Chapter Thirty-One: Testing the Medicine

Lei Yan swept his gaze over the three people in the courtyard and smiled, “There are only a few innate masters in all of Maple Birch Town, yet you have two here. But I am a bit curious—how is it that, as the eldest brother, you are weaker than your own siblings?”

“Hmph!” Zhang Fa snorted coldly. “My younger sister Zhang Qing was taught by the Lotus Hand Song Ming, and my younger brother Zhang Jing was a disciple of the Wild Goose Blade Xun Si—how could I, who have only trained alone, possibly compare?”

“The Wild Goose Blade? The one known for the Wild Goose Fourfold Slash?” Lei Yan immediately recalled the black-clad figure he’d slain that night, whose weapon was precisely that technique.

Zhang Fa had deliberately mentioned his siblings’ masters, and seeing that the other party seemed to recognize them, he pressed, “That’s right! Are you afraid now? Take the hint and leave, and we’ll let this matter go!”

“The Xun Si you speak of may already be dead at my hands! Of all names, he just had to be called Xun Si—seeking death! And as for that Song Ming, he’ll lose his life sooner or later too!” Lei Yan chuckled.

“Say that again!” Zhang Jing’s face was ashen. He had, in fact, lost contact with his master, and if the man before him was telling the truth, his master might really be dead.

“Big Brother, he’s stalling for time!” Zhang Qing hissed lowly. She didn’t know why Lei Yan was delaying, but she was certain he was.

At that moment, Zhang Qing darted toward Lei Yan, her delicate hand blossoming like a lotus, transforming into a flurry of afterimages that surged at him.

Lei Yan was indeed playing for time. As he’d descended from the rooftop, he’d scattered powder mixed with dust—something he’d planned in advance. Innate experts possessed innate inner strength; if they actively defended themselves, Lei Yan would have no chance. So he chose to scatter the drug from the rooftop and then stall, watching the expressions on the three siblings’ faces for the right moment.

“Let’s use you as a test subject first!” Lei Yan watched Zhang Qing’s attack and threw a punch.

With a sharp whistle, his right fist, bearing the force of a thousand pounds, smashed directly toward Zhang Qing.

Hearing the terrifying shriek of air, both Zhang Fa and Zhang Jing’s faces changed. Zhang Qing was caught off guard; the wind of the punch pricked her face like needles. Without time to consider, the blossoming lotus of her hands instantly contracted, channeling all her inner strength into her palms to meet Lei Yan’s fist.

A thunderous crash sounded.

Lei Yan’s fist slammed into her hands like a massive hammer, shattering the innate energy in her palms. His fist, along with her hands, crashed into her chest. Zhang Qing distinctly heard the sound of her ribs breaking before her body was flung backward.

“Sister!” Zhang Fa and Zhang Jing rushed forward to support her.

Blood spurted from Zhang Qing’s mouth as soon as she steadied herself. Without her inner strength to block it, the force of a thousand pounds struck her directly—how could she withstand it?

“Big Brother, we’re poisoned—our inner strength is sealed!” Just as she’d tried to protect herself with her energy, she’d felt it dissipate, and then Lei Yan’s fist had struck.

“No wonder I couldn’t gauge your strength; turns out you only practice external arts and haven’t reached the innate realm!” Before the words had even faded, Zhang Jing shot toward Lei Yan.

To Lei Yan’s eyes, the Zhang Jing he’d locked onto seemed to move in slow motion. Even so, Lei Yan could only barely dodge. The hand reaching for his throat instead struck his clavicle. With a crisp crack, a bead of cold sweat slid down Lei Yan’s face—not from fear or tension, but from the agony of a hairline fracture. His left side was completely numb; his collarbone must have cracked, though fortunately it hadn’t broken.

“Boy, do you know why innate warriors can channel innate energy…” Zhang Jing sneered at Lei Yan, but his smile froze instantly. He found he couldn’t speak, nor could he move—his whole body was numb and paralyzed.

Lei Yan managed a strained smile. Innate warriors truly were different from what he’d imagined. Even with the help of his special abilities, his body couldn’t keep up with their speed.

“Hand over the antidote and we’ll spare your life!” Zhang Fa, supporting Zhang Qing, demanded. Zhang Jing had his back to him, so he hadn’t noticed his condition.

“Spare my life? And do you think you have the right?” Lei Yan replied coldly.

“Hmph! Looks like you won’t cry until you see the coffin! Little brother, show him what we’re made of!” Zhang Fa shouted. But Zhang Jing, standing opposite Lei Yan, didn’t respond at all. His body just trembled uncontrollably, eyes wide with terror as the flying knife buried itself in his skull.

“Little brother! Damn it, I’ll fight you to the death!” Zhang Fa, seeing the blade strike his brother, sprang to his feet. But as he rushed Lei Yan, he suddenly froze—not by choice, but because his body was completely numb and unresponsive.

Without the protection of inner strength, a martial artist was as vulnerable before Lei Yan as a newborn child.

Suddenly, Zhang Fa felt his body loosen—the numbness abruptly faded. This was highly unusual, but he didn’t hesitate; without any warning, he lunged like a venomous snake striking at its prey. But again, his body went numb, and this time his hand stopped just an inch from Lei Yan’s heart.

“What are you doing?” Zhang Fa’s voice trembled. He couldn’t understand what Lei Yan was up to. The unknown was the most terrifying.

“Testing medicine,” Lei Yan replied calmly.

“Testing…medicine?” Zhang Fa was momentarily stunned. “Lord, I was wrong! Take whatever you want, just don’t make me your test subject. Why not use my sister instead? She’s still alive!”

Zhang Qing had just regained consciousness in time to hear her brother’s words. Rage boiled within her, but she was powerless to move and kept reminding herself to control her emotions. “Kill this beast and I’ll tell you which chest has the valuables!”

“Sister, I’m your big brother—how could you say that?” Zhang Fa wailed. “Sir, don’t listen to her! Whatever you want, as long as I have it, it’s yours!”

“Very well.”

As Lei Yan spoke, Zhang Fa felt the numbness lift again. He made another desperate attack, only for the numbness to seize him once more, this time with his fingertip only an inch from Lei Yan’s brow.

“Sir, I’m sorry—I just got carried away! Please forgive me!” Zhang Fa pleaded desperately.

“Oh?” Lei Yan smiled faintly. He knew exactly what Zhang Fa was thinking, but for the sake of testing the drug’s effects, he wanted him to keep attacking.

Again and again, the numbness took hold, and Zhang Fa’s hope sank. Facing Lei Yan’s unmatched poisoning skills, he stood no chance at all. “Sir, I give up! This isn’t fun at all. Let’s just discuss what you want so you’ll let me go!”

“Really done playing?” Lei Yan’s voice was icy as he released the numbness.

This time, Zhang Fa didn’t dare attack again. He collapsed onto the ground. “Sir, if you must play, play with my sister instead! She’s much more fun than I am!”

“In that case, you can die.” As soon as Lei Yan finished his words, Zhang Fa’s face turned ashen. Pointing at Lei Yan, he stammered, “You…you…” but before he could finish, he fell lifeless to the ground.

“You heard him—your brother’s dying wish was for me to play with you. You must be truly entertaining! It would be a waste if I didn’t.” Lei Yan slowly approached Zhang Qing. Since he was determined to claim the secret dart in the ornate box, he was in no rush.

“Don’t…don’t come any closer!” Zhang Qing’s heart filled with dread as Lei Yan drew near. She had witnessed his methods all too clearly.

(P.S.: This book will definitely not be abandoned, so you can safely add it to your collection!)