Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Liu Family Shaken, A Spine Unbent

The flash of a sword shot out like a thunderbolt, arriving in the blink of an eye.

The attack was so ferocious it could have cleaved steel and severed both his hands.

Liu Yun roared, his body shooting back thirty feet before he stabilized himself. His tone was as cold as ice. ”Liu Xianyu, you dare stop me? Are you trying to harbor this murderer? Or are you saying you colluded with him to kill my brother?”

With his first words, he accused Liu Xianyu of colluding with an outsider. It was clear he hadn’t let anger cloud his judgment. On the contrary, he was remarkably clear-headed, not missing a chance to undermine her even now.

Liu Xianyu held her longsword horizontally, standing between Ning Jiang and Liu Yun. The turn of events had exceeded her expectations, but no matter what, she could not let anything happen to Ning Jiang.

Only she understood just how important Ning Jiang was.

”I’ve said it before. Mr. Ning is Grandfather’s honored guest. Grandfather will handle this matter himself,” Liu Xianyu said, her tone firm.

”Even if he was Grandfather’s honored guest before, he’s now the murderer of Grandfather’s descendant! Not even Grandfather himself would let him go,” Liu Yun raged.

”That’s right. Liu Xianyu, don’t delude yourself. Step aside at once.”

”He killed a member of our Liu Family! This boy must pay his blood debt in blood!”

The members of the Liu Family’s younger generation spoke up one after another, each one brimming with killing intent. A murder within the Liu Family—such a thing had never happened before.

Ning Jiang had set a precedent!

Liu Mi frowned but ultimately said nothing. ’Ning Jiang’s actions are far too arrogant,’ she thought. ’Does he really think he can do as he pleases and even commit murder just because Liu Yuanlong values him?’

’This act will probably send Liu Yuanlong into a thundering rage. What’s more, the entire Liu Family will never agree to let Ning Jiang go.’

’When that happens, with everyone against him, there will be no escape for Ning Jiang!’

Meanwhile, Liu Shiyi hesitated for a moment before saying, ”Everyone, arguing here is pointless. We should let Grandfather handle this.”

She spoke up because of the advice Ning Jiang had given her at the banquet. ’From just those few words, I’m certain he’s also a master of the zither. It would be a terrible waste for someone like him to die here.’

However, just like everyone else, she didn’t believe Ning Jiang could kill Liu Feng and walk away unscathed.

”As for what happened tonight, I will also require an explanation from Liu Yuanlong.” Ning Jiang lowered his gaze. His eyes were calm, betraying neither joy nor sorrow.

”You’re courting death!”

”How dare you speak Grandfather’s full name.”

”You killed a member of our Liu Family and still demand an explanation from Grandfather? Have you lost your mind?”

Ning Jiang’s words were like adding fuel to the fire, enraging the crowd even further.

”I have met Liu Yuanlong. He is what you would call a man of great and ruthless ambition.”

Ning Jiang looked up at the night sky, completely ignoring the murderous atmosphere around him. His tone was leisurely. ”A man like that will disregard trifles to achieve his grand ambitions. He knows when to yield and when to stand firm, and he understands the need to adapt. His actions are dictated by benefit above all else. When necessary, he can make painful sacrifices for the greater good, even if it means eliminating his own kin.”

”’I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me.’ That is the true nature of such a man. Do you really think your trivial blood ties are enough to restrain Liu Yuanlong?” Ning Jiang’s tone was as placid as still water.

His clothes were unstained by blood, his expression serene. It was as if killing Liu Feng had been a trivial matter.

’How many people must he have killed to remain so calm?’ Liu Xianyu’s heart was in turmoil.

”Good. Fine. Let’s see what kind of expression you have on your face after you meet Grandfather and he sentences you to death!”

Liu Yun was convinced Ning Jiang was just spouting nonsense. ’He killed Liu Yuanlong’s descendant. Is it possible Liu Yuanlong would actually let him go?’

...

What followed was like a thunderstorm that swept through the entire Liu Family.

Martial Artists did not require much sleep. An average of two or three hours a day was enough to keep them full of energy, and most preferred to replace sleep with meditation anyway.

So even late at night, countless people throughout the Liu Family were roused and began to gather.

”My Feng’Er! No matter who did this, I swear I’ll tear them to pieces and avenge you!”

When Liu Zhengkun learned his son had been killed, he let out a heaven-shaking roar. His intense killing intent reverberated in all directions.

”Not even the Wang Family would dare to kill someone in our home.”

”I hear this boy has ties to Liu Xianyu. Does he think he can be completely lawless just because she’s backing him?”

The rear mountain of the Liu Family estate.

Atop a mountain peak.

The entire second and third generations of the Liu Family were making their way there.

This was where the Liu Family’s patriarch, Liu Yuanlong, resided.

Inside the house.

The decor was simple. Aside from a table, chairs, and a tea set, there were no other luxurious items.

”You’ve chosen a good spot. It’s not the highest mountain on the Liu estate, but the entire range is shaped like a crouching tiger. An ordinary person would surely choose to live on the tiger’s head, to be high above all, wielding the power of life and death, utterly supreme.”

Ning Jiang continued, ”But your spot is right in the center of the range, on the tiger’s spine. The spine is the core, the most crucial part. A person’s spine also reflects their spirit. Sometimes, a person can bow their head, but their spine must never bend.”

The three of them—Ning Jiang, Liu Yuanlong, and Liu Xianyu—were all present.

”A person can bow their head, but their spine must never bend?” Liu Xianyu asked, slightly confused.

”Correct. When you are weak, before you have emerged from your cocoon as a butterfly or transformed into a soaring dragon, you must know how to forbear. When you face danger, you must know how to bow your head. But bowing your head means enduring humiliation for a greater purpose; it does not mean bending your spine.”

Ning Jiang took two casual steps, his gaze as deep and vast as the starry sky. ”After you bow your head, you must turn shame into courage. Endure what others cannot, do what others cannot, and strive to become strong until the day comes when you can take your revenge and wipe away the humiliation.”

”But once your spine bends, you lose your drive, you willingly debase yourself, and you become just another face in the crowd, destined to a life of mediocrity.”

”Profound words, my young friend.”

Liu Yuanlong was no ordinary man. To him, every word Ning Jiang spoke was a pearl of wisdom, containing infinite truth.

He already knew that Liu Feng had died at Ning Jiang’s hands, yet the atmosphere was like a conversation between old friends. There was no killing intent, only harmony.

”Enough idle chatter. Let’s talk about Liu Feng,” Ning Jiang said, his tone shifting. ”Liu Feng sent assassins after me, so I killed him. The score between us is settled. However, he was a member of the Liu Family, so the Liu Family owes me an explanation.” Though his words were plain, they carried an undeniable dominance.

”Liu Feng died by your hand because he brought it upon himself,” Liu Yuanlong’s tone turned icy, not because Ning Jiang had killed Liu Feng, but because Liu Feng had dared to send assassins after Ning Jiang.

It had to be understood that the Liu Family’s very lifeline now depended almost entirely on Ning Jiang.

If Ning Jiang were to die, Liu Yuanlong’s injuries would never heal. The Liu Family would surely decline under the Wang Family’s pressure, and once the time was right, the day of all-out war would arrive.

Once war broke out, the Wang Family would undoubtedly strike ruthlessly, aiming to eradicate the Liu Family root and stem.

At that point, who would be able to stop the Wang Family’s Innate Limit expert?

The Liu Family might seem to be in a good position, but in reality, it was riddled with hidden dangers.

And Ning Jiang was the key to resolving the Liu Family’s crisis.

One could say that the very survival of the Liu Family rested on Ning Jiang’s shoulders alone.

In other words, by sending assassins after Ning Jiang, Liu Feng had been trying to completely sever the Liu Family’s lifeline.

Compared to the family’s lifeline, what did one insignificant Liu Feng matter?

He, Liu Yuanlong, had so many descendants. Liu Feng was just a good-for-nothing, arrogant, and debauched playboy who would never amount to anything. Compared to the fate of the entire Liu Family, the death of one Liu Feng was not even worth mentioning.

Even if Ning Jiang hadn’t killed Liu Feng, Liu Yuanlong would not have spared him after finding out what he did.

He was a man of ruthless ambition who had single-handedly built the Liu Family’s foundation. How could he be some indecisive fool swayed by ties of blood?

”As for this matter, I will give you an explanation, my young friend. Please come with me.” Liu Yuanlong said as he walked out of the house.

Outside, ninety percent of the Liu Family had gathered.

They stood outside, not daring to barge in without Liu Yuanlong’s permission.

”Eldest Uncle is here.”

Suddenly, a clamor arose from the younger generation of the Liu Family.

A middle-aged man came into their view, walking with a Dragon Walk and Tiger Stride. His arms were thick, and he wore a Jade Ring on his thumb, exuding an oppressive air of wealth. As he approached, the killing intent in the air grew so thick it seemed about to congeal, causing many faces to pale.

Liu Zhengkun, Liu Yuanlong’s eldest son. His Cultivation had already reached the Innate Middle Stage, and he was only half a step away from the Innate Late Stage.

”Eldest Brother.”

Nearby, Liu Yuanlong’s other children were also present. They all greeted Liu Zhengkun upon seeing him. Even the Liu Family’s Master Liu Si, Liu Zhensheng, was there.

Liu Zhensheng, Liu Yuanlong’s most useless son.

Following beside Liu Zhensheng was another person: Ma Yuan.

Ma Yuan was in a state of deep shock. ’I came to the Liu Family tonight to find Liu Zhensheng and report on Ning Jiang, but I ended up walking into something of this magnitude.’

’Ning Jiang... actually killed Liu Feng in the Liu Family’s own home!’

’The audacity was simply heaven-defying.’

’Now he’s really gone and done it. Killing Liu Feng is on a completely different level from smashing a mural at the Drunken Moon Pavilion...’

Ma Yuan trembled inwardly. He looked around; most of the people here wore expressions full of killing intent.

This was especially true for Liu Zhengkun, whose killing intent blazed like a fire. This eldest son of the Liu Family, a major figure who controlled many of the family’s assets, would absolutely never let Ning Jiang go.

Even if Liu Xianyu wanted to protect Ning Jiang, she couldn’t possibly stand against the wrath of so many people!

”Dad, later, can you plead with Grandfather for that person?” Liu Shiyi whispered from within the crowd. Her father was the family’s fifth son, Liu Zhenghua.

Liu Zhenghua had the gentle and refined air of a Scholar. He shook his head. ”Eldest Brother is determined to kill. Anyone who speaks up for that person now will be making an enemy of him. Eldest Brother has always been domineering. If I help that person, my life in the Liu Family will be difficult from now on. What is it? Do you know him well?”

Liu Shiyi was taken aback. She had only met Ning Jiang once, and they had exchanged fewer than ten sentences in total. But she was desperate to know: what kind of music would he play on the zither?

”Ma Yuan, I hear you know the murderer who killed Feng’Er. That you know him quite well. When he smashed the mural at the Drunken Moon Pavilion, you were standing right beside him, backing him up?”

Just then, an imperious voice rang out, drawing everyone’s attention.

Liu Zhengkun’s gaze was as sharp as a knife as he glared down at Ma Yuan.

Beside Liu Zhengkun stood Feng Xue, a sneer on her face. Just moments before, she had given him an exaggerated and embellished account of the events at the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

”First Master, there’s been a misunderstanding...”

”Kneel when you speak to me!”

Liu Zhengkun bellowed, cutting him off. His tone was severe. He couldn’t care less whether there was a misunderstanding or not. He was filled with nothing but rage, and he would not spare anyone associated with Ning Jiang.

Ma Yuan’s body trembled, and he shot a pleading look at Master Liu Si, Liu Zhensheng.

”Ma Yuan, hurry up and apologize to my Eldest Brother. Explain yourself clearly,” Liu Zhensheng said, showing no intention of helping him.

Liu Zhengkun had always been a domineering force in the family and possessed the greatest strength; Liu Zhensheng had no desire to offend him.

Hearing this, a flash of humiliation crossed Ma Yuan’s eyes. His body bent as he prepared to kneel.

”Ma Yuan, it seems the master you follow isn’t up to much.” Suddenly, a calm voice drifted out as three figures slowly emerged from the house.

In an instant, countless gazes converged on Ning Jiang.

An overwhelming wave of icy killing intent crashed down upon him!