Old Jun skidded across the ground, then made a hard right, floating past a tree, spotting dead bodies to his right. Xing followed, but barely, even though he’d ascended to the Qi Perception Realm…his Qinggong still lacked the speed and gracefulness of the Elder.
The chase didn’t last long, as The old man slowed his pace, making a left, then a short right, skipping across the rooftops.
He leapt to the ground and then kicked two large wooden doors which led to a siheyuan courtyard, murder written across his face!
“JIANG YU! WHERE’S LING’ER!” Xiaobo Jun roared. Xing skidded across the ground, then leapt another three meters landing right behind him.
Jun darted across the courtyard, watching as everyone crumble at the sight of him. The doors to the main house within the siheyuan swung open and Elder Jun made his way inside.
The house was filled with vases, embroidery mats and furniture of the highest quality, similar to those found in the Red Lantern Tavern.
The paintings lacked the tranquility he felt there, but he could feel the sincerity in the strokes of the paintings. He appreciated them on sight but truly didn’t understand them.
Not like that mattered as Elder Jun was ready to burn the world for this Ling’er.
Seven men sat on the floor, haggard and broken from a beating, whilst one man wearing scholarly robes knelt beside one man, trying to mend a broken arm.
The sound of broken glass filled the room, as Xing’s eyes drifted left, noticing two serving girls entering from a door to the right, with one dropping her tray scared witless as she caught sight of Elder Jun.
The man in scholarly robes shoulder slumping the moment he heard Elder Jun’s reverberating voice, and pain flashed across his face as if he’d expected this from the old expert. “You’re back Old Jun.” The man said.
“Evidently.” Old Jun snarled. “Where’s my daughter?”
“Taken by Kai Chen.” Jiang Yu said softly.
“Kai Chen?” Elder Jun huffed, “What happened to Lim Fu!? We had a deal…!”
“I don’t know…but the mere fact that Kai Chen did this, says a lot about Lim Fu’s whereabouts.”
Elder Jun slammed his hand against the wall, sending cracks throughout the wall in every direction. “I just came from Hollow Mountain Village. Their entire warehouse has been taken.!”
Jiang Yu scoffed a laugh, then shook his head. “Then his Chief Hodong’s fear has come to light, Lim Fu is dead. Kai Chen is running things now.”
Elder Jun’s eyes traced the room, looking around, then turned sour. “Where’s Li’er shouldn’t be helping you the wounded!? Jun asked.
“Kai Chen took her.”
“WHAT? YOUR DAUGHTER IS TAKEN AND YOU’RE STILL HERE!”
“Tao and Shen took some lads and headed into the mountain to retrieve the girls.
“Girls?”
“Yes…Kai Chen took all the unmarried women.”
“I’ll kill him!”
“That’s fine.” Jiang Yu said calmly, but bring the lads back first, I need them here, then we can try to kill Kai Chen!”
“I WON’T TRY!”
Xing stepped up, clapping Jun’s shoulder with a firm grip. “The old man’s right Elder Jun, retrieve the lads before they get themselves killed.”
“Are you willing to help Master Xing?” Jun asked
“That depends on him,” Xing said firmly. “Is he the leader of this village?”
“He is.”
“Good.” Xing released his grip on Elder Jun’s shoulder, and then patted him tenderly. “Not a word of Li’er. To him, understood?”
The old man’s shoulders slumped, then nodded slowly closing his eyes understanding Xing’s word. Xing turned and left the Jiang residence, skipping across the rooftops hoping to find Lu’er close by.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
◆◆◆
Xing returned to the Jiang Residence, Li’er in his arms, but covered in her black robe. The little girl fretted profusely, which made angered Xing. He didn’t like to make Zhao Li fret by covering her up like this, but it angered him that she needed to be hidden away from the world…for now.
He landed with a loud boom, shattering the tiles in the courtyard. He then walked up the small flight of stairs, storming into the main hall of the Jiang Residence.
Seven men were lying on the ground, life emanating from their eyes, unlike the defeated expression that plagued them a few moments ago.
Elder Jun sat in the corner, eyes closed, arms folded and left foot tapping on the ground as if he were in a hurry.
“Chief Yu.” Xing finally said. “I can help you with your bandit problem, but I have a request.”
Jiang Yu laughed, slapping his knee, as he sat in his chair eyeing Xing. “I’m not chief, but I’m the patriarch of the Jiang Clan.”
“My Apologies then Patriarch Yu,” He said with a bow, feeling as Li’er grab his goatee.
Xing saw as the brows of the Patriarch furrowed noticing the colour of Li’er’s hand. He rose from his bow and then slowly unwrapped Li’er from her robe. He placed her on the ground along with her figurine, then smiled gently, as she began to play in the hall.
The looks of fright crept into the eyes of the seven men along with the Patriarch of the Jiang Clan. A sound of shattered glass echoed through the room once more, drawing even one’s attention.
A girl to Xing’s right walked into the main hall, carrying a tray of tee. She covered her lips then shook profusely. “Demon.” She said callously.
Xing laughed menacingly, then curled his lips into a smile. He swirled his Qi from his Soul Dantian, then surged it into his Core Dantian then flooded into his Mind Dantian.
His laugh grew louder by each passing second. Then, he laced his killing aura into his Qi, spraying it across the entire room.
The een and women painted frightened stares across their face, feeling Xing’s killing aura.
Another shattered glass rang out as the two maids dropped to their knees, fainting from Xing’s anger.
His eyes held an evil glint, one that spoke a thousand words with one stare. He stared into the soul of Patriarch Yu, then drew his lips into a line. “The only demon here…is me. I won’t repeat myself. This is my daughter, Zhao Li. We’re looking for somewhere to live peacefully. I don’t care about your village, nor do I want to disrupt it. I simply want to live in peace with my daughter. Now, I can help you with this problem of yours…is my daughter being here going to be a problem for you Patriarch Yu, if so, let me know now. I will gladly leave you to your own machinations.”
The Patriarch shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His eyes, still filled with fright, as seconds passed he became more resilient as Xing quelled his killing aura.
Elder Jun, who still sat at the cracked wall was still side tapping his feet, impatiently. Patriarch Yu blew a wistful of wind, then nodded after the windmill in his mind finally stopped spinning after a short while. “You can do as you please. You’re welcome to stay or go…”
Xing stomped the ground, sending a wave of Qi throughout the room aimed at the Patriarch. The Qi split the chair in two, making him tumble onto the ground.
He stumbled off the ground, eyes peering at Xing, then Li’er. He was about to say something, but Li’er’s giggles seemed to stop him as she waved around her figurine.
The Patriarch sighed, then nodded as the maids helped him up whilst he dusted off his knees. He looked Xing in the eye and gave him a short bow. “The Purple Mist Village is home to Master Xing’s daughter as well.”
“We are in your care,” Xing said cupping his hand and bowing reverently. “Forgive me for being rude Patriarch, but my experiences have forced me to be like this. I’m sure you’d do the same for your daughter.”
“Naturally.” The Patriarch said, still dusting off himself. “But I’m glad you’re here. Saves me time and money!”
“What do you mean?” Xing asked raising his head.
“Look around Master Xing. These…miscreants have been a sore in my side for years. We’ve always been able to work things through…but…this cannot go unscathed. I want them dead. All of them.” He said coldly.
Xing harrumphed and nodded “I feared you were a man of inaction Patriarch Yu. Your daughter is missing, yet you’re nursing wounds!”
“I’m not just nursing wounds, Master Xing. I’m thinking about how to respond, I just can’t react. I don’t have the strength to. The total amount of people residing in Purple Mist Village, Iron Stone Village and Hollow Mountain Village amounts to one hundred and third people total!”
He massaged his temples as if a headache flashed within his head. “Two-thirds of that are women and children. Trust me, they won’t stand a chance against forty well-trained killers!”
“I see your point, the Governor of Sichuan doesn’t help?”
“Help? A minuscule village that borders the outskirts of Huaxia?” Patriarch Yu scoffed. “We’re on our own here Master Xing. We plough the earth hoping for a good harvest to feed us for the year! The little copper, silver and gold we make are used to buy medicine and food we can’t make here!”
Xing nodded, acknowledging the old Patriarch ply for sympathy. Xing could care less, as long as Li’er was safe.
“Are you ready?” Elder Jun said, finally halting his feet.
“I am…but you’re to stay with Li’er. Lu’er will escort me through the mountains.”
“But Ling’er!”
“I don’t trust the lad with Li’er!” Xing said firmly. “If the lad truly wants me to teach him, then he’ll follow. So I’ll need you to stay.”
Elder Jun pursed his lips in frustration and pounded the table right next to him. Xing picked up Li’er and nestled her in his arms, then walked on over to Elder Jun, kneeling and resting her in his arms, then patted him on the shoulder, then squeezed him reassuringly. “I’ll be sure to return your daughter,” He said firmly, then turned to Patriarch Yu, “…and yours as well.”
The Patriarch nodded and so did Elder Jun lethargically. Xing pushed himself, pulled on Li’er’s cheeks, and watched her smile prettily with her emerald eyes, giggling happily.
Xing didn’t want to leave, this was the first time in months he’d left her alone since the Red Lantern Tavern. His body felt weak, and his mind haggard, it was like a blacksmith leaving an unfinished sword to start a new one.
After a minute of fighting himself, he finally stomped his way out of the Main Hall of the Jiang Residence and felt the sun pricking his skin as he looked up.
He squeezed his fists together feeling his callused hands scratch against his thick skin, then he shot up in the air and searched the Purple Mist Village for Luan, so they could make their preparations for heading into the mountains to deal with this…Kai Chen.