After Beating the Master, Had the Dog Come Too?

"Young, young hero..."

The boatman went pale as the large ship bore down on them from behind.

Their vessel was only a small skiff. Let alone being rammed by a ship like that—even the waves it raised passing beside them could overturn them.

And they were in the middle of Lingyun Lake. Once the boat capsized, even swimmers would die.

Then the boatman saw the flag fluttering above the merchant ship behind them, bearing a symbol like a ghost's scrawl.

"We're finished. This is a merchant ship of the Yin Family, one of Stability Prefecture's great lineages. The Yin Family has always been tyrannical. In their eyes, commoners like us are nothing but grass and ants."

Just when everyone thought the little boat would be smashed apart and Lin Xiao and the boatman would sink to the bottom of the lake—

Lin Xiao's eyes suddenly turned cold. He slapped backward at the lake surface, and the skiff instantly shot forward like an arrow.

It moved as though a turbocharger had been installed on it.

"Hm?"

Yin Ke Ren had thought Lin Xiao and the boatman would be killed. Seeing them escape so easily, displeasure flickered in his eyes.

"Pass down the order. Ram them to death."

"Yes, Young Master."

From beginning to end, despite Yin Ke Ren treating human lives like weeds, the old man had not uttered a single word of objection.

It was as though killing people was the simplest thing in the world to Yin Ke Ren.

The old man knew what his young master was like.

Ever since childhood, he had been mentally disturbed—effeminate in manner and twisted in mind.

If he wanted to do something and was not allowed to do it, no one knew what might happen afterward.

Back in the family, Yin Ke Ren had once tried to forcibly violate a maid.

A clansman had caught him in the act and reported it. Yin Ke Ren was punished afterward.

Yet unexpectedly, the next morning, that clansman who had reported him was found brutally dead in his own room.

His entire body had been twisted into the shape of a fried dough twist, and his mouth had been torn to pieces.

Later, it was said that the family head had uncovered the truth. But Yin Ke Ren was the Lineage's foremost prodigy, the family head's son, and he also had a powerful master.

So the matter was quietly dropped.

From then on, none of the Lineage's brothers or sisters dared meddle in Yin Ke Ren's affairs. Whatever he wanted to do, they let him do it.

"Heh heh. Let's see how much true qi you have."

Yin Ke Ren had already seen why the skiff could escape—it was because that youth was supporting it with true qi.

At that moment, a small skiff sped across Lingyun Lake, while a large ship pursued it relentlessly from behind.

Without realizing it, who knew how much time had passed? Perhaps the time it took to burn half an incense stick, perhaps a whole one.

At last, both sides reached a relatively narrow stretch of water.

Though large ships could pass through here, they had to slow down and proceed carefully.

"Young Master, Twin Gorge Bay lies ahead. There are many hidden reefs beneath the lake surface. We cannot continue at full speed."

Yin Ke Ren's expression darkened. He had been enjoying the thrill of this hunt.

Hearing that his prey was about to slip beyond his control made him impatient.

"Hmph. He must be heading for Stability Prefecture too. Once we pass this area, I will make sure he dies."

"Rest assured, Young Master. He will certainly die."

As the old man bowed his head, a glint of killing intent appeared in his eyes.

Since the young master wanted this man dead, this man would not live.

Twin Gorge Bay got its name from the cliff walls on either side, with only a winding waterway in between. If a large ship did not slow down, it could easily crash into the cliffs on both sides while turning.

Moreover, there were hidden reefs beneath the surface. If one was careless, they could rip open the bottom of the ship.

Many merchant ships had met with disaster here, so passing merchant vessels generally proceeded through this area slowly and cautiously.

Just after rounding a bend, Lin Xiao said to the boatman, "All right, this is as far as you need to take me. Head back now."

"Huh?"

The boatman was startled. "Young, young hero, we're still far from the shore. If you get off now, how will you reach land?"

Lin Xiao smiled faintly. "I'll catch a ride."

"B-but there aren't any boats here."

The boatman looked around in every direction, but there was not even the shadow of a boat.

"Isn't there one behind us?"

Lin Xiao said calmly.

The boatman's expression changed drastically. "Young hero, you can't! You saw it just now—the Yin Family's merchant ship runs roughshod over everyone. We can't avoid them fast enough. If you go aboard to catch a ride, won't they kill you?"

"I believe they'll be willing. Go back."

There were many branching waterways here, so it would be easy for the boatman to avoid the Yin Family's merchant ship and return. Lin Xiao said no more. With a leap, he planted his foot against a distant cliff wall and shot upward.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Xiao vanished from the boatman's sight.

Seeing this, the boatman no longer insisted. He carefully rowed into a narrow channel in the distance.

Before long, the Yin Family's merchant ship finally rounded the bend.

Hm?

Yin Ke Ren stared ahead and discovered that the small boat had vanished. His heart sank.

"Young Master, that little boat must have taken one of the side channels," the old man quickly explained.

Yin Ke Ren nodded. "I'm not afraid of them taking side channels. As long as they're going to Stability Prefecture, we'll see them again after passing through here."

"I'm only afraid they got scared, turned back through the side channels, and no longer dared to go to Stability Prefecture."

The old man shook his head. "Rest assured, Young Master. That youth is not very old. He is probably here for the Ding Province Tournament as well. He will definitely go to Stability Prefecture."

"Hmph. I hope so."

Yin Ke Ren snorted coldly.

Above a cliff wall some distance from the Yin Family's merchant ship, a figure stood against the wind, gazing indifferently at the vessel below.

Lin Xiao's expression was icy. Only after the Yin Family's merchant ship arrived directly beneath him did he suddenly leap down, falling straight toward it.

"Gentlemen, how about giving me a ride?"

His voice was ethereal, resounding throughout Twin Gorge Bay. Echoes curled through the air, stirring ripples across the lake.

"Courting death."

Yin Ke Ren raised his head. Seeing Lin Xiao descending from the sky, killing intent burst from his eyes.

"If you don't want to live, then this young master will send you on your way."

Yin Ke Ren's effeminate voice rang out. As his words fell, a palm force carrying a sinister wind struck upward.

"Haha, I heard you are a prodigy of Stability Prefecture. Today, this official will exchange a few moves with you."

Lin Xiao laughed heartily. One hand held the Embroidered Spring Blade behind his back. With his head pointed down and feet up, he struck out with his other palm.

Boom!!!

The two palm forces collided, instantly driving the merchant ship a notch lower into the lake.

Crack, crack, crack!!!

Cracks spread across the deck beneath Yin Ke Ren's feet.

His throat bobbed, and a trace of blood ran from the corner of Yin Ke Ren's mouth.

"Young Master!"

Seeing Yin Ke Ren injured, the old man's expression turned anxious. With a loud shout, he leaped into the air, his pair of rough hands clawing toward Lin Xiao's throat.

"After beating the master, had the dog come too?"

With nowhere to brace himself in midair, Lin Xiao remained utterly calm.

The Embroidered Spring Blade flashed from its sheath at his waist. A streak of bloody light appeared, and the two figures crossed in midair. A severed finger shot away.

Yet the old man was quite tough. Even after having one finger cut off, he did not make a sound.

Seeing Lin Xiao about to land on the ship, the old man twisted through the air and continued pursuing him downward.

The old man's cultivation was at the Peak Innate Realm, and his true qi was extremely abundant. Had he not been careless, Lin Xiao could never have severed one of his fingers in a single move.

"Boy, die!"