Tang San's Death???

Soul Hunting Forest.

Yang Ming stepped onto several layers of fallen leaves and realized he was lost. Looking around, he saw nothing but towering trees in every direction. No matter which way he went, it all looked the same.

For a fledgling entering the Soul Hunting Forest for the first time, without an experienced guide, getting lost, running short of food, or exhausting their fresh water could easily leave them unable to move. Soon after, they would be killed by Soul Beasts and turned into food.

Every so often, Yang Ming took out the Mysterious Sword and left a mark on a tree trunk to avoid retracing his steps.

He looked up at the unchanging scenery ahead and pursed his lips. It made him realize something: Martial Souls, Soul Rings, and soul skills needed more than just direct combat power. They also needed some supportive abilities. Otherwise, if he encountered this situation again someday, he would be completely helpless.

Just then.

"Ah—"

An utterly miserable scream suddenly came from thirty degrees to the left.

Yang Ming halted. The scream had sounded strangely familiar. After thinking it over carefully, his expression changed.

That was Tang San's voice!

Could he have run into some trouble?

Yang Ming's gaze flickered. He knew Tang San's strength well. Even against weaker Spirit Masters, Tang San could handle them with ease thanks to the Tang Sect's inheritance. Even when facing powerful Spirit Masters, he could still escape using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

For Tang San to let out such a scream, the enemy had to be very strong—at least a Soul Grandmaster!

Should he save him?

Or not?

The question circled through Yang Ming's mind only once before he had his answer.

Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Yang Ming turned into a black shadow and raced toward Tang San.

Closer.

Closer still.

Besides the forest's fresh scent, a faint smell of blood began to permeate the air.

How much blood had been spilled for the stench to carry this far?

Yang Ming's pupils suddenly contracted. Terrifying blood-red light burst from his eyes as the Three-Tomoe spun rapidly, revealing his inner turmoil.

"Third Brother, you mustn't let anything happen to you."

Yang Ming's speed increased sharply. If Tang San had been here, he would have cried out in disbelief. This speed utterly surpassed his own.

After passing through layer upon layer of trees, the view suddenly opened up. Three figures appeared in Yang Ming's sight.

Two tattooed men stood with their hands on their hips, laughing and taunting a mangled, bloodied boy in front of them.

At that moment, Tang San was in an extremely perilous situation.

Ninety-nine Thorns bound Tang San's limbs and torso. Thumb-sized barbs pierced his skin, easily leaving dense bloody holes across his body. As the Thorns continued tightening inward and compressing his chest, he struggled to breathe. His swollen, battered face was flushed red like a blood-red tomato, a shocking sight to behold!

The short Wang Zhong pointed at Tang San's nose and cursed, "You brat really are tough. Even after we tortured you like this, you still won't tell us where that boy with you went. You're asking to die!"

As he spoke, the short Wang Zhong gripped a thorny whip and instinctively prepared to lash Tang San again.

However,

At the next moment, something sliced through the air beside him.

"Watch out!"

The tall Li Ren shouted, raising his arm to block the rapidly incoming black shadow and shielding his companion from disaster.

Clang!

A leaf drooped weakly to the ground. Li Ren focused his eyes and saw Yang Ming emerge from the depths of the forest in the direction from which the leaf projectile had flown, terrifying murderous bloodlight shining in his pupils.

From the two men's conversation, Yang Ming had roughly guessed what had happened. They had tortured Tang San in an attempt to force him to reveal Yang Ming's whereabouts, but failed every time. Otherwise, Tang San would not have suffered such horrifying injuries and been reduced to the brink of death.

Looking at the unfamiliar faces of Li Ren and Wang Zhong, Yang Ming's mind raced as he asked coldly, "Were you sent by Su Yuntao?"

After thinking it over, Yang Ming could only conclude that Su Yuntao, whom he had recently offended, had the motive to attack him.

"Who the hell is Su Yuntao? What kind of nobody is he, thinking he can order us around?"

The tall Li Ren rolled his wrist. His Maitreya Buddha-like fat face was filled with savage malice as he walked toward Yang Ming step by step.

"You're the descendant of that traitor from the organization, aren't you? We've searched long and hard for you. Come over and die obediently, and we might let you have a peaceful death."

Organization?

A traitor's descendant?

Yang Ming's heart skipped a beat as he recalled his origins. Old Jack had adopted him from the moment he was born and raised him like his own grandson. Yet whenever Yang Ming asked where his parents were, Old Jack always dodged the question and never answered directly.

Could it be...

Yang Ming fixed his eyes on Li Ren as he approached with a vicious grin. Meaningless tattoos were branded onto Li Ren's bare arms. Two yellow Soul Rings rose and fell around his feet. Together with the fluctuations of Soul Power around him, it was obvious that he was a level-thirty Soul Grandmaster!

Yang Ming glanced at the short Wang Zhong, who stood waiting silently in the rear, and his heart sank.

Two level-thirty Soul Grandmasters!

As Li Ren charged over with a cruel grin at a relatively slow pace, Yang Ming's eyes flashed. Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he slipped past Li Ren like a slick loach. Then his speed surged, leaving only a black shadow as he lunged toward Tang San.

"Little brat, do you take me for invisible?"

With his sharp features and monkey-like face, Wang Zhong let out a piercing cry. The Thorns in his hand lashed toward Yang Ming like an iron whip.

Yang Ming swayed from side to side, intending to evade with his agile footwork.

But Wang Zhong's lips curled into a cold smile. The Thorns in his hand seemed to come alive, turning in midair like a venomous snake and refusing to let go.

Golden light gathered in Yang Ming's right palm. As a cold gleam reflected in his eyes, the sharp edge of the Mysterious Sword sliced through the Thorns as easily as cutting vegetables.

The cold smile on Wang Zhong's face froze. Before he could react, Yang Ming pounced using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, the strange weapon in his hand glittering with cold light as it slashed toward him, ready to cut him in half.

Wang Zhong had already witnessed the weapon's sharpness. A Thorn wrapped around his waist and yanked him backward, allowing him to narrowly avoid the blade.

Yang Ming held the sword and cut through the Thorns binding Tang San. Looking at Tang San's mangled, nearly unrecognizable face and his grievously wounded body on the verge of death, Yang Ming felt as though a massive stone weighed upon his chest.

"Third Brother."

Yang Ming's call seemed to stir Tang San's will to survive.

Tang San struggled to lift his heavy eyelids. Through his blurred vision, he saw Yang Ming's outline, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Yang... Yang Ming... I... I didn't betray you."

(Fourth update. An extra chapter for a total of 1,000 book coins in rewards. Thanks again for Ye's reward.)

(I was browsing Qidian today and discovered that three readers had sent rewards. I'm sorry I didn't thank you earlier; since this is a Chuangshi book, the backend didn't show it. Many thanks to all three of you.)