A Way to Break the Deadlock

The young man in purple gave a sheepish chuckle. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself. These pastries smelled too good, so I ate one. Master Li, please don't be angry."

The room went still. The gaunt young man froze for a beat, then drew his saber and slashed.

But the young man in purple moved faster. In an instant, he closed the distance and struck the man's chest with his palm. The man grunted, smashed through the window, and fell to the street below.

Li Wantao stared at the young man in purple. He did not attack at once, but a surging killing intent had already risen from him.

"Who are you?"

He had only just entered Prefectural City, yet someone had already uncovered his identity and found his location. He began to wonder whether there was a traitor among his own people.

The young man in purple chuckled, sat down opposite Li Wantao, and popped another mung bean pastry into his mouth.

"Master Li, my name's Lin Siming. Ever heard of me?"

Li Wantao said nothing. His killing intent grew stronger.

"Never heard of me? Fair enough. I came today to ask you a favor. Sorry for the trouble, but could you cut off your head? I'd like to use it to earn myself a promotion and a fortune." Lin Siming spoke indistinctly around the mung bean pastry he was chewing.

Before the words had faded, Li Wantao threw a punch, purple qi coiling around his fist. Lin Siming punched at the same time. Their fists collided, purple and azure qi clashing fiercely. Rings of invisible force spread outward from the two men, reducing everything in their path to dust.

After a brief struggle, both men sprang backward. Li Wantao used the force to leap out the window, while Lin