LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 48:
Chapter 48:
Finally, they were descending the mountain.
Xiao Yang felt a sense of liberation, as if the vast sky and endless seas were his to explore freely.
How could a small sect like the Azure Sun Sect ever hope to contain him?
In his previous life, he had risked everything for the sect, only to be met with betrayal.
He was manipulated by his master, stabbed in the back by fellow disciples, and schemed against by Qin Fei. Even Junior Sister Jiang Ting had ultimately betrayed him.
The worst part was that even as they discarded him, they would leave him with a glimmer of false hope, as if they hadn’t completely abandoned him. This false hope strung him along until the very end, when he was cruelly cast aside.
He had died a miserable death—pierced through the heart by Qin Fei’s sword.
In this life, he was determined to break free from the constraints of the sect, the family, and the lingering feelings for Jiang Ting.
He would soar to new heights, becoming a sword master who controlled his own destiny.
Yet, as soon as they stepped beyond the sect gates, Xiao Yang was stunned.
Outside the grand archway, six carriages were waiting.
His parents, along with his younger sister Xiao Yue, were already approaching to greet them.
“Elder Lei…”
“Master Xiao…”
Xiao Zhanshan, Xiao Yang’s father, exchanged pleasantries with the Law Enforcement Elder Lei Lie.
Xiao Yang stood quietly to the side, watching.
He knew his father and the Law Enforcement Elder didn’t share any deep friendship. This was all for show.
This was clearly another one of Qin Fei’s schemes.
What was he trying to do now? Threaten him using his parents?
How childish.
Xiao Yang watched Qin Fei’s antics with cold detachment.
What could bringing his parents and sister accomplish?
He already knew Qin Fei’s plan—it was nothing more than an attempt to drag him into a conflict.
Qin Fei had probably already set a trap in Yuanlong City.
Xiao Yang couldn’t help but admire Qin Fei’s persistence. Despite knowing the trap, he couldn’t simply avoid it.
Even though he had resolved not to involve himself in the Xiao family’s affairs, he couldn’t ignore the safety of his parents and sister.
Fine. If Qin Fei wanted to play games, he’d play along.
Xiao Yang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Qin Fei, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips.
“Master Xiao, what brings you here?”
The Law Enforcement Elder’s voice pulled Xiao Yang from his thoughts.
“Haha, we’re planning to return to Yuanlong City today—just a coincidence, really,” Xiao Zhanshan replied with a laugh.
The Law Enforcement Elder glanced at Xiao Zhanshan, then at Xiao Yang, his thoughts immediately connecting to the situation in Yuanlong City.
“I see. Well, we’ll be intruding, then,” the Law Enforcement Elder said, turning to the group. “Board the carriages!”
Traveling by carriage was far more comfortable than walking.
The Law Enforcement Elder claimed a carriage for himself.
Xiao Yang rode with his parents and sister in one carriage, while Lei Renjie, Lin Wangchuan, Ye Qingyao, and the others shared two more.
Jiang Ting and Qin Fei, due to his injury, shared a carriage, with Jiang Ting looking after him.
The last carriage was reserved for their luggage.
They took the main road.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Yang closed his eyes and began meditating.
“Brother, doesn’t it bother you that Sister Jiang Ting and Brother Qin Fei are sharing a carriage?” Xiao Yue suddenly asked.
Her words caught the attention of their parents, who turned to look at Xiao Yang.
He remained silent.
“I wonder what they’re doing together in that carriage,” Xiao Yue continued, testing him.
Still, Xiao Yang didn’t respond.
“Father, Mother, don’t you think Sister Jiang Ting and Brother Qin Fei make a perfect couple? They’re such a good match!” Xiao Yue teased, glancing at Xiao Yang.
“Perhaps,” Xiao Zhanshan replied absentmindedly.
“They do seem well-suited,” Chen Ruolan, Xiao Yang’s mother, added thoughtfully.
Xiao Yang remained unbothered, showing no reaction.
In his previous life, the thought of Jiang Ting and Qin Fei sharing a carriage would have driven him mad.
He would have confronted Jiang Ting countless times about her lack of propriety and her overly intimate behavior with Qin Fei.
Each argument ended with Jiang Ting accusing him of being petty and distrustful. She would insist that her relationship with Qin Fei was purely that of a senior and junior disciple.
But their actions had crossed the line of mere camaraderie.
Looking back, Xiao Yang saw how pathetic and stifling his life had been in his past life.
Every disagreement with Jiang Ting over Qin Fei ended with him yielding, apologizing, and coaxing her back into a good mood.
This time, he had severed any lingering feelings for her.
He no longer cared who Jiang Ting was close to or what she did.
Xiao Yue had hoped to provoke him, but when he ignored her completely, she pouted in frustration.
“Hmph!” she huffed, sulking.
…
By noon, the group reached a small town still within the Azure Sun Sect’s territory.
As one of the top ten powers in the Northern Region, the sect’s domain was extensive.
A middle-aged man with a portly figure and a group of young disciples waited at the town’s entrance to greet them.
The man’s collar bore the symbol of three small swords, marking him as Pang Hu, a Three-Sword Outer Sect Disciple.
The Azure Sun Sect’s Outer Sect disciples were ranked from one sword to five swords.
A Three-Sword Disciple like Pang Hu held a moderately high status. He managed the affairs of Nanshi Town on behalf of the sect.
Pang Hu led them to a local inn, where a lavish feast had already been prepared on the second floor.
“Wow!” Lin Wangchuan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the dishes.
“Look at all this food! What are we waiting for? Let’s eat!” he said, immediately grabbing a roasted chicken leg and digging in.
The roasted chicken was no ordinary fare—it was made from Fire Spirit Chicken, a delicacy famous for its tender, flavorful meat.
The Law Enforcement Elder shook his head at Lin Wangchuan’s antics but said nothing as he took a seat at the head of another table.
Xiao Zhanshan and Chen Ruolan joined him, sitting at the secondary seats.
Everyone else began to sit down as well, following the Elder’s lead.
Meanwhile, Qin Fei and Jiang Ting stayed in their carriage, with Jiang Ting arranging for food to be brought to them.
On the second floor, a servant brought up a pot of wine.
“Brother, I’ll pour you a drink,” Xiao Yue said, picking up the wine jug and filling Xiao Yang’s cup.
Xiao Yang picked up the cup and studied it for a moment.
“Brother, why aren’t you drinking? Are you still mad at me?” Xiao Yue pouted.
Xiao Yang remained silent, then suddenly tipped the wine onto the wooden floor.
“You…” Xiao Yue began, but her words caught in her throat as they all watched the liquid on the floor bubble and hiss.
The wood beneath began corroding, leaving behind pitted marks.
“What…”
Everyone was stunned.
The wine was poisoned.
Xiao Yue turned pale, trembling as fear gripped her.