The bag of rice slipped from the auntie's grasp, landing with a heavy thud on the wooden floor.
Her entire body froze, her face draining of color.
Then—
"No… no!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream of sorrow erupted from her lips as tears welled up in her eyes.
Uncle He immediately reached for her, gripping her shoulders tightly. "Ling'er, stop! We can still save her!"
His voice was desperate yet firm, trying to keep himself from breaking down.
"They… they asked for fifty thousand silver taels to… to get her back…"
His voice trembled at the sheer impossibility of the amount.
The auntie staggered back, her knees giving out beneath her. She collapsed to the ground, her face filled with hopelessness.
"But that's… impossible…" she whispered, her body shaking. "Even if we sold this entire shop… we wouldn't even make a third of that…"
Nie Yong, who had been standing there the entire time, shifted uncomfortably.
Should I even be here for this…?
Watching this kind of family tragedy unfold right before his eyes felt… awkward, to say the least.
Nie Yong rubbed his stomach, feeling the emptiness gnawing at him.
"Well, I am hungry… so let's get this over with quickly."
He cleared his throat, a deliberate cough escaping his lips.
Uncle He and his wife jerked their heads toward him, their grief-stricken expressions suddenly shifting into something else—desperation and hope.
The moment Uncle He's eyes landed on the stem of a Lower Base Disciple of the High Heaven Pavilion, he immediately dropped to his knees.
His wife followed without hesitation, bowing low before Nie Yong.
"Please, young master… save our daughter!" Mei Ling pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Please, young master! We'll give you everything! We will even give her in marriage to you! Just save her!" Uncle He added, his eyes filled with determination.
Nie Yong blinked, a chuckle escaping his lips.
I was going to do it for free, but now that such an incredible offer has come up…
He grinned, his voice full of irony.
"Is she beautiful?"
Uncle He didn't even hesitate, not obviously getting the joke. "Yes!" he blurted out. "She's the most beautiful girl you'll ever see!"
Nie Yong let out a small laugh, shaking his head.
"Well then, tell me the time and place you were supposed to meet them."
"Thank you, young master!" Uncle He exclaimed, his gratitude overflowing. "We were supposed to meet tonight at the west side of the Black Wind Woods!"
Nie Yong raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Oh? Fifty thousand silver taels in a day? Looks like they never had any intention of giving her back."
He turned toward the exit, walking toward the door with a calm, confident stride.
"Prepare a banquet for your daughter's return."
And just like that, he disappeared from sight.
Silence filled the shop for a moment before Mei Ling suddenly snapped her head toward her husband, her eyes piercingly sharp.
"You promised to give her in marriage to him?!"
Uncle He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Mei Ling, the most important thing is that she's safe!"
Mei Ling clenched her fists, biting her lip. "I know…"
Her voice softened for a moment before her brows furrowed in worry.
"But you know how our girl is! She'll definitely refuse this marriage in front of him! And if she angers him… We can't afford to anger a Lower Base Disciple of the High Heaven Pavilion!"
...
The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of the Western Black Wind Woods, casting eerie shadows across the clearing. In the dim glow, a young woman stood bound, her figure radiating a delicate yet undeniable strength.
She was breathtaking—long, silky brown hair cascading down her back, adorned with a golden flower-shaped hairpin that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Her deep blue eyes burned with defiance, their brilliance undimmed even as tears of pain welled up. Her soft, fair skin bore the fresh mark of a vicious slap, yet her full lips curled into a sneer, unyielding.
Dressed in a flowing yellow robe, cinched at the waist by a fine belt, her attire exuded elegance despite her disheveled state. The intricate embroidery on her chest piece spoke of careful craftsmanship, enhancing her refined beauty. Even restrained, she carried herself with a noble air—like a caged phoenix unwilling to bow.
She glared at the two ugly men holding her captive, her disgust evident. Their lecherous gazes crawled over her form, but she did not flinch. Instead, her hands clenched into fists.
One of them, a short, greasy-looking man with yellowed teeth, chuckled as he turned to their leader—a towering man with wild red hair and a long scar slashing across his left eye. A massive sword rested at his hip, its hilt worn from years of use.
"Hey, boss…" the short man snickered. "No one's coming for her… it's getting late, so why don't we enjoy her a bit before selling he—"
Ptu!
The man's words were cut off as a glob of spit hit his cheek.
"I'd rather die than let you pigs touch me!" the girl spat, her voice filled with rage.
Smack!
A brutal slap silenced her, snapping her head to the side. A fresh red mark bloomed on her cheek.
"You shut up!" the scarred leader growled, his hand resting menacingly on the hilt of his sword. His voice was deep, commanding. "I didn't give you permission to talk."
Then, turning to his subordinates, his single eye gleamed with cold fury.
"And you two…" His voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone. "How many times have I told you?" His gaze locked onto them, and both men flinched as if struck.
"The merch cannot be touched."
Both men instantly paled, lowering their heads in silent fear.
The red-haired leader snorted. "Good. Keep your hands off her—"
A sudden gust of wind howled through the clearing—
Whoosh!
A violent force cut through the air, sending one of the short men flying like a ragdoll. His body crashed into a nearby tree with a sickening thud, leaving him groaning in pain.
The scarred leader's eyes narrowed.
"What the—?"
"Swirling Wind Palm!"
A young and fastidious voice erupted from the darkness.
Stepping into the moonlight, Nie Yong stood tall, his palm still outstretched, a confident grin plastered across his face.
The imposing man turned to him, his one good eye filled with murderous intent. His grip tightened on his sword's hilt. "Who the hell are you?"
Nie Yong smirked, lifting a trembling thumb to point at himself. His adrenaline was pumping, his heart pounding.
"This girl's new husband!" he declared excitedly.
The girl's eyes widened in disbelief. "What—?!"
The scarred man scoffed, his lips curling in amusement. "Hah. Kill him."
"Guao Xi, take care of this brat," he ordered, his voice filled with irritation.
"Gladly!" The remaining subordinate, Guao Xi, lunged forward, his dagger flashing in the moonlight.
"I'll kill you, you ugly brat!" Guao Xi roared, charging with all his might.
Nie Yong blinked, momentarily stunned.
"Ugly?" His expression darkened. "Am I that ugly?"
As Guao Xi thrust his dagger forward, Nie Yong instinctively moved. His body reacted before his mind even processed it—he grabbed the man's arm mid-strike and, with a simple motion, twisted his body, flipping Guao Xi over and slamming him onto the ground.
BAM!
Guao Xi groaned in pain.
Nie Yong dusted his hands off. "Have you seen yourselves? You look like freaking goblins!"
At that moment, a crisp system notification echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Do you wish to copy Guao Xi's abilities?]
Nie Yong's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Yes!" he said immediately.
[Copying…]
[You have gained the Dagger Talent (High)!]
[You have gained the martial skill: Ghostly Yin Fang!]
[Ghostly Yin Fang: A sinister technique that coats anything in dense Yin Qi, enhancing its cutting power and leaving behind chilling wounds that sap an opponent's strength. The technique allows for swift, unpredictable slashes, making the wielder's attacks feel like ghostly fangs tearing through flesh.]
Nie Yong's breath hitched as the knowledge of the technique filled his mind. He clenched his fist, feeling the faint pulse of Yin Qi coiling around his fingers.
This… this was amazing!
[Host's current combat power: 1st Initial Element Stage!]
He glanced down at the fallen Guao Xi, then at the scarred leader, a grin stretching across his face.
The scarred man didn't react with anger. Instead—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
A slow, deliberate applause echoed through the clearing, sending a chill down Nie Yong's spine.
"Good… very good," the man drawled, his single eye gleaming with amusement. "You're strong, young boy. You've managed to beat up two members of the Phantom Blood Gang, but…" His lips curled into a wicked smirk.
"They were just at the 2nd Tempered Body Stage."
Nie Yong narrowed his eyes. He could already tell where this was going.
The man spread his arms wide, his aura surging in a controlled, steady wave. A warm pressure filled the air, not scorching but undeniably potent. The very ground beneath his feet trembled slightly.
"But I…" His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"I am in the 3rd Initial Element Stage."
Nie Yong barely had time to react—
Boom!
The scarred man lunged, his massive sword flashing under the moonlight. He was fast—far faster than the two lackeys before him. His blade carved through the air with practiced precision, aiming to cleave Nie Yong in half.
Whoosh!
The sheer force of the strike split the wind, sending fallen leaves scattering in all directions.
To be continued...
***
***
Well, decided to make this fight more interesting. Also, are you liking this rewrited version so far? I am really going all in to write this so I hope you're liking it. Is it better than the old one?
Hope a good day to y'all!