“Once a man is dead, he has nothing left. Are you sure you will not reconsider?”
Ling Xiao genuinely thought it would be a terrible waste to kill Gao Yangwen. After all, the man was the founder of the Heavenly Principle Alliance. Killing him would make Ling Xiao an irreconcilable enemy of the entire alliance.
If he could subdue this fellow instead, it would be enormously beneficial.
“You little bastard, stop dreaming! Brothers of the Heavenly Principle Alliance, listen well: even if I die, you must hunt this boy to the ends of the earth and make sure he dies without a grave!”
Gao Yangwen roared in an utterly venomous voice.
“Dragging the whole Heavenly Principle Alliance down with you on your deathbed. You really are selfish enough.”
Ling Xiao shook his head lightly and swept an icy gaze over the Heavenly Principle Alliance warriors who were edging closer.
“You are all fine men. Why throw away your lives for a scoundrel who recognises thieves as his father? Submit to me, submit to Northern Han, and when we overthrow the True Demon Empire you will be heroes with great merit.”
Ling Xiao was no butcher. Whenever possible, he preferred not to kill.
His words did make some people hesitate, yet more than a dozen Heavenly Principle Alliance warriors still charged at him.
They were Gao Yangwen’s most trusted confidants.
They had been raised to power single-handedly by Gao Yangwen. If he died, their own futures would collapse.
Regardless of whether they were Ling Xiao’s match, they had to show their stance.
Ling Xiao felt no pity for such men.
The instant they moved, crimson-gold spiral cones flew towards them.
They tried to dodge, but could not.
The Scarlet Sun Cones were far too fast, and they carried a soul-crushing pressure that made their bodies feel beyond their own control.
In the blink of an eye, over a dozen fresh corpses lay in the hall, every heart pierced clean through, the chest cavities charred black.
Though the Scarlet Sun Cones burned with scorching heat, the air in the hall had turned ice-cold.
Many warriors held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
They were afraid.
They were terrified.
They were horrified by the strange and ruthless nature of Ling Xiao’s attacks.
With Gao Yangwen’s dozen closest confidants all dead, the rest began to waver.
Was it really worth dying for a man who recognised thieves as his father?
They were willing to sacrifice themselves for their ideals.
But they were not willing to sacrifice themselves for a bastard like Gao Yangwen.
“You see, Gao Yangwen? When a man has the Way, he receives much help; when he loses the Way, he receives little. You have done too many disgusting things. Even if they once feared your strength, now that you are defeated they will not save you, because you are simply not worth it.”
Ling Xiao looked at Gao Yangwen. The Golden Crow Sword in his hand thrust towards the man’s head.
Since Gao Yangwen refused to surrender, there was no reason to keep him alive. Otherwise, as long as this fellow breathed, some in the Heavenly Principle Alliance would still cling to memories of him.
“Boy, I told you, you cannot kill him! He belongs to Black Water Immortal Island!”
Zhan Mo panicked. He leapt from the crowd and shouted as he charged forward.
Yet Ling Xiao completely ignored his yelling.
Fury exploded in Zhan Mo’s heart. Ling Xiao was actually refusing to give him any face at all, humiliating him in front of everyone.
At that moment he had already forgotten exactly how Gao Yangwen had been injured. He believed his own strength was enough to save the man.
He believed Ling Xiao would not dare touch him.
So he lunged at Ling Xiao, trying to block the longsword.
“Scram!”
Without even turning his head, Ling Xiao threw a palm backwards. At the same instant, the sword beneath his hand pierced straight through Gao Yangwen’s throat.
Against Zhan Mo there was no need for the Moon Maiden to act. With the Butterfly Maiden’s assistance, it was twice the result with half the effort.
Zhan Mo was sent flying like Gao Yangwen before him, as though struck by lightning. His face turned deathly pale and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
His eyes were filled with pure disbelief.
Ling Xiao had actually dared to attack him.
He had never imagined it.
“Ling Xiao, do you realise what you have just done? You are provoking Black Water Immortal Island!”
Ling Xiao turned back to look at Zhan Mo and said calmly, “Besides using Black Water Immortal Island to threaten people, what other ability do you have? I have now killed Gao Yangwen. Rest assured, I will not kill you. After all, someone has to carry the message back to Black Water Immortal Island.”
“You…”
Hearing Ling Xiao speak so lightly, Zhan Mo nearly spat another mouthful of blood in rage.
“Think carefully. Black Water Immortal Island is one of the Five Immortal Islands. Its power is beyond anything you can imagine! Offend us and you will never know peace again.”
Zhan Mo said coldly.
“Yes, you are right. Black Water Immortal Island is very powerful. But if I, Ling Xiao, let a man who tried to murder my benefactors and recognises thieves as his father go free simply because I fear it, then I would not even count as a real man!”
Ling Xiao said indifferently, “If Black Water Immortal Island wants to hunt me down over this matter, then I will simply become its enemy. When the time comes, who ends up the unlucky one remains to be seen.”
“Good. I hope you never turn into a shrinking turtle later!”
Zhan Mo shouted.
“Rest assured. Even if the people of Black Water Immortal Island do not come looking for me, I will still pay Black Water Immortal Island a visit. After all, the traitor Gao Yangjun nearly killed my senior brother. If I do not kill him, I, Ling Xiao, will never vent my anger.”
Ling Xiao said calmly.
Zhan Mo froze for a moment, then laughed, “Good, very good. Since you have such guts, I will wait for you at Black Water Immortal Island and watch exactly how you die!”
“Enough rubbish. Get lost quickly. Do not let me see you again, or I cannot guarantee I will not suddenly change my mind.”
Ling Xiao waved his hand as if shooing away a noisy fly.
Zhan Mo clenched his teeth, then fled out of the door in a sorry state without looking back.
He had no wish to remain in this place a second longer. That Ling Xiao was a complete madman. He was certain that if he hesitated even slightly, he might die on the spot.
Someone had already followed Zhan Mo.
After all, what had happened here could not yet reach the ears of the True Demon Empire’s upper echelons. At the very least, it had to be concealed for one night.
If Zhan Mo really intended to inform on them, he would truly have to die.
But Zhan Mo had no such intention. Right now he only wanted to leave this place, to escape this nightmare.
Inside the hall.
“We pay our respects to the Chosen Son!”
Suddenly, a large group of people fell to their knees before Ling Xiao.
“You lot certainly know which way the wind blows. Moments ago you were so loyal to Gao Yangwen, and in the blink of an eye you proclaim allegiance to me?”
Ling Xiao sneered with disdain.
The kneeling crowd felt bitter regret in their hearts, yet they did not know what to do.
“Relax. I am not a bloodthirsty person. You were all simply deceived by that Gao Yangwen.”
Ling Xiao smiled and continued, “However, since you enjoy kneeling, kneel a little longer. When Wu Xiang arrives, he will give each of you a pill. Eating it will not harm you for the time being.
But if anyone thinks of betraying me in future, they will die without a burial place.”
