Chapter 4: Patricide (Killing the Master)

Ping Tong Escort Agency.

Yue Qingshan, decked out in a fancy brocade robe, sat calmly in the main hall. He held a delicate purple clay teapot (Zisha Hu), steam gently rising from the spout.

He took a slow sip, nodding with satisfaction. “Mmm, yes, not bad. Smooth aftertaste, lingering fragrance… truly fine tea. The Xiahou family is quite thoughtful. As expected of a great family in Bai Cheng – this pot, this tea, they’re both top quality.”

“Master…! Bad news! Terrible news! At the gate…!” A young disciple stumbled frantically into the hall.

Yue Qingshan frowned, annoyed. “Speak properly! What’s with all the panic? You’re embarrassing the Ping Tong Escort Agency!”

“Mistress… and Senior Brother’s… heads…!” the disciple stammered, swallowing hard. “S-Someone cut them off… Threw them at the agency gate! A-And wrote a word in blood on the door! There’s a huge crowd outside!”

CRACK!

The purple clay teapot shattered into pieces on the floor.

Yue Qingshan roared, “WHAT?!”

He shot up and stormed outside.

Just as the disciple said, a massive crowd had gathered at the entrance.

Two severed heads sat grotesquely on the front steps. Ma Rufeng’s face was a mangled, unrecognizable mess – a horrific death. You Changfu’s eyes were wide open, staring blankly, clearly having died in shock and terror.

Yue Qingshan let out a howl of anguish. “My wife…! Changfu…!”

A group of disciples rushed out, shouting at the onlookers, pushing them back to disperse the crowd.

Yue Qingshan, face contorted with grief and rage, declared loudly, “My dear wife! I swear I will avenge you!” Then, his tone shifting smoothly, he addressed the dispersing crowd, “Friends, neighbors, please leave us. Allow my beloved wife and disciple to rest in peace.”

Once the gawkers had mostly scattered, Yue Qingshan stared down at Ma Rufeng’s head, his expression turning utterly ferocious.

“Master, what… what should we do?” a younger disciple asked timidly.

Yue Qingshan exploded in anger, “Useless trash! What else can we do?! Go investigate! Find out who dares to stir up trouble right on the Ping Tong Agency’s doorstep! They must have a death wish!”

Another disciple hesitantly spoke up, “That blood character, ‘Debt’… it looks a lot like Second Senior Brother’s handwriting. C-Could it be… Second Senior Brother Ye…”

WHOOSH!

Yue Qingshan struck out with a palm strike through the air!

THWACK! The disciple who spoke was hit square in the chest, sent flying sideways, and knocked out cold instantly.

“Keep your mouth shut unless you have something useful to say!” Yue Qingshan snarled furiously. “All disciples, hear my command! Hunt down the traitorous disciple Ye Tianlong! Capture his sister, Ye Qing, alive! Bring those two miserable wretches back to me!”

“Yes, Master!” the remaining disciples chorused.

***

Suspended Stone Island.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The air vibrated with motion!

A flash of green light – two willow branches whipped through the air, striking Ye Tianlong ruthlessly. They tore open his skin, drawing blood instantly. Smack! Whap!

Ye Tianlong collapsed to the ground yet again.

“You’re too slow,” Lao Mu’s ancient voice commented drily, even as the tree absorbed the dripping blood.

Ye Tianlong felt like screaming. Are you kidding me?! “I’m going as fast as I can! But you, Elder Mu – your branches are moving so fast they’re just blurs! How am I supposed to keep up with that?! Are you just doing this deliberately quick so you can suck more blood?!”

“It’s for your own good.”

Ye Tianlong: “…” Right.

He focused again on the sword marks scarring the red temple door.

Tian Wai Yi Jian – A Sword from Beyond the Heavens!

This time, Ye Tianlong managed to stare for longer, faintly grasping… something. A flicker of insight.

Agh! Splitting headache! Intense mental strain!

He quickly shut his eyes.

Suddenly, an image flickered in his mind’s eye: a figure, wielding a sword, slashing and cutting!

Progress! He was getting somewhere!

Swish! Swish!

The willow branches danced again!

More blood flowed, more wounds opened.

Ye Tianlong fell, pushed himself up, fell again, got up again. Over and over.

The tenth time!

“Again!” Ye Tianlong gasped, forcing his exhausted body upright, panting heavily.

“Enough,” Lao Mu’s voice cut in. “You can barely even stand now, let alone dodge my flying willows. Continuing like this is pointless. Better to rest, consolidate what you’ve gained.”

***

Day after day passed. It was either getting whipped or waiting to get whipped.

Nine days later.

The willow branches flew, sometimes coiling like agile snakes, sometimes striking like lightning bolts.

Ye Tianlong stood his ground.

His body seemed to shift like a phantom – leaning sideways, arching his back. Whoosh!

The branches hit empty air.

He suddenly leaped upwards, twisting left and right in mid-air!

It was a flurry of desperate, tiger-like movements! But… he still ended up slammed back onto the ground, covered in fresh, bloody wounds.

“Kid, you’ve improved quite a bit!” the ancient voice remarked.

Ye Tianlong: “…” Gee, thanks.

Suddenly!

Ye Tianlong felt a powerful, mysterious energy surge through his entire body!

He was breaking through! Diamond Realm, First Layer! Here it comes!

BOOM!

The aura around Ye Tianlong exploded outwards!

“Finally! Broke through to the Diamond Realm— Huh? What the…? Still Body Refining Realm?! Body Refining Realm, Fourth Layer?! What kind of unheard-of rank is that?! Elder Mu, what the hell is going on?!” Ye Tianlong stared in utter confusion.

“What do you know, brat?” Lao Mu retorted dismissively. “Diamond Realm, Grandmaster Realm… it’s all superficial! True strength lies in a powerful physical body!”

“But…”

Lao Mu huffed. “But nothing! The foundation of all cultivation is the physical body! A strong foundation determines how well you can adapt to higher-level techniques.”

“So… when will I break through Body Refining and enter the Diamond Realm?”

Lao Mu: “I don’t know.”

Ye Tianlong: “…” Great. Super helpful.

This was weird. He’d have to figure it out himself later.

“Elder Mu, how can I learn the Tian Wai Yi Jian?” Ye Tianlong asked.

“You’re too impatient. A Sword from Beyond the Heavens isn’t something you can learn so easily.”

Ye Tianlong sighed, hesitating.

“What? Did something happen?” Lao Mu sensed his mood.

Ye Tianlong quickly explained his situation – the revenge, the deadline from the mysterious woman.

Lao Mu listened. “I see. Well, now that you’ve broken through – whatever this weird layer is – you should be strong enough to try pulling out that wooden sword from the stone again.”

Ye Tianlong blinked, then nodded, hope rekindling. He walked back to the blackened wooden sword.

He gripped the hilt firmly with both hands, took a deep breath. “HRAAAGH!”

Instantly, his aura flared, his qi surged.

His face turned beet red, veins popping all over his body.

Crrrrk… It moved! One inch!

The wooden sword shifted upwards by a single inch!

“Nnnngh!” Ye Tianlong growled through clenched teeth.

The muscles in his arms bulged massively. His clothes were soaked through with sweat, huge drops rolling off his forehead and hitting the ground, leaving dark spots.

CRACK! The stone around the wooden sword was loosening!

BOOM!

With a low explosive sound, the stone shattered completely!

Ye Tianlong raised his arms high, finally pulling the wooden sword free!

It was about three fingers thick and roughly three feet long. The entire thing was charred black and covered in cracks. It looked incredibly fragile.

“Uh… Will this thing actually work?” Ye Tianlong’s face fell slightly. He hadn’t expected the whole sword to look like this.

Lao Mu retorted, “You’ve fought with me for this long. When have I ever steered you wrong?”

Ye Tianlong paused, then realized the tree was right. He cupped his fists respectfully. “Thank you, Elder Mu!”

He looked down at the strange wooden sword in his hand, pondering for a moment. “Wood and stone… becoming like metal. Gold, like steel. Using the strength of wood and stone to mimic the sharpness of metal and steel… I’ll call this sword… ‘Mushi Jian’ – Wood Stone Sword.”

***

A cave in the woods.

“Brother, do you really have to do this? It’s too dangerous!” Ye Qing looked at him, her face etched with worry.

Ye Tianlong stood ready, carrying a makeshift flag stained with blood, the newly named Wood Stone Sword hanging at his waist.

“Don’t worry, Xiao Qing. I promise, Big Brother will come back alive!”

“Mm,” Ye Qing clutched a small hidden blade tightly, watching his retreating figure with deep anxiety. If you die, Brother… I won’t live either! she thought desperately.

***

Inside Bai Cheng City.

Ye Tianlong brandished the blood flag, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Fellow townsfolk! Come gather ’round! Judge for yourselves!

Yue Qingshan of the Ping Tong Escort Agency! He took advantage of my family having no elders! He secretly stole cargo and tried to murder me, kicking me off a cliff! Then he tried to sell my sister off! Everyone, my sister is only fifteen! Just a child! And this beast in human skin tried to sell her! Fortunately, fate was kind, and I survived the fall! Today, I stand here! I demand Yue Qingshan, that old bastard, pay his blood debt with blood!”

Passersby started to gather, curious.

“Hey, isn’t that Escort Ye? What’s going on with him? Let’s go see.”

“Sounds like Escort Ye has a grievance! Let’s check out the commotion.”

“Tianlong!” Yue Qingshan appeared, his voice cutting through the crowd.

The onlookers naturally parted, creating a path.

Yue Qingshan was now wearing a simple, faded white robe, looking mournful and wronged. His voice was heavy with sorrow. “Tianlong… why must you do this? Even if you hold grievances against me, why fabricate such stories? We were master and disciple for three years… Whatever hatred, whatever resentment you feel, direct it at me! Your master’s wife, your senior brother… they were innocent! How could you… how could you behead them…?”

As Yue Qingshan spoke, tears welled up in his eyes, his voice choking with emotion.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

“So it was Escort Ye who left those heads at the Ping Tong Agency that morning?”

“Wow, Escort Ye always seemed like a decent guy. How could he do something so vicious?”

The crowd’s murmurs shifted, now filled with accusations aimed at Ye Tianlong.

Ye Tianlong raised his voice defiantly, “Yue Qingshan! Cut the crap! Today, in front of all these respected elders and neighbors, I am challenging your Ping Tong Escort Agency! Do you dare face me in a life-or-death duel?!”

“Tianlong,” Yue Qingshan said, his tone full of feigned concern, “you are merely in the Body Refining Realm. I have already reached the third layer of the Diamond Realm. This isn’t fair to you!”

Ye Tianlong snorted contemptuously. “So you’re going to hide like a coward? According to the rules of us escorts, I’ve issued a formal challenge! If you refuse to fight, the Ping Tong Agency loses all right to operate!”

His words stirred the crowd into an uproar.

“Escort Chief Yue, fight him! This Ye Tianlong clearly doesn’t know his place!”

“Yeah! Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Only then did Yue Qingshan sigh dramatically. “Tianlong… I’m sorry. You’ve forced my hand.”

Ye Tianlong’s voice was cold steel. “Old bastard, enough talk!”

Yue Qingshan sighed again. “I never thought… that our relationship as master and disciple would end like this. A formal challenge must be held inside the agency hall. Follow me.”

***

Inside, on the training platform.

“Thank you all for coming today…” Yue Qingshan began, addressing the spectators gathered around.

Before he could finish his sentence—

Ye Tianlong clenched his right fist, shot forward off the ground, becoming a blur! Whoosh!

BAM!

His fist aimed straight for Yue Qingshan’s head!

Yue Qingshan tilted his head, dodging smoothly.

“Tianlong,” Yue Qingshan chided, a hint of mockery in his eyes, “you may be using your fists now, but your footwork is still just my agency’s Splashing Water technique. I could dodge moves like that with my eyes closed.”

The crowd erupted in noisy chatter below the stage.

“Whoa, Ye Tianlong really is despicable! Chief Yue was still talking, and he just attacked!”

“Well, it makes sense, I guess. His cultivation is way lower than Chief Yue’s, and his moves were taught by Chief Yue. If he doesn’t attack when the Chief isn’t ready, he’d probably be dead in two or three moves…”

“Chief Yue, kill that ungrateful, treacherous snake Ye Tianlong!”

“Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!”

On the platform, Yue Qingshan allowed himself a small, satisfied smile before adopting a righteous expression. “Very well then, Tianlong! Don’t blame me for being merciless! Have a taste of my Lishui Sword!”

He whipped out a short sword from his waist and slashed forward violently!

White light flashed!

Three distinct waves of sword Qi shot forward!

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Fast as lightning!

The sword Qi carved deep gouges into the wooden platform floor!

The spectators gasped in amazement.

“It’s the Lishui Sword! Sharp Water Sword! Just like its name – the blade is short, but incredibly sharp and blindingly fast! Combined with Chief Yue’s famous Splashing Water Sword technique, his strikes flow like water, fast and relentless! Amazing!”

“Whoa! Chief Yue has even cultivated three streams of Sword Qi!”

“Chief Yue’s power is terrifying! Ye Tianlong’s probably finished in this one move!”

The onlookers chattered excitedly, certain this attack would defeat Ye Tianlong.

But Ye Tianlong simply crossed his arms in front of his chest, bracing himself. He took the full force of the triple sword Qi strike directly on his body!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Yue Qingshan’s eyes widened in shock. How?! In just a few days, how did Ye Tianlong become so strong?! He took that head-on! His defense is almost on par with mine!

No time to think! Yue Qingshan tapped the platform with his toes, his figure blurring. His sword flashed – the tip aimed straight for Ye Tianlong’s chest!

Instantly, Ye Tianlong lightly pressed his left hand on the platform, launching himself into the air! He flipped over the incoming sword tip. With a whoosh of displaced air, the pitch-black wooden sword appeared in his right hand.

The audience below stared, stunned. Then, roars of laughter erupted.

“Am I seeing things?! Did Ye Tianlong seriously just pull out a wooden sword to fight Chief Yue to the death?!”

“Has Ye Tianlong lost his mind from fear?! That’s just ridiculous!”

Shink!

Ye Tianlong thrust the Wood Stone Sword towards Yue Qingshan.

CLANG!

The sound of weapons colliding echoed loudly.

The charred Wood Stone Sword held firm, completely undamaged! It was unexpectedly tough!

Yue Qingshan was utterly shocked. “What is that thing?!”

“The thing that’s going to take your life!”

Ye Tianlong pushed off with both feet, launching himself forward again. The Wood Stone Sword in his hand aimed straight at Yue Qingshan’s chest.

The black sword flickered left and right, blurring, seeming both real and illusory, like a curtain of ghostly light.

The move was simple, fierce, and incredibly fast!

Yue Qingshan scrambled backward desperately! Tap! Tap! Tap!

The phantom-like tip of the Wood Stone Sword stabbed into the platform floor repeatedly, leaving seventeen or eighteen neat, round holes in its wake!

Puh!

Suddenly, Yue Qingshan spat out a mouthful of blood! A distinct depression, a hole, appeared in his chest!

The final phantom strike had connected with Yue Qingshan’s chest!

Yue Qingshan stared in disbelief. “This… This isn’t the Splashing Water Sword technique! What technique is… You…!”

Ye Tianlong flicked his wrist. The Wood Stone Sword slashed across Yue Qingshan’s face.

Blood sprayed!

Thump. A wet chunk of flesh landed on the platform floor.

It was Yue Qingshan’s nose!

The onlookers were completely dumbstruck, silent.

Yue Qingshan collapsed, unable to get up, screaming in agony. “AAAH— Tianlong! Stop! Don’t hit me anymore…! Guards! Men! Seize him! Take him down!”

Shing!

The Ping Tong Agency disciples hesitantly drew their weapons.

“Senior Brothers!” Ye Tianlong yelled out, eyes bloodshot, voice thick with grief and fury. “I worked my ass off for Yue Qingshan for years! And my reward was being kicked off a cliff, my sister nearly sold! Think about it! Is this the kind of man worth dedicating your lives to?!”

The atmosphere grew tense.

The disciples looked at each other uncertainly. They knew, more or less, what Yue Qingshan was really like. Plus… Ye Tianlong had just defeated Yue Qingshan himself. If they rushed up now, wouldn’t they just be throwing their lives away?

No one moved forward.

“Tianlong! I was wrong! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Spare me! Please!” Yue Qingshan groveled on the floor.

A savage grin spread across Ye Tianlong’s face. “Sorry? I’m not sorry! You shouldn’t have ever targeted my sister!”

“No! They made me do it! It was the Xiahou family! They forced me! They ordered it all! Tianlong… I… I’m your Master!” Yue Qingshan pushed himself up slightly, banging his head repeatedly on the floor in supplication.

“Heh. Don’t worry,” Ye Tianlong sneered. “I’ll settle accounts with all of you, one by one!”

The Wood Stone Sword flashed! Slice!

Blood spurted high!

Yue Qingshan’s head tumbled across the platform!

Dead silence fell over the entire hall.

“GOOD!” A familiar voice suddenly shouted from the crowd. “Escort Ye has punished evil and brought justice! He exposed Yue Qingshan’s true face for all to see! Well done!”

Ye Tianlong looked up. It was the woman in black, her face still veiled.

Whoosh!

A small stone wrapped in paper flew through the air towards him.

Ye Tianlong caught it and unfolded the paper.

It read: “Tonight, Haishi (9-11 PM). Meet me at the City God Temple.”

Confusion filled Ye Tianlong.

Who is this woman? What does she really want?

The crowd began to quickly disperse.

In the blink of an eye, the mysterious woman had vanished again.