Counter-Kill

"This is not right!"

Wu Ming pursed his lips. "No matter what happens, if it blows up, it's always a family disgrace. The Wu family's reputation will immediately take a hit!"

Some things can only be done, not said.

Now, brought into the open, it's a matter of reputation at best, and even the family's fortune at worst.

Think about it, after an incident like this, what respectable family would dare marry their daughter into ours? Over time, the family business might even decline.

Moreover, it ultimately becomes a handle. It's fine normally, with Wu Qing around to suppress it, but at a critical moment, if it's brought up, it becomes a flaw.

"Steward Wu, go rescue the person!"

"Master Feng, please examine the scene again!"

Wu Ming immediately made arrangements, then had the household guards disperse the onlookers. Only then did he call the village chief over. "There's been a murder. Have you reported it to the authorities?"

"No, we were waiting for Young Master to handle it!"

The village chief said with a fawning smile.

"Mm! Very good... This matter has no victim, and it's a family shame. Family shame should not be spread outside..."

As Wu Ming was speaking, a household guard came to report, "A Taoist priest has arrived at the gate, saying he has something important to request an audience for!"

"A Taoist priest?"

Wu Ming was startled at first, then his expression turned stern. "Bring him in!"

A moment later, a Taoist priest in a robe, with a three-strand long beard, ruddy complexion, and an air of immortal demeanor, entered. His eyes seemed to flicker with sharp light. "This humble Taoist is Qing Ping. Greetings, Young Master!"

"You said you had something to see me about. What is it?"

Wu Ming asked casually, as if distracted.

"This humble Taoist passed by this residence and saw black clouds pressing down, indicating a certain misfortune involving bloodshed. It will also be detrimental to you, Young Master!"

Taoist Qing Ping said in a deep voice.

"Oh? Detrimental to me as well?"

Wu Ming immediately feigned shock. "Please, Master Taoist, enlighten me!"

"Mm!"

Taoist Qing Ping stroked his beard. "By normal reasoning, this family's blessings are long-lasting. Even with unworthy descendants, they would not commit such an act against human ethics... The reason for this is that someone has cast a spell to harm them!"

This is getting interesting! Wu Ming's heart stirred, and he asked, "Cast a spell to harm them?"

"Indeed!" Taoist Qing Ping continued. "This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather an obstruction of good karma. In fact, the target was your main lineage... However, the main lineage's fortune is strong, so it hasn't manifested yet, and is instead acting upon the collateral branches first!"

"This..."

Wu Ming's face showed hesitation. In this world, ghosts and spirits existed, and the Three Thousand Great Daos were all present. Matters of feng shui and fortune were even more deeply ingrained in people's hearts. "I need to consider this carefully. I'll find someone to take a look first..."

"There's no time to wait!"

Taoist Qing Ping said, "The retribution on the collateral branches now clearly shows that the arrangement has begun. With a knife to your throat, can you still afford to be leisurely?"

He continued, "If you don't believe me, Young Master, you can take me to this family's ancestral graves. Within three generations, there will surely be abnormalities!"

"This... This family's graveyard is not far. It wouldn't hurt to take a look! Someone, come with me out of the village!"

Wu Ming seemed finally persuaded. He then noticed a green light flicker in Taoist Qing Ping's eyes, and his expression froze. He walked out of the courtyard in a daze.

Wu Ming's ancestors were naturally not buried here, but the Wu family in this village had a graveyard outside the village.

They didn't ride horses, and the few of them walked along the muddy path.

"Young Master, look... This place is nestled against the mountains and surrounded by water, which is quite good. However, the earth's energy is malevolent, indicating a change!"

As they rounded a small mountain hollow, the surrounding environment immediately became serene.

Taoist Qing Ping pointed to the ground. The graveyard outside the village was naturally filled with a chilling yin energy, making Steward Wu and the others' scalps tingle.

Just as they were about to reach their destination, Wu Ming stopped. "This... I'll wait until we get back and let my sister take a look."

"How can we wait for that?"

Seeing that his prey was about to be caught, Taoist Qing Ping grew anxious. He immediately stepped forward and grabbed Wu Ming's sleeve. "Young Master's life and fortune are in grave danger. How can we afford to delay?"

In an instant, the green light in his eyes flashed intensely, so dark green that it seemed to pierce Wu Ming's pupils.

"This... Of course, I'll listen to the Master Taoist..."

Wu Ming's face froze, and then a strange smile appeared. "...Not!"

In an instant, a terrifying backlash surged, causing Taoist Qing Ping's face to change. "Not good!"

He saw the young man before him instantly focus his gaze and lash out with a claw, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, its momentum incredibly sharp. How could he look like he was being controlled at all?

He immediately knew he had been tricked. With the situation turning against him, he didn't have time to cast any Taoist spells and could only retreat rapidly.

Ching!

Even so, Wu Ming left deep marks on his chest with a single claw, drawing blood.

"Good skill! Innate?"

The Taoist Qing Ping retreated several yards, sighing, "I never expected the wild goose that pecks at people all day to end up with its eyes pecked by a goose!"

"Young Master?"

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

"No need to say more. This is a demonic Taoist. Kill him for me!"

Wu Ming sneered, "It wasn't convenient for you in the village, and it's equally inconvenient for this young master here!"

As soon as the words fell, Feng Han and two household servants immediately pounced like wolves and tigers.

"I didn't expect him to be a dandy too!"

A sharp pain shot through his chest. The Taoist Qing Ping's face hardened, and he formed a hand seal, chanting, "Hiss!"

Thump!

The ground cracked open, and two Iron Corpses with green faces, fangs, wearing iron armor, and exuding a foul stench lunged out.

Creatures like Yin Ghosts feared sunlight, but zombies were less constrained by it.

"Heh! Iron-armored zombies, be careful not to get scratched, or the corpse poison will enter your body, and even an immortal can't save you!"

Feng Han, knowledgeable, recognized them at a glance. Wu Ming, seeing this, felt a chill in his heart: "This Taoist cultivates the art of corpse refinement, and he deliberately led me to a Yin location. There must be a trap. His intentions are punishable!"

"But... who would specifically target me?"

Just as Wu Ming was about to join the fray, his peripheral vision caught a black shadow returning from the graveyard at a speed faster than a galloping horse. His eyelids twitched again: "A Gang Qi expert?!"

"Ah!"

A scream rang out. The two household servants beside Feng Han had already fallen victim. Steward Wu, however, shouted and rushed frantically to Wu Ming's side: "Young Master, let's go quickly!"

"No need to rush now!"

Wu Ming took two steps forward, his face grim as he sized up the newcomer.

"What's going on?"

The black shadow revealed itself to be Steward Yu from before. Seeing the scene, his expression remained unchanged.

"You little brat, you're cunning and tricked me!"

The old Taoist Qing Ping said, a layer of green light flashing across his body. The wound on his chest stopped bleeding, and his face was grim: "But since you've run out, it doesn't matter!"

He then threw out two more talismans, attaching them to the Iron-armored Zombies, which emitted a faint golden light.

With this aid, the Iron-armored Zombies became even more ferocious, possessing immense strength and moving like the wind.

"Spirit Possession? Not quite!"

Feng Han's expression was solemn.

"Old Taoist, deal with this person. You go capture that brat!"

The Taoist Qing Ping said, and the two Iron-armored Zombies immediately surrounded Feng Han tightly, occasionally disrupting him with talismans.

"Your surname is Yu, and you're a steward?"

Wu Ming looked at the tall, thin middle-aged man in front of him and suddenly smiled: "You must be a prominent figure in the county. A simple inquiry will reveal it. Do you believe I'll tell my sister and have you all die without a complete corpse!"

Hearing Wu Qing's name, even Steward Yu couldn't help but twitch his eyelids. He then smiled and said, "Please rest assured, Young Master. After you descend, we will naturally send Miss Wu Qing on her way as well!"

This attitude made Wu Ming's heart clear: "So... they weren't specifically targeting me, but Wu Qing! Compared to her, I am indeed a weakness! What a pity..."

At this thought, a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

"Eat my claws!"

He let out a low cry, his feet blurring as he leaped forward, his hands clawing out.

"Innate?"

Steward Yu was slightly surprised: "What talent! I didn't expect Young Master Ming to be so astonishing when he finally makes a move. Even in my youth, I might not have had such cultivation. What a pity..."

His figure blurred as he moved forward, his palms striking out continuously, imbued with indestructible Gang Qi.

The Martial Path's Body Refinement Realm, ninth level. The gap between Innate and Gang Qi was a chasm that was difficult to cross.

Bang!

Fists and claws met. Wu Ming grunted, feeling as if thousands of needles were piercing his hand, the pain reaching his bones. Gritting his teeth, he endured and struck out again with his claws, aiming for Steward Yu's vital points.

"Stubborn fool!"

Steward Yu seized the opportunity, his fingers forming a sword as he suddenly pointed down. It seemed like a mutual destruction, but the power of Gang Qi extended three inches. He was fully confident in capturing Wu Ming before he could react.

However, he did not see the smile that appeared on Wu Ming's lips.

Pfft!

As the Gang Qi struck, a layer of white light appeared on Wu Ming's body.

"Magic Tool?"

Steward Yu was greatly alarmed, and then a sharp pain shot through his chest. Blood flowed from his nose and mouth as he retreated continuously.

"Gang Qi protection? And you're still not dead?"

Wu Ming was somewhat surprised. A flash of light emanated from the Black Gold Ring on his left hand's finger, and a dark beam sliced through the air.

"Ah!"

Steward Yu felt an intense pain in his legs and couldn't help but cry out. Looking down, he saw both his thighs were severed at the knee, blood gushing out. He immediately fainted.

"Heh heh... two Magic Tools? I, this old Taoist, am destined to get rich today!"

Qing Ping, the Taoist on the other side, saw this and was not surprised but delighted, greediness flashing in his eyes. "Boy, come here!"

A black mist materialized in his hand, resembling a black snake, and swept through the air. Its fangs were sharp, and a foul wind pressed in.

"Hmph! Kill!"

Wu Ming bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood mist. With a roar, he unleashed another punch.

Bang!

The black snake scattered in mid-air as if struck by lightning, turning into wisps of smoke. Yet, it continued to writhe as if it were still alive.

"Feng Han, how is it?"

Feng Han seized the opportunity to retreat, standing guard in front of Wu Ming.

"This Taoist's demonic arts are powerful. I fear fleeing is our only option!"

Feng Han's face turned somewhat pale as he saw Qing Ping summon two more Iron Armored Zombies and even more Bronze Armored Zombies. "This person isn't some mere wandering sorcerer who knows a few tricks. He's likely comparable to a properly ordained Taoist priest!"

"If you don't kill the snake, you'll be bitten by it. No!"

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

He immediately retreated and sat down, closing his eyes.

"Hahaha... Come on!"

Seeing this, Feng Han's heart filled with courage, and he resolutely stood guard beside Wu Ming.

Only a moment passed.

Wu Ming, who was on the ground, opened his eyes. He took out a talisman from his bosom - one with a silver background and dense golden tadpole-like characters. "Enjoin!"

"Ah... Minor Heavens Thunder Talisman!"

The talisman flew up, flashing with golden and silver lightning. Accompanied by Qing Ping's shocked cry, it exploded with a roar!