The Martial Saint Started from Scavenging

That soft sound, like a cold needle, instantly pierced Ye Sheng's guard.

He didn't respond immediately, but his muscles tensed up in an instant, and the faint golden internal energy in his dantian quietly slithered through his limbs and bones like a snake.

His hand holding the machete was as steady as a rock.

The night wind blew as usual, making the pier creak and the river water lap against the wooden stakes, and everything seemed to have returned to normal.

But Ye Sheng knew that the sound he had just heard was definitely not an illusion.

He walked to the door, but instead of pushing it open immediately, he pressed his ear against the door and listened intently.

There was no sound at all. Even the chirping of insects had vanished. This deathly silence was more unsettling than any commotion.

Ye Sheng slowly unlatched the door and then suddenly pushed the door open.

There was no one outside the door.

The cool moonlight shone on the pier, illuminating the grain of the wooden planks clearly. Mist swirled on the river, and the lights at the distant ferry crossing had been extinguished, leaving the entire Shuilongdu ferry crossing shrouded in darkness.

Ye Sheng's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, sweeping across the surroundings inch by inch.

Beneath the pier, piles of old fishing nets lay; in the distance, several small fishing boats were moored on the shore; further still, dark reeds swayed in the wind.

Everything was as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary.

He went outside, squatted down, and carefully examined the ground in front of the door. Besides his and Ye Kai's footprints, there were no other traces of anyone else on the soil.

Was I just too nervous and misheard?

Ye Sheng stood up, his brows furrowed: That's not right.

Since mastering the [Internal Breathing Technique], his five senses have become much more acute than before. Although the sound was faint, he was absolutely certain he had heard it correctly.

It was the sound of a sharp object scraping through wood, short and shrill.

He looked around again, his gaze finally settling on the wall of the shed.

Ye Sheng walked over and, by the faint moonlight, discovered a very fine scratch on the plank closest to the door.

The scratch was very new, only an inch long, and so shallow that it was almost invisible.

He wouldn't have noticed it at all if he hadn't been extra vigilant tonight.

Ye Sheng gently touched the scratch with his fingertips, and a chill instantly spread throughout his body from his fingertips.

Someone has been here.

Moreover, the opponent is a master. To leave this scratch without alerting him, their skill is probably far superior to his.

This is more like a warning, or a sign.

Ye Sheng stood still for a long time.

The night wind made his clothes flutter, but he didn't feel cold. Instead, he felt an invisible pressure coming from all directions.

Those unseen eyes, perhaps right now, are watching him coldly from some dark corner.

He turned and went back into the house, locking the door shut again.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Ye Kai was awakened by the noise outside and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"It's alright, it's windy." Ye Sheng walked to the fire and sat down. "Go to sleep."

Looking at his brother's calm profile, Ye Kai felt something was off, but he still obediently lay back down.

Ye Sheng placed the wood-chopping knife across his lap and stayed up all night.

Starting the next day, Ye Sheng continued his arduous training. He repeatedly practiced standing meditation, basic sword techniques, and internal breathing exercises.

He used the silver Zhang Hu gave him to exchange for some nourishing medicinal herbs from Liu the Cripple.

Although its effects are far less potent than the Qi and Blood Pill, it is gentler and can slowly and steadily increase his internal strength.

His strength is increasing at a rate that is visible to the naked eye.

Ye Kai's health improved day by day under the nourishment of the golden thread lotus and jade marrow grass. He no longer coughed all day long as before, and his complexion became much rosier.

One evening two weeks later, Ye Sheng returned from practicing his swordsmanship. He opened the door and was surprised to see Ye Kai leaning against the wall, shakily standing up.

"Brother!" Ye Kai's face lit up with surprise when he saw him.

Ye Sheng quickly stepped forward and helped him up: "Why did you get up? Didn't Manager Hu say you needed to rest a bit longer?"

"I...I feel like I have strength in my legs, so I want to give it a try."

Ye Kai took a careful step forward. Although he was still limping, he could walk now.

Ye Sheng looked at his younger brother, his heart filled with mixed emotions. All the hardships he had endured these past few days had finally paid off.

"well."

He said "good" twice, his eyes getting a little hot, "It's good that you can walk, it's good that you can walk."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the shed.

"Ye Sheng! Is Ye Sheng there?" It was Ah San's voice.

Ye Sheng frowned, helped Ye Kai sit down on the straw mat, and then walked to the door.

"Brother San, what's the matter?"

Ah San came running up, panting and pale: "Something terrible has happened!"

"Take your time."

"That bastard Zhao... Zhao Hu, with a dozen or so soldiers from the garrison and a few unfamiliar men in black, blocked the ferry crossing!"

Ah San was panting heavily. "They're searching house to house, saying they're looking to arrest a fugitive who assassinated a high-ranking official. But it looks like they're after you!"

Ye Sheng's pupils contracted sharply. Zhao Hu had finally made his move.

"Where's Brother Zhang?"

"Brother Zhang led his men to argue, but this time Zhao Hu had an official document from the garrison headquarters, saying he was acting on the orders of the county magistrate, showing no respect even to Brother Zhang!"

Ah San cried out urgently, "Mr. Ye, hurry! They're about to search this place!"

Ye Sheng's mind raced. Leave? Where to go? The entire Shuilongdu Ferry was sealed off; he had no way to escape.

He glanced at Ye Kai behind him; his younger brother's face was filled with terror.

Don't panic.

Ye Sheng took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"Brother San, you go back first, don't let them know you were here. I'll handle things here."

"But……"

"Hurry up and go!" Ye Sheng shouted in a low voice.

Ah San gritted his teeth, turned around, and disappeared into the reeds nearby.

Ye Sheng returned to the house and wrapped the few pieces of vermilion paper, the remaining silver and copper coins, and the jade token of the Qingyun Sword Sect all in oilcloth and hid them tightly on his body.

"Brother..." Ye Kai's voice was tinged with worry.

"Don't be afraid."

Ye Sheng walked to his side, squatted down, and looked directly into his eyes. "Little brother, remember, no matter what happens later, don't make a sound. I'll take care of everything."

Ye Kai nodded vigorously, tears welling in his eyes.

Ye Sheng stood up and gripped the wood-chopping knife in his hand. He walked to the door and waited quietly.

The commotion in the distance grew closer, mixed with women's cries and men's angry curses.

He could hear the soldiers of the garrison force kicking down the door roughly, and Zhao Hu's arrogant shouts.

"Search thoroughly! Don't let anyone suspicious get away!"

"There are eyewitnesses who saw the suspect; he's a vagrant named Ye Sheng. His younger brother is sickly and has a broken leg, so he's easy to recognize!"

The footsteps stopped at the door of the shed.

"Bang!"

With a loud crash, the door, pieced together from old ship planks, was kicked open.

Seven or eight soldiers carrying spears rushed in, crowding the small shed to the brim.

A middle-aged man wearing a patrol officer's uniform and with a scar on his face walked in slowly with his hands behind his back.

It was Zhao Hu.

Behind him followed a man in black wearing a silver mask.

The man was tall and thin, exuding a chilling aura. His eyes, peering through the gaps in his mask, were fixed on Ye Sheng like a venomous snake.

Ye Sheng felt a chill run down his spine.

It's him! The silver-masked man who was inquiring about me in the ghost market!

Zhao Hu's gaze swept around the room, finally landing on Ye Kai's leg, which was still in a splint, and a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Ah, I've finally found you."

He looked at Ye Sheng with the eyes of someone looking at a dead man. "Ye Sheng, you are suspected of assassinating an official of the imperial court. Come with us."

"I didn't." Ye Sheng gripped the wood-chopping knife tightly, his voice icy.

"Whether it's there or not isn't up to you to decide." Zhao Hu sneered, waving his hand. "Take him down!"

Two soldiers immediately stepped forward, raised their spears, and thrust them at Ye Sheng.

Ye Sheng's eyes turned cold, and his inner strength erupted instantly. Instead of retreating, he took a step forward to meet the spear tip.

"court death!"

The machete was drawn from its sheath, bringing with it a chilling glint.