C50 Killing Jiaang Que(part I)

"You're courting death!"

Not far from the massacre of the Jiaang's Disciples, Jiaang Que, who had been dominating his duel with Wei Luchong, heard the screams of his fellow disciples. Without hesitation, he abandoned his fight with Wei Luchong and dashed back to help.

But by the time he arrived, he was met with a heartbreaking sight: only four Jiaang's Disciples remained, and they were the kind with no hope—utterly talentless.

The sight nearly drove Jiaang Que to madness.

He was the leader of the Jiaang family's younger generation, and there was a chance he could become the patriarch if things went well. But it was just that—a chance.

Wei Lulin's resurgence, much like Wei Luchong's, posed a serious threat to his status as heir, just as it did within Jiaang Que's own family.

He was the Strongest Man among his peers, but above the young generation was the youth generation. The young generation ranged from sixteen to eighteen years old, while the youth generation spanned from eighteen to twenty-eight, a small age difference.

The Wei family's youth generation lacked powerful experts and had few disciples of exceptional talent. The Jiaang family, on the other hand, boasted three young experts whose gifts and insight were on par with Jiaang Que's.

Crucially, these three were only slightly older than him but had already advanced to the Body Refining Stage.

To ultimately emerge victorious and assume the role of patriarch, Jiaang Que needed to outstrip them in both strength and familial influence.

The Hunting Competition was the perfect chance to prove himself.

Jiaang Que had led the Jiaang's Disciples on a rampage of killing and looting because he knew he couldn't defeat Xie Jutong. His strategy was to gather enough Jade Plates to secure victory early on, then lie low with his clan, only to emerge at the competition's conclusion.

For over a decade, the Hunting Competition in Yao Country hadn't seen champions from the Wei family, the Jiaang family, or the Yao family.

If he could secure the championship this time, the rewards would not only bolster his strength but also elevate his prestige and influence within the Jiaang family to new heights.

To achieve this goal, he needed to ensure the safe return of Jiaang's Disciples. These battle-hardened disciples would become his staunchest supporters, serving as his primary leverage in his bid for the Patriarch's seat.

In the early stages of the competition for Jade Plates, Jiaang Que had already suffered the loss of several experts. Although it pained him, he could come to terms with it. After all, it was expected that some would perish in such trials. Losing a few experts was a sacrifice he was willing to accept.

But the subsequent tragedy was more than he could stomach. In a careless moment during his clash with Wei Luchong, he had inadvertently led to the demise of nearly ten Jiaang's Disciples.

With his capabilities, he should have been able to swiftly defeat Wei Luchong. Unexpectedly, Wei Luchong, while not as powerful, possessed a Ten-refinement Top Grade steel blade and a piece of armor robust enough to withstand a Qi Refining Stage Level Eight attack.

Armed with these treasures, Wei Luchong managed to entangle him in combat and, seizing a moment of inattention, launched a sneak attack that resulted in the death of over ten Jiaang's Disciples.

The loss of so many Elite Disciples was nearly unbearable for him. This very reason compelled him to strategically draw Wei Luchong away from the battlefield, leaving the remaining skirmishes to Jiaang's Disciples.

What he hadn't anticipated was that although Wei Luchong wasn't the one to ambush him, the Wei family had a Peak Expert in hiding. By the time he realized it, the Jiaang's Disciples had been decimated.

Gazing at the mere four survivors, Jiaang Que let out a heart-wrenching roar of fury before charging sword in hand towards Wei Lulin.

Wei Luchong, trailing right behind him, ceased his assault upon recognizing the newly arrived expert as Wei Lulin. He feigned a dazed expression instead.

Deep down, he was practically bursting with triumph.

Originally, he shared the same sentiments as Jiaang Que. The Wei family had suffered significant losses due to his error. Following the Hunting Competition, he was likely to face some form of punishment, which would not bode well for his aspirations to become the next patriarch.

If Jiaang Que could eliminate Wei Lulin now, then with no one left to challenge his claim as the heir, any future punishment would be entirely manageable.

Jiaang Que was a master swordsman, yet he wielded a mere 20-centimeter short sword. His technique exuded a cunningness that mirrored his personality.

For Wei Lulin, facing an adversary skilled with such a compact weapon was a first. Initially, he struggled to adapt, leaving him at a temporary disadvantage.

Despite being on the back foot, Wei Lulin kept his composure. He refrained from exerting his full strength prematurely, focusing instead on parrying each of Jiaang Que's strikes and learning from the experience.

The adage goes: "One inch longer, one inch stronger; one inch shorter, one inch riskier."

Jiaang Que's short swordplay was devious, targeting vital points that most would overlook, making defense a challenge.

However, Wei Lulin's foundational Blade Style included defensive techniques that enabled him to fend off all of Jiaang Que's assaults.

As Wei Lulin grew more accustomed to his opponent's style, he shifted from defense to offense.

"Young Master Kuang, come on and lend a hand!" The remaining Wei disciples grew anxious as Wei Lulin initially struggled against Jiaang Que's offense.

They turned to Wei Luchong, who was observing the fight, urging him to team up against Jiaang Que.

Wei Luchong, who had been waiting for an opportunity to dispose of Wei Lulin and benefit from the outcome, was not about to intervene.

Feigning injury, he coughed loudly and said, "I wish I could help, but I've sustained severe injuries. I can barely muster a tenth of my strength. If I were to join the fray now, I'd be of no help to him—in fact, I might just hinder him."

Wei Luchong's rationale wasn't entirely without merit. He was only able to exert 10% of his Qi Refining Stage Level Seven strength, making him even less formidable than a Qi Refining Stage Level Six master. His participation could potentially hinder Wei Lulin.

Yet, observing Wei Luchong's current state, brimming with energy and looking more vibrant than ever, it was hard to believe he was seriously injured. The other seven Wei family disciples were at a loss for words on how to convince him otherwise.

None of them were fools; a few of the more astute among them even picked up on something amiss. They realized that Wei Luchong was deliberately avoiding stepping in to assist.

Their frustration with Wei Luchong's selfishness was palpable, but they felt powerless to act. With their own abilities being modest and their connections limited, they dared not cross Wei Luchong and ultimately resigned themselves to silence.

Despite the inherent danger and the challenge in defending against a short weapon, it also had its disadvantages, namely its limited range of attack. Once Wei Lulin had adjusted to Jiaang Que's offensive, he not only began to retaliate but also increased the intensity of his counterattacks progressively.