Chapter Twenty-Four: The First Glimmer of Talent

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Qingshi Town, the Liu Family Estate.

It was the third month of spring, yet the Liu family home had turned cold and gloomy with a single utterance.

“Debt collection.” These two simple words echoed through every corner of the Liu mansion, the icy tone chilling the hearts of all who heard.

“Haha, what an arrogant brat!” At the gate of the Liu residence, the man with a goatee spoke with haughty disdain. “Throughout the year, countless fools come to stir up trouble at my Liu family, but not a single one meets a good end! Never mind whether my family owes you anything—even if we did, you’re in no position to come here demanding repayment!”

Ye Zihan’s gaze was frosty, saying nothing. Lin Ruoxi stood behind him, unafraid, with a sense that as long as Ye Zihan was there, not even the sky falling would harm her.

“Seize them!” the goateed man commanded.

“Yes, sir!” The guards replied in unison, swinging their clubs and rushing to attack the pair.

Though the two youths appeared young, they were clearly not ordinary—this was evident from the two burly men already lying unconscious at the gate. Still, the guards, paid to deal with troublemakers, showed no mercy, even if their opponents were mere children.

Ye Zihan snorted coldly, his left hand flicking four talisman papers, shouting, “Flame Wolves!”

A chilling howl rang out.

Four flame wolves materialized out of thin air. One stayed close to Lin Ruoxi, guarding her, while the other three darted into the fray, charging at the guards with lightning speed.

With Ye Zihan’s early-stage Trifold strength, summoning four second-tier flame wolves simultaneously was effortless.

“Ah!” “Ah!”

The tide turned instantly as the flame wolves entered the battle. The guards, though strong, possessed only first-tier power; they stood no chance against the second-tier summoned beasts. In moments, the wolves had injured them, their cries of pain echoing through the courtyard.

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a dozen muscular men lay groaning in agony on the ground.

“Am I qualified now?” Ye Zihan asked, his expression blank, his voice still cold as he looked at the goateed man.

The goateed man was dumbfounded. He had not expected this youth, barely in his teens, to summon second-tier flame wolves—and four at once!

Clearly, they had come prepared, he thought, but as a man experienced in such matters, he did not panic. Instead, he barked, “You’re a crafty one, I’ll admit. If you have the guts, stay right there. I’ll report to Third Master Liu and see if you don’t get a lesson you’ll never forget!”

Ye Zihan seemed not to hear. With the four flame wolves gathered around, he and Lin Ruoxi strode straight into the courtyard.

The goateed man was furious, but dared not act. His own early-stage Duality strength made fighting a single flame wolf difficult; facing four, defeat was certain. Cautious by nature, he refrained from risking it and left to find Third Master Liu.

Once you’re subdued by the Third Master, I’ll make you pay and vent my anger! he muttered, gritting his teeth as he hurried off.

Ye Zihan and Lin Ruoxi, accompanied by the flame wolves, soon arrived at a spacious hall.

The Liu family’s estate was vast. Along their way, they encountered many servants and maids, who, seeing the flame wolves at their side, were surprised but not alarmed.

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Those who managed to defeat the guards and enter the inner courtyard usually possessed some skill, though whether their outcome would be the same as always remained to be seen. Still, troublemakers never harmed innocent staff, so after a brief moment of surprise, the household resumed their tasks.

Ye Zihan glanced around, about to step into the hall, when a voice sounded from within. “Zhao Chong, are these the two children you spoke of?”

Ye Zihan looked up to see a middle-aged man in white emerge slowly, followed by the goateed man—Zhao Chong.

“Yes, it’s them,” Zhao Chong answered respectfully. Third Master Liu was the family's third steward; though he indulged in vice, he possessed early-stage Trifold strength, his status far above Zhao Chong’s.

The middle-aged man was thin, with a sharp face and narrow eyes that seemed never fully open, giving him an air of sly treachery.

“You must be Liu Ye?” Ye Zihan asked calmly.

“I am.” The man’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Ye Zihan, who was no more than fifteen or sixteen and yet could summon second-tier flame wolves—and, as Zhao Chong claimed, four at once?

“What brings you to me?” This young man’s cultivation and boldness, along with his willingness to confront the Liu family, suggested backing or confidence. Though the Liu family ruled Qingshi Town, Liu Ye was cautious not to provoke unknown enemies, so he asked politely.

“Hand over Lin Zhen's wife,” Ye Zihan replied bluntly.

Liu Ye frowned. Was this youth here to stand up for Lin Zhen?

“Lin Zhen’s wife sold a counterfeit Shadow Eagle crystal, causing my son’s energy to dissipate after refining it. I merely took her hostage, and once Lin Zhen gathers a hundred taels of silver as compensation, I will release her myself,” Liu Ye retorted.

“You lie! My mother would never sell fake goods. The Shadow Eagle was hunted by my father himself, and its wings sold to Zhang Er at the east end of town. How could the crystal be fake? You’re slandering us!” Lin Ruoxi, angered by Liu Ye’s accusation, protested fiercely.

Ye Zihan shifted to shield Lin Ruoxi, sneering, “Everyone in Qingshi Town knows your lascivious reputation, Liu Ye. You took Lin Zhen’s wife not for silver, but for something else, didn’t you?”

Liu Ye’s expression changed. “Rumors! If you can produce a hundred taels of silver, I’ll release her right away!” He was incensed at the thought of Lin Zhen’s wife—she had been captive for half a month, yet remained stubborn, threatening death rather than submit.

“I have no silver, but you must release her all the same,” Ye Zihan said, his eyes locked on Liu Ye, each word deliberate.

“What nerve! I don’t know who you are, but this is the Liu family—no place for a brat like you to make trouble!” Furious at Ye Zihan’s confidence, Liu Ye shouted, “I’ll show you what happens when you challenge us! Summon—Stone Devouring Dog!”

With a flurry of hand seals, Liu Ye summoned a wolfhound about as tall as a man.

His opponent had three mid-stage second-tier flame wolves, but he himself had a late-stage second-tier summoning beast!

Ye Zihan wasted no words, raising his arm to command his three flame wolves, maintaining formation as they charged at the Stone Devouring Dog.

The wolfhound growled low, then leapt into the midst of the flame wolves, and battle commenced.

Three mid-stage second-tier flame wolves versus a single late-stage second-tier Stone Devouring Dog—the numbers offset the difference in strength, and the fight was evenly matched.

But even the bravest can’t withstand too many foes. When the Stone Devouring Dog bit through the neck of one flame wolf, the other two seized their chance, sinking sharp teeth into its throat and waist.

The wolfhound roared in pain and fury, dropping the dead flame wolf from its jaws. It shook its body violently, trying to throw off the attackers, but the wolves held on with fierce determination, refusing to let go.

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The Stone Devouring Dog was equally ferocious. Unable to shake off the wolves, it twisted its head, ignoring the blood streaming from its neck, its eyes wild as it bit at the wolf clinging to its waist.

The flame wolf did not dodge, taking the bite head-on, letting out a mournful cry, yet still refusing to release its grip.

Thus, the three beasts bit and tore at each other, locked in stalemate.

Drip, drip.

Crimson blood pooled on the ground.

The flame wolf bitten by the Stone Devouring Dog lost too much blood, its strength fading, until it finally released its hold. The wolfhound’s fangs gripped hard—crunch!—and the flame wolf fell limp.

The Stone Devouring Dog was in dire shape as well, blood pouring from its throat, chunks of flesh missing.

Driven by reckless rage, the beast threw its head back, shaking violently, tearing free another wolf with a great swath of flesh.

Beast nature—so brutal!

With the wolves dispatched, the Stone Devouring Dog lunged forward; before the remaining flame wolf could react, its sharp claws pierced the wolf’s throat, slashing hard to sever its neck.

After this lightning-fast strike, the wolfhound seemed spent, its wounded neck twitching as it collapsed, dead.

A battle with mutual destruction.

Liu Ye stared at Ye Zihan in surprise. For someone so young to command three flame wolves so deftly—and to know that, in a one-on-one fight, the wolves could not defeat the Stone Devouring Dog, so he chose the strategy of swarming—two losses for one, leaving Ye Zihan with the advantage.

This boy truly had skill, Liu Ye admitted inwardly, putting aside his earlier contempt. He shifted his hand seals, summoning his strongest beast. “Black Cloud Tiger!”

A jet-black tiger appeared out of nowhere, growling softly before Liu Ye, its pitch-dark eyes fixed on Ye Zihan, ready to pounce at any sign of movement.

“If this early-stage third-tier Black Cloud Tiger is your final trump card, Liu Ye, then you are doomed to lose,” Ye Zihan said calmly.

“Hmph, such arrogance. If you have the skill, defeat me first—then you can boast all you want!” Liu Ye’s gaze was cold, Ye Zihan’s provocations igniting murderous intent. He ordered the Black Cloud Tiger to attack Ye Zihan without mercy.

Ye Zihan said no more, tossing a red talisman paper, his two fingers pressed together vertically across his chest. “Long-Arm Monkey!”

A flash of light from the talisman, and a yellow figure leaped out—a towering monkey.

This Long-Arm Monkey was much larger than a typical primate, its arms extending past its knees, its muscular frame hinting at formidable strength.

“A third-tier summoned beast?!” Liu Ye’s face finally changed as he witnessed its arrival. He had never imagined that this red-clad youth could summon a beast of the third tier—and he sensed that the Long-Arm Monkey’s aura was stronger than his Black Cloud Tiger’s.

“Big trouble,” Liu Ye muttered inwardly. This time, he had truly kicked a stone.