[Ding] [Task completed: Kill Luan Xiong] [Reward: 2,000 Comprehension]
The System Sound rang out.
Ye Kang stood perfectly still, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
Holy crap!
He'd killed him in one hit!
That was ridiculously overpowered!
So this was the might of Innate Martial Arts?
Ye Kang secretly swallowed.
No wonder Li Jingming had thought he could rule the Martial World after obtaining Hundred Flowers Sword Finger. Its power really was beyond that of ordinary Martial Skills.
Ye Kang had only wanted to test its power. He hadn't expected to chop Luan Xiong into eight pieces.
Since he'd already killed him in one hit, he might as well keep up the act.
The corner of his mouth curled upward. Without even glancing at the corpse on the ground, he walked straight toward his scabbard.
His face was as still as an ancient well—utterly nonchalant.
At that moment, the Giant Wolf Gang disciples finally snapped out of their shock.
Their gang leader had been blasted into pieces in one hit!
"Gang Leader!!!"
"Villain, don't run! I'll make you pay with your life!"
"Corrupt Official! Give me back my father's life!"
At least a dozen people leaped onto the Sword Discussion Platform at once, throwing caution to the wind as they charged at Ye Kang.
Ye Kang was speechless.
So now he was a Corrupt Official?
He wasn't even an official!
But he would show no mercy to anyone who dared to swing a blade at him.
Hundred Flowers Sword Finger flashed again.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Pink Sword Qi streaked through the crowd, piercing their throats with pinpoint accuracy. Like scything grass, it cut them down. Ye Kang didn't even look back, yet a dozen corpses were already sprawled across the Sword Discussion Platform.
"Everyone, stop!"
Seeing this, Abbess Zixuan hurried to restrain the others.
There weren't many left anyway. The Giant Wolf Gang had brought only a little over thirty people. After that wave, only a dozen of their weakest disciples remained—they hadn't managed to jump onto the Sword Discussion Platform in time, and so had escaped with their lives.
Abbess Zixuan and Zheng Jiantong were drenched in cold sweat. They weren't fools. If Ye Kang could kill Luan Xiong in one hit, he could just as easily kill them. Charging at him would be nothing but throwing their lives away.
They didn't dare move rashly, but Ye Kang was another matter.
Killing Luan Xiong should have been enough, but since these people had dared to come at him, he couldn't just let that go.
He turned and glared at the gathered martial artists, releasing the aura of a Half-step Innate expert. Everyone felt their hearts tighten.
"Everyone knows that life and death are fair game on the Sword Discussion Platform. Isn't that what you said? What is this, are you all going to gang up on me?"
Ye Kang's icy voice rang across the entire Sword Discussion Arena.
Abbess Zixuan and Zheng Jiantong hurried forward to apologize.
"Lord Ye, please understand! The Giant Wolf Gang disciples acted rashly in the heat of the moment after their leader was killed. This has absolutely nothing to do with us!"
Zheng Jiantong added, "Lord Ye's Martial Skill is extraordinary. Our Giant Sword Sect has no intention of making an enemy of you!"
In other words, they were both quick to wash their sects' hands of the whole affair.
Ye Kang gave a cold laugh.
"You invited me here together to discuss martial arts, so you're all in this together. I could report what happened today to the Imperial City Department and bring troops back to wipe out all three of your sects. It wouldn't be unreasonable!"
At those words, Abbess Zixuan and Zheng Jiantong were both stunned.
"Lord Ye, things absolutely don't have to go that far!"
"Exactly, Lord Ye. I, Zheng Jiantong, sincerely wish to be your friend. Here are ten thousand Silver Notes. Please accept them!"
Zheng Jiantong immediately and tactfully pulled out a thick stack of Silver Notes.
Ye Kang continued to sneer. "You think a mere ten thousand taels will buy my friendship?"
Zheng Jiantong's face twitched.
That bastard was extorting him!
He could only turn to the junior brothers and nephews behind him.
Everyone pooled their money, handing over every last coin they had.
"My lord, here are another five thousand taels. This is everything we have. We really don't have any more!"
Seeing this, Abbess Zixuan immediately signaled to the disciples behind her.
Soon, she too was holding out a stack of Silver Notes. "Lord Ye, we of the Purple Haze Sect left in a hurry. We only have eight thousand taels on us. Please don't think too poorly of us."
Ye Kang took the Silver Notes and immediately broke into a smile.
"As expected of great heroes—you know how to be sensible. We'll let today's matter rest. Until we meet again."
With that, Ye Kang left.
Zhou Ying hurried after him, her eyes full of admiration.
"Lord Ye! I had no idea you were so powerful!"
Ye Kang laughed heartily. "Keep it quiet, keep it quiet. Here, take this. Everyone gets a share."
"Two thousand taels! That's too much. I can't accept it!"
"It's fine. Money's just a number to me. If you think it's too much, give a thousand taels of it to Qiu Niang at Drunken Spring House. She helped out quite a bit this time and deserves a share."
"Don't worry, Lord Ye! I'll make sure she gets it!"
Elsewhere.
Watching Ye Kang's retreating back, the martial artists of the three great sects finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Until we meet again? Meet my grandmother's leg!"
Zheng Jiantong cursed under his breath and led his disciples away.
There was nothing else they could do. They were completely broke, so they could only return to their sect.
Abbess Zixuan looked at the Giant Wolf Gang disciples, who were weeping bitterly, and could only sigh.
The three great sects had truly kicked an iron plate this time. The Purple Haze Sect was fortunate to escape disaster by paying up.
Enough. It was time to return to the Mountain Gate.
The martial artists scattered in every direction, leaving only a pool of blood behind.
Meanwhile, people with an eye for opportunity spread the news. In just a few days, the tale of Ye Kang single-handedly cowing the three great sects had spread throughout Jiangping Prefecture.
By then, Ye Kang had already led his men back to the Imperial City Department with Dai Huanhuan in custody.
Without a trial, Dai Huanhuan was sent straight to Death Prison and placed in Profound Tier Cell No. 007.
Fortunately, Ye Kang was there, so she didn't suffer any torture.
Ye Kang, meanwhile, hurried to report to Leng Ruyi.
"Lord Leng, I've completed the mission without letting you down."
Leng Ruyi was writing a document. She didn't look up, merely replying casually, "Mm, I know."
And that was it?
What about his reward?
Ye Kang was at a loss.
When she saw that he still hadn't left, Leng Ruyi finally looked up. "He Zhi already told me what happened. Commander Ye did well. Come with me to the palace tonight. Consort Jing said she wants to reward you in person."
"Yes, ma'am."
Ye Kang was still bewildered, but he promptly accepted the order.
He hadn't expected to be going to the palace so soon. He wasn't meeting the Emperor, but seeing a consort was still pretty good.
Ye Kang had taken the opportunity to learn a little about the situation.
In the palace, apart from the reigning Son of Heaven, there was one empress and two consorts, all wielding enormous influence.
Consort Jing was one of them. It could be said that the entire Imperial City Department was her direct faction.
So meeting Consort Jing was like meeting his own top boss.
The thought made him a little nervous.
Soon, night fell.
Ye Kang followed Leng Ruyi on horseback to the palace gates.
A eunuch was already waiting there.
Seeing the two of them, the eunuch spoke in a shrill voice. "Lord Leng, Consort Jing has been waiting for you for quite some time."
Leng Ruyi replied respectfully, "I've been buried in official business and couldn't get away. Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Fei."
Eunuch Fei glanced at Ye Kang.
"This is the palace. No weapons are allowed inside."
Ye Kang tactfully handed over his saber, then followed Eunuch Fei into the palace.
Soon, they arrived at a magnificent palace hall.
"Please wait a moment. I'll go announce your arrival first."
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