Chapter 58: Second Brother

The next day. Eight days remained until the dungeon began.

Yan Jing didn't go anywhere today.

After coordinating tomorrow's plans with Shen Youran, he attempted to activate the Ghoulish Kill stance.

He timed how long he could maintain it: eighteen minutes and thirty seconds.

Upon exiting the Ghoulish Kill state, he felt distinct mental exhaustion.

This was the stance's drawback. In truth, aside from him, few likely activated it specifically to hone their technique; most used it purely for short bursts of power to defeat enemies.

Much better than when I started...

He could feel a combat instinct gradually forming within him, edging closer to pure, feral slaughter.

His perception had also grown much sharper.

After reviewing the files on his "family" a few more times, he spent the afternoon on targeted training.

Then he took a shower and went straight to sleep.

The next day.

Seven days until the dungeon began.

Yan Jing wore a white T-shirt and beige trousers today, accessorized with a watch provided by Shen Youran.

She had specifically put together an entire outfit for his "homecoming," but prioritizing comfort, Yan Jing had only chosen the watch.

His phone rang, and he answered.

"Your second brother is on his way. He should be there in about fifteen minutes."

"You can get ready."

"Mm."

Hanging up, Yan Jing slipped on a Miniature Earpiece.

Supposedly, this green-quality Miniature Earpiece alone cost nearly 670,000 in Surface World currency—and that was after Shen Youran haggled it down.

It wasn't anything special, offering only enhanced audio reception and anti-jamming effects.

But for this cash-grab trip home, it would be extremely useful.

Bringing nothing else, Yan Jing headed downstairs.

The shady motel where he was currently staying wasn't far from his old neighborhood; it was one of the few buildings that had slipped through the cracks of the city's urban renewal.

Passing through a muddy, dilapidated alley lined with mottled gray brick walls, he arrived at the flowerbed in his old residential complex.

It was the height of summer, and the flowerbed was in full bloom, a vibrant splash of purple and red.

Soon enough, the familiar figure from his memories appeared.

He was roughly the same height as Yan Jing—over 1.8 meters—but with noticeably broader shoulders. He wore glasses and sported a Korean-style short haircut.

Even though the temperature had already broken thirty degrees, the man was dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt and white slacks.

His "brother," Yan Yang.

The man soon spotted Yan Jing. An enigmatic smile spread across his face as he strode over.

"Jingzi, I finally found you."

Yan Jing smiled.

"Long time no see, Second Brother."

"It has been a while."

Yan Yang's features shared a resemblance with Yan Jing's, and when he smiled, the similarity was even more striking.

"I sent you so many messages, but you didn't reply to a single one. It honestly hurt your second brother's feelings."

"I did it on purpose," Yan Jing said with a smile, not bothering to make excuses.

"I know." Yan Yang nodded, still smiling. "You have grievances with the Family. I know all about it. It's fine. Just come back with me now, and we'll clear everything up."

"And if I say I don't want to go back yet?"

Yan Jing's smile remained as bright as ever.

But the smile on Yan Yang's face faded slightly.

"Jingzi, I know you received a Yellow Date-Selection Gift and want to vent your past frustrations."

Yan Yang's initially warm tone grew cold.

A hint of mockery crept into his eyes.

"But the Clan doesn't view you as someone of high importance. At least, not as important as you seem to think."

Yan Jing chuckled. "Hearing you say that makes me want to go back even less."

At this, Yan Yang's patience thoroughly ran dry.

From his perspective, he had already offered Yan Jing plenty of pleasantries since arriving.

In all the years before Yan Jing left home, he had never smiled at him this much.

He glanced at the surrounding crowd. Soon, several men in suits resembling corporate thugs emerged from behind him and began forcibly clearing the area.

"Jingzi, I recall giving you face just now."

The moment the crowd dispersed, the smile completely vanished from Yan Yang's face.

He stepped closer, his expression now completely devoid of mirth, until they were barely a meter apart.

"The Family already knows you consigned those items to the underground auction house. We just don't know who you used as a proxy. Even when our grandfather personally made the request, the auction house refused to withdraw them."

"The Family is furious about this."

"Furious about what?"

Yan Jing's voice was as light and cool as summer mint. His gaze met his "brother's" head-on, completely unflinching.

Those eyes were entirely different from the subservient, timid gaze Yan Yang remembered.

Yan Yang wasn't the least bit surprised.

He had anticipated this. A destitute outcast who stumbled upon some power was bound to harbor childish desires to exact revenge on the world.

It didn't matter if Yan Jing suddenly had this obnoxious edge to him. He just had to crush it again.

"Furious that you privately took things belonging to the Family and sold them!"

Yan Yang took another step forward, closing the distance even further, his voice dripping with malice.

"However, the Family has decided to forgive you. Consider it compensation for all the years you haven't been home."

"As long as you return to the Clan and devote yourself, your past transgressions will be forgiven."

Yan Jing laughed. "Second Brother, it's been so many years, but there's something I've always wanted to tell you."

Yan Yang's eyes flickered. "And what's that?" he asked slowly.

"You really fucking love spouting bullshit."

The moment the words left Yan Jing's mouth, Yan Yang's gaze darkened completely.

Instantly, violent Weird Energy surged from his hands. The phantom image of a pair of tattered gloves materialized over them as he reached straight for Yan Jing's shoulder.

But Yan Jing was ready. The Thorn Spear materialized directly in his palm, and he launched an upward thrust right at Yan Yang's shoulder.

At such close range, Yan Yang had no choice but to pull his hands back, push off the ground, and retreat.

But Yan Jing had anticipated his evasion. Twisting his waist, he dropped his arm and fluidly followed through. The spear tip arced upward with a shrill whistle, whipping up a freezing gale in the middle of summer as it aimed directly at Yan Yang's shoulder.

Yan Yang had never expected his brother to adapt so quickly. In a panic, he was forced to catch the spearhead with both hands.

Green light flashed. The strength in his hands skyrocketed, and he firmly locked the spear tip in his grip.

Seeing that he had blocked the strike, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

However, that smile didn't last long.

Yan Jing violently twisted the spear.

Like a sheet of ice, the phantom gloves instantly shattered, and the sharp thorns plunged deep into Yan Yang's palms.

The gap between a purple and a green Day Selection Ritual was as vast as a heavenly chasm.

Blood instantly soaked his white shirt red.

His face contorting in agony, Yan Yang let go. Before his eyes, countless vengeful spirits manifested, lowering their heads to gnaw at his palms.

"Argh—"

He let out a low howl of pain. A green vial materialized in his palm, and he crushed it directly.

As the green liquid flowed over his hands, the agony finally eased. He stood there, gasping for breath.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Yan Jing's Day Selection Ritual would be this terrifying.

"Second Brother, it seems you've regressed over the years," Yan Jing said with a smile.

Hearing this, Yan Yang raised his head, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"You just got lucky and stumbled into a Yellow Date-Selection Gift. Is that enough to make you this arrogant?"

"Dad was right, Jingzi. It's time you properly recall the Family Law!"

As he spoke, a bandage materialized in his hand. It wrapped around his fingertips, exuding an eerie aura.

A Vessel.

This was the source of Yan Yang's confidence. Even though he had yet to truly step into the Second Tier, he had already found a potential Vessel that resonated perfectly with him.

Today, he was going to teach this little brother of his a harsh lesson.

The Family had already given him his orders.

As long as he didn't kill him, anything else was fine.

Mind made up, he pushed off the ground, charging forward like a ferocious tiger. His bandage-wrapped hands clenched into fists, their power surging exponentially. Stacked with the strength boost from his Day Selection Ritual, his fists turned into a blur as they smashed toward Yan Jing's shoulder.

But Yan Jing merely narrowed his eyes. The vision of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood flashed through his mind. Relying purely on instinct, he sidestepped, effortlessly dodging what Yan Yang believed to be a guaranteed hit.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, the spear hooked back around and pressed against the arm of a thoroughly bewildered Yan Yang.

And sliced!

Yan Jing didn't hold back in the slightest. The thorny barbs ripped away several long strips of flesh and muscle, and blood wildly sprayed from Yan Yang's right arm!

Consumed by pain, Yan Yang didn't even have time to scream.

Yan Jing had already reversed his spear!

Wilting flowers drifted down from the sky like a ceremonial tribute. The spear tip carved a dark arc through the air and came to a dead stop right at Yan Yang's throat.

The cold steel gleamed, and thin beads of blood began to seep from his skin.

Looking at Yan Yang's utterly terrified face, Yan Jing smiled.

"Second Brother, you're much too weak now."

It had all ended too quickly. The suited thugs on the perimeter hadn't even had time to react. One second, Yan Yang had just pulled out his Vessel, brimming with confidence—and the next, he had been completely subdued.

"...Jingzi... don't make a mistake here."

Snapping out of his terror, Yan Yang had no intention of conceding to his younger brother. He forced a smile.

"We both know this is the Surface World. You can't kill me. We also know that you have no choice but to come home with me."

"So what if you beat me? What's the point? The Clan still has elders at the Calming Rite, and even the older generation at the Incense Burning Rite. Do you think you can defeat them?"

Finishing his piece, Yan Yang watched the silent Yan Jing, his smile growing wider.

"You're very strong now, sure, but how do you compare to Eldest Sister, who is nearly at the Second Tier? How do you compare to Little Brother?"

"You think just because you got a Yellow Date-Selection Gift, the Family should value you. But you're thinking too simply. As long as Little Brother is around, you'll never stand out."

"There's nothing you can do, Jingzi. None of us can escape this Family."

"If the Family wants you gone, you have to leave. If they want you back, you have to come back."

"Just like right now. What can you actually do to me?"

Yan Yang grew more impassioned the more he spoke, as if talking could erase the shadow of his recent defeat.

So what if Yan Jing had gotten stronger? In the end, he was just like him—an existence at the mercy of others.

"You're right, Second Brother. I can't kill you."

Suddenly, Yan Jing laughed.

That laugh made Yan Yang's heart inexplicably skip a beat.

"However, I prepared something else for you."

As his words fell, a woman wearing a long skirt and a beret, carrying a Video Camera on her back, leapt out from the distant flowerbed.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

The woman pumped her fist in excitement.

"That old hag told me the material she owed me would be paid in full this time, and she wasn't bluffing! I've got tomorrow's headline: The Yan Family's Outcast Battles His Own Brother—The First Fight of the Homecoming!"

Yan Yang's expression instantly froze. He couldn't believe that with so many people clearing the area just now, none of them had discovered this woman hiding in the flowerbed.

Nor could he believe that his battle had just been recorded.

"Someone who was promoted to the First Tier years ago, losing to a rookie who just cleared the Novice Dungeon... If the footage of this fight and the words you just said get leaked and reach the Master Household's ears, you should know exactly what will happen to you."

Yan Jing smiled. "My dear brother."

Hearing Yan Jing's words, even though it was the height of summer, Yan Yang couldn't suppress a violent shudder.