53: Upholding positive family values (3K)
The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger.
Layer upon layer, they surrounded Jiang Xun and Jiang Wanxing in the center, as if watching a play.
The crowd consciously left a large space, anticipating the two would start fighting.
This scene was much more interesting than watching the Sect Competition.
The buzzing sound of whispers blended together; while the specific words were unclear, the tone of the conversation was unmistakable.
“What's going on here?”
“What else could it be? A heartless man.”
“He looks decent enough, but I didn't expect...”
“I heard they're siblings! The brother wants to sever ties, but the sister refuses.”
“That's so scandalous!?”
“Tsk tsk, truly...”
Gossip flooded in from all directions like a rising tide.
Jiang Xun stood there, looking at the green longsword Jiang Wanxing pointed directly at him, his expression becoming solemn.
“Jiang Wanxing! Are you trying to block me now?”
He had already made things very clear.
But why couldn't she just listen to reason?
Jiang Wanxing's previous strike had carried a strange fluctuation of Spiritual Qi. If he hadn't dodged in time and been pierced through the Dantian, the Spiritual Qi in his body would have leaked out instantly like a punctured bucket.
Even if he were hit, it wouldn't be a major issue, but he would certainly be at Jiang Wanxing's mercy for a short time.
He just wanted a normal life of cultivation. Was that so hard?
Jiang Wanxing was still crying.
Tears fell like broken strings of pearls, yet the hand holding her sword was trembling.
“Brother...” Her voice was incredibly raspy.
“As long as you don't leave, I'll listen to whatever you say. I'll be very obedient, I'll do whatever you tell me to...”
She spoke with increasing humility, almost on the verge of kneeling.
Jiang Xun was just about to speak.
【Ding!】
A light chime rang in his mind.
A pale blue interface popped up without warning, suspended deep within his consciousness.
【Scenario Triggered: The Insubordinate Younger Sister.】
【Option 1: Walk directly toward her and press your chest against the sword's tip. “I don't believe you'd actually dare to stab me. If you have the guts, kill me with one strike. If not, get lost!”】
【Option 2: No, are you the older brother or is she? “This is pure rebellion! Who exactly calls the shots in this family?” Please teach her a harsh lesson to correct the family style.】
【Option 3: Immediately flee on your sword. The opponent's combat power is severely inconsistent with her Realm; it is suggested to temporarily avoid her edge.】
【Time: 30... 29... 28...】
Jiang Xun looked at these three options and fell silent for a moment.
System, you only dare to shout like this out here. If you've got the guts, try acting up in front of Yan Qingning.
However, even if the System hadn't appeared, Jiang Xun had already decided to completely sever ties with Jiang Wanxing.
Because before long, he might never see Jiang Wanxing again.
Rather than letting her worry all day, it was better to break it off early.
It would save them from messy entanglements in the future.
The problem was right there; he could run for a while, but not forever.
His gaze fell on Option 2.
This was the harshest way.
Lock in.
“What if I insist on leaving?” Jiang Xun spoke, his voice very flat.
Jiang Wanxing lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
“...Then I can only use my own way to keep Brother here.”
Her voice was very low, yet it carried a sort of willful determination.
The moment her words fell, she moved.
The longsword in her hand flickered, the blade transforming into a cold star aimed straight at Jiang Xun's legs!
The surrounding Disciples erupted in excited cheers and applause.
“Haha! They're finally fighting.”
“Fairy, go for it! Beat that heartless man to death.”
“Kill that pretty boy.”
“Everyone Move back a bit, give the Fairy some room to work.”
Many surrounding Disciples were cheering her on; they had waited for this moment for too long, and most were on Jiang Wanxing's side.
The female Disciples were shouting even louder; seeing Jiang Wanxing acting so humbly, they were truly frustrated by her lack of backbone.
“Sister, if a man doesn't listen, you have to give him a harsh lesson.”
“That's right, can we women let men ride over our heads? Kill him.”
“If a man is disobedient, it's because he lacks discipline.”
...Jiang Xun did not retreat but instead advanced.
The moment the han hong sword was unsheathed, it let out a clear, ringing hum.
“This is pure rebellion! You think your wings have grown strong just because you're out? Who exactly calls the shots in this family!?”
Jiang Xun not only recited the lines perfectly but also added his own flair.
“Today,” his voice wasn't loud, but it spread clearly, “I shall correct the family style.”
“Clang!”
The two swords collided, sparks flying... Hearing Jiang Xun's words, some of the Disciples watching the show became annoyed.
“Oho! This guy is pretty arrogant!”
“This really pisses me off. What do I have to do to meet such a devoted Fairy?”
“Why do good girls always end up with scumbags? It's so unfair...”
...Jiang Wanxing's swordplay was very fast and agile, like a roaming green snake, specifically targeting tricky angles.
Jiang Xun's sword, however, was steady and heavy. Every Move carried the thick Spiritual Qi of the Late Stage Foundation Establishment, breaking through her finesse with raw power.
The blades constantly clashed, the sound of metal on metal exploding across the Martial Arts Arena, one after another.
The onlookers subconsciously backed away, creating a larger circle.
“Brother...” Jiang Wanxing cried as she fought, but her sword Moves became increasingly ruthless.
“You still consider me family, don't you? I'm willing to accept family punishment...”
“As long as you stay, after we go back... no matter how you want to treat me, I'll endure it...”
Jiang Xun remained silent.
He simply struck with his sword.
Move after Move, showing no mercy.
He had a pent-up frustration in his heart—the gloom from being confined by Yan Qingning for a year, the resentment from being forced to undergo bone replacement, and the anger at being toyed with by this absurd fate. All of it was now channeled into his sword, pouring out in a torrent.
Their figures crossed rapidly on the bluestone ground, sword light crisscrossing and robes fluttering.
More and more Disciples were drawn over, and the crowd became packed tight.
People called out to their friends, and the vast Martial Arts Arena had already gathered over a thousand people.
“Is that... Jiang Wanxing, ranked seventh on the Heaven Roll?”
“Who's that fighting her? I've never seen him before...”
“Come quick! Fairy Jiang is beating up a heartless man.”
“What agile swordplay!”
...Jiang Xun was being forced back step by step.
Even though his cultivation was higher, he just couldn't exert his full strength.
He was being toyed with like a mouse by a cat.
Jiang Wanxing's movement technique was eerie and unpredictable, her body surged with vast and thick Spiritual Qi, and her sword Moves were exceptionally powerful.
Although the Sword Qi he released from cultivating the Taichu Hunyuan Sword Scripture was not weaker than Jiang Wanxing's, what use was it if he couldn't hit her?
The System said her strength didn't match her Realm, and it was right; his Late Stage cultivation was actually being dominated by her Middle Stage.
Jiang Wanxing suddenly withdrew her sword and retreated.
She tapped her toes and floated lightly into the air, holding her longsword high.
Upon the blade, a brilliant green light surged, like a pool of spring water flowing over the edge.
“Snake Dance.”
She gave a light shout and swung the blade down.
Dozens of green light streams shot out from the sword tip, twisting and splitting in the air, transforming into dozens of light snakes as thick as a wrist, hissing as they lunged toward Jiang Xun!
Each light snake carried sharp Sword Qi, leaving tiny cracks in the air wherever they passed.
Jiang Xun looked up at the sky full of lunging light snakes, and for the first time, a flash of true Battle Intent appeared in his eyes.
He took a deep breath.
Spiritual Qi within his body flooded frantically into the han hong sword.
The sword vibrated violently, and an ice-blue light surged, painting the surrounding dozen feet in a cold hue.
He gripped the hilt tightly, his lips moving slightly:
“Primal Chaos Returns to One.”
The words fell.
He slashed out with his sword.
This Move consumed more than half of his Spiritual Qi reserves, but he had to use it now, or he would be worn down to death by Jiang Wanxing.
There were no fancy Moves or complex variations. Just a simple, unadorned blue sword shadow erupted from the sword tip, and the moment it left the blade...
One split into two.
Two split into four.
Four became eight.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of ice-blue sword lights covered the sky like a torrential downpour, sweeping toward Jiang Wanxing in mid-air!
The sword lights collided with the light snakes, producing a dense series of explosions.
The green light snakes shattered and were annihilated one by one.
Jiang Wanxing's expression remained unchanged as she spun rapidly in the air, easily avoiding the direct impact of the sword lights.
Her toes tapped on the void, stirring up transparent ripples.
She was like a dancing spirit.
With a few maneuvers, she avoided Jiang Xun's killing Move.
Despite such a dense attack, she hadn't let a single edge touch her clothes.
Just as she was prepared to make Jiang Xun completely submit...
Those sword lights did not dissipate after passing her.
They hovered in mid-air like hundreds of blue stars, quietly fixed in the Void Realm.
By the time Jiang Wanxing realized something was wrong, she could no longer escape.
All the sword lights slowly turned their direction.
The sword tips all pointed directly at Jiang Wanxing.
A deathly silence fell over the Martial Arts Arena.
Hundreds of ice-blue sword lights floated around Jiang Wanxing, sealing off all directions—above, below, left, and right.
Each sword light emitted a freezing Sword Qi; with a single thought from Jiang Xun, he could turn her into a sieve.
Jiang Wanxing stood in the center of the circle of sword lights, her face as pale as paper.
She looked down, her hand having unconsciously loosened; her sword had slipped from her grasp and fallen onto the bluestone ground below.
Then she looked up at Jiang Xun.
Her tears had stopped flowing.
Only a nearly hollow dejection remained on her face.
“Brother,” she asked softly, “now... are you going to kill me?”
Her voice was very light, yet it felt like a hammer striking everyone's heart.
In the surrounding crowd, even the sound of breathing stopped.
Everyone looked at Jiang Xun.
Waiting for his answer.
Jiang Xun stood there, his hand gripping the han hong sword tightening slightly.
He looked into Jiang Wanxing's eyes.
He looked at those eyes that were once timid but were now stubborn to the point of near madness.
After a long while, he slowly raised his hand.
The hundreds of sword lights suspended in the air trembled slightly with his movement.
Then... they all dissipated at once.
They turned into a sky full of ice-blue light spots, falling slowly like a silent snow.
Jiang Xun sheathed his sword.
He turned around.
“From now on, we are strangers; there is no longer any sibling bond between us.”
He said only this one sentence.
Then he rose on his sword, turning into a streak of light, flying toward the direction of the Jade Void Grotto-Heaven.
He never looked back.
On the Martial Arts Arena, only Jiang Wanxing remained, standing blankly on the spot.
She watched the direction where Jiang Xun disappeared for a long time.
Then she slowly crouched down and picked up the sword on the ground.
She gripped it very tightly.
So tightly that the blade let out a pained moan.
Immense grievance and unwillingness filled Jiang Wanxing's heart.
She painfully clutched her chest; it felt so miserable there.
A trace of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
This was caused by the backlash of her Spiritual Qi when she tried to pull back her strike mid-battle.
Her eyes were misty with tears, the whites shot through with blood, and her voice tore out from her very depths:
“Jiang Xun! I will haunt you for all eternity!”