Chapter 15: Fratricide

Boom!

Lightning flashed.

Torrential rain poured down, pattering against the young master's tender and panic-stricken face, his survival instincts prodding him to shaky support himself upright.

At this moment, he didn't even dare to glance at Jiang Feng once more, let alone refute the evil ghost's utterances, his gaze only turning to the barely breathing Wang Qi nearby.

A ferocity slowly surfaced in his eyes, blaming his own cowardice and timidity entirely on this incompetent carriage driver.

"Damn beast, damn beast!"

"I've fed you for years, provided you well, my father even granted you a property and six plots of land! And now you, this dog, turn around to bite your master!"

"Damn thing!"

When gripped by extreme fear, one usually faces two outcomes: either overcome the inner terror and become extremely courageous, or become utterly mad. Clearly, this Mr. Xue is...

A combination of both.

Unable to muster any intention to resist against Jiang Feng, but upon seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, his true nature is revealed, directing all his rage and cowardice at others, using the person lying in the blood pool as a scapegoat.

Thump!

A fierce punch slammed into that face!

"It's your damn gaze, this look as if seeing a dog that disgusts me!"

"Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a dog to us, your father, your mother, they're dogs we picked up, and you, this dog, actually think of biting your master, huh?"

"If my father hadn't taken pity on your family of wild dogs back then, do you think you all would have survived? A stray dog cast out of an Immortal Sect, and you think you're fit to look down on me, a thing not brought up properly!"

Another heavy punch.

His actions became increasingly frenzied, mustering all his strength to punch Wang Qi's pale face, though to little effect. Despite having only a breath left, he still looked down at Xue Wuwei with disdain, like looking at livestock.

That gaze seemed to constantly remind him of the disdain in his heart, reminding him that he wasn't even worthy of a second glance from the woman he liked.

"Thinking you're superior, huh! Thinking you've done great just because you've tempered your body, huh? Do you think I didn't know about you, this dog, sneakily watching me from behind all the time?"

"Take your damn gaze back! I've tolerated you for three years! Three years!"

Although his punches were fierce, ultimately he was a young master hollowed out by debauchery; not even to mention exercising regularly, even when coming out of the Ethereal Violet Pavilion today he seemed to be floating in midair.

His feeble punches, aside from deepening Wang Qi's disdain, were utterly ineffective, the look of contempt finally driving Xue Wuwei completely insane.

Evilness born from fear, he reached to grab a large saber beside him, the heavy blade requiring both hands to lift with difficulty.

He lunged violently!

"Beast! Die for me, die now!"

Barely lifting his hand to block the saber, his arm was hacked until flesh was blurred, not giving up, he saw Wang Qi still had some strength, and he swiftly began pounding at Wang Qi's chest and abdominal wounds with his hand, invariably causing Wang Qi to scream in agony, struggling wildly, his eyes nearly bulging out of his sockets at this moment.

An intense unwillingness to give in surfaced on his face, he was unwilling to die in such a place.

Serving the Xue family was just a part of his life; having seen the power of the Immortal Sects, he no longer had any regard for trivial Qingshui County.

Aside from the high payment offered and the fact that his parents owed the Xue family favors, there was another very important reason for his initial decision to come to the Xue Mansion.

That was because the Xue family had only this single heir.

Mr. Xue naturally hoped his son would not be ordinary; all resources would only be inclined towards the only son, and hence as a protector, he could also get a share of the bounty.

Moreover, Mr. Xue was willing to exhaust family wealth to try every means to set his son on the path of cultivation, seeking out Immortal Sect masters everywhere, collecting spirit pills, all to improve his son's physique, even prepared bribes in full.

Even Wang Qi had to praise Mr. Xue for his savvy and capable nature, it's just a pity that the tiger father had a dog son; this Mr. Xue learned nothing from his father.

Thus, having some destiny with the Immortal Sects, Wang Qi naturally entered the Xue family service and waited patiently.

Waiting for Mr. Xue to bring this opportunity to his son, and in the end...

... to serve as his own bridal attire.

Under punch after punch, the already gunshot-tattered wounds worsened, and as he felt his life slowly ebbing away, he couldn't help but think: if this plan worked, if those damned Xue family wastes did a little less to court death.

If I could just get my hands on this lowest-grade Body Tempering Pill... would my future not soar to the skies?

Even if not, I should be able to cultivate like those others, right? Surely, even the beginner's Qi Cultivation would be enough to change my whole life?

The revolving lantern began to appear before his eyes, consciousness blurring; in fact, he had fully planned out how to snatch the young master's opportunity, even paving the way in advance. Once the Spirit pills arrived, he would be responsible for guiding the young master in his cultivation.

In the entire house, he was the only one who had been to the Immortal Sect. Moreover, his words were logical, every word for the young master's consideration—who could doubt him?

Just wait a few more days, wait for the Elixir and all the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to arrive, then I could take them and leave triumphantly, with my skills, who in the Xue Mansion could hold me?

Yet it was the years of plans he made that got muddled by this imbecile's arrangements, foolishly losing his own life.

And with it, losing his own life as well.

His heart was full of regret; he didn't regret the act of violence, but rather, regretted not having directly chopped off Jiang Feng's head with a blade from the start, and regretted not following him down the cliff three months ago to decapitate that little mongrel and eliminate future troubles.

Even more regret.

Why hadn't he chopped off the head of this little creature who's good for nothing but trouble.

"You... for your entire life, will..."

"Don't even think... of Cultivation, you little... beast. Keep dreaming your... beautiful dreams, delusions of marrying Lady Yan, a toad that can't recognize its own face..."

"Today... you, you won't survive either."

As if his life was flickering back, he forced his eyes wide open.

It was uncertain whether Jiang Feng did it on purpose, when he thrust the iron wire into the ground just beside Wang Qi, he casually grabbed the sharp iron wire and, with his last strength, raised it.

And fiercely stabbed it into Xue Wuwei's lower back!

"Ah!"

A scream of agony, but the eldest young master's face immediately showed madness, like a rabid dog with a wound ripped open, swinging his broadsword with all his might.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

His eyes filled with unwillingness, under normal circumstances Mr. Xue didn't need to use his hands; he could have literally kicked him to death with his feet. Unfortunately, he was now reduced to swinging the iron wire in his hand, trying to drag another soul down to the yellow springs with him.

Clang—

Finally, after countless swings, even the broadsword was thrown out of his hand by the inertia.

Staring blankly at Wang Qi, who had completely stopped breathing in front of him, Mr. Xue's face revealed a sinister smile, seemingly rejoicing over his victory against that despised cultivator.

But suddenly, fear surged in his heart.

"Urgh!"

The young master, who had never stooped to menial work, vomited on the spot.

Jiang Feng merely watched silently from the side, observing the eruption of human nature between master and servant; no matter how bloody the scene, he remained expressionless until the outcome was decided.

The corners of his mouth slightly lifted; not in satisfaction, but in mockery.

"No wonder she said the Immortal Sect isn't as wonderful as imagined."

"So ugly before even entering; what would it be like if one truly stepped inside..."