Wen Qingye's expression was indifferent. With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked toward Zhang Jian, one step at a time.
Seeing Wen Qingye approach, Zhang Jian's heart pounded with a fear he'd never felt before. He quickly turned to Wen Hao beside him and said, "Let's attack him together! I refuse to believe that two of us, both at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer Heaven, can't take on him alone!"
Wen Hao glanced at the ever-nearing Wen Qingye and nodded heavily.
Zhang Jian and Wen Hao exchanged a look, then charged at Wen Qingye in unison. One went for his left and the other for his right, forming a pincer around him.
Wen Qingye executed a swift Butterfly Step, deftly gliding to Zhang Jian's side. Shocked that Wen Qingye had chosen to engage him first, Zhang Jian gathered Primordial Qi in his palm and thrust it out fiercely.
"Bull Demon's Strength!"
The wild, rampaging bull seemed to reappear on the earth, charging forward with unstoppable momentum.
Wen Qingye, not daring to use his full strength, also threw a punch with Bull Demon's Strength. As their fists collided, Zhang Jian stumbled back several steps. At that exact moment, Wen Hao finally closed in on Wen Qingye.
Wen Hao saw that Wen Qingye had just exchanged a blow with Zhang Jian, and a flicker of delight appeared in his eyes.
"Earth-Splitting Claw!"
Wen Hao's hand contracted slightly, his fingers curling into a claw that glowed with a faint white light. He tore directly at Wen Qingye's left chest, clearly showing no intention of holding back.
"Celestial Hand!"
Wen Qingye showed no mercy either. A Hand Seal erupted from his palm, carrying with it a stunning aura. The space above Wen Hao's head suddenly dimmed as an incomparably tyrannical, giant hand slammed down.
Wen Hao hadn't expected Wen Qingye to have power to spare after clashing with Zhang Jian, but he was already past the point of no return and didn't hesitate.
BOOM!
The giant hand tore directly through Wen Hao's Claw Qi and continued surging forward.
Struck by Wen Qingye's Celestial Hand, Wen Hao was sent flying. He crashed into the very stall where Wen Qingye had been inquiring about a Medicine Cauldron moments before, smashing many of the wares to pieces.
The vendor's heart ached at the sight, especially since Wen Hao was now lying amidst the wreckage of his stall.
Seeing Wen Hao lying motionless on the ground, Zhang Jian's face turned deathly pale. "Did you kill him?"
Wen Qingye smiled faintly. He looked at Zhang Jian and said, "You're next."
Looking at Wen Qingye's faint smile, Zhang Jian finally realized that the man before him was different from the Wen Qingye of the past. It was a transformation of the soul. As this thought took hold, fear began to spread uncontrollably through his heart.
Zhang Jian turned to run, but Wen Qingye was not about to let him escape.
THUD!
Zhang Jian felt a punch land on his back. He stumbled and fell flat on the ground.
"AHHH—"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the street. The crowd looked at Zhang Jian's contorted face, unable to bear the sight.
Wen Qingye had planted his foot on Zhang Jian's fingers and was grinding it down with a twisting motion.
"My... my... hand..."
Wen Qingye crouched down and whispered, "Who's the dog?"
"I... I am... I am," Zhang Jian stammered, his entire body drenched in sweat.
Wen Qingye grabbed Zhang Jian by the neck and smiled faintly. "Some words, once spoken, cannot be forgiven. Do you understand?"
"I... was... wrong..." Zhang Jian said, his voice trembling with terror.
Even as he spoke, Wen Qingye saw a trace of venomous resentment in his eyes. A coldness filled Wen Qingye's heart, and his grip gradually tightened.
Zhang Jian's eyes widened in horror. His hands began to flail about, trying to call for help, but with Wen Qingye's hand around his throat, he could barely breathe, let alone speak.
THUD!
Wen Qingye released his grip. Zhang Jian collapsed to the ground, his eyes wide with bitter indignation—a truly horrifying sight.
Silence!
The surroundings fell utterly silent!
Wen Qingye had just choked Zhang Jian of the Zhang Family to death in the middle of the street. While Zhang Jian wasn't a core disciple of the Zhang Family, he was a member nonetheless.
Everyone's breathing grew ragged, the only sound being the frantic THUMP, THUMP of their own heartbeats.
Wen Hao's mouth hung wide open as he stared at Wen Qingye in terror. He was certain he would never forget the sight of Zhang Jian collapsing to the ground for the rest of his life.
Wen Qingye's gaze swept over to Wen Hao, who instantly felt as if he'd been plunged into an ice cellar. His entire body turned cold. That gaze seemed to come from the Nine Netherworld itself, filled with an endless chill.
No one in the crowd whispered or spoke. They all just stared blankly at the man before them, unable to believe their own eyes.
'Is that really Wen Qingye?'
Wen Qingye stood up, and the surrounding crowd hastily cleared a path. He walked straight through the parting sea of people.
Looking at his own hands, Wen Qingye suddenly realized his temperament was no longer as steady as it once was, especially when he heard insults directed at Zhang Xiaoyun or saw her harmed.
"Wait! Young Master Wen!"
Suddenly, Wen Qingye heard someone calling him from behind. He turned around, slightly puzzled, and saw it was Zuo Yu. "Master Zuo, is there something I can help you with?" he asked, perplexed.
Hearing this, Zuo Yu's face reddened. "Please, Young Master Wen, don't mock me. How could I be a master? You, Young Master Wen, are the true master. The true master."
Hearing Zuo Yu's words, Wen Qingye recalled the casual advice he had given that day and understood. It seemed Zuo Yu had realized his pointers were correct.
Zuo Yu saw Wen Qingye's calm expression and became even more certain that there was more to this man than met the eye. 'If it were anyone else,' he thought, 'wouldn't they be trying their hardest to curry favor with me?'
Wen Qingye's eyes shifted to a young man standing beside Zuo Yu. Zuo Yu quickly said, "Young Master Wen, this is my son, Zuo Qiang."
Wen Qingye nodded but remained silent.
Zuo Qiang was well aware of the rumors surrounding Wen Qingye. Seeing his own father going to such lengths to suck up to him left him utterly bewildered.
Seeing that Wen Qingye wasn't speaking, Zuo Yu gritted his teeth and said, "Young Master Wen, I was wrong that day. I shouldn't have driven you out. I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness. I hope you can find it in your heart to be lenient with me."
Zuo Qiang, standing beside him, was first stunned, then completely dumbfounded by his father's words. His father was a prominent figure in Phoenix City; even the Patriarchs of the four great families only warranted a clasped-fist salute and a slight bow from him. Yet here he was, fawning over Wen Qingye. Why?
Zuo Qiang found the scene unfolding before him both baffling and unbelievable.
Wen Qingye shook his head and smiled. "That matter? I'd already forgotten about it. You needn't worry."
Hearing Wen Qingye's words, Zuo Yu breathed a sigh of relief. The first step was to get back on good terms with him.
Wen Qingye said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back."
Seeing him about to leave, Zuo Yu quickly interjected, "Young Master Wen, I have some questions. Might I be so bold as to ask for your guidance?"
Wen Qingye looked at the man before him. Although Zuo Yu had been less than friendly in the past, he had now come to apologize in person, and Wen Qingye wasn't the kind of person who pressed his advantage unnecessarily.
Wen Qingye nodded and said, "Alright. As long as it's within my ability, I will certainly help you resolve it."
Zuo Yu quickly took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Wen Qingye. "Young Master Wen, I have a Pill Formula here. Please, take a look. I've managed to refine the pill several times, but I always feel the results aren't quite ideal."