Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 118: Chapter 115: Rainy Day, Killing Night

Outside the main gate of the Zhou Family estate, several experts from the Zhao Family stood menacingly.

”Third Uncle, do you think the Zhou Family can really cough up one hundred thousand Primordial Stones?”

Leading them were three Innate Realm experts, followed by several youths from the younger generation. One of them posed the question.

”It doesn’t matter if they can’t. I know you have a thing for that Zhou Lingwei. If the Zhou Family can’t produce the Primordial Stones, we’ll just have Zhou Lingwei become your concubine.”

The middle-aged man they called Third Uncle declared domineeringly.

”That’s right. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Zhou Lingwei for daring to associate with the White Head Sword Sect. She brought this on herself, so she can’t blame us.”

Another Innate Realm expert added, ”Besides, Zhou Lingwei was originally supposed to marry Zhao Feng. For her to dare defy that arrangement was a clear sign of disrespect to our Zhao Family.”

”Hmph.”

As they spoke, a cold snort echoed out. ”Gentlemen, I advise you to kneel and beg for mercy now. You might just have a chance to live.”

Zhou Lingwei walked out.

”What did you say?” The expressions of the men from the Zhao Family soured. They never imagined Zhou Lingwei would have the gall to be so insolent. ”You bitch! Looks like you have a death wish!”

”You’re the ones with a death wish.” Zhou Lingwei was fearless, her gaze shifting to look behind her.

Behind her, a man and a woman slowly walked out.

”Bai Yueru.”

Everyone immediately recognized her—Luoyang’s second Sword Master.

Then, when their gazes fell upon the white-haired youth, their pupils instantly shrank. Their faces filled with terror, as if they had seen a ghost.

How could they not remember Ning Jiang’s face?

During the annual gathering, Ning Jiang’s name had shaken Luoyang. Countless people had seen him in that battle.

”The White Head Sword Sect!”

The expressions of the Zhao Family members first turned ugly, then twisted into sneers. The middle-aged man called Third Uncle said coldly, ”Zhou Lingwei, so this is your trump card? So what if he’s the White Head Sword Sect? Now that he’s dared to show his face, he won’t escape death.”

His impression of Ning Jiang was still stuck at the Postnatal Peak Realm. How could he know that back at the Bai Family estate, Ning Jiang had severely wounded an Innate Late Stage expert with just a flick of his finger?

”You lot, go back and inform the family. The three of us will do our best to trap this kid. Bai Yueru might be a bit troublesome.”

The middle-aged man known as Third Uncle, whose cultivation had reached the Innate Late Stage, gave the order.

The youths knew they would be of no help if they stayed, so they nodded and turned to leave.

”Since you’re already here, you’re not going anywhere.”

Ning Jiang stood there, perfectly still. He simply raised a hand and flicked his fingers several times in succession.

POP POP POP POP POP...

His long, slender fingers were like flawless White Jade, smooth and delicate. As he flicked them, several bursts of Innate Gang Qi shot out like arrows loosed from a bow, like white rainbows piercing the sun.

”You—”

The man called Third Uncle uttered a single word, and then it was over.

With a flick of Ning Jiang’s fingers, the Innate Gang Qi, moving with the speed of a thunderbolt, blasted a bloody hole through each of their foreheads. The projectiles exited the back of their skulls, and a stream of red and white—blood and brain matter—gushed out, a ghastly sight.

Bai Yueru’s gaze hardened. ’Now I understand,’ she thought. ’Back at the Bai Family estate, Ning Jiang must have been showing me face by holding back. Otherwise, my eldest brother would have had no chance of survival.’

’Heads are about to roll in Luoyang City.’

Zhou Lingwei stared at Ning Jiang in shock. She had guessed that his power must have increased, but she had never imagined it would have grown to such a terrifying extent.

The difference was like that between heaven and earth!

The Ning Jiang of the past was a fledgling hawk.

Now, he was a fully grown hawk, spreading its wings to soar straight into the Nine Heavens.

’The gap between us is only growing wider.’ Amid her shock, Zhou Lingwei also felt a wave of disappointment and sadness.

She felt she’d had a chance to get close to the Ning Jiang of the past, but the Ning Jiang of today soared through the Nine Heavens. What could she do but look up at him in awe?

”Take me to the Zhao Family.”

After killing the men, Ning Jiang spoke lightly, as if he had just done something utterly insignificant.

...

「The Zhao Family Estate.」

In the assembly hall, most of the Zhao Family’s upper echelon had been gathered.

Zhao Tiexiong sat in the head seat. The Patriarch of the Zhao Family, long known for his ruthless methods, had his brow deeply furrowed, his expression as heavy as a block of iron.

”Where’s Old Third? Why isn’t he here?” Zhao Tiexiong asked.

”Old Third went to the Zhou Family to collect the one hundred thousand Primordial Stones an hour ago. He should be back soon.”

The speaker was the family’s second master, his face etched with confusion. ”Eldest Brother, what’s going on? Why did you summon us all here in such a hurry?”

The others were just as confused.

”There’s something you don’t know. I just received news that the White Head Sword Sect has returned. Someone saw him enter the Bai Family estate!”

Zhao Tiexiong said, his voice heavy.

”Hm? That can’t be right. The White Head Sword Sect disappeared five months ago and hasn’t been seen since. He didn’t even show up when Kunlun and the Liu Family were completely crushed under our pressure. That must mean he’s already dead.”

The Zhao Family’s second master said in disbelief.

”That’s right, Eldest Brother. Someone probably saw wrong, don’t you think? Over the past few months, there have been several rumors about sightings of the White Head Sword Sect, but they all turned out to be cases of mistaken identity. I bet it’s the same thing this time.”

The family’s fourth master chimed in, agreeing that it was just another case of mistaken identity like all the others.

”Sigh... If that were all, I wouldn’t have summoned you.”

Zhao Tiexiong shook his head and said grimly, ”According to my source, members of the Wang Family also paid a visit to the Bai Family estate. The White Head Sword Sect went in after them. Shortly after, people outside heard the sounds of fighting from within. In the end, not a single person from the Wang Family came out. Only Bai Yueru and the White Head Sword Sect emerged!”

”What?”

Upon hearing this, the few Innate Realm experts present could no longer sit still, their expressions changing drastically.

”Does that mean the members of the Wang Family were... murdered?”

The men looked at each other, unable to believe it.

In Luoyang City today, the Wang Family was like half the sky, their power immense. Who would dare to make a move against them?

”Patriarch, something terrible has happened!”

Just as the atmosphere in the assembly hall grew heavy, someone burst through the doors without knocking and ran in, their face pale with panic.

”You fool! What’s all the fuss? Have you no decorum?!” the second master of the Zhao Family scolded.

”Patriarch, it’s... it’s... the White Head Sword Sect! He’s fighting his way in!”

After these fearful, stuttered words were spoken, the room instantly fell silent.

”How many people?”

The Zhao Family’s second master asked the crucial question. If the White Head Sword Sect had come with the former members of Kunlun, their Zhao Family alone would be hard-pressed to stop them.

”Uh... only four people. The White Head Sword Sect and Bai Yueru, plus a pair of sisters from the Zhou Family.”

”Hmph, so it’s just the few of them,” the second master sneered. ”A mere White Head Sword Sect is nothing to fear. If he dares to attack our Zhao Family, we’ll make sure he leaves his life behind.”

”Exactly. The only real threat is Bai Yueru. I’m guessing she’s the one who dealt with the Wang Family members.”

Everyone quickly left the assembly hall.

「The Zhao Family’s Front Courtyard.」

Numerous members of the Zhao Family glared at Ning Jiang, their killing intent surging, but none dared to step forward.

Ning Jiang had stormed his way into the Zhao Family estate, and no one had been able to stop him.

”The Patriarch is here.”

Just then, someone shouted.

A dozen or so of the Zhao Family’s Innate Realm experts walked out, every one of them with a hostile gaze.

”Bai Yueru, you have some nerve! How dare you attack our Zhao Family? Let me ask you, were you the one who ruthlessly killed the members of the Wang Family?” Zhao Tiexiong demanded.

”Your information travels fast. That’s right, I killed the Wang Family members,” Bai Yueru admitted directly.

”You truly are audacious beyond measure.”

While the members of the Zhao Family were shocked, they also breathed a sigh of relief.

’It seems that, aside from Bai Yueru, Ning Jiang is nothing to worry about.’

”To kill members of the Wang Family and then strut into our Zhao Family... Perfect. We’ll capture Bai Yueru and hand her over to the Wang Family. It will be a great merit.”

Zhao Tiexiong cast aside all hesitation. He looked at Ning Jiang coldly, his killing intent flaring. ”And you. You killed my son. Not only will I make you pay for Feng’er’s life, but I won’t spare anyone associated with you. These two sisters from the Zhou Family can accompany you in death! Attack!”

With a thunderous roar, Zhao Tiexiong shot toward Ning Jiang like a vicious bear, the full might of his Innate Peak aura erupting.

At the same time, the other Innate Realm experts of the Zhao Family moved on Bai Yueru, intending to join forces and capture her.

”Kneel before me.”

Innate Gang Qi surged from Zhao Tiexiong’s body, pressing down on Ning Jiang.

’Hmph. The White Head Sword Sect might be the best of Luoyang’s younger generation, but against our Innate Peak Patriarch, he won’t stand a chance.’

A youth from the Zhao Family sneered, already waiting to see Ning Jiang humiliated.

But Ning Jiang didn’t move an inch. When the ferocious Innate Gang Qi reached him, it was like a gentle breeze on his face, utterly useless.

”Since you and Zhao Feng were so close as father and son, I’ll send you on your way. You can be reunited with him on the Path of the Yellow Springs.”

Clenching his five fingers into a fist, Ning Jiang threw a light, airy punch that seemed to drift like a willow catkin, devoid of any sense of power.

BOOM!

With a loud explosion, before everyone’s horrified eyes, Zhao Tiexiong’s entire body suddenly burst apart like a fragile watermelon.

In an instant.

The area fell deathly silent. Those Innate Realm experts who had been charging toward Bai Yueru all froze, their teeth chattering.

One punch to kill an Innate Peak!

”Run!”

Overwhelming fear flooded everyone’s hearts. The many Innate Realm experts of the Zhao Family lost all will to fight and fled for their lives.

”When I want someone dead, who can possibly escape?”

Ning Jiang spread his five fingers like a blossoming lotus. Innate Gang Qi radiated from his palm, forming a great net that spread out in all directions, sealing off every escape route.

This was a technique that only an Innate Limit Strong Person should possess.

The Gang Qi of an ordinary Innate Realm expert could only travel in straight lines. But upon reaching the Innate Limit, one’s Gang Qi could be both soft and hard, controlled at will, and endlessly versatile.

Although Ning Jiang was only at the Innate Late Stage, his Gang Qi could be called the ”King of Gang Qi,” so naturally, he could accomplish such a feat.

”Die!”

The Gang Qi, sharp as a sword, swept out in a circle, flashing across everyone’s neck.

SLICE.

A line of blood appeared on each of their necks. Then, more than a dozen heads all tumbled to the ground as blood fountained from their severed necks.

The faces of the remaining Zhao Family members turned ashen, white as paper.

RUMBLE.

Thunderbolts shook the sky as dark clouds gathered and a torrential downpour began.

’A rainy day. The perfect night for a slaughter.’