The Zhu Family.

"Tiger-Form Crane-Style?"

"So it was the Tiger-Form Crane-Style!"

Elder Wu’s breathing grew heavy. He finally understood the Iron Saber Gang’s true reason for insisting on investigating Bai Yuan.

It had cost him a great deal, but he had finally learned the truth from an Iron Saber Gang Elder.

What was the Tiger-Form Crane-Style?

It was a top-tier Cultivation Technique even within the Divine Mansion Sect. Having spent many years in Huanglong Prefecture, he naturally understood its significance.

If he could obtain the Tiger-Form Crane-Style, he might even be able to advance and become a Strong Internal Martial Master.

’This brat must die!’

Elder Wu secretly made his decision.

Bai Yuan might not have obtained the Tiger-Form Crane-Style, but as long as there was even a sliver of a chance, he wouldn’t give up. A High-level Technique from the Divine Mansion Sect was enough to drive any Martial Artist mad.

As for the Huwei Arts Hall?

If he offended them, so be it. At worst, he could just flee Qinghe County. He couldn’t care less what happened to the Zhu Family afterward.

He considered his debt of gratitude to the Zhu Family repaid.

...

"Brother Yuan, since when did you take up snake-raising as a hobby?"

Xiao Qiaoniang looked at Bai Yuan, her face full of curiosity.

Bai Yuan was happily teasing the Little Cyan Snake with his hand.

After being fed several Small Pills, the Little Cyan Snake, though still only as thick as a hemp rope, was in much better condition. At least it now had the energy to move around every day.

Perhaps the Demon Taming Pills were truly working. The Little Cyan Snake showed no hostility toward Bai Yuan at all; in fact, it seemed naturally drawn to him.

"This isn’t an ordinary snake. It’s a Snake Demon."

Hearing Bai Yuan’s words, Xiao Qiaoniang couldn’t help but lean in closer, her eyes filled with surprise.

It was the first time she had ever seen a demon.

She knew Bai Yuan’s personality; he wasn’t joking. No matter what he did, she would find it normal and trust him unconditionally.

"Her name is Xiaoqing."

Bai Yuan said as he continued to tease the Little Cyan Snake.

Seeing that the Little Cyan Snake posed no threat in Bai Yuan’s hands, Xiao Qiaoniang grew bold enough to try and touch it.

But just as her hand was about to make contact, the Little Cyan Snake whipped around like lightning, fixing its crimson eyes on Xiao Qiaoniang and flicking its tongue threateningly.

"Xiaoqing, don’t do that."

Bai Yuan chided softly, and the Little Cyan Snake, as if it could understand human speech, obediently lay down in its small wooden box.

Xiao Qiaoniang was even more astonished by this sight.

’Brother Yuan really is amazing!’

The Little Cyan Snake had just finished shedding its skin and didn’t have much energy. Before long, it was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep.

Bai Yuan closed the lid of the small wooden box and tucked it into his robes.

If a petty thief broke in and stole the box, it would be a huge loss. It was safer to keep it on him.

Xiao Qiaoniang saw that Bai Yuan was about to leave.

"Brother Yuan, you’re going out this late?"

Bai Yuan said, "Senior Brother Chu asked me to meet him in the outskirts to handle something. I might not be back tonight."

"You must be careful."

"I will."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he pushed open the door and went downstairs.

...

Bai Yuan left Qinghe County Town, walked five li to the east, and finally arrived at a small pavilion in the desolate countryside.

This was the meeting place arranged with Chu Yuan.

This morning, a disciple of Chu Yuan had come to the Five Flavors Pavilion to inform Old Xue of a task. The message was for Bai Yuan to wait here for Chu Yuan, and they would then act together.

The disciple was indeed Chu Yuan’s apprentice; Bai Yuan had seen him a few times before.

’Why hasn’t Senior Brother Chu shown up yet?’

Bai Yuan gazed at the moon, already high on the eastern branches, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of faint footsteps.

’Something’s wrong!’

Just as he was about to leave, the small pavilion was surrounded by black-clad figures.

Elder Wu’s figure emerged from the group of black-clad men.

’So that’s how it is.’

Seeing Elder Wu, Bai Yuan instantly understood the situation. To put it simply, he had been set up.

After sensing he was being tailed by a master, he had asked Ma Dingjun for portraits of all the Yijin Martial Masters in the city. The two had gotten to know each other through a fight, and their relationship had become quite good.

"Is it the Zhu Family, or the Iron Saber Gang?" Bai Yuan asked with a frown.

"A dead man has no need for answers."

Elder Wu stared at the youth standing in the pavilion, a cold, humorless smile on his face.

"Hand over the Tiger-Form Crane-Style, and I can grant you a quick death."

Bai Yuan didn’t answer.

His answer was no longer important. Whether he really had the Tiger-Form Crane-Style Cultivation Technique or not, Elder Wu would not let him go today. Since words were useless, there was no need to speak. He slowly drew the Firewood Cutting Saber from his back.

"Very good. I thought you’d be scared witless. That would have been too boring."

The smile on Elder Wu’s lips turned vicious, his killing intent flaring.

He didn’t believe the youth before him had any ability to resist. How could a True Disciple who had only just reached the Bone Forging Pass stand against a Yijin Martial Master?

To ensure Bai Yuan’s death, he had even spent a fortune to hire assassins from the Soul-Chasing Tower.

’Looks like that money was spent for nothing.’

’But it doesn’t matter. As long as I can get the Tiger-Form Crane-Style, it’s all worth it.’

"Kill him."

Elder Wu issued the kill order to the black-clad men beside him.

The Soul-Grabbing Little Ghosts of the Soul-Chasing Tower tapped their feet lightly and darted toward Bai Yuan. Their speed was terrifying, and the long, thin blades in their hands sent a chill down one’s spine under the moonlight.

With ten men against one, they had no need for stealthy or insidious tactics.

’Bai Yuan must die!’

The Firewood Cutting Saber drew a beautiful crimson arc through the air as blood splattered.

The head of a black-clad man spun through the air, and his headless body collapsed to the ground.

Watching from the side, Elder Wu narrowed his eyes at the sight.

’That old bastard really has an eye for disciples. This kid is countless times stronger than that waste, Zhu Huan.’

The more talent Bai Yuan displayed, the more determined Elder Wu was to kill him.

’No matter how good he is at fighting, he’s still just a Bone Forger Martial Master.’

’Besides, there are ten of us!’

Elder Wu no longer watched from the sidelines. His figure pounced toward Bai Yuan like an eagle snatching a chick.

Bai Yuan’s eyes gradually turned crimson as boundless violent energy raged in his mind.

KILL! KILL! KILL!

The Firewood Cutting Saber in his hand moved faster and faster, reaping lives like the chains of the Black and White Impermanence.

The longer Elder Wu fought, the more terrified he became, his pupils shrinking drastically.

’This kid is a monster!’

In just a few breaths, all ten of the Soul-Chasing Tower experts he had brought were dead.

Although these Soul-Chasing Tower assassins were all at the Bone Forging Pass, they were assassins from the Soul-Chasing Tower! Their strength couldn’t be measured by their realm alone!

Elder Wu started to panic.

’What is this?’

’Reversed Celestial Spirits?’

He was clearly the one ambushing Bai Yuan, yet a Yijin Martial Master was being routed by a Bone Forging junior. If word of this got out, he would become a laughingstock.

But he had no mind to think about the future now. He just wanted to escape.

Bai Yuan stared coldly at Elder Wu. The Firewood Cutting Saber in his hand, stained with blood, had turned an eerie crimson, and his eyes held only the desire to kill.

Gritting his teeth, Elder Wu threw his Long Sword, trying to buy time to escape.

But to his astonishment, Bai Yuan actually took the sword with his own body.

In an instant, he appeared before Elder Wu.

The crimson Firewood Cutting Saber swung down, wrapped in a fierce wind.

Elder Wu was decapitated. His head rolled to the ground, his eyes filled with endless regret.

Combat Reward Calculation:

Reinforcement Points +417

Bai Yuan stared coldly at the eleven corpses at his feet.

’Trying to act tough only to get killed instead... In my previous life, there was a more professional term for this situation. I think it was... clown.’