Counter Kill!

The waning moon hung diagonally in the grayish-blue sky, casting the bluestone slab path in the alley into semi-darkness.

The horse-head walls on either side of the deep alley cast black shadows, as if a wild cat had darted across the rooftops, stirring up a rustling sound, adding to the desolation.

"Senior Brother, what are you doing!"

A voice filled with a desperate roar suddenly exploded.

A figure rushed out of the alley, looking somewhat disheveled, with a black shadow chasing closely behind. The black shadow's palm strikes flew, engaging in combat with extreme ferocity.

At this moment, Lin Yin's neck felt a burning pain. His heart trembled; he never imagined Li Qianjiang would actually dare to attack directly. If he hadn't been prepared, the palm strike would have landed, shattering his neck bones and killing him on the spot.

However, faced with the accusation, Li Qianjiang still smiled.

"Junior Brother was already prepared, truly disappointing to this brother... Although your stance skill is not yet complete, this agility is quite good. What a pity... what a pity someone wants to buy your life... truly a pity!"

"Swish—"

A sound of air breaking suddenly arose. Li Qianjiang formed his five fingers into a claw, aiming directly for Lin Yin's heart. This claw strike was both fierce and fast. Lin Yin, despite his "unsteady steps," still "barely" sidestepped to evade.

"Dodging quickly!"

Li Qianjiang sneered. His left hand formed a palm, the palm glowing red – it was the Cloud Palm.

He struck out with the palm, the wind carrying qi, pressing down like dark clouds towards the youth's head.

Lin Yin could only evade, but the palm shadows in front of him were layered, seemingly endless.

His pupils contracted slightly. He exerted force in his waist and abdomen, twisting, and stumbled back half a step, narrowly avoiding the initial palm edge. However, facing the subsequent continuous palm strikes, he could only block with his own palm.

Seeing Lin Yin dare to meet his palm strike, Li Qianjiang's eyes lit up, and a cold smile curved his lips. The condensed qi within him erupted suddenly.

"A mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

With a crisp "crack," their palm forces collided. Li Qianjiang felt his tiger mouth tremble, a bloody sweetness surged in his throat, and his body involuntarily staggered backward.

"How is this possible, your qi!"

He looked in disbelief at the other figure, who was also staggering backward, appearing even more "disheveled."

Faced with the question, Lin Yin's voice was hoarse, feigning a scream: "Senior Brother, spare my life!"

Hearing the plea, Li Qianjiang did not change his mind but instead showed ferocity in his eyes.

Strike while the iron is hot!

He was certain Lin Yin's strength was far inferior to his own.

The next moment, he closed the distance, his attacks becoming even more urgent.

The second and third palms struck out consecutively, each palm strike more solid than the last, like continuous surging waves that forced Lin Yin to retreat repeatedly.

The alley was narrow, and the youth finally had nowhere to escape, seemingly left with no choice but to grit his teeth and endure.

Seeing this, Li Qianjiang, who was growing more shocked with each exchange, revealed a look of joy. He leaped up, both palms striking out simultaneously, employing the Treading Cloud and Trampling Void technique of the Cloud Palm.

Lin Yin gritted his teeth. His palm techniques, like a butterfly, sometimes lightly tapped, sometimes swept horizontally. They appeared chaotic but always managed to perfectly neutralize the fierce force.

However, Li Qianjiang unleashed his full power, his palm strikes weighing over a thousand pounds. Lin Yin staggered and finally couldn't hold on.

"Junior Brother, stop resisting."

Li Qianjiang sneered, his aura surging. As his palms moved, there was a faint sound of wind and thunder.

He seized the moment Lin Yin was forced into the Wall Corner and unleashed a palm strike filled with rage, determined to kill his opponent!

"Senior Brother, I'll fight you to the death!"

The youth suddenly let out a tragic cry. Instead of dodging, he struck out with a palm towards Li Qianjiang's chest.

"Seeking death!"

Li Qianjiang roared, his face alight with manic joy. This palm strike carried his full strength, nearly exhausting all his power.

His palm struck first, severing the opponent's life force. Why should he fear a counter-attack?

Youngsters are still youngsters. He wants to take me down with him? Haha!

Li Qianjiang was ecstatic. However, a barely perceptible Sharp Light flashed in the eyes of the seemingly desperate Lin Yin. Facing this palm strike, capable of splitting stone, a long-dormant Internal Force within him quietly erupted.

"Buzz—"

A faint, golden Halo, invisible to the naked eye, appeared on Lin Yin's body, like a bronze wall and iron rampart.

The ferocious Cloud Palm struck heavily upon the Halo, emitting a dull buzzing sound, like a fist hitting a large cowhide drum.

"What?!"

Li Qianjiang's face contorted in shock. He felt as if his palm hadn't struck a person, but rather some massive piece of iron...

Before he could react, Lin Yin's palm arrived!

A faint golden glow seemed to emanate from the edge of his palm. This strike was simple and unadorned, yet it contained the condensed power of two Stance Skills, crashing towards Li Qianjiang's face like a falling meteor.

"Pfft!"

A crisp sound of bone cracking echoed. Li Qianjiang's eyes bulged, blood gushed from his seven orifices, and the Qi and Blood surging around him instantly withered.

Bang...

A muffled sound echoed from the Dark Alley, and Li Qianjiang's body slumped softly to the ground, lifeless.

Lin Yin slowly retracted his palm. Under the full circulation of the Golden Bell Shield's Qi and Blood Circulation, he looked down at his blood-soaked hands, then at the corpse on the ground with no breath left. His eyes held lingering fear.

His chest throbbed with a dull ache. He circulated his Qi and Blood Circulation, and the pain vanished.

The fierce counterattack had only consumed some of his energy. This outcome was much easier than Lin Yin had imagined!

However, Lin Yin wasn't particularly happy. He knew that if he hadn't had a hidden trump card tonight, he would likely be the one lying on the ground!

The Deep Alley returned to silence, with only the Waning Moon still hanging high.

Lin Yin didn't rest for long. Frowning, he pondered for a moment, quickly searched Li Qianjiang's body, and then, carrying the corpse, he rushed towards the Langshi Tavern.

At the same time.

Langshi Tavern.

"Brother Ba, is Li Qianjiang really reliable? Why has he been gone for so long?"

"Reliable? Hmph, he's that brat Lin Yin's Senior Brother, what do you think? Senior Brother fighting Junior Brother, do you need to ask the outcome?"

"Besides, someone in the manor has already informed him of the news. He should have that kid cornered at the intersection by now."

Shi Ba was sitting by the window, leaning against the Hooked Rail, overlooking the street below.

At this time, the Langshi Tavern still had a few scattered customers. As far as he could see, Li Qianjiang's figure hadn't appeared for a long time.

Time ticked by, and Shi Ba's expression gradually revealed unease and solemnity.

This was taking too long!

He suddenly picked up the wine cup on the table in front of him and downed it in one gulp. The spicy liquor stimulated his taste buds but couldn't soothe the unease in Shi Ba's heart.

This was supposed to be a sure thing, but the longer it took, the more he felt something was wrong.

Before leaving, Li Qianjiang had sworn that it would take less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. But now, it was almost midnight.

Just as Shi Ba became increasingly restless, his companion beside him suddenly exclaimed.

"He's here, he's here!"

"Hmm? He's here!"

The unease on Shi Ba's face vanished instantly. He stood up abruptly from his seat and peered out.

Following the direction his companion pointed, he saw a familiar figure.

A Green Long Robe, a tall and straight posture, his Left Hand behind his back, his Right Hand raised high, standing in the slightly dark alley across the street, seemingly waving towards them.