Chapter 54: The Slaying of He Jiang

"Master, I secretly read the letters between He Jiang and the Nie family. The place they've arranged to meet is that grove, and the meeting should take place in about half an hour," Qin Long whispered to Wu Tian as they crouched in the grass on the outskirts west of Pingyang City.

"So far, it seems there's not a soul in sight," Wu Tian observed, peering through the hazy moonlight toward the shadowy woods ahead. All was silent and still.

"The agreed time is midnight; it should be soon," Qin Long replied.

Just then, Wu Tian heard a faint movement behind them. He instinctively turned, ready to strike, but as he spun around, his expression changed.

"Well, well! Now I finally know who the traitor in my ranks is. So, it's you, Qin Long! Of all the calculations I made, I never once suspected you," sneered He Jiang, emerging not far behind Wu Tian. Upon seeing Qin Long at Wu Tian's side, He Jiang's eyes flashed with surprise.

"You’re mistaken. I’m not a traitor—I was never on your side to begin with," Qin Long replied coldly, now nothing but Wu Tian's puppet, feeling no allegiance to He Jiang.

He Jiang narrowed his eyes. "Qin Long, I remember you and Wu Tian were sworn enemies. Why are you obeying him now?"

"There’s no particular reason—only that you’ve committed too many evils," Wu Tian answered with a faint, knowing smile.

"I wasn’t asking you, Wu Tian," He Jiang snapped. "But you didn’t expect this, did you? Ever since you returned to the Qitian Sect, I suspected you’d discovered something. There’s always been a traitor near me. So tonight, I deliberately leaked this information to you, and you fell right into my trap. Now I know exactly who the traitor is!" He Jiang smirked triumphantly, convinced his plan had succeeded.

Behind He Jiang stood more than a dozen men clad in black, each exuding a formidable aura. Clearly, He Jiang had come fully prepared.

"You seem quite confident in your plan," Wu Tian said, "but I do have one question: Why did you target my master and me?"

He Jiang let out a cruel laugh, his eyes glinting with malice. "Since you’re doomed to die tonight, I might as well tell you: You and your foolish master stood in my way. Why was your master always a step above me? Decades ago, it was so, and it remains so now. Why should he, with only one disciple, always overshadow me? I couldn’t accept it, so I… finished him. You understand, don’t you?"

"So, it was nothing but jealousy," Wu Tian said coolly. "He Jiang, when you killed my master, I was attacked at the same time. You couldn’t have been in two places at once. That means you had an accomplice. Let me guess—the head of the Nie family, isn’t it?"

He Jiang’s eyes flickered in surprise. He hadn’t expected Wu Tian to deduce so much.

"Incredible! You actually guessed it. Yes, the mysterious figure who attacked you was an assassin sent by Nie Yuntian, the Nie family’s patriarch. Now you know the truth—but you’ll take it down to hell with you. The more you know, the sooner you die. Tonight, you won’t leave here alive!" He Jiang’s gaze hardened as he spoke.

"He Jiang, your usefulness is at an end. You’re no longer needed. From this moment on, you can disappear from this world," Wu Tian said slowly, each word like a blade. He had waited a long time for this moment.

He Jiang burst out laughing. "Arrogant fool! You think you’re something just because you won a sect competition? In my eyes, you’re still worthless. Men—kill him!"

At his command, the black-clad men surged forward, swords gleaming.

"So you really think I’m useless, sending only this handful of trash? You’re asking for death." Wu Tian curled his lip in disdain. The Black Dragon Blade flashed into his hand.

"Kill him—leave no one alive!" He Jiang roared.

Wu Tian gave a cold snort and leaped forward. The Black Dragon Blade unleashed a violent wave of energy.

With a thunderous crash, the leading men in black were sent flying. In the darkness, a dark blur swept past—several heads rolled free from their bodies.

Ding!

"Congratulations, Player Wu Tian, for killing a Nie family Level-7 Martial Officer. Experience +2000. Side quest ‘Nie Family Terminator’ progress +1."

"Congratulations, Player Wu Tian, for killing a Nie family Level-6 Martial Officer. Experience +2000. Side quest ‘Nie Family Terminator’ progress +1."

…

As the system notifications echoed in his mind, Wu Tian’s eyes widened in delight.

"Well, well! So these men are from the Nie family. Perfect. Killing them advances my side quest—guess I won’t hold back!" Realizing the truth, Wu Tian’s excitement grew. Though their levels weren’t high, he killed with mounting fervor.

With each swing of the blade, more enemies fell, and the relentless chime of system notifications urged him on. In less than a quarter of an hour, the black-clad men He Jiang had brought were all slain, transformed into Wu Tian’s experience points.

He Jiang stared in disbelief. He knew Wu Tian had grown powerful, but hadn’t imagined he’d become this unstoppable.

"All right, now it’s your turn, He Jiang," Wu Tian said coldly, pointing his blade at him.

"Overconfident fool! Tonight, I’ll show you who’s truly powerful. I killed your master, and I’ll send you to hell as well!" He Jiang flung aside his cloak and charged with a roar, instantly appearing before Wu Tian.

Wu Tian was startled by his speed—no wonder He Jiang was a Level-3 Martial Spirit.

Clang! He Jiang’s sword met Wu Tian’s parry, but in a blink, he vanished and reappeared behind Wu Tian, his blade flashing coldly at Wu Tian’s throat.

"Wu Tian, the game is over—die!" He Jiang’s voice rang out from behind.

"Riding the Wind!" Wu Tian’s body became a phantom and vanished from the spot.

A flash of violet light—Wu Tian’s Black Dragon Blade pierced straight through He Jiang’s back.

"Instant kill." The words slipped from Wu Tian’s lips.

With a violent cough, He Jiang spat out blood, his eyes wide in disbelief. He had been so close to victory—how could Wu Tian have turned the tables?

"He Jiang, this is your fate. Surprised? Don’t worry, I won’t tell you why. Search for the answer in hell," Wu Tian said coldly, yanking out the blade. He Jiang’s body crumpled heavily to the ground.

Ding!

"Congratulations, Player Wu Tian, on slaying Level-3 Martial Spirit mini-boss He Jiang…"