Chapter 67: The Bearing of a Martial Saint

After a brief silence in the hall, Ling Xiao spoke in a calm voice, “Do you have anything else to say?”

Ling Da trembled, his lips quivering. “I...I...” As he spoke, he suddenly lunged at Old Master Ling. “Father, please save me! Save me! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!” Old Master Ling kicked him to the ground. “You wretch! So Second Brother deserves to die, does he? Second Brother has healed countless people, known far and wide in River City as a good man! If you don’t die, I won’t have the face to meet the gods!”

Ling Da was utterly desolate. Ling Da’s wife hurried forward, clutching the hem of Ling Xiao’s trousers, pleading, “Ling Xiao, don’t be angry with your uncle. He just lost his head for a moment! Don’t you remember? When you were little, he used to hold you all the time!”

Ling Xiao gave a cold laugh. “Yes, he held me a few times, then ruined my parents’ lives for his own wealth and glory. That’s quite the bargain, isn’t it?”

Just then, someone rushed in from outside. “Young Master! There’s a man named Su Hong outside! He says he’s the chief disciple of Su Yan Nan from Jiangnan, and he’s here to avenge his junior!”

At those words, Ling Da suddenly burst into wild laughter. “Ha ha ha... Su Hong! It’s Su Hong! He’s my sworn brother! Ling Xiao, you’re finished this time! You wanted to kill me? Now you’d better worry about yourself, ha ha ha...!” With that, he scrambled toward the door. Ling Da’s wife, her despair vanished, wore a triumphant expression. “Ling Xiao, you’re dead this time! Su Hong is my husband’s sworn brother! He’s also Su Yan Nan’s disciple! His skills are unfathomable! You wanted to kill my husband, but in the blink of an eye, it’s you who’ll die! Ha ha ha...”

Mu Yiren and Old Master Ling both looked worried. “Ling Xiao, you...”

Ling Xiao glanced indifferently at Ling Da’s wife, then patted Mu Yiren’s head. “Don’t be afraid. He’s nothing but an ant. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and strode outside. Ling Da’s wife hurried after him. “I want to see him die with my own eyes!”

Old Master Ling’s face was grave. “Yiren, come, let’s go too.”

Everyone in the house rushed outside, except Sun, the senior official, who remained impassive.

Director Cao couldn’t help but ask, “Professor Sun, aren’t you worried about Ling Xiao?”

Sun chuckled. “A major general of the Dragon Squad compared to a mere amateur? There’s no comparison.”

“But the other man is Su Yan Nan’s disciple! Su Yan Nan is a legendary figure—the Martial Sage of Jiangnan, a prodigy among martial artists!”

Sun smiled calmly. “Come, let’s go see for ourselves. Then you’ll understand what a major general of the Dragon Squad truly is.”

He walked out with his hands behind his back. Director Cao followed, half skeptical.

Outside, everyone gathered near the Ling family estate. Not far from the house stood a burly man in his thirties, dressed in traditional attire that gave him an air of ancient nobility. In a big city, people might have mistaken him for an actor from a movie set.

The villagers of Lingjia Village, along with the wealthy guests, looked at him with curiosity. The title “Disciple of the Martial Sage of Jiangnan, Su Yan Nan” was enough to inspire awe and fear.

Standing there, he was like a spear planted in the earth, proud and unyielding.

At that moment, Ling Da was fawning over him. “Brother Su! You’ve come at just the right time today!”

Su Hong frowned in confusion. “Brother Ling, why are you here?”

“Brother Su, this is my hometown. Today is my father’s seventieth birthday! My wicked nephew Ling Xiao wants to kill me, but thankfully you arrived in time! Otherwise, he would have murdered me already!”

“Oh? Is that so?” Su Hong cast a cold glance at Ling Xiao. “So you are Ling Xiao? You killed my junior, and now you want to kill your own uncle? You truly have no regard for rules or decency!”

Ling Xiao, hands behind his back, rolled his eyes and spat out two words, “Idiot.”

Su Hong’s eyes narrowed, murderous intent flashing. “Arrogant fool, you’re asking for death!”

He stepped forward, wind swirling around him, spreading outward. The dust and soil on the ground rose into the air, forming a whirlwind.

“My God, so powerful!”

“Is he... a deity come to earth?”

Those present couldn’t help but gasp. The wealthy guests, who had some knowledge of martial arts, were stunned; the villagers, who had never seen such things, were utterly terrified, mouths agape as if seeing a ghost.

The Ling family members were petrified. Ling Xue’s beautiful eyes widened in shock. Was this even human?

Only Ling Xiao’s expression remained unchanged. As the wave of dust swept toward him, he snorted contemptuously. The towering wall of dust, over two meters high and surging like a wave, instantly dispersed to either side.

This feat prompted another wave of exclamations.

Su Hong squinted, surprised. “I didn’t expect you to have some skill. No wonder you could kill my junior, Ye Cheng. But it’s a pity—you’re still too young. With your talent, if you had joined my master, you could have achieved great things. If you’re willing, I can introduce you; moreover, I’ll forgive you for killing Ye Cheng.”

His words brimmed with arrogance, as if Ling Xiao were nothing more than an ant he could crush at will.

Ling Xiao’s face was calm, neither pleased nor angry. “I wouldn’t mind finding a master, but your master—he could wash my feet, and I’d still not bother with him.”

Su Hong’s eyelids lowered, then opened again, his sharp gaze like a blade, directed straight at Ling Xiao’s face. “In that case, there’s nothing more to say. Are you ready? The road to the underworld is open for you.”

As he spoke, he tapped his foot lightly. His body slowly rose into the air, standing proud over ten meters above the ground.

Such a display was dazzling; several villagers fainted from fright.

In the crowd, Sun, the senior official, squinted and smiled. “Standing in mid-air? A Martial Sage, indeed! No wonder he’s Su Yan Nan’s disciple—he does possess some skill.”

Director Cao shivered at the words “Martial Sage.” He knew a little about the ranks of martial artists. Martial Sages were not common; each was gifted by heaven, combining unmatched talent with ceaseless effort to reach such heights.

“Professor Sun, Su Hong is a Martial Sage! Doesn’t that mean Ling Xiao is in trouble?”

Sun smiled. “Young Cao, don’t misunderstand. Martial Sages are impressive, but they can’t compare to Ling Xiao.”

“What? Even a Martial Sage can’t match Ling Xiao? Just how strong is he?”

“You know nothing of the strength of a Dragon Squad major general!”