Chapter 14: When It’s Time to Kill
Ji Yuan’s right hand, which had been lightly tapping his knee, suddenly paused. His gaze shifted and landed on Qiu Qianhai.
The latter nodded.
“He’s already lying in wait on Turtle Rest Island. He asked me to lure you over.”
Ji Yuan did not speak immediately. Instead, he silently pondered in his mind… Liu the Leper wanted to kill him, yet they had no grievances, not even the slightest acquaintance.
If that was the case, it was most likely as Old Huang had said.
His parents had been killed by Liu the Leper, and now the man wanted to kill him as well…
“Then why are you telling me this? Why not just join hands with him directly?” Ji Yuan asked with a smile.
Qiu Qianhai shook his head and answered naturally, “I don’t have many friends, and you’re the only one.”
“In this Zengtou Market, I could kill anyone they asked me to, but not you.”
“So since Liu the Leper wants to kill you, why don’t we just kill him instead?”
A slight warmth rose in Ji Yuan’s heart. Though Zengtou Market was vile, there were still people whose hearts held patches of sincerity.
“If I remember correctly, Liu the Leper is already at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, right?” Ji Yuan asked.
“Yeah, but he got injured over at Maple Leaf Island. Besides, I’ve reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining now. What about you?”
After Qiu Qianhai spoke, he scrutinized Ji Yuan carefully and finally showed a trace of surprise. “You’ve reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining too?”
Qiu Qianhai’s impression of Ji Yuan was still stuck on him being at the second layer of Qi Refining.
Now, after just two short months with barely any contact, Ji Yuan had already reached the fourth layer. How could he not be shocked?
“Just a stroke of luck, just luck.”
Ji Yuan smiled.
“Then it’s even less of a problem. Liu the Leper is just an injured fifth-layer Qi Refiner, and the two of us are unscathed at the fourth layer each. Killing him will be a piece of cake!”
Qiu Qianhai, looking as if this wasn’t his first time killing someone, decisively stood up.
But Ji Yuan did not stand. Instead, he raised his hand to stop him.
“Hm?”
“He always lures people out of Zengtou Market to kill them. If we stay here, he probably won’t have the guts to make a move, right? Besides… do you really think Liu the Leper wouldn’t expect you to side with me?”
Ji Yuan voiced his thoughts.
“You mean, he plans to kill me too?”
Qiu Qianhai truly had not considered this.
“A man like Liu the Leper who’s managed to survive in Zengtou Market until now… there’s no need to even mention how cunning he is. Since the two of us can figure out that he’s just an injured fifth-layer Qi Refiner, he naturally knows it even better.”
“Though he’s no gentleman, he surely understands the saying: ‘A gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall.’ So, most likely, he’s using himself as bait, aiming to hook both of us.”
After Ji Yuan finished in one breath, Qiu Qianhai’s eyes darkened as he calmed down… It was almost certain. After all, how much could killing Ji Yuan possibly be worth?
His true target was probably himself.
Otherwise, why would Liu the Leper agree so readily to all of his demands?
Sitting back down, Qiu Qianhai analyzed, “Liu the Leper definitely doesn’t know you’ve reached the fourth layer. And if he’s hiring help, getting someone at the early stage of Qi Refining wouldn’t be of much use. He likely can’t afford to hire another fifth-layer Qi Refiner either. So the person he brings is probably also at the fourth layer—still someone we can kill!”
Qiu Qianhai was quite confident in himself.
Ji Yuan remained silent.
Qiu Qianhai saw through his hesitation. “You’re thinking of hiding inside Zengtou Market, believing Liu the Leper won’t dare to kill you there.”
“No, it’s just that…”
“Enough with the ‘just’. You mentioned earlier that ‘a gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall.’ Let me give you another saying.”
“When it’s time to kill, kill without hesitation!”
Qiu Qianhai suddenly stood up. “Since Liu the Leper has set his sights on you, whether he succeeds this time or not, he’ll keep scheming to kill you.”
“If you’re willing to go today, then let’s go. If not, I’ll go meet him myself.”
Qiu Qianhai had always lived with his head tied to his belt; he knew no fear.
Ji Yuan’s mind raced… He had already reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining. He had offensive techniques like the Water Arrow Technique and Water Drop Finger. He also had a Thunder Strike Talisman and twenty Spirit Stones.
Moreover, what Qiu Qianhai said made sense.
Liu the Leper had already set his sights on him. If he didn’t take this chance to eliminate him while he was injured, once Liu the Leper recovered, it would be him who would live in fear.
He might not even be able to sleep soundly.
“Damn it!”
Ji Yuan stood up. “Let me make another trip to Zengtou Market to buy some things, and then we’ll go finish him off!”
Qiu Qianhai, who had already been about to head out, turned back and revealed a smile.
“So crude. What you should say is… ‘Let’s go and meet his mother!’”
On the way to Zengtou Market.
“You’ve read some books?” Ji Yuan asked curiously.
“My father loved reading ancient texts, and I grew up hearing them all the time. I picked up a bit here and there.”
“Doesn’t seem like you’ve become very refined. All you learned was that ‘meet his mother’ line?”
“Bullshit. I also know things like, ‘Mother, it truly is not your pleasure!’ ‘You scoundrel!’ ‘You dog bastard!’ and so on. I know plenty.”
Ji Yuan glanced at him suspiciously. “You’re not secretly cursing me, are you?”
“How could I? You’re my brother, my blood brother.” Qiu Qianhai shook his head and added, “Besides, do I need to wait for the right moment to curse you?”
“You dog bastard!”
Ji Yuan punched him, and Qiu Qianhai quickly covered his shoulder, sucking in a cold breath. “You little brat, have you trained your body?”
“How could that be?!”
The two laughed and joked along the way, seemingly feeling no pressure at all about the impending life-and-death struggle.
Ji Yuan went straight to the Treasure Pavilion.
Out of his twenty Spirit Stones, he spent ten to purchase another mid-grade talisman—Golden Body Talisman.
Since he had bought the Thunder Strike Talisman as a trump card, he didn’t believe Liu the Leper wouldn’t have one as well. So a life-saving defensive talisman seemed especially precious.
With the remaining ten Spirit Stones, he spent five on a Hundred Herb Pill for healing injuries.
The last five Spirit Stones were used on a combo recommended by Qiu Qianhai.
One Spirit Stone for a Water Ball Talisman, plus two Spirit Stones each for two bottles of Itch Poison Liquid.
By dripping the Itch Poison Liquid onto the Water Ball Talisman before throwing it, the water ball would turn into a poison ball. Even if it didn’t injure the opponent, as long as a little poison water splashed on them, it could have a surprising effect.
“You’re really devious.”
Ji Yuan sat on Qiu Qianhai’s spirit boat, watching the scenery quickly recede. For the first time, he felt a trace of nervousness.
“First, let’s see who Liu the Leper has invited. I know most of the fourth-layer Qi Refiners in Zengtou Market… I’ll leave the weaker one to you.”
“Remember, don’t hesitate. Once you gain the upper hand, go all out and beat them to death.”
Qiu Qianhai reminded him in a deep voice.
“Don’t worry.”
Ji Yuan had never killed anyone, but he understood the logic when it came to life and death.
“Good.”
Qiu Qianhai wasn’t a man of many words. After giving this piece of advice, he fell silent.
After about half an hour, the spirit boat suddenly slowed down.
“We’re here.”
Turtle Rest Island, true to its name, resembled a turtle lying on its belly.
At this moment, on the sandy shore of Turtle Rest Island, Liu the Leper was sitting cross-legged. Qiu Qianhai’s spirit boat approached but did not dock.
Liu the Leper slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the figures on the boat, and sneered:
“Who would’ve thought there’d really be a touching scene of brotherhood here in Zengtou Market.”