System's Super Sect-Chapter 581 - 578. The Silver Level Chief subdued by the Flying Sword
Cangwu City.
Tonight, Cangwu City is engulfed in a quietude it doesn’t favor, with the streets nearly deserted except for the few newcomers to the city.
In this world where body refinement allows one to sleep only once every few days, such a desolate night scene is exceptionally rare.
Simultaneously, Lu Ming returned to the inn with Xia Jin’s corpse, and those who accompanied him seemed like avengers holding back their rage, ready to explode at any moment.
"Old Lu, are we really just letting this go?"
"We should retaliate directly and show them our might. Do they really think the Immortal Sect is extraordinary for accomplishing just a couple of notable feats?"
A few attempted to vent their discontent.
Lu Ming listened as he hauled Xia Jin upstairs to a guest room, suddenly halting in mockery, "Let it go? No, it’s just beginning..."
When can vengeance be considered settled?
He believed that Lord Situ Xiuneng wouldn’t be one to leave grudges unpaid.
Having said that, Lu Ming continued to ascend the stairs, but after just two steps, Situ Xiuneng’s voice came from the doorway, "If you wish to court death, I certainly won’t stop you."
Lu Ming’s expression changed, and his steps halted.
Those who had been venting their discontent hastily stood to the side, lowered their heads, resembling children who had made mistakes.
They knew Situ Xiuneng heard their earlier words.
"Lu Ming, it seems following me all these years has made you rise too fast for clear thinking," Situ Xiuneng said coldly, delivering words that made Lu Ming’s heart anxious.
Lu Ming hurriedly replied, "My lord, Lu Ming knows his mistake."
What must come eventually comes.
He couldn’t escape a scolding for his secret dealings to help Xia Jin.
Now the situation has escalated beyond simple reprimand.
Fortunately, he could endure any punishment.
"Mistake?" Situ Xiuneng snorted coldly, "No, you haven’t erred. I did. Over the years, you’ve done much for me, and I thought you could handle great responsibilities, perhaps gaining a higher position to aid me further... Unexpectedly, you’re so unfit for duty."
At this moment, Situ Xiuneng felt profound disappointment.
An unprecedented disappointment in Lu Ming.
He hadn’t anticipated Lu Ming would be controlled by desire, tempted by power.
Stirring Bainian Xiang at the base of the Immortal Sect, knowing it’s impossible yet yearning for Xia Jin’s backing, leads to such foolishness.
Today’s humiliation and inner displeasure were secondary.
Xia Jin’s death and grief were also secondary.
Lu Ming’s disappointment was the real pain.
What compares to realizing someone cultivated for decades is a failure unfit for great tasks? 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Upon hearing Situ Xiuneng’s forlorn words, Lu Ming’s face was overtaken by fear, more terrifying than any scolding or punishment, "My lord, I was wrong... I acted foolishly."
Situ Xiuneng smiled indifferently, "Foolishly? This momentary folly bears a great cost."
"My lord... I’m also unclear how this happened so suddenly."
Lu Ming panicked, utterly panicked.
He had no idea what to say.
Justify?
It’s useless.
Admit?
He refused to admit being unfit for duty.
Situ Xiuneng raised his hand to stop Lu Ming’s words, "Once we return, go back to the Lu Family, no longer with me."
"My lord—"
Lu Ming was dumbfounded.
Situ Xiuneng outright discarded him.
Situ Xiuneng continued coldly, "Place Xia Jin’s corpse properly and then come to my room."
He then scanned those around.
"If you don’t want to die, don’t go out... The Heaven and Earth Lake’s Mountain Suppression Realm isn’t few, nor many."
Implying he wouldn’t avenge their deaths.
Replacements were always available!
The crowd hastily nodded, witnessing Lu Ming’s outcome, losing the flame they held moments ago, silently vowing—not to leave without reason!
The sense of humiliation and indignation vanished completely at this point.
Situ Xiuneng, having ascended, stood as usual by the window gazing toward Yunlan Mountain.
This time, he faced more questions.
Questions that intrigued.
Questions that compelled him to choose restraint this time.
Knock knock!
A knock resounded.
Upon Situ Xiuneng’s consent, Lu Ming entered, looking forlorn. Clearly, returning to the Lu Family and not following him had left Lu Ming utterly disheartened.
However, he was indifferent to Lu Ming’s thoughts.
Because not every mistake can be forgiven.
Immediately asked: "How did Xia Jin and Hei Wen die?"
Hearing Situ Xiuneng’s question, Lu Ming, despite looking ashen-faced, still truthfully recounted the situation at the time, "They were killed by a white streak. That white streak suddenly appeared, pierced Hei Wen in the air, and killed with one strike. After we landed, it suddenly returned and killed Xia Jin. That white streak was very fast, and I had no time to react at all. In an instant, it killed Xia Jin and then disappeared."
Upon saying this, Lu Ming suddenly felt a surge of anger.
He guessed that Situ Xiuneng definitely wouldn’t believe him.
To be honest, if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t believe it either.
Situ Xiuneng nodded slightly, his movements small, as an image of Wen Ping’s sword transforming into a white streak and flying out crossed his mind, and his face took on a thoughtful expression.
Then it turned to admiration.
"There’s actually such a terrifying swordsmanship in this world."
"Swordsmanship?"
Lu Ming was taken aback, not quite understanding what Situ Xiuneng meant.
Situ Xiuneng glanced at Lu Ming, who was completely unaware, and said gravely, "That white streak is a sword, which flew out from the Immortal Sect Leader Wen Ping’s hand."
"A sword!"
Lu Ming exclaimed softly.
"I saw him use it with my own eyes... I didn’t think much of it, who knew it would cause such a grave mistake." A trace of self-blame slipped through Situ Xiuneng’s heart; had he not watched that sword transform into a white streak and ignored it, Xia Jin would definitely not have died.
At this moment, Lu Ming was filled with surprise, his face overtaken by disbelief, suddenly forgetting that he was about to be sent back to the Lu family, urgently asked, "Sir, was it really a sword?"
A sword that killed Hei Wen from twenty or thirty miles away.
And then it could return and kill Xia Jin as well?
How is that possible?
According to the Hundred Sects Alliance records, the strongest sword cultivator at Heaven and Earth Lake, Wang Ye, practiced swordsmanship all his life, and the sword Qi he unleashed was only a thousand meters at most.
At this moment, after saying a few words, Situ Xiuneng was too lazy to further explain to Lu Ming and mumbled to himself, "Such terrifying swordsmanship, coupled with the mysterious Mountain Suppression Upper Realm expert, and the flying ship, and the Vortex Map with special abilities... The Immortal Sect, the more I think about it, the more complicated it seems. It appears that enduring humiliation was a very wise choice."
Xia Jin’s death was only a matter of displeasure with explaining it to his father, not a huge issue.
If a direct confrontation really occurred with the Immortal Sect, whether he could even escape was now uncertain upon reflection.
Who could guarantee there aren’t even stronger individuals behind the Immortal Sect?
After all, that Upper Realm of Mountain Suppression expert listened to Wen Ping’s orders, rather than appearing as a mere supporter.
Situ Xiuneng suddenly looked at Lu Ming and said with emotion, "It’s fortunate that Wen Ping spared your life, otherwise, even if you died thousands of times, it wouldn’t be enough."
Wen Ping didn’t kill Lu Ming, so his connection with other Silver Level Chiefs wouldn’t be severed.
This was the only thing he was currently grateful for.
If Lu Ming died at this critical moment, the cost of tonight would be too great; sending a message through a trust falcon would mean the peace talks might last for another half a year.
Normally, half a year would be just half a year.
But this time is different; there’s only two months until the Heaven and Earth Lake event, which happens once every hundred years.
If missed, he wouldn’t live to wait for the next one.
Upon hearing Situ Xiuneng’s words, Lu Ming couldn’t help but lower his head, and at this point, he truly regretted it.
In the past, Situ Xiuneng had always greatly admired him, was willing to help and support him, never would he be so ruthless as today.
If he hadn’t helped Xia Jin...
At this point, he dared not think further, for the facts were already in front of him.
However, he believed Situ Xiuneng’s punishment was not without hope for reversal, provided he could prove his worth.
Value that could offset his mistakes!
Suddenly, a thought flashed across Lu Ming’s mind.
"Sir, do you think that sword could only complete one round trip, and Wen Ping perhaps didn’t want to kill me, but couldn’t? Otherwise, why would he keep me alive?"
Situ Xiuneng, after a moment of reflection, said, "It’s possible... Otherwise, it’s too extraordinary for a sword to continue killing several miles away. Swordsmanship may transcend the norm, but regardless of the sword cultivator, it’s absolutely impossible for the sword to move as one wishes."
Upon thinking this, the fear in Situ Xiuneng’s heart diminished somewhat.
...
Now speaking of Wen Ping.
After hastily wrapping up the matters in Cangwu City, Wen Ping had made up his mind to return to the Sect.
"Uncle Huan, if anything happens, you can go directly up the mountain to find Elder Yun and the others, I’m leaving now."
Huan Cheng hurriedly replied, "Take care, Sect Leader Wen."
Just as Wen Ping was about to leave, Bainian Xiang suddenly stepped forward and asked, "Sect Leader, I’d like to bury Uncle Hei before returning to the Sect."
"Huh?" Wen Ping glanced at Luan Yue and the others who, though showing reluctance, had no intention of stopping, then asked, "Are you sure?"
Bainian Xiang nodded, "Uncle Hei had no parents and no relatives, unable to return to his roots. He’s been my guardian since I can remember, and he died because of me tonight, so I want to bury him myself."
Wen Ping looked at Bainian Xiang, who was very resolute in expression, and replied, "The Immortal Sect doesn’t have a rule requiring you to return to the Sect at night... However, for safety’s sake, it’s better not to leave the Sect at this time."
Hei Yu was unknown to him, but since the other party was willing to guard Bainian Xiang with his life, he deserved respect.
Allowing Bainian Xiang to bury him at this time was truly inappropriate.
Situ Xiuneng chose an unbelievable tolerance, but one cannot guarantee there wouldn’t be hidden threats.
After all, understanding a person’s mind is the most difficult thing.
An Upper Realm of Mountain Suppression, wanting to kill a Profound Realm after opening the Meridian Gate, only takes an instant. Even if Long Ke accompanies her, maybe blocking one or two times, but it doesn’t change Bainian Xiang’s fate.
