Surging Wave Sect

That kick carried tremendous force, directly scattering the girl's strength. Every muscle in her body convulsed as she collapsed to the ground like a deflated ball.

The girl struggled unwillingly, bracing both hands against the ground as she tried to get up. But her body would not obey her; no matter how hard she tried, she could not move an inch. A breath lodged in her chest, unable to escape, making her eyes bulge.

Only after a long while did the girl painfully catch her breath and exhale. That kick had nearly taken her life.

Xu Yunfan watched coldly, his expression indifferent. He simply stood at the doorway with his arms hanging at his sides.

He was furious. Fortunately, his reaction had been quick enough. Had it been anyone else, that sword strike would likely have killed them.

Xu Yunfan swiftly swept his gaze around, and after confirming that Clear River Alley was completely deserted, he hesitated no longer. He strode up to the girl, seized her clothing, and lightly lifted her like a chick, preparing to take her back inside.

Being targeted by someone so vicious made an inexplicable irritation rise within him.

Besides, this person had started shouting about killing without even asking what had happened. No matter what, he had to get to the bottom of it.

"Brother, please show mercy!"

A vigorous voice suddenly rang out beside Xu Yunfan. At the same time, a fierce gust of force struck straight toward the back of his head.

Xu Yunfan moved in a flash, taking a fierce step forward and ducking his head low, narrowly avoiding the powerful palm strike. The palm wind howled past the back of his head, whipping his hair wildly about.

"Eh?"

The newcomer cried out in surprise. He clearly had not expected Xu Yunfan to evade that powerful palm strike so easily with nothing more than a step forward and a slight duck of his head.

This man was an expert!

Just as he was about to pull back and change techniques, Xu Yunfan reacted with astonishing speed. He reached back like lightning and, with explosive force, accurately clamped down on the newcomer's wrist.

In an instant, Xu Yunfan sank his waist and hips. The muscles throughout his body tightened like drawn bowstrings, swelling at once and stretching his loose clothing taut. His right arm in particular, the one gripping the other man's wrist, was pressed so tightly by the fabric that it looked as though he were wearing a skintight sleeve.

"Up you go!"

Before the man could react, the world spun before his eyes, and his entire body was flung uncontrollably into the air.

Then, with a muffled bang, he smashed heavily into a huge bluish stone standing by the riverbank, making him grunt in pain.

The man reacted quickly as well. Borrowing the momentum of the impact, he endured the pain in his back and twisted his body in midair. With a forceful movement of his waist and hips, he somehow generated a burst of strength out of thin air, adjusted his posture in the air, and landed steadily on the ground.

Only then did Xu Yunfan get a clear look at him.

The man had swordlike brows and bright eyes, with a tall, upright build. He wore a fitted blue martial outfit, and his vitality surged with every movement. The muscles beneath his clothing were tense, their steel-wire-like bundles clearly visible as they pulsed powerfully with his motions.

The newcomer's earlier leisurely composure had vanished, replaced by a grave expression as he stared intently at Xu Yunfan, who stood firm in the alleyway like a towering city wall.

He had never imagined that in such an unremarkable little town, he would so easily encounter a martial artist who had perfected the first training—and that this martial artist had happened to buy his house, completely disrupting his original plans.

Xu Yunfan narrowed his eyes slightly. The force he had unleashed just now had absolutely exceeded a thousand jin. If an ordinary person were hurled away like that and smashed into the ground, even if their organs were not shattered, they would at least suffer broken tendons and bones, severe internal injuries, and be left paralyzed even if they survived.

Yet when this man landed, he had used an exceptionally ingenious technique to redirect force, forcibly neutralizing Xu Yunfan's powerful strength.

Otherwise, even a martial artist who had perfected the first training would have found it difficult to withstand Xu Yunfan's full-force blow.

With a soft tap, Xu Yunfan extended a finger and lightly struck the back of the girl's neck. The girl, who had been cursing, immediately fainted. He casually tossed her onto the ground, then slowly walked toward the man.

Seeing that Xu Yunfan showed Fei Shimei no tenderness at all and acted so decisively and ruthlessly, Qin Bo took a step back and assumed a stance. He hurriedly explained, "Brother, I am Qin Bo, a disciple of the Surging Wave Sect. I came here this time entirely because of this house.

"A few months ago, I put this ancestral home up for sale through a brokerage house to raise silver for studying under a master.

"Now that I have completed my studies and returned, my only wish is to redeem this ancestral home. Today, I went to the brokerage house to inquire about it, only to learn that the house had already been sold."

As Qin Bo spoke, he glanced at the unconscious girl on the ground, his face showing a touch of helplessness and apology.

"Fei Shimei grew up in the sect and was deeply doted on by her elders. She does not understand much of the ways of the world below the mountain, which has made her somewhat willful. If she has offended you in any way, I hope you will be generous. I am willing to offer you compensation, and I hope you will show magnanimity."

His words sounded sincere, and paired with the earnest expression on Qin Bo's face, he truly seemed to be offering a heartfelt apology.

But on closer consideration, it felt as though he had lightly absolved Fei Shimei of all fault. With nothing more than "unfamiliar with worldly affairs and somewhat lively by nature," he had brushed everything aside, as if she had held no malicious intent.

Moreover, he had deliberately pointed out that his junior sister's surname was Fei.

Over the past few days, Xu Yunfan had not merely buried himself in martial arts training.

Long Wind Tavern saw people constantly coming and going. The private rooms on the second and third floors catered to different classes of patrons, while the first-floor hall was open for business, naturally gathering all sorts of people, from merchants traveling north and south to passing wanderers.

After eating and drinking their fill, these people enjoyed chatting idly and boasting about the world.

As a result, Xu Yunfan had heard of the Surging Wave Sect as well. It was a famous sect in Qingzhou, renowned for its sinew-training arts. Its Surging Wave Palm was especially celebrated throughout Qingzhou, hailed as unparalleled.

Sect Master Fei Qi was an expert who had perfected the third training of the External Three Harmonies. In Qingzhou, everyone knew his name.

Fei Shimei...

Xu Yunfan's eyes were deep and unreadable, giving no hint of what he was considering.

Qin Bo was panicking inside as well. He could hardly imagine that a martial artist had bought his house, and an inexplicable anxiety welled up within him. Had news of the thing he had left in the residence somehow leaked out?

Had the man before him already gotten his hands on it?

"I have already bought this house."

Xu Yunfan's expression remained calm as he said blandly, "Since you want to compensate me, bring five hundred taels of silver. Then I will let this matter go and spare you both."

The helpless bitter smile that had remained on Qin Bo's face instantly froze. His expression darkened sharply as he said coldly, "Brother, surely you are joking?"

"Who's joking with you?"

As Xu Yunfan spoke, he heavily stomped on Fei Shimei's stomach. Even though the girl was unconscious, the kick made her let out a pained groan.

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