C9 Scoundrel Zhang Hu

The carriage came to a halt just outside Ridge South Town.

The coachman, disgruntled over the meager fare, adamantly refused to go any further. With Peng Wei's home in Auspicious Cloud City, the two had no choice but to part ways there.

Ye Han stood on the ancient road, gazing upward as the sun dipped westward, signaling that the afternoon was waning.

Fortunately, the ancient road was a mere three miles from Ridge South Town, a distance that Ye Han could cover with ease given his current pace.

In less than half an hour, Ye Han found himself on the bustling streets of Ridge South Town.

A wave of nostalgia hit him, the kind that comes from being away from home for a long time.

Yet, the word 'old' couldn't be further from Ye Han's reality.

He was, after all, only sixteen and brimming with youth.

But his heart felt like that of a wanderer who had been adrift for a millennium.

Every sight and sound in Ridge South Town was achingly familiar, bringing a sense of ease to his body and conjuring up a series of warm memories. Perhaps this was the essence of the hometown sentiment deeply etched in Ye Han's mind.

The town's population paled in comparison to half of that in Auspicious Cloud City.

But today was the day of the monthly temple fair, drawing merchants, common folk, and nobility alike, all seeking leisure and indulgence.

Calls of vendors and peals of laughter blended with the smoky, earthy sounds of the street, creating a symphony of joy. The scene was nothing short of vibrant.

Caught up in the festive atmosphere, Ye Han felt no rush to return home, instead taking his time to meander through the streets with a keen interest.

Now and then, he lingered at a jewelry stall, debating whether to purchase some adornments for his mother.

At times, he joined the throngs around street performers, cheering on the strangers who entertained them.

...

"Ugh, my rotten luck! You little urchin, how dare you soil my brand-new clothes? Give him a good thrashing!"

"Young Master, Lian'er didn't mean to, I swear! Lian'er knows she's made a mistake! Ah..."

While Ye Han was engrossed in examining curiosities at a nearby stall, a piercing cry of distress erupted behind him.

He instinctively furrowed his brow and turned toward the source of the commotion.

Outside the entrance of a rather opulent restaurant, a crowd had gathered, buzzing with conversation. The cries of a young girl emanated from the center of the throng.

Ye Han made his way through the onlookers and saw three sleazy men beating and kicking the girl, while a young man with an expression of outrage stood nearby.

"Is that Zhang Hu? Three years ago, he took the Cloud Facing Pavilion's exam with me. I recall Zhang Hu didn't pass. To think he's now a village tyrant."

Zhang Hu, his anger mounting at the sight of the black handprint on his robe, advanced and delivered several kicks to the girl's bent back.

"Damn beggar, you're as low as a dog. I usually wouldn't waste my time on you, but today you dared to soil my clothes. You truly deserve to die."

The kicks were so severe that even an adult might not endure them, much less a seven or eight-year-old girl. Her pitiful cries rang out, "Young Master, Lian'er admits her mistake. Ah! Ah!..."

Her plaintive wails pierced the conscience of everyone present like needles. Fear of retribution from Zhang Hu kept them all from intervening.

"This poor child is so unfortunate, to have provoked none other than Ridge South Town's notorious bully, Zhang Hu."

"It's heartbreaking. Abandoned at such a young age, and now this. Her cries are shattering my heart."

...

The crying grew fainter, and the little beggar on the ground was barely clinging to life. The crowd felt a collective tightness in their chests, and many strong young men, burning with anger, were held back by those around them from charging forward.

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, yet no one dared to step up, an elderly man with a benevolent face emerged and implored, "Young Master Zhang, she's just a child. A reprimand would suffice. If you continue like this, you might kill her."

"Old fool, don't make trouble for me," Zhang Hu snarled. "I haven't yet collected this year's rent for your shop. You'll be the one to suffer when the time comes."

Upon hearing the words, the elder took a look at the girl lying on the ground. He hesitated briefly before shaking his head and walking away. "Sigh! Poor child, may you find a better family in your next life."

Zhang Hu caught a glimpse of the elder's somber departure and boasted, "Let me tell you, today, anyone who crosses me is in for a year of bad luck."

"Go ahead, little brat, scream your heart out! Everyone may sympathize with you, but I find you increasingly repulsive. You could shout yourself hoarse, but on this street, no one dares to defy me and rescue you."

"Tsk, tsk, Old Zhang, such bravado. Don't strain your back now," a chilling voice cut through the crowd.

Zhang Hu, enraged, bellowed, "Who? Who's courting death?"

"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"

In a blur of motion, three sleazy men were kicked into the air, landing with rolls on the ground, unable to get back up.

Zhang Hu's gaze shifted to the youth, his expression shifting from shock to scorn. "Well, well, if it isn't the Cloud Facing Pavilion's number one waste, Ye Han. What's the matter, got thrown out early?"

Ye Han gently lifted the girl and, sensing she was still alive, breathed a sigh of relief. He spoke with indignation, "This brute, to strike with such force. How on earth did his parents raise him?"

Ye Han had always detested the strong bullying the weak, and now that he had stumbled upon such a scene, there was no way he could stand idly by.

With a disdainful glance at Zhang Hu's greasy face, Ye Han sneered, "I may be known as the top loser of the Cloud Facing Pavilion, but at least I made it inside. That puts me leagues ahead of those who don't even know which way the gate opens."

Enraged, Zhang Hu retorted, "Ye, don't fool yourself. In the Cloud Facing Pavilion, you're a nobody, with a reputation that stinks to high heaven. Stop putting on airs in front of me."

Unruffled, Ye Han chuckled, "At least I'm not as infamous as the notorious young bully of Ridge South Town. Watch your back, or you might not even see it coming when someone decides to take you down."

That was a piece of genuine advice, priceless and sincere.

Someone did indeed decapitate Zhang Hu and suspended his head in the streets for three days, yet the identity of the perpetrator remained a mystery.

Zhang Hu scoffed at the warnings, "You think too little of me. I've reached the Pulse Opening Stage at Level One. I'd like to see who has the guts to challenge me."

His gaze then swept over the crowd with an unmistakable menace.

"You're like a frog in a well, oblivious to the world beyond. Even a Saint fears constant scrutiny. And here you are, a mere young cultivator at the Pulse Opening Stage, foolishly trying to silence dissent with brute force. It's laughable."

Ye Han turned to leave, unwilling to waste more words. The child's condition was critical and required immediate attention.

But to Zhang Hu, Ye Han's departure seemed like an attempt to flee.

Having been humiliated by Ye Han earlier that day, Zhang Hu was not about to let him off easily, especially after hearing that this 'good-for-nothing' had never managed to open his meridians.

Zhang Hu's apprehension towards Ye Han vanished in an instant, and with a sneer, he taunted, "Since you're courting death, I'll oblige. You'll soon understand why the flowers are so brilliantly red."

Zhang Hu's fist flew with venom in his bloodshot eyes.

Ye Han, however, remained calm in the face of the ambush, his disgust growing.

He had no desire for conflict, but it seemed unavoidable now.

"You wretched cur, you've truly enraged me. Since you're so intent on courting death, I'll give you the lesson your father failed to impart."

With a powerful leap, Ye Han spun in mid-air and drove his foot towards Zhang Hu.

Despite cradling a child, his movements were swift.

Zhang Hu, caught off guard by the missed strike, looked up just as a fierce gale descended upon him.

"Thud!"

Ye Han's foot connected squarely with Zhang Hu's malevolent face, causing it to crumple and blood to spray in all directions.

The force sent Zhang Hu sprawling to the ground, with Ye Han standing over him, victorious.

The street was enveloped in silence, so profound that one could hear a pin drop.

Zhang Hu's prowess at the Pulse Opening Stage was not just for show. Yet, he found himself pinned underfoot by the youth, rendered completely immobile. The sight struck a powerful chord with the onlookers, etching itself into their memories.

"Ye, if you're brave enough, kill me. Otherwise, you're nothing but a coward, a weakling. Mark my words, I will not let this go..." Zhang Hu's rage was boiling over. Convinced that Ye Han wouldn't dare to deliver a fatal blow, he unleashed a torrent of insults.

Ye Han gazed down at Zhang Hu beneath him and spoke with icy detachment, "Killing you today would be of no consequence to me. I simply prefer not to sully my shoes or spoil my mood."

With a resounding "Thud!" Ye Han delivered a forceful kick to Zhang Hu's belly, sending the rotund figure tumbling away.

But Ye Han wasn't about to let him off easy; he was determined to teach this villain a lesson he wouldn't forget.

"Thud!" In a blur of motion, Ye Han reappeared behind the human meatball and unleashed another kick, propelling him through the air once more.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Like a ball being bounced around, Zhang Hu was kicked back and forth by Ye Han a dozen times before he could finally dodge.

The crowd watched as Zhang Hu lay on the ground, wailing in agony, and they couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The bolder among them, unable to contain their glee, covertly gathered stones and hurled them at him.

Having terrorized Ridge South Town for years, Zhang Hu was widely despised. Now that someone had led the charge, a barrage of stones rained down upon him without mercy.

Only when Zhang Hu was utterly incapacitated did Ye Han feel comfortable walking away.

As the onlookers watched the young man's retreating figure, they were spellbound, their gazes filled with admiration.

"Evildoers will eventually meet their fate. The heavens have finally seen fit to rid us of this scoundrel, sending this Young Hero to deliver our retribution!"

"How ignorant I've been! This is the Ye Family Patriarch's young master, who has spent years cultivating in the divine sanctuary. Truly, he is a prodigious talent!"

As the saying goes, 'The countenance is a reflection of the heart.' Just by looking at Young Master Ye's graceful and refined demeanor, one can tell he is a person of great virtue."