Chapter 24: Punishing Evil and Promoting Good

Jiang Xiaotian barely had time to see who was speaking before he sensed an invisible force surging toward him. At the same moment, the spiritual energy within his body responded in kind, rushing instantly through his limbs and meridians. Yet before the force could even touch him, it dissipated like smoke in the wind.

From the corner of the room, a startled exclamation rang out.

It came from a master in the mid-stage of External Power. His earlier attack had merely been to give Jiang Xiaotian a warning, but to his surprise, not only did the young man dissolve it with ease, his expression did not change in the slightest.

The master looked at a young man who accompanied him; the youth seemed a little surprised but didn’t give it much thought.

Jiang Xiaotian, still confused about what had just happened, heard the same question repeated once more. He nodded, and the crowd parted to let him through.

As he walked forward in puzzlement, his phone buzzed with another message: “Your master is dead, why are you just standing there? Hurry up and look more sorrowful.”

Jiang Xiaotian clicked his tongue and did his best to appear heartbroken, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He had considered these people to be his master’s friends, but from their demeanor, none of them seemed friendly.

Brother Long, a man with years of experience in society, immediately sensed the odd atmosphere. He subtly shot a glance at Jiang Xiaotian, warning him to be careful.

Ling’er stood to the side, exuding lazy indifference, but she missed nothing as she quietly observed the martial artists present.

After scanning the room, she found no one particularly interesting—at best, the strongest among them would not be her match. Thus, she paid little attention, confident that Jiang Xiaotian could handle whatever came his way.

Though Jiang Xiaotian himself was still unaware, Ling’er could sense the ill intentions in the room, especially from a young man seated in the corner. Despite his youth, his strength surpassed all others.

Once Jiang Xiaotian finished the rites, unfamiliar with the proper etiquette, he simply cupped his hands in greeting to the others. Yet they only exchanged glances, ignoring him completely.

By then, Jiang Xiaotian realized something was wrong. He frowned, saying, “Everyone, it’s been a long journey—thank you for your trouble. It’s already lunchtime; why don’t we call it a day?”

Two elderly men exchanged looks. One of them stepped forward. “So, you’re Jiang Xiaotian? You really have some nerve showing up!”

Jiang Xiaotian was utterly baffled. What had he done?

The other quickly chimed in, “People like you are nothing but rats in the street, and your death is a cause for celebration. Yet you dare appear here? Your master hid you away all these years—must have been exhausting.”

“All those girls you ruined over the years, surely you can’t count them on one hand! No wonder your aura is so twisted—your cultivation method is nothing but heresy. You can’t be much better yourself!”

Brother Long was stunned; he’d thought he’d finally found someone powerful to rely on, hoping to broaden his horizons, but now it seemed he’d become the target of everyone’s scorn.

As the crowd spoke, their gazes shifted to Ling’er. Some looked on in pity, others shook their heads—all believing she too had fallen victim.

Yet the young man in the corner had a strange gleam in his eyes. What a beautiful girl! He had never seen anyone with such grace. If only he could have her—how blissful that would be! Closing his eyes, he could already imagine Ling’er in his arms.

“Since you dare to come here today, you shall not leave. Hand over your master’s martial arts—such a harmful legacy cannot be allowed to remain in this world!” declared one man with self-righteous fervor.

Jiang Xiaotian nearly laughed aloud. It seemed his master truly hadn’t been a good man and had wronged many women, but these people were not here simply for justice. They clearly had other intentions.

Only now did he notice the room had been ransacked—this lot had already searched it thoroughly. The martial arts they sought must be some kind of manual, otherwise it couldn’t be taught to others.

“In any case, I don’t have it. I swear on my life, I’ve never harmed anyone. I just came to pay my respects to my master, and after that, I’ll leave,” Jiang Xiaotian said with a shrug. With Ling’er beside him, he felt emboldened.

The others only sneered. “We heard you’d return, but never thought someone from your sect—who never dared show their faces—would appear so openly. Your master’s skills were nothing to speak of. What gives you the courage to talk back to us!”

None of those speaking were martial artists; the true experts watched silently from the back, their eyes fixed on Jiang Xiaotian. Should he make any rash move, they were ready to kill him on the spot.

There were two early-stage External Power experts and even one mid-stage master present—no matter what Jiang Xiaotian did, he would never stir up a storm here.

Jiang Xiaotian was growing more and more frustrated. He hadn’t expected to take the fall for a villain, beset by enemies on all sides. Worse still, these people were hardly saints themselves. There was little hope of resolving this peacefully.

Fortunately, Ling’er was with him; otherwise, he wouldn’t know what to do.

Truly, there is no such thing as a free lunch.

One accusation after another was flung at Jiang Xiaotian and his master. Sweat poured down Brother Long’s brow; most of those present were wealthy tycoons from Linhai City, their assets dwarfing his own, and each household had martial artists at their beck and call. He was in no position to speak.

At last, someone noticed the bald man. “Who are you?”

Brother Long, no longer bold, forced a smile and introduced himself. He dared not show too much familiarity with Jiang Xiaotian, but everyone knew they were together.

Mockery followed. “You dare associate with Ling Zhi’s disciple? Do you really think your money can buy martial artists? He’s only fallen on hard times and wants to use you to get rich. Do you know what kind of martial arts Ling Zhi practiced? They’re techniques that prey on women!”

Brother Long bowed and apologized profusely, terrified and full of regret.

Just then, a young man’s voice came from the corner. “Bring the girl over. Perhaps she can still be saved.”

Looking over, the speaker was a man just over twenty, but everyone treated him with utmost respect.

Ling’er frowned. How had this turned on her? Wasn’t she supposed to just watch the show?

Two men at his side responded and walked toward her.

Jiang Xiaotian immediately moved to block their way.

A middle-aged man’s lips curled in anger. “Jiang Xiaotian! Don’t be ungrateful! If you didn’t practice that evil art, why would you have a woman by your side?”

“Are you insane? Did you grow up without a mother?” Jiang Xiaotian retorted, amused. Having a woman with him made him a villain?

“You—!” The man’s face flushed with rage, at a loss for words.

“Jiang Xiaotian, watch your tongue. Your master is dead, your sect is not even recognized at the Martial Arts Assembly. We could eliminate you at any time! As for whether you’ve harmed this girl, that’s for Young Master Fang to decide—not you!” said one of the youths beside Fang.

Fang Ye looked at Jiang Xiaotian with a playful sneer, clearly viewing him as insignificant.

He had already reached the mid-stage of External Power—barely over twenty, a genius without compare. Many would never step into the world of martial artists, and those who did at fifty or sixty were already considered exceptionally talented. Fang Ye, however, had entered External Power at fifteen, earning even the admiration of true masters.

Such talent would surely achieve greatness.

But what was Jiang Xiaotian? His aura was weak and unfocused, likely not even an External Power practitioner. To Fang, he was as good as dead.

What mattered to him was Ling’er. He must have this girl.

But Jiang Xiaotian would never let them have their way, standing firmly before Ling’er.

“I always held hope that martial artists would be noble, but you’ve truly shattered my illusions. Robbery, trespassing, and now you want to snatch a person—do you still dare call yourselves martial artists?” Jiang Xiaotian was truly disappointed. He had expected them to be sage-like, or at least as righteous as Ye Wan’er.

Fang Ye, now impatient, cared nothing for Jiang Xiaotian’s opinion. He smiled coldly. “Do it. Cripple him while you’re at it—punish evil and reward good.”

Punish evil and reward good, indeed!

Jiang Xiaotian was about to retort, but before he could, a martial artist lunged at him!

The man’s heavy fist came crashing down with unstoppable force, its speed leaving no room for reaction.