Chapter 38: Mutual Destruction

Inside the Council Hall of the Zhu Family.

Zhu Chengze listened to the explanations of his eldest brother and father without saying a word.

“Eldest Brother, Father, there’s no need to say more. I understand.”

After a moment of silence, Zhu Chengze looked up and said in a heavy voice, “The Zhu Family cannot be destroyed. Even if only one person remains, the Zhu Family is still the Zhu Family.”

“Third Brother, it’s good that you understand. Your brother and I actually hoped that person would come for us instead; that way, you all would still have a slim chance of survival.”

Zhu Chaofeng sighed and said deeply, “Eldest, you and I will take turns resting to adjust our state. Once night falls, we will take advantage of the darkness to escape Gushan City.”

As Zhu Chengze walked out of the Council Hall, his face was no longer calm; it had become incredibly hideous.

Father and Eldest Brother were right. To survive, someone always has to be sacrificed.

But why couldn’t the one who survives be him? Why did he have to be the sacrifice?

Though they spoke beautifully, in reality, staying behind in the Zhu Family meant almost certain death!

If they escaped and Chen Yuan focused on the Zhu Family, he would die.

Conversely, if Chen Yuan targeted them but failed to kill them, he would return and destroy the Zhu Family just the same to vent his anger.

They claimed staying in the Zhu Family offered a slim chance of survival, but in truth, it was just lingering on for a bit longer. Death would come sooner or later!

Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Chengan actually knew this too; they just didn’t want to admit it.

Zhu Chengze let out a long breath, his fists clenched tightly.

He didn’t want to die, and he certainly didn’t want to be sacrificed!

Night fell.

Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Chengan had mostly recovered.

The two of them took their weapons and some silver notes, preparing to head straight down the mountain.

Because the Retainers had all fled, the massive Zhu Family Manor was now deathly silent, feeling somewhat eerie.

Zhu Chengan cautiously pulled open the main gate of the Zhu Family Manor and looked out, his expression suddenly shifting.

Dressed in black, Chen Yuan seemed to blend into the night. His hands were folded around his long saber, and a bamboo hat covered half of his face, leaving only his sharp gaze visible.

“Where do you two intend to go so late at night?”

Chen Yuan looked at Zhu Chaofeng and the other with a faint, mocking smile.

They had rested for a day, and their states had indeed returned to their Peak.

But Chen Yuan had also recovered for a day. The energy exhaustion from using the Blood Fiend Force earlier had mostly been restored by now.

Zhu Chaofeng took a deep breath and asked, “Do you truly intend to fight my Zhu Family to the death?”

“What else?”

Chen Yuan nudged his bamboo hat with his hand and said indifferently, “I am a man of my word. Since I promised that girl Chu Hongshang to exterminate the entire Zhu Family clan, if even one is missed, I consider the task unfinished.”

“Whatever Chu Hongshang gave you, my Zhu Family can give you more!”

Zhu Chaofeng said in a heavy voice, “Don’t look down on the Zhu Family’s shallow foundation. My fifth son, Zhu Chengzhong, has already joined the Huangji Sect and become a Core Disciple. His future achievements are limitless.”

“As long as you let my Zhu Family go this time, even the treasures of the Huangji Sect can be given to you by my family!”

Chen Yuan shook his head gently. This old thing’s mental state was truly extraordinary.

He had killed two of the man’s sons, yet the old man could still calmly negotiate terms here.

“The things Chu Hongshang can give me, your Zhu Family truly cannot.”

Chen Yuan chuckled and said, “Besides, do you think I’m an idiot? Let you go now, only for you to come seeking revenge in the future?”

“Charge out!”

Seeing that Chen Yuan was unmoved, Zhu Chaofeng made a split-second decision. He gave a sharp shout and lunged at Chen Yuan with a Purple-Gold Longsword in hand.

The Zhu Family’s Azure Edge Cloud-Linking Sword was also a style of fast swordplay. Though old, Zhu Chaofeng was still formidable; his longsword flickered out over a dozen sword flowers in an instant.

Sword Qi scattered in an endless stream, looking magnificent in the night.

Seeing this, Zhu Chengan also immediately attacked Chen Yuan from behind.

Father and son coordinated perfectly, one in front and one behind. In an instant, countless sword glows enveloped Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan’s Azure Dragon Blood Drink unsheathed, and his Surging Wave Internal Energy erupted. As the Autumn Wind Slash fell, sword glows and saber light collided, followed by a series of metallic clangs.

Fast saber against fast sword. Chen Yuan fought one against two without falling into a disadvantage at all.

The more Zhu Chaofeng fought, the more alarmed he became.

This young man before him didn’t even look as old as his youngest son, Zhu Chengzhong, yet the depth of his Internal Energy and his combat power were rare for someone of the same rank.

In the blink of an eye, the two sides exchanged dozens of moves, but the pair could not shake Chen Yuan off.

During the exchange, even the longsword in Zhu Chengan’s hand was shattered by Chen Yuan’s Azure Dragon Blood Drink.

The entire Zhu Family only had one Low Grade Mystic Weapon—the purple-gold sword in Zhu Chaofeng’s hand—but its quality could not compare to the Azure Dragon Blood Drink.

“Burn blood! Condense Black Fiend!”

Zhu Chaofeng suddenly shouted at Zhu Chengan, quickly tapping several major acupoints on his body.

Instantly, the blood within his aged body boiled and burned, and a shroud of black Evil Qi immediately swirled around him.

Seeing this, Zhu Chengan also immediately burned his blood, striking at Chen Yuan’s back with a succession of Black Fiery Cloud Palms.

Chen Yuan was in no hurry to trigger his killing intent origin to condense the Blood Fiend. Instead, he retreated and continued to entangle with the two.

The overbearing Black Fiend Force from Zhu Chaofeng’s sword blasted over with immense power, forcing Chen Yuan back.

However, Chen Yuan used the momentum to retreat, dodging Zhu Chengan’s palm strike.

Though Chen Yuan appeared to be at a disadvantage on the surface, Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Chengan grew increasingly anxious as they fought.

The power gained from burning blood to condense the Black Fiend was strong, but with their blood vitality, they couldn’t sustain it for long.

Just then, the sounds of slaughter and wailing suddenly echoed from within the Zhu Family Manor.

The expressions of the Zhu father and son changed instantly.

The opponent wasn’t alone? He had accomplices!?

A moment later, the wailing ceased. Zhu Chengze, covered in blood and carrying the head of a young man, walked out from the backyard with a hideous expression.

“I’ve killed everyone in the Zhu Family! You promised me you wouldn’t kill me!”

Chen Yuan immediately laughed out loud. “The people of your Zhu Family are truly all ruthless. Ruthless to outsiders, and even more ruthless to your own.”

“I have always been a man of my word. You did well. This time, I will not lift a finger to kill you.”

Zhu Chaofeng and Zhu Chengan were so provoked by this scene they nearly spat blood.

“Zhu Chengze! You beast! Just what have you done!?”

Zhu Chengan’s eyes nearly split from rage.

What Zhu Chengze was holding was his son’s head!

Although he had prepared to abandon his family and flee the Zhu Family from the moment he made the decision, effectively abandoning this son…

…seeing his son dead right before his eyes was still something he could not accept.

“Fool! Idiot! Bastard!”

Zhu Chaofeng spat out a mouthful of blood and cursed, “You actually believed the enemy’s words and turned on your own family! How could I, Zhu Chaofeng, have such a stupid son!”

Though his strength was greater than Zhu Chengan’s, he was old after all, and his blood vitality was not as abundant.

Burning his blood for so long had already pushed him to his limit. With the shock from Zhu Chengze, his Meridians instantly cracked and his internal organs were damaged.

“If I don’t believe the enemy, am I supposed to believe you?”

Zhu Chengze’s face was distorted, looking like he had gone mad.

“Why is it that you two get to escape while I’m left here to wait for death? Why do I have to die with that idiot Zhu Chengzu for the trouble he caused?”

“We are all children of the Zhu Family. Eldest Brother is the future Clan Head, ruling the family with absolute authority. Second Brother is the pillar of the family, holding power in his hands.”

“Fourth Brother is your favorite; you think of him whenever there’s anything good.”

“And Fifth Brother goes without saying. He joined the Huangji Sect and has a great future; he doesn’t even care for the Zhu Family’s things.”

“But what about me? What do I have? What can I get!?”

“I got no benefits when the Zhu Family was prestigious, yet I’m expected to die when the family is being exterminated. Why!?”

Zhu Chengze roared loudly, as if venting all the resentment he had accumulated over the years.

Or perhaps he was trying to find a reason to justify backstabbing his kin so he could feel at peace.

“You…”

Zhu Chaofeng’s mind was shaken again, but he immediately turned his focus back to attacking Chen Yuan.

Now was not the time to clean house. If they didn’t deal with Chen Yuan, they would all die!

Chen Yuan laughed loudly and triggered his killing intent origin. In an instant, the Blood Fiend entered his body, and a layer of crimson Blood Fiend Qi enveloped him.

As his palm descended, the sky-filling Blood Fiend transformed into a massive blood-colored palm print that crashed down toward Zhu Chaofeng.

Blood Fiend soaring to the skies, calamity descending upon the body—Blood Slaughter Calamity Hand!

Zhu Chaofeng roared, condensing his Black Fiend Force onto his sword tip, which bloomed like a black lotus.

But under that boundless power of the Blood Slaughter Calamity, the black lotus was obliterated in an instant.

The Blood Slaughter Calamity Hand imprinted onto his body. Zhu Chaofeng didn’t even let out a scream before he was blasted to death by Chen Yuan’s palm, just like his son!

However, his cultivation was slightly stronger than Zhu Chengguo’s, so only the lower half of his body was blown apart.

Chen Yuan turned and slashed out. As that crimson Blood Fiend saber glow reached him, even though Zhu Chengan tried his best to block, he was still sent flying by the strike, a massive bloody gash appearing on his chest.

However, Chen Yuan had only slashed casually and hadn’t used his full strength, so Zhu Chengan actually survived taking the hit.

He happened to land not far from Zhu Chengze. Seeing that the man was still clutching his son’s head, blood rushed to Zhu Chengan’s head, and fury consumed his heart.

“Beast! I’ll kill you!”

Ignoring his damaged Meridians, Zhu Chengan frantically burned his blood to condense Black Fiend Force and lunged at Zhu Chengze.

To him now, Zhu Chengze was even more hateful than Chen Yuan!

Chen Yuan was an enemy; no matter how cruel his methods were, it was to be expected. Their Zhu Family treated other enemies the same way.

But Zhu Chengze was his own biological brother, yet he had backstabbed them at the critical moment, killed the entire Zhu Family, and murdered his son.

Even if he had to die, he would drag this man down to the grave with him!