Chapter Eighty-Nine: Kill, Kill, Kill

Boom! The alchemical furnace, famed as the greatest of its kind, shattered in that instant, countless fragments and tongues of flame erupting outward. The force of the explosion was far more terrifying than that of any gunpowder—searing waves of heat swept in all directions, instantly drying and evaporating the sodden ground. Fiery shards rained down from the sky.

Cries of terror broke out all around. “Ah—!” “Heavens, it exploded!” Instinctively, the assembled warriors threw themselves to the ground, desperate to evade that dreadful blast.

Amid the roaring inferno, a tall figure strode forth. Murderous intent coiled around him, his fighting spirit soaring to the heavens, as if he were an avenger emerging step by step from the sea of flames into the world of men.

“Su Ye—!” Jiang Liuying, who had been captured, stared wide-eyed at the figure. She could not stop herself from calling out in a hoarse voice.

Su Ye’s hair was scorched to a dry, brittle tangle; much of his clothing was charred, and his skin had taken on a bronzed hue. Yet none of this could conceal the blazing aura that rose with the surging heat about him. Fire seemed to flicker in his eyes, and between his brows was a cold, unyielding resolve.

“How is this possible? You—you’re still alive! You’re still alive!” The first to cry out was Master Chen Yu, his heart breaking as he gazed at the shattered remnants of his furnace on the ground.

He was nearly inconsolable, his hands clawed in anguish as he searched frantically among the ruins, shouting, “Damn you, Su Ye! You destroyed my furnace! Where is the divine pill I hid inside? Where is it? Give it back to me!”

Ouyang Man, gripping a long spike, widened her eyes in shock. They had gone to great lengths to set this trap, all for the sake of eliminating Ouyang Yunfeng and seizing the position of Young Alliance Leader. They had not wished to risk it at first, but Yunfeng’s sudden recovery had forced their hand—they could not wait for his natural death any longer. And since he had just eliminated three rival families, they could easily pin the blame on them.

Moreover, they had all heard of Su Ye—his meteoric rise, his connection to Ouyang Yunfeng. He, too, had to die.

Yet none of them could have imagined that Su Ye would survive!

“So you managed to come out alive? What does it matter? It’s no more than a choice between dying inside or dying out here!” sneered the old woman Wen, who appraised Su Ye with growing interest. Suddenly, she stepped forward, her raspy voice filled with intrigue. “How interesting! Who would have thought such a freak would emerge from Yang City, one who can even swallow fire? This man harbors secrets! Once I capture him, I’ll pry them out, piece by piece!”

Ouyang Man, however, remained vigilant. She retreated two steps, her tone cold and threatening. “There’s no need for you to trouble yourself—Su Ye, kneel and surrender at once, or these two will die before your very eyes!”

Her subordinates, hearing her command, immediately forced Jiang Liuying and Ouyang Yunfeng to their knees, pressing sharp spikes to their throats, ready to kill at a moment’s notice.

Ouyang Man smiled triumphantly, her voice low and menacing. “Didn’t you say I couldn’t kill a single one? Try and save them, then—let’s see if you’re faster at saving, or we’re faster at killing.”

Jiang Liuying cried out at once, “Hey, Su Ye, I don’t want to die! If I die now, my father will be heartbroken, and I haven’t even fallen in love yet! You have to save me first!”

Ouyang Yunfeng remained silent; his limbs had been pierced through by spikes, leaving him utterly helpless. Moving his lips with effort, he said painfully, “They won’t let us go. Don’t surrender—run! It’s my fault you’re caught in this. If you live, remember to avenge us one day…”

Fury flashed across Jiang Liuying’s exquisite face. She shouted loudly, “Su Ye, don’t you dare run! At least try to save us—what if you succeed? And don’t forget, I’m your future mother-in-law! If you don’t save me, how will I have a daughter to marry you? You need to think of your own happiness—”

Su Ye seemed not to hear; instead, he strode forward step by step toward Ouyang Yunfeng.

Seeing this, Jiang Liuying cursed him furiously. “Damn you, Su Ye! I hate you! You save him instead of me—I’ll never forgive you!” She struggled desperately, nearly breaking free from her captors.

But Su Ye had barely taken a few steps when he suddenly halted and spoke in a deep voice, “I’m not one to yield to threats. Since I can’t save either of you, I’ll be the one to kill you instead!”

As his words fell, he stomped on a fallen spike at his feet. With a ringing clang, the spike sprang upward—Su Ye caught it deftly in his hand.

Though the movement was swift, the assembled warriors had been watching him closely and leapt into action, Ouyang Man and Chen Yu among them dodging away in a flash.

With a flick of his wrist, Su Ye hurled the spike like lightning. With a sickening thud, it pierced straight into Ouyang Yunfeng’s heart!

So great was the force that the spike’s shaft trembled violently even after it had sunk in.

Ouyang Yunfeng stared numbly at his chest, his body stiffening before he collapsed to the ground.

A stunned silence fell.

No one could have anticipated that Su Ye would suddenly attack Ouyang Yunfeng.

He had killed Ouyang Yunfeng outright!

The warriors present, all experienced enough to judge at a glance, saw that the spike had struck the heart. Ouyang Yunfeng was dead beyond doubt.

“What? He… he killed Ouyang Yunfeng?” Had they not seen Ouyang Yunfeng’s corpse before them, blood still gushing from his chest, they would never have believed it.

Wasn’t Su Ye supposed to be the rescuer? How had he become the killer?

But before they could react further, Su Ye moved again. The second spike shot out like a bolt of lightning, and a scream rang out from the other side.

With a wet, grisly sound, the spike pierced the forehead of the warrior beside Jiang Liuying. Jiang Liuying, who had clearly been prepared, rolled and kicked over the other guard.

By the time Shi Hao beside them snapped out of his shock, Su Ye was already upon him.

“You dare threaten her? Die!” Su Ye’s palm, imbued with the force of ten thousand pounds, came crashing down on Shi Hao.

The blow was accompanied by crackling arcs of lightning and surging flames. With a thunderous crash, Shi Hao’s body exploded before he could even cry out.

Not a trace of pity flickered in Su Ye’s eyes. With a swift kick, he sent another guard flying, then landed by Jiang Liuying’s side.

“Are you alright?” Su Ye asked in a low voice.

Jiang Liuying’s face was pale as she looked at Ouyang Yunfeng, grief in her voice. “Even if you came to save me, did you have to kill him? He was our family’s benefactor, and besides, he was the Young Alliance Leader!”

Her feelings were deeply conflicted—she was glad Su Ye had come for her, but seeing him kill Ouyang Yunfeng made him suddenly seem like a stranger.

Su Ye handed her a spike weapon, speaking gravely: “Protect yourself. Leave the rest to me.”

Jiang Liuying stared at him, speechless.

Ouyang Man suddenly burst into wild laughter. “Su Ye! How should I thank you? Hahaha!”

She had long dreamed of killing Ouyang Yunfeng, but as the Young Leader, striking against him came with enormous risk. Now, incredibly, Su Ye had done the deed for her.

Now all blame would fall on Su Ye, and she could even use avenging Ouyang Yunfeng as a pretext to eliminate Su Ye and the Jiang family, securing her own position as Young Alliance Leader.

It was a gift from the heavens.

“Thank you? Then thank me with your lives!” Su Ye cried, leaping down from the high platform, charging at them alone.

Ouyang Man was overjoyed, laughing until she nearly doubled over. Her expression shifted abruptly as she roared, “All warriors of the Martial Alliance, heed my command: Su Ye, that villain, coveted the divine pill, and in his greed, went on a killing spree and murdered the Young Alliance Leader! Now, let us kill this wretch and avenge our fallen leader—kill!”