Chapter 77 - Round Two, Start (2/2)

“Eighth elder!”

The old man looked frail, his eyes cloudy, a stark contrast to the true expert he was. Even his right hand was missing three fingers, yet this hand was bony and showed its blue veins clearly. Proof he was a seasoned swordsman.

Xie Tianyang cried in joy while You Guiqi sneered, “Jian Suifeng, fifty years no see. How have you been?”

“Fine, until you came to ruin my mood!”  The elder spat through gritted teeth. His cloudy eyes seethed with bone-deep hatred.

“Eighth elder, thank god you’re here. Help me save Ning’er!” Xue Ningxiang pulled Jian Suifeng’s sleeve.

But Jian Suifeng shook his head, “Tianyang, this is Hell Valley’s affair. We cannot get involved.”

“Youngster, there’ll be hell to pay if you poke your nose in other’s business.” You Guiqi snickered, then turned to Jian Suifeng, “Case in point, you lost your three fingers due to the same reason.”

Jian Suifeng’s eyes trembled from rage as he stared You Guiqi down, “You think I would’ve fallen for your scheme if not for being young at that time?”

“Ha-ha-ha, it would’ve been better if you had stayed quiet!”

You Ming laughed, “I heard from my Master about senior’s matter, of the so-called undistinguished elder with rotten youth. At that time, if senior hadn’t lusted over a girl from one of Hell Valley’s vassal clans, why would you force your way in her town, only to finally end with you ransomed by your glorious Abode Lord with three cities? Too bad about those three fingers; you had to leave those behind.”

Gritting his teeth, Jian Suifeng was so enraged that veins popped, “You Guiqi, don’t take it too far.”

“Or what, you’ll attack?” You Guiqi made a sinister grin, “Five decades ago you couldn’t beat me. And that hasn’t changed even now, when we’re just one layer apart. You best run along and call for your seventh elder instead.”

He continued to ridicule Jian Suifeng, “I am in awe of the Sword Marquise Abode’s 13 sword elders fame shaking the empire. But you’re the only eyesore among them, not worth a dime!”

“You…” Jian Suifeng clenched his fists and shouted, “Tianyang, we’re leaving!”

“But eighth elder, you must at least fight for the honor of Sword Marquise Abode even if we can’t save Ning’er. Leaving like this…”

“Quiet! Can’t you tell he’s goading us? This here is Hell Valley’s domain. Winning or losing here will put Sword Marquise Abode at a disadvantage.”

He glared once more at You Guiqi and said to Xie Tianyang, “Tianyang, remember You Guiqi’s title and how cunning he is. Next time you meet him, make sure to face him with ample preparation.”

Xie Tianyang looked at Xue Ningxiang not far ahead, and said in a determined tone, “I know that. But if I don’t save her today, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

“Ha-ha-ha, such is youth, ignorant of the world’s dangers! Since Sword Marquise Abode’s young master is so entertained by the idea of a hero saving a damsel, I will oblige by giving you a chance. Save not only her but also her clan, letting her feel ultimate gratitude towards you.”

You Guiqi clapped and four Bone Tempering experts pulled four large crosses, with the entire Xue clan nailed on them, from old to young.

“Grandpa, dad, brothers!”

Xue Ningxiang wailed and glared at You Guiqi, “Seventh elder, what are you doing?”

“Acting my role as a villain.”

You Guiqi then sent a grin towards Xie Tianyang, “How will the young master play the hero otherwise?”

He then twisted his face and howled, “Attack!”

The Bone Tempering experts took out hooks and clawed them into the Xue clan’s members.

Blood fell like rain and their howls rang in the air. They even found the strength to shout their lungs out when the hooks came out of their bodies. Not even Xue Dingtian, who was a Profound Heaven expert, was eased from this suffering.

Xue Ningxiang was crying her heart out and yelled, “You Guiqi, stop or I will kill myself!”

“Then I will kill them all.” You Guiqi roared in return.

Xue Ningxiang was rooted to the spot, powerless to alleviate the painful cries of her family. Her knees softened and she collapsed, as did her mind.

Snickering next to her ear, You Ming reveled in her pain, “Girlie, get off your high horse. You’re in no position to demand anything from my Master. He is Insidious Demon, the number one sage of Hell Valley. So many people from the seven houses have fallen to my Master’s ploys, and you think you can best him at that?”

“Ha-ha-ha, I’ll have you know this too. It’s because you angered him that he chose this course of action. You might have a bargaining chip, but too bad, you’re too naive. And don’t forget he has a bargaining chip too, rather close at hand.”

Xue Ningxiang lifted her head but all they conveyed was emptiness and tears.

Despair and agony!

She sacrificed herself to save her clan, but she was far from being able to win against this cunning fox. It instead earned his ire and now he was venting it all on her clan.

“It’s all my fault!” She blamed herself for everything.

“Who will save me now?” Xue Ningxiang mumbled while looking at the sky in tears, “Who can save us?”

“Humph, idiot!” You Ming mocked her but then shrugged, “Idiot or not, a cauldron still has its use.”

Xie Tianyang saw Xue Ningxiang losing herself and his heart was in pain. Jian Suifeng stopped him from charging over with a shake of his head and a hand on his shoulder.

“The farther we are from You Guiqi, the better.”

“But eighth elder…” Xie Tianyang’s words faltered as Jian Suifeng’s hand squeezed his shoulder harder, afraid the kid would make a rash decision.

Plop!

Xie Tianyang collapsed to his knees, his spirit broken, his pride as a genius turned to nothing but tears of humiliation. The girl he liked was suffering before him and he was powerless to do anything.

Then he suddenly recalled Zhuo Fan’s words.

[If you go you can only watch, powerless to do anything!]

It all went out just as Zhuo Fan had said. Xie Tianyang believed there was nothing he couldn’t do, but now he realized how meager and weak he was.

“It seems that I was the coward all along!” He muttered under his breath.

“Zhuo Fan, you bastard, where the hell are you?” Xie Tianyang then raved through his manly tears and punched the ground until his fist inflamed.

Jian Suifeng understood the kid’s pain but couldn’t help him.

Suddenly, Xue Ningxiang’s and Xie Tianyang’s rings sparked. Only this time it was much stronger, similar to the time when the three Thunder Rings were close together.

“He’s here!” Xie Tianyang looked around with hope.

Xue Ningxiang shivered and her eyes began to regain clarity. She muttered looking at the Thunder Ring, “B-big brother Zhuo…”

Rumble!

Suddenly lightning streaked across the sunny sky. It struck down among the crucified Xue clan members and blasted out the Bone Tempering experts there in all directions.

The dust rose as lightning still flickered within and everyone was now trying to perceive through it.

When the dust settled, it revealed Zhuo Fan sporting his manic grin.

“You Guiqi, I lost the previous round. But the second round starts now!”