Chapter 73: Third Brother Finishes Beating, Then Big Brother Takes Over

Time ticked by, and the country path remained quiet, with barely a soul passing through. It was almost mealtime.

“Guess they’re not coming.”

Bai Yun’an was just about to climb down and head back to the village for lunch when he gave the area one last scan from his perch.

That’s when he spotted a cluster of tiny black dots far off in the distance, trudging along the rural dirt road.

The thought of heading down vanished instantly.

He needed to confirm first—were they from Zhenxiu Restaurant?

As the group drew closer, Bai Yun’an broke into a smile.

Wasn’t that the kind soul who helped him juice bitter melon yesterday by climbing over the wall?

Meanwhile, Wang Maquan and the others were still chatting and laughing.

“Bro, we’re here to help you get your revenge!”

“Quan’er, are you stupid? How could some poor bumpkin have that kind of power?”

“Watch us drag that little brat out for you. You better give him a good beating today—don’t tell me you’re scared!”

Surrounded by his buddies’ teasing and provocation, even if Wang Maquan had been scared before, his bravado kicked in the moment they egged him on.

Wang Maquan sneered, “Me, scared? First thing I’ll do when I find that brat is pin him down and slap him silly!”

The others laughed. “Alright! We’ll be watching! Just go easy on him—he’s still a kid!”

Perched in the tree, Bai Yun’an chuckled too—but a second later, the smile vanished.

His expression turned sharp, his eyes filled with scorn like he was looking at human trash. Lightning Ability crackled in his hand.

In an instant, thunder boomed out of nowhere, followed by a bolt of black-purple lightning that struck the ground right beside the group.

This Lightning Ability was nothing compared to what he had in the apocalypse.

But Bai Yun’an wasn’t trying to kill them—just send a message.

Not that he didn’t want to kill them. The System wouldn’t allow it.

System: 【You have three remaining uses of Lightning Ability, each at only five percent power.】

Bai Yun’an: 【Got it.】

He lay silently on the tree branch, gritting his teeth against the electric backlash wreaking havoc in his body. This body couldn’t handle Lightning Ability—it hurt like hell.

Wang Maquan was completely stunned by the sudden lightning strike.

And it wasn’t just him. Even the “well-traveled” bodyguard beside Kang An was frozen in shock.

“Th-th-this…”

Wang Maquan swallowed hard, staring up at the blazing sun overhead.

No way. The sun was still out!

So how the hell did a bolt of black-purple lightning come out of nowhere and strike right at them like it was aiming?

“It’s gotta be that freak! It has to be!”

In a panic, Wang Maquan remembered what had happened the night before.

He remembered the tingling numbness of being electrocuted, the creepy kid, and the suffocating feeling of something being violently shoved into his mouth.

His legs trembling, Wang Maquan staggered to his feet and bolted, completely forgetting the bold declarations he’d made just moments ago.

Kang An’s bodyguard, still feeling the numbness from the lightning, looked at the terrified Wang Maquan and started to feel uneasy himself.

Once fear takes hold, a person can come up with countless reasons and excuses not to move forward.

Bai Yun’an shook his head slightly, then quietly climbed down from the tree and turned to stroll back toward the village.

Time to go home for lunch.

Otherwise, if his parents came back and found him missing, he’d get scolded.

Not that…

He was really afraid of those two, but he still needed to rack up Favorability Points with his little sister. At home, he had to play the role of a harmless, well-behaved child.

Meanwhile, Wang Maquan and the others started arguing.

Kang An’s bodyguard said, “Master gave strict orders. We have to teach the Bai Family a lesson!”

“I’m not going! I’ll just return Master Kang’s payment! The Bai Family is haunted!!!”

Just then, Bai Yunqi, who had sensed an unusual energy fluctuation and rushed over: ?

Wait, who are you planning to teach a lesson?

Bai Yunqi had come out looking for his third brother after realizing he hadn’t returned from his bathroom break.

But then the village aunties told him his brother had gone off with a bamboo basket to forage for wild vegetables.

Just as he approached the outskirts of the village, he sensed an unusual fluctuation of energy, along with faint traces of Spiritual Power. Curious, he decided to come take a look.

Who would’ve thought!

He’d stumble upon such a delightful scene.

This group of people…

Bai Yunqi raised an eyebrow. “Master Kang?”

So these were the ones from Zhenxiu Restaurant here to cause trouble?

In an instant, Bai Yunqi felt no guilt whatsoever.

His gaze landed on Kang An’s guard and Wang Maquan.

Both of them were emanating Spiritual Power, especially the guard—there was probably a fine piece of jade hanging from his waist!

Bai Yunqi roused the last bit of Spiritual Power in his body and formed another utterly mediocre hand seal.

Illusion Mist Art—still the battle-damaged version.

But for him, it worked like a charm.

Yawning, Bai Yunqi strode boldly toward Wang Maquan and the others.

This Illusion Mist Art could plunge people into a haze of illusion, clouding their emotions and vision, defeating them without a fight. In the hands of a powerful practitioner, the mist could spread for miles.

But right now, all he could manage was a small patch of white fog—just enough to obscure vision. It was thick enough that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

Wang Maquan suddenly felt someone tear open his chest—then an emptiness in his arms.

“My gold!” he cried out, finally realizing what had happened. But he couldn’t see a thing and had no idea who did it.

The guard felt something brush against his waist and instinctively reached for it.

His hand met nothing but air. The Jade Pendant his master had entrusted to him was gone.

Bai Yunqi tucked the Jade Pendant and the gold into his robe with satisfaction, then grabbed a large rock from the ground beside him.

…

It was midday, and the villagers had all gone home for lunch.

A few children were still running around inside the village, but two kilometers outside the entrance, the area was deserted.

So no one saw the eight-year-old boy clutching a large rock, beating people down with it.

And the ones getting beaten—like they were blind—let the little boy “bully” them without resistance.

Of course, he only struck below their armpits.

Because…

Bai Yunqi glanced down at his short little legs, then up at the much longer legs of Wang Maquan and the others.

Tsk.

He was a bit annoyed that this body was only eight years old. If he only attacked their lower bodies, it might give away his height.

So Bai Yunqi used clever force, taking advantage of the fact that the others were blind in the mist and couldn’t see a thing, and tripped them hard.

Once they were on the ground…

Where he hit was entirely up to him, wasn’t it?

So without a word, Bai Yunqi launched a one-sided beatdown.

His movements were swift and silent. In less than half a stick of incense, he was done, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

He tossed the rock aside and swaggered off.

He didn’t need to worry about the Illusion Mist Art—this technique only affected those few people. Anyone else passing by wouldn’t even see the fog.

This battle-damaged version of the Illusion Mist Art would only last half a stick of incense, so he had to get moving.