From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

Ye Lan's gaze shifted toward the group, immediately spotting Xin Haohui among them.

His hand tightened instinctively around the bottle he was holding.

Taking a deep breath, Ye Lan tried to calm himself.

"No, we haven't found him. The beast tide only recently subsided. When we ventured into the depths of the Emerald Forest today, we found quite a few beast carcasses."

"Could it be that Ye Lan killed them?"

One of the men hesitated before speaking.

"That useless piece of trash? Impossible."

Xin Haohui scoffed.

"But it's also possible he's dead. I even 'invited' his mother to Tianlang City, hoping to lure him out, but he never showed."

Xin Haohui spread his hands nonchalantly.

Bang—

Ye Lan's body trembled at the sound. His right hand clenched, crushing the bottle in his grip.

Hearing the noise, Xin Haohui glanced in that direction.

"Just a one-armed beggar."

He initially thought it might be Ye Lan, but dismissed the idea upon seeing the figure.

"Tsk, tsk. Xin is quite the strategist, bringing his mother here."

The other members of the Violent Tiger Mercenary Group chuckled.

"Of course. He only had his mother as a relative, living in the countryside. Did he think I wouldn't find out?"

"When he didn't show up after a few days, I just killed her and fed her to the dogs."

Xin Haohui continued, his tone casual.

"What a shame. It would have been nice to see Ye Lan's reaction."

"Hahaha."

The group burst into laughter.

"Even villains have their limits."

Ye Lan stood up, his voice hoarse.

His body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the intense fury he was struggling to contain.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you interrupt our conversation, you nobody from the Violent Tiger Mercenary Group?"

One of the men frowned as he heard Ye Lan speak.

"Why does that guy's back look familiar?"

Xin Haohui's brow furrowed.

"I'm talking to you, trash!"

Another man hurled a bottle at Ye Lan.

The bottle smashed against his back, shattering on impact.

The other patrons in the tavern, sensing the growing tension, quietly began to slip away.

No one wanted to be caught up in trouble with the Violent Tiger Mercenary Group, the most powerful faction in Tianlang City.

"You... all of you."

Ye Lan tightened his grip on the Glimmering Shadow Sword, turning slowly to face them.

"Ye Lan!"

As soon as he turned around, Xin Haohui gasped.

Even though Ye Lan looked disheveled, with messy hair and a grimy face, Xin Haohui recognized him immediately.

Damn it, he had dismissed the beggar because of the missing arm, but it really was him.

"Well, well, who would have thought you'd still be alive."

Xin Haohui's expression twisted with malice.

"This guy is Ye Lan!?"

The newer members of the Violent Tiger Mercenary Group sneered, not recognizing him.

Many of them had joined recently and didn't know much about Ye Lan, who had never been particularly prominent in the group.

"Yes, and that sword in his hand is no ordinary weapon."

"It's likely of C-rank or higher."

Xin Haohui's tone grew colder.

The sword looked different from before, darker, and it radiated an ominous energy.

"Kill him!"

"Anyone who brings the sword to the captain will be richly rewarded."

Xin Haohui barked.

As soon as he finished speaking, the newer members' eyes lit up. They quickly drew their weapons and charged at Ye Lan.

To them, Ye Lan was just a one-armed cripple, easy prey to be chopped into pieces.

"Seeking death."

Ye Lan's voice was icy.

His eyes gleamed with a terrifying killing intent.

Though only a first-rank warrior, the passive skill Full Attribute Amplification from the Glimmering Shadow Sword had greatly enhanced his reflexes.

With a single swing of the sword, a shimmering light flashed, and the men charging at him felt a sharp pain in their necks.

In the next moment, their heads rolled to the ground, blood spurting from their necks.

Xin Haohui's eyes widened in shock.

One strike!

Ye Lan had killed them all with just one strike!

[Killed first-rank martial artist, gained 100 Evolution Points]

[Killed first-rank martial artist, gained 100 Evolution Points]

...

"Not bad. His combat skills have improved significantly."

Ye Fan was pleased as he watched his Evolution Points increase.

"Xin Haohui!!!"

Ye Lan's eyes were now bloodshot.

The thought of his mother being murdered and fed to dogs fueled his rage, making his entire body tremble with fury.

"Kill him!"

"Everyone, attack!!"

Xin Haohui roared, his voice tinged with panic.

Even if Ye Lan was strong, he was still just one person, and a one-armed cripple at that!

The remaining men rushed at Ye Lan, weapons raised.

"Sword Dance!"

Ye Lan shouted, channeling all his Source energy into the sword.

Through his experiments over the past few days, he had discovered that infusing the sword with enough energy could unleash a hidden sword technique.

[Phantom Dance]!

The skill activated instantly!

Enhanced by the sword's improved quality, the technique was devastating.

As Ye Lan moved with the sword, his enemies fell one by one into pools of their own blood.

The Glimmering Shadow Sword absorbed the spilled blood, its blade glowing with a sinister red light.

"Now, it's your turn."

Ye Lan advanced slowly toward Xin Haohui and the man who had thrown the bottle.

The blood on the sword disappeared, as if it had been absorbed into the blade, creating an eerie sight.

Only Xin Haohui and the bottle-thrower remained.

The man trembled uncontrollably at the sight of the carnage around him.

Thud—

He fell to his knees, shaking violently.

"I didn't mean it! It was a mistake! Please, forgive me, spare me!"

He begged, his voice quivering with terror.

Ye Lan had killed his comrades with terrifying ease, and the man was overwhelmed with fear.

Ye Lan's eyes locked onto the man.

With a flash of the blood-red sword, his head was severed from his body.

"You... you..."

Xin Haohui pointed at Ye Lan, his entire body trembling with fear.

"You killed my mother."

Ye Lan's bloodshot eyes bored into Xin Haohui.

He wanted to kill him with a single stroke but felt that would be too merciful.