Chapter 250 - 278: The Purple-Robed Eunuch! A Farce
"What a powerful presence!"
Jin Yunfeng stood beneath the eaves, gazing at the troop of Blood Nether Thieves ahead. His eyes were locked on the Black Emperor’s Palace, which radiated a terrifying presence.
The longsword at his waist hummed and vibrated, as if it had sensed something.
"Brother Xu!"
Lin Qing’Er and a young man with a saber quickly helped Xu Yun up.
As for the others, seeing the terrifying might of the Blood Nether Thieves before them, they couldn’t help but start to tremble.
The group was in complete disarray.
At the kitchen entrance, the old Daoist leaned against the doorframe. He first glanced at the Black Emperor’s Palace, then looked back at Jin Yunfeng, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. "This big, dark fellow is actually a Sword Cultivator?"
He had sized up this coarse-featured, dark-faced, and brutish-looking man before but hadn’t paid him much mind.
After all, in his experience, most Sword Cultivators used Flying Swords or Spirit Swords. He had never heard of a Sword Cultivator using an ordinary Iron Sword from the mortal world.
Besides, a powerful Sword Cultivator could slay an enemy a thousand miles away with a single thought. Who ever heard of a Sword Cultivator as brawny as this man, one who specialized in physical combat?
He really hadn’t expected that not only was this man’s Physique extraordinary, but he was also a Sword Cultivator!
"A Sword Cultivator."
Inside the house, Su Bai held his teacup and briefly probed the presence of the black hall. He then glanced at the sword in Jin Yunfeng’s hand, his eyes flashing.
The sword Jin Yunfeng carried was indeed an ordinary Iron Sword, the kind you could buy for a few silver taels in any city—commonplace, with nothing rare about it.
Logically, any accomplished Sword Cultivator would try by all means to obtain a better sword to increase their strength.
But this Jin Yunfeng had taken a different path, continuously nurturing this sword with his own surging Sword Intent.
As a result, the sword had now developed a spirituality, making it no worse than an ordinary Spirit Sword or Flying Sword.
If he continued to nurture it this way...
In time, he might just be able to nurture it into a Sword-type Sacred Artifact of his very own.
At this moment, Jin Yunfeng, outside the house, scanned his surroundings but still found no trace of Lord Lin.
He couldn’t help but frown.
Then, he gripped his longsword, his gaze turning to the Blood Nether Thieves before him—or more accurately, to the Black Emperor’s Palace.
"HEY!"
"I am Jin Yunfeng! Who goes there!?"
If not for the Black Emperor’s Palace, his usual temperament would have had him charge in, slaughter a group of Blood Nether Thieves, and then beat Lord Lin’s whereabouts out of the survivors.
But the presence of the master of this Black Emperor’s Palace was truly terrifying, making even him quite wary.
BOOM!
A powerful sound wave, mixed with fluctuations of True Qi, exploded outwards, instantly scattering the downpour before him and spreading in all directions.
For a moment, not even the clap of distant thunder could drown out his stentorian cry.
WHOOSH—
The night wind blew through the heavy rain.
The Blood Nether Thieves stood still in the rain, like statues, unmoving as mountains.
Watching them, Jin Yunfeng’s eyelid twitched.
"Jin Yunfeng? I seem to have heard that name."
"Ten years ago, Jin Yun City produced a genius accomplished in both literary and martial arts. Not only was he skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, winning the title of top scholar at the State Mansion, but his talent in the Martial Dao was also outstanding."
"Later, I heard you joined the Dayu Celestial Patrol Bureau and became a Chief Constable to fulfill your parents’ dying wish."
"Is that person you?"
From the motionless, iron-like ranks, a pale-faced, white-haired old eunuch in a purple robe slowly emerged.
Although the old eunuch strolled through the rain, his entire body was perfectly dry. Not a single drop of rain could come within three feet of him.
It was as if an invisible Presence constantly surrounded him, and even his boots were not stained by the slightest bit of mud.
"Brother Jin! Accomplished in both literary and martial arts?"
Lin Qing’Er, hiding under a coffin, widened her eyes in disbelief.
For such a brawny, robust, and rough-looking man to have outstanding talent in the Martial Dao, she could understand that.
But to be skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and even win the title of top scholar at the State Mansion—how was that possible?
’Never mind anything else, with a face like that, he would never have passed the palace examination, would he?’
’He’s strong!’
At that moment, Jin Yunfeng stared at the old eunuch, his pupils shrinking. Then he bellowed:
"If there isn’t a second Jin Yunfeng in Jin Yun City, then it’s me."
"A good child, quite promising. A pity you chose the wrong path and ended up in this state."
The old eunuch’s slightly hoarse voice rang out again, the pouring rain doing nothing to impede his words.
"You are a talent, and I have no desire to kill you. If you lay down your weapon and renounce the darkness for the light, I can spare your life."
"As for the person you want to save... you are not strong enough to protect him."
"May I ask, Your Excellency!"
"What crime has Lord Lin committed?"
Jin Yunfeng stood tall in the rain and shouted his question:
"I have heard that you are escorting Lord Lin to the Dayu Prefecture. I wish to know, what law has Lord Lin broken?"
"Furthermore, Your Excellency is actually colluding with the Blood Nether Thieves. Why is that?"
"You ask too many questions."
The old eunuch’s face darkened, and he snorted coldly.
"Let’s not even mention that you are no longer a Chief Constable of the Dayu Celestial Patrol Bureau. Even if you were, you would have no right to question the Lord of the State’s decisions!"
"The affairs of the world are the concern of everyone in the world!"
Jin Yunfeng didn’t yield an inch, retorting directly.
"If this Lord Lin is truly wicked beyond redemption, I will naturally withdraw. Otherwise, to let you take away an honest official like this... I may agree, but my sword will not!"
For a Sword Cultivator, one’s will is like a sword!
Once a decision is made, it cannot be bent in the slightest.
This was his path as a Sword Cultivator.
Otherwise, if he were unfaithful to his sword, he could never advance on his path as a Sword Cultivator.
"This Lin Tianjing may appear to be an honest official, but in reality, he is insatiably greedy. But that’s nothing. What official isn’t greedy?"
"However, his one unforgivable mistake was daring to plot against the tribute the Lord of the State was presenting to Emperor Yu for his birthday."
The old eunuch was already growing impatient as he spoke.
"Ling San."
At that moment, a deep voice came from within the Black Emperor’s Palace.
"It’s been this long, and you can’t even take down one person?"
"You are right to chastise me, My Lord!"
The old eunuch named Ling San’s expression changed instantly. He immediately lowered his head and spoke obsequiously.
"Xu Yun! Are you not going to act!?"
Then, he raised his head and roared.
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Jin Yunfeng’s body jolted.
A scream had already erupted from behind him!
"Ah! Brother... Brother Xu! What... what are you doing!?"
In the courtyard, Xu Yun, who had been severely injured, had somehow gotten back to his feet. His five fingers were wrapped around Lin Qing’er’s neck as he slowly rose and said:
"Your Excellency! I have not failed my mission! I have captured Lin Tianjing’s only daughter!"
"Xu Yun!"
"You beast! Let our sister go!"
"You ungrateful wolf! To think Lord Lin adopted you, and you betray us like this!"
In the courtyard, the Lin Family members who saw this were instantly filled with towering rage.
One by one, they gripped their sabers and swords, closing in on Xu Yun, who was leading Lin Qing’er out of the estate.
"Betrayal?"
In the pouring rain, blood dripped from Xu Yun’s robes. The muscles on his face twitched violently; he was enraged too!
"Beast? Ungrateful wolf? Lin Tianjing adopted us, don’t you know? He called us adopted sons to make it sound nice, but to put it bluntly, we were just Death Warriors meant to throw our lives away for him!"
He sneered, his fingers almost crushing Lin Qing’er’s throat.
"I served him loyally for over thirty years, and what about him? He arranged for us to ambush a merchant caravan. Did he tell us we were ambushing people from the State Mansion!?"
"Of our more than thirty brothers, I’m the only one left alive!"
"You!"
Hearing this, the crowd was struck speechless.
Xu Yun stared coldly at Lin Qing’er:
"I told you Lin Tianjing was seriously injured and could only be saved by a Void Returning Celestial Pill. You must have brought it. Where is it!?"
"Cough, cough!"
Rainwater slid down Lin Qing’er’s face. Her face was flushed red, and she coughed with difficulty but said nothing. She only stared at Xu Yun with immense hatred, her eyes practically spitting fire.
"All of you, get lost! My only target is Lin Qing’er. If you run now, you might just live."
Xu Yun, completely ignoring the swords and sabers around him, began to walk toward the gate, still clutching Lin Qing’er’s neck.
The Lin Family members exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with uncertainty. Not a single one dared to step forward and stop him.
Just as the two were about to leave, Jin Yunfeng, who stood blocking the gate, suddenly reached out an arm to bar their path. He said coldly:
"You can take the item, but what Lin Tianjing has done has nothing to do with his children."
"Enough!"
Outside Ning Village, the old eunuch had grown impatient. Seeing Jin Yunfeng still blocking the way, he flew into a rage:
"Kill them!"
"Kill them all! Take the item, leave no one alive!"
"Yes, sir!"
With a unified shout, dozens of Blood Nether Thieves raised their crimson scimitars, spurred their horses, and charged!
SHIING—
The glint of their blades was like a forest of steel!
In an instant, they tore through dozens of yards of the rain curtain, charging toward the nearby Ning Village.
WHOOSH!
Just then, a calm sigh, like a cold current, instantly enveloped the area, filling everyone’s hearts:
"What a farce."
"It’s time for the curtain to fall."