Li Xinge's Ruthlessness

Half an hour later.

Led by A Liang, Li Xinge and the others finally found Brother Jin's home.

His home was in a remote mountain village.

It was the middle of the night, and all the villagers had long since gone to sleep.

Although the barking dogs woke some of them, when they went to look outside and saw the tall, dark figures, they were frightened back inside.

In a corner on the north side of the village.

An old oil lamp burned quietly, casting a dim light.

Brother Jin sat with an ancient book in his hands, poring over it intently.

"Husband, why are you still up so late?"

His wife complained softly from the bed.

"You go to sleep first. I'll read a little longer."

Brother Jin replied impatiently.

His wife rolled her eyes at him and grumbled, "I don't know what's gotten into those accursed dogs tonight. They're making such a racket I can't sleep."

Brother Jin was so absorbed in the ancient book that he didn't hear her at all.

At last, he seemed to have discovered something in the book and suddenly slapped his thigh.

Overjoyed, he exclaimed, "I've found a way! I've finally found a way! The Blood Spirit Flame Python falls into a deep sleep for three days every three months. That's when I'll make my move."

"What are you muttering about over there?"

Seeing her husband acting so mysteriously, his wife asked curiously.

Brother Jin shot her an annoyed look. "A woman shouldn't stick her nose into everything! By the way, what were you saying just now?"

"I said the dogs are making such a racket tonight. It's strange—I've never heard them this loud before."

His wife looked puzzled.

For some reason, those words immediately stirred a sense of foreboding in Jin's heart.

It seemed that something bad was about to happen.

He had always trusted his instincts.

"Dear, hurry and pack my things. I'm leaving," Jin said urgently.

"Didn't you only just get back today? And where are you going so late?"

His wife was reluctant, but obediently got out of bed and started packing his bundle.

With the bundle on his back, Jin opened the door. His whole body stiffened, and the foot he'd stepped outside with retreated back in.

Outside the door stood dozens of black-robed figures, their auras sharp and imposing, curved blades hanging at their waists. Mounted on tall horses, they looked down at him from above.

"Zou Jin, where are you going at this hour?"

A young man asked with a laugh.

With a bang, the door slammed shut again.

But the next moment, a tremendous force struck. The door was smashed to pieces.

Brother Jin's body flew backward and crashed hard into the wall, spraying a mouthful of blood.

That punch had left him feeling as though all his internal organs had been knocked out of place.

He had just started to get up when two powerful hands pressed down on his shoulders, pinning him in place.

Then his parents, son, and wife, who had been sound asleep, were dragged out by the black-clad men and forced to their knees.

Seeing the fear and terror in his family's eyes,

Zou Jin glared furiously, his eyes nearly bursting with rage. He roared, "Who are you? Breaking into a private home in the middle of the night—do you have no regard for the law?"

"The law?"

The black-robed men burst into laughter, as if they'd just heard the biggest joke in the world.

The young man at their head stepped forward. It was Li Xinge.

He waved his hand, and the laughter stopped at once.

"Take us to the Blood Spirit Fruit, and I'll spare your family," Li Xinge said calmly.

Though Zou Jin forced himself to look composed, inside, waves were already crashing through him.

"They really came for the Blood Spirit Fruit. How did they learn it existed?"

The only person who knew, A Liang, had already been silenced by him on the mountain. He'd stabbed him through the heart. He'd covered his tracks perfectly.

They must be trying to trick him.

"My lord, what are you talking about? What Blood Spirit Fruit? I don't know anything about it,"

Zou Jin said, feigning confusion.

Li Xinge sneered. He was quite the actor. Then he lightly clapped his hands.

Someone Zou Jin knew all too well stepped out from behind Li Xinge.

"You should recognize this person, shouldn't you?"

When Zou Jin saw that familiar face, it was as if he had been struck by lightning.

He cried out, "A Liang? H-how is that possible? Weren't you dead?"

Seeing the older brother who had always looked after him, A Liang gave a bitter laugh and sneered, "You stabbed me right where you meant to. Too bad my heart's on the right side!"

Zou Jin suddenly understood.

So that's what happened. That's what happened!

I should've cut off his head while I was at it.

Zou Jin regretted it bitterly. His oversight had brought disaster down upon him.

"Can you take us to the Blood Spirit Fruit now?" Li Xinge asked calmly.

"My lord, don't believe his nonsense. He's lying to you. There's no Blood Spirit Fruit. He just wants to use you to get revenge on me for trying to kill him. I've gathered herbs for years, and I've never seen any Blood Spirit Fruit."

Zou Jin tried his luck, arguing desperately.

The Blood Spirit Fruit was a priceless treasure of legend, and his only chance to change his fate.

He was truly unwilling to hand it over.

"Seems you won't shed a tear until you see your own coffin!"

Li Xinge's limited patience with Zou Jin had run out.

He beckoned, and two black-robed Li Family cultivators stepped forward from behind him, drawing their blades. As Zou Jin glared at them, they swiftly chopped off his parents' heads.

Blood spurted straight onto his wife, and she fainted from fright.

Looking at the two gray-haired heads lying on the ground, their eyes still open, Zou Jin wailed, "Father! Mother!"

"Remember now?"

Li Xinge asked with a smile.

"I've never seen the Blood Spirit Fruit! I don't know where it is!"

Zou Jin roared.

Li Xinge clapped his hands. "Good. Very good. I like a stubborn one like you! Kill another and help him remember."

"Yes, Patriarch!"

The black-robed cultivator approached Zou Jin's wife with a vicious grin and slapped her across the face.

Zou Jin's wife woke with a start. Remembering what she had just seen, she screamed shrilly like a madwoman.

The blade fell, and the world fell silent. Another head hit the ground.

"Remember now?"

Li Xinge asked with a smile.

But to Zou Jin, that smile made him look like a devil crawling out of hell.

Even A Liang, who hated Zou Jin deeply, was badly shaken by the ruthlessness of these black-clad men.

Zou Jin had gone numb.

The black-robed cultivator dragged Zou Jin's son out as well. The boy had already fainted from fright.

Looking the boy over, Li Xinge clicked his tongue. "Your son really does look like you. It's as if he came straight out of the same mold."

"I'll talk! I'll tell you!"

Those words became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Zou Jin's psychological defenses crumbled completely.

Sobbing uncontrollably, he said, "I know where the Blood Spirit Fruit is. I know the way. I beg you, don't kill my son! He's my only son."

Li Xinge chuckled. "See? Wouldn't it have been better to tell us sooner? If you'd told us, they wouldn't have had to die!"

Zou Jin wept bitterly.

"Now, lead the way!"