C20 – I Must Kill You!!!
By the time the Second Head realized he had strayed far from the mountain stronghold, it was already too late. “Hold on, you’re not Little Six. Who are you? Why did you trick me into leaving the stronghold?” he demanded, backing away from Min Zhenkang.
“Realizing it’s too late now, aren’t you?” Min Zhenkang said as he gradually reverted to his true form.
“It’s you?” The Second Head tensed up upon recognizing Min Zhenkang.
Yet, upon noticing there were no others around, he burst into laughter. “You little runt, you were lucky to escape death before. But it seems you’re just courting it now, aren’t you? Hahahaha.”
“Since you’ve so kindly presented yourself, I’ll be the one to finish you off and avenge my fallen brothers,” he declared, lunging at Min Zhenkang.
“Oh, is that so? Let’s find out who will be the one avenging their brothers,” Min Zhenkang countered, charging forward with equal ferocity.
With a loud bang and a series of thuds, their clash didn’t go in Min Zhenkang’s favor. He stumbled back more than ten steps, while the Second Head was pushed back five or six.
The Second Head ended up near Min Qi.
Without warning, Min Qi seized the opportunity and landed a heavy punch on the Second Head’s back.
The Second Head coughed up blood. “You two?” he gasped, finally realizing that the moment he left the stronghold, he had walked right into an ambush.
“Exactly. Surprised we found your hideout so quickly and lured you out with such ease?” Min Zhenkang taunted.
“How low can you get, using such tactics to draw me out? If you’re so capable, face me one-on-one,” the Second Head challenged.
“Low? We’ve been downright merciful compared to you. When your gang ambushed us, you didn’t seem to have any qualms about honor,” Min Qigang shot back.
The Second Head was at a loss for words, unable to muster a defense.
“Enough talk. It’s time for you to meet your end,” Min Qi said, poised to deliver the final blow to the Second Head.
“Please, don’t kill me. Here’s everything I’ve saved. I’m begging you to spare me,” the Second-in-Command suddenly pleaded, catching Min Qi and his companions off guard.
“Spare you? When you were robbing us, did you ever think about sparing my brothers?” Min Qi was ready to strike again.
“I was forced into it, I swear! It was all the boss’s doing. Please, have mercy on me. If you have any demands, just name them.”
“Fine. I’ll ask you a few questions. If you answer to my satisfaction, I might just let you go.”
“Zhenkang, we can’t just release him. How will we answer to the fallen elites of the Min’s mansion?” Min Qigang protested as soon as he heard Zhenkang was considering mercy for the Second-in-Command.
“Qigang, the man has admitted his fault and even offered up his treasures. If he answers my questions satisfactorily, we should consider sparing his life.”
“No way. We can’t let him off, no matter what. Uncle, please convince Zhenkang not to release this bandit.”
The Second-in-Command watched the argument unfold with a glint of hope. He wished they’d turn on each other, giving him a chance to slip away. If he could just make it back to his stronghold, they’d never be able to touch him again.
“Qigang, let’s go with Zhenkang’s decision. If the Second-in-Command truly answers Min Zhenkang’s questions honestly, we’ll let him go,” Min Qi, grasping Min Zhenkang’s intent, tried to calm Min Qigang.
“Uncle, how can you be like this? Have you gone senile? This man is responsible for the deaths of dozens from our Min’s mansion!”
“Enough! Is that any way to speak to your elder? We’re doing it Zhenkang’s way,” Min Qi snapped, silencing Min Qigang.
Defeated, Min Qigang stepped aside, trying to calm his frustration.
The Second-in-Command, though relieved that a fight hadn’t broken out, knew they had decided to spare him. Once back at his stronghold, he vowed to gather his men and seek vengeance against the trio.
“Listen closely—if your answer doesn’t satisfy me, or if you try any funny business, you’ll be joining your brothers in the afterlife.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll tell the truth, I swear.”
“How many people are in your stronghold? What’s their level of strength? Is your leader there right now?”
“Zhenkang, where did you acquire that disguise technique? You nearly had me fooled. And that flame—it’s no ordinary fire, is it?”
Once the area was cleared, Min Qi inquired.
“Father, I stumbled upon it a few days back in Steelgrave City, and I’ve only just gotten the hang of it. If you were to look closely, you’d see it’s still quite flawed. I took a gamble,” Min Zhenkang confessed.
“As for the flame, I picked it up at the auction house a few days back.”
“Oh, Zhenkang, why does it seem like I can’t read you anymore? What level is your cultivation at now?”
“Cultivation level? Dad, you can’t tell?” Min Zhenkang asked, his face a picture of astonishment.
“No, I thought maybe you were practicing some technique that conceals your cultivation level?”
“Not at all, Qigang, can you see anything?” Min Zhenkang turned to Min Qigang for his opinion.
“Zhenkang, I’m just as clueless. And if big uncle here can’t tell, how could I? Are you sure you haven’t mastered some secret method to hide your cultivation? Or perhaps you have an artifact that does that?”
“Nope.”
“Well, that’s a mystery. Could it be that your cultivation has surpassed mine, Zhenkang? That would explain why I can’t discern your cultivation level.”
“I’ve only reached the first tier of the Martial Spirit Stage.” He said, and with that, he called forth his Martial Spirit.
“A one-star Martial Spirit? That’s impossible. With your abilities, you could easily achieve a six-star Martial Spirit.”
“I’m at a loss too.”
“Zhenkang, when did you make the breakthrough to the Martial Spirit Stage?” inquired Min Qigang.
“It was just the other day, remember the commotion in my room?”
“Hahaha!”
From a distance, Tang Tian caught sight of Min Zhenkang’s Martial Spirit and burst into laughter.
“Who’s there?”
The trio snapped to alertness, realizing someone was behind them without their notice, a chilling thought that sent a shiver down their spines.
Realizing she’d been spotted, Tang Tian no longer concealed herself and stepped forward.
“Miss Tang.”
Upon recognizing Tang Tian, the three men relaxed.
“Why are you here, and where’s your entourage?” Min Zhenkang queried.
“Hey, get your facts straight, will you? This is Steelgrave territory – I’m free to roam as I please. And do I really need to be shadowed by an entourage every time I step outside? I should be asking you the same thing – what brings you here?”
“Alright, alright, you’re the lady of the house; your word is law. We’re just out for a stroll – is that a crime?”
“Ugh, kid, what’s with the attitude? Do you really think I won’t tell my father about this and make sure you don’t get what you’re after?” Every encounter with Min Zhenkang left him fuming, yet he was frustratingly powerless to do anything about it.
“Please show some leniency, Miss Tang, and don’t stoop to arguing with a child,” Tang Tian’s words took Min Qi by surprise, prompting him to quickly step forward with an apology.
“That’s better. I’ll let it slide this time, for your sake. I’m heading back now.”
“You all should head back too. Don’t just loiter around here. If the soldiers of Steelgrave mistake you for bandits and kill you, it’s not on me—I warned you.” With that, he made his way toward Steelgrave.
“Yes, thank you for the warning, Miss Tang. We’re on our way back right now.”
“...”