Chapter 15 Kill

Words : 2330 Updated : Oct 8th, 2023

Ahead, Hyman stood with his bow ready, while Yun Wang closed in from behind, creating a pincer formation designed to split Stanley's focus. Despite Yun Wang and Hyman both being Seventh-level Lian Ti Realm cultivators, they had spent years honing their skills hunting beasts in the wilderness, making them cunning and dangerous foes. Yun Wang wasn't foolish—he knew this black-clad youth had a unique ability that allowed him to kill the Iron-Tail Tiger. But unlike the tiger, humans lacked the natural defenses of thick hides, making them easier prey. "A robbery? Ha!" Stanley suddenly chuckled, his voice filled with disdain. "What's so funny? If you hand over your sword and bag, I promise not to make things difficult for you," Yun Wang sneered, but he had no intention of letting Stanley go. Someone who could kill an Iron-Tail Tiger while only at the sixth-level Lian Ti Realm was likely someone from a powerful background. If Stanley survived, it would be the end of Yun Wang's future in Qing Yun City. "People like you, ungrateful trash, think you can take what's mine?" Stanley scoffed, his tone dripping with contempt. "Since you're asking for death, don't blame us!" Yun Wang's eyes flashed with fury. With a clang, he drew his sword and charged toward Stanley, his movement swift and lethal. At the same time, Hyman released a volley of arrows aimed at Stanley from a distance. "Shadow Sword!" Yun Wang's sword flickered with shadows as he unleashed a third-grade sword technique, creating a series of afterimages with his blade. Despite not being as strong as Joyce, Yun Wang had confidence in his skill, having reached the minor achievement level with his technique. Stanley hadn't learned any third-grade techniques, but his modified second-grade techniques surpassed ordinary third-grade martial arts. Activating his One-inch Kick at the great achievement level, Stanley effortlessly dodged Hyman's arrows, which failed to even brush his clothes. In a blink, he closed the distance, appearing directly in front of Yun Wang. "How can he be so fast? He's only at the sixth-level Lian Ti Realm!" Yun Wang's eyes widened in shock. His sword strike had missed entirely, leaving him vulnerable. Panic set in as he tried to recover, swinging his sword once more to close the gap. "This time, there's no escape!" Yun Wang growled, confident that Stanley couldn't avoid the next strike at such close range. "Fierce Tiger Strike!" Stanley roared, his aura shifting dramatically. It was as if he had transformed into a wild, ferocious tiger. His fist shot out with overwhelming power, striking Yun Wang's chest before the sword could land. "Boom!" Yun Wang was sent flying, his chest erupting in pain as his bones shattered. How was this possible? Was this the same technique that killed the Iron-Tail Tiger? How could Dragon and Tiger Boxing unleash such devastating power? Blood sprayed from Yun Wang's mouth as he crashed into a tree. The realization hit him—Stanley had likely mastered his martial arts to the great achievement level, both in footwork and in fist techniques. But before Yun Wang could fully comprehend his mistake, Stanley's fist loomed closer, filling his vision. "No!" Yun Wang screamed inwardly, regretting his greed and arrogance. He didn't want to die. Yet, it was too late. Stanley's fist crashed into Yun Wang's forehead, shattering his skull. Blood poured from his seven orifices, and he collapsed, dead on the spot. Stanley didn't pause. As Yun Wang's body fell, he immediately dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding two arrows that thudded into the ground where he had just stood. Hyman's arrows, though well-aimed, were useless against Stanley's One-inch Kick at the great achievement level. "Yun Wang's dead!" Hyman's pupils shrank in terror. Two arrows had missed their mark, and in an instant, he realized the severity of the situation. Without hesitation, he stowed his bow and turned to flee. "His footwork is too fast. My arrows are useless against him, and if he gets close, I'm dead!" Hyman knew that if Yun Wang couldn't take Stanley down, there was no hope for him. Stanley's strength far exceeded what they had anticipated. Stanley didn't immediately give chase. He stood for a moment, his heart racing. "I've killed someone…" Staring at Yun Wang's lifeless body, blood dripping from every orifice, Stanley felt his whole body tremble. It wasn't fear or cowardice—it was the shock of taking a life for the first time. Killing beasts and monsters was one thing, but killing a human left a different kind of mark on the soul. His martial hall instructors had spoken of this moment many times: the moment a warrior's life became intertwined with the inevitability of death—killing and being killed. "Teacher, why must we kill others?" a young student had once asked in martial hall. "Because if you don't kill, others will kill you. Whether for weapons, elixirs, or simply because someone finds you unpleasant, there will always be someone ready to take your life," the instructor had explained. "Only strength is eternal. If you're strong enough, no one will dare to challenge or kill you." That lesson had planted a seed in Stanley's mind, a seed that was now sprouting as he looked down at Yun Wang's body. After a moment, Stanley steadied his breathing, calming the tremors running through his body. When he looked at Yun Wang's corpse again, he still felt uneasy, but his heart had regained its steadiness. "In martial hall, I had no strength, and I was bullied by those from influential families. I still remember being beaten unconscious by Troy." "But now, I have the power to protect myself and my loved ones. I won't allow anyone to humiliate or threaten me ever again!" Stanley reached out and picked up Yun Wang's sword, his eyes glinting coldly. Through his connection with the Life and Death Bead, he could sense that the archer, Hyman, was already far away. "The hunt begins..." A dangerous smile tugged at Stanley's lips, revealing the wild and untamed streak that ran deep within him. With a leap, Stanley darted through the treetops, his great achievement level footwork propelling him at a speed far beyond Hyman's. The gap between them rapidly closed. Hyman had been in the hunting team for over half a year and was familiar with the terrain of Shui Wu Mountain. He navigated through the dense underbrush, making every effort to conceal his movements. When he glanced back and saw nothing behind him, he exhaled a long breath, though his heart still raced with unease. "That kid is terrifying..." he muttered, still shaken by how easily Stanley had killed Yun Wang. His own highly skilled archery had been completely ineffective, not even grazing Stanley's cloak. "Thump, thump, thump..." The sound of light footsteps echoing off tree branches grew nearer. Hyman's nerves tightened as he crouched deeper into the undergrowth. "He's caught up?" Hyman's eyes narrowed, spotting a black-clad figure moving swiftly through the trees. Tension mounted within him as his left hand gripped his bow tightly. "How did he know I came this way?" During his flight, Hyman had deliberately altered his path several times to avoid being tracked, but Stanley had still found him. This only deepened his anxiety. What Hyman didn't realize was that, in Stanley's heightened sense of awareness, his every move was as clear as day. Stanley's Life and Death Bead made Hyman's attempts to hide seem futile. As Stanley closed in, Hyman's desperation gave way to a flash of malevolence. "Maybe he's just lucky, following the trail. He can't possibly see me here." With that thought, Hyman drew an arrow coated with poison, nocking it and drawing his bow to full tension as he quietly channeled his inner energy. "Twang!" The bowstring vibrated, sending the arrow streaking through the air with a sharp whistle. But Stanley had already anticipated this. With a nimble step, he shifted sideways, allowing the arrow to graze his cloak harmlessly before it embedded itself into a nearby tree. "He... he dodged it?" Hyman's face paled. Before he could react, the sound of a sword being unsheathed sliced through the air, followed by a blinding flash of cold steel. Hyman fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him, his face frozen in an expression of disbelief. His wide, unblinking eyes reflected his final moments of regret and unwillingness. Though Stanley still felt a tremor of unease after taking another life, it was not as intense as the first time. He was adapting, slowly. As night descended once more, Stanley stayed in Shui Wu Mountain, continuing to practice his cultivation by absorbing the life essence of the surrounding flora. His internal energy grew steadily, fortifying his organs. By the next morning, Stanley returned to Qing Yun City, carrying two heavy, bulging bags filled with materials. The city had numerous shops that purchased such goods, and Stanley went directly to one of them. After selling all the materials, including those from the Iron-Tail Tiger, he walked away with over thirty thousand silver taels. With his newfound wealth, Stanley's first thought was how to further enhance his strength. Once he reached the Seventh-level Lian Ti Realm, his power would increase significantly, allowing him to hunt more formidable beasts and earn even more riches.

Chapter 15 Kill

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