Chapter 13 - Han Huang

Han Yun, witnessing his brother's suffering, was overcome with rage. His face flushed crimson as bloodshot veins bulged across his forehead, neck, and hands. A burning fury consumed him.

Despite Han Yun's cultivation at the peak of the Essence Refinement Realm, Han Zhen had effortlessly evaded his fatal strike. And with nothing more than a half-broken sword, he had run Han Kuan through, leaving him to choke on his own blood.

The rage inside Han Yun boiled over. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to rip Han Zhen apart with his bare hands.

With a roar filled with murderous intent, Han Yun shouted, "If you don't stop now, not only will you die, but your mother and your fiancée will be buried with you!"

His voice was venomous, each word filled with murderous intent. But Han Zhen remained unmoved. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face as he met Han Yun's gaze utterly fearless.

With a swift motion, Han Zhen yanked the shattered blade from Han Kuan's body. Blood sprayed in violent arcs, painting the ground in dark crimson.

"Ahhh!" Han Kuan's screams tore through the air, raw with agony and terror. He clawed at the dirt, his fingers digging into the blood-soaked ground as he struggled to crawl away.

"Brother… help me! Kill him! Kill him!" His voice cracked with desperation.

But Han Zhen had no intention of showing mercy. Cold and indifferent, he raised his foot and brought it down with ruthless force.

Crack!

The sound of bones shattering echoed through the air as Han Kuan's head was crushed under Han Zhen's foot. His body went limp, his struggles fading into weakness.

"Han Zhen, you leave me no choice!"

Han Zhen let out a cold chuckle.

"No choice?" he scoffed. "The Iron Sword School, my mother built it with her own hands, yet you bled it dry like a parasite. You sat back, took everything, and contributed nothing. When that wasn't enough, you forced her into a corner, demanding he hand it over to you. And now you dare act like the victim? Who's really forcing whom here? Open your eyes!"

As he spoke, Han Zhen pressed his foot down harder, grinding Han Kuan's head deeper into the cracked stone floor. The sickening crunch of breaking bone filled the air.

Han Kuan's frantic struggles slowed to weak, pitiful twitches, his muffled cries barely escaping his bloodied lips.

Han Yun's entire body trembled as he teetered on the edge of losing control. His eyes burning with murderous rage. Just as he was about to explode, a chilling voice sliced through the air like a blade.

"How dare you step on my son?"

The words carried an overwhelming pressure, heavy as a mountain, sharp as a blade. The very air shuddered, thick with an oppressive force.

Han Zhen's instincts told him to move. But before he could react,

"Zhen'er, be careful!"

A desperate cry rang out, and in a blur of motion, Han Mei surged forward, her weak frame shielding Han Zhen from the incoming force.

Boom!

The crushing power collided with Han Mei's body, sending shockwaves rippling through the hall. Her entire form trembled violently under the sheer weight of the attack.

"Mother!" Han Zhen's eyes widened in horror as he rushed forward, barely catching his mother before she collapsed.

This wasn't how things were supposed to unfold. He had planned to use Han Kuan as leverage to turn the tides, but he hadn't expected his mother to return at this moment, let alone take such a devastating blow in his place.

Before he could gather his thoughts, a swift figure descended from the sky.

"Aunt Han!" Jin Shuiyue landed, her movements fluid as a falling petal.

Without hesitation, she unsheathed her sword, stepping protectively in front of Han Mei and Han Zhen.

Han Mei, though visibly weakened, gently pushed Han Zhen's supporting hand aside. Her breath was uneven, and blood still trickled from the corner of her lips, yet her stance remained firm.

"Shuiyue, put your sword away. I will handle this matter," she said.

Jin Shuiyue hesitated, her grip tightening on the hilt of her blade. Her sharp eyes flickered with concern, but she knew better than to defy Han Mei's command.

With a quiet exhale, she sheathed her sword, stepping back, though her posture remained tense, ready to act at a moment's notice.

Han Mei turned her steady gaze toward the newcomer, Han Huang, one of her elder siblings from the main family.

"You know what's at stake," She said. "If you insist on taking this further, I won't hesitate to hand over the Iron Sword Hall to the Mayor's mansion in Sunreach City. If that's the path you want to walk, so be it. But think carefully, you understand the consequences."

Hearing her words, Han Huang's smirk faltered ever so slightly. He had coveted the Iron Sword school for years, seeing it as a crucial step toward securing control over the family, including the key to the demon-sealing burial grounds.

But if Han Mei truly relinquished the hall to the Mayor's mansion, all of Han Huang's carefully laid plans would crumble.

A flicker of frustration crossed his face, but he quickly masked it. Clenching his fists, he fought back the surge of anger rising within him.

Then, after a brief silence, a sly glint flashed in his eyes, and a cold smile tugged at his lips.

"Han Mei," he sneered, "I remember clearly what the patriarch proposed. He suggested that our sons compete, whoever wins takes control of the Iron Sword school. If your son wins, the main family will no longer meddle in its affairs. But back then, you rejected the idea outright, claiming Han Zhen couldn't even cultivate."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing with a mocking chuckle.

"And yet, here we are, and I see that your so-called 'useless' son is far from weak. So, what do you say? Shall we finally settle this?"

"That was merely the patriarch's suggestion…," She said quietly.

Han Huang let out a mocking laugh. "What's wrong? Are you afraid? Don't tell me you fear that your 'worthless' son will lose to mine?"

His eyes gleamed with malicious delight as continued. "If you lack the courage to accept, I can always send word to the main family. The patriarch will gladly write a formal decree, ensuring the competition takes place whether you like it or not!"

Before Han Mei could respond, another voice cut through the air.

"There's no need for that."

All eyes turned to Han Zhen, who stepped forward.

"I accept the challenge."