Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: On a Dark and Windy Night, A Murder Unfolds

In the Imperial Capital, the royal family ranked first and the Qin Family second.

For generations, the empresses had all come from the Qin Family. For certain special reasons, the Qin Family was sometimes even more feared than the royal family. Although the Lu Family had grown rapidly with Su Han’s support, they were insignificant in comparison to the Qin Family.

Lu Mingxuan was only at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm, while the current head of the Qin Family was a powerful expert of the Phenomenon Realm. The two could not be mentioned in the same breath.

Su Han, seeking revenge, couldn’t march into the palace to deal with the empress and the Great Crown Prince just yet. Targeting the younger generation of the Qin Family, however, was relatively easy. Among the Qin Family’s youth, Qin Feng was the leader, but the other descendants were not weak, with quite a few martial artists in the Divine Sea Realm.

Su Han had set his sights on these very members.

Qin Ruming, a third-generation descendant of the Qin Family and Qin Feng’s cousin, possessed the strength of the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm. Although Qin Ruming’s innate talent was inferior to Qin Feng’s, his strength was not weak, and he held a high position within the family. However, he was a slave to his lust, so much so that he had opened his own brothel, where he abducted civilian women and forced them into prostitution.

This brothel was the Spring Night Pavilion, founded by Qin Ruming. Red lanterns hung low, and the air was filled with the constant singing and dancing of courtesans. There were even sounds of debauchery that would make anyone blush.

On the highest floor of the Spring Night Pavilion, in a lavishly decorated room glittering with gold, sat Qin Ruming, dressed in a brocade robe. He bore some resemblance to Qin Feng and was currently drinking alone.

”Master Qin, your visitor has arrived!” the fawning voice of the brothel keeper sounded from outside. A moment later, the heavily made-up woman led a bound young woman into the room.

”Master Qin, here’s the new merchandise. She’s the third daughter of the Prefecture Magistrate’s family,” the brothel keeper introduced, detailing the woman’s background. ”She has graceful dance moves and a supple waist. Give her a try. If she’s not to your taste, I’ll find you a replacement.”

Qin Ruming’s eyes blazed as he stared at the bound woman, the lust within them nearly burning away his sanity.

”You did well. You may leave,” he said with a wave of his hand. The brothel keeper fell silent, respectfully backing out and carefully closing the door.

Only Qin Ruming and the third daughter remained in the room. Seeing him steadily approach, she whimpered and shuffled backward as tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

SWISH!

Qin Ruming reached out and untied the ropes. The third daughter immediately scrambled away, but with no way to escape, she could only dash about the room.

”Run. The more you struggle, the more excited I get. I love the process of taming,” Qin Ruming said, his eyes gleaming with excitement, eager for a different kind of game.

”Master Qin, I beg you, please let me go!” Knowing she couldn’t escape, the third daughter knelt on the floor, sobbing and pleading for mercy.

Unfortunately, Qin Ruming was completely unmoved. He caught up to her and, without a shred of pity, began tearing at her thin clothes. In an instant, she was exposed, her cries turning wretched.

SMACK!

A slap sent the third daughter tumbling to the ground. The vicious smile on Qin Ruming’s face grew even more ferocious. ”From today on, you’re a dog I’m keeping. Come on, bark for your master.” He then grabbed a cup and poured wine over her head, clearly enjoying his cruel game.

Humiliation flooded the third daughter’s face as tears streamed down like a fountain. Unwilling to be toyed with like this, she suddenly sprang up and charged toward a pillar, intending to end her own life. But Qin Ruming was a Divine Sea Realm expert and intercepted her easily.

”You bitch! How dare you defy my orders!” Qin Ruming’s expression soured, and he slapped her to the ground once more.

The third daughter was already frail. Beaten repeatedly, she was exhausted in both body and mind. This final slap was enough to make her faint.

”In my presence, you don’t get to die or faint just because you want to.” Qin Ruming picked up a wine jug, intending to pour it on her to wake her up.

”Scum!”

Just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out.

Qin Ruming’s heart skipped a beat. He looked toward the sound and saw a figure entering through the open window.

”Su Han?”

Recognizing the intruder, Qin Ruming was astonished. As a member of the Qin Family, he naturally knew who Su Han was. Moreover, the life-and-death duel between Su Han and Qin Feng was the talk of the town. He never expected Su Han to show up at the Spring Night Pavilion instead of preparing for the fight at home.

Was he seeking revenge?

Qin Ruming was no fool and quickly guessed Su Han’s intentions. Yet, he felt no fear. After all, he was at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm, and the Spring Night Pavilion was his territory. With a single command, he could summon his men. It was not yet certain who would live and who would die.

”Draw Sword Slash!”

Su Han wasted no words. He drew the Black Blade and slashed fiercely.

The pitch-black blade radiance appeared all the more mysterious in the dark of night. The sharp sound of it cutting through the air made Qin Ruming’s pupils shrink. This single strike sent an intense wave of danger through him, as if the Grim Reaper himself was swinging his scythe to reap his life.

His reaction, poised between life and death, was instantaneous. He flung the wine table away as he rapidly retreated, simultaneously reaching into his Storage Ring to draw out a Spirit Sword.

CRACK!

The wine table shattered the moment it met the black blade radiance, split cleanly in two, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror. By then, Qin Ruming was prepared. Channeling Spiritual Energy into his Spirit Sword, he swiftly made his move.

”Mysterious Rank Low-Level Martial Technique: Sword Light Flash!”

Though addicted to carnal pleasures, Qin Ruming’s strength was hard-earned through cultivation. At this moment, his Spirit Sword gleamed, cutting through the air to meet the black blade radiance head-on.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as the resulting shockwave sliced through the room’s cabinets and draperies, tearing them to shreds.

By then, Su Han had already closed the distance, appearing right in front of Qin Ruming. The use of the Character Technique of Motion had increased his speed tenfold. Qin Ruming’s pupils shrank in horror, his mind reeling.

”Slash!”

Demonic Qi swirled around the Black Blade, which descended like the Grim Reaper’s scythe, faster than lightning. Su Han was too fast, his attack too ferocious. Caught off guard, Qin Ruming struggled to defend himself.

SQUELCH!

A deep, blackened wound was torn across Qin Ruming’s chest. As Demonic Qi invaded his body, his expression changed drastically. He had heard that Su Han possessed a Demonic Blade, but he had never expected it to be so terrifying, capable of invading the body with its Demonic Qi. He was forced to divert a portion of his Spiritual Energy to suppress the invasion, significantly weakening him.

”Escape!”

Qin Ruming made a snap decision, turning to flee. This was his territory. If he could just get out of this room, he could summon his men to surround and attack Su Han.

But with the Character Technique of Motion, Su Han was simply too fast. Just as Qin Ruming reached the door, Su Han’s Black Blade descended through the air.

SCHLICK!

This time, Qin Ruming could no longer block. He was slain on the spot.

The crimson blood and his ethereal soul were absorbed by the Black Blade, making it even more powerful.

”Devouring Heaven Demonic Art!”

Su Han sheathed the Black Blade and activated the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art. Demonic Qi fell upon Qin Ruming’s corpse, consuming it completely, leaving no trace that he had ever existed.

BOOM!

Qin Ruming was a martial artist at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm. After Su Han devoured him, his aura surged, and he broke through once more to reach the Third Layer of the Divine Sea Realm.

A dark and windy night... the killing continues.

A cold smile touched Su Han’s lips. His figure flickered once, then melted into the night.