Chapter 41: Killing Li Mingjun

"What? Someone’s been following us?"

Upon hearing Ye Qingchen’s words, Xiao Xiao was startled and glanced behind her. She saw nothing but rustling leaves; where could anyone be hiding?

However, just a moment later, a young man stepped out from behind a large tree as Xiao Xiao stared with wide eyes.

Xiao Xiao clapped a hand over her mouth.

I didn’t sense a thing. How did the Young Master know someone was following us?

"Ye Qingchen, you brat. You actually noticed I was tracking you?" A trace of surprise crossed the young man’s face.

I was being so careful. How did he still discover me?

"Li Mingjun!" Ye Qingchen’s pupils constricted slightly when he saw the youth.

The person tracking them was none other than Li Susu’s older brother, Li Mingjun, a fourth-level Martial Artist!

"You brat! You dared to cripple my sister, and my second brother, Li Mingliang, also died because of you! Today, I will kill you and avenge them!"

Without another word, Li Mingjun stomped his foot and charged at Ye Qingchen. He had already wasted too much time on this pursuit. He had to finish the job quickly so he could go hunt Monster Beasts and make up for his losses.

When he was less than three meters away, Li Mingjun twisted at the waist, channeling all his strength into his right arm for a vicious punch. While tailing him, he had observed that Ye Qingchen’s Cultivation hadn’t even reached the Martial Artist realm, so he was confident he could kill him with a single blow.

Faced with Li Mingjun’s attack, Ye Qingchen neither dodged nor retreated. Instead, he met it with a fierce punch of his own.

"Courting death!" A derisive sneer appeared on Li Mingjun’s lips.

He dares to meet my fist head-on? It’s like a mantis trying to stop a chariot! He has no idea of his own weakness!

BANG!

In an instant, their two fists collided heavily. Ye Qingchen staggered back five steps. Li Mingjun was also forced back five steps. They were evenly matched!

"How is this possible?!"

Shock filled Li Mingjun’s eyes. Ye Qingchen had not only blocked his punch but had actually matched him blow for blow. The next moment, his face darkened. "Brat! You knew I was tracking you all along! You’ve been hiding your true strength this whole time!"

Ye Qingchen sneered, "If I hadn’t, how else would I lure you out to counter-kill you?"

Hearing this, Li Mingjun scoffed, "A mere third-level Martial Artist like you wants to counter-kill me? Dream on!"

Without another word, Li Mingjun drew the longsword from his back. With a flash of cold light, he lunged at Ye Qingchen.

Instead of retreating, Ye Qingchen advanced, executing Mystifying Steps to rush toward Li Mingjun. In a flash, their figures intertwined as Spiritual Power surged between them in a frenzied battle.

「On the VIP platform.」

Worry flashed in Li Zhe’s eyes.

Li Mingjun is far too impulsive! I told him to focus on the trial and that I would deal with Ye Qingchen personally. I can’t believe he didn’t listen!

He then cupped his fists toward Du Pengcheng, Cui Wei, and the others. "Esteemed Directors, a trivial family matter requires my attention. Please excuse me!"

Du Pengcheng waved his hand. "Go on, Family Head Li. We have everything under control here."

Li Zhe gave Cui Wei a meaningful look, then turned and hurried away.

Watching Li Zhe’s departing figure, the Supreme Elder of the Ye Family frowned.

Li Zhe isn’t returning to his family. This is just a ruse to let him enter the Qingyun Mountain Range and kill Ye Qingchen! I can’t let him succeed!

The Supreme Elder stood up and chuckled. "This old man is frail and can’t keep this up for so long. I will return to the family to rest. My apologies, Directors."

Just as the Supreme Elder was about to leave, Cui Wei stepped into his path. "Elder Ye, I just received a message. The Director from our Heavenly Profound Sect who is investigating the disappearance of Deacon Wang Hu has arrived in Qingyun Town, and we need your cooperation. If you and Family Head Ye would please wait here for a moment, he will be here shortly."

The smile on the Supreme Elder’s face froze instantly. He had never expected Cui Wei, a Director of the Heavenly Profound Sect, to publicly demand that he and Ye Changyun remain. This completely shattered his plan to protect Ye Qingchen.

Ye Changyun gazed at the densely forested Qingyun Mountain Range, a deep worry flashing in his eyes.

Li Zhe has probably already slipped into the Qingyun Mountain Range. Our only hope now is that he doesn’t find Qingchen too quickly, and that this Director from the Heavenly Profound Sect doesn’t delay us for too long!

***

「On the outskirts of the Qingyun Mountain Range, within a dense forest.」

Ye Qingchen and Li Mingjun both had over a dozen wounds of varying sizes. The battle had reached a fever pitch.

The longer Li Mingjun fought, the more his shock grew.

I never expected that in such a short time, Ye Qingchen would not only break through to the third-level Martial Artist but also fight me, a fourth-level Martial Artist, to a standstill! If he’s allowed to keep growing like this, I’m afraid no one in the entire Li Family will be a match for him!

BANG!

After another fierce collision, the two separated, each retreating several steps.

SWOOSH!

The cold light of Li Mingjun’s longsword flashed as he thrust it directly at Ye Qingchen’s neck. In response, Ye Qingchen executed Mystifying Steps, his figure becoming illusory as he skillfully dodged the blade.

However, at that very moment, a triumphant look appeared in Li Mingjun’s eyes. He roared and slammed his palm toward Ye Qingchen’s heart.

"Triple Waves!"

This was the Li Family’s high-grade Yellow Rank Martial Technique. A single palm strike carried three layers of force: the second wave was twice as strong as the first, and the third was four times as strong. Its power was so terrifying that even a martial master would be killed on the spot if struck. The earlier sword thrust had been a feint; this Triple Waves palm was Li Mingjun’s true killing move.

"Die!" Li Mingjun could already see the scene of Ye Qingchen being killed by his palm.

"Through-Back Binding Fist!"

Just then, Ye Qingchen suddenly roared. His right hand clenched into a fist, his arm winding around Li Mingjun’s as it shot past, striking his chest first despite having moved second.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Nine successive explosions erupted from within Li Mingjun’s chest. He looked down in a daze, only to see a horrifying, bowl-sized hole blown clean through his chest by the ferocious power of the fist.

The next moment, an endless, piercing pain spread from his chest. He collapsed limply to the ground, his eyes still wide in disbelief.

He died, unable to rest in peace.

I can’t believe it... I’m a fourth-level Martial Artist, using the Li Family’s strongest Martial Technique, yet he counter-killed me! I regret not listening to Father... I shouldn’t have come for Ye Qingchen!

But it was already too late.

"Jun’er!"

Just then, Li Zhe, who had left on a pretext, happened to arrive. He rushed to Li Mingjun’s corpse and, seeing the gruesome sight, his eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

His most talented daughter, Li Susu, had her Dantian crippled by Ye Qingchen! His second son, Li Mingliang, had died hunting Ye Qingchen! Now, his eldest son, Li Mingjun, had also been killed by Ye Qingchen’s hand!

At this moment, Li Zhe’s hatred soared to the heavens.

He whipped his head around, his blood-red eyes locking onto Ye Qingchen. A wave of murderous intent billowed from him as he charged. "Ye Qingchen, forfeit your life!"