Making His Move

Lu Li didn't leave right away.

He'd gone to the Black Market with some difficulty, hadn't finished looking around, and hadn't spent any money yet.

He hadn't found any martial arts manuals, but he might still come across something useful.

As he wandered around, a rich medicinal fragrance slipped into Lu Li's nose.

Lu Li sniffed. His lower abdomen grew unbearably hot, and he felt an urge to strike a stance and start practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist right then and there.

Following the source of the fragrance, he looked closely.

A stall up ahead was piled high with crimson pills.

It was the strong medicinal fragrance wafting from these pills that had drawn Lu Li over.

Lu Li walked up and asked, "Stall owner, what kind of pill is this?"

"This is a Fire God Pill. It's extremely effective and beneficial for martial artists breaking through from the Tendon-Refining Realm to the Organ-Refining Realm," the stall owner explained.

"One hundred and fifty taels of silver per pill. No haggling!"

"Miss this chance, and you won't get another."

"Pills of this grade are in short supply in Changfeng County."

"Now's your chance—don't let it slip away!"

Lu Li was indeed tempted.

He could clearly feel that although the potent medicines still had some medicinal power left, their effects had grown weaker as his cultivation advanced.

He needed stronger pills to greatly boost his proficiency.

Relying on those potent medicines alone was like trying to fill the ocean with a teacup.

"All right, I'll buy it," Lu Li replied.

He was about to pay when an ill-timed voice suddenly rang out. "This pill costs one hundred and fifty taels of silver, right?"

"I'll pay two hundred taels!"

A cold glint flashed in Lu Li's eyes.

He turned to look. Sure enough, it was the Fifth Young Master who had spoken.

He approached with his hands behind his back, eyeing the pill with an air of complete confidence.

"Pills that can help martial artists in the Tendon-Refining Realm are in short supply in Changfeng County. Now that one has appeared, how could I let it pass me by?"

Lu Li gave the Fifth Young Master a long look, then turned and left.

There was no helping it. His purse was too empty; even scraping together every last coin, he could only manage one hundred and eighty taels.

The Fifth Young Master had thrown down two hundred taels just like that. He was loaded.

Of course, more importantly, Lu Li was going to rob him later. Let him buy the pill if he wanted.

He'd make sure the Fifth Young Master coughed it all back up, untouched!

Lu Li's murderous intent had been growing stronger by the day.

The Fifth Young Master relied on his illustrious background to throw his weight around. He'd forced everyone to stop practicing that morning to look for his beloved dog, and he'd personally picked a fight with Lu Li twice.

The Fifth Young Master had already made Lu Li's must-die list!

Soon, Lu Li had finished circling the Black Market. With nothing left to buy, he turned his attention to the young master.

The Fifth Young Master wandered around too, apparently finding nothing that caught his eye. He turned toward the exit, leading Wind-Chaser by the leash.

Lu Li followed close behind.

After roughly a quarter of an hour, they came to a secluded spot.

Trees towered all around, making the already bleak winter night seem even more sinister.

A gust of north wind swept through, and the branches swayed and rustled.

They sounded like ghosts whispering, sending chills down the spine.

"Come out. I know you're there." The Fifth Young Master suddenly stopped and turned around.

His head was still held high, his face full of arrogant defiance.

Crouched behind a thicket, Lu Li was startled when he heard this.

He thought that, for all his spoiled ways, the young master did have some ability.

He stood up without hesitation and faced the Fifth Young Master.

But the Fifth Young Master's lips curled into a mocking sneer. "Hahaha! Just as I thought—you're young and can't keep your cool."

"From your face, I could tell you were young, so I guessed you'd follow me."

"I was only guessing. I never expected you to actually show yourself. You really are a fool."

The Fifth Young Master clasped his hands behind his back, his tone full of mockery.

He thought even less of Lu Li now.

This proved that the other man was young.

And being young meant he lacked strength.

If he lacked strength, then the Fifth Young Master could easily handle him!

Lu Li nodded in realization. "So that's how it is."

Then he glanced around. The clearing was open, and the trees stood far apart.

So he copied the Fifth Young Master, putting on an arrogant expression of his own. "Then do you know why I showed up?"

The Fifth Young Master curled his lip in disdain. "Obviously, because you're an idiot!"

Lu Li shook his head and looked at the Fifth Young Master as if he were already dead. "Aside from the fact that you really did trick me into coming out..."

Lu Li's eyes suddenly turned icy, his killing intent swelling until the air around them seemed to freeze.

"This is also the place I picked for your grave!"

With that, Lu Li set off at a run, charging at the Fifth Young Master.

"You're asking for death!"

Seeing Lu Li dare to make the first move, the Fifth Young Master was enraged, feeling that his dignity had been challenged.

A mere young bull, ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth!

He stirred his blood and qi. His skin grew taut, and his muscles bulged.

His punch cut through the air with a sharp whistle.

He might have been spoiled, but he still came from a lineage, and that had given him impressive martial skills at a young age.

He sneered, already picturing himself sending Lu Li flying with one punch.

He meant to teach this fool who didn't know his place a lesson he'd never forget!

But then he saw Lu Li's muscles ripple too, revealing the powerful physique of someone in the Flesh-Refining Realm.

And Lu Li's sinews were taut. As he bent his arm and prepared to punch, they gave a crack like a bowstring being drawn.

The Fifth Young Master's face went pale with terror!

Those signs meant his opponent was in the Tendon-Refining Realm. How was that possible?!

His pupils shook, disbelief written across his face, and his mindset changed in an instant.

Lu Li swung his arm and punched. His sinews quivered, unleashing nearly four thousand jin of force in a rapid series of sonic booms.

His fist wind howled as a fierce attack bore down on the Fifth Young Master.

The wind whipped his beard and hair, revealing his stunned face in full.

With a thunderous crash, the Fifth Young Master's punching arm cracked apart. He was sent flying and slammed into a tree trunk in the distance.

The tremendous force made even the trunk shudder violently, nearly bending it in half.

The Fifth Young Master spat out a mouthful of blood. His energy instantly faded; his face turned deathly pale, and his whole body trembled.

Cold sweat poured down his forehead. It was hard to tell whether he was terrified by Lu Li's strength or overwhelmed by the pain of his ruined arm.

"Wind-Chaser, get him!" he shouted, forcing himself through the pain. Then, clutching his arm, he quickly fled.

Wind-Chaser snarled, its vicious eyes flashing as it bared its fangs and lunged at Lu Li.

Just then, an ear-splitting tiger's roar rang through the forest.

A huge White Tiger sprang out of the darkness, jaws gaping wide.

The vicious dog Wind-Chaser's eyes instantly cleared. It tucked its tail between its legs and stood rooted to the spot in terror.

Hu Niu bit down on its neck.

Wind-Chaser howled and kicked wildly with all four legs, but it couldn't break free.

A crisp crack rang out as Hu Niu bit through its neck.

"He actually used his beloved dog as bait. The Fifth Young Master really is vicious!" Lu Li glanced at Wind-Chaser's corpse and sneered to himself.

"After him!" Lu Li leaped onto Hu Niu's back.

Hu Niu broke into a run, racing like the wind as the surrounding scenery blurred past.

Before long, they caught up with the Fifth Young Master, who was fleeing on foot.