NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42
In a strange, dimly-lit grand hall,
two rows of formidable, stoic martial artists stood at attention below.
Moments later, a middle-aged man with white hair strode in, exuding a heavy aura. Without getting angry, he commanded awe. The moment he arrived, the martial artists below all bowed their heads.
"Greetings, Sect Leader."
"Greetings, Master."
Expressionless, the white-haired man slowly took his seat at the head of the hall. His piercing eyes looked over the people below.
No one dared to even breathe loudly, bowing even lower.
After a long while, the white-haired man waved his hand, and the others finally rose up as if a heavy burden had been lifted. It was clear he held absolute authority here.
Yet his right sleeve was conspicuously empty.
He was none other than Ning Xuanwu, the Patriarch of Xuanwu Sect, who had dueled with Qingshan Lu. The people below were all top members of Xuanwu Sect as well as Ning Xuanwu's personal disciples.
Ever since Ning Xuanwu's defeat, Xuanwu Sect's morale had been low. Now seeing him again, no one dared to speak.
Dead silence filled the hall.
"What did you find out?"
Finally, Ning Xuanwu's stern gaze swept over them, his hoarse voice asking.
Hearing this, everyone stayed silent.
Seeing this, Ning Xuanwu angrily shouted, "I'm asking what you found out. Who can tell me where that kitchen knife in Qingshan Lu's hand came from?"
"Master, I captured a personal disciple of Qingshan Sect. Perhaps we can get a lead from him," a curvy woman with revealing clothes and twin blades said respectfully, walking out.
She was Ning Xuanwu's personal disciple Yao Ling'er. With extraordinary talent and formidable combat skills, her most dangerous weapon was her alluring figure and beauty. Countless enemies who had faced her had been bewitched by her beauty. The moment they let their guard down, they were finished off by Yao Ling'er's twin blades.
"Bring him here."
Ning Xuanwu waved his hand.
"Yes."
Like lightning, Yao Ling'er dashed out of the hall. When she returned, she was dragging a youth in white robes.
"Let me go! Let me go!" The white-robed youth arrogantly yelled, "Do you know who I am? How dare you capture me? I am Yu Wujie, Qingshan Sect’s personal disciple. If you don't release me, Qingshan Sect will bring down devastating destruction upon you."
Slap!
Yao Ling'er slapped Yu Wujie across the face.
"You, you dared to hit me?"
Yu Wujie was instantly furious. Never in his life had anyone struck him before. This was a tremendous humiliation.
But he was met with another palm strike from Yao Ling'er, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Even more humiliated, Yu Wujie crawled up, intent on retaliating, only to find a white-haired man gazing coldly down at him.
"Who are you?" Yu Wujie shouted.
"Ning Xuanwu."
"What?" Yu Wujie was shocked. He never imagined the man before him was actually Xuanwu Patriarch. So he had been captured by Xuanwu Sect?
"I'll ask you again. Where did Qingshan Lu's knife come from?" Xuanwu Patriarch looked down and asked hoarsely.
"Why should I tell you?" Despite knowing it was Ning Xuanwu, Yu Wujie yelled disrespectfully.
Ning Xuanwu's gaze hardened as he said solemnly, "Aren't you afraid of me?"
"Why should I fear you? You're just a defeated underling of my sect's patriarch. Let me advise you to release me quickly, otherwise when my grand patriarch arrives with his divine blade, it will mean your doom." Yu Wujie threatened.
"Very well."
Xuanwu Patriarch said lightly.
In the next moment, overwhelming might erupted from him. Below, Yu Wujie was suddenly sucked into midair.
"I'll ask you one last time, will you speak or not?" Xuanwu Patriarch rasped.
"I won't say!" Yu Wujie refused to yield.
Xuanwu Patriarch's eyes narrowed as his palm shot out, grabbing Yu Wujie by the neck. Terrific strength instantly caused Yu Wujie's veins to protrude. At the same time, massive pressure squeezed his body.
"Ah! I'm wrong, I'm wrong! I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Feeling the advent of real death, Yu Wujie didn't persist for even a moment, hurriedly begging for mercy.
Boom!
With a flick of his palm, Xuanwu Patriarch heavily slammed Yu Wujie into the ground.
Seeing this, everyone revealed looks of contempt. They had thought he was stubborn, but he turned out to be softer than a jujube.
"Cough cough!"
Yu Wujie coughed violently. Seeing Xuanwu Patriarch's impatience, he quickly said, "I don't know if what I say is accurate, but I heard from my master that it was obtained from a recluse in Pingjiang City."
"A recluse in Pingjiang City?" Xuanwu Patriarch's expression darkened. Stepping on Yu Wujie's chest, he said heavily, "There are no recluses in Pingjiang City."
"Really, I swear I'm not lying to you! My master also said this recluse runs a small martial arts school in Pingjiang City. It's absolutely true!" Yu Wujie exclaimed.
"Martial arts school?"
Seeing that Yu Wujie didn't seem to be lying, Xuanwu Patriarch released him and retreated to the head, frowning in contemplation.
After a moment, he said solemnly, "Wu Chen, go investigate Pingjiang City."
"Yes, Master."
A sickly looking youth with a gaunt figure walked out. Then with a flash of his body, he departed the mountain...