C12 I Am an Immortal

A gang burst into the yard, led by a man in his thirties, broad-shouldered and clad in a green robe, with a prominent scar slashing across his right cheek—a clear sign of a man not to be trifled with. Flanking him were five or six young men, each brandishing a hefty wooden club, the very image of hired muscle.

This man was Zhang Ba, a notorious ruffian known far and wide. While he hadn't committed any heinous crimes, his frequent thievery and strong-arming were well-documented. Moreover, he was a loan shark. If debts weren't settled in time, he'd lead his cronies to pillage the debtor's home. He'd leave behind a chilling ultimatum: pay up within a month, or be sold into slavery at the frontier.

Upon seeing the intruders, Han Tianhe's face soured. He strode up to Zhang Ba and demanded, "Zhang Ba, what brings you here?"

Zhang Ba let out a contemptuous snort. "What do you think? When are you paying back the money you owe me?"

"The deadline hasn't passed yet, has it?" Han Tianhe had borrowed a mere ten taels of silver, with the understanding it would be repaid with interest within six months. Yet, only three months had elapsed.

"The deal was six months, but I'm strapped for cash," Zhang Ba retorted. "Pay back half now."

Han Tianhe was penniless. He pleaded, "Zhang, can't you extend the deadline just a bit?" He knew better than to confront Zhang Ba with force, so he softened his tone.

"An extension?" Zhang Ba scoffed. Turning to his henchmen, he ordered, "Go, strip the house of anything valuable."

The men, clubs in hand, moved toward the house. Han Tianhe blocked their path, protesting, "Stop! If you take our belongings, how will we survive?"

"How you survive is none of my concern. I want my money," Zhang Ba retorted. With a swift kick, he sent Han Tianhe sprawling to the ground with a thud.

Han Binn and his mother appeared at the doorway. The thugs sneered at the sight of them and barked, "Out of the way."

"Stop right there," Han Binn commanded, his expression turning stern as he addressed Zhang Ba, "Enough is enough, Zhang Ba. Don't push it."

Zhang Ba, who had been throwing his weight around for years, had never before encountered such defiance from a villager. He chuckled, "Oh, this is rich. You're telling me to stop? Well, I'm not going to." His gaze shifted to Wang Xiujuan standing next to Han Binn, and his smile widened. "That lady's not bad looking at all. A bit on the older side, but that doesn't matter. Grab her, boys. I'll give you a show right now."

Wang Xiujuan was still in her thirties, once the belle of the village. Fate had led her to Han Tianhe, who was nearly a decade her senior. Despite objections from their families, they fell in love and married. Time had taken their youth, but Wang Xiujuan retained a unique allure that set her apart from other women.

Han Tianhe adored his wife. Enraged by Zhang Ba's words, he leapt to his feet, seized a hoe from the yard, and roared, "You scoundrel, I'll fight you with everything I've got!"

His assailants blocked him immediately, ready to beat him to a pulp at Zhang Ba's signal.

Zhang Ba's brazenness was bolstered by his uncle's position as the City Lord. He may not have blood on his hands, but he was no stranger to leaving others maimed.

Zhang Ba sneered at the sight of Han Tianhe with the hoe, "Feeling protective? The worst is yet to come!"

Han Binn's complexion turned ashen. He discreetly affixed a talisman to his wrist and shouted, "Zhang Ba, you're digging your own grave."

Zhang Ba paid him no mind, signaling his henchmen with a glance, "This kid won't shut up and won't listen. Go on, break him."

Wang Xiujuan had only this one son, and after such difficulty in reuniting, she couldn't bear the thought of him being harmed. Desperately, she pleaded, "Please, Elder Zhang, spare my son! I'll do anything you ask." Tears streaming down her face, she bit her lip, exchanged a pained look with her husband, and knelt before Zhang Ba.

As she began to kneel, Han Binn swiftly caught her, his voice firm, "Mother, stand up. Watch how I handle them."

Zhang Ba, amused by the spectacle, taunted, "I'm right here. Let's see you get past me. If you can..."

Suddenly, the courtyard was illuminated by a flash of white light, and Zhang Ba was sent flying out of the yard.

Where Zhang Ba had stood, Han Binn now rose to his feet.

The onlookers were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances, terror in their eyes. They hadn't caught a glimpse of how Han Binn had moved so quickly. After a moment of shock, the thugs shouted in alarm and scrambled to assist Zhang Ba, who was now spitting blood, having lost several teeth. The blow had snapped him to his senses, and he quickly had his men support him back to Han Binn.

Han Tianhe, too, had been taken aback, but seeing Zhang Ba approach once more, he rushed to his son, shielding him with his body. Brandishing his hoe, he challenged, "If you want to harm my son, you'll have to get through me first... What... what are you doing?" He was cut off by the sight of Zhang Ba dropping to his knees, fervently bowing his head, "Big brother, I was blind. Please, have mercy on me!"

When Han Tianhe didn't respond, Zhang Ba, desperate, commanded his henchmen, "Why are you just standing there? Kneel down..." He then produced a wad of silver notes, extending them to Han Tianhe with a plea, "Big brother, uncle, sir, I'm begging you, please spare me! This money is a token of my respect."

Han Tianhe was silent, not out of refusal, but from sheer bewilderment. He turned to his son, seeking clarity, "Binn, what just happened?"

Wang Xiujuan, sensing she was on the brink of understanding yet not quite there, approached her son, "Binn, is it possible that you...?"

Han Binn nodded affirmatively and addressed Zhang Ba, "Did you get a good look just now, or do you need me to demonstrate again?"

That kick had nearly cost Zhang Ba his life. Upon hearing Han Binn's words, Zhang Ba's head shook like a tambourine as he said, "Immortal, I was blind to the truth. I deserve death..." He struck his own face repeatedly with full force, leaving blood-red handprints after each heavy slap.

Han Binn cleared his throat and, adopting the air of an Immortal, spoke with a sense of depth, "I'm willing to act as if today's incident never occurred. I can even settle the debt your parents owe you, but we must adhere to the agreement. Wasn't it set for six months? After six months, you can come to collect the money from my house."

Zhang Ba, still dazed from the blow, nodded and muttered, "Yes, yes..." Realizing his mistake, he quickly amended, "Immortal, there's no need to repay the money. Please accept this as well—it's my tribute to you." He hastily extended the money towards Han Binn, silently praying, "I hope he doesn't take offense, or I'm as good as dead." Sweat soaked his back; if the Immortal chose to end his life, not even his uncle's status as a city lord would save him.

Han Binn glanced at the banknotes with detachment and commented, "This money..."

Thinking Han Binn was implying the amount was insufficient, Zhang Ba hastily offered, "I'll have more sent over once I return."

"There's no need for that," Han Binn said, accepting the money. "I won't hold today's events against you. But if you dare to spread rumors or disturb my parents' peaceful life, then..."

Zhang Ba nodded frantically, assuring, "Immortal, I won't breathe a word."

"Get out of here!" Han Binn dismissed him with a cold huff, then turned to his parents, "Father, Mother, let's continue our conversation in the room."

Once seated inside, Han Tianhe and Wang Xiujuan looked at their son as if he were a stranger. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't reconcile the person before them with the Immortal he seemed to be.

Han Tianhe broke the silence, "Binn, are you truly an immortal?"

"Barely," Han Binn replied with a wry smile. He was no immortal—merely a servant to one, at best.

Despite his son's modest admission, Han Tianhe struggled to come to terms with it. The recent events felt surreal, like a dream. He probed further, "How did you become an immortal?"

Han Binn gave a simplified account of his recent experiences, carefully altering certain details, such as the incident at his uncle's house and the trials set by the Immortal. He touched on these only lightly. Concluding his story, Han Binn reassured his parents, "Father, Mother, all that is behind us. Your son is now an immortal."

Though the details eluded them, they trusted their son's words. After all, only an immortal could dispatch someone with a mere flick of the wrist. Han Tianhe's eyes filled with pride as he looked at his son, "I never imagined our Han family would produce an immortal. Your grandparents would have been overjoyed." A flicker of remorse crossed his gaze as he spoke.

Han Binn's memories of his grandparents were faint; he only knew they had been wronged and killed.

Wang Xiujuan, noticing her husband's pained expression, consoled him, "My dear, it wasn't your fault. Those people were beyond our means to challenge."

Her words shed light on the dark past, prompting Han Binn to inquire, "Dad, who exactly killed my grandparents?"

Before, Han Tianhe would have kept silent. But now, with his son an all-powerful immortal, he felt it was time to unburden his heart. "Thirty miles from here lies the Green Dragon Gang. Your grandparents were killed by the gang's second-in-command."

Han Binn's fists tightened as he addressed his father with resolve, "Dad, rest easy. It won't be long before the Green Dragon Gang is erased from this world."

Hearing his son's words warmed Han Tianhe's heart. He spoke with gravity, "Son, listen. You're now the sole hope of our family. Don't act rashly in anything you undertake. Our vendetta against your grandparents is significant, but now is not the time to pursue it. The Green Dragon Gang has its immortals, too. Seek your revenge when you're truly capable. After all, it's been over a decade; a few more days won't make a difference."

In the past, Han Binn cultivated to provide a better life for his parents and to earn their respect. Now, his motivation was unchanged. This was his first true purpose for cultivation—there were tasks he felt compelled to accomplish, and only by reaching a certain level could he achieve them. Strengthened by the hopeful gaze of his parents, Han Binn's resolve to cultivate deepened.

After staying home for two days, Han Binn left on the third night.

Bathed in moonlight that shimmered like water, Han Binn's figure was illuminated by a soft, white glow. He moved with the swiftness of an arrow loosed from its bow, heading straight for the Heaven Light Sect. Along the way, he grew thirsty and approached a small lake. As he bent down to scoop up some water, a clang sounded—a white stone had tumbled from his pocket.

Without hesitation, Han Binn reached for the fallen Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal. But the moment his fingers grazed the seal, something extraordinary happened. Energy from within him surged toward the jade seal at an astonishing rate. By the time Han Binn realized what was happening and tried to withdraw his hand, his body was already unresponsive, frozen in place.

The absorption by the Heavenly Dao Imperial Jade Seal accelerated, and Han Binn's body couldn't endure the frenzied flow of energy. Overwhelmed, he collapsed into unconsciousness.