[Comprehension: 21]
[Bone Root: 39]
[Cultivation: None]
[Techniques: Turtle-Snake Great Stance · Beginner (72/100) / Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist · Beginner (119/150)]
[Skill: Mining lv.3 (283/400)]
[Remaining Lifespan: 57]
[Martial Dao Longevity Points: 0]
After half a month of hard training, the results were impressive, and Xu Yang was very satisfied.
The points he'd accumulated over the past half month had already raised his Bone Root to 39. In a few more days, it would reach 40.
By then, his Bone Root should enter the Grade B range, putting him on the same level as Lu Ren.
With the money he'd obtained from the Tri-Union Gang, the progress of his Turtle-Snake Great Stance had also picked up. He'd have no trouble reaching the First Martial Barrier this month.
Nothing unexpected had happened over the past half month, either. The Tri-Union Gang hadn't sent anyone to take up residence at the hall again, and those collecting the safety fees came straight from the main altar.
"Senior Brother Xu!"
Qiu Wenjie walked over just then.
"Shouldn't you be practicing? What are you doing here? Your father entrusted me with keeping an eye on you." Xu Yang stopped practicing the Turtle-Snake Great Stance.
Qiu Wenjie pointed at the entrance to Wei Yuan Hall. "Xue Fangsheng is back. He's alone."
Xu Yang looked toward the entrance. Sure enough, Xue Fangsheng was there, but Zhang Yong and the others who had gone into the mountains with him to hunt Exotic Beasts were nowhere to be seen.
Something's happened! Xu Yang's heart sank.
If he hadn't had the Status Panel, he probably would've gone into the mountains with Zhang Yong and the others to take his chances. He hadn't been wrong: there was something off about Xue Fangsheng.
But how could he dare to kill all seven of them?
"Why wouldn't he? You're all nobodies with no backing. Unless the Huang Family steps in, do you think your families would dare provoke a Qi-Gathering Martial Artist?
"There are plenty of people in the Outer Courtyard. That's exactly why he singled out you few. Good thing you turned him down back then."
Qiu Wenjie sneered.
Plenty of people in the Outer Courtyard knew something was wrong with Xue Fangsheng, but hardly anyone would offend a Qi-Gathering Martial Artist for a few unrelated country bumpkins.
"Senior Brother Xue, where are Luo Dehu and the others?"
Lu Ren strode over and blocked Xue Fangsheng's path. He'd realized something was wrong, too.
"I'm not their father. Why are you asking me?" Xue Fangsheng didn't bother showing Lu Ren any respect.
Lu Ren was a genius, but he still hadn't succeeded in gathering qi. Until he did, there was always a chance he'd fail.
And even if Lu Ren succeeded in gathering qi, so what? From the moment Xue Fangsheng set his sights on Luo Dehu and the others, he'd already taken Lu Ren into account.
With what he'd gained this time, he might even be able to undergo Marrow Cleansing someday.
"You..."
Lu Ren was at a loss for words. "Aren't you afraid Master will hold you accountable for this?"
"Junior Brother Lu, tell me plainly. What did I do?" Xue Fangsheng sneered.
No one even knew what had happened. How could anyone hold him accountable?
Besides, if Lin Cheng meddled in this kind of nonsense, would Xue Fangsheng have done it?
He hadn't expected Lu Ren to remain so naïve after all this time, still treating Lin Cheng as his master and believing they were all loving brothers.
Sun Tao was standing not far away, and he hadn't intervened either.
For a moment, Lu Ren couldn't say another word.
"What did you do? You beast! You used us as bait for the Exotic Beasts. You really thought we'd all be dead?"
Xue Fangsheng's expression shifted slightly. He turned around and saw Luo Dehu walk into Wei Yuan Hall, his clothes in tatters and his face covered in bloody scratches from branches.
Zhang Yong, Zhang Hong, and Qian Jiaxing appeared right behind him.
All four had been hurt to varying degrees, but none of the injuries were serious—just scrapes and the like.
Their eyes burned with unbridled fury toward Xue Fangsheng.
"You beast! You waited outside the mountain for a whole day, trying to kill us all and silence us. Luckily, we hid."
Qian Jiaxing's eyes were bloodshot. He no longer had the swagger he'd shown when he came back last time.
Xue Fangsheng's expression didn't change. Instead, he put on a look of deep distress. "Junior Brother Qian, you really don't know a good person when you see one. I was worried something had happened to you, so I waited outside the mountain for a whole day, without food or water.
"Now that I see you're safe, I can finally rest easy."
At his words, Zhang Yong and the others were so furious their eyes nearly spat fire. Xue Fangsheng had tried to kill them and silence them, yet he was making it sound like he'd been looking out for them.
"You beast! You got Tang Ruiyang and Yang Dacai killed. You're not human!"
Even if Luo Dehu couldn't do anything to Xue Fangsheng, he'd make sure everyone heard what had happened and ruin Xue Fangsheng's reputation for good.
Yet hardly anyone felt sorry for them. Whose fault was it that they were so stupid?
Did they really think they were the chosen ones, with good fortune falling from the sky? Why would a Qi-Gathering Martial Artist kindly take them along to make money if he didn't want anything from them?
"They were killed by an Exotic Beast. Don't try to pin that on me," Xue Fangsheng said, utterly unconcerned.
He'd considered the consequences before doing any of this.
"Cut the crap. Hand over the money we're owed, or we'll all go confront Master." Zhang Yong spoke coldly.
They'd settle today's grudge once they became martial artists. For now, getting the money was what mattered.
"Right. Hand over our thirty percent."
Zhang Hong, Luo Dehu, and Qian Jiaxing all chimed in.
"What money are you talking about? That tiger was right on my heels. I didn't bring anything back."
Xue Fangsheng didn't want to give up what he'd pocketed. He hadn't expected Zhang Yong and the others to catch on so quickly and hide instead of showing themselves, even knowing he'd be waiting outside to kill them. He'd thought they were all dead before he finally left.
Zhang Hong snapped, "You think we didn't see you carrying that Exotic Beast off to sell?"
Xue Fangsheng's gaze darkened. He hadn't expected those lackeys to have been following him in secret the whole time.
Sun Tao walked over, his eyes warning Xue Fangsheng. "Junior Brother Xue, leave what happened in the mountains out of the martial arts school. If this gets in front of Master, you know what he's like."
What he meant was: if you're going to do something, cover your tracks. Now that you've failed to cover them and brought trouble to the martial arts school, Master will have to step in for the school's reputation, even if he'd rather not get involved.
Reluctantly, Xue Fangsheng handed over the money that was owed to Zhang Yong and the others. As for the three dead men, it wasn't his concern whether Zhang Yong and his companions shared their portions.
He glared viciously at Zhang Yong and the others for a while before leaving.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Sun!"
Zhang Yong and the others bowed deeply to Sun Tao. Without Sun Tao stepping in, it wouldn't have been easy to get their money.
"Watch yourselves."
Sun Tao shook his head and turned to leave. He hadn't wanted to get involved, but since it had happened at the martial arts school, he had no choice but to step in.
The crowd dispersed, leaving only Zhang Yong and the others.
"What do we do now?" Luo Dehu asked with a bitter smile.
They'd gotten the money, but judging by the look Xue Fangsheng had given them before leaving, he definitely wouldn't let them go. A Qi-Gathering Martial Artist wouldn't have to exert much effort to kill them.
"We were blinded by greed. We should've listened to Xu Yang back then," Zhang Hong sighed.
Thinking it over now, Xu Yang had seen things clearly. They were still alive for the moment, but Xue Fangsheng would strike as soon as he got the chance.
"He's no good either. If he knew Xue Fangsheng had bad intentions, why didn't he warn us?" Luo Dehu had actually begun to resent Xu Yang.
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