52: Sever ties

Jiang Xun looked at Jiang Wanxing's hand clutching his arm, and he could indeed feel that her strength was even greater than last time.

In a tone one would use to encourage a family member, he said:

"Yes, you have indeed been working hard."

As the words fell, he raised his other hand and grasped Jiang Wanxing's wrist.

His fingers were steady, and his grip wasn't heavy, yet bit by bit, he pried her fingers away from his arm.

You have grown stronger, but I haven't been standing still either.

Jiang Wanxing was stunned.

She watched her fingers being pried away and watched as Jiang Xun took a step back, widening the distance between them.

Her eyes were filled with confusion and grievance.

"...Jiang Xun," her voice trembled slightly, "do you dislike me that much?"

Jiang Xun knew what kind of feelings Jiang Wanxing harbored for him, so he could no longer provide even a drop of nourishment to those feelings.

He had to nip Jiang Wanxing's unrealistic fantasies in the bud.

He wouldn't say things like 'wait until you grow up' or 'we'll talk about it later'.

Instead of being constantly entangled, it was better to make a clean break.

Jiang Xun said coldly:

"Now, you won't even call me Brother?"

Jiang Wanxing pressed her lips tight, unable to speak.

"I..."

Jiang Xun continued, his voice steady—so steady it was almost heartless.

"Since you don't recognize me as your brother, then I don't need to recognize you as my sister.

From now on, we sever our ties. There's no need for us to associate with each other anymore."

He spoke very calmly, without even a hint of emotional fluctuation.

"Don't..."

Crying, Jiang Wanxing stepped forward, trying to grab the hem of Jiang Xun's clothes, just like before.

She wanted Jiang Xun to take those words back.

Those few words were like sharp swords, stabbing ruthlessly into Jiang Wanxing's heart.

Jiang Xun dodged Jiang Wanxing's grasp.

Jiang Wanxing's eyes reddened instantly.

Large teardrops rolled down, leaving wet trails on her fair cheeks.

She shook her head, shaking it forcefully, her voice thick with sobs:

"Don't, don't... I'll be good, I'll call you Brother... Please don't, don't abandon me..."

Jiang Wanxing no longer had her initial confidence.

The pride and composure accumulated over a year, and the high spirits from defeating strong enemies on the Martial Arts Arena, collapsed in an instant.

She seemed to have turned back into that girl in the mud hut who waited all day in silence for Jiang Xun to bestow some tenderness upon her.

She squatted down and hugged her knees, her crying suppressed and broken, like an abandoned child.

The people around gradually quieted down.

"This is a case of a Deeply Affectionate Fairy meeting a scumbag!"

"Such a beautiful girl; it breaks my heart to see her shed even a single tear."

"Bah! He truly doesn't know what's good for him."

The surrounding Disciples whispered among themselves, the sensational scene exciting their nerves... Qian Duo stood to the side, looking at Jiang Xun and then at Jiang Wanxing crying on the ground, his face practically screaming 'what on earth is going on'.

Jiang Xun stood still.

He knew he had to be heartless now.

Once Jiang Wanxing was given hope, those feelings that shouldn't exist would grow wildly and irrationally.

If he had known, he shouldn't have come here.

That way, he wouldn't have run into Jiang Wanxing.

He turned around, preparing to leave.

He didn't want to listen to the finger-pointing of those around him anymore.

"Hey! Wait!"

Qian Duo grabbed him and lowered his voice, "Though I don't know what your relationship really is—one moment it's 'Brother,' the next... cough—can you really bear to see her cry like this?"

Jiang Xun didn't look back.

He knew what he was doing.

If you don't like someone, don't string them along.

Giving someone hope only to lead them to despair—that is what a true bastard does.

Just then, a figure cut in from the side.

It was Wang Teng.

He pushed Qian Duo aside and blocked Jiang Xun's path, his expression gloomy.

"Do you know what I hate most in this life?" He stared at Jiang Xun, his voice fierce.

Jiang Xun looked up at him. "What you hate has nothing to do with me."

A cold light flashed in Wang Teng's hand, and a Pitch-black Spear appeared. The shaft gleamed with the luster of cold iron, and the tip glinted with a chill, pointing straight toward the sky.

"What I hate most are guys who make women cry." Wang Teng approached within less than half a zhang of Jiang Xun. "I don't care what your relationship is; now, I want you to apologize."

Jiang Xun sneered.

"This is my family matter," he said. "Is there any need for you to meddle in others' business?"

"Good, good, good." Wang Teng laughed out of extreme anger. "I'd like to see what kind of capability you have to be so arrogant!"

Before he had even finished speaking, the spear in his hand shook, trailing a dark light as it swept toward him!

Jiang Xun had long been prepared; the han hong sword unsheathed, parrying in front of him.

"Clang!"

The spear and sword collided, letting out an ear-piercing ring.

Wang Teng's strike was incredibly powerful, and Jiang Xun was knocked back several zhang, his feet plowing two shallow furrows into the grey stone ground.

He was forced onto an empty Martial Arts Stage nearby.

Jiang Xun stood firm, his hand holding the sword feeling slightly numb.

But in the depths of his eyes, a very faint, almost eager light flashed.

He had long wanted to find someone to test his skills against.

Enduring so much pain only to practice his sword against the air all day—he had long been frustrated.

His entire Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation was released without reservation, erupting forth!

"Late Stage Foundation Establishment?" Wang Teng raised an eyebrow. "No wonder you dare to speak so boldly."

He gave a cold laugh, and his own Aura also revealed itself—it was unexpectedly also at the Late Stage Foundation Establishment!

As the two faced off and their Auras clashed, the air around the Martial Arts Stage seemed to stagnate slightly.

"Great! They're fighting!"

"Fight!"

"Give that scumbag what he deserves!"

"Wuhu!"

The surrounding Disciples suddenly began to cheer; they simply loved watching a commotion.

Every one of them was incredibly excited.

Jiang Xun poured spiritual power into the han hong sword.

The sword's blade trembled slightly, and an ice-blue halo rippled along the edge, emitting a clear, resonant hum.

Wang Teng took a step forward, his body coiling like a leopard before he leaped high into the air. He swung his spear in a wide arc, gathering power like a crescent moon, and brought it crashing down ruthlessly with a whistling wind!

Jiang Xun's eyes narrowed, and just as the han hong sword was about to meet the strike—

"Swoosh!"

A cyan-green cold light shot out from the side without warning, fast as a flash of lightning!

Wang Teng was in mid-air and couldn't dodge in time; a muffled thud came from his left shoulder bone.

That cold light was actually a slender Flying Sword, and it had pierced straight through his shoulder!

He let out a muffled groan and fell from the air, rolling several times on the ground before stabilizing himself.

When he looked up, his face was already full of rage.

"Jiang Wanxing!" He gritted his teeth, staring at the girl who had stood up at some point, a flicker of green light still hovering at her fingertips.

"I was helping you vent your anger; why did you wound me in secret?!"

The tear stains on Jiang Wanxing's face were not yet dry, but her eyes held a hint of anger.

She would not allow anyone else to hurt Jiang Xun.

"Didn't you hear my brother?" Her voice was crisp, like the ringing of a silver bell, and her words clearly reached everyone present.

"This is a family matter. Do I need you to help me vent my anger?"

Wang Teng was momentarily speechless with rage. "You!"

The several followers around him quickly gathered around; some supported him, while others pointed at Jiang Wanxing and cursed her for 'not knowing a good heart when she saw one'.

Jiang Wanxing only spat out one word:

"Scram."

As her voice fell, her entire Aura was suddenly released—pure, majestic, and carrying a power that shouldn't belong to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, surging out like a tide!

Wang Teng's expression shifted.

He had heard of Jiang Wanxing's fame—seventh on the Heaven Ranking, the precious Disciple of Zhuluo Grotto-Heaven, with a Soul Transformation Stage Grand Elder as her Revered Master...

...She was indeed someone he couldn't afford to offend.

He had originally wanted to use this opportunity to gain some favor, but he hadn't expected to end up in such a mess instead.

"Let's go." He gritted his teeth, clutching his heavily injured left shoulder, and gave Jiang Xun a fierce glare before turning to leave with his followers.

There was plenty of time ahead.

As long as Jiang Xun was in the Sect, he didn't believe there wouldn't be a chance for revenge.

He blamed everything on Jiang Xun.

The surrounding Disciples looked on with regret.

From time to time, some sighs could be heard.

However, what she said was right; it was their family matter after all, and it wasn't easy for outsiders to interfere.

But the forbidden love of a sister liking her brother made these spectators even more excited.

Looking at Wang Teng's departing back, Jiang Xun actually felt a bit disappointed... he hadn't fought enough yet.

He shook his head and glanced at the sky; it really wasn't early anymore.

The sun was gradually sinking in the west.

A surge of anxiety that didn't belong to him began to rise within him.

He turned and cupped his hands toward Qian Duo. "Brother Qian, if fate allows, we shall meet again."

Qian Duo quickly returned the gesture. "Of course, of course."

Jiang Xun didn't delay any further; he turned, about to leave on his sword.

A figure, however, blocked his path.

Jiang Wanxing stood there, her eyes still red.

"Move aside." Jiang Xun's voice turned cold.

"Brother." Jiang Wanxing's voice trembled.

"I'll be good; please don't go, okay? I haven't seen you for over a year... I can't get into Jade Void Grotto-Heaven, and Revered Master won't take me in either. Whenever I say I want to see you, Revered Master always says you're in seclusion..."

As she spoke, tears welled up again.

Jiang Xun turned a blind eye.

He stepped to the side, preparing to go around her.

Just at the moment they were about to pass each other—

"Clang!"

A sword light stabbed toward Jiang Xun's waist without any warning!

Jiang Xun's pupils shrank, and his body instinctively retreated; the sword's edge grazed his lapel, slicing off a piece of fabric.

He stood firm and stared at Jiang Wanxing, who was holding her longsword with a cold gaze. His voice lowered:

"Jiang Wanxing, what do you think you're doing now?"

Jiang Xun looked at her; the formerly timid girl who always endured in silence had suddenly become very assertive.

It was like the most sensible child in a family starting to fight and grab for things.

Jiang Wanxing gripped her sword, the tip trembling slightly.

She looked at him, her voice filled with sobs and grievance as she spoke each word clearly:

"Because Brother..."

"...always refuses to let me finish what I have to say."