Chapter Seventy-Three: Sweeping Through All the Clans

Su Ye’s voice rumbled like thunder, shaking the souls of all present. Especially after he had just slain Yu Xingkun, his presence was now suffused with murderous intent and sharp, unrestrained ferocity. That furious roar was like a sword thrust straight at everyone’s throat, filling them with dread.

The setting sun cast his shadow long and gaunt, adding to the bleak, killing aura that surrounded him.

For a moment, not a single person in the crowd dared step forward. Even the members of the Jiang family stood rooted in place, still stunned by Yu Xingkun’s death and unable to react.

Jiang Liuying looked as fragile as a willow caught in the wind, her delicate figure seemingly boneless as she stood there daintily, lips slightly parted, her exquisite features frozen in astonishment. She could never have imagined that Su Ye would slay Yu Xingkun in one swift, thunderous strike.

Though she had never truly looked down upon Su Ye all these years, she was well aware that his cultivation had been ruined—he was known throughout the entire school as a useless cripple. Who could have foreseen that, in just a few short months, he would take flight, dazzling like fireworks blooming in the darkest night?

Su Ye had single-handedly decapitated their enemy’s leader!

She stared blankly at the boy’s back, as if seeing mysterious halos radiate around him, memories of the past flooding her mind. For a moment, she was utterly mesmerized.

Jiang Ziyang, the steward Uncle Zhong, and the rest of the Jiang family could not suppress their excitement, cheering loudly. They had suffered bullying for too long and had long yearned to be rid of Yu Xingkun. With a single sword, Su Ye had avenged them all!

In a corner of the manor, Yan Youtu, Yan Tian, and their followers were also struck with shock, staring in disbelief at Yu Xingkun’s corpse.

They had been waiting for the crucial moment to intervene and save the day, hoping this would force the Jiang family to submit to them.

But why had things turned out this way?

Yan Tian’s face changed abruptly, twisting into a mask of pain—the anguish of realizing one’s own inferiority. He shook his head desperately. “Impossible! He’s just a worthless cripple, there’s no way he could surpass me, no way he could be better than me!”

Yan Tian had always been jealous of Su Ye. Why did this useless nobody enjoy the Jiang family’s favor and affection? He, Yan Tian, was ten times the man Su Ye could ever be.

He had always comforted himself, believing the Jiang family were not blind. If he and Su Ye stood side by side, anyone could tell at a glance who was the dragon and who was the worm.

But now? Why had Su Ye suddenly grown so formidable?

Yan Youtu seemed to sense his son’s thoughts and spoke gravely, “Son, you need not worry. Jiang Liuying will be yours in the end. Su Ye’s sudden surge of strength must be because of some elixir. No matter how powerful he is, he’s just one man! Our Yan family is an entire clan. Even sixty years from now, Su Ye will never have what we have. That’s his weakness—he’s just a parasite! Hmph! Does he think he’s finished just because he used some underhanded trick to kill Yu Xingkun? The Yu family’s background is no joke—they’ll deal with him soon enough!”

Indeed.

Among the warriors of the Yu, Ou, and Zhou families, someone suddenly cried out in a rage.

“No one in the Yu family is a coward! Su Ye is just one man—he can’t possibly kill us all! Everyone, attack! Kill him! Avenge our family head!” one of the Yu family elders shouted.

Master Ou immediately echoed him, his voice cold. “Su Ye is ruthless and wicked—he must be destroyed! He’s clearly spent, just putting on a show! If we don’t get rid of him today, none of our three families will ever be able to hold our heads high again!”

The Zhou family head, clutching his severed arm, stepped forth unsteadily and raised his voice, shouting, “All warriors! Whoever kills Su Ye will receive a reward of one billion in cash and the eternal allegiance of our three families! Kill him!”

The warriors who had been cowering in fear now shuddered at these words. The terror in their hearts began to fade, replaced by greed. Here was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a fortune—how many such opportunities would ever come again?

As night quietly fell, their boldness grew.

The first daring fighter strode out from the crowd, gripping a gleaming spring-loaded dagger, and charged forward without a word.

The second, the third, followed close behind.

Soon, a chorus of shouts erupted from the crowd as they surged forward in a frenzy, each scrambling to be first—as if a moment’s hesitation would cost them the billion-dollar bounty.

“He who kills will be killed in turn!” Su Ye roared, gripping the Thunder Sword and launching himself into the fray.

Sparks flew and blood sprayed. Wherever he passed, the ground was soaked in red.

The berserk warriors, for all their madness, could not get anywhere near Su Ye. Instead, their ranks were riddled with shrieks of agony.

In no time at all, the fight went out of them. At the mere sight of Su Ye charging forward with his sword, they recoiled in terror, clutching their weapons but not daring to advance.

Master Ou, Zhou Jinghao, and the others behind them grew frantic.

“Go! He’s just a spent arrow—he’s out of strength, kill him!”

“This lot—forget about morality with the Jiang family! If they’ve produced a homicidal maniac like Su Ye, then seize their whole clan and force him to surrender!”

That last threat had its effect—a group immediately surged forward, bearing down on the Jiang family.

Though the Jiang family had many warriors, they were still outnumbered. Many of the servants, women, and children could only flee into the buildings for safety.

Jiang Ziyang could barely stand, but supported by his people, he still roared, “Shameless cowards! Do you really think this will force us to surrender?”

The old Master Ou stepped forward, now the core figure of the assembly. “Old man Jiang, don’t play the victim. Today, we’re splitting up your family, and no one can stop us!”

He turned and pointed at Ning Shuang, Jiu Yuyue, and the others who had remained neutral. “Ning family, Jiu family, Chen family—join us at once in destroying the Jiangs, or you’ll be our enemies!”

Ning Shuang, long restrained by her clan, couldn’t hold back any longer and cried, “You’re truly lawless! Who are you to command the Ning family? Yangcheng doesn’t belong to just you three!”

Master Ou sneered, waving his hand. His clan’s warriors all drew their weapons in unison. “After today, our three families will rule Yangcheng! Neutrality isn’t an option! At my word, every clan in the city will hunt you down! Hmph—Su Ye, you think yourself impressive? Compared to power, you’re nothing to me! If I so much as offer a divine weapon as reward, throngs of warriors will hunt you day and night. Killing you won’t take my own hands at all!”

“But when it comes to killing you, I prefer to do it myself—”

Without warning, Su Ye let out a shout and leaped toward Master Ou.

The warriors, seeing Su Ye charging at them, screamed and rushed to intercept him, but the Thunder Sword in his hands blazed with light as he swept it before them.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

All their weapons were sent flying.

Su Ye cut through them as if through empty air, reaching Master Ou in an instant. With a sidestep, he dodged Master Ou’s attack, then viciously kicked his knee.

A sickening crack rang out as bone shattered, and Master Ou was sent sprawling.

Though Master Ou’s reputation was widespread, his only real skill was forging weapons—he was no fighter. In front of Su Ye, he stood no chance.

Buzz—

Su Ye pressed his sword to Master Ou’s throat.

“Order them to stop!” Su Ye barked.

Writhing in pain, Master Ou’s face twisted, but he refused to yield, shouting, “You may kill me, but can you kill everyone here? Every last one of the Ou, Yu, and Zhou families? We will never stop avenging our dead! We’ll hound you with assassins and poison, day and night, until none of you are left! As long as even one of us survives, the revenge will never end!”

Su Ye only sneered, pressing the Thunder Sword harder until it drew blood, making Master Ou’s body tremble in terror as he tried to shrink away.

A ruthless gleam flashed in Su Ye’s eyes, and his voice rang out cold and stern, “In that case, not a single one of your three families will walk away from this!”