Chapter 87: The Bounty

"Where do you think you're going?"

Hearing the voice, Yaoye halted his flight, anger flashing in his eyes as he drew his weapon.

"It's you!"

The newcomer was cloaked in black, a sword in hand, looking at Yaoye with a mocking smile.

"Why did you set me up? Why did you attack those defenseless villagers?"

The man in black glanced at Yaoye with disdain. "Very well, I’ll satisfy your curiosity. I’ll give you a chance—submit to me!"

When the man in black removed his hood, Yaoye chuckled coldly.

"Elder Chi, you really think highly of me, don’t you?"

"So, Yaoye, think it over carefully. Or, if you have any requests, just name them—I can fulfill them all."

Yaoye stabbed his sword into the ground, idly picking his ear, casting a sideways glance at Chi Lian with a careless air.

"Any request at all?"

Seeing Yaoye’s nonchalance, Chi Lian was not angered.

"Yes, any request."

Yaoye glared at Chi Lian, his anger barely contained. "Then start by slaughtering the Bear Clan for me!"

Chi Lian’s brows drew together. "That, I cannot do. I can help you kill Xiong Batian, but the Bear Clan is off-limits. His two sons hold high status within the Demon Clan—they cannot be touched."

A sneer curled on Yaoye’s lips as he slowly drew his sword. "Then why bother talking to me at all?"

Chi Lian’s eyes flashed with fury. "Don’t push your luck. Do you really think I can’t deal with you?"

"You're welcome to try! My life isn’t worth much anyway. What if I self-destruct? I doubt you could stop me!"

Staring at Yaoye’s defiance, Chi Lian felt a wave of helplessness. "If you don’t know what's good for you, don’t blame me for what comes next!"

Chi Lian shot toward Yaoye with lightning speed. Though Yaoye’s face remained nonchalant, his senses were razor-sharp, sword poised, no sign of fear in his eyes.

"Good. I wanted to see just how wide the gap is between us."

Upon hearing this, Chi Lian burst into laughter. "You’re quite the dreamer! Very well, let’s see what makes you so-called geniuses so formidable!"

As their weapons met, both were taken aback by the other’s strength.

"Your technique truly is strange," Chi Lian muttered. "It seems you must not be allowed to live!"

Yaoye frowned, deep in thought. Chi Lian had struck casually, yet Yaoye had to use all his strength to parry, sustaining minor internal injuries. He was still far from Chi Lian’s level.

A ruthless glint flashed in Chi Lian’s eyes as his body blurred, almost vanishing. Yaoye summoned all his mental power, but barely sensed the approaching shadow before he was sent flying.

He crashed to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth, struggling to rise but failing. Suddenly, his body began to swell with energy.

Chi Lian ceased his attack, looking at Yaoye. "You’ve got guts, kid! Stop your self-destruction—I’ll leave right now!"

Feigning anger, Chi Lian turned and left. Yaoye watched him disappear, forcing himself into a sitting position, mind alert, senses scanning the area for any threat.

Meanwhile, a greater storm was brewing. Disguised, Sophie sat restlessly in a teahouse, listening intently to the distant conversations.

"Hey, have you heard? That Yaoye took the Creation Cauldron and betrayed Divine Wind Academy, fleeing south into the primeval forest. Along the way, he killed villagers in over a dozen towns to practice dark arts!"

"Hmph! That’s old news. My cousin is among those hunting him down!"

The crowd was drawn in by the fat man’s words, urging him to continue. He looked around, disdainful, when Sophie approached with a bottle of wine.

"Friend, have a drink on me. Go on—what’s the latest?"

Pleased, the fat man stood up. "See? At least this young lady knows how to treat a man! I’ll tell you, but you mustn’t spread it around!"

"Of course not!"

Seeing everyone swear secrecy, the fat man lowered his voice.

"They say Yaoye has mastered demonic arts. Everyone who entered the forest to hunt him has been wiped out—no survivors. Only the Fire Dance Academy’s senior brother escaped!"

The crowd stared in shock. "All dead?"

Annoyed at their disbelief, the fat man insisted, "Absolutely! Everyone outside the forest knows. Ask around if you don’t believe me!"

Sophie frowned. "All right, let’s not interrupt. Please, go on."

The fat man cleared his throat. "They say Yaoye grew a pair of wings, turned into a bloodthirsty demon who feeds on human flesh! Now that his demonic arts are complete, no one of his generation can challenge him!"

"Ridiculous! Wings? Is he even human anymore?"

The crowd looked at a short, thin man as if he were an idiot.

The fat man shot him a sidelong glance. "Everyone knows Yaoye is a demon. Only you would say such nonsense!"

"Anyway, let me continue. Elder Chu has issued a bounty—whoever captures Yaoye may enter the Celestial Sect and receive techniques, pills, and other rewards! For people like us, this is an opportunity!"

"But if Yaoye is so powerful, wouldn’t we just be throwing our lives away?"

"Exactly!"

The fat man puffed up with pride. "That’s where you’re ignorant! Apparently, Yaoye’s actions provoked a hidden master, who gravely injured him. Though Yaoye escaped using a secret technique, his strength is greatly diminished."

At this, Sophie slipped quietly out of the crowd and soared into the sky.