Chapter 8

......

The night fell like a veil over Black Mountain City, and the bright moonlight spilled like mercury, flowing into every household.

【Refinement Progress (67/100)]

Taking one last look at the progress bar on the cauldron wall, Yang Yu relaxed his mind and returned to reality.

After several rounds of refinement, he had also mastered the knack of ending the process at any time, without exhausting all his strength.

"It seems to get harder the further I go."

Yang Yu sighed.

After a day of refinement, he stepped into the courtyard under the moonlight.

Listening to the deep breathing of the old woman next door, Yang Yu carefully lifted a bucket of water and poured it onto the whetstone, then began to sharpen the broken sword.

"That old man, he's ruthless... No wonder a brute like Hu Wan acts like a mouse in front of him."

Recalling the chilling gaze of Old Wei from earlier, Yang Yu felt a chill run down his spine.

This old executioner, who had killed for a lifetime, was undoubtedly the most indifferent to human life he had ever seen in his two lives.

No one else came close.

"Obey the law..."

Yang Yu gritted his teeth.

In his previous life, he had studied hard for twelve years and was about to enter law school, though he hadn't had the chance to attend a single day of classes.

But deep down, he was still a law-abiding student.

Swoosh~

The broken sword scraped against the whetstone, making a grating sound.

"Promote democratic righteousness."

He continued to sharpen the sword.

"Correct others by first correcting yourself."

He sharpened the sword again.

"I..."

Yang Yu's heart pounded like a drum, and he couldn't sharpen the sword properly.

Frustrated, he threw the sword aside and picked up the cheap wine he had bought on his way back, took a swig, and leaned against the stone.

"Cough, cough~"

The cheap wine burned his throat, and a wave of heat rose to his face.

After a few coughs, Yang Yu raised the gourd again and quickly drank it dry.

"Really disgusting..."

He threw away the gourd, picked up the broken sword, and looked up at the sky.

A breeze was blowing, moving the clouds and obscuring the moon, making the night seem even darker.

"This sky is really damn dark!"

He let out a heavy belch, picked up the sword, and staggered into the night.

The night in Black Mountain City was quiet, with only the occasional barking of dogs and the meowing of cats.

Stumbling down the alley, Yang Yu felt lost.

Recalling the novels and movies he had read in his previous life, where the protagonist became decisive and ruthless upon crossing over, he couldn't help but shake his head.

He was someone who had never even killed a chicken before.

"Perhaps with Hu Wan's intimidation, they will back off..."

His thoughts were a jumble.

Unconsciously, he had already passed through several alleys and arrived in the western part of the outer city.

Pressing his ear to the door, he faintly heard moans. Though he couldn't hear clearly from the yard, he could tell it was Wang Liu.

"Wang Liu is really with his mistress, and he didn't even close the door."

Yang Yu's heart raced.

Surprised by Old Wei's well-informed sources, he pushed the door open and entered the yard.

......

"Lighter, lighter, my waist is going to break!"

Wang Liu, naked, was lying on the bed, moaning and groaning.

The woman, with cheap rouge on her cheeks, was gently applying medicine, muttering, "That butcher Hu, how could he be so ruthless?"

"It hurts like hell!"

Wang Liu pounded the bed, shivering and sweating profusely.

"Stop howling, it's not good if others hear."

The woman glanced worriedly out the window.

"You damn it! I got beaten up for your sake, and you're worried about others hearing? What, am I not supposed to be seen?"

Wang Liu flew into a rage and slapped the woman across the face.

"Ouch!"

The woman stumbled, then began to scream and curse:

"You damn Wang Liu, how dare you hit me! Not when you're trying to get into my bed, I'll beat you, you heartless bastard!"

The woman was very fierce, and her flailing made Wang Liu lose his temper, and he began to beg for mercy.

After applying the medicine, Wang Liu struggled to sit up, his face contorted in pain: "That bastard Hu Wan, so ruthless..."

"That little brat Yang Yu, actually got that old executioner on his side, this is going to be troublesome..."

The woman, combing her hair, was both worried and angry.

She knew that Yang Yu had been an apprentice under Wei He, but not many of Wei He's apprentices were actually taken in by him.

Three years of miscellaneous work and a high tuition fee; with that money, it would be better to go to a martial arts school and learn a few moves.

"Can't fight, can't run?"

Wang Liu took a swig of wine, feeling both frustrated and angry:

"Such a little brat, causing me to take such a big fall..."

Frustrated, but helpless.

They say he's a reckless person, but Wang Liu knew very well who he could provoke and who he couldn't.

Otherwise, he would have ended up like those 'seniors' in the gutter.

A half-grown kid with no father and no support, he could easily manipulate, but Hu Wan, he couldn't provoke.

Not to mention Old Wei He.

"Will that ruffian give up?"

Yang Yu, listening at the wall, heard the woman snort.

"Not that easy."

The woman put on her clothes, glanced out the window, and lowered her voice: "Do you think the clan leader is interested in just a few acres of land?"

"Isn't that it?"

Wang Liu moved closer, hugging the woman, his thoughts becoming active again.

"Of course not."

The woman pursed her lips and said, "That bit of land is just what we're interested in. What the clan wants is the position of jailer."

"Jailer? We're all father-son replacements, are you planning to..."

Wang Liu gestured at his neck.

"Who knows?"

The woman shook her head: "The clan originally planned to use the pretext of funeral arrangements to pressure the old woman into giving up the land and house deeds, and then adopt the little brat in the name of an elder from the clan..."

"Brilliant! The law doesn't interfere in family matters, not even Hu Wan, Wei He, or Liu San could do anything! Then, hehe..."

The two inside the room were excited, but Yang Yu outside was seething with anger.

"Too ruthless, too ruthless!"

Yang Yu's face turned white with anger.

They really intended to strip them of everything!

These people had probably already arranged their and the old woman's 'funerals'!

"Let's not talk about this. I've been holding back for days, I'm dying to..."

"Ouch! You're not in pain anymore?"

"How can I remember the pain?"

"Pervert!"

......

Listening to the filthy words inside, Yang Yu could no longer suppress his anger. He took a few steps back, gathered his strength, and charged at the closed wooden door.

Bang!

The door was knocked open.

By the candlelight, Yang Yu saw the man and woman entangled, his eyes filled with rage.

He reached for the broken sword at his waist and swung it at Wang Liu.

"Ahh! You..."

Wang Liu was so frightened that he pushed the woman away and turned to grab the knife by the bed.

Pfft~

Hot blood splattered his face, soaking the rag covering his face and reddening his eyes.

"Die!!!"