A Ruthless Hero: Yang Zhenshan!

"After taking something from the Yang Family, you think you can just leave?" Yang Zhenshan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm.

Yang Yueshan halted, sneering inwardly, though he kept his voice low. "Yang Zhenshan, move aside. I won't hurt you."

Yang Zhenshan looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Won't hurt me?" he said. "Fine."

Seeing that indescribable meaning in his smile, Yang Yueshan could not help feeling uneasy.

Yang Zhenshan raised a hand, spiritual power gathering in his palm.

Yang Yueshan's gaze sharpened. He stopped wasting words and struck according to the plan.

The two instantly clashed.

Fists and palms collided, and shockwaves exploded. The bluestone slabs before the study shattered inch by inch.

After failing to land a blow, the two figures abruptly soared into the air.

One black, one white, like the sun and moon colliding. Shockwaves erupted with a roar, wild winds swept backward, and two dazzlingly brilliant trails of light constantly crossed in the sky.

After the collision, the two landed lightly atop the tiled roofs in the rear courtyard.

The instant their eyes met, they charged and exchanged blows again at blinding speed.

Force energy scattered through the air, and the battle spread to the ground. Even the decorative rockery in the rear courtyard was shattered by fist intent and palm intent, revealing a downward underground passage.

Yang Yuanshan, coughing blood nearby, was horrified at the sight.

Ignoring the nonstop crackling crashes above his head, he hurried forward and used brute force to cover the passage with a massive boulder.

Meanwhile, Yang Yueshan grew more alarmed the longer they fought.

Yang Zhenshan was far stronger than he had imagined.

He had just attacked with everything he had. The two already had grievances between them, so this was the perfect chance to give Yang Zhenshan a vicious beating.

Yet every one of Yang Zhenshan's palms sealed off his attacks with flawless precision, while every punch forced him to respond with all his strength.

A sense of foreboding welled up in Yang Yueshan's heart.

But he had no time to think.

Yang Zhenshan suddenly retreated, opening a distance of thirty feet between them.

"That's about enough," Yang Zhenshan said flatly.

Yang Yueshan froze, thinking the act had gone on long enough and Yang Zhenshan was letting him leave.

Yang Zhenshan formed hand seals, and spiritual power surged wildly around him.

A terrifying aura rose from his body and shot straight into the heavens.

Its force was so powerful that the entire Yang Residence trembled faintly.

At the same time.

City Lord's Manor.

Yao Qing was reviewing official documents in his study.

Suddenly, the brush in his hand paused.

Two powerful auras shot into the sky from the north of the city. One was rising rapidly, and its pressure made even him, at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, feel his heart palpitate.

Yao Qing abruptly rose to his feet and looked toward the north of the city.

"This is... Yang Zhenshan?"

His figure flashed, and he vanished from the study.

Wang Residence.

Wang Tiannan was admiring the moon with his concubine in the rear courtyard.

The instant that aura reached him, the smile on his face stiffened.

Peak eighth-layer Qi Refining? Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement...

What level of strength was this? It was already beyond what someone at early ninth-layer Qi Refining like him could sense.

Wang Tiannan's expression changed drastically. He shoved his concubine aside and leaped onto the roof.

"Yang Zhenshan..."

He gritted his teeth and darted toward the north of the city.

Zhao Residence.

Zhao Dezhu was having dinner, holding a piece of meat in his chopsticks, not yet having brought it to his mouth.

The instant that aura pressed down, the meat in his chopsticks fell onto the table.

Peak eighth-layer Qi Refining? Who was that?

The other, even stronger aura... Yang Zhenshan?

That direction...

It could only be Yang Zhenshan!

Zhao Dezhu's face turned pale. He shot to his feet, knocking over the bowls and plates before him.

"Master!" a servant cried out in alarm.

Zhao Dezhu ignored him. His figure flashed, and he disappeared into the night.

Li Residence.

Li Yuanba was checking accounts in a secret chamber.

The instant that aura arrived, the account book in his hand fell to the ground.

He was stunned for a moment, then reacted, rushed out of the secret chamber, and leaped onto the roof.

To the north of the city, two auras were colliding fiercely. One of them was gathering strength, its pressure growing stronger and more terrifying by the moment.

Li Yuanba drew a deep breath and sped toward the north of the city.

Yang Residence, rear courtyard.

Four figures swept in from different directions almost simultaneously, landing on the courtyard walls and rooftops.

Yao Qing stood with his hands behind his back on the highest roof ridge, his gaze fixed tightly on the two people facing each other in the courtyard.

Wang Tiannan landed on the eastern wall, his expression gloomy.

Zhao Dezhu landed on the western eaves, shock in his eyes.

Li Yuanba landed on the southern courtyard wall, his gaze flickering.

No one spoke.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Yang Zhenshan.

Because at that moment, an enormous sword light was gathering above Yang Zhenshan's head.

The sword light was thirty feet long, radiating blinding white light throughout. The air around its blade was torn apart, producing sharp hissing sounds.

Terrifying pressure radiated from the sword light, pressing down until the entire courtyard seemed frozen solid.

Yao Qing's pupils constricted slightly.

This pressure had already surpassed the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.

Wang Tiannan's face turned livid, and his clenched fists cracked loudly.

Yang Zhenshan had hidden his strength?

Zhao Dezhu's face was white as paper, his body trembling faintly.

If that sword light were to fall upon him...

He did not dare imagine it.

The man in black stood in the courtyard, looking up at that sword light with terror filling his eyes.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, yet no words came out.

He recognized this move.

It was the very martial skill he had stolen—the Mountains and Rivers Sword Seal, a high-grade Profound-rank martial skill passed down solely through the Yang Family head.

When he was young, he had seen his father use this move to kill an opponent a full realm higher.

That had been over thirty years ago.

He had never expected that, after more than thirty years, he would see this move again—and that it would be used against him.

Nor had he expected Yang Zhenshan to master the Mountains and Rivers Sword Seal to the perfected realm in a mere ten years!

Wasn't this supposed to be an act?

Weren't they only supposed to put on a show?

He wanted to shout, wanted to reveal the truth, but it was already too late.

The sword light had formed.

Yang Zhenshan raised his hand and swept it down.

The sword light fell.

In that instant, the entire rear courtyard was illuminated as brightly as day.

Where the sword light passed, the air was torn apart. A deep ravine was plowed into the ground, shattered stones flew everywhere, and dust billowed into the air.

The man in black wanted to dodge, but the sword light was too fast—so fast that he had no time to react.

He could only raise both hands, trying to block it head-on.

The sword light came down.

"Pfft..."

A dull sound rang out.

The black-clothed man's hands were severed at the wrists. The sword light did not slow in the slightest and cleaved directly toward his chest.

His body flew backward, crashing through the study wall and falling into the ruins.

Blood splattered across the ground.

But that strike had been too fast, too ruthless. He did not die at once.

The man in black lay amid the rubble. No one knew where the lower half of his body had flown, while blood and entrails poured from his abdomen.

He raised his head and stared fixedly at Yang Zhenshan. His lips trembled as he exhausted his final strength to spit out four words:

"You... deceived me..."

His voice was not loud, but in the silent courtyard, everyone heard it clearly.

Yang Zhenshan stood where he was, looking at him without a trace of expression on his face.

He slowly walked over, crouched down, and reached out to remove the corpse's mask.

Beneath the mask was a familiar face.

Yang Yueshan.

The corpse's eyes were wide open, its face filled with disbelief, as though he could not believe this had happened even in death.

At that moment, Yang Zhenshan put on an exaggerated look of shock and staggered back several steps. Yet his footing remained remarkably steady, even kicking away several fallen blue bricks before finally dropping into a crouched sitting position on the shattered ground.

"B-Big Brother?!"

"How could it be my big brother?!"

The entire scene fell deathly silent.

Only the fire burning through the wood crackled, its light shining over the courtyard's utter devastation.

Yao Qing's gaze fell on the corpse, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Wang Tiannan, Zhao Dezhu, and Li Yuanba all drew deep breaths, suppressing the shock in their hearts.

Yang Yueshan.

The Yang Family's Great Elder.

Peak eighth-layer Qi Refining.

He had died just like that?

Slain by Yang Zhenshan with a single sword strike?

And besides...

What did "You... deceived me..." mean?

The same question flashed through everyone's minds.

But no one dared ask.

After a long while, Yang Zhenshan stood up, reined in his emotions, and stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless.

"Thank you all for coming to lend your support. Now that the matter has been resolved, please return!"

The night wind swept past, carrying a thick scent of blood.

Yao Qing pondered for a moment before speaking in an even voice. "Family Head Yang, this is..."

Yang Zhenshan looked at him and clasped his fists, his tone calm.

"An assassin broke into the residence tonight, injured my brother, burned my rear courtyard, and stole my martial skill. I have already slain him."

Yao Qing's gaze fell upon the corpse.

"The assassin was..."

Yang Zhenshan was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Yang Yueshan."

Those three words exploded beside everyone's ears like thunder.

Although they had already seen the face, hearing Yang Zhenshan say it aloud still sent a jolt through their hearts.

The Yang Family's Great Elder had become an assassin?

Yao Qing was silent for several seconds, then nodded.

"An assassin broke into a residence to commit murder, and the family head killed him while defending the estate. It is only natural." He paused. "City Lord's Manor will place this matter on record. Family Head Yang, there is no need to worry."

Yang Zhenshan clasped his fists. "Thank you, City Lord."

Yao Qing gave him one look without saying anything further. His figure flashed, and he disappeared into the night.

Wang Tiannan's expression shifted endlessly as a deep wariness rose in his heart. Yang Zhenshan had even killed his own elder brother—what else would he not dare do?

Afterward, just as he was about to leave, his gaze casually swept over a massive boulder in the courtyard.

There had originally been an artificial rockery there. After the aftershocks from the two men's clash had shattered it, a downward tunnel entrance had been exposed, but Yang Yuanshan had later covered it with this boulder.

But now, the boulder had been shoved aside slightly by the force of the sword.

From where Wang Tiannan stood, he could see a pitch-black opening about a meter wide.

Wang Tiannan's eyes narrowed slightly as he stared fixedly at the entrance. His thoughts spun at lightning speed, yet in the end, he still could not determine what the underground tunnel was for.

With suspicion in his heart, he turned and flashed away.

Zhao Dezhu was filled with dread, his face slightly pale. After glancing at Yang Zhenshan, he hurriedly departed.

Li Yuanba left last. He glanced at Yang Zhenshan, his gaze complicated, then vanished in a flash.

The courtyard fell silent once more.

Only the flames still burned, occasionally crackling and popping.

Yang Zhenshan stood where he was, staring at the corpse in silence for a long time.

Yang Yuanshan had long since been stunned senseless by the scene. It was as though he found it utterly unbelievable, and he had stood rooted to the spot since earlier.

His eldest brother had been killed by his second brother!

No one in the world knew the truth, but he did.

This had only been an act!

A show the few of them had agreed upon two days ago.

How had it turned out like this?

How could his second brother's heart be so hard?

Yang Zhenshan turned and saw Yang Yuanshan, then walked over to him.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan, Yang Yuanshan slowly came back to himself and said in a low voice, "Second Brother... Eldest Brother, he..."

Yang Zhenshan raised a hand and cut him off.

"Don't overthink it." He said indifferently, "Eldest Brother died for the Yang Family's future. He died where he should have!"

Having said that, Yang Zhenshan passed Yang Yuanshan and gave an order to the steward behind them.

"Give him a proper burial." He said flatly, "Tell the outside world that the First Elder died defending the manor."

The steward froze for a moment, then cupped his fists. "Yes."

Yang Zhenshan turned and walked toward the main hall step by step.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at the corpse.

Yang Yueshan's eyes were still open, staring stubbornly at the night sky, as though he had died with his eyes unclosed.

Yang Zhenshan withdrew his gaze and strode away.

The night wind swept through, carrying a wave of bloodstink that quickly scattered into the darkness.