Marked Again

"Ding!"

Zhang Lin was pondering the Extreme Soul Refining Method.

Lost in thought, a cold glint suddenly flew past his ear, embedding itself directly into the wall behind him.

"Murder!"

Instantly, the hall descended into chaos as the teahouse patrons rushed for the exits.

Although Zhang Lin had sensed the cold glint, he knew it wouldn't hit him and thus didn't dodge.

He turned around, helpless.

By then, the teahouse hall was almost empty!

"Tch! Plenty of people skipping out on their bills!"

The teahouse's performance was tied to his salary, and he'd probably be docked pay again this month!

Under a table near the door lay a passerby, a hole in his forehead from which blood was spilling.

Beside him sat an old man.

He was hunched over, his clothes tattered, leaning on a cane. Only a few sparse strands of hair remained on his head, and his face seemed to be nothing but skin, utterly devoid of color. His eye sockets were like bottomless black holes; if you didn't look closely, you couldn't even see his eyeballs.

An icy aura emanated from him, clearly indicating he was no benevolent soul.

Zhang Lin had no impression of this person. It seemed he had started killing the moment he walked in!

The old man raised his cane and pierced through the passerby's corpse. A suction force emanated, and soon the body became a desiccated husk.

In broad daylight, he committed murder so brazenly! And to suck the blood and flesh, how utterly contemptuous of everything!

Honestly, Zhang Lin was quite surprised by this.

In his understanding, even if demons and monsters killed, they wouldn't act like this; most were petty thieves.

Wasn't he afraid of being eliminated by righteous individuals or the Demon Suppression Division?

Zhang Lin felt he didn't even grasp the surface of this world's understanding!

This old man's strength wasn't low; he possessed the power of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm.

"Ding!"

The old man waved his hand, and the dagger in the wall retracted.

"What are you looking at? Serve me tea!"

The old man stomped his foot, and the desiccated corpse turned to dust, vanishing on the spot.

If not for the bloodstains on the ground, no one would have known a murder had just occurred here.

Zhang Lin didn't pry into the matter. Shopkeeper Li was there to handle it, not him!

Besides, he didn't have a good impression of Shopkeeper Li anymore and wished more trouble would come his way!

Zhang Lin sighed and quickly prepared the tea.

"Don't rush off!"

As Zhang Lin set down the tea, the old man grabbed his arm and refused to let go.

"…?"

What was wrong with this guy?

Zhang Lin was confused. "Is there something you need, elder?"

"Does little friend wish to become my disciple?"

The old man was about to say more.

Just then, three people entered from outside. In the center was a young man, while the two middle-aged men on either side lagged a few steps behind, clearly acting as bodyguards.

Both had the strength of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining Realm and exuded a faint, palpable aura of killing intent.

The young man, in particular, carried an ethereal demeanor and possessed the strength of the Eighth Level of Qi Refining Realm.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Old Ghost of Withered Blood, you're really rubbing the Demon Suppression Division's face in the dirt! Aren't you afraid of repercussions later?"

The young man found a seat and casually quipped.

He had clearly seen what had just happened.

"Are you from the Gao family of Xiangcheng?"

The Old Ghost of Withered Blood was about to retort, but upon seeing a jade pendant on the other's person, his tone softened considerably.

"Gao Xuhai!"

The young man nodded.

"So it's the third young master of the Gao family. I've heard much about you!"

The Old Ghost of Withered Blood snorted, then mockingly said, "Everyone knows the Great Xia's national defense formation is almost at its breaking point!"

"When this rubbish was suppressing everything, no one dared to act presumptuously within Great Xia! But now! Heh heh! The era that belonged to Great Xia is already in the past!"

You can try searching for the author's name if you can't find the book title, maybe they just changed the name!

"Besides, in such a remote small town, do you think those lackeys from the Demon Suppression Division can handle Old Ghost like me? I would have died countless times already!"

After Old Ghost of Withered Blood finished speaking, he sneered at Zhang Lin.

"So, the several villages recently wiped out were your doing!"

Gao Xuhai fanned himself, speaking unhurriedly.

"What? Does Young Master Gao the Third want to champion the cause of the people?"

Old Ghost of Withered Blood plunged his walking stick into the ground, and a wave of cold air erupted from his body.

The two attendants beside Gao Xuhai immediately stepped forward, blocking the way, ready to act at any moment.

"Old Ghost is joking, I'm not that idle!"

Gao Xuhai had his attendants step back, looking utterly indifferent.

"Kid, your blood and qi are quite vigorous! No wonder Old Ghost couldn't bear to let go of your hand!"

He then looked at Zhang Lin, a thoughtful smile appearing on his face.

So that's how it is!

After his blood and qi transformed into qi last night, he was still unskillful in controlling it, causing some to occasionally leak out. Because of this, these cultivators could sense the vigor of his blood and qi!

"Hahaha, this kid is a treasure. Does Young Master Gao the Third also have an interest?"

Old Ghost of Withered Blood increased the strength in his grip, causing Zhang Lin to frown.

Damn it! This son of a bitch wants to eat me too? Shit! If I wasn't afraid of causing more trouble, I'd kill you right now!

Zhang Lin cursed inwardly, already marking Old Ghost of Withered Blood on his death list.

Gao Xuhai just smiled, saying nothing.

"If you're not drinking tea, then scram quickly. Don't disturb my business!"

Suddenly, a surge of spiritual energy swept out, and half of Old Ghost of Withered Blood's arm fell to the ground, blood spraying several meters away!

"Who?"

Old Ghost of Withered Blood leaped from his seat, quickly pressing a few points on his severed arm. He telekinetically pulled his detached hand into his left hand, staring in horror at the counter.

It was Shopkeeper Ling who had come out!

He was now staring expressionlessly at Old Ghost of Withered Blood and Gao Xuhai and the others.

"Shopkeeper!"

Zhang Lin was startled and quickly retreated. He breathed a sigh of relief looking at Shopkeeper Ling! If Old Ghost had pushed too hard, he would have really had to fight back, even if it meant falling out with Shopkeeper Ling and his group beforehand!

"You're actually at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, or even higher! I didn't expect such a master to be in this godforsaken place!"

Old Ghost of Withered Blood looked at Shopkeeper Ling with disbelief.

"If you don't leave now, you can stay forever!"

Shopkeeper Ling took a step forward.

"Hmph! I'll avenge this severed arm another day!"

Old Ghost of Withered Blood transformed into a black smoke and disappeared!

"We weren't causing trouble, we just came for a cup of tea!"

Gao Xuhai did not leave immediately.

Shopkeeper Ling gave him a deep look and then left. As he departed, he instructed Zhang Lin to clean up the lobby!

"Don't just stand there, serve the tea! Are you not going to do business today?"

Gao Xuhai found a seat by the window and beckoned Zhang Lin to serve the tea.

"One moment, honored guest!"

Zhang Lin shook his arm and quickly brought over a pot of tea. He then took out his tools to clean up the bloodstains on the ground!

Damn it!

As soon as he finished cleaning, his expression turned grim! He had been marked again! And by two marks at that! One was from Gao Xuhai's sneak attack, which, although concealed, couldn't escape Zhang Lin's perception. The other came from the bloodstains left by Old Ghost of Withered Blood!

You can try searching for the author's name if you can't find the book title, maybe they just changed the name!