Chapter 47: Pretentiousness Invites the Thunder’s Wrath

"Who goes there!"

Mu Gaofeng was instantly on alert. When he turned his head, he saw, to his surprise, a young man whose face seemed vaguely familiar.

Though he could not recall where they had met, Mu Gaofeng’s expression darkened, knowing his plot had been exposed.

"Where did this brat come from? Get out at once, or you’ll have trouble to answer for."

Hearing the threat in Mu Gaofeng’s voice, Yang Wenhao smiled with amused disdain. "I wonder how Lin Pingzhi will feel when he sees this scene."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhennan and his wife, Madam Wang, fixed their gaze on Yang Wenhao.

Mu Gaofeng narrowed his eyes, his look hostile as he scrutinized Yang Wenhao. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "You’re the boy from the Liu residence that day!"

"Well, I must say, old man, you have quite the memory for your age," Yang Wenhao replied.

Mu Gaofeng’s face grew ugly. Anyone would be aggrieved at such an insult. "You’re courting death!"

In an instant, Mu Gaofeng gripped his cane and attacked Yang Wenhao.

Yang Wenhao, naturally, was not about to stand idly by. Mu Gaofeng’s strength was below that of Yu Canghai; even if Yu Canghai himself were here, Yang Wenhao would have him on the ground.

There was a flash of silver in his hand, and he easily parried Mu Gaofeng’s assault.

"Old man, did you skip your meal?" Yang Wenhao’s eyes shone with mockery.

"Whelp, you’re begging for death!" Provoked, Mu Gaofeng’s staff gleamed coldly as he thrust at Yang Wenhao.

“Hmph…” Yang Wenhao could see through Mu Gaofeng’s paltry tricks with ease.

In the next moment, under Mu Gaofeng’s glare of fury, the curved blade that should have slashed at Yang Wenhao suddenly turned and cut toward Mu Gaofeng himself. Mu Gaofeng was stunned.

A harsh tearing sound filled the air.

Struck by Yang Wenhao’s palm, Mu Gaofeng staggered back several steps. Blood welled up in his throat and spewed forth. Looking down at the ghastly wound on his chest, where the curved blade had sliced him open, he saw blood gushing like a stream.

"A true hero knows when to retreat!"

Realizing the formidable depths of Yang Wenhao’s skill, Mu Gaofeng’s first thought was to escape.

Seeing this, Yang Wenhao let out a cold laugh. "Run? I’d like to see where you think you can go!"

Just as Mu Gaofeng was about to flee, Yang Wenhao appeared by his side in a ghostlike flash and struck him squarely with his palm.

Mu Gaofeng was caught completely off guard by Yang Wenhao’s astonishing speed. He was hit in the chest before he could react.

Yet, after taking several steps back, Mu Gaofeng realized that the blow seemed to have little effect.

"What did you do to me?" Mu Gaofeng felt certain Yang Wenhao hadn’t gone easy on him.

"You’ll find out soon enough." Yang Wenhao paid him no further heed and turned instead to Lin Zhennan.

Seeing this, Mu Gaofeng climbed out through the window and made his escape.

With a single stroke, Yang Wenhao severed the ropes binding Lin Zhennan and his wife. Having been imprisoned without food or water for so long, their bodies were frail to the extreme.

At this point, Lin Zhennan and his wife were barely clinging to life.

"Cough… cough…"

Lin Zhennan, still holding on by a thread, looked at Yang Wenhao. "Young hero… I am the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. My wife and I have suffered this calamity, and I have a few words I hope you’ll convey to my son, Lin Pingzhi."

"Speak," Yang Wenhao replied.

"In the old residence on Xiangyang Lane, Fuzhou, there are family heirlooms. Tell him to guard them well. Our ancestor Lin Yuantou left a warning: Lin family descendants must never look upon them, or catastrophe will follow."

With these final words, Lin Zhennan passed away.

Looking at the two bodies on the ground, Yang Wenhao’s face remained calm. "Xiangyang Lane in Fuzhou."

If he was not mistaken, this was the hiding place of the Bixie Sword Manual.

Alas, he knew all too well the dreadful side effects of mastering that manual to its utmost.

Just as he was about to tidy up and leave, a sudden cry from outside reached his ears—it was Yilin’s voice.

"Damn!" In an instant, Yang Wenhao understood what had happened.

When he reached the courtyard, he found Yilin, unconscious, being held hostage by Mu Gaofeng.

Mu Gaofeng’s face was grim, and upon seeing Yang Wenhao, he snarled, "Boy, undo whatever you did to me, or I, the Northern Camel of the Desert, will not hesitate to destroy this flower."

In the end, it was Yang Wenhao’s arrogance that cost him. He had assumed a single strike would suffice to deal with Mu Gaofeng, never expecting he would overlook Yilin.

That palm, in truth, was a variation of the Phantom Yin Finger. With it, Mu Gaofeng was doomed to die; Mu Gaofeng himself knew this, which is why he seized Yilin to force Yang Wenhao to remove the deadly effect.

Yang Wenhao remained composed. It could be undone—his own inner energy had caused it, and he could control it.

But to relieve Mu Gaofeng right now would be foolish. Given Mu Gaofeng’s treacherous character, who could say what he might do?

Yang Wenhao dared not act rashly.

He and Yilin were not deeply connected, but after spending so much time together, she counted as something of a friend.

Moreover, it was because of him that Yilin was being threatened now.

"Release her first, and I’ll help you," Yang Wenhao said.

At these words, Mu Gaofeng snorted coldly. "Do you take me for a fool? If you don’t hurry, I’ll kill her!"

"You’d best think carefully. If she loses a single hair," Yang Wenhao’s face turned frosty, "I swear, not even the ends of the earth will save you."

Mu Gaofeng hesitated. Indeed, killing the girl would solve nothing; she was only leverage. "Fine, give me the antidote and I’ll let her go!"

"Stop right there! What are you doing? Come any closer and I won’t be so polite!"

As Yang Wenhao approached, Mu Gaofeng panicked. Yang Wenhao’s strength was formidable, especially his ghostly movements—he was no match.

"It has to be done up close," Yang Wenhao said.

Mu Gaofeng’s voice was cold. "Don’t even think of tricking me—hand over the antidote!"

"I told you, it requires close contact," Yang Wenhao replied. "And only I can undo it. If you want to waste time, so be it—for you’ll be dead soon anyway."

"You—!"

Mu Gaofeng knew he was being threatened, but there was nothing he could do; his life was in Yang Wenhao’s hands.

He hesitated. "How will you do it?"

"Just a touch will suffice," Yang Wenhao replied.

"Very well," Mu Gaofeng said. "Bind your hands and come over."

Yang Wenhao hesitated, then nodded in agreement.

He found a length of rope and tied his hands together.

"Good. Now come here." Mu Gaofeng watched him warily.

Yang Wenhao’s expression was calm, not the least bit flustered, as he slowly approached Mu Gaofeng.