"Ah, ah, ah—"
He was utterly terrified, almost scared to death. That sword, if it had been just a bit more off, he would surely have perished here!
Furthermore, even if the opponent's sword were slightly sharper or had not lost its tip, he would undoubtedly be dead right now!
His heart was filled with suspicion and confusion, unsure of how Zhou Yan had managed this sword strike, but his defeat was an undeniable fact!
However, he refused to accept it, for he couldn't bear to lose face in front of Zhou Lingyi.
"You attacked by surprise! Shameless scoundrel, you don't even understand the rules of a Sword Cultivator; does this count as a fight? It seems your parents died too early and didn't teach you properly!"
Zhou Cheng spoke with a thoroughly malicious expression.
"Do you want to die?"
Zhou Yan did not retort, simply asking an inexplicable question. At that moment, Zhou Cheng suddenly saw Zhou Yan's gaze. It was as fierce as a wolf's eyes, and if he said another word, he could be certain, even if Zhou Lingyi was here, he would definitely die.
"Heh, Zhou Yan, I've underestimated you. You've mastered the Fourth Form of Bishui Swordsmanship? And you can even exhibit a trace of the Lifeless Sword Dao's essence. I must admit, you're not entirely worthless if you haven't fully exhausted your potential.
But if you think that with a bit of cultivation, you can recklessly and viciously act against family members, then I can act without restraint against you as well!
Considering your father contributed greatly to our family, you should kneel and admit your wrongdoing, slap yourself, and abolish your cultivation; then, this matter will be put to rest."
Zhou Lingyi's voice was arrogant.
"Miss!"
At this moment, Zhou Shuangshuang couldn't help but remind indignantly.
Her brother had suffered such a severe injury; how could this trash, Zhou Yan, get away so easily?
"I know what I'm doing, you needn't say more."
Zhou Lingyi waved her hand to stop Zhou Shuangshuang, then spoke with a bit more kindness, "Being an ordinary person, you won't need cultivation, and it will be to your benefit. Don't be ungrateful."
"Hahaha, hahaha! Ridiculous!"
Zhou Yan laughed maniacally, a kind of infinite madness about to erupt!
Such a reckless laugh added a peculiar atmosphere to the otherwise dead-silent Canglan City.
"Zhou Family, is there anyone else? What means do you have to deal with me, needing to send a bunch of useless people to coerce me? Do you know why my father gave me a statue? Because it can destroy everything in the Zhou Family! It is a Secret Treasure!
Are you forcing me to perish together with you?"
Zhou Yan roared angrily.
At this time, he couldn't impulsively destroy everything.
His strength was insufficient to confront Zhou Lingyi. Moreover, he didn't wish to unleash his potential at this moment.
He could already see that these people had been driven mad! They would stop at nothing to achieve their aims!
Or maybe, everything was intentionally made to look as if the higher-ups were inactive so that the blame would fall on the lower echelons and have nothing to do with the top.
Even giving him the illusion of being nurtured with all their might but turning out to be untalented deliberately filled him with guilt.
Otherwise, given his talent, why would he seem shackled? It must be some kind of... shackle and sealing, right?
At this moment, Zhou Yan's heart and mind couldn't hold back the 'outburst.'
As he shouted frantically, he instantly brandished his broken sword, slicing off half of Zhou Xian's face, along with one ear, causing Zhou Xian to scream in agony in the next moment.
Such a scene shocked everyone immediately.
The more reckless Zhou Yan became, the more intimidated they were instead.
"Ah, ah, ah—"
Zhou Xian screamed in excruciating agony, his cries chilling to the bones.
His face was drenched in scarlet blood, both hands constantly wiping away the blood with a grimace of horror, causing onlookers on the scene to feel a shiver down their spines.
Especially Ping'er, it was as if she was seeing her young master for the first time—this was the young master who was protecting everything for her!
With her lowly status, how could she be worth such sacrifice from the young master? With a young master like this, it was worth being a servant in this life, the next life, and for all eternity!
Ping'er's heart was filled with mixed emotions, making the most resolute decision at this moment—this life, she would serve the young master well, even if it meant being smashed to pieces, even if it meant soul annihilation, she would not hesitate!
…
"Zhou Yan, you are so reckless and ruthless. Do you know you've become an Evil Sword Cultivator? You've gone to the extreme!"
Zhou Lingyi frowned deeply, an expression of murderous intent clearly showing on her face.
"You, a piece of trash, dare to be so arrogant before the young lady? Who gave you such courage?! You are simply daring—"
Beside Zhou Lingyi, a woman with a somewhat long face coldly reprimanded.
She was Zhou Lingyi's maid, Xiao Xu.
At this moment, Zhou Yan continued to laugh furiously, but suddenly acted again.
As the sword's hiss echoed, the sword in his hand swung, and a black light, like a viper, instantly struck Xiao Xu's neck.
With a twist of the Sword Light, even before Xiao Xu finished speaking, the broken blade swirled around her fair neck in a circle and then lightly tugged away as Zhou Lingyi's maid, Xiao Xu's head suddenly leaped into the air.
Then, a bright crimson jet of shocking blood spurted from her neck, the suddenly erupted Blood Arrow smashing into the still-unfallen head, which, having its black waterfall-like hair soaked in blood, turned fully crimson before spinning in two circles mid-air and, along with the blood rain, eventually fell to the ground.
A still expressionless Zhou Lingyi, her pale purple stunningly new gauze dress was suddenly sprayed with blood, and despite her strength, she couldn't react in time!
Her personal maid had been killed in an instant by a single sword stroke!
Her personal maid, who even possessed the First Layer of the Sword Beginning Realm, how could she be so easily slaughtered?
Moreover, this piece of trash could be so ruthlessly vicious!
At this moment, not only Zhou Lingyi, whether it was Zhou Shuangshuang, Zhou Xian, Zhou Cheng, or Ping'er and the white-clad young girl Ning'er, for this instant, their eyes were fixed straight.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xian, Zhou Cheng, and Zhou Shuangshuang felt a chill running down their hearts, causing their legs to shiver and tremble involuntarily.
"Xiao Xu!"
Zhou Lingyi's beautiful eyes were filled with endless gloom, her killing intent completely brewed. This time, she truly wanted to kill.
"Since you wish to die, I shall fulfill your wish!"
Zhou Lingyi scolded vehemently!
"Is that so? Then you, too, can go die!"
Zhou Yan stood proudly, with no fear in his eyes, directly taking out a jet-black statue!
This statue not only contained two sets of swordsmanships but was also indeed a one-time-use Secret Treasure capable of unleashing an extremely powerful Sword Intent.
This was likely something his father, knowing some matters, intentionally left for him as a backup.
Zhou Yan immediately locked onto Zhou Lingyi, this kind of lock was a real death-like lock, as a result, making Zhou Lingyi's face instantly turn pale.
Faced with formidable Sword Intent locking, regardless of her talent, she would have to lament on this spot!
The feeling of death, for the first time, so deeply stimulated her, it seemed to topple her high status altogether.
At this moment, Zhou Yan's hair was disheveled, his black, messy hair draped in droplets of Blood Light, wildly dancing in the wind like a bloodthirsty Demon God.
He was mad and hysterical, seeming that, after tearing down the veil, he cared nothing at all.
"Enough!"
A thunderstorm-like shout erupted in Zhou Yan's ears, almost causing him to cough up blood. Whereas Zhou Lingyi remained unscathed, her complexion even blushed slightly, clearly hinting the earlier death threat stimulation was somewhat 'healed' by an inexplicable energy.
This newcomer took great care of Zhou Lingyi but dealt so harshly with Zhou Yan, regardless of severely injuring Zhou Yan's heart and mind!
Zhou Yan started coughing blood profusely, coughing up mouthfuls of blood like fluttering banners, glaringly vivid.
Today, after such humiliation, the memory was etched into his heart.
But he would not utter threats lightly, that would be foolish behavior, and once an adversary relationship was confirmed, the enemy would certainly eradicate him thoroughly. This was why he hadn't struck the Zhou Family disciples lethally but only attacked the maid.
He had recently received a fortuitous encounter and had broken through the shackles of his body, desiring it not wasted at this moment.
Death wasn't frightening, what's frightening was living temporarily with the courage to die!
Thus, this time, even amid tears of blood, he had to swallow it all. A month later, when they intend to enter the Great Zhou Family, he would undeniably return to interfere, hoping to defeat their geniuses and reclaim his true identity!
Even if entry into the Great Zhou Family proved strenuous, he absolutely couldn't let the spot his father died to obtain be handed over to others!
Many thoughts filled his heart, but at present, he merely gazed peacefully at the partiality-speaking person.
Predictably, this man was the Preaching Elder, Zhou Wuyan.
Witnessing this person's current actions, Zhou Yan lost his final hopes. Due to this realization, he let go of the last tether entirely.
A child without parents would surely suffer bullying. Thinking of his father's past glory, his esteemed position, and shining moment… Zhou Yan couldn't help but fall into silence once more.
"The family forbids internal conflict, and more so drawing swords! Zhou Yan, you truly have your father's demeanor!"
"I am no longer part of the Zhou Family."
Zhou Yan stated calmly!
"Once you haven't taken a step out of Zhou Family grounds, you are still a Zhou member! What distinction is there between your actions now and an Evil Sword Cultivator's? How can you act like this when you are about to leave, truly disgracing your ancestors!"
At this time, Preaching Elder Zhou Wuyan roared with a tone akin to hating iron for not becoming steel.
Zhou Yan laughed.
"Laughing? You still dare laugh?"
The Preaching Elder was somewhat beside himself yet ultimately refrained from acting against Zhou Yan again because Zhou Yan, now pale-faced with the occasional cough of blood like crimson fiery embers, seemed to incessantly burn his blood and soul.