Volume 3, Chapter 163 – Stop Acting, I Beg You (Part 6)

“Kill me? What a joke! I am an elder of the Yuxiao Sect—do you really think you can just kill me as you please?”

Zheng Wei laughed, his confidence unshaken.

“If Cheng Hongling wants someone dead, they’ve never lived to see another day.”

As she spoke, her jade-like hand rested once more on the hilt of her sword.

“Oh? With so many witnesses here, I’d like to see how you plan to kill me!”

Zheng Wei sneered, then turned to Liu Lei. “Sect Leader Liu! My disciple’s death is one thing, but I am an elder of the Yuxiao Sect. If you stand by and watch me die, how will you continue to lead this sect? How will the Yuxiao Sect maintain its standing in the cultivation world?”

Liu Lei fell into a brief silence, clearly weighing the consequences.

“Little Ling, I’m fine. Let’s just go.”

Cheng Yuan, not wanting to burden his daughter further, spoke up.

“No. My family isn’t something anyone can just kidnap. And look what he did to you!”

Cheng Hongling’s voice was steel.

“She’s right, Father! He even taunted us over the communication tube. If we don’t make an example of him, who will fear us in the future? How can we guarantee your safety?”

Qi Huang chimed in. This adoptive father had risked his life traveling between provinces for their sake. If they let Zheng Wei go now, none of them would sleep soundly again.

Cheng Yuan looked at his two daughters, a warm smile crossing his face, and said no more.

“Disciple Cheng, while Elder Zheng was wrong to kidnap your father and steal the Black Gold Lily, you’ve already killed one person in retaliation. Let’s leave it at that. After all, we’re both sects under the Immortal Alliance—branches of the same tree. I’ll ensure the Black Gold Lily is returned intact.”

After a long deliberation, Liu Lei finally made his decision.

“You think? Unfortunately, what matters now is what I think. The one who died was just an accomplice—he deserved it. But the mastermind still breathes. How can we let this go?”

Cheng Hongling remained unmoved.

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“Cheng Hongling, I’ve said my piece. If you insist on pushing this, don’t blame me for turning hostile. You may be at the late-stage Incarnation Realm, but the Yuxiao Sect is no pushover. We have four Incarnation Realm experts and tens of thousands of disciples. If we all attack at once, we may not fear you.”

Liu Lei’s aged face darkened, looking uglier than a corpse.

“I believe you! But I don’t think you’re that stupid.”

Cheng Hongling smirked. “I guarantee that if a fight breaks out, the Yuxiao Sect will suffer heavy losses. And his crimes will spread like wildfire. After that, forget being in the top five sects of Yongning Province—you won’t even make the top fifty. Is protecting a rule-breaking elder worth that?”

Liu Lei fell silent again, forced to make an impossible choice: risk everything or cut their losses.

“Made up your mind yet? Hand this man over, and I swear I won’t spread this scandal. The Yuxiao Sect can go on as usual, its reputation intact. Losing one Unity Realm elder shouldn’t matter much, right?”

Cheng Hongling’s words were honeyed poison.

“Sect Leader Liu, don’t listen to her sweet talk! If you let me die like this, the Yuxiao Sect’s dignity will be trampled!”

Zheng Wei, sensing danger, spoke up again.

“What now? Do we fight?”

“Fight? You know as well as I do that even with numbers, a single gap in cultivation at the Incarnation Realm is like heaven’s chasm. At best, we’d both be crippled. And if we lose too much, what happens to the sect afterward?”

“But if we let Elder Zheng die, our dignity—”

“Are you an idiot? Dignity can be rebuilt! Dead people stay dead!”

“Exactly! As the saying goes, ‘Where there’s life, there’s hope’!”

The high-ranking elders debated fiercely, soon reaching a consensus.

Liu Lei listened carefully, the struggle on his face fading. He turned to Zheng Wei with feigned remorse.

“Elder Zheng… I’m sorry. This old man is powerless to save you.”

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“Sect Leader Liu, what do you mean? You’re abandoning me?”

Zheng Wei’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“You see the situation. As Sect Leader, I must prioritize the greater good. So for the sake of the Yuxiao Sect… please make this sacrifice.”

Liu Lei’s explanation dripped with hypocrisy.

“Liu Lei! You can’t do this! You’re the Sect Leader!”

Zheng Wei’s composure shattered as he screamed like a madman.

“Elder Zheng gives his life for the Yuxiao Sect. Let us send him off with respect.”

Not wanting further chaos, Liu Lei gestured to the other elders.

“May Elder Zheng walk the path in peace!”

After exchanging glances, the elders echoed the sentiment.

“Now do you see how I’ll kill you?”

Cheng Hongling narrowed her eyes mockingly.

“No! No! You can’t do this! I won’t accept this!”

Zheng Wei scrambled to his feet, ready to resist.

“Rest in peace.”

Qi Huang’s lips curled in disdain as her overwhelming divine sense crushed down.

Zheng Wei’s legs buckled instantly, forcing him back to his knees. Panic flashed in his eyes—but it was too late.

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Moving in perfect sync, Cheng Hongling vanished, a streak of blue sword light flashing across Zheng Wei’s neck.

Zheng Wei touched his throat in confusion. Only after several breaths did pain register. He desperately tried to stem the bleeding, but within moments, he collapsed like a slaughtered pig at New Year’s, blood gushing wildly.

As Zheng Wei died, his seven corporeal souls scattered. His three ethereal souls—Heavenly, Earthly, and Human—survived briefly, attempting to flee.

Qi Huang was ready. Her divine sense solidified into giant hands, publicly tearing Zheng Wei’s remaining souls apart in midair, erasing him completely.

The Yuxiao Sect elders trembled, silently grateful they hadn’t intervened.

Soon after, Liu Lei obediently ordered Zheng Wei’s residence searched. The Black Gold Lily was recovered and returned to Cheng Yuan without delay.

“Fairy Cheng, we’ve honored our promise. We hope you’ll keep yours and not spread this matter.”

Liu Lei’s tone was almost pleading.

“Naturally.”

Cheng Hongling’s reply was icy as she motioned for her father and doppelgänger to leave.

“Wait!”

Qi Huang suddenly spoke up.

“What now?”

Cheng Hongling frowned.

“Father’s debt is settled. But what about mine?”

Qi Huang turned back, glaring at Liu Lei.

“What are you doing?!”

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Cheng Hongling startled, quickly sending a telepathic message.

“Acting! I’m not done yet!”

Qi Huang replied breezily.

“I’m begging you, stop! This is already the best outcome.”

“Best outcome? I disagree.”

Qi Huang was adamant.

“Debt? What debt do we owe you?”

Liu Lei finally snapped out of his daze.

“Playing dumb? Who tried to silence me in the main hall earlier?”

Qi Huang’s voice was sharp.

Liu Lei opened and closed his mouth like a fish, exchanging bewildered looks with his subordinates.

“Then… what does Fairy Cheng want?”

After a pause, Liu Lei ventured cautiously. Today had been humiliating enough—if they could end this quietly, all the better.

“You scared me. I demand compensation—a basin of Snow Boar blood, ten Blue-Crested Sparrow eggshells, and fifty vials of cat tears. Otherwise, this isn’t over!”

Qi Huang’s demands were outrageous.

“How much?! Say that again?!”

Liu Lei’s jaw dropped wide enough to fit a fist.