Chapter 86: I Meant What I Said

Yu Qian’s hands were bound, leaving her unable to move, her expression tinged with fear. The appearance of Yang Fan gave her a glimmer of hope.

“Release her, and I’ll spare your lives. Otherwise, you’ll all die,” Yang Fan’s gaze locked onto the man before him, his tone laced with murderous intent.

Wang Gang immediately prepared for battle, eyes wary as he scanned the surroundings.

“What arrogance. Aren’t you afraid she’ll be killed?” A harsh voice rang out, and an elder entered Yang Fan’s field of vision.

The old man’s hair was grizzled, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties. Despite his age, the aura he emanated was anything but weak. His eyes, sharp as those of a hawk, betrayed a ruthless nature.

Sensing the elder’s aura, Yang Fan was taken aback; he hadn’t expected the opponent to possess the cultivation of the early stage of Qi Refining. Yet the aura was unstable, clearly indicating a recent breakthrough.

“Call out everyone. I’ll deal with them all at once,” Yang Fan said flatly.

A newly advanced Qi Refining opponent was of little concern to him. He himself had already reached the middle stage of Qi Refining, his strength overwhelming that of an early-stage practitioner. Moreover, the techniques he employed were of the highest caliber, their power rivaling that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator when unleashed in full force. This was his confidence, his reason for arrogance.

Seeing that Yang Fan had no intention of handing over the spirit stones, Li Changgong’s eyes narrowed. “Are you not worried she’ll be killed?”

The reason for capturing Yu Qian was Li Changgong’s assumption that she was Yang Fan’s woman.

Yu Qian looked at Yang Fan, unsure how he would respond. A vague sense of foreboding filled her heart.

“I didn’t come here with the intention of saving anyone,” Yang Fan flicked his fingers. “My main target is you lot. Since you all know I carry spirit stones, none of you will leave alive.”

Hearing Yang Fan’s answer, Yu Qian felt a chill run through her. The unease she’d felt earlier was now confirmed. In Yang Fan’s eyes, she saw only cold indifference—no trace of emotion. She forced a bitter smile; after all, she had no real connection to Yang Fan. He would not pay a great price to save her. The fact that he’d come at all was already something.

Li Changgong was also surprised that Yang Fan cared nothing for Yu Qian’s life. He had assumed Yu Qian was Yang Fan’s woman, but this situation suggested otherwise.

“She’s not your woman?” Li Changgong asked, puzzled.

He could not discern any emotional fluctuation on Yang Fan’s face; Yang Fan gave off the impression of someone utterly cold and unfeeling.

“She’s not my woman, merely an acquaintance I’ve worked with,” Yang Fan sneered. “Even if she were, so what? Women to me are nothing more than pink skeletons.”

Yu Qian felt a pang in her heart.

So, in Yang Fan’s eyes, she was nothing more than a pink skeleton. She had thought that, given her beauty, she could at least stir some feeling in him, but he was utterly unmoved.

“Even if you don’t care for her life, do you really think you can take on all of us here?” Li Changgong laughed coldly. “Today I will avenge my two disciples.”

Among those he’d brought were several martial artists—not particularly strong, but at least much stronger than ordinary people. Yang Fan, on the other hand, had only one helper beside him.

“You don’t have what it takes,” Yang Fan replied disdainfully.

“So arrogant! I’ve practiced martial arts for over thirty years and have now broken through to the Postnatal Realm. Dealing with a mere late-stage martial artist like you is no trouble at all,” Li Changgong sneered.

“Then let’s see who prevails,” Yang Fan had no patience for Li Changgong’s nonsense. He immediately activated his technique and rushed forward with astonishing speed.

Seeing Yang Fan suddenly launch an attack, Li Changgong was alarmed and hastily countered. But he was shocked to find Yang Fan’s explosive strength far exceeded his expectations, filling him with fear.

In a flash, Yang Fan arrived, radiating formidable momentum, and threw a punch. The force of this blow was at the middle stage of Qi Refining, its might absolutely terrifying.

Li Changgong wanted to dodge, but it was too late; he could only avoid a fatal hit.

With a dull thud, Yang Fan’s fierce punch landed on Li Changgong’s shoulder, the powerful force cracking the bones. With a sharp snap, Li Changgong was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground.

At the same time, Yang Fan flung a dagger from his hand, turning into a streak of white light that shot toward Yu Qian. The two men tried to use Yu Qian as a shield, only to find the dagger inexplicably curved.

With a sickening sound, the dagger slashed across their throats, sending two heads rolling and blood spurting everywhere.

Yu Qian was caught in the spray, her clothes soaked, her face splattered with blood.

She screamed in terror, collapsing to the ground.

Wang Gang rushed over, standing guard beside her.

“You’re actually a mid-stage Postnatal martial artist? Impossible!” Li Changgong stared at Yang Fan, eyes filled with dread.

Yang Fan looked to be only in his early twenties—so young, yet possessing such strength. In all of Yanhuang, there was not another Postnatal martial artist so young.

“Nothing is impossible. Now die,” Yang Fan activated his spiritual power and charged at Li Changgong.

With his technique unleashed, the aura he emanated sent the nearby air swirling, a sense of overwhelming force.

Li Changgong gazed at the murderous Yang Fan, despair filling his heart. “My fate is sealed.”

He realized that, though Yang Fan was only at the mid-stage Postnatal level, his explosive power already matched that of a late-stage expert.

Such combat strength was terrifying.

He struggled to resist, but in despair found his own strength utterly insignificant before Yang Fan.

With a heavy blow, Yang Fan’s fist shattered Li Changgong’s skull.

A Postnatal martial artist was so easily crushed by Yang Fan.

Those Li Changgong had brought were terrified by the sight and fled in panic.

But Yang Fan would not let them escape. He pursued them with lightning speed, killing them effortlessly—even dodging bullets from handguns.

He slaughtered them all.

After the carnage, Yang Fan approached Yu Qian, who was pale and clearly frightened.

“Find somewhere to wash the blood off,” Yang Fan told her.

Yu Qian nodded numbly.

Yang Fan led her away, finding a small stream where Yu Qian could clean herself.

After washing, Yu Qian was soaked through, her shapely figure on full display.

Wang Gang’s blood surged at the sight, and he quickly turned away.

Yu Qian’s face was flushed; in her current state, it was indeed a sight to make one’s blood boil.

But she noticed Yang Fan’s expression remained unchanged.

“Is this guy just indifferent?” Yu Qian felt frustrated.

Such a stunning beauty, drenched and almost naked before him, and he showed not the slightest reaction.

Yu Qian felt a sense of defeat.

“Hey, are women really just pink skeletons to you?” Yu Qian stepped before Yang Fan, arching her chest.

“Yes,” Yang Fan replied crisply.

“The truth?” Yu Qian stared into his eyes.

“I speak only the truth,” Yang Fan answered.

Yu Qian pursed her lips, feeling very uncomfortable.

She, a great beauty, could not stir Yang Fan’s heart in the slightest.