Chapter 84 I'm going to clean house today.
"Senior Brother, I never expected you to be this kind of person. You've been hiding it really well." A look of disappointment, hard to put into words, appeared in Ye Zhi Qiu's beautiful eyes.
Lu Xingfeng's smile was tinged with resentment. "I didn't want this to happen. You forced me onto this path. I gave you ten years of my feelings and gave up my position as sect leader for you, but I couldn't win your heart in return. So I have no choice but to take back everything I gave you!"
"Besides, I've come to a conclusion. Since I can't win your heart no matter what, I'll settle for second best and win you over."
"Becoming the sect leader is just my first step. I want you to stay by my side and watch me climb to the pinnacle of power! I want you to never escape my grasp for the rest of your life!"
Seeing Lu Xingfeng's originally refined features become increasingly distorted, Ye Zhi Qiu felt no fear, only a chill in her heart.
She wasn't sure if he could really summon the so-called giant serpent using secret techniques, but she didn't want hundreds of sect disciples to become sacrifices.
Seeing her hesitant expression, Lu Xingfeng sneered, "Ye Zhiqiu, you have no choice. Either you submit to me from now on and immediately announce your abdication, or you watch me kill off everyone on your side and eventually have to hand over the position of sect leader."
"You just said that the sacrificial ceremony would begin as soon as you send out the signal, right?" Ye Zhi Qiu said as he backed away.
Lu Xingfeng took a step forward and slowly approached. "What, do you think you can stop me with your martial arts skills?"
“My martial arts skills are not good. But don’t forget what our Tian Shu Sect is best at.”
As Ye Zhi Qiu spoke, he continued to back away until his lower back was pressed against the edge of the altar where the memorial tablet was placed. Then, he gently nudged it with his waist, secretly activating a certain mechanism.
Lu Xingfeng stopped in his tracks. "Of course I haven't forgotten. It's just mechanical arts, isn't it? It's something I despise the most, but since the old sect leader started, they've valued mechanical arts the most, causing the sect to neglect martial arts practice more and more. Didn't you gain his favor by catering to his preferences?"
Then he smiled contemptuously and looked down at the bluestone floor in front of his toes.
"Junior sister, you deliberately lured me to this spot so you could control me using the mechanisms below, right?"
"You really think you can sneak away from my eyes and ears and set up these useless toys in the ancestral hall without anyone noticing?"
After saying that, he decisively stepped on it.
Under normal circumstances, once this mechanism is activated, it will be triggered if the ground within its coverage area experiences a weight exceeding Ye Zhi Qiu's body weight.
This was something Ye Zhi Qiu had arranged a long time ago, just in case.
Therefore, you need to enter the preparation state first before you can trigger it.
Once triggered, several iron rods will instantly emerge from under the floor around Lu Xingfeng, forming an umbrella-shaped iron cage that traps him in the blink of an eye.
However, his powerful internal energy instantly surged into the ground, shattering the mechanical components inside the iron rod before it was triggered.
A muffled cracking sound.
The bluestone pavement cracked out in a spiderweb pattern around him, stretching all the way to the corner of the wall.
The iron bars that could have easily drilled through the floor were no longer responding.
Lu Xingfeng laughed triumphantly, "So-called mechanical arts are useless in the face of absolute power! I really don't understand why the old sect leader insists on studying such a useless thing."
Just as he was getting carried away with his success...
Swoosh—
Two iron chains suddenly flew out from the left and right corners behind him at the same time.
The barbed claws at the front of the chain struck his shoulders precisely, embedding themselves into his flesh the instant they hit.
Instantly, excruciating pain spread throughout his body like lightning.
A pure white robe was now stained red with blood.
"Ye Zhi Qiu! You!" Lu Xingfeng roared in fury, enduring the excruciating pain, and tried to pull the grappling hook off his shoulder blade.
However, the mechanism was still operating, and the chains quickly tightened.
The immense pulling force from both sides caused Lu Xingfeng to scream in pain.
He dared not move again, because even the slightest movement of his arm would intensify the tearing pain, and he couldn't even turn his shoulder freely.
"Senior Brother, do you still think that traps are useless?" Ye Zhi Qiu stood in front of him and said coldly, "You only know that I set up traps, but you don't know that it is a double structure. It's just that you and your informants have neglected the art of traps. Even knowing there were traps, you still fell for them."
Lu Xingfeng felt a sharp pain in his shoulders and back that seemed to penetrate to his very bones, and large beads of sweat appeared on his face. "Ye Zhi Qiu... do you think... you can... win me over like this?"
"Who said I only took you?"
Ye Zhi Qiu raised his right hand and said, "I'm going to clean house today."
As her slender hand emerged from her sleeve, a foot-long black tube came into Lu Xingfeng's view.
"My master told me before he passed away that the reason he did not pass the position of sect leader to me was not only because he thought I was more promising, but also because there was another reason."
"That is, he thinks you are a very thoughtful and cunning person."
"Such a person is either extremely kind or extremely wicked. He raised you for more than 30 years but still couldn't figure it out."
"So, ever since I took over the position of sect leader, I've been on guard against you."
"To be honest, the series of traps we just encountered were specially designed for you. Not only are there traps in the ancestral hall, but also in any place within this sect where I can think of where we might be alone."
As Ye Zhi Qiu spoke, he pointed the black tube at Lu Xing Feng.
The two were less than ten feet apart. Lu Xingfeng stared intently at the dark opening, feeling a chill run down his spine.
Firstly, he never expected that Ye Zhi Qiu had been on guard against him all along.
Secondly, he had already guessed that this pipe was probably some kind of weapon made by Ye Zhi Qiu.
"Heh...hehehe..." Lu Xingfeng let out a strange laugh, "It seems I underestimated you. When it comes to scheming and cunning, you are still more impressive."
Ye Zhi Qiu said calmly, "I have no intention of harming others, but that doesn't mean I don't have the heart to guard against others. This is a lesson I learned ten years ago."
"Just who are you?" Lu Xingfeng asked while secretly circulating his inner energy. "This weapon in your hand is probably even more powerful than the one that accidentally fell into Eagle Falling Gorge not long ago, right? I really didn't expect that you lost one, but still have another one."
“That wasn’t an accident. I deliberately pretended to fall accidentally in front of everyone,” Ye Zhi Qiu said calmly. “Otherwise, how could I have made you lower your guard against me?”
"As for who I am, even if you're about to die, I won't tell you."
Ye Zhi Qiu pressed the cold tube, about two fingers thick, against Lu Xing Feng's forehead, his finger about to pull the trigger at the bottom of the tube.
And this is a crudely handcrafted shotgun.
This was also the first time it had been shown to others.
Like the revolver she had built before, it was made by her slowly collecting materials over many years and going through countless failures.
Although it couldn't even compare to modern homemade firearms, it was at least usable and quite powerful. In this era, it was a peerless weapon, and no matter how skilled her opponent was, she could still take a hit with it.
"Junior sister... have mercy!" Lu Xingfeng shouted.
Ye Zhi Qiu's eyes were cold as he quickly pulled the trigger.
In that instant, Lu Xingfeng endured the excruciating pain of his flesh being torn apart, forcefully freed his right shoulder, tilted his head to avoid the gun barrel, and at the same time struck Ye Zhi Qiu's chest with a palm.
Ye Zhi Qiu didn't have time to blow his head off with a single shot, so she could only fire based on instinct as she quickly retreated.
Bang!
A deafening explosion!
Ye Zhi Qiu was nearly knocked over by the recoil.
Most of the tiny bullets that shot out of the gun barrel hit Lu Xingfeng's right arm.
A cloud of blood mist rose into the air.
Lu Xingfeng's right arm below his shoulder was covered in a mass of rotten flesh.
The upper arm bone is completely broken.
Only some tendons and skin were connecting them, allowing his right forearm to barely hang on.
"ah!"
Lu Xingfeng let out a shrill scream, suddenly freeing his left shoulder from the hook's claws. Then, he quickly pressed his left hand on his chest several times, enduring the horrifying pain to stop the bleeding.
After quickly finishing these tasks, he knelt down, panting heavily, and weakly lowered his head.
At that moment, he looked like a vengeful ghost suffering torture in hell.
The skin and flesh on his back near his shoulder blades were turned outwards, and the wound was so deep that the bone was visible. His right arm was broken, with the bone still attached to the tendons, and it was dangling precariously beside him.
His white robe was almost completely stained red, and there was even a pool of blood on the ground.
Ye Zhi Qiu quickly reloaded a shotgun shell and pressed the muzzle against Lu Xing Feng's head again.
"Senior Brother, out of consideration for our ten years of fellow disciples, I originally wanted to let you leave in a more peaceful way. Why are you struggling and making yourself suffer?"
As she spoke, she was about to pull the trigger and execute the other person.
"The sacrificial ritual is complete! The giant serpent will inevitably appear!" Lu Xingfeng roared with all his might, "Once I die, no one will be able to control it!"
Ye Zhi Qiu paused, frowned, and said, "Haven't you sent a signal yet?"
Lu Xingfeng slowly raised his head, his crimson eyes filled with a ferocious smile. "I lied to you... I didn't need to send any signals at all, because I had already told my people that at midnight, they should cut the throats of those four hundred disciples and bleed them to complete the sacrificial summoning... By now, they have all bled dry... That giant serpent with a body of more than ten zhang is probably on its way."
"What?!" Ye Zhi Qiu's pupils trembled violently, as if he had been struck by lightning from head to toe.
Lu Xingfeng used his left hand to pull the arm hanging from his right arm off, his eyes shining with excitement. "Junior sister... are you surprised? Are you allowed to be wary of me and play tricks on me, but I'm not allowed to take precautions?"
Ye Zhi Qiu trembled all over, "You...you're telling the truth?"
“Of course it’s true,” Lu Xingfeng stared at the gun barrel as he stood up unsteadily. “I have to think things through, don’t I? What if you have some means to control me? Wouldn’t all my efforts have been in vain? Sure enough, I’m still one step ahead.”
Ye Zhi Qiu gritted his teeth and said, "I don't believe it!"
"Don't believe what?" Lu Xingfeng regained his all-controlling demeanor. "Don't you believe I really did it, or don't you believe there's a giant serpent?"
Ye Zhi Qiu stared intently into his eyes, "I don't believe it at all."
Lu Xingfeng laughed, "Then just kill me. As long as you find yourself unable to deal with the giant snake when it appears and can only watch it indiscriminately devour everyone, don't regret it."
Ye Zhiqiu clenched his back teeth, making a grinding sound.
Lu Xingfeng laughed even more arrogantly, "Besides me, no one else in this world knows how to control that giant serpent. Do you want to use the lives of thousands of people from the Tian Shu Sect to test whether it will rampage and slaughter everyone, or do you want to beg me to show mercy?"
The situation has reversed once again.
Looking at his smug and arrogant appearance, Ye Zhi Qiu wished she could tear him to pieces!
However, Ye Zhi Qiu dared not take that risk.
If he really has completed the sacrificial summoning, if a giant serpent really does appear... the Tian Shu Sect is doomed!
"You..." Ye Zhi Qiu bit his gums until they bled, utterly helpless, and put down the shotgun in his hand. "Fine... you win. I'll hand over the position of sect leader to you..."
For the sect, and for the lives of the remaining thousands of disciples.
She had no choice but to compromise.
Lu Xingfeng took the shotgun from Ye Zhiqiu's hand with his bloodied left hand, then pressed the barrel against Ye Zhiqiu's chin. "Junior sister, why didn't you cooperate like this earlier? Why did you have to make it like this? Of course, besides giving up the position of sect leader, you also have to stay by my side day and night to serve me and do whatever I want."
"Don't push your luck!" Ye Zhi Qiu's eyes were practically bleeding with hatred.
Lu Xingfeng's eyes were extremely cold. "This attitude is not right. From now on, if you disobey me even once, I will let the giant snake come up and wreak havoc. Do you want to try?"
Ye Zhi Qiu suppressed his anger, "Lu Xing Feng... you will die a horrible death."
"Kneel down!" Lu Xingfeng shouted.
Ye Zhi Qiu was completely under his control, and no matter how angry he was, he could only kneel before him.
"Hahahaha!" Lu Xingfeng threw his head back and laughed loudly, "That's more like it!"
As he spoke, he pulled Ye Zhi Qiu up and put his arm around her waist. "To make you truly convinced and never have any thoughts of opposing me again, I have to show you that giant snake with your own eyes. I can assure you that as long as you obey, I will make it return to Falling Eagle Gorge."
Ye Zhi Qiu was then led out of the clan's ancestral hall by him.
The ancestral hall is built on the top of the main peak, with an open-air platform protruding outward like an eagle's beak directly in front of it.
Standing on the platform, you can overlook the surrounding area.
As night fell, the four sacrificial altars in the east, west, south, and north were already brightly lit.
Although they were far away, they could still vaguely see that many corpses were piled up around the altar, and the surface of the altar was stained red with blood...
When Ye Zhi Qiu saw this scene, tears blurred his vision, and he felt as if his soul had been ripped out, collapsing helplessly to the ground.
"Come here, lean against me." Lu Xingfeng, holding a shotgun in one hand, slowly sat down next to her.
Ye Zhi Qiu had no choice but to comply.
Lu Xingfeng lowered his head and smelled the fragrance in her hair, then smiled and said, "If you hadn't broken my right arm just now, I could still be holding you. I know you hate me to death, and you've probably torn me to pieces in your heart, but I don't care, as long as you can always stay obediently by my side."
"Also, you must never try to kill yourself again. You must live well, otherwise I will still summon the giant serpent and use thousands of disciples of the Tian Shu Sect to accompany you in death."
Hearing these words, Ye Zhi Qiu felt a chill run down his spine, his heart filled with despair.
...
At this very moment, inside the Fallen Eagle Gorge.
Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi, protected by snakeskin and snake tendons, successfully crossed the forest and arrived at the foot of a cliff.
The two passed through an area inhabited by wild animals and indeed saw packs of wolves as well as large carnivorous beasts such as brown bears, tigers, and leopards.
But as soon as they got a little closer, the wild animals tucked their tails between their legs and ran away.
The mere scent of giant snakes emanating from the two of them was enough to frighten them.
“There’s a cave here. Let’s go in and rest for a bit, then we can tidy it up tomorrow and turn this place into our new base,” Ning Jinli said, pointing to a cave entrance nearby.
Xiao Qidi suddenly turned around, stared at the dark woods, and said in a deep voice, "Did you hear any strange noises?"
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