C9 The Entire City Was in an Uproar

After defeating Lord Tang, Qin Buyi accessed his personal information panel:

Name: Qin Buyi

Cultivation: Second Rank, Golden Core Middle Period (29/50)

Strength: 29

Speed: 29

Stamina: 29

Attack Power: 29

Defense: 29

Luck: 29

Killing Saber: Second Rank (29/50)

Attack Power: 29

Killing Saber Technique: Second Rank (29/50)

Attack Power: 29 …

Within the Tang family compound, reports were stacked high on the table, and Tang Zhentian's gaze burned with fury.

"Patriarch, our analysis shows that overnight, our holdings in Azure Sun City have suffered a loss of one-third of their value, with casualties numbering in the hundreds," the Second Elder reported from the side.

"Damn it, damn it!" Tang Zhentian seethed through clenched teeth.

With a sharp "crack," a pricey vase met the floor, shattering into countless pieces.

"Patriarch, our informants within the Wang family have reported that the young man's name is Qin Buyi, an enigma with no known origins. He seems to have appeared out of thin air."

Tang Zhentian repeated under his breath, "Qin Buyi, Qin Buyi…"

Throughout the streets and alleys of Azure Sun City, everyone from the elderly on the brink of death to the women and children on the street corners was abuzz with the same topic.

"Last night, the Tang family's brothels, gambling dens, pawnshops, and other properties were set ablaze, nearly a third of them reduced to ashes."

"It seems the Tang family has crossed paths with some powerful figure to warrant such retribution."

"Powerful figure? I'm not so sure. Word has it that the whole ordeal began with a young man who killed Master Liu in a tavern."

"The Tang family attempted a retaliatory strike last night, but the scene was a massacre; even the Fifth Master of the Tang family fell."

"Passing by that street this morning, the air was still heavy with the stench of blood."

Back at the Wang family estate, Wang Zong stared at the reports spread before him, silent for what seemed an eternity before a wry smile crept onto his face. "This kid really knows how to stir up trouble. After confronting Tang Zhentian yesterday, I've now thoroughly antagonized the Tang family."

Qin Buyi had left Azure Sun City before dawn, returning to the Falling Star Mountain Range after his destructive work was done.

The Tang family had been building their empire for years, and to have duped them so severely meant staying in the city was akin to signing one's own death warrant.

After a quick meal, Qin Buyi stationed himself on the essential path leading into the Falling Star Mountain Range and waited.

By afternoon, three figures came into view.

His Probing Eye revealed two were in the Golden Core Late Period and one had achieved Golden Core Perfection.

Each of the Late Period individuals was significantly stronger than Fifth Master Tang.

Having slain Fifth Master Tang and Lord Tang, Qin Buyi had gained ten attribute points.

His strength substantially enhanced, Qin Buyi was now fully confident he could take on all three without defeat, though killing them would prove challenging.

A battle strategy began to take shape in his mind...

He held his breath, the Killing Saber gripped tightly, as he silently awaited their approach.

"Third Brother, the scouts report that the kid has fled into the Falling Star Mountain Range," said the one-eyed Fourth Master Tang to Third Master Tang, who had only his right arm remaining.

"That kid sure can run, making us brothers chase after him," Third Master Tang grumbled in response.

Walking at the rear, Seventh Master Tang, his eyes nearly closed, cautioned, "Stay alert. There's something off about that kid. I examined Fifth Brother's body."

"Plus, judging by the battle scene, his weapon is no ordinary piece. His strength, speed, and stamina are all exceptional. We could easily be caught off guard and end up capsized in the gutter."

Fourth Master Tang scoffed dismissively, "Seventh Brother, you're exaggerating. What can a mere Golden Core Early Period upstart really do to us?"

"Exactly," echoed Third Master Tang.

"Fourth Brother, have you forgotten how you lost your eye? And Third Brother, do you remember how your arm was severed?" Seventh Master Tang chided, clearly irritated by their nonchalance.

With their wounds laid bare, Third Master Tang and Fourth Master Tang were forced to confront their past...

Although Seventh Master Tang's face was stern, his inner stance remained unchanged. He shook his head and fell silent.

Qin Buyi watched as the three men drew nearer to striking distance, mentally ticking off the seconds:

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"Clang!"

"Fourth Brother, watch out!"

"Fourth Brother, be alert!"

Third Master Tang and Seventh Master Tang called out in unison.

"Killing Saber Technique: Slaughter!"

The blade of the Killing Saber glinted green in the sunlight as it vibrated at high speed, aiming for the weakest among them, Fourth Master Tang.

Caught off guard, Fourth Master Tang couldn't draw his weapon in time.

He rolled on the spot to avoid a fatal blow, but the Killing Saber's edge still struck his back.

"Chi!"

A gash deep enough to expose bone marred his back.

Having landed a successful strike, Qin Buyi spun around and dashed into the depths of the Falling Star Mountain Range.

"Stop, you little cur!" bellowed Third Master Tang in fury.

"Fourth Brother, are you alright?" inquired Seventh Master Tang.

"Haha, I'm fine, it's nothing serious. How much harm can a mosquito bite do?" Fourth Master Tang tried to sound composed, despite the sweat beading on his brow.

"That despicable runt, I'll rip him to shreds when I get my hands on him," Third Master Tang spat out with venomous hatred.

After hastily bandaging his wound, Fourth Master Tang commanded, "Let's go after him. I want to flay that little whelp piece by piece."

Perched in a tree, Qin Buyi watched the trio pursuing him with bandaged wounds and sneered, "Fools, meet your end in despair and agony."

As night fell, Qin Buyi became a specter, always catching the three Tangs by surprise.

He never lingered after an ambush, infuriating the Tangs with his hit-and-run tactics.

"Damn it, how can this little scamp be so devious?" cursed Third Master Tang.

"All the water sources we've come across have been poisoned."

Seventh Master Tang pulled a half-silver, half-blackened needle from the stream.

By dawn the next day, the Tang trio was worn out from hunger, exhaustion, thirst, and sleep deprivation, all while having to fend off the myriad dangers lurking within the Falling Star Mountain Range.

Most critically, lurking in the shadows was Qin Buyi, poised to strike at any moment.

The trio remained vigilant, their senses perpetually on edge.

"Third brother, do you have any water left in your storage ring?" Fourth Master Tang asked, his face unnaturally pale.

"All out. I assumed this mission would be a walk in the park and didn't come prepared," Third Master Tang admitted with a tinge of regret.

"I've got a bit of food and water left, enough to get us through the night," Seventh Master Tang called out from ahead.

Qin Buyi, concealed in the darkness, watched the three men closely, thinking to himself, "The time is nearly right."

Suddenly, Fourth Master Tang, trailing at the rear of the group, vomited a mouthful of blood, a sickly green mingling with the red.

"Fourth brother, what's happened to you?" Third Master Tang asked, urgency in his voice.

"Cough, cough... I... I think I've been poisoned..." Fourth Master Tang's voice was weak.

"Poisoned? When did it happen? Could it be...?"

Seventh Master Tang hurried over to Fourth Master Tang, ripping open his bandages to reveal a wound on his back, tainted green by the Killing Saber's slash.

"Such a clever trick, to be undone by such a simple misstep, cough, cough..." Fourth Master Tang's voice was filled with a complex mix of emotions.

As their focus centered on Fourth Master Tang, Qin Buyi seized the moment to attack.

"Clang!"

"Killing Saber Technique: Extermination!"

The Killing Saber swept over them like a waning moon.

Third Master Tang and Seventh Master Tang shielded Fourth Master Tang, whose fighting strength had been greatly diminished.

Both men were fully concentrated on Qin Buyi's assault, fearing the Killing Saber would strike them next, leaving them in the same fate as Fourth Master Tang.

As for the poison, Qin Buyi owed a debt of gratitude to the Tang family. He had scavenged it from one of their pawnshops, a case of the wool being pulled from the sheep itself.

The Killing Saber feigned a heavy blow towards the already poisoned Fourth Master Tang, but its true target was Third Master Tang.

"Die!" Qin Buyi bellowed.

The Killing Saber swung down towards Fourth Master Tang.

"Fourth Brother, watch out!"

Third Master Tang gripped his long saber with his one arm, attempting to halt the onslaught of the Killing Saber.

To his surprise, the Killing Saber abruptly shifted its course, lunging towards Third Master Tang.

"Chi!"

The saber's edge showed no mercy as it sliced a three-foot gash into Third Master Tang's arm.

Having landed a successful strike, Qin Buyi ceased the combat and turned to leave.

"Oh, and by the way, I've coated the saber's blade with a potent poison. Best of luck to you."

Qin Buyi's voice drifted back from a distance.

"Third Brother, could what he said be true?" Seventh Master Tang inquired.

"I'm not sure, but..."

Third Master Tang's gaze fell upon Fourth Master Tang, who had succumbed to unconsciousness from the poison's onset, and he felt a deep internal conflict raging within.