Blood Blade Sect

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump~

Xu Zhiyong's heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, pounding frantically with a sound so loud it seemed ready to burst through his chest.

Fear made every hair on his body stand on end, and a fine layer of cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Forcing a smile so sycophantic it was distorted, his teeth chattered, and his voice trembled uncontrollably:

"M-my lord, I beg you to spare me this once.

I was truly at my wit's end and acted foolishly; I am willing to be your beast of burden, to go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"

Snap.

Snap~

Li Yun did not respond, merely lifting his foot and stepping on the dry branches on the ground as he approached step by step.

The crisp sound of branches breaking was piercingly sharp in the alleyway; every step felt like a heavy hammer slamming ruthlessly against Xu Zhiyong's heart.

The distance between the two grew shorter and shorter.

Three steps.

Two steps.

Those emotionless eyes made his whole body turn cold, and he nearly forgot how to breathe.

Li Yun looked down at him from above, his face devoid of any expression.

There was no anger, nor was there any pity.

Extreme fear suddenly transformed into a desperate, all-or-nothing madness!

Xu Zhiyong steeled his heart, malice rising in his gut.

Death was certain either way, so he might as well fight for his life!

Using his kneeling posture, his hand hidden behind his back quickly gripped the short, jagged stick.

One step.

At the very moment when only a single step remained between them.

Xu Zhiyong's pupils suddenly constricted, and he whipped his head toward the direction of Fang Ming's corpse.

His face contorted into an exaggerated expression of confusion, as if he had seen something unbelievable:

"Eh?"

Then, Xu Zhiyong exerted all his strength, thrusting his waist forward as he aimed the short stick directly at Li Yun's lower abdomen, his eyes filled with savage ferocity as he roared:

"Die!"

Unfortunately, Li Yun had not looked in that direction at all.

He simply watched him with a blank expression.

The stick was barely an inch from Li Yun's abdomen, and just as Xu Zhiyong thought he had succeeded, he suddenly felt his wrist tighten.

Snap!

With a sharp crack, his wrist was firmly gripped by Li Yun.

Xu Zhiyong felt a terrifying amount of force, as if he were being clamped by an iron-cast tiger claw.

His bones felt as though they were about to be crushed!

"Ah~"

A searing pain instantly surged through his entire body.

He tried to struggle, only to find his wrist pinned in mid-air, unable to move.

"I would like to ask you a question."

A flat, toneless voice came from ahead, striking Xu Zhiyong's despair like a thunderbolt.

His body stiffened, but then, as if grasping at a life-saving straw, his eyes lit up instantly. Forgetting the agony in his wrist, he replied hurriedly:

"Ask, please, ask away.

Not just one, even ten or a hundred—I will tell you everything I know, I will answer you truthfully!"

Li Yun nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon his face as he spoke slowly:

"Look again—am I kind-hearted?"

The pace of his speech was measured, yet it made Xu Zhiyong feel a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Kind..."

The word "kind" had barely left Xu Zhiyong's lips, and he hadn't even finished the flattery that was to follow.

Li Yun moved.

His right leg whipped out like a steel whip, heavy and powerful, accompanied by a whistling sound as it tore through the air.

Faster than the kick he had delivered to Fang Ming earlier.

More ruthless!

More vicious!

More resolute!

Bang!

Xu Zhiyong was struck as if by an invisible giant hammer, his entire body turning into a blur as he was sent flying straight back.

He slammed heavily into the earthen wall opposite.

The wall shook violently, shedding a thick layer of dust as he left a shallow indentation behind him.

He didn't even manage a complete scream before his body slid down the wall to the ground.

His limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, dark red blood foam bubbling from his nose and mouth, and after a few twitches, he went completely still.

Li Yun stepped forward to ensure they were finished.

He made sure there was no chance of them playing dead.

Only then did he quickly frisk both of them.

He found nothing.

He picked up the chicken from the ground, held it in his hand, and turned to stride out of the alley.

Behind him, the alley was left with nothing but two cold corpses and scattered dry branches.

The wind blew through the entrance of East Alley, kicking up dust in silence.

At the main intersection.

Zhuo Yong had just leaned against the cart to catch his breath when he saw Li Yun walking toward him from the direction of East Alley, carrying the chicken.

There was a faint smile on his face; perhaps it was just an illusion.

Zhuo Yong felt that this smile...

"Junior Brother."

Zhuo Yong smiled and walked up to him, patting him on the shoulder.

"That trip was truly dangerous; it's a good thing you were there to cover us. After we finish our fist training this afternoon, let's find a place. I'll treat you to a drink so we can properly relax."

Li Yun raised his hand to place the chicken back on the cart, turning his head with a faint smile.

"Senior Brother, you're too kind. This escort mission was meant for you to lead me anyway, teaching me how to handle emergencies. I should be the one thanking you. There's no reason for you to spend your money; I'll treat you once I receive my monthly stipend."

"Haha, alright!"

Zhuo Yong laughed heartily.

"I won't argue with you then. I'll treat tonight, and you can treat next time. We'll take turns!"

"Deal."

Li Yun nodded in agreement.

Zhuo Yong stopped laughing and instructed the two workers to push the cart.

"Let's go. Don't waste any more time; we need to get into the city and finish the job."

After turning two corners along the road, the gate to the Inner City appeared before them.

The guards beneath the gate wore standard-issue armor and carried long sabers at their waists, their sharp gazes scanning the passing crowds, maintaining perfect order.

The group lined up and paid the entry fee.

After the guards inspected them and waved them through, they slowly stepped into the Inner City.

Once inside the Inner City, the surrounding scene was a world apart from the Outer City.

Level roads, clean streets, and shops filled with a dazzling array of goods.

The pedestrians passing by were also completely different from those in the Outer City.

Most were dressed neatly in fabrics of at least decent quality.

Even the peddlers and the women leading their children looked relatively healthy and well-fed.

One could tell at a glance that they lived comfortable lives.

Seeing Li Yun scanning his surroundings, Zhuo Yong leaned in to strike up a conversation.

"So, don't you think the Outer City and Inner City are like heaven and earth?"

"The gap is indeed quite large." Li Yun nodded.

"Before, with our monthly stipends, if we saved carefully, it wouldn't have been a problem to scrape together enough for a small house with a courtyard in three or five years."

Zhuo Yong spat on the ground and lowered his voice:

"But once the war started in the south, those wealthy families flooded north like a tide, all squeezing in to buy property in the Inner City.

Now that housing prices are skyrocketing, buying a house is going to be difficult."

"Senior Brother, I only know that there is a war in the south.

But how exactly are they fighting?

Do you have any idea how chaotic the situation has become?"

Zhuo Yong scanned his surroundings, ensuring no one was paying attention:

"I can't say for sure; it's all just hearsay from those who fled here.

Rumor has it that in the Green Wind Prefecture to the south, a path called the Blood Blade Sect has emerged, stirring up trouble everywhere and leaving the region in complete turmoil."

Blood Blade Sect?

Li Yun muttered to himself:

The name reeks of a sinister, evil aura; it doesn't sound like a legitimate sect at all.

The Green Wind Prefecture is under the jurisdiction of the Prefecture City; are they just going to ignore such a massive disturbance?

Or are they already overwhelmed?

Perhaps one day, it will spread all the way to Crow Mountain City.

It seems I should head to the Bounty Pavilion when I have time.

Take on some missions and earn money.

I need to strengthen my power quickly.

Only when I am strong enough will I be able to stand firm and not be swept away by the chaos when the storm finally reaches our doorstep.