Chapter 97 - 95: Deserving of Death, Gratifying Vengeance

"SWISH."

Ning Jiang’s sword sliced through the air, letting out a soft hum.

"SQUELCH."

"Ah!"

Along with Qian Lan’s piercing shriek, one of her arms was severed. Blood gushed like a fountain, and the immense pain twisted her once delicate, beautiful face into a savage mask.

"Fang Zheng, Wu Yu, you were once bullied, and I was the one who stepped in to get you justice. But you cast aside honor for personal gain and betrayed my trust. This strike is for the loyalty you owe me!"

As he spoke, Ning Jiang struck twice in quick succession.

The moment he moved, Fang Zheng and Wu Yu were already retreating in a hurry.

But when the White Head Sword Sect made a move, who could possibly escape?

Not even an Innate Realm expert could, let alone a few insignificant Postnatal Realm cultivators like them.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

The two men screamed in agony as each lost an arm.

"And finally, you, Yao Tong!"

Ning Jiang’s gaze was utterly devoid of emotion. His voice was like a glacier, chilling the air. "Our friendship ran the deepest. We knew each other for eight years and called each other brothers. You once swore that if anything happened to me, you would risk your life to save me. I once fought your enemies for you and took three blades to my body just to settle your grudge."

"But when I was in peril, you were heartless. You repaid my kindness with cruelty and kicked me when I was down. These two strikes are for the kindness and loyalty you owe me!"

Ning Jiang’s figure moved like a phantom. He delivered two more strikes, his blade a ghostly shadow streaking through the air.

Amidst Yao Tong’s agonized screams, both of his arms were sent flying.

"But that’s not all. To suck up to Qin Lie, you conspired with him and repeatedly insulted Sister An. You mocked her, called her ungrateful, and your every word was laced with sarcasm and spite."

"This strike is on behalf of Sister An!"

SHLICK.

A cold light flashed. Ning Jiang’s sword plunged unerringly into Yao Tong’s mouth. With a slight twist, blood sprayed, and his sword sliced off the man’s entire tongue.

Since Yao Tong had run his mouth, he would cut out his tongue and ensure he could never speak again.

It was an eye for an eye.

"You!"

Qin Lie watched everything unfold, too shocked to speak.

Though it seemed to happen in slow motion, it all took place in the span of a single breath.

In that short span, Ning Jiang had severed an arm from each of them with a single strike.

’What kind of power is this?’

When Ning Jiang’s gaze fell upon him, Qin Lie shuddered as if he’d been plunged into ice water, a chill seeping into his very bones.

What kind of gaze was that?

It held no emotion—colder than ice, more jarring than the sight of blood, and filled with utter indifference.

Qin Lie understood what that look meant. It was like a child watching ants at the base of a tree. The gaze was strangely pure—devoid of anger or disgust, containing only cold apathy.

A child might watch those ants for an hour, then crush them all under his shoe.

No reason, no logic required.

This was the attitude of the strong toward the weak, the ants beneath their feet.

Only now did he realize how foolish he had been to underestimate Ning Jiang.

In just two short months, this young man had transformed completely. He was no longer the pushover he could easily manipulate.

This young man inspired a terror that clawed its way up from the depths of his soul.

"These were your friends! Don’t you think you’re being too vicious?"

Qin Lie’s voice trembled. At the same time, he furiously channeled his Postnatal Peak cultivation, causing the Postnatal Gang Qi within him to surge violently.

He was gathering his power, looking for an opening to unleash his most powerful attack.

"Friends? You think they’re worthy of the title?"

Ning Jiang’s expression was placid, betraying no killing intent or any other emotion. "They all owed me a debt. Debts must be repaid. That’s simply the way of the world."

These people were all indebted to Ning Jiang, and so he was collecting everything they owed—with interest.

No one could owe a debt to the Legendary Venerable of one hundred thousand years ago and get away with it!

"Qin Lie!"

"You befriended me and called me brother, yet you harbored malicious intent. You deserve to die!"

"You are despicable! For your own selfish desires, you tried to force a marriage and bullied others relentlessly. You deserve to die!"

"You called me a bastard, mocked me for being an orphan, wounded me, and made Sister An cry. You deserve to die!"

With those three death sentences, Ning Jiang’s aura surged to its absolute peak.

All his grievances and rage erupted in that single moment.

"SHIING!"

The Treasure Sword rang out with a clear cry.

With a sword in hand, he would sweep away all the injustices of the world.

Injustice, whether in the world or in his own heart, would be set right!

A Sword Cultivator lives to repay kindness and exact vengeance without delay.

Ning Jiang took a step, his robes whipping about him. In an instant, his sword was before Qin Lie’s face.

Qin Lie was still gathering his power, looking for the right moment to launch a fatal strike against Ning Jiang.

But he never imagined Ning Jiang could be so fast.

The moment his Step Technique activated, it was as if the Gate of Hell had opened and the Wuchang Ghost had come to claim his soul.

He finally understood. Ning Jiang’s power had grown by leaps and bounds. Before him, he couldn’t even withstand a single blow!

"No, you can’t kill me! I’m from the Qin Family!"

At the moment of life and death, Qin Lie let out a long roar that shook the area.

But when Ning Jiang wanted someone dead, did it matter who they were?

"SQUELCH."

The sword’s tip easily pierced Qin Lie’s throat, passing clean through. Blood sprayed like shattered jade, a soul-shaking sight.

Qin Lie’s eyes flew wide. Even in death, he couldn’t believe Ning Jiang had actually dared to kill him.

"You... you... you’re a madman!"

Hou Zheng, Qian Lan, and the others trembled, their faces pale as they stared, dumbfounded, at the scene.

Qin Lie was a member of the Qin Family. Killing him would undoubtedly bring about their frenzied retaliation.

"You’re finished,"

Qian Lan glared at Ning Jiang with hatred. The immense pain from her severed arm caused cold sweat to pour down her face.

But this outcome also brought her a grim satisfaction. In her eyes, no matter how powerful Ning Jiang was personally, how could he possibly withstand the wrath of a second-tier family?

Even the Ning Family would likely hand him over rather than risk offending the Qin Family by protecting him.

"Finished?" Ning Yu’an snorted, her gaze disdainful. "With my little brother’s status, killing him is nothing. What is a mere Qin Family? They’re no different from ants."

’Just empty threats.’

None of them believed Ning Yu’an. They hadn’t seen him for two short months. How high could Ning Jiang’s status possibly have risen?

Ning Yu’an knew what they were thinking and said coldly, "When my little brother’s name shakes all of Baiquan Town, I hope you won’t have any regrets."

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Just then, figures began to appear all around them.

They were members of the younger generation who had come for the gathering, drawn by the commotion. When they saw Qin Lie’s body on the ground, their faces filled with horror.

"Qin Lie is dead."

"He was the Qin Family’s genius! They valued him immensely. Now that he’s been killed, the Qin Family is going to go insane!" someone exclaimed in shock.

Who could be so audacious?

"Young Master Song, he’s the one who killed Qin Lie! Qin Lie was here today at your invitation! Please, Young Master Song, you must bring this murderer to justice!"

Hou Zheng, Qian Lan, and the others frantically pointed at Ning Jiang.

The others also turned to look. Qin Lie had been Song Ziwen’s guest. By all rights, if Song Ziwen didn’t punish the killer, he would have a hard time explaining things to the Qin Family.

However, Song Ziwen just stood there, showing no intention of making a move.

"A good kill."

He spat out the three cold words.

In an instant, everyone’s expression changed dramatically. What did Song Ziwen mean by that?

"Young Master Song, what are you talking about?"

Hou Zheng and the others were all stunned, staring at Song Ziwen in disbelief.

"Hmph. He brought death upon himself by offending Young Master... Ning," Song Ziwen said coldly.

’Stand up for Qin Lie?’

’That depends on who I’d be facing. This is the White Head Sword Sect, the Lord of Kunlun! He wouldn’t dare, not even if he had a hundred times the courage.’

"Young Master Ning, please leave this matter to me. I won’t disturb you any further," Song Ziwen said, cupping his hands in respect.

"You’re quite astute," Ning Jiang said faintly.

"Thank you, Young Master Ning," Song Ziwen replied, his face alight with ecstasy.

"Sister An, let’s go."

Ning Jiang had no habit of being gawked at. His clothes unstained by blood, he departed with Ning Yu’an.

’Just who in the world is that young man?’

No one present was a fool. Song Ziwen’s respectful attitude toward Ning Jiang was enough to prove that his background was anything but ordinary.

"Young Master Song, he’s just a member of the lowly Ning Family. Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?" Qian Lan asked, incredulous.

"Made a mistake?"

Song Ziwen shot a glance at Qian Lan and the others. "Let me tell you," he said coldly, "with his status, forget killing one Qin Lie. He could annihilate the entire Qin Family with ease."

"What?!"

Qian Lan and the others felt their hearts tremble violently.

The pupils of everyone else present constricted, their minds reeling from the shock.

’Could what Ning Yu’an said be true?’ Qian Lan and the others stared blankly.

"I see you’ve all lost an arm. It seems you offended Young Master Ning as well. Now get out of my sight, or I’ll kill you myself," Song Ziwen said coldly.

Furious but daring not to speak, Qian Lan and the others scrambled away.

"Excellent. This is a heaven-sent opportunity! I was just wondering how to get on his good side. Qin Lie’s death couldn’t have come at a better time."

After they left, Song Ziwen turned to his sister, Song Mu’Er, his face alight with excitement. "The Qin Family doesn’t know the identity of the White Head Sword Sect, so they’re bound to seek revenge. In the meantime, our Song Family will intercept all of their attempts. If we work diligently for him behind the scenes, we’ll surely be able to build a good relationship with him."

"Brother, if we do that, the Qin Family might declare war on us," Song Mu’Er said.

"Heh. Then let them declare war. What’s there to be afraid of? If we want to befriend the White Head Sword Sect, how can we show our sincerity without paying a price!"

"Everyone, tonight’s gathering is over."

Song Ziwen intended to return at once to mobilize his family’s power and thwart the Qin Family’s retaliation.

He wouldn’t hesitate, even if it meant all-out war with the Qin Family.

「One hour later.」

Night had fallen. The siblings left Crescent Lake and returned to the Ning Family estate.

The rooms belonging to Ning Shoujing’s branch of the family were brightly lit. Several elders and members of the younger generation were all present.

"Ning Jiang! So you finally decided to come back! Do you have any idea of the great humiliation you’ve brought upon us?!"

The moment Ning Jiang walked in, Ning Feng, who had been stewing in a bellyful of rage, immediately roared.

Ning Ding, Ning Qi, and Ning Shan all glared at him furiously.

The other elders present also had grim expressions on their faces.

The family head, Ning Shoujing, sat in the main seat, his expression just as dark.