This Time You Still Won't Die

Upon entering the city, Ye Kang found Jin Baobei and instructed her to keep a close watch on the Jiayang River before rushing to the City Lord's mansion without delay.

He didn't go inside this time but instead headed to an inn outside the mansion. Zheng Hailong was arrogant and difficult to approach, so Ye Kang preferred to act in secret rather than discuss matters with him.

If the intelligence from those two Azure Scale Guards was accurate, Zheng Hailong wouldn't be staying at home for much longer.

He quietly concealed his presence, merely sitting and sipping tea.

The sun rose and the moon set, and night arrived.

The bustling marketplace was adorned with lanterns and decorations, as if a celebration was underway.

A while later, as the revelry continued deep into the night, urgent bells suddenly rang out across the city.

Faintly, they were accompanied by heart-wrenching screams.

"Water bandits are here! Water bandits are here!"

Ye Kang's eyes snapped open, and he put down his teacup.

At this moment, Jin Baobei also rushed in.

"Lord! The water bandits have indeed attacked. The leader has at least four or five Innate experts, and the river is covered in the bandits' small boats. Who knows how many minions there are!"

"A tough bone to crack. The City Lord must also be unable to sit still."

Ye Kang continued to conceal his presence, parting the window crack to look outside.

As expected, military horses were rushing within the City Lord's mansion. A troop of soldiers charged out, and behind them, Zheng Hailong, clad in light armor and wielding a halberd, emerged with a grim expression.

However, none of the martial arts thugs he kept were moved; they all remained inside the mansion.

Zheng Hailong gave a few instructions to his trusted subordinates, his eyes fixed on a pavilion in the southwest corner of the mansion, his expression stern.

Clearly, he also knew that his departure would undoubtedly give the Flower Thief an opportunity.

But as the City Lord, he had to go out to defend the city and fight the enemy, and he had to do so in armor and with great fanfare.

When faced with matters of urgency and importance, he still knew how to prioritize.

He then led a troop of soldiers towards the city gate. The City Lord's mansion gate was tightly shut, and over twenty martial arts experts leaped onto the high walls within the courtyard, standing guard with utmost vigilance.

These individuals, each wielding a weapon with fierce expressions, were clearly ruthless killers. Only they could deter that presumptuous Flower Thief.

But in Ye Kang's view, their defense was merely a show.

"Stay here. If you see anyone entering or leaving, immediately notify He Zhi to apprehend them."

"Understood."

Jin Baobei took his place.

Then, Ye Kang climbed out the window, his black robe blending into the night, and quietly approached the edge of the City Lord's mansion.

With his five senses activated, the sound of footsteps within the courtyard was clear.

Taking advantage of a guard's inattention, Ye Kang flicked his finger, sending a pebble flying to knock him unconscious.

Then, using Flying Swallow Ascending Cloud, he stepped onto the courtyard wall and, in an instant, entered the southeast corner of the mansion.

Compared to the southwest corner, the guards here were much sparser, and Ye Kang easily blended in.

Ahead was a pavilion with no one guarding it. It was likely not occupied by a beautiful concubine. Ye Kang walked in, and a strange sound reached his ears.

He pushed the door open and entered a scene too indecent to behold.

The Young Master Zheng, dressed in snow-white robes, was currently engaged in an unrestrained gathering with four or five maids.

Everyone stared at Ye Kang in terror. The Young Master Zheng, caught in the act, was furious and wished he could loudly call for someone to kill this Deputy Commander of the Imperial City Department who had suddenly barged in.

But he dared not.

Because a pink sword qi was pressed against his neck.

The maids were also threatened by the Hundred Flowers Sword Qi, trembling uncontrollably.

Ye Kang walked in, sat down directly, and said, "Put on your clothes. Don't make a sound. I'm here to catch a thief. Cooperate."

Young Master Zheng gritted his teeth and whispered, "You have a lot of nerve! My father will kill you when he returns!"

"Don't threaten me, Young Master. If your father truly wants to kill me, then I will kill you first. You'll accompany me on the road to the Yellow Springs."

Ye Kang smiled, completely unfazed.

Young Master Zheng also valued his life and dared not provoke this formidable figure. He immediately ordered everyone to put on their clothes and sat down on the bed helplessly.

With this tall pavilion, Ye Kang no longer needed to hide. He stood directly by the window, observing the pavilion in the opposite direction.

That attic had only one small room, clearly a side room for a concubine.

In front of the door sat two white-robed elders, exuding a powerful aura.

Ye Kang was slightly startled. He hadn't expected the City Lord to have such hidden strength, harboring two Innate experts in his home.

Both were at the Innate First Rank, figures who could establish a sect in Mengzhou.

Yet, in Jiayang City, they were reduced to guarding a door.

In the courtyard below the pavilion, dozens of experts moved back and forth, half of whom were first-class experts, and a few were even super-class.

"Lord Zheng really cherishes this woman, even going to great lengths to hire so many guards."

Ye Kang exclaimed.

Young Master Zheng snorted from behind him.

"What do you know? If Second Mother were to have an accident, it would be my father's reputation on the line. Besides, with those two instructors here, who would dare cause trouble? Lord, please return. You're not needed here."

As soon as he finished speaking, something unusual happened in the courtyard.

Several second-rate guards suddenly collapsed as they walked, and the guards on the courtyard walls fell one after another.

Then came the first-class experts, who soon couldn't hold on.

The remaining people panicked and immediately shouted, "Cover your mouths and noses! Hold your breath!"

Ye Kang also silently took out a small jade bottle, took out a pill, and put it in his mouth.

Meanwhile, Young Master Zheng and his maidservant behind him had already collapsed.

At this moment, the two Innate First Rank experts immediately got up.

One of them shouted, "The thieves are here! Everyone, come up and defend!"

The remaining martial artists jumped onto the pavilion one after another, drew their weapons, and tightly surrounded the room.

At this moment, a black-clothed assailant wearing a mask slowly walked out from a corner.

The two Innate experts were greatly alarmed.

"Who are you! Those who trespass into the City Lord's mansion shall die!"

The black-clothed assailant ignored them and moved forward, his steps unhurried.

As he advanced, the super-class experts also fell one by one, succumbing to the effects.

Only the two old men in the Innate realm remained. Relying on their Innate True Qi, they could resist the sleeping incense for a while. Seeing that things were not going well, one of them decisively flew up and struck the black-clothed assailant with his palm.

"Die, scoundrel!"

"Too slow."

The black-clothed assailant uttered three words in an extremely arrogant tone, then turned into black smoke and instantly dodged the palm strike, appearing behind the old man at the same time.

The old man only had time to hear a "Be careful" before he was kicked flying.

Although it wasn't enough to kill him, he had lost the initiative, and it was impossible to catch up to the black-clothed assailant now.

The other old man snorted coldly and simultaneously threw a punch, sending countless fist shadows covering the sky and earth, locking the black-clothed assailant's position tightly.

But this time, the assailant didn't dodge at all. His True Qi formed a shield, directly blocking the fist shadows. At the same time, the old man behind him struck again with his palm. The fist and palm combined, trapping the black-clothed assailant in the middle.

"You still won't die this time!"

The two old men seemed to have victory in their grasp and attacked the black-clothed assailant with all their might. Both fist and palm struck the person, causing countless blood to splatter.

"Hahahaha! What did I think I was facing? You're no match at all! Take another palm from me!"

The old man's wild laughter rang out.

He had clearly gained the upper hand.

Only Ye Kang, who was watching, frowned deeply.

"These two... are fighting the air?"