Chapter Nine: Fierce Battle

That deep, resonant voice belonged to Hang Ri.

“Xu Xing! I’ve come today to repay a life-saving debt, and I know there’s some misunderstanding between us. Hey, is anyone there? Hurry up and come out, I’ve been waiting long enough. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

Hang Ri was as arrogant as ever. Xu Xing responded with a faint smile.

If it had been anyone else, having saved Hang Ri’s life, Hang Ri would surely have offered gentle words of thanks. Who could have expected such flamboyance?

“Let’s go and see for ourselves. With Su Mei here, we’ve broken through; we don’t need to fear him. Go meet your old adversary,” Xu Hai said, patting Xu Xing on the shoulder.

Xu Xing nodded, and the group proceeded towards the main gate.

Sunlight lingered among the drifting mists, flirting with the clouds, but some rays slipped through, illuminating the faces of the group beneath the willow tree.

When the door opened, there stood Hang Ri—tall and burly, holding a white fan, several servants trailing behind him, none of whom seemed particularly strong, their cultivation barely at the peak of the Qi Refinement realm.

At the sight of Xu Xing, Hang Ri’s stern expression melted away. He smiled, waved off his servants, and said warmly,

“Thank you, Xu Xing. If it hadn’t been for you, I really might have died in that little tavern.”

“No need for thanks. Had it been anyone else, even just a commoner, I would have saved them all the same.”

“You must understand, even if we are as insignificant as ants, we should still aspire to soar like eagles. My ambition is the same: to be a hero. But since there’s nothing more, let’s consider this fate. From here on, you are you, I am me—let’s pretend this never happened.”

Xu Xing replied coolly, without the slightest ripple in his heart.

For matters such as this, he would have acted the same way a hundred times over.

Because this was who Xu Xing was.

As the crimson sun climbed the sky, the doves perched along the courtyard wall seemed moved by Xu Xing’s words, cooing in approval.

The autumn breeze grew gentle, like a lover’s caress, brushing across their bodies, slipping through the cracks in the courtyard wall.

Xu Xing’s words filled Su Wei and Xu Hai with admiration; they cast approving glances his way.

The man who had once wasted his days in drunken idleness was now buried in the past.

Xu Xing seemed reborn. Su Wei, looking at his back, felt a surge of pride; though their families were only distantly related, she was genuinely happy to hear his words.

Xu Hai beamed, standing proudly before Xu Xing, thumping his chest. “See the spirit in my brother? Can you compare? Do you have the heart of a hero, or only schemes against us?”

Hang Ri nodded, accepting the rebuke. But when he looked at Xu Xing again, surprise flashed across his face.

“You’ve broken through?” Xu Xing only smiled in response.

Hang Ri then turned to his servants, who brought out several dark green treasure chests and set them before the three. Hang Ri smiled.

“There have been misunderstandings between us, but I came here to clarify everything—and to be friends at last.”

“We’ve been adversaries for so many years that, in a way, our bond is deeper than with old friends. This is a small token for you.”

Xu Hai, behind Xu Xing, smiled. He hadn’t expected Hang Ri to show such loyalty—or to bring gifts.

Xu Xing’s face betrayed nothing. The sudden reconciliation left him wary; it was like being greeted by a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Hang Ri snorted, “Xu Xing, don’t be so suspicious. I’m here to thank you for saving my life. These are three Divine Runes at the Foundation Establishment level. I begged my father for them and couldn’t bear to use them myself—I’m giving them to you.”

At the mention of Foundation Establishment Divine Runes, Xu Hai couldn’t contain himself and strode forward.

He picked up the three treasure chests and weighed them in his hands.

The Divine Runes glowed with a bright green light, long and straight like silk, clear and lustrous. Xu Hai lifted one, marveling at its lightness, then placed his hand upon it, and the rune merged into his body.

A look of utter relaxation came over Xu Hai’s face, pure bliss.

“What’s happening to my brother?” Xu Xing asked, puzzled by the sight of Xu Hai sitting cross-legged on the ground.

“Your brother is absorbing the power of the Divine Rune,” Hang Ri explained. “From his posture, it looks like he’s having a sudden insight—he might break through to the early stage of Foundation Establishment. He just reached the threshold, didn’t he? Who’d have thought he’d advance again?”

A gentle wind passed by. Su Mei approached Xu Hai, sensing something off in his expression. She placed her palm on his back.

With a single strike, Xu Hai coughed up two mouthfuls of black blood, which spilled onto the ground, instantly corroding the earth.

Su Mei said nothing, channeling her spiritual energy into Xu Hai. It was clearly taxing—her face was locked in concentration.

A luminous green light enveloped both Xu Hai and Su Mei, forming a barrier that cut them off from the outside world. Su Mei remained motionless, infusing spiritual energy while Xu Hai spat blood.

Seeing his brother vomiting black blood, Xu Xing was at a loss. What was happening?

As he struggled to understand, Hang Ri exclaimed in shock, “This is bad—your brother has been poisoned by Whale Venom. He’s been corrupted by something…”

Xu Xing’s heart raced with panic. Without thinking, he swung his fist and struck Hang Ri, sending him flying several meters. Hang Ri lay on the ground, lifting his head with effort.

“How… How can you have become so strong in just a few days? But I swear, it wasn’t me who poisoned him…”

Hang Ri’s servants, seeing him injured, rolled up their sleeves, ready to act. Hang Ri stopped them.

“Don’t touch him. He’s my friend now.”

“It truly wasn’t me—you must believe me!” Hang Ri stood, his face full of grievance.

Xu Xing roared in frustration, unable to comprehend why Hang Ri would betray them here.

He had risked his life to save Hang Ri, and now Hang Ri repaid him with betrayal. Xu Xing’s breathing grew ragged, his aura surging—anger was drowning out his reason.

Again and again, his brother had shielded him from danger. The torment from the True Sutra had been endured for his sake; now, his brother had been poisoned while fusing the Divine Rune.

If he could not protect his dearest kin, what kind of hero was he?

Years of emotion crashed over him, a tide of bitterness unbound. He could endure no more; in this moment, he was like a man possessed.

“Hang Ri, I thought you were an honorable man. I saved you that day, yet you have tried to harm us time and again. Look at yourself—what makes you any different from those monsters?”

Dark energy swirled around Xu Xing’s body as he cried out, his voice raw.

Hang Ri stepped back nervously. “Let me explain—it really wasn’t me!”

But Xu Xing no longer wished to hear his protests. In a flash, light as the wind, he became a blur and clashed with Hang Ri’s servants.

Hang Ri cowered behind them, watching Xu Xing fight, fear growing in his eyes.

“How… How did he become so powerful?”

With swift, decisive moves—a strike of the elbow, an uppercut, a sweeping palm—Xu Xing dispatched Hang Ri’s servants with ease.

Tears or blood, it was impossible to say which, streamed down Xu Xing’s face, soaking his clothes.

The doves on the courtyard wall, startled, took flight. A sea breeze rolled in, and a dark cloud smothered the rising sun, casting the world into gloom.

“Xu Xing, it truly wasn’t me—let me explain! I never meant you harm; someone is sowing discord between us. I only came to be your friend!” Hang Ri shouted, but nothing he said could reach Xu Xing.

In a flash, Xu Xing appeared before Hang Ri, his anger uncontainable.

“I’ll make you pay in blood. All the old scores will be settled now!”

Before Hang Ri could protest, Xu Xing’s fist shot out. Hang Ri had no choice but to fight back, only to find Xu Xing’s strength was far beyond that of a Qi Refinement cultivator: powerful yet controlled, a perfect balance of hardness and softness.

The two grappled fiercely. One of the servants regained consciousness, watching their duel in shock.

How could a Qi Refinement cultivator stand evenly against his young master, a Foundation Establishment expert?

The servant rushed to help but was sent flying ten meters by Xu Xing’s wild blows, coughing blood before collapsing again.

If he had another chance, he would surely play dead and avoid meddling.

The battle’s scope grew ever wider, Xu Xing fighting fiercely with only the power of Qi Refinement.