Swordholder

Chen Qingcang stepped over Lu Sidao's head, passed through muddy, bloody mud, and trodden over broken corpses, until he arrived in front of Chen Guohai's head.

He bent down and picked it up, carefully brushing the bits of hair off his son's hair as he murmured to himself.

"Second brother, look at you! Your hair is such a mess. What if your older brother doesn't recognize you down there?"

As he spoke, he wiped his eyes several more times, but still couldn't close them.

"Rest in peace. Your father has avenged you. I didn't spare a single one of those bastards who bullied you. I slaughtered them all."

Chen Qingcang spoke calmly, his expression extremely calm, frighteningly calm.

But his eyes were always bloodshot and red.

Chen Qingcang, who was originally ruddy-faced and tall and robust, was now somewhat hunched over, as if he had aged decades in an instant.

As if understanding these words, Chen Guohai's eyelids finally drooped down, as if he had peacefully fallen asleep.

Chen Qingcang's withered hands trembled slightly as he painstakingly wiped the bloodied face clean.

He then held it up to his eyes and examined it for a while, forcefully pulling a smile from the corner of his mouth.

"Of the three rascals, you're the best looking, but also the most mischievous. You often made your dad angry when you were little."

As he spoke, tears that had been welling up in Chen Qingcang's eyes finally burst forth like a flood, soaking his clothes and mixing with blood and mud.

Ignoring everything else, his trembling hands cradled the severed head in his arms, and he gently pressed his face against Chen Guohai's cold face, unable to hold back his sobs.

"You three brothers now have company, but remember, even down there, you can't let anyone bully you..."

"None of the Chen family members are cowards; they have backbone and will not back down."

"And there's more..."

"Go down there...and when you see your older brother, tell him that your father will always find his son."

But now he has a godson, remember to ask him to bless his godson...

"·····"

Chen Qingcang held the bloodied head and mumbled something, as if he were chatting about everyday things, or as if it were the last words of an old father.

I don't know how much time had passed, but then heavy, hurried footsteps came from afar.

Chen Guodong, Chen Jianchu, and their group rushed over.

When they saw the scene before them, everyone froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning, completely petrified.

The land was ravaged, soaked in blood and turned into a dark red swamp, riddled with potholes.

Limbs and remains were scattered everywhere, and the stench of blood and gore was overwhelming, so strong it was nauseating.

In the center of the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood, an old man with disheveled white hair and a hunched back stood alone.

Clad in a plain robe stained with blood, he tightly embraced a severed head, whispering softly amidst the deathly silence and stench of blood, weeping alone in despair.

Chen Guodong, Chen Jianchu, and the others stood still, their throats bobbing, not daring to make a sound.

They sensed a strong killing intent emanating from Chen Qingcang.

The murderous intent was so terrifying that it chilled the surrounding void, and everyone shivered.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Qingcang slowly raised his head and turned to look at Chen Guodong and the others.

His expression turned cold and frosty again, and he said in a low voice, "Dispose of all the corpses here."

Chen Guodong suddenly realized what was happening and immediately led Chen Jianchu and the others to collect all the corpses.

"While you're at it, look for Guohai's hands and feet."

Chen Qingcang's hoarse voice came again.

Chen Guodong, Chen Jianchu, and the others had bloodshot eyes. They nodded emphatically as they quickly searched the area.

The bodies of the Chen family members were collected and set aside.

The corpses of the remaining members of the Xiangshou family were piled up and burned in a fire.

Chen Qingcang held Chen Guohai's head, sat on a rock, and stared blankly at the distant mountains and forests.

It's unclear how much time passed, but after Chen Guodong and the others had finished cleaning up the scene and tidying up the bodies of the Chen family members, they returned to Chen Qingcang's side with sorrowful expressions.

"Let's go back."

Chen Qingcang spoke in a hoarse voice, as if he had suppressed all his sorrow. As he walked ahead, in the eyes of Chen Guodong, Chen Jianchu and the others, he seemed to have become that tall and robust old man again, like a pillar supporting the sky.

······

Tianshan County, the Tower of Human Desire.

late at night.

boom!

A terrifying shockwave suddenly exploded from a room on the second floor!

The entire building was shaking violently.

"What happened?"

Li Wei and Nuomi were startled awake from their cultivation and quickly walked to a dilapidated room.

Inside the ruins, a young man sat cross-legged, his hair moving without wind, exuding a powerful aura.

"A-Yuan, what's going on?"

Li Wei asked, dumbfounded.

"I can't control it, my spiritual sense is too strong."

Chen Yuan murmured, a sharp glint in his eyes. He gently raised his hand, and with a hum, all the surrounding rubble, planks, and other debris automatically floated up.

"The Great Perfection of the Yellow Court!"

Li Wei exclaimed in surprise, his face full of envy.

The most distinctive feature of the Huangting Realm is the ability to control objects remotely!

Clang!

At that moment, the Tianzheng Sword, which was lying flat beside him, was also drawn instantly and shot out of the window!

puff!

The sudden flight of the Tianzheng Sword caught the lurking beings outside off guard, causing them to grunt as if they had been stabbed!

It was this tiny sound that caused Li Wei and Nuomi's expressions to change drastically.

"Who's outside!"

Li Wei drank heavily and rushed out.

Nuomi concealed herself and disappeared from the spot, chasing after them.

After Chen Yuan advanced to the Great Perfection of the Yellow Court, his spiritual perception expanded greatly.

He finally realized that someone had been watching him all along, so he directly controlled his flying sword and thrust it straight at the figure!

The three of them appeared on the roof of the Desire Tower and chased after the tall, dark figure!

Soon, the group scaled the walls of Tianshan County and chased the pursuers into the mountains and forests outside the city.

Just as they were about to catch up, the dark figure in front suddenly stopped.

Chen Yuan and Li Wei also stopped and looked at the newcomer warily.

"Who are you? Why have you been secretly following me?"

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, and raised the Tianzheng Sword slightly, emitting wisps of blood-red sword energy under the scarlet moonlight.

"A-Yuan, it's me!"

The man in the black robe removed his hood, revealing a rugged face.

Chen Yuan and Li Wei's pupils contracted.

"Second Uncle?"

Chen Yuan called out, a hint of surprise in his expression, "What are you doing here...?"

Suddenly, he realized, "So it was you, Second Uncle, who had been secretly protecting us all along."

From the darkness, Nuomi appeared and sweetly called out to the newcomer, "Second Grandpa."

"Um!"

The man in black robes nodded slightly and grinned.

That was Chen Qingtian.

His eyes held a multitude of emotions, complex and fleeting, including a hint of sadness, which he quickly concealed.

He looked at Chen Yuan with a look of satisfaction, "A Yuan, you are really amazing. Not only have you established yourself in Tianshan County, but you have also broken through to the Great Perfection of the Yellow Court realm. It seems that I won't need to protect you in secret anymore."

As he spoke, he looked at Nuomi, reached around his waist, and pulled out a large bunch of candied hawthorns. "Here, little Nuomi, these are all from your second grandfather."

Nuomi's eyes lit up. She took the rice, picked out one and put it in her mouth to lick, then put the rest away.

Chen Qingtian looked at Chen Yuan and suddenly said, "Yuan, you have already reached the Great Perfection of the Yellow Court, so you no longer need me to protect you in secret. I have something to do, so I need to go back to the family first."

With that, Chen Qingtian turned to leave.

He's usually a very energetic and easygoing person, but today he clearly seems to have something on his mind.

"Second Uncle, what happened?"

Chen Yuan stopped him.

Li Wei and Nuomi looked over curiously.

Chen Qingtian glanced at Chen Yuan, his mind deep in thought.

"Second Uncle, you've managed to hide yourself so well around me for so many days, but you suddenly gave yourself away. Clearly, something is bothering you!"

Chen Yuan stared at Chen Qingtian and said earnestly, "Just tell me, has something happened to your family?"

Chen Qingtian stared at Chen Yuan in silence, but his brows were furrowed, and it was clear that something was wrong.

Chen Yuan thought for a moment and then spoke again, "I am now at the Great Perfection of the Yellow Court, so I can be of help if there is anything I need."

"Okay... alright."

Chen Qingtian sighed and finally relented.

He was originally a carefree and unconventional person.

Now, when something is on your mind, it's impossible to hide it from your brow.

He immediately recounted the details of Chen Guohai's murder.

"What?! They've gone mad! They killed Uncle!"

Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then roared angrily.

Li Wei and Nuomi were even more astonished.

Chen Guohai is dead?

That's the Grand Master Wuxiang!

"Let's go back together, Second Uncle, and wipe out those beasts, Niu Gou!"

Chen Yuan was furious and wanted to go back with Chen Qingtian.

Chen Qingtian also had the urge to wreak havoc.

Chen Yuan's personality suited his tastes very well.

"But you're here in Tianshan County..."

Chen Qingtian said hesitantly.

"I don't know when the appointment of the Grand Master of No Form will be made, and I can't just wait here for nothing."

Chen Yuan frowned, a murderous intent rising in his eyes. "Moreover, with something like this happening at home, it's precisely the time for us to go back. I'll just give Zhu Xin a brief overview of what happened."

Chen Guohai treated him well and provided him with much protection when they were in Tianqing County.

Moreover, Chen Yuan had long regarded the Chen family as his own.

How could he remain silent after Chen Guohai was murdered?

Seeing the murderous intent in Chen Yuan's eyes, as he prepared to return to avenge Chen Guohai, Chen Qingtian felt a surge of satisfaction.

"Although he returned to the family late, he is truly worthy of being a member of the Chen family!"

Chen Qingtian nodded emphatically, his gaze towards Chen Yuan filled with even greater satisfaction.

After Chen Yuan returned and wrote a letter, he sent it to Zhu Xin. Then, the three of them found the big black horse and, together with Chen Qingtian, anxiously and bewilderedly returned to the Chen family.

······

Tianshan Prefectural Governor's Office.

Zhu Xin looked at the letter in her hand, her gaze sharpening. "Oh? Chen Guohai was murdered?"

The next moment, she realized what was happening, her eyes turned cold, and she immediately roared.

"Damn it, they're insane!"

"If we do this, which human will be willing to serve the Empire wholeheartedly?"