C23 – Burning the House of the Jee Family
“Hand over Jee Gong, or I swear I’ll level the Jee family to the ground.”
“Such audacity, young man, to come into the Jee household and spout such wild threats. Guards, seize him!”
The third elder was set off like a keg of dynamite.
“Prepare to die.”
Surrounded by the Jee family’s many masters, the captain of the guards found his courage surging and led his men in a charge against Min Zhenkang.
“Zhenkang, watch out!”nove(l)bi(n.)com
“Perfect timing.”
The first move of the Shadow Sword Style — the Formless Blade.
In that instant, Min Zhenkang swung an ordinary iron sword with increasing speed, so fast that the blade vanished from sight.
To onlookers, Min Zhenkang appeared motionless, his hands seemingly empty.
Yet, an aura of invisible sword shadows enveloped him, leaving no openings.
This paradoxical sight deterred the crowd from looking any longer, fearing they’d be ensnared by his illusion.
“Attack!”
The third wave of the Thousand Killing Array advanced at that moment.
Clang, clang, clang—
The relentless clashing of weapons filled the air.
“Flank him from both sides.” With the frontal assault failing, the captain ordered the other two units of the Thousand Killing Array to encircle and penetrate Min Zhenkang’s defenses.
“You lack the skill to break my swordsmanship.”
The second form of the Shadow Sword Style — the Sword Breaker.
As the other two units pivoted to flank him, Min Zhenkang swiftly switched from defense to offense, targeting the formation led by the captain.
“Hold the line!”
The captain, feigning composure, commanded his men to shift from offense to defense against Min Zhenkang’s onslaught.
If they could just withstand this first wave, the other two units could finish him.
But his hopes were in vain. Despite being a seventh-level Martial Spirit Stage expert, he was no match for the formidable Min Zhenkang.
He had greatly overestimated the might of the Thousand Killing Array, or perhaps he had sorely underestimated Min Zhenkang’s Shadow Sword Style.
*Clang Clang Clang ~ *
“Ahhh ~”
The cacophony of weapons breaking and the guards’ final screams as they perished sent a wave of terror through the head guard.
“Master, save me!”
“You insolent fool, how dare you!”
The Third Elder could no longer stand idly by. With a formidable attack in tow, he lunged at Min Zhenkang.
To Min Zhenkang, the head guard was as good as dead. No one could save him now.
Shadow Sword Style, third form: Sword Strike.
A move without equal.
As the sword seemed to grow larger before his eyes, the head guard was rooted to the spot in shock.
It wasn’t that he wouldn’t dodge; he simply didn’t know how. No matter his attempts to evade, the sword would inevitably find its mark, piercing his forehead and exiting through the back of his skull!
Bang!
As the Second Elder arrived at the head guard’s side, Min Zhenkang’s Sword Strike had already penetrated the guard’s head.
With a resounding bang, the head guard’s skull was obliterated by the intense sword qi, drenching the Third Elder in blood and gore.
The Third Elder’s mighty strike, meant to scatter Min Zhenkang’s Sword Strike and save the head guard, was too late.
Enraged, the Third Elder directed his ferocious attack at Min Zhenkang.
As Min Zhenkang executed his Sword Strike, two sets of the Thousand Killing Array closed in behind him, while the Third Elder’s onslaught bore down upon him.
Composed of five individuals, its strength was magnitudes greater than the Thousand Killing Array, but the cost was steep—a tactic that inflicted heavy losses on both the enemy and oneself.
After executing this array, the five would be confined to bed for the ensuing months to recuperate, the gravest consequence being a ten-year reduction in each of their lifespans.
The Thousand Killing Array relied on sheer numbers; when fully assembled, its formidable power forced adversaries to retreat, unless they possessed exceptionally high cultivation levels.
In contrast, the Five Elements Fusion Array was all about synergy. Though only five in number, it demanded a deep, unified will, merging the five into one.
At this moment, the Five Elements Unity Formation, led by the Second Elder of the Martial Warrior Realm and supported by four First Level Martial Warrior Elders, was a formidable force. Even Jee Luoyang, a First Level Martial General, wouldn’t dare to clash with it directly.
“Kill!”
The command echoed in unison from five voices, creating an eerie resonance.
The towering figure created by the Five Elements Unity Formation advanced toward Min Zhenkang with deliberate steps, fists clenched and poised to strike.
“Hahahaha—bring it on! Today, I’ll test the true strength of the Jee family.”
“You insolent kid, prepare to die!” The five were incensed at being scorned by such a young upstart.
“Stop right there!”
At that moment, a striking woman accompanied by a contingent of soldiers entered from outside.
It was Tang Tian, who was on patrol.
This incident was a Jee family affair, and ordinarily, Tang Tian would have no obligation to intervene.
But as she was about to depart, she noticed Min Qigang among the crowd, his expression fraught with anxiety. She couldn’t help but suspect, “Could it be that troublemaker is at it again?”
With that thought, Tang Tian led her troops to the scene, arriving just in time to witness the confrontation between the Five Elements Unity Formation and the young man.
“Miss Tang!” Min Qigang called out upon seeing her, a wave of relief washing over him. With Tang Tian present, Min Zhenkang was surely out of harm’s way.
“Jee Patriarch, what seems to be the issue here?” Tang Tian inquired as she approached.
Upon seeing Tang Tian, the figure of the Five Elements Unity Formation halted its actions.
“Miss Tang, this is merely a minor domestic issue of the Jee family, not worth your concern.”
“Is that so? Indeed, it’s not my place to manage the Jee family’s internal affairs, nor should I pry.”
“However!”
“The individual in question is currently in the employ of the castellan’s residence. I’m compelled to intervene. So, I kindly ask the Jee Patriarch to show leniency and afford me this courtesy.”
“Miss Tang, I regret that I am powerless in this situation. This young troublemaker has disrupted the peace of my Jee family today, wounding and killing many of our guards. If we simply let him off, what dignity will the Jee family have left in Steelgrave?”
“Master Jee, what’s your take on the situation?”
“This individual must be eliminated.”
“Master Jee, as I’ve mentioned, this person is currently serving the castellan’s residence. If you were to kill him, where would that leave our city’s honor?”
“You...”
Jee Luoyang was about to retort when the Jee family’s Second Elder intervened.
“Clan Master, let’s temper our anger. Miss Tang has stated that this person is only a temporary asset to the castellan’s residence. Eventually, he’ll be discarded, and that will be our opportunity for retribution. Besides, we now know he’s from the Whalespell Min’s mansion; the monk may flee, but the temple remains. Is it wise to wage war against the castellan’s residence now? Perhaps it’s better to step back and bide our time.”
The Second Elder’s shrewdness was apparent.
“Fine, I’ll spare the young man’s life for now, but his cultivation must be destroyed.”
“That’s unacceptable. Crippling his cultivation is tantamount to killing him. I regretfully cannot comply with that demand, Master Jee.”
“You...”
Jee Luoyang was seething with frustration.
“Miss Tang, we can spare his life without harming his cultivation, but surely the Jee family must not let the loss of our guards go unaddressed.”
The Great Elder now joined the conversation.
“And what would you suggest, Great Elder?”
“Miss Tang, since this man is under the employ of the castellan’s residence and has caused disturbances at our Jee family home, it’s only fitting that the castellan’s residence offers us a proper resolution.”
The Great Elder stepped forward from Jee Luoyang’s side as he spoke.
“The nature of that resolution is up to the castellan’s residence. However, should it fail to satisfy the Jee family, I hope you’ll understand if we no longer afford the castellan’s residence any courtesy in the future.”
“Very well, the castellan’s residence will comply. I am curious, though, how will the Jee family proceed?”
After a brief pause, Tang Tian agreed to the Great Elder’s terms.