Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 288: 288 Do you no longer want the antidote for the Corrosive Intestine Pills?

In the northeast of the Xuanyue Empire, lies Ningfeng City.

In a certain room of the Zhao Family estate in Ningfeng City, several figures are either standing or sitting; among them, seated is the current Family Head of the Zhao Family, Zhao Huan.

However, Zhao Huan’s complexion doesn’t seem very pleasing to the eye. Glaring at the chubby little figure standing next to his wife, displaying a stubborn face, a streak of fury has already risen from his heart and cannot be waved away.

As for Zhao Ningshu who stands beside Zhao Huan, the right hand that occasionally touches his lower abdomen is trembling slightly; he seems to be sensing some discomfort in his viscera due to certain things.

”Ningshu, how are you feeling?”

Catching a glimpse of his eldest son’s movements from the corner of his eye, Zhao Huan finally turns his head and asks with concern; his question is not without reason, for it was Yun Xiao who had forced Zhao Ningshu to take the Corrosive Intestine Pill in front of the Meridian Treasure entrance.

Back then, Yun Xiao said that the toxicity of the Corrosive Intestine Pill would take effect a month later, and now, only a few days remain of that month.

But what about the promised commitment from Yun Xiao that day, which had not been fulfilled? After that youngster enigmatically enhanced his power and defeated his severe master, he disappeared without a trace, causing both father and son Zhao Ningshu to be deeply frustrated.

Now that the deadline is near, Zhao Huan hasn’t heard any news from Yun Xiao. Along with their pent-up feelings, the frustration shifts towards Ling Wan, who has a close relationship with Yun Xiao.

”I... I feel somewhat uncomfortable!”

Hearing his father’s question, Zhao Ningshu starts to feel even more discomfort in his stomach – Is it the poison of the Corrosive Intestine Pill, or is it his own psychological shadow?

Zhao Ningshu’s words and state provoke Zhao Huan to erupt on the spot. He turns his head, pointing at Ling Wan’s mother and scolds, ”Look at this, look at what your dear son has done, look at the kind of malicious friends he has made!”

As the saying goes, like father, like son. Zhao Ningshu, a man of deceit and venom himself, and his father, the Zhao Family Head, are no better. At this moment, he never reflects upon himself but slanders Ling Wan for making imprudent friends, which has led to the peril of both Zhao Ningshu and Zhao Xingwu.

Of course, in Zhao Huan’s heart, from the moment Ling Wan was born, he never regarded this oddball and useless person as his own son. There was even a time when he wanted to exterminate this relationship for the greater good, to avoid the embarrassment caused by Ling Wan.

Upon hearing her husband’s words, Ling Wan’s mother doesn’t know where she gets the courage from, shielding her son behind her, she stands stubbornly and retorts, ”What does any of this have to do with Ling Wan? If you want to blame someone, go find Yun Xiao!”

”Hmph, if I could find that kid, would I need to waste words with you?”

Zhao Huan’s anger is far from trivial; ever since he returned from the Meridian Treasure event, for the sake of his son’s life, he has dispatched people to guard the only route from the Meridian Treasure to Ningfeng City day and night. As soon as Yun Xiao appears, they are to bring him back immediately.

However, while Zhao Huan says this, a scene suddenly flashes in his mind from within the Meridian Treasure – it is the moment when Yun Xiao punches a Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm cultivator into severe injury, which causes him unease.

And at this moment, it seems that Zhao Ningshu, made irrational by the Corrosive Intestine Pill, sees a ferocious light flicker in his eyes and spouts out with resentment: ”Father, why don’t we cripple Ling Wan’s Meridian Qi and use him to exchange for the antidote from Yun Xiao, how about that?”

As soon as Zhao Ningshu speaks these words, before Zhao Huan could even respond, Ling Wan’s mother is overcome with urgency. She holds her son even tighter, and scolds out loud, ”What kind of nonsensical logic is this? Ningshu, don’t forget you two are biological brothers!”

”I don’t have such a brother; if not because of him, why would I be in such a living hell as today?”

At this moment, Zhao Ningshu truly explodes in anger. In his eyes, being humiliated by Yun Xiao so many times, it is all because of Ling Wan. If not for this freakish brother, he would never have become enemies with Yun Xiao.

”Fine, let’s do it that way!”

Whether it’s an impulse or considering something, the Zhao Family Head Zhao Huan unexpectedly agrees, to which the faces of Ling Wan and his mother turn pale instantly, filling their hearts with despair.

Even though Ling Wan has broken through to the Early Stage of Meridian Rushing Realm, he wouldn’t last a moment under Zhao Huan, who is at the Early Stage of Meridian Union. He is not Yun Xiao, and doesn’t possess the latter’s heaven-defying abilities.

Moreover, this time it seems that Zhao Huan will no longer regard the attitude of Ling Wan’s mother. He seems determined to cripple Ling Wan’s Meridian Qi and then let the word out, to exchange Ling Wan’s life for the antidote to the Corrosive Intestine Pill from Yun Xiao.

The so-called ’even a tiger won’t eat its cubs’ doesn’t seem to apply to the Zhao family father and son – instead, they are even more ruthless than some so-called cruel tigers, ready to cripple their own child’s Meridian Qi without even a frown.

”Get out of the way!”

Seeing that Ling Wan’s mother is still in front, a dark glint passes through Zhao Huan’s eyes. He indeed loathes Ling Wan to the extreme, but for the wife who gave birth to his three, ah no, two sons, he still does not wish to tear her face off completely.

”No, I won’t move. Unless you kill me, I won’t let you harm Ling Wan!”

The voice of Ling Wan’s mother contained a trace of determination, and there was also a hint of a choke-up. Although she was so resolutely tough, deep down she knew that if Zhao Huan truly made a forceful move, she would have no ability to protect Ling Wan.

Indeed, just as Ling Wan’s mother had thought, as soon as these words left her mouth, impatience flickered in Zhao Huan’s eyes. Such threats and compromises should suffice once—for him, as the Family Head, there was no one who could stand in his way when he decided to be ruthless.

”What does a woman of the household know?”

A low shout erupted from Zhao Huan’s mouth, and the next moment, a great force burst forth from his body, sending Ling Wan’s mother tumbling to the side. This only added to her despair.

”No!”

Just as Ling Wan was about to have her Meridian Qi entirely destroyed by Zhao Huan’s palm, her mother, in desperation, screamed out and then fainted. Unable to bear the sight of what was to happen was perhaps a mercy in itself.

Zhao Huan paid no heed to Ling Wan’s mother’s fainting, and as he eyed the young girl before him, he seemed to recall the humiliation that Yun Xiao had made him suffer before the Meridian Treasure. Therefore, without any hesitation, he struck directly towards Ling Wan’s lower abdomen.

The lower abdomen of a human is a vital point where Meridian Qi converges. If this place was damaged, it would be tantamount to destroying the hub of Meridian Qi flow—hereafter, Ling Wan would lose her ability to cultivate Meridian Qi.

Swoosh!

Just when Zhao Huan was set on his cruel intent and Zhao Ningshu was just starting to feel a sense of satisfaction, a whooshing sound suddenly came from outside the door. Then, a streak of light hurriedly dashed through the entrance, aimed seemingly at the vital spot on Zhao Huan’s neck.

”Who dares brazenly intrude upon the Zhao Family?”

Zhao Huan, with his strength, instantly sensed the nature of the approaching light shadow. Although he shouted out loud, his figure also swiftly retreated two steps, dodging the strike of the light.

It turned out that the light shadow was a Meridian Qi Long Sword; while the Meridian Qi contained within it was weak, a direct hit could still pose significant trouble to him.

As such, the palm Zhao Huan had aimed towards Ling Wan’s abdomen naturally missed its mark. It could be said that this timely Meridian Qi Flying Sword, which appeared out of necessity, protected Ling Wan’s cultivation path in this critical moment.

”Heh heh, it seems Family Head Zhao Huan has forgotten the pain once the wound has healed. Do you no longer want the antidote for the Corrosive Intestine Pills?”

Just as the Zhao father and son were uncertainly watching the entrance, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out from outside—the laughter struck a chord, and at that spot, a familiar lean figure appeared.

”Yun Xiao?!”

Seeing this simple-clothed figure, Zhao Huan and Zhao Ningshu exclaimed in unison, for the figure was none other than Yun Xiao, the man they had been preoccupied with.

Indeed, the person was Yun Xiao, but his once smiling face darkened instantly as he entered the room and saw Ling Wan, guessingly deducing what had transpired.

In fact, Yun Xiao had not known exactly what was happening in the room from afar, but now, with his intellect, how could he not recognize the vile schemes of this father and son?

Yun Xiao, ignoring the pair’s composure, walked straight to Ling Wan’s side and untied the ropes binding her. He then turned around, his expression so stern as if it could drip water.

”It seems you truly do not wish for the antidote against the Corrosive Intestine Pills!”

A voice laden with icy chill emanated from Yun Xiao’s mouth. After he spoke, finally, it brought Zhao Huan and his son back to reality, their faces displaying an awkward tinge.

Zhao Huan, because for the past half a month he had not found any trace of Yun Xiao, thought the boy would no longer appear before him, rashly harbored wicked intentions to use Ling Wan as bait to lure Yun Xiao out.

Yet, just when Zhao Huan intended to destroy Ling Wan’s Meridian Qi Cultivation, Yun Xiao suddenly appeared, exposing their despicable thoughts.

For reasons unclear, even though Yun Xiao was merely a cultivator at the Middle Stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm, Zhao Huan had no intention of making a move—his mind haunted by the image of that Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm expert grievously injured by a single punch, an inexplicable sense of dread arose inside him.

”Yun Xiao... Brother Yun Xiao, please don’t misunderstand, the truth isn’t as you think!”

After much struggle, the Zhao Family Head finally managed to squeeze out an awkward smile. However, upon hearing the word ”brother” coming from his mouth, Zhao Ningshu almost cursed internally—did this not imply that he was demoted by a generation to Yun Xiao?

But considering Yun Xiao’s inexhaustible tricks, Zhao Ningshu understood why his father adopted such an attitude at that moment.

Never mind, as long as they could get the antidote for the Corrosive Intestine Pills, being demoted by a generation was acceptable. That was Zhao Ningshu’s genuine thought at that moment.