Afterward, the Qin and Huang Families each arrived with a mysterious powerhouse in tow, their ultimate trump cards revealed at last. They had come to the rescue because Xu Ke could not be allowed to die.
However, once they arrived, Huang Zhendong and Qin Feng were both taken aback by the raucous scene before them.
Holy shit!
They swore that in all their years as Family Heads, this was the first time they had ever seen so many people from the six great families gathered together. Though behind-the-scenes strife was unending, a facade of cordiality still had to be maintained in public. Thus, the atmosphere shifted from murderous to one of mutual pleasantries and formal greetings. If not for the pool of blood still seeping across the ground, everyone might have felt like starting a banquet.
Since Xu Ke's movements were restricted, Chen Xiong stepped up to perform his duties as the Martial Alliance Leader, greeting the newcomers while covertly explaining what had just transpired.
Upon learning of the performance of Xu Ke and Wong Qifu, everyone was appalled and deeply shaken. Had the Wang Family truly become so powerful? At that moment, anyone with a brain could clearly see who the real boss of Tianhai was. Then, those who had sided with Xu Ke early on—like Zhou Qingzhi, Duan Chongfeng, and Chen Haiming—were overjoyed. They realized they had made the right choice.
At the same time, Xu Ke was observing the new arrivals. He noticed that the mysterious powerhouse by Qin Feng's side was an elder with dark clothes and a dark face. This wasn't because the man had a gloomy expression, but because his skin was literally black.
"Who is that?" Xu Ke asked, taken aback. If not for the man's distinctly Huaxia features, he would have guessed he was from Africa.
"That is our Qin Family's great elder, Qin Wubi," Zhuge Changyang explained. Limp and powerless, he clutched his chest as he spoke. "He believes the path to the pinnacle lies in the world's most unyielding and potent True Qi. In his view, the sun is the ultimate source of this fierce energy. He has spent years cultivating with the great sun as his source of True Qi, constantly absorbing its light, which is why he looks the way he does."
Beside Zhuge Changyang, his brother Zhuge Changyin, who usually chimed in in unison, was now as silent as a beaten dog, unable to utter a single word. Of all the Great Perfection experts, the two of them had suffered the most, having been beaten senseless by a group of postnatal Martial Artists—a humiliating and disgraceful defeat. Now, they were fellow patients alongside Xu Ke, resting off to the side.
After hearing the explanation, Xu Ke couldn't stifle a laugh. "I see." So that was how Qin Wubi got his dark skin.
"And what about that one?" Xu Ke asked, looking toward the old crone standing beside Huang Zhendong.
The old woman had an ethereal presence, her eyes glowing purple. She was so emaciated she was practically skin and bones. Yet, despite her frail appearance, she emanated an eerily cold aura that unnerved everyone present, so much so that almost no one from the Huang Family dared to approach her.
"That is the wife of the old Family Head, Ouyang Ping, currently the strongest expert in the Huang Family," Shi Hongda said as he walked over. "She pursues death as her path to the pinnacle, which is why she looks neither human nor ghost. Quite terrifying, really."
Hearing this, Xu Ke chuckled. "Are you sure you should be saying that?" The woman was the Huang Family's strongest expert and the wife of the former head; Shi Hongda's words were deeply disrespectful.
But Shi Hongda didn't care. He scoffed, "I've been at odds with her for years. Even though I'm a guest elder, she has always looked down on me because of her higher cultivation. I've put up with her for a long time. Now that I've also reached Great Perfection, why should I tolerate it any longer?"
At his words, the Zhuge brothers shot him envious looks. It seemed they had faced similar experiences.
"Besides," Shi Hongda continued, "her relationship with the current Family Head is not good."
"The only reason she came here today was for the sake of her most beloved grandson, Huang Sheng. After you poisoned him, she couldn't just sit by and do nothing!"
Xu Ke was stunned. "Why is that?" If Ouyang Ping was the wife of the old Family Head, wasn't she Huang Zhendong's mother? Why would a mother and son have a poor relationship?
"Because the old madam doesn't like the current Family Head. She dotes on his younger brother."
"Huang Zhenyang?"
"That waste? As if he's worthy." Shi Hongda sneered at the name. "No, it was her other son, the one who challenged the current Family Head to a duel to the death during the succession struggle."
A look of understanding dawned on Xu Ke's face. "Got it." There was no need to ask any more. Since Huang Zhendong was still alive and well, that unlucky son must be long dead. Ouyang Ping must have been furious, but she had to accept the outcome, which led to the deterioration of her relationship with Huang Zhendong.
"The story is a long and fascinating one. Xu Ke, let me tell you…" Shi Hongda's eyes lit up. He clearly enjoyed badmouthing Ouyang Ping.
Ouyang Ping's favorite son had brought his death upon himself, yet she remained partial and narrow-minded, lording her power over the Huang Family for years. Not only did the rightful victor, Huang Zhendong, harbor a bellyful of grievances, but so did Shi Hongda. He was eager to fill Xu Ke in on all the details. After all, Xu Ke was poised to become the de facto ruler of all Tianhai. If he could plant a seed of preemptive dislike for Ouyang Ping in Xu Ke's mind, her status in the family would surely be marginalized in the future.
But Xu Ke dealt Shi Hongda a critical blow with a single gesture. He waved his hand nonchalantly. "Forget it. I'm not interested."
He could guess the gist of the Huang Family's internal drama; there was no need to waste everyone's time by spelling it out.
Shi Hongda's enthusiasm froze on his face. "…"
Xu Ke then gazed at the two new powerhouses, a thought forming in his mind. It seems the six great families each have their own trump cards after all. They can't be underestimated! These two, the old man and the old woman, must be incredibly strong. If I had tried to kill members of the Huang and Qin Families without knowing they had such masters in hiding, it would have been disastrous if they'd escaped. Being targeted in secret by a peak expert, like a maggot burrowing into my bones, would be an agonizing fate.
But then, something felt off. He mulled over the name Ouyang Ping. Suddenly, he looked up, his expression changing slightly. "Wait a minute, why is her surname Ouyang?"
"What's wrong? Does it matter?" Shi Hongda was taken aback for a moment before chuckling. "Oh, I get it. You think the old madam is related to the Ouyang Family? Actually, there's no connection. Let me tell you, the Ouyang Family is the Ouyang Family, and the old madam is…"
"No, I don't think she's connected to the Ouyang Family," Xu Ke said, taking a sharp breath. "I was just wondering, what is her relationship to Ouyang Shuang?"
Ouyang Shuang was the one who, along with Huang Qi, had kidnapped him in the beginning.
The words had barely left his mouth when Shi Hongda answered instinctively, "She's Ouyang Shuang's older sister!"
Hearing this, Xu Ke's expression changed instantly.
Just then, Ouyang Ping's gaze finally settled on him. Her face was grim, but it slowly twisted into a chilling smile.
"So, you are Xu Ke?!"
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Author's Note: The details about Ouyang Ping aren't a major plot point; I only wrote this to clean up some loose ends from Chapter 610, which was written a year ago. I got home late and just finished writing. My apologies~
