Chapter Fifty-Two: The First Kill (Please Add to Favorites)

The reason Fan Yongnian avoided seeing anyone was that he did not wish to explain how he acquired the wound on his hand. He certainly could not admit to others that he had injured himself while practicing martial arts; that would be a laughingstock. Nor did he remain in his own room. Instead, he activated a hidden mechanism and slipped into the secret chamber concealed within his quarters.

As the head of the Fan family for decades, Fan Yongnian had naturally used his power and influence to modify his residence in various ways, and this secret chamber was a costly addition he had commissioned. Inside, he gazed at the wound on his hand, his expression grim.

If it were possible, he would have liked nothing better than to capture Yang Ze, interrogate him thoroughly, and claim all the youth’s secrets for himself. Yet, unfortunately, that was no longer within his reach. He had to give up, sacrificing the chance, and instead proposed an alliance with Mu Dou to take Yang Ze down together.

He might not acquire the secret, but Yang Ze must die—this was the thought that consumed Fan Yongnian. As for why he dared approach Mu Dou, Fan Yongnian had his own calculations. Everyone believed there was no connection between him and Mu Dou, but who knew that, long ago, before either had reached the Qi-Gathering stage, they had shared a fleeting acquaintance? Though insignificant, Fan Yongnian was confident he could exploit that connection to create an opportunity for himself.

Perhaps, with this chance, he could kill Yang Ze, then eliminate Feng Lixuan as well. By then, there would be no one left in North City capable of standing in his way. He could elevate the Fan family’s power to its peak.

This was Fan Yongnian’s ambition. He knew, given his age and talent, that breaking through to the acquired realm was nearly impossible. Thus, in these final days, his greatest wish was to strengthen the Fan family as much as he could, leaving behind a legacy for the generations to come.

“I can’t approach Mu Dou just yet. I must wait until I’ve recovered, or he’ll see through me.” Fan Yongnian looked at his wound, opened a cabinet in the secret chamber, and took out a medicine bottle.

…

Since the assassination attempt, Yang Ze had not stayed in his own courtyard, but had moved into the study. He could have returned to the Yang family, but he had no fondness for them—having finally gained his freedom, why go back?

Luckily, the study was a quiet place. Without orders, no one dared disturb him. Yang Ze relished the peace and continued to practice the Nine Spirals Finger technique.

It had been ten days since Fan Yongnian and Feng Lixuan’s attempt on his life. Both had remained conspicuously quiet, making no further moves. Yang Ze, however, did not believe for a moment that they had given up. The quieter they became, the more certain he was that they were plotting something significant.

Moreover, he could not forget that the people from Wuyang Martial Institute were truly about to arrive this time. The delay was over; in ten days, they would be here.

Yet he still had not secured the quota. Only by taking control of Chenglan Street from the Feng family and Wenjia Street from the Fan family would Yuan Heng hand over the position to him.

Time was running out. If the two men did not act soon, he would have to seize the initiative himself. He could not afford to wait passively any longer.

Deep into the night, Yang Ze was troubled by these thoughts. He was just wondering whether to seek out Old Xie for advice when there came a knock at the study door and Old Xie’s voice drifted in.

Yang Ze quickly invited him in. Old Xie did not even pause for a drink but spoke at once: “Second Young Master, Fan Yongnian is on the move. Just now, he left the Fan residence and headed for the East City.”

“The East City? What business does he have there at this hour?” Yang Ze asked.

“I don’t know his purpose. What’s more, he slipped out in secret, hiding it from everyone in the Fan family. Were it not for the fact that I have been hiding on the Fan residence roof, watching his quarters closely, I would never have noticed his departure,” Old Xie said. No one would have guessed he had spent this time observing from above.

“Very well, I’ll set out at once.” Yang Ze picked up his blade and turned to leave, but Old Xie barred his way.

“Second Young Master, what do you intend? Are you planning to intercept Fan Yongnian?”

“Old Xie, you need not involve yourself in this. I would never act recklessly,” Yang Ze replied, his tone resolute, meeting Old Xie’s gaze.

Old Xie’s expression shifted repeatedly. After a long sigh, he let Yang Ze go.

Yang Ze mounted a swift horse and rode straight for the East City.

The East City passage was the main artery connecting East and North City. In the stillness of night, a solitary figure in a bamboo hat made his way along the corridor.

When the figure reached the midpoint, he suddenly stopped. Ahead, a young man stood in his path, a great blade slung across his back.

“Master of the Fan family, at your age, why do you so enjoy sneaking about at night? Up to some unsavory business again?” the young man called out. It was Yang Ze.

At these words, Fan Yongnian lifted his head, his face dark, eyes fixed on Yang Ze.

“To think you’d dare come looking for me yourself. In such a hurry to die? You got lucky and wounded me once, and now you believe yourself my match?” Fan Yongnian’s voice was icy, though his heart had already sunk.

He was certain Feng Lixuan would not dare spread word of the incident to his own family. No one, then, would be watching him. So long as he kept wary of the Fan family, he could slip out unnoticed.

Yet he had not expected Yang Ze to be so bold, watching his every move and even daring to confront him directly. It was almost an insult.

“Die? If you truly have the skill, Master Fan, by all means—try!” Yang Ze retorted, striking first with a speed that took Fan Yongnian by surprise.

Yang Ze, after all, was a high-level Qi-Gathering martial artist, his name growing in renown of late. Who would have thought he would abandon all pretense of martial decorum?

What Fan Yongnian did not know was that, at this moment of life and death, Yang Ze had no interest in chivalry. Whatever means it took to kill Fan Yongnian—that was all that mattered.

In the blink of an eye, Yang Ze was upon him, blade drawn and executing the Tiger’s Kill technique in a swift arc.

A sudden gust of wind swept down the stone-paved avenue, whipping Yang Ze’s hair as his blade, brimming with killing intent, cleaved down faster than ever.

At the critical moment, Fan Yongnian struck back, his palm flashing out to meet the incoming blade. There was only the fleeting blur of movement before his hand met steel.

Tiger’s Kill was neutralized, but Fan Yongnian’s strike did not end there. Its residual force continued toward Yang Ze’s left shoulder.

Yang Ze’s face remained unchanged. As Tiger’s Kill was dispelled, he responded with a Tiger’s Roar, slashing across with a howl of wind, the powerful blade directly intercepting Fan Yongnian’s palm.

Fan Yongnian’s brow furrowed. Channeling his inner energy, he met the blade with his palm once more. In that instant, blade and hand clashed and recoiled.

“You arrogant whelp, tonight I’ll show you the true power of a Qi-Gathering master at his peak!” As he spoke, Fan Yongnian drew a short sword from beneath his robe.

With a flick of his wrist, the blade flashed in the darkness, darting toward Yang Ze at a speed matching his own.

Yang Ze gave no reply. Instead, he launched the Fierce Tiger’s Descent, his blade colliding with Fan Yongnian’s broken sword.

Steel met steel in a shower of sparks, Yang Ze putting his full strength behind the blow, driving the broken sword downward.

Fan Yongnian’s expression hardened. Wielding the sword single-handedly, he thrust forward, his left palm striking out at Yang Ze.

Yang Ze countered with a punch. Fist met palm, and Yang Ze shuddered, forced back by the impact, but his superior strength pressed down through the blade, bringing the full might of Fierce Tiger’s Descent to bear.

Fan Yongnian pressed the attack. “Let me show you the Gale Palm of the Fan family!” His strike was so swift it left afterimages in its wake.

Yang Ze’s Fierce Tiger’s Descent ended, but he instantly struck again, sending a blade wave roaring forth.

Fan Yongnian sneered, shifting his footing and executing his own technique. In a blur, Yang Ze’s attack missed, while a flurry of palm shadows rained down upon him.

“You think your blade waves can still work? The same trick won’t succeed twice,” Fan Yongnian laughed. All this unfolded in a flash; the palm shadows were nearly upon Yang Ze.

“You’re celebrating too soon!” Yang Ze shot back. The blade strike that had missed suddenly twisted at an impossible angle, unleashing another wave of energy.

Fan Yongnian had not expected the attack he had dodged to curve back at such a moment; caught off guard, a blade wave struck his back.

The force of the blade entered his body, immediately breaking his flow of inner energy. All the palm shadows vanished, and the power rampaged within him, shaking him so violently he coughed up blood several times.

“You—” Fan Yongnian barely managed to speak before Yang Ze struck again, slashing open his throat. Blood spurted forth, and Fan Yongnian collapsed lifeless to the ground.