Chapter 87: Chapter 85: Home Is Where You Are

A hundred li outside Nanyang City, an old man with a gloomy gaze abruptly appeared. It was none other than Xu He, who had arrived travel-worn from the Void Sect.

He gazed in the direction of Nanyang City and muttered, ’Mo Qi, what secret are you hiding? That Second Senior Brother would be willing to temporarily set aside his grudge over Wang Hao’s death, repeatedly insisting that I must capture you alive.’

’No matter. This secret will soon belong to me. Wang Xinglong, everything I’ve done for the Wang Family over the years is more than enough to repay that old debt. I refuse to be the Wang Family’s dog any longer. I’m going to be my own man!’

With that, Xu He strode forward, advancing toward Nanyang City.

...

In a forest within the Void Sect’s border territory, where the Earth-level Spiritual Ore was located.

Thirty thousand of the Wolf Fang Sect’s Beast Soldiers faced off against several hundred experts from the Void Sect. The situation was explosive, the atmosphere incredibly tense.

Just as a massive battle was about to erupt, the thirty thousand Beast Soldiers suddenly received a message from their superiors. They regrouped and retreated with the utmost speed; Sect Leader Zhang Shao had other plans for them.

And so, under the dumbfounded gazes of the Void Sect members, the thirty thousand Beast Soldiers receded like a tide, vanishing without a trace.

"What the hell are those Wolf Fang Sect bastards up to?"

"I don’t know, but we have to stay on high alert. We can’t let our guard down for a second. Also, we need to start mining this Earth-level Spiritual Ore as soon as possible."

"Exactly. The Wolf Fang Sect is viciously ambitious. We can’t afford to be careless."

Why had the Wolf Fang Sect’s thirty thousand Beast Soldiers suddenly withdrawn? The reason, of course, was Mo Qi.

As arranged by Jin Quan, Mo Qi and Jin Sanpang had used the Wolf Fang Sect’s Teleportation Array to leave the forest and travel to Nanyang City, ten thousand li away.

Zhang Shao had immediately sensed the change in Mo Qi’s location, though he still couldn’t confirm his identity.

Therefore, there was no longer any point in having the Beast Soldiers continue to besiege the Void Sect. Besides, Zhang Shao had no real desire to start a war with them.

He made a decisive call and withdrew the Beast Soldiers.

"Tell Jin Quan to hurry back at once! I want to see him immediately!"

...

「Nanyang City. The Void Sect’s station.」

City Lord Zhang He was sprawled on the ground, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles as he stared at Mo Qi in terror.

"You can’t kill me! I serve the Mountain and Sea Empire!"

Zhang He was filled with bitter regret. He had been in charge of Nanyang City for sixty years. While its remote location meant there was little wealth to be skimmed, he had at least enjoyed a carefree and comfortable life.

The Zhou Family taking over the Niu Residence had been a trivial matter in his eyes. To be more precise, he hadn’t given it a second thought.

Who could have possibly guessed that the Niu Family was connected to this unreasonable madman standing before him?

Taxes had to be paid, yes, but it was absurd to think that he, the great City Lord, should be responsible for the safety of every single person who paid them.

He had created a diversion, ordering his guards to block Mo Qi, thinking he’d be able to escape Nanyang City easily.

But just as he reached the city gates, he was intercepted by Jin Sanpang.

Without a word, Jin Sanpang had broken his limbs and dragged him back to Mo Qi.

"Mo Qi, don’t be reckless! I’ve already reported the situation here to my superiors. If you kill me, the Mountain and Sea Empire will hunt you to the ends of the earth! When that happens, not even the Void Sect will be able to protect you!"

"Hah, still daring to threaten me when you’re at death’s door?" Mo Qi sneered, raising the Obsidian Kitchen Knife high in his hand.

’How could I not understand the consequences?’ Mo Qi thought. In fact, the final outcome would almost certainly be even worse than Zhang He described.

’My status as a Core Disciple isn’t even official yet.’

’But so what?’

Every time he closed his eyes, his mind was flooded with the horrific, unforgettable image of Niu Kexin covered in wounds.

’This hatred could only be washed away with blood!’

Just then, Niu Kexin tugged on his sleeve and shook her head, her eyes filled with worry.

Though she was only a mortal, she had grown up on Uncle Niu’s stories about the Martial Arts World. She knew how vast and terrifying the Mountain and Sea Empire was.

After everything that had happened, she could see that Mo Qi was no longer the person he used to be. He was not only immensely powerful but also held an extraordinary status within the Void Sect. He had an incredibly bright future ahead of him.

She didn’t want Mo Qi to gamble away that future and make an enemy of the Mountain and Sea Empire for her sake.

Mo Qi turned and took her hand in his. He grinned, giving her a reassuring look.

"Trust me, okay?"

All of Niu Kexin’s mental defenses instantly crumbled. Fighting back tears, she nodded and released her grip on Mo Qi.

In that moment, she felt that all the suffering she had endured had been worth it.

’If he would do all this for me, then everything I have is his.’

Niu Kexin silently vowed that if Mo Qi were to die because of this, she would not live on without him.

The kitchen knife fell.

"No, no, no, you can’t—" Zhang He’s eyes were wide with terror as he struggled to get away.

SHLICK!

The voice cut off abruptly as a head flew high into the air.

...

That day was the most unforgettable day in the lives of Nanyang City’s citizens.

First, auspicious signs had descended from the heavens as an immortal light emerged.

Then, the entire city was put on lockdown; people were allowed to enter but not to leave.

Next came the earth-shattering sounds of battle, accompanied by tragic, bloodcurdling screams.

When the dust finally settled, several unbelievable pieces of news began to circulate.

Their sovereign, the City Lord of Nanyang City, was dead. His head and body were hung from the main gate of the City Lord’s Mansion.

The impossibly arrogant young master of the Zhou Family, Zhou Rui, had suffered a torture ten thousand times more horrific than death by a thousand cuts. All the flesh had been flayed from his body while he was still alive, leaving only a skeleton and viscera. He had wailed at the gate of the Niu Residence for three full days and nights before finally expiring.

It was said the Zhou Family had undergone a great purge, and many had died. From beginning to end, no one had dared to intervene on Zhou Rui’s behalf.

The person in charge of the Void Sect’s station, Wang Ming, had been cleaved in two with a single strike. The remaining high-and-mighty Immortal Masters had moved into the Niu Residence and were now living as mortals.

Meanwhile, the "arch-culprit" behind all this, Mo Qi, was hurrying back to the Void Sect with Niu Kexin and Jin Sanpang in tow.

He might have cut an imposing figure back in Nanyang City—slaying one enemy per strike, first killing Wang Ming, then executing Zhang He—looking utterly majestic.

But in reality, he was panicking like hell.

Zhang Cheng had died at his hands, and the Wolf Fang Sect was mobilizing its full strength to hunt him down.

Worse, the Wolf Fang Sect’s Leader, Zhang Shao, could track his movements!

If it hadn’t been for Niu Kexin, he never would have come to a remote backwater like Nanyang City in the first place.

Seeing Niu Kexin glance back from time to time, Mo Qi comforted her, "Don’t worry, Sister Kexin. I had those nine disciples who crippled their own Cultivation move into the Niu Residence. With them managing things, the Niu Residence won’t fall into decline."

Niu Kexin gave a gentle smile and tightened her grip on Mo Qi’s arm. She shook her head and said, "I’m not worried. Just a little sad to leave, that’s all."

Mo Qi scratched his head, at a loss for words and unsure how to comfort her.

His familiar, goofy expression made Niu Kexin cover her mouth and laugh.

"You silly goose, I was just teasing you." Niu Kexin poked Mo Qi’s forehead, just as she did when they were children. Then, she said seriously, word by word, "From now on, wherever you are is home."

Warmth spread through Mo Qi’s heart. In this entire world, only two people made him feel like he had a home: Uncle Niu and Niu Kexin.

"Wherever you are, Sister, that’s my home too," Mo Qi said with great solemnity.

"And me! And me!" Jin Sanpang shot a fleshy arm into the air, puffing out his large belly as he excitedly chimed in. "It’s San Pang’s home too!"

"Alright, alright. You too."

Mo Qi and Niu Kexin exchanged a look, both of them smiling.

"No more ’you,’ ’me,’ or ’him.’ From now on, this will be your final destination. You’ll never have to be apart again." An untimely, raspy voice suddenly rang out.