Chapter 127 - 124: Arriving at Golden Cauldron City

Three bodies lay on the ground, but Ning Jiang didn’t even bat an eye.

At the last Ning Family annual meeting, he had spared the three of them once out of consideration for old times.

But they were incorrigible. They made the same mistake again, and even associated with Chen Shitong, aiding a villain. And so, Ning Jiang had no choice but to kill them.

The many Innate Realm experts of the Song Family looked at Ning Jiang in complete awe.

Who could have imagined that the Song Family’s crisis would be resolved with such ease?

"Take me to see Song Tianzheng," Ning Jiang said flatly.

Song Tianzheng had been severely injured by Chen Shitong and was bedridden.

At the time, Chen Shitong’s plan had been to make Song Tianzheng watch helplessly as he destroyed the Song Family piece by piece, inflicting psychological torment upon him.

It was this very cruelty that had spared Song Tianzheng’s life.

When Ning Jiang saw Song Tianzheng in a room in the rear courtyard, he found that Song Tianzheng, upon hearing that Chen Shitong had been killed by a single punch, was just as utterly dumbfounded as everyone else.

"The divine might of the Sword Sect!"

Lying in bed, Song Tianzheng’s face was flushed with excitement. He even tried to ignore his injuries and bow to Ning Jiang, but Ning Jiang stopped him.

Watching Song Tianzheng, the others knew exactly what he was thinking.

The Song Family had bet on the right person. They had backed Ning Jiang half a year ago, and with his current power, their family would reap endless benefits from now on.

Afterward, Ning Jiang carefully examined Song Tianzheng’s injuries.

He found that the man’s internal organs were severely damaged. The internal injuries were grave, but fortunately not life-threatening. With the Life Force of a Peak Innate Martial Artist, he would be able to make a full recovery in a month or two with the help of some Elixirs.

As it happened, Ning Jiang had some healing Elixirs on him, so he gave a few to Song Tianzheng.

He hadn’t refined these Elixirs himself; he had simply taken them from Kunlun’s medicinal stores.

What was Kunlun’s greatest asset? Its eight Alchemy Masters. The one thing they never lacked was Elixirs.

These Elixirs were High Grade. Though they were a far cry from the ones he refined himself, it was always useful to keep some on hand for emergencies.

"Focus on your recovery. If anything else happens, you can go to Luoyang City. That’s my main base."

Ning Jiang instructed. He hadn’t forgotten the two most pressing matters he had to attend to.

One was to deal with Ning Changhan.

The other was to go to the Li Family in Golden Cauldron City!

"We respectfully see you off, Sword Sect."

WHOOSH.

As the members of the Song Family saw him off, Ning Jiang shot into the sky, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"What’s wrong, Brother?"

Song Mu’Er reluctantly tore her gaze away, only to find Song Ziwen looking at her with a complicated expression, as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.

Song Ziwen sighed softly. "Mu’Er, I’m afraid you’ve fallen for someone you shouldn’t have."

At his words, the light in Song Mu’Er’s beautiful eyes dimmed.

Of course she understood. The Ning Jiang of today was too dazzling, as unreachable as the sun and moon in the sky. She knew his potential was far greater than this; he would only continue to grow stronger.

She would likely never be able to catch up to a man like that in her entire life.

"I don’t regret it."

Song Mu’Er looked to the sky, her beautiful eyes filled with determination.

「The Ning Family Estate.」

The members of Ning Shoujing’s branch of the family were gathered together, enjoying a cheerful and harmonious atmosphere.

"Eldest Brother, congratulations! You received praise from Old Master Ning today, and he’s even started handing some core responsibilities over to you. It looks like he’s grooming you to be his successor. To you, Eldest Brother."

The second eldest, Ning Changming, said with a look of envy as he raised his cup and downed the wine in one go.

"Haha, you’re too kind, Second Brother."

Having had quite a bit to drink, Ning Changhan’s face was flushed and he was in high spirits.

He was a resourceful man with extensive connections. Moreover, his son, Ning Feng, now served under an Innate Limit Strong Person and was held in high regard.

As a result, his own status in the Ning Family had risen accordingly, earning him the favor of Old Master Ning.

Just today, Old Master Ning had spoken with him and handed over some of the family’s core authority.

"Eldest Brother, you’ve really raised a fine son. I’m sure that boy Ning Feng will make a name for himself and become number one of Baiquan Town’s younger generation. He’ll even surpass Song Ziwen," the third eldest, Ning Changgao, added with a compliment.

"Ning Shan, why do you look so troubled?" Ning Changhan asked.

Ning Shan was the only one of the younger generation at the table.

Ning Shan looked at the men, hesitated, but finally spoke up. "First Uncle, that Chen Shitong is a notorious man. Years ago, he massacred a small family for no reason. With Big Brother Ning Feng and the others associating with him, I’m afraid they’ll be influenced and become just like him."

Ning Shan’s conscience was still intact; she had her principles. She knew Chen Shitong was bad news, which was why she hadn’t gotten involved with Ning Feng and his group.

After all, you become like the company you keep.

Even the purest white lotus will be stained black if it touches ink.

"Nonsense."

Ning Changhan slammed his hand on the table and snorted coldly, his voice laced with anger. "Ning Feng is my son. I know him better than anyone. He would never turn bad. You are not to repeat a word of what you said today outside this room. If Elder Chen were to hear of it, I fear he would fly into a thunderous rage. Do you understand?"

"Eldest Brother, Ning Shan is still just a child. Don’t hold it against her."

Ning Changming quickly offered an appeasing smile, then glared at Ning Shan. "You foolish girl, hurry up and apologize to your First Uncle."

’Ning Shan felt wronged. She suddenly thought of Ning Jiang. ’If it were him,’ she mused, ’with his unyielding pride, no one could ever make him lower his head, could they?’’

But she was nothing like him. Under the pressurizing gazes of her elders, no matter how unwilling she was, she could only prepare to apologize.

She opened her mouth, about to apologize, when a voice suddenly drifted in from outside:

"Interesting. To think the only one here who can see through Chen Shitong and scorns associating with him is a woman. You elders think only of colluding with him, but you don’t understand a fundamental principle. We Martial Artists have a code: there are things we do and things we will never do. Sometimes, it is better to be insignificant and ordinary than to associate with evil. That is a line everyone should have!"

A figure walked in, his head full of white hair. Who else could it be but Ning Jiang?

He glanced at Ning Shan in surprise, a newfound respect in his eyes. He hadn’t expected this young woman to have such insight and the courage to call out Chen Shitong’s depravity.

In this regard alone, Ning Shan was stronger than any of the others.

"You’re not dead? What are you doing here? Haven’t you already broken all ties with the Ning Family?"

Ning Changhan’s gaze was ice-cold as he stared at Ning Jiang. He felt no warmth for this person who shared no blood relation with them.

"’I learned from Ning Feng and the others that it was your idea to have Sister An taken away. Is that right?’ Ning Jiang said."

"Hm? You’ve seen Feng’er and the others? Where are they?" Ning Changhan’s brow furrowed as a sudden sense of foreboding washed over him.

"I killed Ning Feng, Ning Ding, and Ning Qi. All of them. Chen Shitong died by my hand as well."

Ning Jiang couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Ning Changhan, I came here today to kill you. Sister An is your niece, yet you ignored your kinship and plotted against her. For that, you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

He didn’t even give Ning Changhan a chance to respond. The moment the words left his lips, Ning Jiang flicked a finger.

PFFT.

He died the same way as Ning Feng and the others, a hole pierced straight through his brow. He died with his eyes wide in disbelief.

HISS!

The other elders’ pupils contracted as they drew in a sharp, cold breath. A moment ago, Ning Changhan had been flushed and in high spirits; in the blink of an eye, he was a corpse. The sight made their bodies tremble violently.

"Kneel."

Ning Jiang roared, his aura pressing down on them. Except for Ning Shan and Ning Shoujing, who sat at the head of the table, the other elders couldn’t withstand the pressure. With a collective THUD, they fell to their knees.

"Since you didn’t participate this time, I won’t kill you. But remember this: if any of you ever dare to plot against Sister An as Ning Changhan did, I will show you no mercy!"

"Yes, yes."

Feeling the icy killing intent that filled the room, the men all turned pale and agreed profusely.

They had no doubt that if they dared to utter a single word of defiance, the young man would have them splattering blood on the floor.

With a cold snort, Ning Jiang turned to leave.

Ning Shan bit her lip, took a step forward, and said, "Ning Jiang, I’m sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s all in the past."

The past is like smoke, scattered by the wind.

Ning Jiang shot into the sky and departed from the Ning Family estate.

Long after he had vanished, Ning Shan could no longer hold back. Her shoulders trembled as she sank to the ground, sobbing.

She knew she had lost Ning Jiang forever—lost the boy who had once liked her...

*Sigh*.

Old Master Ning Shoujing heaved a long sigh. He rose to his feet, tears streaming down his face, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant. "It was my fault. All my fault! If I had only been a little kinder to him in the past... if I had stopped Changhan when he did those things... then he would still be one of our Ning Family!"

"We drove away a dragon with our own hands!"

Hearing the old master’s regret-filled words, Ning Changming and Ning Changgao were also overcome with remorse.

But alas, the grave mistake had already been made.

The moment Ning Jiang soared into the sky, all ties between him and the Ning Family were severed.

...

WHOOSH.

Ning Jiang flew out of Baiquan Town, heading for Golden Cauldron City at top speed.

Ning Yu’an had been taken away nearly half a year ago. The two of them, brother and sister, had been inseparable since childhood and had never been apart for so long.

’We haven’t seen each other in half a year. Sister An must be worried sick.’

Ning Jiang murmured to himself. Knowing Ning Yu’an, he was sure that kind and gentle woman had probably been worried about his injuries the entire time.

’Li Family, you’d better have treated Sister An well. If you’ve let her come to even the slightest harm, don’t blame me for starting a massacre and bathing your family in blood!’

A terrifying killing intent roiled in Ning Jiang’s heart, ready to erupt at any moment.

Ning Yu’an was his reverse scale—a line that could not be crossed.

By taking Ning Yu’an, the Li Family had already crossed that line. His killing intent had never been so intense.

The distance between Baiquan Town and Golden Cauldron City was vast. An ordinary Innate Realm Martial Artist would need at least three days to make the journey.

But Ning Jiang’s flight speed was more than ten times faster than that.

Half a day later, after crossing a mountain range, Golden Cauldron City finally came into view!