Chapter 3

Flower thief! A phrase flashed through Feiyang's mind. After a brief contemplation, Feiyang took the hunting fork off his shoulder

"Die, you brat!" The jade-faced young man shouted fiercely, leaping forward. With a flash of his steel knife, he aimed a downward strike at Feiyang's head. Midway through the strike, he twisted his wrist, presenting the back of the knife forward, intending to knock Feiyang unconscious in order to capture him alive. The maid, seeing the glint of the knife, couldn't help but scream loudly again.

As the two were walking, suddenly there was a rustling in the grass not far away. Upon closer inspection, they were taken aback; a large serpent with glaring eyes and a white forehead was staring at them menacingly from the grass. Old man Yun let out a gasp and fell to the ground in fright. Feiyang also inhaled sharply, his eyes fixed on the tiger, and took a deep breath, gathering all his strength.

The sky began to pour down heavy snow like goose feathers, swirling and dancing, making it nearly impossible to see the scenery ahead; all that lay before him was a vast expanse of white. The wind picked up, scattering the snowflakes in all directions. How wonderful! It seemed that next year would be another bountiful harvest. Feiyang felt a surge of joy in his heart. To speak frankly, although Feiyang possessed the skills to roam the world with pride, he was essentially still a true hunter. Throughout his life, aside from his grand ambition to make the Divine Sword Manor tremble in fear, he had no other extravagant desires in this world.

Watching their son frolic outside, the old man Yun and his wife exchanged smiles, feeling that with such a son, what more could they wish for! At just over sixteen and not yet seventeen, Feiyang was nothing like his short parents. His tall frame, standing at seven feet, was adorned with bulging muscles that showcased his strength. With his black hair casually tied up with a piece of blue cloth, his handsome face made Feiyang stand out even more. If it weren't for his coarse burlap clothing, no one would believe he was a genuine hunter from this mountainous region.

Feiyang secretly praised, this jade-faced young man's skills are not impressive, but his lightness skill is top-notch. This moment tested his own strength, and Feiyang couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. The maidservant began to cheer loudly.

Feiyang felt very nervous; the person before him was clearly someone with considerable martial skills. The fact that he had just dodged the wild rabbit thrown at him in a moment of surprise and had also picked up the steel knife lying on the ground was a testament to that. Yet, he was also very excited. This was his first time engaging in combat with someone, and it was a perfect opportunity to prove his own strength. This would serve as a test for his future encounters with those scoundrels from the Divine Sword Manor. Gripping the steel fork tightly, Feiyang could only feel the sweat soaking his palms.

Feeling a surge of excitement, the family dog, Da Huang, who has been raised for several years, joined in the playful antics of its owner. The person and the dog rolled and frolicked in the snow, creating a flurry of snowflakes all around.

He carefully discerned the source of the sound, and Feiyang turned his body, rushing to the left side. At this moment, being in the forest, Feiyang had no reservations. His movements unfolded like a ghost, with a faint shadow flickering in the woods, rushing towards the source of the sound.

In the blink of an eye, a person and a tiger collided, producing a muffled sound. The two-meter-long tiger was sent flying, soaring nearly ten zhang away, and with a thud, it fell to the ground, motionless, as if it had died.

Upon taking a closer look, Feiyang exclaimed joyfully: "Father, look, this tiger skin has no external damage at all. Haha, now we are going to get rich!"

The great savior descended from the sky, and the maid tied to the tree was overwhelmed with joy, crying out: "Hero, save me!"

Suddenly, Feiyang's hurried figure came to a halt, as if nailed to the ground. He tilted his ear and listened carefully; indeed, amidst the howling wind and snow, the faint sound of a woman's cry for help reached him. Feiyang was astonished; in such a fierce snowstorm, how could there be a woman here?

The strength of the son astonished the old man, who often had to chop a dead tree over a hundred times to bring it down. However, Feiyang could fell it with just four or five strikes, and in a few more blows, he would split it into equal-sized firewood. The old man estimated that a task he used to take half a day to complete could now be finished by Feiyang in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. This also provided the two of them with more time for hunting. Now, when the father and son went up the mountain, they not only gathered firewood but also had a bountiful harvest of game.

Feiyang smiled and said, "Alright, let's go take a look at the mountain hollow ahead, and then we will head back. Didn't you say you wanted to have a good New Year this year? Perhaps we might find something good up ahead."

After having breakfast, Feiyang carried one end of the wild game he hunted yesterday and hung the magnificent tiger skin on the other end, heading towards the county town ten miles away. This year's New Year expenses all depended on him.

Feiyang felt a strange sensation in his heart, taking a slight step to the side. He flicked the steel fork upward, striking the opponent's blade. With a loud clang, the jade-faced young man, caught off guard, suffered a significant setback. He felt his wrist and fingers go numb from the impact, and the steel knife nearly slipped from his grasp. Alarmed, he slipped and retreated over a yard.

The nearly two-meter-long tiger stared at the two prey in front of it, crouched its front legs, and let out a fierce roar before pouncing forward like lightning. Amidst the old man's screams, Yun Lao Han brandished his hunting fork and shouted loudly, charging forward to meet the tiger. The hunting fork shot out with lightning speed, and in this moment, Yun Fei exerted fifty percent of his true strength, deliberately wanting to test the extent of his martial skills.

Feiyang observed the increasingly fierce expression in his opponent's eyes, prompting him to heighten his vigilance. Indeed, Yue Ke let out a loud roar, and under the flashing blade light, he struck at Feiyang with a series of nine swift cuts. These nine strikes flowed seamlessly, resembling a white line. At this moment, the jade-faced young man no longer dared to be arrogant and exerted all his strength, truly living up to the reputation of a swift blade. The man in green forbade Feiyang from using the techniques he had taught until he had mastered the fourth level of the Hunyuan Divine Skill. In a moment of confusion, Feiyang found himself in a flurry, wielding his fork to parry each of the nine strikes, yet he stumbled back nine steps. As expected, Yue Ke, having gained the upper hand, became even more relentless, delivering one strike after another, each faster than the last. Coupled with his exceptional lightness skill, the young maid could only see a white shadow darting around Feiyang, which greatly worried her. This person was the only lifeline for her and her young lady, prompting her to close her eyes and silently pray: "Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, grant your great compassion and bless this hero to win."

The jade-faced young man felt both shy and annoyed. The panic he had just experienced eased upon seeing the hunter-like figure before him. A mere peasant, hmph, daring to ruin my good fortune. Once I capture him, I will tie him to a tree. When I have my fun with that little girl later, having an extra spectator will only make it more thrilling. Hehehe, thinking of this, the jade-faced young man couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"No way, seeing you so big, you actually can't take a hit?" Feiyang murmured to himself as he stepped towards the tiger on the ground. Behind him, only the dazed expression of Old Man Yun remained.

Whistling, Feiyang strode forward, thinking to himself that he needed to arrive early today. After selling these items, he still had to buy several yards of good fabric, purchase a silver hairpin for his mother, and also get a few large fish. There was no need to buy chicken, duck, or pork, as his family produced all of that. Lost in thought, Feiyang's steps unconsciously quickened. He did not notice that in the deep snow, the path he had taken left only a faint trail of footprints, which were soon buried in the swirling snow.

Glancing at the woman on the ground, who was in a state of uncertainty between life and death, Feiyang felt a surge of anxiety. Resolutely, he decided to use the technique "You Feng Lai Yi" from the Divine Sword Manor, which was the most familiar to him aside from the martial arts taught by his master. Gripping the steel fork with one hand, Feiyang suddenly launched a counterattack. The three prongs of the fork quivered, creating several illusory fork shadows that advanced towards Yue Ke.

Reaching out, he lifted the tiger. Goodness, just a single thrust had broken the tiger's spine cleanly in two; how could it possibly survive that

I have been walking this path, and I have never heard of you!" Feiyang said honestly

The smiling old man looked at his son, still full of enthusiasm, and said: "Yun'er, today’s harvest is truly remarkable. Let us return, lest your mother becomes anxious waiting for us."

Which path does your friend follow? Have you not heard of my name, the Jade-faced Lang, Yue Ke?

Old Man Yun stared in disbelief with his large eyes at his sixteen-year-old son, who was bouncing around in front of him. My goodness, how do I have such a peculiar son? Watching Feiyang lift a tiger onto his shoulder with his left hand while using a hunting fork to pick up the scattered prey from the ground with his right hand, Old Man Yun, feeling dazed, followed behind his son as they walked out of the mountain.

The person in the green attire had never spoken to Feiyang about the rules of the martial world, and even fewer were the figures from the martial world that he mentioned. However, those he did mention were all renowned individuals, any one of whom could stir up great turmoil in the martial world. To the person in the green attire, the rest were merely second-rate characters. The jade-faced gentleman, Yue Ke, was famous in the martial world for his swift blade and lightness of foot, but due to his lecherous nature, he was looked down upon by many in the martial community. Such a person would hardly be regarded by the person in the green attire, which is why Feiyang truly remained unaware. The rest were merely second-rate characters in the eyes of the person in the green attire. The jade-faced gentleman, Yue Ke, was famous in the martial world for his swift blade and lightness of foot, but due to his lecherous nature, he was looked down upon by many in the martial community. Such a person would hardly be regarded by the person in the green attire, which is why Feiyang truly remained unaware.

After several more attempts, there was still no progress. Feiyang sighed and began to practice the breathing technique that his master had first taught him, gradually entering a state of focus.

Another night has passed unknowingly

A man with his back turned, laughing mischievously, was loosening his clothing while mockingly saying: "Go ahead, shout louder, even if you scream your throat raw, no one will come. The more effort you put into your cries, the more pleasure I derive from it, ha ha ha. Once I am done with her, it will be your turn. Heh heh, in this small place, even if you call a few ruffians, they are just coming to their deaths, right? Who would dare to ruin my good fortune, the handsome one?" Heh heh, in this small place, even if you call a few ruffians, they are just coming to their deaths, right? Who would dare to ruin my good fortune, the handsome one?

To be honest, Feiyang has been practicing martial arts for nearly two years, yet has never truly understood his own abilities. Apart from sparring with his master, he has never had the opportunity to engage in combat with others

In the early morning, as Feiyang opened his eyes, a world of pure white greeted him through the window. Gazing far into the distance, he saw the undulating mountains all wrapped in a layer of silvery white. Beneath the eaves outside, icicles hung down, glistening and translucent. It had started to snow, and with a joyful shout, Feiyang leaped out of bed, rushing out of the house and plunging headfirst into the snowy world outside. At sixteen, he remained a child at heart. It had started to snow, and with a joyful shout, Feiyang leaped out of bed, rushing out of the house and plunging headfirst into the snowy world outside. At sixteen, he remained a child at heart

Feiyang was also so frightened that he lost his composure; this was his first time killing someone. He had learned martial arts, and killing turned out to be so easy.

"You insolent girl, if you call me that again, I will chop off your head first," the handsome man with a jade-like face said fiercely as he turned his head. The young maid was startled and lowered her head, no longer daring to make a sound

In a moment of chaos, Feiyang managed to guard the entrance with utmost vigilance. Although Yue Ke's swordsmanship grew increasingly fierce, he found himself at a loss against Feiyang. Yue Ke, too, felt increasingly unsettled; this country bumpkin seemed to have emerged from nowhere. Despite having the upper hand, he was unable to inflict any harm, and astonishingly, this person had yet to counter with a single move.

A surge of warmth flowed through Feiyang's heart. He raised his arm, shielding his father behind him, and reached out to take the hunting fork from his father's hand, softly saying, "Father, I heard that an intact tiger skin can fetch a high price, is that true?" The old man Yun, confused, replied blankly, "Yes!" Feiyang smiled, "Then we can get one today!" The old man Yun remained silent, looking at his son, wondering if Feiyang had been frightened into a stupor.

The life of Yun's family and the *Tu* family, consisting of three members, is as ordinary and peaceful as ever. Every day, Feiyang accompanies his father to the mountains to chop wood and hunt, while his mother spins and weaves. However, the task of going to the market to trade has now fallen to Feiyang. Watching his son striding confidently ahead, Yun Laohan's eyes are filled with an unmistakable smile. Observing that his son has already grown taller than him and has developed muscles, the old man cannot help but feel that he has indeed grown old.

The two engaged in a fierce struggle, and upon seeing Feiyang unleash the "Phoenix Comes with Grace," Yue Ke felt a chill run through him. Being well-read and experienced, he recognized this as the sword technique of the renowned Shenjian Mountain Villa, a leader in the martial arts world. If it weren't for this young man's lack of experience, he would have faced death several times over. With bloodshot eyes, Yue Ke realized he had kicked a hard rock today and fought back with all his might, hoping to find an opportunity to escape. Could he afford to provoke Shenjian Mountain Villa?

The old man Yun, sitting on the ground, looked at his motionless son and thought that Feiyang had been frightened into a stupor. In an instant, his protective instinct overcame his fear. He leaped to his feet, discarded the prey in his hands, brandished his hunting fork, and stood in front of Feiyang, shouting: "Yun'er, run quickly, I will hold him off!"

Well, actually, with this fox fur, we can sell it for a good price. Hmm, this year for the New Year, we must make a new outfit for everyone, and I will also get your mother a silver hairpin. Sigh, how many years has it been? Ever since your mother has been with me, she hasn't added a single piece of jewelry.

As he turned around a large tree, the scene before Feiyang nearly stunned him, causing all the blood in his body to rush to his head. On the snow-covered ground lay a large cloak spread out, and what was alarming was that a woman, almost completely naked, lay there, her fate unknown. In the howling north wind, a faint, abnormal flush appeared on her snow-white body, a sign of frostbite. Feiyang understood very well that the woman's body was trembling slightly, her head tilted to one side, and her long, black hair was disheveled, covering her face. A few meters away, a woman dressed in a maid's outfit was bound to a tree, desperately calling for help.

On this night, the old couple Yun worked hard for most of the night, skinning the tiger and preparing the hide. The corners of their mouths and their brows were filled with smiles, for this tiger skin could fetch quite a sum of money

It won't be long now; after passing through this plum blossom grove ahead, it is only about two or three miles to the county town. The pace quickened even more.

Feiyang scrutinized the audacious scoundrel before him, who dared to engage in such activities in broad daylight. With a fair complexion, he could be considered handsome; however, his pair of slender eyes detracted from the overall impression, making the person appear somewhat peculiar at first glance, with a gaze that flickered unpredictably

After spending half a day in the mountains, the old man’s hunting fork was already laden with wild rabbits, hares, and other animals. Nowadays, hunting no longer requires setting traps; instead, he sharpens one end of several sticks and holds them in his hand. Whenever he spots a wild rabbit or similar creature, he simply throws a stick, hitting the target every time. The old man only needs to follow behind and collect the prey. Today, luck was particularly good as he managed to take down a fox. After returning home, he skinned the fox and planned to sell the pelt in the county town, ensuring a good year ahead.

In a state of agitation, Feiyang slightly tilted his body, momentarily pausing with his hand. Yue Ke felt a sense of relief as the steel fork spun, and with a powerful thrust of his feet, his body shot backward like an arrow. He was indeed attempting to escape. However, had Yue Ke known what Feiyang's next move was, he would certainly not have fled but would have chosen to fight desperately. Just as Yue Ke had barely flown less than a yard away, a whoosh sounded behind him as the steel fork pursued, like a purple lightning piercing a swallow. As Yue Ke turned around, with a sharp sound, the steel fork had already pierced through his body. Accompanied by a piercing scream, the steel fork carried Yue Ke's body backward, crashing with a loud thud, pinning him against the trunk of a tree as thick as a bundle, causing countless snowflakes to tumble down. Yue Ke's blood flowed down the tree trunk, quickly staining a large area of the ground red. Staring with eyes like a dead fish, Yue Ke fixed his gaze on Feiyang ahead, but the lustful glint in his eyes had vanished. With a few choking sounds from his throat, he finally spat out a mouthful of blood, his head drooping weakly.

The Jade-faced Young Man's face turned purple with anger. In the martial world, who does not know the illustrious name of Yue Ke? He believed that the other party intended to humiliate him, and in that moment, his murderous intent surged greatly

At this moment, Feiyang was sitting on his bed, focusing intently on his breathing, with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, diligently practicing his skills. This damned Hunyuan Divine Skill was indeed not easy to master. It had been nearly four months since he parted ways with his master, and his internal energy kept swirling around the Baihui acupoint, refusing to return along the original path, unable to complete even one circulation. It seemed that this Hunyuan Divine Skill was truly as its name suggested, utterly frustrating.

Upon witnessing the tragic scene before her, the young maid let out a scream and fainted, though it was from fear.

Today, the two individuals decided to venture deeper into the mountains to hunt more game, as the festival is approaching. Earning some extra money would allow them to celebrate the New Year in a more enjoyable manner

At the moment when the jade-faced young man leaped forward, Feiyang had already jumped out, his hands shaking as the tiger skin spread wide, covering the nearly bare body of the woman on the ground

The jade-faced young man let out a lewd laugh as he bent down, his hands slowly reaching towards the enticing pair of white rabbits on the woman lying on the ground. At that moment, a dark object suddenly rushed towards him from behind. The jade-faced young man screamed, maintaining his bent posture, and with a forceful push from his toes, he leaped forward. In the midst of this hurried movement, he hooked his toes to pick up a long knife that had been discarded to the side, spinning in the air like a windmill, his cunning eyes glaring fiercely ahead.