Chapter 021: Reunion

  The setting sun cast a fiery glow over Qing Stone Town, its last rays painting the sky in hues of orange and red. Wisps of smoke rose lazily into the air, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. Yet, amidst this tranquility, a young man brimming with killing intent descended silently.

  Yang Tian stopped not far from Qing Stone Town, cloaked entirely in a black robe. He glanced toward the eastern part of the town, his expression darkening as he made his way inside.

  Compared to usual, the streets of Qing Stone Town were eerily quiet. The martial arts tournament was set to begin the next day, and many of the town's residents had left to witness the gathering of geniuses. Only a few remained.

  Yang Tian arrived at the Dragon Star Martial Hall. He raised his head to look at the four golden characters inscribed above the entrance, a shadow of anger flickering across his face.

  Inside the hall, the lights were ablaze. A shadowy figure leaped through the air, each movement so precise that only the faintest ripple of air betrayed its presence.

  "Strange, why isn't my foster father here?" Yang Tian thought as he silently landed on the wall. His gaze fell on two men in the courtyard, and a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes.

  "Please, let nothing have happened to him," Yang Tian muttered, clenching his fists. He dropped to the ground, his expression hardening as he saw the two men.

  *Whoosh! Whoosh!*

  Suddenly, two crimson streaks of energy shot toward the men like lightning. The two men, deep in conversation, were caught completely off guard. Before they could even cry out, the energy struck their foreheads.

  *Thud! Thud!*

  Blood splattered as an invisible force caught their collapsing bodies. Yang Tian dragged the corpses to a corner and then moved forward cautiously.

  When Yang Tian saw the scene inside the room the two men had been guarding, his eyes turned icy cold.

  His gaze was sharp and unyielding, the killing intent within him impossible to hide.

  A chilling aura filled the room, causing the large man inside to freeze as if he had been stared down by a wild beast. He slowly turned around, and when he saw the figure at the door, a look of surprise crossed his face, though a deeper fear was carefully concealed.

  "Ah—who's there?" The woman beside him screamed when she saw the shadowy figure at the door.

  Her trembling eyes locked onto the figure outside. The shadow looked terrifying, and her once alluring eyes were now filled with fear.

  *Bang!*

  The door was kicked open, and the black-robed figure stepped inside. Under the moonlight, his shadow stretched endlessly, and a chilling aura spread throughout the room.

  "Who... who are you?" The head instructor steadied himself, his fists clenching. However, deep in his eyes, there was a hint of fear. The black-robed man exuded an imposing aura, like an unshakable mountain.

  With a cold laugh, Yang Tian slowly removed his hood. Under the moonlight, a youthful face was revealed, but the killing intent in his eyes was unmistakable.

  "You... you're Yang Tian? How is this possible?" The head instructor's voice trembled as he looked into Yang Tian's icy eyes, a shiver running down his spine.

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  "What, were you hoping I'd die?" Yang Tian clenched his fists, the coldness in his expression intensifying. Suddenly, he smiled faintly.

  *Whoosh!*

  Without hesitation, the head instructor bolted toward the window. Yang Tian had come alone and had deliberately revealed himself. He must have some trick up his sleeve. Recently, Yang Tian's name had spread throughout the Star Martial Arts Hall. Even the vice hall master had been killed by him. The head instructor had no desire to resist.

  *Bang!* A whip-like kick landed, the force so powerful it seemed to tear through the air. The head instructor's body was sent flying into the wall, a gruesome wound on his head gushing blood.

  "Ah—" The beautiful woman stared in terror at the head instructor, her once vibrant face now pale. An eighth-level Blood Refining expert had been defeated in a single move by Yang Tian.

  *Cough! Cough!* The head instructor on the ground coughed up blood, struggling to rise.

  At that moment, Yang Tian stomped his foot. *Crack!* The sound of bones breaking echoed, and the head instructor's body slammed into the ground, groans of pain filling the room.

  "Where is my foster father?" Yang Tian asked calmly, suppressing the urge to kill the head instructor on the spot.

  "I'll tell you, but you have to swear to spare my life," the head instructor gasped.

  *Crack! Crack!*

  Yang Tian delivered two more kicks, accompanied by agonized screams. "If you talk, I'll make your death quick. If you don't, I'll make sure you never touch a woman again. Don't believe me? Try me."

  "Bastard!" the head instructor howled. "Go ahead and kill me! You'll never find your foster father! If I die, he dies with me!"

  "Quite the tough guy," Yang Tian sneered, glancing at the head instructor. His gaze then shifted to the beautiful woman on the bed, a cruel smile forming on his lips as he walked toward her.

  "What are you doing? Stay away! Stay away!" The woman covered her chest, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at Yang Tian's cold gaze.

  "Don't worry, I'm not interested in you," Yang Tian said calmly as he approached.

  The woman was still terrified, trembling uncontrollably and unable to speak.

  "Where is my foster father?" Yang Tian asked again, his tone light.

  "Shut your mouth! If you dare say a word, I'll kill your entire family!" the head instructor suddenly roared, only to be met with another brutal kick.

  "Ah—" Blood sprayed, and the woman covered her eyes in terror.

  "Don't be afraid. Once this is over, I'll kill him. But if you don't talk, I might just carve a few marks into that pretty face of yours," Yang Tian said with a faint smile, staring at the woman.

  The woman shivered as she looked at Yang Tian's youthful face.

  "Really?" she asked, not believing the cruel boy before her would let her go. After a moment of hesitation, she pointed under the bed. "There's a secret room down there. I've seen him go in."

  "You traitor!" the head instructor screamed, only to be met with another brutal strike.

  "Good," Yang Tian nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. If his foster father had been taken by the Star Martial Arts Hall, things could have gotten complicated.

  "Young master, can I go now?" the woman asked.

  "Go ahead," Yang Tian nodded, watching as the woman grabbed her bedding and fled. He closed his eyes, a bitter smile forming on his lips. "My heart is still too soft."

  *Crack! Crack!* Yang Tian delivered two more kicks, breaking the head instructor's leg bones and rendering him unconscious.

  "I won't kill you—yet. Enjoy being a cripple for now," Yang Tian said coldly, stomping on the head instructor's abdomen. A surge of energy erupted, shattering the man's dantian.

  "You little beast! Just kill me!" the head instructor screamed, his body convulsing. To go from a position of power to being completely powerless was worse than death.

  "Want to die? That's easy. Just bash your head against the wall. If I come back and you're still alive, I'll throw you out on the streets to beg," Yang Tian said coldly before turning away.

  He lifted the bed, revealing a dark hole beneath. Looking at the stone steps leading down, he took a deep breath and descended, his slender body trembling slightly.

  The secret room was about thirty feet long, with animal oil lamps burning on either side. At the far end, Lin Yuan's body was chained, covered in wounds. Only a faint will kept him alive.

  "Foster father..." Yang Tian's voice choked with emotion as a tear rolled down his cheek. He walked forward, an overwhelming rage filling his heart.

  A faint sound caught Lin Yuan's attention, and he slowly opened his eyes. Though the room was dim, the familiar figure before him was unmistakable.

  *Cough... Cough...* Lin Yuan coughed violently, but a look of relief crossed his face as he saw Yang Tian. "Xiao Tian, I knew you'd come."

  *Crack!*

  Yang Tian shattered the chains with his bare hands. Seeing Lin Yuan's pale face, a surge of anger and grief overwhelmed him.

  "Wang Long, I will kill you!"

  His hoarse voice echoed through the chamber, the icy killing intent so palpable that it seemed to freeze the very air.