Chapter 73 - Cauldron (1/2)
“Stop!” cried Xue Ningxiang.
Xue Dingtian turned towards his granddaughter and was startled to see her in tears with a dagger at her neck.
“What are you doing, Ning’er?” Xue Dingtian became nervous.
Xue Ningxiang spoke between sobs, “Grandpa, let them go, they’re my friends.”
“If I do, then our Xue clan will be no more!” Xue Dingtian stepped towards Zhuo Fan with hatred and killing intent.
“Grandpa, take one more step and I will be leaving this world before you!” Xue Ningxiang nervously pushed the dagger closer to her throat.
Blood began to trace the blade.
“Don’t!” Xie Tianyang was frightened, but Xue Dingtian gnashed his teeth and pressed on. However, Zhuo Fan noticed the tears in the old man’s eyes.
Zhuo Fan laughed, “Ha-ha-ha, Xue Dingtian, you’ve gotten senile. You think taking us to the seventh elder will save Xue clan? It will only hasten your downfall.”
“What are you saying?” Xue Dingtian stopped and stared at Zhuo Fan.
Sneering, Zhuo Fan turned to Xie Tianyang, “Do you know who this is? He’s from Sword Marquise Abode! By handing him over to the Hell Valley, you will make one of the seven houses into your enemy. Do you think you can handle their wrath and prevent the downfall of your second rate clan!”
Xue Dingtian became apprehensive, he spoke while scrutinizing Xie Tianyang, “Impossible, you are trying to play me. I would’ve known by now if someone from Sword Marquise Abode came to Blue Expanse City!”
“Seven Noble Houses’ disciples wander the world, so why should they report to you? Clear those muddy eyes of yours and take a closer look at his spiritual weapon, his martial arts! Are they common? Even in the seven houses, such a masterful disciple is rare.”
A chill shook his very core and Xue Dingtian staggered back a few steps.
He knew that was a 4th-grade spiritual weapon and the kid was using a profound ranked martial art. Who could wield both if not a man from the seven houses?
Having Xue Dingtian right where he wanted, Zhuo Fan drove in the last nail with a sneer, “You want to take us back to Hell Valley when it’s uncertain if they’ll even accept us. But if they do, will the Sword Marquise Abode just let you go?”
Plop!
Xue Dingtian lost all his nerve and collapsed in a shivering mess.
The Xue Clan was under Hell Valley, but never would they think to step between the conflicts of the seven houses. If it ever happened, the Hell Valley would toss them in front as cannon fodder.
Xue Dingtian began to feel mournful and lost.
[This year is a disaster for Xue clan. Do we have no other choice but to die at the hands of one of the seven houses?]
He could take these runts with him, but he wouldn’t want them now even if they landed in his lap.
“Y-young m-masters, forgive this old man’s rash behavior. I was blind to young masters’ identity!” Xue Dingtian squeezed through clenched teeth and crouched before them to kowtow three times.
Everyone was dumbfounded, while Zhuo Fan just took it all in with a critical eye.
Xie Tianyang couldn’t quite accept it and rushed over. Forgetting the fact he was Ning’er’s grandfather, just being an aged Profound Heaven expert was enough to make Xie Tianyang unable to receive such a gesture.
Would the Profound Heaven experts, elders in title, back at Sword Marquise Abode had to kneel too?
But Zhuo Fan’s hand barred his way.
“If you want to save Ning’er, show off your status.” Zhuo Fan whispered, to which Xie Tianyang nodded with a bit of startle.
“Grandfather, get up!”
Xue Ningxiang had never seen her grandfather so humiliated and rushed to help him up. But then Zhuo Fan yelled, “Who told you to get up?”
Xue Dingtian shivered and was back on his knees with a red face.
“You…”
Xue Ningxiang was angry, but Xue Dingtian pulled her back. Zhuo Fan strutted before the old man and said in a clipped tone, “Do you know of our young master’s eminent identity in the house? You hurt him today and us, the Sword Marquise Abode, will not let this go unpunished.”
“Yes, I was ignorant in my offense.” Xue Dingtian hung his head which was already full of cold sweat.