Chapter 14: The Fall of the Wang Family

Time flowed on as the night faded away.

A gentle blush of pink crept across the distant sky, birds bursting into cheerful song.

The orange glow at the horizon deepened while the indigo blanket of night quietly slipped away. A new day edged closer.

In a bedroom, three women who’d been unconscious finally woke up. As they looked around bewildered, their eyes met with confusion.

“Weren’t we knocked out in the alley?”

“How did we suddenly wake up in bed? Who brought us back?” Liu Ruyan tried to remember, but pain shot through her head as memories from last night flooded in.

“I remember now—we went shopping yesterday, then went to buy jewelry,” Liu Ruyan murmured, piecing things together. “We passed through a small alley and were suddenly attacked by a group of men in black. Next thing, we just blacked out, and now we’re back home. Someone must have brought us here, but I don’t know who.”

“As for those men in black, we have no idea who sent them. At least they didn’t kill us on the spot,” Liu Ruyan sucked in a cold breath. “Otherwise, we’d have lost our heads without even knowing it.”

The room fell silent. Nangong Lin and Wang Wan shivered, that sense of lingering dread making their skin crawl.

Nangong Lin glanced at the others and suggested, “Should we ask Brother Gu? Maybe he knows something—he could be the one who brought us home.”

Liu Ruyan and Wang Wan both agreed. Without further delay, the trio headed for Gu Qingyi’s courtyard.

“Brother Gu, are you in there? We need to talk to you about something!” Nangong Lin stood by the door, hesitated, then worked up the courage to knock.

……………..

Gu Qingyi was already up early in the courtyard. After last night’s events, he’d gained five top-tier spirit swords.

His mastery of the Ten Thousand Vaults Sword Technique was nearly complete.

Gu Qingyi felt his connection with the sword inside him growing deeper and more entwined.

To his delight, he realized his cultivation had broken through to the second level of the Sword King Realm.

He resolved not to repeat the mistakes of his past self.

That’s why he began cultivating bright and early.

The aura was thickest in the morning. Training now left Gu Qingyi invigorated, shaking off all fatigue and drowsiness.

After he stabilized his cultivation, a little stiffness crept into his bones, so he took a moment to relax.

Suddenly, the sound of commotion at the door caught Gu Qingyi’s attention.

“Coming!” Gu Qingyi got up, brushed the dust from his clothes, stretched, and walked over with lazy, easy strides.

With a creak, the door swung open.

Gu Qingyi found himself face to face with the three women the instant he opened the door.

He studied their faces, smiled thoughtfully and said, “You’re all up early. Is there something you need?”

Wang Wan looked at Gu Qingyi, thought for a moment, then spoke calmly, “Young Master Gu, were you the one who brought us back to the Liu family last night after we lost consciousness?”

“That’s right, it was me,” Gu Qingyi answered without hesitation, having sensed Wang Wan’s suspicion.

“Then, Young Master Gu—those men in black last night, who sent them? What were they after?” Wang Wan pressed once Gu Qingyi admitted it.

Gu Qingyi gave an easygoing glance at the group and explained, “The men in black were sent by the Wang family. Their goal? Most likely revenge for Wang Qiang.”

“They had two reasons for wanting to capture you alive.” A sly grin appeared on Gu Qingyi’s face. “First, the Wang family wanted to offer your heads in sacrifice for Wang Qiang.”

“Second, since Wang Qiang is all alone down there—and he’s admired Miss Liu for ages—his old father probably wanted to fulfill his boy’s dreams with a ghost wedding.” Gu Qingyi couldn’t hold back his laughter as he finished.

“Brother Gu, how can you joke at a time like this?” Nangong Lin, tired of Gu Qingyi’s cheeky grin, marched up and tugged his ear in protest.

The air filled with laughter and teasing.

…………………

Meanwhile, at the Wang family estate.

Wang Aotian couldn’t sit still, pacing anxiously as he waited for news from the Black Cloud Pavilion’s assassins.

He glanced at the time, muttering, “It’s been long enough. They must have finished by now.”

His eyes drifted toward the coffin in the center of the room.

“Qiang’er, I promise you this—Father will bring those girls to you!” Wang Aotian’s gaze twisted with madness as he stared at the coffin.

His hand stroked the coffin lid, his eyes suddenly as cold as ice. He muttered, “Father will arrange a ghost marriage for you and Liu Ruyan! Hahahaha, no! One’s not enough! I’ll give you a grand wedding with all three!”

“For them to marry my son is luck earned over eight lifetimes! Hahaha!” Suddenly, Wang Aotian’s face darkened. “The Wang family reigns over White Deer Town. If I wish, corpses will litter the ground!”

“Don’t worry, my son, just a little more patience. I paid a hefty price for their services. They should be back soon.” He gripped the coffin tightly. “As soon as they return, we’ll throw a grand celebration! No matter where they go, those girls will take good care of you in the afterlife.”

Little did Wang Aotian know—his dream of ruling for over ten years was about to be shattered.

……………………

Back with the others.

“The Wang family is despicable! Just because they’re strong, they bully everyone in their way.” Having heard Gu Qingyi’s story, Nangong Lin’s cheeks flushed with anger. “They slaughter the innocent, kill parents, steal wives, treat lives like they’re nothing more than animals to be butchered at whim!”

“This is an outrage—these parasites don’t deserve to live!” she shouted, slamming her hand hard on the table.

“From what I know, the Wang family’s greatest fighter is only at the Sword King Realm. Why don’t we just take them head-on?” Gu Qingyi’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness. “They’re nothing; wiping them out would be doing everyone a favor.”

“No!” Nangong Lin stopped Gu Qingyi immediately when she saw his eagerness.

With patience, she explained, “Brother Gu, you might not realize this.”

“Every place has its own laws and rules. You can’t just break them at will or you’ll cause all kinds of trouble.”

“Of course, if you’re strong enough, the rules become meaningless—meant only to bind the weak, not the strong.”

“I need to tell my father about what happened here and have him decide what to do next. No telling what else could happen otherwise.” Nangong Lin took out a small flute and played it softly. Leaves swirled around them in the breeze.

The next moment, a female bodyguard appeared out of nowhere.

Dressed in black, she had a figure that drew the eye—like a shadow in the night, vanishing without a trace.

She knelt on one knee before Nangong Lin and respectfully said, “Miss, you called?”

Nangong Lin stared at her loyal guard.

With righteous anger, she said, “Ayü, gather evidence on all the evil deeds the Wang family’s committed in White Deer Town, then present it to my father so he can decide.”

Ayü nodded briskly, replying, “Understood, Miss!” With a whoosh, a few leaves danced in the air and she disappeared as if nothing had happened.

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, Ayü had already finished the job.

All the evidence on the Wang family’s misdeeds from over the years was stacked high. Ayü promptly took it to the City Lord’s Mansion.

【Xuanwu City, City Lord’s Mansion】 Evidence against the Wang family piled up like a mountain.

“The Wang family… I can’t believe they dared abuse my people under my watch.” Nangong Wentian glared at the mountain of evidence in front of him, then slammed his desk in fury. “Utter lawlessness!”

“If it’s this bad today, imagine if their power grows—would they defecate on my head next?” Nangong Wentian gritted his teeth. “How many heads do you think you have for me to chop? If I let you go now, I’ve failed my duty.”

“Yan Yi, are you there?” Nangong Wentian closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice cold.

A shadow flashed by, and Yan Yi appeared before Nangong Wentian.

Yan Yi clasped his fists and bowed. “I’m here, City Lord. What are your orders?”

Nangong Wentian fixed Yan Yi with a steady stare. “Take your men to the Wang family in White Deer Town, and bring every last criminal to justice!”

“If they resist, kill them on the spot. Remember—you must do this flawlessly. This concerns the reputation of Xuanwu City and there must not be any mistakes. Do you understand?” He tossed the name list to Yan Yi.

Yan Yi picked up the list. “Understood. Leave it to me, City Lord!” In a flash, he vanished like a ghost.

It was as if he’d never been there at all.

…………

In a flash, Yan Yi had already surrounded the Wang family estate with his men, sealing every escape route. The sight stirred up the local crowd.

A worried woman whispered, “Hey, what’s the Wang family up to now? What trouble did they cause to get their whole house surrounded?”

“Hush, keep your voice down if you value your life!” an older woman warned quickly.

The rising noise outside startled Wang Aotian inside.

Thinking the assassins he hired had returned with news of success, Wang Aotian’s face lit up and he hurried to greet them.

He reached for the door—only to freeze where he stood.

In the blink of an eye, the front door was blasted to splinters by an overwhelming force.

Stunned, Wang Aotian was caught in the shockwave that sent him flying straight into Wang Qiang’s coffin.

He clutched his chest, coughed up blood, and stared at the ruined coffin.

Wang Qiang’s corpse had been exposed for all to see.

Shocked, Wang Aotian stood frozen for two seconds before his eyes turned red in a fit of rage. He howled, “Who dares mess with me? Show yourself! Out here, now!”

Yan Yi arrived at that very moment, clutching Wang Aotian by the throat. His expression never changed as he declared, “The Wang family has committed every crime under the sun for over a decade in White Deer Town—bullying, murder, chaos. This defiance disrupts Xuanwu City’s order.”

“By order of the City Lord, every criminal on this name list will be arrested and executed tomorrow!”

“Xuanwu City will be peaceful again. If anyone dares resist, they’ll be killed without mercy.” Yan Yi turned a cold stare to the onlookers. “Those uninvolved—leave now unless you want to get caught in the crossfire!” With that, he tossed Wang Aotian aside like garbage.

With a heavy thud, Wang Aotian smashed into a corner. He struggled for breath, gasping.

The crowd scattered in all directions at the sight.

“Move in. No survivors!” Yan Yi ordered, glancing at his men with a frigid glare.

Anyone in the Wang family who dared resist was struck down on the spot.

“Stop! You can’t do this! Stop, I said!” Wang Aotian screamed, heart pounding in terror at the carnage.

But rage and desperation overrode his reason. Blind to the danger, Wang Aotian lurched to his feet and lunged at Yan Yi.

“How dare you treat my family like this? I’ll kill you!” Wang Aotian roared, pouring all his strength into a desperate palm strike aimed to end Yan Yi then and there.

Yan Yi remained calm, slowly raising his hand to meet the attack. Power clashed, pressure shaking the courtyard.

To his surprise, Wang Aotian realized he was no match for the man before him and was swiftly defeated.

Yan Yi casually took out a handkerchief, wiped his hands as if brushing off a trivial matter.

Then he struck Wang Aotian’s chest with another palm.

Wang Aotian’s eyes widened in disbelief.

A heartbeat later, he crashed into the ground, leaving a massive crater.

The few remaining unarmed servants rushed forward to help him, panicked.

Wang Aotian could sense it now—every pore screamed danger; this man’s cultivation was far beyond his own.

Fear rooted deep in his heart. If this continued, he’d surely die. He roared, “Go—bring out the Ancestor!”

A servant trembled as he replied, “Yes, Master!” and hurried off.

“They’re trying to run. Stop them!” several subordinates shouted, moving to block the escape.

“Let them go. Sometimes, it’s better to fish with a long line.” Yan Yi stopped them with a wave.

Wang Aotian scoffed, “You’ll see soon enough. I advise you to leave now—if you do, the Wang family will let this go.”

Back on the Wang family’s backhill, inside a cave thick with spiritual energy—

an old man named Wang Ritian sat cross-legged on a crystal bed in seclusion.

“Ancestor, this is bad! The Wang family is under attack! Please, you must help us survive this crisis!” a servant ran in, terror painted on his face.

“What is all this racket?” Wang Ritian’s eyes snapped open, pinning the trembling servant with his gaze. “Who dares offend the Wang family? Are they mad, or blind?” He was gone in a flash.

In almost no time, Wang Ritian arrived.

“Who is it? Who did this? Show yourself now!” Wang Ritian stood over a ruined courtyard, bodies everywhere, fury burning in his eyes.

Yan Yi sneered, “So what if it was me? Are you angry?” He looked at Wang Ritian, serene and fearless. “Oh? Sword King Realm, sixth level—not bad. Let’s trade blows!”

“I’ll even let you go first, out of respect!” Yan Yi glanced at the old man’s white hair.

“You arrogant brat! If you’re so reckless, you’d better watch your mouth—your words might be your last!” Wang Aotian fumed with rage at Yan Yi.

“Take this—Furious Flame!” In a flash, fire burst into the sky, the temperature soaring as if the sun itself bore down. A giant fireball hurtled toward Yan Yi.

Unruffled, Yan Yi moved lightly and the fireball vanished, as though it had never existed.

“Still holding back? You’d better give me your best shot, or there won’t be another chance.” Yan Yi’s tone was calm, watching the dumbstruck Wang Ritian.

The challenge nearly sent Wang Ritian into fits of rage. He pointed at Yan Yi and bellowed, “You insolent pup, then try my next move—the Thunder-Punished Fivefold Strike!”

Black clouds gathered above the Wang estate, thunder rattling the sky.

A bolt of lightning split the heavens, aimed right at Yan Yi.

Yan Yi’s lips curled in a wicked grin. “Interesting technique.” In a flash, he dodged, leaving the lightning to smash into the ground.

“Impossible! How could this be?!” Wang Ritian stared in disbelief at Yan Yi’s calm.

“Two moves—now it’s my turn. Prepare yourself!” Yan Yi blew on his hand, a glint of killing intent in his eye.

“Wave-Crushing Sword, as fast as lightning.” Yan Yi ignored the stunned Wang Ritian. Words left his lips as he swung his sword, tearing through the air with a violent force—everything in its path was reduced to wreckage.

“No—you’re at the eighth level of Sword King Realm! Damn you!” Realization dawned too late for Wang Ritian, who tried to defend himself but was sent crashing to the ground, spitting blood.

Furious, he shot a glare at Wang Aotian and shouted, “What have you done? The Wang family is doomed, you fool!”

But Yan Yi wouldn’t stop. With another sword strike—

Wang Ritian saw the blade coming, carrying the weight of heaven and earth itself. Instinct screamed at him—if he didn’t run right now, he’d die. He tried to flee.

He barely moved before blinding white light pierced his chest, leaving a gaping hole.

“No, this can’t be—how did I lose?” Wang Ritian’s mouth filled with blood as he stared blankly at the emptiness in his body, his eyes wild with terror. He collapsed with a heavy thud.

“Allow me to send you on your way.” Yan Yi smiled as he strode toward the dying Wang Ritian, sword raised.

“No… don’t—I’ll give you all our wealth, just spare me!” Wang Ritian begged, clinging to life as he stared pleadingly at the descending sword.

“No deal. You’re dead either way—and what’s left of your family belongs to me.” Yan Yi smiled coldly.

In his dying breath, Wang Ritian howled, “I refuse! I can’t accept this!”

Yan Yi’s blade fell. A severed head rolled across the floor, still steaming.

Wang Aotian, already limp on the ground, stared in disbelief. He never imagined the Ancestor would lose.

“No! How could this happen? Our Ancestor wasn’t even a match! The Wang family is finished!”

After this battle, nothing remained of the Wang estate but rubble.

Fires burned everywhere. The ground was stained red with tears and blood.

Yan Yi shot an indifferent glance at the half-dead, broken Wang Aotian and asked coolly, “Do you regret it?”

Wang Aotian stared at the wasteland that had been his life’s work, everything lost—dead or wounded, no survivors.

He raved like a madman: “Regret? Why should I regret anything?”

“Only the strong survive. If I was more powerful, I had every right to rule!” His eyes lingered on the ruins. “When you crush an ant, do you care about how it feels?” Flames began to consume him, swallowing him whole.

“Damn it… My strength, I’m still too weak.” Wang Aotian’s eyes were empty as he pounded the ground. “Hahaha, I did nothing wrong!”

“If I had power—if I was stronger—none of this would have happened! That’s right!” His eyes grew bloodshot. “If I just had enough power, who could have stopped the Wang family from rising again? Hahaha!”

“If only I could get stronger…” His cheeks slowly slackened as his head tilted down. Wang Aotian—once a tyrant—died with his eyes wide open.

“He’s not wrong—the continent is a world where only the strong survive,” Yan Yi said quietly, unable to shake his uneasy feelings.

“Finally, that bully’s been taken down.” The crowd, watching the Wang family’s destruction, broke into applause.

【Sword Qi Continent Realm Hierarchy: Ordinary Person, Sword Practitioner Realm, Sword Qi Realm, Sword Sea Realm, Sword King Realm, Sword Emperor Realm, Sword Saint Realm, (Demi-God Realm), Sword God Realm.】

【Demi-God Realm has not appeared in the world for ages, so most have forgotten it even exists. It’s also called the False God Realm, as detailed in the Ancient Inheritance Scrolls.】