Chapter 47 Found

Lin Yi looked down at Yang Li, who sat limp on the ground, his voice cold as ice: “I hadn’t intended to pursue this further, but I didn’t expect you would repeatedly test my patience.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Yang Li retorted stubbornly.

“Whether you know or not is irrelevant to me. I know, and that’s enough. Tell me—how do you want to die?” Lin Yi asked.

Yang Li realized he wasn’t joking; after all, the two men she’d hired had both been killed by him. But she didn’t want to die—she still had her whole life ahead of her.

Staring at Lin Yi, Yang Li pleaded, “Lin Yi, you can’t kill me. I’m Yu Jia’s elder sister.”

Lin Yi said nothing. Only now did she remember she was Yu Jia’s sister.

Yang Li bit her lip, then suddenly pulled her clothes down, her movements seductive. “Lin Yi, please don’t kill me. Look, I have a great figure. I’ll serve you well,” she coaxed.

Lin Yi shook his head. “I’m not interested in you. Put your clothes back on.”

Wang Yang and Kang Xin, on the other hand, watched the scene with keen interest.

Yang Li hurriedly continued, “As long as you promise not to kill me, I’ll do anything you say.”

For the sake of survival, she’d already cast aside all dignity.

Lin Yi had no intention of letting her go, but there were still questions he needed answered: “Where did Yang Manli and that Master Wu go? If you answer honestly, I might spare your life.”

“Really?” Yang Li’s eyes lit up. Giving up her mother’s whereabouts didn’t trouble her much—on the contrary, she felt a hint of excitement.

She knew what Master Wu was capable of; even the ten great families of Jiang Province, united, had failed to contend with him. She didn’t believe Lin Yi had any means to capture Master Wu and her mother.

“Naturally,” Lin Yi replied.

Relieved, Yang Li quickly pulled her clothes back on and said, “My mother and Master Wu are heading to Lancheng. As for their purpose, I don’t really know.”

“Is it to deal with Yang Junqi?” Lin Yi pressed.

“No. I think they’re looking for someone to use as a ‘furnace,’” Yang Li recalled thoughtfully.

Lin Yi’s brow furrowed. “A furnace?”

The furnace technique was an evil practice cultivated only by dark path practitioners, used to absorb yin to nourish yang, greatly accelerating one’s progress. The ‘furnace’ was usually a virgin with a special constitution.

But the furnace technique was something only cultivators could use, and the current earth was unsuitable for true cultivation. Even so, there were prodigies who could adapt and dilute cultivation methods for current use.

Just as martial arts had evolved over generations, with each attempt overcoming difficulties so that later generations could practice.

“Teacher, I once read about the furnace technique in a book. It’s essentially absorbing yin to nourish yang, but most women who are used as the source of yin die from it,” Wang Yang explained.

“I know,” Lin Yi nodded. That was precisely why the furnace technique was deemed heretical and rejected by cultivators of old.

Yet, some chose to risk everything for rapid advancement.

However, the furnace technique had a fatal flaw—since progress wasn’t earned step by step, the foundation was weak and no match for equals in proper cultivation.

“Lin Yi, I’ve told you everything I know. Can I go now?” Yang Li pointed toward the door.

“Wang Yang,” Lin Yi called.

Wang Yang understood instantly and brought his palm down on Yang Li’s forehead.

“You…” Yang Li pointed accusingly at Lin Yi, as if questioning his integrity, but before she could finish, her eyes widened and she collapsed.

Lin Yi gave her a passing glance and spoke softly, “I promised not to kill you, but that doesn’t mean others won’t. In this world, there are few words you can truly trust.”

He then turned to Wang Yang, “Get the people from the nine great families. I want Lancheng turned inside out until Yang Manli and Master Wu are found.”

Lancheng was where he’d lived for over a decade, and his friends were here. Even if the odds were slim, Lin Yi didn’t want anyone close to him to be put in harm’s way.

“Yes, sir.” Wang Yang left, Kang Xin following with a respectful gesture.

...

On the outskirts of Lancheng.

Yang Manli frowned in confusion. “Master Wu, why did the ten great families suddenly unite to hunt us down? Could it be that we’ve been exposed?”

Master Wu was just as perplexed. He shook his head. “I have no idea.”

He had used a dozen young girls as furnaces, but he had always moved from place to place, rarely attracting attention. He also had great confidence in his Seven Arrows Nailhead Curse—once it took hold, even grandmasters were helpless.

“I wonder what happened to Yang Li?” Yang Manli said worriedly.

“She’s just a girl. What could happen to her? The great families care about appearances. Let’s not dwell on that. Finding Li Zhihan is the priority. I’m on the verge of a breakthrough. Once my strength rises, who could possibly stop me?” Master Wu’s eyes gleamed green.

He’d been fortunate in his youth to find a master who taught him not only the furnace technique but also the arts of feng shui and other esoteric spells. With these skills, even though his cultivation was only at the first innate level, he did not fear those at half-step grandmaster.

Martial arts, in his view, were mere side branches, unworthy of his attention.

“Master Wu, you’re formidable. I’ll take you there right away,” Yang Manli said, excitement in her voice. If Master Wu could unify Jiang Province, she would also share in the glory.

“Wait. I don’t know what’s gotten into Jiang Province’s factions, but we should be cautious.”

He flicked his arm, and a cloud of black mist enveloped his face. When it cleared, Master Wu had transformed into a handsome young man. If not for his unchanged clothes, even his closest acquaintances might not recognize him.

Yang Manli gazed at him with burning admiration.

He then waved his arm again, shrouding Yang Manli’s face in black mist. When it faded, she quickly took out her phone and found her appearance now even more delicate—she looked like a girl in her early teens.

“Let’s go,” Master Wu said, giving her a pat.

Entering the city, Master Wu’s frown deepened.

“What’s wrong?” Yang Manli asked.

“Lancheng is just a small city. Why are there suddenly so many martial artists here?” Master Wu muttered.

In Lancheng, a single innate-level expert was enough to establish a family. Yet in just a short walk into the city, he’d already spotted three, most of whom were at the fourth or fifth innate level.

Yang Manli’s face paled. “The ten families must already know our aim. It must’ve been Yang Li who let something slip.”

Other than herself and Master Wu, only her daughter Yang Li knew the purpose of this trip.

Master Wu waved her concern away. “No matter. With my transformation techniques, even a half-step grandmaster couldn’t see through us.”

Yang Manli let out a sigh of relief and edged even closer to him. “Li Zhihan is close with Yang Yu Jia. She’s probably at the First Hospital right now.”

Her expression then darkened with resentment as she added, “Master Wu, while we’re at the hospital, can you kill Yang Manli and Yang Yu Jia for me? Those two deserve to die.”

“Not now. The ten families are hunting us. If we get desperate, they’ll drag us down with them. Once I’ve made Li Zhihan my furnace and absorbed her yin, we can kill them at our leisure,” Master Wu replied.

“Alright.” Yang Manli nodded. She understood the importance of priorities, though seeing Yang Junqi still alive was like a thorn in her side.

They took a taxi to the First Hospital. After searching around, Yang Manli soon spotted Li Zhihan, who was chatting with Yang Yu Jia in her hospital room.

“Yu Jia, is Lin Yi’s medical skill really that amazing? He was only in there a few minutes, and your mother’s heart disease was cured?” Li Zhihan asked in disbelief.

“Yes,” Yang Yu Jia nodded, her gaze complicated. “But my mother never had heart disease. Why would she suddenly have an attack?”

“Maybe she’s always had it and you just didn’t know,” Li Zhihan speculated.

“Maybe so,” Yang Yu Jia answered guiltily. She realized she’d paid very little attention to her mother.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and in walked a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman.

“Did you come to the wrong room?” Yang Yu Jia frowned—this was a VIP suite.

“No mistake,” Master Wu replied with a cold smile. In a flash, he appeared behind Li Zhihan. Before she could react, his finger tapped her neck and she slumped unconscious.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Yang Yu Jia shouted, her voice rising in fear.

Master Wu ignored her, hoisting Li Zhihan over his shoulder and heading for the door.

Yang Yu Jia couldn’t just let him take her friend. She rushed forward to block him.

“Out of the way,” Master Wu said, kicking her hard in the stomach.

The blow sent Yang Yu Jia flying several meters back. Pain twisted her gut and drained her face of color.

“Hurry up,” Master Wu urged.

“Alright,” Yang Manli replied, shooting a fierce glare at Yang Junqi in the hospital bed before hurrying out after him.

“Li… Li Zhihan…” Yang Yu Jia cradled her stomach and quickly called Li Mingfeng.

“Hello? Uncle Li, Zhihan’s been kidnapped!” Yang Yu Jia gasped, her voice broken by pain.

“What?!” Li Mingfeng’s fury erupted. His daughter was his treasure, and now someone had taken her.

Even so, he quickly calmed his emotions. “Yu Jia, what did those people look like?” he asked firmly.

Yang Yu Jia described everything she could remember.

After hanging up, she called Lin Yi. “Lin Yi, don’t you know Miss Wang from the Wang family? Can you ask her for help? Li Zhihan’s been kidnapped!” she pleaded anxiously.

Lin Yi’s brows knit together. Li Zhihan had been taken?

He immediately thought of Master Wu and Yang Manli. “How many people were there?” he asked.

“Two—one man, one woman. The man was handsome, the woman beautiful,” Yang Yu Jia replied.

Lin Yi didn’t care about appearances; if Master Wu could practice the furnace technique, he might also know transformation arts.

He asked, “When is Li Zhihan’s birthday?”

“Lin Yi, is this really the time for that?” Yang Yu Jia snapped, on the verge of panic. Every minute wasted meant more danger for Li Zhihan.

“It’s for saving her,” Lin Yi replied calmly.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yang Yu Jia told him, “July 7th.”

“That settles it,” Lin Yi’s eyes sharpened. He was now certain the culprits were Master Wu and Yang Manli.

He’d long known Li Zhihan had a yin life—if she took up cultivation, her progress would be rapid.

He had a good impression of this kind-hearted girl and wouldn’t let her life be snuffed out.

“Master Wu, Yang Manli—you actually dared to come,” Lin Yi’s gaze flashed coldly. His eyes turned as black as ink as he looked into the distance.

...

Master Wu and Yang Manli, ducking and weaving, finally reached the outskirts of the city without incident.

“Stand guard for me,” Master Wu said, his voice trembling with excitement.

He gazed at Li Zhihan, who lay unconscious on the ground, eyes gleaming.

“Got it,” Yang Manli replied, saying nothing more.

Once Yang Manli was gone, Master Wu revived Li Zhihan.

“What… what are you doing?” Li Zhihan stammered, instinctively clutching her chest.

“What do you think? I’m going to let you experience all the pleasures of life,” Master Wu sneered. As he spoke, his handsome mask faded, revealing his wizened, sinister face.

Li Zhihan recoiled in terror, stumbling backward and screaming for help.

“No one will save you. Be a good girl and become my nourishment,” Master Wu said, shoving her to the ground. With one tug, he ripped her blouse, leaving only the barest shred of modesty intact.

“Found you. You truly deserve death.”

Suddenly, a calm yet commanding voice rang out, reverberating in Master Wu’s mind like a thunderclap.