Book 2 Chapter 81: Disguise - Martial God

Chapter 81: Disguise The sudden shout, like a massive stone breaking the calm surface of the water, instantly sparked a chorus of cries and a chain reaction among the people nearby. Surrounding the carriage were dozens of outstanding attendants, six of whom were meticulously selected by the Zi family for their prowess, each achieving around the seventh level of inner strength. Only those attendants raised from childhood would still be willing to serve the family at this level. Should they advance to the eighth level, they would transcend the role of an attendant and truly enter the family’s core. However, for the vast majority, reaching the seventh level of inner strength on their own was already the limit. Even in a grand clan like the Zi family, this was a reality. From any angle, the defense around this carriage could be deemed exceptionally tight. But at that moment, with just one shout, the guards strangely felt off balance, as if their heads were heavy and feet light. The leader roared angrily, "Something's wrong, be alert." He swiftly drew his sword, a blue steel longsword glittering with faint spots of light in his hands, even faintly emitting a hint of red glow. Among everyone present, his skills were undoubtedly the most advanced. With a quick glance, he noticed a figure descending from above. Reacting swiftly, he stomped his feet and leapt into the air, thrusting his sword which turned into a streak of light aiming straight at the target. However, just as his sword struck out, a sudden white flash blinded his eyes, causing sharp pain and making his attack deviate. Taking advantage of this moment, the figure landed, instantly raising a cloud of white powder into the air. “Watch out, it’s lime...” someone shouted out loud, their anger palpable. As attendants of the Zi family, they had experienced numerous battles, whether it be sparring or competing with attendants from other noble houses, they had never encountered such underhanded tactics. Indeed, in the martial-culture-rich northwestern states, using such methods to attack an enemy was considered highly disgraceful. As the figure scattered the lime, he launched a punch squarely at the leader's nose. Already teary-eyed, the leader fell to the ground from the blow, his treasured sword easily snatched away. With the sword captured, the figure rushed towards the carriage. The squinting attendants finally got a good look at the intruder; a burly man with a sharp-angled face, red eyes fixating on the carriage as if something inside was the source of his utmost hatred. The attendants were bewildered by his furious shout earlier, but some quickly connected the dots, recalling that the person who recently delivered food into the carriage was named Fan Yue, and they associated this with Fan Haoyue. At this moment, no one had the chance to ask questions. Several attendants brandished their swords, launching a series of thrusts. Yet the figure twisted mid-air, and with sword dances in a flurry, effortlessly parried or narrowly avoided their attacks. Everyone was left in shock, but within these few moments, the figure had already reached the carriage, slicing open the door with a single strike. Inside, the two men wore nervous expressions. Despite their differing backgrounds, they shared the same attribute of having a modest sixth level of inner strength. Seeing so many attendants unable to subdue this adversary, fear naturally gripped their hearts. Zi Ruiguang glared at Fan Yue with hatred, convinced that this assailant was a personal enemy of Fan Yue’s. Otherwise, who else in Tianluo Kingdom's city would dare provoke the Zi family? The figure, bursting through the door and leaping in, reached them swiftly. As they attempted to defend themselves, pain shot through their hands, leaving them with bleeding wounds. The two screamed in agony, no longer daring to move. This descending figure was none other than He Yiming, inflamed with anger after overhearing their secret conversation. Glancing at his clothes and seeing the pile of lime in the corner, he seized two handfuls, crafting an elaborate ploy. Despite being a formidable innate powerhouse, his youthful age spared him any qualms about concealing his identity. Using lime was a deliberate choice, assuming no one would believe an innate master would stoop to such tactics. Indeed, he got the inspiration from Fan Haoyue’s words; since everyone expected otherwise, he did the opposite. The series of dangerous maneuvers just now, he haphazardly executed. Now, with sword drawn, inside the carriage, the attendants dared not advance. The fear of being blamed for the third young master's death deterred them. He Yiming, with a sharp tone, declared, “Fan Haoyue, didn’t expect to see you like this.” His voice was full of seething rage and deep-seated hatred, even a deaf person could sense it. Fan Haoyue turned pale as a sheet; he’d never seen this man before, much less understood why he’d caught this fiend’s attention. “Sir... you’ve got the wrong person...” Fan Haoyue pleaded pathetically, on the verge of tears: “I’m not who you think...” “Not?” He Yiming laughed maniacally, “You’re Fan Haoyue, son of Fan Shuhe from the Fan family of Jinlin. When your family stormed my home, I etched the visage of you three into my memory. Even if you turned to ash, I'd recognize you.” Fan Haoyue’s complexion grew even more ashen. When his family rose from a modest household, they had extinguished numerous smaller clans, unsure who this conspicuously sharp-featured avenger was the remnant of. But at this juncture, denial was futile. “Who... who are you? At least let me die knowing...” Fan Haoyue bitterly asked. Upon his admission, both Zi Ruiguang inside the carriage and the surrounding attendants sighed in relief. Although his actions were daring, they hoped his vengeance lay solely with Fan Haoyue. He Yiming snorted, "Fan Haoyue, after your family wiped out mine, I fled to Tianluo City. Years passed, and I’d thought I’d never have my chance for revenge, but fate was on my side, delivering you to me." Zi Ruiguang quickly suggested, “The hero speaks truly. This man hid his identity to infiltrate our Zi household, clearly up to no good. Please, hero, kill him.” He Yiming spat, "Being with him in the carriage, you must be his accomplice. You're both due for execution." With those words, he waved his hand; the sword flashed, slicing a wound on Zi Ruiguang’s neck, and blood spurted out. Zi Ruiguang instinctively clutched his neck, his face frozen in disbelief as he slowly collapsed, his eyes filled with bewilderment at his unexpected demise. He Yiming seized the stupefied Fan Haoyue, hoisting him under his arm and leaping out, his sword flashing as he carved a path through the crowd. His movements were swift, with lightning-fast execution. Before anyone could fully process Zi Ruiguang’s death, he had already darted away. Some attendants rushed to the carriage, hoping to see if the third young master could be saved, while others spun around in pursuit. However, they soon realized that the figure seemed to know the area better than they did and specifically used narrow alleyways typical of commoner dwellings, gradually widening the distance until disappearing entirely. Despite growing up in this city, the attendants wouldn’t typically weave through these alleys, suited only for commoners, thus they assumed he must have lived a long time in such surroundings to know them so well. What they failed to comprehend was the existence of a mysterious art known as Clairaudience. By the time Zi Ruiwen arrived with reinforcements, they were greeted by chaos, with the third brother lying lifeless, his eyes still wide with disbelief and bewilderment. Naturally, Zi’s current family head was seething with rage; anyone would transform into a furious beast when losing a son. Under his orders, they swiftly unearthed records on the Fan family of Jinlin, aligning them with Fan Haoyue’s appearance. Thus, the truth emerged. The mysterious figure was the last remnant of a minor clan obliterated by the Fan family, who’d been in hiding among the commoners since his clan’s slaughter. That day, upon seeing Fan Haoyue, he risked it all for revenge. As for Zi Ruiguang, he was merely collateral damage, killed in the process. The assumption was that Fan Haoyue was abducted by this person for cruel revenge. However, even if Fan Haoyue hadn't been taken, the Zi family would detest him. If Fan Haoyue showed up alive among them, they would be the first to not let him go. Due to this incident, the Zi family launched a thorough citywide search, even alerting the royal family, who sent assistance to investigate. Nonetheless, the assailant seemed to vanish, never to be seen again. ※※※※ He Yiming swiftly darted through the narrow alleys, outpacing those in pursuit, and eventually left the city with Fan Haoyue in tow. In a deserted area, He Yiming roughly threw him to the ground and sternly said, "Fan Haoyue, after escaping death in Jinlin, instead of hiding, you chose to stir trouble. You brought this upon yourself." Fan Haoyue seemed resigned, sighing deeply, "Falling into your hands is just my bad fortune. Do what you must." He Yiming's curiosity piqued, he asked, "I heard you have a stash of treasures from when you fled Jinlin. Is that true?" Fan Haoyue finally understood why He Yiming went through such trouble to capture him. Besides vengeance, He Yiming coveted his wealth. He laughed bitterly, looking at He Yiming as if he were a fool. He responded, "You're talking about the gold and silver that Yuan Chengzhi gave me, right? Heh... you think that old man was truly so kind?" Taking a deep breath, his voice brimmed with spite, "That old man gave me a large sum, sending me out of the city only for robbers to tail me. They not only wanted my fortune but my life. Luckily, I survived a cliff fall, or I'd be long dead." His tone turned bleak, "If I still had that fortune, I might've settled quietly somewhere, but I'm empty-handed now." He Yiming was momentarily taken aback, inwardly lamenting that Yuan Chengzhi had planned a backup, unaware that Fan Haoyue had survived and nearly endangered his daughter. Had he known, Yuan Chengzhi might not have made such a decision. He Yiming contemplated briefly and asked, "Earlier, I overheard your conversation; you seem to harbor deep hatred for He Yiming. Why is that?" Fan Haoyue's face twisted with vehemence, "They say I'm responsible for the fall of the Fan family..." He Yiming was puzzled. "How could you be responsible for the Fan family’s downfall?" Fan Haoyue's face twitched, his eyes filled with fear, recalling something unforgettable. He Yiming, frowning lightly, gently tapped his shoulder. A calming energy surged through Fan Haoyue's body, causing a shiver and bringing him back to clarity. Fear lingered in Fan Haoyue’s eyes as he reluctantly explained, "The servants who escaped said He Yiming was the one who passed by our caravan riding a red steed. Because I coveted the horse, he came to the Yuan family, aiding them to kill Master Lü Xinwen and my father and brother..." His face turned ashen again, "It wasn't me. I had nothing to do with it." He Yiming stayed silent, slightly shaking his head. Being directly involved, he knew for certain it wasn't related. His visit to the Jinlin Yuan family would have happened regardless of Fan Haoyue's thoughts on his steed. Whatever those fleeing servants told him must have left him terribly fearful, rendering him nearly paranoid. "You desire vengeance against He Yiming for killing Lü Xinwen, seeking revenge on those close to him, is that it?" He Yiming asked casually. Fan Haoyue snarled, "I want not just to retaliate against Yuan Lixun but also against He Yiming. I plan to expose Zi Ruiguang's foolish move against He Yiming’s woman, setting the Zi family against He Yiming. I want He Yiming to have no peace." He Yiming couldn't help but shiver at the sight of Fan Haoyue's bloodshot eyes, understanding how desperation could breed madness. He realized that a person's actions when driven to extreme despair could far exceed conventional expectations. Even someone of negligible power could unleash unimaginable havoc. Had Yuan Lixun not recognized him, and had He Yiming not overheard their conversation, the consequences could have been disastrous. Not only would Yuan Lixun be in danger, but it would lead to a fallout with the Zi family, triggering a conflict even if they handed over Zi Ruiguang to placate him. Were He Yiming truly to annihilate the Zi family root and branch, Shui Xuanjin wouldn’t stand by idly, and the entire Tianluo Kingdom might oppose him. Should that drag his own family into peril... He Yiming took a deep breath, his killing intent evident. However, when Fan Haoyue, on the brink of madness, heard the sigh, he suddenly calmed. Perhaps sensing his impending doom, or recalling something, he asked in a strained voice, "Who exactly are you? Can you tell me honestly, so I may die knowing?" He Yiming was taken aback. "What did you say?" Fan Haoyue laughed bitterly, "It just struck me that every time my father marched against enemy households, he took my elder brother, deeming me too weak to be of use, which means the three of us never acted together. What you've claimed about us all being at your home is impossible." He Yiming mentally broke into a cold sweat; little did he expect such a flaw to unravel his facade. He pondered, hesitating as Fan Haoyue’s imploring gaze met his, and with that, his facial structure shifted remarkably. Fan Haoyue's eyes widened, almost popping out. He finally recognized the familiar face before him, forever etched into his memory. "You, you..." his voice trembled, "He Yiming." "Indeed, you'd only yourself to blame." He Yiming said calmly. Understanding dawned on Fan Haoyue—no wonder he killed Zi Ruiguang to eliminate any future trouble. His teeth chattered with fear; for the first time, true terror gripped him. He Yiming extended his hand, a powerful force cutting off every trace of life within Fan Haoyue. With a toss, He Yiming discarded him in the dense woods, not even bothering to dig a grave. This man's malice exceeded He Yiming's limits of tolerance. For others, He Yiming might have provided burial, but for Fan Haoyue, He Yiming wouldn’t resort to torture but neither would he afford the dignity of a grave. Glancing one last time, He Yiming turned away. Executing his swiftest movements, he departed the city, unseen even in broad daylight. What became of Fan Haoyue’s body—devoured by beasts or buried by others—no longer interested him. Yet, this episode left He Yiming with a lingering sense of unease.