A Twist

The pill Xia Xue had taken was one Chu Xiaotian had asked her to refine a few days ago. Its purpose was to neutralize Bone-Softening Powder. Although neither of them knew exactly how the powder was made, Xia Xue was an Alchemist and had been poisoned by it herself. Analyzing its ingredients and refining an antidote had not been difficult.

Of course, whether it would actually work was another matter. As it turned out, Xia Xue had refined it successfully. After taking one pill, she recovered in only a few breaths. She struggled twice in Chu Xiaotian's arms, but when she failed to break free, she could only let him hold her.

"Brother Xiaotian, I'm sorry. I blamed you unfairly again." Lifting her head from Chu Xiaotian's embrace, Xia Xue peeked at him. Her cheeks flushed as she spoke softly and carefully. This was the second time she had wronged him, and she felt terribly embarrassed.

"This isn't your fault. You can only blame me for being too weak. If I were stronger, I could've taken them down myself instead of using good little Xiaoxue as bait. But I promise you, I won't do this again." Chu Xiaotian brushed the hair that had fallen across Xia Xue's face aside and gazed into her eyes as he spoke gently.

"Mm." Xia Xue nodded softly. She knew what had happened earlier wasn't real, but watching Chu Xiaotian turn and walk away had hurt her terribly. She never wanted to go through that again.

"All right, good little Xiaoxue, don't worry anymore. Let's go deal with those bastards who had their eyes on you." Chu Xiaotian rested his forehead against Xia Xue's and spoke softly. Then, with an arm around her slender waist, he walked toward Huang Nian and the other four.

Bone-Softening Powder worked remarkably well. After Chu Xiaotian scattered it over Huang Nian and the others, they had no chance to fight back. They collapsed to the ground, unable to move even a finger.

The people from Mad Blade Martial Hall had come out of the main hall as soon as Chu Xiaotian made his move. The moment the five lost the ability to move, the martial hall's people dragged them together like dead dogs. Of course, they hadn't simply dragged them; they'd added a few blows along the way. When Chu Xiaotian reached them, the five were already bruised and battered, glaring at him with furious eyes.

The people from Mad Blade Martial Hall were watching him too, but their eyes brimmed with gratitude. The men who had humiliated them utterly had been beaten into this state because of him, allowing them to vent their pent-up rage. Naturally, they had also buried their earlier contempt for Chu Xiaotian, when they thought he had abandoned Xia Xue.

"Everyone, stay calm. Stay calm! You were the strong ones just now, but the tables have turned. If you dare glare at me again, believe me, I'll pluck your eyeballs out." Chu Xiaotian smiled faintly at the people from Ba Dao's martial hall, then turned his gaze to the five men on the ground and spoke with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

The five had no strength to speak, so they couldn't answer Chu Xiaotian. Their anger had vanished from their eyes, replaced by threats and warnings. They were members of the Huang Family, one of the two great families in Yufeng Prefecture. If anyone dared lay a hand on them, they would pay dearly.

Truthfully, if Ba Dao and his people had been on their own, those threats and warnings might have worked. They weren't afraid to die themselves, but they wouldn't dare drag their families down with them. With Chu Xiaotian here, however, things were completely different. He was alone and had no family for the Huang Family to retaliate against. More importantly, those men had dared set their sights on Xia Xue. That was something he couldn't tolerate. Besides, having watched countless wuxia dramas in his previous life, he understood all too well that if you didn't pull up the weeds by the roots, they would grow back when the spring breeze came.

When disciples of great families were humiliated, they wouldn't leave you alone even if you spared them. Since either choice would lead to the same outcome, Chu Xiaotian saw no reason to play the good guy and invite trouble.

"Heh, you can stop glaring. I really am not afraid of you. Look, I'm even daring to step on you now." Looking at Huang Nian and the others, their eyes full of menace, Chu Xiaotian chuckled. As soon as he finished speaking, he planted a foot on Huang Nian's face and ground it in a couple of times.

Huang Nian's expression was no longer visible, but the four guards' eyes blazed with murderous intent. Chu Xiaotian had humiliated their young master so badly that only his blood could wash away the disgrace. They had already decided that the first thing they would do upon returning to the family was send someone stronger to kill this brat.

"Bloodlust—I can feel your bloodlust. Heh, but I'm not afraid. Unless you can kill me right now, you'll never get another chance." Chu Xiaotian turned to Huang Nian's four guards and spoke with complete seriousness. The four suddenly felt a chill run down their backs, and a trace of shock flashed through their eyes. They could tell that this boy, barely in his teens, wasn't joking in the slightest. If they really died at his hands, it would be an absurdly humiliating way to go.

The people from Ba Dao's martial hall watched the men who had once refused to spare them so much as a glance, now staring in fear, and couldn't help feeling a rush of satisfaction. But when they heard Chu Xiaotian truly intended to kill them, they couldn't help worrying. He was far too bold. If he killed these men, the Huang Family in Yufeng Prefecture would go berserk. When that happened, the resulting fury would be more than one or two people could bear.

"Little brother, are you really planning to kill them? That doesn't seem wise. The Huang Family is full of experts. If they fly into a rage, all of Greenwood Town could be wiped out." Ba Dao walked up to Chu Xiaotian and spoke with concern. He wasn't exaggerating. If Huang Nian really died in Greenwood Town, the Huang Family might well take their rage out on the entire town. In the eyes of those great families, only their own disciples counted as people. Small fry like them didn't even deserve to be treated as human.

"Hall Master, you should know that even if we let them go today, they won't let us go." Chu Xiaotian glanced at Ba Dao and replied calmly.

Ba Dao nodded silently. What Chu Xiaotian said was true; he knew that very well. Still, if they really killed these men, the retaliation would be severe.

"Hall Master, don't worry. I'll make sure their deaths look completely justified, and no one will suspect us. But I'll need you to get me a carriage." Seeing Ba Dao's expression, Chu Xiaotian smiled faintly. He had already planned how to handle the situation and wasn't worried about the Huang Family tracing it back to them.

Ba Dao froze, unable to figure out what Chu Xiaotian intended to do. Still, he didn't hesitate to send one of his disciples to prepare a carriage. Just as he turned to ask Chu Xiaotian what he meant, a furious shout rang out from ahead. "Brat, you want to kill us? Then die first!"

One of Huang Nian's guards had recovered. He sprang up from the ground and lunged at Chu Xiaotian. Bone-Softening Powder wasn't as powerful as Chu Xiaotian had imagined. It worked well on Body Refining cultivators, but the higher a person's realm, the weaker its effect. Because Xia Xue's cultivation was low, it had taken her a full day and night to recover. But this guard had already reached the Sea-Opening Realm, and his spiritual energy was exceptionally abundant. While Chu Xiaotian had been talking, he had refined all the powder in his body and expelled it.

Chu Xiaotian was startled, but instantly understood what had happened. He cursed himself for being careless. Then, under the astonished gazes of Ba Dao and the others, he swung a fist at the guard.

"Little brother, don't!" Ba Dao cried out as he watched Chu Xiaotian charge at an expert in the Sea-Opening Realm. At the same time, he shot forward, his long saber slashing toward the guard. He still thought Chu Xiaotian was the same boy who had been unable to cultivate. Charging at an expert in the Sea-Opening Realm was tantamount to throwing his life away. Ba Dao wanted to rush to his rescue, but he was a beat too late. Chu Xiaotian would clash with the guard before Ba Dao's attack reached him. It was an outcome he couldn't bear to see.

Boom! A deafening crash rang out, and a fierce gust blasted dust from the ground. Chu Xiaotian and the guard collided, then sprang apart. Chu Xiaotian staggered back five steps before steadying himself, and the guard also retreated five steps. A trace of shock flashed through the guard's eyes. How old was this boy, yet he had already reached the same realm as him? His talent was truly terrifying.

Chu Xiaotian had traded blows head-on with an expert in the Sea-Opening Realm and come out evenly matched. Ba Dao found it hard to accept. The first time he had met Chu Xiaotian, the boy had only been at the third level of Body Refining and couldn't even cultivate techniques. Yet after so little time, his strength had already surpassed Ba Dao's. That was a small blow to Ba Dao.

"Hall Master, don't worry about me. First, cripple the dantian of the other expert in the Sea-Opening Realm!" Chu Xiaotian didn't care what Ba Dao thought. He pointed at the other guard on the ground and spoke urgently. Before Ba Dao could respond, he charged at the guard in front of him again, swinging his fist.

"Brat, since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll grant your wish." As Chu Xiaotian charged, the guard gave a cold laugh. A long sword appeared in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a screen of sword shadows that swept toward Chu Xiaotian.

Chu Xiaotian's expression tightened. Fighting barehanded against a blade was a cardinal taboo in a duel between opponents of the same realm. He didn't think his bare hands could withstand those sword shadows. He abruptly changed course, dodged out of the guard's attack range, and appeared beside a weapon rack. He grabbed a spear and turned to thrust it at the guard.