Overlord of the Wilderness

”Zhaang Ye!” Zhaang Fang strode back into the courtyard, his expression twisted with savagery. ”Today, I’ll see you dead!” As he spoke, he waved a hand at Zhaang Jin, Zhaang Huo, and Zhaang Dashu, roaring, ”Together! Cripple him!”

Zhaang Ye gave a cold laugh. ”What’s this? The big talker can’t beat me, so now you want to jump me?”

As he spoke, the Purple Copper Thick-Backed Saber on his back was suddenly in his hand. With the saber in his grasp, he channeled his True Qi, and the entire courtyard was instantly flooded with a sharp, cutting Saber Qi.

Zhaang Ye had killed dozens of men. When a man kills so often, he naturally develops a murderous aura. Now, that aura fused with his presence, and combined with the piercing Saber Qi, it instantly caused the color to drain from everyone’s faces.

”A killer’s aura!” Zhaang Fang’s face darkened as he stared at Zhaang Ye. He waved a hand and commanded, ”Let’s go!”

Zhaang Dashu, Zhaang Huo, and Zhaang Jin were already struggling under Zhaang Ye’s billowing murderous aura. At Zhaang Fang’s command, the three of them hastily followed him out of the courtyard.

The four had just left the courtyard when they heard Zhaang Ye’s boisterous laugh. ”That lunatic who loves slapping himself is part of your crew, isn’t he? You should probably take him with you.”

As he spoke, a pale figure came flying out of the courtyard—it was none other than Zhaang Tu, the one who had been slapping his own face.

Zhaang Dashu was on good terms with Zhaang Tu, so when he saw him flying out, he rushed to catch him. The moment he did, however, he realized something was terribly wrong. Zhaang Tu’s lower body was covered in yellow and white filth. Zhaang Dashu’s embrace had landed him with a handful of excrement, and the stench was overwhelming.

Zhaang Fang’s brow furrowed. ”Let’s go!”

The five of them quickly vanished from sight.

After Zhaang Fang and his group left, Cyan Lotus came out and closed the courtyard gate. She bowed her head to Zhaang Ye and said, ”I’m sorry, Young Master. I’ve caused trouble for you.”

Zhaang Ye shook his head, his eyes showing a hint of deep thought. ”They were after me. Harassing you was just their way of getting under my skin. The timing is too perfect otherwise—they started bothering you the moment I got back.”

He then asked, ”Are you alright?”

Cyan Lotus shook her head. ”I’m fine.”

Zhaang Ye felt relieved. ”That’s good. You should go get some rest.”

Cyan Lotus nodded, but a conflicted look appeared on her face, and she hesitated. Zhaang Ye found this a little strange. ”If you have something to say, just say it.”

Cyan Lotus hummed in acknowledgment and lifted her head. ”Young Master, you’re a grown man now. You don’t need a servant anymore. And I’m not getting any younger. I was thinking... in a few days, I’d like to return to my village...”

Zhaang Ye was taken aback. He considered it for a moment, then said, ”Alright. With your disposition, a peaceful life in the countryside would suit you. I agree.” He then took a Golden Ticket from his robes and placed it in her hand. ”Take this. Consider it a dowry from your young master.”

Cyan Lotus glanced down and was stunned to see it was a Golden Ticket for a thousand taels. ”This is far too much! I can’t possibly accept it.”

Zhaang Ye smiled and pressed the Golden Ticket into her hand. ”Hold onto it for now. Before you leave, I’ll help you exchange it for a dozen or so smaller ones to make it easier to use. Don’t feel awkward. You started serving me when you were seventeen. That was seven years ago. You’ve earned this.”

...

The sun shone brightly, and flowers bloomed in profusion.

This was Zhaang Ye’s fourth day back at the Zhaang Mansion.

That morning, Cyan Lotus finished packing and left for her home village.

Zhaang Ye had even helped her purchase a large plot of farmland there, enough to ensure she would be well-provided for for the rest of her life.

Zhaang Ye had agreed so readily for three reasons. First, while Cyan Lotus might still look like a young maid, she was getting on in years. If she remained in the Zhaang Mansion, she would likely never marry. Second, Zhaang Ye was surrounded by enemies within the mansion; life would have been very difficult for the kind and timid Cyan Lotus. Third, Zhaang Ye’s life goal was to pursue the pinnacle of the Martial Dao, which meant he would eventually have to leave the small Three Rivers Town. That was why he had seized the opportunity to arrange a good future for her before his own departure.

”Hah!” Zhaang Ye pushed all other thoughts from his mind and focused on circulating his True Qi, refining the Body Tempering Pill and Body Refining Pill he had just taken.

After four days of taking Body Refining Pills, Zhaang Ye could feel his body had grown significantly tougher. Previously undefined muscles now bulged, each one the color of brass and radiating a sense of power.

The benefits of his toughened body were gradually becoming apparent. With his body’s improved coordination, his Startled Swan Step had progressed in just three days, showing faint signs of reaching the Great Success stage. Zhaang Ye estimated that with a little more practice, once the conditions were ripe, he would naturally enter the Great Success Realm.

Along with his Footwork Technique, Zhaang Ye’s Saber Technique had also subtly improved. Previously, when using Gentle Wind Slash, he could at most deliver eleven slashes in a single breath. Now, after just four days, he could manage twelve.

With this rare free time, while practicing his Saber Technique and Footwork Technique, Zhaang Ye also secretly studied the Mid-Level Combat Skill he had acquired: the *Lingbo Triple Extremes*.

The *Lingbo Triple Extremes* was one of the heirloom skills of the Zhou Family of Cyan Mulberry City. Its contents were incredibly profound; without guidance, one could not practice it even with the manual in hand. However, after his memories awakened, Zhaang Ye’s Comprehension and analytical skills were far beyond what they once were. By slowly puzzling it out on his own, he had actually managed to grasp a few of its secrets.

The essence of the *Lingbo Triple Extremes* could be summed up in a single word: softness.

At the peak of softness, the Swordsmanship within the *Lingbo Triple Extremes* flowed like silk, like mist, like rain. It was so light and graceful that opponents had no way to apply force against it. Yet, this lightness was deceptive; like water, the sword strikes could penetrate anywhere, killing without a trace. It was an exceptionally deadly art.

The Body Technique of the *Lingbo Triple Extremes* was also founded on that same principle of softness. Softness led to lightness. Once the technique reached the Great Success Realm, one could tread on water as if it were solid ground. One could travel without stirring a breeze, closing in on an opponent before they were even aware.

’This *Lingbo Triple Extremes*... it’s very similar to some of the descriptions in that mysterious *Tao Te Ching*,’ Zhaang Ye mused. ’The *Tao Te Ching* mentions water several times, describing it as the softest thing under heaven, yet capable of conquering the hardest. The weak and supple overcomes the hard and strong...’ As Zhaang Ye slowly contemplated these principles, occasionally gesturing with his hands, he unknowingly gained a great deal of insight.

To walk the path of the strong in the Martial Dao, one must have their own insights and innovations. Simply following the Cultivation Techniques of one’s predecessors, no matter how well practiced, would never allow one to become a First Generation Grandmaster, much less a peerless expert. Since his memories had awakened, Zhaang Ye approached every Martial Arts Secret Manual with a mind bent on comprehension and analysis. Unconsciously, he had already begun to pull ahead of his peers. He couldn’t found his own sect yet, but his mind was overflowing with more and more ideas about the Martial Dao. He was slowly but surely walking the path of a Grandmaster.