Devouring Soul Emperor

"You little thief, so it was you!"

"I’m going to skin you alive today to vent my rage!"

The elder who had just arrived let out a furious roar as a violent aura erupted from him. He thrust out a withered, claw-like hand, leaving an afterimage as he lunged at Chu Qingyun.

"A Martial Master!"

"A true Martial Master-level expert!"

A cold sweat instantly broke out on Chu Qingyun’s forehead.

Pinned by the violent aura, he felt like he was being targeted by a terrifying, primordial beast. The pressure was so immense he couldn’t even move!

If he hadn’t just broken through to Level Nine Martial Artist, this aura alone would have likely been enough to force him to his knees!

"Insolence!"

At the critical moment, Housekeeper Qin, who was beside Chu Qingyun, bellowed, his voice instantly shattering the aura that had pinned Chu Qingyun down.

In the next instant, he himself flashed forward, casually grabbing the Blood Wolf Gang Elder by the wrist and tossing him aside.

"Qi Gang! Does your Blood Wolf Gang have a death wish? How dare you attack someone I brought here!?"

Housekeeper Qin’s face was a mask of fury, a far cry from his earlier amiable smile.

Under the weight of his anger,

everyone from the Blood Wolf Gang, from Gang Leader Qi Gang on down, fell deathly silent, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

"Lord Qin, are you really going to protect this boy?"

"Gang Leader, you must seek justice for me! This boy is the one who murdered my grandson!"

So, this elder who had arrived late was none other than the grandfather of Young Master Ning—the boy Chu Qingyun had killed. He was an Elder of the Blood Wolf Gang and a powerful Level Three Martial Master!

"Well... Elder Zhang, do you have any proof? You can’t make baseless accusations if you don’t."

The Blood Wolf Gang’s leader, Qi Gang, not daring to provoke Housekeeper Qin, said to Elder Zhang.

"Of course I have proof!"

"Boy, you’re carrying a Cyan Wolf Blood Jade, aren’t you? That was a keepsake I gave my grandson."

"An Elder-level Cyan Wolf Blood Jade. Don’t even try to tell me you just found it!"

Zhang Han snarled, pointing at Chu Qingyun.

The Cyan Wolf Blood Jade carried his own aura; there was no way he could be mistaken.

Chu Qingyun was filled with regret. ’I was too careless. I should have thrown that Cyan Wolf Blood Jade away!’

He never imagined that the Jade Pendant would carry the aura of a Martial Master-level expert.

The Chu Family Village had no Martial Master-level experts, so no one had noticed the aura on the pendant during the meeting with the village chief.

But at this point, Chu Qingyun had no intention of lying or hiding the truth.

It would be pointless. A simple investigation into his identity would easily link him to the events of that day.

Besides, it would just seem cowardly and needlessly embarrass him in front of Housekeeper Qin and Ye Qi.

"That’s right. I was the one who killed Young Master Ning."

"Those who kill must be prepared to be killed. Since he dared to leave the city to murder, he should have been ready to die himself."

Having figured it all out, Chu Qingyun felt a sense of calm and admitted it outright.

"Chief Steward Qin, Gang Leader, you all saw it. He admitted it himself."

"Disputes between Martial Artists are to be settled by Martial Artists! I hope Housekeeper Qin will stay his hand and not interfere. Let me avenge my poor grandson!"

Zhang Han’s body trembled as he stared at Chu Qingyun and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Hmph. Old fool, even if he stood right here and let you kill him, would you dare?"

"Chu Qingyun, take out your token for the Great Xia Martial Palace of Qingshan City and show it to him."

Ye Qi said with a cold snort.

Ye Qi had heard of Zhang Ning. He was nothing but a spoiled heir, known for being mercurial and mentally unstable.

Chu Qingyun was just a Martial Artist from a small village with no connections. Why would he ever attack and kill a young master with such a powerful background unless he’d been forced into a corner?

No one present was a fool; they could all imagine what must have happened without needing to ask.

Hearing Ye Qi’s words, Chu Qingyun nodded and took out the gray token Gao Feng had given him.

"It is indeed a token from the Great Xia Martial Palace of Qingshan City. Elder Zhang Han, I, Qi Gang, command you in my capacity as Gang Leader: you are forbidden to lay a hand on Chu Qingyun!"

Qi Gang’s expression turned grim upon seeing the token, and he spoke to Zhang Han.

Now that Chu Qingyun had produced the token, attacking him would be a slap in the face to the Great Xia Martial Palace.

The consequences of that were not something a mere Blood Wolf Gang could afford.

"AAAAARGH! DAMN IT ALL!"

Zhang Han’s eyes were bloodshot with rage as he let out a furious roar.

His grandson’s killer was right before his eyes, yet he couldn’t lay a finger on him.

The stifled frustration was driving him insane!

"Chu Qingyun, that’s just a token for the Great Xia Martial Palace of Qingshan City."

"That’s right, I don’t dare kill you. But I will kill your entire family! I will wipe out your Chu Family Village, leaving no one alive, not even the chickens and dogs!"

Zhang Han roared, his hair and beard bristling with rage as he pointed at Chu Qingyun.

CRACK!

The stone paver beneath Chu Qingyun’s feet instantly cracked.

"You old bastard! Leave my family out of this! I’m the one who killed your grandson, so direct all your hatred at me! Don’t drag innocent people into this!"

Chu Qingyun’s face was contorted with fury as he snarled.

Ye Qi, standing beside him, was startled. She had never seen the usually calm Chu Qingyun fly into such a rage.

"’Leave family out of this?’ You killed my only grandson, and you have the nerve to tell me to leave family out of it!?"

Zhang Han spat, glaring viciously at Chu Qingyun.

"Zhang Han, what you want is my life. Fine. I’ll give you your chance. One month from now, on the battle stage of the Great Xia Martial Palace, you and I will fight to the death!"

Chu Qingyun said in a low voice, taking a deep breath and staring at Zhang Han.

"What? Chu Qingyun, are you insane? That old man is a Level Three Martial Master!" Ye Qi cried out anxiously, grabbing his arm.

Zhang Han, who stood opposite them, was stunned for a moment before his face lit up with ecstatic joy. "Good! It’s a deal! One month from now, at the Great Xia Martial Palace, we fight to the death! Until then, I promise I will not lay a hand on the Chu Family Village."

"Good. Remember your words!"

Chu Qingyun said with a nod.

With the agreement made, the members of the Blood Wolf Gang quickly departed. Chu Qingyun and his two companions left as well.

"Chu Qingyun, you’re doomed! That Zhang Han is a Level Three Martial Master! Oh, what are we going to do... Sir Qin, why don’t you just secretly take care of him? You could just kill that Zhang Han."

On the way, Ye Qi was fraught with worry, even trying to get Housekeeper Qin to solve the problem for them.

Housekeeper Qin shook his head. "The Blood Wolf Gang is the foremost power in Qingshan City. For the sake of the city’s stability, I cannot move against him."

"Ye Qi, forget it. I am already immensely grateful that Housekeeper Qin helped me today. I’ll find a way to resolve this myself."

Chu Qingyun said, stopping the persistent Ye Qi.

Seeing that Chu Qingyun was being sensible, Housekeeper Qin nodded and said, "Qi, come back with me. For the next month, you are not to go running off anywhere."