Strongest Cultivation Swordsmanship System-Chapter 39: Confusion. Madness. Hatred. Fear.

The words, "Get out of my arena, it’s my turn to fight," echoed in Zhang Hao’s ears, almost as intensely as that face he clearly recognized.

He trembled.

He thought he was dead.

Everyone in the family thought so.

No one would doubt that someone with those injuries and falling from such a height would not die.

Shit... Even though they didn’t find the body, how the hell was he going to survive?

Zhang Hao suddenly understood and looked at Elder Yan.

’This damn old man saved him...’ he thought.

He wanted to set a trap for him. That’s why he did everything he did before.

Care about the rules? Elder Yan had never done that. But suddenly, he cared about them.

Although he had noticed something strange about it, he never thought it would be of this magnitude.

The problem was that Zhang Hao had already "buried" Zhang Xiaotian. They didn’t let anyone see him because, supposedly, he was completely disfigured.

Unrecognizable was the word he used!

And now... he was here. In front of them.

That voice, although difficult to recognize, belonged to him. That face. That aura. That posture.

Perhaps his words were not in keeping with that quiet child, but the hatred revealed in his words told them the kind of situation they had put him through.

Zhang Hao’s lie had fallen apart.

And with it, his dignity and the people’s respect. Who knows... it could bring irreparable wrath upon them that would destroy them, because if this escalated, it would destroy the sect’s reputation.

Zhang Hao trembled at that possibility. Under no circumstances would he allow that to happen.

He would rather swallow his words with dirt and dog shit than be declared a traitor in the Oak Sword Sect, for then his entire family would sink with him and be destroyed.

Lucheng, for his part, doesn’t have Zhang Hao’s composure.

His entire facade as a young master was destroyed the moment he saw Xiaotian’s face again...

"You... Impossible, how could you be alive?!" Lucheng shouted, taking several steps back in fear. "Clearly... clearly..."

When his foolish mouth thought to reveal that he had clearly killed him, he suddenly felt pressure on him that forced him to shut his mouth.

"What’s the matter?" Xiaotian mocked him. "Everyone in the Zhang family deserves to live, right? Instead of yelling at me, I thought you would be happy to see me."

The mocking tone was accompanied by a fixed stare at each of them. Xiaotian scrutinized them.

Confusion. Madness. Hatred. Fear.

All these feelings were written on each of their faces. The hatred and madness were unique to Lucheng.

Zhang Hao’s fear.

Confusion was written on the elders’ face.

None of them could explain what they were seeing.

Naturally, none of them had a happy expression.

On Lucheng’s part, deep shame gradually appeared.

"Oh. Right." Xiaotian smiled softly and took a step forward to stand in front of Lucheng.

"You called me senior earlier, right? Why haven’t you come to greet me?" he asked curiously. "You were so excited for me to recognize you earlier that I thought you would love a few lessons in swordplay. I came personally to make your dream come true."

"You...!" Lucheng’s face turned pale with rage. "Damn bastard, you tricked me!" he roared.

"Tricked you?" Xiaotian blinked a couple of times. "They asked me to face you, and I did. It was so easy to beat you that I thought I’d come and help you train, you know, in front of everyone." He said, raising his arms to the sides so he could see...

They weren’t alone, like that time.

There were hundreds of people around, watching.

Several high-ranking officials from the city, numerous VIPs... The Count!

They were all here, witnessing his shame.

Lucheng felt the urge to kill him now. He wanted to behead him to erase his shame!

Or he simply longed to die at that moment... at least he would leave with the pride of having beaten Xiao Ding... even if it meant nothing to him.

Lucheng descended into confusion, not knowing what to think. What to feel. What to say.

"Xiaotian, that’s enough!" Zhang Hao roared at that moment, understanding what was happening.

Xiaotian turned to look at him. "What’s wrong, Grandpa?" He placed special emphasis on the last word.

"Aren’t you happy to see me? I survived that... It was really difficult. Torture. I was on the verge of death more than once." Xiaotian emphasized every word that denoted hatred, and Zhang Hao could feel it.

The hatred in Xiaotian’s heart had reached a point of no return.

’He can’t live,’ Zhang Hao said to himself at that moment.

A living Xiaotian would mean the destruction of the Zhang family, sooner or later.

He must die.

Even so, he couldn’t say it.

He forced a smile at that moment. "Of course, I’m happy, dear grandson. I... I was confused before. I thought that body was you, and I grabbed it with so much love and pain that..."

Xiaotian stared at him and gritted his teeth. "Shut up..." he whispered. "Please. Stop smiling like that." He almost begged him.

It wasn’t for any other reason than the intense pain in his heart.

Perhaps the last vestiges of little Xiaotian’s soul were being tormented by those damn words right now. By that damn forced smile.

It was the worst smile Xiaotian had seen in two lifetimes.

Zhang Hao fell silent and lowered his head, for the first time in a long time, in front of Xiaotian.

Although Xiaotian had many things to say, he gripped his sword and pointed it at Lucheng.

"Everyone, leave this place. As established by the rules of the Great Emperor we serve, the final battle will be between the two of us. It’s time to take back what belongs to me!" he roared. "You won’t oppose me, will you? The technique will return to where it rightfully belongs."

And finally looked at the Count, who had not yet said anything. "And in the presence of an Imperial Count, the rules must be followed to the letter."

The Count stared back at him for several seconds. Xiaotian’s gaze did not reveal submission; on the contrary, it was defiant.

He had never seen such a look on a young man’s face. It was a dangerous look.

’Now I understand.’ Count Lu smiled and was forced to stand up, being the first to look away.

"First of all, I am truly glad that little Xiaotian is alive. I don’t know what happened before or how you came to believe he was dead, but for the sake of harmony among the local families, I will investigate and give you a satisfactory answer," he assured them.

Several VIPs in the stands, enjoying the show, offered words such as: We will trust the final verdict, Count Lu...

Count Lu simply nodded to them and spoke again.

"On the other hand," he remarked. "Leader Hao, Elder Yan, Leader Mu, and the rest of you who are disrupting this sacred moment, please step back. The rules of the Great Emperor cannot be violated. Today, I will put my name on the line to ensure that this battle takes place as it should, no matter who opposes it."

Although Zhang Hao and company clenched their fists in rage, they had nothing to say. They could only hope that Lucheng would defeat that bastard.

Before Zhang Hao left the arena, he passed by Lucheng. "You can’t kill him, but you can cripple him," he whispered and continued walking.

Lucheng knew.

For his part, Elder Yan patted Xiaotian on the shoulder.

"This is your big moment, little brat. Do what you know how to do."

Only Xiaotian, Lucheng, and a fearful referee remained in the arena.