Chunks of flesh shattered into the air.
Yacha was like a meat grinder; within the span of a few breaths, dozens of bodyguards were left maimed and mutilated, all collapsing to the ground.
Scarlet blood stained the courtyard, leaving a thick layer of cloying human blood plastered across the ground while a sickening stench of carnage hung heavy in the air.
Severed limbs were scattered everywhere; the small courtyard had been turned into a living hell!
Dozens of elite special forces bodyguards hired by Shàngguān Xióng at a heavy price hadn't even lasted five minutes in Yacha's hands before being completely slaughtered!
The courtyard was dead silent. Shàngguān Qīngyuè was already frightened nearly to the point of fainting, her stomach churning violently until she actually threw up.
This scene, something that could only be witnessed in horror movies, was now playing out vividly right before her eyes, shattering her psychological defenses!
Shàngguān Xióng stood in front of Shàngguān Qīngyuè, his body trembling violently, his old face twisted with terror.
Yacha licked the blood off his blade, a pair of sinister eyes filled with intense murderous intent as he let out a weird, cackling laugh:
"You two are next."
Shàngguān Xióng fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly on the ground and begging for mercy:
"Lord Yacha... you can take my life, but I beg you to spare my granddaughter."
Tears instantly gushed from Shàngguān Qīngyuè's eyes, and she dropped to her knees beside him, weeping hot tears:
"Don't kill my grandfather, kill me instead..."
Yacha said with cold ruthlessness: "Stop arguing, both of you are going to die. Suicide leaves you with an intact corpse, whereas if I do it, your heads will be severed from your bodies. Choose for yourselves."
Shàngguān Xióng's body gave a violent shudder, his old face turning an ashen gray. Looking at Shàngguān Qīngyuè, tears streamed down his aged face:
"Qīngyuè, it was grandfather who harmed you, grandfather who failed to protect you."
Shàngguān Qīngyuè and Shàngguān Xióng hugged each other and wept bitterly: "Grandfather, you and I have depended on each other for all these years. What will I do if you die? If you die, I want to die with you."
Shàngguān Xióng wiped away Shàngguān Qīngyuè's tears, looked at Yacha, and with reddened eyes pulled out a dagger, "Fine, I... I'll end my own life!"
Yacha said in a chilling voice: "Sensible to the last."
The moment the words fell, Shàngguān Xióng let out a fierce shout, completely disregarding his injured leg. Gripping the dagger, he gathered every ounce of strength in his body and lunged straight at Yacha!
No one expected a white-haired old man to possess such formidable speed!
Neither did Yacha expect Shàngguān Xióng to reach his throat with the dagger already.
At this distance, drawing a weapon was out of the question. Just as Shàngguān Xióng was about to strike, Yacha lashed out with a lightning-fast kick!
Bang!
The kick landed on Shàngguān Xióng's chest with terrifying force!
Shàngguān Xióng's chest caved in, blood sprayed from his mouth, and his body flew out like a cannonball, smashing through a wall. He spat a mouthful of black blood, his internal organs severely damaged, and collapsed onto the ground at death's door.
Shàngguān Xióng was inherently a master martial artist, yet in front of Yacha, a single kick had nearly beaten him half to death.
"Stop struggling, it's useless. Wouldn't it be better to leave yourself a dignified way to die?"
Shàngguān Qīngyuè screamed as she rushed to support Shàngguān Xióng. Shàngguān Xióng's face was covered in blood, extremely weak.
Yacha smiled eerily, his figure flashing like a ghost right in front of the grandfather and granddaughter. Aiming straight at their heads, he swung his blade with cold intent!
Shàngguān Qīngyuè raised her head, her face stained with tears, staring straight at Yacha with reddened eyes full of hatred:
"You will come to a bad end!"
With that, she hugged Shàngguān Xióng, closed her eyes, and awaited the arrival of death.
Just as Yacha was about to bring his blade down, a lazy voice suddenly broke the stillness of the night:
"Did I give you permission to kill?"
Yacha's blade paused. He turned his head to look toward the corner, while Shàngguān Xióng and Shàngguān Qīngyuè opened their eyes at the same time.
Chapter 31: Stop Deluding Yourself, Will You?
Ye Tianming stood in the corner, a cigarette hanging from his lips, shoulders shrugged, a look of sleepy drowsiness on his face.
Yacha's blade-swinging hand froze. Looking at Ye Tianming with a strange expression, he suddenly let out a sinister chuckle:
"Turns out there's still an ant left."
Shàngguān Xióng opened his mouth and said in a hoarse voice: "Mr. Ye, this matter has nothing to do with you, go!"
Shàngguān Qīngyuè shook her head at Ye Tianming with tears in her eyes, her gaze conveying a meaning that needed no explanation—she wanted Ye Tianming to leave.
Yet Yacha smiled eerily: "Today you're all going to die, nobody's leaving."
Ye Tianming grinned: "Who said I was leaving? Even if I leave, I'm killing you first."
"Kill me?"
Yacha laughed coldly, his smile mocking, "A dead man dares talk about killing me. Who gave you the guts?"
Shàngguān Qīngyuè said tearfully to Ye Tianming: "Mr. Ye, today's business has nothing to do with you, run!"
Shàngguān Xióng also said sorrowfully: "Mr. Ye, you are no match for this brute, and this old man does not wish to see you die for us. Run, Mr. Ye!"
With his cigarette dangling and hands tucked in his pockets, Ye Tianming maintained such a lazy posture that he looked like he was out for a stroll watching a street performance.
He scratched his head and blinked at Shàngguān Qīngyuè: "Is this Yacha guy really that strong?"
Shàngguān Qīngyuè was stunned, wearing a bizarre expression. Having witnessed this scene with her own eyes, why was Ye Tianming still asking such a foolish question?
Yacha smiled sinisterly: "Mere ant, utterly laughable. Since you keep looking for death, I'll grant your wish first."
The moment the words fell, Yacha swung his blade and prepared to flash toward Ye Tianming. But the very next second, a hazy beam of light wove through the night!
Yacha's pupils constricted, a look of sheer disbelief appearing on his face!
For Ye Tianming's figure had vanished right where he stood—this was a speed beyond his imagination!
A whistling sound pierced the air; Ye Tianming's speed tore the atmosphere apart!
His entire person had dissolved into a blurred afterimage that even a high-speed camera could not capture.
The distance between him and Yacha vanished in a flash—in the blink of an eye, no, not even a single blink!
Ye Tianming had appeared right in front of Yacha as if teleporting!
Yacha was frightened out of his wits; the untamed, smiling face of the man before him looked like the grin of a devil in his eyes!
His own speed was already fast enough, yet someone was actually faster than him!
How could this be possible?!
Ye Tianming's speed outpaced his nervous system's ability to transmit signals; the moment he realized he needed to dodge, Ye Tianming struck!
He didn't even see how Ye Tianming made his move, only hearing a loud boom!
Yacha's body flew straight backward, a bloody hole deep enough to expose bone opening up in his chest.
Yacha rolled backward for dozens of meters, his body smashing through two villa walls before finally crashing heavily to the ground amidst billowing dust.
As the dust settled, Yacha lay on the ground twitching.
The skin all over his body was scraped raw, blood continuously gushed from the hole in his chest, every bone in his body was shattered, his limbs were broken, his organs reduced to pulp, and bloody froth kept pouring from his mouth.
This scene dumbfounded Shàngguān Qīngyuè and Shàngguān Xióng. Their jaws dropped wide enough to fit an orange, completely unable to believe what was happening before their eyes.
With his cigarette still dangling, Ye Tianming walked step by step toward Yacha. To this moment, the butt of the cigarette in his mouth hadn't even fallen off.
Terror and despair unlike anything he had ever felt in his life filled Yacha's pupils: "Don't come over, don't come over!"
Ye Tianming shook his head, took a subtle side-step, and his figure reappeared directly in front of Yacha.
Yet at this very moment, Yacha suddenly flicked a dagger out from his sleeve. From this angle, it was utterly impossible for anyone to dodge!
This was Yacha's fatal trump card; over the years, he didn't know how many enemies he had assassinated relying on this fatal blow!
Coated in deadly poison, the dagger shot toward Ye Tianming's glabella like a venomous snake.
Yacha's speed had already reached its absolute peak, and coupled with the distance of less than a meter between them, Ye Tianming was facing almost certain death!
Yacha thought so too, a cold smirk forming at the corner of his mouth—only for his smile to freeze the next second.
He saw his dagger casually caught between two of Ye Tianming's fingers. With a gentle twist, the weapon, forged from aerospace-grade high-strength steel, instantly shattered into pieces!
Yacha hung his mouth open in a blank stare, looking at this unbelievable spectacle unfolding before him.
Ye Tianming shook his head with an indifferent expression and gave Yacha's shoulder a light tap with his palm!
Splatter!
A mist of blood burst open, countless flesh and tissue fragments disintegrating!
Half of Yacha's shoulder was reduced to a bloody mush, and his entire body was sent flying.
Ye Tianming said indifferently: "You're merely a minor figure on the assassin leaderboard, who gave you the courage to venture among ordinary folk? If I recall correctly, people like you aren't supposed to show up here, nor should you interfere in the affairs of ordinary people, right?"
Yacha spat out a mouthful of blood, looking at Ye Tianming in terror. How could Ye Tianming know this so clearly?
Could it be... is he one of them too?
No... impossible, he's obviously so young!
With a flash, Ye Tianming drifted straight to Yacha's side, raised his leg, and brought it down!
Splatter! Blood splattered everywhere!
With both legs crippled, Yacha was wishing he were dead, driven nearly insane by the agony, his consciousness slipping away.
Lifting Yacha by the neck like a helpless chick, Ye Tianming hoisted him up with a single hand.
Slap, slap, slap! Several heavy backhands cracked across Yacha's face.
Yacha's face instantly deformed; his nose was smashed crooked, his eyeballs burst, all his teeth knocked out, rendering him completely unrecognizable.
Drag-hauling Yacha before Shàngguān Qīngyuè and Shàngguān Xióng, Ye Tianming dropped him casually onto the ground and dusted off his hands:
"There, you two see how you want to handle him."
Shàngguān Qīngyuè and Shàngguān Xióng were completely petrified. Staring blankly at Ye Tianming, they were too shocked by everything that had just happened to speak.
The figure they viewed as utterly insurmountable was in Ye Tianming's hands... just this fragile and helpless?
Shàngguān Qīngyuè's lips trembled as she looked at Ye Tianming. Ye Tianming grinned broadly:
"Alright, I know what you're going to say, no need to thank me."
Yacha on the ground looked at Ye Tianming, his entire heart shrouded by a dense haze of despair.
All these years, he had never encountered such a terrifyingly formidable figure. How could this be possible?
Even when facing the number one on China's assassin leaderboard, he wouldn't have felt this utterly helpless; he still could have exchanged a few blows!
Yet facing Ye Tianming, he felt as if he had been reduced to a primary school student while Ye Tianming was a martial arts champion.
Just by casually throwing a single punch at him, he had been beaten nearly half to death, and with a few slaps, he was completely stripped of any combat capability.
A thick wave of terror welled up in Yacha's heart: there was only one possible explanation—Ye Tianming had transcended China's assassin leaderboard!
Yet anyone above the assassin leaderboard was a terrifyingly monstrous bigwig; there weren't many such people in the entire country of China!
Furthermore, every single one of them was an old monster and a regional overlord.
How could this Ye Tianming be so blindingly young?
Suddenly, a rumor flashed into his mind!
It was rumored that among China's supreme powerhouses, there was only one person strong enough to single-handedly suppress all living beings, and moreover... he was extremely young!
His codename was—God!
Looking at Ye Tianming, a shiver ran down his spine, and he trembled as he asked: "Who... who are you?"
Ye Tianming smiled, revealing a mouthful of pearly white teeth: "I am who I am, a different kind of fireworks."
"No!"
Yacha let out a roar, then abruptly muttered in disbelief:
"You're... you're... God?!"
An unusual glint flashed through Ye Tianming's eyes, and he curled his lip:
"You talk too much. How boring, all this nonsense about gods and ghosts."
The moment the words fell, he planted his foot squarely on Yacha's neck.
With a crisp crack, a burst of bloody mist erupted from Yacha's neck. His head lolled to the side, and he stopped breathing.
The small courtyard fell into absolute silence. A breeze swept through, fluttering Shàngguān Qīngyuè's raven-black hair.
She stared at Ye Tianming, lost in a daze. Was everything that had just happened real?
For all the years she had lived, this was the first time she truly understood the meaning of shock.
An entity as terrifying as Yacha was, in the hands of the seemingly cynical and unserious man before her, as weak as a helpless chick...
Ye Tianming looked toward the old man and the young woman, stretched lazily, and said:
"Go find some gasoline and burn this place down, and find somewhere else to live. If nothing else, I'll head back first."
With that, Ye Tianming walked out of the courtyard. Shàngguān Xióng hurriedly said:
"Qīngyuè, go quickly and see Mr. Ye out."
Without a second thought, Shàngguān Qīngyuè followed in Ye Tianming's footsteps.
Inside the black Range Rover, Ye Tianming sat in the passenger seat, glancing sideways at Shàngguān Qīngyuè in the driver's seat.
"Are you sure your grandfather will be fine by himself there?"
Shàngguān Qīngyuè bit her lip: "The biggest trouble has already been resolved by Mr. Ye, and the bodyguards from my grandfather's faction have also arrived. What else could possibly happen?"
Ye Tianming nodded and said nothing more, his gaze sweeping over Shàngguān Qīngyuè.
Catching Ye Tianming's look, Shàngguān Qīngyuè's face suddenly flushed hot.
"Mr. Ye..."
"Hm?"
A wisp of faint fragrance drifting from Shàngguān Qīngyuè wafted into Ye Tianming's nose, making his heart ripple slightly.
Shàngguān Qīngyuè suddenly pulled the car over by the roadside. Inside the quiet carriage, deep in the dead of night, the privacy curtains automatically drew shut.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle turned somewhat ambiguous.
Ye Tianming raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"
He glanced at Shàngguān Qīngyuè. Her face had grown intensely red at some point, making her look utterly bewitching and seductive at this moment.
Coupled with her full, voluptuous breasts and those slender legs encased in silk stockings, Ye Tianming took a sizing look—it was indeed rather stirring.
This chick really was a top-tier stunner.
The next second, with shyness written across her face, Shàngguān Qīngyuè grabbed Ye Tianming's hand and placed it right upon her silk-clad thigh!
The thin, flesh-toned silk stockings wrapped around Shàngguān Qīngyuè's beautiful leg, bringing a dizzying wave of warmth, extreme softness, and silky smoothness against his skin.
Ye Tianming felt as though he had been struck by an electrical current: "What are you doing?"
Biting her delicate lip, Shàngguān Qīngyuè looked at Ye Tianming with reddened eye rims. Without a word, her slender fingers hooked around Ye Tianming's hand.
Slowly moving upward... slowly moving upward, making her way toward a certain beautiful place...
With a sudden shudder of her body, Ye Tianming felt a rush of boiling blood surge straight to the crown of his head, his hand freezing abruptly.
Chapter 32: Robber!
The two locked eyes, a blazing heat igniting in the depths of Ye Tianming's gaze.
He was a man—a perfectly normal man. Under these circumstances, even the monk Xuanzang wouldn't be able to hold back!
Looking at Ye Tianming, Shàngguān Qīngyuè's watery eyes swam with intense desire:
"Mr. Ye, for your immense kindness today, I have no way to repay you. If you don't mind... I am willing to give myself to you."
As she spoke, Shàngguān Qīngyuè leaned closer to Ye Tianming, leaning forward slightly to reveal a pair of full, towering peaks as white as mutton-fat jade right before Ye Tianming's eyes.
"Mr. Ye, am I... acceptable?"
She thrust out her proud, magnificent breasts...
"You..."
"Shh..."
Shàngguān Qīngyuè pressed a delicate finger against Ye Tianming's lips, her gaze dazed yet filled with willing surrender.
She picked up Ye Tianming's other hand and placed it directly upon her breasts...
Slowly leaning closer to Ye Tianming, she closed her eyes, her fragrant breath puffing against his face, tickling his skin.
"Mr. Ye, take me..."
The blood within Ye Tianming surged from the soles of his feet straight to his crown. The very next second, Shàngguān Qīngyuè slumped against his body.
Ye Tianming panted heavily, his eyes burning red.
Shàngguān Qīngyuè wrapped her arms around his neck, her tender lips pressing kisses against his chest.
Boom!
Ye Tianming was on the verge of exploding.
With a dazed look in her eyes, Shàngguān Qīngyuè willingly gave herself over to Ye Tianming.
At that moment, one of her delicate hands unbuttoned the front of her clothes, exposing her flawless perfection without a shred of covering right to Ye Tianming's view.
Meanwhile, her other small hand slipped stealthily toward Ye Tianming's lower...
Right at this moment, Shàngguān Qīngyuè's phone suddenly rang out loud. Startled like a frightened fawn, she sprang back instantly as if electrocuted.
Looking at Ye Tianming with an embarrassed expression, she bit her lip, feeling both shy and mortified: "Mr. Ye..."
Ye Tianming took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"I'll just hail a cab back by myself, you head back quickly."
Before Shàngguān Qīngyuè could say another word, Ye Tianming opened the door, got out, and hailed a taxi not far away, leaving straight away.
Watching the taxi vanish from sight, Shàngguān Qīngyuè touched her burning cheeks and suddenly clenched her dainty fists.
Ye Tianming, I am determined to become your woman!
...
Half an hour later, Ye Tianming appeared outside the Jiang Family estate.
Looking at the towering wall standing fully three meters high, he curled his lip. Explosive muscular power surged into his legs, and he shot upward instantly like a black dragon.
The next second, he was inside the compound.
Scanning the layout of the courtyard, Ye Tianming sprinted toward one of the buildings.
Moments later, he arrived in front of the villa, scaling up to the second floor with a few agile bounds.
Stepping lightly and quietly onto the second-floor balcony, he heard the sound of people talking inside.
It was Jiang Muwan.
Yet his brow furrowed instantly as he faintly caught the sound of Feng Hui's voice as well.
Remaining unfazed, he quietly lit a cigarette and sat down on the balcony to smoke.
Inside the luxuriously European-decorated bedroom, Jiang Muwan was half-reclining on a soft goose-down bed.
Feng Hui, meanwhile, was smiling like a blossoming flower, dressed in a brand-new outfit with an eye-catching large gold bracelet on her wrist.
She shook her wrist at Jiang Muwan with a smile and said:
"Daughter, look at that, aren't these clothes gorgeous? They say this set costs over a hundred thousand! And this bracelet cost over two hundred thousand!"
Jiang Muwan rubbed her temples with a helpless expression: "Mom, did a few cheap trinkets from Shen Chenghua really buy you off?"
Feng Hui immediately glared at her in displeasure: "You ungrateful girl, what nonsense are you spouting? When was I ever bought off by Shen Chenghua? People sending gifts just shows how thoughtful and attentive he is!"
Jiang Muwan rolled her eyes and sneered: "Did you ever stop to think why he's suddenly being so thoughtful and attentive?"
Feng Hui was momentarily stunned. Naturally, she knew the reason why, but she refused to lose face:
"How would I know why he's like this? It only shows that the boy has good character and is worth getting along with!"
Jiang Muwan shook her head: "Anyway, I don't want to get along with him. If you want to, you go get along with him yourself."
"You unfilial wretch! Talking nonsense again!"
Feng Hui's face darkened with displeasure, flushed red with anger: "I just don't get it! In terms of background, status, appearance, and education, Shen Chenghua is no match worse than you—why on earth can't you stand the guy?"
Not wanting to argue with Feng Hui any further, Jiang Muwan pulled out her phone and scrolled through it on her own.
With Shen Chenghua constantly sending gifts to Feng Hui and Jiang Haibo over this past period, how could Jiang Muwan not know what he was plotting?
Yet she simply held no affection for Shen Chenghua whatsoever, and even felt a certain degree of aversion toward him.
However, as the CEO of a corporation, she had unavoidable business dealings with the Shen Group, making it awkward to completely break ties with him.
Seeing Jiang Muwan stay silent, Feng Hui grew even angrier, her face sinking:
"You've never listened to me since you were a child! I'm telling you, this time you must listen to us and get along with Shen Chenghua!"
"No way!" Jiang Muwan refused without a second thought.