Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 420: 420, no more entanglement from now on!

”Sect Master Xu, I am truly sorry, I cannot cure your wife’s illness. Let’s call off our previous deal!”

Ran Xing withdrew his gaze from Yun Xiao’s departing figure, and the words he finally spoke caused Xu Lingsong’s heart to suddenly sink. Even this Earth Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master was helpless, it seemed that his wife was ultimately unable to withstand this calamity.

Xu Lingsong did not know what had happened inside the room earlier, so this Earth Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master was his last hope. Now that his last hope was shattered, his despair was only natural.

”Yun Xiao, please wait a moment!”

At the moment of Xu Lingsong’s despair, a hoarse old voice suddenly sounded, followed by a swift figure that flashed past him and blocked Yun Xiao, who was stepping out the door.

”Father?”

Xu Lingsong turned his head to look and realized the fast-moving figure was none other than his father, the former Sect Master of Lingyun Sect, which somewhat puzzled him.

The current Sect Master of Lingyun Sect did not understand why Yun Xiao was here. He surmised that it must have been his daughter who discovered Yun Xiao’s arrival at Lingyun Sect and invited him.

However, his father’s action made Xu Lingsong thoughtful; he inwardly suspected that things might not be as simple as they seemed. Could it be that this young boy truly possessed some unknown methods?

As Xu Lingsong was lost in countless thoughts, Xu Qingyuan was already standing in front of Yun Xiao. Nevertheless, his aged face looked somewhat awkward, as if unsure how to start speaking.

Because of Yu Qian’s actions in the past, Xu Qingyuan knew that there could no longer be a simple relationship between Lingyun Sect and Yun Xiao, and there could even be the possibility of becoming sworn enemies.

Having observed his son’s actions, Xu Qingyuan, as the saying goes ’a father knows his son best’, had some speculations, seeming to tie that matter to his son.

”Great Elder, I believe you were unaware of the past incidents, but please don’t force someone against their will, alright?”

It was Yun Xiao, however, who appeared quite calm. Even though his heart was filled with hatred, the words he spoke did not break courtesy, as he harbored no ill feelings towards the former Sect Master of Lingyun Sect.

Yun Xiao knew that the old Sect Master would understand his words, ”forcing someone against their will” summed up everything—pushing him to act under such strained circumstances was indeed compelling against his will.

”Yun Xiao, I know that what happened was my Lingyun Sect’s fault towards you, but please, I beseech you to help us one more time for the sake of the old friendship between my weary bones and your maternal grandfather,” pleaded Xu Qingyuan, biting his lip as he finally managed to say this, though he was not sure of himself, sensing that the young boy before him seemed unusually calm.

”Heh, the past friendship? Great Elder, you should know that ever since the Shang Family was annihilated, that old fondness was thoroughly severed by your Lingyun Sect!”

A smile surfaced on Yun Xiao’s face, yet it was extremely sorrowful. These words deeply moved Xu Hongzhuang standing not too far away; one could only imagine how much pain and heartache this young boy had experienced during that massacre.

The pale-faced Xu Hongzhuang glanced at her increasingly frail mother, bit her silver teeth as if making a decision, and slowly moved in front of Yun Xiao.

”Yun Xiao, I don’t want to explain too much about what has happened, but if you can cure my mother, I, Xu Hongzhuang, will serve you as a slave for life, at your beck and call, with no complaints!”

Facing Yun Xiao with a deep bow, the words that Xu Hongzhuang uttered caused Xu Lingsong’s expression to drastically change, knowing all too well how hard it was for his typically proud daughter to make such a decision.

”Hongzhuang, you...”

Yet as he was about to speak out to persuade her, Xu Lingsong found himself at a loss for words. Seeing both his father and daughter begging Yun Xiao despite their pride, even a fool would realize that some unknown incidents had occurred earlier.

”As a slave?”

Yun Xiao stared at the girl who almost became his wife, seemingly trying to see deep into her heart. But in the next moment, what he saw reminded him only of the sorrowful and helpless look in the eyes of his late wife when she betrayed him.

”It seems that all women in the world are the same; not betraying only because they have not yet reached the desire in their hearts!”

Yun Xiao shook his head slightly, perhaps influenced by paranoia. In the look from Xu Hongzhuang that was very similar to his late wife’s, he suddenly felt annoyed and consequently made a decision.

”Alright, I agree to help your mother, but forget about being a slave. I have just one request...”

His soft voice echoed within the room, and then everyone saw Yun Xiao swiftly swipe his right hand at his waist, and half of an exquisite jade pendant materialized in his palm.

”This half of the jade pendant...”

Seeing this familiar object, the old Sect Master Xu Qingyuan’s eyes narrowed sharply because this item, many years ago, originally belonged to him. It was a token of a pledged marriage arranged between him and Yun Xiao’s maternal grandfather, split into two halves from this jade pendant.

”Heh, Li Feng overcame numerous evils, withdrew his sword and smiled at Hongzhuang; that was how spirited and bold he appeared back then, yet unexpectedly, it came to this!”

A bitter smile appeared on Xu Qingyuan’s face, as he seemed to guess why Yun Xiao had taken out this half of the jade pendant now, feeling somewhat self-reproachful as he looked at his beloved granddaughter with great heartache.

”Hongzhuang, between you and me, everything originated from this. My Shang Family was completely annihilated, and the deaths of my mother and sister are linked to it, so...”

Yun Xiao, holding the slightly warm half of the jade pendant and staring at Xu Hongzhuang, spoke in a tone devoid of emotion, causing the latter to feel as though her heart had skipped a beat.

”No!”

Crack!

Just as Xu Hongzhuang guessed what Yun Xiao was about to do and spoke out to stop him, a slight sound came from Yun Xiao’s hand, followed by the seemingly solid jade pendant splitting from the middle into two parts.

”From now on, there shall be no ties between you, Xu Hongzhuang, and me, Yun Xiao, just like this broken jade pendant!”

Yun Xiao paid no attention to Xu Hongzhuang’s trembling figure or her pale face. This was the decision he made, this relationship would also, following his words, have a perhaps far from perfect conclusion.

As Yun Xiao said, he and Xu Hongzhuang’s entanglement, the annihilation of the Shang Family, the deaths of his mother and sister, though there might be other reasons, the arranged marriage with Lingyun Sect was undoubtedly the catalyst for all these misfortunes.

Now that it was known Yu Qian was a Great Elder of the contemporary Lingyun Sect and the Sect Master, he was undeniably linked to this affair, and Yun Xiao was not the type to hesitate.

In fact, Yun Xiao didn’t have much animosity toward Xu Hongzhuang; since meeting in Xuri City, he had reason to believe she was a kind-hearted young lady.

Unfortunately, due to fate, things turned out this way, and speaking of becoming relatives through marriage was out of the question, let alone friendship. When the time came for him to seek revenge on Lingyun Sect and personally kill Xu Lingsong, how would Xu Hongzhuang cope?

Thus, it might be better to cut off these tangled strands of affection sooner, making it easier to face certain situations in the future without difficulty.

”Hongzhuang, are you... are you alright?”

Seeing Xu Hongzhuang staggering after Yun Xiao finished speaking, Xu Qingyuan quickly stepped forward to support her, not knowing how to console her, he could only glare deeply at Xu Lingsong nearby.

What was supposed to be a joyous marriage turned into this state of affairs, Xu Qingyuan was truly disappointed; however, it was not the time to inquire in detail, and he could only rebuke with his gaze.

”How can you be so heartless?”

Xu Hongzhuang’s scattered gaze seemed to envision a young man clad in coarse clothing, and the murmuring from her lips also indicated that her heart had been shattered by Yun Xiao’s merciless words.

Seeing Xu Hongzhuang’s condition, Yun Xiao suddenly felt a pang of pity, but still steeled his heart, avoided her gaze, and refocused on the lady of the house lying on the bed.

”Don’t worry, since I’ve promised, I will do my utmost to cure your mother’s illness!”

Though his voice shifted, Yun Xiao did not immediately return to the bedside but quickly walked in a particular direction, eliciting thoughtful looks from Xu Qingyuan and Elder Guo.

”Humph, I really don’t believe it, you, a mere Earth Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master, how could you possibly cure the poison of the Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance?”

Seeing Yun Xiao’s actions and hearing his confident words, Ran Xing sneered coldly. He knew too well about the Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance — a potent poison that even Earth Rank Middle Level Meridian Masters might not be able to counter.

Moreover, this type of Poisonous Incense targets the Soul, which requires even higher-ranked Meridian Masters to use the Power of Soul as an aid. Anyway, the current young man’s Power of Soul is only at its lowest spirit rank.

Under the gaze of everyone, Yun Xiao was back at a certain desk and picked up a beautifully ornate box from it. Xu Lingsong saw it clearly; it was the cosmetic box that the lady loved before her coma.

Elder Guo and Xu Qingyuan also stared intently because Yun Xiao had previously picked up this cosmetic box, but nothing unusual was found at that time; could it be possible that the lady’s illness still depended on this cosmetic box?

Picking up the cosmetic box, Yun Xiao looked it over once again, and finally, at a certain moment, his gaze slightly sharpened, and he turned his left hand to the bottom of the box, gently tapping it.

Snap!

A light sound emerged, and the bottom of the originally ordinary-looking box suddenly popped open to one side, causing everyone in the room to widen their eyes.

Especially Xu Hongzhuang, who was familiar with her mother’s cosmetic box but never knew that the bottom could be opened, leaving her utterly perplexed.