Initially, the crowd of onlookers were laughing; they felt that Zhang Zeyang was very comical and funny. When they thought of his domineering attitude, they felt extremely good.
However, when the crowd saw his increasingly miserable situation, their smiles vanished. They felt pity for this fellow. Being taught a lesson to this extent was worse than killing him.
No matter what the others said, Zhang Zeyang still kept trying to stand up. This time, he carefully placed both hands on the floor and pushed.
Zhang Zeyang braced his left leg on the floor and slowly got to his feet. He revealed an expression filled with hope as he steadily straightened his back, gradually succeeding in standing up.
The manservant at the side quickly smiled and said, âYoung Master, you have succeeded!â
Zhang Zeyang laughed carefreely. âHa ha ha! Playing with me? Damn it! If I know who was the one who did this, I will kill his entire family. Doesnât he know who is in charge in Mohe Cityâ¦â
âPa!â
Before Zhang Zeyang could finish speaking, he slammed back onto the floor, this time with even more force. The sound was very clearly audible to everyone in the restaurant.
The crowd felt their chests tighten; many people could not bear to continue looking. They closed their eyes. This was too tragic!
Kill my entire family?
Xiao Chen smiled coldly to himself. After his long absence, this group of people had already forgotten the present he left them before.
Xiao Chen walked back to his table and put down the wine flask. Then, he tossed a gold ingot on the table before jumping out the window.
The strongest cultivator present was only a peak Martial Grand Master. These people could not detect what a half-step Martial Monarch like Xiao Chen had done.
This was the difference between heaven and earth.
After four hours, the manservant sat beside Zhang Zeyang and advised, âSecond Young Master, itâs time to get up. Everyone in the restaurant has left already.â
Zhang Zeyang buried his face in the floor. He was in so much pain he had tears in his eyes. He shouted, âScram. What does an idiot like you know? You just want to humiliate this Second Young Master. Even if you kill me, I wonât get up. My face hurts, do you know that?â
In the desolate streets of Mohe City, Xiao Chen slowly headed towards Mo Fanâs smithy as he tried to recall the route there.
Just like four years ago, Mo Fanâs smithy looked extremely plain. A weather-beaten signboard hung above the door; it looked like it would fall off at any moment.
The door was left unlocked. Xiao Chen stood in front of it for a long time, recalling the scene from long ago. Many thoughts ran through his head as he looked at the Lunar Shadow Saber in his hand.
The Lunar Shadow Saber was forged here four years ago. At that time, he had spoken to a man a thousand years gone, promising not to let Ao Jiao cry.
Back then, Xiao Chen had not known who that man was; he had not known how powerful this person used to be.
Only when he completely understood did he realize how heavy that promise was. That one promise was equivalent to him accepting the Thunder Emperorâs sword.
She was Ao Jiao, a proud Sword Spirit. Even with the Thunder Emperorâs strength, he could not prevent her fall. Could Xiao Chen?
Xiao Chen had a grave expression as he sighed softly. âThe Thunder Emperor was unable to prevent the fall of the Thunder Wood Sword. Can I?
âStill so unconfident, Trashy Master?â
Xiao Chen startled before joyfully saying, âAo Jiao, you are awake already?â
He remembered Ao Jiao saying that the next time she woke up, she would have completely assimilated the Saber Spirit.
Ao Jiaoâs lips curled up within the Lunar Shadow Saber. She said softly, âI have been awake since the time you and Liu Ruyue were intimate. I even watched for a long time.â
Flabbergasted, Xiao Chen asked, âIn that case, should I be thanking you for not interrupting me?â
Ao Jiao laughed and said, âThere is no need to thank me. I have always been magnanimous. Donât just stand there. Go in!â
Xiao Chen felt helpless; he could not do anything about Ao Jiao. So, he pushed the door open and entered.
âThe shop is already closed. We are already closed for the day!â
The small shop was filled with dust. Mo Fan was limping towards a shelf, tidying up some of the weapons there.
Xiao Chen asked softly, âEven for me?â
Mo Fanâs hands paused. Then, he turned around and saw a youth in white robes and a saber at his waist. He revealed a smile and looked calmly at Xiao Chen.
âXiao Chen!â Mo Fan exclaimed joyfully after a long moment.
Xiao Chenâs appearance was now very different from how he looked four years ago. This was especially so for his aura, which was vastly different.
When ordinary people looked at Xiao Chen, they would not be able to connect him to the Xiao Clanâs Second Young Master from four years ago. The biggest proof was that no one recognized him when he entered Mohe City.
Mo Fan said ruefully, âIt really is you. You really changed a lot. If not for the Lunar Shadow Saber, I would not have recognized you.
Xiao Chen looked around the shop. When he saw the messy piles of sabers, he sighed and said, âItâs been four years and your shop has not changed at all.â
Mo Fan smiled and said, âHow much can my shop change? Come in and talk. We can chat as we drink.â
âWait a moment!â
Mo Fan asked doubtfully, âWhatâs wrong?â
Xiao Chen did not say anything. He extended a hand and a sword flew out from the weapons rack. The sword was about 1.5 meters long and three centimeters wide. It was very light and thin. When it moved in the air, it did not make any sound.
âListening to the Sword and Communicating with It!â Xiao Chen shouted and the thin sword vibrated continuously, giving off a melodious hum.
âWeng! Weng! Weng!â
In that instant, all the swords in the shop started humming. When all the swords vibrated together, the room seemed to resonate.
âGood, we can go in now.â
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and stopped. Right then, all the humming stopped and peace was restored.
Mo Fan felt it was strange. He did not know why Xiao Chen had done this.
Ao Jiao, within the Lunar Shadow Saber, clenched her fist. She said grumpily, âThis fellow is really vengeful. Unexpectedly, he did not forget what I said from four years ago.â
------
Back in Mohe City, after the incident in the restaurant, the Zhang Clanâs Clan Head, Zhang Yan, lead the clanâs elites and rushed over.
When Zhang Yan arrived, he saw the cracks on the floor and the still-prostrate Zhang Zeyang, who refused to stand up. He also saw the five men who had collapsed on the floor beside him.
Zhang Yanâs expression was very sullen as he stood at the doors. He called the manservant over and said, âTell me everything that happened, in detail.â
Unexpectedly, five Martial Grand Masters had died. A Martial Grand Master was considered an elite fighter in Mohe City. Now that five died in one go, he could not help but be in a bad mood.
The manservant detailed everything that happened. When he saw Zhang Yan going over to Zhang Zeyang to pull him up, he said anxiously, âClan Head, donât go over and speak to him now. The Young Master is in a very bad mood.â
Zhang Yan glanced at the manservant without a care. He thought to himself, I am his father. Whatâs wrong with calling him to get up?
When Zhang Zeyang heard footsteps, he immediately cried out loudly, âScram, you idiot. Did you not hear what I said? My face hurts. I do not want to get up. Who is calling me, now? I will not get up!â
Zhang Yanâs expression changed and he immediately kicked Zhang Zeyang, knocking him back.
When Zhang Zeyang saw it was Zhang Yan, he made to get up right away. However, halfway to his feet, he seemed to have remembered something scary and quickly lay back down again.
âFather, I really cannot get up now. Just ignore me. Let me lie here for a night first. If I do not lie here, I will feel very uncomfortable,â Zhang Zeyang said with a sullen expression.
Zhang Yan shouted furiously, âTrash! Drag him back. Bring back the five corpses for the Lord Emissary to take a look at as well.â
âThere is no need. I am here already.â
At some point in time, a cultivator in black robes appeared in the hall, floating down from the roof.
The black robes had many ancient patterns embroidered on it, making him look very dignified and mysterious.
When Zhang Yan saw this person, he quickly saluted him respectfully, âGreetings, Lord Emissary.â
The black-robed cultivator ignored Zhang Yan and started to examine the five corpses. When he turned them around, he discovered bloody holes in their foreheads. That was the cause of death.
The black-robed cultivator stretched out his hand and a suction force came from it. That corpseâs head started shaking left and right, like there was something stuck in it.
âXiu!â
A tiny fragment came out from the bloody hole.
The instant the fragment came out, it suddenly released a surging force. The corpseâs head instantly shattered and turned into dust.
The surrounding Zhang Clan cultivators, including Zhang Yan, were all startled, turning pale. The remnant force was unexpectedly so mighty. How strong exactly was the person who did this?
The black-robed cultivator took a look at the fragment and said in shock, âThis is a fragment of a Medial Grade Spirit Stone. The attacker is really extravagant.â
Zhang Yan asked carefully, âLord Emissary, how strong is this person?â
The black-robed man said indifferently, âProbably about Medial Grade Martial King. Donât bother about this. I will deal with it. Call all the staff of the shop over. That person must have come here. We will be able to find out who it is after some careful questioning.â
Medial Grade Martial King. Zhang Yanâs chest tightened. The Xiao Clanâs Clan Head is only an Inferior Grade Martial King. Given that this person is a Medial Grade Martial King, it would be easy for him to kill me.
Fortunately, the Lord Emissary is here. A Medial Grade Martial King would not be a problem.
------
In the backyard of Mo Fanâs smithy, Mo Fan took a sip of wine. After he heard about Xiao Chenâs problem, he sighed. âBack then, when you wrote to me to help take care of the Xiao Clan, I have always kept it in mind. However, this time, I canât help you.â
Xiao Chenâs chest tightened. Indeed, there were some hidden matters. That morning, Xiao Chen had heard from the waiter that the Xiao Clanâs Clan Head and First Elder were severely injured.
Xiao Chen had already guessed that there were some secrets behind this. So he was not in a rush to meet with Xiao Ling`er and Ye Lan; he planned to hide himself first.
Four years ago, Xiao Xiong was a Peak Martial Saint. Now that four years had passed, he would definitely be a Martial King already. Someone who could injure him would be a higher-leveled Martial King.
If it was said that the Zhang Clan had pooled their savings together to hire an Inferior Grade Martial King, that might be possible. However, it would be impossible for them to have enough to hire anyone stronger.
If the Zhang Clan could do that, they would have ruled Mohe City long ago. There would have been no need for the Promise of Ten Years.
Mo Fan continued, âTwo years ago, a sect called the Sacred Heavenly Church arrived in Qizi County. They were very strong. Your father was injured by the emissary of this sect. The Zhang Clan is also a figurehead supported by the Sacred Heavenly Church.â
Xiao Chen gently took a sip of wine. He frowned and said, âSacred Heavenly Churchâ¦where are they from? I never heard of them before.â