Chapter 564: Why?
Qin Feng and his senior brother battled fiercely on the arena stage. The might of Celestial Light Annihilates the Enemy was not to be underestimated. Both men had comprehended its True Intent, making its power utterly unparalleled.
Countless Light Sabers filled the sky, raging and clashing. As they continuously collided and neutralized one another, the number of blades on both sides dwindled.
Qin Feng, who had been motionless, suddenly pushed off with both feet, hurtling toward his senior brother. With a grasp of his right hand, the Longsword that had dissolved into Light Sabers instantly rematerialized in his grip.
Qin Feng’s Light Sabers vanished. But by now, he had already charged right up to his senior brother, thrusting his sword into the protective light barrier.
The immense force instantly sent a web of cracks across the light barrier. Gazing at Qin Feng, his senior brother showed no panic. Instead, a cold sneer spread across his face as he said, "Qin Feng, you are destined for a crushing defeat. The person our revered Master chose was me..."
Before Qin Feng could even process his senior brother’s words, a clandestine stream of Sword Qi shot out from the central high platform, striking him square in the Dantian.
The Dantian is a Martial Artist’s most vital point. The moment it was struck, the Elemental Power circulating in Qin Feng’s body ground to a halt. His senior brother seized the opportunity. With a grasp of his right hand, the hundreds of Light Sabers vanished into nothing, and his Longsword reappeared in his hand.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Qin Feng’s senior brother thrust his sword toward Qin Feng’s heart. His face twisted into a savage sneer as he taunted, "Qin Feng, I told you that you would suffer a crushing defeat today! It doesn’t matter how strong you are or how high your Combat Power is. It’s all useless! HAHA!"
The Longsword was inches from his face, but Qin Feng seemed frozen, as if in a daze. His eyes were locked on the central high platform, fixed on the figure of the man he had considered family.
"Why? Why is this happening...?" Qin Feng murmured. At that moment, a searing pain jolted him back to his senses. His senior brother’s Longsword had pierced through his chest.
Just as the Longsword was about to pierce his heart, Qin Feng, who had been completely still, suddenly caught the blade with his bare hand.
The sharp blade instantly sliced his palm open, but Qin Feng seemed to feel no pain. He gripped the Longsword that was already buried in his chest with all his might.
The tip of the blade was barely an inch from his heart, yet it could not advance another fraction. No matter how hard his senior brother strained, Qin Feng’s hand was like an iron vise, clamped around the Longsword buried in his chest.
"Why? Why would you do this?" Qin Feng’s gaze remained on the central high platform as he spoke, the question seemingly directed at someone else, yet also at himself.
"Qin Feng, stop your futile resistance! I told you that you would lose everything." His senior brother couldn’t drive the blade into Qin Feng’s heart. He was just an inch away, but Qin Feng’s hand held it in a death grip.
At these words, Qin Feng finally turned his head to look at his senior brother, his face a mask of endless desolation. In truth, no matter how badly his senior brother wanted him dead, Qin Feng had never once thought of harming him in return.
Although they weren’t close, they were both disciples of the same Master. For that reason alone, Qin Feng would never have done such a thing.
He had only agreed to today’s battle to show his senior brother that he couldn’t be bullied with impunity. Beyond that, Qin Feng had no intention of causing him any real harm.
But what Qin Feng had never imagined in his wildest dreams was that the Sword Qi that struck his Dantian had been launched by the Master he trusted and respected most. He had actually sided with his senior brother, conspiring to strip him of everything he possessed and cherished, right here during the Taiqing Academy’s grand competition.
Qin Feng couldn’t understand it. He had only been with his Master for a little over a month, but in his heart, he had already come to see him as his own flesh and blood.
And today, that very person had dealt him this fatal blow.
Though the senior brother still couldn’t pierce Qin Feng’s heart, Qin Feng’s condition was already dire. His Dantian had been wounded by a supreme expert of the Spirit Realm, and a Longsword was buried deep in his chest.
At this point, Qin Feng could no longer circulate his Elemental Power properly, and his Combat Power was completely suppressed.
Retreating a step, his senior brother slowly drew the Longsword from Qin Feng’s body. With every inch the blade was withdrawn, blood gushed from the wound. Blood also trickled from the corner of Qin Feng’s mouth.
"Qin Feng, you have no hope of victory now. I’ll give you one chance to surrender. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless," his senior brother snarled, having fully withdrawn the Longsword.
As if he hadn’t heard a word, Qin Feng’s gaze remained fixed blankly on his Master’s figure on the central high platform. He began to speak, his voice soft.
"I remember when you first took me as your disciple. Your smile was so benevolent. You told me then, ’A teacher for a day is a father for life.’ I took your words to heart. Though it’s only been a little over a month, in my heart, I truly came to see you as my father."
"You passed on your Cultivation Technique to me, taught me Martial Skills, and instructed me in the Taiqing Nine Swords. I thought then that I had finally met a Master who cared for me. Even when my senior brother despised me, even when he tried to kill me time and again, I never thought of fighting back. All because of you... because you are my Master, and I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position."
"But I never, ever imagined... that the one to strike the fatal blow from behind, today of all days... would be you."
Qin Feng’s voice grew louder and louder, until it became a roar. Hearing his disciple’s accusations, the Master on the central high platform had a pained expression, a mixture of pity and resignation.
As he spoke, tears streamed down his face. This was the first time Qin Feng had cried since arriving in the Eastern Heart Domain.
Perhaps being betrayed by the one you cherish most is the hardest thing to accept. You give them your whole heart, and for their sake, you endure things you should never have to.
Seeing Qin Feng’s heartbroken and wretched state, his senior brother sneered from the side. Finally. Finally, he had succeeded in stomping Qin Feng into the dust—a blow from which he would never recover.
Tears welled in their eyes as they watched Qin Feng on the stage. Lu Bingning and the other two women felt their hearts ache for him. All three turned to look at Lin Yun, their meaning obvious: they wanted him to intervene.
Lin Yun gave the three women a look that told them to be patient. His own expression remained calm, but inwardly, he was filled with a thousand emotions.
As if speaking to himself, yet also to Wei Yunhang beside him, Lin Yun said quietly,
"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Qin Feng’s talent made his Master feel threatened—a threat to his senior brother’s position. In the end, Qin Feng’s Master simply made a choice between his role as Dean and his duty to his disciple."
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