Chapter Twenty-Three: Uproar

Looking at the dumbfounded Liu Yuqing, Liu Ji couldn't help but reach out and pinch the girl's soft cheek, "Really now... is it necessary to be so surprised?"

Liu Yuqing stared at Liu Ji in disbelief, "Second Brother, did you actually master the Supreme Heavenly Gang Technique in just half a month?!"

As a member of the Liu family, she was well aware of their ancestral secret technique, the Supreme Heavenly Gang Technique, and she knew better than anyone how difficult it was to cultivate it—truly a matter of risking one's life.

She would rather spend her days carefree, living as the pampered lady of the Liu family, than ever touch this peerless technique of the age...

The Supreme Heavenly Gang Technique!

She still wanted to live, after all.

She had heard from her brother Liu Ming about Liu Ji attempting this technique, and every day lately, the piercing screams coming from the backyard filled her with deep worry for him.

Even her resilient brother spoke of the technique with a heavy expression, showing just how perilous it truly was. For many, cultivating it was tantamount to courting death, as if dancing on the head of the King of Hell—one misstep, and you would be slapped dead.

Yet, unbelievably, in just half a month, Liu Ji had already achieved the initial mastery of the Supreme Heavenly Gang Technique. How could she not be shocked?

Liu Ji smiled, without explaining further. He gently rubbed Liu Yuqing's soft, warm cheek, then turned to Mu Wanjun, gazing intently at her.

Mu Wanjun met Liu Ji's eyes, refusing to back down.

Liu Ji patted her shoulder, "Next time, be more careful. If I hadn't reacted quickly, you might have died!"

"I..." Mu Wanjun felt aggrieved. At the time, being held by Liu Ji had made her so tense and rigid that she couldn't possibly pay attention to her surroundings.

Beside her, Xiaoqing timidly hid behind Mu Wanjun.

Now she said nothing, clearly shaken by the scene of Liu Ji slaying the vengeful ghost—it had utterly overturned her image of him, leaving her ashamed and silent.

"That’s enough for tonight," Liu Ji said, turning to leave with Liu Yuqing and Xiaoya.

Watching his retreating figure, Mu Wanjun’s expression was complicated. Had she really misjudged Liu Ji all this time? Was he merely biding his time, hiding his strength?

Yet, how deeply he had concealed himself!

For years, Liu Ji’s temperament and supposed incompetence had been mocked throughout South Prince City, but he endured it all.

Had it not been for the sudden attack by the vengeful ghost, would Liu Ji have continued to hide his abilities? If so, his composure was truly...

Frightening.

"Xiaoqing, let's return," Mu Wanjun said, turning away.

...

As expected, the news of Liu Ji, heir of the South Prince’s residence, slaying the vengeful ghost in public swept through South Prince City overnight, becoming the talk of the town.

Due to his identity, Liu Ji was already a prominent figure in the city. Now, with his display of strength and the killing of the vengeful ghost, he instantly became the center of everyone’s attention.

In the heart of the city stood a century-old tavern, a gathering place for people from all walks of life. Boasting and gossip were common fare among its patrons.

Whenever anything happened in South Prince City, big or small, news would quickly spread from this tavern, sweeping through the city in no time.

"I tell you, I saw it with my own eyes! The young lord Liu was out with Miss Mu, when suddenly someone tried to assassinate him from behind. The way it happened—it was clear they meant to kill him!"

"What?! That person was too audacious! To attempt an assassination in public? Did he have a death wish? Tell us what happened next!"

"Yes, hurry up!"

"Well, you wouldn't believe it, but the young lord remained calm in the face of danger. He pushed Miss Mu aside, then struck the assassin with a single blow. Seizing the advantage, he pursued and killed the assassin instantly—his head shattered, brains splattered everywhere!"

"Hiss! The young lord is that powerful?!"

"To attempt an assassination on the young lord, the assassin must have been skilled. Clearly, our young lord’s strength is not to be underestimated!"

"But wait, wasn’t Liu Ji always known as a hedonistic wastrel, only concerned with pleasure? I never heard he practiced martial arts all these years!"

"Are you foolish? If the young lord trained, would he show his abilities in front of you? I wager he simply didn’t want to stand out, which is why he acted incompetent all these years!"

"Heh, so he