67: Chapter 67 Scarface Dies

Deep in the night, Anping Market showed no signs of the usual quiet; instead, it was even more bustling than during the day.

On the streets of the market, oil lamps and Spirit Stone lamps swayed in the wind, casting dim, yellow light onto the bluestone pavement, making the shadows of the passersby flicker in and out of existence.

The corners of the market were crowded with Loose Cultivators struggling to make a living. Most of them had low cultivation levels, setting up stalls with inferior Talismans they had refined, low-grade Spiritual Plants they had gathered, or worthless Materials stripped from Yao Beasts, shouting at the top of their lungs just to earn an extra Low-Grade Spirit Stone or two.

After all, in this world of Cultivators, without Spirit Stones, let alone making progress in Cultivation, even just surviving was difficult.

Li Qing mingled in the crowd, his footsteps steady as he walked in the direction from his memory.

At this moment, he no longer looked like Pei Guang; his complexion had turned pale as paper, his eye sockets were slightly sunken, and he looked just like a sickly young man plagued by long-term illness, ready to collapse at any moment.

Before long, he arrived in front of a small, cramped courtyard.

Old Man Liu was the first target he intended to kill.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Qing looked left and right to ensure no one was around, then leaped, easily vaulting over the low earthen wall and sneaking into the courtyard without a sound.

But when he pushed open the door, the room was empty, the stove was cold, and it was clear that Old Man Liu was not home.

Li Qing frowned, not wasting a single moment.

He knew Old Man Liu too well; this old thing was addicted to gambling, and if he wasn't at home, he was definitely at the Pingan Gambling Den.

And the Pingan Gambling Den was none other than Boss Scar's territory, and he was the true culprit who had murdered his parents.

It was perfect; he had originally intended to deal with these two enemies at once to avoid future trouble. Since Old Man Liu was at the gambling den, he would let them both head on their way together, so they could keep each other company on the road to the Yellow Springs.

Li Qing knew very clearly that this battle had to be quick and decisive.

He had to kill Old Man Liu and Boss Scar before the law-enforcement Disciples arrived, and then immediately flee Anping Market.

If he were to be surrounded by the Houtu Sect's law-enforcement Disciples, with his current cultivation level, he would absolutely be doomed with no place to be buried.

With that thought, Li Qing restrained his aura and walked quickly toward the Pingan Gambling Den.

The Pingan Gambling Den was one of the liveliest places in Anping Market. Two thugs with fierce expressions stood at the entrance, and inside, it was brightly lit, filled with a chaotic mix of shouting, the sound of dice, and cursing—a den of vice.

Li Qing spotted Old Man Liu at the gambling table at a glance. The old thing was squinting his eyes, staring intently at the dice on the table, clutching a few Spirit Stones in his hand with a Face full of greed.

Li Qing sneered and walked straight over. Without a word, he grabbed Old Man Liu by the back of his collar and yanked him up from the stool.

"Old Man Liu, when are you going to pay back the money you owe me?"

Li Qing shouted at the top of his lungs on purpose, his voice just loud enough for the surrounding gamblers and the thugs at the door to hear.

At the same time, he quietly released a trace of his Qi Refining Stage 7 cultivation aura, and a faint fluctuation of spiritual power instantly enveloped the nearby area.

He was intentionally causing a scene and exposing his cultivation level; only in this way could he lure out the gambling den's boss, Boss Scar, who was also at the Qi Refining Stage 7.

The surrounding gamblers felt Li Qing's cultivation level and were instantly terrified, scattering in all directions and hiding in the distance to watch the spectacle. No one dared to provoke a Qi Refining Stage 7 Cultivator.

The few thugs at the Pingan Gambling Den looked at each other, not daring to rush forward rashly. One of the quick-witted thugs turned and ran toward the backyard, clearly to notify Boss Scar.

Old Man Liu was gripped by the neck by Li Qing and couldn't breathe. His old Face turned beet red, and he looked blankly at the pale, sickly young man in front of him. He didn't know this person at all and could only stammer a plea for mercy:

"F-Fellow Daoist, you must have the wrong person! I have never owed anyone money!"

"The wrong person?" Li Qing's eyes turned cold; he didn't listen to his explanation at all.

"Damn it, you owe me money and still dare to pretend you don't know me? You deserve a beating!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped Old Man Liu across the Face twice, hard.

He used his full strength for these two slaps, showing no mercy. Old Man Liu's cheeks instantly swelled up like steamed buns, blood flowed from the corners of his mouth, and several loose teeth were knocked out, causing him to howl in pain.

Just then, a feminine, sinister voice came from the backyard, carrying a thick sense of malice:

"Who dares to run wild in my Pingan Gambling Den? Are you tired of living?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, and sure enough, Boss Scar had appeared just in time.

He walked up to Li Qing and looked him up and down. Feeling the Qi Refining Stage 7 aura on Li Qing, his Face showed no fear; instead, he said arrogantly:

"Fellow Daoist, this is the Pingan Gambling Den. Whatever personal grudges you have, go solve them outside; don't ruin everyone's fun here. Causing trouble on my, Boss Scar's, territory means you aren't giving me Face. I advise you to be sensible!"

Boss Scar was certain that since this was Anping Market, his territory, even if the strange young man in front of him had similar cultivation to his own, he wouldn't dare to actually kill anyone here. After all, the Houtu Sect's law-enforcement Disciples were not to be trifled with.

Li Qing was just waiting for Boss Scar to show up. Seeing him approach, he immediately put on a respectful appearance, released his grip on Old Man Liu, bowed to Boss Scar, and said in a humble tone:

"So it is Boss Scar. I have long admired your name, long admired your name! It was my rudeness; I shouldn't have caused trouble in the gambling den. I hope Boss Scar will forgive me."

As he spoke, he pretended to be afraid, moving his feet slightly forward, quietly getting closer to Boss Scar.

At the same time, he continued to make excuses, pointing at the disheveled Old Man Liu to the side and saying:

"It's really that this old man is too much. He owes me dozens of Spirit Stones and won't pay them back. I heard he had Spirit Stones but wouldn't pay, instead gambling here, so I was momentarily anxious and caused a scene. I hope Boss Scar will excuse me."

Seeing Li Qing's respectful attitude, Boss Scar instantly relaxed his vigilance, thinking the other party was just an ordinary Cultivator who feared him. A disdainful smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and he waved his hand, saying, "Oh? This old thing owes you money? May I ask for your honorable name, Fellow Daoist?"

Before Boss Scar had even finished speaking, Li Qing had already walked right up to him, the distance between them less than a single step.

In that instant, the respect in Li Qing's eyes vanished, replaced by bone-chilling killing intent. His pale Face was expressionless as he said lightly:

"Boss Scar, I am Li Qing, Li Dayuan's son!"

"Oh, so it is Li Qing, Fellow Daoist Li..."

Boss Scar's words came to an abrupt halt, and he looked at this sickly young man with a Face full of shock.

Who would have known that what appeared before Boss Scar was actually a sharp Flying Sword.

Boss Scar's complexion changed drastically, his pupils shrinking violently. He had never expected that the seemingly respectful young man before him would actually be Li Qing, and that he would strike at him so despicably.

He only had time to crush the Medium Grade defensive Talisman in his hand.

Frequently active in the Yunling Mountain Range, Boss Scar had developed the habit of always guarding against unexpected events.

"Crack—"

But the Medium Grade defensive Talisman couldn't block Li Qing's Flying Sword attack at all, as fragile as an eggshell.

Then, the Flying Sword continued its momentum unabated, slicing off Boss Scar's head with a single strike.

Boss Scar had clearly underestimated Li Qing's strength.

Li Qing took the Storage Pouch from Boss Scar's body with a backhand motion and casually slapped Old Man Liu's head to pieces.

Then he turned and left the Pingan Gambling Den, disappearing into the dark night.

This entire sequence of actions was smooth and fluid; it wasn't until Li Qing's figure had disappeared that the people in the Pingan Gambling Den finally reacted.

"B-Boss Scar is dead?"

The surrounding thugs and gamblers were all terrified out of their wits, standing frozen in place, having even forgotten to scream.

No one had expected that this sickly-looking young man would actually dare to commit murder in the Pingan Gambling Den, and that he had killed Boss Scar, who had dominated Anping Market for many years, in a single move!