Training the Flesh

After dealing with the corpses and cleaning the yard and house, Luo Yi picked up a saber brought by one of the thugs. Under the cover of night, he headed towards the courtyard in his memory.

The darkness made navigating the alleys difficult, and he wandered for a long time before finally finding the correct location.

Seeing the courtyard before him, identical to how he remembered it, he confirmed he was in the right place.

Unsure of the situation inside the courtyard and worried about making too much noise and disturbing the residents, Luo Yi had no choice but to stealthily climb over the wall.

Once inside, he noticed a single room still lit by candlelight.

"What's going on? The lights are still on this late, aren't they sleeping?"

Curiosity piqued, he held his breath and cautiously approached the door of the lit room.

He extended a finger and carefully poked a hole in the papered window. Just as he was about to peek inside:

"Who's out there, lurking around?"

Hearing the woman's voice from inside, Luo Yi knew he'd been discovered. He stopped hiding and kicked the door open.

As he entered the room, he subtly sprinkled the medicinal powder he'd hidden at his waist onto the floor.

After scattering the powder, Luo Yi saw a figure sitting by the table, as robust as a black bear. "What in the world!"

"Wolf-kun, is that you? You're so naughty! Playing guessing games with me!"

The woman's voice, surprisingly deep and resonant, asked when the person outside entered. Seeing no response, she turned and saw Luo Yi standing at the doorway.

"Who are you? Where's my little Wolf-kun?"

Listening to the woman's voice sent shivers down Luo Yi's spine. Before he could answer, the woman spoke again.

"Oh! You're quite handsome! You must be the one Wolf-kun brought his men to kill tonight, right? You actually found your way here! It seems that useless Wolf-kun is probably dead at your hands."

"But it's fine. I'm getting a bit tired of him lately. Since you killed him, you can just take his place." With that, the woman at the table stood up and walked towards Luo Yi.

"Ugh," Luo Yi almost gagged at the woman's words. He had only intended to rob them, and he was worried about harming innocents. Now, the thought of this woman wanting to toy with him sent a chill down his spine.

He drew the saber from his waist and lunged towards the woman.

"Tsk, tsk, little sir, you have quite a temper. Drawing a knife at the slightest disagreement. That's not good for your health. Let me, your elder sister, teach you a thing or two about how to serve someone."

As the woman's words grew increasingly outrageous, Luo Yi unconsciously tightened his grip on the saber.

Seeing that he was serious, the woman quickly drew a long sword hidden under the table and blocked Luo Yi's incoming saber strike.

Clang! The sound of metal hitting metal echoed.

"You're a Body Refining Realm cultivator!" The woman, who had expected to easily block Luo Yi's attack, was startled by the incredible strength transmitted through her sword.

Hearing the woman exclaim "Flesh Refining Realm," Luo Yi felt a surge of confusion. He had only used seventy percent of his strength, and wasn't he only in the Skin Refining Realm? Could it be the effect of "Skin Refining Limit"?

With that thought, he realized the woman before him was a master of the Body Refining Realm.

Simultaneously, he understood that if he fell into her hands, the consequences would be unbearable. Luo Yi felt a sudden chill run through his body and immediately focused with all his might.

Neither gave the other a moment to breathe. Swords and sabers clashed continuously.

The saber in his hand was just a common weapon used by thugs, no match for her long sword. After more than ten exchanges, Luo Yi's saber was sliced in half by her sword.

"Damn it!" Dropping the remaining half of his saber, Luo Yi clenched his fists.

Dodging the woman's attacks, he finally found an opportunity for an exchange of blows. Luo Yi poured all his strength into a punch, striking the woman's hand. Crack! A bone-snapping sound followed as her arm was directly broken.

At the same time, Luo Yi's shoulder was pierced by the woman's long sword.

"What kind of defense is that?" The woman, seeing that her full-strength sword thrust hadn't pierced him, hastily tried to pull back.

Noticing a flicker of panic in the woman's eyes, Luo Yi reached out with his left hand, grabbed her long sword, and with his right, delivered a full-power punch towards her head.

"Get lost!"

Seeing the fist aimed at her head, the woman quickly released her grip on the sword and unleashed a whipping kick towards Luo Yi.

This kick! A gust of wind swept forward, carrying all the woman's strength.

An ordinary Skin Refining martial artist would have been severely injured, if not killed, by this kick.

Knowing that the gap in strength between them wasn't that large and it would be difficult to defeat her quickly, Luo Yi worried about attracting more help for the woman. He wasn't willing to let go of this excellent opportunity.

His stance unchanged, he spread his arms, intending to take the kick head-on and then grab her legs.

The whipping kick landed squarely on Luo Yi's waist. A cruel smile spread across the woman's face as she taunted him.

"Little sir, even if you're a Body Refining Realm martial artist, taking my kick head-on won't be easy! You look young, your combat experience is still lacking. Such impatience. Follow me, and when I'm free, I'll teach you some combat techniques... in bed."

Taking the woman's whipping kick head-on, Luo Yi realized her strength wasn't that great. He guessed that the medicinal powder he'd secretly sprinkled in the room had taken effect.

"Oh, really? Sister, have you felt anything unusual about your body?"

Looking at Luo Yi's mocking expression, the woman raised her leg to continue her attack. Suddenly, her head felt heavy and dizzy, and her raised leg fell limply to the ground.

"You poisoned me, how despicable!" With that, the woman collapsed onto the ground, her wide eyes filled with terror.

While the woman was still in shock, Luo Yi exerted all his strength and punched the joint of her knee.

Crack! The sound of breaking bone echoed again.

With the bones in her hands and feet shattered, the woman let out a series of frantic screams.

Seeing the woman screaming on the ground, Luo Yi didn't intend to waste time. He drew the long sword from his shoulder and was about to end her life when—

"Spare me, young master, spare me! I'm the vice-leader of the Green Wolf Gang. If you kill me, the Green Wolf Gang won't let you go. Besides, I have a lot of silver. Just let me go, and I'll give it all to you."

So she was a vice-leader too. Her strength was indeed greater than that Little Wolf Head.

Not rushing to act, Luo Yi sheathed his long sword and looked at the woman.

"Tell me where the silver is hidden, and I'll give you a quick death. Otherwise, the consequences..."

Hearing Luo Yi's words, the woman knew she was likely doomed today. She simply closed her eyes and stopped speaking.

"Sigh." Since you're looking for death, I'll grant it to you.

Without further torture, the long sword in his hand sliced across her neck, and a large amount of blood sprayed out.