Chapter 254: Heavenly Punishment Blade!
"Ghk..."
Sang Mu clutched at his neck, but blood sprayed out from between his fingers, impossible to stop. He looked at Qing Yu Daoist in terror, wanting to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a gush of blood flowed out.
With a thud, Sang Mu collapsed to the ground, his breath gradually fading.
Qing Yu turned, sat back down in his chair, and picked up his teacup.
Yes, the tea was still warm.
But the corpse on the ground was already growing cold.
Looking at the many corpses on the floor, Zhao Hedong and his son Zhao Ping turned pale, their bodies drenched in cold sweat.
Zhao Ping gulped, feeling his limbs go weak, barely able to remain standing.
Lord Liu’s top warrior, Sang Tu’s own brother, is dead? And killed with a single slash to the throat?
Zhao Hedong and Zhao Ping looked at each other, both seeing a hint of terror in the other’s eyes. In that moment, Qing Yu Daoist had become a demon in their eyes. This supposedly benevolent Daoist had, in an instant, slaughtered all the men sent by Lord Liu.
The most terrifying part wasn’t that Sang Mu himself was a martial arts expert, but the demeanor with which Qing Yu Daoist killed. His expression remained placid the entire time; he even smiled as he killed.
How many people must one kill to reach such a state?
RETCH!
Zhao Ping could no longer hold it in and ran to the side to vomit.
Zhao Hedong wasn’t much better off. As the Family Head of the Zhao Family, he had seen his share of trials and tribulations, but even he was deeply shaken. A short while ago, Qing Yu Daoist’s display of power had made him think the man was skilled, but not overwhelmingly so. Therefore, while he had remained respectful, it was only because he hoped Liang Sheng would agree to the marriage between his son and their daughter.
But he had never expected Qing Yu Daoist to be so formidable.
Over a dozen lives, snuffed out in a matter of minutes.
If those had been members of his Zhao Family... Zhao Hedong dared not let the thought continue.
It wasn’t just him; Liang Sheng was also watching Daoist Master Qing Yu in shock. He had suspected that Daoist Master Qing Yu was an incredibly terrifying expert, but no matter how he racked his brain, he could never have imagined that Daoist Master Qing Yu was even more formidable than he had believed. At this thought, Liang Sheng was overjoyed. With Daoist Master Qing Yu here, what did he have to worry about?
But the most shocked of all was Liang Shanshan. This esteemed Daoist was so powerful, yet in front of Lin Mu, he called him ’Master’ and behaved with the utmost deference.
Then... Lin Mu’s strength, or perhaps his identity... could it be...?
It was a terrifying thought, and Liang Shanshan dared not ponder it further.
All she knew was that she wouldn’t have to marry Zhao Ping. Her dad wouldn’t die. And Lin Mu probably wouldn’t die either! That was enough!
Therefore, even though the scene was bloody, Liang Shanshan wasn’t frightened. Instead, she felt a profound sense of catharsis.
After finishing his work, Qing Yu sat silently in his chair, sipping his tea. His expression was indifferent, a faint smile on his face. It was as if he hadn’t been the one killing people just moments before.
Liang Sheng suppressed his shock, taking a deep breath to compose himself before turning to Zhao Hedong. "Patriarch Zhao, do you still wish for my daughter to marry your son?"
"I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!" Zhao Hedong frantically shook his head. "I was blind before and failed to recognize Taishan, causing Brother Liang this misunderstanding. I am here to apologize."
Having said this, Zhao Hedong bowed with clasped hands to Liang Sheng and then kicked his son, who was still retching. "Hurry up and apologize to your Uncle Liang!"
"Oh, oh, Liang... Uncle Liang, I was wrong." At this moment, Zhao Ping was stripped of his earlier pride and confidence, appearing utterly dispirited and unable to speak clearly.
"And Miss Liang, we were in the wrong earlier. We must have frightened you, haven’t we?"
A sycophantic smile spread across Zhao Hedong’s face as he hurriedly had someone bring over several boxes. Inside one was a bracelet of pure, vibrant green jade that was clearly priceless.
"Miss Liang, this is a bracelet I acquired years ago. Since I have no daughter, please accept it as a gift. I hope you will accept it."
The words cost him dearly. This bracelet was worth a fortune. Zhao Hedong had spent several hundred thousand to obtain it, even offending its original owner in the process. But if he couldn’t appease Liang Shanshan’s anger, and she asked that Daoist to kill him and his son, then all the wealth in the world wouldn’t matter if he was dead.
Liang Sheng glanced at it and said to Liang Shanshan, "Shanshan, take it."
"Dad... this..." Liang Shanshan instinctively wanted to refuse. Even though she liked the bracelet, she knew that accepting gifts could lead to obligations. If the Zhao Family made more unreasonable requests, would she have to agree or refuse?
"It’s fine. Since it’s a heartfelt gift from Patriarch Zhao, there’s no harm in accepting it," Liang Sheng said, his face all smiles.
Since he had already decided to sever ties with the Zhao Family, what was the harm in taking something from them? Moreover, he could see that his daughter liked the bracelet. Consider it interest collected on the back of Daoist Master Qing Yu’s reputation.
"Exactly, Miss Liang! If you don’t accept, my son and I will have no peace of mind," Zhao Hedong urged, relieved that Liang Sheng had spoken. He now saw it as simply spending money to avert a disaster.
"Alright, then." Liang Shanshan truly did like the bracelet, so she accepted it.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao," Liang Shanshan remembered to say.
"Of course, of course."
Zhao Hedong then opened the other two boxes. "This is a wild ginseng root, nearly a hundred years old. It’s a treasured heirloom of my Zhao Family. Brother Liang, you were injured just now. Please accept this for your recovery."
A century-old wild ginseng was indeed a rare find, and Liang Sheng accepted it without hesitation.
"And this..."
Finally, Zhao Hedong looked at the last box, hesitating. But in the end, he gritted his teeth and opened it. Inside was a long weapon, neither quite a saber nor quite a sword.
Zhao Hedong solemnly picked up the blade, walked over to Qing Yu Daoist, and dropped to his knees with a thud. He presented the weapon with both hands. "Senior, the fault is mine. I don’t dare pray for your forgiveness. I only hope that you will accept this blade and spare my Zhao Family."
This blade was the ancestral treasure of the Zhao Family, normally enshrined in their ancestral hall. He had brought it out today only for fear that Qing Yu Daoist, in his anger, might annihilate the entire Zhao Family.
Qing Yu Daoist, who had been silently sipping his tea, saw the blade and his expression changed instantly.
"The Heavenly Punishment Blade!"
Daoist Master Qing Yu stood up, examining the blade before him.
"You recognize this blade, Daoist Master?" Zhao Hedong asked, startled. He quickly added, "Since you recognize it, it proves you are fated to have it. Please, the blade is yours."
"Very well. This blade and I do indeed share some fate. I will accept it." Qing Yu Daoist took the Heavenly Punishment Blade and drew it an inch from its scabbard.
CLANG!
A sharp glint of light filled the hall. Zhao Hedong was thrown back by the blade’s aura, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"It truly is the Heavenly Punishment Blade!"
Qing Yu Daoist quickly sheathed the blade and said to Zhao Hedong, "Having accepted this blade, I now owe your Zhao Family a favor."
Zhao Hedong, who had been so reluctant to part with it, was suddenly overjoyed upon hearing this.
"Thank you, Daoist Master!"