Chapter 32: Young Master Nie Beaten Black and Blue

At an auction, the ultimate victor was neither the Shunfeng Trading House nor the four major powers of Pingyang City, but rather Wu Tian himself. Two pills fetched an astronomical price of 1.6 million taels of silver, and he also managed to pick up a manual containing the divine skill “Invisibility,” as well as a treasure map pointing to the ruins of an ancient battlefield. All in all, Wu Tian had made a tremendous gain.

When the auction ended, Wu Tian gathered his spoils and prepared to leave. As soon as he stepped out of the auction house, he ran into Nie Huixiang, who had just exited the venue as well. For a moment, Nie Huixiang was taken aback at the sight of Wu Tian, but then his eyes flared with rage.

“Wu Tian, you bastard! To think I’d run into you here! I’ve been looking to settle the score with you, and now you deliver yourself to my doorstep—excellent, simply excellent!” Nie Huixiang bellowed, pointing at Wu Tian in fury.

“Young master, don’t be rash. The people of Qitian Sect are here—it’s not wise to act impulsively!” The old steward quickly restrained the enraged Nie Huixiang, signaling him to hold back.

“Well, isn’t this the young master of the Nie family? What a coincidence. I heard you managed to acquire some fine treasures at the auction—congratulations indeed,” Wu Tian said with a smile, cupping his hands in mock salute.

Nie Huixiang’s face filled with pride. “Naturally. Did you think I was like you? Only the best for me! Two life-saving pills, one-point-six million taels of silver—enough to scare you senseless!”

“One-point-six million taels of silver—indeed, that’s quite a sum. I truly must thank you, Young Master Nie.” Wu Tian burst into hearty laughter.

“Hm? What do you mean by that?” Nie Huixiang frowned.

“Nothing in particular, just expressing my gratitude. Well, Young Master Nie, I’m sure you’re busy, so I won’t keep you any longer.” Wu Tian gave no further explanation, merely brushing off the question as he prepared to leave.

“Wu Tian, since you’ve run into me, do you really think you can just walk away so easily?” Nie Huixiang called after him, his face dark. The humiliation Wu Tian had dealt him last time was still fresh in his mind. Since then, he had made sure to bring a few stronger guards along—now he hoped to put them to use.

The smile faded from Wu Tian’s face. He asked calmly, “Young Master Nie, do you truly wish to exchange a few moves with me?”

“Don’t think that a bit of ability makes you invincible. I’ve brought several experts with me today—you won’t get away!”

Tension crackled in the air.

“Damn it! That bastard Nie Huixiang is right there—finally, the chance has come. Brothers, go! Let’s avenge our young master!” Suddenly, at the height of the tension, an angry shout rang out, and dozens of armed men charged forward. Wu Tian was startled to see that every one of them had reached at least the first level of Martial Mastery.

Their target was Nie Huixiang. He and his entourage were just as shocked.

“Who are you people? What do you intend?” Nie Huixiang shouted at the crowd.

“Nie Huixiang, you bastard! After what you did, you dare pretend innocence? Our young master was wounded by you and is still bedridden. We’re here to settle the score!” The leader, an eighth-level martial master wielding a broad blade, roared with anger.

“Your young master? Who the hell is that?” Nie Huixiang was utterly confused.

“Still playing dumb? Just because you’re one of Pingyang City’s four great powers doesn’t mean we fear you. We of the Empty Hands Sect are not intimidated. Brothers, attack! Avenge our young master!”

At once, the mob surged at Nie Huixiang and his men.

Hearing “Empty Hands Sect,” Wu Tian finally understood. During the last incident in the Misty Forest, the Empty Hands Sect had hunted a pair of sisters from the Seven Stars Academy, whom Wu Tian had rescued. At that time, he had claimed to be Nie Huixiang. Now, the Empty Hands Sect had come looking for revenge against Nie Huixiang himself.

“Haha! This is getting interesting. Who’d have thought giving a false name would be so much fun? With so many martial masters against him, Nie Huixiang is about to be beaten senseless!” Wu Tian quickly stepped aside to watch the spectacle unfold, unconcerned since the Empty Hands Sect had set their sights on Nie Huixiang.

“Young master, go! There are too many experts among them, and we don’t have enough men!” The old steward, seeing the situation turn dire, urged Nie Huixiang to escape.

Nie Huixiang dared not linger. Though he had brought some powerful guards today, they were hopelessly outnumbered.

“Nie Huixiang, where do you think you’re going?” Just as Nie Huixiang tried to slip away, a few men blocked his path.

“Damn it!” Nie Huixiang, who had at least some skill, drew his sword and slashed at his assailants.

Thud! Unfortunately, he was no match for the opposition and was promptly kicked over by a fifth-level martial master at the forefront.

“Wound our young master and think you can escape? Beat him! Make it hurt!”

Thuds and blows rained down. In no time at all, Nie Huixiang was battered beyond recognition.

“How dare the Empty Hands Sect make trouble on Shunfeng Trading House’s territory! Courting death!” At that moment, the trading house’s guards poured out.

“Retreat, all of you!” The Empty Hands Sect, not wishing to prolong the fight, withdrew at once.

The Shunfeng guards gave a token chase but soon let it go. After all, the Empty Hands Sect’s people were all martial masters, and it would not be easy to catch them if they were intent on fleeing.

“Ow! That hurts like hell! Damn those Empty Hands bastards—I swear I’ll kill them all!” Propped up by his old steward, Nie Huixiang’s head was swollen like a pig’s, and he howled in pain.

“Nie Huixiang is turning more and more into a laughingstock. No one else could attract such misfortune.” Wu Tian, watching from the sidelines, chuckled at the scene.

Once Nie Huixiang had been carried away, Wu Tian departed as well, having no further interest in what would happen next.

Upon returning home, Wu Tian found a carrier pigeon perched atop his dilapidated thatched hut. After making sure there was no one around, he caught the bird and brought it inside.

Once indoors, he retrieved a note tied to the pigeon’s leg.

“Master, He Jiang has recently met with several mysterious individuals of unknown background. They have been holding secret discussions in a hidden room, but I have not been able to ascertain the details. However, I have tracked their current location—one of them is bald and carries a tiger-striped broadsword on his shoulder. They are at the Joyful Inn, in the west of the city!”

This information came from Qin Long, Wu Tian’s puppet. A cold gleam flashed in Wu Tian’s eyes as he finished reading.

“So, you’ve begun to act, have you? He Jiang, once I uncover the truth, your usefulness will be at an end—and that will be the day of your doom!”

With that, Wu Tian clenched his fist tightly, and the note was instantly crushed to powder in his palm.

...

Darkness fell and the wind howled. On the roof of the Joyful Inn in the city’s west, a shadowy figure darted from place to place. At each room, he lifted a tile to peer inside.

“Damn, this inn is enormous—so many rooms to check, it’s exhausting.” Dropping down into some brush, Wu Tian let out a wry chuckle.