Chapter 35

A banquet seemed to have ended with everyone in high spirits, and it wasn't until evening that Yang Yu left the estate.

Only when he saw Yang Yu's figure gradually fade into the distance did Yang Baotian's face suddenly turn grim: "Little brat, aren't you afraid of being stuffed to death!"

"I'll make him spit it out sooner or later!"

Yang Qiu's forced smile couldn't hold, and he kicked a small tree by the roadside, his face contorted with pain:

"This kid is too cautious, not even a drop of water... What should we do? Should we just grab that old woman?"

Who would have thought that after the banquet, this kid didn't even take a single sip of water, despite their preparations, they had no chance to act.

"Let's talk about it when we get back!"

Yang Baotian gave his son a cold glance and turned to go back into the house.

...

Declining the Yang family's offer to send him back in a sedan chair, Yang Yu left with a large bag and a small one.

After walking for several miles and confirming that no one was following him, he found a shady shrub, sat down, and opened the items he had received from the Yang family.

Three silver bills, totaling 300 taels, two gold ingots of 20 taels each, and several unremarkable ancient artifacts, including pendants, silk, and damaged books.

"This Yang family is not right."

As he casually handled a few of the ancient artifacts, Yang Yu became even more convinced.

A prison guard's annual salary is only ten taels, and even if he saved every penny from the age of sixteen to sixty-six, he could barely save 500 taels.

If it were a temporary worker, it would take 250 years of saving every penny to reach that amount!

At the banquet, he had indeed asked for a lot, but what he didn't expect was that the Yang father and son, though visibly pained, readily agreed.

A mere small gentry family, with only seven or eight generations of inheritance, could afford such a large sum?

What is in that prison?

As he pondered, Yang Yu picked out one of the ancient artifacts, a plain bronze tiger pendant.

"With two ingredients, this trip was not in vain! Moreover, these 500 taels are enough to support my second blood change."

Although he was cautious, he was quite satisfied with the results of this trip.

With a thought, he sensed the information about the new ingredient in the Cauldron of Gluttony:

[Bronze Tiger Descending the Mountain]

[Level: Good (Upper)]

[Quality: Good (Lower)]

[Description: Contains external martial arts, among which the Tiger Grappling Hand is the most ferocious.]

[Consuming it will grant the 'Tiger Grappling Hand']

[The Cauldron of Gluttony lacks sufficient energy to refine it]

"It's much more useful than that 'Qi Restoration Technique.'"

Yang Yu nodded slightly, but a hint of worry crept into his mind.

The Cauldron of Gluttony requires more and more ingredients to refine, but its energy is accumulating more slowly, as if even wrought iron is no longer sufficient.

Do I have to eat gold?

Glancing at the two gold ingots on the ground, Yang Yu had a thought.

If wrought iron works, there's no reason gold shouldn't. Expanding his thinking, mercury, bronze, tungsten steel, refined iron, and mystic iron...

"If this continues, I'll become a monster."

Rubbing his temples, Yang Yu dismissed the idea.

There's no way, he's too poor.

The ingredients for the second blood change from Old Wei are not cheap.

Putting away the items, Yang Yu didn't rush back to the city. He found a small forest far from the main road, started a campfire, and began practicing his knife techniques.

As night fell, he slowly stopped.

"In a few more days, the Iron Crotch Technique will reach the second level."

Wiping away the sweat, Yang Yu smiled.

The existence of the progress bar doesn't make practicing martial arts easier, but it allows him to feel his gradual improvement, a feeling that is intoxicating.

It's much like his former obsession with games.

For the past few months, whenever he practiced, Yang Yu lost track of time, only stopping when he was utterly exhausted.

But not today.

He hid the important items on his person and buried the less important ones in a pit. Then he turned and headed towards the Yang family estate.

...

Moving stealthily through the night, he crept across the grass.

Seeing the lights still on at the Yang family estate from a distance, Yang Yu slowed his pace and found a direction to approach.

The Yang family is just a small gentry, and although the earth fort is well-built, there aren't many people patrolling at night.

Before long, taking advantage of the darkness, Yang Yu climbed over the earth wall and scanned the area. Only a few spots were still lit.

Recalling the layout, he recognized that it should be the hall where they received guests during the day.

"Hosting guests at night?"

Yang Yu's heart raced, and he cautiously approached.

His memory was excellent, and he didn't forget the places he had walked through. He avoided the hidden and visible guards he had noticed during the day and approached the hall from the back.

Pressing his ear to the wall, he could faintly hear voices.

...

"It is truly an honor to have the envoy here."

After a round of toasts, Yang Baotian put down his wine cup and smiled, flattering the white-clad man seated at the head of the table.

The white-clad man was tall and muscular, his broad white robe fitting tightly on his body.

Without a response, the muscular man was eating meat with large bites.

Yang Qiu and the others, who were accompanying him, had their eyes twitching. The man ate like a whirlwind, and nothing, whether meat, bone, or thorn, came out.

"More!"

Throwing down his chopsticks, the man seemed unsatisfied.

Yang Baotian's face changed slightly, but he could only clap his hands and have the servants bring more wine and meat.

After three rounds, Yang Baotian's face was stiff, and the man finally burped, wiping his hands on Yang Qiu.

He then stuffed the silver bills on the table into his chest and said contentedly:

"My mouth has been dry on this journey, but today, I feel alive again."

"As long as the envoy is satisfied."

Yang Baotian's smile was forced.

This meal alone would be enough to feed an ordinary family for two months.

If this continues, who could afford it?

"What's wrong? Are you dissatisfied?"

The man gave a cold glance and sneered: "What's a little wine, meat, and gold? Once we take over Black Mountain, the Holy Sect will not forget your contributions."

"Of course, of course."

Yang Baotian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and smiled.

"Hmph."

The man took a few more large gulps of wine and asked: "How is the task given to you by the higher-ups progressing?"

"Envoy, before the leader returns, we will certainly complete the task."

Yang Qiu hurriedly responded.

"Burp~"

The man burped: "So, it's not done yet?"

"This, this..."

Yang Qiu's forehead was sweating, and he stammered, unable to speak.

Yang Baotian stepped forward to offer a drink and complained:

"Envoy, you don't know, Wang Fobao, the head of Black Mountain's internal affairs, manages the prison very strictly. Not just us, but the other families are also at a loss."

"Prison?"

The man was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this answer.

He was taken aback, and Yang Baotian's face changed drastically, his voice becoming sharp: "You, you're not...?"

Clang, clang, clang~

Yang Qiu and the others also sensed something was wrong, and they drew their swords and knives.

At this moment, a voice full of anger and embarrassment echoed in the night:

"Wang Wu, you can't escape!"

"Ha ha ha! Shi Kai? You caught up? So what, what can you do to me?"

The man laughed and burst into action, sweeping his hand to flip the solid wood table that could seat eight people, scattering the food and drink.

With another sweep, he knocked down the guards who rushed at him and seemed to take only one step to reach the door.

"Stop him!"

In the night, an angry voice approached rapidly.

"Quick, quick, stop him!"

"Can't let him escape!"

Yang Baotian, burning with anger, roared and ordered all the guards and servants to chase after him.

Seeing the mess on the ground and thinking of his gold, wine, and meat, Yang Baotian staggered and spat out a mouthful of blood, nearly falling to the ground:

"Anger, anger, it's killing me!"

"Anger, anger, it's killing me."

Squatting on the ground, Yang Baotian trembled all over.

Someone handed him a handkerchief: "Wipe it off."

"Um, um?!"

Yang Baotian instinctively wiped the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth, then realized something was wrong and suddenly looked up.

He saw a young man standing on an overturned chair, a waist knife on his shoulder, looking at him with a half-smile:

"Old Clan Leader, shall we talk again?"