‘Ten spirit stones? The rule I established was that every Qi Refining stage cultivator who sacrifices themselves for the family is entitled to one hundred spirit stones as a settlement fee…’
The Huang Family Head froze for a moment, then, as if realizing something, hurriedly tried to open his mouth to explain. But it was already too late. Huang Huasheng had already rushed right in front of him, bringing a club smashing down towards his head.
The Huang Family Head’s expression changed drastically. He hastily raised both arms to block. The club struck his arms with a heavy, dull thud. An expression of pain couldn’t help but flash across the Family Head’s face, but he still tried to explain, “Listen to my explanation, it’s not what you think—”
Before he could finish his sentence, the club began to rain down like a storm, beating him until he grimaced in agony. Huang Huasheng laughed while he struck, “Just now you lied to me, saying you couldn’t move at all. Aren’t you able to block with your head now?”
“You old liar, full of nonsense! I’m going to kill you today! Can’t even handle a little beating like this? Do you know how badly I was beaten when I went to ask about this back then? Living in comfort and luxury all day, let me help you build up some endurance! Hahahaha!”
Huang Huasheng laughed like a madman, crying even as he struck. The terrifying resentment that had been pent up in his heart now transformed into boundless strength, raining down blow after blow.
Huang Huasheng knew that although the Huang Family Head currently had no spiritual energy left, and his soul was so overburdened it could barely move, his physical body was still at the mid Foundation Establishment level. Killing him with just a club would be very difficult.
But Huang Huasheng deliberately didn’t want to kill him so quickly. He intentionally didn’t use spiritual energy, just so he could hit him a few more times, tormenting the Huang Family Head severely in the process and venting all the hatred accumulated over so many years.
Not far away, Lin Huanhuan and Bai Lingfeng watched them with stunned expressions, completely dumbfounded.
Bai Lingfeng’s eyelids twitched as he watched. “The situation changed a bit fast, didn’t it? I didn’t even have time to react.”
Lin Huanhuan stroked her chin thoughtfully. “This Huang Family Head’s brainwashing methods are quite impressive. No wonder those Huang Family disciples were so fearless. If Huang Huasheng didn’t have a deep-seated grudge against him, he probably would have been swayed by his words just now.”
“However, looking at the situation, the Huang Family Head seems to have been screwed over by his own subordinates. That settlement fee was likely embezzled. The Family Head probably didn’t know about it, otherwise his reaction wouldn’t be like this.”
“That seems about right.” Bai Lingfeng nodded, then asked, “But why isn’t Huang Huasheng listening to the Family Head’s explanation? If he explained, the misunderstanding could be cleared up, and at least he’d know the real truth.”
“What good would knowing do?” Lin Huanhuan retorted. “Huang Huasheng is in a state of furious rage right now. How could he possibly listen to explanations?”
“And even if the Huang Family Head truly didn’t know, so what? After the Family Head explains the whole truth, what about all the suffering Huang Huasheng and his mother endured over all these years? The person who embezzled the funds is probably already dead. Would Huang Huasheng just give up on revenge, cast everything aside, and faithfully continue following the Huang Family Head?”
Bai Lingfeng’s lips parted slightly, utterly shocked. Lin Huanhuan continued, “Under normal circumstances, something like that might happen. But right now, Huang Huasheng is in the middle of his revenge, in this emotionally charged state. Forcing him to stop now would be like… well, it would be infuriating! How could he possibly agree!”
“He doesn’t care about the so-called truth right now. He’s only willing to believe what he wants to believe. All he needs right now is to vent all the pain he’s suffered over the years.”
“That’s true too.” Bai Lingfeng nodded thoughtfully. “So, we just watch quietly from here?”
Lin Huanhuan narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Let’s observe the situation for now. This Huang Family Head is a crafty old fox. And after serving this Ten Thousand Soul Banner for so many years, I suspect he still has a trump card. Even if he doesn’t, letting Huang Huasheng vent to his heart’s content is good too. Consider it a benefit for providing me with information.”
As they chatted over here, Huang Huasheng was still over there, beating away.
After another while of beating, a loud crack sounded. Huang Huasheng stared blankly at the broken club in his hand. This was made of thousand-year Red Ironwood, with reinforcement runes carved on its surface. Its hardness even surpassed refined steel, barely qualifying as a semi-artifact. And yet, it had broken just like that.
Huang Huasheng couldn’t help but let out a ferocious laugh. Most of the resentment in his heart had been vented, and reason had regained the upper hand. But letting the Huang Family Head go was still impossible.
He picked up a blade from nearby, hefting it in his hand. It was forged from hundred-fold refined steel. Not exactly able to slice through iron like mud, but sharp enough to cut a hair blown against its edge. Perfect.
Huang Huasheng said in a low, heavy voice, “Family Head, have you waited long? I’ll send you on your way now. I don’t want to hear your explanations anymore. I just want to kill you. Don’t blame me. This is fate!”
The steel blade rose high, then swiftly chopped down. A sharp glint flashed in the Huang Family Head’s eyes. He sighed inwardly, silently chanting in his mind:
Soul Detonation!
I originally wanted to keep one last move as a trump card. Who would have thought I’d be forced to this point by my own clansman? What is this? My retribution?
Now I’ve used up all the soul path techniques I can employ. If I encounter another ambush, it’ll be hard to deal with. I hope things go more smoothly from here.
The next moment, a tremendous boom, audible only to him, echoed from his soul. He let out a muffled grunt. His soul seemed to have turned into a delicate piece of porcelain, its surface covered in cracks, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.
But in return, he recovered most of his spiritual energy.
The steel blade struck the spiritual energy shield, as if sinking into a swamp, unable to advance an inch.
“This… how? You didn’t have a shred of spiritual energy left!” Huang Huasheng’s eyes were filled with utter shock. But before he could figure it all out, a large hand directly pierced through his chest, seizing and squeezing his heart.
The heart was crushed like a soft apple, splattering crimson juice.
Blood spurted from Huang Huasheng’s mouth and nose. All the strength seemed to drain from his body as he collapsed limply to the ground. The light gradually faded from his eyes, and he murmured, “So this is death? Perhaps I should have died many years ago, but I just lingered until now…”
The Huang Family Head kicked him aside with one foot, then turned a cold gaze towards Lin Huanhuan and Bai Lingfeng. “Such an exciting show. You should have gotten your money’s worth by now, right?”
Just as Lin Huanhuan was about to speak, the Ten Thousand Soul Banner above the blood pool suddenly erupted with radiant light. An indescribable aura completely enveloped the surroundings.
The Huang Family Head’s eyes instantly shone with a brilliant light. “Finally! The repair is complete!”