Chapter 406: Double Kill (2)

"From now on, I am the head of the Tan family. Those who follow me will live; those who oppose me will die. If anyone has objections, they may challenge me now," declared Tan Qingying.

As the discussion about the rightful head of the family resumed, murmurs swept through the hall among the elders and the mid-level and senior members of the family. The situation was dire. It was nothing like they had anticipated.

During Tan Qingying's time in seclusion, they had assumed that Tan Shengwei would naturally become the final head of the family. In their minds, even if Tan Qingying emerged from her seclusion after refining the so-called Saint's bloodline within her, she would return as a compliant lamb, eager to sacrifice everything for the Tan family.

Yet here she stood before them, powerful and merciless. Far from being the docile lamb they had expected, she had become a fierce and dangerous leopard.

Challenge her? When he recalled the terrifying strength Tan Qingying had displayed just moments ago, even Tan Shengwei himself felt uncertain about his chances. Not challenge her? Then the position of head of the family would be decisively settled.

Just as Tan Shengwei found himself in a dilemma, a family guard burst into the room, shouting, "Head of the family, esteemed elders, Young Master Ouyang Shengyi of the Ouyang family has arrived and is heading for the council hall."

"What?"

"Young Master Ouyang Shengyi?"

"He's the direct son of the head of the Ouyang family."

"Hurry, we must go and welcome him."

The room erupted in excitement. The Ouyang family was the foremost martial family in Xiajing City and wielded considerable power. Their influence had grown especially rapidly after fully embracing New Martial Arts surgery.

The Ouyang family claimed twenty-seven out of the top one hundred on Xiajing City's Martial God Rankings. Even the official authorities held a degree of apprehension toward the Ouyang family. The Tan family had been trying to ally with the Ouyang family for some time now, seeking to become part of their sphere of influence. They had paid a significant price but had yet to earn the Ouyang family's favor.

But now, the heir of the Ouyang family had unexpectedly come in person. This was an auspicious sign. A look of joy spread across Tan Shengwei's face.

"Haha, come, let’s go welcome Young Master Ouyang," Tan Shengwei said, sweeping his gaze over the crowd. "It must be our continuous displays of sincerity that finally moved the Ouyang family. Haha, good times are ahead for the Tan family."

Before he could finish speaking, an arrogant, domineering laugh echoed from outside.

"That’s right! Your Tan family really has had a stroke of luck this time. Haha, we Ouyang family have decided to accept your marriage proposal."

Everyone turned their heads to see a muscular young man, clad in a black, studded leather jacket, saunter in with four bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses.

Everything about him screamed arrogance. His black hair was slicked back with gel and spiked upward in tufts. His thick eyebrows framed sharp, glinting eyes, and he walked with the swagger of a crab moving sideways. He smirked disdainfully as his gaze swept across the members of the Tan family as if they were livestock in a market.

"Young Master Ouyang..." Tan Shengwei approached him with a wide, fawning smile. "What an honor, I never expected you to come in person."

Smack.

Ouyang Shengyi slapped him hard on the shoulder. Tan Shengwei's smile faltered slightly at the pain.

Ouyang Shengyi ran a hand through his hair and laughed. "Old Tan, haha, you really pulled it off! Selling out the daughter of your family for a favor. How unbelievable, but here you are. Well, your Tan family’s finally getting what it wanted."

Tan Shengwei’s face flushed with embarrassment as he forced a laugh. "It's an alliance, an alliance... Young Master, have you come to make a formal proposal?"

"Proposal?" Ouyang Shengyi scoffed. "A proposal, my foot. I’m here to pick someone up. Where’s Tan Qingying? Tell her to come out now. She’s lucky; my father’s taken an interest in her. She can come with me and start serving him immediately."

"The Ouyang patriarch himself?" exclaimed Tan Shengwei who was taken aback.

Initially, the proposal was just to marry Tan Qingying off to one of the Ouyang family’s sons, a move that would secure a connection with the Ouyang family's core and be more than satisfactory.

But now, the patriarch himself wanted Tan Qingying? It was likely because of her Saint’s bloodline. Still, this development was undeniably beneficial.

"See? Your Tan family really struck gold. My old man’s personally taking her as a concubine and making one of your women his pet. Tsk, tsk... enough chatter. Where is she? Bring her out; I don’t have all day," Ouyang Shengyi said impatiently.

"This..." Tan Shengwei intentionally let his gaze slide toward the main platform, where Tan Qingying stood.

"Oh?" Ouyang Shengyi’s eyes fell on her, and a glimmer of surprise and admiration flickered in them.

This girl was even more exquisite than she appeared in the videos. Despite having experienced all types of beauties, Ouyang Shengyi felt a surge of heat and an unexpected, intense desire when he saw Tan Qingying in person. A wild impulse to rush up and defile her right on the main platform surged through him.

Such impulses were nothing new for Ouyang Shengyi. He had also acted on them before without hesitation. Who would dare stop him? But since she was someone his father had chosen, seizing her forcibly would lead to complications. So he restrained himself.

"Come down and follow me." Ouyang Shengyi beckoned Tan Qingying.

"Aren't you supposed to be proposing? Why just take someone away?" Tan Baiqu, standing nearby, could no longer contain herself and asked loudly.

Ouyang Shengyi’s gaze snapped to her, turning sharp and menacing. "Tan family head, is this one of your people? Does she not understand rules? Has she no manners?"

Tan Shengwei’s heart leaped with fear, and he hurried to respond, "She’s just being foolish. Guards, take her away!"

"No need." Ouyang Shengyi suddenly smiled, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "I'll take care of it myself."

The desire stirred by Tan Qingying needed an outlet, and now, he focused it on this Tan family girl who bore a slight resemblance to her. He strode over with a smirk and grabbed Tan Baiqu, yanking sharply.

Rip.

A sleeve tore away, revealing Tan Baiqu’s snow-white arm.

"What are you doing?" Tan Baiqu gasped in shock, instinctively raising her hand to slap him.

But Ouyang Shengyi easily caught her wrist with a sneer. "You think you can resist with your level of skill? I'll make sure you can’t get out of bed for ten days..."

"Young Master Ouyang, this..." Tan Shengwei instinctively tried to intervene.

"Shut up and watch," Ouyang Shengyi snapped without turning around.

Tan Shengwei's face flushed with embarrassment, but he dared not say more. Ouyang Shengyi gripped Tan Baiqu's collar, preparing to tear it further. Suddenly, a hand shot out and seized his spiked hair in a firm grip.

“Huh?” Ouyang Shengyi instinctively tried to resist.

But that hand was seemingly irresistible as it lifted him into the air and smashed his head down hard onto the stone steps of the main stage.

Boom!

His large head slammed into the platform with a resounding thud, sending shards of stone flying.

The one who acted was Li Xiaofei, who had been overlooked until now. He adjusted his grip on Ouyang Shengyi's head and smashed it against the stone steps again and again.

In moments, Ouyang Shengyi’s head was a mess of blood and flesh. The stone platform beneath them had started to cave in under the repeated impacts.

“Stop this madness!”

“Outrageous!”

The four bodyguards finally reacted, lunging forward as one. Their auras surged as they revealed themselves to be cultivators of the Five Spirits Realm. But Li Xiaofei did not turn. Instead, he gestured with his fingers pointed like a sword.

Whoosh!

The rusted sword whirled through the air. In a flash, the four bodyguards’ heads were severed, rolling across the floor as their bodies charged forward for several more steps before collapsing. Blood sprayed from their necks before turning to dark ice that shattered on impact.

Screams erupted all around. The members of the Tan family were terrified by this sudden strike and the unexpected carnage.

Li Xiaofei, still holding Ouyang Shengyi by the hair, glanced at the ruined steps. The damage wasn’t sufficient enough, so he started to rain punch after punch down on his head.

His fists were much stronger than stone so they smashed the skull to pieces within a few blows. He casually tossed the headless corpse aside and stretched, as if loosening up after mild exertion.

“Ah,” Li Xiaofei said with satisfaction. “That felt good.”

“He’s not dead yet.” Tan Qingying, observing the aftermath of the fury-fueled outburst, offered calmly, “A cultivator at the third stage of the Five Spirits Realm won’t die just from losing their head.”

When an innocent girl was being threatened and humiliated, only her Li Xiaofei dared to act. He was still the same. He hadn’t changed in the slightest even in the mighty city of Xiajing, far from his small border town. Despite lacking immense power or a formidable background behind him, he would still act without hesitation when faced with injustice. That was the Li Xiaofei she knew. A man of unyielding integrity and boundless chivalry.

“You’re right.” Li Xiaofei acknowledged the lady’s advice.

Reaching into the air, he grasped the rusted tetanus sword and, with a single stroke, severed Ouyang Shengyi’s unconscious body cleanly. The sword qi destroyed his internal organs and extinguished any trace of life.

“No, don’t—” Tan Shengwei finally found his voice, instinctively trying to intervene.

Li Xiaofei’s sword flicked back without hesitation.

Swish!

Crimson liquid flew through the air as Tan Shengwei’s head rolled cleanly from his shoulders.

Double kill.