CHAPTER 163
The Crimson-Robed Steward
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"Cling to someone powerful?"
Su Muchan grinned and offered her explanation.
"Exactly! Tomorrow when I go out, I'll tell everyone I'm from Lingxian Hall. No one will dare mess with me then!"
Su Cheng chuckled. Given Lingxian Hall's current influence, that might just work.
"Haha, alright. Then I'll be your big shot too?"
"Then thank you, Master Su~"
"Hold your excitement. It's possible, but there's a condition." Su Cheng was genuinely pleased—this girl certainly wasn't shy!
Compared to the proper Dongfang Jue, Su Muchan was clearly much bolder—willing to take action and make demands.
Su Muchan was also quite curious. Could it be that he wanted her to pay protection money?
Her suspicion was entirely reasonable—after all, Lingxian Hall was desperately short on funds!
She understood all that!
"Are you asking for protection money?"
Su Cheng gave an awkward chuckle. It seemed his label as the penniless sect leader hadn't been completely shed yet.
"As long as you don't break the law or bully the weak, you can cling to this powerful ally."
Su Muchan was overjoyed!
Oh my~ She knew it wouldn't be a wasted trip! This was definitely climbing the social ladder!
Though Lingxian Hall had few members, a sect's strength wasn't measured by numbers alone.
The Lingxian Hall was simply less well-known. Just this Elder Dragon King alone could found a sect and build a top-tier cultivation organization!
Su Muchan thought to herself, thank goodness she'd been bold enough to speak up. If she hadn't spoken earlier, wouldn't she have missed this golden opportunity?
"Look at what you're saying, Sect Leader Su. Mu Chan isn't some ruthless villain—how could she do such a thing?"
Su Cheng smiled without comment, glancing at Yu Lan who had just returned and nodding. The trio quickened their pace.
While Su Cheng's group was still en route, Xu Zhanfeng and his two disciples had already reached the September Sacred Domain.
Xu Zhanfeng had fully embraced his role here. Acting on the Grand Elder’s orders, he dared not be careless.
Upon landing, he immediately addressed the two matriarchs: "Please wait a moment, honored elders. Such a minor matter is easily handled by Zhanfeng."
Li Shiyao was only too happy to avoid the effort and had no intention of rushing forward.
Ye Qinghan, however, gave it some thought. Xu Zhanfeng's strength was beyond question, and this truly was nothing for him.
But there were some things she still wanted to handle personally. Just as she was about to speak, Xu Zhanfeng interrupted her.
"Rest assured, Madam. Zhanfeng knows what needs to be done. Once everything is settled, I will report back to you."
Ye Qinghan wondered inwardly, what exactly did Xu Zhanfeng know?
That he couldn't even tell her, the eldest madam?
But Xu Zhanfeng wasn't wrong in keeping it to himself. She could only wait until later to hear her master's thoughts.
"I'll just observe. That should be acceptable, right? I won't cause any trouble."
Xu Zhanfeng had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Now it was Ye Qinghan instructing Li Shiyao to play outside, though Li Shiyao was much more relieved—she hadn't wanted to go in the first place.
Having handled matters with both matriarchs, Xu Zhanfeng fully embraced his role.
Dragging the God-Slaying Blade, he strolled leisurely into the sacred grounds.
Silent throughout, Xu Zhanfeng slaughtered anyone in his path. Whether they shouted threats or hurled insults, none reached his ears.
This was the true Xu Zhanfeng. The adult world held no room for cuteness; reality was brutal. This sacred ground was about to witness its harshest reality.
Ye Qinghan's lips curved into a faint smile. This was the Xu Zhanfeng befitting an attendant of Lingxian Hall!
But when he was around her normally, he acted like a lackey from a wealthy family—not at all like a steward!
His white robes quickly stained crimson. Ye Qinghan walked behind this "red-robed steward" with her hands behind her back, looking like a young lady from a wealthy family paying a visit.
The Sacred Domain was said to rival the top sects of the human race, but due to the vast expanse and sparse demonic presence of the Northern Domain, its scale even matched that of the Spirit Mountains. Countless magnificent halls and towers stood within, and the number of Demon Clan cultivators was beyond counting.
Yet to the red-robed steward, even such a crowd was merely a statistic. His sole concern was ensuring no blood splattered onto the First Lady's skirt.
Compared to whether these people felt pain, he was far more concerned about whether the Grand Mistress would be displeased if her skirt were stained.
At that moment, Xu Zhanfeng had surrounded hundreds of Demon Clan beings, including several powerful Demon Clan cultivators!
Even though only two figures stood before them, the Demon Clan who had gathered to gang up on their prey couldn't help but feel a chill run down their spines.
Yet the two showed no sign of retreating, instead advancing relentlessly.
Several powerful figures instantly struck out, aiming to jointly suppress the red-robed steward before them.
But they clearly overestimated themselves. In an instant, two Demon Clan elders lost their lives.
The rest barely escaped with their lives.
"Who are you? Why have you come to the Nine Moons Sacred Domain?"
Still silent, Xu Zhanfeng advanced step by step, claiming the lives of Demon Clan members with each stride.
The two moved in tandem—one clad in black uniform, the other in white robes—like the grim reapers of fate, mercilessly harvesting the lives of every fool.
Xu Zhanfeng possessed the power to storm in and capture the domain's ruler outright. But the Old Master had ordered: Leave not a single one alive!
Xu Zhanfeng's specialty was meticulous work. He would comb every crack and crevice, leaving not a single survivor.
Cut the weeds at the root, clean and decisive—this was Lingxian Hall's code of conduct, and Xu Zhanfeng's sole creed in serving them.
Even Ye Yánwáng, whose heart was as hard as iron, felt a twinge of something upon witnessing Xu Zhanfeng's actions…
She couldn't fathom why, but seeing those children cowering in the corners stirred a flicker of pity within her?
Realizing this, she gave a self-mocking chuckle, finding herself laughable.
How could she possibly act with such indecisiveness?
Earlier, she had vowed with such ferocity to slaughter the Northern Realm and avenge her mother.
Now, with such a state of mind, she truly felt ashamed before her mother's spirit in heaven. They were all mere livestock—where were the innocent among them?
Thinking of her mother, who found no peace even in death, she realized that all living creatures in this world were fickle and treacherous!
Her mother, in her kindness, had saved a man who should have perished in the blizzard, only to meet a fate of being skinned alive. And yet, she hadn't learned her lesson?
If Xu Zhanfeng hadn't been standing right before her, she would have slapped herself to snap out of it—and to apologize to her mother for that moment of childishness!
Stepping over one corpse after another, blood stained the stone pavers beneath her feet. The sticky sensation transmitted through her soles made Ye Qinghan feel restless.
The air thickened with the pungent stench of blood mingled with the acrid residue of thunder magic, stinging her throat and coating her nostrils with a sticky film.
The slaughter never ceased, but now they had reached the final hall. Ye Qinghan saw his mother's killer standing there.
Just like in the Sacred Realm last time, he was pinned to the ground.
Yet she remained motionless, watching one foolish fool after another attempt to shake the Dragon Abyss God-Slaying Blade.
Without exception, each was ruthlessly cleaved in two by Xu Zhanfeng.
The only difference was that just now, the young man who charged forward had been flung aside by Xu Zhanfeng.
He wasn't killed, but instead slammed heavily to the ground and trampled under Xu Zhanfeng's foot.
Ye Qinghan certainly didn't believe this was Xu Zhanfeng showing mercy—she wasn't that naive.
"Mother!"
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