Chapter 179
Chapter 179: Interception
Murong Xiao Ya stood silently, her delicate figure motionless before the wide-open doors of the Ancestral Hall.
Murong Zhen lay sprawled across the high stone steps, a broken sword plunged deep into his chest. Around him lay numerous disciples of the Murong Family, each long since departed. Blood seeped slowly from beneath their bodies, cascading down the stairs like a scarlet waterfall, staining the earth crimson.
To the left, on a shattered spirit wall, fragments of broken weapons were embedded everywhere like a whirlwind of blades. Five elders in the robes of the Four Great Families hung lifelessly, pierced and pinned by fractured weapons.
“Little sister…” Murong Zhen weakly sensed Murong Xiao Ya’s arrival. He struggled to open his eyes, blurred by blood, yet no matter how he tried, they remained shut.
The next instant, Murong Xiao Ya flung herself at his side, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. Her pale hands gripped the broken sword, trembling violently, unable to speak clearly as she sobbed, “Second Elder Brother…why…why did this happen…”
Murong Zhen slowly raised his wounded arm, following the injury on his abdomen to the broken sword, gently placing his hand over hers.
“Don’t be afraid…The Murong Family is no more…but you must live…live well…”
His voice was faint, barely audible as he approached death’s door.
Murong Xiao Ya wept openly, pouring her Qi desperately into Murong Zhen, yet the energy dissipated as swiftly as she infused it, accomplishing nothing.
“Go…find your third brother…” At the final moment of his life, Murong Zhen at last opened his eyes. With a glance at his little sister, he slowly drew his final breath.
“No…” Murong Xiao Ya held his lifeless body tightly, overcome by grief, sobbing uncontrollably in the twilight.
Within the ruined courtyard behind her stood Hu Rui An and the others, gazing at this heartbreaking scene in solemn silence.
Shen An Ran, deeply moved, stepped forward intending to comfort her, but at that moment Murong Xiao Ya gently laid down Murong Zhen’s body, swiftly turning to rush inside the Ancestral Hall, disappearing in an instant.
Shen An Ran made to follow, but Hu Rui An stopped him, saying quietly, “The Ancestral Hall is forbidden to outsiders. Even though the Murong Family is gone, without permission we should not enter.”
Seeing Shen An Ran’s unease, Hu Rui An reassured him further, “There’s no one inside. Miss Murong will not come to harm.”
Only then did Shen An Ran halt. Not long afterward, Murong Xiao Ya leaped from a broken roof at the rear of the hall, vanishing into another part of the devastated Murong estate.
Hu Rui An glanced at Li Mu Sheng, and upon receiving a quiet nod, vanished instantly from his spot, silently following Murong Xiao Ya’s trail.
In the collapsed ruins of a study, yellowed pages fluttered like butterflies amidst blood, fire, and dust. On the single remaining crimson pillar, a broken spear had been driven through Murong Feng’s skull, his limbs cruelly pinned by twelve copper nails.
Murong Xiao Ya halted abruptly at the sight, weeping bitterly as she pulled each nail free, removing the broken spear from her brother’s skull. Gently, she laid Murong Feng’s battered corpse upon the open ground in front of the ruined study.
She stared at his burned and unrecognizable form for a long, sorrowful moment, then swiftly darted into the study, flames still lingering within.
At that moment, several figures bounded through the ruins, swiftly closing in.
“It’s Murong Hong’s youngest daughter!” someone shouted upon recognizing Murong Xiao Ya, immediately charging toward her.
But in a flash, another figure appeared, suddenly blocking their path.
“If you value your lives, leave now,” Hu Rui An warned calmly.
The four halted immediately, terrified by the fearsome martial aura radiating from Hu Rui An.
Just then, an elderly man in a richly embroidered robe appeared behind them, closing the distance instantly. Narrowing his eyes, he addressed Hu Rui An, “The Murong Family no longer exists as of today. Your Excellency is clearly not a Murong. Why muddy yourself in these troubled waters?”
Hu Rui An glanced at him calmly and shook his head. “I serve the imperial court and have no intention of involving myself in martial-world feuds. But this young lady is an old friend, and I cannot watch her die.”
The elderly man’s expression shifted slightly. After examining Hu Rui An carefully, he asked abruptly, “I heard yesterday that a group escorted Murong Hong’s daughter back to Prefecture City. Could that be your party?”
Hu Rui An offered no denial and simply nodded.
Upon seeing this, the elderly man’s face changed dramatically. He immediately bowed, humbly replying, “I was rash earlier. If Your Excellency wishes to protect her, naturally there’s no problem.”
He turned, harshly scolding the four men before swiftly leaving. Seeing their leader retreat, the four quickly followed, no longer daring to linger.
After they’d gone some distance, the men turned curiously to the elder, asking, “Senior, that was Murong Hong’s daughter. Our patriarchs commanded us to cut all grass and roots. Why did we suddenly retreat?”
The elder glared coldly. “You fools! Do you know how Baili Chang Feng died? He was killed by the master standing behind that man. Even my strength pales compared to Baili Chang Feng’s. Do you wish to see me killed with a mere finger-point?”
Hearing this, the four were stunned, fear gripping their hearts. The death of Baili Chang Feng had spread widely, and all knew his slayer was a legendary martial master, equal in status to their own ancestors. They shuddered, realizing how close they’d come to death.
“Enough,” the elder added coldly. “Murong Hong’s daughter has ordinary martial talent, posing no threat to our Four Great Families. We can easily eliminate her later.”
He gazed at the Murong Manor ruins and sighed softly, “Who would have thought Sheng Province’s strongest martial family could vanish in a single day? Though our Four Great Families paid heavily, it was worth the cost.”
The four men quickly nodded in agreement. With Murong Manor destroyed, centuries of Murong Family wealth would soon belong to them, a victory well worth the price.
The elder shook his head slightly, murmuring, “Still, we underestimated Murong Hong. He fought two ancestors alone. Even in death, he has earned our respect.”