Looting Corpses, Wind and Rain Pavilion, Assassin Token

The Fifth Young Master glanced back, his terror mounting as the distance between them continued to shrink.

"Huang Haitao, what are you still standing there for?" the Fifth Young Master roared.

The only reason he had dared to act so brazenly in the Black Market, showing no fear of offending anyone, was not just because he saw that Lu Li was young, but primarily because he had Huang Haitao there to protect him.

Huang Haitao stepped out from the shadows, looking deeply reluctant.

As he looked at Lu Li and the tall, ferocious Hu Niu, his scalp went numb.

"Brother, could you perhaps show some mercy?" he asked, forcing himself to speak despite his fear.

He had no desire to reveal himself, but the Master had ordered him to ensure the Fifth Young Master's safety.

If anything were to happen to the Fifth Young Master, the Master would surely skin him alive!

Furthermore, the strength Lu Li had displayed was that of the Tendon-Refining Realm, the same as his own.

With White Tiger assisting from the side, he had absolutely no chance of winning.

He had already cursed the Fifth Young Master a thousand times over in his heart.

One had to realize that in Changfeng County, a Tendon-Refining Realm martial artist was considered an expert!

It would have been one thing to make an enemy for the Huang Family for no reason, but to drag himself into it as well?

Stupid as a pig!

To think he had been showing off his "experience in the underworld" in front of the man—it was truly laughable.

The man had been acting out of the confidence of someone who could crush them; did he really think he had bluffed it out of him?

Lu Li sneered, unaware of Huang Haitao's internal reaction.

He only knew that neither of them was a good person.

He spurred Hu Niu forward, charging ahead like a cannonball toward Huang Haitao.

Lu Li leaped into the air, unleashing a punch that descended from above.

With man and tiger working in tandem, Huang Haitao dared not take the blow head-on, barely managing to dodge Lu Li's fierce strike.

But Hu Niu was too fast to avoid; Huang Haitao was forced to take the hit, slamming a fist into her forehead.

It felt as if he had hammered against solid steel, the impact leaving his palm numb.

The bodies of demons were always notoriously tough.

Hu Niu slammed into him, sending him reeling backward as he spat blood.

Huang Haitao felt a piercing, heart-wrenching pain and gasped, his face twisting in agony.

That collision had shattered his ribs!

Had his cultivation been any lower, he might have died on the spot!

He realized there was no turning back now.

If he kept fighting, never mind the White Tiger or the Fifth Young Master, he wouldn't even be able to save his own life!

He turned his head, but the Fifth Young Master was nowhere to be seen.

The moment the fight had started, the coward had likely already fled, leaving him as nothing more than a sacrificial pawn.

He cursed inwardly and called out to Lu Li, "Brother, I concede."

"I am also a Tendon-Refining martial artist. Even with you and that tiger working together, you won't be able to kill me in a short time."

"Let me go, and go chase after that young master instead, how about that?"

Lu Li nodded indifferently.

His target was the Fifth Young Master, and he had no desire to get bogged down with Huang Haitao.

If he let the Fifth Young Master escape, today's trip would have been a total waste.

Seeing this, Huang Haitao felt a wave of relief and scrambled into the bushes to flee.

Lu Li remounted Hu Niu, and within moments, he had caught up to the Fifth Young Master.

The Fifth Young Master was leaning against a large tree, gasping for air.

He looked back to see the man and the tiger appearing, his face turning deathly pale.

A Tendon-Refining expert—could he not even hold out for a little longer, even when facing two opponents?

This proved that the enemy was even more powerful than he had imagined!

"Useless trash, to hold out for such a short time!"

He suppressed his panic, forcing his face to remain calm.

"I am the Fifth Young Master of the Huang Family. If my father finds out you killed me, he will absolutely avenge me."

"You cannot withstand the wrath of the Huang Family!"

"Let me go, and I will apologize for my recklessness today."

"Furthermore, everything I bought today shall be given to you as well!"

"It is better to resolve grievances than to harbor them; how about we become friends?"

"The Huang Family is currently recruiting martial artists. If you join us, the Huang Family will certainly treat you as an honored guest with generous compensation!"

"What do you say?"

Lu Li listened to the string of conditions he threw out, sneering incessantly.

Those in power only wish to control those beneath them.

Only when the subordinate becomes powerful do they earn the right to negotiate.

Even so, this Fifth Young Master still failed to grasp his own position.

"If I kill you, the items will still be mine!" Lu Li spat out coldly.

"If you kill me, my father will not let you off!" Hearing Lu Li's refusal to budge, the Fifth Young Master instantly became hysterical.

Lu Li took a step forward, his entire body exploding outward like a cannonball, whipping up rolling gusts of wind that sent dead branches and fallen leaves dancing through the air.

The Fifth Young Master was severely injured, and having exhausted himself in a desperate flight, he had no means of resistance left.

He could only watch helplessly as that fist rapidly enlarged before his eyes.

He could only stand there foolishly, his body stiff, waiting for death.

He truly never expected that he, the dignified Fifth Young Master of the Huang Family, would die in such a stifling manner!

With a squelch, the sound of a fist piercing flesh rang out.

Without the protection of blood energy, the Fifth Young Master was punched straight through the chest, flesh and blood splattering everywhere—a gruesome sight.

A wheezing sound like a broken bellows escaped his throat; he was drawing in air but not exhaling.

His eyes were filled with fury and resentment, his face twisted in humiliation.

"The person you kicked to death this morning probably didn't expect to be killed by you so easily either, did he?" Lu Li remarked with a faint, mocking tone.

"Who... exactly... are you?" The Fifth Young Master widened his eyes, struggling to speak.

Only that group of peasants knew about that matter!

But his gaze grew unfocused and his consciousness blurred; he was already hovering on the edge of death.

Lu Li withdrew his arm.

The Fifth Young Master sprayed another mouthful of blood, twitched a few times on the ground, and then ceased to breathe.

"I am merely a humble herb gatherer," Lu Li said softly.

Having said that, Lu Li quickly looted the corpse.

He took out the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist and the Fire God Pill that the Fifth Young Master had purchased at the Black Market.

Stripping off his outer garments, he also found a manual for a movement technique called Flying Swallow Step.

Only then did Lu Li stand up, satisfied.

Lu Li had noticed earlier that the Fifth Young Master was able to flee quickly, his footwork possessing a rhythmic quality that surely indicated he possessed a movement technique.

The fact that he had managed to slip away from under his and Huang Haitao's noses without making a sound was proof enough.

It was only because he hadn't mastered it well and didn't know how to conserve his stamina that he had been able to catch up.

As expected, he had found it.

Lu Li nodded in satisfaction and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, clear footsteps sounded from behind him.

A chill ran down Lu Li's spine, and he whirled around.

Hu Niu let out a hoarse, low growl, her tiger eyes flashing with a fierce light as she issued a threat.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense, the air turning stagnant.

Yet the newcomer was completely unfazed; the black cloth covering his face crinkled, as if he were smiling.

Lu Li braced himself as if facing a great enemy; this person had seen everything he had done, yet he hadn't noticed him at all.

He watched him vigilantly, noting his stout build, his night-traveling clothes stretched tight.

It was none other than the man in black who had sold him the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist!

When they first met, he had felt this person was extraordinary, a true expert.

And he was right!

What was this? Was he here to reclaim the martial arts he had sold?

To his surprise, the moment he spoke, Lu Li was caught off guard.

"Kid, you're not bad at all. Your strikes are ruthless and every move is lethal; you have the potential to be an assassin."

"I approve of you!"

His voice was chuckling and sounded quite amiable.

Without another word, he tossed a token directly to Lu Li.

Lu Li caught it and cast a glance at the surface, where the three crooked characters "Wind and Rain Pavilion" were inscribed.

A piece of paper was attached to the back.

The fat man in black introduced it: "The map is on the back; it records the location of the Wind and Rain Pavilion. Feel free to come by whenever you like."

"Oh, right, the Wind and Rain Pavilion is an assassin organization. Assassins are affiliated with the Wind and Rain Pavilion."

"By taking on missions, you can earn generous rewards."

The fat man began to entice him with a persuasive tone.

Lu Li's body tensed, his sharp gaze fixed intently on the fat man in black.

The fat man in black curled his lip: "Relax, I don't need whatever little things you have."

"Small change like that can be earned back at the Wind and Rain Pavilion at any time."

Hearing this, Lu Li felt a slight jolt in his heart.

Is the pay at this Wind and Rain Pavilion really that lucrative?

"Are you an assassin?" Lu Li asked in a deep voice.

"I already told you, the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist wasn't obtained through proper channels, so what do you think?" the fat man in black laughed.

Lu Li believed him a little more then, though he remained vigilant.

"The reason I called you over is because there is a generous reward for introducing new people."

"Once you join the Wind and Rain Pavilion, mention my name, Black Hawk, so I can get my reward. Don't you forget."

With that, he spread his arms, soared into the air, and vanished in an instant.

He was worthy of the name Black Hawk!

An expert! Lu Li thought to himself.