Chapter Twenty-Six: Ruthless and Merciless

Within the Liu family inner courtyard, on the open ground before the main hall, a figure slowly stood up amidst swirling dust and smoke.

At this moment, Ye Zihan appeared quite battered. His scarlet robe was crumpled and torn in many places, several ribs at his chest broken, his hair disheveled, face smudged with dirt, and fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

“Han’er, do you need me to lend you my strength?” A voice from Hong Yan echoed in his mind.

“No need,” Ye Zihan shook his head, wiping the blood from his lips with a sweep of his hand. His gaze grew cold. Though Liu Xiong’s fighting power was inferior to that of the Bone Leopard, the man excelled in cunning and battle experience.

That ambush with the thrown axe had clearly anticipated his movement, explaining the success of the strike.

Fortunately, his own reaction had been swift; gathering his source energy at his chest, he had managed to lessen much of the impact. Otherwise, his injuries would have been far worse. Even so, Liu Xiong’s terrifying punch had sent him crashing to the ground, suffering significant harm.

“Thank you, Instructor Lan Yu.” While Ye Zihan was lost in thought, Lan Yu had already acted, deftly setting and mending his broken ribs.

With his ribs restored, Ye Zihan breathed more easily. His sharp, hawkish gaze fixed on Liu Xiong, pondering his next move.

“So arrogant!” Liu Xiong’s fury surged at Ye Zihan’s brazen words. Yet seeing the youth rise so quickly after taking his blow—appearing almost unaffected—he couldn’t help but feel a chill of suspicion. Who exactly was this boy?

Ye Zihan paid him no heed. With a silent command, the Long-Armed Monkey, who had been watching at the side, instantly charged at Liu Xiong!

Ye Zihan moved as well, darting in at an angle. Together with the monkey, he flanked Liu Xiong from both sides, launching a coordinated assault!

“You think numbers alone will win? Childish!” Liu Xiong sneered, swinging his great axe in broad, ferocious arcs, meeting both man and beast head-on.

The Long-Armed Monkey, with its great strength and reach, though only a mid-grade third-rank beast, was utterly fearless under Ye Zihan’s control, attacking with wild abandon, leaving itself wide open, caring only for offense.

Taking advantage of Liu Xiong’s divided attention, Ye Zihan slipped in close, the Red Lotus dagger in his hand darting like a venomous snake for the weakest points in Liu Xiong’s defense.

Though forced to split his focus between the monkey’s relentless assault and Ye Zihan’s sudden strikes, Liu Xiong’s stance remained steady. Either adversary alone would be no match for him, but together, subduing them would require time and effort.

The two—a man and a beast—raged back and forth across the courtyard, their fierce exchanges lighting up with bursts of powerful martial techniques, leaving onlookers dumbstruck.

Liu Ye was too shocked for words. Never had he imagined that the young Ye Zihan could battle his elder brother for so long without defeat! Even if it was a joint attack with a beast, one mustn’t forget—the Long-Armed Monkey was Ye Zihan’s summon!

Lin Ruoxi wore an anxious expression. Though she had an inexplicable confidence in Ye Zihan, Liu Xiong was a bona fide late-stage Three Talents cultivator, infamous throughout Greenstone Town. After seeing Ye Zihan take Liu Xiong’s punch, her worry only deepened.

A deafening crash—the Long-Armed Monkey was sent stumbling back dozens of steps. Liu Xiong seized the opening, leaping high, axe raised, bringing it down with all his might at the beast!

Ye Zihan reacted instantly. While Liu Xiong pursued the monkey, a flurry of hand seals took shape, activating a lesser Night-Grade martial technique!

“Crescent Strike!”

The Red Lotus dagger swept down from above, conjuring a black crescent moon that shot straight toward Liu Xiong!

Sensing the surging energy at his side, Liu Xiong frowned. “A Night-Grade technique?”

In the face of such a move, Liu Xiong had two choices: advance or retreat.

To advance meant risking injury from the Night-Grade attack, but he was confident he could seriously wound, perhaps even kill, the Long-Armed Monkey.

To retreat would avoid the Crescent Strike but give up his chance to finish the beast, allowing the pair to regroup and forcing him to start over.

Without hesitation, Liu Xiong chose the former. If he could take down the monkey, Ye Zihan would be no real threat to him alone.

Without pausing, Liu Xiong gathered his source energy as shield, descending from the air, his axe cleaving fiercely at the monkey!

Seeing Liu Xiong ignore the Crescent Strike, Ye Zihan knew at once what the man intended, and a sly smile curled at his lips.

A thunderous blow—the axe struck the Long-Armed Monkey squarely, leaving a gaping wound from head to groin, black blood gushing out. In moments, the beast perished, dissolving into shadowy mist.

Having slain the monkey, Liu Xiong had no time to catch his breath before a violent surge of energy crashed into him!

Struck full-on by the lesser Night-Grade Crescent Strike, even with his late-stage Three Talents cultivation, Liu Xiong was blasted through the air!

He tumbled for dozens of yards before landing, not realizing that as the Crescent Strike struck, several thin black threads had quietly wound themselves around his body.

“So it was a Night-Grade technique after all.” Liu Xiong steadied his churning blood, muttering to himself. His clothes were now in tatters, much of his hair fallen loose. If anyone saw him now, driven to such a state by a youth, they’d surely die laughing.

His eyes cold and venomous, Liu Xiong glared at Ye Zihan, his voice trembling with rage: “Boy, you’re dead!”

“Not necessarily,” Ye Zihan replied with a faint smile, seemingly unmoved by Liu Xiong’s fury. “Never underestimate a Night-Grade technique.”

With his experience, Liu Xiong immediately sensed something awry in Ye Zihan’s words. His gaze swept over himself—and he soon saw them: fine black threads wound round his hands, feet, and waist, coiling from ankle to neck, binding him fast.

At the sight of the black threads, Liu Xiong grew wary. These were the residue of a Night-Grade technique—there might be a follow-up. If he took the full brunt, he’d be in trouble. Source energy surged to his fingertips as he tried to strip the threads away.

But Ye Zihan, having finally managed to land the Black Moon Thread, would not let Liu Xiong dispel it so easily. His hand seals shifted. “Full Moon Strike—detonate!”

As if obeying a command, the Black Moon Thread swelled and spread, soon enveloping Liu Xiong completely, even covering the space around him, forming a pitch-black full moon.

With the moon’s formation, ripples of energy radiated outward. A deafening roar followed as the black moon exploded!

Darkness swept over the courtyard, swallowing everything within several dozen yards in inky shadow!

“Big Brother!” Liu Ye cried in alarm. Struck full-on by a Night-Grade technique, even his brother would be hard-pressed to escape unscathed, and this Full Moon Strike seemed even more powerful than the Crescent!

Lin Ruoxi was startled as well, mingled with joy. She marveled at Ye Zihan’s strength—he could unleash Night-Grade techniques in quick succession and force Liu Xiong to take their full force.

Farther off, the Liu family’s servants and maids were stunned, gasping in shock. For decades, the Liu family had bullied the weak, and Liu Xiong’s fearsome strength had repelled all challengers. Never had they seen him so thoroughly beaten!

Ye Zihan’s eyes remained locked on the blast. The Moon’s Double Strike was the strongest move in his repertoire.

The Crescent Strike was a lesser Night-Grade technique; the Full Moon Strike was a full step higher, a mid-tier Night-Grade.

Liu Xiong would not emerge from this unscathed.

Soon, the darkness faded, revealing a battered figure.

Liu Xiong appeared, covered in soot and blood, clothes nearly shredded away, his torso bare and lacerated, blood dripping from his lips.

“You little bastard! If I don’t kill you, I’m not fit to be called a man!” Liu Xiong’s eyes were bloodshot, his snarl that of a maddened dog, vicious and desperate.

“Eighteen Heaven-Cleaving Axes!”

He hefted his massive axe, unleashing his most powerful mid-tier Night-Grade martial technique, charging at Ye Zihan in a frenzy!

“With just you?” Ye Zihan sneered. As Liu Xiong closed in, he pressed his palms together at his chest. “I’m not finished yet. Full Moon Strike—Encore!”

A thunderous blast shook the air. Darkness swept over them again, and the surging Liu Xiong vanished into the gloom.

A cold smile played at Ye Zihan’s lips. Taking the Moon’s Double Strike twice—even if it didn’t kill Liu Xiong, it would leave him crippled!

As the shadows receded, a hulking body lay sprawled on the ground—Liu Xiong, grievously wounded by the Full Moon Strike, his chest a bloody ruin, eyes wide with terror and unwillingness, breath feeble.

“Release her, or die.” At some point, Ye Zihan had come to stand over Liu Xiong, looking down at him from above.

Liu Xiong glared up, hatred and venom twisting his features, but gave no answer.

“Let go of my brother! Or I’ll kill her!” Suddenly, a shrill, furious voice rang out.

Ye Zihan turned. Liu Ye was holding Lin Ruoxi hostage, a cold dagger pressed against her throat, his face twisted with malice.

His Flame Wolf was nowhere in sight—likely dispatched by Liu Ye. With his early-stage Three Talents strength, dealing with a mid-grade second-rank familiar would have been simple. In focusing on Liu Xiong, Ye Zihan had neglected Liu Ye, who had taken the chance to seize Lin Ruoxi as a hostage.

“Heh, well done, little brother.” Liu Xiong slowly forced himself upright, a hideous grin twisting his lips. With leverage in hand, he no longer feared Ye Zihan’s recklessness.

“Brother, don’t worry about me—kill these villains and save my mother. If Ruoxi must die, I’ll be grateful even in the afterlife!” Despite the cold blade at her throat, Lin Ruoxi showed no fear, her voice resolute. She knew that if Ye Zihan yielded, the vicious Liu brothers would never spare them.

Ye Zihan frowned deeply, but his gaze turned icy in an instant.

“I meant to spare your lives, but I’ve changed my mind.” His words were icy as a wind from the underworld, sending involuntary shivers through the Liu brothers.

“Don’t get cocky, boy! The girl’s in our hands—the one in danger is you!” Liu Ye shouted, pressing the dagger more tightly against Lin Ruoxi’s skin.

Ye Zihan acted as if he hadn’t heard. His eyes closed, and his aura suddenly soared!

Mid-stage Three Talents. Late-stage. The peak. Early-stage Four Symbols. Mid-stage Four Symbols. Late-stage Four Symbols!

When his aura climbed to the late-stage Four Symbols, Ye Zihan’s eyes snapped open, a strange light flashing within. In the blink of an eye, his figure flickered, ghostlike, and appeared behind Liu Ye!

Liu Ye’s vision blurred. Before he could react, he felt his wrist twist—the dagger clattered to the ground, and with a sharp crack, his wrist was snapped!

“Aaah!” Liu Ye howled in pain. But before his cry could fully escape, a red blur flashed across his throat.

Instinctively clutching his neck, Liu Ye could not stop the blood gushing out, staining his pale skin crimson.

Within moments, the panic faded from his eyes, life draining away, and his body crumpled to the ground.

Lin Ruoxi, who had already closed her eyes, suddenly felt the cold steel at her neck vanish. A gentle force pushed her aside.

Liu Xiong stood petrified, staring in horror at his fallen brother, his body trembling. The late-stage Four Symbols realm was a whole level above his own, the oppressive aura leaving him unable to move. He could only watch, numb, as the red-robed youth—like a god of death—claimed Liu Ye’s life, then slowly advanced toward him.

Closer. Closer still.

Liu Xiong wanted to flee, to run far away, to escape those cold, merciless eyes. But his body would not obey, trembling uncontrollably.

How long that moment of terror lasted, he did not know. At last the red-clad figure stood before him, eyes black as midnight and utterly devoid of emotion, yet suffused with the scent of blood. An arm rose, and a foot-long crimson dagger slipped silently toward him.

Liu Xiong stood like a statue, unmoving, unable—or unwilling—to dodge. Compared to that endless fear, death might have been a relief.

The dagger slid effortlessly into his heart, the blade soaking in his blood, its crimson hue deepening.

Lowering his gaze, Liu Xiong saw the knife jutting from his chest, blood welling and dripping down.

The red shadow withdrew the blade. Pain followed. The terror slowly ebbed, life fading. Liu Xiong gave a strange smile, his body crumpling as he fell.

The two Liu brothers lay dead, and silence fell over the courtyard.

Lin Ruoxi covered her mouth with a small hand, her eyes fixed on that blood-drenched figure, the scent of blood stirring a faint unease in her heart.

All around, the Liu family’s servants stood ashen-faced. The fearsome Liu brothers, infamous for decades, had fallen to the young man’s dagger.

Ye Zihan’s aura gradually subsided, stabilizing at early-stage Three Talents. He exhaled deeply, trying to dispel the dizziness in his head.

“What are you staring at? Go find your mother, then go home.” Seeing the look in Lin Ruoxi’s eyes, Ye Zihan knew he had frightened her, but offered no explanation, simply changing the subject.

“Alright.” Feeling Ye Zihan’s familiar presence return, Lin Ruoxi’s heart eased. She nodded softly.