Chapter 098 - Killing Before the Night Passes!
Yun Xiao's departure left Azure Kite Street simmering in unrest for a considerable time.
“Brother! Where's Yun Xiao?” Ning Yan rushed over, her eyes darting across the sprawl of lifeless bodies, her eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
“Let's talk back in Sword Heaven,” Ning Que spoke hurriedly, fearing the wrath of those from the Forbidden Tower might descend upon their Ning Family should they arrive. Retreat was the only option.
Along the way, Ning Jing, her voice quivering, recounted the earlier incident to Ning Yan.
“Damn...” Ning Yan wore an oddly twisted expression after listening, murmuring to herself, “That kid’s got the face of an Immortal, but the heart of a murderous demon, huh?”
“Ning Yan, did you know Yun Xiao was this powerful?” Ning Que stared at her, teeth gritted in suppressed rage.
“I knew it, yeah!” Ning Yan responded nonchalantly. Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Ning Que's words simmered with contained anger.
“I told you at Jade Sun Tower, didn't I? The problem is you didn’t believe me! You only trusted Lin Lin’s lovesick brain! So, who's the fool here, you or me?” Ning Yan retorted, a cold smirk playing on her lips.
Ning Que paused, harshly slapping his own forehead in a mix of regret and realization.
“Who could have anticipated that Holy Son Chu, someone representing the Forbidden Tower, would, like a petty clown, twist truth and falsehood...” Ning Jing sighed, lowering her head in helpless resignation, “He brought disgrace upon himself. His family dead, only he survived... Such humiliation; he won’t be able to show his face in public for the rest of his life!”
“You two should count your blessings that you’re my family. Otherwise, Yun Xiao definitely would have slaughtered you both too!” Ning Yan puffed out her chest, her face brimming with a self-satisfied air, “It’s all thanks to my good name, understand?”
“You!” Ning Que’s face alternated between shades of green and white, ultimately bowing his head in defeat, “Fine, I concede!”
“Idiot!” Ning Yan chuckled.
Ning Que, having been insulted, could only swallow his words. He had always considered himself quite intelligent, yet this time, he too had been duped by Holy Son Chu. Fortunately, his only loss was a blow to his pride, unlike Xiao He who, thanks to Holy Son Chu, had lost his life!
"Brother, what's running through that head of yours now?" Ning Yan asked, her gaze icy as it fixed on him.
"You’re something, I'll give you that! This Yun Xiao, with his hundred-layer Sword Aura and peerless swordsmanship, doesn't only have a high cultivation but also remarkable combat power. I reckon he’s qualified to clash with Lin Chen, Ye Guying, and Chen Xi!" Ning Que spoke and pursed his lips, adding, "However, unlike Lin Chen, he’s now in deep trouble with the Forbidden Tower. To what extent the Forbidden Tower will go to kill him is momentarily unpredictable, and the present situation is somewhat chaotic!"
"Is the Ning family still not backing Yun Xiao?" Ning Yan raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
"Nope! But, we're not opposing him either!" Ning Que declared.
Before tonight, the Ning Family was decidedly opposed.
"You'd best extract yourself from this situation quickly. Yun Xiao is stronger than you and doesn't require your protection!" Ning Que looked at her earnestly, "My dear little sister, heed your brother's words. Don’t return to Sword Heaven. Swiftly retreat and avoid the brewing storm. Otherwise, should any shifts occur, being sandwiched between two forces, you will undoubtedly be the first to fall! After the incidents at Azure Kite Sea and Spirit Treasure Walk, the nature of things has fundamentally changed!"
"I should leave? Brother, what exactly are you implying?" Ning Yan stood dumbstruck, for seldom did this big brother of hers show such concern as he did today.
"I sense something amiss!" Ning Que said with a grave tone.
"What's amiss?" A puzzled Ning Yan asked.
Ning Que patted her shoulder, his eyes deep and serious. "Just a word of caution, don’t let Lin Qingfeng make a fool of you! Some people gave up on you thoroughly more than twenty years ago. Now that you're not as young as you once were, can you still expect a late bloom? I don’t buy it!"
Tears sprang into Ning Yan's eyes.
"You damn well know you’re the one past your prime!" Ning Que said, rolling his eyes.
Madame Xiao handed him a wine pot. He snatched it, gulping down the contents fervently, not stopping until his body flushed red, white steam emanating from his pores. Finally, he exhaled a long breath.
"It's okay now, my love." The Sword Lord sat up, extending a hand to draw Xiao Yu to him, enveloping her in his embrace.
"Brother Feng..." Xiao Yu’s arms wound around him. Tears, relentless, continued their path downward. She wept, "It's almost a decade, isn’t it? Every time I witness your agony, it feels as though my heart is being torn asunder. Why must the heavens punish you, a man of such virtue, in this way? It’s so unjust!"
"Xiao Yu!" He pinched her cheek gently, eyes brimming with adoration, whispering, "Why speak of this now, when time is so precariously precious? After tonight, only two days remain! I only need to endure one more outbreak of the bone poison."
"Mhm!" She nodded obediently. Her demeanor contrasted starkly with the authoritative, icy matriarch of Sword Heaven to outsiders, rendered almost unrecognizable. She embraced the Sword Lord, whispering softly, "Did you hear about tonight’s incident at the Spirit Treasure Walk?"
"I've just dealt with it," the Sword Lord responded, his gaze holding a peculiar light.
"How's it looking?" Xiao Yu asked, anxiety twisting her elegant features.
"Well..." the Sword Lord, Lin Qingfeng, began with an air of bemusement. "It's safe to say we've got ourselves quite the catch! He managed to shut those old fogies up all on his own, something I hadn’t anticipated."
"And the implications?" Her voice barely hovered above a whisper, tension evident.
"Minimal impact," the Sword Lord reassured, pulling her tighter into his embrace. "After all, our little lab rat has to last three days. The day after tomorrow, once he takes the final dose, we can make our move. His current strength isn’t near potent enough to spiral out of my control." Pausing, he glanced out of the window at the brilliant moon, its glow casting shadows over the bustling Sea of Swords beyond. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought. "A decade of toiling with life and death, Xiao Yu, and in two days, finally, release."
The tiny thatched room bore silent witness to their sorrow.
"Your father’s Sword Heart Spring, it can build a bridge of compatibility between your body and the lab rat's sword bone. And the Heart Devouring Gu, it works subtly, like boiling a frog in warm water. It can, within three days, separate his sword bone from his flesh... He won’t notice the process, will he?" Xiao Yu asked.
"For the first two days, he won’t feel a thing, and if he does, it’ll only be on that final day. However, once the third day arrives, I can forcibly control him. No need to fear him shattering his sword in suicide," Lin Qingfeng mused.
"That’s a relief! To have such a rare lab rat shatter his own sword in suicide would be such a waste," she nodded, wiping away a stray tear.
"Exactly! Not a single mistake can be made! He must willingly submit to my charismatic personality! Trust me... This entire act as a true Sword Immortal is but for the two day of the Gu laying dormant!" As he spoke, a mischievous grin carved its way across Lin Qingfeng's face, his voice a low rumble of amusement.
"You’re quite the actor. That slap left me dumbfounded," Xiao Yu chuckled, yanking at his beard while casting him a playful scowl.
"I apologize, my dear! You've endured much these few days," Lin Qingfeng spoke gently, stroking her hair. "I know it hasn’t been easy."
"You better know! I’ve stood by you faithfully for twenty years, and lately, I’ve even had to put up with that insufferable Ning Yan! Once this is over, you’re slaughtering her, I insist!" Xiao Yu’s voice was a sweet venom.
"Alright, alright!" Lin Qingfeng chuckled warmly, "Once I disable her, you can do the honors, how about it?"
"Now that’s more like it!" With a single nod, Xiao Yu’s dark mood lifted slightly, her voice dripping with disdain, "A woman who bore a child for a rural peasant, and she dares hold her head so high? Who does she think would take a liking to her? Ridiculous!"
"Xiao Yu, you’ve sacrificed so much for me over the years, giving me children and standing by me. How could I ever shortchange you in this lifetime? To find a good partner in life is no easy feat!" His voice trembled with genuine emotion as he held her.
"We’re old husband and wife, no need for such talk," she replied, her gaze soft yet teasing, "Why not offer something a bit more tangible?"
"Tangible?" His brow arched in playful inquiry.
"Lin Qingfeng, slap me," Xiao Yu suddenly requested.
"Pardon?" he blinked in genuine surprise.
Suddenly blushing, she whispered, "I’ve suddenly discovered that a little suffering can be quite... exhilarating."
He coughed awkwardly.
In the following moments, the tiny hut seemed to shake with amorous cries, the details respectfully left unspilled. Afterwards...
Lin Qingfeng turned to his wife. He inhaled deeply, his gaze ablaze with an untamed fervor. "Once I switch to a youthful set of sword bones, that hundred layer Sword Aura will be mine."