Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: This Is How a True Man Should Live

The Liu Family.

At a table sat two old men.

"Brother Liu, we haven’t seen each other in the three years since the Prodigy Gathering, have we? You haven’t changed a bit."

The speaker was a man of about sixty, dressed in a bright yellow robe. His thin face resembled ancient jade. His pupils were starkly defined against the whites, as pure and clear as a baby’s, but a closer look revealed a depth as profound as the ocean.

Standing beside him was a young woman in a green dress. Her wrists were snow-white, and she possessed a refined and beautiful temperament, like a belle in a misty rain, exuding a classical, elegant beauty.

She stood quietly without a word, a teapot in hand, pouring tea for the two men. Whenever her gaze swept over the speaking elder, a hint of reverence would flash in her beautiful eyes.

For he was an Alchemy Grandmaster, Tan Jinglin!

Even her grandfather had to treat an Alchemy Grandmaster with the utmost respect, such was their power.

"You wouldn’t visit without a reason. Brother Tan, you’ve come from so far away; please, speak your mind. I doubt you would have come all the way to Luoyang personally just for the debut of your direct disciple."

Liu Yuanlong was a perceptive man. If it were merely for Yan Ziling’s debut, Tan Jinglin could have simply dispatched a few subordinates to accompany him; there was no need to come himself.

"Brother Liu is a sharp man. I did, in fact, have another matter to discuss."

Tan Jinglin laughed. "Three years ago, Brother Liu was injured by Young Master Soaring Dragon. At the time, I wasn’t confident I could treat your injuries. However, in the last three years, I happened upon a Pill Formula that gives me some confidence I can cure you."

Liu Yuanlong’s gaze sharpened. "What is the price?"

"Brother Liu is straightforward. I won’t beat around the bush, then. I’ll be direct."

Tan Jinglin’s gaze suddenly fell upon Liu Xianyu. "Three years ago, at the Prodigy Gathering, that boy Ziling met your granddaughter and has been unable to forget her ever since. I’ve come this time to propose a marriage on his behalf. After all, their ages are suitable, and our families are of equal standing."

Hearing this, Liu Xianyu’s expression changed slightly.

Three years ago, countless people from all over the world had flocked to the Prodigy Gathering. Liu Yuanlong was no exception, bringing many members of the Liu Family, including her, to watch.

It was then that she had met Yan Ziling a few times, but she hadn’t paid it any mind. Who would care about a chance acquaintance? To think Yan Ziling had actually never forgotten her.

Liu Yuanlong’s eyes slowly narrowed as he fell silent.

Tan Jinglin was not in a hurry. He was confident that with the restoration of his health as a condition, Liu Yuanlong would not refuse.

Besides, his disciple, Yan Ziling, was a prodigy in the art of alchemy with a limitless future. He and Liu Xianyu were a good match.

"Brother Tan, I must admit, your offer is very tempting. If this were in the past, I might have agreed." Liu Yuanlong let out a long breath and shook his head. "I refuse."

A look of surprise appeared on Tan Jinglin’s face. "Why?"

"As for treating my injuries, I won’t need to trouble Brother Tan. There is a young friend, Ning Jiang, who has a way to cure me."

Liu Yuanlong said that all the alchemy materials had already been gathered. Even the most troublesome item, the Demon Core of an Innate Peak Iron-Armed Demon Ape, was already in his possession.

"Ning Jiang? Who is that?" Tan Jinglin asked, surprised.

"I will invite Ning Xiaoyou here tomorrow. Brother Tan will meet him then," Liu Yuanlong said.

"Grandmaster Tan!"

Suddenly, an anxious voice called out as a large, middle-aged man rushed in, his face filled with terror.

"What is it? Why are you in such a panic, shouting and making a scene? Have you no sense of decorum?"

Tan Jinglin frowned. This was one of his subordinates who had come with him to Luoyang.

"Ziling... Ziling... Ziling, he..."

"Speak!" Tan Jinglin barked, realizing something terrible had happened.

"Ziling has been killed!" the middle-aged man managed to say, then lowered his head, not daring to look at Tan Jinglin again. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

In an instant, the room fell silent.

The expressions on Liu Yuanlong and Liu Xianyu’s faces changed drastically.

’Who would dare kill the disciple of an Alchemy Grandmaster?’

’Who could be so audacious?’

"Who was it?" Tan Jinglin’s face was grim, each word seeming to carry a coating of frost as he spoke.

"The killer... was Ning Jiang!" the middle-aged man said in a trembling voice, slowly speaking the four words.

Liu Yuanlong and Liu Xianyu’s faces completely drained of color.

"Ning Jiang... Ning Jiang!" Tan Jinglin repeated the name twice. His gaze on Liu Yuanlong and his granddaughter was now utterly frigid. "Explain everything, from beginning to end."

"Yes."

The middle-aged man, his face pale, did not dare to delay and quickly recounted everything that had happened at the Pill Conference, down to the last detail.

After he finished, he didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, cold sweat streaming down his back.

Even Liu Yuanlong and Liu Xianyu felt that the atmosphere had become as heavy as a mountain. freewebnσvel.cѳm

"Sixteen years old, a seventy-zhang pill fragrance, and he became the number one Alchemy Master in Luoyang in a single leap. His talent far surpasses that of Lu Changsheng back in the day."

Tan Jinglin’s voice was slow, betraying no emotion, but this very calmness felt all the more oppressive.

It was an oppression like the calm before a storm, a tranquil surface beneath which a monstrous tempest was slowly brewing.

"Brother Liu, I believe the Liu Family owes me an explanation for this matter."

Tan Jinglin’s gaze was cold. "Since you said he will be here tomorrow, then I will wait for him right here!"

"Grandmaster Tan, aren’t we going to capture him? What if he runs away?" the middle-aged man asked, astonished.

"He won’t."

Tan Jinglin stated decisively, "Since he dared to kill my disciple in public and then leave so calmly, it means he isn’t afraid at all. A person like that will not flee. You just need to spread my message: tell him I am at the Liu Family, and he is to come and atone for his crime."

"I will wait for him at the Liu Family!"

The fifteenth of the twelfth month.

Night.

One hour after the Pill Conference.

News spread from the Liu Family.

Alchemy Grandmaster Tan Jinglin had ordered Ning Jiang to come and atone for his crime!

Luoyang was shaken once again.

What choice would Ning Jiang make?

This night was destined to be a restless one.

And countless gazes were now focused on the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

With Ning Jiang’s fame now so great, the news that he was staying at the Drunken Moon Pavilion was naturally dug up.

Midnight.

Zhao Peng paid a visit. His face was pale; he had already heard about what happened with Ning Jiang.

"It’s all my fault. If I had known, I never should have told you about the Pill Conference." Zhao Peng was filled with self-blame, believing he had inadvertently harmed Ning Jiang.

"What’s meant to happen will happen. Regret has always been useless."

Ning Jiang was as calm as ever, showing no signs of tension. "Zhao Peng, did you come to persuade me to run? If that’s the case, you can save your breath."

"I’d like to, but could I even convince you? I may not know you that well, but I know enough about your character."

Zhao Peng gave a bitter smile, his expression firming. "I can’t help you with this, but if you need me to risk my life, just say the word."

"Oh? You don’t care about Fang Ying anymore?"

"You went to the Liu Family to help me; I’ll never forget that kindness. Besides, I know that Du Wanqing taking me as his disciple must have something to do with you. Without you, I would have already lost Xiaoying and lived my whole life in misery. It was you who changed my destiny."

Zhao Peng gritted his teeth. "I may not be some kind of hero, but at least I know how to repay a debt of gratitude. It’s just my worthless life, isn’t it? Xiaoying would understand."

"The way you’re talking, it sounds like we’re parting for good. Alright, I appreciate the sentiment. You should go back now."

Ning Jiang smiled. He hadn’t been wrong about Zhao Peng.

After Zhao Peng left, Ning Yu’an said, "Little brother, he’s a good person."

"Yeah, much better than those so-called friends from Baiquan Town."

Ning Jiang recalled how, after being afflicted with the Black Jade Fire Poison Curse, he had experienced the fickleness of human nature. One by one, his friends had left him. Only Ning Yu’an had stayed by his side, never abandoning him.

"Hmph. Those people will regret it sooner or later," Ning Yu’an snorted.

The night deepened.

Ning Jiang, however, rested leisurely.

But throughout Luoyang City, countless people lay awake all night because of him.

Countless people were waiting—waiting for the moment the sun would rise in the east the next day!

Dawn.

The morning sun began to rise.

A ray of sunlight shot from the east, rapidly dispelling the darkness covering the world.

At the Drunken Moon Pavilion, innumerable gazes were gathered.

Today was the day Ning Jiang would make his choice.

"It’s a fine day today."

A man and a woman strolled leisurely out of the Drunken Moon Pavilion, immediately drawing the attention of many onlookers.

「Meanwhile.」

At the Liu Family estate.

Many Alchemy Masters had already rushed over. They had come, on one hand, to see the Grandmaster with their own eyes, and on the other, to find out how he would deal with Ning Jiang.

"All eight of Luoyang’s great Alchemy Masters are here."

"Even Du Wanqing has come out of seclusion. This matter is big enough to pierce the heavens."

Outside the Liu Family estate, countless people were also waiting.

A few people emerged from the Liu Family’s main gate and invited the Alchemy Masters inside. These Alchemy Masters were of distinguished status, and the Liu Family had to treat them with courtesy.

As for the others, they could only remain outside the Liu Family estate, lacking the qualifications to enter.

"Do you think that White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang will dare to come?"

"I doubt it, unless he has a death wish."

"He made quite a name for himself by killing a Grandmaster Disciple, doing something even the Ten Great wouldn’t dare. But that’s just the courage of a brute. It’s utterly unwise to provoke a Grandmaster for a moment of satisfaction."

"Quiet, he’s here!"

Suddenly, a voice shifted everyone’s attention.

Immediately, countless gazes turned in that direction.

Within everyone’s line of sight, a man and a woman slowly approached.

Ning Jiang had a head of white hair, a handsome face, and an otherworldly air about him.

Ning Yu’an was tall and slender, dressed in purple, with skin like snow and an exceptionally refined beauty. Together, they were a handsome man and a beautiful woman.

"He actually dared to come." The crowd was shaken.

If killing Yan Ziling could be called the courage of a brute, an act of impulse, then this—coming here now—was the spirit of a true man who dares to face the consequences of his actions, standing tall between heaven and earth!

’He killed him, so what? Why would he need to run?’

At this moment, a single phrase flashed through everyone’s mind.

Like a clap of thunder, it reverberated endlessly in the depths of their hearts.

A true man ought to live like this!

The sixteenth of the twelfth month.

Morning.

Ning Jiang entered the Liu Family estate to meet the Grandmaster.

The entire crowd... was filled with admiration.