Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 144: Chapter 141: Believe It or Not, I’ll Kill You!

The Water-Split Python’s fierce attack on the hull of the Fish Dragon had damaged the vessel, and it could not be saved.

Water was now flooding the ship’s bottom. Within moments, it was already half-submerged. Without a doubt, the vessel was no longer seaworthy.

”Young Master Qingjiang, could you allow them to board the Jiang Family’s fleet? The Fu Family will, of course, pay you in Primordial Stones.”

A Fu Family expert inquired.

After all, they had collected Primordial Stones from every Martial Artist who boarded, so it was their responsibility to see this through to the end. If they failed to handle the situation properly, word would get out and ruin their reputation. Then, no Martial Artist would ever do business with them again.

”There’s no need for Primordial Stones. The Fu Family and my Jiang Family have always been on good terms. Let them come aboard.”

Jiang Yunfei said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Both the Jiang and Fu Families were powers that operated along the Qingjiang River. It was only natural that the two great families would have dealings with each other. In fact, the Fu Family Patriarch often paid visits to the Jiang Family, so their relationship was indeed quite good.

A short while later, the crowd of Martial Artists laid eyes on the Jiang Family’s fleet and couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.

The Fish Dragon had been enormous, but it was in a completely different league compared to the Jiang Family’s fleet.

The Jiang Family fleet consisted of five ships, each one larger, more opulent, and more luxurious than the Fish Dragon. They were the very picture of magnificence.

”No wonder the Jiang Family is called the Master of Qingjiang. Now I finally get it.”

One Martial Artist was filled with awe. ’This fleet alone is enough to suppress all other powers on the Qingjiang,’ he thought. ’Any river pirate would retreat at the mere sight of it, not daring to cause trouble.’

And this was only one of the Jiang Family’s fleets. Rumor had it they possessed at least four more just like it.

Everyone boarded one of the ships and settled in.

”Fu Zheng, you’re heavily injured. What happened?”

The Jiang and Fu Families had frequent dealings. As members of the younger generation, Jiang Yunfei knew Fu Zheng; the two of them could be considered friends.

Seeing Fu Zheng so badly wounded, he was naturally surprised.

”Young Master Jiang, this is embarrassing, but someone injured me,” Fu Zheng said coldly, his gaze shooting toward Ning Jiang as he shifted all the blame onto him. ”That brat insulted a member of my Fu Family. I couldn’t take it, so I challenged him to a duel, and he ended up severely wounding me.”

”Oh?”

Jiang Yunfei was slightly surprised. ’To be able to severely wound Fu Zheng at such a young age, his strength must be at least at the Innate Peak,’ he thought.

”That’s simple. You’re my friend. I’ll help you with this.”

”Thank you, Young Master Jiang.” Fu Zheng was ecstatic. ’It seems all my past flattery toward Jiang Yunfei has finally paid off.’

Jiang Yunfei didn’t give Ning Jiang a second thought. ”You injured my friend,” he said nonchalantly. ”I won’t make things difficult for you. Just apologize to him.”

Many of the surrounding Martial Artists turned to watch, secretly pitying Ning Jiang.

When faced with Fu Zheng’s oppression before, Ning Jiang had responded by severely injuring him. It was clear he was a tough character, unyielding and unafraid of authority.

But now that he was facing Young Master Qingjiang, they feared Ning Jiang would have to back down and compromise.

Young Master Qingjiang was a peerless expert ranked third among the Nine Great Young Masters. With a Noble Family backing him, he was on a completely different level from Fu Zheng.

”Apologize? Is he even worthy?”

However, Ning Jiang’s response left everyone stunned and in disbelief.

’That’s Young Master Qingjiang!’

’How dare he disrespect Young Master Qingjiang?’

”Hm?”

Jiang Yunfei’s brow furrowed as a cold glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

’Ever since I became one of the Nine Great Young Masters, no one from the younger generation has ever dared to defy me like this,’ he thought. ’Who does this Ning Jiang think he is?’

”Young Master Qingjiang, Fu Zheng brought his injuries upon himself,” Li Shiyu couldn’t help but interject. ”Frankly, he offended Mr. Ning. The fact that Mr. Ning didn’t kill him was already a show of mercy. To ask Mr. Ning to apologize is impossible.”

’So what if you’re Young Master Qingjiang?’

’Faced with Ning Jiang’s power, only Young Master Soaring Dragon, the leader of the Nine Great Young Masters, would likely be a match for him.’

’You may be Young Master Qingjiang, but you’re just taking Fu Zheng’s side of the story. Simply because he’s your friend, you demand an apology without even asking what happened. That’s far too arrogant.’

”Hmph. Did I give you permission to speak?”

Jiang Yunfei snorted, and a wave of oppressive might bore down on Li Shiyu.

Li Shiyu’s lovely face paled. She hadn’t expected a single sentence to draw Jiang Yunfei’s ire.

Ning Jiang’s brow twitched, and his eyes grew cold.

”Well, well, if it isn’t Li Shiyu.”

Suddenly, a new voice rang out.

A sexy, alluring woman emerged. She was about the same age as Li Shiyu, with a beauty that could rival hers.

”Qiao Yiyi.”

Li Shiyu recognized her at once. The woman wasn’t from Golden Cauldron City but from another city in the Jiangnan Region, not far away.

Like Li Shiyu, Qiao Yiyi was a famous beauty. She was ranked sixth on the Famous Family List, only three places lower than Li Shiyu.

However, the two women were secret rivals and disliked each other.

The reason was almost laughable, stemming mostly from Qiao Yiyi’s refusal to concede that Li Shiyu was her superior. When it came to fame in the Jiangnan Region, Li Shiyu was slightly more renowned, and this very fact made the proud and sexy woman view her with hostility.

”Li Shiyu? The one who’s third on the Famous Family List?”

Fu Zheng was startled to hear this. Now he finally understood why Li Shiyu had looked down on him.

’A woman like that... I’m indeed not worthy of pursuing her.’

”Li Shiyu, and who is this? Quite the handsome one. Your little lover?”

Qiao Yiyi giggled, glancing at Ning Jiang.

Li Shiyu blushed. ”Nonsense. Mr. Ning is not someone you can trifle with.”

”’Mr. Ning?’ Interesting. Is he the scion of some Noble Family, that you’d address him so respectfully? But I’ve never heard of any major Noble Families in Cyan Cloud Country with the surname Ning.”

Qiao Yiyi’s enchanting eyes sized up Ning Jiang with curiosity.

She found it strange. Her old rival was always so proud, having even rebuffed the advances of Young Master Floating Snow. Yet, she was being so respectful to a mere boy?

”Enough,” Jiang Yunfei snorted, his dominance on full display. ”Even if he is from a Noble Family, he will answer for his actions today. I’ll say it one last time: apologize to Fu Zheng.”

He was, after all, a figure on the level of the Nine Great Young Masters. If he couldn’t even stand up for Fu Zheng in front of this crowd, who would ever take him seriously again?

If a mere boy could defy him, what authority would he have left?

His title as third of the Nine Great Young Masters would become a laughingstock.

”Brat, did you hear that? Hurry up and apologize! You dare disobey Young Master Jiang?”

With Jiang Yunfei backing him, Fu Zheng shot to his feet, pointed an imperious finger at Ning Jiang, and bellowed triumphantly.

As the young master of the Fu Family, he was used to being high and mighty. When had he ever been so severely beaten? If he didn’t get his revenge, how could he ever be satisfied?

Even if he couldn’t kill Ning Jiang this time, he had to seize the opportunity to humiliate him.

SLAP.

A crisp crack echoed suddenly.

To everyone’s astonishment, Ning Jiang slapped Fu Zheng directly across the face. Fu Zheng, who had been arrogantly flaunting his borrowed power, was sent flying on the spot. He spun like a top as he flew backward before collapsing onto the deck, half-dead.

Everyone could clearly see that one side of Fu Zheng’s face was completely deformed; the bones in his cheek were likely shattered.

”This...”

The crowd’s scalps tingled as they stared at Ning Jiang in utter disbelief.

Ning Jiang’s expression remained calm, as if he had just swatted a fly. ”Noisy,” he said, unconcerned.

”Li Shiyu, this person you brought with you certainly has some nerve,” Qiao Yiyi remarked.

Even Qiao Yiyi hadn’t expected Ning Jiang to actually attack.

And right in front of Young Master Qingjiang, no less.

That slap might have landed on Fu Zheng’s face, but it was a clear slap in the face to Young Master Qingjiang!

The surrounding Martial Artists were also secretly shocked, having never expected Ning Jiang’s temperament to be so unyielding.

Jiang Yunfei’s gaze was as cold as winter frost, and the fury in his voice was unmistakable. ”I don’t care who you are. Today, you will pay the price!”

”Say one more word of nonsense, and see if I don’t kill you,” Ning Jiang said calmly.

At his words, the air instantly grew cold and still.

Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded.

Ning Jiang had spoken with such nonchalance, as if he were asking something as simple as ”Have you eaten yet?”

Yet the impact of his words on the crowd was utterly earth-shattering.

They had to remember, Jiang Yunfei was a peerless expert ranked third among the Nine Great Young Masters. In all of Cyan Cloud Country’s younger generation, only the top two were stronger than him.

With the backing of a Noble Family, who in Cyan Cloud Country would dare to disrespect someone of his status?

”Li Shiyu, who on earth is this boy? He’s quite the comedian.”

Hearing this, Qiao Yiyi couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter, her beautiful eyes filled with contempt.

For an unknown junior like Ning Jiang to say such a thing... she felt he was simply overestimating himself, utterly ignorant of the powers that be.

”If he really is your little lover, then your taste in men is truly terrible.”

Qiao Yiyi said mockingly. She could tell that Li Shiyu cared a great deal for Ning Jiang, but the things he was saying were simply laughable.

It was one thing for a young man to be proud, but when pride became ignorant arrogance, he was nothing but a reckless fool.

After what Ning Jiang had just said, Young Master Qingjiang had every reason to kill him.

Because the Nine Great Young Masters could not be humiliated!

She wasn’t the only one who thought so; the others around them were also rendered speechless. ’Isn’t this Ning Jiang a bit too arrogant?’

”Sigh.”

Li Shiyu sighed. ”You can only blame how slowly news travels. If you knew what happened with the Huangfu Family, you would understand just what kind of existence is standing before you. You would understand exactly how you should be treating Mr. Ning. But since you seem so intent on seeking death, I have nothing more to say.”

With that, she gave Young Master Qingjiang and his companions a pitying look.

”Empty threats.”

Young Master Qingjiang paid Li Shiyu’s words no mind. He had dominated his entire life, suppressing all his peers. Among the younger generation, only two individuals gave him pause.

A mere Ning Jiang was nothing.

BOOM!

He took a single step forward, and a terrifying aura surged out, blanketing everything.

A battle was about to erupt!