Chapter 213: Beast
“You think just because you’ve changed your appearance I wouldn’t recognize you? I’d know you even if you were skinned and turned into a drum!” Wu Zhongtian was tall and imposing, his bristly beard trembling like a lion’s mane, his round eyes flashing with sharp light.
Tu Fei circled around Ye Fan twice, laughing heartily. “I think so too—he looks just like that unscrupulous Taoist. Don’t think changing your looks fools me; it’s definitely some kind of illusion. Unless you can prove it.”
Ye Fan flicked his wide Daoist robe and said, “Brother Tu, you’re deliberately making things hard for me. If others can’t recognize me, you should be able to tell. We met before at the source mine in Yaoguang.”
“This guy’s got some skills—changing his form in an instant is a classic trick of habitual offenders, all set up for doing bad deeds,” one of the bandit descendants nearby shouted.
Tu Fei grinned slyly. “Simple. Just take out that piece of clothing from the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi, and that’ll be proof enough for us.”
“You… are you trying to ruin me?!”
“What’s the loss to you? The one who’d go crazy is Yao Xi. Too bad she’s not here.”
Tu Fei, with a cheeky grin, said to the surrounding bandits, “You never believe me when I say that someone as aloof and ethereal as Yao Xi could be defiled. Today, I’ll show you all.”
“Really? You mean he’s really not Duan De?” The nearby bandits were still skeptical.
Ye Fan had no bad habits; he’d kept that garment only to enrage Yao Xi at a critical moment and save his own skin. He didn’t pull it out. Instead, his bones crackled, and he suddenly transformed into the Seventh Great Bandit, Tu Tian, saying, “Tu Fei, don’t be naughty.”
Tu Fei: “I… %#@&*!”
The bandit descendants nearby were stunned, then burst into uncontrollable laughter, pounding the table with their fists.
“Hey, we can’t do this, Brother Ye. Change back quickly,” Tu Fei said, completely unable to sit still.
“Now do you believe I’m not Duan De?”
“I believe, I already knew you weren’t Duan De,” Tu Fei said gloomily. The other young bandits had long figured out that the man before them wasn’t the unscrupulous Taoist, and they kept laughing. Wu Zhongtian sat back down, staring at Ye Fan intently. “Did you really… burn a Supreme Elder of the Ji Family to death?”
“Just luck.”
These bandit descendants were well-informed; they’d heard rumors and all gasped in shock.
“Hey, Brother Ye, did you really take that piece of clothing from Yao Xi?” another bandit asked.
“Well… how to put it… I accidentally came across it.”
As soon as he said this, the tavern erupted in howls. The few of them had green lights in their eyes, all incredibly excited.
The other patrons in the tavern had long fled, having vaguely guessed that these were descendants of the Thirteen Great Bandits, and they all ran away.
“Heavens, Yao Xi is so pure… it’s outrageous!”
“Brother Ye, you’ve really broken my heart.”
“Broken heart? This is great! Last time she and that Holy Son chased me and Tu Fei for three thousand li. Now we’ve finally gotten some revenge.”
A few hot-blooded young bandits pounded the table, howling endlessly.
“Brother Ye, sell me that garment. I’ll give you a hundred jin of Source. If I don’t make that arrogant girl spit blood, I won’t be satisfied,” one bandit said, trying to get close, filling Ye Fan’s bowl with wine.
“I’ll offer five hundred jin of Source. I want to hang that garment and sell it in the Holy City,” another young bandit said.
“Why sell it in the Holy City? Just sell that bra directly to that prince from the Central Province and fleece him good.”
“That wouldn’t be satisfying enough. Better to auction the Holy Maiden’s bra in the Northern Domain, invite all the young talents, and even send invitations to some unscrupulous old-timers.”
These young bandits were more vicious than the last, clearly planning to crush Yao Xi so thoroughly she’d never recover.
“Hey, you guys, aren’t you going too far? How can you come up with such ideas?” Ye Fan was stunned. These were truly a bunch of scoundrels.
“The Holy Maiden and Holy Son of Yaoguang are too hateful. Not long ago, they joined forces with many experts to hunt us down, nearly killing us. Of course we have to get back at them.”
“Don’t drag me into this, okay…” Ye Fan knew he couldn’t compare to them. Each of these guys had a formidable grandfather; even if they caused a catastrophe, someone would back them up. If he dared to auction Yao Xi’s bra, the Yaoguang Holy Land would spare no expense to erase him to save face.
“What are you afraid of? Stick with us, and you think we can’t handle that little girl?”
“Stick with you? Who’ll give me an ancient scripture to cultivate? Who’ll provide me with a million jin of Source?” Ye Fan muttered softly.
“Brother Ye, you’re too greedy. How many ancient scriptures are there in the Eastern Wasteland? A million jin of Source—ask any Holy Land if they can come up with that.”
“Come on, let me introduce everyone first.” Wu Zhongtian introduced the people present.
“This guy is Liu Kou.” Wu Zhongtian pointed to a somewhat wild-looking youth, who turned out to be the direct grandson of the Sixth Great Bandit, Liu Feng.
Ye Fan didn’t know what to say. The name was too odd—it literally sounded like “bandit.” It was a match for Tu Fei.
“This is Li Heishui.” Wu Zhongtian pointed to a dark-faced, strong youth, the grandson of the Eighth Great Bandit, Li Heng.
This name… was also very strange. “Heishui” sounded like “black water,” as if it meant rotten to the core. Ye Fan wondered if the Great Bandits had planned it together.
Tu Fei said indignantly, “I know what you’re thinking. There’s no help for it. Those old guys sat together, cracked a few jokes, and our names were set.”
Ye Fan’s mouth twitched. Having such a grandfather was really bad luck.
“He’s Jiang Huairen.” Wu Zhongtian pointed to another youth, the grandson of the Ninth Great Bandit, Jiang Yi. His background was significant—he came from the Primordial Aristocratic Clan, the Jiang Family. Of course, their branch had long rebelled and become famous bandits, shocking everyone back then.
Ye Fan thought this name was the only decent one, relatively normal. But the others sneered, and Jiang Huairen gloomily downed a big bowl of wine.
“His grandfather was too noble, didn’t want to follow the crowd, and decided to give him a meaningful name. But it turned out even worse.” “Jiang Huairen—isn’t that ‘bad person’? Jiang the Bad Guy,” Tu Fei explained.
Ye Fan was completely speechless. This was too much…
Tu Fei, Liu Kou, Jiang Huairen, Li Heishui—the four names together made him want to burst out laughing, but he had to hold it in. These guys’ names were just too bizarre.
Among the five, only Wu Zhongtian’s name was passable, but his temperament and image were just like the other four—not good guys. If they walked around, they’d clear the streets instantly.
“Brother Ye, what are your plans?” Wu Zhongtian asked.
Tu Fei added, “What are you doing in Kunyun Ancient City? This place is a backwater, nothing special except for occasional hauntings.”
“I want to know if the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi is returning to her sect,” Ye Fan inquired.
Li Heishui immediately howled, “Beast! A beast! First you steal the bra of the Yaoguang Holy Maiden, and now you’re reaching out for the fairy of Yao Chi? Brother Ye, have some conscience!”
“That’s too much! Are you planning to sweep up all the Holy Maidens of the Eastern Wasteland? Don’t be so greedy. You should be satisfied with one Yaoguang Holy Maiden,” Liu Kou shouted.
“Ye the Demon, you’re practically one of us now. Don’t go too far. Are you trying to cut off our future?” Tu Fei grumbled.
Jiang Huairen was calmer. “Don’t be too Ye Fan.”
“You missed a few. Actually, I don’t just want to capture all the Holy Maidens of the Eastern Wasteland; I also want to steal the pearls of several Primordial Aristocratic Clans, and even kidnap the princesses of the immortal imperial dynasties from the Central Province that have lasted over a hundred thousand years. I’m going to build a huge harem.”
“Beast! A beast!”
Half an hour later, they were full of food and drink, chatting and laughing as they left the tavern.
Ye Fan’s body crackled, and he transformed into the Seventh Great Bandit, Tu Tian.
Tu Fei immediately got anxious. “We’re familiar, but if you take advantage of me again, I’ll get mad.”
Ye Fan thought it over and decided impersonating the unscrupulous Taoist was too risky. That bastard had done every evil deed imaginable. If he took his form, he might end up taking the blame for him again.
In the end, his bones creaked, and his form changed drastically, becoming a graceful Taoist in flowing feathered robes, jade-like and immaculate, with an otherworldly air.
Kunyun Ancient City had a long history. The stone slabs on the streets were worn down, impossible to tell how many years they’d seen. The locals worshipped ancient deities, believing that a god protected the place. The Holy Maiden of Yao Chi had stayed here for half a month without leaving, thought to be related to this.
They headed toward the Yao Chi Source Stone Workshop. These young bandits were no pushovers; wherever they went, trouble followed. Ye Fan knew they were plotting something that might cause a huge disaster here. But he wasn’t worried—with his current appearance, he wouldn’t be blamed.
“By my calculations, the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi should be leaving this city soon,” Wu Zhongtian said.
“I really want to kill the Yaoguang Holy Son early!” Li Heishui said fiercely.
“That guy is too strong. When he uses the Holy Light Art, he’s nearly invincible among his peers. Even a Divine Body might not be able to suppress him. For now, we can only make him bleed. To kill him, we’d need the old-timers to act.”
The Yao Chi Source Stone Workshop, though within the city, was elegant and quiet. Ancient trees stood, leaves drifted, streams murmured, small bridges lay across, and stone materials were arranged in picturesque formations, giving it a garden-like feel.
Since it was the last few days before the Holy Maiden of Yao Chi left, the place was crowded. But no one spoke loudly; everyone whispered.
“The people from Yaoguang are traveling with the Yao Chi fairy. Looks like they’re really going to the outskirts of the Primordial Ancient Mine together,” Tu Fei said, his eyes gleaming.
“Brother Ye, I’m begging you, sell me that bra. I really want to wave it around and sell it here,” Li Heishui gritted his teeth.
Yao Xi stood ahead, her hair flowing, jet-black and glossy, her face breathtaking, radiant as a divine moon. She was ethereal as mist, her long dress trailing the ground, outlining her graceful figure. She stood tall and elegant.
The Yaoguang Holy Son was also ahead, like a blazing sun, with a layer of golden light flowing over his skin. Every move he made drew attention, like a divine son.
Li Heishui and Tu Fei had suffered greatly at their hands, nearly killed, barely escaping with their lives.
“The Yaoguang Holy Son is truly terrifying. When he uses the Holy Light Art, nothing can touch him. You can’t break through. He really has an invincible aura,” Tu Fei sighed. “Even the most powerful offensive techniques are useless.”
“Didn’t we bring Brother Zhongtian? He can definitely suppress him,” Li Heishui said coldly.
“Suppress him? I’m probably not his match. We’re not here to kill him today—just to create a diversion. Don’t act rashly,” Wu Zhongtian warned quietly.
“Don’t worry, we won’t ask for trouble.”
“Where did Brother Ye go? He’s disappeared,” Jiang Huairen asked.
“Beast! A beast! That kid’s young, but he’s such a beast! Look, he’s eyeing the princess of the Great Xia Imperial Dynasty from the Central Province. I… didn’t wrong him. That kid’s heading straight there,” Liu Kou shouted.
“He better not cause trouble. The Great Xia Imperial Dynasty has lasted over a hundred thousand years, with unfathomable depth. There’s a powerful prince there too,” Li Heishui muttered.
Ahead, a young man stood surrounded like the moon by stars, his golden armor shining brilliantly—the prince of the Great Xia Dynasty. He was heroic, with dragon energy flowing around him, gleaming brightly, his cultivation unfathomable.
Ye Fan wasn’t heading toward him, but toward a woman beside him. She was dressed in white, pure and bright, with a unique charm.
Ye Fan wasn’t attracted to her; he was excited. Though she was pure, holy, and beautiful, what truly drew him was her identity—she was a nun.
Of course, it wasn’t some peculiar interest. Her identity made him thrilled and unable to stay calm!
She was a disciple of the Buddhist sect. He wanted to ask her: Is the Buddha in this world?!
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