Ominous Signs of Murder

Yang Guang and the chubby Li left with a wave of their sleeves. The former remained impassive, while the latter's expression was dark and filled with disappointment. 

Before long, Hu Bansian approached, his demeanor as disheveled as his departure had been. The three of them gathered in a secluded corner of Wuliu Town. 

"Hu Bansian, is this truly your master plan? To reap nothing but losses for your troubles!" Li's voice was a low growl as he lunged at Hu, grabbing him by the collar and delivering a resounding slap across his face. 

*Slap!*

The sound rang loud and clear. Half of Hu Bansian's face turned pale, then a deep shade of indigo, leaving an unmistakable handprint. He trembled slightly, his eyes flashing with a fierce anger, but he forced a smile and replied, "Li Gongzi, you cannot place all the blame on me. Yang Fan's medical skills exceeded our expectations. At the last moment, even that wretched Liu Manxiang went back on her word, disregarding our previous agreement."

"Humph!" 

Li's anger had not yet dissipated as he glared at Hu, his voice cold with contempt. "Who was it that made the plan seem foolproof at first? Now we have lost face, and when we return to 'Yangjiabao,' we'll be the laughingstock of Yang Lei."

"Li Fatty, let him be for now; the situation has indeed taken an unexpected turn. The Yang brothers are not to be underestimated. Not only is Yang Fan formidable, but this Yang Lei is also arrogant and overbearing, yet he puts on a facade of obedience before his elders, which makes him all the more cunning." 

Yang Guang spoke with an air of calmness, a distinct disdain evident on his face at the mention of Yang Lei's name. 

Li Fatty let go of Hu Bansian, still visibly seething. "This must involve Yang Lei; there's no way Yang Fan could achieve such greatness alone." 

"Thank you, Master Yang. What should we do now?" Hu Bansian asked, his tone edged with anxiety. 

While feigning respect in front of Li Fatty, his real fear stemmed not from the man himself but from the formidable power he represented. In contrast, he felt an intangible pressure when faced with the likes of the new generation from the 'Southern Neighboring Yang Family.' 

"The momentum is against us; we must retreat and seek another opportunity. The Yang brothers have risen to an extraordinary stature: the elder excels in medicine, while the younger has emerged as a genius." 

Yang Guang pondered aloud. 

"Should we strike at their family or bide our time to eliminate Yang Fan?" 

Li's eyes glinted with a murderous intent. 

Yang Guang retorted firmly, "No! This is a grave taboo in the realm of immortality; one must not harm the worldly kin of a cultivator unless there is a deep-seated grudge. Besides, there are other cultivators with families as well." 

As cultivators, many maintain connections with relatives, friends, or descendants in the mundane world. There is an unwritten rule among them: the enmities of cultivators should not spill into the secular sphere. Not only does Yang Fan have family in the mundane world, but Yang Guang also has an aging mother enjoying a peaceful life. 

Hu Bansian nodded in agreement, "This is a path we cannot tread. The Yang brothers possess resilience and decisiveness; if we push them too hard, the consequences could be dire…" 

Li Fatty ground his teeth in frustration. "Very well, I detest these brothers; if the opportunity arises, I shall eliminate them both and then capture Yang Huixin, that beautiful flower, to play with as I please…"

Just then, a sly little beggar approached Yang Guang, bowing respectfully. "Young Master, I have something to report." 

The little beggar leaned in and whispered hurriedly to Yang Guang. 

After listening, Yang Guang's eyes gleamed with a cold light. "As I suspected…" 

---

Meanwhile, Yang Fan basked in the admiration and praise of the crowd as he departed the mayor's grand estate, laden with the gold and jewels gifted by Liu Degui. Before leaving, he had promised the mayor he would join him for dinner later that evening.

"This matter has finally come to a close," Yang Fan exhaled deeply, just as Tie Niu and Nangong Yu caught up to him, congratulating him on his success.

Nangong Yu smiled, saying, "Your great kindness will not be forgotten, Young Master. I shall certainly recommend your 'Universal Love Clinic' to my martial arts peers in the future." 

Yang Fan responded warmly, engaging in pleasant conversation with them until they parted ways.

At that moment, an old man dressed in simple clothes and carrying a medicine basket approached with a smile. 

"Master Zheng!" Yang Fan exclaimed, slightly taken aback.

"Master Yang, your medical skills are truly remarkable. You are destined to become a renowned physician in the realm of immortality. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with you and exchanging medical knowledge," Master Zheng said with admiration.

"Your praise is unwarranted, Master Zheng; I am but a humble student," Yang Fan replied, his expression brightening with delight.

"By the way, Master Yang, in three months, the new talents from 'Yuwu Mountain Manor' will be heading to 'Ghost Corpse Mountain' to seek treasures hidden in a millennium-old tomb. I, along with a few other physicians, have been invited to accompany them to provide medical aid and detoxification services. There is also a certain reward involved. If you are willing, I will strongly recommend you for this opportunity; it is an invaluable chance for practical experience in the medical arts." 

Master Zheng lowered his voice as he spoke. 

"Ghost Corpse Mountain?" Yang Fan was momentarily taken aback but quickly felt a surge of excitement. "Thank you, Master Zheng, for your kind offer. I will consider it carefully."

"Good, let us agree on this; I will visit you soon," Master Zheng said before departing. 

"Yuwu Mountain Manor? Ghost Corpse Mountain?" Yang Fan pondered as he made his way home, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. 

Yuwu Mountain Manor is a sect close to Yangjiabao, and both powers are roughly equal, but Yuwu Mountain Manor's overall strength is slightly superior. The past lords of Yuwu Mountain Manor were all warriors who encouraged their juniors to engage in real combat and training. Every few years, they send their three disciples to a designated location for practical experience, which has become a routine.

As for Ghost Corpse Mountain, it is a controversial location. Legends say that many spirits wander there, and a millennium-old tomb lies beneath, holding rare treasures. Among the realms of Yangjiabao and Yuwu Mountain Manor, it is considered a minor forbidden zone. 

After a short while, Yang Fan returned home with the gold and jewels, rewarding a few servants with silver before sending them on their way. 

Upon entering, he found a young man dressed in dark clothing, standing arrogantly with his hands clasped behind his back. His demeanor was extraordinary, and a trace of haughty arrogance adorned his face. 

It was Yang Lei. 

"Brother…" 

Yang Fan felt a moment of surprise. 

"Am I not allowed to come back?" 

Yang Lei's handsome face bore a hint of a smile, making him appear older than his sixteen years. 

He continued languidly, "Yang Guang and Li Fatty have come to Wuliu Town; how could I not make an appearance? Moreover, it's been ages since I've gathered with Mother and Sister." 

Detecting that both Mother and Sister were in the kitchen, Yang Fan pulled up a stool, sat down, and lowered his voice. "You've arrived just in time." 

"What do you mean, Brother? Is there something you need my assistance with?" Yang Lei asked, puzzled. 

Yang Fan raised his hand, his eyes glinting with cold light, and said, "Help me kill someone." 

"Of course! Brother, you remain unchanged; saving the world was never your style," Yang Lei replied, a half-smile on his lips, his eagerness apparent. 

Yang Fan asked with curiosity, "You don't want to know who it is I intend to kill?"