Disappearances

While eating, Ye Mo was paying attention to the discussions of people.

"Did you hear, the tiger martial institute will hold a recruitment competition in two months." Said a thin man.

"Yes, too bad these bastards don't accept anyone over sixteen years old." Continued another bulky one with a huge beard.

"Shhh, are you crazy what if they hear you?!" The thin man started panicking.

Laughing the bearded one answered "It's okay, fancy guys like them would never come to this kind of place."

Getting into a martial institute was akin to a carp becoming a dragon, the status it confer would make you untouchable by anyone who's not a part of an institute or a major clan and even those could only fight each other but couldn't kill you without a good reason. It was also the best place to cultivate and as such everyone wanted to get in but not only would you need to be under sixteen there usually were thousands of participants and only the top twenty could enter so it was near impossible for most people.

Satisfied Ye Mo left the place, the last time he had a normal meal like that was when his parents were still alive so he was in a good mood.

'Two months is a bit short but i have no choice, im still too weak. I must get my hands on battle skills and cultivation techniques as soon as possible.' Ye Mo was adamant on joining the tiger martial institute. He didn't have any time to lose, to achieve his dream he has to use every seconds to the fullest.

Getting back to his house, he sat down and started cultivating. When the sun went down and darkness enveloped the city Ye Mo rose up.

A couple hours later he came back with a body on his shoulders. It was a girl with a plain face and a lot of makeup. She was a prostitute working at a brothel. On her way back home she was ambushed by Ye Mo and killed on the spot.

Proceeding the same way as last time he absorbed her blood and life force then dealt with the remains and sat down to cultivate.

He did so the whole night and at daybreak he returned to the restaurant.

Keeping this routine Ye Mo passed his days eating, killing and cultivating the nine revolutions fiend body.

After three weeks it became harder, people in the slums started to realize something was going on. They all locked themselves in their houses and those going outside stayed in groups. Also the gangs organized themselves, there were multiple times where he tailed someone and felt the presence of several people following quietly. They were obviously waiting for the culprit to make a move on the bait to catch him. They didn't notice him and even if they did they probably wouldn't suspect a kid to be the killer, Ye Mo wouldn't expose himself either so he just left.

He couldn't hunt in the slums anymore so he set his eyes on the rest of the city. There he was much more meticulous, he would only target the poor and those with no social standing while before he only concerned himself with their strenght or if they had connections with a gang, he was also very careful not to leave any traces whereas he didn't care to leave blood or hairs of his victims at the crime scene previously.

This way Ye Mo resumed his routine until two weeks before the competition.

When killing he also looted the bodies. Sometimes he wouldn't get anything and other times he would have a big surprise like once when he found two silvers and eighteen bronze coins on an unassuming man. It probably was an act of him to hide his wealth from others. Currently he could eat until full and didn't have to worry about money anymore which was a major problem for most of his life.

Seated in the same restaurant as always a thoughtful expression was on his face.

'I can feel im very close to breakthrough, my meridians are almost healed as well. I just need one or two more persons and i can do it.' Ye Mo was troubled.

The past month many people disappeared because of him, among them were the three merchants that buried him alive. But now the authorities were alerted by the incidents and groups of guards could be seen patrolling on the streets at all time. It was very risky to keep going and chances were some cultivators would involve themselves to deal with him. He needed to find a solution before the competition or he wouldn't be able to assure himself a spot in the top 20. Who knew what kind of guy there would be among the participants.