Ch. 187 - Phantom Cloud Steps

“Second brother, you…” Ye Feiling began, hearing Ye Lingtian’s words, but in the end, he simply shook his head helplessly.

Everyone else in the hall heard Ye Lingtian’s declaration, yet no one dared speak out, even though they all shared the same thought:

“If this guy weren’t the second young master of the Ye Clan, he would’ve been killed hundreds of times by now.”

Mention the Ye Clan, and you were referring to one of the most powerful and renowned families in Primordial Ancient City.

Although the city was full of hidden talents, who knew if the vendor on the corner might not be a reclusive expert tired of worldly struggles, openly, the Ye Clan absolutely held dominance.

They were among the first to help rebuild the ancient city. The Ye Clan’s ancestors were involved in that effort.

Since the city's reconstruction, the Ye Clan had been rooted there, and as ten thousand years passed, those early builders had aged, died, and vanished into history.

Only the Ye Clan had walked the thorny path of time, surviving and thriving.

Although not an Imperial Lineage, their strength far surpassed that of many first-rate sects.

…

Ye Feiling turned to Xu Zimo and said sincerely, “Brother, I’m truly sorry for what happened today. If you have any requests, please let me know, I’ll do my best to fulfill them.”

“No need,” Xu Zimo shook his head.

The onlookers in the hall whispered among themselves.

“The Ye Clan head is practically a local lord of Primordial Ancient City. How can his two sons be so different?”

“Right? The elder son is humble, well-mannered, and highly capable. He’ll definitely lead the Ye Clan to glory. But the second son? Not only is his cultivation ruined, but he also spends his days bullying the weak and frequenting brothels, a complete degenerate.”

Ye Feiling caught some of these whispers. He smirked as he watched Ye Lingtian disappear into a room with a gaggle of girls.

His expression deepened, and he sneered quietly: “Good little brother, keep acting like this. Don’t disappoint your big brother. When I take over as Patriarch, I’ll be sure to keep you clothed and fed.”

…

Inside the room, Ye Lingtian sat beside a table, surrounded by courtesans.

Just as the door closed, a cool voice came from the corner.

A woman in a blue dress, wearing light makeup, stepped out from the shadows.

“Yun’er,” Ye Lingtian’s mischievous expression vanished the moment he saw her.

There wasn’t just one door in the room; a hidden entrance lay in the corner. As the courtesans filed out through the secret door, only Ye Lingtian and the woman remained.

“Brother Lingtian, are you alright?” Gu Yun asked with concern

“What could be wrong?” Ye Lingtian chuckled and looked toward the door. “That perfect big brother of mine really thinks I’ve given up. But if I didn’t act like this, how would I have survived until now?”

He sighed deeply, then said:

“We’re half-brothers. His mother is from a great clan of the northern desert. My mother? Just an ordinary woman. His mother helped him win over most of the Clan’s elders. If I posed even a slight threat to his claim as heir, he would crush me in an instant. So tell me, what choice do I have but to play the fool?”

“Then let’s not compete for the Patriarch position,” Gu Yun urged. “Let’s find a quiet mountain village and spend the rest of our lives together.”

Ye Lingtian turned sharply, his tone stern:

“Never say that again. You know my ambition, Yun’er. A man’s duty is to make a name for himself with his sword, cleaving through injustice and achieving greatness. How can I live a life of mediocrity?”

“I know, I know,” Gu Yun nodded, still worried. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you. Ye Feiling is so powerful in the clan. How can we possibly fight him?”

“I’ll find a way,” Ye Lingtian said calmly, his gaze deep and resolute.

…

Back at the Ye estate, Ye Feiling stood in the courtyard, exuding the aura of a peak Desolate Meridian Realm expert, on the verge of breaking into the Paragon Meridian Realm.

He finished a set of Meridian techniques and exhaled deeply.

Suddenly, a black shadow appeared silently beside him.

“Master, your orders?” the shadow asked in a raspy voice.

“Kill two people. They had a run-in with my little brother at Moon Queen Pavilion today,” Ye Feiling said with a smile, eyes looking into the distance. “After killing them, spread a rumor that it was my second brother who ordered the hit.”

“Yes,” the shadow nodded and gradually vanished into thin air.

…

In the frozen month of November, the outside world was growing colder. Chilly winds howled, and people were bundled in thick clothing.

In the inn, Little Gui was still complaining.

“She was my girl! Why did he barge in and steal her?”

“Because his fists are bigger,” Xu Zimo laughed. “The water in this city runs deeper than you think.”

“What do you mean, Senior Brother?” Little Gui asked.

“Don’t sleep too soundly tonight, or you might not even know how you died,” Xu Zimo said with a smirk.

“You mean Ye Lingtian wants to kill us?” Little Gui asked, alarmed.

“Have you ever heard of a creature called a smiling tiger?” Xu Zimo replied.

…

The moon was like a silver disc. The early winter night was dry and cold. Perhaps because of the icy winds, the streets were empty even before full dark.

In a secluded alley, five black-clad masked men appeared.

“Quick and clean. Leave no survivors,” a raspy voice ordered.

The others nodded, and their figures melted into the shadows, disappearing entirely.

…

Xu Zimo sat lazily at the window, holding a jug of wine, gazing calmly at the bright moon.

After a long while, he slowly turned his head and said softly: “Since you’re already here, why hide?”

Ripples spread through the space around him, like water disturbed by a pebble.

Three black figures materialized in the room.

“The Soaring Illusory Phantom Cloud Steps of the Xiang Clan from the Northern Desert,” Xu Zimo said with interest. “A movement technique that lets the user hide in the void, nearly undetectable once trained to its peak.”

Hearing him expose their origins, the three assassins frowned, then lunged straight at him.

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