shaft of the Tiger Head Great Spear, numbing Li Yan¡¯s arms and nearly causing him to lose his grip on the spear. Honda¡¯s face brightened, for at the start of their engagement, the fierceness and velocity of the Ming man¡¯s spearwork had almost driven him to despair. However, after dozens of exchanges, his strength had clearly diminished. But before Honda could ponder further, the Tiger Head Great Spear that had fallen to his foot shook upward, bursting towards Honda¡¯s face with a wild change that defied prediction. The alteration was as erratic as an antelope hanging by its horns, the angle of the forcepletely beyond Honda¡¯s imagining. A chill ran down the back of Honda¡¯s head, and he pressed his left hand on the rear of the spear shaft to block, feeling a hot wind scorch his face. ¡°Defeated.¡± Li Yan smiled coldly, flipped his spear with a downward swoop of his hand, fending off the wailing Kachiten. The Tiger Head Great Spear advanced forcefully, aiming to pierce Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s chest. Traditional Chinese spear techniques divided an opponent¡¯s weapon attack directions into major and minor gates. Honda¡¯s current stance left his minor gate sealed and his major gate powerless. Furthermore, matching infantry against cavalry, he had already lost by eight parts. Known as one of Japan¡¯s three great spears, the Kachiten¡¯s spearhead let out a series of shrieks as the long, narrow groove on its shaft whistled in the wind from the friction.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om A sudden surge of apprehension filled Li Yan¡¯s heart. The sensitive Blue-Maned Warhorse neighed in shock, its fur bristling in fright, and at this point in the fight, there was simply no way to retreat. With each step forced back, Honda¡¯s face settled into calmness. Stepping forward with his right foot, he leaned back and thrust out his Kachiten. At that moment, the Tiger Head Great Spear had prated two inches into flesh, and blood had already sttered from the armor. ¡°Ming man, you have a loyal heart, but not the will to die¡­¡± Demonic Eighty Strikes! The Kachiten¡¯s groove shone with Sanskrit inscriptions as bright as crystalline autumn water, its spear shadows spilling out like a silver jug suddenly burst, pouring its contents toward Li Yan. Li Yan was utterly unmoved, the salty taste of that rainy night¡¯s rainwater spreading from his mouth, as the silver spear shadows covered the sky and he seemed to see none. ¡°Die!¡± The Tiger Head Great Spear pierced through Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s heart and jutted out his back into the ground! A half section of golden feathers sliced through the air, blocking Li Yan¡¯s face. Li Yan felt darkness before his eyes, followed by the sound of bones and flesh parting. When he opened his eyes again, his face and head were sttered with blood. Nine-Winged Sudu had her half-wing pierced with more than a dozen holes, yet her face showed no sign of pain, and she cried out, ¡°My Lord.¡± ¡°Did I not tell you to protect Song Yingchang?¡± Li Yan frowned at her, softening his voice: ¡°His spear wouldn¡¯t kill me, why go to such lengths?¡± ¡­ Even amidst the chaotic battlefield, Yu Shu walked as if in a leisurely garden, with both piercing arrows and red-hot cannonballs seemingly avoiding her. She looked at Li Yan on horseback, her eyes carrying a rare hint of admiration. ¡°Judged purely by skill, it was nothing short of spectacr.¡± Mastery in breaking through relied on personal insight and talent, unrted to the experience of the practitioner. Having a proficiency of over 90% in a skill was something many Proxy Travelers were unable to achieve. Li Rusong¡¯s bright redmand g was now fully visible, and the ¡°Commander of the Three Armies¡± g was scarcely five hundred paces from the vanguard camp. With the loss of several daimyo leaders and arge number of Japanese pirates being killed or scattered, troops of daimyos with mixed intentions began to withdraw from the battlefield. Honda Tadakatsu¡¯s death further elerated the panic, making an allied defeat inevitable. However, the casualties of the Ming Army had also far exceeded the initial estimates, But this no longer concerned Li Yan. He looked at the incapacitated Song Yi, and Song Yi looked back at him. After a long while, Li Yan tightened his grip on the Tiger Head Great Spear and fell silent. Chapter 94 - 47: Return Chapter 94: Chapter 47: Return ¡°Peace talks?¡± Li Rusong questioned incredulously. In the eyes of this warrior, now was the time to pursue the already defeated allied forces, with the various daimyo pointing fingers at each other and Japan in total chaos. At the very least, if they couldn¡¯t annihte the main forces, they should drive the Japanese out of the entire territory of Joseon. ¡°Ningxia, Burma, Jiaozhi, Jurchen, along with Bozhou¡­¡± Song Yingchang put down the ink-dipped brush and sighed. ¡°We have quite a few troubles; this is also the intention of the senior officials in the court. Zimao, you should be mindful of the bigger picture. Don¡¯t forget, when you delivered the imperial edict to those two wild gods in Joseon, it caused an uproar in the court. You have troubles yourself¡­¡± ¡°The bigger picture, the bigger picture,¡± Li Rusong silently repeated in his heart but shook his head, saying, ¡°The Japanese will not just let things be.¡± Having said that, he left dispiritedly without another word. Song Yingchang picked up the peace talk document in hand and scrutinized it several times before throwing it onto the desk with a ¡°plop¡±.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡­ ¡°You want my spear?¡± Song Yiy on the shelf, his face calm. Li Yan entered the room with a jug of liquor and was choked by Song Yi¡¯s opening remark. ¡°How¡¯s the injury?¡± He pulled up a stool to sit beside Song Yi and asked. ¡°It¡¯s yours now.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Li Yan hadn¡¯t interacted much with Song Yi, but from just these few words, he understood what type of person Song Yi was. ¡°The people from the Heavenly Master Mansion have visited, haven¡¯t they? How long until you can walk?¡± ¡°Half a year to recover, I¡¯ll be able to walk, but my left leg will beme.¡± Li Yan frowned upon hearing this: ¡°The Heavenly Master Mansion¡¯s talismans are said to bring the dead back to life and mend bones and flesh. That Taoist fooled you.¡± ¡°No, I said I won¡¯t seek treatment.¡± Song Yi took the jug from Li Yan¡¯s hand and took two big gulps, then eximed with delight. ¡°To hell with being a soldier! I¡¯m resigning my post and going back home to Baxian County to breed horses.¡± After a pause, he asked, ¡°After I step down, the court is conferring on me the title of Wusan and rewarding me a hundred pieces of gold. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being transferred to Daning Guard as Governor, conferred the title of Xun Flying Cavalry Captain, and awarded five hundred pieces of gold.¡± ¡°Not bad at all. That¡¯s fifth rank for you.¡± Song Yiughed: ¡°I¡¯ve fought on the battlefield for ten years, carrying the standard and always at the forefront in every battle, but after just one battle, your official rank has caught up with mine. It¡¯s only right though; you¡¯re worth the price.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°But you¡¯re no match for me. Do you believe that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t, let¡¯s see if we ever get the chance to spar.¡± ¡°If we get the chance.¡± Li Yan nced at the sky, took out two cups from his bosom, cleaned them, ced them on the table, and filled them with liquor. He began to speak leisurely, ¡°Everyone secretly calls you ¡®Little Horse Thief¡¯, and only General Shen got along well with you. What¡¯s the story there? Tell me about it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing interesting, let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± Song Yi counter-questioned: ¡°You¡¯re from Tianjin Guard, right?¡± Li Yan drained his cup with a creaking sound. The liquor was rough, but indeed strong. ¡°Cangzhou.¡± ¡°Ah, I thought so.¡± Cup after cup, the two men drank from therge jug until it was empty. They talkedte into the night, the conversation sporadic and scattered. ¡°Your soldiers are fine, but as for those Korean monsters and demons, better to have fewer dealings with them. I¡¯ve heard that the leading ¡®Tree Demon¡¯ and ¡®Bird Demon¡¯ have been influenced by our Great Ming¡¯s Dragon Tiger Qi and the court has decreed that the two muste to the capital to be presented to the Emperor. There¡¯s a lot of intrigue involved, and we warriors should stay out of it.¡± ¡°Good or bad?¡± ¡°It should be good, but given your status, you¡¯re prone to suspicion.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the Japanese wanting peace talks; will the court agree?¡± ¡°Most likely they will. The court is out of money.¡± ¡°Oh well, it¡¯s none of my concern.¡± ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯ve still got battles to fight.¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡± Their conversation trailed off as Yu Shu lifted the curtain, looking at the two men. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± said Li Yan. ¡°Mmm,¡± nodded Song Yi. Li Yan stood up unsteadily, and Yu Shu extended her hand. Li Yan, without being polite, leaned on her arm as they walked out. The great moon hung in the sky, and the night over Pyongyang City was a deep shade of blue. Li Yan, with a straight back and waist, finally said after a long while, ¡°If I were born here, I probably would have turned out to be like Song Yi.¡± Yu Shu did not pay attention to Li Yan¡¯s sentimentality but shoved a red gourd into his hands instead. ¡°Inside Old Diao¡¯s wine gourd is the reward I promised you; now we¡¯re really even.¡± Her lips curled up narrowly, ¡°I think you¡¯ll definitely like it.¡± ¡°Why leave Yan Fu.¡± ¡°Why go to such lengths to help Ming Country?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yu Shu changed the subject, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Paths cross even in different environments.¡± Yu Shuughed heartily, ¡°It¡¯s really worry-free talking to you, aren¡¯t you considering following me?¡± ¡°Afraid of death.¡± Yu Shu¡¯s smile faded, her eyes and brows casting a shadow. ¡°When you¡¯ve made your mark in the future, don¡¯te looking for trouble with me.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Yu Shu, without another word, disappeared into the darkness of the long street, blending in seamlessly. ¡°Paths cross even in different environments.¡± Li Yan repeated the phrase. ¡°Esteemed Walker, everyone¡¯s waiting for you.¡± Wang Sheng, wearing a ck eye patch, his youthful face matured a lot, reced by an air ofpetence. After the fierce battles with the Daimyo Allied Army, all of Li Yan¡¯s old subordinates received their rewards. Diao Xiayan, being older, had only asked for a reward of five hundred taels of silver, but Wang Sheng, still young, took a chief position as a result of Li Yan¡¯s strong rmendation and by now had emerged as a bona fide military officer. A smile appeared on Li Yan¡¯s face. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s drink!¡± Meanwhile, in the hall, the celebration banquet was noisy and bustling. Yi Yu was exchanging toasts, his face flushed with joy, while Fei sat swinging her legs on a chair, her head peeking over the generals¡¯ shoulders as they walked into the hall and looking towards the darkness behind Li Yan. ¡­ In Japan, Osaka. The Ming envoy held the imperial edict aloft, clear andmanding, reading out the handwritten imperial decree from the Wanli Emperor. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, at 58 years of age, remained calm. Only after hearing the trantor did a fleeting shadow cross his eyes; it took him a long time to sigh. ¡°Turtle button, dragon seal, sent afar to Fusang¡¯s domain, sincere and firm inrge seal characters, gracing the mountain that stabilizes the country. With the rise of ocean waves and the incidental divergence of wind divination, at this grand asion, it befits to praise the eternalws. Heed this, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who raised a country from the sea, acknowledged the reverence of China, sent forth a single envoy racing to the west, admiring and seeking unity. Pleading at Thousand Mile Gate, earnestly seeking to pledge loyalty, with such staunch sincerity, and tender graciousness, I hereby appoint you as the King of Japan, bestowing upon thee the imperial edict, with the yful conferment of treasure chests filled with fern-brake, donning the robes across the sea, leaving the vesture of grass attire, and firmly guarding the frontier of the Celestial Empire. Remember well thy ministerial duties, adhere to binding obligations, grateful for Our imbued grace, never forsake sincerity, faithfully following Our edicts, eternally respect Our teachings, revered indeed!¡± ¡­ ¡°You¡¯vepleted the Yan Fu event and the special Yan Fu event; total Yan Fu eventspleted: 3.¡± ¡°Your rating for this Yan Fu event is: Excellent Fortune!¡± ¡°If the evaluation is above Excellent Quality, and you hold the ownership rights to an item, as an Esteemed Walker, you may take it directly without purchasing it through authority.¡± ¡°You will take the following items: Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear, Kachiten, Dugong Dew Talisman*5¡± ¡°Settlement begins!¡± ¡­ One monthter Japan. Kyushu Ind. Thunderclouds crowded the sky, and the ground was littered with blood puddles; the dark mountains were like des forged in fire, thrusting straight into the heavens. ¡°Why is it taking so long?¡± A giant blue-skinned, one-horned, three-eyed creature wielding a ck stone hammer spat out a chunk of flesh from between its fingers,ining to the dark river before it. ¡°I think the River Spirit wants to stay in Joseon and note back to serve Lord Himiko anymore.¡± A foul-smelling beast with porcupine quills and yellow-fanged teeth smirked as it stood atop a corpse dressed in a red skirt and white blouse, clicking its tongue in a strangeugh. The rest of the creatures burst into raucousughter at this, each with bizarre sounds and colors,cking any shred of humanity. On the river, a raft slowly approached, a woman poling it along, with her long ck hair covering her face. ¡°Eh~¡± One of the creatures with sharp eyes noticed a dark, round object on the raft. Looking closer, it was a woman¡¯s head, with a patterned face, and a frightened eye peering through disheveled hair, the mouth moving. ¡°Go, hurry¡­¡± The raft hit a rock, and the woman poling it kicked the head into the ck River before stepping onto the shore. ¡°Who¡¯s in charge here?¡± Chapter 95 - 1 Deadly Harvest Chapter 95: Chapter 1 Deadly Harvest The spear was as thick as a duck egg, bathed in an orange hue by the setting sun; as the orb of day sank westward, the trailing red sunlight sprinkled over the hand grasping the spear, then the neck, and finally the face. The boy had a head of short ck hair, wore a loose white tank top, ck shorts, andyered cloth shoes. One foot forward, one foot back, his elbows steady, the spear stable in his grip. The old man sat on the red brick steps, tapping his tobo pipe bowl. ¡°Not bad! Tong Lin, I¡¯m not afraid to tell you the truth, Zheng Yijian was killed by me. I poisoned his wine, making his body fester and leaving him to die a horrible death! Your second brother, too, was poisoned by me, including the Tianling Swordsman, the Dixing Immortal, the West Swordsman, South Swordsman, North Swordsman, and all the friends and heroes who have crossed paths with you. Every single one of them, I poisoned!¡± The voice box buzzed with sound, and Dantian Fang¡¯s voice made one unable to resist listening further. ¡°Alright, Dayan, go y.¡± The boy cracked a smile, set down the spear, threw a towel over his shoulder, took a scoop of cold water to drink, and shed a mouthful of white teeth. ¡°Grandpa, what happened to Yongzheng in the end?¡± The old man nced at him without saying a word. ¡°Heh heh.¡± The boy¡¯s thick eyebrows stood up as he carelessly said, ¡°If I were Tong Lin, I would definitely kill Yongzheng¡­¡± ¡°Go y your games!¡± The old manughed and scolded him. Several heads peeked over the wall, a few pairs of eyes darting back and forth. They called out softly to the boy in the yard, ¡°Brother Dayan~ Brother Dayan~¡± The boy raised an eyebrow and with a plop, tossed the scoop into the water tank. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m stepping out for a bit.¡± ¡°You little rascal, try not to stir up trouble.¡± The old man cursed impatiently but turned a blind eye. The boy took a few steps outside. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Er¡¯luo got beaten up.¡± The boy¡¯s voice rose by an octave, a sharp interjection escaping his throat: ¡°Hmm?¡± At that time, there were plenty of movie theaters on the streets, with rows of white stic chairs and tables, and on the canvas screened ¡°Gu Huazi Zhi Jiulong Bingshi.¡± Over a dozen youngds barged in, their faces a mix of youthful naivety and defiance,pletely blocking Zheng Yijian on the canvas as they crowded in. ¡°Who hit Er¡¯luo?¡± The leading broad-browed boy pointed a reimed steel rod forward with an air of arrogance. ¡°Me!¡± The speaker stood up regardless of the round-faced girl beside him trying to dissuade him. She wore a white duck-bill cap seldom seen in the town, her hair tied in a ponytail, and donned a pair of yellow sandals, her clear toenails charming. A group of fierce-looking youths surrounded them, but the girl with the white cap was not afraid. She swept away the stic table with a sweep of her arms and amidst the chaos, grabbed a bottle of leftover beer, smashed it against the wall, the sshing liquid and ss shards poised towards the boy. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± The girl¡¯s voice was crisp. Her eyes like those of a newborn deer. The man suddenly opened his eyes wide. ¡°¡­¡± Taking a deep breath, Li Yan pushed himself up from the stone bed, his right palm rubbing his eyes. But as he kept rubbing, he couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Pity she¡¯s already married.¡± In that moment, a wild thought flickered through Li Yan¡¯s mind. ¡°So what if she¡¯s married?¡± He fixed his gaze, then pped his forehead with a p of his hand. ¡°What am I thinking¡­¡± During the battle of Renchen, Li Yan had been wound too tightly. With the sessive scares and violent fights, the pent-up anger and desire for ughter in his heart were almost immediately released upon his return to Yan Fu. Heid down on the stone bed and fell asleep, putting off settling the score forter. He had no idea how much time had passed when the dream of that very scene roused Li Yan from his slumber. He lifted his hand, and only then did the dim stone room begin to cast mottled shadows. The images of gun smoke, bows, swords, horseshoes, fluttering gs, iron armor, and long tassels spun rapidly in front of Li Yan. His eyes full of blood, the straight-backed elder foot soldier holding his head high. The fuzzy flesh and blood amidst the pounding of ten thousand hooves as he fell from his horse, the sttered muddy snow, the empty eyes of the dead, the fiercely waving red Imperial g. Dripped with golden crimson fluid, themanding Niutou Chantan, Nine-Winged Sudu with its wings protecting its body, its eyes watery. The spearhead of the Tiger Head Spear piercing through bodies, the steed rearing up, its hooves stepping toward the rising sun¡­ ¡°Under certain conditions, the walkabout state will be repaired without charging any points.¡± Settlement report as follows: ¡°Excellent¡± rating settlement Yan Fu points: 600 points (200 base points plus 200% bonus) Purchase authority limit: 200%! (Individual action 140% + fullpletion of Yan Fu event 30% +pletion of special Yan Fu event 30%) You have exchanged for gold, obtaining a total of 5500 Yan Fu points! (Rewarded 20 ingots of gold for breaching Pyongyang City, each ingot worth 25 points; awarded 500 pieces of gold after killing Honda Tadakatsu, each piece worth 10 points) Deducted 700 points for the equestrian skill solidification Your current Yan Fu points: 5850 points! Special reward for thepletion of the Yan Fu event: The content of this Yan Fu event rtes to Yuzi, and you will randomly draw an item containing The Power of Yazi (including but not limited to consumable items, skills, exotic objects, legacies). Drawing in progress¡­ In the still light and shadow, a golden goblet fell into Li Yan¡¯s hands. [Blood Oath Wine] Quality: Fine Category: Consumable The blood wine formed by the Power of Yazi, when taken, will enhance the affinity with cold weapons, and there is a certain chance toprehend the skill ¡°Soldier Leader.¡± Upon repeated consumption, the chance ofprehension will umte. (Only items that are categorized as Yan Fu Talisman or inheritance can improve the awakening degree. Other category items transformed from the power of an Exotic Beast cannot increase the awakening level.) Li Yan inspected the item for a while, not in a hurry to drink it. It was evident that this special reward was far weakerpared to an inheritance, which was something he had been prepared for. You havepleted the special Yan Fu event: Gather the Joseon Wild God. You have received the reward to draw once more for an item containing the Power of Yazi. Drawing in progress¡­ What fell into Li Yan¡¯s hand this time was a golden beast tooth. [Juvenile Yuzi¡¯s Bug Tooth] Quality: Rare Category: Consumable Used on amon quality cold weapon, it can add three empty attribute slots. Used on a fine quality cold weapon, it can add two empty attribute slots. Used on a rare quality cold weapon, it can add one empty attribute slot. Li Yan nodded, this item was not widely adaptable, but it was very suitable for him. Your gains from this Yan Fu event are as follows: One, Personal category Passive skill: [Killing Intent Attack] You have acquired a Yan Fu Talisman imbued with the Power of Yazi and have absorbed it. You have opened the long-term general Yan Fu event: The Inheritance of Yazi. Current mission: Shatter one hundred fine quality weapons. Phase reward: Enhancement of the Killing Intent Attack skill Active skill: [Nine Phoenix Divine Talisman] Two, Item categoryn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [Kachiten] [Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear] [Dugong Dew Talisman] *5 (Simr to the effects of the Qi Healing Technique, but stronger. Tear it to activate immediately, more convenient than the Qi Healing Technique, and less likely to expose ws in battle. It was given by Li Rusong during Li Yan¡¯s escape and was brought back unused.) Three, Secret stash category You served as the Governor in the Daning Guard Bureau during this Yan Fu event and were granted the Ming Country military honorary title: Flying Cavalry Captain. You have received [Yan Fu Secret Stash¡¤Dragon Tiger Qi]! You have started the Yan Fu record of using Dragon Tiger Qi, allowing you to share the usage insights of all Yan Fu Esteemed Walkers regarding Dragon Tiger Qi. The Governor¡¯s position has granted you thirty counts of Dragon Tiger Qi. The title of Flying Cavalry Captain will grant you five counts of Dragon Tiger Qi every month (distributed ording to the world the Esteemed Walker belongs to.) Please note that due to the grade, the amount of Dragon Tiger Qi you can possess cannot exceed thirty counts. The effects of Dragon Tiger Qi are as follows: 1, Holding: Immune to 10% damage from all Yan Fu Esteemed Walkers, 5% from any type of damage, and has a deterrent effect on all kinds of evil spirits. 2, Summon: You can consume Dragon Tiger Qi to summon characters from within Scale-Ding You Twenty-Four Fruits. The summoned one¡¯s degree of trust in the walker decides the sess rate, and the power rating determines the amount of Dragon Tiger Qi consumed. Cannot summon with trust levels below seventy, and guaranteed sess above ny. 3, Burning: Consuming the limit of Dragon Tiger Qi can temporarily enhance a specific skill of the walker. Burning the limit over a long time to boost a skill can possibly solidify the enhancement effect. 4, Breakthrough the peak! (Unique) You can specify an inheritance that has reached a bottleneck (39%, 69%, 99%) for a breakthrough. Within the three peak breakthroughs of an inheritance, Dragon Tiger Qi can only act as a breakthrough medium once. The effects after the fourth are not within my authority to inquire. Li Yan clenched his fist and suddenly turned to look at his bedside. On the stone bedy a snow-white juvenile tiger, curled up about the size of a washbasin, its tail gently swaying as it was deep in sleep. ¡°Thirty counts of Dragon Tiger Qi?¡± Li Yan tried to reach his hand toward the little snow tiger¡¯s nose but ended up being hugged around the wrist by two fluffy paws. Li Yan didn¡¯t try to pull his hand free; instead, he attempted to open his purchase permissions for this asion. At that moment, a voice rang in his ear, and from nowhere, a clear sphere of water appeared before him. ¡°Esteemed Walker, before you check your personal purchase permissions, there is some information to notify you of.¡± ¡°Your performance has been extremely highly rated twice in a row, and together with your current personal capability evaluation, the examiner has decided to enhance your Yan Fu authority. Before this, she has initiated a private conversation with you. You can choose to ept or decline.¡± ¡°Examiner¡¯s codename: Yu Shiqie.¡± Chapter 96 - 2 "The Authority of the 10 Cities Chapter 96: Chapter 2 ¡°The Authority of the 10 Cities ¡°epted,¡± Li Yan did not hesitate. The water orb spun smoothly for a moment, then burst open, and the woman¡¯s visage leapt out from within it, her watery features extremely vague and indistinct. Li Yan and the woman locked eyes for a while, both momentarily speechless. What happened to the fiery-haired woman in ck¡­ Li Yan thought silently. ¡°I¡¯ve read that novel too,¡± Li Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat as his mind raced to nk, trying to think of nothing. The fiery-haired woman in ck was the protagonist of a popr serial novel he used to like a lot, also named Yu Shiqie, whose experiences were¡­ enticing. But the remark just now was only Li Yan¡¯s inner monologue, yet it was pointed out directly by this woman made of clear water before him. Upon returning, he was prepared to be held ountable by Mo or others. In fact, there were no loopholes in his actions; the entire Yan Fu incident had been shielded from the start by Taishuai, leaving no record, and no one could use Li Yan and Yu Shu of premeditation based solely on the fragmented records within the ¡°Judy¡± fruit. However, if the visitor possessed mind-reading abilities, that would be a different story¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I don¡¯t have whatever thing you¡¯re imagining; I just made a guess about what you were thinking when you heard my name. That novel is quite famous among our age group,¡± Li Yan blinked, but noted the emphasis on our age group. Thinking it over, spending just one year in Yan Fu means experiencing a full six Yan Fu incidents, so it was normal to find veterans around his age. ¡°But, what are you hiding?¡± The woman¡¯s voice carried a strange maism. Li Yan ignored her question, ¡°Do you want something from me?¡± ¡°I was just curious. Someone whose personal strength is below ¡®Ten Cities¡¯, yet manages to get a ¡®Great Luck¡¯ rating within the top fifty fruits and a 200% purchase authority limit as a neer. What kind of person is that? Although, your performance just now was not particrly interesting,¡± Li Yan stretched with a yawn, half-closing one eye as he spoke, ¡°I¡¯m ashamed, truly ashamed.¡± The woman proceeded at her leisurely pace. ¡°Your actions in Yan Fu have been a wasted effort for many, including myself,¡± ¡°Are you referring to Taishuai?¡± Li Yan yed dumb. ¡°I would really like to know that woman¡¯s whereabouts. If you¡¯re willing to tell me, I can provide some assistance within my capacity,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know her whereabouts either. That woman appeared out of nowhere, killed my assistant Comrades, and then vanished. Mo can retrieve my walking records in the world of Yan Fu; if you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him.¡± ¡°You¡¯re well aware that due to Taishuai, this Yan Fu incident left no records. Besides, the observational records only sporadically include some of the walkers¡¯bat data for performance assessment and are far fromprehensive,¡± ¡°From your tone, are you suggesting that I colluded with Taishuai to aim for a higher evaluation and reward?¡± ¡°Although you¡¯re dull, you are not that shortsighted. After all, if you consorted with a Renegade, you would face the wrath of all Yan Fu walkers,¡± Li Yan¡¯s face rxed slightly, as if acknowledging Yu Shiqie¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m more inclined to believe that Taishuai took the initiative to find you.¡± Li Yan¡¯s face remained expressionless, his heartbeat steady. ¡°If she had controlled you with something like poison, we would have noticed when you returned. My conjecture is that she threatened to kill you and shared some information with you that you aren¡¯t presently authorized to know. With that, she made initial contact with you and interfered forcefully with the content of your Yan Fu incident, forcing you to cooperate with her,¡± ¡°Having seen your current record, it¡¯s clear that you are a man of strong resolve, and daring enough to take risks; thus, my conclusion is you hit it off with Taishuai straightaway,¡± Li Yan shook his head, ¡°You¡¯ve made up your mind about me; should I just confess and sign off in resignation?¡± Yu Shiqie spoke for herself, ¡°Taishuai is vtile. This time she¡¯s taken a big hit, all her innate fierceness aroused, so it¡¯s foreseeable she would go on a killing spree upon her return. But she didn¡¯t kill you, which implies she views you favorably, and it¡¯s very likely she wants you to be a Renegade. Of course, knowing her character, she might have just mentioned it in passing, perhaps suggesting you join her side,¡± Yu Shiqie mimicked Yu Shu¡¯s speech, with uncanny uracy. ¡°And your presence here means you¡¯ve declined, suggesting you¡¯re not yet ready to turn against us,¡± The woman¡¯s tone softened. ¡°What I want is the truth, and I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. Just tell me what you know, and that will be the end of it for you.¡± ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Li Yan said with a rxed tone, smiling and shaking his head. ¡°In that case, we shall wait and see.¡± The water sphere shook violently, ¡°Wait.¡± Li Yan spoke. The shaking of the water sphere stopped. ¡°Have you changed your mind?¡± ¡°You said that Taishuai was once a wanderer, even a Proxy Traveler. When she was in the Yan Fu, did she have any close friends?¡± Yu Shiqie didn¡¯t speak. ¡°If she did, I think they¡¯re most likely women.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯d better pray for good luck.¡± The water sphere burst violently. Water droplets sttered onto the ground. ¡°Are the women of Yan Fu all so decisive?¡± Li Yan smacked his lips, his gaze deep. ¡­ ¡°You have obtained the ¡®Ten Cities¡¯ level wanderer title.¡± You have gained the following privileges: 1. Privilege Freeze: Retain your acquired purchasing privileges, spend 100 Yan Fu points to conserve time during a Yan Fu event once, 200 points for twice, 400 points for thrice, and so on. 2. Worldview Acquisition: Without the need for exploration, immediately obtain the basic exploratory notes of all Yan Fu wanderers. Additionally, spend Yan Fu points to acquire some high-value exploratory note contents. 3. A twenty-cubic Seal Space, suitable for storing items, but not for containing living beings. 4. Unmanned Auction House: You can list all of your possessions for sale. It features a search option, allowing wanderers to find the items they want through searching, or to filter needs and browse them one by one.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om This Unmanned Auction House is quite interesting. It allows you to list the purchasing rights of items you no longer need. Of course, if they are not sold by the next refresh, the rights automatically expire. On the other hand, since it disys everything for sale, many items seem incredibly nonsensical. Li Yan casually clicked to look and saw several entries like this: [A Lump of Shit] Selling Price: 10,000 Yan Fu points. ¡°¡­¡± A jiefa-braided girl around fourteen or fifteen years old, with red lips and white teeth, and a delicate appearance. [Temporary Comrade Wanderer] Selling Price: 50,000 Yan Fu points. Note: ¡°I¡¯m broke, so I¡¯m selling myself. A Seven Pces level Yan Fu wanderer, I¡¯ll perform but won¡¯t sell my body, idiots piss off.¡± A round crystal slice [Private Water Mirror Shadow Record] Selling Price: 100 Yan Fu points Note: The uncensored version of the current Scales Lord and Madam Baihua¡¯s private Water Mirror Shadow Record with True Martial Law Fruit (Scale ¡¤ Jiazi 226), explosive content, absolutely real, 100 Yan Fu points per copy, preview avable. However, this message disappeared after a short while, the reason being it didn¡¯tply with the auction house¡¯s standards. But judging by the transaction volume Li Yan saw just now, there were at least over five thousand copies sold¡­ The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 97 - 3: The Specialties of the Five Immortals Class Chapter 97: Chapter 3: The Specialties of the Five Immortals ssn/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Your purchase privileges for the Yan Fu event are as follows: A very favorable evaluation grants you the right to re-enter the fruit once more An outstanding evaluation enables you to buy one Yan Fu Story Jar Cold weapon category: [Golden Silk Ring de]¡­ Li Yan, who owns weapons like the Ring Dragon Sword, Kachiten, and the Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear, found nock of weapons. Even though there were many fine and even rare weapons among them, Li Yan had no desire to purchase any. However, he patiently scrolled to the bottom. [Cold Weapon Attribute Extraction (4/4)] You can extract special attributes from weapons in your privilege to add to your own weapons. It costs 50% of the weapon¡¯s price. You can also destroy your own weapons to obtain their attributes to add to other weapons. There is a certain chance of failure. Note: The world of Yan Fu can give an ordinary weapon infinite possibilities. Li Yan¡¯s eyes lit up; the special attribute of Kachiten had a surprisingly highpatibility with the Tiger Head Spear. ¡°[Gun Lance Fang]: Every time there is a weapon collision, conduct an assessment. If sessful, cause high-intensity damage to weapons with a lower sharpness than your own. The specific degree of damage depends on the sharpness difference between the two weapons.¡± Even though the Tiger Head Great Spear only had two vacant attribute slots and no special attributes, its sharpness was as high as one hundred. Paired with Gun Lance Fang, this would be like adding wings to a tiger. The Juvenile Yazi Insect Tooth he had just obtained could also be put to good use. Li Yan carefully reviewed the list above, eventually focusing on a few weapons. [Biyuan Sword] Green Wave: 3% of attack power converted into true damage Extraction price: 300 points [Imperial Hand Mace] Sturdy Body: Block carries a certain level of armor value, which is determined by the material of the weapon itself. Extraction price: 300 points ¡°Eight Treasures Tuolong Spear¡± Blood Sucking: The weapon increases the user¡¯s wound healing speed when ites into contact with blood. Extraction price: 400 points Adding [Gun Lance Fang], these are the four attributes that Li Yan nned to extract. What troubled him was how to use the Yazi Insect Tooth. After some consideration, Li Yan decided to apply the insect tooth to the Ring Dragon Sword. He had a preference for this Han Sword, and even though the attributes of Biyuanpletely overpowered Ring Dragon, the Ring Dragon Sword still felt morefortable in Li Yan¡¯s hands. There was no reasoning behind it. As for why not to apply everything to the Tiger Head Great Spear, it was a matter of practicality. The three-meter-long Tiger Head Great Spear was unbeatable in a vast area, whether on foot or mounted, but in tight spaces, it was simply not as maneuverable. Li Yan still needed the Ring Dragon Sword. The Yazi Insect Tooth had a soft texture, and its method of use involved grinding it down and applying the powder on the surface of the weapon. This process would take roughly the time of an incense stick toplete. After spending a thousand Yan Fu points, destroying Kachiten, and attaching the attributes of Green Wave and Blood Sucking to the Ring Dragon Sword, as well as Sturdy Body and Gun Lance Fang to the Tiger Head Great Spear, Li Yan had finished. Once dull, the blood groove of the Ring Dragon Sword became pitch ck as Li Yan swung it, and a tide-like sound of the sword followed. On the other hand, the Tiger Head Great Spear had no visible changes. [Ring Dragon Sword] Quality: Ordinary Sharpness: 15 (5 from Yazi Insect Tooth, ineffective for quality above fine) Attributes: Green Wave, Blood Sucking [Gold-engraved Tiger Head Spear] Sharpness: 100! Quality: Rare Attributes: Gun Lance Fang, Sturdy Body Li Yan caressed the tinum-colored spear body, then checked his purchase permissions. Essence category: [Second-Level Dongying Swordsmanship Essence]¡­ Apart from some that Li Yan clearly did not deem worthwhile, such as closebat essence (Liusheng¡¯s Shinin-ryu), spear skill essence, and so on, Li Yan found the following to be beneficial to himself. General Military Skill Essence: Increases Military Skill specialization by 10%, up to a maximum of 50%. Military Skill includes horse-riding ability, archery ability, sword and shield infantrybat ability, cavalryncebat ability, formation fighting ability, harsh environment survival ability, march ability, and firearm proficiency. One hundred points each He bought five General Military Skill Essences, aiming not for their directbat abilities but for many auxiliary skills useful in warfare. Having interacted with the likes of Diao Xiayan and others along the way, Li Yan had to admit that he was not as adept as those battle-hardened veterans when facing moreplex environments. In matters such as weather, terrain, enemy tracking, identifying edible nts, starting fires, and even simple yet sturdy knots, and so forth. One thing is particrly worth mentioning. The variety of specializations themselves is extremely mixed, and their breadth varies. Broad categorizations of specialization often epass the narrower ones. Two specializations with a wide range can sometimes ovep with each other. If a person practices only one set of Grand Ancestor Fist from childhood, then their specialization disy would be Grand Ancestor Fist and not Ancient Martial Arts, which epasses much more than just a few fist forms or weapons. Li Yan¡¯s Ancient Martial Arts specialization reached 93%, including Bagua Palm footwork, unique weapons, Marquis Huan spear techniques, Main Frame of Combat Sword, some traditional Chinese medicine knowledge, and even the lion dance art that is almost lost in the north ¨C it¡¯s a broad category. Even so, there are still many skills that could fall under the framework of Ancient Martial Arts with which Li Yan is unfamiliar. For instance, horsemanship; when Li Yan first entered Renchen, Yan Fu temporarily granted him 70% horsemanship specialization, which was then included in his Ancient Martial Arts specialization and did not show up separately. Simrly with archery, which Li Yan is also unfamiliar with, not to mention the even more detailed methods of weapon performance from other martial arts schools. In other words, Ancient Martial Arts is a very broad category. The same goes for Military Skill, which includes hunting, shooting, signal gs, g dancing, mechanical operations, and so forth. If one learns both Military Skill and Ancient Martial Arts, two specializations of great breadth, there will inevitably be some ovepping parts that Li Yan already possesses, such as cavalry fighting spear techniques, etc. But this is not wasteful; it could increase the possibility of breaking through the peak of specialization. Just like Li Yan now. His specialization disy reads: ¡°Ancient Martial Arts 93%, Hot Weapons 38%, Military Skill 50%.¡± What this epasses, including bow-wielding, horsemanship, scouting, etc., goes without saying. The following category of firearm military equipment caused Li Yan to frown. Not suitable for him. All these items belong to military ordnance and armor, such as the [Side Box Car], [Poisonous Fire Skrk], [Tiger Cask Cannon], [Hundred Ferocious Tigers Rushing Arrows] and so on, which Li Yan once witnessed. They have certain usage requirements, such as Military Skill specialization, strong lethality on the battlefield, poor uracy; Mo mentioned that the Luo category inheritance excels in device crafting. These must be what the Luo category inheritance requires. Wrong. Li Yan immediately dismissed this thought. In more delicate personal confrontations, these items are no match for refined firearms; their uracy is too low, and with wide-open terrain, considering Li Yan¡¯s current abilities, there¡¯s almost no chance of being hit by such weapons. Intuitively, these seem more suitable for warfare, even siege operations, and are not meant for individual Yan Fu mercenaries to roam alone. Li Yan quickly realized, who said that Yan Fu¡¯s roamers must operate like superhuman mercenaries? Mo mentioned that inheritance falls into ten categories, ording to what Li Yanter found online. Heaven, Earth, Man, Spirit, Ghost make up the Five Immortals; Luo, Scale, Feather, Hair, Jie are the Five Insects. If a category like the Five Insects gains a powerful state like ¡°Hook Star¡± and follows a route of personal capability, then the Five Immortals¡­ Farming-oriented? A hint of a smile appeared on Li Yan¡¯s face. Chapter 99 - 5: 9 Phoenixes Chapter 99: Chapter 5: 9 Phoenixes ¡°` You may select any three from the following gifts. Each item will cost you one Yan Fu point. ¡­ The Wild Gods gathered by Li Yan number in the hundreds, but their strengths vary significantly, as do the values of their gifts, which are wide-ranging and inclusive of all sorts. For example, the gift from Jin Yanwa is a rare-quality dagger, the Iron-Eating Fox offers a human skin mask, and the Merit Magpie bestows a red fruit that can enhance vision, among others. Additionally, the gifts of the Wild Gods aren¡¯t strictly urate since they also include offerings from military officers like Wang Sheng, likely consisting of bows, swords, and the like.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om After reviewing the options, Li Yan selected the three he deemed most valuable. [Gaoliangna¡¯s Lifesaving Hair] Category: Consumable Passively triggered, resists one fatal attack, with an overflow limit. One Yan Fu point. Gift giver: Gaoliangna [Nine-Winged Sudu¡¯s Feather Woven ck Scarf] Category: Curio Summon a hundred Sudu birds, free tomunicate as they apany you. [Sudu Bird] Weight: 3 grams Characteristics: Midair stillness, backward flight, vertical takeoff andnding, agile dodging. Speed: 100 km/h Sudu birds cannot be replenished after death. [Ji Xiao¡¯s New Book: The Method of Face Reading] Category: Curio Usage: 3/3 Designate a Yan Fu traveler as a Comrade, and secure the right to join them in the same Yan Fu event. ¡°Those who discern warriors, avoid the signs of dire death and value symbols of fortune.¡± Gift giver: Diao Xiayan No need to say much about the lifesaving hair. The Sudu birds in the Feather Woven ck Scarf are essential for scouting, tracking, and surveince. As for [Ji Xiao¡¯s New Book: The Method of Face Reading], Li Yan also noticed upon seeing it that not everyone in Yan Fu was a lone ranger. Even if the rtions aren¡¯t consistently aligned in interest as Comrades, as long as one reaches amon baseline with fellow travelers engaging in Yan Fu events, the execution power is iparably higher than that of loners. Having a few reliable fellows to apany you means you don¡¯t have to worry about being stabbed in the back. Even dependable fellows like Deng Tianxiong and Diao Xiayan, who are native to thends of the fruits, aren¡¯t encountered every time. Of course, there are still many splendid items among the Wild God gifts. However, having made a choice, one needn¡¯t dwell on those not taken. So, how to spend those points became the question. Perhaps it¡¯s a matter of personal habit, butpared to external items like Yinpan Gold or gs, Li Yan is more interested in the visualization of certain skills, especially [Demonic Eighty Strikes]. Indeed, this was not the optimal solution. Consumables such as Yinpan Gold do not offer significant long-term benefits to one¡¯s strength; hence, their short-term effect must surpass that of visualization skills, especially considering how much one should invest in those skills. Li Yan himself was uncertain about this, hence he did not rush to purchase consumables like Yinpan Gold and gs. Instead, he decided to use his Yan Fu points on visualization skills first and see the results before making a decision. The Ring Dragon Sword let out a piercing whistle as Li Yan, in a stable horse stance, exhaled softly. He began visualizing [Forty Strikes]¡­ ¡­ Apart from necessary eating, sleeping, and washing, Li Yan spent the next few days immersed in the courtyard training ground,pletely engrossed in the visualization andprehension of skills. The Iai sh was a sword technique, ipatible with the Ring Dragon and Tiger Head Great Spear. Li Yan¡¯s focus for visualization remained on [Forty Strikes], [Demonic Eighty Strikes], and [Yazi Provoked Killing]. After each visualization costing points, Li Yan would spend several hours or even more to ruminate and practice. The most progress was with [Yazi Provoked Killing], the skill from Song Yi. Perhaps it was because both men were proficient spear users from Zhuo Province, Li Yan simply needed to fully assimte Song Yi¡¯s imprint into his own. ¡°Bang!¡± Wood chips and dust flew as Li Yanunched a thrust with his spear shaft, and the wooden post he was practicing on eventually shattered under the force. It¡¯s worth mentioning that the spear in Li Yan¡¯s hand wasn¡¯t the Tiger Head Great Spear but his own unsharpened waxwood staff. Perhaps by coincidence, the method for Li Yan to ess the twenty cubic meters of independent space granted by Ten Cities authority was through caressing the Chaos Tattoo on his chest. Li Yan had stored the Ring Dragon Sword and Tiger Head Spear in there. During the still of night, he would specifically practice drawing the weapon from the mark and instantaneously striking (or thrusting), which in Li Yan¡¯s view, such a surprise attack was in itself as effective as any skill. ¡°Hey there, big guy from the Third Brigade, Dayan,e pick up your mail. Hurry up, they¡¯re calling you over the loudspeaker¡­¡± ¡°Third Brigade¡¯s big guy, Dayan¡­ they¡¯re calling you over the loudspeaker¡­¡± Li Yan wiped off his sweat, tossed the spear aside, and walked out of the yard. ¡°Ring ring~¡± Li Yan opened his vermilion gate and nodded to the middle-aged woman passing by on her somewhat old Phoenix Brand bicycle. ¡°Auntie, going out?¡± ¡°Ah, Dayan.¡± The middle-aged woman with aplexion of ck tinged with red stopped pedaling. ¡°When did you get back?¡± ¡°Been back for a while now.¡± ¡°Go on, visit your uncle¡¯s house?¡± ¡°Maybeter, I will.¡± In Li Yan¡¯s hometown, a vige was akin to a brigade, and the brigade¡¯s partymittee secretary was also the vige head. Being told to pick up mail at the brigade meant heading to the township government office. The mail contained talisman paper and cinnabar Li Yan had purchased online, which was naturally meant for creating the Nine Phoenix Talisman. Because the post office was far away, Li Yan conveniently put the township government as the mailing address. In the inconvenient years of the past, vigers did the same. ¡°Knock, knock.¡± Li Yan nced around the interior. It was still the same old ce: paintings on the wall, an office desk, potted nts, a water dispenser, only the person in the office chair looked unfamiliar. ¡°Big guy Dayan?¡± The girl ying with her phone by the desk looked up. Upon seeing Li Yan, she blinked and then called out his name. ¡°Dayu¡¯er?¡± Li Yan vaguely recognized her. ¡°Zhao Jinhu? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been pulled off, haven¡¯t I? I¡¯m a college student turned vige official now. Brother Dayan, have a seat, I¡¯ll pour you a ss of water¡­¡± The girl sprang to her feet with a smack and stood a whopping 1.75 meters tall once on the ground. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just grab my stuff and go.¡± ¡°Oh, just wait a sec.¡± Li Yan had stayed in the town until he was fifteen and hade back a few times after that; he was very attached to the people there. The girl, called Dayu¡¯er in her youth, used to wear two ox horn braids that weren¡¯t pretty¡ªat least, the young Li Yan who watched movies starring Cherie Chung and Carrie Ng didn¡¯t think so. But as a kid, Li Yan seemed to have stood up for her, fighting with the local thugs. Ah, he was at his wildest back then. Now, looking at her, the youngdy had blossomed into someone much more vibrant¡ªa fair, oval face, a pair of autumn-watery, cold-star eyes, like two ck pearls reared in mercury, refreshing when sheughed. And not a bad figure either¡­ Li Yan nodded to himself approvingly, ¡°Bro, here¡¯s your thing,¡± Dayu¡¯er reached out for him. ¡°Okay, thanks a lot.¡± Li Yan took it and turned to walk out. Dayu¡¯er opened her mouth, but Li Yan had already pushed the door open and left. She blinked her eyshes but said nothing. ¡°Dayan, when did youe back?¡± The man in the ck leather cap shouted as he leaned his bicycle under the locust tree in the yard, exhaling a cloud of white breath. The man was in his fifties, burly and resolute-featured, with two thick eyebrows and a slightly viinous air. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, fourth uncle.¡± ¡°What brought you back? Don¡¯t you go around avoiding honestbor.¡± Li Yan cheerfully replied, pulling out a pack of Yuxi cigarettes and offering them to the man. ¡°I missed you, you know.¡± The man was Li Yan¡¯s father¡¯s sworn brother, known locally as alliance brothers. Whenever Li Yan got into trouble as a child, he was the one who¡¯d get him out of it. Only a few close to Li Yan knew of his previous illness, and he had no desire to cause them sorrow now, but it spared him a great deal of trouble at this moment. ¡°Come over to my ce this afternoon, you hear? I¡¯ll have your aunt cook up some crabs for us, and we can have a cup or two together.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Li Yan agreeably concurred. A fleeting tenderness passed over the man¡¯s face. He had two daughters of his own and had always treated Li Yan like a son. Even though he didn¡¯t say a word about it, he was happy in his heart to have Li Yan back. ¡°By the way, Dayan.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up, fourth uncle?¡± ¡°Got yourself a girlfriend yet? Can I set you up with someone?¡± ¡°What on earth?¡± The man gestured with his mouth towards the house. ¡­ [Nine Phoenix Divine Talisman] Function: Brief A Yan Fu Talisman containing the power of Nine Phoenixes Use to increase any legacy¡¯s Awakening Degree by 10% and provides special enhancements for certain legacies. Note: In The Great Wilderness, there is a mountain called Beiji Cab. The sea¡¯s waters flow north to it. There dwelleth a god with nine heads, a human face, and the body of a bird, named the Nine Phoenixes. ¡ª¡ªssic of Mountains and Seas: The Northern Wilderness Your Gu Huo Bird Spirit legacy has absorbed the power of the Nine Phoenixes! The current Awakening Degree of Gu Huo Bird Spirit is 39%+7% Attempting to break through the 40% threshold will consume an additional 10% of Awakening Degree, with the current extra 7%. Each additional 5% increases the probability of sess by 10%, and spending 35% guarantees a breakthrough. Alternate breakthrough methods will return the extra Awakening Degree. To break through the 40% peak, you need twenty units of Dragon Tiger Qi. Your Blood Dip Skill is dormant for now, but it is certain to awaken and enhance before the next Yan Fu event. Li Yan¡¯s eyes were tinged with a faint red, and the white tiger cub formed by the Dragon Tiger Qi circled him a few times, yawning with an exhausted look. Li Yan sat on the sofa, picked up the teacup and drank a few cups of cool water, then suddenly grabbed the red gourd on the table. It was a parting gift from Yu Shu, who had promised to let him ess higher thresholds faster. Li Yan thought it had to do with the breakthrough. ¡°Pop~¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes went nk as he pried open the gourd¡¯s mouth, and a burst of ck light enveloped him. Then Li Yan felt something white and fluffy m into him! A soft, warm body pressed against him, and he instinctively raised his arm. He didn¡¯t know what his fingers touched, only feeling a slick substance. The rich fragrance jolted Li Yan¡¯s mind, his throat tightened unexpectedly, leaving him breathless. The woman¡¯s face was so flushed it was almost bleeding, her normally gentle and beautiful eyes now filled with shame and anger as they red at Li Yan. Her soft, boneless hand gripped his neck. ¡°I¡¯m going to fight you.¡± Li Yan¡¯s forehead throbbed with veins, his face turning red as he tried to speak, but his throat constricted even more, emitting only raspy sounds. ¡­ ¡°Bang, bang, bang.¡± At this moment, outside the gate of Li Yan¡¯s old home, delicate palms energetically pounded on the iron ring. ¡°Brother Dayan, my mom sent me to bring you two pounds of green fruit, Brother Dayan!¡± Dayu¡¯er nced at the smiling woman standing to the side, dressed in a long trench coat, and put a bit more force into her knocks. In fact, among girls her age, Dayu¡¯er was quite confident in her own appearance, feeling no less attractive than the woman in the trench coat. Yet, standing next to her, she felt like she was missing something¡ªnot in looks, but something else. ¡°Is he not at home?¡± The woman inquired. ¡°He was home this morning,¡± Dayu¡¯er replied. ¡°Um, sister, are you looking for Brother Dayan for something?¡± She asked the woman she had encountered on the road. ¡°Just visiting a friend,¡± the woman said. ¡°Oh.¡± Dayu¡¯er acknowledged. The sound of a grinding metaltch arose as the door slowly opened. Chapter 100 - 6: Untitled Chapter 100: Chapter 6: Untitled ¡°Dayu, bro,¡± Li Yan nodded slightly, forcing a smile, but he didn¡¯t hurry to open the door, instead ncing at Lei Jing who stood beside him. ¡°Is it about the same issue asst time?¡± Dayu nced at the woman curiously, knowing well that this girl was quite scheming. With just that indifferentment from Li Yan, the sourness brewing in her heart dissipated significantly. Lei Jing took a couple of steps forward as barks echoed from the neighboring yard. ¡°Senior, why don¡¯t we go inside to talk?¡± ¡°Did youe alone with nightfall approaching?¡± Li Yan asked naturally. ¡°The car couldn¡¯t get through, Mr. Bai is waiting by the roadside,¡± Lei Jing replied. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let hime in for a drink of water. Could the car possibly get stolen? Go call him,¡± Li Yan said generously, waving his hand. ¡°Uh, okay.¡± Without saying much more, Lei Jing turned and walked towards the alleyway. ¡°Thanks, Second Auntie,¡± Li Yan received a stic bag of green fruit, whispering to the girl, ¡°A rtive hase to the house; you should head back first.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Dayu rolled her eyes subtly, seemingly reluctant as she nced at Lei Jing outside the alley. Seeing Li Yan¡¯s stern expression, she didn¡¯t insist any longer. Kicking the ground with the tips of her toes unintentionally, she silently walked away. As Dayu left and the front of the door finally quieted down, Li Yan hurriedly turned back for a nce. The woman inside the house, with her hand on the aluminum window frame, locked eyes with Li Yan, her brows knitted and expressionplex as she shook her head at him. ¡°Senior,¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Li Yan turned back, only to find Lei Jing and a grim-faced, buzz-cut man standing in front of him. ¡°Oh, I thought about it, a visitor is a guest, after all¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be right not to have any food at home, especially since it¡¯s mealtime. Let¡¯s go out to eat.¡± Without breaking her demeanor, Lei Jing tilted her face slightly and simply smiled, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Let me put these things down first,¡± Li Yan said. With that, Li Yan closed the door, took a few steps into the living room, and gazed at the woman huddled in a corner. The house was in disarray, the clothes from a cab strewn all over the ce. In her grip, the woman clutched a paring knife; her upper body was d in an oversized light blue men¡¯s shirt, while she wore an emerald skirt with a silver pinched hem found at the bottom of the cab, an item from Li Yan¡¯s great-grandmother¡¯s era. Her face was flushed with unease, she bit her lower lip, and her wary eyes resembled those of a wild animal.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om This was the She Mountain Woman. ¡°She Mountain Woman, the truth is, I¡¯m not familiar with that woman. I had not expected things to turn out this way¡­¡± Li Yan struggled to keep his speech clear. He had considered the peculiarity within Yu Shu¡¯s gourd and had even prepared himself for danger, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated that the gourd would contain a woman, apletely naked one at that. ¡°You will certainly like her,¡± Yu Shu¡¯s upturned corners of his mouth still vivid in memory. ¡°I, I have to step out first. Calm down a bit, and then we can talk,¡± Li Yan said as he ced the green fruit down, cautiously stepping back from the She Mountain Woman. The She Mountain Woman watched Li Yan leave. After a while, the knife ttered to the floor, and she buried her face in the cor of her shirt, remaining speechless for a long time. ¡­ The counter wasden with deli items and vegetables, while colorful, lively fish swam back and forth in a square fish tank with bubbling water. At the entrance, next to the wine cab, stood a golden Maneki-neko. A neat young girl picked up a notepad and a ballpoint pen and came over. ¡°What¡¯ll it be?¡± The three chose a spot by the window, and Li Yan gestured towards Lei Jing. The woman nced around the steamy restaurant with a shallow smile on her face. ¡°Just order some of the signature dishes, and a pot of tea will do.¡± The youngdy, with her eyes cast downward, wrote something on a piece of paper, quickly capped her pen and walked away, leaving behind the words, ¡°There¡¯s tea on the table; I¡¯ll add a pot of hot water for you.¡± The man with the t haircut remained silent as usual, but he couldn¡¯t help but nce at Li Yan with a bit more wariness. Oddly enough, it was since the day he had seen Li Yan in the audio-visual store that the t-headed man had a strange dream. He found himself standing at the entrance of the store, making a sudden move towards Li Yan who was sitting on the sofa. The details of the process were hazy, but he only remembered that right before everything went dark, a kick aimed at his temple came thundering like lightning, apanied by the fierce and defiant expression on the man¡¯s face¡­ ¡°There¡¯s nothing much to eat in this small ce; pardon the inadequacy,¡± said Li Yan, a bit embarrassedly scratching his head, his smile gentle. There were still a few decent restaurants in town, and this one was considered quite good, but it was a bit of a letdown to entertain Lei Jing in such a ce. ¡°Ah? I think it¡¯s quite nice, but I¡¯m on a diet, and all these are meat dishes. You¡¯ll have to eat more, senior brother.¡± ¡°Sure. I certainly will.¡± Li Yanughed heartily. Times had changed; the man who once was a dying tiger in a barren tomb was now a fierce dragon diving into the sea. Although deep down, he didn¡¯t want to get entangled in the messy affairs of the martial arts association, and Lei Jing¡¯s tactics and temperament weren¡¯t quite to Li Yan¡¯s liking, it¡¯s like Zhuge Liang only had to invite Liu Bei three times. In essence, it was an effortless task. Lei Jing¡¯s intentions were ample, not to mention there was also Mr. Bai¡¯s good will at y. Li Yan couldn¡¯t quite bring himself to refuse outright. Lei Jing tapped her thumb and then added, ¡°Senior brother, you seem to be looking much better.¡± ¡°A friend rmended a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner; it has helped.¡± ¡°Really, traditional Chinese medicine? Can that¡­ really work?¡± Lei Jing¡¯s surprised expression seemed genuine, with no impurities. ¡°If you¡¯re referring to the issue fromst time, I think I might be able to think of a solution for you.¡± Li Yan spoke very directly. Lei Jing¡¯s eyes brightened but with a hint of embarrassment, she said, ¡°Actually, afterst time, I didn¡¯t really want to bother senior brother anymore. This time I¡¯m here because I contacted a friend from the NMDP (the world¡¯srgest bone marrow bank, located in the US), who has arrived in Beijing. I was hoping senior brother could go and try it out. Also¡­¡± She paused before continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve found a martial arts master from the north and would like senior brother to assess his skills. Of course, it would be best if you¡¯re willing to help.¡± ¡°Alright, no problem.¡± Li Yan thought about it; clearly being ill himself, even if he was willing to help, Lei Jing might not be entirely reassured. Considering that she had gone out of her way to arrange for contact with the American bone marrow bank, the favor was indeed substantial. Her thorough approach was alsofortable to deal with, and honestly, Li Yan had nothing to nitpick about. As the door opened, the waitress carrying the dishes came in, one te in each hand. Mixed veggies, boiled fish, dry-fried squid strips, shredded pork with Beijing sauce. The food was rich in color, with generous portions. ¡°Who is it, by the way? The Northern martial artsmunity isn¡¯t thatrge. Mention a name, and if they have a reputation, I might have heard of them.¡± Li Yan encouraged them to start eating. Lei Jing pulled out a photo from her bag and handed it over to Li Yan. In the photo was a young man around eighteen or neen years old, with fair skin, handsome features, nting eyes, and thin lips that gave him a somewhat sinister look. Li Yan chuckled. ¡°Senior brother, isn¡¯t he a bit young?¡± Lei Jing appeared a bit concerned. ¡°Junior sister¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a strong hand this time.¡± ¡­ By the time Li Yan arrived back at his doorstep, it was nearly dark. He stood at the steps with two containers of food for a moment before he chuckled to himself. He pushed the door and went inside. The poles on the rack in the courtyard were neatly arranged, the water vat was full, the drying rack held clean sweatshirts, and the windowsills, once thick with dust, were now spotless. The living room light was brightly on, and the floor tiles gleamed with a shiny finish. The She Mountain Woman sat on the sofa, her fingers gently peeling the shell of a green fruit. The tea-colored, jelly-like preserved egg shook slightly as it disappeared bit by bit into the woman¡¯s mouth. ¡°Umm, I haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡± Li Yan ced the food containers on the coffee table, and their eyes met. ¡°¡­¡± Without saying a word, the woman simply looked at Li Yan, her gaze devoid of any ripple. Chapter 102 - 1: The Fleeting Era (2 in 1) Chapter 102: Chapter 1: The Fleeting Era (2 in 1) ¡°The D**** train from Cangzhou West Station to Beijing South Station is about to arrive, please hurry and check your tickets¡­¡± ¡°Comrade, could you please check where I board the train with this ticket? I can¡¯t recognize anything after the expansion.¡± The ticket inspector looked up and couldn¡¯t help but blink. In front of her was a tall, slender man around one meter eighty, well-proportioned, wearing a ck sweater, his cheeks gaunt, his eyes so piercing that she felt a chill down her spine. He looked a bit like a movie star, like¡­ Zhang Zhen. ¡°Comrade?¡± ¡°Ah, go right, at the blue sign, tform number 2.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± The man walked in the direction she pointed, pressing his phone to his ear, with an ancient-looking copper coin hanging brightly on his chest. ¡°I¡¯m just getting on the train now, yes, by myself.¡± A man¡¯s voice came through from the other end of the phone. ¡°Yan Zi, howe I¡¯m hearing rumors in the vige, someone even said something about you buying a wife and bringing her back? You¡¯re a decent catch, and our area isn¡¯t that bad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense, that¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°Not true? Wasn¡¯t it you who had Jiyong sort out an ID card? I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re wilder than me. If Second Uncle learns about this, he¡¯ll chase you down the street with his cane, believe it or not. Hey, give me the lowdown, where did you get her from? Green Finch or Gaogou?¡± ¡°You believe anything thates out of Jiyong¡¯s mouth.¡± The man nced left and right before continuing. ¡°Don¡¯t try to scare me with my aunt¡¯s husband; I walk straight, you wipe your own ass clean first. Which of us would Second Uncle believe if we poke around him, do you have any doubt in your heart? Hey, are you almost at Kun¡¯s ce?¡± ¡°Almost there, you hurry up too. Alright, I¡¯m going to hang up now, we¡¯ll chat when we meet.¡± A busy tone came through the phone. Li Yan pocketed his phone, touched the six-coin copper money on his neck, as the steel train roared by at the end of the white line. On the phone was Li Yan¡¯s cousin, Guo Zijian, nicknamed Er¡¯luo. Together with Zhang Jiyong and Chen Kun, the four of them were childhood friends, but Li Yan went to Guangdong when he was young, and only returned north after his father died. While Zhang Jiyong was still in touch, Guo Zijian and the eldest of the group, Chen Kun, hadn¡¯t seen each other for almost five or six years. After midnight tomorrow, another two months will have passed, meaning Li Yan will face his third Yan Fu event. It¡¯s off-season now, so there weren¡¯t many people in the carriage. Li Yan found a seat, touched the copper money with his thumb, and whispered, ¡°This will do.¡± He looked up, and the She Mountain Woman, no, Lady Dan was sitting opposite him. ¡°General, you seem really anxious.¡± ¡°Just call me Li Yan.¡± Li Yan rubbed his face and asked, ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Lady Dan nodded. ¡°Saw some old friends today, reported that I¡¯m safe, now I have to go again.¡± ¡°To Ming Country?¡± ¡°No, somewhere else, it¡¯s also dangerous.¡± ¡°Will you take me?¡± ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Li Yan hesitated for a moment: ¡°If you want, you can stay in this world. It¡¯s not necessary to stay by my side, you learn things quickly, and your spectral body isn¡¯t much different from regr people. You can survive on your own now.¡± Lady Dan touched the copper coin on Li Yan¡¯s chest with her finger. ¡°You didn¡¯t have this before.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Did you get it for me?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°Even though you don¡¯t want me to leave, why do you say things like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be unhappy.¡± ¡°General, ah, Li Yan.¡± Lady Dan pulled up the hair on her cheeks, her eyes sharp in their ck and white rity as she stared at Li Yan, the corner of her mouth quirking up. ¡°I think, in your heart, there was originally a girl.¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes flickered, and he nodded with a smile. ¡°Right. But whether I can live to see her again is uncertain.¡± A tinny train shed by outside the car window. Sunlight spilled over the two of them. ¡°If you have to fight somewhere else, I might be able to help you out a bit.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Time flies withpany, but crawls when alone. Skipping over the joyful reunion with several childhood friends, two months passed in the blink of an eye, and Li Yan was about to face his third Yan Fu event. ¡­ ¡°Esteemed Walker, you are about to initiate a Yan Fu event!¡± ¡°The Blood Dip of the Gu Huo Bird is permanently enhanced; please check for details after entering the event.¡± ¡­ Inside the nine and outside the seven imperial cities, with nine gates and eight ceremonies, rings but one bell. The city walls, the alleyways, the Drum Tower, the opera gardens, the big drums, the white legs under qipaos. Factories, chemical smog, the red demolition characters circled, military coats, and homemade iron rings. The duck from Cheap House, lion¡¯s head meatballs from Dongxing Building, the boiled tripe from Jinshenglong, Dreadlocks, guitars, motorcycle engines, the youths crowding Shu Vige. An era that passes in a sh, stories that vanish just as quickly. A thousand years of changing face, will all boil over at midnight! Be smart, walk the path of Infernal Yan Fu. Li Yan opened his eyes, d in a worker¡¯s uniform from the 1980s and 1990s, he turned to look around him. Beneath the hazy darkness of night, the tarred road, telephone poles, the uneven red-brick and ck-roofed houses before his eyes, the distant chimneys towering high, spewing dense orange smoke with a punk-magical ir, the rolling clouds of smoke before Li Yan¡¯s disbelieving stare, started to form writing. Time: 1998 Location: Yan Capital, East 40 degrees, North 115 degrees. [This Yan Fu event is a free hunt. A total of 164 Esteemed Walkers are released.] [When any Esteemed Walker dies, all Walkers will be notified.] [There is a 20% chance of obtaining the heritage on an Esteemed Walker when they are killed under any circumstances.] [Each Walker will receive information dispatched by the Infernal Faction at 11:30 pm.] [The information will contain a designated location, a set time, and rough information about one Walker.] [Each Walker must arrive at the designated location before midnight, those who arete will have 5000 Yan Fu points deducted and lose 10% of the Awakening Degree of all inheritances.] [One is certain to obtain the Yan Fu Heritage on the designated Walker if they are killed within the set time.] [Condition for return: Kill more than six Esteemed Walkers.] There was a red timestamp at the edge of Li Yan¡¯s retina. 11:59 PM The arrival time would be after 11:30 PM, which meant there was almost an entire day as a buffer. Li Yan mulled over it in his mind. ¡°Yan Capital? Is it another name for Beijing in another reality?¡± Li Yan looked up, the tall chimney in the distance was unfamiliar, but the thing before his eyes seemed strangely familiar. Four pirs, threepartments, seven stories high, a hipped gable roof, golden, purple, and green zed tiles with decorative edges, arched doorways carved with a variety of exquisite ornaments, and big characters written on the red pirs against a blue background that read ¡°Eternal Imperial Prosperity.¡± The night was deep, the streetlights were still on, a bright red ¡°Demolition¡± character was particrly eye-catching at the entrance of the alley. The sounds of barking dogs and crying children moaned in Li Yan¡¯s ears, along with the operation of a sewing machine, the rumble of distant factories, and the whispers of a young couple in secret conversation. A tinkle of a bicycle bell rang out, Li Yan nced over to see a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing a liberation hat, the kind Zhao Benshan wore in his performances, his arms covered with sleeve protectors. Li Yan waved his hand, and the man braked, dragging his bike a few meters before stopping right in front of Li Yan. When the man spoke, Li Yan found his voice oddly familiar. ¡°Hey, youngrade. Why aren¡¯t you home yet at thiste hour?¡± ¡°Uncle, I need to find something out. Is there a hotel nearby that doesn¡¯t require an ID card?¡± Li Yan felt the half pack of ¡°Da Lian He¡± cigarettes in his pocket and casually offered one to the man. The man didn¡¯t hesitate, pulling out his lighter from his pants pocket to light up, but identally dragged out two paper bills with it. Li Yan found the two bills unfamiliar, they did not resemble the old currency of his time. The man was on the bus. Seizing the opportunity, Li Yan bent down to pick them up for him. ¡°Thank you, youngrade.¡± ¡°Hey, no problem.¡± The red time indicator before Li Yan¡¯s eyes jumped, changing from 11:59 to midnight. All was silent¡­ ¡°Whoosh!¡± Li Yan¡¯s ankles exploded with astonishing speed, sending him leaping back at least four or five meters. He was holding two blue paper bills in his hand when he abruptly looked up, only to find that the middle-aged man had vanished into thin air! ¡°Ding-ling~ Ding-ling~¡± The old-fashioned bicycle was still standing there, its ck bell echoing in the deste street, with the dim yellow glow of the streetlight spreading in rings, casting an eerie vibe. [Tianjin Red g Bicycle (Night)] Threat level: Light Red Li Yan snorted withughter. A bicycle that posed a threat to him sounded somewhatical. ¡°Your Hook Star status bonus has been reduced to 200%!¡± ¡°Your ability to judge gold-based objects has been disabled!¡± ¡°Your state [Fierce!] has been suppressed!¡± Li Yan was startled but quickly regained hisposure, frowning as he turned to look towards the Dong Yue Archway behind him. [Dong Yue Archway (Night)] Suppresses all items or abilities ssified as ¡°evil¡± within its range! All creatures with (Night) attributes within the range cannot inflict damage on flesh and blood beings who have not fallen asleep at midnight. Leaving the vicinity of the Dong Yue Archway will lift the suppression. The three tall arches still stood tall, adding a touch of sternness to the night. ¡°Ding-ling¡­¡± The old bike took a turn on its own, heading in the opposite direction from Li Yan. Li Yan pondered for a moment, then shed his rtively bulky work clothes, rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, and stepped out of the archway¡¯s range. There was no doubt that for ordinary people, staying under the protection of the Dong Yue Archway was a safe choice. However, Li Yan wasn¡¯t there to y a survival game like Silent Hill; he was there to fight a deadly duel with another fierce Infernal Walker like himself. The archway had a nearly 50% suppression effect on the Gu Huo Bird Spirit, which Li Yan couldn¡¯t ept. He considered one of the rules in the event content: leading the Infernal Walker to a designated ce for a duel, a rule that seemed more troublesome than he had imagined. After turning two full streets, he passed by low electric poles, grocery stores, alleys, drum towers, and the red brick and green tiles teeming with old Beijing¡¯s style. There were no voices to be heard, though the smokestacks of distant factories were still emitting red smoke; Li Yan encountered no special domains like the Dong Yue Archway. It seemed eerie, though not particrly dangerous¡­ ¡°Ha ha, hahaha¡­¡± As he thought this, a raggedy ck ball rolled towards Li Yan, followed by a staggering little boy with iling arms chasing after it. Both the ball and the boy were engulfed in shadows, with their elongated, twisted shadows stretching under the streemp. ¡°Haha, hahaha¡­¡± The boy¡¯s running posture was ludicrous, hopping and jumping in a striding motion, his arms raised and bent into a ¡®Z¡¯ shape, his slender fingers stretched out as far as they could. ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± The little boy finally came into view under the streemp ¨C his yellow children¡¯s shirt smeared with blood, a duck stamp imprinted on his chest. His eyelids had been cut off, revealing eyes that covered half his face, his eardrums trembling with strands of blood, resembling two dead, pale salted duck eggs! Li Yan¡¯s face showed no emotion as he heard a raspy, metal-scraping voice by his ear. ¡°Attention all Walkers, an Infernal Walker has died.¡± The first one¡­ The ¡°ball¡± rolled and struck the side of Li Yan¡¯s leather shoe. The head was matted with dark hair, the face stark white and gaunt, one eyeball falling out of its socket as the boy kicked at it. The lips, a blur of flesh and blood, parted and closed. Without a doubt, it was a woman¡¯s severed head. ¡°Brother. Hahaha¡­ teach, teach me to y ser¡­¡± The little boy stretched out his arms towards Li Yan. Li Yan remained silent, slowly cing his foot on the twitching woman¡¯s face and pressing down hard. ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Red mixed with white sttered into arge puddle, and under the semi-dark light, Li Yan¡¯s teeth were eerily white! ¡°You little brat, still kicking the ball?¡± Meanwhile, outside the Yonghe Pce in Yan Capital. ¡°Attention all Esteemed Walkers, a Yan Fu Esteemed Walker has perished.¡± The man¡¯s face twisted in disgust as he looked at the red walls and green tiles around him, and once again lowered his head to look into the well. Branches, eaves, pale and panicked faces. Definitely not my face¡­ The man lit a cigarette, but the face in the well stared straight at him. The man blew out a ring of smoke. ¡°What the hell are you looking at!¡± Water sshed as that face in the well surged out violently! ¡­ Shuanghe Sheng Five-star Brewery¡¯s malt sugar room¡¯s ruins. ¡°The freshest beer I had ever drunk was Taishan draft, but today I changed my mind.¡± The man¡¯s fingers gripping the cup were thick at the joints, and he sat back-to-back with an old man wearing a red-star military cap inside the brewery. ¡°Attention all Esteemed Walkers, a Yan Fu Esteemed Walker has perished.¡± ¡°Whoa, someone¡¯s dead already? Hey old man, is there any more of this booze?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get you some.¡± The old man got up shakily, stirring up a lot of dust with each step. The factory¡¯s equipment was long decayed, a rat shattered a spider¡¯s web and scurried away swiftly with its legs tucked beneath. ¡°Thanks, old man, then shall we¡­¡± Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the man¡¯s bluish stubbly chin. ¡°Let¡¯s drink before fighting.¡± ¡­ North New Bridge Ancient Well on Dongzhimen Street ¡°Little girl, the Dragon King has sent a great flood, hurry up, I¡¯ll hold it back¡­¡± The girl reached out her hand and grasped a dragon-patternedrge saber, over two meters long and yet she instinctively took several steps back. The girl seemed to be just fifteen or sixteen years old, about a middle schooler¡¯s age, not even two-thirds as tall as the saber. Murky yellow water churned incessantly in the well, a wide iron chain covered in red rust stretched straight out from the well, pulled by a man in ragged clothes with a tiger¡¯s build and bear¡¯s waist, his voice trembling as he hauled on the chain, muscles bulging all over as he strained against it. ¡°Better to mind my own business¡­¡± The girl pondered leaving, turning around only to find herself facing the same well, the same man, and the same phrase. ¡°Little girl, the Dragon King has sent a great flood, hurry up, I¡¯ll hold it back¡­¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The woman turned around again with a dark face. ¡°Little girl, the Dragon King has sent a great flood¡­¡± The girl thought for a moment, put away the dragon-patterned saber, and approached the sweating man. Her delicate palm grasped the chain. ¡°Old man, at your age you can¡¯t even pull up an iron chain, go home and eat shit. Move over.¡± Her slender arm lifted, and the chain rattled rapidly, lightning split the red smog, and the clear cry of a dragon resounded through the heavens. ¡­ Shuanghe Sheng Five-star Brewery¡¯s malt sugar room North New Bridge Ancient Well on Dongzhimen Street No. 81 Chaonei Hutong Xisi North Street National Protection Double Guan Di Temple Houses And those weren¡¯t the only ces¡­ Red smoke scorched the night sky, and from time to time, fierce howls pierced the silence of the tranquil Yan Capital City. Chapter 104 - 3 Kui and the Encounter Chapter 104: Chapter 3 Kui and the Encounter Li Yan took a few steps before suddenly leaping backward, then stood still, looking somewhat baffled. ¡°No matter which direction I go, I get closer to that door.¡± Li Yan inwardly sighed with headache. Inside the house, men and women, old and young, stared at Li Yan, their faces emotionless beneath their deathly pallor makeup. Li Yan stood still, but the door seemed to move closer and closer as if a strange mouth was lunging at him. Without panicking, Li Yan withdrew his hand from the Ring Dragon Sword and stepped towards the door. Crossing the threshold, he found himself in a different world. A three-story building with redcquered columns, yellow and blue carved beams decorated with Copper Coins and pagodas, and blindingly bright light bulbs were used outside; Li Yan turned his head to see a white air conditioning unit hanging on the wall. Looking ahead, there were narrow alleys barely wide enough for two people to walk shoulder to shoulder, with stic signs reading ¡°Copying¡± inrge letters above the windows. People crowded each floor, all craning their necks to look at Li Yan. [Yin Market] ¡°Brother, you break someone¡¯s stuff and you¡¯re thinking of leaving without so much as a word? That¡¯s not quite appropriate, is it?¡± The speaker wore a melon skin hat, draped a white towel over his shoulders, and had a long box hanging from his neck, filled with various brands of cigarettes. His attire didn¡¯t resemble that of the post-liberation era at all. He stepped out of the crowd with a smirk on his face, his face powder king off. Li Yan¡¯s gaze flickered as he handed over the two blue banknotes he had just picked up. ¡°Sorry about that, will this be enough?¡± The cigarette vendor didn¡¯t even look, ¡°We don¡¯t take your kind of money.¡± Li Yan rxed his hand, crumpling the banknotes. ¡°Then how do we settle this?¡± ¡°Yin Market has its own rules. If you can¡¯t pay, that¡¯s fine, but you need to leave something behind as coteral.¡± The man in the melon skin hat smiled broadly. ¡°What sort of thing?¡± ¡°Arms, legs, liver, spleen¡­¡± The vendor¡¯s eyes flickered with a murderous intent from Li Yan, but he quickly changed his tone. ¡°I guess you wouldn¡¯t be too keen on that, let me make a suggestion for everyone.¡± He reached out a hand. ¡°Leave the sword.¡± ¡°¡­And if I don¡¯t?¡± Li Yan¡¯s smile was hollow as he surveyed the onlookers and vendors who were closing in. The cigarette seller gestured to keep the crowd back, grinned at Li Yan, revealing a set of gleaming, sharp teeth. ¡°Main Street Alley has a reputation, big enough but not too big in Yan Capital City. The rules haven¡¯t been broken in many years, my friend. You should think carefully. If I¡¯m not mistaken, we¡¯re going to be dealing with each other for a while.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Li Yan thought for a moment while the cigarette vendor didn¡¯t rush him. ¡°I can¡¯t give you the sword, but¡­¡± Li Yan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small Gold ingot. ¡°How much will this cover?¡± The vendor nced at it and replied indifferently, ¡°More than enough.¡± ¡°Take your stuff, but just so you know, I¡¯m only paying my share,¡± Li Yan pointed outside. ¡°That guy just now, I can¡¯t do anything about him.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± The vendor took the gold ingot and gave a thumbs up. ¡°Generous! There are plenty of good things here; feel free to look around, brother.¡± ¡°No rush, we¡¯ll talk about itter.¡± Li Yan turned to leave, raising his hand to catch an object that flew at him. A crumpled pack of cigarettes with a girl in a qipao depicted on it. ¡°I¡¯m Hat Zhang, and I don¡¯t take advantage of people. This one¡¯s on me.¡± [Little Golden Mouse Cigarettes] Category: Consumable Quality: Fine Price: Arge piece of living flesh. Smoking increases one¡¯s jumping ability by a very small amount; to be calcted in conjunction with the inheritance state. A thought shed through Li Yan¡¯s mind, and he genuinely considered browsing the Yin Market. But he had to be quick tonight, and truly had no time to spare. ¡°Thank you,¡± With that, he turned and stepped through the doorway, walking out smoothly. The double doors behind him snapped shut, sealing off even the faintest beam of light; the alley fell silent and dark, bitter cold and utterly devoid of human warmth. ¡­ Within Dongcheng District¡¯s Anding Gate, the Imperial College. The Chinese dynasty¡¯s premier academic institution through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. ¡°This is giving me a headache,¡± The man speaking wore gold-rimmed sses and had brass knuckles on his hands, presenting an odd mix of schrly and fierce demeanor. A few people stood outside of Guangye Hall with its bright yellow zed tile roof, gazing across at the man with sses inside the building. Guangye Hall, one of the six halls of the Imperial College, served as a ce where schrs taught the imperial students. At the moment, the man with sses sat below the professor¡¯s podium, his expression conflicted. ¡°Yunhu, why don¡¯t we wait for you? An opportunity like this is rare,¡± The man called Yunhu nced at the shadowy figures wearing tall hats and wide belts in front of the hall. He had once experienced a Yan Fu event closely rted to the civil service examination system of the Ming and Qing dynasties, carrying with him the ¡°Kui¡± heritage, a star of influence in the rise and fall of literature. The lingering soul of this ¡°old schr¡± in the Imperial College was key for him to break through his peak and even elevate his heritage. But after thinking it over, he shook his head resolutely. ¡°I¡¯lle some other day. Tonight is crucial; I can¡¯t waste time.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Among the one hundred and sixty-four Yan Fupetitors, even if you kill an opponent outside of the ¡®duel,¡¯ there¡¯s a 20% chance of inheriting their heritage,¡± The man cut off hispanion¡¯s words, ¡°Not everypetitor actively faces Yan Fu events, many choose to muddle through with the help of ¡®fellow travelers.¡¯ After all, life is precious, and with the special abilities granted by their heritage, as long as they have a bit of sense, anypetitor can live quitefortably in reality. There¡¯s no need to fight to the death.¡± He looked at the men and women outside the building as he stood up, ¡°So, of these hundred-pluspetitors, there are far too many with almost zero strength and willpower, mere trash filling the ranks. Not to mention surviving the killing amongpetitors, they might not even make it past midnight. Yet killing them could yield tangible Yan Fu heritages! This includes getting one¡¯s hands on extremely powerful heritages with high rank. With a bit of luck, just by hunting these people, one could receive gains that couldn¡¯t be obtained even from three or four Yan Fu events. No fortunate encounter in the events canpare to that.¡± ¡°In at most three days, these weaklings will all be dead, leaving behind only the tough nuts to crack. Nothing is more important than clearing them out. So, let¡¯s move out,¡± As the man was about to set off, a woman¡¯s voice came from among hispanions outside, ¡°Since we¡¯re picking the low-hanging fruit first, there¡¯s no need to bring you along.¡± The person came out¡ªit was a girl wearing a duckbill cap. ¡°You stay here; we¡¯ll take care of those people,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t trust it,¡± the man tly refused. The girl in the duckbill cap clearly was not nning to back down and locked eyes with the man, ¡°¡­Alright then.¡± With a frown, the man took off his sses and started cleaning them with the hem of his shirt. ¡°Stay safe. Target the ones who are alone first,¡± ¡­ ¡°Achoo¡ª¡± Li Yan, left only in a white shirt, put on Smith¡¯s overcoat and took arge bite from a carrot he pulled out from his pocket. ¡°This wind is pretty cold,¡± As Li Yan was muttering to himself, someone stepped out of the hardware store to his right, a cigarette dangling from his lip and a thin-ded kitchen knife in his hand. Both men noticed each other at the same time. The atmosphere suddenly grew tense as their eyes met, the only sound being the crunch of the carrot between Li Yan¡¯s teeth. The man threw the burnt cigarette butt on the ground, lit another one, and took a big draw, mping the butt between his teeth. ¡°ng!¡± The kitchen knife shed against the Ring Dragon Sword, grinding together with a grating sound. Their noses almost touching, one smoking a cigarette, the other chewing on a carrot, neither seemed entirely serious, ¡°Huff!¡± ¡°Pff!¡± The man blew a mouthful of smoke into Li Yan¡¯s face, while his own face got sprayed with carrot bits. The knife de and the sword¡¯s spine scraped and separated, ¡°Damn dirty¡­¡± They cursed in unison. Chapter 105 - 4 Culinary Skill: Straw Raincoat Blade! Chapter 105: Chapter 4 Culinary Skill: Straw Raincoat de! The smoking man staggered backwards, and with the Ring Dragon showing no mercy, his thin-spined kitchen knife had just been drawn back when the longsword was already nearing his face. ¡°So fast, Feather ss?¡± Blocking a strike with a weapon is naturally quicker than shing, and the kitchen knife is much lighter than the Ring Dragon, so the man¡¯s kitchen knife barely tangled with the Ring Dragon Sword¡¯s de. To his surprise, the oing Ring Dragon made a rolling motion, slicing right under the handle of the kitchen knife. ¡°Let go!¡± The man made a split-second decision and dropped the knife to save his hand. His kitchen knife was sent flying into the air by the Ring Dragon, and without anything to depend on, the man could only watch as the longsword shed towards his chin, silently chanting in his mind: ¡°Glutinous rice ball.¡± As the longsword lifted into the air, to Li Yan¡¯s incredulity, the man¡¯s head turned into a ball of dough that had been shed open, revealing the man¡¯s face only after the Ring Dragon cut through the dough. ¡°Exploding rice.¡± A st of air erupted from beneath the smoking man¡¯s feet, the sound startling even Li Yan, who hesitated in his pursuit. The man flew back more than ten meters, only bleeding from a gash on the side of his nose afternding. ¡°What the hell?¡± Li Yan couldn¡¯t quite grasp the depths of this person for a moment. He could vaguely see a sheep-headed, human-bodied Exotic Beast standing behind the man. Yan Fu¡¯s voice drifted slowly over. ¡°You have faced Taotie¡¯s Power!¡± Taotie, a person of the Jinyun n, is extremely gluttonous. ¡°You have gained some information.¡± Name: Cha Xiaodao Talent: Culinary Skill 79%, Sword Skill 59% Status: Culinary Skill Skills: ??? Heritage: Gluttonous Heart¡¤Culinary Skill [Gluttonous Heart¡¤Culinary Skill] Type: Heritagen/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Quality: Rare Upon activation, mastered culinary skills will be transformed into correspondingbat skills. Note: Cooking and fighting are two different things after all; one still needs to train in martial arts. The quick skirmish in Main Street Alley with Li Yan had ended in the blink of an eye; added to the darkness of the night, A Fleeting Glimpse had not provided any news, only that the man¡¯s heritage seemed to be water-rted. But this time was different, with a direct confrontation between the two, Li Yan had also seen the man¡¯s techniques clearly and had thus gained information about him. After reading the information, Li Yan was amused. This heritage was interesting¡ªa chef from one of the four Exotic Beasts? Of course, Li Yan also understood that it was not so simple. Just like his Gu Huo Bird¡ªif ¡°Blood Dip¡± originated from the legend of stealing babies with a drop of blood, then the description of the ¡°Heavenly Emperor¡¯s maiden¡± who ¡°hides by day and flies by night¡± was not reflected in him. Simrly, the ¡°Culinary Skill¡± on the other person did not mean that all inheritors of ¡°Taotie¡± were chefs. On the other side, Cha Xiaodao¡¯s scalp tingled. ¡°This guy¡¯s expertise in swordsmanship is unreasonably high¡­¡± He nced at the kitchen knife at Li Yan¡¯s feet. Feeling his gaze, Li Yan stepped on the de and flicked it behind him into a water channel, where the knife hit the railing with a crisp ng. ¡°Gone.¡± Li Yan shrugged. ¡°You little rascal¡­¡± Cha Xiaodao took the cigarette from his lips and threw it on the ground. ¡°Exploding rice.¡± He sprinted towards Li Yan, moving so fast it was hard to follow. Without thinking, Li Yan thrust the Ring Dragon Sword straight forward. ¡°Dumpling.¡± Crack~ The man, who shot over like a streak of metal, twisted his body incredibly at thest moment before hitting the Ring Dragon Sword. He managed to press against the de with his chest and reach Li Yan! The sharp edge of the sword cut a bloody gash on the man¡¯s body, but only sliced through ayer of greasy skin, as the man¡¯s palms struck towards Li Yan¡¯s eyes from both sides. ¡°Crack an egg.¡± The man¡¯s low shout even reached Li Yan¡¯s ears. ¡°So impressive with that twin peaks ear-piercing¡­ I see you¡¯ve got some skill¡­¡± Li Yan scoffed inwardly as his right foot kicked off the ground, propelling him forward. His forehead smashed hard against Cha Xiaodao¡¯s nose. Specks of blood sttered onto Li Yan¡¯s face, and Cha Xiaodao¡¯s vision darkened. ¡°Rolling donkey.¡± Li Yan drew his sword and flicked his wrist, the de zigzagging three times through the air, all of them shing the man¡¯s body. Only thest stab aimed at Cha Xiaodao¡¯s neck missed, brushing past. ¡°Puffed rice burst.¡± Cha Xiaodao ducked and darted under Li Yan¡¯s armpit, sprinting toward the kitchen knife by the side of the water channel. Only when a streak of sword light caught the corner of his eye did a chill cross his heart. ¡°He can keep up with me!¡± There were deep blood streaks on Cha Xiaodao¡¯s neck, elbow, and back, yet his speed was unimpaired. Li Yan thought to himself that had he sustained these three wounds, his strength would have diminished by at least thirty percent, which gave Li Yan some food for thought. ¡°He¡¯s a tough fur ss by nature,pensating hisck of speed with his inherited abilities. Not a bad strategy.¡± Li Yan, mid-leap, thrust forward with his Ring Dragon Sword as Cha Xiaodao, who had just grabbed the kitchen knife, also turned and swung his de. The Ring Dragon Sword drove straight in, piercing the man¡¯s lower abdomen, while the kitchen knife was blocked by the sword hilt. Li Yan stared at Cha Xiaodao¡¯s stern face when suddenly, an indescribably intense pain shot up from his forearm. Even with Li Yan¡¯s willpower, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a painful roar. Spiraling blood trails spread from Li Yan¡¯s wrist to his elbow; chunks of flesh peeled away and hung loosely over his meridians and bones, creating a gruesomely striking image. Culinary Skill: Straw Raincoat de. ¡°Puffed rice burst.¡± The Ring Dragon Sword was knocked askew by a current of air. The man braced his lower leg on the ground, curling into a ball, heading straight for Li Yan¡¯s throat, his eyes full of exhausted bloodshot streaks. Something¡¯s wrong! Dumpling. Ayer of white dough enveloped Cha Xiaodao entirely, but to no avail; a muffled sound came from within the dough. ¡°Bang~¡± Ayer of azure ice shone through the dough. Blood Dip (Nine Phoenix Enhancement) When the explosion urred, another 30% of freezing damage was added. Freezing damage impedes healing, disperses strength, and stiffens movement. Li Yan flicked his left hand, tearing a yellow talisman paper, and the wound on his right forearm visibly healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. ¡°Deep-fried Dough Sticks.¡± A golden light shot out from within the dough, turning Cha Xiaodaopletely golden as he bled from seven orifices but fled swiftly. ¡°Puffed rice burst puffed rice burst puffed rice burst puffed rice burst.¡± As Cha Xiaodao made several sharp turns in the air, seemingly about to escape, Li Yan had no intention of pursuing. He licked his teeth, spitting out the remnants of carrot stuck between them. ¡°This man¡¯s Awakening Degree is no less than mine, even possibly having broken through the first peak. It¡¯s just the beginning; there¡¯s no need to fight to the death with someone like this.¡± Li Yan walked into the hardware store that the man had just left and thoroughly blocked the entrance. ¡°With over a hundred Yan Fu wandering about, they can¡¯t all be this strong. ¡®Those people¡¯ nning to catch me off guard would likely tamper with the showdown at the twelve cester on, arranging the location on repressing items disadvantageous to me. Am I just unlucky, having encountered two wanderers not so easy to kill?¡± Li Yan nced around the hardware store, at the parts shattered beyond repair on the floor, the chisels, wrenches, all chopped into several pieces, and a bicycle forcibly stripped of two wheels still trembling like a fish out of water. ¡°Ghost Hardware Store, huh? Seems like he smashed through it.¡± Li Yan pulled out a stool from under the table. The stool moved slightly at first but became docile under Li Yan¡¯s gaze. Sitting down with great aplomb, Li Yan took out the half-eaten carrot and began to crunch away, apparently having no intention of continuing his exploration. Two welded iron racks had about six or sevenyers with boxes of various parts ced on them¡ªstic gloves, iron rings, cranks, nuts, pliers, and so forth. Yet, in theyer right beneath Li Yan¡¯s feet, a pair of terrified eyes appeared. He won¡¯t discover it; that man just now didn¡¯t notice either¡­ My Crisp Bone Skill is at a 76% proficiency, who would think a person could be hidden inside here. The person inside the rack tried to encourage herself, unaware that a ck beak bird, hardlyrger than a mosquito, was standing on the ground, staring intently at her. Chapter 106 - 5 Ganhua Alley Chapter 106: Chapter 5 Ganhua Alley ¡°` Li Yan¡¯s sleeve was soaked through with blood. He found some clean water and gauze in the shop to treat his wound and clean his dirtied overcoat. The sound of water and the tearing of clothes reached her ears; the gaping ss door whistled with cold wind, yet her palms and face, hidden in the inteyer, were covered in sweat. Mud- and blood-stained leather shoes were less than ten centimeters from her chin, and leftover carrot greens brushed past her face before falling to the ground. The woman curled up tight as a quail, her fingers digging into her own arms, not even daring to breathe heavily. ¡°A few more hours and it¡¯ll be light.¡± Li Yan seemed to be talking to himself. Chk~ The Ring Dragon with its blood groove dark as a ck line stood inserted in the marble floor; a few strands of hair floated down. The woman swallowed a big gulp of saliva, feeling utterly disheartened. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die a ustrophobic death in there,e out.¡± Li Yan took two steps back, his overcoat dripping wet. ¡°Heh~ha, uhm¡­¡± The woman, as if she¡¯d been holding back for a long time, gasped for breath, her sobs barely concealed. Li Yan remained unmoved. His cold gaze bore into the woman as she inched out from the inteyer, barelyrger than two basins put together. She wore a faded mechanic¡¯s uniform sttered with ck and brown spots¡ªsome from oil, others from blood. Her right hand was forcefully broken, her left leg smeared with blood, limping as she walked. A deep gash wed by a beast¡¯s paw stretched across her lower abdomen, pinkish blood foam dripping to the floor with her staggering steps. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, please, I beg you, don¡¯t kill me.¡± Her eyes were red-rimmed, her sobs choked out while she spoke, her body dirty and reeking of gasoline fumes. Yet her figure was still graceful, the swollen eyes and hoarse voice eliciting pity. ¡°If the tables were turned, would you spare me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never killed anyone, really¡­¡± The woman frantically defended herself. ¡°I don¡¯t like killing either; it feels awful, like intentionally catering to someone¡¯s disgusting moral standards.¡± Li Yan shrugged his shoulders, suddenly flipped his wrist and stabbed forward fiercely, the Ring Dragon targeting the woman¡¯s neck. ¡°So I try to make it quick. If there really is karma for killing, I¡¯ll bear it.¡± The thoughts raced through Li Yan¡¯s mind, his sword even faster. The woman looked utterly resigned to her fate, yet her reaction was unexpectedly agile; she twisted her waist and dodged Li Yan¡¯s Ring Dragon, sustaining only a deep cut on her shoulder. She staggered backwards, bumping into two rows of iron shelves, coughing out a mouthful of blood. The eerie beauty of her plight was harrowing. ¡°Feather ss¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you my inheritance, please, don¡¯t kill me, I don¡¯t want to die.¡± Seeing the woman on the ground begging incessantly, Li Yan took two steps forward, the sword¡¯s de resting on her neck. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something in my pocket.¡± Li Yan shed open the woman¡¯s pocket on her chest with his sword, and a ck go piece fell out. [Inkstone Go Piece] A consumable, for use exclusively in Free Hunting mode. For a cost of 100 Yan Fu points, you can choose to concede by dropping the piece and actively strip away one of your inheritances, transmuting it into an inheritance scroll. ¡°If you kill me, there¡¯s only a 20% chance you¡¯ll get my inheritance. Spare my life, and I guarantee you¡¯ll get it.¡± Li Yan narrowed his eyes, ced the Ring Dragon on the table, turned around to prop up the fallen iron shelves, leaving his entire side exposed to the woman! The woman¡¯s gaze flitted to the long sword on the table, her throat bobbing. Li Yan crouched down to right the iron shelves, musing leisurely: I still have to kill six more people for the Yan Fu event; you really make things difficult for me¡­ His back to the woman for quite a while, there was no movement from her. ¡°Is it okay now¡­?¡± The woman asked, ¡°¡­¡± Li Yan stood up: ¡°Without the enhancement of the inheritance, you¡¯re back to being a normal person. This Yan Fu event has no notion ofpanions; if you don¡¯t kill six people, you¡¯ll be stuck in this godforsaken ce for life.¡± A bitter look spread across the bloodstained face of the woman: ¡°But that¡¯s better than dying here now, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Li Yan thought for a moment and said: ¡°Your inheritance, along with all the items of excellent quality or above on your person, and I won¡¯t kill you.¡± ¡°Okay~¡± The woman nodded as quickly as a pecking chicken. ¡­ [Star-Patterned Bullets]*3 Quality: Excellent, causes damage only to Yin bodies, detonates on contact. [Shu Silk] Quality: Excellent, luxuriant silk fabric. [Witch¡¯s Love Potion]*8 Quality: Excellent, sacrifice twelve hours of life span to halt aging for one year. [Wind Lian¡¯s Hair] Quality: Rare, use to randomlyprehend one active status skill, requires Feather ss inheritance, Awakening Degree above 40%. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°` ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± Li Yan sized up the woman from head to toe. Her authority didn¡¯t reach Ten Cities, something Li Yan had confirmed with A Fleeting Glimpse, so the item must be hidden on her person. The woman was dressed in a tight sweater and thin jeans, with her hands wrapped around her shoulders, looking pitiful. Forget it¡­ Li Yan tossed back the uniform stained with gasoline and blood spots to the woman. She caught it, her eyes dim. In Li Yan¡¯s hand was a piece of sky-blue paper. He casually pinched it, and little specks of blue light fell. [Legacy: Bright Bird¡¯s Pupil ¨C Wind Pan] Awakening Degree 9% (stripped automatic restoration to initial value) Wind Pan: Enhances the holder¡¯s ability to leap, run, and dodge by 90%, and adds 45% strength. When actively triggering Wind Pan, you can freely allocate a total of 135% enhancement in a certain time, with the enhancement options including leaping, running, dodging, and strength. Esteemed Walker, please take note! You can choose to use it to rece your existing legacy, and afterward, the Chongming Bird will inherit the Gu Huo Bird¡¯s Awakening Degree. Blood Dip (Nine Phoenix Enhancement) cannotpensate, so please choose wisely, Esteemed Walker, or you can choose to consume it as amon Yan Fu Talisman, gaining 9% Awakening Degree. ¡°Very flexible, a decent legacy.¡± Of course, Li Yan would not choose to rece it. ¡°You, you promised to let me go.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was somewhat longing, and within the Yan Fu incident, there had been the matter of killing six people, yet she really had no choice. Li Yan pocketed the paper and stared intently at the woman¡¯s face.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°You promised me¡­¡± Li Yan took a step forward, and the woman subconsciously grabbed the screwdriver from the table. A bunch of stuff ttered from the tabletop to the floor. ¡°You¡¯re not keeping your word!¡± You really aren¡¯t suited for Yan Fu. Li Yan thought to himself and extended his right hand. ¡°There are still four hours until dawn, and in your current state, you¡¯re as good as dead if you encounter anything. Guai Garden¡¯s Guanyin Temple is only a few hundred meters from here; it¡¯s an orderly suppressive item, I¡¯ll help you get there.¡± Li Yan¡¯s voice was soft, and not particrly sincere. ¡°Forget it if you don¡¯t need it.¡± The woman¡¯s breathing, which was like bellows, gradually calmed down. She looked dazedly at Li Yan, her eyes full of despair and shimmering with tears. ¡­ The wind rustled the leaves, creating a whispering sound in the night. Li Yan, with his elbow supporting the woman¡¯s arm, stepped out of the store step by step. The woman¡¯s hair was disheveled, and she hobbled after Li Yan, dragging her feet; after a while, she murmured a low ¡°Thank you.¡± Li Yan shook his head. ¡°I robbed you of your legacy, you¡¯re out of your mind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good enough to keep my life. Who would want to help me under those circumstances?¡± The woman tipped her head back to sniff, and perhaps because she had been under great stress for so long, once she was certain Li Yan truly had no intention of killing her, she became much more talkative. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect it to turn out like this initially. I just needed the money; if only I had known¡­¡± Warm and mmy flesh sttered blood onto Li Yan¡¯s face and torso; the woman beside him copsed with a thud, a hole the size of a head blown through her chest. As the ruptured vessels twitched, drops of blood sprayed everywhere. Li Yan¡¯s hair stood on end, and he red with eyes wide open, instinctively tightening his grip on her palm. The woman looked up as if trying to say something, but then blood overflowed from her throat, and her eyes quickly lost their luster. And then, she slowly slumped to the ground. ¡°Damn, didn¡¯t get it¡­¡± The light-colored man with a light sniper rifle at the street corner said. ¡°No worries, there¡¯s another one.¡± Several figures materialized, surrounding Li Yan. Leading them was a girl in a baseball cap, her eyes fixed on the man beneath the telegraph pole. ¡­ Without a word, Li Yan withdrew his hand, wiping his cheek with the back of it. He muttered a curse under his breath and thenughed at himself mockingly. The wind wailed. Leaves swayed. All around were birch trees and buildings paved with red bricks, enclosed by thick iron fences. Before the liberation, this ce had a reformatory school that educated many delinquent youths. So, the name of this ce is Ganhua Alley¡­ ¡°You can stillugh in this situation?¡± The woman said coldly. ¡°It¡¯s not so bad, actually. I handle situations like this pretty well.¡± The faint smile on Li Yan¡¯s face disappeared, reced by an endless gloom and malice. ¡°To ughter you lot¡­¡± Chapter 107 - 6 Parrots Chapter 107: Chapter 6 Parrots The woman in the duckbill cap felt an unexined chill run down her spine. She whispered, her voice as fine as a mosquito¡¯s buzz. But the person she intended tomunicate with heard her loud and clear. ¡°Quick battle, quick decision, coordinate with Baldie to concentrate fire, and turn him into a sieve!¡± Li Yan¡¯s fist mmed into a small shed constructed from iron sheets and wooden nks at the bottom of a building, pulling out the metal and concrete bs to bury himself beneath them. Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat! Radiant tongues of me erupted from a birch tree not far from Li Yan and the end of the street, as bullets in a warm golden hue clinked chaotically. The bald man seized the opportunity, tilting his head to aim and squeeze the trigger in one fluid motion. The bullet left the gun barrel with a muffled thud, sparks darting about in disarray. A mess all around. Hidden behind dense foliage, the man in sunsses spat out a wad of saliva, sneering, ¡°Stupid asshole.¡± That piece of crap won¡¯t stop bullets; he¡¯s dead. The spear point rested atop the riddled iron sheet, nging upon contact. The ck spear tip pierced through the metal, and with a flick of the arm, it was hurled towards the dark end of the street. The man in the leather jacket rolled out of the shadows, the iron sheet hitting something as it flew, shattering into pieces on the already cracked ground. The leather jacket man¡¯s neck was tattooed with a skull, resulting in a gash¡ªblood formed a ¡°river¡± shape but closed up quickly. Clutching his neck, he looked in the direction from which the metal sheet hade. Pure ck armor connected in one piece, his body bending slightly forward, the Star Helmet in front revealing two eerily red-bottomed, ck-patterned pupils. A ck short spear was held beneath the Kote Gloves, with several bullets embedded in the Kawa-gutsu Shoes, though they were squeezed out onto the ground after a short while. Six coins, Ghost Rider. Ghost Rider shot a short spear towards the birch tree. The man in sunsses, enhanced by his inheritance to possess extremely high dynamic vision, dodged the spearhead by tilting his head but failed to notice a shadow beneath the dark armor darting out. ¡°Dayue, let¡¯s go!¡± the woman in the duckbill cap shouted. Skeptical, the man perched in the tree attempted to pull the trigger, only to feel the branch under his foot give way. What followed was the deep-seated terror of a de cutting into flesh. ¡°Tat-tat-tat~¡± Several bullets pierced through Li Yan¡¯s chest. Meanwhile, the Ring Dragon Sword cleaved from the handle of the M249 light machine gun to the gap between the sunsses man¡¯s index and middle fingers, all the way to his elbow, causing the firearm to collide with tree branches before falling to the ground. The man in sunsses had his flesh and bone split in two, as Li Yan¡¯s body lunged forward, his left hand piercing through the sunsses and deep into the man¡¯s eye socket, reaching the back of his skull. He viciously stirred inside, the warm slimy sensation apanying the man¡¯s low choking and trembling¡ªafter four or five breaths, the man moved no more. Baldie and the tattooed man with the skull instinctively pointed their gun barrels toward the birch tree, but they couldn¡¯t see anything and dared not shoot. The neck of the Ghost Rider beneath the tree rigidly pivoted, and with his footwear stepping forward, he surged like flowing ck water towards the tattooed man at the street¡¯s end. ¡°Unfortunately, you didn¡¯t obtain his inheritance,¡± Li Yan said as he withdrew his left hand, blood trailing stickily. His gaze pierced through the sparse leaves, fixing on the woman in the duckbill cap. The color drained from the woman underneath the duckbill cap¡¯s face, turning iron-blue as she threw her hat on the ground, filled with annoyance and regret. ¡°Pack it up; let¡¯s go,¡± she said. Baldie was stupefied, letting out an incredulous cry, ¡°Are you joking? What about Dayue?¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead~¡± The woman said coldly, ¡°We¡¯ll talk after Yunhu finishes. If we force a fight now, we¡¯re just going to lose more men.¡± Baldie¡¯s face turned red with anger, unwilling to let it go. The leaves rustled as Li Yan retracted the Ring Dragon into the Seal Space. He pressed his feet against the branches, diving through the thick foliage towards Baldie and the woman. Baldie was quick to react, lifting his hand to aim and fire, but Li Yan, mid-air with nowhere to leverage, had no room to dodge. The M249, not highly regarded in the US military armaments for its short range and low impact, has always been criticized. Short range is not too big a w in street fighting; low impact means that even the most resistant of the Fur ss Inheritances would be as fragile as a tomato within five hundred meters. Firearms are essential; they require quality ammunition ande with low procurement limits, but they are inexpensive and powerful. Inheritances are sufficient for survival in the early stages butck in lethality. Toplete events, firearms be incredibly valuable. The lethality of a bullet is iparable to an inheritance that initially only grants a boost in physical prowess and quality. Li Yan¡¯s Blood Dip skill was a rarity in offensive abilities, but it required a considerable amount of prior damage and was ineffective with firearm use. Utilizing firearm firepower for suppression is almost invincible among those below ¡°Ten Cities¡± in Yan Fu. A hit means death. The searing bullet shot from the barrel, burrowing into the center of Li Yan¡¯s forehead. Dead! Baldie roared in his heart. Li Yan¡¯s head jerked back. ¡°No¡± The woman leaped backward on her tiptoes, but it was already toote. A tinum sh burst forth from Li Yan¡¯s hand, three meters long, as Devouring de mmed into Baldie¡¯s face, sttering flesh and brain matter. ¡°Unfortunately, you didn¡¯t receive its inheritance.¡± [Gaoliangna¡¯s Lifesaving Hair] Block a fatal injury once. Li Yan¡¯s airborne body involuntarily surged forward, he raised his arm and hoisted the spear shaft upward. Devouring de shed down the woman¡¯s arm and abdomen, bursting open a surging wave of blood. His right foot hit the ground, and crackling sounds burst from Li Yan¡¯s skeleton. With both hands supporting the spear shaft, the spearhead lunged upward like a tiger pouncing on a brook. The spear thrust lifted the woman off her feet. Tiger Rises! Then he thrust forward with force, the tinum spearhead breaking through the woman¡¯s chest, piercing out her back. Beads of blood fell along the spear shaft, like strands of red pearls. The woman¡¯s hand gripped the spear shaft, Li Yan¡¯s spearhead had already shredded her heart, but she wouldn¡¯t die just yet. A pool of ckish-red blood formed beneath her. She gritted her teeth, locking eyes with Li Yan, her expression filled with unwillingness. Seal Space. ¡°Ten Cities¡±¡­ truly monstrous. ¡°Mou~¡± Li Yan felt his heart skip a beat; a description-defying restlessnesspelled him to let go of the spear shaft and step back, but it was of no avail. ¡°You have been cursed by the ¡®Parrot¡¯, rendering all skills in your skill grid unusable for fifteen days.¡± Skills that cannot be used include [A Fleeting Glimpse], [Nine Phoenix Divine Talisman], and [Killing Intent Attack]. Damn it! Li Yan silently cursed. ¡°You have obtained the inheritance: Parrot¡¯s Beak¡¤Witch Language.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om At the end of the street, the ck Ghost Rider and the man with a skull tattoo wielding a dagger were locked in a relentless struggle, with the former seemingly gaining the upper hand. ¡°Wu, run! Go find Yunhu.¡± The tattooed man was startled; through the corner of his eye, past the arm raised by the Ghost Rider, he saw Li Yan shaking off the long spear, with two men lying behind him. The cap-wearing woman¡¯s pupils gradually dimmed, as the pool of blood soaked over her nose. The tattooed man¡¯s fists cracked, he trapped the Ghost Rider¡¯s short spear under his arm, and viciously stabbed the dagger into the Ghost Rider¡¯s Star Helmet. Kicking the Ghost Rider away, he turned and ran. In the short, chaotic fight, Li Yan had ¡°A Fleeting Glimpse¡± activated the whole time. Even before he received any inheritance, he was confident that with the ¡°muscle observation¡± of [A Fleeting Glimpse], he could directly face firearms within eight steps. But now, Li Yan was in the cooldown state of Blood Dip and didn¡¯t have the Hook Star state on him. This was why, even though he had stepped on a branch and stood right in front of the man with sunsses, he couldn¡¯t stop him from firing in time. The subsequent leap out of gunfire and counter-kill was a risky move by Li Yan without the [Hook Star] enhancement. He was merely taking advantage of the element of surprise. However, he also sacrificed the [Lifesaving Hair], a vital item. Li Yan¡¯s face was somber as he took a step forward, his blood boiling like hot oil surged to his throat, which he gently bent over to spit out. Three bullets lodged in Li Yan¡¯s chest, one embedded in his lung. The Gu Huo Bird inheritance had not significantly enhanced Li Yan¡¯s physique and resilience, as there was no disy on the literal level. Such injuries were trivial for those with Fur ss inheritance, but for Li Yan of the Feather ss, it heavily impacted hisbat capability. The Lifesaving Hair had been used, and the [Hook Star] would require four hours to recover after being enhanced. With all the skills in his skill grid sealed, it would be rational to avoid furtherbat. But Li Yan didn¡¯t see it that way. He walked ahead slowly but surely, tearing a talisman paper to heal his wounds, as hundreds of Sudu birds scattered, doggedly pursuing the tattooed man. I¡¯ll pick the softest targets to squeeze on the first night; these few are certainly not tough! Two Gold bullion coins, the healing effects of the Sweet Dew Talisman, the Great Ming¡¯s ck Dragon g, Dragon Tiger Qi¡ªI still have plenty of aces up my sleeve. I said I would ughter you all, and not a single one of you will escape. Chapter 108 - 7 Conclusion Chapter 108: Chapter 7 Conclusion [Ghost Rider] Summon (Li Yan) Specialty: Firearms 83% Passive Skill: Spell Nightmare (kic damage ineffective) Growth Limit: Nine Luminaries Li Yan walked past the motionless Ghost Rider. The armor of the Ghost Rider, starting from the Star Helmet on its head, dissolved into sticky ck mud and quickly streamed into the square holes of the six coins. Several bullets were squeezed out of Li Yan¡¯s chest, and the surface of the ck and red wounds, where the flesh was pressed together, stopped bleeding. There was still a burning sensation between the organs, like being soaked in bubbling oil, but on the surface, it looked like there was no serious damage. Li Yan started to walk slowly, gradually picking up speed, cutting through streets and alleys, with a clear sense of direction. The few people had their confrontation around Changchun Street, and the skull-tattooed man specifically chose the narrow alleys, zigzagging for dozens of minutes. After several twists and turns, he found that he couldn¡¯t shake off Li Yan! The man caught a fleeting glimpse of Li Yan doggedly pursuing him, he raised his RPK light machine gun, but as Li Yan ducked behind an alleyway, he realized the tattooed man hadn¡¯t fired and instead had disappeared swiftly from his view. ¡°Heh¡­¡± ¡­ Not far from Ganhua Alley, Xuanwu Gate East Street, the old site of the Catholic Yan Capital Archdiocese. The night was as dark as it could possibly be. The street was lined with restaurants and clothing stores, but what caught the most attention was a shop with the sign ¡®Rolling Stone Culture¡¯. Painted wooden doors at the entrance of the shop were adorned with a string of colorful lights, with ¡®Record¡¯ written on the left and ¡®Imaging¡¯ on the right, both in striped red leather characters. Lights shaped like cherry tomatoes turned on one after another, in red, green, or yellow. In the colored television set on the ss skylight, a loop of ¡®old songs¡¯ yed, now it was Li Zongsheng¡¯s ¡°The Man Racing Against Himself¡±. A middle-aged man with a poor hairstyle and drooping heavy eyebrows sang: ¡°We are all racing against ourselves, striving hard for a better tomorrow, with no end in sight ahead¡­¡± The tattooed man ran forward, asionally looking back in panic, an expression of terror on his face. The sound of hurried footsteps grew from near to far, and the tattooed man stood under the ¡®Rolling Stone Culture¡¯ sign, hands on his knees, panting loudly. ¡°Ha~ Damn it! Damn it!¡± His eyes were red, and he violently vented his fear and anger with angry curses. The colorful lights flickered as if short-circuited, and in the end, only the rosy bulbs remained on, casting a red haze over the street. The skull-tattooed man looked up, aimed his gun at the Sudu birds overhead, and let loose a volley of bullets, scattering the flock in haste. Ratatatatatat! The sound of bullets was particrly harsh in the silent street. The TV¡¯s middle-aged man kept singing, a sneer forming at the corner of his mouth. He listlessly strummed his guitar, his gaze fixed on the tattooed man! The tattooed man obviously did not notice the shop¡¯s eeriness; the person behind him seemed much more terrifying in his eyes. Another set of footsteps sounded, and Li Yan arrived as if out for a night run, a carrot in his mouth. Crunch~ Li Yan bit off the carrot in his mouth and nted a ck g in the ground, giving the tattooed man a sidelong nce. ¡°Not running anymore?¡± The skull-tattooed man stared at Li Yan¡¯s bloodstained chest, took a few deep breaths to calm himself, and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Can¡¯t run away, not going to waste that effort.¡± ¡°That woman is your boss?¡± ¡°Sort of, her man is.¡± ¡°I thought it didn¡¯t quite fit, after all, it¡¯s a support-type legacy. Eh, what you mean is, you have aplices.¡± ¡°Yeah, right behind you.¡± Li Yan turned to look behind him as advised. The skull-tattooed man was taken aback for a moment, a surge of tion welled up in his heart thinking of making a move, but Li Yan had already turned back around. ¡°No one¡¯s there.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s voice in the TV drifted, ¡°Sometimes, people need a little setback, the mostmon is when your girlfriend leaves you~¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The tattooed man¡¯s face was cold as he threw the gun he was holding onto the ground. Li Yan sneered at the sight, ¡°I¡¯ve been merciful enough today, pick it up and die with a bit of dignity.¡± The tattooed man pursed his lips, pulled out two serrated daggers from behind his waist, and said, ¡°Fiercees with a 30% bullet damage exemption, 25% elerated healing (observed by A Fleeting Glimpse), plus the consumables for healing, a few less bullets won¡¯t kill you. If I use a gun, both my hands are upied, and I can¡¯t block your big gun sweeping at me, I can¡¯t even block a single shot, and the oue is you injure, I die.¡± ¡°Then what makes you think you can match me in a weapon fight?¡± Li Yanughed. ¡°Because you don¡¯t have the inheritance status!¡± The tattooed man roared in anger and charged forward with a push from the ground: ¡°Even if you have 70%, or even 80% melee specialization, without the inheritance status boost, we are still evenly matched!¡± Li Yan casually threw a bright red object, scaring him into rolling away quickly. The leftover carrot greens hit the ss in front of the television, where a middle-aged man was belting out ¡°Dear Landy, my brother¡­¡± and was startled mid-song. Li Yan gestured with his hand for him to look over. ¡°I hate Zhang Peiren (the Landy in the song), change it to another one.¡± The middle-aged man blinked in confusion, his hands involuntarily strumming the guitar, the tune suddenly turning upbeat. ¡°¡­Chun¡¯er is my daughter, a gift from God, I wish her happiness and health, a life withoutplex puzzles.¡± That was much better¡­ Li Yan nodded slightly, as two streaks of cold light darted straight at his face. During a previous fleeting glimpse, this man¡¯s dagger proficiency was only 69%, the same as when he first met Zhang Mingyuan¡­ And he seemed quite confident in his own melee proficiency. Li Yan flicked his wrist and drew out the Ring Dragon Sword. He horizontally blocked the daggers, but as the tattooed man¡¯s right hand slid downward, it collided with Li Yan¡¯s raised knee. The serrated dagger flew from his hand. ¡°Thank you for letting me know, I really am strong.¡± ¡­ The tattooed man added two gashes to Li Yan¡¯s face and arm, but in exchange, his own neck waspletely pierced by the Ring Dragon. ¡°Unfortunately, you did not receive its inheritance.¡± 20% chance, very good, very real. The singing continued. ¡°I am the son of a gaspany owner, before I can prove I can make money on my own, I must stay at home and help, deliver gas.¡± Li Yan picked up the light machine gun from the ground that had only a few bullets left and walked into ¡°Rolling Stone Culture,¡± threw the gun on the table, and sat down in an empty massage chair. With the Blood Sucking of Ring Dragon, those two wounds had already scabbed over. He looked at the man on the TV, singing along with a raspy voice: ¡°Every slow afternoon, I must tie the phone signs to the electric poles in the newmunity, I must carry gas through stinky, overflowing night markets¡­¡± As it turned out, Li Yan sang with a bit more gusto than the man on the TV. The guitar fell silent, the man stopped singing, and just quietly watched Li Yan, then after a silence, he said, ¡°You¡¯re unfamiliar, I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡± He nced at the corpse outside. ¡°And that person.¡± Li Yan sank into the chair. ¡°Has nobody evere in before?¡± ¡°asionally.¡± The man in the TV smirked, looking strange no matter how you saw it. ¡°What happened to those people?¡± The man shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I just remember a guy came here a while back, and he hasn¡¯t left for seven years.¡± ¡°Oh? Where is he now?¡± ¡°Him?¡± The manughed heartily. ¡°He¡¯s chatting with another guy¡­¡± Chapter 109 - 8 Hexagram Chapter 109: Chapter 8 Hexagram ¡°Him? He¡¯s chatting with another narrow-b.¡± Li Yan suddenly felt emptiness beneath his buttocks; with a straightening of his lower legs and a forceful turn of his waist, he flipped over, but still thudded into the depths with a ssh! Smack! Li Yan¡¯s right hand clutched the edge of the chair, desperately trying to pull himself out, as the sticky darkness tugged at his body, half of his face already sunken into the massage chair. Two pitch-ck hands reached out from behind the chair, tightly strangling Li Yan. ¡°Stay with me¡­¡± The man¡¯s voice was somber. He stretched out his calloused hand to cover the screen, his fingertips slowly emerging from the TV. Arms, waist, thighs. Finally, the sound of leather shoes lightly touching the ground. The man was wearing beige suit, his eye rings were dark as if he hadn¡¯t slept for a long time. Trapped in the quagmire-like massage chair and unable to move, Li Yan¡¯s eyes rolled around, and he mumbled: ¡°If I were to stay here, I¡¯d definitely sing better than you. After singing for seven years, even bringing a dog over wouldn¡¯t end up like you.¡± Seeing that the ¡°thug¡± in front of him wasn¡¯t the slightest bit panicked, the man narrowed his eyes. He bowed his head in silence for a while, then burst outughing with a crazed look when he raised his head again. ¡°Then stay as mypany!¡± Having said that, he grabbed Li Yan¡¯s wrist holding onto the edge of the chair and yanked hard, trying to push Li Yan further into the chair. ¡­ Five seconds passed. ¡°Get in, get in!¡± Ten seconds passed. ¡°Uh¡­ ha~ha~, um¡­ ha~ha~¡± Half a minute¡­ Ssh. The man sat on the ground, his face drenched in sweat. Li Yan¡¯s wrist was immovable as if it was iron welded in ce. His exposed eye looked at the man. The man abruptly stood up, his face fiercely scouring the room before finally finding a paper cutter in a drawer. He walked over to Li Yan¡¯s massage chair with the knife in hand, the de pointed at Li Yan. Li Yan looked at him with the whites of his eyes showing. ¡°¡­¡± The man¡¯s eyes turned red, the white tip of the knife trembling. ¡°What¡¯re you looking at? Do it.¡± Li Yan revealed a row of pearly white teeth. ¡°You¡¯ve had seven years to find a narrow-b like me, don¡¯t miss your chance.¡± ng~ The paper cutter hit the ground, the man pped himself, ripping the posters on the counter to shreds, and grabbed a flowerpot to smash at the ss door. The seemingly fragile door remained perfectly still; the ss, with red stripes and the words ¡°audio recording¡± on it, was smeared with mud. He kicked the CD cab over and over, the dull thuds were full of irritability. The CDs, with Emil Chau¡¯s smiling face, scattered all over the floor. ¡°Damn it! Damn it!¡± The man sat on the ground, clutching his hair with a troubled expression, his eyes reddened. Seeing this, Li Yan couldn¡¯t help butugh: ¡°Even as a ghost, you don¡¯t dare to stab a person? You really are unique, like a scorpion taking a crap.¡± The man¡¯s lips quivered with anger, and he shouted with his neck stretched: ¡°Can you control it? Can you control it?!¡± Li Yan sized up the man and said: ¡°I¡¯m saying, how did you get in? We¡¯re both in a tough spot, tell me about it.¡± The man pursed his lips and turned his head away, ignoring Li Yan. ¡°Just talk, bro, what did you used to do?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The man swallowed hard, choking his throat, and after wiping his eyes, he said: ¡°I must say, you¡¯re a big-hearted kid; aren¡¯t you afraid to die?¡± ¡°Die?¡± Li Yan¡¯s eyes swept around. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t qualified for that.¡± The man shook his head; it took him a long moment to calm down, then he thought it might not be too bad to have someone to talk to. ¡°Before, I was in a band. Lived near Summer Pce, do you know Shu Vige? That night after drinking with a few pals till drunk, I wandered around here past eleven, and in the blink of an eye, I couldn¡¯t find anyone around. The rest, just like you.¡± ¡°With your voice, the band must not have made much money, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t get it!¡± The man seemed to be caught on a sore point, but considering the situation, arguing about it seemed pointless, so he didn¡¯t get enraged. Instead, he sighed. ¡°Struggling for a few years and getting nowhere, back then I performed at Happy Park, and the money from that was just enough for a round of drinks. Never got to honor my parents, seeing them one more time now seems unlikely.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°Mind your own business; you can barely save yourself,¡± The man snorted with augh. ¡°Do you know why I knowingly entered this problematic store?¡± Li Yan asked him. ¡°You¡¯re nuts, nobody cares about you.¡± The man cursed. ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± Li Yan¡¯s half-visible face smiled, and for a moment, it was unclear who was really the ghost. His fingers suddenly clenched tightly, leaving several clear marks on the massage chair. ¡°Squeak~¡± White smoke rose from the chair as the roaring sound, along with white steam, billowed upward. In the man¡¯s disbelief, the ck upholstery burst into mes, and Li Yan leaped up, surrounded by the air echoing with the roar of a ferocious beast. Chaos tattoo, Fierce. The man was speechless for a long time. A soft green light radiated from the ck square hole of the six coins. Dressed in capri pants and a beige women¡¯s suit, Lady Dan stepped out of the green light. Her pristine fingers rested on the crackling phonograph, seemingly fascinated by this oddly shaped device. ¡°Lady Dan, can you find a way to get him out?¡± After hearing this, Lady Dan leaned close to the man¡¯s face, frightening him into retreating repeatedly. She turned to ask Li Yan. ¡°This hexagram?¡± ¡°What¡¯s a ¡®yao¡¯?¡± ¡°When someone like him gets lost in the underworld and can¡¯t find their way back, that¡¯s called a ¡®yao¡¯.¡± ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± Lady Dan nodded and said, ¡°First, we need to find a vessel for him.¡± After she finished speaking, she pointed casually at a morning glory-shaped gramophone, ¡°How about this one?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too big, something smaller.¡± Li Yan picked up a white Sony Walkman. ¡°How about this one?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡± Lady Dan grabbed the man¡¯s cor and amidst his banal questions, ¡°What are you doing?¡± she forcibly stuffed the man¡¯s head into the Walkman¡¯s ck and white screen. Li Yan watched the scene with amazement. ¡°Although ¡®yao¡¯ is rare, it¡¯s weak. Why bother bringing him along?¡± Lady Dan handed the Walkman to Li Yan. ¡°Earlier outside, although his singing was awful, it¡¯s just that¡­¡± In Kui¡¯s record book, on East Street of Xuanwu Gate, there was also a suppressive object. Li Yan looked distantly at the retro yet dpidated western-style building outside the gate. The doors were closed, with carved marble openwork, a church in shades of gray and white that looked long uninhabited. [Protestant Yandu Bishop¡¯s House Ruins (Night)] Catholics will receive blessings. All non-Catholic sects are repelled. ¡°During the chase earlier with the tattooed man, it was within the range of this suppressive object. Yet, I received no warning of any abnormal status. If you say this street is evil, the whole city¡¯s the same. If I had to say there¡¯s something special about this ce¡­¡± Li Yan examined the white Walkman in his hands. [Sony Discman D777] Category: ??? Quality: ??? Cannot be taken outside of Yan Fu Fruit. Note: Inside it is a middle-aged person, who only fiddles with unusual music that no one likes, a decadent soul. Li Yan stepped out of the church and stood under the sign of ¡°Rolling Stone Culture.¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± A gust of wind swirled around Li Yan¡¯s arm, giving him the creeps. One by one, the cherry tomato fairy lights went out, casting a gloomy shadow on the street. ¡°Pachi¡± Li Yan looked down; he was standing in a puddle of blood, feeling a gap beneath his feet. He bent over to pick up something from the blood, round and smooth to the touch. After wiping off the blood, Li Yan held it up to the ginger-colored moon in the sky. Transparent, with petal-like things inside. A ss ball? Li Yan chuckled in disbelief. He tossed the ball away but felt uneasy. Upon looking up again, he was diforted. What hung in the sky was not the moon but a human face filled with resentment. Suddenly, a chill ran under Li Yan¡¯s feet. He reflexively drew the Ring Dragon Sword, chopping and flicking his wrist outward. He didn¡¯t know what he hit, but whatever it was, it stuck to the wall, leaving a smear of red. ¡°Lady Dan, go inside first.¡± Li Yan stepped onto the street, allowing Lady Dan, transformed into a blue glow, to wrap around the coin-shaped hole in his ne. Rustling sounds reached his ears,ing from the location where he had killed the tattooed skeleton man. The skull-tattooed man with a pierced neck was crawling towards Li Yan like a catfish, scratching along the ground. His bloodstained face showed red gums, and sticky yellow corpse oil trailed across the tar road, looking nauseating and terrifying. Li Yan casually unhooked a green mailbox, holding the Ring Dragon in his left hand and dragging the metal mailbox with his right, moving towards the writhing tattooed skeleton man without a hint of emotion on his face. The sound of his ck leather shoes stepping on the ground was mixed with the screech of the mailbox, the rhythm distinct and clear. The disgusting corpse monster paused and then began to frantically rub against the ground, twisting away in the opposite direction of Li Yan. Obviously not as fast as Li Yan. The waist-thick mailbox, whistling with the wind, crashed down on the corpse creature, sending flesh flying. Li Yan did not stop. Again and again he struck, like a psychopath from an American movie, until the corpse at his feet was unrecognizable, the bloodied, twisted mailbox in his hands looked mashed. Only then did he stop. ¡°Bang!¡± He tossed aside the mailbox and looked out over the deste street. The street that had been rtively tidy when he arrived was now peppered with ck oil stains. The ¡°Xianghe Meat Pie¡± sign above the restaurant was shattered, a sight of utter post-apocalyptic decay. At the corner of the street, a slender leg wearing ss sandals emerged, initially drawing Li Yan¡¯s interest until he saw the woman¡¯s red and white mottled torso and his face soured. Behind the ¡°woman¡± were many shadows of arms, cast against the wall, creating a spine-chilling scene as they surrounded her and surged toward Li Yan. A man in a suit and shoes, carrying an armband with red background and yellow writing, wearing an old Zhongshan suit was the old man. With a big head sticker on her face. A girl withmb horn braids, standing on one foot on a roller scooter. Each one was covered in blood, missing limbs, not looking alive at all. ¡°I knew it wasn¡¯t going to be that easy.¡± Li Yan switched the Ring Dragon Sword to his right hand and took a few steps before realizing he had entered the church¡¯s range. ¡°Your status ¡®Fierce¡¯ is suppressed.¡± ¡°Your metal-detecting items cannot be used.¡± Li Yan tapped the aluminum shell of the Sony Walkman. ¡°What should I call you?¡± ¡°Liang Ye¡­¡± The man¡¯s voice came from the Walkman. ¡°Sing a few lines for me, don¡¯t let me be busy for nothing tonight.¡± ¡°The same song as before?¡± ¡°You said I didn¡¯t understand, so sing whatever you can. Whatever you think sounds good, sing that.¡± Li Yan thought to himself, let¡¯s see if it¡¯s because of this ¡®yao¡¯ that the church¡¯s suppressive effect hasn¡¯t manifested. If so, I must take it out at all costs. ¡°Cough, cough, look at the screen, a song by me and some buddies.¡± The man¡¯s voice was a bit embarrassed but filled with expectation. Li Yan had yet to realize what kind of strange thing he had inadvertently rescued¡­ Chapter 110 - 9 Porcelain! Chapter 110: Chapter 9 Porcin!n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Li Yan didn¡¯t look, he just pressed y casually. A deep drumbeat resonated from his walkman, followed by the clear ringing of suspended cymbals. The rhythmic percussion apanied by drum beats intensified as the horde of corpses drew even nearer. The man sang in a low voice, sharp yet somewhat melodious. ¡°Beans are boiled with their stalks~¡± ¡°Inside the pot, they weep~¡± ¡°Born of the same root~¡± ¡°Why be so hasty to fry each other~¡± Li Yan crouched low on his legs and with a burst of power, charged into the looming mass of corpses! On him, a trench coat, in his hand, the Ring Dragon. Nothing else. But to deal with these things, it was enough. The drumbeats exploded, and a hoarse male voice shouted: ¡°Grab a handful of dirt, roll a big ball, you spit! Spit~, I shed a couple of tears!¡± ¡°Mix it, mix it, thin mud is made! All set! All set!¡± The voice was rough. The style was strange. It had a hint of old folk tunes, with a touch of scoffing and cursing characteristic of Beijing¡¯s local ent. And on Li Yan¡¯s chest, the previously dormant Chaos Tattoo came back to life! Two elliptical golden coins were tossed by Li Yan into the air, spinning as they transformed into two ck Ashigaru, both with 68% Wakizashi expertise. The Ring Dragon thrust through the back of a zombie. Li Yan, using the momentum, bent his knees in a bow stance andunched a coiled ny-degree kick off the ground, pulling the sword from its sheath and twisting his body, as the Ring Dragon emitted a shrill cry and traced a bright arc in the air! The four zombies in front of him were bisected at the waist by the Ring Dragon, their sections falling to the ground, devoid of any fleshy substance. Instead, ck bamboo sticks and tattered paper were revealed. Paper figures?! Using the old momentum, the Ring Dragon swung and plunged into a female zombie¡¯s throat. Li Yan gently lifted the hilt of the sword, the tip piercing through the female zombie¡¯s chin and exitting through the skull. Seeing that the female zombie stopped moving, Li Yan looked closely at its face. White paper skin, ck dot eyes, red corners of the mouth, blush on the cheeks. Wasn¡¯t it a paper figure? Two sinister ck Ashigaru stood behind Li Yan, their cold eyes staring at the roughly hundred-strong horde of paper zombies. A formidable fierce aura spread from Li Yan, causing the paper figures to hesitate in advancing or retreating, All ghosts retreat at the presence of the Fierce. The suppressing effects didn¡¯t work at all. An irate, piercing engine noise tore through the night, leaving Li Yan startled. Like boiling water on a snowball, the zombies hastily made way to both sides. The ring headlights forced Li Yan to shut his eyes as a white van, painted blue with the words ¡°Park Anywhere,¡± careened wildly, flipping several paper zombies and who knew how many others crushed beneath, the sliding tires flinging bamboo shards and paper scraps over two meters high. The blue spray paint that read ¡°Park Anywhere¡± was especially jarring. The sound of the straining engine and skidding tires made Li Yan frown, his finger pressed and held on the Sony Walkman¡¯s ¡°+¡± button. ¡°All set with the mud! All set! All set!¡± The voice of the listless man roared louder. Seventeen or eighteen muscr, decaying brutes hopped out of the van. They were short and sturdy, each wielding a shovel, a pickaxe, and even bricks. Their blood red eyes were filled with cruelty and ferocity. Without a second thought, Li Yan pulled out an RPK light machine gun he¡¯d snatched from the skull-tattooed man and fired a burst. Casings clinked as they hit the ground, multitude of brute figures advancing despite a hail of bullets, their torn flesh also revealing red bamboo frames and attached paper scraps, Also paper figures. [Night Wanderer] Suppress all flesh and blood creatures. Suppression effects: Reduce attack speed by 50%, reduce movement speed by 50% when the enemy is fleeing Chzzzzchzzzzchzzzzchzzzz~ The sound of a bloodied iron shovel dragging across the ground cut distinctly through the dense drumbeats and bass. The middle-aged man was singing with gusto: ¡°Comrades and brothers~¡± ¡°Comrades and brothers~¡± ¡°Comrades and brothers~¡± ¡°Comrades and brothers~¡± Amid the melodious and slick voice of the middle-aged man, all the suppression effects Yan Fu offered were turned into ??? symbols! The middle-aged man, no, Liang Ye, cleared his throat twice, striking a pose, as if mimicking a factory leader¡¯s speech at arge meeting. ¡°Thisrade, essentially, is not bad at all.¡± At the front, a defiant and stocky brute roared furiously, swinging an iron spade caked with brain matter and fresh blood at Li Yan¡¯s shoulder with crushing force! ¡°But! Because I wasn¡¯t strict enough with myself, which led to¡­ this bourgeois, decadent~declining~ way of thinking¡­ always exerting a subtle influence in my head¡­¡± Li Yan stepped forward, the Ring Dragon long sword aiming for the stocky brute¡¯s wrist, the de sessfully piercing through. Before Li Yan could rx, an unstoppable force transmitted to his arm, his body went heavy as the iron spade, now with much of its force dissipated, smacked into his left ribs, almost making Li Yan spurt out a mouthful of old blood! Well, I¡¯ll be?! ¡°But, ah, we still need to, ah, unite with him~¡± Li Yan, suppressing the churning of his lifeblood, withdrew his Ring Dragon long sword. ¡°Help him~¡± His hand flicked and flipped, the Tiger Head Great Spear thrusting out like a tinum meteor, puncturing the brute¡¯s head into a pulpy mess. ¡°Educate him~¡± The brute¡¯s body swayed for a moment, then slumped down limply. ¡°Care about him~¡± Many brutes roared and surged forward. ¡°We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we, we¡¯re brothers, aren¡¯t we, we¡¯re pottery, aren¡¯t we!¡± Amongst the thunderous sounds of the drum set and bass, this song also reached its climax. ¡°We are yellow!¡± ¡°We are big!¡± ¡°We are long!¡± ¡°We are ck!¡± ¡°If you pull me up, I¡¯ll give you a hand~¡± ¡°If you y me, I¡¯ll fight you to the death~¡± Bloodied iron hoes, ferocious muscles, blue-painted license tes, rustic Han Swords, stern eyes, and the flickering lights of a million stars¡­ In the sky, the yellow faces contorted, this eerie and frightful, bizarrely twisted midnight, set aze by the hoarse voice of a decadent middle-aged man. Two Ashigaru warriors d in ck were lost among the brutes, as Li Yan¡¯s Tiger Head Devouring de emitted a dazzling light, shattering the iron shovels and pointed hoes that collided with the spearhead. Gun Lance Fang. Some brutes even threw iron hammers and even red bricks, but before they could hit Li Yan, they shattered upon impact with the tinum armor tes that appeared out of nowhere around the spear shaft. Sturdy Body. The bass drum and tom-toms beat rhythmically, four short and one long, striking forcefully and swiftly. Li Yan flicked the spear shaft, repelling the horde of ghastly figures, stepped forward in a goose step, and danced the long spear with his wrists down. In an instant, the Tiger Head Devouring de whirled chaotically! For a time, ck paper scraps fluttered all around, and the crisp snapping of bamboo frames was incessant. Li Yan took a deep breath, swung out in a round arc, and the Tiger Head Great Spear was unstoppable, striking several brutes¡¯ knees. The rhythm of the cymbals and triangles buzzed together, and a brute¡¯s head smashed downward onto the ground, bursting their face open. Thump~ The spearhead smashed into the ground, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Ignoring his aching body, Li Yan pulled out the Ring Dragon from the Seal Space and charged at several brutes armed with scrap metal. A brute wearing a wide-brimmed hat opened his arms to grab at Li Yan¡¯s Ring Dragon, severing several fingers but blocking all of Li Yan¡¯s potential sword moves! ¡°Comrade brother~¡± Liang Ye shouted out. Li Yan, as if guided by whimsical inspiration, let go of the sword handle. He ducked down and rolled forward, attacking with a Bagua Palm technique that caught his opponent off guard, and kicked between the brute¡¯s legs, using the force to spring between them, his back rubbing against the oily patch on the ground, leaving a long trail as he caught the freely falling hilt in mid-roll and, with one hand supporting himself off the ground, rose with the sword casting a wide arc of light. Main Frame of Combat Sword! The Fire Scorching the ins stance! ¡°Companion brother~¡± A bloody, bashed-in paper bamboo head rolled and hit Li Yan¡¯s foot. Li Yan rose gracefully. There were two more brutes in front of him, tearing at the legs and arms of two ck Ashigaru warriors until the warriors were mangled beyond recognition. The three of them stood in a T-shape, silent for a moment. The drumbeat in the Walkman slowly softened, as the cowbell rang out, sounding like the footfalls of a giant, and the drumbeats surged once more! Li Yan took a deep breath as the two brutes lunged at him together. The man in the Walkman let out a long howl. ¡°Pottery~¡± ¡­ Round beads of blood dribbled down. Li Yan knelt there, torso lined with severed limbs and mutted remains behind him. He wiped the corner of his mouth and stood up, the fatigue and injuries all over his body undeniable. Yet around him, not a single living dead stood. And the repressive object church in front of him had turned into a [?????] sign. The Walkman hissed softly. ¡°Er, brother, what do you think. How did I sing?¡± Chapter 111 - 10 Gatekeeper Li Yan Chapter 111: Chapter 10 Gatekeeper Li Yan ¡°` The early sun rose in the east, a corner of the fiery red sun ascending. Gazing eastward, the sky and earth became one, the mist dissipating. ¡°That hits the spot.¡± Li Yan fished a carrot out of his trench coat pocket and put it in his mouth. He mumbled unclearly, ¡°I say, bro.¡± He nced down at the portable tape yer in his hand, only to realize the screen was a deep indigo color. Out of battery? Li Yan pressed the power button several times, but the portable tape yer did not respond. The aluminum alloy roller door opened, and a middle-aged woman wearing blue arm covers, hair curled by herself, collided face-to-face with Li Yan. She noticed the Ring Dragon Sword in Li Yan¡¯s hand, and chuckled: ¡°Yo,rade, where are you off to practice with that outfit?¡± Li Yan looked at himself. The bits of paper and dust on his shoulders had vanished, the bloodstains on his sleeves and cor had disappeared, and aside from his exhausted red eyes, Li Yan now looked no different from an ordinary person. The ground where the torn paper figure, ck oil stain, the dpidated van had been, along with the tattooed body of a man smashed beyond recognition by Li Yan¡¯s socialist mailbox, were all gone without a trace. Vehicles of various shades of red and ck passed by, and the noise from the buildings behind the dozens of signs began to rise. Waitresses in restaurants bustled around withrge bowls and utensils, and young men and women emerged from small hotels, clutching each other¡¯s hands, utterly ignoring Li Yan¡¯s eager gaze. The sky was just beginning to brighten, as if everything had yet to start, as if nothing had happened. In the ¡°Rolling Stone Culture¡± hall, various CDs were arranged neatly. The shop assistant with a single ponytail yawned, having stayed awake all night. Li Yan pulled out two fifty-dor bills and examined them closely. He then wrapped the Ring Dragon carefully in a few old newspapers and walked into the store. On the TV under the ss skylight, Li Zongsheng and Lin Yilian sang a heartfelt duet. ¡°Excuse me, how much for this?¡± Li Yan tapped the table to draw the attention of the ponytailed assistant, and then pointed to the old-fashioned gramophone in the corner, just for show. ¡°We don¡¯t sell that, I don¡¯t have the authority,¡± the girl answered, her eyes still sleepy. ¡°Wang, your shift is over~¡± A middle-aged woman with drooping eyebrows descended from upstairs. ¡°Yeah,¡± the girl replied, then said to Li Yan, ¡°She¡¯s the boss¡¯s wife. Maybe you could ask her?¡± ¡°Looking to buy something?¡± The middle-aged woman sized up Li Yan, who was holding a long object wrapped in newspaper, with a half-eaten carrot peeking out from his chest pocket, looking rather odd. ¡°Boss¡¯s wife, I really like this item. You name the price, and I won¡¯t haggle,¡± said Li Yan. ¡°Young man, I sell records here. You should go to Shangguan Yuan or Dazhong Temple, not loiter around here,¡± the boss¡¯s wife replied without any further ado after seeing Li Yan¡¯s sincerity. Li Yan did not leave. ¡°It was love at first sight, I don¡¯t fancy anything else, please do me this favor, can we do that?¡± he pleaded.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The boss¡¯s wife also found it amusing, her heart aflutter with a hint of defiance. ¡°Alright, if you really want it, it¡¯s yours for eight thousand,¡± she said. ¡°Deal~¡± Li Yan beamed with a mouthful of white teeth. ¡°Give me a few days.¡± Without any hesitation, he turned around and left. The boss¡¯s wife and the single ponytail assistant exchanged nces, both utterly bewildered. ¡°The woods are big, indeed; all sorts of birds can be found.¡± ¡­ ¡°Three hundred bucks a month, room and board included, with a bonus at month¡¯s end. You don¡¯t have to do much, just guard the gate, ward off thieves and such, night shift. Whenever you want to leave, just give me a half-month notice. Just to be clear, it¡¯s a temp job.¡± The person speaking appeared somewhat cultured, in his thirties, a bit saggy in the face, with prominent ears and still a full hairline. ¡°Hey, that works,¡± Li Yan agreed sinctly, stamping on the ground, not much for words. This was a third-rate teachers¡¯ college in Yan Capital, and after wandering around a great deal, Li Yan finally ended up here. ¡°` ¡°` Working as a security guard. You can rest your feet, no misceneous tasks, and no drawing attention. ¡°Follow Uncle Qin around, and if you have any questions, ask him.¡± Uncle Qin was over fifty this year, quite lean and short, with a bald head. ¡°How old are you?¡± Uncle Qin tossed Li Yan a cigarette. ¡°Twenty-five.¡± ¡°Then you should call me ¡®uncle¡¯.¡± Uncle Qin spoke with a bit of an ent. ¡°Uncle.¡± Li Yan, smiling, looked quite honest. ¡°Hahaha, alright,e with me.¡± The two of them, one in front of the other, walked into the school¡¯s duty room. There were two single beds. ¡°Previously, I had a partner called Old Dong, but now he has gone back to his hometown and doesn¡¯t work here anymore. These beddings are all ready; if you¡¯re not picky, you can sleep here at night.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting on in years; I can¡¯t stay upte. It¡¯s up to you young people¡­¡± ¡°Uncle Qin.¡± A gentle-looking woman carrying books walked by, greeting Uncle Qin, ¡°Hey, Ms. Wang.¡± Upon responding to her with a ¡®Hey¡¯, Uncle Qin gazed at the woman¡¯s shapely back, his lips spreading into a wide grin. Suddenly realizing he was not alone, Uncle Qin quickly averted his gaze, but he found that Li Yan, just like him, was also interestedly staring at the woman¡¯s receding figure. Uncle Qin blinked, was silent for a while, then looked in the teacher¡¯s direction again as both the old and the young in the duty room leaned forward, harmoniously watching the woman¡¯s graceful waist as she walked away. ¡°Uncle.¡± Li Yan suddenly spoke, ¡°Do you know where in Yan Capital there is a night club?¡± ¡°What¡¯s a night club?¡± ¡°Oh, I mean a bar¡­¡± ¡­ Using the time to rest during the day, Li Yan finally had time to check the number of Yan Fu wanderers who had died that night, and the result left him speechless. It was just the first midnight, and even without the ¡°Designated Confrontations¡± that halved the number of people each night, a total of fifty-nine out of one hundred and sixty-four Yan Fu wanderers had died! Of course, the high casualty rate in the early stages was just filtering out those who were simply not fit to survive in Yan Fu. As time went on, the casualties caused by ¡°Boiling Midnight¡± would decrease. The real brutal ughter was in the ¡°Designated Confrontations¡± after twelve o¡¯clock. ¡°Enter the suppression area with the designated opponent; kill the opponent to obtain their inheritance with a hundred percent chance.¡± Based on the current number of around a hundred Yan Fu wanderers, it would take no more than six days for this intense escape and pursuit to conclude. There¡¯s no denying, the pace of this Yan Fu event was so fast it leaves one breathless. High intensity, heavy casualties, and extreme randomness. High risk, high reward. The gains from this Yan Fu event were almost equivalent to those from five or six, or even up to a dozen other Yan Fu events. It was enough to allow any Yan Fu wanderer to break through the peak of their first inheritance Awakening Degree. Just taking Li Yan himself as an example, to break through the peak with a hundred percent certainty, he needed 35% Awakening Degree. But adding the two 9% inheritances to his own original 7% excess Awakening Degree, he just needed another 10% Awakening Degree for Li Yan toplete the breakthrough! Of course, Li Yan could also choose to use the Dragon Tiger Qi, which at twenty ¡®ticks¡¯ would be just enough for use now. (Remaining ten ¡®ticks¡¯ for the Nine Phoenix Talisman, ten ¡®ticks¡¯ monthly sry for the Flying Cavalry Captain, totaling twenty ¡®ticks¡¯) But the exnation for Dragon Tiger Qi was very clear, for the three peak breakthroughs of an inheritance, Dragon Tiger Qi could only be used once. Among them, the second peak breakthrough needed 65% additional Awakening Degree, and the third breakthrough needed 95%! And if Dragon Tiger Qi is used for the breakthrough, the first peak would require twenty ¡®ticks¡¯, the second would take thirty ¡®ticks¡¯, and the third would need forty ¡®ticks¡¯. Li Yan¡¯s upper limit for Dragon Tiger Qi was thirty ¡®ticks¡¯, so using it for the second peak breakthrough was undoubtedly the most cost-effective. This was also why Li Yan, knowing the dangers, was not in a hurry to use the Dragon Tiger Qi for the breakthrough. If he¡¯s lucky, he might be able to attempt a second peak breakthrough with the Gu Huo Bird after the next Yan Fu event! ¡°` Chapter 112 - 11 Mantis? Cicada? Sparrow? Chapter 112: Chapter 11 Mantis? Cicada? Sparrow? Beyond that, Li Yan¡¯s haul from the night was not insignificant. Two heritages, along with some odds and ends obtained from a Chongming Bird woman, among which ¡°Wind Lian¡¯s Hair¡± was highly valuable. A gun with hardly any bullets, a pack of old-brand cigarettes that could enhance one¡¯s jumping ability, and a personal stereo that could erase suppressive effects. At the same time, Li Yan also lost three pieces of Pan Gold and two Sweet Dew Talismans. At five-thirty in the afternoon, Li Yan had a good sleep and, upon waking up, finished off thest of the ¡°Little Golden Mouse Cigarettes.¡± This kind of consumable that changes one¡¯s physical constitution was often subtle at the start, with the effects not very noticeable. In the middle, he went to the supermarket to buy two stick-of-gum-shaped batteries and put them in the personal stereo, to no avail. Li Yan guessed that one would have to find the matching batteries in the world after midnight. He found a restaurant, and with less than a hundred dors on him, ordered three meat dishes and two bottles of beer. After letting Qin know, he went from one bar to the next, as he had inquired earlier. ¡­ Ye Mingfei Ballroom. There were nearly a hundred people bouncing around on the dance floor, with rolling disco balls, twisting corbones, swinging hair, and iling hands. In the pulsating sound system, alcohol and hormones intertwined into an intoxicating vortex. Li Yan was sitting at a table in the corner, with a girl with shoulder-length hair next to him. Don¡¯t misunderstand, she was a professional. A drink attendant. This girl probably hadn¡¯t seen a sucker like Li Yan before. Even before she could showcase her usual tricks, he had ordered seven or eight bottles of foreign liquor by himself. Counting one Englishbelled bottle after another, she was almost giddy with joy. ¡°So, you mean there was trouble here this morning?¡± Li Yan asked, narrowing his eyes. The girl made a hushing gesture. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t ask, that guy was fierce. A guy named Da Jun, used to be an enforcer in this area, infamous as a ¡®three-colored fist¡¯. Heid out a dozen people in one go, and in the end, it was the boss who respectfully invited him to the back. I don¡¯t know what happened after that. Why are you asking about this, big brother?¡± The girl, resting her chin in her palm and sitting close to Li Yan, spoke freely since he was spending generously and keeping to himself, the type of customer they liked. ¡°Where is this guy now?¡± ¡°In the private room at the back.¡± She whispered, lowering her voice. ¡°I figure, from now on, he¡¯ll be the one looking after this ce.¡± ¡°Where is that private room? Point it out to me.¡± ¡°That one there.¡± The girl leaned over to point it out to Li Yan, the scent of her mint shampoo wafting to his nose. ¡°Move to the side for a moment, let me have a look.¡± The girl obediently shifted aside, and Li Yan picked up a bottle from the table and threw it at the ss of the private room. With the strength Li Yan had now, the ss broke so evenly that you couldn¡¯t even find a piece as big as a fingernail. The whole dance floor suddenly went quiet, and the girl next to Li Yan was dumbfounded. Shortly after, the door of the private room was kicked open. A man with a crew cut, wearing an open white shirt revealing six-pack abs and with lipstick marks on his neck, swept his sharp, cold eyes across the room. ¡°Who the fuck threw that?¡± Li Yan in the corner signaled with a wave of his hand. ¡°Look this way.¡± The man with the crew cut fixed his gaze on Li Yan, like a cheetah spotting its prey. You have identified a Predator (being hunted)! A Fleeting Glimpse has obtained the following information: Name: Li Yan Rating: Ten Cities Heritage: Gu Huo Bird Status: Hook Star (increases explosive force and speed of action) Fierce (all spirits retreat) Witch Language (skill bar sealed) Specialization: Ancient Martial Arts?? (superior to your closebat specialization) Firearms: 38%, Military Skill: 50%. ¡°Ten Cities?¡± The crew-cut man was bewildered for a few seconds. ¡°Finally caught one ¡­¡± Li Yan muttered with a grimace, whispering ominously, ¡°I was wondering why there were so many cunning old foxes. Suddenly, with the power to break free from order, your former world might not even hold you down, and with the Yan Fu Fruit, wouldn¡¯t you seek some thrills?¡± Without a second thought, the crew-cut man raised his palm to knock over a coffee table in Li Yan¡¯s direction. Li Yan¡¯s right foot kicked up a coffee table in front of him, colliding with another mid-way, the expensive bottles of liquor crashing and spilling onto the floor. The scene turned chaotic in an instant, and the buzz-cut man shouldered his way through the crowd and bolted for the door. Several inconspicuous Sudu birds flew out from Li Yan¡¯s sleeve. Li Yan stood up and walked out, and the bar security, who had seen what the buzz-cut man was capable of, didn¡¯t dare to stop him. ¡°You haven¡¯t paid yet.¡± The girl regretted her words as soon as she said them, not expecting that Li Yan, who was about to leave, would respond. ¡°I¡¯ll pay when Ie back, if this guy has any money on him.¡± Half an hourter. Li Yan emerged from a dark alley, his hands bloody. ¡°Unfortunately, you did not receive its heritage.¡± An empty stic bottle was tossed aside, and Li Yan shook off the water droplets on his hands, his expression gloomy. ¡°Yan Fu¡­¡± He muttered to himself. ¡°Taishuai is a Renegade, who can interfere with your operations, so how can I achieve that, at the very least, to prevent others from disturbing my Yan Fu affairs?¡± Thieves are driven by hunger, and lustes with contentment. The Li Yan of today was no longer that boxer ¡°Yama¡± on the Nine Dragons fighting arena, fighting for his sickness. With a gun and a sword, in these two and a half incidents of the Yan Fu affairs, except for ¡°Mo,¡± ¡°Taishuai,¡± those seasoned fighters with strength like deep-sea icebergs, Li Yan had almost never encountered an opponent who could truly suppress him. ¡°Shou Hu¡± was a name well deserved. But that didn¡¯t mean Li Yan wascent. Some things being out of sight did not mean Li Yan couldn¡¯t see them. Li Yan was almost certain that the suppressive forces in the uing designated duels would be extremely hostile toward him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om This Yan Fu event, someone must have set him up. The staggeringly high casualty rate, and the seemingly ¡°random¡± selection of suppressive forces for the duel. ¡°Be a Proxy Traveler. High-ranking ones have the privilege to choose, even to devise the content of Yan Fu events.¡± ¡°Increase the Awakening Degree of the Five Immortals Category heritage, and gain some operation privileges of Yan Fu.¡± The voice in his ear startled Li Yan. ¡°Yan Fu?¡± ¡°I am one of eight million Earth Endurances of the Yan Fu fruit tree, responsible for this Esteemed Walker¡¯s current event iris text information contact, other walkers¡¯ conversations, identity preparation before the descent of the walker, and the wrap-up work after disengagement.¡± Li Yan recalled the deep, hoarse male voice and the pleasant female voice from the previous two Yan Fu events. Eight million Earth Endurances. ¡°Your privileges as an Esteemed Walker are already at the Ten Cities level, in principle, within the scope of your permissions, we will provide you the necessary information.¡± ¡°ording to what you¡¯re saying, if I don¡¯t want to rece my heritage with one from the Five Immortals Category, before bing a Proxy Traveler, I don¡¯t have much chance of getting in touch with the operation permissions of Yan Fu, do I?¡± ¡°Completing the first peak breakthrough of the heritage, you can have a second Yan Fu heritage.¡± In the end, it¡¯s still about increasing the Awakening Degree. Li Yan clenched his fists; he nced at the alley, and with his hands in his pockets, he silently walked away. ¡­ Yan Capital, Yangchao District Police Station Interrogation room. Confession shall be met with leniency, resistance with strictness. ¡°I¡¯m here to take your statement. What¡¯s your name?¡± The man pushed open the door, not looking carefully inside first, hung up his hat first, and with his back to the man cuffed in the chair, ¡°I mean, you¡¯re such a big guy, why not do something decent? You steal a bike, and what¡¯s this, the smell of alcohol,¡± He turned around. ¡°You¡¯re taking it easy, aren¡¯t you? If this had been during the crackdown, you¡¯d have been in deep trouble, you know¡­ ¡± His voice suddenly stopped, and on the tabley a pair of pale yellow handcuffs twisted like pretzels. The man across from him was expressionless. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous,rade.¡± He lifted his face. ¡°I just want to ask if there have been any vicious crimesmitted by unfamiliar faces during the day today.¡± The man pulled out a bottle of cheap sorghum liquor from somewhere, sipping it as he spoke. ¡°Something like an unregistered outsider being murdered and dumped¡­ Tell me, let¡¯s cooperate with the police, shall we?¡± Chapter 113 - 515: I Dont Want to Live if You Die_1 Chapter 515: Chapter 515: I Don¡¯t Want to Live if You Die_1 She hadn¡¯t told him about what happened between her and Dongfang Hen that night¡­ Suddenly, her chin was held captive as Dongfang Yu lifted her face. His dark, piercing gaze was impossible to ignore. ¡°Tell me, what did he do to you?¡± ¡°Nothing happened!¡± Hai Xiaotang tried to defend herself instinctively, ¡°Dongfang Yu, you wouldn¡¯t actually believe what that wretched old witch said, would you?¡± Just processing that possible scenario sent a chill down Hai Xiaotang¡¯s spine. Dongfang Yu frowned, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t believe her words. But you said, you almost killed Dongfang Hen, so I want to know what exactly happened.¡± Hai Xiaotang understood she couldn¡¯t skirt around the issue any longer and decided to tell the truth. ¡°He tried to seduce me with 50 billion worth of property rights. When I didn¡¯t agree, he threatened to sell me off to Africa, and I still didn¡¯t agree. Then he intended to force himself on me, but luckily, I had hidden a dinner knife during our meal. So, I stabbed him.¡± Hai Xiaotang exined it as lightly as describing the weather, acting nonchnt. But upon hearing this, Dongfang Yu felt as though his heart was being tightly clutched. Just imagining Hai Xiaotang¡¯s situation back then made him feel horrified! Dongfang Yu grimly asked, ¡°And then? He didn¡¯t do anything to you?¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. I also found it strange. I almost killed him, yet he did nothing to me. The next day, he brought me back to C City.¡± ¡°Were you thinking ofmitting suicide at that time?¡± Dongfang Yu suddenly asked bluntly. Taken aback, Hai Xiaotang shook her head after a moment, ¡°No!¡± ¡°Hai Xiaotang, no matter what you face in the future, you must live on! You can¡¯tmit suicide, no, you cannot die. I need you to live on, do you understand?¡± Hearing him say this, Hai Xiaotang knew he didn¡¯t believe her. But¡­ ¡°Dongfang Yu, it¡¯s easier said than done. If he had sold me to Africa, I would rather die.¡± ¡°You must not die!¡± Dongfang Yu suddenly retorted animatedly. Hai Xiaotang jumped in surprise before looking at his fiercely brazen statement, ¡°No matter what happens, you cannot die! Even if I die, you must live on!¡± Hai Xiaotang hesitated a moment and then adamantly rejected him, ¡°No! If you die, I wouldn¡¯t want to live. I will agree to anything else, but not this!¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Dongfang Yu frowned, sounding impatient, ¡°Hai Xiaotang, do you need to act so noble? You¡¯ve been given a second chance at life, you need to live it fully. No matter what happens, you must survive!¡± ¡°I will live well and treasure my life. But, my life isn¡¯t indispensable¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Dongfang Yu angrily interrupted her, ¡°Hai Xiaotang, I don¡¯t want to hear such words. Just remember this, you must live on!¡± Hai Xiaotang knew that he was worried about her, so she didn¡¯t take his outburst to heart. She suddenly joked, ¡°You too, you must live well. Let¡¯s both live to a hundred. We¡¯ll never leave each other. No, you live to hundred, and I¡¯ll live to ny-four.¡± Dongfang Yu sat up straight, looked away, and casually said, ¡°Usually men die earlier, I¡¯d be content to apany you till eighty.¡± Without a second thought, Hai Xiaotang immediately replied, ¡°Then I¡¯ll live till eighty.¡± ¡°Hai Xiaotang ¨C ¡± Dongfang Yu turned to her with an angry re, exasperated, ¡°Why must you always be like this?¡± Chapter 114 - 13 Appearance and Encounters Chapter 114: Chapter 13 Appearance and Encounters Two ghastly, pale-faced pages emerged from behind the straw tform, carrying a tall and thin man between them, who was barechested, with a red cloth wrapped around his eyes. ¡°Fellows! Fellows! Sharpen the de quickly, grant me a swift end. When I reach theherworld, I will be thankful for your great kindness.¡± The man¡¯s sweat dripped onto the ground,rge as beans, as he cried out. The executioner pulled off the red cloth from his face, revealing aplexion turned blue and purple, and a visage so contorted with fear that it bore an uncanny resemnce to Li Yan! ¡°Begin the execution!¡± Li Yan felt a chill creep up his neck. Before he could react, the ck-clothed executioner sprayed bright silver liquor onto the de, and the Ghost Head Greatsword chopped down, instantly sttering a burst of red light. The head fell to the ground. ¡°Plop!¡± Li Yan¡¯s vision darkened, as if a steel sword was truly cleaving toward his face, his eyes, mouth, and nose gushing blood simultaneously, a sight horrific in its agony. In his status bar, a new entry appeared clearly: ¡°Foul Lung (Beheaded)¡± Foul Lung, one of the Three Souls and Seven Spirits. A basin full of yellow soil was thrown over the overflowing blood. The executioner took the towel from the basin and carelessly wiped the Ghost Head Sword, then lifted his chin as two more pale-faced pages dragged out another figure from behind the straw tform, and upon pulling off the red cloth, it was Li Yan yet again! ¡°Esteemed Walker, please take note!¡± ¡°With the Three Souls and Seven Spirits severed, you will die forcibly.¡± ¡°Please leave the suppression object range as soon as possible.¡± You damn little rabbit¡­ Li Yan coughed up tworge mouthfuls of blood, his vision swimming with stars. Seizing the moment, the woman leaped forward, crouching low as she rushed at Li Yan, her dagger aze with deep red mes stabbing towards his eyes. The scorching heat wave pressed in. Blinded Li Yan grasped at the wind and swung out with the Ring Dragon Sword. The woman twisted her waist nimbly, dodging Ring Dragon, and her orange-red fist hammered into Li Yan¡¯s chest. Li Yan took the blow head-on. After forcing the woman back with a feint of the Ring Dragon Sword, he surged towards the straw hut with a push from his feet. ¡°Wishful thinking!¡± Behind the woman, two waves of mes surged, and she hurled herself at Li Yan! ¡°Begin the execution!¡± Cmity did note singly, as from inside the straw hut, the ck-clothed executioner let out a tiger¡¯s roar, and the de fell again! Behead the Swallowing Thief. ¡°Thump¡± Li Yan, rushing toward the straw hut, stumbled and copsed onto the ground, as if sapped of all strength. Joy turned wild in the woman¡¯s heart, the expression on her face almost running wild. First to suffer ¡°Beheading Foul Lung,¡± then her punchced with me¡¯s power, and finally ¡°Beheading Swallowing Thief¡±¡ªa feather-ss inheritance would hardly resist. The thick red mes rolled into a ball, the woman was less than a meter from Li Yan¡¯s back. In her heart, she gleefully thought, ¡°I¡¯ve won!¡± Unfortunately, Li Yan had proven one thing all along his path, whether it was Zhang Mingyuan, Xu Tianci, orter ones like Tachibana Muneshige and Honda Tadakatsu, Li Yan was best at feigning weakness and turning the tables at life-and-death moments. A sharp pain shed in Li Yan¡¯s eyes as he bent backwards, forming an exaggerated bridge with his back, his arms raised, his right hand brushing past his chest. Between his loosely sped hands, a bright white-gold light zed forth. Tiger Head Great Spear. The woman watched in horror as a white-gold Devouring de stabbed towards her, her body crashing straight into it. The spear pierced her heart, bursting out half a meter from her back, killing her instantly. Such was the capricious reversal between life and death. As Yu Shu had said, discussing technique alone, Li Yan¡¯s mastery of the arts was indeed ¡°spectacr beyondpare.¡± As Li Yan, with the upper half of his body arching backward, watched upside down, the woman¡¯s blood slid down the spear shaft to his hand, scalding like boiling water, while wisps of smoke rose from her wound. That was really close. ¡°You have gained the inheritance: Bloodline of Mythical Bird Bifang ¨C Phosphorus me.¡± ¡°Esteemed Walker, please take note!¡± ¡°With the Three Souls and Seven Spirits severed, you will die forcibly.¡± ¡°Please leave the suppression area as quickly as possible.¡± The young man with the white face supported the third person out. The executioner wielded the blood-drenched Ghost Head Greatsword in his hand. Li Yan withdrew and spun around, his foot pushing off from the ground as he hurled the Tiger Head Great Spear into the night. A streak of white and gold brilliance, swift as a startled swan, shot towards the grass tform. Three meters in length, the Tiger Head Great Spear traced a smooth arc through the air, heading straight for the grass tform, and then¡­ It passed right through without any resistance. Red veins spidered through the whites of Li Yan¡¯s eyes, and bulging blue veins stood out on his forehead. With the Ring Dragon Sword hanging low in his grip, he took three steps in ce of two and charged into that bloody, savage grass tform! ¡°Begin the execution!¡± Themand thundered like a roar. Li Yan, along with his sword, passed through the grass tform and the executioner as if traversing ripples in water, yet not even a small ripple emerged in the process. Yet the third head had already fallen to the ground. Struck as if by lightning, Li Yan tumbled headlong to the dirt, rolling forward twice, then grabbed the Tiger Head Great Spear without looking back and charged onward. Behind him, the chilling words ¡°Begin the execution¡± seemed to follow like a shadow. Li Yan was practically dragging his body along as he ran, turning a corner to leave behind the Market Execution Ground and immediately copsing on the wooden railing by the roadside, his fingers tightly gripping the handrail,rge drops of blood ticking down onto the wood and the ground below. He finally managed to turn himself over, sitting down on the ground with his lungs tasting sharply of blood. His head felt as if it were being hammered continuously, painful waves assaulting him like a stormy sea. After a while, he lifted his finger and tore through a piece of talisman paper.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The cool essence of the Sweet Dew Talisman slowly circted among his organs. Li Yan¡¯s ¡°Swallowing Thief,¡± ¡°Foul Lung,¡± and ¡°Remove Filth¡± spirits had been severed, and even though he had left the perimeter of the Market Execution Ground, these three states still persisted. He would need to end the Yan Fu incident before spending points to remove them. Yet, in Li Yan¡¯s eyes, there was a faint glint of excitement. ¡°You have discovered the secret treasure of Yan Fu.¡± ¡­ Wangfujing, Doni Shun. Doni Shun was established in the 29th year of the Guangxu reign, an old Hl brand known for exquisite knife work, where diners can see the pattern on the te through the thinly sliced mutton. Cha Xiaodao sat cross-legged on the ground, gasping for breath. With a flip of his hand, the kitchen knife in his hand disappeared as if by magic. He looked at the body lying on the ground, and after a long while, he stood up with a grimacing smile. Clenching a cigarette between his teeth, he muttered: ¡°Setting up the ce here saves me the trouble.¡± Saying this, he walked towards the slightly imposing yellow eaves door of the restaurant. ¡°About six more days, the 8 buildings of Yan Capital, Big 8 Residences, Four Doni Shuns, South Soft and North Hard, life won¡¯t be easy~¡± The restaurant seemed pitch-ck at first nce, yet inside it was brightly lit. Cha Xiaodao hadn¡¯t even entered when a beaming young attendant stopped him at the door. ¡°Esteemed sir, we are fully booked. Please bear with us.¡± Cha Xiaodao nced at the mostly empty tables and chairs, remaining silent. Upon closer inspection, all the seated guests were like y statues or wooden carvings, one even missing half a palm with most of the gold paint scraped off and chalked graffiti in colors on his back, appearing to have writing like ¡°Wang Xiaoming is a little dog.¡± ¡°Shopkeeper.¡± Cha Xiaodao bowed politely as he entered. ¡°I¡¯m not here to eat. I¡¯m here to learn.¡± ¡­ Outside Chongwenmen to the north, along Grinding Factory street. The old Er¡¯you Tang. This ancient bookstore had been around for hundreds of years, first printing the Four Books and Five ssics, ys and novels, as well as some patriotic publications. Outside the white stone archway, several tables were set up with cdon teapots and lidded bowls, a ck and white newspaper pinned underneath. ¡°Fighting for sovereignty abroad, eliminating traitors within the nation, swearing to struggle to the death and reim Qingdao.¡± The man sniffled and said to the owner, who was dressed like a Qing dynasty holdover, with a yful grin: ¡°Old timer, please, I beg you, give me a bowl of wine.¡± The elder nced at him disdainfully, spouting literary flourishes for a good while but the man couldn¡¯t understand. Though he knew this Er¡¯you Tang had some connections, he didn¡¯t care and turned to look at the despairing fat man sitting opposite him. A ck chess piece stood on the table. The man pulled out a ss bottle emzoned with ¡°Hesheng Double Star Beer,¡± focusing on the fat man as he asked, ¡°Decided yet? Admit defeat and concede the piece, or die?¡± Chapter 115 - 14 Yin Market Chapter 115: Chapter 14 Yin Market Langfang Main Street Alley. Li Yan weighed the two small pieces of Gold and onerge piece of Gold in his hand, walking into the alley. The currency in Yin Market was the flesh of the living, but the emphasis wasn¡¯t actually on the flesh, but on the ¡°living¡± aspect. So far, the only thing Li Yan had seen moving freely at midnight was Yan Fu. Without assurances of capture, the requirement for the flesh of the living undoubtedly meant allowing Yan Fu to cut from his own flesh. Heh, when you think about it, the Fur ss really had the advantage, if they were cruel enough. ¡°Yo, a rare guest~¡± A new and an old redntern hung there, the house beyond bustling with activity. It seemed like these people still recognized Li Yan as he stepped in. Most of them nced at him and then paid him no further heed. Before Li Yan had a chance to look around, he felt someone lightly tug on his coat. ¡°Sir, would you like to listen to some music?¡± Li Yan looked down to see a young girl pulling on his coat, her apricot-yellow skirt swishing, her face pointed with pale cheeks, and her eyes were pitch ck without a hint of white. Li Yan smoothly slid out of his coat. ¡°No need, thank you.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om The girl hung her head, her little feet shuffling, looking somewhat pitiable. ¡°What is it, sir? Wanting something? I know this ce well.¡± The voice was familiar; it was Hat Zhang, who sold cigarettes. This time Hat Zhang wore a round top straw hat with straw sticking out at the edges as he whistled towards Li Yan. Hat Zhang sold cigarettes, and the tobo in the boxes could enhance various qualities of a pedestrian, very practical. But that wasn¡¯t what Li Yan urgently needed now. Li Yan pulled out the only remaining Dugong Dew Talisman and shook it in front of Hat Zhang. After using two Dugong Dew Talismans, the wounds of Li Yan, whose three souls had been shed, had recovered. If there had to be a side effect, it was that Li Yan¡¯s sense of pain had dulled a lot; whether it was good or bad, Li Yan couldn¡¯t say. ¡°I want something simr to this, got any?¡± Hat Zhang blinked, smiling cheerfully. ¡°Got~¡± He turned around. Li Yan followed behind him. Through two wooden doors and entering and exiting who knows how many times, winding round and round, Hat Zhang led Li Yan to the back of a few bamboo sticks. An old man with a straw hat was sitting there, with two red bricks underneath his buttocks, puffing on a smoking pipe, not even giving a proper nce at Li Yan or Hat Zhang. Hat Zhang poked the old man¡¯s muddy leg with the tip of his shoe. ¡°Wang Toad, you¡¯ve got business.¡± The old man nced over with eyes as parched as old tree bark and shifted slightly on his seat. ¡°I don¡¯t take human flesh here, only living eyeballs.¡± ¡°Cut the crap, bring out the goods.¡± Hat Zhang urged impatiently. The old man took off his hat and ced it in front of Li Yan. ¡°Take a look.¡± Li Yan peered into the hat. Half a hatful of green jujubes. [Yuanmou Jujube] Bone marrow filling, flesh regrowth, stop bleeding, limb reattachment (requires simple fixation, wound surface notrger than twenty square centimeters) One eyeball/ten pieces. The old man handed a soup spoon to Li Yan. ¡°Left eye or right eye?¡± Li Yan didn¡¯t speak, he just spread open his palm, which held a small piece of Gold. The old man was startled, nced in Hat Zhang¡¯s direction, Hat Zhang rolled his eyes, not speaking. ¡°Twenty pieces.¡± ¡°Thirty pieces.¡± The old man shook his head, ¡°No more than twenty-five.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Li Yan just swung his sword randomly, not lingering on the matter. The old man didn¡¯t have a stic bag on hand either, so he grabbed a handful and put it in Li Yan¡¯s palm. After taking the Gold, he picked out two smaller green jujubes and threw them to Hat Zhang, then ignored the two of them. After putting the twenty-five Yuanmou Jujubes into the Seal Space, Li Yan let out a sigh of relief. ¡°How about it, just take a casual look around?¡± Hat Zhang swallowed the two green jujubes and said to Li Yan with a satisfied face. Li Yan flipped thest piece of Gold onto the back of his hand, his gaze flickering, ¡°Brother, the Market Execution Ground, are you familiar with it?¡± Hat Zhang¡¯s eyes fell on the Gold, lips curling upward, but his pupils contracted upon hearing Li Yan¡¯s question. ¡­ Southeast Canyon of Jie Tai Temple, Moyai Mountain. The mountain was a rusty red color, with twenty-two carved Buddha statues within, their robes flowing smoothly, and their expressions solemn. The girl held a Dragon-patterned Large Saber in one hand and a ck snake about a meter long in the other, not very tall, but her eyes brimmed with spirit. Across from her in the rock niche, the man stood over two meters tall, with a bald head, a scar across his face, bushy eyebrows, wide mouth, and an intense killing aura. He had only three fingers on his right hand, the wound still fresh. The two stared at each other for a long time until the girl stepped up to the man with the scar, looking up at him as he towered three or four heads above her. She grabbed hisrge palm, the size of a meditation cushion, and said discontentedly, ¡°How did you end up like this¡­¡± The man embarrassingly withdrew his right hand and said in a deep voice, ¡°I ran into a tough opponent, who chopped off two of my fingers in a single encounter.¡± The girl wasn¡¯t very tall, and she blew a strand of hair from her forehead, speaking in a forceful tone, ¡°Which son of a bitch dared to chop my brother?¡± The man with the scar tugged at the corner of his mouth and after hesitating for a while said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s good or bad luck, but my appointed adversary is you. If that¡¯s the case, won¡¯t we have to spend a whole night unnecessarily on Moyai Mountain?¡± ¡°Not necessarily¡­¡± The girl casually wiped her hand, storing the Dragon-patterned Large Saber into the Seal Space, standing with hands on hips looking out at the iron-red Buddha statues scattered across Moyai Mountain. ¡°Besides the suppressing objects, there are quite a few good things in this Sijiu City.¡± ¡­ ¡°If you¡¯re asking me how to deal with the several ¡®aunties¡¯ within the execution ground, please forgive me for keeping mum.¡± Li Yan remained silent, knowing Hat Zhang had more to say. ¡°However, these people usually love the pickles from Liubi House the most. If you want to inquire about something, you might want to check it out.¡± ¡°What does ¡®auntie¡¯ mean?¡± Li Yan probed obliquely. ¡°It¡¯s ng for the underworld. The chief executioner is called ¡®grandma,¡¯ and her two assistants are the ¡®big aunt¡¯ and the ¡®second aunt.¡¯ ¡°Grandma¡­ auntie¡­¡± Chapter 116 - 15 Red Flag Pickles Factory Chapter 116: Chapter 15 Red g Pickles Factory The poster of ¡°My Fair Princess¡± on the wall was sttered red with a streak of blood, Li Yan stood on a rotting cat-faced corpse, humming ¡°Matched Musketry¡± and searching through the supermarket¡¯s shelves with his head back¡­ ¡°Ah, found it.¡± Li Yan tore open the paper box, which was full of Sony batteries. After fiddling for a bit, the Walkman holding Liang Ye¡¯s spirit finally lit up again. ¡°Do you really think I sing well?¡± Liang Ye¡¯s voice came out from the speaker at the back of the Walkman. Nearly a whole day had passed, and this was still what Liang Ye cared about most. Li Yan thought for a moment: ¡°Indeed not bad, if it weren¡¯t for this mess, maybe you would have made it.¡± As he spoke, Li Yan asked again, ¡°Can youe out?¡± ¡°I can, but not for too long.¡± ¡°That will do.¡± Li Yan collected the batteries from the box: ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll treat you to pickles¡­¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been out for seven years, anything will taste delicious. Did you see my parents? Oh, right, you don¡¯t know where my parents live. Why are you helping me? What¡¯s your deal with that woman? Dude, where are you from? I can¡¯t ce your ent¡­¡± Li Yan: ¡°¡­¡± By the time Li Yan walked out of the ¡°Jiajiale Supermarket,¡± it was already two in the morning. There were still over five hours until the end of ¡°the boiling midnight.¡± Li Yan, walking alone on the street, seemed solitary, but in reality, he had to count Ghost Rider, Lady Dan, and the chatterbox, Liang Ye. Among them, Ghost Rider was a rather direct summon, which Li Yan could control directly through his thoughts. Ghost Rider had basic intellect, but it was limited to fighting and couldn¡¯t do much else. The rtionship between Lady Dan and Li Yan was moreplicated. This wild Mountain God that came from Joseon¡¯s Dragon Tiger Qi had power undoubtedly no less than that of the Ten Cities, and even Li Yan¡¯s Fleeting Glimpse could not discern anything from her. However, since she inexplicably appeared in Yu Shu¡¯s gourd and was brought out of her original world by Li Yan, she had been in a state of recuperation. Because Lady Dan had never shown any malice towards Li Yan, he couldn¡¯t gauge how far she had recovered from her threatening aura. Lastly, there was Liang Ye, the spirit bound within the Walkman, which had nobat capabilities and couldn¡¯t bring this fruit out, but for the current Li Yan, its utility was even above Ghost Rider¡¯s. Li Yan couldn¡¯t help but think, if he went back to the execution ground with a carrot in his mouth and Liang Ye¡¯s bgm, what a spectacle that would be. However, the suppressing effect of the Market Execution Ground seemed much stronger than that of the ruins of the Catholic church. In Li Yan¡¯s opinion, ensuring his own safety was already the best oue. Yet, what Li Yan wanted was not just self-preservation but to make contact with that illusory stage that was as fleeting as a bubble, to find the hidden ¡°Yan Fu¡¯s Secret Treasury¡±, and at the very least, to revenge a grievance. ¡­ Rows of red-tiled green eaves and intricately carved buildings, but Li Yan, wrapping his arms around himself, stared at the sign for a long while without entering. Red g Pickles Factory Li Yan circled several times, unable to find the three characters for Liubi House. If it weren¡¯t for the map he¡¯d purchased with points clearly marking it as the location of a more than hundred-year-old pickle brand, Li Yan would have felt a bit uneasy. ¡°Yo~ sir, I¡¯m sorry, we¡¯re not serving.¡± A shopkeeper draped in a white towel had actually pushed Li Yan out. It¡¯s worth mentioning that this young fellow¡¯s face was ruddy, looking no different than a living person. Li Yan wasn¡¯t upset, he asked with a smile, ¡°Brother, howe the sign for Liubi House is gone?¡± He pointed to the five big characters of Red g Pickles Factory above his head. The shopkeeper, with a typically rural manner, took half a day to finally squeeze out a sentence. ¡°Isn¡¯t this, breaking the Four Olds¡­¡± ¡°Oh~¡± Li Yan nodded his head, looked around for a long while, but saw no one, then asked, ¡°Then, when can we do business?¡± The shop assistant shook his head: ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll just tell you the truth, we can¡¯t do business with you.¡± Li Yan was about to say something when a cool breeze swept by his side. He shifted his left foot and took two steps back. Before the door, unbeknownst to him when she arrived, stood a girl with her hair done up in twin buns, dressed in a flowing water-sleeved gown, her smile sweet. She bowed to the shop assistant, her two fingers pinching the hem of her dress as she stepped inside. The shop assistant didn¡¯t stop her but instead smiled. Li Yan let out a breath and was weighing his options when a stream of verdant light emerged from the square hole of the copper coin around his neck, and Lady Dan stepped forward. She locked eyes with Li Yan. ¡°Let me try.¡± She nced at the girl who had disappeared inside the door, her tone seemingly loaded with deeper meaning, ¡°If she can go inside, I think I can too.¡± Li Yan nodded, and Lady Dan exchanged a look with the shop assistant at the door. The man, initially ambivalent at her attire, seemed relieved after Lady Dan whispered something to him and stepped aside. Lady Dan looked back with a smile and raised her palm, signaling Li Yan to follow her in. Inside the Red g Pickles Factory, the lights were bright, and the room was filled with an indescribable salty fragrance. The sleepy shopkeeper behind the counter, and housed in blue-and-white porcin jars under ss lids were various pickles. Richly colored soy sauce, bean paste, oil, and rice flour. Candied garlic, sweet-pickled cucumbers, preserved vegetables, Eight Treasure vegetables, squash, sweet dew¡ªand atop them, the signature of the Six Treasure House. Most tables were empty. The young girl who had entered earlier was now walking out with a small bundle,ing face to face with Lady Dan. As they passed by each other, the girl turned her head to look at Lady Dan¡¯s rounded shoulders for a while, then left the factory. ¡°What¡¯s the story with that girl?¡± Li Yan asked. Twirling the teacup in her hand, Lady Dan replied, ¡°Hard to say.¡± Li Yan said with a smile, ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯ll run into her again in the future.¡± Their eyes met once more. ¡°Give me a hand! It¡¯s stuck.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Liang Ye emerged bit by bit from a screen norger than a fingernail, especially his leg stuck on the outside, his face red with effort. The scene was both bizarre and somewhatical. Lady Dan looked away, and Li Yan scratched his head, rubbing his mrs thoughtfully. ¡­ Li Yan took a carrot and dipped it into the sauce, taking a big bite. Liang Ye, with a stubble-covered face, crossed his hands and rested them on his chin, trying to appear profound. Li Yan looked at Liang Ye and couldn¡¯t help thinking with some malice, if he put on frog-eye sses and white gloves, tsk tsk¡­ ¡°So, you mean that if I help you, you¡¯ll help me find my parents.¡± ¡°Right, I help you find your parents, and in return, you help me out for the next few days. I can¡¯t stay here much longer, and once I¡¯m gone, what you do is none of my business.¡± Liang Ye banged his fist on the table. ¡°Fine, what do you need help with?¡± Lady Dan, who was nibbling at the Eight Treasure vegetables, looked up, prompting Li Yan to pause. Here ites. The door swung open, letting in a gust of fishy wind. Soft ck leather boots stepped onto the floor, and a deathly pale face followed straight in. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!