"Ah!"
Ruan Xiucheng let out a soul-stirring scream, his body writhing as if being devoured by ten thousand insects, his fate utterly tragic.
This caused the hundreds of people from the Ruan family to turn pale, their fists clenched tightly, their teeth gritted, yet they dared not harbor the slightest intent to kill.
The matter was, in fact, their Ruan family's fault from the start. Now that King Qian, Chen Jiuyang, had come to seek revenge, they could only endure such humiliation. Otherwise, what awaited them would not be the death of their patriarch, but the possibility of their entire clan being wiped out.
Chen Biandao and Chen Fengge merely watched with calm expressions.
How ruthless they had been to Chen Jiuyang back then was now mirrored by Chen Jiuyang's ruthlessness towards them.
Especially the old man Ruan Xiucheng, who, in his cleverness, had schemed and angered Chen Jiuyang, and was now being tortured in such a manner; he truly deserved it.
Chen Jiuyang looked at the struggling Ruan Xiucheng, his eyes devoid of emotion. He slowly raised the Yan Sheng Blade again, "Third move."
"Buzz!"
The blade hummed loudly.
The phantom image of the Yan Sheng Blade suddenly expanded, and with a gentle sweep, it descended towards Ruan Xiucheng.
"Rumble!"
As if a mountain was pressing down, the ground where Ruan Xiucheng stood was immediately pressed into a pit.
Chen Jiuyang slowly sheathed his blade, but the phantom image of the Yan Sheng Blade remained unscattered.
After sheathing his blade, Chen Jiuyang turned and left, leaving behind a single sentence: "When Ruan Xiucheng dies, you shall all commit suicide."
"If you refuse, this King will slaughter the entire Ruan family."
The hundreds of Ruan family martial artists present turned ashen, none daring to utter a sound.
Ruan Xiucheng, in his attempt to scheme against Chen Jiuyang to preserve his own dignity and the Ruan family's reputation, had been hoist by his own petard.
Chen Jiuyang had already left, but his moves lingered. Ruan Xiucheng was still alive, being tortured and screaming, and they were ordered to commit suicide only after Ruan Xiucheng's death.
What an utter humiliation this was!
The Ruan family's reputation was trampled underfoot by Chen Jiuyang.
News of the Ruan family quickly spread in all directions, causing those who still harbored侥幸 (jiǎoxìng -侥幸) and ulterior motives to turn pale.
As Chen Jiuyang prepared to travel to the next sect and aristocratic family, numerous messages arrived.
All the sects and aristocratic families that had participated in the thousand-mile interception incident had committed suicide by poison, and their severed heads were delivered to Chen Jiuyang. The leader, dressed in mourning attire with a white sash, knelt before Chen Jiuyang:
"The ringleader has committed suicide. We implore King Qian to spare our families and sects a shred of reputation!"
The Jiang family of Dong Province and the Ruan family of Xijiang had their reputations thoroughly trampled by Chen Jiuyang, leaving the people of both families like stray dogs, unable to hold their heads high.
Since King Qian had made it clear he sought revenge, all they could do was to commit suicide before Chen Jiuyang arrived. Though they lost face, they could preserve the last vestiges of their families' and sects' dignity.
In the depths of winter, a thousand people held their severed heads, all kneeling before Chen Jiuyang.
In the wind and snow, Chen Jiuyang's eyes were calm. After a long silence, he said:
"Granted."
"The matter of the thousand-mile interception is now closed. If you wish to retaliate against this King, this King will be waiting. However, at that time, this King will slaughter all of you."
"We dare not!" Hundreds of people knelt before Chen Jiuyang, their heads bowed, trembling as they collectively replied, "We dare not!"
This matter was now settled with these aristocratic families and sects.
However, this matter was instigated by the Third King, Zhou Fangzun.
Before Chen Jiuyang could seek revenge on the Third King, Zhou Fangzun, countless people were secretly observing, wondering if Chen Jiuyang would, with the assistance of this ancestor from Shu Mountain, go to trouble Zhou Fangzun.
As Chen Jiuyang boarded the high-speed train, preparing to head south, the martial arts world erupted.
The Sixth King of Long Country was going to seek trouble from the Third King of Long Country!
This news caused an uproar in the martial arts world of Long Country.
What a vengeful, swift-to-act King Qian!
However, some were also cursing: "Is King Qian trying to incite internal strife in our Long Country?"
"But, ultimately, it was the Third King who was in the wrong."
"This matter... this matter... this matter... alas..."
If Chen Jiuyang and Zhou Fangzun were to truly clash, it would indeed cause great chaos.
But this was a personal grievance, and Zhou Fangzun had provoked Chen Jiuyang repeatedly. Chen Jiuyang had endured it before.
It was not that retribution would not come, but that the time was not yet right!
Now was the perfect time!
Was the new King attempting to establish his formidable reputation by stepping on the old generation of Kings?
Soon, Longjing was shaken, and people were dispatched from Longjing.
That day, a helicopter intercepted Chen Jiuyang and his entourage.
The visitors were the Sword Bearers of Longjing.
Upon seeing the Sword Bearers of Longjing, Chen Fengge's fighting spirit surged, his eyes shining brightly: "Are you the leader of the contemporary Sword Bearers? Indeed, your strength is formidable. Since my return to the secular world, I have not found a master of the same caliber to spar with. Sword Bearer, would you be willing to exchange a few moves with this seat?"
Chen Jiuyang was startled. The combat power of the Sword Bearers of Longjing was actually comparable to a Venerable Realm ancestor?
No wonder Zhou Fangzun of Jianfeng Mountain had chosen to retreat when he saw the Sword Bearers of Longjing back then.
If Chen Fengge had not revealed this, Chen Jiuyang would have assumed the Sword Bearers of Longjing were like any other Sword Bearers.
The Sword Bearers of Longjing did not respond to Chen Fengge's words. Their ancient eyes looked at Chen Jiuyang and asked, "Are you truly going to seek trouble with Zhou Fangzun?"
Previously, when Zhou Fangzun had sought trouble with Chen Jiuyang, he had intervened on Chen Jiuyang's behalf and driven Zhou Fangzun away.
Now, with Chen Jiuyang bringing a Venerable Realm ancestor to seek trouble with Zhou Fangzun, he was going to block Chen Jiuyang on Zhou Fangzun's behalf.
Chen Jiuyang was stunned for a moment, then cupped his fists and said, "Esteemed Sword Bearer, when did this King ever say he was going to seek trouble with the Third King now?"
"I am traveling south to the Han family's secret realm in Suhang."
"?"
The Sword Bearers of Longjing were taken aback for a moment, then asked again after a pause, "Is that truly the case?"
Chen Jiuyang said with a wry smile, "When you were in Longjing before, I told Zhou Fangzun that I would settle my grievances with him after I advanced to the Heavenly Realm."
"..." The Sword Bearers of Longjing.
The martial arts world was in an uproar, all believing Chen Jiuyang was heading south to seek trouble with Zhou Fangzun. The Sword Bearers of Longjing had rushed over to prevent this, only to find it was a misunderstanding.
After a long while, the Sword Bearers of Longjing slowly nodded and said, "Good. King Qian, your grievances with the King of Zhennan should be settled with a degree of self-control."
Then, the Sword Bearers of Longjing looked at Chen Fengge and said, "Chen Fengge, the Forbidden City Sacred Land has summoned you to suppress the fragments of the Kyushu Cauldron."
"On a monthly rotation."
Chen Fengge remained silent for a moment, then said, "The God of War Hall and the Longevity Alliance are targeting the descendants of my Chen family. This seat cannot stand idly by."
The Sword Bearers of Longjing narrowed their eyes and said, "You have been dormant for too long, and there are things you do not know, and secrets that cannot be told to you."
"Within Long Country, no one can harm the King of Long Country. If you do not believe my words, you can ask King Qian."
The Sword Bearers of Longjing referred to the combination of the King and the Sword of Authority.
Chen Jiuyang said, "Esteemed Sword Bearer is indeed correct. Within Long Country, even someone at the Half-step Heavenly Realm cannot kill me."
This time, it was Chen Fengge's turn to show confusion:
"?"
Chen Biandao was also unaware of the secrets involved.
After a long period of silence, Chen Fengge said, "We shall not shy away from the duty of suppressing the Kyushu Cauldron fragments in the Sacred Land. Before that, this seat must visit the God of War Hall and the Longevity Alliance to seek justice for the descendants of my Chen family."
"Granted. This old man will accompany you. After we are done, you will accompany me to the Forbidden City Sacred Land."
"Agreed."
Before leaving, Chen Fengge looked at Chen Jiuyang and said, "I hope that the next time we meet, your strength will have advanced further."
Chen Jiuyang cupped his fists and said, "I will not fail the expectations of my ancestor."
"Good." Then Chen Fengge and the Sword Bearers of Longjing departed.
Chen Jiuyang and Chen Biandao continued their journey south. Just then, Chen Jiuyang received a distress call from Lin Yuexian. Her voice was filled with helplessness and anxiety:
"Jiuyang, my father is in trouble."