Chapter 2: Harm My Sister? Death Without Mercy!

Swish! Swish!

Two more lashes from the willow branch!

Ye Tianlong was tangled up by that thin branch, completely unable to move. As he struggled, blood oozed from his wounds, staining the green willow red.

Fear gripped Ye Tianlong’s heart. “Who are you?! What is this place?! Answer me, damn it!”

Drop by drop, his blood soaked into the willow branch, tiny specks of red light flowing along it towards the half-dead trunk.

The tree-face didn’t answer, just kept muttering creepily, “Blood… I need blood…”

Watching his lifeblood drain away, realizing struggling was useless, despair turned into a wild, almost unhinged reaction. He suddenly burst out laughing, “Hahaha… HAHAHAHA…!”

“Hehehehe…” The tree-face echoed with its own weird, unnerving laughter.

Ye Tianlong roared, defiance replacing fear, “You monster! I’m not afraid of you! I’ve already died once, you think I’m scared now?! Bring it on!”

The willow tree suddenly shuddered violently. From its lightning-scarred trunk and branches, tiny black particles, like fine powder, began to fall, dusting Ye Tianlong’s body.

Something bizarre happened. As the black powder landed on his open wounds, they actually started to heal!

A cool, soothing sensation spread through Ye Tianlong’s body, the intense pain rapidly fading. At the same time, he felt an incredible strength flooding into his battered limbs, seeping right down to his bones. It even felt like old injuries, aches he’d carried for years, were vanishing!

The willow branch released him.

Ye Tianlong scrambled to his feet, staring at the ancient face on the trunk. He asked cautiously, “Who… Who exactly are you?”

The old man’s face seemed to pause, thinking. “Me? A long, long time ago… the one who planted me here called me Lao Mu. He… his reach was like the clouds covering the sky, his shadow stretching for dozens of miles. His breath was like thunder, his voice like a giant bell.”

Awe and disbelief struck Ye Tianlong. He couldn’t even FATHOM such a being.

“Kid,” Lao Mu continued, “I’ve forgotten many things. But I remember this: if you want to open this door, you must pull out that wooden sword and strike the door with it.”

Ye Tianlong’s interest piqued. “What’s behind the door?”

“I don’t know. No one has ever opened it. However, the Burial Immortal Temple has nine halls. Each hall holds its own opportunities. If you can get inside, you’ll find out for yourself,” Lao Mu rasped.

Ye Tianlong walked towards the wooden sword stuck in the rock. He activated his cultivation, Zhenqi swirling around him.

“Hyaaah!” With a fierce yell, he gripped the sword hilt with both hands, his face flushing red, veins popping on his forehead and arms.

But the wooden sword didn’t budge. Not even a millimeter.

“Kid,” Lao Mu said, “you’re still too weak right now. Not strong enough to pull this wooden sword from the stone. However… your blood restored some of my vitality. As repayment, I can help you become stronger.”

Ye Tianlong looked confused. “How are you going to make me stronger?”

“I’ll whip you with my willow branches. Temper your flesh and blood, refine your bones. Your physical body will continuously get stronger. Those charred branches, struck by heavenly thunder? They contain Heavenly Thunder Crystals – that black powder. It’s an extremely precious spiritual material, incredibly beneficial for your cultivation!”

Excitement flared in Ye Tianlong’s chest. He cupped his fists respectfully. “Thank you, Elder Mu!”

Lao Mu went on, “See the sword marks on the door? They form a sword technique. Once you comprehend it fully, that will be the day you can break open the door.”

Ye Tianlong’s heart pounded. “What kind of sword technique?”

“Tian Wai Yi Jian! A Sword from Beyond the Heavens!”

“Okay!” Ye Tianlong was all in. He had to protect his sister. He had to get revenge. He had to become stronger, no matter the cost!

“Then… I shall begin!”

Suddenly, dozens of willow branches lashed out!

“AAAAAAAAAAAH—!” Ye Tianlong screamed in agony.

He was whipped until his skin split open again, collapsing to the ground in a bloody heap.

A single willow branch snaked over, wrapping around him gently. Drop by drop, his blood flowed along the branch towards the half-dead tree trunk…

The carbon-like Heavenly Thunder Crystals rained down softly.

Wounds healed. Muscles tightened. Strength returned. Ye Tianlong felt almost completely renewed, reborn.

Comprehend the sword!

Ye Tianlong stared intently at the crisscrossing slashes covering the red door. Some were incredibly deep, others faint and shallow.It’s like… a spiderweb, trapping his very soul. No, like lightning bolts, all striking down on him at once.

After just a few seconds of staring, his eyes felt like they were about to burst! The overwhelming input overloaded his senses, and he blacked out again!

Who knows how much time passed. A flash of red light, and Ye Tianlong found himself back at the bottom of the cliff.

When he opened his eyes, he felt a distinct aura pulsing around him.

He’d broken through!

Body Refining Realm, Third Layer!

That willow tree… it was telling the truth! It really could make him stronger!

Outside the city, in their rundown shack.

Ye Tianlong was still a ways off when he heard loud, angry noises coming from his home.

SMACK!

The unmistakable sound of a hard slap.

Ye Tianlong’s heart plummeted.

Then, Ma Rufeng’s shrill, vicious voice cut through the air: “Ye Qing! You little bitch, getting too big for your britches, huh?! Your brother is DEAD! I’m taking you to the Xiahou family to live a life of luxury! The Xiahou family of Bai Cheng! They’re a top-tier, super-rich family! Don’t be ungrateful! Honestly, I don’t even know what that Xiahou young master sees in a sickly twig like you, that you’re worth a hundred gold…”

“NO!” Ye Qing screamed back hysterically. “My brother isn’t dead! You liar! You’re trying to trick me!”

Panic seized Ye Tianlong. He broke into a sprint, racing towards the house.

“Get up, you little slut! Get up now, or I’ll break your legs!” Ma Rufeng shrieked.

“Wuwuwu…” The sounds of Ye Qing sobbing tore at his heart.

Ye Tianlong felt like his lungs were about to explode with rage. He reached the door and kicked it with all his might.

CRASH!

The wooden door splintered inwards.

Ye Tianlong burst inside.

The small room was a mess.

Ye Qing was clutching her face, her right cheek bright red and swollen, tears swimming in her eyes. She was fifteen now, should have been in the prime of her youth, but she was frail and sickly, her pretty face completely devoid of color. Her simple cloth dress hung loosely on her painfully thin frame.

His sister already had such a hard life, and now this vicious harpy was abusing her!

Ye Tianlong’s eyes turned blood-red.

“You… You…! Are you a man or a ghost?!” Ma Rufeng stared, her expression like she’d seen a specter rise from the grave.

“Brother!” Ye Qing cried out, tears finally spilling down her cheeks.

That single word, “Brother,” shattered Ye Tianlong’s heart. All the hate, all the fury, boiled over in that instant, filling his entire being. With a guttural roar, he launched himself forward, kicking straight at Ma Rufeng.

Ma Rufeng dodged sideways just in time, her eyes flickering with shock, then sudden understanding. “You… You’re not dead!”

“You bitch! You’re the one who should be dead!” Ye Tianlong snarled, lunging at her again.

Ma Rufeng dodged again, and a whip, entirely pitch-black, appeared in her hand. She sneered, “You really are lucky to be alive. But everything you learned came from your master! Your movements, your sword techniques – it’s all just the agency’s Splashing Water Sword crap! You think I don’t know your master’s pathetic little tricks? Besides, you don’t even have a sword! I killed you once, I can kill you again!”

Whoosh!

The black whip snaked through the air, aiming to coil around Ye Tianlong’s neck.

“Brother, watch out!” Ye Qing screamed.

It was as if Ye Tianlong didn’t even hear his sister’s warning, didn’t even see the incoming whip. He just charged straight ahead.

The black whip wrapped around his neck, but before Ma Rufeng could yank it tight, Ye Tianlong had already closed the distance, slamming into her and wrapping his arms around her in a crushing hug.

Terror flashed in Ma Rufeng’s eyes. “You—!”

Before she could say another word, Ye Tianlong slammed his forehead forward, crashing brutally against the bridge of her nose.

CRUNCH!

Bone shattered! Blood sprayed!

Ma Rufeng panicked, struggling violently. But Ye Tianlong’s arms were like iron clamps locked around her. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t break free. She couldn’t believe it! She was in the Diamond Realm, first layer! Ye Tianlong was merely in the Body Refining Realm! The gap was enormous! How could she possibly be unable to break his grip?! This wasn’t right!

She had no idea that the willow lashings Ye Tianlong had endured on the floating island were infinitely more brutal than the whip she held!

Ye Tianlong hooked his right foot behind Ma Rufeng’s ankle and yanked.

THUMP!

Both of them crashed heavily to the floor.

“Tianlong! I… I’m your master’s wife…!” Ma Rufeng pleaded, genuine fear finally in her voice.

Ye Tianlong suddenly leaned down and bit savagely into her neck.

“AAAAAAAAH—!” Ma Rufeng let out a bloodcurdling scream.

With a vicious jerk of his head, Ye Tianlong tore away a chunk of flesh. Blood gushed from the gaping wound in her neck, instantly pooling and staining the dirt floor crimson.

Ye Tianlong released his grip on her arms. He clenched his fists and started hammering them down onto Ma Rufeng’s head, again, and again, and again… Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Brother!” Ye Qing threw herself onto Ye Tianlong’s back, wrapping her arms around him. “Stop! Stop hitting her! She… she’s already dead!”

Ye Tianlong’s raised fist froze mid-air, then slowly lowered.

Ma Rufeng was indeed dead. A gruesome hole torn in her neck, half her head caved in and pulverized by his relentless punches, her face an unrecognizable bloody mess.

“Brother…”

Ye Tianlong turned, pulling Ye Qing into a tight hug. “It’s okay, Xiao Qing. It’s over. Don’t be scared. Big Brother’s here now. No one will ever hurt you again.”

“Mm,” Ye Qing nodded, clinging to him tightly.

Suddenly, the distant sound of approaching horse hooves reached their ears. Clip-clop, clip-clop…

Ye Tianlong’s heart jumped. He quickly pulled his sister up. “Come on!” he urged, pulling her out the broken doorway and into the night.