19: Chapter 19: Murder Reappears in the Dark Alley

"Inside are some Medicinal Pills to strengthen your foundation and assist your Cultivation, along with some of my handwritten notes from when I cultivated the 'Profound Ice Art'. They might be useful to you. Additionally, Scarface will remain in the shadows. If there's any news of the 'Shadow Fiend', he will notify you immediately."

Ye Chen took the silk pouch. It felt heavy in his hand, not just because of the Medicinal Pills, but because of the sentiment behind it.

He took a deep look at Lin Qingxue, engraving this friendship into his heart.

"It's getting late. You've just had a Breakthrough and need to stabilize your Realm. Go back."

Lin Qingxue turned around and picked up the book again. Her tone returned to its usual coldness, but with a hint more warmth than before.

"Proceed with caution."

"I will." Ye Chen cupped his hands in salute, turned, and left the study.

Watching Ye Chen's departing back disappear outside the door, Lin Qingxue set down her book and walked slowly to the window.

Moonlight spilled onto her peerlessly beautiful face, reflecting a trace of complex emotion.

"From a Trash at the First Level of Meridian Opening to the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening, 'Connecting the Four Extremities'. It's only been how long..."

She murmured to herself, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and inquiry.

"Ye Chen, just how many secrets are you still hiding?"

"But, this... seems quite good as well."

Outside the window, the night breeze brushed past, and the shadows of the bamboo swayed.

By the time he returned to the small courtyard in the south of the city, the moon was high in the sky.

Xiao Yu hadn't slept yet. She had lit a small oil lamp and was dozing on the threshold, her head nodding rhythmically.

Hearing the door open, she woke with a start. Seeing it was Ye Chen, she breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, rubbing her eyes.

"Brother, you're back."

"Yeah. Why aren't you asleep yet?" Ye Chen closed the door and bolted it.

"Waiting for you." Xiao Yu yawned and leaned closer, her small nose twitching.

"Brother, there seems to be a nice scent on you. Is it bamboo? And... the fragrance of medicine?"

Ye Chen was taken aback and instinctively sniffed his sleeve.

It was the faint scent of ink and medicine from Lin Qingxue's study, mixed with her unique, cool aura. He had unknowingly picked up a bit of it.

His expression remained impassive.

"I probably picked it up coming back from the Lin Mansion. Go to sleep."

"Oh." Xiao Yu nodded obediently, but then couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Brother, what did Miss Lin want with you? Is someone bullying us again?"

"No, we were just discussing next month's Grand Competition."

Ye Chen didn't want to say more and ruffled her hair.

"Don't overthink it. Go to sleep."

After sending Xiao Yu off to bed, Ye Chen returned to his room and lit the oil lamp.

He took out the silk pouch Lin Qingxue had given him and opened it.

Inside were several small jade bottles containing different Medicinal Pills, with tiny labels attached to them.

essence condensing pill, Meridian Tempering Powder, Heart Clearing Pellet.

There was also a thin roll of silk with Lin Qingxue's elegant handwriting, recording some of her insights and experiences from cultivating the 'Profound Ice Art'.

Especially the experiences on how to stabilize the Realm and draw in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi after 'Connecting the Four Extremities'.

These notes were more precious than any Medicinal Pill.

This was the cultivation insight of a Wheel Sea Realm Genius; the understanding revealed between the lines was profound.

It made Ye Chen see the light, and many vague points in his Cultivation suddenly became clear.

"I owe her a big favor," Ye Chen thought to himself, gently stroking the silk.

He carefully put away the silk pouch and sat down cross-legged, but didn't take the Medicinal Pills immediately.

Instead, he first followed the methods in Lin Qingxue's notes to calm his mind and guide the true essence within his body.

He carefully experienced the mysterious connection with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi after 'Connecting the Four Extremities'.

The night passed in silence.

In the following days, Ye Chen's life became extremely disciplined.

During the day, he stayed indoors, using the 'essence condensing pill' and 'Meridian Tempering Powder' to polish his true essence, temper his Meridians, and stabilize his Fifth Level of Meridian Opening Realm.

At the same time, he repeatedly studied Lin Qingxue's handwritten notes.

Combined with the techniques in the 'Cold Water Arts', he practiced sensing and drawing in the water and cold Spiritual Qi from the world.

His progress was significant.

Ye Chen's control over his own cold energy became increasingly refined. The Ice Thorns he condensed were more solid and sharp, and they lasted longer.

When he executed the Mist Transformation Steps, cold energy swirled around him, and his figure became ethereal, leaving trails of afterimages within the small space of the courtyard.

Ye Chen even began trying to integrate the cold energy into basic strikes. Every punch and kick carried a bone-chilling cold, greatly increasing their power.

Xiao Yu took charge of all the chores, washing clothes and cooking, keeping the small courtyard in perfect order.

She also seemed to realize her brother was at a critical stage, so she was exceptionally quiet and never disturbed him.

She just found different ways to cook nutritious meals every day, supporting him silently.

During this time, the Scar-faced Guard visited once in secret, bringing some fresh meat and vegetables and informing Ye Chen.

There was no new movement from the Shadow Fiend side for now, but he was told not to lower his guard.

Ye Chen expressed his thanks, his vigilance growing even stronger. The silence before a storm is often the most oppressive.

...

That night, the moonlight was dim, and dark clouds covered the sky.

Ye Chen finished his Cultivation, feeling his true essence full and his Realm completely stabilized. He even felt a slight trend toward advancing to the Middle Stage of the fifth level.

He was in a good mood as he looked out at the night.

He suddenly remembered that the Iron Bone Grass he often used for Body Refining was finished. This herb wasn't particularly precious.

But it was useful for stabilizing his Physical Body at his current stage. The 'Hundred Herbs Hall' in the west of the city shouldn't be closed yet.

Ye Chen pondered for a moment and said to Xiao Yu, "I'm going out to buy some things, I'll be back soon."

He changed into dark clothes and quietly slipped out the door.

The streets at night were much quieter than during the day. Only a few taverns were still lit, with faint sounds of revelry drifting out.

Ye Chen deliberately avoided the main roads, choosing to travel through dimly lit alleys. His steps were light, and his figure almost blended into the night.

After breaking through to the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening, his six senses were sharper. He could clearly hear the sound of the night watchman's clapper in the distance.

He could even smell the faint scent of damp earth permeating the air.

Just as Ye Chen passed through a secluded long alley near the west of the city and was about to reach the end, his heart suddenly skipped a beat without warning!

An extremely faint yet bone-chilling killing intent, like a viper's tongue, quietly licked toward him from behind!

Almost without thinking, Ye Chen's body instinctively slid violently to the left!

Shhh—!

A nearly inaudible sound of something cutting through the air grazed his right shoulder.

It pierced a tiny hole in the earthen wall behind him, and the edges were instantly covered in a layer of white frost!

A hidden weapon!

What strange cold energy!

Ye Chen's pupils constricted. He spun around instantly, the cold true essence within his body surging as the surrounding temperature plummeted!

His gaze was like lightning as he swept it toward the direction the killing intent came from.

In the shadow under a eave halfway down the alley.

A blurry figure, almost merging with the darkness, was slowly revealing itself.

The person was also wearing night-traveling clothes, but their build was smaller than the previous assassins, clinging to the shadow of the corner as if weightless.

Only a pair of emotionless eyes, like icy beads, were visible.

He had no blade in his hand, only a few ice shards as thin as cicada wings with a faint blue luster held between his fingers.

A Shadow Fiend assassin!

And he was more dangerous than the six from last time!

This person gave Ye Chen a cold and eerie feeling; his Cultivation was at least at the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening.

Or even higher!

Especially that technique of Qi Condensation into ice and the silent hidden weapon method—it was impossible to guard against!

Without any words, the dark figure flickered, sliding across the ground like a ghost. He was so fast he only left an afterimage!

At the same time, both hands flicked repeatedly, sending several blue ice shards out like poisonous bees from a hive.

They were aimed at the upper, middle, and lower sections of Ye Chen's body, silently shooting toward his major acupoints!

Ye Chen's heart tightened. He pushed the Mist Transformation Steps to the limit, flashing repeatedly within the small space, leaving trails of cold mist afterimages.

The blue ice shards grazed his clothes and embedded themselves into the ground or walls, instantly freezing large patches of frost and radiating cold energy!

But the last ice shard came from an extremely tricky angle, cutting off all of Ye Chen's retreats and heading straight for his throat!

There was no way to dodge!

A cold light flashed in Ye Chen's eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced. He pressed his index and middle fingers together, condensed more than half of the cold true essence in his body, and struck out with a finger!

"Ice Thorn!"

The fingertip and the ice shard collided violently!

Ding—!

A crisp sound like ice cracking rang out! The blue ice shard shattered into powder!

But Ye Chen also felt a numbness in his fingertip. A sinister, bone-chilling force surged up his arm's Meridians, instantly making his entire right arm somewhat stiff!

What strange cold energy!

It was actually more sinister and tricky than the profound yin cold qi he had refined himself!

The dark figure didn't seem to expect Ye Chen to be able to take his killing Move head-on, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

But his movements didn't stop for a second. He lunged forward, his skeletal palms turning pitch black, carrying a foul-smelling, sinister wind as they struck toward Ye Chen's chest!

Before the palm wind even arrived, the cold stench was already making him dizzy!

Poisonous Palm!

Ye Chen blocked with his left arm while simultaneously shifting his steps, narrowly avoiding the direct force of the palm. However, his sleeve was caught by the palm wind and instantly corroded into a charred black patch!

He took the opportunity to whip his right leg out, carrying sharp cold energy, and swept toward the opponent's lower body!

The dark figure's movement was as eerie as a snake's, twisting his waist.

He actually dodged the kick at an incredible angle and simultaneously struck back with a claw toward Ye Chen's heart!

The fingertips were black, clearly coated in lethal poison!

In this dark alley, the two of them fought at high speed, exchanging over a dozen Moves in an instant!

Energy overflowed and cold air surged. New holes and frost continuously appeared on the walls on both sides of the alley!

Ye Chen pushed his Mist Transformation Steps and his cold-energy-infused strikes to their limits.

Yet he was still forced back by the opponent's eerie movement and sinister palm strikes, barely managing to hold his ground!

This assassin's combat experience far surpassed his own. His Moves were ruthless and tricky, always attacking where Ye Chen was forced to defend.

Moreover, that Cold Poison technique was extremely troublesome, constantly eroding his true essence and Meridians.

If the fight continued, he would undoubtedly lose!

He had to end this quickly!

A flash of determination crossed Ye Chen's eyes.

He deliberately left a opening, leaving his chest wide open!

The dark figure indeed fell for it. A fierce light flashed in his eyes as his black poisonous palm struck straight forward!

Just as the poisonous palm was about to land, Ye Chen took a deep breath.

The twenty acupoints in his four limbs, which had just been initially opened, vibrated violently, fully drawing in the water and cold Spiritual Qi from the surrounding environment!

At the same time, he condensed all the cold true essence in his Dantian into his left palm, regardless of the cost!

In an instant, with Ye Chen as the center, the temperature within a radius of several dozen feet plummeted below freezing!

The moisture in the air instantly condensed into fine white ice crystals!

On his left palm, a deep, almost solid blue cold light suddenly lit up.

Carrying a terrifying coldness that could freeze the Soul, it struck second but arrived first, meeting that black poisonous palm!

"Profound Ice Palm!"

Ye Chen let out a low growl. This was his strongest strike to date, which he had devised himself based on the 'Cold Water Arts' and Lin Qingxue's insights!