NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 118:
Chapter 118:
Within Tianshui City, Jiang Ting once again attempted to use threats against Xiao Yang, hoping to manipulate him. However, this time, Xiao Yang was curious to see what leverage she could possibly have. In the past, Jiang Ting had threatened him with his grandfather’s jade pendant, forcing him to comply. But now, Xiao Yang had already reclaimed the pendant, and he no longer indulged her whims.
“I… you…” Jiang Ting stammered, her face flushed with frustration, unable to come up with anything to threaten Xiao Yang.
“Senior Brother, be careful! If Junior Sister cuts ties with you and never speaks to you again, you’ll regret it!” Qin Fei chimed in, fanning the flames.
That suggestion lit up Jiang Ting’s eyes. “Senior Brother, if you don’t give me the Heaven-Mending Pill, I’ll never speak to you again. From now on, we’ll go our separate ways and have nothing to do with each other,” Jiang Ting declared arrogantly. She still believed that Xiao Yang’s aloofness was a mere tactic to win her attention and that deep down, he still cared for and indulged her.
But this time, she was wrong.
That’s it? Xiao Yang almost laughed aloud. He had expected her to come up with something clever, but it seemed he had overestimated her. Ever since he stopped having feelings for Jiang Ting, he realized just how shallow she truly was. A naive and foolish girl, easily deceived—just as she had been by Qin Fei in their previous life.
“Cut ties with me? I couldn’t ask for more,” Xiao Yang replied with a light chuckle before turning away without looking back. He didn’t even bother to argue with her.
Jiang Ting froze, staring at his retreating figure in disbelief.
Qin Fei was also dumbfounded.
Xiao Yang’s decisiveness left all the other disciples stunned. Was it true? Did their Senior Brother truly no longer care about Jiang Ting?
Ning Shu silently observed Xiao Yang’s departure.
With her keen intellect, she began to discern the complicated dynamics between Xiao Yang, Jiang Ting, and Qin Fei.
“Senior Brother, wait for me!” Lin Wangchuan called out as he chased after Xiao Yang.
“I’m coming too!” Song Qiang followed, their determination clear. They had seen through the hypocritical nature of Qin Fei, Zheng Fan, and the others. These people had falsely accused Xiao Yang of abandoning them during their crisis. Their lies disgusted Lin Wangchuan and Song Qiang, and they no longer wanted to associate with such characters.
“You…” The Elder in charge of passing on teachings could only sigh helplessly as he watched them leave.
Elder Lei Lie had been severely injured, having lost his life-bound sword and exhausting his vitality through a forbidden technique. He had no choice but to return to the sect for healing. The responsibility of leading the group to the Genwu Immortal Territory for the competition now fell to the Elder of Transmission.
The Transmission Elder had heard many complaints from Qin Fei, Zheng Fan, and Lei Ranjie about Xiao Yang. Though he didn’t believe Xiao Yang to be a coward, he was troubled by Xiao Yang’s mysterious absence during critical moments and his failure to protect his juniors. Xiao Yang’s suspicious behavior planted seeds of doubt in the Elder’s mind.
What the Elder didn’t realize was that without Xiao Yang’s secret intervention, they would have all perished.
“Senior Brother, the entire city is sealed by a formation. You can’t leave,” Lei Ranjie shouted smugly.
“Pfft,” Xiao Yang scoffed, paying him no mind. Lei Ranjie and Qin Fei couldn’t even fathom that it was their own Senior Brother, Xiao Yang, who had set up the formation that now bound the city.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Li Kuang has turned into a Blood Demon and is hiding in the city. Be careful, or you’ll end up as a dried corpse,” Xiao Yang’s voice echoed back.
“What?!” The group was shocked.
Qin Fei, however, felt a mix of surprise and delight. He had heard from other disciples that Xiao Yang, disguised in a golden dragon-patterned mask, had shattered Li Kuang’s dantian and kicked him into a blood pool. Qin Fei had assumed his uncle was long dead. Who would have thought that not only was Li Kuang alive, but he had transformed into a Blood Demon—and was still in the city?
If Qin Fei could contact his uncle, they might have a chance to eliminate Xiao Yang. The thought of this possibility thrilled him. Xiao Yang still had the Heaven-Mending Pill. While it might not restore Qin Fei’s severed parts, it could strengthen his innate Dao Body and rapidly heal his injuries.
Furthermore, if he could heal himself, he might even replace Han Bin in the upcoming competition. Qin Fei’s excitement grew.
“Could it be that the Sword Saint himself sealed the city to prevent the Blood Demon from escaping?” the Transmission Elder wondered aloud.
“Senior Brother dared to impersonate the Sword Saint. If the Sword Saint finds out, the consequences will be dire!” Jiang Ting exclaimed, her face pale with worry.
“What?! He impersonated the Sword Saint?” The Transmission Elder was stunned. The Sword Saint’s name was sacred and untouchable. Xiao Yang’s audacity was unfathomable. None of them suspected that Xiao Yang was the Sword Saint they revered.
Meanwhile, Ning Shu and the Heavenly Medical Sect disciples prepared to leave.
“Holy Maiden, please wait!” the Transmission Elder called out.
“What can I do for you, Elder?” Ning Shu asked calmly.
“It’s not advice, but a request. We humbly ask the Holy Maiden to treat two of our injured disciples.” He gestured toward the injured Han Bin on the stretcher and the heavily wounded Qin Fei.
“No,” Tang Chen immediately interjected, his face dark with discontent.
“This… Holy Maiden, may we compensate you for your services?” the Transmission Elder pleaded.
“No,” Ning Shu replied curtly before turning to leave with her disciples.
The Transmission Elder was left in an awkward silence. Ning Shu’s outright refusal caught him off guard.
Meanwhile, the city’s residents swarmed the public wells, eagerly drinking the water. Whether poisoned or not, they drank with abandon. Xiao Yang’s plan had effectively resolved the crisis.
Ning Shu silently admired Xiao Yang. She understood the immense value of the pill formula he had given her. The formula was groundbreaking, capable of neutralizing even the most potent poisons. Xiao Yang had handed over such a precious resource without expecting anything in return. A man so detached from fame and wealth could not be a person of ill intent. That was why she had refused Tang Chen’s plea for help.
However, Li Kuang’s presence in the city was a grave concern. The Blood Blade Demon was no ordinary remnant of the Demonic Sect. Years ago, the combined forces of the northern factions had failed to capture him. Not only had he escaped during the Battle of Fallen Phoenix Valley, but he had also slain five of their top experts, leaving the region in shock.
Now, his reappearance suggested the Demonic Sect was stirring once more, perhaps with plans to disrupt the upcoming competition.
Ning Shu, understanding the threat posed by Li Kuang, resolved to seek Xiao Yang’s help in dealing with the demon.
“Senior Brother must have offended them. That’s why they refuse to treat us!” Qin Fei grumbled bitterly as he watched the Heavenly Medical Sect disciples leave.
“Senior Brother doesn’t care about us at all…” Han Bin, lying on the stretcher, coughed up blood in anger. His severed meridians left him clinging to life with the aid of pills. Without treatment, he faced a future as a cripple.
Everyone else looked visibly displeased. Why had their Senior Brother changed so much? He used to care for them. Now, he seemed indifferent.
Qin Fei, on the other hand, felt a surge of satisfaction. He wanted everyone to resent Xiao Yang, especially Jiang Ting.
…
“Why are you two here?” Xiao Yang asked, exasperated, as he noticed Song Qiang and Lin Wangchuan catching up to him.
Their presence complicated his plans to confront Li Kuang. It meant he couldn’t use his disguise as the Sword Saint.
At this moment, a blood-red figure appeared behind them, radiating a suffocating killing intent.
“Trouble!” Xiao Yang’s eyes widened. It was Li Kuang!