"How could this be?" Bai Wuji muttered to himself, his mind in a whirl.
"Heh, you guessed right, this Black Nether Token isn't genuine. However, I have more than just this one," Zhou Yan continued.
"You little bastard, you... you..." Hearing this, Bai Wuji could no longer stay put. His aged face turned a bruised purple. He, the dignified head of the Bai family, high and mighty, admired by all, had been tricked by Zhou Yan. He fainted on the spot from rage.
"Alas, what a cowardly wretch," Zhou Yan sneered dismissively. He slowly approached Bai Wuji, his gaze icy.
Swish, swish, swish~~ However, just as Zhou Yan was about to act, several figures suddenly shot out from the dense forest.
"Haha, Young Master, are you alright?" The figures rushed forward, landing before Zhou Yan, all kneeling on one knee and respectfully asking.
"Mm." Seeing these people, Zhou Yan nodded. These were servants he had bought in the imperial city.
"Young Master, who is this mongrel that dares to offend you?" The leader looked up at Bai Wuji, his face full of disdain. Their Young Master was a monstrous talent ranked eighth on the Jiangbei Martial Rankings. How dare a mere martial artist at the peak of the Innate realm dare to bully their Young Master? He must be tired of living.
"You will all die!" Zhou Yan said expressionlessly, his tone indifferent. Since the facade had been dropped, there was no need for politeness.
Boom! As his words fell, a wisp of killing intent erupted, sweeping out and engulfing an area of three zhang.
Crack! Zhou Yan flicked his finger, and the man exploded, his blood staining the ground.
"Young... Young Master, spare my life." The remaining few were terrified, their souls scattering. They collapsed to the ground, trembling all over, begging for mercy. Zhou Yan ignored them and walked directly towards Bai Wuji, his eyes cold.
"What do you want?" Seeing Zhou Yan approach, Bai Wuji's expression tightened, and he spoke in a deep voice.
"You just said I wasn't qualified to be your opponent. I think you have a point," Zhou Yan said lightly.
"Hmph, at least you're sensible." Bai Wuji snorted, arrogantly lifting his chin.
Whoosh! Suddenly, a flash of saber light appeared, impossibly fast.
Squelch! A fountain of blood spurted out, dyeing the air red.
"Ah!" Bai Wuji screamed. A sharp blade pierced his chest, and the crimson blood poured out, dripping onto the ground, a horrifying sight.
"You... you dare to wound this seat." Bai Wuji clutched his chest, his face contorted in a feral rage, roaring furiously. Zhou Yan's expression was mocking. He flicked his wrist again, and two more heads flew off.
Thump! The remaining two were so terrified their legs turned to jelly. They collapsed onto the ground, their eyes bulging, filled with panic and unease. They had no idea how Zhou Yan had moved. His speed was too great, catching them completely off guard.
Whoosh! Zhou Yan gave them no time to react. He reached out and crushed their skulls, then grabbed Bai Wuji and headed down the mountain.
Moments later, in a mountain cave.
"Who exactly are you?" Bai Wuji, his hair disheveled, lay on the stone bed, his face etched with pain. A short arrow was lodged in his right shoulder, the arrowhead piercing through his flesh. Blood flowed from the wound. At this moment, his heart was a tempest, ceaseless. He couldn't fathom how Zhou Yan had evaded his senses, crept into the cave silently, and struck with fatal precision. Could he be a Grandmaster? However, that possibility was extremely slim.
"My name is not something you are worthy of knowing," Zhou Yan shook his head and said indifferently. Hearing this, Bai Wuji's face turned ashen, and anger flared in his heart.
"Tell me, where is my father?" Zhou Yan's gaze was sharp as he stared at Bai Wuji.
"Cough, cough..." Bai Wuji coughed violently, his face pale, gasping for breath. "You wish to find my father? It's a pipe dream. You'll never learn anything." His eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth.
"Oh, really?" Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, his tone playful.
"My father is the head of the Bai family, Bai Wuji." Bai Wuji said with a venomous look, "I advise you to surrender obediently. Otherwise, when my father returns, you will be utterly destroyed."
"Hmph!" Hearing this, a cold snort escaped Zhou Yan. Immediately, he surged forward, becoming a blur.
Riiip! In an instant, a bloody gash appeared on Bai Wuji's chest, blood gushing out. His entire left arm was nearly torn off.
Ah! A shrill scream erupted. Bai Wuji's face contorted in agony, groaning in pain.
"Bai Wuji, do you think I dare not kill you?" Zhou Yan's face turned frigid, killing intent radiating from him. Bai Wuji's eyes widened, filled with disbelief. This scene was too bizarre. He hadn't seen Zhou Yan's figure at all, only felt a gust of wind.
Plink! A drop of water fell, landing on Bai Wuji's face. Bai Wuji blinked and looked up at the source of the raindrop. He saw Zhou Yan standing in the distance, holding a dagger. Fresh blood was seeping from the blade.
Thump! Bai Wuji's face turned ashen, his eyes vacant. His body trembled violently, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with utter dread. He finally understood how terrifying this young man, not yet twenty years old, truly was.
Whoosh! Zhou Yan flicked the blood off his dagger and slowly strode forward. He grabbed Bai Wuji and lifted him up.
"Wh... what are you doing?" Bai Wuji cried out in terror.
"Do you remember what I said?" Zhou Yan looked down at Bai Wuji and asked calmly.
"You... kill me if you want, but I'll never say a word," Bai Wuji said, his face devoid of color, resolutely refusing.
"Won't talk? Very well!" Zhou Yan's expression gradually turned cold, and he said grimly, "Don't worry, I will make you wish you were dead, and you will taste every torment in this world." As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Yan exerted force and, like throwing trash, slammed Bai Wuji heavily onto the ground.
With a thud, Bai Wuji fell, his face pale, coughing up blood, his breath extremely weak.
"What exactly do you want?" Bai Wuji's expression was gloomy, and he roared through gritted teeth.
"You like women, don't you? Alright, how about I give you a beautiful concubine?" Zhou Yan said with a faint smile, his voice soft.
"What... concubine?" Bai Wuji's body stiffened, and his face instantly fell. Zhou Yan's actions were clearly intended to humiliate him!
"Don't forget, I am the head of the Bai family. If you dare to humiliate me, the Bai family will never let you off," Bai Wuji said hatefully through clenched teeth.
"Humiliate?" Zhou Yan's expression turned cold, and he said indifferently.
"Hmph! Not only did you insult me, but you also broke my son's limbs and caused immense losses to my Bai family. Do you think you deserve to die?" Bai Wuji's face flushed red, and he roared in anger.
"Heh heh, Bai Wuji, you're mistaken. From beginning to end, you've never understood the situation," Zhou Yan said calmly. He slowly walked out of the cave, looked down at Bai Wuji, and continued, "In fact, my Bai family and I are already sworn enemies. Today is the time to settle our grievances."