Chapter 527 - 347: The Death of Qin Feng

Chapter 527: Chapter 347: The Death of Qin Feng

"Go back? Go back where?"

Huangpu Yue suddenly lifted her head, giving Ling Xiao a mischievous look. "It’s not like I’m anything to you. You have no reason to be so nice to me." The moment the words left her mouth, Huangpu Yue was filled with regret. ’What’s wrong with me?’ she wondered. ’How could I say something so suggestive?’

Ling Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then he smiled. "So many years have passed, and you’re still acting like a child? I still remember you at the Adventurer’s Bar back in the day. You had such a commanding presence..."

"Hm?"

Huangpu Yue furrowed her brow and looked at Ling Xiao in confusion, repeating, "The Adventurer’s Bar? How is that possible? The only one I’ve ever spent time at was in Wutang Town, but in my memory... you were never there! How... how did you see me?"

Ling Xiao couldn’t help but sit up straight and slap his forehead. ’Of course she wouldn’t recognize me,’ he thought. ’I was in disguise back then. But that’s a long story, and it would involve Ye Zi’s past.’ He smiled and said, "I didn’t really stand out back then. Heh, in any case, I got to witness the might of Miss Huangpu firsthand. The moment you walked into the bar, that whole crowd of fearless Adventurers fell silent. It’s funny just thinking about it."

Huangpu Yue frowned, racking her brain, but she couldn’t for the life of her recall ever seeing Ling Xiao. Staring into his bright eyes, she felt a vague flicker of recognition, but it was like a wisp of a cloud, impossible to grasp.

Deciding to stop thinking about it, she pouted and said, "You were probably just some little kid back then. It’s only natural that I didn’t notice you."

’At least this changed the subject away from my suggestive comment.’ While a part of her was relieved, Huangpu Yue also felt a flicker of irritation and embarrassment. ’Am I that unappealing to him? I give him a perfect opening, and he intentionally dodges it.’

In truth, she was misjudging Ling Xiao. Miss Huangpu had greatly overestimated his emotional intelligence. Although it had improved over the years, it was, on the whole, still sorely lacking. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been back for so long, missing Ye Zi and the others, without once thinking of writing a letter to tell them so.

"If I leave, what will happen to my business?" Huangpu Yue asked softly.

"Let someone else handle the business." Ling Xiao glanced at Huangpu Yue, thought for a moment, then said, "I know you love your freedom and hate being tied down, so you can come back after all this is over. The Qin Family... has already provoked the wrath of all the other noble families and Sword Sects. Their destruction is only a matter of time." He looked at her again and added, "In a few more years, once the Shushan Sword Sect has grown stronger, I can even assign some powerful guards just for you."

A flicker of warmth spread through Huangpu Yue’s heart. ’He really does care about me, at least a little. He heard I was in danger and came all this way in person.’ As she thought about it, she felt deeply touched. A sudden idea popped into her head. ’You know, for a man like him... being his lover wouldn’t be such a bad choice!’

’No, no!’

Huangpu Yue mentally scolded herself. ’My skin has gotten so thick! How could I even think of something like that?’

Ling Xiao had no idea what was going through Huangpu Yue’s mind. Seeing the conflicted look on her face, his own brow suddenly furrowed. He stood up and said in a low voice, "Stay in the room. Don’t go outside. And turn off the lamp!"

Lost in thought, Huangpu Yue only heard his last four words, and her heart skipped a beat. ’He... he wants me to turn off the lamp? What is he planning to do? No! I, Huangpu Yue, can’t just be with him like this, with no official status. Absolutely not!’

Just as she was having this thought, Ling Xiao’s figure vanished from before her eyes like a phantom. The door hadn’t even shown a trace of having moved!

Huangpu Yue stared, dumbfounded, at the fragrant tea still steaming in front of her. Her eyes were wide, and she rubbed her temples forcefully. ’Was that a hallucination?’

Just then, shouts suddenly erupted outside. In the quiet night, the sound traveled far and clear. Huangpu Yue finally realized it wasn’t a hallucination. Her head cleared instantly, and she reached out to flip the switch on the Crystal Core Lamp. The room was plunged into darkness. For some reason, Huangpu Yue found herself worrying about Ling Xiao.

The Qin Family certainly moved fast!

After scouting out the strength of Huangpu Yue’s guards, Qin Feng had eagerly led two Tier Six Sword Emperors on a night raid!

Huangpu Yue had four High-level Demon Swordmasters as guards, all of them well on in years. Unlike the Qin Family’s quickly-made experts, these men had cultivated steadily, advancing one step at a time. Because of this, the Essence Blood of such Martial Artists was of much higher quality than that of the so-called masters from noble families and sects who were propped up by countless Elixirs!

Qin Feng’s target, however, was Huangpu Yue herself! Her four Demon Swordmaster guards were for the two Tier Six Sword Emperors he had brought with him. After absorbing a certain amount of Essence Blood, the two of them could break through to the Sword Venerable Realm in a short period of time!

Their secret was out anyway, so there was no longer any need for restraint!

Ah Da and his three companions were naturally much weaker. Normally, Qin Feng’s group could have slipped by without alerting them, but since the four guards were the very targets of this raid, the attackers deliberately made a commotion to draw them out.

One of the Qin Family’s Tier Six Sword Emperors swooped down from the sky like a hungry tiger, pouncing directly at Ah Si. Before Ah Si could even cry out a warning, the Sword Emperor’s Sword Qi pierced straight through his heart. His body remained standing for a long moment, his eyes wide in death.

Ah Da, Ah Er, and Ah San cried out in grief. At that moment, the Qin Family Sword Emperor pressed his mouth to the wound in Ah Si’s chest and began to drink the blood gushing from his heart!

It was a method so brutal, a scene so horrifying, that one would never believe it if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes.

Ling Xiao arrived at that moment, inwardly cursing himself for being a step too late. He hadn’t expected the Qin Family’s Sword Emperor to be so impatient. His gaze was chillingly cold as he stared intently at Qin Feng and the two Sword Emperors.

He then barked at Ah Da, Ah Er, and Ah San, who were about to charge forward to their deaths, "Stand down! I’ll handle this!" The command was infused with Spiritual Power, causing the three men to shudder. They turned to see it was Ling Xiao and knew that charging in would be suicide. With tears in his eyes, Ah Da choked out, "Young Master Ling, you must avenge Ah Si!"

Ling Xiao nodded. On the other side, Qin Feng’s pupils contracted sharply. He stared fixedly at Ling Xiao and said with uncertainty, "You’re Ling Xiao?" They hadn’t met in three years, and Ling Xiao’s appearance had changed considerably. But the look in his eyes was all too familiar—it was the same glance Ling Xiao had given him from afar all those years ago.

The Hundred Thousand Refining Treasure Sword appeared in Ling Xiao’s hand. He pointed it at Qin Feng and the two Tier Six Sword Emperors of the Qin Family, one of whom still had blood dripping from his lips.

"All of you... will die!"

"HAHAHAHA!" Qin Feng suddenly threw his head back and roared with laughter, as if he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world. He doubled over, gasping for breath, before finally pointing a finger at Ling Xiao. "Ling Xiao... you’re strong, we’ll give you that. Your Shushan Sword Sect’s Arrays are in a league of their own among the hidden families and sects! Their power is immense; even a family as powerful as the Zhe Family was wiped out by your Array. So yes, we acknowledge your strength. But... you? You dare say we’re all going to die? Oh, Ling Xiao, Ling Xiao. To be arrogant, you need the power to back it up! Power that *I* have, but *you* do not! To say something so ignorant in front of two of my Qin Family’s Tier Six Sword Emperors... I have no idea what Ming Yue ever saw in a brainless fool like you. Hahaha, today, you will be the one to die!"

The two Sword Emperor Realm experts from the Qin Family also sneered at Ling Xiao, looking at him as if he were an idiot. They likely couldn’t fathom how this young man could utter a boast so wild and baseless.

A cold smirk touched Ling Xiao’s lips. He looked at Qin Feng and said, "You’re right, Qin Feng. Arrogance... does require power to back it up. But look at you. You’re not even a Sword Emperor, are you? Can you even perceive the fluctuations of my power?" He then cast an indifferent glance at the two Qin Family Sword Emperors who were preparing to strike. "And you two... you fools who don’t know the difference between life and death. Today, I’ll let you see whether I’m truly useless without my Arrays. The only pity is that after you see the truth, you’ll all be dead."

Qin Feng had been wary of Ling Xiao having backup nearby, but after waiting a while, no one appeared. Reassured, he sneered and waved a hand at the two Tier Six Sword Emperors. "Kill him! He’s your dinner!"

A terrifying light flared in the eyes of the two Tier Six Sword Emperors, and the malevolent aura around them intensified. With savage grins, they raised their swords and charged at Ling Xiao. Meanwhile, Qin Feng sneered and looked at Ah Da, Ah Er, and Ah San, who were guarding Huangpu Yue’s door. His figure flashed, and in the next instant, he appeared before them. His sword gleamed, and just as the three guards’ heads were about to be lopped off, Qin Feng suddenly felt an immense force travel up his sword and into his arm. The impact shattered every bone from his wrist to his shoulder!

Only then... did a sharp CLANG ring out!

"AARGH!"

Qin Feng let out an uncontrollable scream as beads of sweat streamed down his forehead. That single impact had shattered every bone in his right arm, from his wrist to his shoulder. The pain was like ten thousand arrows piercing his heart!

Ah Da, Ah Er, and Ah San had braced themselves to join their brother in death. But when they heard Qin Feng’s scream, they opened their eyes. They saw that Ling Xiao, who should have been fighting the two Sword Emperors, had somehow appeared in front of Qin Feng. At that very moment, Ling Xiao drove a savage kick into Qin Feng’s abdomen, sending him flying dozens of meters through the air. Qin Feng’s agonized howl was cut short as he crashed heavily into the snow with a dull thud. His body lay motionless—he had been killed by that single kick.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. The two Sword Emperors had only just reacted, their eyes turning bloodshot as they lunged at Ling Xiao. Ling Xiao’s eyes filled with utter contempt. ’Even if the old ancestor of your Qin Family were here, he would be no match for me. With your paltry strength, you dare come here to die?’

’Very well. I’ll grant your wish!’

With a flick of his wrist, a myriad of starlights exploded in the night sky, as brilliant as fireworks. The two Qin Family Sword Emperors were decapitated before they even knew how they had died.

They died as easily as two common Sword Attendants, without even managing to cause any significant damage.

’If it weren’t for Ah Si’s death... it would have been a perfect outcome.’

Ling Xiao retracted his sword and stood motionless, a sudden sense of unease creeping into his heart. A Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Realm could always perceive a faint trace of the Celestial Secret, even without performing divination.

’What exactly feels wrong?’

Ling Xiao was deeply puzzled.