Chapter 6: The Blindness of the Ye Family

A resounding crash split the air. In the next instant, two figures separated, each staggering backward before regaining their footing.

“Who are you? How do you know this set of fists?” Jiang Qin’s voice was cold and sharp with accusation.

Gone was his former composure—his disheveled clothing bore witness to the ferocity of their battle. He gasped for breath, sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead. In stark contrast, after all this time fighting, Taizui remained calm, his attire unruffled, not a single crease to be seen.

“Your form is truly abysmal,” Taizui remarked, eyeing the exhausted Jiang Qin with a tinge of disappointment, as though he’d hoped for more.

Jiang Qin’s fury ignited at the taunt. He had fought his way to his current position with this very technique, yet this stranger dared call it poor. What truly stung was Taizui’s casual criticism—this was the style created by Jiang Qin’s idol, the one thing in the world he would not tolerate being maligned.

“You’re courting death!” Jiang Qin roared and lunged at Taizui once more.

A faint smile played on Taizui’s lips. “Since you hold this style in such esteem, today I’ll show you its true power!”

With that, he balled his fists, channeling strength from every fiber of his being. He stamped forward, and his fists crashed against Jiang Qin’s with thunderous force.

The impact sent Jiang Qin flying, slamming him into a stone pillar of the grand hall, before he crumpled to the floor.

Struggling to his feet, Jiang Qin braced himself with trembling arms, but before he could steady himself, a mouthful of blood spattered from his lips, clear evidence of the grievous blow he’d suffered.

“You! How are you so strong? How do you know this style? Who are you?” Jiang Qin wiped the blood from his mouth and stared, his mind reeling.

Today’s events had shaken him to his core. He had never imagined he’d meet another practitioner of this art in Phoenix City, let alone one whose power so thoroughly eclipsed his own. Only those from that place where he had once trained could have learned this style, but for the life of him, he could not recall this man’s face.

With a faint smile, Taizui approached Jiang Qin. While the Ye family’s people were distracted, he withdrew a token from his breast. One side was carved with the snarling head of a dragon; the other bore a bold character: “Heaven.”

When Jiang Qin saw the token, his body jerked in shock. He was a veteran, after all, who had served years at the frontier—this token was all too familiar.

Heaven’s Command—the mark of the Twelve Heavens. In all of Yanxia, there were only twelve such tokens, each belonging to a figure famous throughout the battlefield. These men had trained generation after generation of elite soldiers, called “Instructors” by the kings of war. Yet these twelve held an even higher status: the personal guard of the mysterious War King of Yanxia.

Seeing Jiang Qin’s shuddering, Taizui grinned and murmured, “It seems you haven’t forgotten this token.”

At these words, Jiang Qin’s suspicions were confirmed. He straightened at once, about to salute, but Taizui’s glance halted him.

“Don’t move! Pretend you know nothing. The Boss doesn’t want his identity revealed,” Taizui warned under his breath.

Jiang Qin’s eyes grew wide with fear. The Boss? The leader of the Twelve Heavens—that could only be the War King himself. Jiang Qin’s gaze drifted to Xiao Yu, not far away, disbelief etched across his face.

“You’re not mistaken. The man you see is our leader, the War King. Now, you must play your part. Strike me down!” Taizui whispered, his tone brooking no refusal.

Jiang Qin hesitated. In the past, he would have fought to the death, but now, confronted with a member of the Twelve Heavens, the idea of striking him down filled him with dread.

“That’s an order!” Taizui’s eyes flashed, and he threw a punch—though this time, there was no force behind it.

Jiang Qin had no choice. He parried the blow with one palm, then delivered a swift strike to Taizui’s chest—gentle as a feather, careful to avoid using any internal strength. This was, after all, just an act. To truly harm one of the Twelve Heavens would be unthinkable.

Taizui played along, letting out a grunt and stumbling backward until he stood before Xiao Yu.

The sudden turn stunned everyone present. The stranger who had seemed invincible a moment before had been defeated by the injured Jiang Qin in the blink of an eye.

Catching his breath, Jiang Qin looked at Xiao Yu, awe in his eyes. Yet to the Ye family, his gaze seemed menacing, as if he were sizing up his next victims.

Now, even Taizui—the most formidable fighter present—had fallen to Jiang Qin. The Ye family truly feared he would next turn his wrath upon them. If he did, there was nothing they could do; Jiang Qin was simply beyond their power to oppose.

Just as terror gripped the Ye family, Jiang Qin spoke again, leaving all in stunned silence.

“In the southwest, I am second to none. You, young man, are impressive—few can fight me to a draw. Since I’m in a good mood today, let’s leave it at that. Consider us friends—what say you?”

Jiang Qin knew he could not expose Xiao Yu and Taizui’s identities, so this was the best he could do.

“You’re not so bad yourself. I’ll come find you someday. We’ll spar again,” Taizui replied.

Jiang Qin laughed heartily. “Good! I’ll be waiting. Let’s go!” Suppressing his excitement, he waved his men away, making a show of casual bravado as they strode off.

With Jiang Qin’s departure, the Ye family finally breathed easy. The fact that he hadn’t made trouble for them was already the best outcome they could hope for.

Ye Qinghai approached Taizui, beaming. “Brother, we owe you everything today. If not for you, the Ye family would have been doomed. You’re clearly skilled—why not join us as a retainer? The pay won’t disappoint.”

Taizui’s lip curled in disdain. Without the least trace of courtesy, he spat out two words: “Idiot.”

In his eyes, Ye Qinghai was hopelessly blind. Here he was, the War King himself, married to Ye Qinghai’s granddaughter, and yet the old fool failed to see his worth, favoring instead a useless wretch like Li Minghao. Passing over a true dragon for a mudfish—what folly.

Taizui couldn’t help but wonder, when the Ye family one day learned Xiao Yu’s true identity, what faces they would make. It was sure to be a spectacle worth witnessing.