Zhang Yu, you were waiting for me, and I was waiting for you

"Uncle Yue, long time no see."

"My worthy nephew, you've come at just the right time. I just brewed a cup of tea aged for decades."

"Then I really did come at the right time."

Young Master Tang was very familiar with Yue Shan, and Lin Fan benefited from the connection, getting to taste the aged tea as well.

Young Master Tang explained why he had come, saying he wanted to learn the Body Tempering Art alongside Lin Fan. Yue Shan readily agreed and told Lin Fan to fetch Yang Kuan, instructing Yang Kuan to teach them well.

Without staying at Yue Shan's place much longer, the three of them arrived at Yang Kuan's training room.

Yang Kuan continued guiding Lin Fan in the Body Tempering Art, only now Young Master Tang was learning alongside him.

By dusk, Lin Fan could finally "barely" perform the entire Body Tempering Art once. Yang Kuan lavished praise on his exceptional talent; back when he had learned it, he had needed three days just to memorize all the movements.

That evening, Lin Fan practiced the Gang-Breaking Fist in the cultivation room, once again immersed in the joy of rapid improvement.

Gang-Breaking Fist (major accomplishment 780/1400)...780...880...980...1200.

When his progress reached 1200, Lin Fan stopped, then returned to his dormitory to get his money pouch.

Inner court disciples each had a room to themselves, and their living conditions were much better than in the outer court.

Carrying the enormous sum of three thousand taels, Lin Fan stepped out through the martial arts hall's gates. His destination was the black market, where he would buy a bone forging cultivation technique.

When Lin Fan disappeared into the darkness, an unusual glint flashed in the eyes of one of the disciples guarding the gates.

"I'm going to the toilet. I'll be right back." After saying this to the other disciple, he hurried away.

That disciple appeared outside a dormitory room and knocked. The door soon opened, revealing Zhang Yu's face.

"Senior Brother Zhang, Lin Fan just went out."

Zhang Yu's eyes shone brightly. "Good, good, good! Lin Fan, you actually dared to go out at night. You're courting death!" He took out a gold leaf and tossed it to the disciple at the door.

"Only heaven, earth, you, and I know about tonight. Understood?"

"Understood!"

Before long, Zhang Yu also left the martial arts hall, heading in the direction Lin Fan had taken.

Lin Fan walked leisurely down the street, in no hurry at all. He even ordered a bowl of noodles at a roadside stall.

Though he was eating noodles, he kept his eyes on the direction of the martial arts hall. When he saw Zhang Yu appear, a knowing smile spread across his face.

He stood and left at once, walking into the middle of the road so Zhang Yu could see him easily.

The bustling city center gradually receded behind him. By the time Lin Fan stepped into a dim alley, he had reached the southern outskirts. He put on the black-veiled bamboo hat he had bought along the way, then continued onward.

The lights grew sparser and his surroundings darker, while Lin Fan drew ever closer to the southern city gate.

This Zhang Yu really is patient. He still won't make a move? Should I just turn around and slaughter him? Lin Fan pondered silently, but after some thought, he abandoned the idea. Making his move near the black market would save him a great deal of trouble.

People died there every day. If Zhang Yu died there, the Mountain Suppression Martial Arts Hall would only assume he had been killed for his valuables and would not trace it back to him.

When Lin Fan was still several hundred meters from the southern city gate, he discovered an open stretch of land. There were no houses or crops, only ground covered in saber cuts, sword marks, palm prints, and traces of fist force, recording the great battles that had taken place there.

Could this be an empty stretch deliberately left for people to kill and rob each other? Lin Fan guessed.

He looked deeper into the clearing and could vaguely make out several figures, further confirming his guess.

His skill gave him courage, and Lin Fan strode straight in. After walking roughly forty-five meters, he discovered someone standing silently ahead.

Although the man wore a black-veiled bamboo hat that concealed his face, Lin Fan knew from his build alone that it was Zhang Yu.

At last, I've been waiting for you! Lin Fan silently began to sing.

The man looked toward him through the black veil. "Will you leave your money pouch, or your life?" His voice was hoarse, completely different from Zhang Yu's.

This fellow is pretty cautious. Afraid someone might stumble across us, he's even pretending to be a bandit, Lin Fan muttered to himself.

He did not expose Zhang Yu. The other man's act suited him perfectly.

"Get lost if you don't want to die!" Lin Fan barked coldly, likewise using his Qi and blood to alter his voice, making it sound aged.

The man visibly froze and studied Lin Fan carefully. After confirming he had not mistaken him for someone else, he lunged straight at him.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!" His tone was icy, brimming with killing intent.

Lin Fan stood with his hands behind his back, like a peerless master waiting for a prancing clown's challenge.

The man used no martial technique, charging straight up to Lin Fan before driving a heavy, powerful fist toward his face.

"Lin Fan, die!"

At that moment, Zhang Yu finally revealed his own voice, filled with smugness and arrogance.

Just as he thought victory was assured, he suddenly saw a palm rapidly grow larger in his vision. Before he could react to its speed, his neck was caught in a crushing grip.

The intense pain and suffocation nearly made him faint. He was utterly terrified, unable to understand why Lin Fan was so powerful. He even suspected he had mistaken him for someone else.

But he refused to simply wait for death. His gaze turned vicious, and he smashed his fist toward Lin Fan's face again.

But a faster, stronger fist slammed into his. He could clearly feel his finger bones shatter in an instant. Tremendous force traveled through his entire arm, and the whole limb burst apart.

The excruciating pain made him tremble all over. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. At that moment, he desperately wanted to beg for mercy, because he was absolutely certain he had mistaken this man for someone else. Lin Fan could not possibly be this strong.

But when the man gripping him spoke again, he felt boundless terror and despair.

"Zhang Yu, are you surprised?"

The familiar voice nearly sent his soul fleeing in terror. He could not believe that the lackey he thought he could toy with at will, the insignificant insect he could casually crush, was actually such a terrifying existence.

"Clack, clack, clack..."

Zhang Yu's teeth chattered wildly, his terror reaching its utmost limit.

"Heh..." Lin Fan smiled disdainfully. "You were waiting for me, but I was waiting for you too. Did you know? In my eyes, you've always been nothing but a prancing clown, an ant I could crush at will. Remember not to provoke me again in your next life. I'll soon send Li Feng down to keep you company. Wait for him on the road to the Yellow Springs."

With that, Lin Fan abruptly tightened his right hand and snapped Zhang Yu's neck. Then he tossed the corpse to the ground and viciously kicked its head.

Bang...

Like a watermelon bursting apart, Zhang Yu became a headless corpse.

Lin Fan searched Zhang Yu's body and took out his money pouch. Rubbing it lightly with his fingers, he knew it held gold leaves, but very few-only four or five, by his estimate.

"Broke bastard!"

Lin Fan cursed under his breath, then kicked Zhang Yu's corpse away once more.

He continued onward, sweeping his gaze over several spots. The prying gazes from those places instantly faded.

"What a pity. I was hoping to earn a little more." Lin Fan expressed his regret.

He reached the southern city gate without incident, then found the black market just as easily, because its lights were bright and conspicuous.

Is this really a black market? Shouldn't a black market be in the darkest corner? Looking at the black market, which was as lively as an ordinary street market, Lin Fan could scarcely find the words to complain.

Why was he certain this was the black market? Because the things the vendors sold were anything but ordinary.