Su Mu hesitated under his sister's sharp gaze, knowing there was no way to evade her questions.
"It's because I was beaten by someone," he finally admitted, lowering his head.
Su Yan's expression remained cold. "Why did you get beaten?"
"My skill wasn't up to par."
"Why?"
"I didn't practice diligently enough," he whispered.
Su Yan gave a small nod. "At least you understand. Next time you slack off, it won't be someone else punishing you—it will be me."
Su Mu shuddered and swore he would train harder.
With that, Su Yan turned to the others, her gaze landing on Yang Kai. A flicker of interest crossed her eyes. "You defeated Cheng Shao Feng?"
Yang Kai inclined his head. "Yes."
"You are slightly better than Su Mu, but that's not saying much." She dismissed him just as quickly. "A word of advice: stay away from my brother. If you keep associating with him, your cultivation will stagnate."
Yang Kai merely smiled, making no comment.
Having said her piece, Su Yan closed her eyes, signaling the conversation was over. The group hastily exited, feeling as if they had just stepped out of a frozen wasteland.
After parting ways with Su Mu, Yang Kai wandered the Black Wind Trade area. Stalls lined the streets, bustling with activity as cultivators haggled over resources and treasures.
Just as Yang Kai prepared to leave, a playful voice stopped him.
"It really is you."
Turning around, he found himself face-to-face with Hu Mei Er, her charming smile as enchanting as ever.
"Do you need something?" Yang Kai's voice was indifferent.
Hu Mei Er pouted. "Nothing much, just saying hello."
"Then goodbye." Yang Kai turned to leave, showing disinterest—one way to attract attention from women like her.
Truly.
She fell into step beside him, walking intimately close, her eyes watching his reactions with amusement.
After enduring her presence for a while, Yang Kai finally stopped, his patience wearing thin. "Why are you following me?"
Hu Mei Er blinked innocently. "Following you? I'm just enjoying the market."
Yang Kai exhaled sharply. "Enough. Stop bothering me."
Rather than being dissuaded, her grin widened. "Oh? What will you do if I don't?" She leaned in provocatively. "Like last time?"
He sneered. "Fuck off."
Although she dared to provoke him further, she chose not to. She merely wanted to follow him around.
Hu Mei Er was fuming, glaring at Yang Kai with an expression that made it almost look like she had the desire to eat someone.
Her interest in Yang Kai wasn't that big. That day, when her attempts at seduction failed, Hu Mei Er was left feeling not only gloomy but also with the unsettling realization that she might have been the one taken advantage of. Not only that, but she had also suffered a small loss! There was no man who could escape her enticement—or so she believed.
......................
Yang Kai walked out of Black Wind Forest alone.
From behind, Hu Mei Er continued to follow him, sticking to him like a tail, though her expression displayed a hint of annoyance.
As he looked around, Yang Kai suddenly thought of a good idea and started walking into the depths of Black Wind Forest. As he walked, he constantly turned back to Hu Mei Er with a sinister smile. It went without saying what that expression conveyed—'If you dare to follow me, I will first ravage you, then kill you.'
Hu Mei Er let out a soft laugh, but deep inside, she felt a bit terrified. Watching Yang Kai disappear into the depths of the forest, she hesitated. Thinking about it, she wasn't that familiar with Yang Kai. If she really went in and something happened, what would she be able to do? That day, she had personally witnessed Yang Kai's strength and knew she wasn't his opponent. If he was even slightly brutal, then she would be the one suffering.
After hesitating for a long while, Hu Mei Er suddenly stamped her foot. Swaying her hips, she followed after him, convinced that Yang Kai was only trying to scare her.
As Yang Kai and Hu Mei Er's figures, one in front, one behind, walked into Black Wind Forest, two figures stepped out from behind some trees.
One of them wore an expression of extreme hatred as he looked at Yang Kai's receding figure; a light purple hue marked his charming face, clear evidence of past beatings.
The other, a cruel glint in his eyes, was staring at Hu Mei Er's swaying hips with undisguised lust.
"Junior Brother Cheng, you were beaten by him? Even though you just entered the Initial Element Stage? That guy looks like he's only in the Tempered Body Stage."
Cheng Shao Feng gritted his teeth. "I was careless! That guy is really strange when he fights!"
"Oh? This is interesting."
To these two, killing Yang Kai was simple. And while doing so, they could take Hu Mei Er for themselves. The mere thought made them excited.
Deep in Black Wind Forest, Yang Kai continued walking, occasionally turning around with a sinister grin. Hu Mei Er grew less apprehensive. She matched his pace, intimately pulling on his arm and pressing her full chest against him.
"Accompany me once! In the future, I will no longer bother you!" she whispered, no longer bothering to hide her intent.
Yang Kai ignored her. Instead, he stopped, his expression turning sharp. He looked in a particular direction and said coldly, "Come out."
Two figures emerged, their gazes filled with malice. Cheng Shao Feng and Nu Tao had arrived.
"Elder Sister Mei Er, step aside. We only want his life. Move, lest you get hurt," Cheng Shao Feng sneered, drawing his saber.
Nu Tao chuckled. "That's right. If you get injured, my heart would ache."
Hu Mei Er frowned, instinctively hiding behind Yang Kai.
Yang Kai scoffed. "Third-rate villains killing over a small grudge? How cliché."
Nu Tao launched a fist, but the moment their blows connected, his expression twisted in agony—Yang Kai's sheer force sent shockwaves through his bones. A jolt of terror flickered in his eyes as Yang Kai lunged forward like a specter of death.
With a jagged Qi-blade materializing in his hand, vibrating with deadly intent, he flicked his wrist. The blade slashed through Cheng Shao Feng's chest, erupting from his back in a gruesome explosion of gore. The sound of tearing flesh and cracking ribs filled the air. Cheng Shao Feng's eyes widened in horror, his lips parting in a silent scream as his body convulsed before collapsing like a broken doll.
"Ah!" Two cries of alarm simultaneously rang out. They originated from Nu Tao and Hu Mei Er, who had just witnessed a truly horrific scene.
The last time Yang Kai had fought the Storm House disciples, Hu Mei Er had watched from start to finish. She knew he was strong, but never had she imagined that in just a few days, his strength would reach such a terrifying level!
Cheng Shao Feng, an Initial Element Stage cultivator, had barely lasted a few moments before meeting a gruesome death.
At this point, Hu Mei Er's heart pounded with fear. She finally understood that Yang Kai's previous words weren't mere threats—he truly dared to kill. His thunderous execution left no room for hesitation.
Nu Tao was equally shaken. He had just exchanged a single punch with Yang Kai, and before he could launch a second attack, his junior brother had perished before his eyes.
"You actually killed Junior Brother Cheng!" Nu Tao shrieked, his voice laced with anger and fear.
"You need to die as well," Yang Kai stated coldly. In every novel he had read, whenever the protagonist spared an enemy, they always returned stronger with reinforcements. He had no intention of making that mistake. If he wanted a peaceful life, he had to eliminate the problem at its root.
Nu Tao suddenly burst into malicious laughter. "Bluffing won't save you! Come and get it!"
With a roar, he threw out two powerful fists towards Yang Kai.
The moment their fists clashed, Nu Tao's expression twisted in horror. He had made a grave mistake. Unlike before, Yang Kai could now wield his Qi freely, and each collision sent a blistering force seeping through his arms, rattling his bones.
Very soon, the battle became entirely one-sided.
Yang Kai suddenly stepped back, widening the gap between them.
"I played too much, but it was a great experience. Thank you, brother. I hope you live happily in your next life," Yang Kai said, pressing his palms together in a mock prayer gesture.
Then, channeling his Qi, he materialized an MK14 in his hands—an ethereal construct forged from pure energy. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each shot landed precisely—two in the legs, two in the shoulders, and one in the stomach.
"Ahhhh! What is this?! What kind of martial art is this?!" Nu Tao howled, his face twisted in agony and unwillingness.
Yang Kai sneered. "The dead don't need to know. Also, send my regards to the Hell King—tell him he's about to get very busy."
With a final pull of the trigger—Bang!—a bullet of condensed Qi tore through Nu Tao's skull.
His body froze, then crumpled to the ground lifelessly.
Yang Kai exhaled, glancing at his hands. "If I had a cigarette and some sunglasses, I'd give off the full villain vibe," he mused with amusement.