"Hmph!" Yang Yi snorted immediately, then vanished in a flicker of movement.

Snake Ghost had initially expected the Yang Yi before him to possess only rudimentary fighting skills. However, he hadn't anticipated his opponent's attacks to be so vicious, each one aimed lethally. If he hadn't possessed some hidden strength of his own, he wouldn't have managed to withstand even a single exchange.

"I didn't expect to see an ancient martial artist in City A. Cackle, how interesting!" Snake Ghost’s dagger swept out, a flash of cold light piercing the air as he leaped back with incredible speed, attempting to evade Yang Yi's assault.

"Hmph, is that all the skill you possess? And you intended to assassinate me with this?" Yang Yi’s voice was ice-cold. As he finished speaking, the moment Snake Ghost registered shock, the sinister, chilling aura surrounding Yang Yi rapidly spread outwards. Under the moonlight, his eyes shone blood-red as his hands coiled into claws: "I will let you taste the might of the Bone-Splitting and Tendon-Severing Hand!"

"What?" Snake Ghost cried out in genuine astonishment.

The Bone-Splitting and Tendon-Severing Hand was a particularly insidious and ruthless martial art, long thought lost since before ancient times. It was unbelievable that Yang Yi could wield such a technique today.

While they fought, elsewhere, Li Qian, having taken a bullet for Yang Yi, was hanging on by a thread, her life in grave danger. However, not long after, a black sedan screeched to a halt nearby.

Several hulking men emerged from the car, accompanied by a stunning beauty. She swept the scene with her elegant eyes and immediately commanded, "Lift her into the car and rush her to the hospital. If she dies, every single one of you will take your own life."

"Yes!" The large men responded with blank faces, then carefully loaded the unconscious and wounded Li Qian into the vehicle and drove away.

The newcomer was none other than Feng Shi, resplendent and elegant. She stood her ground, gazing into the distance, an inexplicable, almost eerie light flickering in her eyes. She softly called out, "Young Master!"

It turned out Yang Yi had called Feng Shi earlier. Since Li Qian was injured saving him, he could not allow her to die. Thus, he had immediately contacted Feng Shi to hurry to the location.

Back with Yang Yi and the assassin, time was compressed into the space between lightning and flint; there was no room for Snake Ghost to deliberate further. If Yang Yi managed to capture him, his fate would be far worse than death—he would suffer the agonizing pain of having his bones fractured, compounded by the chilling, soul-piercing aura. Such an end was truly more horrific than oblivion.

At that moment, Snake Ghost was consumed by regret. Why had he trusted Chen Dong’s words and sought out such a disaster? Why hadn't he investigated beforehand? Regret, sharp and relentless, hammered at him, but in this world, there was no potion for turning back time.

After exchanging a couple of blows, Yang Yi sensed Snake Ghost attempting to flee and coldly stated, "Trying to run? No one escapes from me, Yang Yi."

As the words fell, Yang Yi channeled the Yi Jin Jing vital energy within him. Although he knew he hadn't reached the realm of a Junior Grandmaster, dealing with this trash before him was more than sufficient. With a swift leap, his hands, previously shaped like claws, suddenly transformed into fists, unleashing a devastating blow.

"Ah!" Snake Ghost had been meticulously focused on dodging the claws, failing to notice that his opponent could also strike with his fists, and the speed was accelerating. He was utterly outmatched. He took Yang Yi’s full-force punch squarely. After absorbing the blow, Snake Ghost seemed to find a momentary opening and immediately sprang upward, attempting a mid-air somersault to escape.

But in the next instant, he never imagined that his attempt to flee had landed him directly into a trap. Seeing Snake Ghost trying to bolt past his flank, Yang Yi leaped up, extended one hand into a claw, and with a sharp snap!, he caught hold of Snake Ghost’s wrist.

"Damn it!" Snake Ghost knew, deep down, that he was finished.

"Ah...!" Yang Yi’s eyes widened into a roar of fury. With a mighty pull, Snake Ghost's entire body was violently slammed down into the ground, leaving a small indentation upon impact. "Hmph, still trying to run? I told you, I won't kill you—no, I will make you suffer worse than death!"

Snake Ghost fought through the agony wracking his body. Hearing Yang Yi’s words, his eyes snapped open, and he inhaled sharply—but the breath caught in his throat, replaced immediately by a wail: "Ah...!"

His hand was no longer Snake Ghost's hand.

"Ah...!"

His foot was no longer Snake Ghost's foot.

"Ah...!"

From his head to his lower limbs, Snake Ghost felt his entire body paralyzed, the pain attacking his very core. Even now, he couldn't comprehend how his lower limbs were bent towards his head.

Yang Yi hadn't released his grip. He then struck Snake Ghost’s back with a heavy palm strike, the force radiating an intense, biting cold. Even Yang Yi, in that moment, didn't recognize the terrifying, bloodthirsty fiend he had become, the demonic smile curling his lips radiating immeasurable darkness. With another resounding thwack!, Snake Ghost’s ribs shattered entirely, and his last breath escaped him.

"Young Master!" Feng Shi approached Yang Yi from behind and gently embraced him, seemingly trying to coax the man back from the brink of descending into self-destructive, bloodthirsty depravity. "Young Master, that is enough. Young Master, do not torment yourself further."

"Ah—!" Yang Yi threw his head back and roared. He didn't know why, but his heart ached as if being sliced by a thousand knives. Knowing Li Qian was shot for him fueled his rage, yet in the next moment, feeling the concern from behind him, a sliver of coolness pierced his turmoil.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, his voice slightly hoarse, "How is she?"

"I already had someone send her to the hospital. Don't worry, Young Master, she will be fine," Feng Shi replied, her voice trembling slightly. She felt like she was holding not a man, but a demon awakening; his body radiated no warmth, only that chilling, profound coldness.

Seemingly sensing something, Yang Yi quickly reined in his imposing aura, his expression becoming impassive. "Take me to see her."

"Yes!" Feng Shi felt his temperature return to normal and immediately blushed, quickly stepping back. "Young Master, I’ll go call a car!"

"En." Yang Yi, having recovered his composure, glanced at the figure of Snake Ghost—now a twisted heap, a casualty of the Bone-Splitting and Tendon-Severing Hand—waved a dismissive hand, and left the scene.

The car traveled slowly. Yang Yi sat silently, his face utterly blank. Feng Shi, watching him, couldn't help but wonder, Who is that girl that makes the Young Master look like this?

"Yanran, have your people investigate that person from before. I want to know everything about him. Also, tell Long Yi and the others to prepare; it is time to make our move," Yang Yi suddenly said, a faint, complex expression playing on his lips that was almost a smile.

"Yes, Young Master," Feng Shi replied, her whole body jolting at his command.

[Brothers and sisters, stand strong! The underworld is coming, push hard, cackle! Do not forget to bookmark + recommend; your support is the motivation for this little one. Be mighty!]