Eternal Saber

Chapter 573 - 179: The End

The Drunken Elder seemed to have made some kind of decision. He swept his gaze around, clasped his fists, and said, "I have committed a monstrous mistake, a crime that deserves ten thousand deaths. There is nothing more to say. Many of the heroes present are old acquaintances and friends of mine. I do not wish to commit further slaughter."

Everyone heard the resolve to die in the Drunken Elder’s tone and all quietly let out a breath.

With his level of strength, if he really decided to go on a killing spree, who knew how many people in Yunmeng Manor would die!

"Father!"

Shopkeeper He was unwilling in his heart.

The Drunken Elder ignored him and continued, "Today I die; whatever grievances I have with you all will scatter like smoke. Only, this calamity today was all started by me and my son. This child Susu knew nothing of it; it has nothing to do with her."

"I ask all Jianghu friends here to show mercy, spare her life, and leave a single bloodline for the He Family."

"Grandpa."

He Susu was moved, and couldn’t help but call out softly.

"Why should we believe you? She’s your own granddaughter. Completely unaware? That’s not necessarily true!" In the crowd, someone let out a cold laugh.

"Exactly."

Another person chimed in, "Your He Family colluded with the Profound Celestial Sect. These past years, who knows how many fellows of the Martial World you’ve harmed. What right do you have to bargain with us? What if we refuse to spare her!"

"In my opinion, a crime of this magnitude should wipe out three generations!"

The Drunken Elder’s eyes swept sideways and fell on the few who had just spoken. Killing intent burst forth, so dense it was almost tangible. A violent wave of power spread from his body, and a wine gourd slowly rose into the air above his head!

Grandmaster’s Phenomenon!

"If you insist on driving them all to extinction, then don’t blame me for a massacre!"

The Drunken Elder, who moments ago had seemed dispirited, now turned murderous in an instant, ready to erupt and kill at any time. Fixing his gaze on those few, he said coldly, "When the fighting starts, I’ll kill you three first!"

The three trembled all over in fright, not daring to meet the Drunken Elder’s gaze, scared into utter silence.

They even produced an illusion.

If they dared utter half a word more, the Drunken Elder would immediately crush them to death beneath his palm!

It felt as though no matter how many Grandmasters there were, they would not be able to protect them.

Yun Yifeng said in a deep voice, "Old Shopkeeper, you may go in peace. I will vouch for it; I will not let anyone take her life!"

Yu Qingfeng seemed to think of something and suddenly said, "If she faces any difficulties in the future, she can come find me at the Cyan City Sword Sect at any time."

"Ah."

The Isle Master Yan Yang sighed. "After all, we once shared friendship. So long as I still live, I will not let anyone make things hard for her."

Yue Zhen said, "Old Shopkeeper, you can rest easy on this point. Everyone here today is a renowned hero; we won’t harm the innocent or bully a little girl."

The Drunken Elder seemed to think of something, then suddenly smiled and said, "Very well, with you four Grandmasters standing surety, I can be at ease."

He had already guessed their intentions.

But that was fine as well; at least He Susu’s life would not be in danger.

The Drunken Elder took off the wine gourd hanging at his waist; a bamboo tube as thick as a chopstick was tied to it.

He stared at the wine gourd in his hand, dazed.

After a long moment, he pulled out the stopper, raised his head and took a great swallow, then sealed it tightly once more and tossed the wine gourd to Ye Xuan, saying, "Take this pot of wine to Brother Ye. I’ll be going on ahead!"

With that said, a faint flush climbed onto the Drunken Elder’s face. As though he saw some scene before his eyes, he slowly spread his arms, a gratified smile appearing on his features.

"Hahahaha!"

The Drunken Elder burst into loud laughter.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly!

The Drunken Elder’s chest split open, shooting out a crimson arrow of blood.

Everyone’s hearts tightened.

They saw the Drunken Elder fall backward onto the Sword Discussion Platform, having severed his own Heart Meridian and died on the spot!

A generation’s Grandmaster thus fell.

The surroundings were utterly silent. Seeing this scene, everyone could not help but sigh.

The Martial Artists of the Drunken Immortal Tower wore grief-stricken expressions, their eyes bloodshot, some silently lowering their heads in tears.

Whatever the Drunken Elder was—good or evil, righteous or villainous—he had never treated them poorly.

Without the Drunken Immortal Tower taking them in, they would not even have had enough to eat and would long ago have become corpses by the roadside.

Some Jianghu folk from other Sects also secretly sighed.

More or less, they had all received the favor of the Drunken Immortal Tower or the Drunken Elder.

Seeing the Drunken Elder end up like this, their feelings were complicated.

No matter how great one’s fame and status in life, in the moment of death it all turns to nothing.

"Grandpa!"

He Susu threw herself onto the Drunken Elder’s body and burst into tears.

This day, she had simply gone through too much.

Before she had recovered from the pain of her brother’s death, her grandfather died before her eyes.

More importantly, the grandfather she had once respected beyond measure turned out to be a great villain who colluded with the Profound Celestial Sect and murdered fellow members of the Jianghu. The blow was too much for her!

Seeing that everyone’s attention was on the Drunken Elder, Shopkeeper He lowered his head slightly and began edging back into the crowd, wanting to seize the chance to flee.

"Shopkeeper He, where are you going?"

Ye Xuan’s voice suddenly sounded by his ear, and Shopkeeper He’s heart turned cold.

"I, I..."

Shopkeeper He had completely lost his former vicious arrogance. Surrounded by so many predatory gazes, he swallowed and said, "Marshal Xuan, please... show mercy..."

"You just injured my daughter."

Ye Xuan’s tone was calm, yet carried a hint of chill.

Shopkeeper He still wanted to explain, but a streak of sword-light suddenly flashed before his eyes!

The next moment, he felt a coolness at his throat and instinctively raised his hand to cover it.

Warm, sticky blood flowed between his fingers.

Shopkeeper He opened his mouth soundlessly, struggled for a brief moment, then collapsed weakly to his knees, head drooping as he died.

"Father?"

Seeing this scene, He Susu was stunned.

In the blink of an eye, all her closest kin had died before her.

It was as if between heaven and earth, only she remained—lonely and helpless.

She felt a wave of dizziness, her body and mind utterly exhausted; she wanted nothing more than to end it all.

Perhaps, for her, death would be a release.

Ye Xuan looked at He Susu in the distance and said, "Your father was killed by me. If you want revenge, come find me anytime."

At his words, He Susu shuddered all over, instantly sobering. She jerked her head up and glared viciously at Ye Xuan.

Many people frowned at that.

Shopkeeper He certainly deserved to die; even if Ye Xuan hadn’t killed him, he wouldn’t have lived through today.

But Ye Xuan’s words were perhaps a bit too cold.

For He Susu, they were far too cruel.

However, on second thought, everyone remembered that Marshal Xuan enforced discipline with iron severity and never showed favoritism. This was indeed his style; otherwise he could never have forged a blood-steel army capable of standing against the Wu Dynasty’s forces.

Chen Tang, however, felt a stir in his heart.

Just now, He Susu had clearly given rise to a desire for death. Ye Xuan’s words had actually saved her, giving her a reason to keep living.

Only, given Ye Xuan’s temperament, he naturally would not explain.

Seeing the hatred in He Susu’s eyes, Ye Xuan added, "Your life was bought with the Old Shopkeeper’s own. You’d best achieve success in your cultivation before coming for me."

"You just wait. I will definitely take revenge on you!"

He Susu clenched her teeth and said viciously.

Ye Xuan said, "You’ve got spirit."

He Susu had already been shattered mentally by such a tremendous upheaval in such a short time. She had held on until now purely through sheer will.

Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, her blood rushed up to her Skull, her rage attacking her heart. She could no longer hold on; her vision went black and she fainted on the spot.