Chapter 24

"Finally got rid of the others from the three major families, Yang Jun, I hope you don’t regret following me!"

As soon as they left the auction house, Nie Yun knew that at least four or five groups of people were following him, but he didn’t panic. In his previous life, he had too many enemies and had specifically learned anti-tracking methods. After confirming the positions of his pursuers, he easily shook off the others, leaving only Yang Jun and his two companions trailing behind.

The skill of being tracked by several groups and deliberately shaking off some of them was almost unbelievable to others, but for Nie Yun, it was effortless.

"Alright, this is the place!"

After shaking off the others, Nie Yun led Yang Yan to a dense forest outside the city and stopped. This place was in a mountain hollow, and it was now deep into the night, making it an ideal spot for robbery and murder.

"Your strength isn’t much, but your speed in escaping isn’t bad. If I weren’t good at tracking, you might have really gotten away!"

As soon as they stopped, a cold snort sounded from behind, and three figures emerged from the darkness.

"Yang Jun?" Yang Yan didn’t know who was tracking him, and seeing it was his half-brother, he was taken aback.

"Since you know who I am, hand over the Flame Axe and the Lotus Flower immediately! Don’t regret it, or you’ll lose your lives!"

Hearing his name, Yang Jun thought they had seen his face when he broke the window at the auction. He flicked his sleeve and sneered.

"Hand over these two items and pay a fine of one million taels of silver. Otherwise, not only will you two die, but everyone related to you, including your father, mother, brothers, and sisters, will die, without a single soul left alive!"

Yang Lin also roared, his face twisted with malice, his tone extremely arrogant.

"Without a single soul left alive? Hmph, you mean exterminate the entire clan?" Nie Yun’s face showed a strange expression.

"Exactly. Our young master is the first heir of the Yang family, a position of great respect. It’s a great honor for you to hand over the items personally. Refusing is courting death, and exterminating the entire clan is the lightest punishment!" Yang Lin shouted.

"Take off your disguise and show them. I want to see how they plan to exterminate your entire clan!" Shaking his head, Nie Yun turned and instructed Yang Yan.

"Alright!" Yang Yan hadn’t expected Yang Lin to be so arrogant. He wiped his face with his right hand, and the disguise fell off, revealing his true face. He looked at them and asked, "Do you want to exterminate my entire clan?"

"Is... Second Young Master?" Yang Lin and the other two were stunned.

They never imagined that the owner of the second row, room seventeen, was the clan leader’s other son, the young master’s half-brother, Yang Yan!

"Since you’re the one who bought these two items, that’s good!" Recognizing the owner of room seventeen as Yang Yan, Yang Jun’s lips curled into a smile that was hard to fathom. "Yang Yan, hand over the Flame Axe and the Lotus Flower, and I’ll take them back to the clan. Your purchase of these items is a significant contribution to the clan, and the clan will reward you generously. You might even be allowed to return to the clan!"

Yang Jun casually made an empty promise. If Yang Yan really handed over the items, the so-called reward would be far less valuable than the two items.

"Take them back to the clan? Are you still asleep?"

Yang Yan was surprised by his brother’s words and frowned, showing his displeasure.

"Ridiculous! Calling you Second Young Master is already a favor. Don’t you understand your current status? Handing over the Flame Axe and the Lotus Flower is a sign of respect. Don’t refuse and invite punishment!"

Yang Lin looked at Yang Jun, who nodded, and then roared with a twisted face.

"What did you say?" Yang Yan’s eyes narrowed, surprised that a servant dared to speak to him like this.

He had known Yang Lin before. When he was in the clan, this guy had always been respectful, like a lapdog. He never imagined that in less than half a year, his attitude would change so much.

"Are you deaf? You left the clan, but you still think you’re a young master? Don’t dream! You’re just a disgraced offspring. Seeing the first heir of the clan, you should kneel and offer your treasures, not argue!"

Another servant also roared.

"Good, good!"

Seeing their attitudes, Yang Yan understood. No one would dare to treat a master like this without backing. Even if they had ten lives, they wouldn’t dare!

"Yang Jun, these are your good subordinates! Brother, you’re truly a good brother. I’ll report everything to the clan and see how they handle it!"

"Report to the clan? Haha, go ahead!" Yang Jun smiled coldly, his voice devoid of any brotherly affection. "As a disgraced offspring, you can casually take out over a million taels of silver. I now suspect that you stole clan property and enriched yourself while in power. Hand over the Flame Axe, the Lotus Flower, and your money, admit your mistakes, and I might spare you. Otherwise, I’ll deal with you according to clan rules and have the right to kill you!"

"Stole clan property and enriched yourself?"

Yang Yan was shocked that this guy would lie so brazenly, twisting the facts and pointing to the wrong person. His lungs almost burst with anger.

No wonder his subordinates dared to speak to him like this. What kind of master brings what kind of soldiers. If the master is so shameless, how can the subordinates be any better?

"The young master has keen eyes. No wonder this guy insisted on leaving the clan; he must have stolen so much clan property!"

"Stealing so much money, not kneeling before the first heir to repent, and still arguing, how dare you! Truly shameless!"

Seeing the young master’s words, Yang Lin and the other two quickly followed.

"Good, good, a perfect act! Yang Jun, I used to consider you a brother. From now on, you’re you, and I’m me, with no connection at all!"

Yang Yan laughed bitterly, his anger at their shamelessness overwhelming.

What kind of clan has such a first heir? Is there any hope for this clan?

"Connection? You don’t deserve any connection with me! Just a bastard born to a lowly woman! Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, your mother didn’t die of illness; I slowly poisoned her to death! After poisoning her, I used some tricks to force you to leave the clan and made you grateful to me. Haha, a mere nobody, how dare you think you have any connection with me!"

Yang Jun had no intention of letting Yang Yan go, laughing coldly as he revealed his past actions.

"My mother was killed by you?" Veins bulged on Yang Yan’s forehead as he finally understood the truth, his eyes turning red.

No wonder his mother’s health worsened day by day, and no one could find out why. He had always thought she was seriously ill, but it turned out this "brother" had done this!

How could he have been so blind?

"Now you know, it’s too late. Since the young master has said this, I won’t let you live. Die!"

Yang Lin, understanding the young master’s plan, lunged forward with his hand.

He was at the peak of the fourth level of the Qi Sea realm, two levels higher than Yang Yan’s mid-fourth level. His attack was filled with true qi, surging like a tidal wave.

"Mother, today I’ll avenge you! Die!"

With a long cry, Yang Yan raised the Flame Axe and swung it forward!

"The Flame Axe is a powerful weapon. If you had refined it, I might have been wary, but you’ve had it for too short a time. Give it to me..."

Seeing Yang Yan not trying to dodge but swinging the Flame Axe, Yang Lin laughed and, relying on his strength, used an empty-handed weapon-grabbing technique to snatch it from Yang Yan’s hand.

If he could directly take the Flame Axe, he would surely be rewarded by the young master, with a bright future... Yang Lin was fantasizing about the young master’s rewards when his vision blurred, and his right eye saw his left side.

Thud!

He was split in two by the axe, his body falling to the ground in two halves, blood splattering everywhere.

"You refined the Flame Axe..."

Yang Lin finally understood what had happened, but it was too late. Regret was useless!

He should blame himself for sticking his neck out. He wanted to earn merit but ended up as a corpse.

"Mother, you died in front of me, and I didn’t even realize you were poisoned. I’ve failed you! Today, I’ll kill this enemy and avenge you!"

With one axe, Yang Yan split Yang Lin in two, tears streaming down his face. He charged at Yang Jun like a madman.

"Even if you refined the Flame Axe, so what? Let me tell you, the fifth level of the Qi Sea realm, the Out-of-Body stage, is far beyond your imagination!" Seeing him charge, Yang Jun wasn’t afraid but laughed coldly and punched.

The fifth level of the Qi Sea realm, the Out-of-Body stage, also called True Qi Out-of-Body, allows true qi to be released like arrows. A sharp wind whistled through the air, and the true qi wave struck Yang Yan’s chest.

Bang! Spurt!

The out-of-body true qi was impossible to dodge. Yang Yan was hit in the chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.

The fourth level of the Qi Sea realm, the True Qi stage, has formidable close-combat strength, but compared to the fifth level, which can release true qi, it’s far inferior!

If the fourth level is a warrior with a sword, the fifth level is a sniper with a gun!

No matter how sharp the sword, it can’t match long-range attacks. Before it can reach the target, it’s already injured. How can it fight?

Yang Yan and Yang Jun were in this situation. Despite Yang Yan’s increased strength from refining the Flame Axe, he was still far inferior to Yang Jun, who could attack from a distance.

"Even if I die today... I’ll kill you... to avenge Mother!"

Spitting out blood, Yang Yan didn’t retreat. His eyes turned even redder, and he charged at Yang Jun like a madman.

"Your mother is the most important person in your life. She was poisoned by this man. The intense hatred burned within him, making his strength whirl wildly, as if it would explode at any moment!

Boom!

Driven by hatred, Yang Yan didn’t even notice that at his most extreme moment, his true qi suddenly burst, breaking through some kind of barrier and making a qualitative leap!

"Die!"

With a long cry, the Flame Axe suddenly drew a scorching flame several meters long, slashing down on Yang Jun!

"How... How is this possible!"

Yang Jun’s eyes widened in shock as Yang Yan’s hatred reached its peak, breaking through the barrier from the mid-fourth level to the early fifth level. Before he could react, he was enveloped by the flames, his body swelling like a balloon and exploding with a bang!

"Mother... I’ve avenged you!"

Seeing the scattered flesh, Yang Yan fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he remembered his mother’s smile and voice.