23 Exchanging One Life with Another (2/2)

Ma Fei gave a slow smile and said coolly, ”Pay up for the damages! You've already paid ten taels of purple gold for the painting. I will return the command token to you immediately, but only after you compensate the medical expenses for beating up our brothel's guards and recompense for insulting Fengyue Brothel's reputation.”

Jiang Yi's expression had darkened completely. He forced two words past his teeth: ”How much?”

Brushing off imaginary dust, Ma Fei smoothed out his clothes and smirked, ”Not much. I did a rough calculation: why don't you just pay something like a hundred taels of purple gold, and I will give face to Jiang Henshui and consider this case closed…?”

I've run out of options once again…

Jiang Yi bent down his head deeply; his fists, which were concealed by his sleeves, were clenched so tightly that veins were popping up through the skin. Jiang Yi's body shook with light tremors, slowly emitting an aura of hostility and viciousness. He was like an angered lion with bristling manes.

”Haha! What, you want to fight? Strike me then! Come on, I promise not to hit back.”

Seeing Jiang Yi like this only made Ma Fei laugh aloud without an ounce of fright. To him, Jiang Yi was someone useless who was only at the second stage of the Cast Tripod Realm. If Jiang Yi dared to attack, he would only end up being knocked down and dragged out. Not counting the seven or eight guards in Fengyue Brothel, just Ma Fei alone, who was at the fourth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm, would be able to cripple him with just one blow.

Housekeeper Liu, however, was aware of how strong Jiang Yi was. Jiang Yi, despite only having power level at the first stage of the Cast Tripod Realm that day, was able to defeat a guard who was at the third stage of the Cast Tripod Realm. Although Housekeeper Liu did not know how Jiang Yi managed to conceal his true strength, he cautiously signaled the surrounding guards with his eyes, while moving two steps closer to the Ma Family young master.

Jiang Yi raised his head soon enough, his demeanor unexpectedly calm. He fixed his gaze on Young Master Ma and breathed out deeply. ”Young Master Ma, is it possible for the amount to be less? How about fifty taels of purple gold? Fifty taels are all I have. If you agree to it, I would hand them to you now…”

As he was speaking, Jiang Yi hurriedly reached into his chest pocket with a pleading look. The eyes of the housekeeper, Young Master Ma, and those guards lit up. They subconsciously directed their gaze to Jiang Yi's left hand that was in the midst of retrieving the money.

”Huh?”

However, everyone became slightly stunned when Jiang Yi soon took out something that was definitely not purple gold… but a black substance wrapped up in paper. Housekeeper Liu realized what it was immediately and yelled, ”Young Master Fei, look out!”

”Hmph, it was too late… taste my hidden weapon—the Heart-Pierce Million-Poison Powder!”

With a great shout, Jiang Yi infused his hands with essence force, instantly shattering the black substance into a fine powder. Abruptly, he lifted his hand and sprayed the powder at Housekeeper Liu, Young Master Ma, and the two guards in front.

”Retreat!”

Housekeeper Liu's facial expression changed. He hastily shielded his young master and moved him backward. The two guards also retreated at once, while the guards from the other directions swarmed forth. There were even two of them who took out a black dagger, all ready to shed Jiang Yi's blood.

”Planning to run?”

There was nothing but a look of ruthlessness on Jiang Yi's face. He charged at Young Master Ma and Housekeeper Liu as fast as a cheetah, completely undeterred by the powder filling the air—for how could he possess such a thing as poison powder? The black substance was actually just the jerky that Xiaonu prepared for him…

This fiasco caused by the Ma Family young master had left Jiang Yi with no other option. Yet, just like the time when he encountered Jiang Ruhu at the Western Hills, he would stand firm if there was no other way to turn. He would fight his way out and leave a blood path in his wake!

”Swish!”

Amidst the whirling black powder, Jiang Yi's figure shot forth like an agile wolf. His fists, which were surrounded by essence force, transformed into six fist silhouettes and enveloped Housekeeper Liu and Young Master Ma entirely.

”Phantom Punch!”

Phantom Punch was a Man-tier superior-grade technique that belonged to the Jiang Clan. This technique was not about the number of fist silhouettes produced, but the degree of realism of each fist silhouette, preventing the average martial artist from ever making out the real fists, thereby wounding the enemy with ease.

With Jiang Yi's astonishingly high talent, he had long attained Phenomenal Stage for the Phantom Punch technique. Naturally, the power it produced was astounding, especially when he executed the technique combining the blue and black essence forces. Both Housekeeper Liu and Ma Fei were at the fourth stage of the Cast Tripod Realm; hence, they were absolutely stupefied enough to make them unable to differentiate the real fists from fist silhouettes.

”Young Master Fei, stand back!”

Housekeeper Liu shouted in a booming voice. He formed a strange hand-seal with his hands, both palms facing outwards and producing a pentagram-shaped essence force shield. He repeatedly shoved his palms forward, enshrouding the space in front of him with the force shield.

He had sensed danger from the six fist silhouettes that Jiang Yi hurtled at them. As Ma Fei was behind him, he dared not act impulsively and could only try to temporarily ward off the attack. When all the guards had come forth, Jiang Yi would no longer be able to harm Young Master Ma. When Young Master Ma's safety was secured, they could then give their all to deal with Jiang Yi.

Their ideal intention was soon crushed by the cruelty of reality!

Jiang Yi slammed a fist against Housekeeper Liu's arm, the tremendous shockwave that came from it caused Housekeeper Liu to abruptly stagger back, completely powerless to defend himself.

”Pong, Pong, Pong…!”

Jiang Yi's Snake Whip Leg followed closely behind, raining hits on Housekeeper Liu's thighs and forcing him back several steps farther. In the same instant, leveraging on the strength of the multiple kicks he delivered, Jiang Yi leaped up into the air. He turned in mid-air towards the stunned Young Master Ma and raised a fist to punch him hard.

This youth of the Jiang Clan is even more powerful than me. This is bad, the Young Master is in danger!

Housekeeper Liu was forced seven or eight steps back before he could steady himself. Upon seeing Jiang Yi's fist, which carried irresistible strength, about to hit Ma Fei in the head, he was scared out of his wits. Circulating his essence force in frenzy, Housekeeper Liu shot towards Jiang Yi with a roar. ”Jiang Clan brat, you would certainly die here today if you dare harm my Young Master!”

Multiple enemies were charging at him from all directions, locking in on him with chilling intent to kill. Yet, Jiang Yi's face betrayed nothing. His gaze never wavered from Ma Fei, and the corners of his mouth were lifted up in the remnants of a smile. Laughing loudly, he said, ”This young master does not have a hundred taels of purple gold; he has nothing except for this humble life. However, if you want it, you can… exchange it with your Young Master's life!”