Chapter 12: Murderous Aura

"Doctor, have you rested? Please take a look at me, I’m feeling unwell…” Ye Mingyi rushed forward as soon as he saw Zhang Xiaofan emerge, seemingly forgetting his earlier efforts to help Liu Zifeng target Zhang Xiaofan. He now felt a heaviness in his chest, coughed incessantly, and Gao Zhipeng had told him that he too was poisoned—something even Gao Zhipeng could not cure.

“You want me to treat you? What’s our relationship?” Zhang Xiaofan replied coldly, recalling just how loud Ye Mingyi had been earlier.

Ye Mingyi was stunned. He hadn’t expected Zhang Xiaofan to be so indifferent—he was, after all, the second young master of the Ye family. He wanted to lash out, but thinking about his life, he swallowed his anger.

“Doctor, I know I was wrong earlier. As long as you treat me, I’ll pay you whatever you ask,” Ye Mingyi pleaded.

“Oh? Any amount? Then how about a hundred million? Will you pay?” Zhang Xiaofan snorted.

“You… that’s outrageous!” Ye Mingyi retorted.

“If not, move aside. I’m going home,” Zhang Xiaofan said in a deep voice.

Ye Mingyi panicked. If Zhang Xiaofan left, who would cure him?

“Fine! I’ll give you a hundred million!”

His heart bled, but for the sake of his life, he had no choice. Money could be earned again, but if he lost his life, what use was wealth?

Hurriedly, he fetched a check and scribbled the amount.

Zhang Xiaofan took it without ceremony and slipped it into his pocket. The second son of the Ye family truly didn’t even blink at a hundred million.

“So, Doctor, I’ve given you the money. What about my illness?” Ye Mingyi asked cautiously, afraid to anger Zhang Xiaofan.

“The prescription has already been given to you. Take it for seven days and you’ll be fine,” Zhang Xiaofan replied with a faint smile, striding away.

Ye Mingyi instantly felt duped. His teeth ground together—a hundred million, gone just like that!

Ye Mingwu wanted Zhang Xiaofan to stay and rest, but was refused. It was already two in the morning; Zhang Xiaofan truly intended to leave.

After he left, Ye Qingcheng emerged from her room and, hearing he was gone, couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

Meanwhile, after drinking the medicine, Old Master Ye felt much improved—at least able to speak. He repeatedly insisted that Zhang Xiaofan be found and properly rewarded, and harshly scolded his two sons.

If he hadn’t risked his life to speak and drive Liu Zifeng away, he’d have died.

“Doctor, wait!” Gao Zhipeng caught up with Zhang Xiaofan soon after he left.

“What is it?” Zhang Xiaofan asked.

“I have an impertinent request—I wish to befriend you,” Gao Zhipeng said with a smile. Though he was known as Jinghai’s finest doctor, compared to Zhang Xiaofan’s skills, it was like a child facing an adult.

So Gao Zhipeng earnestly wanted to befriend Zhang Xiaofan, hoping to learn even a fraction of his abilities.

“No need. I doubt we’ll cross paths again,” Zhang Xiaofan replied quietly.

Gao Zhipeng was slightly disappointed, watching Zhang Xiaofan’s figure fade into the distance.

After leaving, Zhang Xiaofan suddenly realized that his home was more than twenty kilometers away.

He checked his pocket—no cash, just a check for a hundred million—which was useless to him.

Well then… time to walk.

After running several kilometers, Zhang Xiaofan’s expression tightened. He sensed someone following him—the presence was well-concealed but couldn’t escape his detection.

With a chilling murderous aura, this person meant to kill him.

Was it Liu Zifeng’s people, or someone from the Ye family?

There could only be two possibilities at this hour. The Ye family was unlikely—though he had swindled Ye Mingyi out of a hundred million, he had saved their lives, so they weren’t about to send someone to kill him.

It could only be someone from the Liu family.

“Come out. Stop hiding,” Zhang Xiaofan called coldly toward a distant thicket.

A chilling voice replied, sending a shiver down his spine: “You do have some skills, but tonight, fate has decreed your death.”

Before the voice faded, a man in a black robe appeared at Zhang Xiaofan’s side.

“A Liu family dog?” Zhang Xiaofan said coldly.

“Still stubborn at death’s door,” the man replied icily. “You’ve offended someone you shouldn’t. Death is all that awaits you.”

He neither confirmed nor denied it, but Zhang Xiaofan was certain—this was a Liu family assassin.

“You? Alone?” Zhang Xiaofan’s lips curled in a cold smile.

Since the assassin had come for his life, Zhang Xiaofan showed no mercy. Whether teaching a lesson to Lü Zhaotang at school, dealing with loan shark thugs, or confronting Liu Zifeng earlier, he had always held back most of his strength.

But now, he was truly murderous.

This icy killing intent hadn’t surfaced since he was fifteen.

He casually picked up a silver needle, infused it with spiritual energy until it hummed, then shot it toward the black-robed man like lightning.

The needle moved at a terrifying speed. The man’s face darkened; although he reacted as quickly as possible, the needle buried itself precisely in the center of his brow just as he moved.

Zhang Xiaofan had even calculated the assassin’s evasive steps.

The Ghost Hand Divine Needle could save lives, but could also kill.

The black-robed man’s eyes widened in unwillingness and terror as he slowly collapsed.

With a single needle, Zhang Xiaofan pierced his central nervous system, the spiritual energy shattering his brain.

Had the man not been so arrogant, he might not have died so quickly—he was, after all, a martial artist who had crossed into the extraordinary realm.

Killing someone meant little to Zhang Xiaofan. At fifteen, he couldn’t count how many he’d slain—all deserving.

“Liu family… you’d best not provoke me again. Otherwise, I’ll leave you no chance to regret it,” Zhang Xiaofan thought coldly. Even a super family of Jinghai held no fear for him.

An hour later, drenched in sweat, Zhang Xiaofan finally arrived downstairs. After making sure no one was around, he quickly climbed to the second floor.

After a long night, he collapsed onto his bed and immediately fell asleep.

…

The next day, he attended school as usual.

In the classroom of Senior Three, Class Two, Zhang Xiaofan lay sprawled on his desk, sound asleep. He’d been up far too late and needed to catch up on rest.

It was nearly time for class. Most students had arrived, and few spared Zhang Xiaofan a glance. To them, he was insignificant.

Yet many couldn’t help but look back at him, unable to believe he dared to face Lü Zhaotang and his dozens of men alone.

Especially the girls, whose gazes toward Zhang Xiaofan burned with admiration.

Handsome, skilled—if only he weren’t so poor, he’d make a perfect boyfriend.

Yin Rouro glanced at Zhang Xiaofan from time to time. He seemed shameless, but when serious, he radiated a unique masculine charm. She was genuinely curious about him.

Of course, she worried more about Lü Zhaotang’s revenge. Knowing him, being beaten so badly in public, he would never let it go.

Though Lü Zhaotang’s family wasn’t on par with hers, he was not someone Zhang Xiaofan could easily deal with. Zhang Xiaofan might be a good fighter, but if Lü Zhaotang went all out, Zhang Xiaofan would at best be expelled, at worst crippled.

Moreover, Lü Zhaotang belonged to the Martial Arts Club and was close to Bai Qi, one of the Four Kings. If they came for revenge, could Zhang Xiaofan handle it?

Yin Rouro’s feelings were conflicted. She considered whether to use her own connections to help Zhang Xiaofan.

Yesterday’s incident was thanks to Zhu Jianlong, whose injuries weren’t serious. He wanted to thank Zhang Xiaofan, but seeing him asleep, didn’t dare disturb him.

Just then, the class was filled with exclamations.

“Wow, look, it’s Bai Qi… so handsome!”

“Oh my god, one of the Four Kings—why is he in our class?”

“Are you stupid? Yesterday our transfer student beat up Lü Zhaotang, and Bai Qi is his big brother. He’s obviously here for revenge.”

The newcomer was tall, nearly one meter eighty, but not thin—in fact, he was robust and strikingly handsome, sunny in demeanor. No wonder the girls exclaimed!

Three others followed behind him. They weren’t unattractive, but beside him, they faded into the background.

“We’re doomed. This transfer student really stirs trouble. Offending Bai Qi—will we get dragged into it?”

“Yes, we must distance ourselves from him. We don’t want to be implicated.”

Those who gossiped hadn’t been present yesterday, or had found reasons to escape. Now, instead of remembering Zhang Xiaofan had saved Yin Rouro and others, they complained.

Yin Rouro’s expression was unpleasant—clearly, not everyone possessed a heart of justice and honor.