The Young Man Returns Chapter 31: Sudden Storms Arise

“Hah! So it’s you.”
Kong Yue’s eyes twitched slightly as he looked coldly at the young man wielding the long blade.

“Long time no see, Brother Yue Kong,” Yi Heng said with an innocent smile.

Kong Yue had once been severely injured and was found by Yi Heng’s master on the road, who brought him back to the valley to recover. After his wounds healed, the master left, which is how Kong Yue and Yi Heng came to know each other.

“My name is Kong Yue, not Yue Kong,” Kong Yue said with dissatisfaction.

This kid had been mispronouncing his name for five years right in front of him. If it weren’t for the kid’s youth and ignorance at the time, and the fact that his master had saved Kong Yue’s life, Kong Yue might have been tempted to crush him with a single palm in his youthful rage.

Now that they met again, the kid had become a Cangwu cultivator, but why did he still get his name wrong?

Yi Heng smiled subtly and called out, “Alright, Brother Yue Kong.”

Kong Yue clenched his fists, his face darkening…

Sigh!

Li Shuyao and Zhe Linfeng arrived, dismounting their horses. Yi Heng looked back and called to Zhe Linfeng, “Do you have any strong liquor in your universe pouch?”

“I have a jar of Daughter’s Red.”

With a flick of his hand, Zhe Linfeng produced a jar of strong wine.

“Give me the wine!”

Jiang Bai saw the jar and leapt forward, grabbing it and drinking wildly, with wine spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Li Shuyao watched the faint whisker curling at his mouth, restraining her urge to poke it. Seeing how he drank so fiercely, she thought to herself that this handsome young man must have an impressive tolerance for alcohol; no wonder Linfeng couldn’t outdrink him.

“Oh, Brother Jiang Bai, save some for me, just a little more!” Zhe Linfeng squatted beside Jiang Bai, holding the jar, hoping he’d drink less but unwilling to snatch it away, anxiously like a red-faced monkey jumping around.

After a moment, Jiang Bai handed the jar back, wiping the wine from his mouth with his sleeve, belching, his face flushed and no longer twisted by the venom’s effects. Li Shuyao glanced at his handsome face, her own cheeks blooming with a rosy hue.

“Brother Jiang Bai, why did you finish all my Daughter’s Red?” Zhe Linfeng lifted the jar, now completely empty except for two precious drops clinging to the rim. He quickly curled his tongue to catch the drops, his expression one of deep appreciation, revealing his genuine love for fine wine.

“Brother Linfeng, I drank it all in one go. I’ll repay you with ten jars of Daughter’s Red someday,” Jiang Bai said robustly, patting Zhe Linfeng’s shoulder.

Zhe Linfeng spun the jar on the ground, looking dejected. “Brother Jiang Bai, you don’t understand—this jar was for my lazy wife. She had me specially fetch it from Apricot Blossom Town, a hundred miles away. She loves this wine, and now that it’s all gone, I’m sure I’ll get scolded when I return.”

“What should we do then? I can give you money to buy more from Apricot Blossom Town,” Jiang Bai said, pulling out fifty taels of gold and squatting to hand it over.

Zhe Linfeng’s eyes glittered gold as he snatched the coins, laughing, “Alright, I’ll make another trip to Apricot Blossom Village to buy a jar.”

Yi Heng couldn’t help but interject, “That fifty taels are still mine.”

Zhe Linfeng quickly tucked the gold into his clothes, putting on a miser’s face, “Hmph! That money was given to me by Brother Jiang Bai. You don’t get a share.”

Jiang Bai said, “I remember that night—someone promised me a hundred taels to protect that mother and child. Could it be you’re not only a fool but also suffering from senile dementia?”

As Jiang Bai spoke, Li Shuyao couldn’t resist poking the whiskers at the corner of his mouth. “Hey, why is it sticky again? It looked curled just a moment ago!”

Jiang Bai pushed her hand away and stepped back. “Miss, there’s a difference between men and women. Can’t you have a bit of a lady’s grace?”

Li Shuyao put her hands on her hips, pouting. “I’ve been like this since childhood. My father raised me freely—no lady-like manners here. Besides, my father taught me that ladylike behavior is for other people’s daughters; we’re all about growing strong.”

Jiang Bai twitched his mouth, raising his brow. “Who is your father, anyway?”

Yi Heng teased, “Who else but Li Changchong, the county magistrate of Beigu City.”

Li Shuyao stamped her foot, displeased. “Ah! Brother, don’t blurt out my father’s name in front of others.” She turned to Jiang Bai and explained, “My father’s name is Li Changfeng, not Li Changchong. Don’t listen to my brother; he’s a fool who can never remember anyone’s name.”

Jiang Bai laughed. “Haha! So I’m not the only one who thinks he’s a fool.”

Yi Heng’s face turned stern. He raised his long blade to Jiang Bai’s neck, voice cold, “Don’t you know it’s rude to mock others’ flaws?”

Jiang Bai’s smile vanished abruptly. Just as he was about to speak, he was startled by a cold laugh. He turned his head to look ahead.

“Heh heh.”

Kong Yue sneered coldly, “You chat away and forget about me. Don’t you think that’s very rude?”

---

“Hey, stinky Daoist, you already took the treasure map. Why are you still here?” Jiang Bai said grumpily.

“That treasure map was mine from the start. Naturally, I will take back what’s mine. Now I have my eyes on what you’re carrying.”

“Are you planning to kill me for the treasure?”

“Hmph! All treasures should belong to those capable. It would be a waste to leave it in the hands of a mere mortal like you.”

“Aren’t you afraid of my sect’s retaliation?”

Kong Yue strolled forward, eyes full of greed. “Are you an idiot? As long as I do it cleanly, no one will know I was the one who killed you.”

“Brother Yue Kong, can you spare this little thief for the sake of my master and me?” Yi Heng shifted the blade away from Jiang Bai’s neck and asked sincerely.

“Are you very close to this villain?” Kong Yue asked.

“I have some history with this thief and cannot bear to see you take his life. If you want treasure, I have a giant sword made from black iron ore strapped to my saddle. You can have it.”

Kong Yue glanced at the magnificent horse beside the street and the giant sword tied to its saddle with disdain. “Do you really think I’m a beggar? You want to bribe me with rubbish like that?”

“Then, Brother Yue Kong, do you insist on this path?”

“Spit! You’re just unlucky to have meddled. Since I’ve decided to kill that villain, all of you will die with him.”

Yi Heng’s anger flared. “Yue Kong, have you really forgotten your gratitude? My master saved your life. Are you planning to kill me too today?”

Kong Yue flicked his robe and said coldly, “Hmph! Your master is dead. Past favors have long blown away with the wind. You can’t even remember my name properly, you fool. What are you to me? I won’t give you face.”

Jiang Bai stepped forward, holding a black talisman between his fingers. “Yi Heng, he’s a Cangwu cultivator at the Liao Fan realm. Together, we might not be his match. You should take Linfeng and leave; I can hold him off for a while.”

Zhe Linfeng stood beside Yi Heng. “Yi Heng, this is the guy I told you about in prison. I just forgot to mention him earlier.”

“So what if he’s a Liao Fan realm cultivator? If he bullies me, no matter who he is, I’ll cut him down.”

With a word like thunder, Yi Heng raised his blade and sliced through the cold wind, becoming a streak of dark blue light charging at Kong Yue.

At the same time, Zhe Linfeng understood perfectly and coordinated seamlessly with Yi Heng.

Muttering incantations, his hands quickly formed seals, activating a jade brick in the air. Instantly, the small jade brick glowed brightly with an earthy brown light, rapidly expanding to the size of a millstone. With overwhelming force, it slammed toward Kong Yue in suppression.

“Today, I’ll definitely crush you!”

Meanwhile, Li Shuyao quickly dodged under the eaves along the street, clutching her clothes tightly, her eyes full of tension and worry.

Watching Yi Heng and Zhe Linfeng’s tacit cooperation, she recalled how, as a child, she had been bullied by ruffians and was helpless until her brother and Linfeng stood up and fought alongside her to drive them off.

Now, seeing a similar scene, she felt both moved and anxious, silently praying for their safety.

In this critical moment, Jiang Bai knew the situation was dire. He put away the black talisman and instead took out a yellow talisman. He rarely used this trump card except in life-or-death situations because it could harm himself and those nearby.

The talisman burned in his hand, transforming into a blazing giant sword, its blade engulfed in fierce flames, radiating immense pressure as if it could burn all things.

“Pathetic insect, no match at all.”

Despite being attacked from three sides, Kong Yue remained calm with not a hint of panic. A faint sneer curled his lips as his true energy exploded, forming a solid golden armor around him, protecting him firmly.

First, Yi Heng’s long blade cut into Kong Yue’s armor with a sharp wind, producing a harsh clash of metal, sparks flying. Though the armor cracked, it quickly healed.

At the same time, sensing a powerful pressure behind him, Yi Heng quickly retreated, drawing his blade. Zhe Linfeng’s jade brick slammed heavily at Kong Yue, who instead formed hand seals. A golden light burst forth like a massive sword piercing the sky, cleaving the jade brick’s assault.

With a tremendous roar, the shockwave shattered the green bricks of the street. Centered on Kong Yue, a huge circular depression sank three inches deep.

“Hmph!”

“Is this all you have? You think you can suppress me? Foolish dream.”

Kong Yue’s voice was filled with ridicule. His hands quickly formed seals again, chanting as a surge of golden true energy erupted from his dantian, condensing into a massive golden tiger that roared and lunged at Yi Heng and Zhe Linfeng.

Yi Heng’s face changed drastically, knowing the tiger’s power well and not daring to underestimate it.

He hastily withdrew his blade, pushing off the ground and leaping backward. The tiger’s giant claws missed his feet by inches, gouging a huge pit, then turned to attack Zhe Linfeng. Its massive tail whipped at Yi Heng’s chest on the turn.

Yi Heng quickly crossed his blade to block but was thrown back several yards by the tail’s force, only stopping when his blade wedged into a brick crack.

Looking up, he said gravely, “A Liao Fan realm Cangwu cultivator is truly formidable.”

Elsewhere, the tiger relentlessly tore through Zhe Linfeng’s nine earth walls. Its claws pierced the tenth, about to seize his waist.

At the crucial moment, a fiery giant sword blocked the deadly strike. The clash erupted into a fierce explosion.

Amid the deafening roar, the blazing shockwave sent Zhe Linfeng flying, plunging headfirst into a water jar on the street.

After a while, Zhe Linfeng climbed out, looking utterly miserable.

His once flowing hair was half burned away, burnt and curled into a tangled mess stuck to his scalp and face. No longer jet black, it was charred and streaked with ash. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning. His face was smeared with soot, sweat, and water, eyes bloodshot.

He touched his burnt hair, howling, “Ah! My hair is gone!”

“Hmph!”

“A bunch of ants managed to dodge my sorcery. Too bad, this is where it ends.”

Kong Yue sneered and shook his shoulder, using the Cangwu cultivator’s specialty “Instant Step” to vanish and reappear seven yards ahead of Jiang Bai. Charging his finger with surging true energy, he pointed at Jiang Bai’s forehead.

That finger could sever life and death, annihilate souls.

But—

A long blade arrogantly blocked the finger.

“Want to kill the little thief? You’ll have to go through my blade first.”

Yi Heng appeared before Jiang Bai, shouting as his long blade cut toward the finger.

“Like a mantis attacking a tree—foolish delusions.”

Kong Yue’s finger unleashed even greater power, touching the blade. There was no fierce clash; the finger pressed on the blade, and with a snap, the great Wei-style long blade broke into two. The finger’s momentum remained, striking Yi Heng’s chest.

A blinding light burst forth, and with a thunderous boom, Yi Heng and Jiang Bai were blasted five yards away, crashing hard onto the street.

Kong Yue withdrew his finger, arrogantly declaring, “Ants are still ants. How dare they challenge me?”

“Brother, are you alright?”

Li Shuyao crawled out from behind some debris and rushed to Yi Heng’s side, tears in her eyes.

Yi Heng, lying on the ground, squinted as she ran toward him. Like a startled corpse, he sprang up, dodging her embrace, exhaling deeply. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to die.”

Li Shuyao cried with joy, “Brother, I’m so glad you’re alive.”

“Hey! Little miss, can you not step on my back?” Jiang Bai, lying face down, turned his head and said.

He looked increasingly filthy, with tangled hair and an unkempt appearance, far from the graceful white-clothed gentleman demeanor.

“Ah! Sorry, I didn’t mean to!”

Li Shuyao jumped down from Jiang Bai’s back, apologetic, brushing away footprints with her small hands, timidly.

“You’re all so rude, ignoring me like this!” Kong Yue’s face flushed with anger. Seeing them chatter away, completely ignoring him, his eyes flashed with ruthlessness. He suddenly raised his arm, long fingers pointing skyward.

In an instant, the once peaceful vast sky turned stormy, as if an invisible giant hand was stirring it recklessly.

Clouds surged and roiled, vast and magnificent, lightning flickering among them. Thunder rumbled like a thousand galloping horses, shaking endlessly, as if about to shake the entire Beigu City.

The townsfolk stopped their chores, looking up in stunned silence. None had ever seen such a breathtaking scene.

Jiang Bai looked up in astonishment. Yi Heng gazed skyward thoughtfully. Zhe Linfeng laughed wildly. Li Shuyao poked her lips, murmuring, “This entrance feels strangely familiar!”

Sensing something amiss, Kong Yue hurriedly looked up. Amid the surging clouds, a bamboo chair flew down through the cloud sea.

A mysterious chant sounded, mournful yet grand:

“Half a lifetime wandering the world,
Enchanted by love’s sea, dreams slowly waking.
Now guarding the ancient city, driving out evil,
Sealing demons to protect the people’s peace and prosperity.”