Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

Vol. 1 - Chapter 26 - The Earthly Branches have changed.

Chen Ye removed the radical components of his name and came up with the alias "Donghua."

Although he claimed to be someone who doesn't change his name or identity, when it comes to wandering the Jianghu (martial world), who really uses their real name?

Starting from Yuhang County, Chen Ye jogged for over two thousand steps and reached the outskirts of Jiangning Prefecture.

Covering over a hundred kilometers in less than five minutes, using his technique of Ground Shrinking Step, he could traverse 100 meters in a single step without any cooldown. His speed was astonishingly fast.

As he approached Jiangning County, Chen Ye stopped using Ground Shrinking Step. With plenty of time, he decided to enjoy the scenery along the way.

Walking at a regular pace, he noticed that the area around Jiangning Prefecture had just experienced a rainfall. The air was fresh, and the scenery was beautiful. He exchanged some points in the system's shop for a silver mask to cover his face, and it wasn't long before he encountered an old man with a donkey cart offering rides.

When Chen Ye revealed his alias, everyone present was deep in thought.

They had never heard of the name "Donghua."

Smiling Cat Xu Xiaolin had no impression of this name in his memory, which led him to believe that this was likely a nobody.

"A nobody dares to boast?"

"You really don't know the meaning of the word 'death.'"

Xu Xiaolin sneered coldly, and in a movement as agile as a cat, his burly figure suddenly leaped towards the donkey cart.

With a loud "smash!" the donkey cart that the blind boy and Chen Ye were sitting on was split in two by Xu Xiaolin's palm.

"Huh?"

Seeing that his strike had missed, Xu Xiaolin's expression changed drastically.

"Close call, close call. That almost hit me." Chen Ye and the blind boy suddenly appeared about twenty thirty feet away.

Chen Ye put down the blind boy, a layer of cold sweat forming on his back. If he had reacted just a bit slower, he might have taken that hit.

Even though he had the [Indestructible Body] ability, Chen Ye wasn't about to take a hit for nothing.

Taking a hit without retaliating would be demeaning, especially if he planned to establish the "Donghua" persona in the Jianghu (martial world).

He couldn't let people think of Donghua as merely someone who could take a beating.

The blind boy shook his head, feeling like he had been moved to another location. He asked in confusion, "What happened? What's going on?"

Chen Ye laughed and replied, "A little cat's punch missed."

Hearing this, the blind boy was momentarily stunned, then showed a strange expression.

To describe the famously formidable "Smiling Cat" Xu Xiaolin in such a way---this "Donghua" was likely the first person to do so.

Xu Xiaolin, having missed his strike, looked grim. He observed the position of Chen Ye and the blind boy.

When he saw them appear twenty thirty feet away, his expression completely changed.

"Who are you, really?" Xu Xiaolin asked in a low voice, dropping his smile and becoming incredibly serious.

A laugh came from behind the silver mask: "Didn't I tell you already? Didn't you understand?"

Chen Ye's voice was calm, with a hint of a smile, as if he didn't take the top-tier second grade master Smiling cat Xu Xiaolin seriously at all.

Seeing Chen Ye and the blind boy suddenly appear twenty thirty feet away, Zhao Wu, who was injured, widened his eyes in shock.

The two other men from the Wan Jin Hall were equally astonished.

To cover twenty thirty feet in an instant with such lightness skill was unheard of!

Xu Xiaolin reflected on his abilities, realizing that even if he exerted his full strength, he could only cover about ten feet.

Even a top-tier expert specializing in lightness skills would be hard-pressed to cross twenty feet.

But this Donghua had crossed twenty thirty feet in an instant!

Xu Xiaolin now felt a chill in his limbs.

If this person were to launch a sneak attack...

I would have been dead already!

Everyone present fell silent, staring blankly at Chen Ye.

"What's wrong? Why is no one speaking?" the blind boy, unaware that Chen Ye had just pulled him across twenty thirty feet, asked in confusion.

Xu Xiaolin took a deep breath, the smile on his face completely fading. He solemnly cupped his hands towards Chen Ye and asked, "Sir, this matter doesn't concern you. Do you really intend to get involved?"

Chen Ye, with a faint smile, responded, "When did I say I was getting involved?"

Hearing this, Xu Xiaolin couldn't help but show a hint of joy.

Judging by the opponent's mastery of lightness skills, he knew this person was anything but ordinary.

He had only acted to eliminate Zhao Wu.

If this silver-masked man were to interfere, things could get complicated.

Thee blind boy, hearing the conversation between the two, trembled and exclaimed, "You!"

"Is it you that the divination predicted would survive against all odds?"

Chen Ye chuckled, "Oh? Is it me?"

The blind boy noticed that Chen Ye's voice carried no trace of panic---only calm confidence.

He couldn't help but laugh, "Interesting, interesting!"

"I knew my luck wouldn't be that bad."

Xu Xiaolin realized that Chen Ye had no intention of getting involved in the conflict between Fengyu Tower and Wan Jin Hall. He turned his attention back to the injured Zhao Wu, his face once again adopting that of a smiling tiger.

Zhao Wu, clutching his chest with one hand, looked pale as paper, his breathing erratic.

The palm strike from Xu Xiaolin just now was infused with immense internal energy.

The full-force strike from a Second-grade peak expert had already injured him.

Had Xu Xiaolin not primarily focused on lightness skills, making his palm technique somewhat lacking, that strike would have been fatal if executed by any other Second-grade peak expert.

"Wan Jin Hall, Fengyu Tower will avenge me," Zhao Wu coughed up another mouthful of blood, his eyes dim, devoid of any will to live.

Xu Xiaolin chuckled, "I'd like to see how you plan to get your revenge."

He hunched slightly, his back arched in a peculiar posture, and like an agile cat, he lunged at Zhao Wu.

In an instant, he crossed over ten feet, appearing right in front of Zhao Wu.

Zhao Wu stomped both feet, leaping toward the two Wan Jin Hall members holding steel blades.

Even if he were to die, he intended to take two others down with him.

"Coward," Xu Xiaolin sneered, his footsteps silent as he ghosted behind Zhao Ling.

At that moment, Zhao Wu suddenly spun around, wielding two silver short spears, thrusting them upward and downward, striking viciously at Xu Xiaolin.

Xu Xiaolin's heart tightened. He abruptly halted his advance, leaping three feet into the air to evade the lower spear.

His nimble feet landed on the tip of the upper spear.

Just then, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Wu's eyes.

He abandoned the spears, his palms shooting skyward in a rapid attack aimed at Xu Xiaolin.

With Xu Xiaolin airborne and unable to dodge, he formed circular motions with his palms, meeting Zhao Wu's attack head-on.

As their palms connected, Zhao Wu's stance shifted---it had been a feint.

His feet moved quickly as he employed his lightness skill, darting towards Chen Ye, who was watching from nearby.

Xu Xiaolin was both furious and shocked, realizing that Zhao Wu's desperate act had been a ruse.

Chen Ye sighed, feeling a bit helpless. "You're running towards me, but I can't save you."

Xu Xiaolin quickly recovered, his feet barely touching the ground before he lunged forward.

"Honored sir, I beg you, deliver a message to Fengyu Tower!"

"The Earthly Branches have changed!"

Zhao Wu sprinted towards Chen Ye, shouting in a pleading tone.

Just as he finished speaking, Xu Xiaolin caught up and struck him in the back with a powerful palm. Blood sprayed out as Zhao Wu died on the spot.

Zhao Wu, dressed in a purple Daoist robe, slowly collapsed to the ground, his chest stained with blood.

His bulging eyes stared straight at Chen Ye, filled with a desperate plea.