Chapter 242: Xiao Huan's Plans (Part Two)
Before entering the secret realm, there was a silent and lifeless atmosphere.
Not far away was the camp of the Xiao family, now filled with a pale emptiness. The warriors of the Xiao family stood in silence, their faces serious.
Just moments ago, the head of the Xiao family, Xiao Jingzhou, had died. It was said that he was killed by Qiao Wan, a disciple from Kunshan.
When the news came, nobody believed that Qiao Wan could have killed Xiao Jingzhou. Even though Xiao Jingzhou's cultivation was weak, he still had a group of loyal guards. Could Qiao Wan really kill him and escape from the clutches of these guards?
Lu Pihan's face turned pale, he coughed with every step, and more than ten disciples of the Lu family followed him. They hurried towards the camp of the Xiao family.
These disciples of the Lu family didn't look any better. Just a moment ago, Xiao Huan sent a message to Lu Pihan, asking him to come for a talk.
When they reached the front of the Xiao family's camp, Lu Pihan lifted his hand and decisively pulled aside the curtain.
"Taoist Friend Lu," Xiao Huan said, looking up from inside the tent. His eyes still showed sadness and sorrow that hadn't faded yet. There were some other members of the Xiao family and Xiao Jingzhou's remaining forces behind him.
"Where is Qiao Wan?" Lu Pihan asked heavily, standing at the entrance without stepping forward.
Xiao Huan forced a smile. "I know you're not feeling well, Taoist Friend Lu, but first, I lost my younger brother, and then I lost my father. I haven't been feeling well either."
"Please have a seat, Taoist Friend Lu," Xiao Huan instructed the people next to him to offer a seat to Lu Pihan. Xiao Huan said, "I invited you here to have a good talk about this matter."
"Qiao Wan couldn't possibly kill the leader of the Xiao family." Lu Pihan had no expression on his face as he straightforwardly said, "She only has the cultivation of a golden core, how could she deal with the Xiao family leader guarded by the Xiao family's skilled warriors?"
"I don't believe it either, but..." Xiao Huan paused for a moment and instructed his men to bring the body forward, signaling Lu Pihan to have a look. "These warriors' sword techniques are indeed from the Yuqing Peak swordsmanship."
This fatal strike on the body was indeed a sword technique from Yuqing Peak, the same one that Lu Pihan had once taught Qiao Wan .
The body was casually thrown in front of Lu Pihan . His gaze met the fierce-looking face of the corpse, but he remained unfazed, his arrogance unchanged. "Will the taoist friend, Xiao, simply rely on this single piece of evidence to pass judgment?"
"What do you mean?"
Lu Pihan responded calmly, "There are many doubts surrounding the death of your leader. Whether Qiao Wan lives or dies is not important to the Xiao family."
The man stared at Xiao Huan with eyes as fierce as a torch in the dark night. "But if we let the real culprit go, the leader of the Xiao family will not rest in peace."
This intense gaze made Xiao Huan's heart skip a beat. He couldn't help but force a bitter smile. This sickly-looking swordsman was indeed as arrogant and haughty as the rumors suggested.
"So, Taoist Friend Lu, are you saying that someone else killed my brother and father?"
Lu Pihan didn't answer right away. He looked at Xiao Huan, his expression calm, and spoke slowly, "Is Xiao taoist friend not afraid of confronting the world of demons?"
Everyone knew that the engagement was just a joke.
Xiao Huan remained unfazed. "My father's death was unjust and mysterious. It is my duty as his son to seek revenge. If I let fear of the power of the demon clan lead to further injustice for my father, then I am no better than a worthless animal."
"I am willing to do whatever it takes, and the Xiao family is not afraid to face the demon clan."
Lu Pihan asked, "Tell me your request."
Xiao Huan didn't waste any words, and smiled slightly. "I heard that the spiritual master entrusted the Evil Sword Book to Taoist Friend. Is that true?"
"Before my father passed away, he told me that if I could have a look at the Evil Sword Book, it would make my life worthwhile. If my taoist friend is willing to give me the Evil Sword Book and satisfy my father's last wish, I will return Qiao Wan to Kunshan."
As soon as these words were spoken, the disciples of the Lu family behind Lu Pihan changed their expressions, and even the remaining disciples of the Xiao family and Xiao Jingzhou himself showed anger on their faces.
"Brother! We cannot do this!!"
"Brother! We must not easily give up Qiao Wan!"
One of the disciples in the Xiao family, filled with anger, looked at Xiao Huan and drew his sword, saying, "Xiao Huan! Are you really going to let Qiao Wan go?!"
"Our father died in a mysterious way all because of this sword book, and now you want to let the Lu family go?!"
Xiao Jingzhou had many concubines in front of him, and not only did Xiao Huan and Xiao Sui stand out, but they were also the most outstanding among all the sons of the Xiao family. The rest were just illegitimate children.
Just as one of the illegitimate sons of the Xiao family took a step forward, Xiao Huan stopped him expressionlessly.
"Xiao Liang, step back!" In his words, there was a hint of authority that demanded respect.
Unfortunately, he had just taken over and it seemed like he couldn't command obedience just yet.
Xiao Liang turned his head and glanced at Xiao Huan, gripping his sword tightly with a cold smirk. "Xiao Huan, you dare to challenge the Lu family, but I do!"
With a sweep of his sword, the front row of Lu family disciples were caught off guard, and in the blink of an eye, blood splattered across their bodies!
Taking a few steps back, Lu Linjia's eyebrows furrowed in anger. "Xiao Huan! Is this your sincerity?!"
In an instant, the somewhat calm atmosphere turned tense and hostile!
Looking at Xiao Liang, who still wanted to advance, Xiao Huan's smile vanished from his face. He then made a shocking move that left everyone present astonished!
He pulled out the sword belonging to Xiao Sanlang by his side, taking three quick steps down from the main seat, and with a single swift motion--
He beheaded Xiao Liang!
The young man's expression froze in anger, yet his head fell to the ground with a dull thud, raising a cloud of dust.
Xiao Huan walked slowly with a blood-stained long sword. He revealed a gentle and warm smile, like a gentle breeze in spring.
"As Taoist Friend Lu can see, this is my sincerity."
Blood dropped from his fingertips, as if he wasn't holding a weapon, but a cup of wine or a scroll of calligraphy and painting.
He tossed the sword behind him and it smoothly returned to its sheath.
Xiao Huan smiled gently, "Since the Lu family has seen my sincerity, I wonder if I can see Taoist Friend Lu's sincerity?"
Suddenly, the whole place fell into silence.
In this moment of silence, Lu Pihan stood up abruptly and said, "I will deliver the sword manual to Taoist Friend's table later."
After speaking, he coldly flicked his sleeve and walked out of the tent.
Witnessing the scene of personally killing his own half-brother with gentle words, Lu Linjia felt a turmoil in his stomach. But at the same time, a clear fact also came to his mind.
Besides Xiao Huan, no one else could be the next head of the Xiao family.
But compared to chatting with Xiao Huan in the tent, he had more important things to do now.
Hastily following Lu Pihan's footsteps, Lu Linjia took a step forward and stopped Lu Pihan.
"Do you really want to hand over the Evil Sword Book?" Lu Linjia's expression turned a bit ugly. "Without the consent of our family, even if..."
Lu Pihan stopped in his tracks, his voice resolute and cold. "Xiao Huan killed Xiao Sui and Xiao Jingzhou."
With those resolute and cold words, Lu Linjia trembled all over.
Lu Pihan sneered. "Kill Xiao Sui, lure Xiao Jingzhou, frame Qiao Wan, and then release the news to me."
"The whole Xiao family knows that something is fishy about this, but since Xiao Jingzhou is already dead, at this time, the Xiao family cannot be in chaos and must appoint a family head."
After Xiao Huan became the new leader, he was not very stable. He sent me a message, knowing that I would come to rescue Qiao Wan. Lu Pihan coughed and spoke with a cold tone, "If I make a move, the Lu family will also make a move. If I don't give him the sword manual, the Lu family will definitely clash with Xiao Jingzhou's remaining forces. In this way, Xiao Huan can use the Lu family to eliminate any remaining threats. It's like the story of two fighting birds benefiting the fisherman. After all, besides the Lu family, he can also form an alliance with the Cen family."
The Cen family, the Xiao family, and the Lu family were three powerful families, and if one was disturbed, it would affect them all.
Lu Linjia was surprised, "How does he know that if you make a move, the Lu family will also make a move?"
Lu Pihan remained silent, and Lu Linjia suddenly felt guilty and stopped speaking.
Although Lu Pihan grew up in his own family, he wasn't really close to the Lu family. After all, when the branch Lu Pihan belonged to was destroyed by Blue-eyed Evil Buddha, the Lu family's reinforcements arrived too late. The Lu family has been treating Lu Pihan well now, not only out of guilt, but also with the hope of getting the Evil Sword Book. However, Lu Pihan fiercely keeps the Evil Sword Book hidden. The Lu family is worried, but they can't forcibly take it, right?
Lu Pihan then looked away and continued, "Now that he has decisively killed his own half-brother, it is to intimidate others and show his goodwill towards the Lu family."
"After obtaining the Evil Sword Book, not only will his strength increase, but it is expected that he will make a copy to sell to the Lu family as a favor. In exchange for the Evil Sword Book, he will consolidate his position as the leader of the Xiao family using the support of the Lu family. Considering the pros and cons, what do you think our family will do?"
Naturally, he gave up the Evil Sword Book. After all, it took such a long time to find it, but Xiao Huan played his hand perfectly and targeted everyone's weakness.
Lu Linjia was speechless for a moment. He didn't expect Xiao Huan to be so secretive. How long had he been planning this?
He couldn't help but feel a bit unwilling to hand over the Evil Sword Book.
"So you just gave him the book? Couldn't you have forged a fake one?"
Lu Pihan replied, "We didn't have enough time. Xiao Huan is clever, and he can think of everything you can. Whether it's real or fake, he would know at a glance. If we had prepared three months in advance, maybe we could have fooled him with a fake book, but it's too late now."
Lu Linjia said, "Even if the Lu family agrees, the Xiao family would not."
Lu Pihan's voice turned colder, "Between a deceased family head and a ruthless successor, who would you choose?"
Lu Linjia was startled.
Could it be that just now, that move was specially done to show the remnants of the Xiao family? It not only intimidates them, but also makes them seriously consider whether to follow their deceased master or seek refuge with a new one.
But how could Xiao Huan have expected someone like Xiao Liang to dare to stand up? Either he has a deep understanding of human nature, or this is a play arranged by Xiao Huan, and Xiao Liang willingly sacrifices himself for Xiao Huan.
Either way, Xiao Huan is probably even more difficult to deal with than they imagined.
Lu Linjia said, "But... Venerable One Miaofa and Demon Emperor haven't made a move yet..."
Lu Pihan raised his eyes, firmly gripping Lu Linjia's face, and almost decisively ended the conversation, "I will save Qiao Wan."
Xiaoxiao and Qiao Wan are both his younger martial sisters, and he cannot abandon either one.
*
Qiao Wan woke up from intense pain, her limbs sore from fighting, but the throbbing in the back of her head and in her consciousness felt a bit wrong.
Almost instantly, Qiao Wan understood her current situation. She must have been tampered with while she was unconscious.
She quickly climbed out of bed and immediately composed herself, looking around to see where she was now.
It appeared to be the camp of the Xiao family, with their emblem displayed on the tent.
The tent curtain was lifted from the outside, revealing a poised Xiao family maid.
"Qiao Wan, you're awake?"
