Han rubbed his aching lower back, wincing. Bai Ruoyue had gone too hard on him—nearly breaking him in the process.

  "Junior Brother," Bai Ruoyue said, her tone sharp, "you let a dangerous fugitive go. If the authorities find out, you’re looking at serious jail time."

  She added, "You really dared to set something inhuman like that free?"

  "You actually believed what he said?" Han asked, incredulous.

  "Of course I didn’t fully buy Jiang Wangyuan’s story," she replied.

  Han sighed, helpless. "But Senior Sister, whether I believed him or not, I had no choice but to let him go. We couldn’t keep him here."

  Bai Ruoyue frowned, puzzled. "Didn’t your Yin Fire work against him? He was scared of it."

  "Sure, the Yin Fire could handle him," Han admitted, "but that Iron-Winged Eagle could just as easily handle us."

  He gestured vaguely at their surroundings. "That thing’s a flying beast. If it decided to turn on us, we’d be in deep trouble. This place is crawling with Bone-Forging Realm beasts. One wrong move, and we’d attract a whole swarm of them. Then we’d really be screwed."

  Once Han realized Jiang Wangyuan could command wild beasts, he knew taking him down today was a lost cause. He had ways to bypass the Iron-Winged Eagle and deal with Jiang Wangyuan, sure—but his top priority was keeping himself and Bai Ruoyue safe. A measly monthly stipend wasn’t worth risking their lives over.

  "Fair point," Bai Ruoyue conceded, catching on.

  "But how does a dead soul like him—a Nether Corpse—control wild beasts?" she wondered aloud.

  Han’s gaze drifted toward the shadowy depths of Black Mountain, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Who knows…"

  The Mountain God had suddenly appeared, blocking Lu Qingmo’s attack to save Jiang Wangyuan. A Nether Corpse that could command beasts. Jiang Wangyuan’s bold claim that no one in Black Mountain could catch him… What kind of confidence fueled those words? What kind of power could bend mindless beasts to the will of a corpse?

  The answer seemed obvious: divine intervention. But here in Black Mountain, Han wasn’t about to say it out loud.

  "Looks like we’ll have to disappoint Aunt Mo," Bai Ruoyue sighed. She’d finally gotten a chance to do something for Aunt Mo—maybe even steal back some of her favor from her junior brother. But who could’ve predicted this twist?

  I put in all that effort, and you still let me lose so miserably!

  "I thought we were dealing with a rampaging Nether Corpse," she muttered. "Turns out it might be a revenge story. What a mess."

  Han shook his head. "Let’s head back and explain everything to Aunt Mo. Ask her to look into this Jiang Wangyuan—see if the authorities have any record of someone like him, if his backstory checks out. If he’s really out for vengeance…"

  He trailed off. Was it wrong for someone to seek revenge? No. But was it wrong for the authorities to hunt down a freakish Nether Corpse who’d killed people? Also no. It was a tangled knot of right and wrong—a real dumpster fire of a situation. Han sure as hell wasn’t about to die for it.

  "Let’s go," he said.

  The two turned to leave, their journey back lighter than before, though neither had any intention of lingering in Black Mountain.

  "Junior Brother," Bai Ruoyue teased, "if we didn’t rely on your instincts, do you think we’d get lucky and stumble across some treasure?"

  "Just get some sleep when we’re back," Han replied dryly.

  "Early sleep? You’re the one who dragged me out to get wrecked."

  "…You wrecked yourself."

  Bai Ruoyue huffed, then added, "Junior Brother, what if someone ambushes us on the way?"

  Han groaned. "Senior Sister, can you stop jinxing us?"

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  Getting home safe and sound was all he wanted—no extra thrills, thanks. But after walking a while, Han froze, his head snapping to the left. His expression shifted.

  "Junior Brother, what’s wrong?" Bai Ruoyue asked.

  "Someone’s coming," Han said, his voice growing heavy. "Senior Sister, you and your cursed mouth!"

  "Four of them—all Visceral Realm. Run!"

  Bai Ruoyue didn’t hesitate, speeding up instantly, but a sharp whoosh cut through the air from their left.

  "Hahaha! Well, if it isn’t the two prodigies from Taibai Martial Hall! What a coincidence!" A loud laugh echoed as four figures emerged, blocking Han and Bai Ruoyue’s path.

  Without some omniscient vantage point to warn them, the moment Han sensed their pursuers, they’d already locked onto him too. Their uniforms were unmistakable—each bore a yellow emblem stitched on the chest. The Huang family from the county city.

  Leading them was a short, stocky man with an oversized head. He stepped forward, his eerie gaze glinting as he sized up Han and Bai Ruoyue.

  "Blocking our way like this," Han said, his voice low and steady, "isn’t something you should be doing here. I’d suggest you leave now—unless you’re ready to face consequences you can’t handle."

  "Leave? Consequences?" The big-headed man smirked. "A mere Sinew-Vein Realm punk talking so big."

  "I’ve heard of you, Han. You’re tough—practically unbeatable in your realm. But the Visceral Realm? That’s beyond your wildest dreams."

  He grinned wider. "We’ve finally met you today. How could we just walk away? Who knows when we’d get another shot?"

  Han’s face hardened. These guys weren’t here with good intentions.

  "I hear you made waves at the Water Essence Festival," the man continued. "Even got your hands on some Yellow Spring Dew. Nice stuff—that’s rare. Mind letting us take a peek?"

  Han’s eyes narrowed. Had Huang Ming tipped off the Huang family in Black Cloud Town? This was worth mulling over.

  "And Bai Ruoyue, daughter of Taibai’s master…" The man’s gaze slid to her, leering in a way that made her skin crawl. "Heh, a real beauty. Still pure, I bet?"

  "Hahaha, jackpot!" The other three Huang family members burst into laughter.

  "Keep staring and go gawk at your own mother!" Bai Ruoyue snapped, furious. "Blind bastards—I’ll gouge your eyes out!"

  "You’re courting death," Han muttered, shaking his head. These Huang fools had probably decided to take them out the moment they spotted them. This wasn’t ending peacefully.

  He couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. If this had happened a month ago, it’d be them ambushing these clowns, not the other way around. With that godlike foresight he used to have, these four would’ve been marked for death the second he saw them. The difference between having that edge and not was night and day. God, he missed it.

  "Junior Brother," Bai Ruoyue whispered through a discreet transmission, "that big-headed creep’s strong—probably peak Visceral Realm. The other three are weaker."

  "Got it, Senior Sister," Han replied. "We hit hard and fast. End this quick—but watch out. The Huang family has a cultivator lineage. One of them might be a martial-dao hybrid."

  "Now!"

  Han didn’t hesitate. Hostility this blatant meant these guys could stay right here—in the ground.

  Four Visceral Realm fighters—did they really think they had this in the bag?

  Shing!

  Han and Bai Ruoyue drew their swords in unison, lunging at the Huang family group. The sheer force of their strikes cratered the earth, snapping trees in half with the shockwave.

  "Such guts!" the big-headed man barked. "You dare attack first? You’re underestimating us!"

  The four drew their weapons and charged.

  Clang!

  Metal clashed, the sound ripping through the forest as leaves rained down.

  Boom!

  The big-headed man was hurled backward, eyes bulging in shock. Bai Ruoyue pursued, her sword flashing.

  Meanwhile, Han parried two attackers, then blocked a third’s weapon with a bare palm. The impact drove him into the ground, his stance sinking slightly. Invisible gauntlets absorbed most of the blow, but the higher realm still left his arm numb, tiny beads of blood seeping out.

  Then, fire and ice erupted from [Taibai], a dual assault of blazing heat and freezing cold. The explosion roared, catching two Huang fighters off guard. They stumbled back, wounded.

  Han shifted, slashing at another’s head while seizing their weapon with his free hand.

  Whoosh!

  The man abandoned his blade and dodged, barely escaping death but taking a gruesome gash. Blood poured as Han pocketed the stolen weapon, sneering before charging after him.

  One exchange, and he’d gauged their strength: two at minor Visceral Realm, the disarmed one just stepping into it. Tough opponents—back in Yinhua County, this lineup would’ve crushed him. But now, nearing the peak of Sinew-Vein Realm with minor Visceral progress, they weren’t out of reach anymore. These two minor Visceral fighters? Weaker than the Tie brothers.

  "Peak Sinew-Vein!"

  "Such insane power!"

  "How can a Sinew-Vein peak be this strong? Impossible!"

  Three stunned cries rang out, dripping with disbelief. Who the hell was this freak?

  Wind howled, air cracked, and Han struck again. His sword sang, black hair whipping wildly, its icy gleam chilling their spines.

  He was all in—focus razor-sharp, no room for error. That first clash had favored him, but surprise had been key: the ice-fire burst, the bold disarm, their underestimation. Now, with three Visceral Realm fighters getting serious, the pressure was real. Numbers alone earned them some respect.

  And the greatest respect he could offer enemies? Their deaths.

  On the other side, Bai Ruoyue was a force of nature. The big-headed man, peak Visceral Realm, was outmatched from the start, battered under her relentless assault. She’d held her own against a fading Bone-Forging Realm expert before—what chance did this guy have?

  The man seethed with frustration. Years of training, and he couldn’t keep up with an eighteen-year-old girl. He wanted backup, but a glance at Han’s fight left him speechless—and vulnerable. Bai Ruoyue’s sword stabbed deep.

  Three Visceral Realm fighters can’t even take down one Sinew-Vein instantly? Are you kidding me?!