The Blind Who Slapped Himself

Wang Yue had fifty taels of silver tucked away. He had just reached the gates of Lihe Town when he saw a dark mass of people blocking the entrance. They were the guards he had taught a lesson to earlier, along with over a dozen more men in official uniforms. At their head was a young man on horseback, a long saber at his waist and an arrogant look on his face.

"A thief injured people and still wants to leave? Take him down!" The young leader spotted Wang Yue, immediately reined in his horse, and shouted with unquestionable authority.

Wang Yue stopped and snorted coldly, sweeping his gaze over those closing in around him. "You seized my deed first, and now you're blocking me instead? Aren't you afraid of being in the wrong?"

Wang Yue paused, then added, "Do you know who I am?"

The young leader burst into laughter, his tone full of disdain. "Who are you? You'll make people laugh their teeth out. Even if the Heavenly King himself came today, I'd still detain him! Take him!"

At his command, the officials around them immediately raised their wooden clubs and surrounded Wang Yue.

Wang Yue felt utterly helpless. He had only come to collect a debt, yet it had somehow stirred up so much trouble.

He knew these men belonged to the authorities. If he fought them, the matter would inevitably grow larger, violating Wang Hu's instruction not to cause trouble. He decided to reason with them first, removed the Wang Clan token from his waist, and held it out before the young leader. "Look carefully. I'm from the Wang Clan."

The young man glanced at the two characters for Wang Clan on the token, yet remained utterly arrogant. "You're just an outer member of the Wang Clan. You're nothing in my eyes!"

He patted his chest, sounding rather boastful. "To tell you the truth, my brother-in-law is the head of this town and has a good relationship with the Wang Clan. You, an outer member, dare act so brazenly before me?"

Wang Yue frowned and flipped over the token, revealing the blurry character for tiger on its reverse. It was a mark Wang Hu had specifically given him. He had thought it would intimidate the other man, but the young man remained dismissive and became even more overbearing. "What kind of nonsense is this? A tiger character? I've never even heard of it! Take this thief down!"

Wang Yue's expression instantly darkened, and a flash of killing intent passed through his eyes. "You're courting death!"

A group of ordinary people who had not even entered the martial path, merely wearing the skin of the authorities, wanted to take down a Blood Condensation Realm martial artist like him?

Though he knew fighting would bring trouble, he had truly been pushed too far today. From dawn until now, nothing but rotten affairs had come his way, and the anger he had been suppressing finally erupted.

Bang!

Wang Yue struck first. His right fist, clad in the Black Cloud Fist, shot out like a gale. The first official to charge at him had not even reacted before he was sent flying by a punch. He slammed into the wall beside him, spat out a mouthful of blood, and slowly slid to the ground.

Then, the officials surrounding him fell one after another like wheat swept by a violent wind, continuously blasted away by Wang Yue. Each crashed down vomiting blood, while cries of agony rose and fell without end.

The young leader turned pale with fright and hurriedly shouted, "Stop him! Go get my brother-in-law!"

Wang Yue gave them no chance at all. He stomped forward, his body shooting out like an arrow loosed from a bow straight toward the young man. His punch came out like a dragon and struck heavily into the young man's chest.

Thud!

The young man flew straight off his horse, smashing through a pile of stacked debris. After landing, he spewed out a great mouthful of blood. He struggled to rise, but could not climb back up no matter what he did.

The remaining officials retreated again and again in terror, no longer daring to step forward.

Wang Yue calmed down slightly and turned toward the town gate, but after only two steps, he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

Two figures sped over from the end of the street at incredible speed. Wang Yue's pupils contracted. Both men were middle-aged, and blood and qi flowed within their bodies. They were Blood Condensation martial artists!

Before Wang Yue could react, the two had already rushed before him. One wielded a long saber, the other gripped a spear. With practiced movements, they attacked Wang Yue, saber chopping and spear thrusting in seamless coordination.

Wang Yue did not dare be careless. He swung both fists to block. The Black Cloud Fist collided with saber and spear, producing piercing metallic clangs as clang, clang rang out incessantly.

After exchanging several moves, Wang Yue made his judgment. Though these two had reached the Blood Condensation Realm, they lacked a complete martial inheritance. They had most likely relied on one or two secret techniques and practiced day after day to break through. They were even weaker than Sun Wei, who had only recently condensed blood.

Yet even so, one attacking and one defending, the pressure they exerted together was far greater than Sun Wei alone.

"How is this brat's strength so savage?" The saber-wielding middle-aged man was alarmed. His saber had been numbed by the Black Cloud Fist. If not for his spear-wielding companion keeping Wang Yue in check, he would have been sent flying long ago.

The spear-wielding middle-aged man was equally horrified. They had thought they were merely dealing with an ordinary Blood Condensation Realm martial artist, only to run into a hard bone. The other man's fist technique was not only exquisite, but his strength far surpassed theirs. Every collision with the Black Cloud Fist left their arms numb.

"Kill him! Kill him now!" The young man on the ground was still shouting, utterly unaware of how greatly his words provoked Wang Yue.

Hearing this, the fury in Wang Yue's heart once more leaped like thunder. He had originally intended to hold back and avoid striking vital points, but now he could no longer endure it.

The three streams of blood and qi within him surged madly. His blazing battle intent faintly drove his fist technique toward a breakthrough. Every punch was heavier and faster than before, its wind tearing through the air and forcing the two men back again and again.

Pfft!

The saber-wielding middle-aged man could no longer hold on. Wang Yue's punch struck his chest, jolting him as he spat blood. His long saber flew from his hand, and he collapsed to the ground clutching his chest, clearly suffering internal injuries.

A sharp light erupted in Wang Yue's eyes. Using the footwork of the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist, he rushed before the spear-wielding middle-aged man and drove a punch into his lung.

Bang!

The middle-aged man flew backward. After landing, he spewed out mouthfuls of blood and struggled to get up, but he no longer had any strength left.

Wang Yue did not stop. He turned and walked over to the saber-wielding middle-aged man, who had just tried to pick up his weapon. Wang Yue's fist stopped steadily before his forehead. The wind from it swept across the man's face, leaving him frozen in place and too frightened to move.

Seeing this, the young man on the ground abruptly fell silent, as though someone had gripped his throat. His face was filled with fear.

Just as Wang Yue turned and prepared to walk toward the young man again, someone in a blue official uniform hurried over, shouting as he came, "Stop! I am Lihe Town's Town Edict Envoy! Why are you injuring people here?"

The young man saw the Town Edict Envoy as though he had found a lifesaving straw and hurriedly cried out, "Brother-in-law! He injured people for no reason when he entered town this morning. I came to stop him, and he injured my brothers too! You must stand up for me!"

Wang Yue could not be bothered to waste words on this fool. He directly removed the token from his waist and held it out before the Town Edict Envoy.

The Town Edict Envoy clearly saw the character tiger on the reverse of the token, and his expression changed instantly. He immediately turned around and slapped the young man twice with a sharp smack, smack, his tone stern. "You fool! You dared provoke someone under Wang Hu of the Wang Clan!"

Wang Yue inadvertently glanced behind the Town Edict Envoy, and his pupils shrank slightly. Sun Wei was standing there, staring blankly at him with a complicated expression.

After slapping the young man, the Town Edict Envoy quickly turned back and cupped his hands toward Wang Yue, speaking respectfully. "My little brother had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, causing you to suffer such indignity, sir! I have already taught this fool a lesson. Please calm your anger."

The young man was dazed from the slaps. Only upon hearing the words "Wang Hu of the Wang Clan" did he realize that he had provoked someone he should never have provoked. His eyes were full of resentment, but he did not dare say another word.

Wang Yue noticed the look in his eyes and said coldly, "Have him slap himself twice, and this matter will be settled."

The Town Edict Envoy immediately turned his head and roared at the young man, "Did you hear him? Slap yourself, now! If you don't, I'll beat you to death!"

With tears in his eyes, the young man viciously slapped himself twice, the sounds loud and clear.

The Town Edict Envoy hurriedly asked again, "What important business brings you to Lihe Town, sir?"

Wang Yue frowned and glanced at Sun Wei. Sun Wei immediately lowered his head, not daring to meet his eyes.

Wang Yue withdrew his gaze, his voice icy. "If anyone spreads today's matter around carelessly, don't blame me for settling accounts after the autumn harvest."

He was saying this for them, and for Sun Wei as well.

"Yes, yes, yes!" The Town Edict Envoy repeatedly nodded and bowed. "I guarantee that no one will spread this outside! I'll prepare a horse at once and see you out of town, sir."

Wang Yue snorted coldly and waved a hand. "No need."

He reached out and touched the Black Cloud Fist on his hand. There were bloodstains on the glove, as well as several tiny marks. Its collisions with saber and spear had still left traces behind.

Seeing Wang Yue rub the Black Cloud Fist, the Town Edict Envoy's face changed. He hurriedly pulled out a cloth pouch from his robes and held it before Wang Yue. "Sir, there are fifteen taels of silver here, a small token of my regard. Consider it compensation for the time you have lost. Please accept it."

Wang Yue was not surprised. In Changyun County and the surrounding towns, the Wang Clan was an existence like the heavens themselves. If they had not feared being too high-profile and drawing the court's displeasure, all those messy gangs and clans would long ago have been swept flat by the Wang Clan.

He accepted the pouch and weighed it in his hand. Without saying more, he turned and walked out of town.

Watching Wang Yue's departing back, the young man finally realized just how great a disaster he had caused. His face turned deathly pale, while the Town Edict Envoy stared at him with a gloomy expression, clearly not intending to let him off so easily.

Sun Wei stood where he was, watching Wang Yue's figure disappear beyond the town. His eyes were full of shock. They were both in the Blood Condensation Realm, yet Wang Yue was far, far stronger than him.