Chapter 43: To Kill You or Not?

Lu Qingyun had clearly prepared himself to face the situation alone, yet the sudden appearance of these individuals caught him completely off guard.

It was none other than Chu Batian who had emerged.

Could it be that they were planning a formidable alliance? Lu Qingyun now had two allies of his own, and their strength was far more terrifying than theirs.

Upon arriving, Chu Batian walked straight up to Lu Qingyun. He reached out to stop the Great Elder of the Zhao family, speaking with grave intensity:

"If you make a move now, you will only fall into that boy’s trap. Do not mistake him for a good person; he is incredibly cunning. The Chu family fell into his trap, which is why we ended up in this predicament today."

"He intentionally lured you out from within just to make it seem as though you are disrespecting the City Lord. If you continue to act, the City Lord will surely sanction you!"

Hearing this, the Zhao family’s Great Elder seemed to finally calm down. Seeing how earnest he was, he realized the man was not deceiving him. Chu Batian continued, unreservedly:

"We must swallow our pride for now; we cannot afford any mistakes. You have only lost a bit of face, but if you truly provoke them, the Zhao family will surely be destroyed!"

"I met with the City Lord yesterday, and he gave me his word: as long as we do not stir up trouble, he will not intervene. Do you understand what I mean?"

Lu Qingyun had not expected this madman to be so rational; he was truly a cunning fox in this city. However, Lu Qingyun could not let this opportunity slip by. After finally luring them out, he was not about to give up.

He took a quick step forward, his expression exceptionally serious.

"Giving up so soon? I thought I might get a hearty battle out of you, but I didn't expect you to be such cowards. The Zhao family truly makes me look at them in a new light."

"If that is the case, what else is there to say? If you think you can represent the Zhao family, then get on your knees and apologize. Isn't that your favorite routine?"

Having read countless web novels in his past life, Lu Qingyun was well-versed in their tropes. He knew exactly how to infuriate a family like theirs.

Things had reached this point, and Lu Qingyun felt that being too kind was meaningless; it would only embolden these people. Since he had chosen to seek revenge, he would tear off the mask completely. He was leaving Bixiao City soon anyway, and as for what happened afterward, he didn't care.

In any case, it was the Zhao family that would lose face, and Lu Qingyun had no reason to worry about the consequences.

The Great Elder of the Zhao family was indeed enraged; his temper, which had barely been quelled, ignited once more.

"What? You have some nerve, asking me to kneel and apologize! Are you insane? Do you really think I am afraid of you?"

Watching his near-hysterical state, Lu Qingyun appeared remarkably relaxed, a mocking smile etched on his face. He looked the Great Elder up and down and said in a calm tone:

"I never said you were afraid of me. Is that all in your head? If you don't kneel and apologize, I will take action against you. If you harm me, they won't let you off."

"You can slander me however you like—call me a bully or say I'm using someone else's power—but we are at this point because you forced our hand. Naturally, you must bear the consequences."

Lu Qingyun’s subtext was crystal clear, and even the bystanders understood it perfectly. What he had voiced were his true thoughts, and they were the facts.

If the Great Elder continued to attack Lu Qingyun, the consequence would be the intervention of the City Lord. Even if the entire Zhao family mobilized, they would be no match for the City Lord.

Originally, the Zhao family held the initiative and felt untouchable, but now they were forced into such a passive state. Conversely, Lu Qingyun had managed to turn the tables and now stood in the position of a victor.

The Great Elder was so angry his nose seemed crooked. He gasped for air, eyes bulging, looking as if he were about to explode.

The golden-haired elder and Night Owl watched quietly from the side, with no intention of intervening. They felt that Lu Qingyun’s current display made their help unnecessary; his composure and presence were truly impressive.

They had arrived quite suddenly, and their purpose was clear: to protect Lu Qingyun. Yet, looking at the current situation, it seemed that the one in need of protection was the Zhao family elder, not Lu Qingyun.

Chu Batian stepped forward, his expression grim. "Boy, if it weren't for the City Lord protecting you, you would be dead by now. Do you think a little bit of skill gives you the right to run wild?"

"The conflict between us will not be resolved in a day, and I will never let you go. As soon as you leave Bixiao City, I will be the first to take your life!"

Lu Qingyun was not in the least bit afraid. He simply felt that since Chu Batian had made such a decision and declared his plan in front of so many, it showed he had immense confidence. But Lu Qingyun had already anticipated such a plan. He shook his head slowly, a smile curling on his lips.

"Heh, compared to the Zhao family, your Chu family is even more pathetic. You have the ability, yet you lack the courage to openly attack me."

"Besides blustering here, you seem to have no other skills, right? At least the Zhao family dares to act, but what about the Chu family?"

To the eyes of others, Lu Qingyun appeared like a mad dog biting everyone indiscriminately. But in reality, those with a keen eye could see that his mind was sharper than anyone’s, and his calculated decisions were chilling.

For someone so young to possess such meticulous thoughts—how terrifying would he be once he fully matured?

The crowd grew, and among them were many formidable individuals. The news of Lu Qingyun had already spread, and many held different opinions of him. In their hearts, he had successfully entered their field of vision. They knew that on this continent, geniuses often had the power to alter the entire landscape. If they could build a relationship with him, they would surely reap many benefits.

However, they remained in a "wait and see" state, unsure of the true nature of the relationship between Lu Qingyun and the City Lord. They were weighing whether to intervene—a gamble between life, death, and fortune.

Finally, some could no longer contain themselves and shouted out:

"That's right, the Chu family doesn't seem to have much substance after all. Facing a situation like this, they choose to act like cowards; it’s truly laughable."

"I thought the Chu family was so powerful, but they are just paper tigers. I held them in too high regard!"

"Haha, these two great families, actually pushed to such a state by a young man..."

Hearing their remarks, Lu Qingyun deliberately wore a smug expression; it was obvious to anyone that he was doing it on purpose. This was no longer just a fight; it was a matter of everyone’s dignity. After all, these two families possessed extraordinary strength and were once considered high and mighty. Now, they had become a laughingstock, and everyone viewed them as vulnerable.

All their past prestige vanished, and they were seen as targets anyone could offend.

Chu Batian’s rage finally peaked. He pointed at Lu Qingyun, his ring glowed, and a massive blade appeared in his hand. He charged forward, shouting:

"Since you have a death wish, I will grant it today!"

He had come to persuade the Great Elder, but he could no longer control his temper. Known for his explosive nature, he reached his breaking point under Lu Qingyun’s relentless provocation.

Lu Qingyun gripped his Qingyun Sword tightly, ready to face him. Chu Batian was exceptionally strong, even higher in cultivation than the Zhao Great Elder. Lu Qingyun wanted to test his own limits and see if he could hold his own.

But in the next second, the golden-haired elder appeared with a roar:

"Chu Batian, I don't think you have me in your eyes, do you?"

The moment the elder appeared, his overwhelming aura kicked up a violent gale, stinging Lu Qingyun’s eyes. He did not retreat, however; he kept his eyes fixed on the scene. A battle between such powerhouses was exactly what he wanted to witness.

Until now, he had relied on pure courage and brute force, never having the chance to clash with top-tier experts. He knew the goddess of luck would not always be on his shoulder; without strength, everything else was meaningless. He would not miss any opportunity to improve himself. Even with his system, he would not sit idly by.

He knew clearly that a legend is not born of luck alone; one must have a solid foundation to build a tower.

"Boom!"

The golden-haired elder’s strike met Chu Batian’s blade. A deafening roar echoed, and the bystanders were knocked off their feet by the shockwave; only the strongest managed to withstand the blow.

The aura erupted by the two warriors made it difficult for others to breathe; even staring at them felt like a mistake. And these were only practitioners at the Qi Gathering stage—one could only imagine the destructive power of those with even higher cultivation.

Chu Batian roared, "What business is this of your Feiyan Pavilion? Why must you insist on meddling?"

Feeling the immense pressure, Chu Batian demanded an explanation, but the golden-haired elder didn't offer one. He simply stated with absolute authority:

"Do I need to explain my actions to you?"

The elder’s domineering demeanor was no act—only those with real power possessed such presence. Lu Qingyun realized in that instant that he, too, must become such a person. Only then would he not be looked down upon or threatened by others.

In this moment, Lu Qingyun had a profound realization—a new motivation to keep moving forward. He finally understood the true meaning of strength.

Chu Batian shouted to the Zhao Great Elder, "Things have reached this point, are you not going to come and help?"

Hearing this, the Great Elder prepared to move, but Night Owl darted out, drawing a black longsword and blocking his path. He said coldly:

"Do you really intend to interfere?"

Facing that icy gaze, the Great Elder lost his nerve. He opened his mouth to speak but found no words, only glaring at Night Owl with a dark expression.

Lu Qingyun did not remain idle. Since he came for revenge, he would see it through. He charged toward the Zhao family. Zhao Tuo, who had been watching from the doorway, was stunned to see Lu Qingyun rushing toward him.

He scrambled backward, his eyes filled with terror. "Don't come over here..."

His voice cracked with a sob, clearly paralyzed by fear.

Lu Qingyun’s gaze was cold, his movements lightning-fast. He said in a low, dangerous voice:

"Zhao Tuo, you have no one to rely on now, do you? Let's see how you fight me now!"

After the events of the day, no one was willing to help the Zhao family anymore. Aside from a few minions, no one dared to step forward. Zhao Tuo was now truly alone and could only flee in a panic.

Unfortunately, he was too slow. Lu Qingyun reached him in an instant and delivered a kick that sent him crashing to the ground.

"Ouch..."

Before he could even scream, Lu Qingyun pinned him under his foot, the tip of the Qingyun Sword pressed against his throat.

With eyes full of killing intent, Lu Qingyun asked, "Shall I kill you?"