Chapter Fifty-Four: Sweeping Through (Part One)

“Ah!”

Feng Lixuan let out a wretched scream, his face contorted as he stared at Yang Ze, only to find Yang Ze’s assault was far from over. Yang Ze’s right hand moved again, striking several vital points on his body.

In desperation, Feng Lixuan cried out, “You’ve been hiding your true strength all along!”

“Hmph!” Yang Ze snorted coldly, a mocking smile curling at his lips. He stepped forward, his finger thrusting directly into Feng Lixuan’s left shoulder.

The force of the strike erupted, piercing a small hole in Feng Lixuan’s shoulder as fresh blood gushed out. Staggering backward, he crashed into a chair, sending it tumbling.

“Yang Ze, you won’t kill me! Once the people of the Feng family arrive, it’ll be your death!” At the brink of life and death, Feng Lixuan finally cast aside his pride.

He knew his screams would surely alert his family. If only he could delay a little longer, their arrival would seal Yang Ze’s fate.

“I’m afraid you won’t get that chance,” Yang Ze replied calmly. He advanced again, his finger pressing into Feng Lixuan’s body. The man’s threats were cut short as the new strike worsened his injuries and sent him reeling.

Yang Ze had endured for so long. Since he began practicing the Nine Revolving Fingers, twenty days had passed, and now he had finally mastered its basic level, daring at last to strike and kill Feng Lixuan.

Three consecutive finger strikes landed, draining the color from Feng Lixuan’s face. Yang Ze, meanwhile, heard footsteps approaching outside.

Knowing there was no time to delay, Yang Ze moved with ghostly speed, closing in on Feng Lixuan. As Feng Lixuan tried to flee, Yang Ze kicked a chair, sending it flying into his body and knocking him to the ground. In an instant, Yang Ze’s finger pressed against his throat.

Feng Lixuan, gravely wounded, could not react. He scarcely understood why his defeat had come so swiftly. Pain flared in his throat as a torrent of blood surged forth; he tried to staunch it, but his strength failed him. Collapsed on the floor, he was unable to move.

Yang Ze looked down at Feng Lixuan. The footsteps outside grew ever nearer. With a final palm strike to the chest, Yang Ze unleashed a burst of force, shattering Feng Lixuan’s organs and extinguishing the last spark of life.

After finishing all this, Yang Ze drew out a scarf he had prepared long ago, covered his face, and opened the door. Footsteps echoed from every direction, quickly closing in.

With a leap, Yang Ze landed atop the roof and began to flee.

At that very moment, dozens of people poured into the courtyard, witnessing his escape. Feng Rui rushed into the house, finding the corpse sprawled on the ground. His eyes reddened as he roared in fury.

He recalled the figure who had just fled and immediately ordered his men to chase after him. Yet, the fugitive was too swift; by the time the Feng family pursuers gave chase, he had vanished without a trace.

“No matter who you are, you killed my father—I will make you pay with your life!” Feng Rui cried in anguish. With Feng Lixuan dead, the Feng family was on the verge of chaos.

Meanwhile, Yang Ze had already escaped the Feng residence. This time, after catching Feng Lixuan off guard in his sneak attack, he fled with all his strength.

To kill Feng Lixuan, Yang Ze had meticulously prepared; no one could have guessed he would dare such audacity, infiltrating the Feng estate to strike.

Nor could they imagine that in just twenty days, Yang Ze had mastered the poisonous Nine Revolving Fingers to the basic level—an ideal martial skill for close-range assassinations.

When Yang Ze reached the outskirts of the Feng family compound, Old Xie, who had been anxiously waiting, hurried over. The two exchanged a glance and left at once.

Only after returning did Yang Ze finally breathe a sigh of relief, but his gaze soon grew cold and resolute.

“Old Xie, both Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian have died by my hand. The situation in Four Corners Lane—and the entire North City—will surely change. I have a task for you.”

Hearing this, Old Xie’s heart sank. He hadn’t expected Yang Ze would actually kill two peak Qi-guiding martial artists. Though he wondered how Yang Ze achieved it, he did not ask.

“What would you have me do, Second Young Master?”

“Lead some brothers and spread the news of Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian’s deaths as widely as possible. If their families try to retaliate against you, don’t be afraid—just keep spreading the word.”

Yang Ze knew that even with the loss of their peak Qi-guiding heads, these two families were not foes he could easily confront. Only by first stirring public opinion to disrupt them would he gain the advantage.

Old Xie did as instructed, mobilizing most of their men, using Cloud Avenue as their base and spreading the news far and wide. Soon, the entire North City was awash with rumors of Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian’s deaths, and the news began to spread through all of Yuyang City.

At the Fan family manor, Fan Yongnian’s son, Fan Hao, listened as a servant reported the news from outside, slamming his palm on the table in anger.

“Nonsense! My father is a peak Qi-guiding master—how could he possibly be dead? Find out who spread this rumor!”

The trembling servant continued, “The news came from Cloud Avenue, and since the head of the house hasn’t appeared, not only Cloud Avenue, but many outside now believe it.”

“Utter nonsense! My father is not someone who would show himself just because of some stray rumors from the rabble of the martial world!” Fan Hao’s face flushed with rage as he cursed.

“You say this originated from Cloud Avenue?” Fan Hao suddenly asked.

“Yes.”

“Cloud Avenue? Yang Ze—this man is ambitious and ruthless. Since arriving in North City, he’s stirred up trouble again and again. He must have fabricated this lie to seize our territory, trying to sway us. He’s too arrogant—does he really think we’re powerless against him?”

“Young Master, since this concerns Yang Ze, perhaps the head of the house should handle it. Otherwise, if the rumors continue, some people may target us,” said Fan Qi. He deeply disliked Yang Ze, but remembering Yang Ze had killed Poison Master, he felt uneasy and dared not act alone.