Deadly Intent in the Dark of Night

In just a single day, Yang Fan's earnings had grown by one hundred and forty spirit stones. He smiled to himself as he watched the group from Rainmist Manor depart from the clinic. Since the purchase of a large quantity of herbs by the "Elegant Jade Pavilion," his own supply of spirit stones had been dwindling. Now, his financial situation had improved significantly.

Standing behind him, Lin Zhong couldn't help but voice his concern. "Young master, you've extorted the young lady of Rainmist Manor. Aren't you worried about her seeking revenge later?"

"Revenge?" Yang Fan chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Their visit here wasn't merely for treatment. They had another request. In three months' time, I'll be accompanying the third-generation disciples of Rainmist Manor to Ghost Corpse Mountain."

"Ghost Corpse Mountain?" Lin Zhong was taken aback. "That place is a forbidden zone!"

"Forbidden zone?" Yang Fan shrugged nonchalantly. "Perhaps to some extent."

"For solitary low-level cultivators, Ghost Corpse Mountain might indeed be dangerous. But Rainmist Manor has a long-standing tradition of trials. They conduct these expeditions every few years, and the family wouldn't let too many of their disciples die or get injured. Most likely, there will be elders in the shadows, watching over them. As a physician, my task will be to heal and treat wounds, reduce casualties—not to participate in battle. The danger to me will be minimal."

Yang Fan's thoughts drifted back to the real terror—an unnamed forest near the "Shuyu Pavilion," where two Condensation-stage powerhouses had perished without a chance to resist. Even now, when Yang Fan recalled the dense demonic aura that had awakened in that eerie forest, his heart would pound with dread.

"That puts me at ease. With your wisdom, I'm sure nothing will go wrong," Lin Zhong said with a smile. "By the way, I suppose you've extorted quite a sum from Rainmist Manor again, haven't you?"

Yang Fan gave a light chuckle, clearly in high spirits. But then, his expression turned serious. "However, before we head to Ghost Corpse Mountain, there's something urgent we must deal with. Otherwise, I won't be at ease."

"I know what you're referring to," Lin Zhong's smile faded as well.

Yang Fan closed his eyes, his consciousness merging with the life energy mist within him. In an instant, his senses expanded, covering a radius of two hundred meters around him. Every rustle of the wind, every movement, no matter how small, was within his grasp.

A few moments later, Yang Fan's eyes snapped open, a cold smile forming on his lips. "Tonight, we make our move."

Lin Zhong's heart skipped a beat. "Make a move?!"

"To be precise," Yang Fan corrected, "we'll be waiting for them to fall into our trap."

With those words, Yang Fan's form disappeared into the shadows, his actions shrouded in mystery as if he was preparing for something.

...

That night, the sky was dark, and a cold wind swept through Mist Willow Town. The town's air seemed colder than usual. Late at night, the occasional bark of a dog could be heard, but the streets were mostly empty. The entire town lay under a serene, silvery moonlight, peaceful and quiet, like a sleeping beauty. Yet, beneath this veil of tranquility, dark dealings were unfolding.

At the heart of the town lay the grand Liu family estate, a sprawling property with dozens of rooms. Four figures moved stealthily toward the estate under the cover of night.

Two of them, one fat and one thin, scaled a large, ancient tree by the estate's wall, while the other two kept watch, their sharp eyes gleaming with spiritual light as they scanned the surroundings.

Perched on the tree, the fat man, Li, whispered, "Most of the Liu family seems to be asleep."

But the older, thin man—Hu Bansian, ever cautious—remained suspicious. "Something feels off. It's too quiet, too dark."

Li, however, dismissed his concerns with a laugh. "That's perfect! The cold breeze tonight must've sent them all to bed early, and that little beauty Liu Manxiang won't be an exception."

His beady eyes gleamed with lust, casting a lecherous glow in the night.

But Hu Bansian wasn't convinced. "No, something's wrong. Even the old man who usually patrols the grounds at night is missing."

In ordinary times, regardless of the weather, a grand estate like the Liu family's would always have someone keeping watch. The entire residence now lay in a suspicious darkness, its silence unnatural.

Hu Bansian, though old, was seasoned and cautious. His long years of experience made him wary.

"Tsk! You're overthinking it!" Li snapped, clearly impatient. His thoughts were entirely consumed by the image of Liu Manxiang's alluring figure. His desire overwhelmed his caution, and with a push, he shoved Hu Bansian off the tree. 

Caught off guard, Hu tumbled into the courtyard but managed a mid-air somersault to land gracefully, narrowly avoiding a loud crash.

"You…!" Hu Bansian fumed, glaring up at the fat man.

"Heh, you're still nimble for an old man. But you're too cautious for your own good." Li retorted smugly. "With our strength, even if Yang Fan and Lin Zhong showed up, they'd have no choice but to retreat. In terms of power and numbers, we have the upper hand. What is there to fear?"

Li's confidence was palpable, certain that even if a trap lay in wait, two mere Qi Refining cultivators—one of whom was just a lowly physician—posed no threat.

"Fine, I'll help you one last time. But I want a mid-tier magical artifact as payment."

Hu Bansian sighed, realizing there was no turning back. The situation was now unavoidable.

With that, Li leapt down, surprisingly agile for his large frame. Clearly, this wasn't his first time in such shady dealings.

The two split up to carry out their tasks. Li sneaked towards Liu Manxiang's room, while Hu Bansian, ever cautious, kept watch, handing Li a small packet of powder. "I'll stand guard. This 'Spring Soothe Powder' should make things easier for you."

Li's eyes gleamed as he took the packet. "Heh, you sly fox! I didn't know you had such goodies stashed away."

He grew more excited, his movements becoming even more furtive as he approached his target.

Unbeknownst to them, two figures lurked in the shadows, watching their every move. It was none other than Yang Fan and Lin Zhong.

"It seems Hu Bansian's caution paid off. He sensed something was wrong. I instructed Liu Degui to order the household to retire early and stay inside no matter what happened tonight. But I forgot about the night watchman. He's as sharp as ever." Yang Fan whispered, reflecting on the oversight.

Lin Zhong chuckled softly. "Even I overlooked that detail, so it's hardly your fault. Hu Bansian has lived decades longer than us. His experience and cunning are to be expected."

"Besides," he added with a smirk, "everything is still going according to your plan."

Yang Fan nodded in agreement. "We'll have to be even more thorough in the future."

"Move in!" he commanded, his eyes flashing with cold determination as he disappeared into the night.

Lin Zhong, too, moved swiftly, avoiding the lookouts' gaze. Incredibly, he slipped into the Liu estate through a small doghole. He crouched in a dark corner, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Li and Hu Bansian's every movement.

Elsewhere, Yang Fan crept silently toward the two sentinels stationed outside the estate. Both were early-stage Qi Refining cultivators, positioned strategically—one visible, the other hidden.

Yang Fan's first target was the hidden sentinel, a man crouching in a dark corner, his eyes flickering with spiritual light as he scanned the surroundings, leaving no obvious path to approach.

Holding his breath, Yang Fan suppressed his aura to its absolute limit, inching closer, slowly but surely.

Ten meters… seven meters… three meters…

Suddenly, a crisp ringing of bells pierced the night, sharp as death's scythe. Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat.

The hidden sentinel's expression sharpened instantly, his eyes glowing brightly as he turned his gaze toward where Yang Fan had been stealthily advancing.