Chapter 46 - 45: Night of Murder

Chapter 46: Chapter 45: Night of Murder

Feiyun City, the Cheng family’s villa.

The Cheng family was certainly qualified to reside in the Inner City. However, with land there being as precious as gold, the prime locations were already occupied by more powerful factions. As a result, they settled only their elders and most important members in the Inner City.

Those placed in the Outer City were younger descendants who needed tempering. Nevertheless, these youths were all provided with luxurious manors, which served as a form of compensation. Yet, nobody knew that the person residing deep within Cheng Lian’Er’s manor in the Outer City was the true current head of the Cheng family. Brother Cheng, the number one expert of the Cheng family, also lived here.

Cheng Lian’Er recounted the events of the past few days with a serious expression, a strange gleam in her eyes. Facing the family elder, she had no choice but to partially conceal the truth.

"At that time, Second Uncle erupted his Viscera Meridian to buy me a chance of survival. But to my surprise, Third Uncle suddenly betrayed us. I was saved by an Abnormal Person. His strength was formidable; he took Third Uncle’s life within just a few moves. Afterward, he took me away and settled me in a cave until Brother Bei brought people to rescue me."

Sitting at the head of the room was a white-haired elder, about sixty or seventy years old. He narrowed his eyes. "So, Lian’Er, you don’t know his identity?"

Cheng Lian’Er shook her head slightly. Then, as if remembering something, she whispered, "He didn’t say. However, he mentioned that he helped me because I had assisted him before. He considered it owing me a favor, which is why he intervened."

The elder nodded, his fingers gently tapping the armrest of his chair as he pondered the man’s identity. Right then, a long, clear whistle echoed from outside, followed immediately by the NEIGHING and heavy panting of a horse.

"Brother Cheng, Zhao has come uninvited. I hope you can forgive my intrusion."

Zhao Fu’s voice rang out from beyond the doors, accompanied by the reporting voice of an outside servant. Hearing this, the elder at the head seat immediately smiled, waving his hand as he let out a hearty laugh.

"Brother Zhao, it’s been a long time since your last visit. Please, come in!"

Soon, the main doors swung open, revealing several people waiting. Zhao Fu walked in with a face full of smiles. Upon seeing Cheng Lian’Er, he said, "You must be little Cheng Lian’Er, right? You’ve grown so much."

"Hahaha, Brother Zhao, long time no see. I trust you’ve been well?"

Zhao Fu merely smiled and replied casually, "Same as always. Life isn’t too bitter, nor is it too hard."

The elder looked at Zhao Fu with a beaming smile. "Younger Brother Zhao, you must have some business here this time, right?"

Hearing this, Zhao Fu gave a wry smile. "I knew I couldn’t hide it from you, Brother Cheng."

His expression turned serious as he began, "To be honest, I am here for a few of my disappointing disciples. Since arriving in Feiyun City ten years ago, I’ve taken in quite a few disciples, and some of them were recommended by your Cheng family.

"I am very fond of all of them, so I have always kept them by my side. But now, with the turbulent changes in the city, I’m old and can no longer comprehend the shifting tides. I just wanted to do something for my disciples to preserve our bond, so I came to ask what kind of agreements these disappointing disciples of mine have with your family, Brother Cheng.

"I was thinking, if possible, when these disciples return from joining the army, I’d like to ask the Cheng family to give them a job where they don’t have to risk their lives."

Most of the disciples Zhao Fu had accepted over the years were recommended by these major families. Now that the City Guard’s Mansion had ordered his disciples to join the army, there wasn’t much he could do. However, preventing these families from making things difficult for his disciples and securing a good position for them if they were lucky enough to survive was only right and proper.

Hearing this, Cheng Lian’Er instantly thought of something. Over the years, she had only written one recommendation letter, and it was for Xu Guang...

Did Xu Guang really need Zhao Fu’s help to arrange a ’post-military career’? Did he have any idea of Xu Guang’s strength?

Cheng Lian’Er felt utterly speechless inwardly, but she shifted her gaze to the old man of the Cheng family.

"Since it’s a favor for you, Younger Brother, say no more. I agree on behalf of the Cheng family. When the time comes, as long as your esteemed disciples don’t mind, I will have Lian’Er arrange everything properly."

Once everything was settled, without even having the time to prepare the Secret Medicine for the Returning Mountain Skill, Xu Guang began his Cultivation.

[Golden Willow Skill (Bone Forging Chapter 90%)]

He had achieved this entirely through his own diligent Cultivation during this period. Fortunately, even though he had been indulging in the soft embrace of women lately, he hadn’t neglected his training.

With only 10% progress left to reach Bone Forging Perfection, Xu Guang had originally planned to cultivate step by step. But Pang Hong had truly infuriated him today.

He opened the Returning Mountain Skill Secret Manual. It recorded a Magic Door that enabled rapid Bone Forging: using a large amount of Secret Medicine all at once, mixing various stimulating medicinal powders, and consuming a massive amount of Essence Blood to rapidly break through the bottleneck.

Essence Blood was something Xu Guang had plenty of! Following the restored Secret Technique, Xu Guang intended to give it a try. He took out all the Secret Medicine that Master Zhao had fetched today and poured it into a wooden barrel he had prepared in advance.

Xu Guang held his breath in absolute concentration. After practicing the movements of the Bone Forging Chapter several times in succession and breaking into a cold sweat, he leaped into the water. Most of the Secret Medicine was meant to nourish hidden injuries in the body, but Xu Guang had added many highly stimulating medicinal powders to the mix.

Suddenly, the scalding water nearly drowned Xu Guang’s consciousness. The Essence Blood within his Blood Eye surged outward relentlessly, as if his life depended on it.

Xu Guang regained his senses. He focused his mind entirely on the area above his neck, which had yet to complete Bone Forging. Feeling the Essence Blood in his Blood Eye mixing with the massive amount of Secret Medicine and stimulating powders, he gritted his teeth and channeled his vitality and blood upward toward his neck.

PUFF!

In an instant, boundless Essence Blood rushed into his head, like the waters of a great river surging forward after being dammed up for far too long.

Half an hour later, Xu Guang leaped out of the wooden barrel, his gaze serene. Consuming nearly twenty drops of Essence Blood had brought him a tremendous harvest.

[Golden Willow Skill Bone Forging Chapter 100%]

Bone Forging, completed!

The room’s door was violently pushed open. Xu Guang’s figure flickered as he darted over the walls of his courtyard.

During the New Year season, there were shockingly few pedestrians on the streets. Those who did appear were all Martial Artists with bulging pockets hidden in their clothes.

The night was far from peaceful.

Xu Guang wrapped his clothes tighter around himself. With a dagger tucked into his chest and a black cloth masking his face, he calmly walked toward the Outer City. He walked very cautiously along the road, fearing that he might be targeted by these bloodshot-eyed Martial Artists, which would ultimately be rather troublesome.

While passing an intersection, a heavy THUD echoed as an object hit the ground, followed by the cries of women and children. Immediately after, a figure tumbled down from a perimeter wall, stumbling and scrambling into the distance upon landing.

Xu Guang saw clearly that the top of the wall was already stained red with blood. In this era, there were many thieves at night, so many poor people would embed sharpened stones into the tops of their walls. Halfway through his escape, the figure seemed to notice something. He glanced back at Xu Guang for a moment before continuing to run.

Xu Guang saw him clearly. It was just a half-grown teenager, but he had likely already practiced martial arts. If he were from a normal family, a child of this age definitely wouldn’t be allowed to practice martial arts.

The world was just like this. Xu Guang merely cast a glance and thought nothing more of it. Hearing footsteps coming from inside the courtyard, and not wanting to invite trouble, he shrank into the shadows by the wall and swiftly departed.

Pang Hong was an incredibly arrogant person. He always believed himself to be a son of heaven. Born into a farming family, he possessed heaven-defying aptitude and had been guided by a famous master. Although the Cultivation Technique Cheng Shan taught him had some side effects, it didn’t matter. He truly loved the feeling of having power coursing through his body.

He had castrated himself, but he had grown stronger.

Just like now. He arrived outside a brothel, standing in the shadows across the street. His face was gloomy, harboring a bit of jealousy and venomous resentment. Then, gripping his saber, he walked inside.

A moment later, the brothel erupted into a cacophony of noise. Women’s cries and pleas for mercy, men’s frantic footsteps and shouting... The clamor was endless.

Xu Guang stood quietly in an alleyway outside the brothel, his gaze calmly observing this scene. It was this very scene that pushed his killing intent toward Pang Hong to its absolute peak.

This was a true, twisted pervert who sought revenge for the slightest grievance. Allowing a person like this to live even one more day would be a sheer disrespect to the agonizing pain Xu Guang had just endured.

Pang Hong walked out of the brothel covered in blood, casually setting a fire on his way out. He licked his lips, his eyes glazed over, looking like a drug addict suffering from withdrawals. Even his steps were slightly staggered as he walked.

"Doing this once a year truly brings... immense physical and mental pleasure!" Pang Hong muttered to himself.

As he passed by an alley, suddenly, the hairs all over his body stood on end. He abruptly jerked his head up.

A black shadow darted out like lightning, arriving right in front of him in the blink of an eye. A blade slashed down directly toward his head.

"Who are you!?" Pang Hong reacted swiftly, gathering all the strength in his body and letting out a loud shout.

There was no time to draw his saber. Thus, he let out a bizarre screech from his mouth. Black mist immediately surged around him, and the vitality and blood throughout his entire body pumped wildly. With one hand, he attempted to swat the long blade away, while forming a fist with the other, aiming to punch the black shadow to death in a single strike.

A cold sneer surfaced on the corner of Xu Guang’s mouth. His gaze locked onto Pang Hong. Suddenly, the white cloth wrapped around his forehead naturally slipped off. An eerie Blood Eye half-opened, glaring fixedly at Pang Hong.

Divine Might!

Simultaneously, a strand of long hair on his forehead shot out like a streak of dark light under the cover of night. The blade was not swatted away. In midair, the long blade in the black shadow’s hand eerily accelerated, meeting Pang Hong’s hand... on the exact same trajectory.

PUFF!

BANG!

A severed palm flew through the air. At the same time, the black shadow’s fist collided with Pang Hong. The agonizing pain of his severed palm made him zone out for a brief moment, and he was subsequently blasted away. Without a shred of hesitation, the black shadow swung the long blade once more, sending his other arm flying.

THUD!

Pang Hong’s armless body was smashed into the wall by Xu Guang’s punch. The immense force of nearly five thousand catties almost blasted a human-shaped crater into the brickwork.

Xu Guang didn’t hesitate in the slightest. Taking a step forward, his fists rained down like a torrential storm. Pang Hong desperately tried to parry with his feet, but while he could block one punch, he couldn’t block hundreds.

His chest bone caved in. His eyes were wide open, glaring fixedly at Xu Guang. His gaze was filled with unwillingness, venomous resentment, and sheer disbelief. He was the son of heaven! How could he die here...?

Just what was the background of this person killing him? How did he possess so much Bloodline Power?

Xu Guang opportunely retreated a few steps. Right before death, Martial Artists always liked to hold something back for a final strike. He had seen it happen many times before. Finally, a moment later, Pang Hong’s neck snapped to the side as he stared blankly, collapsing completely.

Xu Guang stepped forward, yanked Pang Hong’s corpse out of the wall with one hand, and turned to leave, vanishing around the street corner.