Chapter Eighty-Five: Triumph Without Battle

"It's over. This time, it's truly over." Although the invading enemies had all been slain, not a trace of relief graced Master Xiao’s plump face. He gazed at the cracked houses in the front courtyard, the pitted earth, and the main gate, from which dust continued to drift down. With a voice tinged with despair, he murmured to himself.

It was little wonder he felt this way. Gongsun Feng had come to avenge the young scoundrel Gongsun Tong, and had made it clear that he was the son of the Prefect. Now, not only was he dead, but two immortal cultivators had also perished in the Xiao household. The consequences were all too obvious.

Xiao Yu’er, too, was uneasy, though she maintained her composure far better than her parents. She slipped from her mother’s grasp and hurried to Chu Xiner’s side. “Sister, you’re amazing. Would you take me as your disciple?”

As she spoke, Xiao Yu’er stole glances at Xiao Wenzi who stood nearby, her bright eyes flickering with thoughts unknown.

“Yu’er, you’re too kind. My cultivation is unworthy of teaching others, but if you wish to join an immortal sect, I can recommend you.” Chu Xiner replied with a gentle smile as she collected the blood of Senior Brother Wu.

The Greenleaf Sect only cared for talent when accepting disciples. Since Xiao Yu’er could cultivate, she clearly possessed a spiritual root. With her leading the way, there should be no obstacle to her joining Greenleaf Sect.

As for the consequences of slaying Gongsun Feng and his two companions, Chu Xiner was unconcerned. Greenleaf Sect ranked among the most powerful in the southern prefecture; what did it matter if the other party came from Fallen Feather Sect? As long as she returned to Misty Marsh and entered Greenleaf Sect, no one would dare trouble Xiao Yu’er.

Naturally, she herself could not stay. She could ask Senior Sister Hong to look after Xiao Yu’er. As long as the killer herself vanished, there would be no grounds for anyone to confront Greenleaf Sect.

“Thank you, Sister. Let me help you.” Relief finally settled in Xiao Yu’er’s heart. She helped lift Senior Brother Wu’s body, making it easier for Chu Xiner to gather the blood.

Working in tandem, the two girls soon filled four or five vials. Xiao Wenzi watched with delight; if the late Senior Brother Wu’s spiritual root was not too deficient, the energy within this blood should be enough for him to break through to the seventh layer.

The stronger a cultivator’s power, the slower their blood coagulates, and the longer it can be preserved in jade vials. However, there was a limit to the amount of blood any one person possessed. Wu’s wounds were numerous, and by the sixth vial, the flow had slowed to a trickle.

At that moment, a commotion arose outside the Xiao household—the thunder of hooves drawing ever closer.

“The Prefect has arrived with the city guards. The Xiao family is doomed…”

“And that scoundrel Young Master Tong is with them. Even Miss Yu’er will not escape…”

Though the bystanders spoke in hushed tones, Xiao Wenzi heard every word clearly. His heart stirred, and he hastened to extend his demonic senses beyond the gates.

There, at the end of the street, a column of riders thundered forth. At their head, a middle-aged man wore a furious scowl, while beside him, the dissolute Gongsun Tong’s expression shifted between rage and fear.

Behind father and son trailed hundreds of soldiers, armor gleaming, bows, crossbows, and spears reflecting a cold, threatening light.

Chu Xiner saw this as well. Her beautiful features were grave. Though none among the new arrivals were cultivators, she had only just expended much of her spiritual energy.

Her remaining cultivation was meager. Against hundreds of well-armed soldiers, even if she stood still and let them attack, she would struggle. If they fired their arrows without warning or reason, she would not be able to withstand it; injury or death was almost inevitable.

Fortunately, Xiao Wenzi’s voice sounded in her mind: “Mistress, do not worry. I will deal with the old man and his son. Once they fall, this rabble will scatter without a fight.”

First capture the leader to break the enemy’s spirit—Xiao Wenzi, well-versed in the ancient military strategies of Huaxia, sent this message to Chu Xiner, then spread his wings and, in a flash of grey, darted out toward the gates.

Pausing above the ruined gatehouse, he exchanged for a few drops of demon spirit dew and swallowed them. He then activated an invisibility talisman.

Since reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, ordinary low- or mid-grade demon spirit dew could no longer instantly replenish his spent energy, but with plenty of system coins in reserve, seven or eight drops were enough to restore him to his peak.

With his power restored and the talisman concealing him, Xiao Wenzi glided soundlessly toward the middle-aged man reigning in his warhorse nearby.

Tian’nan City was home to millions and sprawled far and wide. Even riding hard, it took the Prefect’s retinue the time of an incense stick to reach the Xiao estate. Thus, by the time Gongsun Feng and the others died en route through the clouds, Gongsun Yang and his son were still on the way.

The Gongsun family had been in charge of Tian’nan for half a year. Though little loved, they still had loyal followers, and news of the events at the Xiao household quickly reached Gongsun Yang.

Hearing that his son Gongsun Feng and the two senior brothers had all perished, Gongsun Yang at first refused to believe it. When it was confirmed, his rage was uncontrollable. He immediately summoned the nearest city guards to avenge his son.

Now, standing before the Xiao family gate, he had yet to see his son’s corpse, but the ominous silence already told him all he needed to know. His face clouded as he barked, “Crossbowmen, prepare! The rest of you, surround the estate—let no one escape—”

Suddenly, his voice broke off midsentence. Eyes wide with disbelief, he looked down to find blood spurting from his throat and a monstrous mosquito, ten times larger than any ordinary one, perched upon him. He could not fathom how it had appeared so silently by his side, or how it had so easily slit his throat with its forelegs.

As he died, Gongsun Yang clutched his neck, emitting a strangled gurgling, as if trying to say something, but only bloody froth spilled from his lips and no words escaped.

Xiao Wenzi, having ambushed and slain Gongsun Yang, wasted not a moment striking a fatal blow at Gongsun Tong.

With a sickening squelch and startled cries from the soldiers, Gongsun Tong’s brow was pierced by a razor-sharp wing, and he tumbled from his horse like a sack of grain.

“A demon! A demon is killing! Run!”

“Flee—!”

As the saying goes, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. With Gongsun Yang and his son slain in an instant, chaos erupted among the city guards. Fear spread like wildfire, and at a single shout, hundreds broke ranks and fled in all directions.

From start to finish, none realized that the voice that had thundered in their ears belonged to the very mosquito that had slain the Prefect.

Swiftly destroying the enemy commander, then sowing terror with a sound attack—thus did Xiao Wenzi dissolve a deadly crisis with ease.

Watching the once-fearsome enemy now turning tail and fleeing, Chu Xiner, having just finished collecting the blood, finally let out a long breath. She had truly feared they would fight to the death.

But now, with time to meditate and restore her strength, she no longer feared any number of ordinary soldiers.

Even so, Tian’nan City was garrisoned by a great army, and delay might yet bring trouble. It was best to restore her cultivation as soon as possible and leave with Xiao Yu’er without further delay.