Chapter Fifty-Two: The Duo of the Destitute

Bang.

The ceiling of the basement shuddered as if struck by a heavy hammer, sending down a rain of dust. Immediately, countless tiny cracks began to spread across it.

Li Xiaonan knew the basement ceiling wouldn't hold for long; anxiety flickered in her eyes.

She didn't want to die.

She still needed to bring her senior sister out, still had to avenge her master.

Xiong Jinghui struggled to speak, "Xiaonan, you hide first. When they're distracted, take the chance to escape. I'll try to buy you some time."

Li Xiaonan shook her head. The basement was so small—there was nowhere to hide.

Rather than waiting for death, it was better to fight. Perhaps, there was still a sliver of hope.

"Senior sister, this time I won't run away. Let me protect you," Li Xiaonan said resolutely.

"Xiaonan..." Xiong Jinghui’s eyes shone with relief. The little girl from years ago had finally grown up.

Bang.

Another dull thud sounded, the cracks in the ceiling widening ominously.

"Haha, found them! These two little minxes are really good at hiding!"

Someone peered through a fissure and spotted the two below, shouting excitedly.

Li Xiaonan was not one to sit and wait for death. She drew a dagger, sprang nimbly off the wall, and thrust the blade forcefully into the crack.

Instantly, a stream of fresh blood dripped through the fissure.

"My eye! Quick, catch that little witch! I want her strung up and tortured for three days and nights!"

Boom.

The ceiling finally gave way, a large hole opening up.

Several men in black leapt down, each one possessing innate martial skill.

The strongest among them, already at the sixth level of innate cultivation, was on par with Xiong Jinghui.

Li Xiaonan's gaze was icy as she shielded Xiong Jinghui with her small frame.

"Boss, this little minx has such delicate skin. Can't you let us have some fun first?" sneered the man clutching his wounded eye.

"Of course. I haven't indulged myself in a long time," the leader of the black-clad men replied, licking his lips.

Li Xiaonan's face grew stormy. She murmured softly, and a swarm of insects surged from all directions.

"Useless. We have repellent herbs on us," the black-clad leader sneered.

Sure enough, as the insects neared the men, they swiftly retreated like a receding tide.

"Damn it." Li Xiaonan bit her lip. These men were subordinates of her senior and second senior sisters; naturally, they knew her techniques well.

Now, without the assistance of her insects, she could barely exert half her strength.

"Go, grab her," ordered the leader coldly.

Two of the men grinned wickedly and lunged at Li Xiaonan.

Panic seized her heart, and she instinctively took a step back.

But suddenly, a figure pulled her behind—her senior sister, Xiong Jinghui.

Though her body was frail and unsteady, her eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

Xiong Jinghui raised her sword and charged at the two black-clad men, but her injuries were too severe. One of them kicked her hard in the chest, sending her crashing heavily against the wall.

"Senior sister!" Li Xiaonan screamed.

"You should worry about yourself," the two men said, closing in with lecherous grins.

"It's lively down there," a voice suddenly called from above.

Everyone looked up to see an ordinary-looking man standing at the edge of the hole, gazing down at them.

It was Lin Yi.

The black-clad leader's expression darkened. "Brat, since you’ve seen this, don’t blame us for being merciless."

"Did you hurt her?" Lin Yi pointed at the barely conscious Xiong Jinghui.

"That's right," nodded the leader.

"That’s all I needed to know."

Without hesitation, Lin Yi jumped into the basement and threw a punch at the leader.

"Ridiculous," the man scoffed. To him, Lin Yi was just an ordinary person—how could he dare attack? Clearly, the boy didn't know the meaning of death.

But before he could react, Lin Yi's fist landed squarely on his chest.

Bang.

The leader was sent flying, his chest caving in deeply. Without leaving a single last word, he died on the spot.

The remaining men in black acted quickly, charging at Lin Yi together.

Yet Lin Yi dispatched them one by one with a single palm each. In less than five seconds, all lay dead.

Li Xiaonan could hardly believe her eyes. She never expected Lin Yi to be so powerful.

The leader, at the sixth level of innate skill, had been killed with a single punch. The others weren't weak, either—they were all innates.

With strength like that, he could dominate any small city.

She remembered how Lin Yi once said he would avenge her master. Back then, she thought he was boasting and hadn’t taken it to heart.

Now, it seemed he truly was capable.

"Lin Yi, can you help me take my senior sister to a hospital?" Li Xiaonan’s small face was still streaked with tears.

She was too slow; they might not even make it halfway before Xiong Jinghui bled out.

"It’s alright," Lin Yi reassured her. He knelt by Xiong Jinghui, pulled the arrow from her stomach, and blood welled up.

He then infused a thread of true energy into her, swiftly mending her damaged organs.

Soon, Xiong Jinghui's pale face regained a rosy hue.

Li Xiaonan's eyes lit up, and she nearly jumped for joy.

"By the way, how did you run into those men?" Lin Yi asked curiously.

"It’s my fault. Senior sister put a Scent-Seeking Gu in me. As soon as I’m within a certain distance, they can track me," Li Xiaonan explained.

"I see."

Lin Yi’s gaze sharpened, and he noticed a pink insect on Li Xiaonan’s lower abdomen.

"This kind of Scent-Seeking Gu can only be removed by my senior sister or master..." Li Xiaonan began, but suddenly felt a warm hand press against her belly.

"Lin… Lin Yi..." She was flustered; she had never been so close to a man.

"Don’t speak," Lin Yi said calmly.

"But…" Li Xiaonan’s ears turned scarlet and her body tensed.

Lin Yi smiled slightly. With a sudden surge of suction from his palm, the pink Scent-Seeking Gu was drawn out before it could react.

He withdrew his hand. "Is this the Scent-Seeking Gu?"

Li Xiaonan's eyes widened, her blush fading instantly. She nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! Lin Yi, how did you get it out?"

Lin Yi merely smiled, then crushed the Gu into powder with a gentle squeeze.

"Let’s go. We should leave here," Lin Yi said.

"Alright," Li Xiaonan replied.

The three of them left the basement. Lin Yi asked, "What will you do next?"

"I want to stay in Lancheng for now. They say the most dangerous place is the safest. My senior sister will never expect us to stay here," Li Xiaonan replied.

"Be careful. If you run into trouble, come to me," Lin Yi told her.

"Okay, okay." Li Xiaonan nodded happily. With Lin Yi’s help, her chances of avenging her master were much greater.

...

When Lin Yi returned home, Lin Dou Dou asked with concern, "Well? Did you find them?"

"Yes. They went traveling for a few days. Don’t worry yourself," Lin Yi said, ruffling Dou Dou’s hair.

"Hee hee." Lin Dou Dou grinned and ran off to her room to call Li Xiaonan.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock at the door. Lin Yi opened it to find his old neighbor, Su Honglan.

After the failed blind date with Yang Mo last time, this woman had come to his door and made a scene. But after being scared off by a single look from Lin Yi, she hadn't returned—until now.

Her sudden appearance surprised Lin Yi.

"Can I help you?" Lin Yi asked calmly.

"Yang Mo sent me. She wants to apologize to you at the Royal Hotel and asked me to let you know," Su Honglan said gloomily.

"No need," Lin Yi shook his head.

Women like Yang Mo meant nothing to him; what apology could matter?

Su Honglan put her hands on her hips. "You... Yang Mo is already making concessions and even invited you to the Royal Hotel. What more do you want?"

"Nothing at all," Lin Yi said, and closed the door.

He knew exactly what Yang Mo was after. Now that she saw his current status, she wanted to cozy up again.

Su Honglan glared at the shut door, her face growing darker.

"Brat, there’ll come a day when you regret this," she muttered, shooting a venomous glare at the door before stomping off.

She had only gone a few steps when she saw a plainly dressed young man—clearly a college student, still innocent-looking.

"Auntie, is Lin Yi here?" the young man asked.

Still fuming from Lin Yi’s refusal, Su Honglan’s face remained cold. "What do you want with Lin Yi?"

The young man smiled. "I'm his college classmate. I have something to discuss with him."

"College classmate, huh? Figures—poor boys flock together," Su Honglan sneered.

"You..." The young man's face stiffened.

"What? Going to hit me?" Su Honglan raised her voice shrilly.

Realizing he’d run into a shrew, and one clearly at odds with Lin Yi, the young man simply ignored her.

Su Honglan spat on the ground in disdain.

Click.

Lin Yi opened the door and was surprised to see the young man in the corridor. "Li Yang, what brings you here?"

Li Yang was his college classmate, introverted and with few friends.

"Yuan Zhekai is hosting a class banquet at the Jinhao Hotel at two this afternoon," Li Yang explained. "He asked me to invite you—it’s meant as a final graduation gathering."

Lin Yi nodded. "Alright, I’ll be there."

Li Yang hesitated, then added, "You’d better not go. Yuan Zhekai inherited his father's company last month—he's worth tens of millions now. He only wants you there to embarrass you."

"It’s fine," Lin Yi replied, unconcerned.

He and Yuan Zhekai had had some minor conflict back in their junior year. During a class, a beautiful girl happened to sit beside Lin Yi. Yuan Zhekai threatened him to give up the seat. If Yuan Zhekai had asked nicely, Lin Yi wouldn’t have minded moving. But Lin Yi quickly knocked him and his cronies down, earning Yuan Zhekai’s enmity.

But Lin Yi couldn't care less.

"Hey, Lin Yi, it's not like being at school anymore," Li Yang sighed.

"Don’t worry. Yuan Zhekai is just a coward—I don’t take him seriously," Lin Yi replied, expressionless.

Li Yang chuckled. "You haven’t changed a bit."

Lin Yi smiled lightly. "Let’s go, then."

"Alright."

An hour later, they arrived at the Jinhao Hotel by taxi.

Compared to the luxury cars parked outside, Li Yang felt a little embarrassed getting out of a taxi.

"Oh, look who it is—our class’s two paupers, Lin Yi and Li Yang!" A shrill female voice called from behind.

Because of Yuan Zhekai, many in the class ostracized Lin Yi and Li Yang.

They turned to see a white Audi A3 pull up. The window rolled down, revealing a rather pretty face.

"Jiang Xiaoning," Li Yang said, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Jiang Xiaoning had once been his childhood sweetheart, but later became the mistress of a wealthy man. The car she drove was, in all likelihood, a gift from him.

"Why did you two come by taxi? Look at my brand-new car—it cost just over two hundred thousand," Jiang Xiaoning boasted.

"Well, we..." Li Yang stammered, his face red.

"Say no more. I know you're broke. Good thing I never agreed to date you, or I’d never be driving something like this now," Jiang Xiaoning sneered.

Li Yang’s face burned with humiliation; he lowered his head, mortified.

This was the last thing he wanted Jiang Xiaoning to see.

But fate, as always, had a sense of irony.