Chapter Ten: The Might of the Ye Family

Deathbringer did not back down either. His purple fists rained down like a storm, his steps thundering across the battlefield. Wherever he passed, the giant wolves fell in two, their heads shattered by his blows!

As time passed, the two of them gradually cleared away the wolves until none remained.

The two war demons sat back to back on the grass. “It’s been so long since I’ve felt this alive. What exhilaration!”

“This place is nice! I don’t want to leave. Would you mind supplying me with food?” Deathbringer’s words caught Leng Tian off guard for a moment, before a mischievous smile crept onto his face.

“So, what you’re saying is, you’re letting me keep you here like livestock?”

“Looking for a fight, are you?” Deathbringer retorted, his tone unyielding.

“Fine! Suit yourself. If you want to stay, I won’t stop you,” Leng Tian shrugged, indifferent.

“Oh, by the way, when you’ve got time, teach me that flying dagger technique of yours, will you? Heh heh…”

Leng Tian exited the purgatory simulation with a thought.

“What a peculiar fellow,” Deathbringer murmured, stretching before lying down on the soft grass and drifting off to sleep.

Inside the carriage, Leng Tian opened his eyes to see daylight filtering in. Yanlong and the others had already gone out to help. By his side were several freshly washed wild fruits—undoubtedly Huo Wu’s handiwork.

He picked up the fruit and stepped out of the carriage. The others were busy harnessing the horses and preparing to set out. Eating as he walked, Leng Tian made his way to the main road, gazing down its smooth length toward the distant border.

“Captain Leng, we’re about to depart. What are you looking at?” Chenfeng’s respectful voice sounded from behind.

“Oh, nothing much. I was just looking to see if there’s a town ahead. My wine’s run out, and I’m craving a drink. Looks like I’ll have to go without today,” Leng Tian replied.

“Please don’t worry, Captain. We should reach the border before nightfall—there’s a town there called Sunset Town,” Chenfeng said deferentially. After last night’s events, Leng Tian’s strength was deeply etched into everyone’s minds.

Leng Tian nodded and turned back. “Let’s go. No need to keep everyone waiting and fall behind schedule.”

“After you, sir!”

The caravan returned to the main road, and Leng Tian and his close companions settled back into the carriage. Huo Wu and Xiao Ke had already been dragged away by Ye Die’er; after last night’s ordeal, the three women had grown even closer.

Seated inside, Leng Tian addressed Yanlong and his friends. “In a moment, I’ll send you into Purgatory. Just to let you experience it for yourselves…”

“Purgatory? What’s that?” Zhixuan asked curiously, the others watching Leng Tian, waiting for his answer.

“I couldn’t really explain it if I tried. You’ll see for yourselves soon. Just relax your minds and don’t resist.”

A surge of intense scarlet light flashed, and the three felt a wave of dizziness before finding themselves in a strange new world. This time, it was only their spiritual consciousness that entered—not their physical bodies.

In reality, the three sat enveloped in a layer of scarlet light. Leng Tian slipped out of the carriage, settling outside to enjoy the grand mountains flanking the road.

The carriage was driven by a middle-aged man whose skin, darkened by years under the sun, spoke of a lifetime outdoors. With nothing else to do, Leng Tian struck up a conversation.

“How long have you been in this line of work, my friend?”

The man laughed. “Thirty years. My family’s driven for the Ye family for generations. I’m the third.”

“You don’t seem to have cultivated Qi. Is that not permitted by the Ye family?” Leng Tian’s spiritual sense had revealed the man was only an entry-level body cultivator.

The man’s face turned somber. “Actually, the Ye family treats us well and has passed on cultivation techniques to us. Outstanding ones are even promoted. But I had an accident, and my dantian was destroyed—so I can’t cultivate.” He fell silent, evidently touching on an old pain.

But he soon composed himself. Leng Tian admired his resilience—he seemed a man of spirit and fortitude. He patted the driver’s shoulder. “Don’t dwell on what you’ve lost, friend. Treasure what you have now.”

“You’re right, sir. Luckily, my son is a good lad. Last month, he was chosen in the family’s tests and brought into the inner court to train with the young master. Even if I can’t cultivate, my son’s success is my pride!”

Leng Tian smiled. “And your name is?”

“Liang Tao, sir. Please just call me by my name.”

Leng Tian nodded, and so the two continued to chat idly. Through the conversation, Leng Tian learned that the Ye family was not as simple as it appeared. According to Liang Tao, their lineage stretched back to ancient times—perhaps even to antiquity.

Liang Tao had learned from his son that the Ye family in Hidden Wind City was just a branch; the true family headquarters was elsewhere. It was said that in ancient times, a remarkable figure had arisen from the Ye clan, and now their descendants were scattered across the continent.

When the topic turned to last night’s assassination attempt, Liang Tao spoke with pride: “The Bloodsworn Alliance may be powerful, but the Ye family has an ancestor who is a supreme force in his own right—and fiercely protective. We have nothing to fear from the likes of the Bloodsworn.”

Leng Tian was secretly astonished. Only now did he understand Ye Xiang’s bold words the night before; with such a figure behind them, the family had no reason to fear a mere assassins’ guild.

The caravan stretched like a winding dragon across the land, slowly advancing beneath the blazing midday sun. Even the sturdy horses drooped their heads, listless in the heat.

The wheels groaned, punctuated by the sharp clatter of hooves.

Ye Xiang had chosen not to ride in the sun, instead resting in a carriage. A great eagle descended from the sky, wings outstretched, and landed atop the shaft. Ye Xiang lifted the curtain, removed a metal cylinder from the bird’s neck, and let the curtain fall as he sat back inside.

The eagle let out a cry and soared skyward, disappearing from sight.

Leng Tian, watching from behind, understood that this was a message from the Ye family. He wondered what news it bore—but was impressed by the speed.

By evening, the caravan finally reached a small town, no more than a thousand souls. They stopped at an inn called “Joyful Abode.” The portly innkeeper bustled out, all smiles, greeting Ye Xiang with effusive respect.

Before entering the town, Leng Tian had already brought Yanlong and his friends out of Purgatory and back to reality. The three were exhilarated, exclaiming over the experience.

They’d met Deathbringer inside and, upon emerging, immediately asked Leng Tian about the other man’s formidable skills—especially his mastery of throwing knives.

They hadn’t witnessed Leng Tian’s duel with Deathbringer and, with the chaos of last night, had no idea a killer was inside Purgatory. No one had mentioned it.

[End of Chapter 10: The Ye Family’s Might—Martial Dao—Extreme Edge]