Chapter 44: Chapter 43: Slaying the Iron-Clad Again
Every time Zhu Chengzong returned from the Blazing Sect, it was like a triumphant homecoming.
This time was another grand return, but his home was gone.
Inside the Zhu Family Manor, the bodies of his father and eldest brother had already begun to decompose, and their heads were nowhere to be found.
They had likely been tossed into the sea like trash.
A former Guest of the Zhu Family knelt before Zhu Chengzong, evasively recounting the course of events.
This Guest had been a Martial Artist in Lonely Mountain City. When the Zhu Family was crushed, he fled. He had returned these past two days, feeling the trouble had blown over.
He hadn’t expected Zhu Chengzong to return as well and was immediately captured.
After hearing the story, Zhu Chengzong twisted his lips, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
He was different from the rest of the Zhu Family. Having joined a top-tier Major Sect like the Blazing Sect, he had seen the world.
To covet a woman and annihilate her family upon refusal, only to fail to eradicate the threat completely, leading to one’s own family’s destruction...
What was this?
A joke!
Moreover, though the bodies were decomposed, a single glance was enough to tell that his eldest and third brothers had killed each other.
The entire downfall of the Zhu Family was like a farce.
Zhu Chengzong took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "Did you see the face of the fiend who destroyed my Zhu Family?"
The Zhu Family’s Guest stammered, "I... suppose I did. But it was at night, and he was wearing a conical hat. It was a bit blurry. I could only make out half of his face."
"Describe it. I’ll have a painter sketch it."
Zhu Chengzong found a painter and had the Guest begin describing the man, making constant revisions.
After more than a dozen revisions, the portrait was finally about eighty percent similar to Chen Yuan, but it only showed the lower half of his face beneath the conical hat.
The Guest nodded repeatedly. "That’s him! That’s what he looked like!"
Zhu Chengzong nodded, then abruptly jabbed a finger at the top of the Guest’s head.
True Qi pierced through, and in an instant, a bloody hole appeared, from which a mixture of red and white matter trickled out.
The other Blazing Sect disciples standing nearby saw nothing wrong with Zhu Chengzong’s actions.
This man was a former Guest of the Zhu Family, yet he had fled in panic when the family was in peril—a typical traitor.
’What’s the use of a disobedient dog?’
His Senior Brother sighed. "Junior Brother Zhu, my condolences. How about we head to the Murong Family first? You can stay here in Lonely Mountain City and handle your family’s affairs."
Zhu Chengzong shook his head and said gravely, "Senior Brother, give me one day. After I’ve buried my family members, we’ll set out for the Murong Family’s residence."
"The sect’s mission is at hand. How can I be absent over a personal matter?"
His Senior Brother nodded, giving Zhu Chengzong an approving look.
Having one’s family annihilated would surely drive anyone else to despair and emotional collapse.
But Zhu Chengzong’s emotions were contained. His joys and sorrows were not displayed on his face, and his mind was perfectly clear.
This trip to celebrate the birthday of the Murong Family’s old ancestor in Longcheng was a sect mission. The ones sent were all outstanding disciples of the younger generation, meant to make a name for themselves in front of the many Jianghu People.
Zhu Chengzong’s choice to conduct a simple funeral and not give up this opportunity to gain prestige was a wise move.
Taking a deep breath, Zhu Chengzong stared intently at the portrait of Chen Yuan, as if to burn the image into his mind.
......
「Ten days later.」
Chen Yuan rode south, arriving at Wangbei Town on the border of Ning Province and You Province.
This small town was a necessary stop on the route from the Central Plains to You Province. It was quite prosperous, bustling with traveling merchants.
With half a month still to go before the Demon Sealing Conference, the Sealed Demon Valley was not yet open, so Chen Yuan chose to rest here for the time being.
Chen Yuan also noticed that Wangbei Town was unusually crowded with Jianghu People. Most were Martial Artists from You Province and Ning Province, and some had even come in groups from Minor Sects or small Noble Families.
They were clearly here for the Demon Sealing Conference, waiting in Wangbei Town ahead of time.
Wangbei Town was incredibly lively. Chen Yuan found the first two taverns he tried completely packed. After circling around twice more, he finally found an establishment with an open table.
After taking a seat, Chen Yuan immediately ordered all of the tavern’s specialty dishes.
He had been riding hard on the road for some time without any posthouses to rest at, usually making do with dry rations.
Now he could finally have a hot meal to satisfy his cravings.
"Sir, as you can see, the tavern is extremely crowded. The food might take a little longer, so we ask for your patience."
The waiter came over and explained pitifully.
"No problem. Just bring a pot of tea first."
Chen Yuan drank his tea while waiting for his food, taking the opportunity to listen in on some Jianghu gossip.
Many people were discussing the upcoming Demon Sealing Conference, but there was nothing new to be heard.
The Demon Sealing Conference was held once every ten years. Normally, the Sealed Demon Valley was closed to outsiders, and the Three Sealed Demon Races never communicated with the outside world.
As such, it was impossible to get any inside information before the valley opened.
Just then, a tall, travel-worn Martial Artist walked in through the tavern’s entrance.
He carried a Long Spear on his back, its head covered with a linen cloth.
Seeing him, the waiter hurried over and said with an apologetic smile, "Apologies, sir, but the tavern is full. Would you mind trying another place?"
Lately, too many Jianghu People had come to Wangbei Town. They were either powerful Loose Cultivators or from prominent Noble Sects. The staff couldn’t afford to offend any of them and had to be extremely careful with their words.
Otherwise, one wrong word could cost them their lives with no one to turn to for justice.
The man didn’t get angry, just smiled wryly. "Come on, young man, I haven’t had a proper meal in days. If there’s really no other way, just bring me the food. I can squat on the floor and eat, how about that?"
Of course, the waiter couldn’t agree to that. He scratched his head for a moment and said, "How about this? I’ll go ask if anyone is willing to share a table."
"Sure, sure, I’ll have to trouble you then, young man."
The waiter scanned the tavern and saw that only Chen Yuan was sitting alone.
He approached cautiously and asked, "Sir, would you mind? The customer who just arrived would like to share your table."
Chen Yuan nodded.
When you’re away from home, helping others is also helping yourself.
Of course, the main reason was that the man seemed good-natured. Hearing there were no seats, he hadn’t pressured the waiter and even offered to squat on the floor to eat.
Unlike some Jianghu People whose tempers were far greater than their skills.
The moment they heard there were no seats, they would curse out the waiter, forcing the tavern owner to come out and beg and plead just to get them to leave.
Chen Yuan had already seen several groups of people like that earlier.
When the waiter went over and told the man, he was overjoyed.
He walked over to Chen Yuan and cupped his fist. "Thank you for your kindness, brother. This meal is on me."
As he spoke, he set his Long Spear down on the floor, resting it against the wall.
Chen Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
The Long Spear made a thudding sound as it hit the ground, a testament to its immense weight.
From a distance, Chen Yuan hadn’t gotten a good look, but now he studied the man carefully.
The Martial Artist looked a bit older than Chen Yuan, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six. He had an honest, simple-looking face, and his skin was coarse and reddish, a clear sign of someone who traveled outdoors constantly.
Chen Yuan could sense his aura was steady and profound. His strength was at least at the Qi Casting Realm.
Moreover, Chen Yuan could faintly detect an air of martial slaughter about him.
After merging with the Seven Kills Stele, Chen Yuan was extremely sensitive to killing intent.
The man likely had a military background. Even if he wasn’t from the Great Xia Military, he had definitely taken many lives.
"There’s no need to be so polite, brother. We’re all children of the Jianghu. Helping others is helping yourself."
The man shook his head and said, "My foster father told me that when you meet someone who’s good to you, you must be twice as good to them."
"And when you meet someone who wants to harm you, you must strike back twice as hard, without mercy."
"I have to treat you to this meal. Otherwise, my conscience won’t be clear."
With that, the man reached into his robes to get his money.
But as he fumbled around, his expression suddenly turned awkward.
"Oh no! I think my silver must have fallen out while I was riding!"
Chen Yuan could tell the man wasn’t trying to freeload; he was genuinely embarrassed.
"It’s fine. This one’s on me. When you have money again, brother, you can treat me twice as much next time."
"Hehe, in that case, it would be rude to refuse."
The man gave an embarrassed laugh. Just as he was about to introduce himself, a gust of wind howled from the entrance, and a gray shadow came hurtling toward them.
The Martial Artist, who had looked so simple and honest, suddenly revealed a ferocious expression.
"Son of a bitch! These bastards just don’t give up!"
With a wave of his fan-like hand, he slammed a gray spinning wheel that was hurtling toward their table onto the ground.
’Isn’t that an Iron Conical Hat from the Iron Armor Sect?’
Outside the tavern, four Qi Casting Realm Martial Artists from the Iron Armor Sect stormed in aggressively.
"You think you can just kill someone from our Iron Armor Sect and walk away? It’s not that simple!"
The four men stared coldly at the martial artist, but then their gazes shifted to Chen Yuan, and killing intent erupted in their eyes.
"It’s you! You’re the one who killed eight of our Iron Armor Sect disciples at the Yellow Dragon Posthouse!"
Chen Yuan wasn’t the least bit surprised they could recognize him.
During the battle at the Yellow Dragon Posthouse, although he had killed all the Iron Armor Sect members, plenty of other people had witnessed the fight.
It was entirely possible that some busybody, hoping for a reward, had reported his appearance to the Iron Armor Sect.
The simple-looking martial artist frowned. "Hey, hey, hey! I only offed five of your guys. When did I ever kill eight of you at the Yellow Dragon Posthouse?"
"I’ll admit to the ones I killed, but don’t you go pinning someone else’s dirty deeds on me!"
"They’re talking about me."
Chen Yuan picked up his Cyan Dragon Blood Drink and said flatly, "Let’s take this outside. Don’t interfere with the owner’s business."
The simple-looking martial artist grinned. "Brother, this must be fate! We share a table for a meal, and we’ve both killed these lumps of iron."
He picked up his Long Spear and shouted back at the waiter, "We’re just stepping outside to deal with these iron turtles. You can go ahead and serve the food!"
Seeing that the two men showed them no respect whatsoever, the four Iron Armor Sect disciples were about to explode with rage.
"You’re courting death!"
The four figures moved, about to charge into the tavern.
But Chen Yuan and the simple-looking martial artist were faster.
The man yanked his Long Spear, and in an instant, a black light unsheathed, lunging forward like a striking Black Dragon.
Chen Yuan was faster still. The Cyan Dragon Blood Drink left its sheath. The hum of the blade had just reached the ears of the tavern’s patrons when a brilliant flash of saber light, like a fleeting rainbow, arrived before the four Iron Armor Sect members!
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