Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Gratitude Is Broken, So Is Righteousness_1

”I never imagined, Junior Brother Ling Chen. Despite our meticulous planning, we still let you slip by. We underestimated you.”

Lu BaiChuan shook his head and sighed in disappointment. He couldn’t believe their operation had failed, especially after they had attached such importance to it.

This assassination attempt had seemed foolproof. Yet, a vulnerability had appeared right before Ling Yin. She could actually pinpoint their positions and movements in the darkness. Such an ability was unheard of.

”Speak! Who hired you?” Xu Ruoyan demanded coldly, pressing her Long Sword against Lu BaiChuan’s neck.

Lu BaiChuan shook his head. ”Shadow Tower never discloses client information. Besides, I genuinely don’t know who the client is.”

They were merely assassins carrying out orders, with no direct contact with their employer.

”Damn it! What use is there in sparing your life then?” Xu Ruoyan knitted her brows. She had hoped to extract some valuable intelligence, but it seemed she wouldn’t get any useful information at all.

At that moment, a cold glint flashed in Lu BaiChuan’s eyes as he drew an extremely thin sword from his sleeve.

”Die!”

The sword flashed, its sword qi streaking like a white rainbow straight towards Xu Ruoyan’s heart.

His speed was incredible; in an instant, the blade was almost at Xu Ruoyan’s heart.

Xu Ruoyan’s face drained of color. She saw the short sword lunging at her but couldn’t dodge in time.

No one had expected Lu BaiChuan to choose mutual destruction.

SHLICK!

However, his sleeve blade never reached Xu Ruoyan. Before it could, Ling Chen’s sword had already pierced Lu BaiChuan’s body from behind, shattering his heart meridians.

Lu BaiChuan’s advance halted abruptly. His gaze fixed vacantly on Xu Ruoyan before him. His body trembled, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

”Since it was clear you couldn’t get anything out of him, you should have finished it cleanly. Never leave an enemy a chance,” Ling Chen said coldly.

Watching Ling Chen kill two Shadow Tower assassins in quick succession, a chill ran down Xu Ruoyan’s spine. Ling Chen was merely a fifteen-year-old boy! What could he have possibly experienced to possess such sharp instincts and seasoned expertise? He seemed utterly unfazed in the face of such a life-and-death battle.

It’s a failure. This matter must be reported to the Prince as soon as possible. A figure hidden behind a large tree nearby had a look of shock in his eyes, then quietly departed.

Neither Ling Chen nor Xu Ruoyan noticed this figure.

At this point, Ling Chen sheathed his Heavy Sword and began to search the body of the black-clothed assassin he had just killed.

Since this fellow poisoned his weapon, he most likely has the antidote on him. Ling Yin’s life is hanging by a thread; I have to take this gamble.

”Found it.”

Soon, Ling Chen retrieved two Jade Bottles from the black-clothed assassin’s body. One was red, the other white. Apart from their color, they looked identical.

Opening one, Ling Chen sniffed its contents, then frowned. The two medicines smelled exactly the same.

Without hesitating, after only a moment’s thought, Ling Chen poured a drop from the red Jade Bottle and swallowed it.

”Ling Chen, what are you doing? That could very well be poison!” Xu Ruoyan’s pretty face changed color upon seeing his action.

”The poison and the antidote must be in one of these two,” Ling Chen stated gravely.

If I lose this gamble, both Ling Yin and I will die. But if I win, we both live.

After Ling Chen ingested the liquid, a trace of poison indeed began to spread through his body, causing his blood and True Qi to solidify. Feeling this sensation, Ling Chen unhesitatingly opened the white Jade Bottle and swallowed its contents as well.

”You’re insane!”

Xu Ruoyan was stunned by Ling Chen’s actions. He’s truly lost his mind! Is it really worth such a great sacrifice for a woman he bought? He’ll likely fail to save her and lose his own life in the process.

”This is the antidote!”

Suddenly, Ling Chen’s eyes lit up. The poison within his body was dissolving at an astonishing rate!

Undoubtedly, the liquid in the white Jade Bottle was the antidote.

Rushing to Ling Yin’s side, Ling Chen poured the liquid from the white Jade Bottle into her small mouth.

As long as the poison hasn’t invaded her vital organs, there should still be a chance to save her.

With this hope, Ling Chen sat cross-legged behind Ling Yin, placed his palm on her delicate back, and infused a stream of True Qi into her body.

”I’ll help too.” Xu Ruoyan also sat down in front of Ling Yin. She channeled her True Qi, placed her jade-like hand on Ling Yin’s chest, and released a stream of pure, cool True Qi.

Under their combined True Qi infusion, the antidote spread more rapidly through Ling Yin’s body. After a short while, a hint of color returned to Ling Yin’s face.

”It looks like the antidote is working!” A look of joyful surprise appeared on Xu Ruoyan’s lovely face. The heavy weight on her heart finally lifted, and she let out an audible sigh of relief.

Ling Chen and Xu Ruoyan withdrew their hands almost simultaneously. The moment they did, Ling Yin’s body slumped backward, falling into Ling Chen’s arms.

”She’s finally safe.”

Ling Chen also let out a long, deep breath. That was truly dangerous. If luck hadn’t been on our side, Ling Yin would have certainly died.

But even now, I have no idea who wants to harm me. Who hired these two assassins? If it wasn’t Ye Nantian’s faction, then who could it be? Are these two assassins from the same group as the black-clothed death soldier I encountered in the hunting grounds? The most terrifying thing is not even knowing who my enemy is.

”Ling Chen, if you continue to stay in the Divine Intent Sect, it will only become more and more dangerous. The Divine Intent Sect doesn’t care whether you live or die, so why insist on staying here?” Xu Ruoyan suddenly said, gazing at Ling Chen, her tone considerably softer.

”If I don’t stay here, where else can I go?” Ling Chen shook his head. This is the place where I grew up; I won’t leave it easily. Besides, only within the Sect can I understand the gap between myself and others, and comprehend the fierce competition among geniuses. Leaving here would mean losing the pressure of that competition.

”Since the Divine Intent Sect clearly can’t accommodate you, why don’t you just come back to Sky Void Palace with me?” A gleam appeared in Xu Ruoyan’s beautiful eyes as she continued, ”Our Sky Void Palace would definitely welcome a martial arts prodigy like you. My father would also surely value you highly.”

Hearing this, Ling Chen merely gave a cold smile. He then looked up, gazing indifferently at Xu Ruoyan. ”Leave the Divine Intent Sect and join Sky Void Palace? You want me to become a traitor who abandons his own Sect?”

Switching Sects was a major taboo in the Five Kingdoms, and indeed across the entire Mixed Yuan Continent. If Ling Chen were to do such a thing, he would likely be branded a traitor for life, scorned by everyone in the Martial World.

The Divine Intent Sect grew strong under my father’s hand. How could I possibly betray it?

”That’s not what I meant.” Xu Ruoyan tried to explain further, but Ling Chen waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to hear more. ”You should go. I’ll handle my own affairs. I don’t need an outsider meddling.”

”Outsider?” The word pierced Xu Ruoyan’s heart like a steel needle, causing her immense pain. So, Ling Chen still sees me as an outsider? Was he telling the truth about everything?

”Our engagement will be called off sooner or later. You and I are merely ordinary friends. I’m sure you understand this point without me needing to elaborate,” Ling Chen said, his brow furrowed.

Xu Ruoyan’s eyes widened in shock, a look of disbelief filling them. Could it be that this was all just my own unrequited affection? Does Ling Chen truly not have even the slightest feeling for me?

”No, Ling Chen! There must be a place for me in your heart! Can you honestly say you don’t like me even a little?” Xu Ruoyan’s exquisite face was on the verge of tears. Her appearance, combined with her pleading tone, was enough to stir pity in any man’s heart.

”A woman who only causes trouble for me and holds me back? Do you think I could possibly like someone like that?” Ling Chen’s expression remained cold, his heart seemingly made of stone, unmoved. ”Weren’t you just saying Ling Yin is my fiancée from childhood? That’s right. I bought her with exactly that purpose in mind. She’s the type I like.”

SHIING!

The words had barely left his lips when a sharp Treasure Sword was pressed against his neck. Its keen edge sliced his skin, and a trickle of fresh blood flowed out.

”Even if you kill me, I’ll still say the same thing. Matters of affection cannot be forced.” Ling Chen closed his eyes, no longer looking at Xu Ruoyan.

A look of utter desolation appeared on her lovely face as Xu Ruoyan lowered the Treasure Sword. Her beautiful, sapphire-like eyes swiftly became vacant, as if her soul had departed. Then, with a sudden flick of her Long Sword, she sliced off a piece of her own skirt.

As the severed piece of white fabric fluttered to the ground, Xu Ruoyan turned and walked away, never looking back.

”Ling Chen, from this day forward, all ties between us are severed.” Her voice was utterly cold, as if devoid of all emotion.

Her words, like a Sharp Sword, pierced Ling Chen’s heart.

There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died. At this moment, Xu Ruoyan’s heart was indeed dead.

Opening his eyes, Ling Chen watched Xu Ruoyan’s retreating figure, an immense sense of loss washing over him.

I’m sorry, Ruoyan. I have more important things I must do. Romantic love... it seems it’s not fated for me. The path he had to walk was one of arduous exploration and vengeance. His enemies were exceedingly powerful, constantly placing him in perilous situations. Being with him was too dangerous.

”Brother Ling Chen, why are you going against your own heart?” At that moment, Ling Yin, cradled in his arms, woke up. Though she had been drowsy, she had overheard parts of Ling Chen and Xu Ruoyan’s conversation. Having seen Ling Chen’s expression, she naturally understood what had transpired.

”I don’t want to either. But sometimes, a person must do things that go against their heart.” Ling Chen didn’t quite know how to explain the complexities of emotions between men and women to Ling Yin. He had his reasons for acting this way; he had to.

Ling Chen sighed, then gently picked Ling Yin up from the ground and carried her towards the house.