Chapter 377: Lin Qingyun's Plea
"Hahahaha... Foolish boy! Heaven offers a path you refuse, yet hell has no gate and you insist on breaking in!" Xiao Ming sneered. "Since you're here, don't even think about leaving!"
With that, he took a step forward, and the terrifying power of a seventh-level Great Grandmaster instantly enveloped the area. The bone-chilling killing intent made Lin Qingyun's face pale in terror.
She hurriedly let go of Zhao Dong, pleading, "You have to go! This Xiao Ming is formidable; you're no match for him!"
"No! I came here to protect you, even if it means sacrificing my life!" Zhao Dong said, his eyes firm.
Moved beyond words, tears streamed down Lin Qingyun's face.
"Hah, this kid is a real fool. It's one thing to come out and play the hero, but to dare anger Steward Xiao?"
"Steward Xiao is a top-tier seventh-level Great Grandmaster. Zhao Dong will probably die from a single slap!"
"Heh, one slap? Half a slap is all it'll take!"
Amid the crowd's ridicule, Xiao Ming's killing intent fully erupted. "Boy, since you're asking for death, don't blame this old man for being merciless!" he roared. "Meet your doom!"
Xiao Ming stepped forward and soared into the air. His right fist transformed into a long dragon, carrying an immense pressure as it shot toward Zhao Dong's face.
"Body Transformation Technique!" Zhao Dong bellowed, unleashing the technique to meet the attack head-on.
BOOM!
As their fists and feet collided, Zhao Dong was sent flying over ten meters away.
HISS!
"That kid actually withstood a blow from Steward Xiao?"
"He must be at least a sixth-level Great Grandmaster! No wonder Miss Lin is fond of him. Looks like the boy has some skill after all!"
"Heh, so what if he has skills? Without a powerful backer, it's all for nothing!"
"He's at a disadvantage after just one blow. This kid is undoubtedly doomed!"
A flash of shock crossed Xiao Ming's eyes as his punch landed. "You're actually this strong?"
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Zhao Dong unexpectedly switched from defense to offense and launched an attack. "Heh, not particularly, but strong enough to kill you!"
Xiao Ming's eyes narrowed. "Boy, I did indeed underestimate you, but... you are still no match for this old man! Dragon Taming Palm!"
He roared and his right palm shot forward, sending a raging Spiritual Energy dragon howling toward Zhao Dong.
"Break!" Zhao Dong shouted, not retreating an inch. He threw a punch, clashing head-on with the ferocious dragon.
BANG!
The dragon shattered. Zhao Dong's body was instantly covered in over a hundred wounds, yet he still refused to back down, continuing his charge toward Xiao Ming.
"Madman! You're a fucking madman!" Xiao Ming had never seen such a reckless fighting style and was startled into hastily raising his guard.
BANG!
The fist struck Xiao Ming's body with heavy force.
BOOM!
Xiao Ming was instantly blown back ten meters.
SPLURT!
Blood spurted from both their mouths at almost the same time.
"You're fucking courting death!" Completely enraged, Xiao Ming pulled out several pills, tossed them into his mouth, and once again unleashed a deadly technique.
RUMBLE!
A moment later, after over a hundred moves had been exchanged, Xiao Ming finally found an opening in Zhao Dong's defense and sent him flying with a kick.
THUD!
Zhao Dong crashed heavily to the ground, blood gushing freely from his mouth.
"Zhao Dong!" Lin Qingyun cried out, her face drained of color. She tried to rush to his side but was held firmly in place by Lin Rulong.
"Heh, is that all you've got?" Xiao Ming wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he slowly walked over to Zhao Dong. His eyes were filled with disdain. "Boy, you are indeed strong, but making an enemy of me was the biggest mistake of your life! In your next life, try to be more careful."
Xiao Ming snorted coldly, raising his right foot to deliver the final kick.
But just then, Zhao Dong produced a pill, tossed it into his mouth, and his aura skyrocketed.
"No! You... how could you?" Xiao Ming was aghast. He hurriedly tried to back away, but Zhao Dong was faster.
The next moment, a hand like an iron clamp clasped directly around Xiao Ming's throat.
Dead silence descended. The sudden reversal had exceeded everyone's expectations.
Zhao Dong's eyes narrowed, his killing intent flooding the air. "The one who should be more careful in their next life... is you!"
"No! You dare kill me?" Xiao Ming, terrified, turned deathly pale. He threatened, "I am the steward of the Xiao Family! If you kill me, the Xiao Family will retaliate against everyone here! You'll all die! All of you!"
"You think I'm afraid of your threats?" Zhao Dong's right hand tightened slightly. The intense feeling of his life hanging by a thread nearly made Xiao Ming break down.
It was only then that the onlookers realized something was terribly wrong.
"Stop! Stop now! He's the steward of the Xiao Family, you can't kill him!"
"Zhao Dong! If you kill him, the Xiao Family will definitely take revenge on you! You can't possibly withstand their wrath!"
"Let go of Steward Xiao! Now!"
The terrified crowd frantically tried to dissuade him.
Lin Rulong was even more stunned. He rushed to Zhao Dong's side and shouted angrily, "Zhao Dong! Don't think you're invincible just because you beat Steward Xiao! Let me tell you, the Xiao Family has an army of experts! If you kill him, how will you answer to them? Can you bear the Xiao Family's wrath?"
The crowd's pleas did nothing to diminish Zhao Dong's killing intent. He lifted Xiao Ming as if he were a dead dog, his cold gaze sweeping over the onlookers.
"The Xiao Family? I, Zhao Dong, have always acted as I pleased. Why should I need to explain myself to anyone?"
As his words fell...
CRACK!
A sharp crack echoed. Xiao Ming's wide, staring eyes lost all light. He died with his eyes open, unable to believe, even in death, that Zhao Dong had truly dared to kill him.
Silence. Looking at Xiao Ming's corpse, everyone felt their minds go blank, their legs turning to jelly.
"Zhao Dong! You're really courting death!" Lin Rulong roared, both furious and shocked. "Men! Seize him! I'll use his head to apologize to the Xiao Family!"
At his roar, over a dozen experts instantly rushed out from the shadows. They charged forward menacingly, several among them with power no less than Xiao Ming's.
"No! You can't touch Zhao Dong!" Lin Qingyun threw herself in front of Zhao Dong, shielding him with her body.
"Qingyun! This boy is going to bring ruin to the Lin Family! Why are you still protecting him?" Lin Rulong demanded. "Move aside! Only his head can appease the Xiao Family's wrath!"
"No! I won't move!" Lin Qingyun grabbed a dinner knife from a table and pressed it to her throat. "Let Zhao Dong go! Otherwise, I'll die right here!"
In an instant, everyone's expression changed at Lin Qingyun's drastic move.
"Qingyun, don't do anything rash!" Old Master Lin cried out anxiously.
"Let Zhao Dong go!" Lin Qingyun screamed. "If he dies, I won't go on living either!"
Her attitude was resolute. The sharp knife pierced her skin, drawing a line of crimson blood.
Seeing this, Lin Rulong was greatly alarmed and quickly ordered his experts to halt.
Lin Qingyun turned back to look at Zhao Dong, sobbing, "Go! Hurry and go!"
Zhao Dong shook his head, his eyes red-rimmed. "If we go, we go together!"
"No... I can't leave anymore..." Enduring the piercing pain in her heart, Lin Qingyun clutched Zhao Dong's hand tightly, letting her tears soak the front of her dress. "Zhao Dong... I'm sorry... I've tried my best... I really have... Our fate has ended... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... We're just too weak. We can't fight the Xiao Family... Please... just go..."