Douluo Dalu - First Slash

The following day, after bidding farewell to Xiao Wu and the other spirit beasts, Fang Xuan hurriedly set off with Shui Bing 'er. After spending half a day, they finally left the dangerous Star Dou Forest. Afterward, the two of them rushed toward the direction of Sunset. That was where Tianshui City was located!

Fang Xuan still had many things to do, so he couldn't bring Shui Bing'er along. He planned to send the girl back home and then go to Slaughter City to train.

Increase his strength! This was the most important thing right now! Spirit Hall was chasing him all over the world. He didn't know when they would find him in the Anarchic Lands, so he couldn't stay here long. After making arrangements for the girl, he set off.

Tianshui City!

There was an ice-blue castle. The walls were made of enormous ice blocks, and the floor was smooth and sparkling like the surface of a frozen lake. The castle emitted wisps of bone-chilling cold, just like an ice castle!

The Shui family was one of the top powers in the entire Anarchic Lands. All of the Shui family's martial spirits were ice-based. To make it easier for his clan members to cultivate, the patriarch of the Shui family constructed this enormous ice fortress to simulate the environment of the Land of Ice and Snow. This Tianshui City was where the Shui Family was located!

The sun rose from the east! The first rays of the morning sun pierced through the thick clouds and sprinkled on the majestic ice castle. The ice crystals were crystal clear, reflecting a beautiful multicolored light.

A young man and a young woman stood before the tall city gates, quietly gazing at the ice castle. The two sighed. After three days of hurrying, they finally arrived at Tianshui City.

"Here we are. You can go home!" Fang Xuan exhaled, feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. He looked at the blue-haired girl beside him.

"Don't leave me alone, okay?" Shui Bing'er grabbed Fang Xuan's sleeve, a pleading look on her face.

"How can you be alone? This is your home. Your friends and relatives are all inside. Hurry up and reunite with your family. I still have things to do. Bye bye!" Fang Xuan wasn't willing to carry this burden. His body flickered with golden light, and he escaped from Shui Bing'er's side with a flash. He hurriedly left, leaving behind only a few words.

"The green hills do not fade, and the clear waters flow forever. It's best that we … don't meet!"

Looking at the sudden disappearance of Fang Xuan, Shui Bing 'er suddenly felt empty in her heart. She felt a sense of loss. She sighed. She had to face what she had to face sooner or later. She couldn't always rely on Fang Xuan to shield her from the wind and rain. Thinking of this, the girl's eyes gradually became firm as she stepped into Tianshui City.

…

Shui Family!

The spacious hall was filled with over a hundred people, all direct descendants of the Shui Family. However, the hall was completely silent, and no one dared to make a sound. Sitting at the top of the living room were five older men.

All of them had white hair and two white temples. They looked ancient, and their ages were over sixty years old. As for the older man sitting in the middle, his hair and beard were all white and looked ancient.

He was probably over eighty years older than the four people beside him! This was the patriarch of the Shui Family, and also the patriarch of the Shui Family.

The Shui Family was the most robust and prestigious; they had been in charge of Tianshui City for decades. He was a Rank 81 Spirit Douluo, and he was mighty.

Two elders seated on either side of him exuded powerful auras as well. These four were elders of the Shui Family, and they were Soul Sages. They were the most powerful individuals in the Shui Family, and everyone looked up to them. One Spirit Douluo and four Soul Sages—this was the Shui Family's strongest force!

At this moment, the Shui Family's most vital experts were gathered in one place. They were all looking at the blue-haired girl standing alone in the hall. They didn't say a word, but their eyes were icy. It was as if they were looking at a criminal.

Shui Bing'er stood alone in the center of the hall. Unlike before, when she returned home, she was surrounded by disdainful and resentful gazes. She was no longer the revered and respected genius of the Shui Family.

Instead, she was someone who had run away from her marriage. Furthermore, she had offended the strongest clan in the Anarchic Lands, the Qilin's Cave, and brought disaster to her family.

"We can't afford to offend the Qilin's Cave. Bing'er, you've done such a disgraceful thing this time. You eloped with a wild man and offended the Qilin's Cave, and you still have the face to return?!"

After a long silence, the purple-robed elder on the left finally couldn't help but speak up. He sternly rebuked Shui Bing 'er and coldly said, "I suggest that we expel Shui Bing'er from the clan and send her to the Qilin's Cave to beg for forgiveness!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion broke out. Everyone began to discuss and point their spears at Shui Bing'er. They were all criticizing her.

Shui Bing'er didn't say a word. It was as if she didn't hear the curses and accusations around her. She stood calmly in the hall, displaying an unprecedented calmness.

"Why did you come back?!"

The patriarch of the Shui Family was silent for a long time. Finally, he asked a question that infuriated Shui Bing 'er.

"Why did I come back?" Shui Bing 'er was stunned.

She was suddenly enraged by these words. It was as if there was a fire burning in her chest. The girl who had always been gentle and quiet suddenly became sharp, like an unsheathed blade.

"This is my home. Why can't I come back?!"

She fearlessly met the patriarch of the Shui Family's cold eyes and coldly said,

"You used me as a bargaining chip and forced me to marry the Qilin's son. You wanted to use this to gain the favor of the Qilin's Cave and strengthen the prestige and status of the Shui Family. Now that I've returned, I didn't let you get what you wanted. You must be outraged right now, hehe …"

"Presumptuous! Shui Bing 'er, how dare you talk to the patriarch like this? You're simply lawless!"

An elder roared and slapped the chair's armrest into pieces. He sternly reprimanded Shui Bing' er.

Shui Bing'er's pretty face was cold, and her eyes were sharp. She still stood calmly. Facing the elders' reprimand, her cheeks didn't show a trace of timidity.

"Patriarch, elders, it's all my daughter's fault. As her parents, we apologize on her behalf!"

At this time, a middle-aged couple rushed out from the crowd and knelt before the patriarch. They lowered their voice and repeatedly apologized.

They even shouted at the girl behind them, "Bing 'er, quickly kneel and apologize to the patriarch!"

"I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I kneel?!" Shui Bing'er's face was stubborn. She refused to bow her head.

Compared to the cold reprimand of the elders, what made her angrier was her parents' weak attitude. They couldn't differentiate between right and wrong. They were only afraid of the patriarch and the elders' strength and had no choice but to bow their heads and apologize.

Weakness is a sin, and only the strong are righteous! This was the eternal truth of the Douluo Continent. Shui Bing 'er was abnormally angry!

"Elder sister didn't do anything wrong. This marriage was forced upon the elder sister by the patriarch. Now that the marriage hasn't been completed and she hasn't climbed up the big tree that is the Qilin's Cave, you're blaming elder sister for everything. What a joke!"

At this time, someone finally stood up and said something fair. It was Shui Bing 'er's younger sister, Shui Yue' er. She stood at the back of the hall and clenched her fists.

She angrily reprimanded the elders and said with righteous indignation, "We only know how to bow at the feet of the Qilin's Cave. Is our Shui Family a bunch of spineless cowards …"

"Bastard! What did you say?!! "

The young girl's words aroused the anger of everyone present. Many of the elders were furious. Even the patriarch of the Shui Family's face turned gloomy. Endless anger surged wildly.

"Unfilial daughter, I'll destroy you first today!"

The purple-robed elder roared as his cold eyes locked onto Shui Yu 'er. His eyes were filled with a cold light as killing intent surged through his body.

Suddenly, he rushed forward, his body filled with endless frost as his icy-blue fist tore through the air and smashed toward Shui Yue'er.

This was an all-out attack from a Spirit Sage. A mere Spirit Ancestor like Shui Yu 'er wouldn't be able to withstand it. She'd die under this fist.

"Yue'er, no!"

Seeing this scene, Shui Bing'er turned pale with fright. The situation was critical, and she didn't have time to think.

She threw herself in front of Shui Yue' er as fast as she could and tightly protected her sister in her arms.

She wanted to use her body to block the elder's attack!

"Haha, a pair of bastards. How did our Shui Family raise two unfilial daughters like you? Today, this old man will enforce justice on behalf of the heavens and destroy you two sisters!"

The purple-robed elder snorted coldly. His face was ferocious, and his eyes were cold. His spirit force as a Spirit Sage was fully unleashed.

Even his martial spirit's actual body was unleashed. The image of a giant ice bear slowly appeared on the surface of his body, exuding a terrifying aura.

His heart was filled with killing intent. Waving his giant ice fist, he viciously swung it at the two sisters. He wanted to kill them all in one go.

Ripples appeared just as the two sisters were about to be buried under the purple-robed elder's fist. A peerlessly domineering voice exploded in the hall, causing the entire Shui Family's fortress to tremble.

"A mere Spirit Sage, who do you think you are?!"