C6 His Illness

The Thousand Blade Execution was a notorious punishment reserved by the Yang Mansion for those who committed unforgivable crimes.

This execution involved slicing off the flesh of the condemned, then piercing their Dantian to obliterate every meridian and acupoint. The agony of such a death was unimaginable, a testament to the sheer brutality of the sentence.

"Don't, Steward E! They started it! My brother, he only..." Yang Weiyue's voice trembled with fear as she attempted to defend Yang Xiao, but words failed her.

"How dare you speak out of turn! Your brother, Yang Xiao, mercilessly murdered my son in front of witnesses yesterday. According to the Yang family's rules, kin who slay each other must face the Thousand Blade Execution," E Zhengqing declared, his voice strained with fury and his face a mask of chilling resolve.

His words echoed with finality, leaving Yang Weiyue speechless, her cheeks streaked with tears of guilt and remorse, realizing that she was the catalyst for these tragic events.

"Step aside, girl! If you interfere further, I will consider you complicit with Yang Xiao!" E Zhengqing bellowed.

Yang Xiao offered a wry smile, gently pulling Weiyue back from her protective stance. He tenderly wiped away her tears, reassuring her with a soft voice, "Don't worry. I'll handle this. Should the heavens fall, I will hold them up."

"Enough talk! Will you kneel before the Sect Master and accept your punishment, or must I intervene personally?" E Zhengqing demanded.

With those words, a formidable Vital Spirit emanated from him, his aura rolling outwards, intimidating all who felt it. This display of power was the hallmark of his strength, the pinnacle of the Great Completion Stage of the Vital Spirit Stage, verging on the threshold of the Profound Intercommunity Stage.

E Zhengqing, as the steward of Yang Mansion, had served with unwavering loyalty for decades. His status far exceeded that of the lesser Yang family disciples. Many sought his favor, offering him advanced cultivation techniques and pills. Despite his average cultivation talent, these gifts enabled him to advance rapidly, attaining a level of mastery that few could rival.

Achieving the Great Completion Stage within the Vital Spirit Stage is not an accomplishment within the reach of just anyone. Hence, E Zhengqing was held in high esteem by Sect Master Yang and the elders of the Yang family!

E Zhengqing believed that if he were to kill this insignificant member of the Yang family to avenge his son, the Yang family would surely not hold him accountable.

At this moment, E Zhengqing was even trying to provoke Yang Xiao into striking first, giving him the perfect chance to execute him personally!

"Scoundrel! I'd advise against any futile resistance; otherwise, you're only going to inflict greater suffering upon yourself!" E Zhengqing's gaze was icy, his sorrow from losing his son ready to be unleashed as wrath!

The kitchen in the back courtyard was filling up with more and more Yang family disciples and servants. They remained silent, too afraid to utter a word. Having stirred up such trouble, they all looked at Yang Xiao as if he were already a dead man.

"Why do you spout such drivel?" Yang Xiao was visibly annoyed with his rage.

"Scoundrel!" E Zhengqing's face was etched with murderous intent: "You dare to be so insolent after committing such an atrocious crime!"

Yang Xiao, with a look of detachment, retorted, "Your son, E Tiangan, was nothing but a lowly servant in the Yang Mansion. He nearly ended the life of a Yang family disciple a few days ago! And yet he had the audacity to force his way into my room and harm my sister yesterday! It seems the household rules regarding the distinction between master and servant mean nothing to you! Tell me, does your son not deserve death?"

"Ridiculous!" E Zhengqing, seething with anger, countered, "You expect me to take your word for it when my son can no longer defend himself!"

"Heh! I merely rid us of a worthless slave!" Yang Xiao said with a smirk, "And you, E Zhengqing! To speak kindly, you are the Yang family's steward. To speak frankly, you're nothing more than a dog raised by the Yang family! Don't forget your place!"

Enraged and unable to outtalk him, E Zhengqing suddenly turned to his guards and barked, "Execute him!"

At his command, the guards, without further ado, charged at Yang Xiao.

"Just in time!"

A sinister grin spread across Yang Xiao's face. In a flash, he became a blur, moving too fast for the guards to see. The lead guard let out a scream as he was sent flying through the air!

Swoosh! Swoosh! Without pausing, Yang Xiao, now a mere shadow, delivered a punch and a kick that sent two more guards crashing to the ground!

The remaining two guards frantically searched for him, but Yang Xiao was nowhere to be seen. They were sitting ducks, unable to mount any offense.

The outcome was inevitable. With a final sweeping leg kick from Yang Xiao, the two guards joined their comrades on the ground, writhing in pain.

Yet Yang Xiao's onslaught didn't cease. He charged once more at E Zhengqing!

An afterimage struck! E Zhengqing, true to his reputation as a formidable Vital Spirit Stage cultivator, reacted with lightning speed, transforming his hands into a palm strike aimed at the oncoming Yang Xiao!

Yang Xiao responded by forming his hand into a fist, meeting the strike head-on!

Boom!

The collision of fist and palm sent Yang Xiao stumbling backward, while E Zhengqing was also forced to retreat several steps!

"How is this possible!" E Zhengqing exclaimed in disbelief, staring at Yang Xiao. "You're supposed to be at the Essence Condensation Stage. How could you withstand my palm?" He had assumed Yang Xiao had resorted to some trickery when his son, a Spirit Gathering Stage cultivator, was slain. But this confrontation had him questioning that assumption.

Had it not been for the breakthrough of his Essence Vein the previous night and the protection of the Four-dragon Ring, Yang Xiao would have stood no chance against a Vital Spirit Stage opponent. Even with these advantages, he had just expended nearly all his energy.

"This man cannot be spared!" E Zhengqing's eyes blazed with murderous intent. As he prepared to strike once more, a sudden voice halted him.

"Steward E, hold your hand!"

All eyes turned toward the newcomer. It was none other than Yang Xuan!

E Zhengqing let out a cold huff and challenged, "Prince, why do you intervene? You witnessed him kill my son yesterday. As the steward of Yang Mansion and as E Tiangan's father, what reason do I have not to avenge him?"

Yang Xuan disregarded the man and continued, "Yang Xiao! Take your sister and go!"

Yang Xiao, with only a trace of Vital Spirit remaining, knew that continuing the fight would likely lead to a severe loss. He shot Yang Xuan a cold glance, said nothing, and, taking Yang Weiyue by the hand, they both departed.

"Humph!" E Zhengqing, unable to contain his anger, demanded, "Prince, what is the meaning of this?"

"Steward E, I have a Life-death Contract with Yang Xiao set for a week from now," Yang Xuan explained calmly.

"Prince, even if you have a life-and-death agreement with him, he killed my son. How am I supposed to accept that?" E Zhengqing was clearly perplexed.

"Rest assured, Steward E. In a week's time, I will shred Yang Xiao to pieces and exact revenge for your son," Yang Xuan assured him, eyes narrowing, though his true intentions remained hidden.

"So we let this animal live another week?" E Zhengqing's complexion turned steely.

Yang Xuan, seeing his distress, quickly offered reassurance, "Steward E, I understand that Yang Xiao deserves death, and that even one more day of life is too generous. But the timing isn't right. In a week, notify everyone in Azure Connection City to witness our fight. The death of a clansman will surely draw the attention of powerful figures within the city."

E Zhengqing's demeanor softened. "Very well, Prince. I will prioritize the greater good."

Yang Xuan nodded, "Steward E, just bear with it for a few more days. In one week, I will ensure he dies in disgrace, begging for death but unable to achieve it. Your son's death will be avenged."

Upon mentioning his son, E Zhengqing's face darkened, and he sighed deeply, "Something has changed in Yang Xiao; his strength is not to be underestimated. Prince, you must exercise caution!"

"Heh, I am well aware," Yang Xuan said with a slight smile, looking at E Zhengqing. Although both were at the Vital Spirit Stage, their martial skills and strengths differed greatly. Yang Xuan had already crossed swords with Yang Xiao the day before, and despite E Zhengqing's recent evenly matched bout with Yang Xiao, Yang Xuan felt E Zhengqing had failed to exhibit his full Vital Spirit Stage potential. E Zhengqing, having reached his sixties and long reliant on pills to forcibly advance, had become complacent in his luxury, and now, facing an opponent at the Spirit Gathering Stage Great Completion would prove a formidable challenge.

Yang Xuan pulled his thoughts back to the present and watched as Yang Xiao walked away, a cold laugh escaping his lips.

"Brother... I feel so awful..." Yang Weiyue hadn't gone far before dizziness overwhelmed her, and she could no longer stand, collapsing to the ground.

Thankfully, Yang Xiao's reflexes were quick, and he caught her in time. He hurriedly carried her back to her room, gently placing her on the bed. He then retrieved the Spirit Gathering Pill he had taken from E Tiangan the previous night and administered it to her.

Yang Xiao recalled from his memories that Yang Weiyue suffered bouts of physical discomfort every few days and required the Spirit Gathering Pill to maintain her well-being.

As he looked at his sister, a wave of concern and anxiety washed over Yang Xiao. It was an odd sensation, almost as if it were a conditioned response from his body, or perhaps it was the lingering protective instincts of the deceased Yang Xiao for his sister.

After some time, Yang Weiyue finally stirred from her unconscious state, just as Yang Xiao was consumed with self-reproach.

"Did I pass out again?" Yang Weiyue's eyes fluttered open, and upon seeing Yang Xiao, she said, "It's a relief that you're here. I feel so much more secure with you by my side."

"I will always be here for you," Yang Xiao promised with a gentle smile. He stroked Yang Weiyue's hair and asked softly, "Do you feel any better?"

"Much better, not as cold," she replied.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault for forgetting your medication," Yang Xiao apologized quietly. "I assure you, there won't be a next time."

Tears began to well up in Yang Weiyue's eyes. "Brother, am I a burden? Sometimes, I think it might be easier to just die. With this strange illness, should I even be alive?"

"Xiao Yue, I will find a cure for you," Yang Xiao said, his voice tinged with pain. "Please, don't entertain such thoughts. You're all the family I have left. Would you really leave me all alone?"

"Of course not!" Yang Weiyue quickly wiped away her tears. "I promise to keep living, not to leave you all by yourself. I want to be by your side forever."

Once Yang Weiyue had drifted off to sleep, Yang Xiao quietly left the room.

Knowing that his current strength was insufficient, he realized that if he wanted a sure victory over Yang Xuan in the upcoming week, he must urgently resume his cultivation. The weakness of his body was beyond anything he had anticipated, and he wasn't sure he could face the challenges ahead without further training.