Chapter 31 Come Out and Face Your Death

The lord of the city is dead!

This news spread like wildfire, shaking the entire city to its core.

For the people of Jiangning City, the City Lord’s Mansion stood as the foremost power, and Xu Huanhu was the mightiest of all. Moreover, Xu Huanhu was an official appointed by the imperial court.

Who would dare kill him?

Yet, someone had discovered the corpses of Xu Huanhu and the four Generals—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—in the peach blossom grove outside the city.

When these bodies were brought back to Jiangning, everyone was struck with terror.

“The City Lord is truly dead. Who could be the murderer?”

“The City Lord was not only a Martial Artist of the Divine Sea Realm but also the strongest in Jiangning. Even if the three great clan heads joined forces, they probably couldn’t kill him, let alone with the four Generals present. Who could possibly have the power to slaughter them all?”

“Do you think it was the Jun family? After all, just a few days ago, Jun Wushuang forced the City Lord to kneel and kowtow.”

“That’s unlikely. The Jun family may have motive, but not the strength. The four Generals are one thing, but the City Lord is not someone the Jun Patriarch could handle.”

“Then who is the real killer?”

The city was seized with panic and speculation.

Some suspected the Jun family, but others shook their heads in disbelief.

For a time, Jiangning City was thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, in a small town outside Jiangning, Ji Yuntian had fled there.

He was among the first to hear of Xu Huanhu’s demise.

Anticipating that Jun Zhantian would soon come for him, he escaped in haste, managing only to take some valuables with him. There had been no time to move the rest of the Ji family or their accumulated wealth.

Yet Ji Yuntian did not flee far, choosing instead to hide in this small town.

A string of defeats had brought him devastating losses. All of it had been transformed into a blazing fire of resentment that burned in his heart.

He blamed others.

He blamed Ye Tiande and Xu Huanhu for their incompetence; both the challenge on the arena and the midnight ambush had ended in failure.

He hated.

He hated Jun Wushuang and Jun Zhantian for repeatedly escaping his schemes, forcing him into disgraceful retreat.

He raged.

He raged at his own ineptitude—if only he had not feared Jun Zhantian’s wrath from the start and had simply destroyed Jun Wushuang, none of this would have happened.

His resentment was thick, his anger fierce.

“Jun Wushuang, Jun Zhantian, I will never let you and your son go!”

“Unless I grind your bones to dust, the hatred in my heart will not be appeased!”

Ji Yuntian’s hatred surged, and he longed to rise from the ashes, to exact his revenge.

“Uncle, why trouble yourself with anger? Two insignificant clowns—I could crush them with a single finger.”

At that moment, a voice rang out—arrogant, brimming with absolute confidence.

Startled, Ji Yuntian turned to see a brilliant streak of light hurtling toward him, landing before his eyes.

Within that radiant arc was an exquisitely crafted, luxurious Swiftwind Dao Vessel.

“A Dao Artifact!”

Ji Yuntian’s pupils contracted as he recognized the vessel’s grade.

The most precious item he had ever handled was a low-grade treasure, yet the vessel before him was a rumored Dao Artifact.

It was clear the newcomer was of extraordinary status.

A striking figure stepped from the vessel—handsome and imposing, like a true dragon emerging from the sea, radiating such presence that Ji Yuntian felt an overwhelming pressure.

It was as if thunder rolled above and heavenly might descended—so awe-inspiring that resistance seemed impossible.

“I am Ji Yuntian. I greet you, my lord!” Ji Yuntian did not know the newcomer’s identity, but nonetheless bowed respectfully.

“Uncle, there’s no need for formality. Sooner or later, we shall be family,” the man replied.

It was Nangong Lei.

He quickly stepped forward to help Ji Yuntian up, much to the latter’s surprise.

“My name is Nangong Lei. I come from the Imperial Capital, entrusted by your daughter to escort the Ji family there.”

Nangong Lei produced a handwritten letter from Ji Qingchen.

Ji Yuntian’s heart leaped in his chest.

The letter introduced Nangong Lei’s identity and explained the plan to relocate to the capital. It was indeed his daughter’s handwriting.

Ji Yuntian breathed a sigh of relief.

But his nerves quickly tightened again.

Nangong Lei—of the Nangong clan! That was one of the four great families, holding immense power and influence. The entire Ji family, even all of Jiangning, was as insignificant as ants before them.

Qingchen had actually managed to secure such a powerful ally?

Though Nangong Lei was not the clan heir, he was still of the direct line—and a profound-level student at the Royal Martial Academy.

In terms of identity, status, and talent, the Ji family could only look up to him.

If they could forge a marriage alliance with the Nangong clan, the Ji family would soar to unprecedented heights and flourish for generations.

At this thought, Ji Yuntian’s gaze toward Nangong Lei grew fervent.

“My dear son-in-law, you must be weary from your journey. Please, rest for a while,” Ji Yuntian said enthusiastically, delighting Nangong Lei.

But Nangong Lei had not forgotten his true purpose.

“Uncle, there’s no need for such courtesy. Besides escorting the Ji family to the capital, I am here at Qingchen’s request to deal with a bothersome pest.”

“I hear that all the Ji family’s misfortunes are thanks to Jun Wushuang? If so, we’ll crush this pest first, wipe out the Jun family, and then set off—no harm in that.”

Nangong Lei spoke with supreme confidence—as he had every right.

He was not only a direct descendant of the Nangong family, but also the younger brother of the clan heir. Among the many direct descendants, Nangong Lei was the only younger brother of the heir.

The heir himself was not only a Heaven-tier Martial Artist, but also a Heaven-level student at the Royal Martial Academy—a figure with limitless prospects.

With the Nangong family as his backing and the clan heir as his brother, Nangong Lei did as he pleased.

In a small place like Jiangning, there was no one he needed to fear. Even in the capital, the number of people he could not afford to offend was few.

“My son-in-law, it’s not that I underestimate you, but Jun Wushuang is not so easily dealt with,” Ji Yuntian said, his heart leaping with joy, though his face showed worry, intent on goading Nangong Lei.

“Jun Wushuang was once Jiangning’s greatest prodigy. Though his Dragon King Physique was destroyed, he’s had new strokes of fortune—he’s broken through to the Myriad Manifestation Realm, and even the City Lord, at Divine Sea fourth stage, seems to have fallen to his hand.”

“You are of noble birth; there’s no need to risk yourself. Let’s hurry to the capital, and take our revenge when we have the power.”

Nangong Lei, young and arrogant, was infuriated by this show of doubt.

“A mere Jun Wushuang, I could crush him with a finger! Do not worry, Uncle. Take me to the Jun family—I will cut him down with my own hands and annihilate his entire clan!”

With a cold snort and murderous intent, Nangong Lei’s resolve was clear.

Ji Yuntian could not dissuade him and finally agreed.

Soon after, Ji Yuntian led Nangong Lei back to Jiangning, heading straight for the Jun household.

“My son-in-law, this is the Jun family,” Ji Yuntian said, elated but keeping it hidden.

Boom!

Without another word, Nangong Lei unleashed a bolt of lightning, shattering the Jun family gates.

“Jun Wushuang, come out and meet your death!”