Counterattack

"This is wrong!"

Wu Ming pursed his lips. "No matter what happened, if this blows up, it'll bring shame on the whole family. The Wu family's reputation will take a serious hit!"

Some things could be done, but never spoken of.

Once laid out in the sunlight, it might hurt their reputation at best, but at worst, even their fortune.

Just think about it. After something like this happened, what respectable family would dare marry their daughter into theirs? Given time, even the family fortune could decline.

And, in the end, it was a handle others could use against them. Normally, it wouldn't matter; Wu Qing could keep it under wraps. But at a crucial moment, someone could bring it up, and it would become a weakness.

"Steward Wu, go save the man!"

"Master Feng, please take another look at the scene!"

Wu Ming immediately issued his orders, then had the servants disperse the crowd before calling over the village head. "There's been a murder. Has anyone reported it to the authorities?"

"No. We were waiting for you to deal with it, Young Master!"

The village head replied with a fawning smile.

"Mm! Good... There's no plaintiff in this matter, and it's a family scandal. Family scandals shouldn't be aired in public, after all..."

As Wu Ming spoke, a servant outside came to report, "A Daoist has arrived at the gate. He says he has an urgent matter and wishes to see you!"

"A Daoist?"

Wu Ming first felt a jolt of surprise, then grew wary. "Bring him in!"

A short while later, a Daoist in robes entered. He had three wisps of a long beard, a ruddy complexion, and an almost otherworldly air. A glint seemed to flicker in his eyes. "This humble Daoist is Qing Ping. Greetings, Young Master!"

"You said you had something to discuss with me. What is it?"

Wu Ming seemed distracted, answering casually.

"This humble Daoist passed by this residence and saw dark clouds looming overhead. A bloody calamity is certain to befall it—and you, Young Master, will be affected as well!"

Qing Ping Daoist spoke gravely.

"Oh? I'll be affected too?"

Wu Ming instantly feigned alarm. "Please, Daoist, tell me what to do!"

"Mm!"

Qing Ping stroked his beard. "By all reason, this family should enjoy generations of good fortune. Even if it had unworthy descendants, they would never commit such an act against all human decency... The only explanation is that someone has used sorcery to harm them!"

Now that's interesting! Wu Ming's thoughts stirred. Aloud, he asked, "Used sorcery to harm them?"

"Exactly!" Qing Ping Daoist continued. "This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment act. Your family's accumulated virtue has been compromised, and the target is even your main branch... But your main branch's fortune runs deep, so the curse hasn't shown itself yet. It struck the collateral branch first!"

"This..."

Hesitation showed on Wu Ming's face. In this world, ghosts and gods walked among the living, and the Three Thousand Great Daos were all real. Matters of feng shui and fortune had taken even deeper root in people's hearts. "I'll have to think this over. Let me find someone to look into it first..."

"There's no time!"

Qing Ping Daoist insisted. "The retribution has already appeared in the collateral branch. That means the scheme is in motion. With a blade at your throat, can you really afford to take your time?"

He continued, "If you don't believe me, take me to this family's ancestral grave. There will certainly be something amiss among the last three generations!"

"This... The family's graves aren't far. We may as well take a look! Someone, come with me out of the village!"

Wu Ming finally seemed persuaded. Then he saw green light flicker in Qing Ping Daoist's eyes, and his expression went blank. In a daze, he walked out of the courtyard.

The Wu family's ancestors were certainly not buried here, but the Wu family in this village had a cemetery just outside it.

They didn't bother with horses. The group set off together, walking along the damp, muddy path.

"Young Master, look... The graves sit against the hills and face the water. It's a fairly decent location, but the Earth Qi is tainted. That's proof something has changed!"

They rounded a small hillock, and the surroundings grew quiet and secluded.

Qing Ping Daoist pointed at the ground. Cemeteries outside the village naturally brimmed with Yin Qi, making Steward Wu and the others' scalps prickle.

When they were almost there, Wu Ming suddenly stopped. "Well... I think I'll wait until we get back and ask my sister to take a look."

"How can we wait?"

With his prey almost in the trap, Qing Ping Daoist grew anxious. He stepped forward and grabbed Wu Ming by the sleeve. "Your life and fortune are in danger, Young Master! How can you delay?"

In an instant, green light blazed in his eyes, eerie and ghostly, as if trying to pierce Wu Ming's pupils.

"Well... naturally, I'll do as you say, Daoist..."

Wu Ming's expression went blank. Then a strange smile appeared on his face. "...Not a chance!"

A terrifying backlash surged through Qing Ping Daoist, and his face changed. "Oh no!"

The young man before him instantly sharpened his gaze and lashed out with a claw, fierce as a tiger pouncing down a mountain. He showed no sign of being under control.

Qing Ping Daoist realized he'd been fooled. Things had taken a sudden turn, leaving him no time to cast a spell, so he could only retreat at once.

Whoosh!

Even so, Wu Ming's claw carved a deep gash across his chest, drawing blood.

"Fine technique! Innate?"

Qing Ping Daoist stumbled back several yards and sighed. "I never thought that after hunting geese all my life, I'd end up pecked in the eye by one!"

"Young Master?"

Steward Wu and the others were stunned, while Feng Han stepped in front of Wu Ming.

"No need to ask. This is a wicked Daoist. Kill him!"

Wu Ming sneered. "You couldn't make a move in the village—and neither could I!"

At his words, Feng Han and the two servants pounced like wolves and tigers.

"So you're not just some spoiled young master!"

A sharp pain flared in Qing Ping Daoist's chest. His expression turned vicious as he formed a hand seal. "Edict!"

Thud! Thud!

The ground split open, and two Iron Corpses burst out. Their faces were blue, their fangs bared; they wore iron armor and reeked of rot.

Ghosts and spirits feared sunlight, but the sun had less effect on the likes of zombies.

"Heh! Iron-armored corpses. Be careful not to let them break your skin, or the Corpse Poison will enter your body. Even immortals won't be able to save you!"

Feng Han was well-informed and recognized them at a glance. Wu Ming's heart turned cold. This Daoist practices corpse refinement. He deliberately tried to lead me to a place of Yin Qi—he must have a trap laid. His intentions are unforgivable!

But... which faction would come specifically to target me?

Wu Ming was about to join the assault when, from the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow rushing from the cemetery, faster than a galloping horse. His eyelid twitched. "A Gang Qi expert?!"

"Ah!"

Screams rang out. The two servants beside Feng Han had already fallen to the Iron Corpses' attack. Steward Wu shouted and hurried over to Wu Ming in a panic. "Young Master, we need to get out of here!"

"Not yet!"

Wu Ming stepped forward and calmly sized up the newcomer.

"What's going on?"

The shadow appeared—it was Steward Yu, the very man who had arrived earlier. He took in the scene, but his expression didn't change.

"That brat tricked me!"

As the old Daoist spoke, a layer of green light passed over his body. The wound on his chest stopped bleeding, and his expression darkened. "But now that I've come out, it doesn't matter!"

He flicked out two more talismans, which stuck to the iron-armored corpses and glimmered faintly with golden light.

Empowered by the talismans, the Iron Corpses grew even more savage. They had immense strength and moved like the wind.

"Spirit-possession? Close, but not quite!"

Feng Han's expression was grave.

"Old Daoist, I'll deal with this one. You go capture the brat!"

As Qing Ping Daoist spoke, the two Iron Corpses closed in around Feng Han, trapping him. From time to time, they also hurled talismans to distract him.

"You're surnamed Yu, and you're a steward?"

Wu Ming looked at the tall, thin middle-aged man before him and suddenly smiled. "You must be one of the county's powerful families. It'll take only one investigation to find out who you are. Believe me, I'll tell my sister and have your entire clan wiped out!"

At the mention of Wu Qing, even Steward Yu's eyelid twitched. Then he smiled. "Rest assured, Young Master. Once you're dead, we'll naturally send Miss Wu Qing on her way too!"

His attitude made Wu Ming understand. So it's true... They weren't specifically targeting me. They were after Sister Wu Qing! Compared to her, I really am a weak point. Too bad...

A cold glint filled his eyes.

"Take this claw!"

With a low shout, he skimmed across the ground and lunged forward with both hands, clawing fiercely.

"Innate?"

Steward Yu was slightly startled. "Such talent. I never expected Young Master Ming to be the sort who stays silent until he takes the world by storm. Even when I was young, I might not have had this level of cultivation. What a pity..."

He flashed forward, his palm strikes soft and flowing, yet backed by an indestructible aura of Gang Qi.

At the ninth layer of Body Refinement, the gap between the Innate realm and Gang Qi was truly an impassable chasm.

Bang!

Fist and claw collided. Wu Ming grunted, pain stabbing deep into his bones as if a thousand needles had pierced his hand. He gritted his teeth and struck again, aiming straight for Steward Yu's vitals.

"Stubborn fool!"

Steward Yu seized his chance and joined two fingers like a sword, stabbing down in a sudden strike. It looked like they would both be wounded, but with Innate Gang Qi, he could strike from a few inches away. He was certain he could subdue Wu Ming before Wu Ming's attack landed.

What he failed to notice was the smile at the corner of Wu Ming's mouth.

Pfft!

The Gang Qi pierced down, but a layer of white light appeared over Wu Ming's body.

"A magic artifact?"

Steward Yu was shocked. Then a sharp pain flared in his chest. Blood spilled from his mouth and nose as he staggered backward.

"Gang Qi shielding the body? You're still not dead?"

Wu Ming was a little surprised. The Black Gold Ring on his left finger flashed, and a streak of dark light cut straight through.

"Ah!"

Pain tore through Steward Yu's legs, and he couldn't help screaming. Looking down, he saw that both legs had been severed at the knees. Blood poured from the wounds, and he immediately fainted.

"Jie-jie... Two magic artifacts! The old Daoist is in for a windfall today!"

Qing Ping Daoist had seen what happened on the other side, but rather than fear, he showed delight. Greed glimmered in his eyes. "Boy, get over here!"

Black Qi took shape in his hand like a black snake and streaked through the air. Its fangs were razor-sharp, and its rancid wind assailed them.

"Ha! Kill!"

Wu Ming bit his tongue, spat a mouthful of blood mist, and shouted as he drove another punch forward.

Boom!

The black snake seemed struck by lightning. It scattered in midair, breaking into wisps of smoke, which continued to writhe as if alive.

"Feng Han, how are you?"

Feng Han seized the chance to withdraw and stood guard in front of Wu Ming.

"This Daoist's sorcery is powerful. We'd better run!"

Feng Han saw Qing Ping Daoist summon two more Iron Corpses, along with even more Copper Corpses, and his face paled. "This man isn't some wandering charlatan who's learned a couple of tricks. He's probably on par with an ordained Daoist!"

"If you don't kill the snake, it'll turn around and bite you. We can't!"

Wu Ming suddenly said, "Guard me for a moment!"

He promptly drifted backward, then suddenly sat down and closed his eyes.

"Hahaha... Come on!"

Seeing this, Feng Han felt a surge of pride as well. He resolutely stood guard by Wu Ming's side.

Only an instant passed.

Wu Ming, sitting on the ground, opened his eyes and pulled out a talisman with a silver base covered in golden tadpole script. "Edict!"

"Ah... the Minor Heavens Thunder Talisman!"

The talisman shot into the air, flashing with golden and silver lightning. Amid Qing Ping Daoist's cry of alarm, it exploded with a thunderous boom!