Chapter 49

Hearing Lan Jueming's unequivocal tone, Cheng Feng opened his eyes wide and stared at Lan Jueming.

Dongfang Jin and Su Mu also stood in front of Jing Tao.

"Master, it's impossible! No way! How could Jing Tao kill Qing Tang? That's Qing Tang! Even if Jing Tao killed everyone in the world, she wouldn't kill Qing Tang! Master, you must be mistaken!"

Cheng Feng crawled on his knees to Lan Jueming's side and begged him.

"Master, I beg you, it can't be Jing Tao, Master!"

Jing Tao stood up dejectedly, tilting her head and staring intently at Lan Jueming. Then she drew her knife and rushed between Su Mu and Dongfang Jin.

Lan Jueming stood still, and just as Jing Tao was about to strike him, Cheng Feng drew his sword and stopped Jing Tao.

Cheng Feng turned around and pressed his sword against Jing Tao's neck. "Jing Tao, if you dare to take another step forward, I will kill you!"

But Jing Tao didn't care at all, and drew Cheng Feng's sword to slash at Lan Jueming.

Cheng Feng wouldn't let her have her way; even on the verge of collapse, he managed to block Jing Tao's attacks one by one.

Jing Tao's anger had reached its peak. In the past, their matches had always been about hitting the nail on the head, but this time she really wanted to kill Cheng Feng.

Cheng Feng also sensed something different from Jing Tao's attacks; all of them had only one word in mind—kill.

Even though Cheng Feng sensed Jing Tao's unparalleled killing intent, he couldn't bring himself to kill her. However, the result was that he was slashed several times by Jing Tao, suffering superficial wounds.

Seeing that the matter would become unmanageable if it dragged on any longer, Lan Jueming punched Jing Tao, injuring his internal organs.

Jing Tao was knocked to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Lan Jueming pressed closer to Jing Tao, but Su Mu and the other two blocked her way.

"All of you, step back. This is a family matter of the Lan family, and it's none of our business to interfere."

Cheng Feng knelt before Lan Jueming. "Master, I know I shouldn't have done this, but Jing Tao is someone Qing Tang and I watched grow up. Although she can't speak, she wouldn't harm any innocent person. I know you wouldn't lie to me, Master. Jing Tao might have suffered some kind of trauma. Even if she accidentally killed Qing Tang, Qing Tang wouldn't blame her, Master."

"Our Lan family will never allow anyone who endangers the people to remain."

“I know, Master. It is a mother’s fault if her son is not taught properly. Qingtang will not blame Jingtao, and our Lan family will not keep a murderer alive. But I am, after all, Jingtao’s master. Her becoming like this is also partly my fault. So Master, I, Chengfeng, am willing to bear Jingtao’s sins alone.”

"What did you say?" Lan Jueming was also incredulous that Cheng Feng would utter such treasonous words.

Cheng Feng went from initially finding it hard to accept it to now being at ease. He knew that Jing Tao wouldn't survive tonight, but he absolutely couldn't let her die in front of him. Even if she really killed Qing Tang, Cheng Feng couldn't bring himself to harm Jing Tao.

Every lash Jing Tao had endured in the past now seemed to strike Cheng Feng's heart, after all, Jing Tao was the only relic Qing Tang had left in this world.

"Chengfeng is willing to exchange his own life for Jingtao's. If Master grants his request, Chengfeng will personally break Jingtao's legs and sever her tendons, ensuring she can never use a knife again in her life."

Honeysuckle took out some emergency pills and gave them to Jingtao.

"Jing Tao won't kill anyone, Cheng Feng. Have you forgotten what you told me before?"

"Dongfang Jin, shut up! If Master grants your request, this is the best outcome!"

"Do you think Jing Tao's life can be compared to yours? Did I take you in and carefully teach you just so that one day you would disobey my orders?"

“Xiao Tao wouldn’t kill anyone, and human life is not divided into high and low, noble and lowly. How can we believe your one-sided story? Just because Xiao Tao can’t speak, can we put all the blame on her?”

Lan Jueming looked at Su Mu and asked, "Zhao Su Mu, what do you think?"

Su Mu had no way of judging the current situation.

What on earth is going on? Jing Tao couldn't possibly have killed anyone, but I was so close to becoming her disciple, why did this happen? What should I do? Jing Tao? Master? Jing Tao? Master?

"Mr. Lan...it's probably late, you must be mistaken. This is Jing Tao! How could Jing Tao kill someone? She can't even speak, how could she?"

"It seems none of you are willing to take action. It looks like I'll have to send her on her way myself."

Lan Jueming quickly flashed to Dongfang Jin's side.

Su Mu immediately pulled Ren Dong to a safe place, saying, "Don't move around here."

Honeysuckle pulled at Su Mu, who was about to leave, saying, "Su Mu, don't hurt Jing Tao."

Su Mu smiled and nodded at Ren Dong. "I know Jing Tao won't hurt anyone."

Subsequently, he helped Dongfang Jin defend against Lan Jueming's attack.

But how could these two be a match for Lan Jueming? In less than five moves, they were both knocked to the ground.

Lan Jueming came to Jing Tao. Although he had watched Jing Tao grow up, things had developed to the point where he could no longer control them. Humanity's counterattack could only be carried out by him.

Cheng Feng, sword in hand, stood in front of Jing Tao. "Master!"

"You still want to stop me."

"I'm sorry, Master."

Cheng Feng raised his sword and pointed it directly at Lan Jueming.

"Alright, let me see just how much you've improved over the past few years."

Seeing the chaotic scene, Ren Dong secretly ran to Su Mu and Dongfang Jin's side.

Do you remember what Lan Jueming looked like when you first met him?

Su Mu recalled, "What happened? Wasn't it the same as today?"

"Although they are the same, when we first met Lan Jueming, he was also wearing a tiger-shaped mask, but he didn't have the black robe."

"What do you mean? You suspect that it's not Lan Jueming?"

"How could that be? Even if we're quick to admit our mistakes, we wouldn't admit to them. But why are you going out so late wearing a black robe, completely obscuring everything?"

Dongfang Jin also felt something was amiss. "Then I'll take the robe off."

"I'll go too."

Watching the two leave, Ren Dong helped Jing Tao up and wiped away the bloodstains for her.

Jing Tao coughed twice and opened her eyes.

"Xiao Tao, you're awake."

Jing Tao pushed Ren Dong aside and ran towards Lan Jueming.