Chapter 139: An Unrivaled Expert?

"The Grim Reaper is coming! Run, quick!"

Seeing Li Jiansan approach, several people vanished instantly, leaving Li Jiansan speechless.

"Why does everyone look at me like they've seen a ghost?" he muttered, bewildered. "I'm not a monster. It’s not like I’m going to eat them."

He felt deeply annoyed. This same scene had repeated several times today; the moment people spotted him, they fled into the distance. "It seems hunting people for their loot is proving difficult. I suppose I’ll have to settle for hunting demonic beasts instead."

As he stood before a cave, he spotted some crooked, scrawled characters carved into the rock face and grew curious: "Peerless master resides within. Enter with caution!!!"

Staring into the pitch-black abyss, Li Jiansan strode inside.

"You little thief, how dare you disturb my sleep?" A raspy, aged voice echoed through the cave.

Li Jiansan’s expression darkened. He kicked the figure in the shadows, annoyed that he had expected a real expert to spar with, only to find this brat instead.

"You insolent wretch! To offend me—given this is your first offense, I shall grant you one chance: get out at once!"

Li Jiansan sighed. "Fatty, you’re really committed to the act, aren't you? Still playing games with me?"

It was none other than Zhang Dabao.

Upon recognizing the voice, he cheered and threw his arms around Li Jiansan. "Oh, goodness! It’s Brother Li!"

Li Jiansan shoved him off and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Brother Li, you don't understand. These ruthless types in the forest are all out for blood the moment they step inside. They’re probably slaughtering everyone in sight by now. My fragile little heart couldn't handle that kind of carnage. Risking one's life just for a ranking? That’s a terrible deal. So, I chose the best of the thirty-six stratagems: running away." Zhang Dabao spoke with righteous indignation, his eyes reflecting his true philosophy: living an easy life was all that mattered; everything else was secondary.

*Thwack!*

Li Jiansan delivered a heavy rap to Zhang Dabao’s skull. "Did you write those words outside the cave?"

Coming to his senses, Zhang Dabao grinned sheepishly. "Heh, pretty clever, right? Those cowards see the sign and run off without a second thought. If you hadn't come in, I could have hidden here for seven days without anyone finding me. Tell me, am I not a man of great wit?"

"You have a bit of cleverness, though whether you've actually become a 'man' is debatable."

Zhang Dabao stammered, "Brother Li, please, don't hit below the belt..."

"By the way, Fatty, answer me this: why does everyone run away when they see me, calling me the 'Grim Reaper'? Am I really that terrifying?"

Zhang Dabao’s heart skipped a beat as he stared blankly at Li Jiansan. "Brother Li, you’re the Grim Reaper? Your reputation has been spreading like wildfire these past few days! You killed two elders—you’re completely lawless! They’ve dubbed you the 'Grim Reaper,' and a saying has started to circulate: 'Where the Grim Reaper treads, no blade of grass grows, and not a soul survives.' Everyone is terrified of you now. It would be stranger if they didn't wet themselves upon seeing you in person."

Li Jiansan listened to the chatter, finally understanding the cause. His previous display of force had clearly intimidated the cowards.

He looked at Zhang Dabao and smiled. "Do you want to get rich overnight and see your name on the ranking board for this assessment?"

"I can make the list?" Zhang Dabao gasped. To rank in this assessment meant placing in the top ten—the top ten of all the new disciples. It was the equivalent of a slum dweller suddenly becoming a billionaire. For someone like Zhang Dabao, who only wanted to coast through life, it was a miracle he hadn't dared to dream of.

Seeing Li Jiansan nod, he blurted out, "I want to, of course I want to!"

"Brother Li, you aren't going to make me do anything murderous or arsonous, are you?" Zhang Dabao broke into a cold sweat.

Li Jiansan whispered a few words into his ear, then dragged him out of the cave. "Just spread this news. The more people who know, the better."

"Is it really that simple?" Zhang Dabao asked, skeptical.

"Would you rather go out and rob people?"

"We are civilized folk; how could I engage in such barbaric behavior?" Zhang Dabao shook his head vigorously, patting his round belly. "Don't worry, Brother Li. I know where a few other cowards have set up their caves nearby. I’ll go tell them right now."

He slipped into a nearby cave, then scrambled back out, glancing behind him as he fled, though no one pursued him.

"A bunch of cowards, not even daring to chase your Uncle Zhang Dabao. Fine, fine, onto the next one."

Just as he was feeling frustrated, he collided with someone and stumbled to the ground.

"Did I tell you that you could leave?" A handsome youth blocked his path, his eyes filled with disdain. This was Hu Hai, a disciple recruited internally, a cultivation genius already at the second level of the Martial Spirit realm.

"Brother, Brother, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Zhang Dabao scrambled up, acting incredibly humble.

"This cave is under my jurisdiction," Hu Hai said irritably. "You trespassed without my permission, and now I’m in a foul mood."

"Then... how can I make you happy?"

Hu Hai glanced at him coldly. "Hand over all the essence cores you have."

Zhang Dabao spread his hands helplessly. "I’d love to, but I don't have a single one. Believe me, I'm just here to slack off."

Hu Hai balled his fists. "Two choices: either kneel and call me 'Daddy,' or let me beat you up. Choose."

"Brother, Brother, I..."

"What 'brother'?" Hu Hai barked. "Call me 'Daddy'!"

Zhang Dabao shivered, then stomped his foot. "How about this? I’ll tell you a secret, and you let me go."

"That depends on whether your secret is worth anything," Hu Hai sneered. "Speak."

"Brother, not long ago, I found a kid in a cave who has a ton of essence cores. He’s weak—doesn't even seem to be at the Foundation Establishment stage. He must have used some external tool to get them. He’s hiding in that cave now, probably out of power. I was just looking for a place to rest before I went after him, but I never expected to run into you..."

Under Zhang Dabao’s intricate lie, Hu Hai felt no suspicion. He grabbed Zhang Dabao. "I believe you. Where is the cave? Lead the way, and I'll let you go once we're there."

"Yes, yes, Brother, this way!" Zhang Dabao said politely, a wicked smile hidden at the corner of his mouth.

*I am a man of wit; how could I ever bow to your tyranny? 'Daddy,' my foot. In this world, there is only Uncle Zhang Dabao—everyone else is a grandson. I am, after all, a man of wit...*