Even with a blade pointed at him, Ghost Hand remained calm.
"Ninth Young Master, you're only a Third-grade Martial Artist. Coming alone, you've underestimated me!"
"Blood Fiend—Nine Abysses Devour the Soul!"
Suddenly, Ghost Hand bit his tongue and swiftly drew a spell seal with his blood essence.
"Rumble!"
A Blood-colored Skeleton suddenly appeared in midair, bringing with it a foul wind and a storm of blood. Amid the howls of resentful spirits, it hurtled toward Xiao Yang, who was only a short distance away.
This move was also a forbidden technique of the Witchcraft Sect, and required sacrificing ten years of one's lifespan.
It was said that a Witch King had once used this curse to wipe out every living soul in an entire city.
"Ninth Young Master, you're dead!" Ghost Hand cried, looking thrilled.
At this close range, Xiao Yang had no way to escape!
But Xiao Yang had no intention of running. Instead, he stepped forward toward the Blood-colored Skeleton.
"Dragon's Wrath Resonance!"
The next moment, golden light blazed around him. He activated the supernatural power inherent to the Mysterious Scale Ten Thousand Dragon Armor, absorbing the attack and transforming it into a True Dragon Phantom to strike back.
Rumble!
A dragon-shaped shadow shot forth from the unseen depths, instantly shattering the Blood-colored Skeleton. Its force still unspent, it slammed into Ghost Hand.
"Bang!"
Ghost Hand flew backward in an arc, then collapsed on the ground like a dead dog, barely clinging to life.
"Wh-what... how is this possible?!" Ghost Hand stared in disbelief.
Wasn't the Ninth Young Master of King Zhenbei's Mansion supposed to be a good-for-nothing who couldn't accomplish anything?
How had he hidden his strength so well?
Xiao Yang, however, looked as calm as ever, as if this were only to be expected.
I'm kitted out with all six divine items and even have Resurrection Armor. How could I lose?
In truth, he had his own plan.
Ghost Hand was a Fifth Grade cultivator. If he'd focused on escaping, Xiao Yang really wouldn't have been able to stop him.
But Xiao Yang had deliberately made himself seem weak, giving Ghost Hand the impression he could kill him. Then he used the Mysterious Scale Ten Thousand Dragon Armor to counterattack, severely wounding Ghost Hand in one blow!
"Since you have no last words, get ready to die!" Xiao Yang raised his saber.
"Wait! Ninth Young Master, don't kill me! I'll be your dog... I can spy on the Eldest Prince for you!" Ghost Hand begged desperately.
"Too late!"
Xiao Yang shook his head. He wouldn't trust a vicious man like him. Then, with a sudden smile, he said, "How about this? Flip a copper coin. If it lands standing upright, I'll spare your life!"
What?!
Ghost Hand's face turned uglier than if he'd eaten shit.
Is he fucking messing with me?
But he had no other choice, so he pulled out a copper coin and tossed it into the air.
"Clatter..."
The coin rolled across the ground—and actually wedged itself upright in a crack.
"It's standing! It's standing!"
Ghost Hand shouted, more excited than if he'd won the grand prize.
"Bang!"
But in the next moment, Xiao Yang stepped on the coin, flattening it.
"Sorry, it fell over again! Looks like heaven isn't on your side!"
Then Xiao Yang swung his saber, its blade flashing.
"Slash!"
A red line appeared across Ghost Hand's neck. Blood sprayed as his head hit the ground.
Xiao Yang sheathed his saber and left under cover of night.
The next morning, at the Eldest Prince's Estate.
"Your Highness, bad news!"
Advisor Lu Xu rushed into the hall and reported, "Last night, Ghost Hand was attacked in his home. His head was severed from his body!"
"Who did it?" Xiao Junlin asked.
"We don't know! There were no witnesses at the scene, but the attacker used the Thunderclap Saber Technique. It was probably a master from the Vermilion Bird Army!" Lu Xu replied.
"Oh?"
Xiao Junlin raised an eyebrow.
He didn't care much about losing a retainer. But the Vermilion Bird Army's involvement, combined with Ghost Hand using the Heart Piercing Blood Curse last night, made it clear that they were protecting Xiao Yang.
It was also a warning sent straight to him!
"Tsk, tsk. Looks like Ninth Brother really has Ning Hongye wrapped around his finger. Could it be that he truly doesn't mind that ugly woman and consummated the marriage?" Xiao Junlin muttered.
"Your Highness, now that Xiao Yang has the Vermilion Bird Army backing him, using force against him would be unwise!" Lu Xu warned.
"No matter. I still have other ways."
Xiao Junlin gave a cold smile. "If force won't work, then we'll use finesse! Let Second Brother handle it. When it comes to killing without drawing blood, scholars are the ones for the job!"
"Your Highness is truly wise!"
Lu Xu's eyes lit up, as if he'd thought of something, and he immediately offered a flattering remark.
Elsewhere.
As Xiao Yang trained in his mansion, he wondered which of his brothers he should visit to wheedle a spiritual treasure out of.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Suddenly, Huangli knocked on the door. "Young Master, Qiu Ya, a maid from the Second Prince's Mansion, is here to see you!"
"Let her in," Xiao Yang said.
Soon, a tall maid walked in.
She wore a pale yellow palace dress that accentuated her graceful figure. She looked a few years older than Huangli and had a womanly charm about her.
Her features were certainly beautiful enough to stand out among ten thousand women. She had bright, expressive eyes and red lips set against pearly white teeth.
"Greetings, Ninth Young Master!"
Qiu Ya bowed, then took out an invitation with her jade-white hand and respectfully presented it to him.
"Tonight, my prince is hosting the Lanting Poetry Gathering. He has already invited talented scholars from the Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory. It will be quite a lively affair, and we hope Ninth Young Master will honor us with your presence!"
Xiao Yang looked at the invitation. It had gilded edges and a silk backing.
The materials alone were worth dozens of silver taels—several years' income for an ordinary family. It showed just how extravagant the event was.
He searched his memories for what he knew about the Second Prince.
His mother came from a wealthy family in Jiangnan and had been a disciple of the Second Sage at the Confucian Temple.
It was said that when Xiao Ziwen was born, a shooting star streaked across the sky and fell into the prince's estate. As a result, people hailed him as the reincarnation of Wenqu Star.
Xiao Ziwen hadn't practiced martial arts. Instead, he'd studied the books of the Sages since childhood, following the path of Confucianism. With his extraordinary talent, he had now reached the Fifth Grade as well.
The Fifth Grade of Confucianism was the realm of a Gentleman. With brush and ink, one could shield oneself; with poetry, one could transform the land.
As the saying went, "A Gentleman uses words, not fists."
Warriors believed Confucian scholars were all talk and could do nothing but run their mouths.
Confucian scholars, meanwhile, thought warriors were all boorish and vulgar.
Following the Confucian path required not only money and resources, but also social standing. That was why it was so uncommon. Its followers were all high-ranking officials and nobles; ordinary people had almost no chance to study it.
"Thank Second Brother for the kind invitation, but I'm not interested in poetry gatherings," Xiao Yang said, politely declining.
He remembered that the Second Prince, Xiao Ziwen, liked to affect an air of refinement, composing poetry and making couplets—especially to show off in front of beautiful women.
But to Xiao Yang, watching a group of scholars pat one another on the back was less entertaining than watching stray dogs fight by the roadside!
"Ninth Young Master, His Highness said that if you're willing to attend the Lanting Poetry Gathering, he'll give you the promised Yue Wu's Art of War right away. Otherwise, he'll put it off for a year or two..." Qiu Ya added.
Xiao Yang frowned at that.
The Yue Wu's Art of War was a precious Spirit Grade treasure, left behind by the famous general Yue Wu five hundred years ago.
It was said that anyone who mastered the military strategies within it could dominate a region and vie for the empire.
Xiao Yang had no use for it, but for Ning Hongye, who was preparing to raise an army and rebel, it would be a godsend.
Its value far surpassed that of any other divine weapon.
"Fine. I'll go!"
Xiao Yang accepted the invitation.
Just then, Qiu Ya seemed to remember something and spoke again. "Oh, Ninth Young Master, the most beautiful woman in our Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory will also attend tonight's poetry gathering!"
Before you continue