Good news?
Curious, Long Ao asked in confusion once they entered the courtyard, "What happened that's made you so happy?"
With a mysterious smile, Wang Yuyin pulled Long Ao to a seat. A servant brought two cups of tea, and only then did she say happily, "Long Ao, I won't hide it from you. Yesterday, a super-expert was passing through Red Fire Town, and I happened to run into him. I don't know if it was just my luck, but this senior wants to take me as his disciple."
"What Level of expert?"
"I don't know, but this senior said that within three months, he will help my Cultivation break through to the Innate Realm."
Ah?
Breaking through to the Innate Martial Artist Realm in just three months?
Long Ao knew very well that the expert Yuyin had met yesterday was no ordinary person. After all, not just anyone could help her break through to the Innate Martial Artist Realm in a mere three months.
"I saw that senior in action with my own eyes yesterday. He killed an Innate Spirit Beast with a single palm strike, and his aura was so powerful I couldn't even move."
Hearing this, Long Ao was certain that this senior was definitely a super-expert. He was genuinely happy for Yuyin that she could become the disciple of such a powerful master.
"Yuyin, this is your opportunity. No matter what, you must seize it."
"Mm," For some reason, Wang Yuyin's expression grew a little lonely, and the corners of her eyes welled up with tears. She said, "Master has already said that I have to leave with him this time. I won't be allowed to return for at least three years, or at most, ten. During that period, I am forbidden from coming back."
Wang Yuyin trailed off, but the meaning behind her words was clear. She gazed pitifully at the man she loved, her reluctance to leave him written all over her face.
It would be a lie to say his heart didn't soften. But Long Ao knew he couldn't be so selfish. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Yuyin, one she absolutely could not miss, no matter what.
"Yuyin, three years, or even ten... for us, it will pass in the blink of an eye. I believe that when we meet again, both of us will show the other a completely different version of ourselves. Don't you think?"
"Mm, okay. I'm just a little reluctant to leave, that's all. Once I'm gone, I'll have to entrust the family to you."
"Don't worry, I will."
After that, neither of them said anything more. They just sat quietly, looking at each other, cherishing their last moments together. They both knew that after this parting, they wouldn't see each other again for at least three years, and at most, ten.
「Dusk.」
Long Ao reluctantly left the courtyard. The moment he turned to look back, he suddenly realized that after all these years, Yuyin's image had never once faded from his heart.
He smiled. Thinking of the woman he loved, Long Ao smiled.
「The marketplace.」
Long Ao was just about to return to his family estate to continue his Cultivation. But at that exact moment, a group of people walked toward him. The youth leading them was none other than Long Ao's mortal enemy, the Yang Family's genius, Yang Bujue. At only eighteen, he had already broken through to the Inner Strength Seventh Heaven.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Long Family's trash?"
His face expressionless, Long Ao chose to ignore him. But while he didn't want to start trouble, someone else clearly did. Yang Bujue blocked his path, his face cold as he sneered, "Last time, you had a woman to back you up. Let's see which woman's skirt you'll hide behind as a shield this time."
"Get lost."
"Trash will always be trash. Besides barking a few times, all you're good for is being a pretty boy hiding behind a woman."
"Long Ao, kneel to our Young Master. If our Young Master is in a good mood, maybe he'll let you go for now. Otherwise, hmph hmph."
"A dog borrowing its master's might is still just a dog." Shaking his head in resignation, Long Ao's face was filled with contempt.
"You're fucking courting death!" Emboldened by his Young Master's presence and his opponent's reputation as trash, the Yang Family servant flew into a rage and sent a palm strike flying. The force behind it was considerable; he was actually a Martial Artist, though only at the Physical Body Second Heaven.
A cold smirk touched the corner of his lips. 'Patience has its limits.' Long Ao didn't dodge in the slightest, instead thrusting out a finger of his own.
A palm and a finger collided in an instant. A bloodcurdling scream, like a pig being slaughtered, echoed through the area. The sparse crowd instantly swelled into a sea of people. Seeing it was the Yang Family's genius and the Long Family's trash, everyone stopped with great interest, wanting to see what would happen next.
Long Ao was already quite famous in Red Fire Town. The recent news that he had challenged Long Yulang had spread like wildfire, making his name known throughout the town. Everyone thought Long Ao was trying to commit suicide; not a single person believed he could be a match for Long Yulang.
"Trash, you dare to strike my man?"
"The best way to stop a dog from barking is to beat it until it can't."
THUD. Struck by Long Ao's Celestial Profound Finger, the Yang Family servant's body slammed heavily to the ground. He didn't even let out a cry. His body trembled a few times, and then he was dead.
Long Ao killed a Yang Family servant?
At this, the surrounding crowd let out a collective gasp. Most of them, however, were just enjoying the show, eager to see what Yang Bujue would do.
As the Yang Family's genius, how could Yang Bujue tolerate his opponent killing his dog right under his nose?
If word of this got out, where would his honor be? Where would the Yang Family's honor be?
For that very reason, Yang Bujue roared, "You're courting death!" Then, filled with boundless fury, he viciously struck out at Long Ao. As an expert at the Inner Strength Seventh Heaven, the moment Yang Bujue attacked, he whipped up a violent storm. Inner Strength poured out of him endlessly. If this palm strike landed, even if it didn't kill, it would cripple.
His eyes turned cold. Long Ao was no fool; he knew that Yang Bujue was clearly trying to kill him. 'Since that's the case, why should I continue to hold back? Am I supposed to just wait for death and let myself be slaughtered?'
"You brought this on yourself."
At that moment, Long Ao completely unleashed his power. The path of Martial Arts was all about brave and diligent progress. If a Heart Demon were to take root in his heart, breaking through future bottlenecks would become far more difficult.
Sidestepping to dodge, Long Ao instantly unleashed his Celestial Profound Finger. A terrifying force shot out from his index finger. Perhaps not expecting his opponent's strength to be so great, Yang Bujue was a step too slow as he dodged. The Finger Force struck him. A miserable shriek rang out, and a bloody hole appeared on Yang Bujue's chest.
Inner Strength Seventh Heaven… 'It seems that with my current strength, I still can't kill Yang Bujue with a single finger strike,' Long Ao thought. But things had already come to this. Of course Long Ao wouldn't stop now. He pressed his advantage.