Chapter 10: The Boisterous Clown

Han Yang wasted no words and directly tossed the heart-protecting pendant onto the table.

“Take a look—how much do you think this is worth in spirit stones?”

The shopkeeper picked up the jade pendant and examined it carefully. His expression shifted slightly before returning to a smile.

“This item is brimming with spiritual energy; it’s clearly no ordinary piece. I’m willing to offer five thousand high-grade spirit stones for it.”

Han Yang sneered coldly.

“Five thousand? Are you kidding me? This pendant can withstand a fatal blow from a Nascent Soul stage cultivator!”

The shopkeeper’s eyes darted as he forced a smile.

“Master Yao, please calm down. I must have been mistaken. How about eight thousand? Eight thousand high-grade spirit stones?”

Han Yang shook a finger dismissively.

“Ten thousand, plus ten pieces of refined black iron gold. Not a single piece less, or we have no deal.”

The shopkeeper winced in pain. Refined black iron gold was a rare commodity, but considering the value of the pendant, he gritted his teeth.

“Deal!”

After receiving the spirit stones and refined black iron gold, Han Yang was in high spirits, humming a tune as he left the Treasure Pavilion.

…

At the sect’s gathering point, a group of disciples had been waiting for some time.

Lu Yuan stood among them, arrogantly directing others as if he were the leader of a group of lackeys.

When Han Yang arrived late, Lu Yuan immediately sneered with a sarcastic tone.

“Oh, if it isn’t Protector Han. Why so late? Lost yourself in some pleasure den, perhaps?”

Han Yang shot him a sideways glance and sneered coldly.

“None of your damn business.”

Lu Yuan was momentarily stunned, his face flushing red. He dared not lash out, instead glaring fiercely at Han Yang.

The surrounding disciples all lowered their heads, stifling laughter.

Han Yang ignored the buffoon and walked over to one side, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed to rest.

He knew very well that the heart-protecting pendant given by Li Xueqing was problematic. Keeping it would only cause trouble; it was better to exchange it for genuine cultivation resources.

Now that he had the spirit stones and refined black iron gold, it was the perfect time to enter seclusion and break through to the third layer of the Vajra Immovable Technique.

…

Meanwhile, Zhao Tianba was hiding in his cave dwelling, his face dark and terrifying.

He couldn’t understand why the sect leader had entrusted such an important mission to Han Yang, whom he considered useless, and even rewarded him with a heart-protecting pendant!

Why? Just because of that pretty face?

The more Zhao Tianba thought about it, the angrier he became, a stone seeming to press on his chest, making his breathing difficult.

“Damn Han Yang! You stole my woman and earned the sect leader’s favor! I will make you pay!”

Zhao Tianba growled through gritted teeth.

He slammed his fist on the table and paced back and forth.

He had to find a way to eliminate Han Yang, or he would never swallow this humiliation!

A cruel plan gradually took shape in his mind.

He gathered several disciples who held grudges against Han Yang and promised them generous rewards to ambush Han Yang on the way to the Demon Sect.

These disciples had long disliked Han Yang, thinking he was arrogant due to the sect leader’s favor.

Now, with Zhao Tianba’s backing and benefits promised, they readily agreed.

Several days later, Han Yang emerged from seclusion.

After breaking through to the third layer of the Vajra Immovable Technique, Han Yang felt his true qi surge like a tidal wave, his strength multiplying several times over.

He casually threw a punch, and the air around him exploded with a series of booming sounds.

Not only that, his physical body had greatly strengthened, his skin faintly radiating a golden light, as impenetrable as a bronze wall.

More importantly, when he practiced dual cultivation, he could receive double the reciprocal benefit.

He arrived at the gathering point to find the other disciples already assembled, waiting only for him.

Lu Yuan still wore his sycophantic expression, taunting sarcastically.

“Well, Protector Han finally deigned to show up? I thought you’d be in seclusion forever!”

Lu Yuan’s face turned as red as liver but dared not say more, slinking forward to lead the group.

The group set off in a grand procession, leaving the Blissful Immortal Sect behind, heading toward the Demon Sect.

Along the way, Lu Yuan frequently turned to provoke Han Yang, his words sharp and irritating like a buzzing fly.

Han Yang pretended not to hear, busy observing the others.

He keenly noticed several disciples acting strangely, their gazes flickering and whispering among themselves, as if plotting something.

“Hmph, a bunch of clowns,” Han Yang sneered inwardly. His Eye of Illusion had already seen through their little schemes.

He remained calm, quietly raising his vigilance to see what tricks they intended to play.

As they passed through a dense forest, those disciples excused themselves to leave the group covertly.

Before long, they returned furtively, wearing smug expressions.

Han Yang secretly watched their movements and noticed them glancing repeatedly at his water pouch.

“Poison?” Han Yang chuckled coldly. He had already detected a faint strange odor coming from the pouch.

Such a crude poison, and they wanted to harm him? What wishful thinking.

By evening, the group stopped to rest and prepare a fire for cooking.

Han Yang sat cross-legged, eyelids lowered but secretly observing the furtive disciples.

They exchanged sly glances and frequently glanced his way.

Soon, two of them approached, carrying two cups of wine, smiling ingratiatingly.

“Protector Han, you’ve worked hard! This is a rare ‘Pure Jade Nectar’ treasured by us brothers, specially brought as a gift for you!” said one squat, chubby disciple obsequiously.

“Yes, Protector Han’s strength is extraordinary. So young and already a protector—surely a pillar of the sect in the future!” added a tall, thin disciple.

Han Yang took the wine cups without a hint of expression.

Opening his Eye of Illusion, he saw a faint green glow shimmering in one cup, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike.

Feigning casualness, he clinked cups with the two. Taking advantage of the chubby disciple’s distraction, he flicked his fingers, swapping the two cups instantly.

“Protector Han, please!” the two urged eagerly, eyes shining with anticipation.

Han Yang raised the cup and drank the “poisoned wine” in one gulp, then pretended to frown in surprise.

“This wine tastes a bit bitter.”

The chubby disciple’s face instantly turned pale, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

He gritted his teeth against the violent stomach cramps and forced out a smile more painful than tears.

“Maybe there was a problem during brewing. Protector Han, please forgive us.”

He clutched his belly and staggered toward the depths of the forest.

The other accomplices quickly found excuses to flee as well, like a startled bunch of rabbits disappearing in a flash.

Han Yang watched their retreating backs with a cold smile.

He toyed with the antidote bottle he had taken from the chubby disciple.

Not long after, muffled screams came from deep within the forest, then silence returned.

The accomplices came back to camp looking flustered and nervous, avoiding Han Yang’s gaze as if guilty.

Han Yang feigned ignorance and closed his eyes again to rest.

That night, Han Yang quietly slipped into the forest and found the disciples clumsily burying their fallen comrade by moonlight.

They cursed softly as they dug.

“This idiot drank his own poison and still lost the antidote.”