"Thank you, Jingchen," Ye Huan muttered in gratitude, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.
"Yes, if it weren't for you, the two of us…" Ye Xiang began to express his relief, but his words abruptly trailed off as a chilling sense of unease swept over him.
"What's wrong?" Ye Huan asked, noticing Ye Xiang's sudden stillness.
"Run!" Ye Xiang barked, quickly downing a stamina potion and springing to his feet.
As he locked eyes with the bloodied figure of Ye Jingchen approaching them, realization dawned on him—and on Ye Huan.
"Run?" Ye Jingchen chuckled darkly, dragging his blood-soaked blade across the ground. "Where do you think you can go?"
"Jingchen, what is the meaning of this?" Ye Xiang stepped protectively in front of Ye Huan, glaring at him.
"Stalling for time, are we?" Ye Jingchen sneered. "Let me make this clear: everything that's happening now was preordained. The only surprise is that you both managed to survive and make it out."
"Grandfather and Second Uncle have already forgiven your past mistakes. Don't do something you'll regret!" Ye Xiang urged.
"Forgiveness?" Ye Jingchen scoffed, raising his blade to point at them. "What a joke. Winners write history. Forgiveness is meaningless when the victor stands alone. Don't worry, your deaths will remain a secret, and not even your family's old man will trace it back to me."
"We've always treated you like a brother, Jingchen," Ye Huan said, his voice trembling.
"Brother?" Ye Jingchen let out a cold, mocking laugh. "My father died at the hands of his so-called brothers. I don't need such kinship!"
"What do you want, then?" Ye Xiang's eyes narrowed as he stared into Jingchen's cold gaze.
"To see your Ye family destroyed," Jingchen replied with a cruel smile.
At that moment, clarity struck Ye Xiang and Ye Huan.
"Run!" Ye Xiang roared, brandishing his sword and charging at Ye Jingchen with reckless resolve.
"Fool," Jingchen sneered. His blade swung with deadly precision, cleaving through the air.
*Thud!*
Before Ye Huan could take more than two steps, a spray of warm blood splattered across his back, and Ye Xiang's severed head tumbled to the ground at his feet.
Ye Huan froze, his eyes widening in a mix of horror and rage. The grief and fury boiled over, and he turned to face Ye Jingchen with a roar.
"Ye Jingchen! I'll kill you!"
Jingchen let out a booming laugh, his amusement echoing in the still air.
"Kill me? You? How laughable."
At that moment, a shadow flitted behind Ye Huan, too fast for him to register. A deafening *clang* rang out as blades collided violently in front of him.
"Who are you?" Ye Jingchen demanded, his grip tightening on his weapon as his eyes fixated on the man before him.
"Zhatian Hunters," the man replied flatly.
Ye Jingchen's expression darkened. He planted his feet firmly, retreating a few cautious steps as his mind raced. But before he could retreat further, the man's silhouette blurred, and in the blink of an eye, he was back in front of him.
"So fast…"
Before Jingchen could complete the thought, the man's blade lashed out with lightning speed.
*Clang!*
The collision sent sparks flying, some scorching Jingchen's face and leaving charred marks.
He staggered back, forcing distance between himself and his assailant, his mind spinning. "This is a Ye family matter. Does the Zhatian Hunters Guild intend to interfere in private affairs?"
The man cast a cold glance at Ye Xiang's lifeless body before leveling his steely gaze on Jingchen.
"You could have walked away. But you chose to kill him. Now, you'll pay the price. I'll cripple you and let the Ye family elders decide your fate."
"Foolishness!" Jingchen spat, his confidence bolstered by his own strength. "You think you can kill me? I'm not so easy to deal with."
The man said nothing, taking a single step forward.
Jingchen's pupils shrank as he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. A moment later, he realized a lock of his hair had been sliced cleanly off.
"I can offer resources… territories!" Jingchen blurted, desperation creeping into his voice.
The man cast him a disdainful look before coldly replying, "Negotiate."
Jingchen felt a flicker of hope and hastily transmitted the terms of his offer.
When the man reviewed the meager collection of B and C-grade territories, his expression grew colder. "Do you think this paltry offering is worth your life?"
"This is all I—"
*Swish!*
Before Jingchen could finish, the blade descended, severing his arm.
"Aaah!" Jingchen screamed in agony, clutching at his bleeding stump. His mind reeled in disbelief as the man's weapon once again came to rest against his remaining shoulder.
"You…you said you'd let me go!"
"Did I?" the man sneered.
With a swift motion, his blade struck again, leaving Jingchen howling in pain and humiliation.
"Stop the bleeding," the man commanded his team. "Then break his legs and prepare to transport him."
"Yes, sir!"
As the team moved to restrain Jingchen, Ye Huan struggled to intervene, but the man blocked him with a single sharp glare.
"Why didn't you kill him?" Ye Huan demanded.
*Slap!*
The man struck Ye Huan hard, silencing him.
"Who do you think you are to question me?" His voice was like ice. "If not for the Ye elders and others who vouched for you, you'd already be dead."
Ye Huan could only stare, stunned and silent, as the team secured both him and the battered Jingchen.