980 - Death Wish (1)
A dead silence fell over the entire martial arts arena.
Everyone stared disbelievingly at the huge holes that had been smashed in the walls.
At that moment, there was no sign of Duan Tianyun on the dais. Only Ye Qingtang was left.
“You’ve lost.” Ye Qingtang acted as if nothing had happened. She swept a glance at the stunned group from the Duan Family. She slowly walked off the dais under the flabbergasted gaze of everyone present.
“Eldest… Eldest Brother?!!!” Duan Tianrui suddenly snapped out of his trance and hurriedly led the group in the direction in which Duan Tianyun had been sent flying.
Only Duan Tianrao was left below the dais in a daze. He looked at the detached figure, his face full of disbelief.
What had happened just now?
No one present was certain of what had happened on the dais just now.
Why was Duan Tianyun suddenly sent flying?!
They were unable to see any indication of what Ye Qingtang had done.
Much less the Duan Family and the other citizens of Lin Town.
Even the youths from the Ye Family were rather stunned.
No one was certain of how Ye Qingtang had done it.
But… even if they had seen it clearly, no one would believe that the omnipotent Duan Tianyun, who had the power of the Second Heaven of Martial Qi Level One…
Would be sent flying by a flick of Ye Qingtang’s fingers.
“Why are you still gaping here? Shouldn’t you go back?” Ye Qingtang said slowly as she looked at the stunned group from the Ye Family. With that, she took the lead and walked out of the martial arts arena.
Only then did the youths from the Ye Family recover their wits. Although they were completely bewildered, with Dan Yifan’s injuries in mind, they had no choice but to rush him back to the Ye House to recuperate.
But…
Had they really won?
At that moment, the youths from the Ye Family looked rather dazed.
The Ye Family, followed by the Duan Family, left the large martial arts arena. Only the watching citizens who had personally witnessed these events remained.
Although they had personally witnessed everything, it was as if they had seen nothing.
Who would have expected this match to have so many twists and turns?
Ye Qingtang was the first to reach the Ye House. In the Ye House, the various elders and Ye Ling were already waiting in the main hall. The outcome of that day’s match was of utmost importance to them.
They saw the main gate of the Ye House suddenly open, and they all turned their gazes towards it. However, only Ye Qingtang walked in.
With that, the Great Elder and Third Elder could not help but look disappointed.
However, a moment later, the majority of the Ye Family members also followed.
The Great Elder rose, and his heart filled with anticipation when he suddenly realized that his grandson was being carried back by the united efforts of the group.
The Great Elder’s face immediately drained of blood. He hastened over, and Third Elder and the rest hurriedly followed.
“What’s the matter? What on earth has happened? How was Yifan… injured so badly?” The Great Elder was desperately worried when he saw Dan Yifan, who was being carried back by two youths from the Ye Family.
Dan Yifan had already sunk into a faint. His handsome face was bloodless and ashen. Traces of dried blood could still be seen at the corner of his mouth.
Ye Ling waited for the youths to walk over. He was also shocked to see the extent of Dan Yifan’s injuries.
They were well aware of Dan Yifan’s abilities and had thought that this match would not present him with any great difficulties.
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981 - Death Wish (2)
Yet, who would have thought…
Dan Yifan would be so badly injured.
“What on earth has happened? Who injured him?” Ye Ling asked with a frown.
The youths from the Ye Family seemed rather dazed and only snapped out of their trance and replied at Ye Ling’s shout. “It was… the Eldest Young Master of the Duan Family, Duan Tianyun.”
“Duan Tianyun?” Ye Ling and the others were all taken aback.
One should know that Duan Tianyun was the most powerful among the younger members of the Duan Family. However, Duan Tianyun had not acted before, so they had subconsciously overlooked his existence and thought that Duan Tianyun would not participate in this match.
“How could it be Duan Tianyun? Wasn’t it Duan Luoning who sparred with Yifan?” The Great Elder asked hurriedly.
The youths from the Ye Family said, “It is true that Duan Luoning issued the challenge. At first, it was Duan Luoning who stepped onto the dais with Young Master Dan. Young Master Dan even beat Duan Luoning. But Duan Tianyun suddenly entered the arena and stepped up onto the dais in his capacity as a Duan Family member… Young Master Dan had no choice but to take him on… Who knew that Duan Tianyun would be so vicious and give no quarter.”
The youths from the Ye Family were enraged when they recalled Duan Tianyun’s viciousness during the match. Duan Tianyun had not just been interested in winning; he had been out to kill.
“That Duan Tianyun! He’s so vicious!” The Great Elder’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. He wished he could tear Duan Tianyun into pieces.
“Now is not the time for this. Yifan has been badly injured. We should quickly find someone to treat him,” said Ye Ling with a frown.
They had not expected Duan Tianyun to appear.
They had thought that the Ye Family would certainly win this round.
Yet, who would have imagined that an accident like that would happen?
Now, they could already guess the conclusion without asking for further details.
Among the younger members of the Ye Family, Dan Yifan was the most powerful.
Now, even Dan Yifan had been defeated by Duan Tianyun. The Ye Family had probably lost.
Since they already had an idea of what had happened, Ye Ling and the others did not ask any more questions. Since they could not change the outcome, they would try their best to cut their losses.
The Great Elder hurriedly ordered someone to send Dan Yifan for treatment while Ye Ling told the other youths from the Ye Family to rest for the time being.
The youths were all dazed, as if thinking of something. They glanced at Ye Qingtang from time to time, and their expressions were complicated.
“The Duan Family came prepared. Duan Luoning’s challenge was only meant to bait them out. They were probably prepared from the start for Duan Tianyun to act.” Ye Ling took a deep breath and involuntarily thought of their previous agreement with the Duan Family.
If they lost this fight, the Ye Family would have to pay tribute to the Duan Family.
“The Duan Family’s plan was truly malicious. No matter how we considered the matter, we overlooked this point. Come to think of it, they did not allow Duan Tianyun to act so that we would let down our guard, but we were careless to have fallen into their trap!” Second Elder thumped the table heavily.
“With this defeat, our Ye Family will suffer severe losses…” Third Elder sighed softly.
The Great Elder’s expression was extremely ugly. His grandson had been badly injured, and they had fallen into the Duan Family’s trap. How could he not hate them?
“Since this is the reality, then we had better be prepared. Otherwise, the Duan Family will use it as an excuse to create trouble, and who knows how far they will take matters,” Third Elder said helplessly. They had no choice but to admit that they had lost the bet.
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982 - Death Wish (3)
Ye Qingtang, who had been standing by the side all this while, could not help but be rendered speechless when she saw her father’s and the various elders’ mournful looks.
She could tell.
They thought that the Ye Family had lost the match.
However…
They had not even asked about it.
“Father…” Ye Qingtang felt that she needed to have a good talk with her father about this matter.
But Ye Ling suddenly interrupted Ye Qingtang and said, “Tang Tang, you can see the current situation in the Ye Family. You should start your journey back to the Xuanling Sect today. You are not to concern yourself with whatever happens next. As your father, I only hope you can live peacefully within the sect.”
Even Dan Yifan was unable to turn the Ye Family’s current situation around. If Ye Qingtang continued to stay here, who knew how many other matters would arise for her to worry over?
“…” Could she just finish her sentence?
“Actually, in this match, our Ye Family…” Ye Qingtang continued.
“Eldest Young Lady, the Master has spoken sensibly. You should return to the Xuanling Sect first. After Yifan recovers from his injuries, I will also ask him to return to the Leiting Sect.” The Great Elder sighed softly and helplessly.
Since matters had reached this stage, they had no choice but to accept their fate.
“…” Was it so hard for her to finish a sentence?
Ye Qingtang could not help but feel a little frustrated. She was about to blurt out the outcome to Ye Ling and the others when someone suddenly kicked open the front door of the Ye House.
A few Ye Family guards nervously ran in, their faces pale, and said, “Master, Elders, something terrible has happened. The Master of the Duan Family is at the door!”
“What!” Ye Ling and the others were all stunned.
“The Duan Family is truly impatient. They’ve come knocking without delay.” The Second Elder laughed coldly.
“I would like to see what other tricks the Duan Family has up its sleeve!” The Great Elder’s expression was somber. Dan Yifan’s injuries had filled him with hatred for the Duan Family.
With that, the Great Elder led the way by standing up and walking towards the front yard.
Ye Ling and the others followed.
Ye Qingtang, who had been continually interrupted, could only speechlessly watch the departing figures of the crowd.
Was it so difficult to let her finish her sentence!!
The commotion in the front yard had alarmed many members of the Ye Family. The younger members who had just gone to rest now hurried back.
The Master of the Duan Family, Duan Yangjing, was standing somberly in the front yard on Ye Family territory. Behind him stood various elders from the Duan Family, Duan Tianrao, and Duan Tianrui.
“Ye Ling, come out!” Duan Yangjing stepped forward and roared fiercely.
When Ye Ling and the others reached the front yard and saw Duan Yangjing and the others who had come with ill intention, their expressions grew grave.
“Duan Yangjing, don’t go too far. You are now in Ye Family territory. You people from the Duan Family better behave yourselves!” Ye Ling coldly berated them.
“Behave? You Ye Family people dare to talk to me of behaving! If you don’t give us a good explanation today, I might even lead men and exterminate the Ye Family!” Duan Yangjing glared ferociously at Ye Ling. His eyes were so bloodshot they almost seemed to be dripping blood.
When Ye Ling and the others saw Duan Yangjing’s murderous expression, they maintained their dignity but could not help but grumble inwardly.
What was the matter with this Duan Yangjing?
Why did he bring so many people to come knocking?
Even if the Duan Family won this match, they should not behave like that.
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983 - Death Wish (4)
Duan Yangjing looked as if he wanted to eat them alive.
“Duan Yangjing, what do you mean?” Ye Ling spoke carefully. In the past, their Ye Family would certainly not be afraid of an attack from the Duan Family.
But in the past year, it was not just the younger members of the Duan Family who had rapidly improved in terms of ability with the help of the Long Family. Even the elders and Duan Yangjing had also improved rapidly.
Approximately a year ago, Duan Yangjing’s ability had been comparable to that of Second Elder. But now, he had broken through to the peak of the Third Heaven of Martial Qi Level One and was a mere step away from Martial Qi Level Two.
Even the elders of the Duan Family had all achieved the Second Heaven of Martial Qi Level One.
The Ye Family currently could not counteract this kind of fighting strength.
“What do I mean? Ye Ling, hand your daughter over!” Duan Yangjing said coldly.
“What?” Ye Ling was startled. His daughter?
“Are you still acting dumb? If you don’t hand Ye Qingtang over to me today, our Duan Family will slaughter your entire Ye Family!” threatened Duan Yangjing.
“Duan Yangjing, my daughter just returned to Lin Town yesterday. She doesn’t know anything. Why make things difficult for her? If you have any grievances, you can come after me.” Ye Ling would not budge an inch in matters concerning Ye Qingtang.
He did not understand what the matter was with Duan Yangjing to make the latter aggressively demand him to hand over his daughter.
“Don’t know anything? Ye Ling, don’t treat me like a fool! Today, your daughter, Ye Qingtang, severely injured my son Tianyun in the martial arts arena. If you don’t hand Ye Qingtang over today, you won’t be allowed to leave the Ye House at all!!” Duan Yangjing roared.
The three elders of the Ye Family and Ye Ling were all stunned by Duan Yangjing’s words.
“Wh… What?” Ye Ling thought he must have heard wrong. Otherwise, it must Duan Yangjing who had gone crazy.
Tang Tang had severely injured Duan Tianyun?
What kind of joke was this?
“Duan Tianyun, you’re the villain here. Don’t you dare make the first complaint! It was Duan Tianyun from the Duan Family who severely wounded my grandson, Dan Yifan. My grandson is now still lying unconscious on the sickbed, but you’re here to shift the blame instead!” The Great Elder went forward and berated them.
What kind of ability did Ye Qingtang have?
She was merely a red spirit root and had just entered the Xuanling Sect a year ago. How could she possibly have the ability to severely injure Duan Tianyun, who had attained the Second Heaven of Martial Qi Level One?!
The Duan Family was clearly maligning her!
Duan Yangjing casually pointed to Duan Tianrao and Duan Tianrui, who were standing nearby.
“Tell the Ye Family what you saw at the martial arts arena.”
Duan Tianrui immediately said, “I saw Ye Qingtang injure my older brother with my own eyes. My older brother had beaten Dan Yifan, but Ye Qingtang suddenly and unexpectedly challenged my older brother. She fought viciously and severely injured my older brother.”
“It’s not just me. Even those members of your Ye Family who were present would have witnessed it too.” Duan Tianrui pointed at the youths from the Ye Family, who were standing in the front yard.
“What happened?” Ye Ling frowned slightly and looked at the youths.
These youths had been frightened out of their wits by the conclusion of the match and had forgotten to report to the Master. Now that they were publicly questioned, they recounted how Ye Qingtang had beaten Duan Tianyun.
The expressions of Ye Ling and the three elders grew increasingly bemused as the youths spoke.
They thought they had lost the match.
Had the Ye Family actually won?
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984 - Death Wish (5)
“Now that matters have reached this state, what do you have to say for yourselves?” Duan Yangjing looked coldly at everyone from the Ye Family.
Even he had been completely taken aback by the news he had just heard.
He had flown into a rage when he saw Duan Tianyun being carried back by Duan Family members.
The injuries that Duan Tianyun had sustained throughout his body were unusually severe. The bones throughout his body had been crushed. Although Duan Yangjing had invited numerous famous doctors to treat Duan Tianyun, the results had caused Duan Yangjing to break down.
Duan Tianyun’s injuries had extended to his organs and affected his veins. Even if he recovered, he would probably be crippled. In the future, it would be impossible for him to continue his martial arts cultivation, much less return to the peak of the Second Heaven of Martial Qi Level One.
Ye Ling and the elders exchanged looks. Even with the youths from the Ye Family as witnesses, they still found it hard to accept the situation. However, it looked like they would have no time to ponder how Ye Qingtang had severely injured Duan Tianyun.
In the face of Duan Yangjing’s aggressive stance, Ye Ling blandly spoke.
“The Duan Family was the first to suggest this match. Fights are dangerous, and injuries are common on the dais… Not only was someone from your Duan Family injured, but someone from our Ye Family was also severely injured. What is there to say?”
“Rubbish!” Duan Yangjing bellowed coldly. “Your Ye Family skills are inferior, so it’s not surprising you sustained injuries. But my son is so talented, how could your daughter, Ye Qingtang, have injured him so severely! Today, I will make Ye Qingtang pay an eye for an eye.”
Duan Yangjing’s unreasonableness infuriated the Ye Family.
Did they mean that the people from the Duan Family counted as human beings but not those from the Ye Family?
“Duan Yangjing, don’t go too far!” Ye Ling shouted coldly. He drew the sword at his side with a ringing sound.
The three elders behind him also drew their swords.
“Go too far?” Duan Yangjing laughed coldly. A malicious gleam suddenly flashed across his eyes. “So what if I’m bullying you today? Men, even if you have to completely overturn the Ye Family, you must capture Ye Qingtang today!”
At Duan Yangjing’s command, the group of Duan Family members behind him immediately drew their swords and faced off with the group from the Ye Family.
The youths from the Ye Family saw that things had gone awry and prepared for battle.
“I heard that… you want to capture me?” A clear female voice suddenly rang out from behind them.
The moment she finished speaking, Ye Qingtang slowly walked out from behind the group from the Ye Family.
“Tang Tang?” Ye Ling was startled when he saw his daughter suddenly move forward.
Ye Qingtang gave Ye Ling a placating look and walked to face the group from the Duan Family.
“Ye Qingtang, you’ve finally appeared!” Duan Yangjing looked at Ye Qingtang, who had emerged from the crowd. His bloodshot eyes looked at her as if he wanted to flay her alive.
“Oh?” Ye Qingtang looked expressionlessly at the furious Duan Yangjing.
“Men, capture Ye Qingtang!” Duan Yangjing shouted.
“Let’s see who dares to try!” Ye Ling stepped in front of Ye Qingtang, and the group from the Ye Family also advanced a step.
“Father, let me deal with this.” Ye Qingtang placed her hand on Ye Ling’s shoulder and spoke calmly.
Ye Ling hesitated, but Ye Qingtang had already walked in front of Ye Ling. Her calm eyes swept across the group from the Duan Family.
“You wish to avenge Duan Tianyun?” said Ye Qingtang.
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985 - Death Wish (6)
“You’ve injured my son. Of course I want your life as compensation,” said Duan Yangjing coldly.
“My life?” Ye Qingtang looked at Duan Yangjing. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to take that.”
Without waiting for Duan Yangjing to reply, Ye Qingtang said without consulting anyone, “Enough nonsense. Since you want revenge, all of you should come at me at the same time.”
“What?”
Ye Qingtang’s words surprised everyone.
“Tang Tang, you mustn’t be impulsive!” Ye Ling was shocked.
The group from the Duan Family were enraged by Ye Qingtang’s arrogant words. With that, an elder from the Duan Family leaped up and struck a blow at Ye Qingtang.
“Little girl, how dare you boast!”
Ye Qingtang lifted her head slightly and saw the Duan Family elder leaping towards her. She slowly lifted her hand and met his palm with her own palm!
There was a huge bang!
When the two palms met, the crisp sound of a bone breaking could be heard from the Duan Family elder’s arm.
There was the sound of an explosion, and the shards of white bone pierced through the skin of his arm. He was instantly sent flying by the force of the impact.
But Ye Qingtang stood motionlessly at her original spot. Her upraised palm was completely unharmed.
The faint smell of blood permeated the front yard of the Ye House.
Ye Ling and the others widened their eyes in disbelief as they looked at the Duan Family Elder, who had collapsed onto the ground.
This elder was at the mid-stage of the Second Heaven of Martial Qi Level One. Outside of the Long Family, few people in the entire Lin Town was a match for him.
However…
His entire arm had been rendered useless by one blow of Ye Qingtang’s palm?
“I said, you should all come at me at the same time… don’t you understand?” Ye Qingtang looked coldly at the Duan Family elder, who had collapsed to the ground with a broken arm.
The group from the Duan Family looked in shock at the Duan Family elder who had collapsed to the ground, their eyes full of disbelief.
How could this be…
“Kill her!” Duan Yangjing bellowed.
The moment he finished speaking, the group from the Duan Family rushed forward and pounced on Ye Qingtang.
Ye Qingtang stood motionless in her original spot, looking at the group from the Duan Family that was rushing forward. Her eyes were expressionless. As the group rushed up, she suddenly raised her eyes, which had been slightly lowered.
The moment she lifted her eyes, an intangible aura suddenly burst from her body.
Boom, boom!!
There was an ear-splitting crash. Before the men from the Duan Family even knew what was happening, the intangible force sent them flying in all directions while they were still in mid-air!
In a blink of an eye, the men from the Duan Family were scattered throughout the Ye House courtyard. Each of them spat out a mouthful of fresh blood when they landed on the ground.
Even Duan Yangjing, the most powerful of the Duan Family, who had reached the peak of the Third Heaven of Martial Qi Level One collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. A column of blood sprayed from his mouth.
In the blink of an eye, everyone from the Duan Family had been utterly defeated.
The front yard of the Ye House was a sea of weeping and wailing.
Ye Ling and the three elders were completely stunned.
They gaped at the group from the Duan Family who had collapsed on the ground. They had no idea what had just happened.
Why had all of them collapsed onto the ground, heavily injured, when Ye Qingtang had not even moved?
Ye Qingtang shook her head blandly when she saw the men from the Duan Family, who had collapsed on the ground. Then without consulting anyone, she walked towards Duan Yangjing.
At that moment, the previously aggressive Duan Yangjing who had been baying for blood was lying on the floor, his face ashen.
“I forgot something just now.” Ye Qingtang faced Duan Yangjing. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and from her vantage point, she looked at Duan Yangjing, who had fallen to the ground.
“Your son, Duan Tianyun, said on the dais that if he lost, he would publicly kowtow to me three times,” Ye Qingtang said unhurriedly. “However, he probably can’t get up right now. In that case…”
Ye Qingtang suddenly raised her hand, caught hold of Duan Yangjing’s collar, and lifted him off the ground.
“As his father, you should do it in his stead.”
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