Chapter Twelve: The Slaying of the Tiger

By the time Yang Ze realized what was happening, Geng Song and Niu Juli were only five steps away from him. At such a short distance, he could feel an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him. Yang Ze quickly drew his saber; faced with two formidable opponents far beyond his ability to handle, there was no way he would dare face them barehanded.

But as soon as his saber appeared, Geng Song’s right hand, shaped like a claw, shot toward Yang Ze’s chest. Yang Ze slashed horizontally, but Geng Song’s right hand caught the back of the blade and, with tremendous force, pressed the weapon down onto Yang Ze’s body. Yang Ze felt his blood and energy roil within him, completely losing control over his body as he was sent flying backward.

Yet before he even hit the ground, Niu Juli was upon him, his right fist swinging straight for Yang Ze’s face. But before the blow could land, a withered hand thrust out, intercepting Niu Juli’s fist. Old Xie seized Yang Ze, stumbling six or seven steps back before coming to a halt, his right hand trembling uncontrollably.

Yang Ze breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t expected both Niu Juli and Geng Song would join forces to capture him, almost leaving Old Xie too late to save him. But it was also clear to Yang Ze that Old Xie was no match for Niu Juli. After just one exchange, Old Xie had already fallen behind, and with Geng Song added to the fray, there was simply no hope.

“A mere mid-stage Qi Induction cultivator dares to stand before me? No matter. Since you two are so loyal, I’ll send you both on your way together,” Niu Juli declared coldly, attacking without hesitation. Old Xie had no way out and could only charge forward, engaging Niu Juli head-on.

But as soon as they clashed, Old Xie was completely overpowered. The force behind Niu Juli’s punches far exceeded Old Xie’s own strength; with every palm he struck, Old Xie was forced back a step.

“Niu Juli, is this what you’ve come to? Taking so long to deal with a mere mid-stage Qi Induction cultivator? In that case, I’ll take care of the boy first,” Geng Song sneered, lunging for Yang Ze.

Stung by Geng Song’s words, Niu Juli was incensed. He drew the axe strapped to his back and, with a surge of power, swung it at Old Xie.

Old Xie took a deep breath, a flush of red suffusing his wrinkled face. Just as the axe was about to land on his head, both his hands shot out and clamped down on the axe.

Witnessing this, Yang Ze couldn’t help but admire Old Xie’s strength; to withstand a high-stage Qi Induction cultivator for so long was no small feat. But now, Yang Ze himself was in mortal danger—everyone else was fully occupied, and there was no one who could come to his aid.

“If you don’t step in now, I’m going to be killed by this man!” Yang Ze suddenly shouted just as Geng Song’s right hand was about to land on his head.

Geng Song’s expression changed and he abruptly retreated, for standing before Yang Ze was an elderly man dressed in gray.

“Elder Hong, if you’d been even a little slower, I’d be a corpse by now,” Yang Ze said gloomily, his dissatisfaction plain in his tone.

But Elder Hong showed no sign of admitting fault; he merely told Yang Ze to step aside.

Yang Ze was only too eager to have someone block the danger for him and hurriedly retreated, watching as Elder Hong faced Geng Song.

It was Elder Hong whom Yang Ze had relied upon to take such a risk. He’d sent a letter home just the previous afternoon, telling Yang Yuanzhen he needed Elder Hong’s help or he’d be doomed. True to his word, Yang Yuanzhen had sent Elder Hong at dawn. With Elder Hong present, Yang Ze no longer feared Geng Song and Niu Juli coming after him.

What he hadn’t expected was that Elder Hong would remain hidden, watching from the shadows. If he hadn’t called out at that moment, Elder Hong might not have intervened at all, which was why Yang Ze was so displeased.

On the other side, seeing Elder Hong appear, Niu Juli channeled all his strength into his arms, pressing his axe down with tremendous force. Old Xie gave a loud shout, his body spinning in a sudden roll; his right leg lashed out, kicking the side of the axe. The force of the blow sent Old Xie flying, and he landed hard on the ground, coughing up blood.

“Hong Yizhang, so you’re here,” Niu Juli said, ignoring the injured Old Xie and turning his gaze to Elder Hong.

“It seems both your factions have grown increasingly brazen over the years, daring even to kill the Yang family’s second young master. Come, the two of you together—let me see what progress you’ve made in your martial arts these past years,” Elder Hong said lightly, as if he didn’t take the pair seriously at all.

“Hong Yizhang, don’t think that just because you reached the high-stage Qi Induction before us you’ll have an easy victory. Since you dare to come today, I’ll kill you too!” Niu Dali roared, swinging his axe in a mighty blow at Elder Hong. He simply could not tolerate such contempt.

Geng Song said nothing, but the cold gleam in his eyes made it clear he shared Niu Dali’s resolve.

The two attacked in unison, their combined might sealing off Elder Hong from all sides, forcing him into a defensive position as he parried their onslaught.

Yang Ze, meanwhile, could only watch from the sidelines. With his current strength, it would be sheer folly to interfere in a battle of this level. The injured Old Xie also refrained from joining in again, standing by to protect Yang Ze.

Yang Ze watched the three clash without blinking. As time passed, he noticed Elder Hong gradually shift from defense to offense, while Geng Song and Niu Dali began to look pressed.

“Elder Hong has been at the high-stage Qi Induction for many years—these two can’t compare. His Ocean Heart Technique is especially enduring; the longer the fight, the more certain their defeat,” Old Xie explained quietly to Yang Ze.

Perhaps Geng Song and Niu Dali realized this as well, for they both withdrew a step and unleashed their full strength, launching a combined attack—palms and axe striking together.

Elder Hong’s eyes flashed; channeling his true energy, he slapped aside Niu Juli’s axe with one palm, surged forward in a lunge, and jabbed a finger into Niu Juli’s chest.

Struck by this finger, Niu Juli suffered a grievous wound, spewing a mouthful of blood as he staggered back several steps.

In that instant, Yang Ze moved. No one, not even Old Xie, could have predicted that Yang Ze would strike at such a moment.

Yang Ze gripped his saber tightly, his gaze fixed solely on Niu Juli. In his mind, images flashed—perfect scenes from the first move of the Black Tiger Saber Technique: Tiger’s Kill.

All his strength, the entirety of his initial-stage Qi Induction power, focused in his right hand, he unleashed Tiger’s Kill.

The moment he swung, Niu Juli saw it coming. He sensed the aura of death in that strike. Normally, with his strength, he could have easily slain the attacker, but at that moment, his energy was disrupted, and as he tried to lift his axe, it was too late—the blade descended.

Yang Ze’s Tiger’s Kill sliced into Niu Juli’s neck. Blood sprayed forth, and Niu Juli collapsed, lifeless.

All this, though lengthy in description, happened in mere heartbeats.

At the same time, Elder Hong caught Geng Song’s palm attack and struck back with two consecutive blows, sending Geng Song reeling and coughing blood. When Niu Juli died, Elder Hong’s third strike had yet to fall.

Sensing disaster, Geng Song tried to retreat, but Elder Hong’s expression changed and he immediately pressed forward, launching a fiercer assault to block Geng Song’s escape.

With Niu Juli dead, the Yang family and the Startling Sea Gang were now completely at odds. Yang Ze took a deep breath, using his saber to keep himself upright.

Killing Niu Juli hadn’t been a spur-of-the-moment decision—it was long planned. The man had humiliated him repeatedly, and with such a golden opportunity, Yang Ze wasn’t about to let it slip. Yet Niu Juli’s cultivation was two entire realms above his own, so Yang Ze had unleashed his full power in that single Tiger’s Kill, settling the score. As for the consequences, nothing could be worse than death—in a melee like this, it’s only natural for a few to die.

With Niu Juli dead, the Startling Sea Gang’s members panicked. Some tried to take advantage of the chaos to kill Yang Ze, but all were stopped by Old Xie.

“You wretch! How dare you kill our deputy gang leader—give up your life!” An enraged shout rang out as a burly man charged from the crowd, making straight for Yang Ze.

The moment this voice appeared, Elder Hong’s face changed for the first time. He abandoned his fight with Geng Song to meet the newcomer head-on. After a brief exchange, Elder Hong was forced back several steps, his face grim.

“Startling Sea Gang’s boss, Hai Dali,” Elder Hong said coldly.

Indeed, the man was none other than Hai Dali, the Startling Sea Gang’s leader, whose strength had reached the pinnacle of high-stage Qi Induction, just a step away from the realm’s summit.

Hai Dali had rushed over as soon as he heard of trouble, only to witness Niu Dali’s death. Fury consumed him, and he immediately moved to seize Yang Ze.

“Hong Yizhang, get out of my way or I’ll kill you too!”

“Master Hai, casualties are to be expected in a melee—must it come to this…”

“Fine! Then I’ll kill you as well, and then go demand an explanation from the Yang family!” Hai Dali roared, throwing a punch. Elder Hong could not retreat and countered with a palm.

Fist and palm collided; Hai Dali merely shuddered, while Elder Hong was forced back two steps.

At that moment, Geng Song returned to the fray. Seeing Hai Dali arrive, his confidence was restored, and he abandoned thoughts of fleeing.

Now facing two high-stage Qi Induction masters at once, Elder Hong’s composure vanished—he could only barely hold his ground. The earlier battle with Geng Song and Niu Dali had already drained him, and now, against the even stronger Hai Dali, he was truly outmatched.

Just as Elder Hong was silently cursing his fate, he heard a familiar voice.

“If someone wants an explanation from the Yang family, there’s no need to wait. Let’s settle it here and now.”

Yang Ze turned and saw the figure of Yang Yuanzhen, and called out softly, “Father, so you’ve come after all.”