A loud âbang!â sound echoed as a man broke down the door and entered. It was that Su Wen Again.
âMiss, are you alright?â Su Wen dashed forward, his eyes fixed on Su Yinxueâs body. The anxiousness on his face eased when he saw Su Yinxue sitting there peacefully with no harm done. He then looked at Qin Yu icily.
âQin Yu, the former genius of Luosang Cityâs Qin Family. Your cultivation was crippled and you had turned into a waste, then somehow managed to miraculously recover......â Su Wen stared at Qin Yu. He seemed to be talking to him, but it was closer to him talking to himself.
Qin Yu and Su Wen stared at each other, neither avoiding the otherâs gaze. Qin Yuâs lips curled as he listened to Su Wen finish, âIt seems youâve investigated me earlier.â
âI didnât think that you would be so famous in Luosang City. I only had to ask a few questions to know a lot.â
Today had many cultivators that came from Luosang City. Just by asking around, he could find a lot about Qin Yu.
After Su Wen finished speaking, he suddenly changed the topic. His tone became harsh and cold, âQin Yu, I donât care about what gratitudes and grudges you have against the Qin Family. Thatâs your Qin Familyâs internal business that my Su Family wonât take any part in. You know what I mean, right?â
âYouâre afraid Iâll implicate you guys?â Qin Yuâs tone held a trace of contempt, âAre you guys afraid of the Qin Family?â
âRight now in the southwest, thereâs very few families who arenât afraid of the Qin Family.â Su Wenâs words started Qin Yu, causing a trace of doubt to appear on his face.
The Qin Family had so much power? From what he saw, it didnât seem that strong?
In Luosang City, the Qin Family was one of the big four powers, but wasnât the strongest out of the four. The Qin Family might have a little weight in Luosang City, but in Bao Ding City, the Su family was the local power. But why did it still fear a small power in the far away Luosang City? It just didnât make sense.
Seeing Qin Yuâs confusion, Su Wen continued: âI heard you havenât been to Luosang City for more than a year, so you probably donât know about the Qin Familyâs situation.â
âWhat situation is the Qin Family in?â Qin Yu raised his eyebrows, asking curiously.
âHalf a year ago, the Grand Elder of the Qin Family had broken through the shackles of Transformation Realm and became a Spirit Realm master. His breakthrough changed the power balance in Luosang City, becoming the greatest force in Luosang City and a super-power in the south west.â
Su Wen still hadnât finished when Qin Yu interrupted him.
âDid you just say, a spirit realm master?â
Qin Yuâs heart shook as he suddenly understood. It was no wonder they had suddenly became so arrogant and unbridled, dared to kill with Su Yinxue present, and dared to leave saying that he would extinguish both the Su Family and Qin Yu in three dayâs time. After all, itâs always been said that when a man achieves the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to heaven too. [1. Idiom on riding on somebody elseâs success.]
In the tiny nation of Qiongxi Country, a spirit realm cultivator was undoubtedly a tremendous and rare force. There were tens of millions of cultivators, but those who can reach spirit realm may only be a hundred in an entire country. In the remote and rural southwest, spirit realm masters were even rarer. There were only five cultivators at Qin Yuandaoâs level in Qiongxi Country. Naturally, this did not include the secluded experts hiding in sects.
It could be said that in the southwest, any family that produces a spirit realm master would immediately be considered a super power. Apart from sects, there were no other forces that dared to provoke them.
It would be crazy if the Su Family wasnât worried about the Qin Familyâs retaliation due to Qin Yuâs provocation.
Qin Yu himself could just walk away and hide without a problem, but what about their Su Family? How could several hundred people just disappear like that?
What was even worse, was that the Su Familyâs Master had brought out all of the sectâs top experts last month to handle something. They still have not returned, leaving everything on Su Wenâs shoulders.
Su Wenâs current thought was that perhaps if Qin Yu was captured, they could hand over Qin Yu when the Qin Family came so they hopefully would not vent their anger on his Su Family.
âYou should know why my Su Family fears the Qin Family now, right?â Su Wenâs eyes stared sharply at the shocked Qin Yu, his tone cold.
âHumpth.â Qin Yu snorted and slowly turned away, his voice calm: âDonât worry, I wonât drag in your Su Family. Iâm leaving.â
âGo?â Su Wen snorted coldly, âIf you leave, wouldnât my Su family have to bear the Qin Familyâs wrath alone?â
âThen what do you want to do?â Qin Yuâs face darkened.
âNothing, I just want you to stay at my Su Family for a few days and go with the Qin Family when they come to prevent their rage from being casted onto my Su Family. In any case, you are one of them so they presumably wonât be too harsh on you. If you recognize your mistake, they may just forgive you.â Su Wenâs face was indifferent as he stared coldly at Qin Yu.
âUncle Wen, what are you saying?! You absolutely cannot do that!â Su Yinxue suddenly stood up, shouting as she faced Su Wen: âItâs not like you didnât see the situation just now. The Qin Family clearly wants to kill him as soon as possible. If you make him turn himself in, he would definitely die!â
âMiss, for the sake of the Su Familyâs several hundred lives, I have no choice but to do this. Please understand.â Su Wen persisted.
âI wonât allow you to do that, itâs just too wrong. If somebody needs to take responsibility for todayâs incident, it should be me. It has nothing to do with Sir Qin.â Su Yinxue dashed in front of Qin Yu and shouted at Su Wen strictly. Her actions couldnât help but make Qin Yu feel a bit touched.
âIf it wasnât for my opposition tonight with the lyrics, Sir Qin wouldnât have had to appear tonight and neither would the incident have happened.â
Her words made Qin Yu feel even more moved. She was forcefully bringing all the responsibility onto herself; such a woman was truly rare.
However, Su Wen was vexed. âMiss, how could this be blamed on you? Every Lantern Festival [1. 15th of first month of lunar calendar] is suppose to be spent guessing lines of poetry whilst admiring the lights. Itâs what always happens normally. If it wasnât for his appearance, everyone wouldâve still been happily solving the riddle and admiring the lanterns. Because of him, everything changed. He caused my entire Su Family to fall into a crisis, and this responsibility must naturally be his to bear.â
âUncle Wen, donât say anymore. I absolutely wonât let you guys do this.â Su Yinxueâs tone was firm, without the least bit of leeway.
Su Wen knew his ladyâs character. If she chose to be stubborn, not even the Family Head could make her change her mind.
âMiss, I am also thinking for the entire Su Family, the lives of several hundred people. Donât tell me you really have the heart to let them all suffer a violent death because of this youngster? The lives of several hundred people in the Su Family are of lesser importance than this one stranger?â Su Wen tried to persuade her.
Su Yinxue shook her head and sighed, âUncle Wen, if the Qin Family really dispatches troops, do you think theyâll actually let us go just because we handed Qin Yu over?â
âThis......â Su Wen hesitated, momentarily not knowing what to say.
After mixing in the cultivation world for so long, he knew just how cruel it was. The weak was prey to the strong and any reason was enough for the strong to attack the weak. Even if he gave Qin Yu to them for what happened tonight, their fury probably would not be sated with just that. After all, Qin Zhao did die on their Su Familyâs grounds.
Moreover, the Qin Family would have mustered their forces and travelled a long way to here. They wouldnât go back empty handed. Destroying a clan and stealing away all their resources for themselves was something strong powers have always done, especially now when the Qin Family desperately needed resources.
The Qin Family didnât become a superpower by slowly climbing up and accumulating resources, but because of Qin Yuandaoâs existence. With the swift rise in status, comes a need to immediately increase their familyâs cultivation which required an enormous amount of cultivation resources. So now that they had a reason to act, they absolutely would not be polite. In Luosang City, the Qin Family had already used this very same method to destroy a few smaller families.
Meaning, everything wonât be solved if they just handed over Qin Yu.
......
âFurthermore, even if we survive by using such a despicable method like selling out others, how will we be able to live peacefully with a clear conscience?â Su Yinxue continued to persuade Su Wen sternly.
Su Wen sighed as he listened to Su Yinxue. A trace of helplessness was visible in his voice as he turned to Qin Yu, âFor the sake of the Young Miss, you may leave.â
âI wonât leave.â Qin Yuâs voice was firm, âI wonât leave until three days later. If the Qin Family doesnât come three days after, Iâll leave immediately. If the Qin Family does come, Iâll sow what I reap and those that I killed, I will take responsibility for. If something happens, Iâll shoulder it.â
His voice was bold, startling Su Wen and Su Yinxue.
Su Yinxue quickly recovered from her surprise, a bright smile on her face: âSir Qin, we thank you for your good intentions but itâs better for you to go. Tonightâs events is for our Su Family to bear, not you. Furthermore, the Qin Family might not actually travel so far to Bao Ding City. Qin Laiâs words earlier couldâve just been some big talk.â
Su Wenâs heart was anxious as he listened to Su Yinxueâs words. Wasnât it good that Qin Yu would stay voluntarily? Itâs exactly what they wanted, so why are you still trying to get him to leave?
âMiss, since Mr. Qin has the intention to stay, then-â Su Wen couldnât even finish his sentence before being stopped by Su Yinxueâs cold glare.
âUncle Wen, thereâs no need to say anymore. Iâve already decided. Father isnât here, so I am the master.â Su Yinxueâs tone was firm and decisive, with a dignified air.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Qin Yu was very surprised. He looked at the beautiful young girl in front of him, his heart filled with questions. Was she really just a maiden in her teens? Her decisiveness and imposing aura was truly rare.
Su Yinxueâs actions caused him to think about himself. Wasnât he too also in his teens? But he was......
Could Su Yinxueâs soul really be her? Or at least a part of it was herâs...
Qin Yu thought and eventually believed it was possible. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain why she was so kind and protective to a stranger like him.
Maybe, deep in her soul, she felt something towards him.
Qin Yu pondered in his heart like that and came to a decision. No matter what, he would protect Su Yinxue.
âSir Qin, I apologise for what happened tonight. You should leave and perhaps if we have the opportunity again in the future, Iâd like to continue discussing verses with you.â Su Yinxue turned to face Qin Yu, her tone apologetic.
Qin Yu nodded, âMiss Yinxue, I appreciate your kindness. Farewell, may we see each other again soon.â
âEn, alright. Good bye.â Su Ting smiled slightly. Her beautiful smile was enough to cause the downfall of a country.
After Qin Yu said his farewells, he left the Su Family courtyards.
Su Wenâs lips curved into a strange sneer as he watched Qin Yuâs figure leave the Su Family gates, slowly disappearing into the distance. He was just about to return inside when his footsteps suddenly halted. He stared into the distance, his eyes flashing sharply.
Just now, there seemed to be a shadowy figure chasing in Qin Yuâs direction.
Does somebody else want to kill Qin Yu?
He stood there, hesitating for a while. Perhaps it was out of curiosity, or maybe it was with another purpose, but with a swing of his sleeve, he also turned into a black beam travelling swiftly in Qin Yuâs direction.