Chapter Four: Dominance

By the light of the moon, Liu Yuming scrutinized the approaching figure. The man appeared to be twenty-five or twenty-six, tall and striking, his handsome features illuminated with a friendly smile as he spoke. After a brief pause for thought, Liu Yuming finally said, "You must be Junior Brother Li Yu. It’s been over ten years, and you’ve changed a lot."

"Senior Brother, you haven’t changed much at all," the man replied.

"I came to see you today because I need your help with something," Liu Yuming confessed.

"Senior Brother, you needn't be so formal. I’ve never forgotten how much you helped me in our sect," Li Yu responded warmly.

"Very well," Liu Yuming said, and recounted all that had transpired that day. When he finished, he added, "I hope you can teach the Wang family a harsh lesson."

A cold gleam flashed in Li Yu’s eyes. "Rest assured, Senior Brother, I will make sure the Wang family receives a lesson they’ll never forget for the rest of their lives." With those words, Li Yu’s figure flickered and vanished into the night.

Liu Yuming stood for a moment before turning and heading home.

Hearing someone at the door, Liu Feng hurried to open it and was relieved to see his father return.

Back inside, Liu Feng anxiously asked, "Father, did you find someone to help us?"

With a confident and assured expression, Liu Yuming replied, "After tonight, the Wang family will no longer dare to trouble us."

Zhao Jing, seeing the look on Liu Yuming’s face, finally felt at ease.

…

In the center of Qingfeng Town stood a vast estate. Within its grounds rose an imposing building, its wide halls filled with exquisite and costly furnishings.

Inside the room sat six people. At the head of the table was a man of about forty, his complexion fair and clean-shaven, but a sinister glint danced in his eyes. Four others, each around thirty, sat nearby—burly and fierce in appearance. The last was a young man of about twenty, seated in a wheelchair with his legs wrapped in layers of bandages—this was Wang Kun.

His face twisted with malice, Wang Kun turned to the man at the head and spat, "Father, I beg you to send more men. Bring me that brat Liu Feng—I want him ground to dust." His voice dripped with venomous hatred.

The forty-year-old was his father, Wang Cheng, the town's wealthiest man. Wang Cheng’s tone was low as he spoke, "I sent men today to capture Liu Feng’s family, but those fools had their cultivation crippled by Liu Feng and are now useless. Brother Liu Yong, do you and your brothers think you can bring them to me?"

Liu Yong, the eldest of the four, wore a confident smile. "Rest assured, Brother Wang. The four of us are all at the sixth stage of Qi Gathering. Any one of us could handle that boy with ease."

"Exactly," added one of Liu Yong’s companions, calm and assured. "We’ll have him here in no time, so Nephew Wang Kun can vent his anger."

"I want his legs broken," Wang Kun snarled, "so he knows what suffering is like." Though his own legs were wrapped with expensive medicine, it would not heal him quickly.

"We’ll leave the matter to you, Brother Liu Yong," Wang Cheng said sternly.

"Don’t worry. Leave everything to us," Liu Yong replied with confidence.

Suddenly, a thunderous voice boomed from above the house, "Wang Cheng, you’re bold indeed to scheme against my Senior Brother!"

Startled, they rushed into the courtyard. By the moonlight, they saw a tall, handsome young man of about twenty-five or six standing on the roof, his eyes glowing with a mysterious power as if piercing directly into their souls.

They exchanged glances, realizing none of them recognized the newcomer.

Wang Cheng’s expression darkened. "Who are you, friend? Why have you come? Speak plainly."

The young man replied, "I don’t mind telling you. I am Liu Yuming’s junior brother, and I’m here to deal with you all."

"We haven’t even gone after him yet, and you come knocking. How reckless," Liu Yong snarled.

"Uncles, seize him at once! I want his legs severed and sent to that brat Liu Feng, so he knows the price of crossing me!" Wang Kun hissed as he was pushed out.

"I’ll see what he’s made of," Liu Yong said, channeling his true energy as he leapt onto the roof.

Without further words, Liu Yong struck, lunging at Li Yu with a ferocious attack, his body shrouded in the phantom image of a tiger as he swept in with the force of a gale.

Li Yu didn’t spare him a glance. He threw a single punch.

A deafening crash resounded as Liu Yong was launched into the air and crashed heavily to the ground, unable to stand.

"You’re looking for death!" his three brothers roared in unison.

All three vaulted onto the roof, gathering their full strength as they charged at Li Yu. The wind from their approach billowed his clothing.

Li Yu merely smiled. With a flicker of movement, the three saw only a blur before they, too, were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, unconscious.

"Who is this man? The four martial masters are among the most formidable in town, nearly unmatched, yet he dispatched them with ease!"

"He’s incredible! Four sixth-stage Qi Gathering warriors, defeated like children—completely helpless!"

By now, the Wang family’s servants had crowded into the courtyard, murmuring among themselves in awe.

"Father, I had no idea such a powerful person existed in Qingfeng Town," Wang Kun said, stunned.

"Even in Chiyang City, few can so easily defeat three sixth-stage Qi Gathering experts," Wang Cheng admitted, just as shocked.

At that moment, Li Yu gathered true energy in his palm, forming a giant sword three meters long, golden and solid, exuding the power to destroy everything. The sword’s presence forced everyone back, unable to withstand its oppressive might.

Li Yu swung the sword at the house below, its terrifying force descending.

With a thunderous crash, the house split in two as if struck by a heavenly punishment, utterly destroyed.

"This is the power of a god! I’ve never seen anything like it!"

"It’s as if divine retribution has descended, with the might to destroy the world itself—too terrifying," the crowd whispered, awestruck.

"Wang Kun, from now on, do not provoke Liu Feng again, or the consequences will be dire," Wang Cheng said, pale-faced.

"This man is too frightening. Before him, I feel like nothing more than an ant," Wang Kun murmured, shaken to his core.

Li Yu ignored the crowd’s shock. He flicked his fingers, sending streaks of true energy like arrows into the throng.

Instantly, screams of agony filled the courtyard.

"My cultivation’s been crippled!"

"I’m ruined—my life is over!"

"How am I supposed to live now?!"

The place dissolved into chaos.

Li Yu’s voice rang out: "Wang Cheng, I have crippled the cultivation of all your men to prevent them from further evil. If you commit another crime and I hear of it, I’ll show you no mercy—even your dogs and chickens will not be spared!"

With those final words, Li Yu vanished into the darkness.

"Father, my cultivation is gone. I’ll see that man dead for this!" Wang Kun’s voice was thick with venom, like a curse.

"If you wish to live a few more years, forget about revenge—otherwise, I can’t save you," Wang Cheng replied, his face grim as his eyes flickered with cunning.

…

A sudden pounding at the door startled Liu Feng. He hurried to open it and found a young man in his twenties outside.

Liu Yuming emerged as well. "You’ve worked hard, Junior Brother. Come in and rest."

Inside, Liu Yuming introduced everyone, and they soon became familiar.

With concern, Liu Yuming asked, "How did things go, Junior Brother?"

"I crippled the Wang family’s servants and took a million taels of silver from their treasury—about ninety percent of their fortune," Li Yu replied calmly.

"Excellent! Without those funds, the Wang family will struggle to keep their business afloat. Their status will plummet," Liu Yuming exclaimed, slapping his thigh in delight.

"We’ll see if they dare act so arrogantly again," Liu Feng said, a satisfied grin on his face.

After a while, Li Yu stood up. "Senior Brother, Sister-in-law, Xiao Feng, I have other matters to attend to and must take my leave."

Though they urged him to stay, seeing his resolve, they did not insist.

Outside in the courtyard, Li Yu paused. "Senior Brother, I have something to say."

"What is it, Junior Brother?"

"Have your injuries healed? I hope we can fight side by side again one day."

"I’ll recover my cultivation. I must find out who plotted against me in secret," Liu Yuming replied.

"Then, until we meet again," said Li Yu, and with that, he vanished.

Back inside, Liu Yuming said, "Xiao Feng, you’ll never become a true master if you stay and train in this small town—the world is far larger than this."

Liu Feng listened, thinking to himself, "That’s true. Compared to Uncle Li Yu, the people here are far too lacking."

Seeing his son deep in thought, Liu Yuming continued, "I’ve heard the Yuanwu Academy in Chiyang City is full of talented warriors. I hope you’ll go there to cultivate."

Liu Feng nodded, sinking into contemplation.

"Enough. We can talk more tomorrow," Zhao Jing said, her face full of sleepiness.

The family rested, passing the night in peace.

"Father, Mother, I’ve made up my mind—I’ll go to Yuanwu Academy," Liu Feng declared after much consideration, his fist clenched with determination.

"I must become stronger—so strong that no one will ever dare harm my family again."