Chapter 1328: Trapping the Turtle in the Jar

The appearance of Wang Yutao and his men caught the Seven Winds of Yin off guard and left them utterly bewildered.

But Chang Liang reacted swiftly, grasping the situation almost immediately.

At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a chill of alarm.

Hadn't they said that guest alchemist of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was a cripple who couldn't cultivate? How could he be so powerful?

By now, Chang Liang was certain that the youth who had entered the Ghost King Cave was none other than Ye Yuan, the guest alchemist of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

"Esteemed sir, I don't understand what you mean. If I had the ability to destroy the Spectrograph, I wouldn't be toiling away in the Yin Wind Cave all year round!" Chang Liang said with a cupped-fist salute.

His mind raced; he knew that only by stubbornly denying everything could there be a sliver of hope.

In truth, he had never imagined that Ye Yuan was the one the Wang family sought.

Wang Yutao sneered, "No more excuses. I only believe what my eyes see! We've already found out that after that brat entered the Yin Wind Cave, you've been guiding him all along. For that alone, you deserve to die!"

Chang Liang inwardly groaned but kept a bewildered look on his face. "Sir, I truly don't know what you're talking about! A youth did offer seven thousand divine origin stones to guide him, but... I had no idea he was the one you were looking for!"

Wang Yutao said coldly, "No matter how glib you are, the fact remains that you helped that brat! Men, seize them! If they resist, kill them all!"

Wang Yutao's words extinguished the last flicker of hope in Chang Liang's heart.

His expression darkened, and he said in a low voice, "Brothers, into the cave!"

At that moment, the other three sides were completely blocked, leaving the Ghost King Cave behind them as the only escape.

The seven of them moved like lightning, darting toward the Ghost King Cave.

Seeing this, Wang Yutao snorted and raised his hand to strike a palm.

"A bunch of reckless fools!"

A surge of powerful divine origin exploded, sending a terrifying wave of energy rolling toward the seven.

Chang Liang's face twisted in horror as he shouted, "Brothers, get inside!"

He poured all his strength into a desperate attempt to counter Wang Yutao's blow.

But it was like an ant trying to shake a tree!

Facing Wang Yutao, a Great Perfection Cave Profound expert, Chang Liang had no chance of resistance.

Yet Chang Liang had already steeled himself for death; he would ensure his brothers made it into the cave!

Though the Seven Winds of Yin were no saints, in this moment of crisis, true brotherhood shone through.

The eldest, Chang Liang, unhesitatingly threw himself in harm's way for his brothers!

But just then, two figures suddenly darted out, shielding Chang Liang.

"Big Brother, live on and avenge us!"

It was Third Brother and Seventh Brother!

Chang Liang's eyes blazed with fury, bloodshot and wild.

But Wang Yutao's palm strike had already arrived; there was no time for him to do anything!

"Boom!"

The immense force blasted Third Brother, Seventh Brother, and Chang Liang himself flying.

However, most of the force was absorbed by the two brothers.

Chang Liang spat out a mouthful of blood; beside him, Third Brother and Seventh Brother had already breathed their last.

Chang Liang was decisive. He knew this was no time for hesitation. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to his feet and staggered toward the Ghost King Cave.

Though Wang Yutao's palm strike had killed Third and Seventh Brothers, the force of the blow had carried Chang Liang to the mouth of the cave.

He lunged forward and plunged into the cave.

"Second Brother, what do we do now?" Wang Yuqian asked.

"What else? Go in and catch them! Now we're trapping the turtle in the jar!" Wang Yutao said without hesitation.

Just then, one of the martial artists spoke up fearfully, "S-sir, this is the Ghost King Cave!"

This martial artist was the guide the Wang family had hired.

Wang Yutao's face darkened. "So what if it's the Ghost King Cave?"

The guide said, "The Ghost King Cave is the most dangerous place in the Yin Wind Cave. It's teeming with countless evil spirits. And deep inside, there might even be two-star evil spirits! If we disturb them, none of us will escape!"

Wang Yutao's expression tightened at this, but he quickly relaxed and snorted, "So what? I don't believe that brat would dare venture deep into the Ghost King Cave! Let's go!"

The guide had no choice but to enter the Ghost King Cave.

… …

Chang Liang and his four companions had never entered the Ghost King Cave before; it was forbidden ground for all human martial artists.

So once inside, they ran blindly, losing all sense of direction.

But to their astonishment, they didn't encounter a single evil spirit along the way!

After fleeing for who knows how long, they suddenly saw a figure sitting cross-legged ahead.

"Big Brother, it's... that brat!"

"If it weren't for him, Third Brother and Seventh Brother wouldn't have died! We need to settle this score with him!"

"Big Brother, kill this brat and avenge Third and Seventh Brothers!"

Their voices were choked with tears; clearly, they couldn't accept the deaths of their brothers.

They knew they would never be a match for Wang Yutao, so they took out their anger on Ye Yuan.

Chang Liang was badly injured, barely holding on.

Seeing his brothers seething with indignation, his own expression turned grim.

"Brothers, the debt has a debtor! Third and Seventh Brothers were killed by Wang Yutao. If we're to settle accounts, it should be with him! Our dealings with Master Ye were just a transaction. It's not fair to blame him!" Chang Liang said.

Ye Yuan slowly opened his eyes, looking at Chang Liang with slight surprise, and spoke calmly, "The Wang family's madness is beyond my expectations. But the ones who caused the deaths of Third and Seventh Brothers are not me, but yourselves! If you want to settle this score with me, I'm ready."

Ye Yuan's words set them off like a powder keg.

"We caused their deaths? Kid, don't slander us!"

"Don't think that just because you killed a few evil spirits, you can scare us! You're just a mere early-stage Cave Profound; I don't believe you're really a match for us brothers!"

Chang Liang's face was ashen. Ye Yuan's words filled him with deep regret.

Ye Yuan said indifferently, "Every single one of you seven has harbored murderous intent toward me. In plain terms, you're a bunch of bandits who kill and rob! If not for that, I might have stepped in to save you earlier, or even brought you into the Ghost King Cave."

Ye Yuan's words sent a chill through the hearts of Chang Liang and the others.

So Ye Yuan had keenly sensed their murderous intent all along, but simply hadn't called them out on it!

Now, the deaths of Third and Seventh Brothers were the retribution for that murderous intent!

It wasn't that they hadn't wanted to kill Ye Yuan; it was just that Chang Liang had sensed danger and held back.

Thus, Ye Yuan had no obligation to take responsibility for their lives.

Between them, it was merely a transaction.

"Besides, if it weren't for the brotherhood you showed, do you think... you'd still be alive to see me?" Ye Yuan said calmly.