The gloomy wind carried scorched dust across the desolate courtyard.
The burning firewood crackled, becoming the only distinct sound at the moment.
The blazing flames shot upwards, casting long shadows of two confronting figures.
With a gust of wind, the shadows twisted and flickered on the ground, clawing fiercely.
As if at the next moment, a terrifying battle would erupt here again.
Everyone held their breath nervously, watching the scene unfold.
Fang Cheng held his fist that was still steaming hot, his gaze calm as an unfathomable cold pond.
As if the earth-shattering, missile-like punch earlier had nothing to do with him.
"Monster?"
He softly repeated the word, his tone devoid of any emotion, as if examining a label irrelevant to himself.
Then, he lifted his eyes and firmly fixed his fiery gaze on Chen Hongye.
"No, you got it wrong."
Fang Chengâs voice wasnât loud, but it distinctly reached everyoneâs ears present.
"Iâm not a monster."
"Iâm here to demand repayment... repayment for the blood debt you owed my father for over a decade!"
The two words "blood debt" landed like a stone of gold, sparking a high-pitched echo in the silent night sky.
Even the flames flickering on the ground seemed to tremble slightly under the impact of the sound wave.
Chen Hongye heard the words, and he was momentarily stunned.
A brief pause appeared in his crimson eyes, replaced by a trace of astonishment.
"Wait!"
He raised a charred hand and interrupted in a hoarse voice:
"Your fatherâs matter, what does it have to do with me, old man? The one who killed him wasnât me."
"Oh, really?"
Fang Chengâs face showed no emotion, only responding with a calm tone as if stating a fact:
"Then why donât you explain why a monster who has rested in a coffin for years recognizes my father?"
"Why do you know the cause of his death? And even recognize me at a glance, understanding the bloodline abilities I possess?"
With each question, he took a step forward.
The soles of his shoes crushed the burnt stones on the ground, making a slight "creak" sound.
But it hit Chen Hongyeâs heart like a heavy hammer, striking a chord in everyone present.
Everyone was startled and secretly puzzled:
Yeah, why would a monster like you know so much about a person who passed away long ago, even recognizing Fang Cheng at first sight.
There must be something inexplicable here.
"Ha!"
Chen Hongye seemed to hear the biggest joke, laughing in anger, although the laughter sounded somewhat dry and piercing.
"Is this what you call evidence? What nonsense from a naive child!"
He took a deep breath, shaking his head in disdain, and said:
"There are plenty of people in this world who know Fang Shijie, more who know about his death."
"According to your twisted logic, wouldnât they all be the culprits?"
Faced with this taunt, Fang Cheng remained as calm as water.
He stopped and stared at Chen Hongye from dozens of meters away.
A faint glimmer flashed in his deep eyes, barely noticeable.
"When all coincidences point to one person, it is no longer a coincidence, but a clue."
Fang Cheng spoke slowly, his voice turning cold:
"I donât need to prove that youâre the killer; I just need you to prove... youâre innocent."
"If you donât come clean about what happened back then, how am I supposed to trust you?"
When the words fell, the sneer on Chen Hongyeâs face instantly froze.
Heâs not a fool.
On the contrary, an old monster who has lived for over a hundred years is as cunning as a fox.
He stared intently at Fang Chengâs composed face and finally realized.
"... So thatâs how it is."
Chen Hongyeâs crimson glow in his eyes slightly faded, replaced by the chill of being played.
He spoke word by word:
"Good boy... are you trying to bait me?"
Fang Chengâs lips curled slightly, finally forming a similarly disdainful curve; his smile was cold and dangerous.
"You can choose not to speak."
Then he raised his blood-stained, slightly damaged right fist.
Wisps of white mist rose from the blood marks at the joints, as if a volcano ready to erupt was housed within the fist.
"But I must remind you, I only used seventy percent of my strength in that punch."
Fang Chengâs gaze fell on the scorched indentation on Chen Hongyeâs chest, his tone as casual as discussing the weather.
"Iâm not sure if your proud physique can still stand and speak... after the next punch."
These words were spoken with unparalleled arrogance and threat.
But no one present thought he was boasting.
After all, the miserable state of Chen Hongye and the greenhouse reduced to ruins were the most direct, shocking proofs.
Fang Cheng stood his ground, with a proud expression, yet calculating calmly inside.
Seventy percent strength was not deceiving the opponent.
If he deployed the "Kirin Arm" while unleashing the "Ghost Back," the punchâs force could be increased 100% above the base level.
However, there was one precondition.
The opponent still had to be dumb enough to stay rooted in place, let him charge up, and then take a solid punch.
Through the punch just now, Fang Cheng roughly gauged the defensive limits of Chen Hongyeâs solidification-ability body.
If this old monster dared to challenge again, taking a full-powered "Ghost Back Qilin Fist,"
The result would be far from just a severe injury.