“I’d join the ninja clan,” Ling Xiao suddenly said with a smile, looking at Fei Mu and Fei Yun, “but only if you kill Shi Long and those traitors!”
“Lord Emissary, don’t believe that kid’s nonsense, he’s trying to use you!” Shi Long blurted out, genuinely terrified. He hadn’t expected Ling Xiao to say something like that.
“Enough,” Fei Yun said coolly, eyeing Ling Xiao, “We value your talent, but we won’t kill those who’ve submitted to us for your sake.”
“Then there’s nothing to discuss,” Ling Xiao replied coldly.
“Honestly, I’m curious—what reason do you have to refuse us? Has the Ling family really treated you that well?” Fei Yun asked, intrigued.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath and answered calmly, “Don’t you think that’s a stupid question?”
“What do you mean?” Fei Yun frowned.
“First, the Ling family hasn’t given me much, but they did take me in and give me a new start. I’m not an ungrateful wretch—‘a drop of kindness repaid with a fountain’ isn’t just a saying to me.”
“Second, I’m human. ‘Those not of my kind must have different hearts.’ Your ninja clan’s intentions are clear if you look at history—I don’t have a habit of being someone’s dog.”
“Third, in normal times, I might’ve left the Ling family, since some unfair treatment left me bitter. But in this life-or-death moment, if I abandoned them, I’d be truly shameless.”
“I, Ling Xiao, don’t aim to live grandly, but I live with a clear conscience!”
His voice was steady, not filled with dramatic fervor.
Yet to the Ling family members, it rang like a morning bell, loud and resonant.
Those who stayed found their reason to remain.
Those who’d left hung their heads, overwhelmed with shame.
On the Ling family’s side, Supreme Elder Ling Yin, who’d always been prejudiced against Ling Xiao, wept openly.
In his lifetime, he’d misjudged two people: Ling Chen, whom he’d favored, turned traitor; and Ling Xiao, whom he’d shunned, stayed in the family’s darkest hour, rallying the remaining five hundred with words that shook the soul.
“Ling Xiao, if I survive this battle, I’ll entrust my life’s work to you—I won’t go back on my word!” Ling Yin declared loudly.
“Us too!” the other two Supreme Elders nodded in agreement.
In this critical moment, none of the three Supreme Elders had betrayed the family, earning them a bit more respect from Ling Xiao and softening his past grievances.
“You three, at least one of us four needs to survive and get him out!” Ling Xiaotian said suddenly.
His voice was low, audible only to those nearby.
No one needed to ask who “he” was.
“Let Ling Yin handle it, his lightness skill is the best,” one suggested.
“Fine, Ling Yin, remember: find a chance and take Ling Xiao away. He may not have Ling blood, but he’s the family’s future hope,” Ling Xiaotian said.
The statement sounded contradictory but wasn’t—a family’s legacy didn’t always depend on blood.
Besides, if Ling Xiao survived, he could marry a woman from a Ling branch family to carry on the line.
“Got it!” Ling Yin nodded faintly. Though injured, as a seventh-level Martial Vein martial master, he wouldn’t lose his combat ability so easily.
“Pity, Ling Xiao, we laid out a path to life, and you chose death,” Fei Yun sighed, “You’re a rare talent, which is why the ninja clan values you. But by rejecting us, you’ve become our enemy. We won’t let you grow into a threat—you must die today!”
“Killing me, Ling Xiao, won’t be that easy!” Ling Xiao faced Fei Yun, unshaken by the seventh-level Martial Vein pressure.
“Ling Jiu! Ling Shisan! Your chance to prove yourselves—kill Ling Xiao!” Fei Yun ordered.
Ling Jiu and Ling Shisan exchanged a glance, both smirking.
They’d long wanted Ling Xiao dead, but with the ninja clan trying to recruit him, they hadn’t dared act. Now, Ling Xiao had brought this on himself.
Kill!
Ling Jiu and Ling Shisan, both sixth-level Martial Vein warriors, struck simultaneously. Their strengths were close, their movements nearly identical, closing in on Ling Xiao in an instant.
“Hahaha, this time next year will be your memorial day—no one can save you!” Ling Shisan laughed wildly, his longsword flashing toward Ling Xiao.
Ling Jiu stayed silent but clenched his fists, clearly about to unleash a top Ling family martial art.
Indeed, no one could save Ling Xiao—the five hundred Ling family members were surrounded. Yet, instead of retreating, Ling Xiao advanced, using Soaring Cloud Steps to charge at Ling Jiu and Ling Shisan.
They wanted his life, but didn’t he want theirs too?
Now that they were enemies, why hold back?
Meteor Sword Technique!
Tyrant Emperor Fist!
Ling Shisan wielded an entry-level top sword art, his blade like a meteor—swift and sharp.
At the sixth-level Martial Vein peak, with his Meteor Sword Technique at the Mastery stage, the sword light was lethally precise.
The blade hadn’t reached, but its chill was palpable.
Ling Jiu used an entry-level top fist art, his punches like a tyrant emperor descending—majestic and formidable.
Stronger than Ling Shisan, also at the sixth-level peak, his fist art neared Perfection, his fists like forged steel, transforming into twin dragons lunging at Ling Xiao.
They stuck to entry-level top arts because their talents didn’t qualify them for rare or advanced ones—not everyone could master those.
Two seasoned sixth-level peak warriors ganging up on a junior at the early sixth level.
Anyone could see this was an unfair fight.
It might even be a slaughter!
That’s why the remaining Ling family members were frantic but helpless.
Meanwhile, those who’d joined the ninja clan thought Ling Xiao was as good as dead—no need to intervene.
“He’s finally going down, that bastard!” Ling Chong clenched his fists, trembling with excitement. Ling Xiao’s first victory had come at his expense, humiliating him.
“Right, my dad and yours teaming up—killing him’s child’s play!” Ling Feng said, not ashamed but proud.
“Serves him right, the reckless fool,” Ling Yu added, thrilled. She’d followed Ling Feng to the ninja clan and now got to witness this drama.
As long as Ling Xiao lived, she felt humiliated and tormented.
She needed him dead to dispel her inner demons!
But these people were destined to be disappointed.
Facing Ling Jiu and Ling Shisan, Ling Xiao didn’t dare underestimate them.
From the start, he unleashed Soaring Cloud Steps: Young Dragon and Bull Demon Technique: Transformation.
With masterful footwork, he deftly dodged their combined strike, buying precious time to counterattack.
To onlookers, it looked perilously close.
But they didn’t know this seemingly dicey moment was entirely within Ling Xiao’s calculations.
