Stubbornly Refusing, Commence Slaughter!

Chapter 42: Stubborn and Unrepentant, Let the Slaughter Begin!

With a wave of his hand, Bai Yan had over six hundred Imperial Guards surround Yiping Villa like an iron bucket, leaving no gaps.

He then dismounted, drew the Snow Drinking Saber, and cleaved it against the vermilion-lacquered main gate.

A surge of potent True Essence erupted, and with a thunderous boom, the two vermilion doors were instantly shattered into pieces!

"What's going on? Why are the Imperial Guard smashing down Xiao Yiping's door?"

"Are they here to confiscate his property? Xiao Yiping has always done good deeds, how could he end up like this?"

"That doesn't make sense either. Mad Saber Xiao Yiping isn't an official, why would the Imperial Guard raid his home?"

"For so many Imperial Guards to be mobilized, Xiao Yiping must have committed a serious offense."

"Yiping Villa is in trouble this time."

Yiping Villa was well-known in the surrounding area, and it was located right next to the main road.

As the Imperial Guard made their way, they attracted many common folk and martial artists to come and watch.

A buzz of discussion arose, with all sorts of speculations being made.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Bai Yan led the Imperial Guards straight into Yiping Villa.

Along the way, Bai Yan killed everyone he saw, leaving no survivors, and quickly carved out a bloody path.

The hundreds of Imperial Guards were like wolves entering a flock of sheep, their eyes bloodshot as they searched for prey, slaughtering everyone in Yiping Villa.

"Stop, everyone stop!"

An angry roar suddenly exploded, followed by a tidal wave of violent energy.

A figure could be seen streaking from the inner courtyard at an incredible speed.

In just a few blinks, he arrived before Bai Yan.

The person who appeared was none other than Mad Saber Xiao Yiping.

The man looked to be around forty years old, holding a large saber and wearing a gold-threaded scholar's robe. If one ignored the violent aura he exuded, he looked more like a wealthy merchant than a martial artist.

Mad Saber Xiao Yiping had retired from the martial world many years ago, and his mastery of self-cultivation had reached a perfect state. He hadn't been angered in many years.

But at this moment, Xiao Yiping's face was contorted with rage, so dark it looked like it could drip water.

"May I ask, sir, what offense has my Yiping Villa committed?"

He gripped the hilt of his saber, his voice trembling with suppressed fury:

"For you to barge into a private residence and cruelly slaughter innocent people!"

"Are the Imperial Guards all lawbreakers who harm the innocent!"

"If that's the case, I, Xiao, will have no choice but to report you to Yongtang!"

Having interacted with the powerful figures of Yongtang for many years, Xiao Yiping had also learned a thing or two about the ways of officialdom.

Without a word, he first accused the Imperial Guard of slaughtering innocents.

The Imperial Guard already had a poor reputation, and if this charge were proven, Bai Yan and his men would be in serious trouble.

"Mad Saber Xiao Yiping, you put on quite an act."

Bai Yan sneered, then his tone shifted abruptly, and he roared:

"Xiao Yiping, you have committed a crime!"

"Colluding with the Demonic Cult, plotting treason, and intending to harm His Majesty, you are deserving of death!"

"His Majesty has decreed that Yiping Villa's collusion with the Demonic Cult is unforgivable. The Imperial Guard are ordered to apprehend and imprison you. Any who resist will be killed without mercy!"

"Listen well, all of you. Those who lay down their weapons will be spared. Surrender, and your punishment will be light!"

After speaking, Bai Yan directly produced an Imperial Decree, which Zheng Haihan had given him before they set out.

The Imperial Guard had carried out many raids and destroyed numerous households, but they only used an Imperial Decree when apprehending court officials.

When apprehending figures from the martial world, they usually acted first and reported later, without needing a decree.

However, the Emperor had personally issued a decree this time, which showed the depth of his fury.

Bai Yan's cold eyes swept over the many martial artists in Yiping Villa, and he said gravely:

"Do you intend to resist stubbornly?"

With his crimes exposed, Xiao Yiping's face changed drastically, all traces of his scholarly demeanor vanishing. He immediately drew his saber and roared:

"Brothers, this corrupt official slanders us by saying we colluded with the Demonic Cult, clearly intending to exterminate us!"

"Only by killing these imperial dogs can we survive!"

"Corrupt official, die!"

Xiao Yiping's killing intent locked onto Bai Yan. Without another word, he swung his saber.

The Mad Saber cleaved down from above, and a blood-red saber energy shot out like an arrow from a bow, carrying a sharp whistling sound straight towards Bai Yan's face.

"Hmph! Petty tricks, daring to show off in front of an expert!"

"Heavenly Gang!"

Bai Yan tapped his scabbard, and the Snow Drinking Saber shot out. He naturally gripped the hilt and slashed.

The incoming blood-red saber energy instantly dispersed.

Seeing his killing move broken, Xiao Yiping was greatly shocked.

He hadn't held back at all with that strike, and he never expected his full-power attack to be so casually dismantled by Bai Yan.

Just then, a few crisp cracking sounds echoed in the air. When Xiao Yiping looked again, Bai Yan had vanished.

As Xiao Yiping was about to counterattack, he seemed to see golden starlight flash before his eyes in a daze.

The starlight emitted a dazzling radiance, carrying the pure energy of heaven and earth, cleansing all impurities in the world, making it impossible for Xiao Yiping to open his eyes.

Then, a blade of light, impossibly fast, shot out from within the starlight and instantly swept past Xiao Yiping's side.

The next moment, Bai Yan appeared behind Xiao Yiping, slowly sheathing the Snow Drinking Saber. The blade met the scabbard's opening with a crisp "click."

Three Gang Saber Art's Heavenly Gang Slash!

Xiao Yiping heard the sound of the wind, the sound of blood spraying into the sky, and also the sound of his own severed arm hitting the ground.

Before Xiao Yiping could even react, Bai Yan flicked his finger back and struck the vital acupoint on Xiao Yiping's back.

The Spiritual Rhinoceros Finger, carrying immense internal energy, pierced his body and directly attacked his internal organs.

It instantly shattered Xiao Yiping's meridians and dantian, crippling his martial arts!

In just one move, the renowned Mad Saber hero, who had been famous for many years, was tragically defeated.

"Aaaargh!!"

Xiao Yiping clutched his severed arm and let out a painful roar, curling up on the ground like a stray dog.

He then spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning as pale as paper, his breathing becoming extremely weak.

"You... you crippled my martial arts!"

Xiao Yiping's eyes bulged with rage, his gaze towards Bai Yan filled with venom and hatred.

This duel ended too quickly.

It was so fast that most of Xiao Yiping's subordinates hadn't even registered what was happening before the battle was over.

"Take him down!"

Bai Yan gave the order, and immediately two Imperial Guard Enforcers lunged forward, pulling out shackles and securing the heavily injured Xiao Yiping.

The other martial artists could be killed on the spot, but Xiao Yiping was different; he was a key figure.

Keeping him alive might allow them to extract more intelligence about the Demonic Cult.

"Stop!"

"Quick, save our lord!"

"Kill these imperial lackeys!"

Seeing this, Xiao Yiping's subordinates immediately charged forward, engaging the Imperial Guards in a fierce battle. Not a single one of them laid down their weapons to surrender.

It was clear that Xiao Yiping's subordinates were no ordinary martial artists; they were all members of the Demonic Cult.

"Still resisting when death is imminent, leave no one alive!"

Bai Yan had no mercy for these brainwashed common cult members and didn't intend to spare them.

If they escaped, they would only go on to harm more people, so they had to be killed on the spot.

As for interrogation, it was best to capture someone alive, but it didn't matter if they couldn't.

With Xiao Yiping, the leader, in hand, it was inconsequential even if all the others were killed.

Flash!

Like a bolt of lightning, Bai Yan flashed into the midst of the Demonic Cult members.

At this moment, the lightning seemed to have a mind of its own, weaving and darting through the crowd, making several bizarre turns until it had swept past every cult member.

Clack!

Bai Yan reappeared, holding the Snow Drinking Saber, twirling it in a beautiful arc before slowly sheathing it.

Then, his cold voice rang out again:

"Those who refuse to repent shall be killed without mercy!"