When Li Kui saw that neither of them reacted, and things had not gone in the direction he had expected, he had no choice but to speak first and reveal the truth.
"Brother Meng, Brother Xin, your little brother has been wronged. I used to be somebody at the pharmacy.
But this past month, life has been far from pleasant. Today, before my two elder brothers, I want to pour everything out and ask you both to stand up for me."
Li Kui immediately cut away the beginning and end of the matter and recounted the conflict between himself and Yang Heng. However, he spoke only of how Yang Heng had bullied and humiliated him, never mentioning what he himself had done to Yang Heng in the past.
The two of them had played naked together with Li Kui since childhood, so they naturally knew his character well.
After hearing Li Kui's grievances, the two cursed Yang Heng as a bastard, yet they did not mention a word about standing up for him.
Li Kui watched as they drank and ate meat on their own, cursing with their mouths but taking no actual action, and inwardly cursed the two bastards.
They ate my food and drank my wine, yet they won't do a damn thing. Are they still the brothers I grew up with?
Though that was what he thought, his face wore a humble expression.
He still needed to rely on these two to deal with Yang Heng, and he could not afford to offend them.
Li Kui continued, "If you two elder brothers help me get rid of Yang Heng, I will repay you handsomely."
"Over the years at the pharmacy, what I saw and heard taught me a little about where medicinal herbs grew. I went into the mountains to gather herbs a few times and happened to find two Old Ginseng plants that had grown for many years. They would be perfect gifts for you two elder brothers to invigorate your blood and qi."
After saying that, Li Kui looked expectantly at the two of them.
Those two Old Ginseng plants were old enough and brimming with medicinal potency. They would greatly benefit martial artists, and he believed the two would not refuse.
The two were indeed moved, but they still did not agree.
Liu Xin showed a troubled expression. "Even without those two medicinal herbs, given the brotherhood between us, helping you take revenge would be our bounden duty.
"But unfortunately, the two of us have urgent business. We must return to Qinghe City tomorrow. We do not have enough time to help you get rid of Yang Heng."
Zhang Meng nodded in agreement.
The three of them had grown up playing naked together. Who did not know the others' true colors?
Li Kui knew this was merely an excuse from the two of them. They were opening their mouths like lions, seeking greater rewards.
But even knowing that, he could not simply fling his sleeves and leave. He could only satisfy their appetites.
Li Kui knew full well that he could not handle Yang Heng alone. Now that he had happened to encounter these two skilled and familiar brothers, it was simply a heaven-sent opportunity.
He could not let it slip away.
He feared that if more time passed, Yang Heng would grow too powerful to control. Right now was the best time to strike.
After pondering for a moment, Li Kui raised the stakes.
"Two elder brothers, as long as you are willing to help, your little brother is willing to copy a share of my family's inherited Vajra Fist Manual for each of you."
"Vajra Fist is an Intermediate Martial Art. It can be cultivated to the Iron Bone Realm. Even in your martial hall, martial arts of this level are likely not something one sees easily, and obtaining one would be harder still."
"With an Intermediate Martial Art as payment, one could easily hire a Blood Strengthening Realm martial artist to act. I need not say more about how precious it is. As martial artists yourselves, you naturally understand its value."
Li Kui spoke with a confident expression.
This time, the two could no longer remain seated. They sprang to their feet, their breathing quickening as they looked at Li Kui with faces full of excitement.
They knew that Li Kui's family possessed a fist manual. They had assumed it was merely a low-level martial art; getting it would be fortunate, while failing to get it would not matter much.
But they had never expected it to be an Intermediate Martial Art, one that could be cultivated to the Iron Bone Realm. Its value was beyond measure!
Even the martial hall they belonged to possessed only one martial art of this kind.
Ordinary disciples like them could serve the martial hall like oxen and horses for a lifetime and still never be allowed to cultivate it. Only by becoming the hall master's personal disciple would they have a chance to practice it.
The martial arts they cultivated could at most reach the Energy Refining Realm.
Of course, Qi Refining Martial Artists were not weak either. In Qinghe City, they held a position of decisive importance.
But what martial artist did not wish to witness the splendor of a higher realm?
Now that an Intermediate Martial Art had been placed before them, how could they not be excited?
Their eyes burned, their faces flushed red, and they impatiently sought confirmation from Li Kui.
"Is it really an Intermediate... Martial Art?"
Li Kui nodded heavily. "It is indeed an Intermediate Martial Art. There are records in my family that an ancestor once cultivated this fist manual to the Iron Bone Realm, carving out an enormous reputation in Qinghe City. He was known as the Savage Vajra and built a vast family fortune in Qinghe City."
"Unfortunately, no descendants with outstanding cultivation talent appeared in the family afterward, and the family gradually declined. To prevent outsiders from coveting the fist manual, we had no choice but to change our surname and move to Qingyang Town. It has been a hundred years since then."
Both Zhang Meng and Liu Xin revealed delighted expressions, believing Li Kui's account.
That was because they had heard storytellers in tea houses recount the deeds of the Savage Vajra. His famed fist technique had been Vajra Fist!
"Brother Kui, I never expected your ancestor to possess such a great reputation. Legends of the Savage Vajra still remain in Qinghe City to this day. Whenever our master mentions Senior Savage Vajra, he is filled with respect. He often teaches us that when we encounter the descendants of that senior, we must treat them with courtesy, because Senior Savage Vajra once bestowed a great favor upon our martial hall."
"That's right, Brother Kui. Brother Meng is correct. That is what our master told us," Liu Xin echoed from the side.
Once they were utterly convinced that Li Kui possessed an Intermediate Martial Art, they immediately changed their manner. Their words became gentle and amiable, even carrying a hint of ingratiation.
Li Kui sneered inwardly.
Arrogant before, respectful after—the thought of it was laughable.
At that moment, before Li Kui could speak, Liu Xin slapped his chest and said indignantly, "Yang Heng is truly detestable! He actually dared to humiliate the descendant of Senior Savage Vajra. His crime is unforgivable! He must be cut into a thousand pieces and pay for it with his life!"
Zhang Meng wore a solemn expression. A vicious glint appeared in his eyes as he nodded in agreement.
Li Kui asked, "But weren't you returning to Qinghe City tomorrow? The time..."
Liu Xin immediately overturned his previous excuse and said righteously, "Though our business is urgent, the humiliation suffered by Senior Savage Vajra's descendant is a greater and more urgent matter. Once the hall master learns of this afterward, not only will he not blame us for failing to return on time, he will praise us instead."
"Isn't that right, Brother Meng?"
Zhang Meng nodded heavily. "Yes, yes."
Li Kui understood that they coveted the Vajra Fist in his hands, which was why they deliberately spoke this way, making themselves seem righteous, generous, and aboveboard.
He had no intention of exposing their true faces.
Killing Yang Heng and removing this great thorn from his heart was the most pressing matter.
"For the past month, I have been secretly watching Yang Heng's every move. By probing around, I learned from the counter that Yang Heng will deliver medicine to Xiahe Village tomorrow afternoon.
"And to return from Xiahe Village to Qingyang Town, he must pass through a small path. The surrounding grass and trees are dense, making it suitable for hiding people, and few people travel through there. We can lie in ambush there and, when Yang Heng returns, suddenly rush out and catch him completely off guard."
Li Kui gave a sinister grin, venomous light flickering in his eyes.
The two nodded, agreeing with the plan.
Killing a pharmacy apprentice who knew no martial arts would be as easy as turning over one's hand.
They were martial artists, not far from the Blood Strengthening Realm, and they even carried weapons. Dealing with an ordinary unarmed man would be like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken—giving him far too much credit.
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