Chapter Four: Breaking Free of Golden Shackles, the Dragon Soars

Bang!
The wooden door was split open by a dagger, the latch severed, and it creaked slowly ajar.

Li Da awoke abruptly from his dreams, a half-naked woman lying in his arms.

“Who’s there?
Are you tired of living?!”

It was evident how furious Li Da was.

Yu Chuan, however, had no intention of wasting words. His dagger flashed with icy brilliance, and in a swift arc, he severed Li Da’s head. Blood spurted wildly, staining the headboard crimson.

The half-naked woman opened her mouth to scream, but Yu Chuan’s dagger was even swifter, piercing her throat in the blink of an eye. With a vicious twist, he silenced her forever.

Blood gushed from her wound, and soon, she lay utterly still.

Beneath the mask of a vengeful specter, Yu Chuan’s eyes were glacial. He cared only for what spoils might be gained next.

Bang!

Flesh and bone exploded in a grotesque burst, and several items radiating a soft, precious glow settled amidst the carnage.

Two bottles of Foundation Pills, five of Marrow Cleansing Elixirs, three of Spirit Gathering Pills, and two of Breath Retention Draughts.

Yu Ze’s eyes burned with hunger at the sight. These were all invaluable to him—the more, the better. Each bottle contained three pills, their fragrance dense and potent, clearly no mundane concoction.

He swept all the potions into his storage pouch before slipping away from Li Da’s quarters in search of another target.

He selected those who lived alone, easy prey, and dispatched them with ruthless efficiency, collecting over a dozen more bottles of pills.

At last, Yu Chuan made his way to the fat woman’s dwelling.

Once again, his blade fell, breaking the door’s latch. He darted inside like a thunderbolt, arriving before the unsuspecting woman. His dagger flashed.

Her bulky body convulsed as her head rolled to the floor, her face frozen in confusion.

Bang!

Her body burst apart, flesh and blood spraying across Yu Chuan’s demon mask.

At that moment, Yu Chuan resembled a death god reaping souls, his eyes reflecting only the cruelest cold.

Three porcelain bottles and a silvery, shimmering object lay quietly among the ruins. Yu Chuan glanced at the bottles before tucking them away.

One bottle of Foundation Pills, one of Bone Tempering Elixir, one of Strengthening Pellet, and a suit of dazzling soft armor—none of them ordinary items.

Beyond these, he found a trove of gold, silver, and fine trinkets. These servants lived far better than he, the young master, ever had.

Soon after, Yu Chuan led a wolfhound into the fat woman’s room, closed the door behind him, and set off again into the night.

Tonight’s harvest was bountiful. It was time to leave this wretched place for good.

Neither the Lady, nor the Yu family, nor her own kin were opponents Yu Chuan could face now.

One day, when his cultivation was profound enough, he would return and personally butcher that vile woman.

After dispatching two more with casual ease, Yu Chuan changed into fresh clothes, donned the soft armor, put on the demon mask, and slipped into the shadows.

Finally, he returned to his own room and gathered anything that might reveal his identity.

Most crucial was the talisman, inscribed with his lineage—a vital token for the upcoming trial.

Watching the servants who once tormented him perish before his eyes, Yu Chuan felt a deep, exhilarating satisfaction.

Now, it was time to go, to bid this miserable Yu family farewell forever.

The benefit of reaching the first stage of Qi Condensation was the heightened awareness of his surroundings—seeing farther, hearing clearer.

He avoided both the visible and hidden sentries posted by the Yu clan. If evasion was impossible, he eliminated them without hesitation.

Along the way, he seized a few more bottles of pills and a talisman of unknown purpose.

Looking back, he had finally escaped the Yu family’s sphere of influence.

He removed the demon mask and stowed it, along with the dagger, in his storage pouch, then gazed toward the county town.

From this moment, he was like a fish returning to the sea, a bird soaring into open sky, never again to be shackled.

After traveling for a day, he reached Bluestone Town at last.

Bluestone Town was the nearest settlement to Wuyang County, dotted with taverns and workshops, some owned by the Yu family.

But that had nothing to do with Yu Chuan—his father’s share had long been devoured by the Lady, leaving him with nothing.

He found a shop, changed his outfit, and kept his storage pouch close to his body.

Now, he looked every bit the ordinary townsman.

Yet the road ahead was long and uncertain—whether it heralded new life or a more terrifying hell, Yu Chuan could not know.

But he was resolute: even if it were truly hell, he would never turn back—not even in death.

He knew he could not linger in Bluestone Town. He must leave at once.

Otherwise, once the Yu family realized what had happened, trouble would surely follow.

So Yu Chuan bought a well-trained swift horse in town and rode directly to Wuyang County.

Two days later, he arrived at the livestock market leading his horse. He sold it for travel funds.

Since breaking through to the first stage of Qi Condensation and consuming myriad elixirs, Yu Chuan was no longer plagued by hunger or fatigue.

Only the horse had suffered for it, growing thin and fetching a poor price.

In just two days, the trial would begin.

His most urgent task was to register his name.

Once registered, he would be under the county magistrate’s protection, and all past troubles would be wiped clean.

If he died in the trial, all debts would die with him.

If he became a Dao apprentice, he would transform overnight into a public official.

No matter how bold the Yu family, they could no longer touch him.

This was his long-devised escape plan, and he would not delay.

Clutching a few pieces of silver, he entered the county office.

Many had come to register these days; most had to wait a long while.

It was dusk before Yu Chuan’s turn came, and there was still a crowd behind him.

After handing over his talisman, Yu Chuan received a stone plaque.

A clerk in black robes brought out a stone tablet, pressing it against the talisman. When it flashed with light, he handed it over to Yu Chuan. “Affix this plaque to the forehead of any monster you kill—it will extract the creature’s soul, causing the plaque to glow. As long as you bring it out intact, you’ll pass. No cheating, no escaping. If your plaque doesn’t match your talisman, you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison.”

Yu Chuan accepted the plaque. “Understood, sir. Thank you.”

He tucked the plaque away and left the office.

Now, he simply needed to find a quiet inn and strengthen himself as much as possible.

The trial grounds were perilous—not just because of the monsters, but also because of the other contestants.

Experience had long taught him: of all things in this world, people were the most dangerous.

With so many gathered in Wuyang County for the trial, most inns were already packed to the brim.

Yu Chuan entered one. “Do you have any rooms left?”

The innkeeper replied, “None. There won’t be any for the next couple of days.”

“Thank you,” Yu Chuan said, turning to leave.

But the innkeeper called out, “Wait—there’s a woodshed out back. Would you care to stay? It’s not safe out there, and with your looks, you’re liable to attract unwanted attention.”

Yu Chuan considered it. “The woodshed will do. But I can’t pay full price now. If I pass the trial and become a Dao apprentice, I’ll come back and settle the difference.”

The innkeeper grinned. “No worries. If you make it, just be sure to visit us often.”

Soon after, Yu Chuan was led to the woodshed. He barred the door and waited quietly for night to fall.

The innkeeper closed the main doors, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes.