C5 The War Had Begun!!

Qin Buyi settled into a corner of the tavern, nibbling on his meal while eavesdropping on the chatter of fellow diners.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

A posse ascended the staircase to the second floor. Scanning the room, they zeroed in on Qin Buyi.

"Smack!"

A token inscribed with the character "Tang" was slammed down on the table.

"You behind this, kid?" the ringleader sneered from above.

Qin Buyi set aside his chopsticks and met the gaze of the five men.

Before he could utter a word, a sycophant piped up from behind the leader, "Sixth Young Master, this scum deserves to be dragged back for a family-style execution."

The Sixth Young Master gave a curt nod and gestured. His entourage closed in around Qin Buyi.

Curious glances and hushed gossip fluttered among the other patrons.

"Who's that? He's caught the attention of the Tang family's notorious scoundrel!"

"Remember when Sixth Young Master Tang publicly harassed the Wang family's darling? The Tang Patriarch had to grovel for forgiveness."

"Yeah, and he had to forfeit several shops to settle that debacle."

"Wasn't Sixth Young Master Tang confined by his own father over that incident? He's barely free and already causing trouble."

The four encircling Qin Buyi were two at the Foundation Stage and two in the early phase of the Golden Core, under the scrutiny of the Probing Eye.

Sixth Young Master Tang, standing before him, had attained the middle phase of the Golden Core.

Qin Buyi spoke calmly, "The Tang family has arrived sooner than anticipated. I've been expecting you."

"Listen, kid, come quietly with us and spare yourself some agony. But if you resist..."

He was cut off mid-threat.

"Clang!"

Qin Buyi drew his Killing Saber, its blade glinting ominously as it swept across the throats of the four men.

"Clang!" "Clash!"

The two at the Golden Core Early Period managed to draw their weapons in time, parrying Qin Buyi's lethal strike.

"Sssht!"

The two at the Foundation Stage weren't as fortunate; blood spurted from their necks like geysers.

"You dare to kill in front of me?" Sixth Young Master Tang exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and rage.

Qin Buyi regarded Sixth Young Master Tang with eyes as tranquil as still water.

"Bang—Bang—"

For reasons unknown, Sixth Young Master Tang felt a chill creep up his spine under Qin Buyi's steady gaze. He then recalled how his father had used medicinal pills to boost his cultivation to the Golden Core Middle Period.

With newfound courage bolstering his shaky resolve, he managed to muster a fierce demeanor and declared, "Today marks your end."

"You're full of hot air," Qin Buyi responded, his voice even-keeled.

"Killing Saber Technique: Slaughter!"

The Killing Saber hummed with high-frequency vibrations, exuding an aura of malevolence and bloodlust.

"Watch out!" warned Sixth Young Master Tang.

"Bang!" "Bang!"

Two headless bodies hit the floor.

In the span of just a few exchanges, all four men accompanying Sixth Young Master Tang lay slain.

The skirmish had ended so swiftly that many patrons were still trying to comprehend the situation as the heavy scent of blood filled the air.

"Who is this man who dares to slay members of the Tang family?"

"I know who he is; he's the same man who decimated the Nine-dragon Gang."

"The Nine-dragon Gang is nothing compared to the Tang family; he's stirred up serious trouble."

"People like him are unhinged. Best to steer clear."

Amidst the growing clamor, Qin Buyi remained unfazed. He flicked the blood from his blade and aimed its point at Sixth Young Master Tang.

With a voice devoid of emotion, he stated, "They're gone. You're next."

"Ah!"

A shriek tore from Sixth Young Master Tang. Having been coddled all his life, he had never witnessed such a gruesome spectacle.

Qin Buyi's brutally straightforward killing method had clearly sent a shockwave through Sixth Young Master Tang's psyche.

"Don't—don't come any closer!"

Shaking, Sixth Young Master Tang fumbled for his weapon, a dagger, from his storage ring.

The dagger quivered in his unsteady grip as he stumbled backward, his demeanor akin to that of a damsel in distress.

Observing the pitiful display, Qin Buyi couldn't help but shake his head in disdain. "Utterly useless."

A second later.

"Swoosh!"

The blade pierced through Sixth Young Master Tang's heart, its vibrations reducing the organ to fragments.

After sheathing the Killing Saber, the body of the Sixth Young Master Tang collapsed to the ground. In his final moments, he couldn't grasp why things had turned out this way.

He had been confined, yet upon learning that the Tang family was being challenged by someone at the Golden Core Stage, he pleaded with the Second Elder to let him resolve the issue and redeem himself.

It was supposed to be a simple task, given his own considerable strength. So why was it him lying dead?

Ding! The host has now become a sworn enemy of the Tang family. War Mission initiated!

War Mission: Annihilate the Tang family within three months without any external assistance!

Mission Reward: Eliminating each key member of the Tang family yields 5 attribute points. Total destruction of the Tang family will grant 20 points in the System Mall and a Primary Desolate Body.

(Note: Let the enemy shudder in fear in this one-against-many war!)

Qin Buyi scanned the room, noting the evasive glances of the patrons. Without further comment, he descended the stairs.

The server averted his gaze awkwardly, staring at the floor.

"How much for the meal?" Qin Buyi inquired as he approached.

"W-what?" The server jumped, startled by Qin Buyi's approach.

"The cost of the meal?"

"Five... Five Low Grade Spirit Stones," the server murmured.

Luckily, Qin Buyi's enhanced abilities included sharper hearing, or he might not have caught the reply.

He retrieved five Spirit Stones from his Storage Space and handed them to the server before exiting the establishment.

"Phew!"

With Qin Buyi gone, the diners released a collective sigh of relief. No one was eager to cross paths with the formidable man who had just slain the Tang family's Sixth Young Master.

"That lunatic actually killed the Sixth Young Master Tang."

"Crossing the Tang family? I'd wager this kid won't see the light of tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? He'll be lucky to last another hour."

...

The server turned to the shopkeeper, stuttering, "Shopkeeper, what do we do about upstairs?"

The shopkeeper was at his wits' end, with the Sixth Young Master Tang dead on his premises and no means to apprehend the killer.

"Snap!"

A resounding slap struck the face of the waiter. The shopkeeper, his expression darkening, snapped, "What are we supposed to do? I'd sure like to know that myself!"

After a moment, the shopkeeper let out a heavy sigh and instructed, "Leave the upstairs scene untouched. Inform the Tang family."

Within the Tang family compound, Sixth Young Master Tang lay dead alongside four corpses, all laid out before the Second Elder. The Second Elder's face shifted between light and shadow, reflecting his deeply troubled mood.

"Just a moment ago, he was alive, and now... a corpse," the Second Elder murmured to himself. "We're in deep trouble now."

Sixth Young Master Tang had been under confinement, and it was he who had released him. He had thought there was no danger in doing so, yet now the young master lay murdered. This was indeed a serious complication.

The sound of footsteps approached. "Thump, thump, thump!" Tang Zhentian, the Patriarch of the Tang family, entered the room.

His gaze fell upon his deceased son, and his eyes blazed with fury. "I want an explanation," he demanded.

The Second Elder recounted the events leading up to the tragedy with caution and precision.

"Patriarch, I did not foresee this outcome. I ask for your judgment," he said, accepting responsibility.

Tang Zhentian's fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly as he struggled to contain his emotions. Finally, he said, "You are not to blame for this."

Tang Zhentian harbored a unique affection for this wayward son, the child of his dearly departed favorite concubine.

"What is our next move, Patriarch?" the Second Elder inquired, treading lightly.

"By dawn tomorrow, ensure that tavern is wiped off the map of Azure Sun City. As for the one who killed my son, send Fifth Brother to bring him back—alive or dead."