Chapter 299: Huang Mansion’s Fall, Pain and Pleasure
Jiang Huijun stared blankly at the strange man who had suddenly appeared, speechless.
What was this person talking about?
Her Luo Xing Soultakers’ cultivation was unparalleled in the world, feared by various factions, and their movements were elusive and hard to track. How could they possibly be defeated by someone she had never seen before— Boom!
An earth-shattering pressure suddenly erupted, almost shaking the entire Huang Mansion to its foundations, as if it were about to collapse.
Jiang Huijun’s body trembled violently, her pupils constricting into pinpricks. She stood frozen in place, speechless, an almost irresistible tremor running through her soul.
How… terrifying!
Could this person’s cultivation have reached the legendary peak of the Savage Realm, one of the strongest in the world?!
“Who are you…?”
“I am Fuxiao, remember this name before you reincarnate!”
Fuxiao sneered cruelly, reaching out and grabbing at the air. Jiang Huijun screamed, her face filled with terror as she was lifted into the air, her Yin energy seemingly sealed and restrained, unable to even struggle!
At the same time, countless black lights intertwined and coiled in the void, bringing an unimaginable chill of death!
Jiang Huijun panicked completely.
“Mercy, my lord! Mercy!!”
She pleaded for mercy repeatedly, instinctively reaching out to Huang Qiuli for help.
“My dear boy, s-save me—”
“…”
But Huang Qiuli just knelt there stiffly, speechless.
After a moment of stunned silence, he even forced a contemptuous and disgusted expression, as if afraid of being associated with her.
Only then did Jiang Huijun’s face turn ashen, her eyes dull and lifeless.
So, the ugly face this man had just put on…
…was his true feeling.
Pfft!
The black lights flashed, and Jiang Huijun’s figure was instantly torn apart. A black curtain descended, swallowing her mangled body and Yin energy without a trace.
Silence fell upon the mansion.
“…”
Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow slightly, seeing her tragic end, but his heart remained unmoved.
Although this woman seemed kind and gentle, her heart was truly cruel and ruthless, having taken countless lives. Huang Qiuli’s ability to act with impunity in Boyang County was largely due to her protection and indulgence, which was unforgivable.
Now, meeting such an end, it was truly retribution.
Whoosh!
A shadow flashed past, and Huang Qiuli, who had been kneeling blankly on the ground, suddenly bulged his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward, like a cannonball, crashing through the back wall and into the main hall.
Dust and debris flew everywhere.
Lin Tianlu glanced sideways and saw Huang Qiuli embedded in the collapsed wall, his limbs twisted, blood flowing from his body, his face contorted as he continuously vomited blood. Even if he didn’t die, he was already half-dead.
On the broken, gold-inlaid plaque beside his feet, the words “righteousness and loyalty” could still be faintly seen.
Truly laughable.
“Heh, I thought you would shout and stop me, your face full of righteousness, accusing me of being cruel and ruthless when you saw this mortal suffer.”
Fuxiao withdrew his right hand and walked over with a sneer, his hands behind his back: “I didn’t expect you to ignore it completely?”
“This man’s sins are grave, he deserves to die, why should I stop it?”
Lin Tianlu turned around and smiled faintly: “It’s more meaningful to let him suffer a bit before he dies and experience pain and regret.”
“You look like a refined scholar, yet your personality is quite straightforward.”
Fuxiao casually glanced at Yang Chanzhen, who was looking at him warily, and then quickly looked away.
“For the Azure Lady of Mount Min to care about you so much, I didn’t misjudge you, you truly possess extraordinary abilities.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled: “This has nothing to do with my abilities.”
He quickly changed the subject and asked: “But what you said just now, sir… the battle that took place outside Boyang County this morning, was it between you and a Luo Xing Soultaker?”
“Exactly.”
Fuxiao raised his head slightly, a hint of disdain in his eyes: “That Luo Xing Soultaker was nothing special, he was defeated after just ten breaths. But he’s quite skilled at escaping and hiding, I couldn’t find any trace of him after searching for a long time. I only came here after sensing the activation of a Yin technique.”
“But I didn’t expect to meet you again so soon.”
Saying this, an excited and eager smile appeared on his face, and he raised his hand, pointing at Lin Tianlu: “Now, let’s have another battle and let me enjoy myself!”
“No, thanks.”
Lin Tianlu quickly waved his hand and said with a speechless expression: “I don’t like fighting and killing, and I still have some things to take care of. I don’t have time to play with you, sir.”
“Heh!”
But Fuxiao wasn’t angered this time, only sneering and flinging his sleeve: “Then I’ll wait for you, until you’ve finished dealing with those trivial matters. I have plenty of time to wait. However—”
He put his hands behind his back with interest and turned around casually: “I helped you deal with the Luo Xing Soultaker and punish that villain. I didn’t expect you to be so ungrateful, it’s truly disappointing. Are you worthy of your reputation as a righteous gentleman?”
“…”
After waiting for a while, there was no response.
Fuxiao frowned slightly, turned around in surprise, and realized that Lin Tianlu had already left.
“Tsk! He’s truly trying to anger me!”
…
“Ah…”
The woman with disheveled hair sat paralyzed on the ground, her face filled with terror, watching Lin Tianlu approach step by step. She couldn’t help but crawl backward: “S-Spare my life! I… I don’t want to die yet! I still have elderly parents to support, I can’t just—”
“Are you… one of Huang Qiuli’s wives or concubines?”
Lin Tianlu asked calmly: “Although Huang Qiuli is guilty of heinous crimes, his family isn’t implicated. If you haven’t done anything wrong, I naturally won’t harm you.”
“I-I just… usually say some harsh words to others… I haven’t harmed anyone like he did!”
The woman shook her head vigorously like a rattle.
She glanced secretly at Huang Qiuli, whose life or death was uncertain, her face darkening: “And… he doesn’t have any feelings for us, his wives and concubines. He just treats us as tools for bearing children and satisfying his lust.
Perhaps, even that woman called Jiang Huijun is the same.”
Lin Tianlu looked down at the woman indifferently, not saying a word.
She had indulged in a luxurious lifestyle and enjoyed humiliating others, now, it was too late for regrets and complaints.
There was no need for pity or sympathy.
“Are there any other old, weak, women, or children in this mansion?”
“Y-Yes! There are still many maids in the backyard.”
The woman’s expression changed slightly, and she whispered: “And I also know that Huang Qiuli secretly built many hidden rooms in the cellar, where he keeps many kidnapped women, even engaging in… unspeakable acts.”
Lin Tianlu frowned slightly: “Take us there. Afterward, tell the remaining maids and servants not to run around and to await the instructions of the county government, understand?”
“U-Understood!”
The woman struggled to get up from the ground.
Following her through the winding corridors, they finally arrived at the door of the hidden rooms in the cellar. Lighting a torch, they slowly entered.
“…”
A dark and prison-like environment came into view.
There were even many female corpses piled up, their deaths varied.
A stench of blood and decay filled the air, various bloodstained torture instruments displayed on the walls.
Lin Tianlu and Yang Chanzhen, who had followed him, remained silent, looking at the hellish and cruel scenes before them, their hearts turning cold.
Perhaps, this was the true… ‘evil ghost.’
…
Outside the Huang Mansion, many old, weak, women, and children were sitting.
They had all been rescued from the mansion by Lin Tianlu, and they were still shaken. Only after seeing their husbands and children also rescued did they huddle together, weeping uncontrollably in relief.
After all, they had just brushed with death, almost losing their entire families.
Among them was Lin Huan’s family, who had just been brought out of the mansion.
“Husband, we’re alive, we’re all still alive…”
The young woman sobbed in Lin Huan’s arms, releasing all the fear and anxiety she had been suppressing.
Although Lin Huan winced in pain, his injuries hadn’t damaged his internal organs, and the gruesome wounds were already healing. But covered in blood, he still looked quite pathetic.
The little girl in their arms seemed to have cried all her tears, sniffling continuously, her eyes red and swollen as she stared at the gate of the Huang Mansion.
Only after Lin Tianlu and Yang Chanzhen emerged from the mansion did she start crying again.
“Big Brother, Big Sister…”
“Why are you crying again, little girl?”
Lin Tianlu smiled and walked over, rubbing her head: “Everyone is safe now, and those bad guys have been punished, you should be happy.”
“I-I… sob…”
Seeing the little girl crying and wiping her tears, Lin Tianlu chuckled, shaking his head.
Such a young child, after experiencing such a fright, needed to release her fear instead of keeping it bottled up inside.
It wouldn’t be good for her to develop any psychological trauma.
“Benefactor, are those villains in the Huang Mansion truly brought to justice?” Lin Huan clutched his chest, his voice hoarse: “Those people are cunning and treacherous, perhaps they’re just pretending…”
“Don’t worry, they’re all unconscious, they won’t be able to get up for a few days.”
Lin Tianlu patted his shoulder: “Sir, you should rest and recover. Although your wounds are closing, the lost blood won’t come back. Stay home and rest for the next month or two, don’t move around too much. It just so happens to be the Spring Festival, enjoy this time with your wife and daughter.”
“Th-Thank you for saving us today, benefactor.”
Lin Huan choked back a sob and couldn’t help but shed tears, his weathered face filled with relief and gratitude, his hands trembling as he held his wife and daughter tightly.
“What happened at the Huang Mansion?”
“There are so many people sitting outside…”
“Look at the bloodstains on them, did someone die inside?!”
Whispers and murmurs came from the surrounding crowd of passing civilians, gradually gathering around.
Lin Tianlu stood up, clapped his hands, and said in a loud voice: “Please inform the local authorities that Huang Qiuli and the others, who have been harming Boyang County for years, have confessed and been brought to justice.”
“Confessed?!”
“That Huang villain has been dealt with?!”
“I’ll go and see… It’s true! The mansion is full of unconscious people, and Huang Qiuli is half-dead!”
A young man ran back excitedly, shouting joyfully: “The Huang family has finally received their retribution!”
“Heaven has eyes, heaven has eyes!”
“Boyang County is finally saved!”
The surrounding civilians cheered and shouted excitedly.
Naturally, someone also shouted: “Quickly go and get the town doctor, there are many injured here!”
“Let’s ask who was the expert who brought down the Huang family?!”
The victims, reunited with their families, were still shaken, but hearing this, they quickly pointed: “It was that gentleman and that young lady… huh?”
But before they could finish speaking, their expressions froze.
The handsome scholar who had been standing not far away had disappeared, and so had the beautiful woman with seemingly celestial abilities, as if they had never existed.
“W-What’s going on…”
The scene was filled with confusion, but they couldn’t find the scholar and the young lady.
…
The news of the Huang family’s downfall spread quickly throughout Boyang County within half a day.
The streets and alleys were filled with chatter and rumors.
Some heard that it was enemies seeking revenge, assassinating the entire Huang family. Others said it was a celestial being and a fairy sent by heaven to slay demons and eliminate evil.
Some even said that it was a learned scholar who couldn’t stand the Huang family’s tyranny any longer and went to debate and berate them, leaving the entire household speechless and ashamed.
In the end, it led to internal strife and a tragic end.
“…I can’t believe the rumors have become so distorted.”
Lin Tianlu leaned against the window, hearing the faint shouts from downstairs, and couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.
If his eloquence was truly that powerful, able to defeat multiple opponents with his words alone, making them vomit blood and break their bones, he would probably be called the “King of Arguments of Changling.”
“Boyang County is now safe, it will gradually return to its former peace.”
Yang Chanzhen quietly appeared beside him, her hands clasped in front of her, and said softly: “I searched again, and there are no other remnants of evil within the Huang Mansion. And I can’t sense the Luo Xing Soultaker anywhere in the county, he has probably fled.”
“It’s quite amusing that the people of the ancient realm and the Luo Xing are fighting each other.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression was slightly subtle.
“Indeed, it’s strange.” Yang Chanzhen lowered her beautiful eyes, a hint of suspicion and confusion in them.
Thinking back, the battle between the two sides was quite intriguing.
“However, it’s not a bad thing for us and the residents of Boyang County.”
“That’s true.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and looked at the street scene outside the window.
“Did you find any traces of the Seven Stars Mend the Heavens Formation, Miss Yang?”
“This county is just one of the locations along the formation’s path, only slightly affected, not one of its foundations. There’s no need for us to interfere.”
Yang Chanzhen murmured: “You just need to continue your journey, Master Lin. When you reach the first of the seven peaks, you’ll likely uncover the truth behind the ancient realm’s actions.”
“Compared to that, there’s someone who knows the truth here.”
Lin Tianlu quickly glanced back.
At the end of the corridor, Fuxiao stood proudly by the window, a playful glint in his eyes as he looked towards them.
“I see, you already knew about the existence of the Seven Stars Mend the Heavens Formation.”
“Why don’t you tell us what your ancient realm is planning, sir?”
“Heh! I have no interest in knowing the schemes of those fools.”
Fuxiao sneered disdainfully: “I have no idea what they’re planning.”
“…”
Was it necessary to say that so matter-of-factly?
Lin Tianlu was speechless.
“However, I just learned that the Luo Xing seems to be planning something.” Fuxiao’s eyes glinted, and he grinned: “Many towns and counties will suffer. Are you going to rescue them all?”
“I’ll decide that myself, there’s no need for you to worry, sir.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently, noncommittal.
Then, he extended his right hand: “I know why you followed me here. Since you’re so eager for a fight, let’s settle this here and now.”
“Oh?!”
Fuxiao’s eyes widened, a look of surprise appearing on his face.
“You’re finally willing to have a proper battle with me?!”
“Yes.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and continued: “But if we fight directly, it might hurt our friendship and accidentally injure others. Why don’t we try a different method?”
Fuxiao frowned: “What tricks are you planning?”
“No tricks, just a suitable suggestion.” Lin Tianlu chuckled and pointed at his hand: “Sir, since you’re eager to find a powerful opponent for a good fight, you’re actually just looking for someone strong to arm wrestle with. Let’s forget about those boring techniques, schemes, and plots, and simply compare our strength.”
“That… sounds reasonable.”
Fuxiao’s eyes flickered, and he mused: “Simplifying things, returning to the basics, just competing to see who possesses the greatest strength… Not bad! Let’s compare our strength!”
“Let’s begin then.”
“Alright!”
Fuxiao’s eyes glinted, and he gripped Lin Tianlu’s right hand tightly, a fierce smile on his face: “Let me see how much power you truly possess, scholar!”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently: “I’ll count down from three, and then we’ll both exert our strength. We’ll see who’s stronger.”
“Three… two… one!”
Crack!
The aura around Fuxiao suddenly erupted, and the ferocious smile on his face froze.
Looking down, he realized in a daze…
That his right hand had been crushed, his fingers bent and twisted, completely numb.
“…”
What… just happened?
Fuxiao was stunned and bewildered.
It had happened too quickly, he hadn’t even reacted before he was completely defeated.
“It seems you’ve lost, sir.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and withdrew his right hand: “But I still held back quite a bit. This small injury… shouldn’t affect you too much with your demonic body, sir, right?”
But Fuxiao seemed to be oblivious, staring blankly at his deformed right hand, speechless.
It wasn’t just pure strength, but an incredibly terrifying and mysterious power that had crushed all his defenses!
There were no tricks or deceptions, no strange or unpredictable methods.
It was pure brute force, the true pinnacle of strength!
“—Excellent!”
Fuxiao’s face lit up with a joyful smile: “I’ve lost again!
You’re truly more powerful than I could have imagined! If we were to fight to the death, I would surely lose!”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly.
“If your hand hurts, don’t hold back.”
“…”
The arrogant smile on Fuxiao’s face froze slightly.
Then, he glared at Lin Tianlu with a slightly embarrassed and helpless expression, before turning into a streak of light and flying out the window: “I will return to the ancient realm and cultivate in seclusion. Next time we meet, I will definitely make you taste defeat!”
Lin Tianlu chuckled, shaking his head.
His face was almost contorted in pain, yet he could still utter such harsh words… He was truly quite something.
