Chapter 76: Xu Yining's Request

He never dreamed it. To avoid that four-star Soul Master, he had decided to move his entire family out of Lone Boat City and leave for a distant land. Before departing, he had sought out Jiang Fan to demand a price, hoping to uphold his family's honor.

Who could have imagined that Jiang Fan, the very person he intended to confront, was none other than the four-star Soul Master? This discovery made him feel as if he had stepped into an empty void, plummeting into a bottomless abyss. Boundless terror enveloped his heart, leaving him petrified on the spot.

Qin Changsheng didn't notice the Elder Master's abnormality. He sneered proudly, "The Qin family's Elder Master is before you. Why aren't you kneeling? That way, the Elder Master might consider showing mercy."

Xu Zhengyan's face was filled with shame. He gritted his teeth slightly, then fell to his knees with a thud before Qin Wenyuan on Jiang Fan's behalf. "Elder Master Qin," he said, "I have knelt for Jiang Fan. Whatever you intend to do to him next, I will bear it in his stead!" Regardless, Jiang Fan had suffered such misfortune because of the Qin family. How could he bear to let Jiang Fan endure it alone?

Qin Changsheng flew into a rage, stepped forward, and kicked Xu Zhengyan to the ground. "Xu Zhengyan, what the hell are you?" he snarled. "Who gave you the right to take punishment for Jiang Fan? Get lost! No one can save this little beast today!"

Seeing this, Jiang Fan's eyes gleamed coldly. He helped Xu Zhengyan up, then walked threateningly towards Qin Changsheng. The Qin family was truly going too far!

Qin Changsheng, instead of being angry, laughed. "Elder Master, look! Just look! How arrogant and presumptuous is this little beast? He even dares to act violently in front of you! Please, you must not let him off, you must not..."

*Slap!* Suddenly, a dark figure flashed by, and then Qin Changsheng received a solid slap. He looked in the direction of the hand, his face bewildered. "El-Elder Master? Why did you hit me? Shouldn't it be Jiang Fan who gets hit?"

But when he clearly saw the Elder Master's face, he swallowed hard. The Elder Master's eyebrows were bristling, his features contorted with rage, and his eyes blazed with fury. Then, an unprecedented roar erupted from his mouth. "You ungrateful wretch! I, Qin Wenyuan, must have accumulated bad karma for eight generations to be saddled with a prodigal son like you!" He trembled with anger, looking as if he could devour someone.

Qin Changsheng clutched his burning face. "Elder Master, what in the world is wrong with you?" Not only was he bewildered, but Xu Zhengyan and many of the Xu family members were also confused. Li Qingfeng was equally puzzled. Shouldn't Qin Wenyuan be severely punishing Jiang Fan next, to uphold his family's honor? What was the meaning of suddenly slapping Qin Changsheng?

Seeing Qin Changsheng's aggrieved expression, Qin Wenyuan's anger flared even more, and he delivered another fierce slap, knocking him to the ground. "Beast! You still have the audacity to feel wronged! I ask you, why did you break into the Xu family and cause destruction?"

Xu Zhengyan's heart jolted, and he immediately explained the entire sequence of events. After listening, Qin Wenyuan became even more enraged! No wonder! No wonder Jiang Fan wanted to support the Chen family and ruin the Qin family! "You helped Lu Zheng steal his wife—that's an unforgivable grudge for taking one's wife!" And he dared to say he hadn't offended anyone!

"I'll kill you, you rebellious son!" Qin Wenyuan roared furiously, raising his palm to strike him dead and give Jiang Fan an explanation.

Xu Zhengyan was startled and said, "Elder Master Qin, please show mercy." Although he didn't know why Qin Wenyuan would make such a decision, if Qin Changsheng truly died at the Xu family's residence, it would invite criticism. The Xu family still had to live in Lone Boat City.

Qin Wenyuan, suppressing his anger, retracted his palm and looked at Jiang Fan. "Young Master Jiang, I failed in my discipline and allowed my son to commit such heinous acts. How you wish to deal with him is entirely up to you!"

Everyone in the hall was utterly astonished. Qin Wenyuan was actually asking for Jiang Fan's decision? Jiang Fan's eyes flickered slightly. Qin Wenyuan's attitude had changed 180 degrees after seeing his face. Could it be that he knew about his identity as a Soul Master? If so, it made sense. He glanced at Qin Changsheng, then at the blood on Xu Zhengyan's mouth and the footprints on his chest. He said indifferently, "Troubling me, I can overlook. But harming my Uncle Xu, I cannot forgive! Wherever he struck Uncle Xu, break that part of him!"

Qin Changsheng's face turned pale at these words, and he pleaded with Qin Wenyuan, "Elder Master, Elder Master, don't listen to him!"

Li Qingfeng also frowned slightly. This young man, despite his age, had a decisive and ruthless disposition, well-suited for martial arts. Too bad he had no spiritual root.

However, in Qin Wenyuan's eyes, this was nothing short of divine grace. As if granted a great pardon, he acted without hesitation, twisting the hand that had slapped Xu Zhengyan's face and breaking the leg that had kicked Xu Zhengyan's chest. The continuous intense pain caused Qin Changsheng to scream a few times before immediately fainting on the spot.

Qin Wenyuan cautiously looked at Jiang Fan. Seeing no change in his expression, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "In that case, I shall take my leave. From today onwards, our Qin family will permanently leave Lone Boat City. Farewell!" He was informing Jiang Fan that the Qin family would completely leave Lone Boat City, asking him to show mercy. Jiang Fan subtly nodded his chin. Qin Wenyuan was completely relieved and departed grandly with his Qin family members, leaving behind a hall full of bewildered people. To this moment, they still couldn't understand why the Qin family's attitude had suddenly changed so drastically.

Xu Yining, who had been standing outside the door witnessing the entire event, bit her lip slightly. The bystander sees clearly. She clearly realized that Qin Wenyuan's change in attitude began when he recognized Jiang Fan.

"Sister, why do I feel like Qin Wenyuan is very wary of Jiang Fan?" Xu Youran asked in surprise, wondering if it was her own illusion.

Xu Yining felt an inexplicable irritation. "I don't need you to tell me that." She picked up her sword and practically ran away.

With the matter resolved, Li Qingfeng also stood up to take his leave. Before leaving, he said, "Jiang Fan, I will depart from here the day after tomorrow. You have only one more day to prepare." He had traveled extensively, searching for that Ninth-Grade Spiritual Root. However, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack; he couldn't find it anywhere. He could only return to the sect and report back to Liu Qingxian. Jiang Fan's heart tightened.

The next day, before dawn, he rushed urgently to the Soaring Dragon Path. He went straight to the twelfth floor and began a fierce battle with Nangong Liuyun. After more than a hundred rounds, Jiang Fan let out a low cry, "Startling Dragon Palm!" He unleashed a palm strike, and powerful spiritual energy surged from his body, emitting a sound like a dragon's roar. The spiritual energy transformed into a dragon shape, powerfully penetrating Nangong Liuyun's projection.

"I've lost." The projection cupped its hands and slowly dissipated, leaving behind a jade key of emerald green on the spot.

"Lower-tier key to the Azure Cloud Sect's Medicinal Garden." Jiang Fan murmured the words on the key, a glimmer of light in his eyes. Did this mean he could use this key to enter the medicinal garden and gather herbs? Medicinal herbs personally cultivated by the Azure Cloud Sect surely wouldn't be ordinary! He carefully put away the key.

As for the thirteenth floor, he had no desire to challenge it. He turned to leave, but he discovered that Xu Yining had reappeared on the ninth floor at some unknown time. Tears streamed down her face as she immersed herself in the environment, hacking away. Only after she was defeated and withdrew did she notice that Shadow Guard One was present. She couldn't help but awkwardly wipe away her tears.

"What's wrong with you?" Jiang Fan asked, a puzzled expression on his face. This person, prouder than a peacock, could actually cry?

Xu Yining didn't speak. Jiang Fan didn't bother to ask further and led her into the projection, thoroughly teaching her the movement technique of the first floor. However, her comprehension was ultimately a step below Jiang Fan's. Thus, when she performed the movement technique, it was less than half as effective as Jiang Fan's. But this was already enough to delight Xu Yining.

"Alright, our interactions end here." After teaching her everything, Jiang Fan felt a burden lifted from his mind. He probably wouldn't have any more dealings with Xu Yining in the future.

"Wait!" Xu Yining called out, hesitating for a long time before, with a flushed face, she said, "Can you do me a favor? I want to ask you to pretend to be my beloved."

Jiang Fan flatly refused. "Ridiculous!"

Xu Yining showed no surprise. She bowed her head and then bowed, saying, "Just once. There's someone I detest, and he's almost become my inner demon. I just want to prove to him that my original decision was not wrong." Seeing Jiang Fan remain unmoved, she bent her knees and knelt, pleading: "Please!"

Jiang Fan quickly helped her up. *Could this detestable person be me?*