Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Xiao Jianxin’s Decision

"This old man requests the knight to take action once more."

Take action once more?

Chu Ming’s expression remained unchanged, but something occurred to him.

The Blood Evil Sect attacked the Commandery Mansion at night, and the lives of Xiao He and others were hanging by a thread, yet the Sword Gourd Spirit failed to sense Xiao Jianxin and Deputy General Han Ji, who were supposed to protect the mansion.

He turned his gaze towards Shen Yu.

Shen Yu understood instantly.

"Old Xiao, let me speak with the knight."

"..." Xiao He looked at Shen Yu, "Old Shen, Jianxin must not be harmed."

"Don’t worry."

Shen Yu followed Chu Ming out of the Commandery Mansion.

"Yao Qi, you head back first," Chu Ming directed the Medicine Maniac away.

"Alright." The Medicine Maniac left upon hearing the words.

Chu Ming sensed there was no one nearby, and then asked, "Brother Shen, what’s going on?"

"Sigh..." Shen Yu sighed deeply and said:

"The Blood Evil Sect actually captured Xiao Jianxin’s son, Xiao Wu, and somehow, Xiao Wu doesn’t even recognize Xiao Jianxin, even wanting to kill his own father..."

"..."

Shen Yu quickly and concisely told Chu Ming what had happened in the past few days.

"Outside the County City, to the south, there’s a forest area where the Blood Evil Sect has set an ambush. Chu Ming, could you..." Shen Yu slightly bowed.

"Brother Shen," Chu Ming helped Shen Yu up, "County Magistrate Xiao helped me before, I cannot stand by and do nothing."

"Brother Shen, return to the Commandery Mansion first; I’m going to the forest area."

"Chu Ming, thank you."

"..."

Shen Yu returned to the Commandery Mansion.

"Old Shen, where is the knight?"

"He went to the forest area south of the city."

...

Outside County City, thirty miles, forest area.

"General Han Ji, you should leave."

Sword-bearing Xiang Jianxin of the Lower Meridian Unlocking Realm glared angrily at those ahead.

Beside him stood Deputy General Han Ji of the Eastern Expedition Army, his face covered in blood.

"If Lord Xiao doesn’t leave, I won’t leave either."

"Back in the day, I took charge of Xiao Wu." Han Ji said quietly.

Directly in front of them, four Bloodthirsty Guards constructed a Blood Evil Array, with Blood Evil Qi rising to the sky.

Among the four, Xiao Jianxin’s son, Xiao Wu, remained expressionless.

"Lord Xiao, it’s likely that Xiao Wu has already..." Han Ji looked at Xiao Wu’s state, speaking unwillingly.

"Even if he’s dead, I must take back Xiao Wu’s body!"

Whizz—

Xiao Jianxin thrust his sword forward again, the Sword Aura targeting the three Bloodthirsty Guards beside Xiao Wu.

Slashing—

One Bloodthirsty Guard’s abdomen was sliced open, while two others had their arms slashed.

However.

The three Bloodthirsty Guards showed no signs of pain; six fierce hands reached out to grab.

Xiao Jianxin dodged the attacks with swift movement.

But then, a blood-colored iron fist descended from above.

Boom—

Xiao Wu’s fists rained down like a storm onto Xiao Jianxin.

"Wu’er!"

Xiao Jianxin’s eyes widened with anger, heart filled with sorrow. He repeatedly thrust the golden sword, yet never hitting Xiao Wu.

Although he could severely wound Xiao Wu, as a father, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Originally, with his ability of unlocking the Twelve Major Meridians and opening the first meridian of the eight extraordinary meridians at the Meridian Unlocking Realm, even the four Bloodthirsty Guards could not match him.

Yet Xiao Jianxin couldn’t strike Xiao Wu.

In battles days ago, he was gravely injured for this very reason.

Tonight, perhaps it would be the same.

Seeing Xiao Jianxin’s condition, Han Ji swung his spear away, likewise avoiding Xiao Wu.

For masters, a single distraction could be deadly, not to mention both were always cautious.

Boom! Boom!

Bloodthirsty Guard Xiao Wu struck Xiao Jianxin, while the other three Bloodthirsty Guards battered Han Ji.

Both were sent flying dozens of meters away.

"Cough, cough..."

Inserting the golden sword into the soil, Xiao Jianxin, leaning against the hilt, rose in grief.

Han Ji, gripping his spear, coughed up blood.

The four emotionless Bloodthirsty Guards charged again.

...

At the forest outskirts.

Concealed in shadows, Chu Ming wore a look of urgency.

He held a blood-colored bell in his hand.

This bell was obtained from Lang Xi of the Wolf Race, whom he had killed earlier.

The blood-colored bell is used to control the Bloodthirsty Guards.

But this particular bell was unusual; even when shaken, the four Bloodthirsty Guards showed no response.

Upon investigation, Chu Ming discovered that the blood-colored bell actually contained the Qi Blood of Lang Xi.

Originally, he planned to appear directly to slay the four Bloodthirsty Guards, but seeing Xiao Jianxin willingly endure multiple blows from Xiao Wu of the Bloodthirsty Guards without retaliating, he reconsidered the plan.

The best approach would be to use his own Qi Blood to expel Lang Xi’s Qi Blood and control the blood-colored bell.

With his Qi and Blood Power, it wasn’t difficult to communicate with the blood-colored bell.

Buzz—

The next instant, the blood-colored bell reacted.

...

At the forest center.

"Wu’er, what’s happened to you?" Xiao Jianxin watched as the Bloodthirsty Guard punched fiercely, eyes filled with despair, "Must you vent your anger by killing your father?"

"In that case, why not take your father’s life."

Xiao Jianxin lowered the golden sword calmly, allowing Xiao Wu and another Blood Guard to close in and strike.

"Lord Xiao!"

Han Ji was startled and wanted to rush forward, but he was blocked by two Bloodthirsty Guards, unable to move.

With the blood fists pounding down, Xiao Jianxin’s arms hung limply as if truly ready to give his life to Xiao Wu.

"Lord Xiao!" Han Ji was enraged.

The blood fists landed, at an arm’s length distance.

Ding ling ling—

A crisp yet eerie bell sound rang.

The four Bloodthirsty Guards froze immediately.

Huh?

Both Han Ji and Xiao Jianxin looked towards the left front.

Chu Ming appeared, holding the blood-colored bell.

The four Bloodthirsty Guards turned to face him, coming to a stop before him and remaining still.

Xiao Jianxin, seeing this, grabbed the golden sword and thrust it towards Chu Ming.

He thought the person coming was from the Blood Evil Sect.

Chu Ming grabbed in the void and caught Xiao Jianxin’s golden sword.

If Xiao Jianxin were at his peak, he might not have been a match, but at this moment, Xiao Jianxin was doubly wounded with only a fraction of his strength remaining.

"Scoundrels of the Blood Evil Sect, prepare to die!"

Xiao Jianxin still wanted to strike a second blow, but Han Ji followed closely.

Chu Ming’s figure flickered, retreating dozens of meters, and the four Bloodthirsty Guards retreated with him.

Then, he consecutively struck out three palms, and except for Xiao Wu, the heads of the other three Bloodthirsty Guards shattered instantly.

The sudden reversal took Xiao Jianxin and Han Ji by surprise.

"What do you mean?" Xiao Jianxin asked angrily.

Chu Ming made no reply, merely flicked his finger, and the Blood-Colored Bell flew out, landing before Xiao Jianxin.

"This item, the Blood Bell, is a crucial item used by the Blood Evil Sect to control the Blood Slaughter Guard."

Chu Ming’s voice was calm.

"Lord Xiao can use your own Qi blood to input into the Blood Bell to control the Bloodthirsty Guard."

After killing the three Bloodthirsty Guards and commanding Xiao Wu to stand still, he withdrew the Qi blood from the Blood Bell.

The rest was up to Xiao Jianxin’s choice.

Xiao Jianxin looked at the motionless Xiao Wu, then at the Blood-Colored Bell on the ground, his eyes full of sorrow.

The Blood Bell controls the Bloodthirsty Guard...

Does this mean Xiao Wu in front of him is already dead...?

"My lord, don’t believe him!" Han Ji was extremely cautious.

Chu Ming looked at the two and said, "The Commandery Mansion has been attacked by the Blood Evil Sect, you two should hurry back."

After saying this, he no longer lingered, turned around, paused for a moment, and then disappeared into the night.

Xiao Jianxin slowly walked towards the expressionless, motionless Xiao Wu.

"My lord..." Han Ji tensed up.

Seeing Xiao Wu in this state, Xiao Jianxin’s heart was filled with more sorrow.

"Wu’er, it’s all because I was too harsh with you."

Initially, when Xiao Wu joined the army, it was because he eagerly wanted his son to achieve success and make a name for himself.

Xiao Wu remained motionless, with no change in expression.

Seeing this, Xiao Jianxin suppressed his pain and walked to the side to pick up the Blood-Colored Bell.

"My lord!" Han Ji did not know how to persuade him.

If it weren’t for the mysterious person appearing with the Blood-Colored Bell earlier, he and Xiao Jianxin might have died here.

Actually, Han Ji knew in his heart that what the mysterious person said was probably true.

Xiao Jianxin held the Blood-Colored Bell, using his own Qi blood to communicate with it.

Immediately, Xiao Wu moved.

...

Xirong County, Commandery Mansion.

"Jianxin, Wu’er...?"

Xiao He and Xiao Wen were shocked to see Xiao Wu, who seemed like a walking corpse.

"Dead." Xiao Jianxin held the Blood-Colored Bell.

"Dead?!" Xiao He shuddered.

"Then this is..."

Xiao Jianxin looked at Xiao Wu and picked up the Blood-Colored Bell.

Bang!

Suddenly, Xiao Wu fell to the ground with a thud.

"Jianxin?" Xiao He and Xiao Wen hurriedly supported Xiao Wu.

Crack—

Xiao Jianxin suddenly exerted force, shattering the Blood-Colored Bell in his hand.

By severing the connection between the Blood-Colored Bell and Xiao Wu, destroying the Blood-Colored Bell meant Xiao Wu was truly dead.

This was Xiao Jianxin’s decision.

Though reluctant, he did not want to see Xiao Wu in such an inhuman state; he hoped Xiao Wu could be laid to rest in peace.

Xiao Jianxin, holding Xiao Wu’s body, looked downcast at Xiao He: "Brother, please thank Chief Clerk Shen for me."

He had learned from Xiao He that it was Shen Yu who persuaded the mysterious strong person to act.

"If that knight appears again, please let me know first."

...

...

West City, Chu Mansion.

Chu Ming sat cross-legged in the house, with Wolf Race cultivation technique placed on the table in front of him.

Above the Sea of Consciousness Technique Lake, fragments floated in mid-air, then fell down.

Hua—

He suddenly opened his eyes and took out a drop of Azure Ancient Juice to swallow.

In the center of the Cultivation Technique Lake, the sixth small island condensed into form.

This meant he had connected the first six of the Twelve Major Meridians.

After a short rest, Chu Ming continued his simulation with closed eyes.

He wanted to try, to see if he could use the Wolf Race Body Refining Technique to deduce the Mountain and Sea Primordial Body Technique to the Lower Meridian Unlocking Realm.

The Cultivation Technique Lake surged, with both the Book collection Lake and Mountain and Sea Lake channeling lake water simultaneously.

At the center of the lake, the small island representing the Twelve Major Meridians trembled slightly.

At a certain moment.

Beside the twelve small islands, vapor coalesced into white mist, as if something was forming within the mist.

However, this anomaly lasted less than a few breaths before the water vapor was exhausted, and the white mist dissipated.

"Not enough..."

Chu Ming’s face showed a hint of regret.

Trying to deduce a Lower Realm Technique from several Upper Meridian Unlocking Realm techniques was very difficult.

From the current signs, he needed at least two more techniques to succeed in deduction.

After a slight adjustment, Chu Ming looked at another book.

This book was also obtained from a Wolf Race expert, but it wasn’t a Body Refining Technique, rather it was the Wolf Transformation Technique.

Chu Ming quickly browsed through it from start to finish, understanding it thoroughly.

The so-called Wolf Transformation Technique was actually the same as burning Qi blood to enhance combat power; both used Qi and Blood Power.

The difference between the two is that the usual method of burning Qi blood consumes life force, while the Wolf Transformation Technique also consumes life force, but its power is not as great as the burning Qi blood method; however, the consumed life force can be replenished.

Chu Ming read through it once and knew how to execute it.

But he did not attempt it.

Compared to the Tiger and Python Blood Burning Technique he was deducing, the Wolf Transformation Technique seemed rather clumsy.

...

Rising Dawn.

Shen Yu brought Little Shan back.

"Young master." Little Shan was overjoyed to see Chu Ming.

"I’m a bit hungry and would like some meat porridge," Chu Ming said with a gentle smile.

"Shan’er will go at once." Little Shan happily left.

Once Little Shan left, Shen Yu urgently asked, "How is Commander Xiang’s battle going?"

"It’s going well, we should soon receive a good report." Chu Ming sat on the stone stool.

"A good report?" Shen Yu raised his eyebrows. "You mean Commander Xiang has captured Yangjia City of the Nine Hordes Kingdom."

"Yes, it’s been captured," Chu Ming said with a smile.