Young Master, Run! I'll Hold Him Off...

"What kind of people are you? How dare you attack Young Master Wu? Aren't you afraid of the Wu Clan's wrath?"

As soon as the Wu Family Supplicant arrived, he furrowed his brows and fixed his gaze on Shen Zhou.

The palm strike from earlier and the dangerous aura now radiating from Shen Zhou made him hesitate to act rashly.

Shen Zhou gave a cold snort. "The Wu Clan's wrath? The Wu Clan should first consider whether it can withstand mine."

With that, Shen Zhou struck without hesitation, raising his sword and slashing at his opponent.

His motto was simple: if you could solve something by fighting, there was no need to run your mouth.

"What an arrogant claim!"

Seeing that the prestige of a powerful clan failed to intimidate his opponent, the Wu Family Supplicant clasped his hands and used his palms like blades. He exchanged blows with Shen Zhou, all the while remembering to turn back and shout to Wu Jiuyan, "Young Master, run! I'll hold him off..."

When the Wu Family Supplicant arrived, A Dai, San Mazi, and Dongfang Hongyu had immediately darted aside to keep themselves safe.

Wu Jiuyan struggled to lift his head. His face twisted with rage as he glared at Shen Zhou and the three others. Then, with venom in his eyes, he said, "You're finished. I'm still alive, and as soon as I get back to the venue, I'll have the Wu Family come and tear you limb from limb.

"I'll skin you alive, rip out your tendons, drain your blood, and carve out your bones...

"I'll make you suffer every cruel punishment in the world.

"I'll make you regret crossing me... Wu! Jiu! Yan!"

Wu Jiuyan was still spewing threats when a figure suddenly went flying with a whoosh. Shen Zhou had sent him hurtling through the air, trailing blood, and he tumbled and rolled to a stop right in front of Wu Jiuyan.

Wu Jiuyan looked closely and realized it was the Wu Family Supplicant.

For a moment, the atmosphere seemed to freeze.

Wu Jiuyan stared blankly at the Wu Family Supplicant in front of him, his eyes full of disbelief.

Wait, hadn't you said you'd hold him off?

I'd barely finished talking. How were you already down?

The Wu Family Supplicant looked back at Wu Jiuyan with a complicated expression.

There was exasperation in his eyes, along with a hint of frustration at his failure to live up to expectations—and the look of someone staring at a useless teammate.

Couldn't you wait until you'd escaped before mouthing off?

Why were you blabbering away here when you hadn't even gotten away?

Well, look at that. Now you can't run...

At the same time, the Wu Family Supplicant looked at Shen Zhou with horrified eyes.

Too strong!

Three strikes.

His opponent had only used three sword strikes, and a Transformation Realm seventh-stage supplicant like himself had been defeated—completely and utterly.

If he hadn't experienced it himself, no one would have believed him.

Shen Zhou then looked at Wu Jiuyan and asked calmly, "What was that you just said?"

Wu Jiuyan: "..."

The silence was deafening.

But it had to be said: the Wu Family Supplicant was a loyal retainer.

Seeing that neither of them had any chance left, the Wu Family Supplicant actually stood up again at this critical moment. His body was covered in blood as he stared at Shen Zhou, but he spoke to Wu Jiuyan behind him. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Young Master, this isn't the time to talk. Go! Even if it costs me my life, I'll hold him back..."

Wu Jiuyan was deeply shaken. "You..."

The Wu Family Supplicant roared, "Go!"

After roaring, the Wu Family Supplicant launched himself at Shen Zhou.

Having learned his lesson, Wu Jiuyan didn't dare say another word. He mustered the last of his strength and used Thunder Flash, his body vanishing in an instant as he fled from the hillside.

Shen Zhou furrowed his brows, raised his sword, and sent the Wu Family Supplicant flying again.

The man was already at the end of his strength. He couldn't even withstand a single strike.

Shen Zhou took a step to pursue Wu Jiuyan, but the fallen Wu Family Supplicant actually grabbed one of his legs and coughed up blood. "I said I'd hold you back, even if it cost me my life...!"

For the first time, Shen Zhou gave the Wu Family Supplicant a proper look. "You really are a good dog of the Wu Clan."

The Wu Family Supplicant smiled.

It was as if those words were the highest praise he could receive.

The next moment, Shen Zhou struck with his sword.

Pfft...

After finishing off the Wu Family Supplicant, the three of them walked over.

Looking at the Wu Family Supplicant's corpse, A Dai sighed. "I didn't expect a powerful clan to have such a loyal subordinate. He was only a retainer, yet he sacrificed himself to protect his master's family. That's rare."

Dongfang Hongyu said, "Many of those who become retainers to powerful clans suffered misfortune when they were young. The clans raised them from childhood, so loyalty is the one thing they never lack."

San Mazi looked in the direction Wu Jiuyan had fled, his face troubled. "What now? That guy got away. We shouldn't have been so eager to enjoy ourselves. We should've just let Boss Zhou cut him down."

Shen Zhou heard him and replied casually, "It's fine. Since this is revenge, you have to vent your anger yourselves. Otherwise, how can you call it revenge?

"Something unexpected happened, but the outcome won't change.

"He's still going to die today!"

Huff...

Huff...

On the mountain path, blood flowed from Wu Jiuyan's wounds and he gasped for breath. But as the venue drew closer, his heart slowly settled, and he could no longer suppress his wild joy. "I escaped! I finally escaped! Hahaha..."

"As long as I got away, this isn't over!"

"Just you wait! You just wait... I won't let this go. I'll..."

Before he could finish, Shen Zhou's sound-breaking rush came from behind him.

Wu Jiuyan was scared out of his wits and desperately ran toward the venue.

At the venue.

By now, almost everyone had arrived.

The negotiations between the Xu and Qin Families were about to begin.

Beneath the Qin Family's sunshade.

Looking at the seat of honor reserved for the family head, which had been empty for quite some time, Third Elder Qin Yihu couldn't help muttering, "The family head's been gone for so long. Could he have lost his nerve and run off?"

At those words, every member of the Qin Family turned to look.

For a moment, apart from Grand-Aunt Qin Fenglan and the clan leader Qin Yuanshan, everyone else had the same thought.

Qin Yuanshan gave Qin Yihu a cold glance. Realizing he'd said the wrong thing, Qin Yihu quickly shut his mouth.

Qin Fenglan spoke up. "I believe in the family head. Since he came, he won't abandon the Qin Family. Let's wait a little longer."

Since Grand-Aunt had said so, the others could only keep waiting.

Beneath the Lin Family's sunshade.

The Lin Family head hadn't come. Instead, they had sent an elder and a pair of golden children, Lin Yusheng and Lin Yuling.

The two of them were still young, only thirteen or fourteen. Nor did they possess the extraordinary strength of the talented young cultivators from the other families.

But they made up for it with excellent bones and astonishing talent.

A few years earlier, the dean of Flying Bird Academy had personally visited to test their potential. He had said the two possessed the special Martial Soul constitution. Before the age of eighteen, they would make little progress in cultivation. But once they turned eighteen and their Martial Souls awakened, their cultivation would advance a thousand miles a day, and their future accomplishments would be beyond measure.

The Lin Family therefore valued them greatly.

While they waited, the adorable little Lin Yuling kept peeking toward the Qin Family's sunshade.

Lin Fang, who was in charge of guarding their party this time, couldn't help asking, "Little Sister Ling, what are you looking at?"

Without even turning her head, Lin Yuling replied, "I'm trying to see what that Qin Family Sword Drawer looks like. Earlier, Grandpa Clan Leader said the Qin Family Sword Drawer might become a great enemy of the Lin Family one day, and that we should be careful. Is he a really vicious person?"

Lin Fang smiled at that. "Maybe. But no matter what he's like, he definitely won't be a match for you and Little Brother Yusheng in the future, Little Sister Ling. You two are the true pride of heaven, dragons and phoenixes among men. Those who rise to prominence only because they have a sword won't get far on the path of martial arts!"

This wasn't just Lin Fang's opinion. It was what everyone in the Lin Family thought.

As they were talking, a commotion suddenly broke out at the venue's entrance.

Countless eyes turned toward it. Then they saw a man covered in blood sprint in from outside, barging into the venue as he shouted hoarsely, "Help..."

"Father, save me..."

"Someone's trying to kill me..."

Many people were bewildered by the sight.

"What's going on?"

"Who is that? How did he get so badly hurt?"

"What on earth happened?"

Just then, another figure shot down from the sky with a whoosh, catching up with him.

As soon as he arrived, he kicked the blood-soaked man in front of him to the ground.

Wu Jiuyan spat up blood again. After falling, he struggled backward in terror. "Don't come any closer! My people are right over there. If you dare come near me, the Wu Clan will never let you get away with this!"

Shen Zhou advanced step by step, his killing intent icy. "You think the Wu Clan can protect you just because you've reached the venue?"

Meanwhile.

More and more people at the venue began paying attention to them.

When the Qin Family saw Shen Zhou chasing someone down, they were all astonished.

"Th-that's the family head, isn't it? Why is he there? Who is he chasing?"

On the other side.

The Xu Family.

"Hm? What happened?"

"It looks like that Qin Family Sword Drawer. He's chasing someone."

"The Sword Drawer? Who's the one being chased?"

"Uh... He's too badly hurt. I couldn't recognize him."

The Yang Family, the Lin Family, the Chu Family... They were all asking the same questions.

Only the Wu Family knew.

The moment the Wu Family Head saw Wu Jiuyan, he stood up. Even though Wu Jiuyan was covered in blood, he was his son, and he recognized him at a glance.

The Wu Family Head immediately shouted and rushed over. "Stop!"

At the venue entrance.

Shen Zhou had already walked up to Wu Jiuyan.

Hearing the Wu Family Head's shout, hope flared in Wu Jiuyan's eyes. He turned back anxiously and called, "Father, save me!"

A cold smile tugged at Shen Zhou's lips. He grabbed Wu Jiuyan by the throat and slowly lifted him up, then spoke to him one word at a time. "No one can save you today. From the moment you hurt my brother yesterday, your fate was sealed..."

Wu Jiuyan felt death closing in and shouted in panic, "No... Don't..."

The Taixuan Sword pierced Wu Jiuyan through the heart, cutting off his words.

The tip entered through his back and came out through his chest.

Wu Jiuyan's voice stopped abruptly. He watched his father approach, his eyes fixed on the hope of survival right before him, while the sword in his chest slowly drained the life from his body.

The Wu Family Head finally arrived, only to be met by the helpless, despairing look in Wu Jiuyan's eyes.

The Wu Family Head froze on the spot.

Pfft...

Another muffled thud.

The Taixuan Sword was pulled free, spraying blood across the ground.

Shen Zhou flung Wu Jiuyan aside. His body fell limply in front of the Wu Family Head—

His eyes still open in death!