Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 164 - 155: The Gallbladder Bursts

Xiao Ruyu followed Li Xuanfeng and was also overcome with excitement. As a man of pure heart, witnessing the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of ordinary people, he had been suppressing a sense of indignation with nowhere to vent. He gritted his teeth and said,

"Brother Xuanfeng, those from the Tang Jin Sect are merely Qi Cultivators, and the youngest in charge is just a little Cultivator in the Fetal Breathing Realm, mere bait thrown out by the Tang Jin Sect and the Green Pond Sect! There are likely more than ten Foundation Establishments following them, they won't make a move until they nab a few big Foundation Establishment fish... We're just Qi Cultivators, but if we plan this correctly... we might also make them pay a price."

Although Li Xuanfeng was furious, he hadn't lost his reason. He spoke softly,

"Rest assured, Brother Ruyu, I am confident. Don't mention that young master who's just in Fetal Breathing; even a Qi Cultivator won't escape this time. I will make sure he dies an obscure and disgraceful death, serving as a bit of interest collected."

Xiao Ruyu glanced at the Jin Geng Longbow behind him and had some guesses. He patted the embroidered pouch around his waist, producing two pale blue talismans, and whispered,

"I have two Xuan Yuan escape talismans here, best for fleeing; they are a card up our sleeve to preserve our lives. As long as Brother Xuanfeng can ensure a fatal blow, we shall head west immediately, leaving no trace."

"Thank you, Brother Ruyu."

Li Xuanfeng accepted a talisman and felt even more confident. He then heard Xiao Ruyu say fiercely,

"If this works, we could at least comfort the souls of the tens of thousands below... It would ease my constant guilt. If it doesn't, we'll flee immediately, without risk to ourselves. Revenge doesn't need to be exacted today..."

"Don't worry, Brother Ruyu, Xuanfeng won't act rashly."

Li Xuanfeng shook his head, his hatred for the Green Pond Sect and the Tang Jin Sect reaching new heights. He clenched his teeth and said,

"This time, it's just to let off steam for the elders and wives at home. Hatred and resentment will not vanish into nothingness. We have long days ahead of us."

No sooner had he spoken than a group of people appeared on the horizon, each clad in golden robes and carrying various swords on their backs, unmistakably people from the Tang Jin Sect.

At the highest point was a boy about twelve or thirteen years old, conjuring a blood-red long sword from which a massive amount of red sword light burst forth. Thousands of red beams danced agilely in the air, each finding its mark on the ground.

Surrounding them, a circle of Qi Cultivators stared greedily down at the town below, clearly another gruesome scene of death and destruction.

Li Xuanfeng narrowed his eyes and observed for a moment before settling on a mountaintop. He took a step forward, drew his left hand across the bowstring, and held the bow with his right, his fierce eyes glaring without an arrow nocked. There was not even a glint of mana on the bow, plain and unassuming as though he were hunting for a mere hare.

"Whoosh."

There was only the sound of the bowstring cutting through the air around them, and a gentle wind passed through the mountains, bringing down two broken leaves. Li Xuanfeng lowered his bow, a large part of the gloominess in his expression dissipating as he spoke softly,

"That man is dead. Let's go quickly."

Xiao Ruyu, not understanding the situation, looked at him. They both activated their talismans and turned into two streaks of blue light, speeding off to the west like the wind.

————

"Wan'er, what's the matter?"

"Nothing."

Ning Wan frowned slightly, hidden in the sky, looking at the Tang Jin Sect's young master with a delighted expression and feeling somewhat conflicted.

As a disciple of the Moon Lake Peak and with Li Xia County being her duty to protect, she was now witnessing it being sold to the Tang Jin Sect for slaughter. This act put her in an awkward position and made her feel reluctant, yet she had no choice but to follow the Sect's orders from the sky, ready to suppress any Foundation Establishment that emerged.

She was not an old-fashioned person, nor was she like those naive and ignorant Sect disciples. If she had to choose between sustaining the Green Pond Sect and the lives of tens of thousands of ordinary people, Ning Wan would not hesitate to choose to uphold the Sect. But to allow others to massacre her subjects simply to eliminate a possibility seemed to Ning Wan to be greatly unjustified.

Having broken through to Foundation Establishment over a decade ago, she was the youngest next to Li Chijin in the Green Pond Sect and also possessed the deepest cultivation of spirit among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators hiding nearby. She clearly saw the arrow intent aimed straight for Situ You's head but watched coldly, not lifting a finger, with a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes.

"Such profound intent could only come from a seasoned Foundation Establishment Cultivator or a Zifu Immortal Cultivator, yet not tinged with even a hint of mana. He doesn't want to tarnish the reputations of both parties but intends to discipline this fellow. Let him be... If he dies, the plan won't be affected..."

After all, Ning Wan held no fondness in her heart for this individual. With such cruelty and viciousness at the young age of twelve or thirteen, he slaughtered the residents of her Moon Lake Peak. Although bound by the Sect's rules and unable to intervene, Ning Wan relished in the prospect of him dropping dead.

She looked around and noticed several late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators pondering deeply, seemingly aware of something, but none of them were willing to offend an unknown Foundation Establishment or even Zifu Cultivator for the sake of an unfamiliar Fetal Breathing practitioner. Even the Tang Jin Sect's disciples watched coldly, while Ning Wan secretly chuckled to herself.

Down below, Situ You suddenly groaned, and the surrounding circle of Qi Cultivators hastily turned to look at him. Situ You gestured with his hands, his mouth mumbling in confusion,

"How strange, why is there such bitterness in my mouth."

With growing panic, Situ You shook his head, finding the taste growing ever more bitter, and called out,

"Someone check the magic artifact, I seem to have an issue."

Immediately, someone came forward to take the long sword, and just as Situ You's hands left the artifact, panic surged within him. He dipped his finger into his mouth, only to find a yellow liquid coating his fingertips.

"This is... bile?! Not good!"

Situ You suddenly cried out, his chest swelling as if it were filled with air, and he collapsed on the ground, wheezing and calling out:

"Ow!"

"Ancestor! Save me!! I—"

No sooner had he spoken than his body expanded like a balloon. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators above all cast their Spiritual Sense over, but not a single one revealed themselves to help. They simply watched as he exploded like a balloon.

"Bang!"

Flesh and bone splattered, covering the nearby Qi Cultivators in blood. The crowd dumbly watched the mist of blood in the air, cluelessly wiping the blood off their faces. Among them, a Qi Cultivator wielding a Magic Artifact opened their mouth as if to shout something but instead heard a cold voice:

"Continue!"

No one dared to slack off; they all lowered their heads and used spells to clean the bloodstains from their bodies, acting as if nothing had happened and busying themselves with their Magic Artifacts.

Only the bone fragments of Situ You were left, with a Talisman that marked his enemy flying up, but it found no trace of Mana and aimlessly turned in place before vanishing into thin air.

"Such a prominent young master... His death is quite a pathetic one."

A nearby Qi Cultivator silently recited in his heart and shuddered within, pondering:

"I had thought that although this young master was born of a concubine, he was profound and astute, clever and quick-witted, also endowed with a Spirit Aperture. It would have been good to follow him, but to think he would die like this outside, the future seems difficult."

————

Xiao Ruyu and Li Xuanfeng stopped on a mountain. Li Xuanfeng said in a muffled voice:

"He's dead, but it was just an outlet for anger... It's meaningless. In the end, we are the incompetent ones."

Although Xiao Ruyu did not understand how he had killed the son of Tang Jin Sect, his heart also felt desolate as he replied:

"This was always a confusing matter. Who isn't guilty when you get down to it? You and I only killed the apparent instigators of the disaster. The people behind them continue with their Magic Artifacts, slaughtering; they're not something you and I can withstand."

Li Xuanfeng had no desire to talk further. Their exchange had not lasted more than a little over two hours. He cupped his fist and said:

"Xuanfeng still needs to gather the remains. Now is not the time for lengthy discussions with brother Ruyu."

Xiao Ruyu quickly returned the gesture, watching Li Xuanfeng depart. After a long moment, he turned to Xiao Yongling behind him and said:

"Uncle..."

"Have you... had your fun?"

Once Li Xuanfeng had left, Xiao Yongling revealed himself and watched Xiao Ruyu intently, saying in a low voice:

"You managed to escape only because you exploited a loophole between the two Sects. Don't do such dangerous things again."

He had clearly followed the two discreetly. The Xiao Family's Cultivation Technique was gentle and excelled at concealment, hence not being noticed by the two.

Xiao Ruyu felt that the people from both Sects had no idea how the young master had died, but still, he didn't contradict his elder and said softly:

"Ruyu will remember."

Xiao Yongling then nodded his head, looked in the direction where Li Xuanfeng had gone, and said softly:

"Li Xuanfeng is not foolish. He has a brave heart, which is innate. It can make him succeed, but it can also lead to his death. Today's event ended thanks to his miraculous Archery Technique, but if one day he falls victim to others, it will certainly be by exploiting his courage."

Xiao Ruyu also regarded Li Xuanfeng as a true friend. Unwilling to accept this thought, he shook his head. Xiao Yongling glared at him and cautioned:

"The same goes for your innocence... Although you're not foolish, with a lifespan of several hundred years, if your character is too obvious, sooner or later you'll be harmed by others!"

Hearing this, Xiao Ruyu laughed out loud and replied respectfully:

"In my humble opinion, this world is naturally diverse. If everyone were cautious and calculating, seeking benefits and avoiding harm, life would lose its meaning!"

"You child!"

Xiao Yongling was instantly amused. He patted Xiao Ruyu's head and murmured tenderly:

"As your elder, all I wish is for you to live well... I'm not forcing you..."