Chapter 41 : Chapter 41
Chapter 41: A Brother’s Betrayal, The Li Clan Moves Out
Outside the valley.
Two men fled for their lives, running who knew how far before finally stopping when they truly could not run another step.
Having narrowly escaped with his life, A-Liang finally broke down. He collapsed to the ground and burst into loud sobs. “Brother Jin, Third Brother and the others are all dead.”
Brother Jin panted heavily and tried to comfort him. “A-Liang, don’t be sad. This is the fate of herb gatherers like us.”
“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t found that damned place, they wouldn’t have died! I killed them.”
A-Liang’s face was filled with guilt and regret.
The more he spoke, the redder his eyes became. The more he thought about it, the more hatred filled his heart.
Gritting his teeth, he said, “Brother Jin, I want to kill that great snake and avenge them!”
“I think you’ve lost your mind. That great snake isn’t something ordinary mortals like us can deal with.”
Brother Jin shook his head and rejected the idea.
“I’m not crazy. Just because we can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t.”
A-Liang clenched his fists tightly.
Brother Jin’s expression changed. “What are you planning to do?”
“You said it yourself. The Blood Spirit Fruit is a heavenly treasure. If we spread the news about it, it will definitely attract many powerful experts. When that time comes, that great snake is dead for sure.”
A-Liang’s eyes were already completely consumed by hatred.
He did not notice at all that the look in Brother Jin’s eyes behind him had already turned incomparably dark.
“That way, we can avenge Third Brother and the others.”
As if he had already imagined the scene of the great snake being killed, A-Liang spoke excitedly.
“That idea really is not bad.”
Brother Jin lowered his head, and no one knew what he was thinking.
“Brother Jin, you think it’ll work too? That’s wonderful!”
Hearing that even Brother Jin agreed, A-Liang said happily.
“Let’s head down the mountain right now and spread the news about—”
Behind him, Brother Jin suddenly rose and clamped a hand over A-Liang’s mouth.
Under A-Liang’s disbelieving gaze, he drove a dagger viciously into A-Liang’s heart.
“A-Liang, in your next life, don’t be this stupid again.”
Brother Jin sneered, and the coldness in his eyes was so unfamiliar that A-Liang could hardly believe it.
“W-Why...?”
A-Liang’s breathing grew weaker and weaker.
“The Blood Spirit Fruit can only belong to me!”
He shoved A-Liang to the ground, crouched down, and pulled the dagger out of A-Liang’s corpse.
He wiped the blood from the dagger with A-Liang’s clothes, then casually chopped down some branches and covered A-Liang’s body with them.
After finishing all of that, Brother Jin’s figure quickly vanished into the mountain forest.
Yet what he failed to notice was that not long after he left,
A-Liang, whose heart had clearly been pierced through, eerily climbed back up from the ground.
Looking in the direction Brother Jin had disappeared,
A-Liang’s expression turned incomparably ferocious.
...
At the outer edge of the Qinghe Mountain Range,
a blood-covered figure staggered with great difficulty to the Li Clan’s medicine shop.
At the sight of the shop assistant coming toward him, he stumbled and collapsed to the ground.
“S-Save... save me. I found... the Blood Spirit Fruit.”
After saying that, his head tilted to one side.
And he fainted.
...
Qingfeng Valley.
The Li Clan’s clan grounds.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The solemn and majestic tolling of a great bell rang out from the pavilion tower, echoing without end.
When the elders heard the bell, all of them showed grave expressions, threw down whatever they were doing, and rushed toward the clan’s council hall.
By the time they arrived, Li Xingge had already been seated at the head seat, waiting for some time.
Once the last elder arrived, the doors of the council hall slowly closed.
“Elders, the matter is urgent. Not a single second can be wasted, so I had no choice but to gather everyone by striking the bell.”
Li Xingge spoke with a solemn expression.
“Just now, news arrived from our Li Clan marketplace. Someone discovered the existence of a Blood Spirit Fruit within the Qinghe Mountain Range!”
Those words were no different from a thunderclap on a clear day.
The elders were so shocked that they all rose to their feet in unison.
“The legendary third-tier spirit fruit, the Blood Spirit Fruit?”
The Third Elder’s breathing quickened as he spoke, while the other elders also stared at Li Xingge without blinking.
“Correct.”
Li Xingge nodded.
The Third Elder took a deep breath. “Family Head, this Blood Spirit Fruit Tree flowers once every ten years, bears fruit once every ten years, and ripens once every ten years. The Blood Spirit Fruit it produces contains vast qi-and-blood power.”
“If a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator consumes one, it can increase his cultivation. If a Physical Body Realm cultivator consumes one, it can greatly improve the chances of breaking through into the Qi-Blood Realm.”
“It is an exceedingly rare treasure. Our Li Clan absolutely must not miss this opportunity!”
The other elders nodded in agreement one after another.
The Grand Elder also said, “Family Head, we should make preparations immediately. Otherwise, if the news spreads, it will become troublesome for us to obtain the Blood Spirit Fruit.”
“The Grand Elder is right. When the time comes, it likely won’t be only the local forces. Even outside forces may come running over to take a share of the spoils.”
Li Xingge pondered for a moment. “According to the herb gatherer who discovered the Blood Spirit Fruit, only he and one other herb gatherer know of this matter.”
“The other herb gatherer wanted to monopolize the Blood Spirit Fruit and launched a sneak attack on him. He was simply fortunate enough not to die.”
“Since that herb gatherer wanted to keep the Blood Spirit Fruit for himself, then in the short term, the news should not spread.”
“Even so, we should act immediately.”
“Please give the order, Family Head!”
The elders cupped their fists in unison.
“The Blood Spirit Fruit is of great importance. We must ensure that nothing goes wrong. I will personally make this trip. The Grand Elder, the Fourth Elder, and the Sixth Elder will accompany me!”
“Yes!”
“The Second Elder will remain behind to guard the clan, and he will also select forty elite men from the Enforcement Hall to travel with us!”
“I will see to it at once!”
“Elders, time is of the essence. Make your preparations. We leave in a quarter of an hour!”
“Yes!”
A quarter of an hour later, dozens of riders vanished into the darkness under the cover of night.
...
More than two hours later,
Li Xingge and the others, travel-worn from the journey, arrived at the Li Clan’s medicine shop outside the Qinghe Mountain Range.
The shop manager had already been waiting for some time.
“Greetings, Family Head!”
“Enough. Where is he?”
Li Xingge waved a hand and asked directly.
“He is in the rear courtyard receiving treatment for his injuries!”
The manager answered respectfully.
“How many people know about the Blood Spirit Fruit?”
“Two apprentices and one clerk!”
The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead as he answered.
“Execute them all!”
Li Xingge’s expression was icy.
“Yes, Family Head.”
Upon entering the rear courtyard, they saw A-Liang lying on a bed, his face pale.
Beside him, a physician was treating his wounds.
“Physician, there is nothing for you to do here anymore. You may leave first.”
“But he—”
When the physician saw the dark look on Li Xingge’s face, he forced the words he had been about to say back down his throat.
He hurried out of the room as fast as he could.
After the physician left...
Dressed in black robes, Li Xingge looked down at A-Liang from above.
He asked, “Did you personally see the Blood Spirit Fruit?”
Looking at the imposing young man before him, A-Liang felt a majesty about him that brooked no doubt, and hurriedly answered, “Y-Yes!”
“Where is the Blood Spirit Fruit?”
Li Xingge pressed.
“Deep... deep within the Qinghe Mountain Range... in a valley... behind a waterfall.”
“Do you still remember the way?”
“N-Not too clearly.”
A-Liang answered fearfully.
Li Xingge frowned.
Behind him, one of the Li Clan elites directly drew his saber.
“My lord, I know... that person definitely remembers clearly!”
A-Liang hurriedly said.
“The one who ambushed you?”
“Yes, my lord. He’s the one who led us into the mountain. He knows the terrain inside like the back of his hand!”
“Very good.”
“Do you know his name, his surname, and where he lives?”
“This humble one knows it all.”
A-Liang’s eyes were filled with hatred. At this moment, only two words remained in his mind: revenge.
“Lead us there!”
Li Xingge ordered.
“Yes... my lord.”
A-Liang struggled to climb down from the bed, but accidentally pulled at his wound.
The blood that had only just been stopped began pouring out again, and the violent pain in his chest left him dripping in cold sweat.
Behind him, the Sixth Elder took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, stepped forward, and sprinkled medicinal powder onto A-Liang’s chest.
A miraculous scene occurred.
The wound on A-Liang’s chest began to scab over and heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
A-Liang stared in utter shock. He touched his own chest in disbelief and found that it no longer hurt at all.
That only deepened his awe toward Li Xingge.
“If you dare toy with me, I will show you what it means to wish for death and be denied it.”
Li Xingge said expressionlessly.
A-Liang shivered and hurriedly said, “This humble one wouldn’t dare. I swear that everything I said is true.”
“It had better be. Now, immediately take us to find this so-called Brother Jin of yours!”