Chapter Fifteen: Unexpected News

Inside the pharmacy.

Yang Fan continued to examine the dried medicinal herbs, most of which had been sun-dried, some sliced into pieces. He observed their textures, inhaled their fragrances, and memorized their characteristics.

He possessed a unique method: using his supernatural ability, “Earth Sense,” to study the strange fluctuations emanating from the herbs. There was even a faint glow.

His learning efficiency was extraordinary—almost monstrous. Especially now, with his full focus, herb after herb passed through his hands: he examined, sniffed, checked their shapes, and sensed their peculiar energy.

“Xiao Fan, it’s already the second watch of the night,” Steward Wang, making his rounds, noticed the pharmacy’s lights still burning. Pleased, he came over to remind him.

“So much time has passed?” Yang Fan put down the herbs and stretched.

“Such dull, tedious study, yet you remain so invested—remarkable.” Steward Wang said, “Don’t bother going home tonight. Just stay in the dormitory.”

“It’s fine, I’m familiar with the town, nothing will happen!” Yang Fan gave Steward Wang a deep bow. “Uncle Wang, thank you.”

“You’re quick-witted, I only said a few words!” Steward Wang chuckled.

Intelligence paired with tact—he’s destined for greatness.

“Without your words, how would I have gotten the chance to break the rules?”

“Opportunities are rare. You must seize them well. However, things have started to ferment. Ten days from now, your assessment will likely be tougher. Prepare yourself mentally.”

“As long as it’s within the pharmacy’s scope, I’m not worried!”

The two chatted as they walked outside.

Steward Wang continued his rounds.

Yang Fan left the school.

Moonlight spilled down, banishing the darkness from the alleyways. Even if it were pitch-black, it wouldn’t affect him much, for he possessed the supernatural “Earth Sense.”

“I thought you weren’t going home! Damn, my legs are numb from squatting.”

“Brother Tian, what should we do?”

“As planned. Take him to the woods up north, then finish the job.”

Two figures rose from the shadows ahead.

Yang Fan had already noticed them, heard their muttering, and his pupils contracted.

“Yang Xiang and Yang Tian—are they here to kill me? Why? Just because of today? Ruthless!”

He continued walking as if nothing had happened.

When the two stepped out and blocked his path, he finally stopped and smiled, “What are you doing here? Are you up to something shady?”

Yang Xiang’s expression tightened.

“Bought some good food!” Yang Tian smiled slightly, patting his chest. “Brother Yang Fan, since we’ve met, come on, let’s have a taste. I’ve hidden some fine wine over there!”

As he spoke, he stepped forward, threw an arm around Yang Fan’s shoulder, and began leading him to the other side.

Yang Xiang took the other side.

“There’s wine?” Yang Fan feigned surprise. “It’s been ages since I last tasted any. Hearing you say it, my mouth is watering.”

“Heh, you’ll drink your fill. From now on, let's get closer. Tonight we drink, tomorrow I’ll take you to enjoy the company of some women. After that, we’re true brothers—good food, good drink, anything you want.”

“That’s great! From now on, you’re my Brother Tian, my blood brother!”

Leaving the town, they passed through farmland.

They moved quickly, walking under the moonlight, soon arriving at a small grove ahead. There was a ditch here, often used for dumping trash.

A few miles further north lay Cloud Mist Mountain.

At the northern edge of the grove.

Yang Tian shoved Yang Fan forward with a sneer. “Yang Fan, you’re so easy to fool. Damn it, I’ve never even exchanged greetings with you—how could I invite you for meat and wine? Especially at midnight. Idiot! They say you’re brilliantly clever, but you’re just a pretender.”

“Early death, late death, it’s all death. Yang Fan, you blocked our path, so you deserve to die—yes, you deserve it. Don’t blame us!” Yang Xiang was nervous.

“You want to harm me?” Yang Fan grinned. “Yang Xiang, no matter what, we’re from the same town, the same clan. Yet you collude with outsiders against me!”

“Who’s your clansman? My father is the town chief, and I’ll be town chief one day, managing you mud-legs.” Yang Xiang grew a bit bolder. “Besides, my father kindly asked you to move, but you refused and even dared to talk back. He said he’d kill you sooner or later. If you die tonight, it’s just two days early…”

He stopped abruptly.

He realized he’d said too much.

Glancing around, he finally relaxed.

“Kill me sooner or later?” Yang Fan’s pupils contracted.

“Enough talk. Yang Xiang, you go first—cripple him, then we can have some fun tonight.” Yang Tian was excited. “My family’s restaurant has some wild people around at night. Let’s try some methods on him—cripple him, strip him, and I’ll teach you. Then you won’t be clumsy with women.”

Yang Fan’s eyes narrowed.

He had originally intended, by playing along, to kill these two but felt some reluctance. Now, not killing them would be inviting heaven’s wrath.

“Intimidation!”

Yang Fan didn’t waste words. After sensing the surroundings and confirming no one was lurking, he activated his supernatural ability.

A silent wave struck the two men’s minds. Yang Xiang’s body stiffened, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.

Yang Tian trembled, terror in his eyes, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.

“He actually resisted!” Yang Fan was surprised. He stepped forward, grabbed Yang Tian’s left arm, and dislocated the joint.

Before the other could scream, he clamped a hand over his mouth.

Then he dislocated the right arm.

He tore a strip of cloth from Yang Tian’s clothes and stuffed it in his mouth. Then, from inside his coat, he took out a short sword and severed his Achilles tendon.

Ignoring him, Yang Fan moved to Yang Xiang.

He used the same method, waking him up with pain until he was about to scream—only to see a dagger pointed at his eye.

“If you dare scream, I’ll stab it in!” Yang Fan was utterly cold.

Yang Xiang forced himself to stay quiet.

“Tell me, how does your father plan to deal with us?” Yang Fan questioned.

“I—I don’t know…”

Without hesitation, Yang Fan stabbed the short sword into Yang Xiang’s thigh. Yang Xiang was about to scream but was silenced with a hand over his mouth.

After a moment, Yang Fan released him.

“Next time, it’ll be your eye!” Yang Fan’s voice grew colder.

“I—I’ll talk, I’ll talk!” Yang Xiang was finally terrified.

He spilled everything he knew, including things overheard by accident.

The original plan was simple: forceful eviction, pushing everyone out and handing the land over to the Liu family from the county.

The town chief would receive three hundred taels of silver.

“But after the Blood Wolf Bandits appeared, my father suggested hiring people to impersonate them and just get rid of you all directly. Also, to clear out some troublemakers in town, and destroy the Taifeng Restaurant—they refused to give my father face or benefits, even mocked him as a country bumpkin.” Yang Xiang had completely lost his nerve. He blurted everything out. “Yang Fan, my father said this while drunk—I overheard it by accident. I’ve told you everything. Please let me go, let me go! We’re clansmen, brothers by seniority!”

Yang Tian, beside him, looked over in shock.

“Then why did you join him in dealing with me?” Yang Fan was equally shocked but pressed on.

“I hadn’t planned to, since you were doomed anyway. But he came to me, so I went along. I figured, once Taifeng Restaurant was destroyed, if he survived, he’d definitely come for me—we’d have killed together, he’d see me as a friend, and then I could finish him off for good.” Yang Xiang revealed even the deepest secrets of his heart.

Yang Tian beside them stared wide-eyed, utterly incredulous.