Chapter 7: Killing the Old Man in Black

Ye Tianlong froze for a second. “And you are…?”

The old man standing before them was draped in black robes. High cheekbones jutted out from a weathered face etched with deep lines, framed by streaks of white at his temples. His eyes held a cold, sinister glint.

“Brat, you think you’re worthy of knowing my name?” The black-robed elder sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. “You saved these two, ruined my plans… but, I can give you a chance. Leave them behind, and… hmm… how about you cripple yourself? Gouge out an eye, maybe? Then I’ll let you and your little sister live. Hehehe…” He clearly wanted to watch some twisted drama unfold.

Hearing the elder’s voice, Sun Po spoke, her voice trembling, “He’s… he’s from the Shixue Meng!”

“Shixue Meng?” Bloodthirsty Alliance? Ye Tianlong had never heard of them.

“It’s an assassin organization,” Sun Po explained weakly. “Their methods are strange… unpredictable… but they’re highly organized and utterly ruthless. Just now… this old monster tried to kill me and Mingyue. Our guards stayed behind to cover our escape… I didn’t think… they’d all fall to him…” Sun Po struggled, pushing herself up shakily. “Miss Ye! Help your brother! We have to fight him together, buy time! You take Mingyue and run! Go!”

Ptuh!

She spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning deathly pale, like gold leaf. She immediately collapsed back down. In her current state, there was no way she could fight alongside Ye Tianlong.

“Who are you people, really?” Ye Tianlong’s gaze was sharp, intense, fixed on Sun Po. “Why would the Shixue Meng assassinate you? We’re facing death here, Grandma Sun. You have to tell me the truth now!”

“Aigh…” Sun Po sighed, defeated. “Alright. Hiding it further is pointless now. Yes… I withheld some things. Mingyue’s real name is Li Mingyue. She’s the daughter of Li Weizhu.” Her eyes flickered towards the child. “I am indeed called Sun Po, I was her mother’s wet nurse. And yes, we were truly going to Lishui City for ancestral rites.” She slumped further, looking utterly dejected. “I am so sorry… We’ve dragged you and your sister into this mess. We tried so hard to cover our tracks… I don’t know how the Shixue Meng found us.”

The name ‘Li Weizhu’ clicked instantly. Ye Tianlong knew that name.

Li Weizhu was one of the Da Zhao Dynasty’s most renowned swordsmen, known famously as the ‘Gui Shou Jian’ – the Ghost Hand Sword. Few could match him. And the Li family… they’d run powerful auction houses for generations, accumulating immense wealth.

“Since I stumbled into this, I’m seeing it through,” Ye Tianlong declared firmly. “This old bastard wouldn’t even spare a little girl. He’s worse than an animal!”

The black-robed elder snorted coldly. “Tough talk, brat. Soon, I’ll make you beg for death, wishing you’d never been born!”

“We’ll see who dies!” Ye Tianlong showed no fear. He drew the Wood Stone Sword, his true qi flaring, wrapping around him like a faint shroud.

“Heh! Looking at your aura… still just Body Refining trash. And with a pathetic wooden sword?” The elder scoffed disdainfully. “Still mouthing off? Aren’t you afraid people will laugh themselves sick?!”

He pulled out his own weapon from behind his back – a longsword, entirely jet-black, radiating a sharp, deadly aura.

“This blade,” the elder announced proudly, “is named ‘Mo Xuan Jian’ – Ink Profound Sword. Forged from Nine Heavens Profound Iron, tempered for thirsty-six days. It’s incredibly sharp, cuts through steel like mud. Your little wooden stick will probably snap in half just touching it! Heh. Dying by this blade is an honor for you.”

“You talk too damn much. Let’s fight!” Ye Tianlong snapped.

“Aura release!” The elder roared, fury rising in his chest.

A fierce wind kicked up! Trees swayed violently, leaves rustling wildly! Whoosh!

Thick, heavy white Zhenqi began pouring out of the elder’s body, swirling around him like dense white mist.

Ye Tianlong tensed. This pressure…

The elder was a Zongshi Jing (Grandmaster Realm) cultivator! First Layer!

Grandmaster First Layer and Diamond Third Layer… it might sound like only one minor layer difference from Yue Qingshan, but the gap in the sheer amount and quality of Zhenqi was massive!

This was going to be a tough fight!

“DIIIIE!” the elder bellowed.

Killing intent exploded! The black sword struck! The Mo Xuan Jian shot forward like a bolt of black lightning!

Incredibly fast!

The sound of it cutting through the air hadn’t even faded before the sword tip arrived!

Ye Tianlong shifted sideways, a hair’s breadth away. He dodged cleanly, untouched!

The elder’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “You piece of Body Refining scum… How could you possibly dodge my sword?!”

Ye Tianlong ignored the elder’s disbelief. On the battlefield, any lapse in focus meant death.

The Wood Stone Sword thrust out! Swish!

A phantom blur flashed before the elder’s eyes!

The sword was already there!

The elder sneered, dodging sideways instinctively. Slice! A thin line appeared on his left forearm – a graze from Ye Tianlong’s sword Qi.

Blood welled up.

The elder was furious. “Heh! Seems you do have a little skill! Try taking this! Jing Lang Jian – Startling Wave Sword!”

The Mo Xuan Jian moved like a ferocious tiger, emanating terrifying power! Sword intent surged!

Fwoooosh!

Waves of Sword Qi erupted, crashing forward like a furious ocean tide! The sheer killing intent was suffocating!

The waves of sharp Qi surrounded Ye Tianlong, trying to engulf him, bury him! Clang! Vwom!

The elder’s confident smirk froze.

BOOM!

The Sword Qi waves suddenly shattered!

The force exploding outwards was immense, like an earth dragon bursting from its cave! Sand and dirt flew everywhere! Nearby trees were snapped cleanly in half by the sheer force of Ye Tianlong’s released energy!

Ye Tianlong shot up from the ground!

The Wood Stone Sword lashed out!

“Th-This… This is impossible! How could a Body Refining brat break my sword technique?!” The elder stared, utterly aghast.

Ye Tianlong’s sword moved like the wind, struck like thunder! One attack flowed seamlessly into the next!

This was everything he’d absorbed back on the Suspended Stone Island! This fight was putting all that brutal training into practice!

The sword intent was sharp, chilling, radiating palpable killing power!

The elder raised his Mo Xuan Jian, trying to block!

But Ye Tianlong was faster! He instantly changed his thrust into a slicing cut! The sword intent swirled, aiming straight for the elder’s vital points!

“AAAAARGH!” The elder screamed in agony! A huge chunk of his chest was gouged out by the Wood Stone Sword! Beneath the torn flesh and blood, bone was clearly visible!

Sun Po watched, completely stunned. Ye Tianlong, with just his strange Body Refining cultivation, had actually defeated a Grandmaster Realm assassin from the Shixue Meng?! If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it possible!

“D-Do you know who I am?! Do you know the consequences of angering the Shixue Meng?!” The elder tried to sound tough, bluffing desperately, but his eyes betrayed sheer panic. “You dare kill me?! Aren’t you afraid of their retaliation?!”

“All I know,” Ye Tianlong said coldly, “is that you’re already a dead man.”

“You! AGH—!”

Expressionless, Ye Tianlong raised the Wood Stone Sword – the very weapon the elder had scorned – and plunged it straight through the old man’s heart! Shhk!

Blood spurted, flowing like a fountain!

Ye Tianlong picked up the fallen Mo Xuan Jian.

Such a fine sword… Yet, within moments, the Wood Stone Sword devoured it completely, leaving nothing behind.

The Wood Stone Sword felt even stronger now.

SWISH!

Ye Tianlong swung the sword experimentally at a large boulder nearby.

The massive rock shattered like tofu! CRUMBLE!

Ye Tianlong was inwardly surprised. Damn, this thing really is sharp now!

Sheathing the Wood Stone Sword, Ye Tianlong walked back to the carriage.

“Brother! You’re hurt!” Tears welled up in Ye Qing’s eyes as she gently took Ye Tianlong’s grazed arm.

He shook his head. “Just a scratch. Don’t worry about it.”

“Wow, Brother, you’re amazing!” Li Mingyue looked up at him with pure admiration. “But… my Daddy is still a little bit stronger!”

Sun Po remained silent, just looking at Ye Tianlong with a complex mix of awe, relief, and perhaps apprehension.

Ye Tianlong didn’t elaborate, just offered a small smile. “It was just luck. That old guy underestimated me during the fight. That gave me the opening I needed.”

After a brief exchange, Ye Tianlong urged the horse forward again.

***

Two days later, Lishui City.

They rode the carriage through the city gates.

“Wow! It’s so busy here! Totally different from Bai Cheng!” Ye Qing leaned against the carriage window, gazing around with wide, curious eyes.

People flowed through the streets like water. Shops lined both sides, bustling with activity. Elegant pavilions, waterside gazebos, weeping willows lining picturesque bridges – it was a beautiful, lively city.

Hearing Ye Qing, Li Mingyue piped up with childish enthusiasm, “Big Brother, Big Sister! Come play at my house! Mingyue doesn’t want you to leave!”

“We can’t, little one. We still have a long way to go,” Ye Tianlong shook his head gently.

Sun Po patted Li Mingyue’s head, then looked at Ye Tianlong thoughtfully. “Lishui City is still relatively small compared to the places you’ll likely travel to,” she said softly. “You will meet many more people, encounter many more things in the future. Though we part ways again now, if fate wills it, we will surely meet again.”

Li Mingyue looked down at the koi jade pendant at her waist. Suddenly, she yanked it off and pressed it firmly into Ye Tianlong’s hand.

“Brother! This is from my Daddy!” she said earnestly. “He told me this pendant is very useful at the Hong Guan! Brother saved me, so I’m giving it to you!” She puffed out her chest slightly.

“My Daddy is super strong, you know! Brother, you have to keep it safe!”

“This… I can’t accept this,” Ye Tianlong started to refuse.

“You saved both me and Mingyue,” Sun Po interjected gently but firmly. “You deserve this. Please, accept it. This pendant is a token of the Li family. Our family’s Hong Guan (Red Halls/Establishments) network spans the land. If you ever face difficulties, present this pendant at any Hong Guan, and they will help you.”

“…In that case, thank you very much,” Ye Tianlong accepted the pendant, nodding gratefully to both Sun Po and Li Mingyue.

They exchanged a few more words, and then servants from the local Sun/Li household arrived to meet them.

“Goodbye! We’ll definitely meet again!” Sun Mingyue waved vigorously.

Ye Qing leaned out of the carriage, tears in her eyes, waving back. “Mingyue! Grandma Sun! Take care!”

Ye Tianlong flicked the reins, and the carriage rolled away, steadily moving further down the road.

Soon, only their retreating figure remained on the horizon.

As they traveled, Ye Tianlong replayed the fight with the black-robed elder in his mind. He recognized his own shortcomings. His speed wasn’t quite enough, his sword strikes lacked overwhelming force. If he encountered even stronger enemies in the future, his current cultivation wouldn’t cut it. He had to get stronger! For Ye Qing!

***

Later that night, when it was safe, Ye Tianlong focused his mind and entered the bone tablet space.

Suspended Stone Island.

“Elder Mu,” Ye Tianlong said resolutely, “Make me stronger. I want to enter the temple halls.”

Lao Mu raised a metaphorical eyebrow on his tree-trunk face. “Have you made up your mind? Because I won’t be holding back this time.”