Chapter 32: Taking out a gang (2)

Yu Kuang’s dark eyes narrowed as he glared at the man before him. The tension crackled between them, the air thick with unsaid threats. “What did you just say?”

The man who was on the opposite end flinched visibly. Baldy’s lips trembled as he swallowed hard.

“We got beaten up and captured while trying to take down Chen Ren,” he repeated, eyes darting between Yu Kuang’s piercing stare and the ground beneath him. “The plan failed. He tried to interrogate me, but I refused to talk. I only managed to sneak out after he left.” He shifted uneasily, revealing bruises and cuts that spoke of a recent struggle. “My current condition—it’s all because of that bastard.”

Yu Kuang’s neutral mask fractured, his gaze turning icy. Baldy shivered involuntarily. “You were given one simple job: beat him up and make sure he remembers the warning,” Yu Kuang said. “Chen Ren is a no-name rogue cultivator who lost miserably to Li Xuan. You have a more advanced cultivation than his, and you had numbers on your side. How did you fail?”

Baldy’s eyes flared with desperation as he stammered, “Boss, he’s tricky—a real slippery bastard. He threw hot oil at us, so we couldn’t keep our footing. Some of the guys ran as soon as they saw the tide turn.”

“Of course they did!” Yu Kuang snapped. “Of course, they fucking did!” he repeated. “You brought the low-level trash from our ranks. Do you even know why we keep them around? For numbers, Baldy, only for numbers!” He huffed, anger rolling off him in waves. “Now, because of your incompetence, the whole plan is in tatters. Chen Ren and that Tang Clan girl should have been terrified of us, ready to bend to our will so we could take their precious perfume formula.”

Baldy lowered his head, his face going pale.

Yu Kuang’s fists clenched, veins straining against his skin. “But now? Because of your stupid ass, it’s all down the drain. What exactly do you expect me to do now?”

Baldy’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. The only answer was the suffocating silence that filled the room. He opened his mouth twice more before his voice finally cracked as he stammered, eyes darting nervously to the floor.

“Boss, just one more chance. I’ll heal up and handle it myself—smash his stall, wreck that perfume shop—”

Yu Kuang’s expression hardened, the room seeming to chill under his glare. The silence stretched, suffocating, before he spoke, emphasizing every word as if even the idea was a joke. “Trust you? They’ll be watching now. You think they’d fall for the same trick twice? Their morale will be high, and the guards won’t look away as easily. Even that old, sickly bastard Tang Jihao will be aware now and he's far worse to deal with due to his connections with the City Lord.” He exhaled sharply, muscles taut as he flexed his fists. “No. If anyone’s going to crush that upstart, it’ll be me.”

Before the threat could linger, a sharp knock shattered the tense silence.

The door creaked open, and a Blood Snake member burst in, his face pale and eyes wild. His hair was all over the place as if he had raked through it over and over.

Signs of distress—

Before Yu Kuang could conclude, the man spoke.

“Boss, we’ve got trouble. There’s a group storming the building—took out the men on the ground floor and are coming up fast.”

Yu Kuang’s eyes widened, his jaw tightening. “Who?” His voice was a dangerous growl. “Is it those Earthen Toad bastards again?”

The man shook his head, sweat glistening on his brow. “No, boss. It’s not a gang. The man calls himself Chen Ren. He’s here, demanding to talk, and he’s taken down everyone in his way. He’s a cultivator.”

Yu Kuang glared at Baldy, whose face had turned ashen, the blood draining away as if he’d seen a ghost.

***

Since arriving in this world, Chen Ren had seen many changes in himself—his muscles stronger, his reflexes quicker, and an energy inside him that made him feel alive in a way he never had before. But out of all these changes, what he liked most was how powerful he felt compared to an ordinary man.

A fist whistled past his ear, the rush of air sharp and close enough to stir the loose strands of his hair, but Chen Ren was already moving.

He ducked low, muscles coiling like springs ready to snap, and drove his foot into the attacker's chest with a force that made bones creak. The Blood Snakes thug was thrown back, gasping as he crashed into the wall and slumped. Before the man even hit the ground, Chen Ren twisted sharply, pivoting off his back foot and slamming his elbow into another opponent’s jaw with a crack.

Sparks of lightning crackled between his clenched fists, the sharp, unpleasant bloody scent of ozone filling the narrow stairwell. The men around him halted, their eyes wide and darting, a flicker of doubt in their expressions as they took in the electric energy that now danced across his knuckles.

“Now!” The single word ripped through the clamour, sharp and commanding. Chen Ren’s voice sliced through the chaos like a blade, snapping the Tang Clan guards into motion. Their eyes, wide with tension moments before, now hardened.

Staves whipped through the air, striking with thuds that resonated against flesh and bone. Short blades flashed, catching the dim light as they struck precisely, forcing the Blood Snakes men to retreat or double over with stunned grunts.

The thugs, who moments ago wore smirks of confidence, now stumbled back, eyes darting between Chen Ren and the advancing line of Tang Clan guards. Panic rippled through them, their once-brazen attacks now faltering as they hesitated at the sight of the cultivator’s aura, crackling with restrained power.

Chen Ren’s body was a blur as he wove through the fray. A pivot here, a sidestep there—each shift put him in the perfect position to disrupt an enemy’s balance or open a path for the advancing guards. He gripped an attacker by the wrist, twisting until a sharp yelp escaped the man’s lips, and shoved him into another oncoming foe. The two stumbled back, colliding against the rough stone wall with a thud that jarred their weapons loose.

A gap widened in the chaotic press of bodies, and Chen Ren seized it.

He hadn't anticipated so many of them packed into one place. The stairwell was narrow, cramped, and filled with shouts and the thud of bodies hitting stone. But with his lightning arts crackling around him, the Blood Snake men were hesitant, their attacks sloppy and unfocused.

Chen Ren took full advantage, gripping the rail and swinging himself upward, kicking one thug into the wall where he slumped, dazed.

More men barreled down the steps, their momentum used against them as Chen Ren sidestepped again, letting them crash into one another.

Hah!

A sweep of his leg tripped another, who tumbled down with a yelp. The clang of weapons dropping echoed through the stairwell, but Chen Ren didn’t pause.

The climb was relentless. Every step was filled with flashes of lightning and gasps of shock. Chen Ren’s heart pounded in his chest, not from exhaustion but exhilaration, the rush of battle reminding him of just how different—how superior—his body had become. One more kick, one more punch, and the path upward was finally clear.

He pressed onward, muscles tensed as he climbed the narrow staircase toward the first floor. He found it mostly empty, only the occasional groan of the fallen echoing behind him. The sounds of skirmishes below reassured him that the Tang Clan guards were holding their own. Without pausing, he set his sights on the second floor.

The air shifted as he reached the landing, heavier with tension. Three men stood waiting, eyes narrowed, bodies coiled like springs. Their auras thrummed with energy, and the fierce glint in their eyes revealed their status as cultivators.

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Before Chen Ren could make a move, Yalan's voice hummed in his mind.

“They’re in the body forging realm,”

she warned.

“Two are at the first star, the other one at the second. You can handle them.”

Chen Ren's lips tightened into a thin smile.

“Understood.”

A moment later, the three cultivators burst into motion.

Their feet barely touched the ground as they glided forward, bodies shifting with grace as their movement techniques left afterimages in their wake.

The strongest of them held a sword that gleamed ominously under the dim lantern light, its edge whispering promises of lethal intent. The other two, with their heavy clubs, approached like storm clouds rolling in, threatening blunt devastation.

Chen Ren didn’t give them a chance to close in. With a swift stomp, he drove his foot into the wooden floor, the boards cracking apart beneath him. Splinters shot up in jagged arcs, like tiny daggers catching the light. The advancing men faltered, eyes darting as the sharp fragments pelted them.

He seized the moment. His body moved like a coiled spring, launching forward with explosive energy. His foot lashed out, catching the nearest club-wielder in the chest and sending him staggering backward, breath leaving him in a rush.

The second man grinned, showing all of his teeth at once, swung his club in a brutal arc, the force behind it enough to break bones. Chen Ren shifted just enough to let the blow glance off his shoulder, a flash of pain registering before it was pushed aside by adrenaline. The impact brought him close, close enough to grasp the man’s arm and pivot sharply, twisting the limb with a crack that sent the club-wielder reeling. In a fluid motion, Chen Ren hurled him into the path of the sword-wielder.

The sharp clash of bodies echoed in the confined space, the sword-man’s eyes widening as he struggled to avoid impaling his comrade. The momentary distraction was all Chen Ren needed. His fingers crackled with energy, the air around him heavy with the scent of blood. A thin grin tugged at his lips as he whispered, “[Lightning Frenzy].”

Arcs of blue-white electricity burst from his fingertips, leaping towards the three men. He moved forward and his fist moved forward in a blur and threw punches continuously.

The sword-wielder’s eyes rolled back as the current coursed through him, muscles twitching before he collapsed. The others crumpled beside him, twitching once before falling still.

Silence descended, broken only by the creak of damaged floorboards and the muffled shouts from battles below. Chen Ren took a steadying breath, the electric buzz in his veins slowly fading.

He stepped over the fallen, boots whispering against the wood as he moved to the staircase leading up.

Yalan’s voice murmured in his mind, this time lower, edged with unease.

“I feel a stronger aura from the next floor. Yu Kuang is there.”

Chen Ren nodded, briefly halting and taking out a pendant from his pocket.

Its surface glowed faintly as he put it on. He took a moment to catch Yalan’s spirit energy swirling with intent as she walked past him with a lazy flicker of her tale.

“Are you ready?”

he whispered.

A soft chuckle resonated within him as she replied nonchalantly,

“I’m always ready,”

Yalan replied.

“Just make sure you can hold up the act.”

Chen Ren’s lips twitched into a smirk.

“I’ll be damned if I can't.”

***

Chen Ren didn't encounter any more men on the third floor, allowing him a swift entry. He guessed most of them had run downstairs to confront the commotion, leaving it unguarded. Without hesitation, he moved past several doors and halted in front of a massive double door.

Although he didn't have Yalan's senses, even he could feel the prickle of insurmountable energy coming from behind the door.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself before he stepped into Yu Kuang's office.

The room spoke of power and luxury.

Velvet drapes in deep crimson framed large windows that overlooked the dark alleys of the city. A mahogany desk sat in the center, polished to a mirror sheen, adorned with a small white tiger statue that seemed to glare at any who approached. Gold-accented furniture added to the opulence. The scent of rare incense lingered in the air.

The man Chen Ren assumed to be Yu Kuang stood behind the desk. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with short, jet-black hair and a sharp, angular face that exuded a mix of cunning and malice. It was his eyes—his eyes that were sharper, holding so much more than met the eye.

Along with depth of experiences, there was a sense of youthfulness to them. Yet, Chen Ren knew better; this man was much older—much, much older than thirties.

His eyes didn’t linger on him for long as he scanned the room, noting the Baldy standing near another unfamiliar man. His face had gone deathly pale, eyes wide with recognition and dread.

Chen Ren’s lips curled into a mocking smile as he spoke, “Thank you for showing me your boss’s location. I couldn’t have found it without your help.”

“You bastard!” Baldy spat, fists clenched at his sides.

“You should shut up. I’m not here to talk to you,” Chen Ren replied smoothly, turning his attention back to Yu Kuang. “But your boss? Now that’s a different story.”

Yu Kuang’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. Chen Ren strolled over to a chair in front of the desk and sat without waiting for permission.

“I guessed you won't ask me to sit. So, I'm just making myself comfortable,” he said.

An oppressive force suddenly began to weigh down on him, rolling off Yu Kuang like a tide. Chen Ren’s muscles tensed, a faint twitch in his jaw the only sign of discomfort. He forced himself to maintain a calm expression, meeting the gang leader’s gaze without a trace of fear.

“If I were in your place, I wouldn’t do that,” Chen Ren said, voice steady despite the pressure threatening to crush him.

Yu Kuang’s eyes gleamed with amusement as the aura intensified, pressing harder against Chen Ren’s body. The air grew thick, almost suffocating, but Chen Ren willed himself not to flinch.

Finally, Yu Kuang broke the silence. “Good to finally meet you, Chen Ren. I was thinking about how to deal with you. But I wouldn’t have guessed you were foolish enough to come here on your own. Now, let me propose a deal I often extend to those in your position.”

His lips curled into a cold smile. “Five thousand silver wen, your perfume formula, and crippling your cultivation. In exchange, I’ll let you live. Isn’t that generous?”

Chen Ren’s smile widened as Baldy’s lips twitched into a forced grin, but he ignored him, eyes fixed on Yu Kuang.

“Sounds like a terrible deal to me,” Chen Ren said calmly. “Let me propose one to you instead. I will spare your life if you write down who exactly asked you to destroy my businesses and steal my formula. I won’t even go as far as to cripple your cultivation. Just give me the name.”

As soon as he completed his sentence, the air in the room thickened and the oppressive aura bore down on Chen Ren once again. His muscles tensed, and he gritted his teeth, feeling every ounce of pressure pushing him down. He did his best to not show it.

Yu Kuang’s smirk grew into a cold smile.

“So much boldness, yet so little strength,” Yu Kuang mocked. “What gives you the confidence to stand against me when you know I could crush you with a single blow?”

Chen Ren managed a strained smile, defiance flickering in his eyes. “Good question,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Why do you think I have the confidence to barge in here and face you when we have realms between us? I believe you know the answer—why don’t you say it?”

Yu Kuang’s brow furrowed as suspicion clouded his features. “I’ve heard of your clan, but they haven’t paid your debts. They won’t come to your rescue.”

“It’s not that,” Chen Ren replied while reaching into his robes. With a deliberate motion, he pulled out a small coin, its surface gleaming with a dragon emblem intricately engraved on the top. He placed it on the table, and the sharp clink of the metal echoed in the stillness, cutting through the tension in the room.

Yu Kuang’s eyes widened, recognition flashing across his features. “A sect crest,” he muttered, as if unable to believe what he was seeing “You’re under a sect.”

Chen Ren gave a simple nod. “Yes. And right now, you’re threatening the core disciple of my master.”

At his words, the air in the room seemed to shift. A subtle glow began to emanate from the pendant hidden beneath his robes, giving off a soft, eerie light. The pressure in the room grew.

Without warning, the pressure intensified—an invisible force far stronger than Yu Kuang’s aura began to bear down on every person in the room. Baldy’s eyes bulged in fear as his knees buckled. His body crumpled to the floor with a heavy thud, his face drained of colour, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

Yu Kuang wasn’t much better off. His own form swayed, his skin growing pale as his strength faltered under the pressure. His legs gave out from beneath him, and he too collapsed to the ground, hands scrambling to hold onto the table for support. His sharp features twisted in horror, the fear now unmistakable in his wide eyes.

Chen Ren’s smile remained, cool and unshaken as Yu Kuang's aura disappeared.

With just one move of his, the balance of power shifted and the tides turned.

“So, how do you like my deal now?” Chen Ren asked, liking the panicked gaze in front of him.

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon.