C19 The Calm Anger

Host: Chiang Xie

Level: Profound Energy Stage Level 3 - Late Phase

Experience: 6,489/8,000

Main Character Value: 200

Villain's Cultivation Technique: Devil Slaying

Villain Martial Skills: Thunderous Cannon, Meteorite Skyfall

Villain Martial Artifact: Shark Tooth

Overall Evaluation: Young man, your skillset is rather limited. I've never encountered such an under-equipped villain.

After reviewing his host profile, Chiang Xie realized it was high time to hit the System Shop for some skill upgrades. With plans to stir up trouble at the Chiang family, the stronger he was, the better. Currently, his arsenal was limited to the Thunderous Cannon and the Meteorite Skyfall, both of which were big moves and not readily deployable. He lacked any palm or fist techniques, and his movement skills were nonexistent—indeed, quite the impoverished state.

After some contemplation, he accessed the System Shop and spent 15 Main Character Value on the Sunflower Acupoint Pointing Hand. He then invested 80 Main Character Value in a Blood Devouring Bead and acquired an unfamiliar movement technique called Spiritual Step for 55 Main Character Value, totaling a spend of 150 Main Character Value. In a flash, his 200 Main Character Value dwindled to a mere 50. It seemed that no matter where one found oneself, funds were always insufficient.

Nonetheless, Chiang Xie was quite pleased with the attributes of his new abilities.

Sunflower Acupoint Pointing Hand: Yellow Level, an essential martial art for disciples of the Sunflower Sect, capable of immobilizing opponents from a distance once mastered (This is the Gongsun Wulong version, which allows for immediate distance immobilization).

Blood Devouring Bead: Profound Level, an artifact of a nefarious elder, able to absorb human blood essence to fortify oneself (The bloodsucking effect varies with the user's strength).

Spiritual Step: Profound Level, originated from an Emperor on the Profound Sky Continent, granting the ability to instantaneously teleport one hundred meters, though it significantly depletes Profound Energy.

With the Sunflower Acupoint Pointing Hand and Blood Devouring Bead for control, the Thunderous Cannon for offense, Meteorite Skyfall as his big move, and Spiritual Step for life-saving evasion, complemented by the self-healing property of Devil Slaying, Chiang Xie's skill combination was nearing perfection.

Chiang Xie was confident that he could face Chiang Tianhai, who was at Golden Core Stage Level 2, without fear.

His current cultivation level might only be at Profound Energy Stage Level 3, but in actual combat, he could easily overpower cultivators of the Golden Core Stage. With a Heaven Level Cultivation Method and Profound Level martial skills at his disposal, he could take on higher-level adversaries with ease, just like the protagonists in novels, without feeling any pressure.

Having made all the necessary preparations, Chiang Xie intended to infiltrate the Chiang family first and then decide whether to confront them after assessing Lan Xin's situation.

Chiang Xie was no murderer; he was indifferent to his own life unless someone he cared about was harmed. In such cases, he would administer punishment and leave it at that. If Lan Xin was unharmed, a mere thrashing for Chiang Tianhai would suffice. However, if Lan Xin had been hurt, Chiang Xie was prepared to make the entire Chiang family pay dearly.

——

"Master!" Lee Shuangshuang expressed her dissatisfaction in Chiang Tianhai's room.

Chiang Tianhai shook his head, gently pushing Lee Shuangshuang aside. "Let's not bring this up again. You may torment Lan Xin, but you must not kill her," he stated calmly.

Lee Shuangshuang pouted. "Putting aside whether Chiang Xie has been possessed by a member of the Devil Clan, our Chiang family has no reason to fear. If it comes to it, we can always seek out experts in the Imperial City to deal with the Devil Clan's influence. Why should we hesitate to deal with that woman just because of what someone else said?"

Lee Shuangshuang's son had been killed by Chiang Xie; how could she simply forgive Lan Xin and Chiang Xie?

Chiang Tianhai, understanding Lee Shuangshuang's feelings, softened his voice. "You don't understand... Just don't kill Lan Xin. As long as we can provide the Devil Clan with an explanation, you can handle her as you see fit."

Reluctantly, Lee Shuangshuang abandoned her plan to kill Lan Xin, but she was far from ready to let her off the hook.

After a short while, she led a group of the family's strong members to the woodshed to take out their frustrations on Lan Xin.

In the Chiang family's woodshed, a woman in ragged clothing, covered in wounds, was struggling to sit cross-legged, praying for her son, Chiang Xie. This woman was Lan Xin.

Despite being tormented daily by Lee Shuangshuang and her cohorts, Lan Xin harbored no thoughts of defeat. As long as her son, Chiang Xie, was alive, she considered herself luckier than anyone else.

Suddenly, the woodshed door burst open, and Lee Shuangshuang, followed by a group of her Profound Energy Stage henchmen, confronted Lan Xin.

Lan Xin gave Lee Shuangshuang and her entourage a fleeting glance before closing her eyes again. With her level of cultivation, resistance was futile; it was easier to simply accept her fate.

"Heh, what shall we play today? Your precious son killed mine! I'll make sure you both pay!" Lee Shuangshuang's face twisted into a grotesque sneer.

Lan Xin opened her eyes, meeting Lee Shuangshuang's gaze. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I can understand your pain..."

But Lee Shuangshuang's response was even more unhinged: "Understand what? Your son isn't dead! Are you, you whore, still rejoicing? No one can threaten your son's status now... Too bad he's never going to be the clan leader. The old master will have him killed eventually, haha!"

Lan Xin remained silent; anything she said would be feeble and futile.

Lee Shuangshuang turned to her five or six subordinates with a cold, merciless voice, "The old master said anything goes as long as she's not killed. So make sure you 'take good care' of Miss Lan."

The subordinates paused, then broke into lecherous grins. They all knew that their Third Madame was a stunning beauty. The prospect of a night's pleasure, even if it meant becoming ghosts, was too tempting to resist.

Especially since Lee Shuangshuang had given her implicit consent, the thrill was unparalleled.

Lan Xin's body shuddered uncontrollably. While she could endure physical pain, the thought of losing her chastity was unbearable.

"You can't do this, Lee Shuangshuang! I belong to the old master!" Lan Xin pleaded, hoping to make Lee Shuangshuang reconsider.

"I already told you, as long as you're not killed, the old master won't care what happens to you."

"What are you all waiting for? Go attend to Miss Lan, haha."

Lan Xin forced a bitter laugh, realizing that if the man truly cared for her, he would never have allowed such a thing to happen to her.

She resolved that if anyone dared to defile her, she would end her own life by biting her tongue...

As her assailants closed in on Lan Xin, reaching to strip her of her garments, a series of red sword glows pierced their bodies, exploding into clouds of blood mist.

"Auntie, the harm and fright you've endured will never happen again," Chiang Xie said calmly as he walked past Lee Shuangshuang, tenderly cradling Lan Xin in his arms, showing no sign of the man who had just slain several people in the blink of an eye.

Those who knew Chiang Xie on Earth would recognize this demeanor as a sign of his true fury.

Without a second glance at the astonished Lee Shuangshuang and Lan Xin, Chiang Xie carried Lan Xin away at a leisurely pace, seemingly unconcerned about the Chiang family discovering him as an intruder.

After all, the Chiang family was on the brink of becoming nothing more than a grave, and there was no longer anything to fear from discovery.