Chapter 39: Chapter 38: Internecine Slaughter
Inside the Zhu Family’s Council Hall.
Zhu Chengze listened in silence to the explanations from his eldest brother and father.
"Brother, Father, say no more. I understand."
After a moment of silence, Zhu Chengze looked up and said in a heavy tone, "The Zhu Family cannot be extinguished. Even if only one person remains, the Zhu Family will still be the Zhu Family."
"Third Son, it’s good that you understand. Your brother and I actually wish that man would come for us instead. That way, the rest of you would have a chance to live."
Zhu Chaofeng sighed and said grimly, "Eldest, you and I will take turns resting to get back into peak condition. Once it’s dark, we’ll flee Lonely Mountain City under the cover of night."
As Zhu Chengze walked out of the Council Hall, his previously calm expression twisted into a ferocious scowl.
’Dad and Big Brother are right. For some to live, others must be sacrificed.’
’But why can’t I be the one who lives? Why do I have to be the one sacrificed?’
’They make it sound noble, but in reality, staying behind in the Zhu Family Manor is a certain death sentence!’
’If they escape, Chen Yuan will target the manor, and I’ll die.’
’Conversely, if Chen Yuan targets them and fails to kill them, he’ll still come back and wipe out the Zhu Family to vent his anger.’
’What nonsense about having a chance to live by staying behind. It’s just prolonging the inevitable. I’ll die sooner or later either way!’
Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Cheng’an actually knew this as well, they just weren’t willing to admit it.
Zhu Chengze let out a long breath, his fists clenched tight.
He didn’t want to die, and he certainly didn’t want to be sacrificed!
「Nightfall.」
Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Cheng’an had more or less recovered.
The two of them grabbed their weapons and some silver notes, preparing to head straight down the mountain.
Because all the Guests had fled, the vast Zhu Family Manor was now utterly silent, suffused with an eerie, deathly stillness.
Zhu Cheng’an cautiously pulled open the main gate of the Zhu Family Manor and peered outside. His expression changed in an instant.
Dressed in black, Chen Yuan seemed to melt into the night. He stood with his arms crossed around his long saber, a bamboo hat obscuring the upper half of his face, revealing only a pair of sharp, piercing eyes.
"Where might you two be going so late at night?"
Chen Yuan watched Zhu Chaofeng and his son with a smirk.
The two of them had rested for a day and had indeed recovered to their peak condition.
But Chen Yuan had also rested for a day. The power he had expended by using the Blood Fiend Power was now almost fully restored.
Zhu Chaofeng took a deep breath and asked, "Must you really fight my Zhu Family to the death?"
"What do you think?"
Chen Yuan pushed up the brim of his hat and said lightly, "I’m the kind of person who likes to see things through. Since I promised that girl, Chu Hongshang, that I would annihilate your entire Zhu Family, if even one of you is left alive, I’ll consider my mission a failure."
"Whatever Chu Hongshang gave you, my Zhu Family can give you more!"
Zhu Chaofeng said in a low voice, "Don’t look down on my Zhu Family’s shallow foundations. My fifth son, Zhu Chengzong, has already joined the Blazing Sect and become a Core Disciple. His future is limitless."
"As long as you spare my Zhu Family this time, we can even get you treasures from the Blazing Sect!"
Chen Yuan gently shook his head. ’This old bastard’s composure is really something else.’
’I’ve killed two of his sons, yet he can still stand here and bargain with me so calmly.’
"What Chu Hongshang can give me is something your Zhu Family truly cannot."
Chen Yuan chuckled. "Besides, do you take me for an idiot? Spare you now, only for you to come seeking revenge later?"
"Break through!"
Seeing that Chen Yuan was completely unmoved, Zhu Chaofeng made a split-second decision. With a loud roar, he brandished a Purple Gold Long Sword and charged straight at Chen Yuan.
The Zhu Family’s Green Blade Cloud Connecting Sword was a Fast Sword style. Though old, Zhu Chaofeng was still vigorous, his long sword instantly creating more than a dozen "sword flowers" in the air.
Sword Qi scattered in a continuous, unending stream, looking magnificent in the night.
Seeing this, Zhu Cheng’an immediately attacked Chen Yuan from the rear.
The father and son, one in front and one behind, coordinated perfectly. In an instant, countless gleams of sword light enveloped Chen Yuan.
The Cyan Dragon Blood Drink flew from its sheath in Chen Yuan’s hand. His Surprise Wave Internal Power erupted, and he brought down the Autumn Wind Slash. Sword gleams and saber light collided, producing a rapid series of explosive CLANGS.
It was a fast saber against fast swords. Chen Yuan fought two opponents at once, yet he didn’t lose the slightest bit of ground.
The longer Zhu Chaofeng fought, the more terrified he became.
This young man before him seemed even younger than his own youngest son, Zhu Chengzong, yet the depth of his Inner Strength and the power of his combat prowess were rarely seen among peers of the same cultivation level.
In the blink of an eye, they exchanged dozens of blows, but the father and son were completely unable to shake Chen Yuan.
During the exchange, the long sword in Zhu Cheng’an’s hand was even shattered by Chen Yuan’s Cyan Dragon Blood Drink.
The entire Zhu Family possessed only one Low Grade Profound Soldier: the Purple Gold Treasure Sword in Zhu Chaofeng’s hand. But even its quality was no match for the Cyan Dragon Blood Drink.
"Burn your Qi and Blood! Condense the Power of Black Death!"
Zhu Chaofeng suddenly roared at Zhu Cheng’an, rapidly striking several major acupoints on his own body.
In an instant, the Qi and Blood within his aged body began to seethe and burn, and a black Evil Qi immediately coiled around him.
Seeing this, Zhu Cheng’an also immediately burned his Qi and Blood, striking repeatedly at the center of Chen Yuan’s back with the Black Death Fire Cloud Palm.
However, Chen Yuan wasn’t in a hurry to activate his Killing Intent Origin and condense the Blood Fiend. Instead, he retreated, continuing to entangle the two in combat.
The tyrannical Power of Black Death on Zhu Chaofeng’s sword blasted forward with immense force, knocking Chen Yuan back directly.
But Chen Yuan used the momentum of the retreat to perfectly dodge Zhu Cheng’an’s palm strike.
Although it looked like Chen Yuan was at a disadvantage, Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Cheng’an grew more and more anxious as they fought.
The power gained from burning Qi and Blood to condense the Power of Black Death was immense, but with their level of Qi and Blood, they wouldn’t be able to sustain it for long.
Just then, the sounds of fighting and agonized screams suddenly erupted from within the Zhu Family Manor.
The expressions of Zhu Chaofeng and his son changed instantly.
’He’s not alone? He has an accomplice!?’
A moment later, the screams died down. Zhu Chengze, drenched in blood and carrying the head of a young man, emerged from the back courtyard with a savage look on his face.
"I’ve killed everyone in the Zhu Family! You promised you wouldn’t kill me!"
Chen Yuan burst out laughing. "You people of the Zhu Family are truly a ruthless bunch. Cruel to outsiders, and even crueler to your own."
"I always keep my word. You’ve done well. This time, I will not kill you myself."
This scene, however, provoked Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Cheng’an so much that they almost coughed up blood.
"Zhu Chengze! You animal! What have you done?!"
Zhu Cheng’an’s eyes were practically splitting with rage.
The head Zhu Chengze was carrying was that of his own son!
Although he had already been prepared to abandon this son the moment he decided to flee the Zhu Family and leave his relatives behind...
...seeing his son’s head right before his eyes, he still couldn’t accept it.
"Fool! Idiot! Bastard!"
Zhu Chaofeng violently spat out a mouthful of blood and roared, "How could you believe the enemy’s words and turn on your own family! How could I, Zhu Chaofeng, have a son as stupid as you!"
Although his strength was greater than Zhu Cheng’an’s, he was old, after all, and his Qi and Blood were not as abundant.
He was already struggling to sustain the burning of his Qi and Blood for so long. Provoked by Zhu Chengze, his Meridians instantly fractured, and his Inner Viscera were damaged.
"If I don’t believe the enemy, am I supposed to believe you?"
Zhu Chengze’s face was contorted, his expression frenzied.
"Why should you get to escape while I’m left here to die? Why should I have to die alongside that idiot Zhu Chengzu for a disaster he caused?
"We are all sons of the Zhu Family! Eldest Brother will be the next Patriarch, his word will be law. Second Brother is the pillar of the family, holding power in his hands.
"Fourth Brother is your favorite; you think of him whenever there’s anything good.
"And don’t even get me started on Fifth Brother! He joined the Blazing Sect and has a great future ahead of him. He looks down on everything the Zhu Family has.
"But what about me? What do I have? What do I get?!
"When the Zhu Family was powerful, I got no benefits, but now that the family is about to be annihilated, I’m the one who has to die! On what grounds?!"
Zhu Chengze shrieked, as if trying to vent all the resentment he had accumulated over the years.
Or perhaps, he was just trying to find a reason to give himself peace of mind for backstabbing his own kin.
"You..."
Zhu Chaofeng’s mind wavered again, but he immediately switched his target back to Chen Yuan.
This was not the time to clean up his own house. If they didn’t deal with Chen Yuan, they would all die!
Chen Yuan laughed loudly and activated his Killing Intent Origin. In an instant, the Blood Fiend entered his body, and a layer of scarlet Blood Fiend Qi enveloped him.
He brought a palm down, and the sky-filling Blood Fiend coalesced into a gigantic, blood-red Palm Seal that descended upon Zhu Chaofeng.
Blood Fiend soared to the heavens, the Killing Tribulation descended—Blood Killing Heaven-Seizing Hand!
Zhu Chaofeng roared furiously, concentrating the Power of Black Death onto the edge of his sword, which bloomed into a Black Lotus.
But under the boundless Killing Tribulation Power of the Blood Fiend, the Black Lotus was annihilated in an instant.
The Blood Killing Heaven-Seizing Hand branded itself onto his body. Zhu Chaofeng didn’t even have time to let out a scream before he, just like his son, was blasted to death by Chen Yuan’s palm strike!
It was just that his Cultivation was a bit stronger than Zhu Chengguo’s, so only the lower half of his body was obliterated.
Chen Yuan spun around and slashed with his saber. The scarlet Blood Fiend Saber Aura descended upon Zhu Cheng’an. Even though he resisted with all his might, he was still sent flying by the slash, a massive, bloody gash appearing on his chest.
However, Chen Yuan had only made a casual slash and hadn’t used his full strength. Zhu Cheng’an had actually survived the blow.
He happened to land not far from Zhu Chengze. Seeing him still carrying his son’s head, Zhu Cheng’an’s blood rushed to his head, and rage consumed his heart.
"You animal! I’ll kill you!"
Ignoring his damaged Meridians, Zhu Cheng’an frantically burned his Qi and Blood to condense the Power of Black Death and lunged at Zhu Chengze.
To him, in that moment, Zhu Chengze was even more hateful than Chen Yuan!
Chen Yuan was an enemy; no matter how cruel his methods, it was to be expected. The Zhu Family treated their enemies the same way.
But Zhu Chengze was his own blood brother, yet he had backstabbed them at a critical moment, killed the entire Zhu Family, and murdered his own son.
Even if he was going to die, he would drag this traitor down with him!
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