"Xue'er, watch closely how I deal with them."
Ye Yunfei spoke.
As his voice fell,
Whoosh!
Ye Yunfei moved like a phantom, taking a single step to appear directly in front of one of the brawny men, standing nearly face to face.
With a light tremor of his physical body, Ye Yunfei unleashed a surge of terrifying force that instantly pressed down on the brawny man, making his face flush crimson and his movements sluggish.
Whap, whap…
Ye Yunfei raised his palm and slapped the man across the face dozens of times in rapid succession, the movements swift as lightning.
The brawny man's cheeks were nearly pulverized, all his teeth knocked out as he howled in agony.
"Attack!"
The other brawny men gritted their teeth and charged forward together.
Ye Yunfei raised his fists and unleashed a flurry of punches.
Boom! Boom!...
Each punch sent a brawny man flying.
These men were all at the Minor Mystic Pill Realm. How could they withstand Ye Yunfei's divine strength? Struck by his fists, each was severely wounded, smashing into the ground some distance away, unable to get back up.
"Xue'er, are you scared?"
Ye Yunfei glanced at Xue'er, worried the bloody scene might be too much for the young girl to handle.
"I'm not scared.
They always bully Grandpa. They are getting what they deserve!"
Xue'er declared through gritted teeth.
"Young man, you've made a terrible mistake!"
The old man looked at Ye Yunfei with both gratitude and worry.
"Xue'er, Elder, come with me. I'll treat you to a meal."
Ye Yunfei could tell both Xue'er and the old man were hungry.
"Okay!"
Xue'er's eyes lit up at the mention of food.
Seeing this, Ye Yunfei felt a sharp pang in his heart.
Hu Dao Shangren had led the warriors of the Tianxuan Continent to defeat the invasion of the Ancient Demon Race army, saving its inhabitants from ruin and bringing prosperity to the land. He was truly a great hero of Tianxuan Continent.
Who would have thought his younger sister would be reduced to begging and enduring humiliation here in Heavenly Dao City?
"There's definitely more to this story!
I must investigate thoroughly just who it is that reduced Xue'er to such misery here!"
Ye Yunfei inwardly swore, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Ye Yunfei, leading Xue'er, the old man, and Da Di Daozhang, turned and prepared to leave.
"Kid, you just wait!
Daring to stand up for this little wench, you're dead!
Not just you, but your family and your sect will all be implicated!
You'll regret this very soon!"
From behind, the remaining brawny men struggled to their feet, glaring at Ye Yunfei's retreating back with venomous hatred as they spat threats.
Right at that moment.
Swoosh!
A dagger black as ink abruptly materialized before one of the brawny men's heads, swiftly circling his neck with a slash.
Then, the man's head tumbled from his shoulders.
Next.
Ah! Ah!...
That dagger transformed into a fierce black streak of light, vanishing and reappearing abruptly. Each time it reappeared, it slew another brawny man.
The remaining men, faced with this ghostly, elusive dagger, had no chance to dodge.
In the blink of an eye, they were all killed!
This scene sent shivers down the spines of the onlookers, filling them with a palpable chill.
"Heh heh..."
Amid the crowd, a shadowy, concealed figure stared at Ye Yunfei's receding figure, a sinister smile playing on its lips.
Ye Yunfei brought Xue'er and the old man to a nearby restaurant and treated them to a hearty meal.
Then, he brought them back to his inn.
One of Ye Yunfei's purposes in coming to Heavenly Dao Academy was to investigate Hu Dao Shangren's situation.
Now that he had encountered Hu Dao Shangren's younger sister, he naturally could not pass up the chance.
Furthermore, Xue'er and the old man were living in such harsh conditions; Ye Yunfei would never stand by and do nothing.
"Elder, could you tell me…
Why are the two of you begging here in Heavenly Dao City?"
Inside the room, Ye Yunfei asked.
"Young man, our situation is far too complicated. It is not something you can manage.
You just killed their people; you have already made a grave error. You two must leave Heavenly Dao City immediately.
Otherwise, disaster will befall you very soon."
The old man sighed.
"Big Brother, Grandpa is right. You should leave quickly.
Everyone who has tried to help us has met with misfortune.
Big Brother, you are a good person. I don't want anything to happen to you. Please leave."
Xue'er also looked at Ye Yunfei with reluctant eyes and urged him.
"Elder, what exactly is going on? Who are 'they' that you speak of?"
Ye Yunfei pressed.
"Young man, our affairs are beyond your control.
Do not bring trouble upon yourself. You two must leave at once."
The old man shook his head.
No matter how Ye Yunfei questioned them, neither the old man nor Xue'er answered him directly, merely insisting that Ye Yunfei and Da Di Daozhang depart quickly.
Ye Yunfei pondered for a moment, then suddenly waved his hand.
A figure appeared in the room—a man.
It was Hu Dao Shangren!
"Big Brother!"
Upon seeing Hu Dao Shangren, Xue'er's frail body shuddered violently. Then, without a care, she threw herself forward, tears streaming down her face.
This Hu Dao Shangren was a projection Ye Yunfei had conjured using Soul Power, not a physical entity.
Thus, Xue'er passed right through his form.
"Young Master Tang!"
The old man also wept openly, tears streaking his aged face, unable to speak through his sobs.
"Young man… you know Young Master Tang?"
The old man asked.
"Yes, I know him.
Elder, to be frank, one of my purposes for coming to Heavenly Dao City was to investigate Young Master Tang's whereabouts.
Therefore, you can tell me everything."
Ye Yunfei said.
"Young Master Tang… he's still alive?!"
Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the old man's body jolted sharply, a dazzling brilliance erupting in his eyes.
"My brother is still alive?!"
Xue'er also exclaimed in shock and joy.
"I don't know.
But there is no evidence to prove he is dead.
Therefore, it is possible he is still alive."
Ye Yunfei replied.
"Alright.
Young man, I will tell you everything."
The old man sighed once more.
Then, the old man spoke, revealing a tale that allowed Ye Yunfei to learn about Hu Dao Shangren's origins and why this old man and Xue'er had been reduced to begging for survival in Heavenly Dao City.
Hu Dao Shangren was named Tang Yang and hailed from the Tang Clan.
Tang Yang entered Heavenly Dao Academy at the age of thirteen. With astonishing talent, he broke through to the Great Core Formation Realm before he was twenty, making him the most prodigious genius in Heavenly Dao Academy.
The Eldest Young Master of the Tang Clan, the most prodigious genius of Heavenly Dao Academy—these titles made Tang Yang the brightest young talent of his generation across the entire Beihuang Domain!
Unfortunately, these good times did not last.
Later, for unknown reasons, the Tang Clan was exterminated overnight!
Tang Yang also completely vanished, his fate unknown.
"My name is Li Zhong. I was originally an old servant of the Tang Clan. On that night, countless terrifying enemies stormed into the Tang Clan, killing everyone in sight.
Amidst the chaos, I happened to discover Miss Xue'er and desperately protected her to escape the Tang Clan headquarters.
I brought Miss Xue'er all the way to Heavenly Dao City, originally intending to come to Heavenly Dao Academy to find Young Master Tang Yang.
But, unexpectedly, Young Master Tang Yang had also disappeared."
The old man, Li Zhong, explained.
"After staying in Heavenly Dao City for a time with Miss Xue'er and learning of Young Master Tang Yang's disappearance, I originally planned to take Miss Xue'er and leave.
However, a group of mysterious people appeared.
They attacked Miss Xue'er and me, wounding us and crippling our cultivation, ordering us to stay within Heavenly Dao City, forbidden from going anywhere else.
Every time I tried to take Miss Xue'er and secretly leave Heavenly Dao City, they would catch us and bring us back.
Moreover, all sorts of people would specifically come to bully me and Miss Xue'er.
So, Miss Xue'er and I had no choice but to stay in Heavenly Dao City and survive by begging."
Li Zhong stated.
"Why won't they let you leave Heavenly Dao City?"
Ye Yunfei asked.
"They want to use Miss Xue'er and me as bait to lure Young Master Tang Yang back.
If Young Master Tang Yang is still alive and learns Miss Xue'er is in Heavenly Dao City, he will definitely return."
Li Zhong replied.
"I see.
What do they want Tang Yang to come back for?"
Ye Yunfei inquired further.
"This... I do not know."
Li Zhong shook his head.
"It seems there are many secrets hidden within."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"From now on, you two will follow me."
Ye Yunfei considered for a moment, then declared.
Xue'er was Hu Dao Shangren's younger sister; Ye Yunfei simply could not abandon her.
"Young man, those people are very mysterious and powerful. I'm afraid you are not their match."
Li Zhong was taken aback for a second, then said.
"No matter how mysterious or powerful they are, I do not fear them."
Ye Yunfei replied with a cold laugh.