novelraw Chapter 267 245 Murder
Chapter 267 245 Murder
"Such a great opportunity! How could it be otherwise?"
Yu Xiaogui could easily tell that Wu Shaobai had formed a grudge against the Li Family and was instantly overjoyed. He nodded repeatedly and raised his hand, saying,
"Please!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two of them rode the winds and rose up, disappearing into the horizon. Yu Mugao still bowed respectfully, standing for a long time before he finally straightened up. His gaze shifted uncertainly, and he said hesitantly,
"Li Chijin has returned… How is it that Muxian hasn't sent any news? Muxian is clever and scheming; I still need to ask him."
He then took two steps forward, standing in front of the top seat's jade platform, dipped his brush in ink, and began to write carefully, declaring mightily,
"To be informed anew, today father has returned… With many doubts… Could it be that Li Chijin has returned from the Southern Border? I ask my brother to inquire into Li Chijin's matters, how many years since his return? How many years since his correspondence?… If there's a spell in the world that can perplex the minds of Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators, what kind of spell would it be?"
He wrote hundreds of words in a splendid flow, sealed the letter with wax, placed it on the desk, and stroked his chin in thought for a moment. Then he broke open the seal, picked up his pen, and added a sentence,
"Furthermore, Chang Yao has spread rumors of old ties with Li and Xiao, please also ask Li Chijin if he has any fellow disciples from the Xiao Family. This matter is of utmost importance and must be clarified."
Only after preparing the letter properly did Yu Mugao seal it carefully. He looked grimly toward the horizon, as if sensing the approach of a storm.
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"Hey!"
A cultivator clad in light armor shouted angrily, mana surged, and he swung his blade downward. The young man in black before him remained unmoved; a grey-white Sword Radiance rose from his Dharma Sword. Lifting his sword for a strike, the cultivator felt an overwhelming force transmitted to him, and his spear flew from his grasp, sending drops of blood scattering.
The young man in black took another step forward, swinging his sword to chop down. The cultivator's soul nearly left his body, and he hastily retreated, slapping a Talisman forward to block, narrowly avoiding a fatal hit. A huge gash was opened along his waist.
"I—"
The cultivator regretted too late and was just about to beg for mercy when the Sword Radiance on the Dharma Sword emerged once more, and with a thrust forward, it pierced into his chest and abdomen. He let out a miserable scream, his limbs convulsed, and he collapsed onto the ground, whimpering and coughing up several mouthfuls of blood.
"Pfft!"
Li Yuanjiao pulled out his blood-stained Dharma Sword, watching the man before him slowly fall, shook off the blood droplets, and finally saw no more standing enemies. Casting his gaze around, he saw that everything was blood-red and the figures all lay prostrated on the ground.
Those on the field were either trembling surrendered soldiers or corpses scattered about. Having become accustomed to such scenes during the campaigns against Shanyue, Li Yuanjiao felt no particular sense of bloodshed. He merely raised an eyebrow and asked,
"Where's Qinghong?"
Xu Gongming promptly stepped forward and said in a low voice,
"Young master, the young lady has already fought her way to the top of Huazhong Mountain and is in the hall with the ancestors."
"Oh."
Li Yuanjiao nodded lightly and said,
"The Spear thrives in the open and close combat of this battlefield, indeed more agile than us."
He took a step forward and the armored warriors behind him stepped in tempo, ascending to the highest platform. In front of him was a grand and towering palace, with exquisitely high eaves—a sight of extravagant beauty. Li Yuanjiao sneered and turned back,
"Seeing this palace, one can tell it isn't something that could have been built without several generations' effort! It's no wonder the Ji and An Families have fallen; the root of failure lies in the long-standing ills. No need to blame the unworthy descendants—it's the work of their forebears that set the example!"
Li Yuanjiao gestured with his hand, and numerous armored warriors streamed in, replacing the An Family's guards one by one. Knowing the tide had turned, they offered no resistance.
Having stepped into the palace, Li Yuanjiao saw Li Qinghong standing with her Spear, energetically stationed outside the hall, surrounded by a pile of severed heads with various expressions, the blood pooling beneath them. Li Yuanjiao sheathed his sword and asked in puzzlement,
"What happened here?"
"Wow."
Li Qinghong, with her delicate brows slightly raised, said indifferently,
"Grandfather is killing people—members of the An Family."
She gracefully grasped her Spear, pointing towards the pile of heads, and explained,
"Let those fat pigs from the An Family step on the scale after years of fattening, the palace guards know best what these people have done; they're lying in the hall right now, wailing their grievances. Follow our family's rules for this."
"Bullies of the farmland get whipped, the idle get sentenced to forced labor, the overbearing and tyrannical get stabbed, and those who consorted with An Zheyu in cannibalism, they suffered a thousand cuts, their arrows suffocating everywhere, the stench in the hall is unbearable. I can't stand the smell, so I came out for some fresh air."
Li Qinghong also displayed a flash of fear in her expression, leaning close to Li Yuanjiao, she whispered:
"I don't know who has angered my grandfather; he's usually good-natured, but today his countenance is dark and his face is full of stern ruthlessness. You have to be careful."
Li Yuanjiao nodded hastily, Li Qinghong gave a slight smile and continued:
"Xuanfeng has already persuaded the people on Jade Court Mountain to surrender, bringing back uncle Donghe and the others. They just entered before us."
"That is very good."
Li Yuanjiao, hearing that Jade Court Mountain surrendered so easily, was also slightly pleased. Li Qinghong playfully blinked her eyes and asked:
"Do you want to go into the hall and take a look?"
Upon hearing Li Tongya was angry, Li Yuanjiao lost all interest in going in and waved his hands repeatedly. Li Qinghong laughed sweetly, as Li Yuanjiao gripped his sword hilt and thought:
"I don't know what the elder's intentions are, but this is a perfect opportunity for intimidation, and we should take advantage of it."
He then gestured for Xu Gongming to come forward and ordered:
"The An Family has many cultivators; ordinary people can't restrain them. Call a few cultivators to go inside and offer some assistance, so the elder doesn't have to do everything personally."
Xu Gongming had just heard Li Qinghong's warning and was already nervous. With a resigned expression, he agreed and retreated. He thought to himself:
"I must call all the family cultivators, so I won't be the only one trembling in fear."
Watching Xu Gongming leave, Li Qinghong chuckled and said to Li Yuanjiao:
"Jiao, you're being naughty, scaring them like that for no good reason."
Li Yuanjiao waved his hand dismissively and said offhandedly:
"I want them to be afraid!"
As they were talking, the sky above Huazhong Mountain trembled, and a vast voice emerged, cold in tone, spreading across the entire mountain and echoing continuously.
"The An Family is a brother clan of our Yu Family. Does the Li Family not take us into account when they ascend Huazhong Mountain with such murderous intent?"
Li Yuanjiao's expression immediately turned serious as he looked up at the figure in the sky, frowning:
"It's the Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivator, Yu Xiaogui!"
Yu Xiaogui didn't look remarkable, but he carried a fierce aura, standing with his hands behind his back amid the clouds, his robe billowing as he looked down with arrogance.
Everything on Huazhong Mountain came to a halt and a beam of golden light rose up. A young man with a golden bow on his back remained calm, his tone lacking any respect as he calmly stated:
"So it's the senior from the Yu Family. The An Family was defeated by bandits, and we were invited by the An Family Head An Zhiyan to help quell the unrest. This so-called brother clan you speak of... I only saw you sitting idly by, and now you've come to criticize us... Could it be that these bandits are in fact members of the Yu Family in disguise?"
Li Xuanfeng's words were laced with mockery and sarcasm. Yu Xiaogui, who had never tolerated such humiliation and coming from a mere Qi Cultivator no less, was left speechless. After a few moments, he shouted:
"Nonsense! How dare you speak! You don't have the right to!"
Li Xuanfeng only crossed his arms, looking disdainfully, making Yu Xiaogui hesitant to strike, fearing collateral damage. Li Xuanfeng's lips quirked slightly as he continued:
"Could the senior be worried that a Sword Intent from the south might fly over, and in an instant, cause the senior to die and his path to vanish? With the knowledge that our family is protected by a Sword Immortal, why bother coming here at all?"
"How dare you, you brat?!"
Yu Xiaogui, both shocked and angry, and knowing that failing to act might make him the laughing stock, raised his voice in fury and struck out at Li Xuanfeng from afar, shouting:
"Such outrageous audacity!"