Chapter 26: The Storm Begins to Brew

After Wu Tian left, Captain Ma did not dispatch the city guards to pursue and arrest him. Compared to detaining Wu Tian, he felt it was more important to report the matter to the City Lord. If Wu Tian were still the useless man he had been a few months prior, Captain Ma could have executed him on the spot without causing much of a stir. But now, Wu Tian possessed a cultivation level that surpassed even what he had a year ago—this was something truly intriguing.

A year ago, Wu Tian was lauded for his cultivation, which made him a genius among his peers. He possessed extraordinary talent and was destined for greatness, certain to be valued by the Celestial Heaven Sect. Now, with his cultivation even stronger than before, what did that mean? It meant that Wu Tian might once again attract the attention of the Celestial Heaven Sect. In that case, he could not be dealt with lightly.

Captain Ma and Song Qianqian hurried back to the City Lord’s Mansion. Within the study, Song Ke, the City Lord of Pingyang, was busy with official matters. When he saw Captain Ma and his own daughter rush into the study, he frowned slightly.

“Did I not say that I am not to be disturbed while handling state affairs? Captain Ma, Qianqian, what is going on here?” Song Ke reprimanded them.

“Reporting, City Lord, I beg your pardon for the intrusion. There is an urgent matter I must bring to your attention!” Captain Ma cupped his hands respectfully.

Before Captain Ma could report, Song Qianqian, pouting, interrupted with a petulant tone, “Father! You must stand up for your daughter. Just now, on the street, that good-for-nothing Wu Tian bullied me! He said… he said…”

“Wu Tian? That useless wretch—what did he say?”

“He said I am not qualified to marry him, and that it was fortunate I broke off the engagement, or else he would regret it now!” Song Qianqian recounted with aggrieved indignation.

A thunderous roar.

“Outrageous! That worthless boy dares to be so insolent? In the past, when he was a genius of the Celestial Heaven Sect, I gave him special regard, but now, as nothing but a useless man, he dares speak such words? Does he not respect me as the City Lord? Captain Ma, Qianqian was bullied, and you must have been there—why didn’t you arrest that wretch on the spot?” Song Ke flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the table.

Captain Ma could only force a bitter smile. “City Lord, this is precisely the matter I came to report. It’s not that I didn’t wish to seize Wu Tian—it’s that I simply lack the ability.”

“What? Are you telling me that even with the might of the city guard, we cannot detain a cripple?”

“If he were still a cripple, any city guard could have subdued him. But Wu Tian is not as he was a few months ago. City Lord, you did not witness it—he alone slaughtered more than a dozen of Nie Huixiang’s guards, and he did so in less than a quarter of an hour…”

“What? What did you say?” Song Ke’s face was filled with disbelief, cutting Captain Ma off before he could finish. “You’re telling me he killed more than a dozen Nie clan guards in under fifteen minutes?”

Captain Ma nodded with a wry smile and continued, “Not only that. When I led the city guard to surround him, he unleashed a fearsome aura. Nearly half of our hundred city guards were rendered unconscious on the spot; the rest were left in utter disarray. Judging by this, his cultivation must be at least at the seventh-level Martial Master, or such an overwhelming presence would be impossible.”

Song Ke drew in a sharp breath. He knew very well what the seventh-level Martial Master signified—among all the youth in Pingyang City, those who reached such cultivation could be counted on one hand.

“Qianqian, is what Captain Ma says true?” Song Ke still found it difficult to believe, so he looked to his daughter for confirmation.

Song Qianqian pouted, her lips pursed in disbelief. “Just a few months ago, that fellow was still a cripple. For him to reach the seventh-level Martial Master in such a short time is absolutely impossible. I’m sure he must have used some kind of charm or magical artifact in secret.”

Song Ke fell silent, and Captain Ma had nothing more to add.

“All his meridians were severed, his dantian shattered—everyone witnessed this. Without the aid of a peerless expert of Martial Lord level or above, or the support of a Heaven-grade elixir, there’s no way he could have recovered his cultivation. But both Martial Lord experts and Heaven-grade elixirs are exceedingly rare in this world. The Celestial Heaven Sect would not expend such resources on someone as insignificant as Wu Tian…” Song Ke analyzed the situation, frowning.

“Father, no matter what, you must get justice for your daughter! He slandered me so cruelly—he must not be allowed to get away with it!” Song Qianqian pleaded coquettishly.

“Qianqian, of course I will not let you be wronged. But this matter requires careful consideration. If Wu Tian has truly recovered his cultivation, he will inevitably be valued once more by the Celestial Heaven Sect. We cannot move against him lightly. However, if he is still a cripple, I will certainly teach him a lesson for you.” Song Ke, as City Lord, showed his prudent side.

“Fine…” Song Qianqian replied with a face full of grievance, nodding reluctantly.

“Captain Ma, assign a few sharp city guards to keep a close watch on Wu Tian’s every move. Report to me immediately if anything happens. Understood?”

“As you command!”

…

While Captain Ma was reporting to the City Lord, Nie Huixiang also returned home in a fury.

“Steward! Steward! Get me several guards with cultivation above seventh-level Martial Master—I’m going to kill that wretch Wu Tian right now!” Nie Huixiang stormed into the family estate, shouting in rage. Wu Tian had humiliated him beyond endurance.

The old steward hurried over, puzzled, and asked, “Young Master, what has happened?”

“That bastard Wu Tian killed more than a dozen of my guards, and he even tried to kill me! I want revenge right now!” Nie Huixiang fumed.

“The Wu Tian you refer to—is he not the disciple of the Celestial Heaven Sect whose cultivation was crippled?” the steward inquired.

“That’s right! The one whose meridians were severed and dantian destroyed! He still thinks he’s the genius once favored by the Celestial Heaven Sect, but he’s just a discarded cripple now. I’ll take men and kill him!”

The old steward pondered for a moment, then asked, “Young Master, I do not understand—how could a cripple kill more than a dozen of your guards? Was there an expert protecting him?”

Nie Huixiang was taken aback, then shook his head. “There was no expert by his side—it was just him. He killed all those guards himself.”

The old steward’s eyes widened in disbelief. “The guards by your side are all at least first-level Martial Masters, with the strongest at fifth-level. All of them were slain by Wu Tian?”

“That’s right! He did it—the cripple… no, wait. How could a cripple be so powerful?” Nie Huixiang finally realized the contradiction. He had been calling Wu Tian a useless man, but how could a useless man be so strong?

“Young Master, a year ago Wu Tian’s meridians were severed and his dantian destroyed. His cultivation should have been beyond recovery. Are you certain it was Wu Tian who killed the guards?” the steward pressed, still skeptical.

Nie Huixiang hesitated for a long moment, but finally nodded.

“If this is true, then the matter is grave. Regardless of his current cultivation, the mere fact that he has recovered is significant. He may have a mysterious master behind him. Young Master, you must not act rashly. I will immediately inform the family head. Also, I will send elite guards to investigate Wu Tian in secret.”

“Damn it! Looks like I’ll have to wait a while for revenge. But Wu Tian, you just wait—I will make you pay!” Nie Huixiang roared, clenching his fists in fury.

After this night, peace would not return to Pingyang City…