Chapter Eighty-Four: Provocation

Whatever discussions Xu Si and his companions had, Ye Yan was completely oblivious. But after their meeting concluded, he received an invitation from Lu Linglong and the others. The event was a bonfire party, and besides Ye Yan, Zhang Chulan and others were also invited. The gathering was scheduled for tonight.

Ye Yan had little interest in such festivities, but the enthusiasm of his peers was difficult to resist, so he eventually decided to join them.

Night fell.

On the open grounds of Dragon Tiger Mountain, the blazing bonfire burned bright, casting away the darkness and mingling with the starlight, radiant and enchanting. Accompanied by the crackling sounds of the flames, the grand bonfire party began swiftly—a welcoming ceremony among the younger generation, and also a gesture of hospitality from Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Ye Yan did not enjoy such lively atmospheres. He distanced himself from the crowd, sitting quietly in a corner with a beer in hand, observing the laughter and joy unfolding nearby.

He was not the only solitary soul; Zhang Lingyu, too, kept his distance. The pride he exuded drove a wedge between him and his peers. Like a lofty warrior, he scorned the idea of blending in.

Zhang Chulan, on the other hand, quickly immersed himself in the festivities, mingling effortlessly with those his age... Though his nickname "No Shame" sounded rather unrefined, it actually earned him considerable popularity among his peers.

Feng Baobao also sat apart, watching Zhang Chulan as he integrated into the crowd. Her gaze betrayed little emotion. She merely held a bottle of white liquor, sipping through a straw. Before long, the one-kilogram bottle was nearly empty.

Ye Yan drank his beer, tilting his head back to gaze at the bright, waning moon overhead, his thoughts drifting.

As his mind wandered, a figure silently approached. Ye Yan looked up slightly and saw Zhang Lingyu’s proud face, the red vermilion mark between his brows, and his silver-white hair cascading over his shoulders, appearing even more striking and cold beneath the moonlight.

“What is it? Do you need something?” Ye Yan’s tone was somewhat curt, not particularly friendly to Zhang Lingyu.

“Are you Ye Yan?” Zhang Lingyu ignored the question and sat down beside him.

“That has nothing to do with you,” Ye Yan replied lazily, taking a swig of beer.

“Are you Ye Yan?” Zhang Lingyu frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his expression, but repeated his question.

“It’s none of your business,” Ye Yan answered, irritated and confused by Zhang Lingyu’s persistence.

“So it is you,” Zhang Lingyu said, this time with a certain conviction in his gaze.

“Heh...” Ye Yan sneered, unwilling to engage further. He decided to get up and find a quieter spot.

But before he could take two steps, a flash of lightning suddenly erupted behind him. Pure white light streaked through the air, striking toward his back—a formidable attack.

The lightning came unexpectedly, but in the darkness, hitting Ye Yan was no easy feat; after all, the night was his domain. In the instant the lightning appeared, Ye Yan adjusted his position, dodging skillfully.

The lightning grazed past him, striking a large tree ahead, instantly splitting it in two and sending dust flying everywhere.

“Are you looking to die?” Ye Yan’s mood soured instantly after the sudden sneak attack.

He turned slowly, glaring at Zhang Lingyu, who stood arrogantly with his robes fluttering, the murderous intent in Ye Yan’s eyes barely concealed.

“So it really is you,” Zhang Lingyu said, unfazed by Ye Yan’s threatening gaze. His narrow, proud eyes even showed a hint of excitement.

“When I saw your name missing from the contestants of the Celestial Gathering, I felt a bit disappointed.”

“But now, I don’t anymore.”

A strong, golden aura surged from Zhang Lingyu’s body, enveloping him and intensifying his fighting spirit.

“Come, Ye Yan. Let me, as the heir to Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Thunder Techniques, test the strength of a Night Watchman. Let’s see if you, the leader of the younger generation, are truly as powerful as the rumors say.”

“You’re insane,” Ye Yan replied, amused rather than angered by Zhang Lingyu’s provocation. A mere disciple of the Celestial Master’s Sect, challenging him? Surely out of his mind.

Ye Yan even wondered if Zhang Lingyu was really an heir of Dragon Tiger Mountain; he seemed more like a monk from Shaolin, with an impressive iron head technique.

Despite these thoughts, Ye Yan restrained his murderous impulse. No matter what, Zhang Lingyu was the Celestial Master’s disciple, and that deserved some respect.

With that in mind, he turned to leave, hoping to put some distance between them. But seeing Ye Yan about to walk away, Zhang Lingyu refused to back down, goading him,

“What’s wrong? The illustrious Night Watchman Ye Yan, leader of the younger generation, won’t even accept a challenge? If word gets out, wouldn’t you become a laughing stock?”

Zhang Lingyu pressed on relentlessly.

Hearing this, Ye Yan turned, looking coldly at Zhang Lingyu. “Don’t dig your own grave.”

If not for the sake of the Celestial Master, anyone daring to provoke him like this would already be buried in a pit. Would he still have the chance to spout such nonsense?

“Dig my own grave?” Zhang Lingyu retorted, annoyed. “That’s hardly the case. It’s just a challenge. You can go all out. No matter the result, this challenge is mine alone—it has nothing to do with you.”

“You don’t need to worry about my master coming after you over such a trivial matter.”

“Interesting.”

Ye Yan found himself looking at Zhang Lingyu in a new light. Pride aside, his sense of responsibility was commendable.

Since the request had reached this point, Ye Yan felt obliged to oblige him.

“Since you insist, I’ll grant your wish. Bear the consequences yourself.”

Ye Yan reached up and removed the half-fox mask from his face, revealing his true features. Then he casually picked up a brick from the ground, weighing it in his palm, and remarked,

“Come at me with everything you have. I’ll satisfy your request.”

“Why aren’t you using the Soul Drum, the Soul Hammer, or your Banner Demon? Are you looking down on me?”

Everyone knew the Night Watchman’s three iconic tools, and Zhang Lingyu was no exception.

“To deal with you, I don’t need them.”

Ye Yan smiled, shaking the brick in his hand. “This alone is more than enough.”

“You…” Seeing Ye Yan treat him so dismissively, Zhang Lingyu was inexplicably infuriated. The golden aura around him grew pale, transforming into dazzling lightning.

Enshrouded in lightning, Zhang Lingyu charged at Ye Yan, unleashing his most powerful Thunder Technique. Even the Night Watchman would be hard-pressed to withstand such a blow.

Zhang Lingyu was confident.

But before he could get close, a brick loomed large in his vision—suddenly and unexpectedly.