Chapter 159 - Yang Ying’s Decision

Murong Yan was completely enraged. “Yang guy! Don’t you dare, or I’ll smash you to death, you bastard!”

No longer able to restrain herself, she hoisted her hammer and charged straight over.

All around, the three families wore expressions of malicious glee.

How does it feel to be betrayed by someone you have shown kindness to?! Can you still act all high and mighty?!

A strange gleam flashed in Chu Kuang’s eyes. “I’ve got to applaud Yang Lin’s strategies! Besides killing, it’s also about breaking the spirit!”

Yuan Gang instantly discerned his intention. “What?Are you interested in him?”

Chu Kuang remained expressionless. “Let’s watch a bit more. If his performance is acceptable, we can recruit him! Senior Brother, for the sake of our great undertaking, our vision cannot be limited to just the Yuqing Sect. We must strive to win over everyone who can be of use to us!”

Yuan Gang deeply agreed. “Exactly! Junior Brother, your foresight and strategic planning are profound. The Qingyun Pavilion—”

Suddenly, a voice filled with killing intent cut him off. “Kill!”

As Yang Ying moved, Gu Han moved as well, his killing intent fiercer than ever.

Yuan Gang sneered coldly. “Trading life for a lesson, what a fool!”

Chu Kuang frowned deeply. “Wait! Something’s not right!”

Yuan Gang focused his gaze and immediately saw the problem. “

Hmm?

”

Not only did Gu Han leave his back completely exposed to Yang Ying, his sword was aimed at Yang Lin!

Yang Ying also grew faster, his spear’s momentum growing ever stronger. Only less than ten zhang remained between them, which could be covered in an instant.

Murong Yan’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. “Brother Gu, hurry and dodge! What are you doing?!”

Like a raging bull, she charged toward Yang Ying.

Yuan Gang wore a look of ridicule. “What an idiot! He’s blinded by rage—he’s throwing his life away!”

With extreme speed, Yang Ying drew closer and closer to Gu Han. From ten zhang, to six, to three...

Yang Lin and Meng Xing were practically leering at the development. It felt as though they were already watching Yang Ying’s spear pierce Gu Han’s heart. Gu Han was absolutely done for!

Yang Lin couldn’t help but taunt him, “

Hmph!

Killing you isn’t enough, I’ll completely crush your—

huh?

”

Even after catching up to Gu Han, Yang Ying made no attempt to stab him. Instead, he ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Gu Han, charging toward Yang Lin.

In the distance, Murong Yan was almost exploding with rage. “Yang guy, if you dare harm a single hair on Brother Gu, I’ll—

huh?

”

Mid-sentence, she suddenly froze on the spot.

Shen Xuan exhaled deeply in relief and burst out laughing. “These two rascals!”

Yang Lin’s face instantly darkened. “Yang Ying, you have some ne—”

Before he could finish, Yang Ying had already arrived before him, slamming his spear down. Caught completely off guard, Yang Lin could barely raise his spears to block. A loud boom echoed, and the tremendous force sent him staggering back over ten zhang.

Yang Lin said cuttingly, his gaze locked deathly onto Yang Ying, “Yang Ying, you low-born basta—”

Just then, an icy killing intent locked onto him. “Kill!”

Gu Han’s killing intent had multiplied severalfold, and with it came a dramatic increase in his Kill Sword’s power. His sword strike was several times more powerful than the last. Even if Yang Lin was fully prepared, he absolutely could not withstand this strike.

A squishing sound echoed, and Gu Han drove his sword into Yang Lin’s heart meridian. The Great Evolution Sword Qi instantly dispersed within him, ceaselessly eroding his vitality.

Yang Lin retreated frantically, his face turning deathly pale as his aura plummeted. “You actually dare...”

Gu Han’s expression was blank. “Well, did you enjoy the surprise?”

The look in Yang Ying’s eyes earlier told Gu Han everything. Yang Ying had chosen to help him. With their chemistry, words were unnecessary. Thus, they worked together to give everyone a surprise they would never forget.

Murong Yan felt a bit awkward. “Yang guy, you should’ve said something... I almost beat you to death.”

Yang Ying paid her no heed, his vigilance on an all-time high. “Be careful. He has the Green Wood Spirit Physique, which is renowned for its strong self-healing ability. He won’t die so easily!”

Indeed, Yang Lin’s dark green qi writhed incessantly, rapidly healing his injuries. Only his eyes were fixed deathly on Yang Ying. If looks could kill, Yang Ying would’ve died a thousand times over.

Yang Lin shot back icily, “You low-born bastard! How dare you strike at me! Do you still want your worthless mother—”

In the next moment, Gu Han appeared before him again. With a swing of the sword, over ten strands of Great Evolution Sword Qi rained down upon him. Even with his strong self-healing, Yang Lin’s injuries were far from healed, and more than a dozen bloody holes appeared

Gu Han’s face remained utterly impassive. “Save it. Better think of your last words instead.”

His sword fell again and a metallic clang resounded. Meng Xing had appeared before Yang Lin, taking the blow for him. His silvery light merely wavered a few times before stabilizing again.

He glanced at Yang Lin. “Brother Yang, are you alright?”

Yang Lin gnashed his teeth. “Don’t worry. They will all die here today!”

Murong Yan strode over, arriving before Gu Han and the other. She seemed somewhat embarrassed. “Yang guy, I didn’t expect you to be so righteous. Sorry about earlier...”

Gu Han sighed. “Brother Yang, you—”

“If my mother knew that I did that to save her, she would never forgive me for it.” Yang Ying cut him off. He paused, then added, “My sister as well.”

Only then did Murong Yan finally understand.

So, Yang Ying’s apology earlier wasn’t actually directed at Gu Han!

Yuan Gang was livid. “Junior Brother Yang, that’s good! Very good!”

Chu Kuang’s tone also carried a chill. “Senior Brother Yang Ying, did we ever ask you to help him?”

Yang Ying seemed to have thought it through, his tone no longer holding the earlier hesitation and struggle. “I know, and this is my choice.”

Yuan Gang flew into a rage. “Get back here!”

“I won’t.”

Yuan Gang seemed incredulous. “What did you say?”

As far as he could remember, this was the first time Yang Ying had disobeyed him since joining the Qingyun Pavilion.

Yang Ying repeated, “I said I’m going to help him.”

Gu Han sighed. “Brother Yang, there’s no need for this, I actually—”

Yang Ying was silent for a moment. “It’s fine. There’s no turning back now.”

Gu Han fell silent. He knew that Yang Ying’s defiance would cost not only his own future, but also those of his mother and sister.

All of Yuan Gang’s previous rage seemed to have returned. “Fine! Since you dare violate the Qingyun Pavilion’s rules, don’t blame me for casting aside former bonds. From this moment on, you are no longer a member of the Qingyun Pavilion.”

Thus, the last layer of protection Yang Ying had was gone.

Those behind Yuan Gang appeared equally ruthless. None showed any intention of pleading for leniency.

As if he had anticipated this long ago, Yang Ying only gave a slight nod. “

Mhm.

I know.”

Yuan Gang, who was enraged, was about to strike. “You—”

Chu Kuang stopped him. “Senior Brother Yuan, since he has chosen this path, it means he is not of the same mind as us. Don’t waste your anger on such a person.”

Yuan Gang forcefully suppressed his killing intent. “

Hmph!

”

Now, apart from the Murong clansmen, the remaining onlookers all wore expressions of ridicule.

For so-called gratitude, he has cast aside the path of survival and chose death! What a fool!

Yang Lin, who was furious to the point of near-insanity, interrupted. “Yang Ying, do you know the consequences of what you’ve done?!”

His injuries healed rapidly, yet his face remained dark, the hatred in his heart almost materializing.

Yang Ying stared at him calmly. “You don’t have to spell it out.”

Yang Lin laughed in extreme anger. “Great! I will purge your family! When I return, that lowly bitch will get what’s coming for her!”

As if guessing his intent, Meng Xing’s expression changed slightly. “Brother Yang, it’s still too early to use that thing now.”

Yang Lin gnashed his teeth. “It doesn’t matter. We have to use it sooner or later anyway, and I can’t wait to see them dead.”

He flipped his palm, revealing a round, thumb-sized bead of blood-red color. Inside, a wisp of red mist flowed incessantly, its color unnervingly vivid.

Shen Xuan instantly arrived beside the trio, his pupils contracting. “This is...”

He vaguely felt what was inside this bead was extremely similar to those spirit herbs, albeit far purer and more domineering.

Chu Kuang suddenly turned serious. “To think it’s that thing?!”

Yuan Gang was startled. “Junior Brother, do you recognize it?”

Chu Kuang did not explain, his gaze profound. “Senior Brother, this bunch is dead for sure. No one can save them today!

Hah,

the Yang family is truly audacious! To dare bring out such a forbidden object! My interest in them grows greater and greater!”

***

At the same time, at the very center of the secret realm, several dozen li away from the crowd.

The originally calm space rippled for an instant, and Jiang Xuan abruptly appeared, tumbling to the ground in a disheveled manner. He wore a look of lingering fear. “That was close! I almost couldn’t get in! I’m getting old! If it were the old days, holding out inside for an hour or two wouldn’t have been a problem.”

He soared into the air while sighing incessantly. In the blink of an eye, he arrived beside a small pool about three chi in diameter, covered in blood-red patterns. A layer of transparent liquid, over half a chi deep, flowed slowly. Spirit light shimmered.

Inside, a layer of transparent liquid, over half a chi deep, flowed slowly. Spirit light shimmered. That single, distinct spot only served to highlight the liquid’s extraordinary nature.

As he exhaled deeply, Jiang Xuan felt his long-decayed body regain a bit of vitality. Ecstasy was written plainly across his face.

“Liquid treasure? Calling you ‘divine essence’ would be more fitting! How could they possibly let those youngsters use such a divine artifact? What a waste of heaven’s gifts,” he muttered to himself.

Jiang Xuan failed to notice the earth behind him darkening by several shades. Wisps of vivid red mist drifted continuously from unknown places, rapidly spreading outward.