Humanoid Meat Cushion!

The courtyard was deep, and the high walls and large compound that Li Yan and Luo Qi had just bought in Jiangnan City to protect their privacy had now become a natural barrier, isolating them from the outside world.

For many, it was still a quiet and peaceful morning, but for the Li family, it was undoubtedly a nightmare.

A killer attack – this was something they had never even considered before.

Who would have thought that a boy who was originally useless would actually provoke an attack from a killer of Crow's caliber? And with the absurd reason of using his right hand to give his left hand a gold coin for his life?

When encountering danger, Li Sinian would always rush to Li Mu Yang's front.

In her heart, Li Mu Yang was frail and weak, needing her protection and care just like when he was a child.

"Proposing a deal?" Crow looked at the little girl feigning composure opposite him, feeling an extreme sense of absurdity. "Little girl, do you know what you're doing? You want to make a deal with a killer? If killers could just make deals with anyone – would they still be called killers?"

"I'll give you the Body-Breaking Technique," Li Sinian said, her voice clear and crisp.

When she had thrown that punch just now, the killer had looked very shocked.

She remembered his expression, so she could be sure that the martial art her master taught her was likely of great origin.

Li Sinian was a smart person, and remarkably composed.

If any other girl encountered such a situation, she would have long since hidden behind her parents and cried incessantly or simply collapsed on the ground.

Yet, Li Sinian was here, making a deal with a killer in place of her parents and brother.

"Sinian—" Li Yan called out urgently. He knew how doting that yellow-robed Taoist priest was towards Li Sinian, and he knew that the priest had indeed given Li Sinian an ancient book with yellowed pages when he left, repeatedly instructing her to keep it safe and not to lose it or let the outside world know about it.

Now his daughter was going to use it as an exchange – wasn't that going against the intentions of the person who gifted the book?

However, the person his daughter wanted to use this secret manual to exchange for was his son's life, so he absolutely couldn't stop her.

Li Sinian stared at the killer Crow without blinking, explaining to her father, "Father, I remember my master's teachings, but this is a critical moment, and I can't worry about anything else— I will explain to my master later. If there is punishment, I will bear it."

Seeing Crow remain silent and unmoved, Li Sinian decided to try a little harder, saying, "The person you want to kill is only my brother. But look at his condition – sickly, his body dark. He was struck by lightning right after birth, and his brain is still muddled, unable to do anything— is such a waste truly worth your personal effort to kill? If your peers were to find out, wouldn't it just invite ridicule?"

"Tycoons, politicians, imperial generals, women and children, noble ladies— as long as someone is willing to pay, there's no one we can't kill. As for whether he's a waste—" Crow glanced at Li Mu Yang, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his lips, and said, "Little girl, I'm afraid you still don't know what kind of monster you're protecting behind you?"

Li Sinian certainly didn't know what kind of monster Li Mu Yang was; she was more certain that he was a frail shut-in with no ability to protect himself.

"No one wants to buy my brother's life, do they?"

"He ruined my plans, and I must kill him."

"Spare my brother, and I'll give you the Body-Breaking Technique. As for the matter of you giving your right hand a gold coin to your left hand, no one will ever know—"

Crow was indeed very tempted by the Body-Breaking Technique. The Body-Breaking Technique was a Taoist secret manual, a very high-level magical treasure. Except for the Taoist Masters and the Seven Great True Men who traveled the world, perhaps no one else had the qualification to casually give away such a thing.

And True Man Ziyang was one of the Seven Great True Men of Taoism. Years ago, it was rumored that his strength had entered the Withered-Prosperity Realm. One thought arises, one thought dies. Crow dared not provoke the old Taoist Ziyang, but he had the courage to bully one of his disciples.

The person he wanted to kill was Li Mu Yang, not his disciple Li Sinian.

"After I kill you, I'll still get the Body-Breaking Technique," Crow sneered.

"Kill me, and you'll get nothing," Li Sinian said. "The Body-Breaking Technique is in my mind."

"Are you playing with me?" Crow's expression turned sinister. He could tell that this little girl was very intelligent and cunning. Were children nowadays so precocious? Were they so skilled at business negotiations? They were discussing a killing business. Did schools teach such things? If so, the business of his alma mater, the killer school, would surely suffer a huge impact.

The imperial economy was in a slump, and competition in all industries intensified. Even the killing business was the same.

Crow was worried about his alma mater. When he entered the school, the ancient motto 'Today I take pride in my school, tomorrow my school will take pride in me' was written at the school entrance. He kept it firmly in mind and was determined to make a name for himself so that the school would be ashamed of his outstanding killing achievements.

"I only hope the school remains strong and doesn't go bankrupt easily," he prayed silently in his heart.

"I hope you give me an answer soon, otherwise, by the time Sister Xiaoxin arrives, you probably won't get anything. I'll give you the Body-Breaking Technique, and you can pretend you never came today, alright?"

Crow stared coldly at Li Mu Yang and said, "Li Mu Yang, are you really going to let a girl stand up for you?"

Li Mu Yang patted his sister's shoulder and said hoarsely, "Sinian, let me—"

"Brother—" Li Sinian cried out sharply, "Don't push yourself. Don't you know your own condition? He's deliberately trying to lure you out with his words and then kill you with one blow. Don't listen to him, just stand behind me. If he dares to touch a single hair on your head, I'll fight him to the death—"

"Sinian—"

"Shut up."

"—"

"What a cowardly and incompetent man," Crow pouted.

"My son is not for others to comment on," Li Yan grunted. This usually taciturn man rushed forward, holding a long spear.

As the elder of the family, the only adult man in the household, he had the responsibility and obligation to stand up at this moment to shield his wife and children from the storm.

He thrust his spear forward, and the wind and thunder seemed to stir.

Crow remained in place, sneering, "The Lu Family's Heavenly King Spear is renowned, having defeated countless powerful enemies, and is known as the foremost spear of the West Wind— unfortunately, you've only learned a tiny bit of its essence."

Clang—

Crow's hand emerged from his black robe.

The spear seemed to have eyes, as it willingly entered Crow's palm.

"You can't even stir the wind and thunder, yet you want to use this Heavenly King Spear to injure me? Even a seven-year-old child of the Lu family would be a hundred times stronger than you?" Crow grabbed the spear, speaking mockingly, "It seems you're just a lackey of the Lu family—"

Crow thought for a moment and said, "Interesting, very interesting. Seeking revenge on a seemingly ordinary family, yet they have a connection to the imperial Lu family—"

Li Yan's face turned purple with rage as he desperately urged his internal energy to resist, trying to snatch the spear back from Crow's grasp.

Unfortunately, just as the Crow said, his Heavenly King Spear was merely a superficial imitation. He couldn't even defeat the children of the Lu Family. As a servant, how could he possibly have the chance to learn the profound mysteries of the true Heavenly King Spear?

He only managed to learn these superficialities by observing Lu Qingming of the Lu Family practicing in the courtyard while he was driving for Miss Gongsun Yu, memorizing it and pondering it in secret.

"You want to snatch him back?" The Crow chuckled, then abruptly lifted his hand holding the long spear, raising Li Yan, spear and all, into the air.

"Let go of my father," Li Mu Yang roared in extreme anger, charging towards the assassin Crow.

"Finally, you're acting like a man—here you go."

The assassin Crow flicked a finger, and Li Yan's body was heavily thrown towards Li Mu Yang.

"Brother, be careful—" Li Sinian shouted as she ran.

She knew the Crow's strength. One shouldn't underestimate that push; if handled incorrectly, it could likely shatter Li Mu Yang's frail bones.

Li Mu Yang acted as if he hadn't heard, leaping high into the air and embracing Li Yan's massive body.

Their bodies tumbled through the air before smashing into the wall.

"Mu Yang—" Li Yan was frantic.

He knew his son's health was poor. If his son took the impact behind him, bearing the crushing weight of his own large frame, he feared his son might not survive.

Even while airborne, Li Yan tried to forcibly switch positions.

He grabbed Li Mu Yang's body, attempting to pull him to the front so his own body would face the wall, acting as a human shield for his son.

He couldn't budge him.

Li Mu Yang tightly embraced his father's body from behind, as if holding the most precious thing in the world.

"Mu Yang—" Li Yan tried to exert force again.

CRASH—

Li Mu Yang's body slammed into the thick wall built of bluestone, and Li Yan's body then crashed heavily against Li Mu Yang's chest.

Dust billowed, and grass and plants flew from the wall.

Where Li Mu Yang's body had hit, a large, human-shaped indentation appeared.

Crack, crack—

Fine cracks snaked across the connected bluestone wall.

"Mu Yang—" Luo Qi cried out in anguish, rushing towards where Li Mu Yang had fallen.

"Brother—" Li Sinian also shifted her attack, intending to check on Li Mu Yang's condition.

Li Yan's eyes were bloodshot, tears welling up.

He remained in his landing posture, afraid to move, too afraid to turn around.

He feared that if he turned, he would see his son crushed into a meat paste.