Chapter 93: Chapter 92: The Annihilation of the Qin Family
Qin Li sped through the primeval forest, suppressing his body’s aura. He tried to avoid creating any intense fluctuations that might startle the powerful Spirit Beasts in the area. He had no desire to survive a Celestial Level martial artist’s sword only to end up as a ghost in the belly of a Spirit Beast.
During his fight with Qin Hengtian, Qin Li had clearly felt his Innate Purple Qi showing signs of a breakthrough. This was also why Qin Li hadn’t chosen a battle of attrition against Qin Hengtian. And although that old bastard had hurled vicious insults at him, he had gotten what he deserved.
Qin Li wanted to find a place to break through as soon as possible. He could clearly feel the turbulence of the Innate Purple Qi within him; it felt like it could erupt at any moment.
’This can’t go on!’
Qin Li narrowed his eyes, leaping to the top of a tree to survey the surrounding terrain. His gaze soon fell upon a perilous peak. That peak wasn’t actually far from Phoenix Lake. Moreover, when Qin Li had passed by there on his way, he hadn’t encountered any particularly powerful Spirit Beasts.
’That’s the place!’
Having made up his mind, and figuring there was no one around, Qin Li simply unleashed his full cultivation. He executed his Lightweight Skill, his figure becoming a wisp of green smoke, reappearing in a distant spot in a flash of lightning.
The stunningly beautiful maiden followed behind, staring in astonishment at the spot where Qin Li had vanished. Her lovely, enchanting eyes were filled with disbelief. Now she finally understood how Qin Li had managed to escape so calmly from the pursuit of two Celestial Level experts.
At this thought, a mischievous smile touched the maiden’s lips. ’The Spirit Beast on that mountain peak is my best friend. It’s the perfect place to go and recuperate, and then I can ask her for help in dealing with that damned enemy!’
A murderous glint flashed in the maiden’s eyes as she murmured, "It’s time to settle the score between us!"
...
In recent days, an undercurrent had been stirring. Even the ordinary residents of Yellow Sand City seemed to sense that something was amiss.
The new year was only three days away. In previous years, Yellow Sand City would have been filled with a joyous and peaceful atmosphere. The disciples of the great families, many of whom were rarely seen on a normal day, would flock to the market to buy goods for the new year or gather with one another.
But this year, the great families had all sealed their gates, strictly forbidding their disciples from going out. Some of the smaller families simply bought daily necessities in bulk and completely sealed themselves off.
This left many people confused. Lately, many unfamiliar faces had appeared in Yellow Sand City, and the taverns and inns were almost all packed to capacity. Many heroes of the Martial World would break into fights without a word. These people were all powerful, yet the City Lord’s Mansion turned a blind eye. Even the Shangguan Family, the major proprietors behind these service industries, looked the other way. It left everyone working in Yellow Sand City’s taverns, inns, and other service businesses scared into silence.
After several days of rest, most of the injured Royal Tributors had recovered. Chen Yihan gathered everyone to discuss their plan: as soon as the Qin Family’s Celestial Level ancestor returned, they would immediately pressure him to hand over the treasures obtained from Phoenix Lake. Then, in the name of the Royal Family, they would offer the family their protection.
This would kill two birds with one stone. The Royal Family would gain a powerful vassal family and also acquire the treasures. Chen Yihan had already thought about how to handle the treasures from Phoenix Lake. If there were any Combat Skill Heart Methods, the Qin Family would be permitted to make a copy. As for the remaining treasures, they would be split two-to-eight: two parts for the Qin Family, and eight... for the Royal Family!
A cold sneer appeared on Chen Yihan’s lips as he reveled in his plan. ’Just look at all the powerful Martial Artists in Yellow Sand City right now,’ he thought. ’As long as the Qin Family isn’t stupid, they will definitely choose to cooperate with the Royal Family!’
Indeed, most of the Martial Artists who had come to Phoenix Lake seeking treasure had not left. They hadn’t even managed to enter the Ancient Ruins, and many had lost their lives to the Spirit Beasts on Phoenix Mountain, leaving them resentful. If no one had gained anything, it would have been one thing. But as it happened, that mysterious person’s shout had thrust the Qin Family into the eye of the storm. Now, even if it was just for the spectacle, everyone wanted to see who could get the treasures from the Qin Family!
Many factions were observing from the shadows, waiting for the most opportune moment. Everyone wanted to take a piece of the pie.
But what no one expected was that the Qin Family... would suffer an utterly brutal massacre on the night of the new year.
The entire Qin Family estate, from the direct lineage to the side branches, was mercilessly wiped out.
But what was most terrifying was that no one had seen a thing.
Keep in mind, for some time now, no fewer than thirty factions, large and small, had been monitoring the Qin Family’s every move, day and night.
Upon examination of the bodies, everyone had but a single sword wound. Some had even died in their sleep.
Moreover, the killer’s heart was utterly cold. From the elderly to infants in their swaddling clothes, not a single person was spared.
If the killer hadn’t set fires everywhere after the murders, the people watching the Qin Family might not have noticed anything was wrong at all.
What... kind of skill would that require? What... kind of cruel heart?
Shangguan Buhui, the Patriarch of the Shangguan Family, and Fang Zhengdong, the Patriarch of the Fang Family, both rushed to the Qin Family estate the next day. All they saw was a field of rubble and ruins. The vast Qin Family estate had been burned to the ground.
Nearly everyone was dumbfounded, as if petrified. They couldn’t believe it. Who hated the Qin Family so much that they would slaughter all several thousand of its members in a single night?
Finally, one of the people watching the Qin Family mentioned something. He said that after the Qin Family’s ancestor, Qin Hengdi, returned, the family had thrown open its main gates to welcome a group of about eight or nine people. They were all dressed in black robes and black hats, their faces obscured. After they entered, the tragic massacre of the Qin Family occurred that very night.
So everyone began searching the Qin estate for the bodies of those people in black, but not a single one was found. At the same time, they discovered the body of the Qin Family’s ancestor, Qin Hengdi. He lay in his thatched hut where he practiced his secluded cultivation, completely unharmed, his eyes wide with disbelief and unwillingness to accept his fate.
At that point, someone else mentioned that the body of Patriarch Qin Hongyuan had not been found. Some speculated he had been burned to ash in the great fire, while others believed he had escaped.
In any case, the annihilation of the entire Qin Family brought the treasure hunt at the Phoenix Lake ruins to a close.
Perhaps the killer had a great feud with the Qin Family. Or perhaps the killer had been after the Qin Family’s treasures and silenced them to keep the secret, because no one found anything of value in the estate. They presumed the killer had taken it all.
However, a person who could come and go without a trace under the watchful eyes of so many was certainly not someone an ordinary person could afford to provoke. The Martial Artists who remained in Yellow Sand City secretly sized up their own strength and realized there was no benefit in staying any longer.
Thus, after the new year, Yellow Sand City gradually returned to its former quiet. Of the three great families of the past, once absolute titans among Noble Families, only rubble and ruin remained. It was a truly lamentable sight.
This incident thoroughly alarmed the upper echelons of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom. The emperor dispatched a large number of men to investigate, but they couldn’t find a single clue. The identities of the people in black became a complete mystery.
In the end, two months after the new year, the matter was simply dropped.
Spring came to Yellow Sand City, flowers bloomed, and the city gradually returned to its former prosperity. The Qin Family’s only two surviving members of the direct lineage, Qin Feng and Qin Hu, never appeared again. However, there were rumors that after learning of their family’s tragic fate, both Qin Feng and Qin Hu had joined the Royal Family. They were now guards for the Second Prince, the most prominent prince in the Cyan Dragon Kingdom. For now, though, they were still studying at the Imperial Academy.
Many residents of Yellow Sand City looked upon these two young masters of the Qin Family with contempt. The eldest young master of the Qin Family had died young, leaving these two, who could be called geniuses. They had only achieved what they had today thanks to the Qin Family’s vigorous cultivation over the years. Yet, when their family was annihilated, they didn’t even return to pay their respects...
Others were more understanding. What if the enemy was still watching? Wouldn’t returning be a death sentence?
The impact of the incident gradually faded. Another three months passed, and the weather in Yellow Sand City grew intensely hot. By now, aside from a few people, most had simply forgotten about Qin Li, the onetime outcast of the Qin Family.
On a night with a bright moon and few stars, a figure appeared in the ruins of the Qin estate. Clad in green robes, he stood silently amidst the desolation for a long time before finally letting out a sigh.
"How could this have happened?"
This person was none other than Qin Li, who had successfully broken through to the Earth Level. On the perilous peak, Qin Li had found a deep, abandoned cave, sealed the entrance with a massive boulder, and begun his secluded cultivation. It wasn’t until several months later, when he broke through to the Earth Level in one fell swoop, that he rushed back to Yellow Sand City without stopping, only to unexpectedly hear this news. And so much time had passed!
Even though Qin Li held not a shred of affection for the Qin Family, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion as he looked upon the scene before him. He had wanted to find Qin Hongyuan and ask about his mother, but now... Qin Li shook his head slightly. Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a distant spot ahead. There, illuminated by the moonlight, a figure was slowly approaching.
"Qin Li?" The man’s voice was tinged with surprise as he called out tentatively.
Qin Li had already reverted to his fourteen-year-old appearance. Coming to a place like this, he didn’t want anyone to know his other identity. Hearing the voice, Qin Li was also stunned. He never thought that Qin Hongyuan was still alive!
"What happened here?" Thinking of the things Qin Hengtian had said, Qin Li’s eyes gradually narrowed. He didn’t act, however, because there were still some things he needed to ask and understand clearly.
"It really is you. You’ve been gone for so long, where did you go?" Qin Hongyuan strode over, his eyes sizing up Qin Li with suspicion. Seeing that his appearance hadn’t changed, he asked, "Could it be... you found a place to hide and undergo Nirvana?"
Qin Li nodded. "You could say that. The Qin Family... how did it end up like this?"
