"But if you want to live, you must..."
Hong Yu deliberately paused halfway through his sentence.
Hong Tiande and the others all widened their eyes, their ears pricked up as they waited for him to continue.
Hong Tiande, in particular, was practically sticking his head next to Hong Yu's mouth.
It was a matter of life and death, so he had to take it seriously!
Hong Yu narrowed his eyes and said, "Seventh Elder, I've heard that in every inter-clan tournant, those who make it into the top ten, top five, or top three receive corresponding rewards. And the family disciple who takes first place receives an especially valuable prize!"
"You want those rewards?"
Hong Tiande was stunned.
To encourage its prodigies to perform at a higher level in the tournant, the Hong Family did indeed have rules for corresponding rewards. For example, after Hong Yu had previously secured a spot among the Ten Great Celestial Prodigies, standard procedure dictated that he should have received five hundred thousand Gold Coins, three First-Grade Spirit dicines, and five First-Grade Spirit Pills.
Hong Tiande had secretly pulled so strings and withheld all of these rewards.
As a result, besides the Rain Listening Pavilion residence and the title of Ninth Young Master, Hong Yu hadn't received any other significant rewards. Hong Tiande had even obstructed so of the rewards promised by the Third Elder, preventing them from being awarded.
Hong Yu had heard about this matter.
Now that he brought it up, Hong Tiande let out a sigh of relief. 'As expected of a branch family mber who's never seen the world,' he thought. 'A few ager rewards are all it takes to get him this fixated. Heh heh...'
In his heart, Hong Tiande felt even more disdain for Hong Yu, looking down on this junior.
He coughed lightly and said indifferently, "Fine. I'll give you the first-place reward after we get back!"
The first-place reward was indeed generous. The Gold Coins alone amounted to five million. Including the Spirit dicines and Spirit Pills, the total value was at least ten million. What's more, the prodigy who won first place would also receive a special reward: a Second-Grade Spirit dicine.
Let alone the Gold Coins and other items, that single Second-Grade Spirit dicine was worth at least ten million Gold Coins!
Hong Yu, however, rubbed his nose, a playful look on his face, and gave a disdainful smile. He raised his right index finger and wagged it gently in front of Hong Tiande, saying slowly, "No, no, no, Seventh Elder, you've misunderstood. I don't want the first-place reward..."
"Then what do you want?"
Hong Tiande froze, asking in confusion.
He couldn't quite understand. 'The reward I offered is worth a full twenty million Gold Coins. Isn't that enough to satisfy the appetite of a branch family disciple?'
But how could Hong Tiande possibly know that Hong Yu was carrying treasures worth over fifteen million Gold Coins? Besides, after experiencing so much, Hong Yu had long seen this world for what it was. To live with dignity here, money was useless. Only strength—imnse strength—was the foundation of everything.
He raised his eyebrows and said coolly, "It's simple. I don't want the Gold Coins. I want fifty First-Grade Spirit dicines, three Second-Grade Spirit dicines, fifty First-Grade Spirit Pills, and three Second-Grade Spirit Pills. On top of that, the family's treasure vault must be opened to , and I can pick any ten treasures. As long as you agree to these terms, I can spare your life. Otherwise..."
Hong Yu licked the corner of his lips.
'This is sanctioned extortion. If I'm not ruthless, how can I live up to Brother Feng's kind intentions?'
"Lord Feng, this..."
Hong Tiande wanted to cry but had no tears.
Every item Hong Yu listed was priceless. A rough estimate placed the value of his demands at no less than fifty million Gold Coins, and so of those things were so rare you couldn't buy them even if you had the money!
This was simply blatant extortion!
However, Feng Xue Xin completely ignored his pleading gaze, yawned, and said impatiently, "I've said it before. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with . It's all up to my little brother Hong Yu!"
"Hong Yu, we are, after all, both mbers of the Hong Family. The blood of the Hong Family ancestors flows in our veins..." Hong Tiande said, trying to appeal to his emotions.
However...
Hong Yu ruthlessly cut him off before he could even get started. Staring at him with contempt, Hong Yu said coolly, "Like hell I share the sa blood as you. Ma Le Gobi! Have you forgotten how you treated ? When Hong Lin brought his n to my ho to cause trouble, you attacked without a second thought. If the Tiger Instructor hadn't stepped in, you would have crippled long ago. Did you give a damn about 'kinship' then?"
The more Hong Yu spoke, the more agitated he beca. He kicked Hong Tiande and cursed, "Damn it, you kept saying I was the one who killed Hong Luàn and that you wanted revenge for him, even going so far as to kill so many innocent people. Why didn't you ask why I killed him? I'll tell you the truth: if the Third Elder hadn't persuaded for the sake of family stability, I would have fucking had Brother Feng kill you, you old dog, a long ti ago."
"You..."
Hong Tiande trembled all over, glaring furiously as a chilling killing intent surged from his body.
To be berated by a junior in front of so many people was an imnse humiliation. He could barely contain his urge to kill Hong Yu.
Feng Xue Xin glanced at him and snorted coldly. "Hong Tiande, what do you think you're doing?"
"I..."
Hong Tiande instantly deflated like a punctured ball.
With Feng Xue Xin present, he knew he had absolutely no hope.
Hong Tiande lowered his head, hiding his expression. His eyes, however, flashed with towering rage and venomous killing intent. But this old fox was crafty, a master at sizing up a situation. When he looked up again, his composure was restored. What chilling killing intent lay hidden behind that calm facade, however, was anyone's guess.
Hong Tiande looked at Hong Yu and said expressionlessly, "Fine. I agree to all your terms."
"Wait, I'm not finished,"
Hong Yu said.
Hong Tiande frowned, taking a few more deep breaths of the cool air to suppress the rage in his chest. "What else?"
"I also want a spot to enter the Scripture Pavilion," Hong Yu said.
"The Scripture Pavilion? Fine, but you can only choose one Cultivation Technique or Secret Martial Arts Manual," Hong Tiande said.
"Deal!"
Hong Yu nodded with delight.
'He wasn't worried about how many manuals he could pick. With the powerful functions of his Shadow Martial Space, he could copy every single manual in the entire Scripture Pavilion. Was there any need to argue over one or two? Too bad Hong Tiande had no idea.'
'The old fool was probably still congratulating himself on his decision to limit the number of manuals I could choose!'
With Feng Xue Xin as a witness, Hong Yu was confident Hong Tiande wouldn't dare go back on his word. They agreed that the compensation would be paid imdiately upon their return to the family. And with that, the inter-clan tournant officially drew to a close.
Feng Xue Xin gathered the many experts of Shishui City, along with Hong Yu, Cao Bo, and Wang ng, and announced coolly, "The inter-clan tournant is officially over. The three victors are Hong Yu, Wang ng, and Cao Bo. From this mont forward, they are disciples of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. They will enjoy the standard rights and protection afforded to our disciples. If anyone dares to harbor ill intentions and tries to harm them, it will be considered a provocation against the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, and you will face the Sect's relentless pursuit. Understood?"
"Understood."
"Rest assured, Lord Feng. We understand the stakes."
Although they were seething with resentnt and yearned to avenge their fallen prodigies, under the pressure from Feng Xue Xin and the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, everyone had no choice but to yield.
Feng Xue Xin nodded in satisfaction, flicking his finger and sending three Bronze Sword Orders into the hands of the three n. "This is the Sword Sect's entry Token. You must hold this Token and report to the Sword Sect in one month. If you are late, you will be considered to have forfeited your status as a Sword Sect disciple. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The three said in unison.
Hong Yu asked, "Brother Feng, how do we get to the Sword Sect?"
Wang ng and Cao Bo also pricked up their ears.
Feng Xue Xin smiled. "After you return, bond with the Sword Order using Blood Recognition. The way to the Sword Sect will reveal itself!"
Hong Yu nodded and asked, "Brother Feng, aren't you traveling with us?"
Feng Xue Xin shook his head, giving him a 'you-know-what-I-an' look. "I have so other business to take care of. I won't be returning to the Sect for a while."
Hong Yu's cheek twitched slightly. "..."
'Important business?'
'One look at that expression and I know you're just going off to find more food. Is it really okay to have such a ridiculously foodie senior brother?'
The four of them exchanged a few more words, and then Feng Xue Xin took his leave.
Hong Yu's group returned to Shishui City in a grand procession.
Along the way, Wang ng and Cao Bo beca the focus of fawning from the experts of the various major powers. Only Hong Yu, the first-place winner, had just Hong Tianduan by his side. Hong Yu didn't mind this at all. No amount of flattery could raise his cultivation by a single sliver. On the contrary, it could easily affect his ntality and lead him astray, which wasn't worth the trouble.
"Hong Yu, I advise you, after returning to the family, don't even wait for the rewards Hong Tiande promised you. Leave Shishui City and head for the Cyan Nether Sword Sect as fast as you can," Hong Tianduan suddenly said in his ear.
Hong Yu was stunned. "Third Elder, why is that?"
Hong Tianduan said grimly, "I was watching Hong Tiande closely just now. I noticed that ever since Lord Feng left, his gaze has not left you. Based on my decades of knowing him, he knows that Lord Feng will not be accompanying you on your journey to the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. When that ti cos..."
A sharp glint flashed in Hong Yu's eyes. "Are you saying he might try to ambush and kill on the way?"
"I can't rule out the possibility!" Hong Tianduan nodded bitterly.
'That old dog,' Hong Yu thought, a chill in his heart as a monstrous rage began to build. 'I spared him for the sake of the family's stability, and he still dares to plot against ?'
Despite the surging anger in his heart, Hong Yu maintained a calm expression. He glanced imperceptibly out of the corner of his eye in Hong Tiande's direction and saw him staring with a pair of cold, sinister eyes. When he realized Hong Yu was looking, Hong Tiande froze for a mont, then grinned, revealing yellowed teeth in a smile that made one's blood run cold.
'This old dog is really up to no good!' Hong Yu thought.
With a heavy heart, Hong Yu followed the group into Shishui City.
He considered accepting Hong Tianduan's suggestion to leave directly for the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, but he realized it wouldn't work. First, it was too risky. If Hong Tiande had been targeting him since they entered the city, leaving rashly would be suicide. Second, he hadn't yet made proper arrangents for Yun ngyao.
If he just up and left, she would be directly exposed to Hong Tiande.
With Hong Tiande's power and influence, dealing with the defenseless Yun ngyao wouldn't require him to act personally; he had countless subtle thods that would go unnoticed.
'Before I leave, I have to get Yaoyao settled sowhere safe. Also, I need to increase my strength as much as possible to handle any ergencies.'
Hong Yu's mind raced, and he quickly formulated a preliminary plan. But a troubling problem imdiately followed. 'In a city as large as Shishui City, where can I possibly settle Yaoyao to keep her safe from Hong Tiande's retaliation?'
The Hong Family's power in Shishui City was imnse. It was difficult to think of any power that wouldn't fear Hong Tiande and would be willing to protect Yun ngyao.
Just as Hong Yu was wrestling with this problem, a figure suddenly flashed through his mind, and he was overjoyed...
'That's right! I can ask him!'
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