Chapter 278: Can It End With Me?
Little Silkworm was aggrieved. Its master was actually disgusted with it!
But then again, it really did stink right now.
With a SWOOSH, Little Silkworm shot straight for the inner hall.
The inner hall instantly erupted into chaos.
"Protect the Prince!!"
"Quick, protect the Prince!!"
The Left and Right Protectors, leading the Core Guard Team, formed a tight circle around the King of Jiangnan. Some sycophants from the Jianghu, hoping to curry favor, also rushed forward!
However, Little Silkworm had no intention of hurting anyone. With a SWOOSH, it flew into the King of Jiangnan’s wine cup and took a luxurious bath in the priceless, thirty-year-old Maotai.
After its bath, Little Silkworm ignored the powerful figures in the chaotic inner hall. With a flicker of movement, it returned to Cheng Yuan’s side and fawningly nuzzled his cheek.
Chen Yongchang had a deep spiritual connection with the Flying Centipede King. After the Flying Centipede King died, it took him a full half-minute to recover from the splitting headache.
Chen Yongchang stared at Cheng Yuan, his gaze sinister. ’That bastard! He actually destroyed my Lifebound Gu Insect. I have to kill him!’
’As for that Gu Insect of his, I must seize it and make it my new Poisonous Insect King!’
Chen Yongchang feigned severe injury, rolling and wailing on the ground, but his focus never left Cheng Yuan as he prepared for a sneak attack.
’Closer! So close!’
When Cheng Yuan was only three meters away and had his back turned to him, Chen Yongchang suddenly sprang up, brandishing a poisoned dagger, and viciously stabbed at the back of Cheng Yuan’s heart!
Unfortunately for him.
Cheng Yuan’s Double Pupil had already been upgraded once, granting him a 360-degree field of vision with no blind spots. Even though Chen Yongchang was attacking from behind, he could not escape Cheng Yuan’s sight!
Cheng Yuan was utterly enraged. He had originally planned to let Chen Yongchang go; after all, killing his Lifebound Gu Insect was tantamount to crippling him!
’But this old bastard actually dared to launch a sneak attack, and with a poisoned weapon! He’s not planning to let me live!’
With a light flick and twist of his wrist, the coffin in Cheng Yuan’s palm spun into the air!
With a flip of his wrist, Cheng Yuan produced a menacing Broken Blade as if by magic!
SWOOSH!
Cheng Yuan spun around with incredible speed, executing a perfectly fluid drawing cut!
A sharp CLANG! rang out.
The dagger in Chen Yongchang’s hand was sheared off at the hilt!
But that wasn’t all!
In a streak of light, the Broken Blade slashed from Chen Yongchang’s right abdomen to his left shoulder!
SHING!
Cheng Yuan brought the blade to rest in an incredibly cool pose, then slowly raised his right hand to catch the gently descending coffin.
As if he had just done something utterly trivial, Cheng Yuan didn’t even bother to glance at Chen Yongchang, striding instead toward the inner hall.
Only after Cheng Yuan had taken five or six steps did Chen Yongchang let out a bloodcurdling scream, watching in horror as his body split in two!
The edges of the wound were as smooth as a mirror.
The scene was too horrifying!
The young scions in the crowd had never witnessed such a brutal scene. Their stomachs churned, and they couldn’t stop dry-heaving.
At this moment, the King of Jiangnan no longer dared to look down on Cheng Yuan. He now saw him as his equal.
The King of Jiangnan’s expression was incredibly grave as he looked at Cheng Yuan. In a deep voice, he asked, "Fellow Daoist Cheng, what business might you have with Gao?"
CRASH!
With a flick of his wrist, Cheng Yuan tossed the Purple Sandalwood coffin before the King of Jiangnan. "King of Jiangnan," he asked coldly, "why did you send men to ambush and kill my grandmother?"
The King of Jiangnan stared at Cheng Yuan, and suddenly, his expression changed drastically.
’The resemblance is uncanny! This boy looks just like that woman from back then!’
’Could he be her grandson?’
The King of Jiangnan sighed. "If regret were a pill you could buy, this Prince would have bought one long ago. I never would have participated in that siege."
An intense killing intent flared in Cheng Yuan’s eyes. "So, you admit it?"
"I do."
"Who else was involved in the siege back then? Tell me the truth, now!"
A flash of deep fear crossed the King of Jiangnan’s eyes. "Young man, take my advice. Can you let this end with me?"
"No! Everyone who took part in my grandmother’s murder must die! Tell me! Who else was there? Don’t even think about lying to me! I have countless ways to make you talk!"
The King of Jiangnan didn’t answer. He beckoned to his Left and Right Protectors, who immediately moved to stand in front of him, watching Cheng Yuan with extreme vigilance.
To the Left and Right Protectors’ shock, the King of Jiangnan suddenly struck them from behind.
With two sickening squelches!
He had pierced both of their hearts.
As they lay dying, the two turned their heads in astonishment, looking at their master with utter confusion. ’We were so loyal... Why would he kill us?’
The King of Jiangnan looked at them with an apologetic expression.
"My two old brothers, I have failed you. Now that we’ve fallen into this young man’s hands, we are destined for a fate worse than death. It’s better to have a quick end!"
A look of relief washed over their faces. "Prince, you are right. We would rather die than betray our leader."
With that, their bodies slumped to the side, and they breathed their last.
A strange smile appeared on the King of Jiangnan’s face as blood began to trickle from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. With his last ounce of strength, he pleaded, "Young man, don’t investigate any further! Let it end with this Prince... alright?"
With that, the King of Jiangnan’s body slumped over, and he, too, breathed his last.
This scene terrified the guests.
The King of Jiangnan was dead!
The King of Jiangnan had been forced into suicide by some kid from Luocheng!
What kind of secret was the King of Jiangnan trying to conceal?
Cheng Yuan turned his blank expression to the guests. "What are you all still sitting around for? Waiting for the funeral feast?"
"No, no, we’re not staying!"
The terrified guests scrambled to get away.
They knew that the world of Jiangnan had just been turned upside down.
They wondered if this kid could withstand the wrath of the Xuanyuan War God.
In an instant, the vast Prince’s Mansion was deserted. Only the King of Jiangnan’s immediate family remained.
But they were all trembling with fear, as if their souls had left their bodies, not daring to meet Cheng Yuan’s gaze.
The King of Jiangnan’s first wife, who had seen much of the world, forced herself to calm down. She stepped forward, cupped her hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Mr. Cheng, I do not know the grudge between you and the Prince, but death settles all debts. Now that the Prince is gone, I implore you to spare the rest of us in the Prince’s Mansion."
Cheng Yuan glanced indifferently over the people of the Prince’s Mansion. Aside from a few who were burdened by Karmic Obstacles, the rest were clean. He could even see a considerable amount of Merit accumulated above the first wife’s head.
Clearly, the first wife had performed many good deeds and frequently prayed to Buddha.
Cheng Yuan said coolly, "The King of Jiangnan made my father an orphan and denied me the chance to ever know my grandmother’s love. Your Prince’s Mansion must provide compensation!"
The first wife was a sensible woman. She said respectfully, "The Treasury of the Prince’s Mansion is open to you, Mr. Cheng! Please, take whatever you desire!"
Cheng Yuan, of course, was not going to be modest. He said in a low voice, "Then I will ask the first wife to lead the way."