Do You Still Have the Liquor IOU?

*Boom! Boom!* Two violent waves of suppressive pressure erupted in succession. A flash of light gleamed on the hand of Gu Qingzhou's father, and wielding a longsword, he lunged straight for Xiang Chun. The white-haired elder was equally enraged, surging forward toward Gu Qingzhou. Yet at that exact moment, the corners of Xiang Chun's lips curled upward, a crafty glimmer of a successful scheme flashing deep in his eyes. "Kill them!" Suddenly! An old man stepped out from Xiang Chun's side without a sound. With a casual sweep of his hand, a sword cleaved off the arm with which Gu Qingzhou's father held his blade, and a kick sent him flying dozens of zhang away. Flickering in motion just as Gu Zheng was about to touch Gu Qingzhou, the newcomer raised a hand, erecting an invisible spatial barrier to block him. Immediately after, he teleported before the elder, his blade tracing a flurry of dazzling sword light. Instantly, pluming mists of blood burst from the elder's chest as slash marks tore across it. His body shot backward, collapsing limply to the ground. *Hum!* Only now did the onlookers clearly see the newcomer's appearance! It was a grim-faced old man clad in coarse gray hemp robes, his posture slightly stooped. With triangular eyes, a hooked nose, and a goatee, a dangerous, chilly glint flickered in his gaze. "*Hiss!* This pressure... Could it be an expert of the Soul Formation Realm making a move?!" "The Xiang clan's foundation truly cannot be underestimated—they actually assigned a Soul Formation cultivator to accompany him!" "Alas, of all people for that Gu boy to fall in love with, he just had to pick the eldest daughter of the Ling clan." "Xiang Chun taking a concubine? If you ask me, he's just playing around. To be a concubine of the Xiang clan, the Ling clan isn't even qualified." By now, Ling Qingqiu was already sobbing uncontrollably. Had her father not kept a tight grip on her, she likely would have rushed to Gu Qingzhou's side already. Xiang Chun licked his lips, turned to look at the weeping Ling Qingqiu, and sneered, "Look. The one you fancy is not even worth a dog in my eyes. "If I tell him to die, he dies. "And those so-called experts of his clan—if I tell them to kneel, they must kneel! Hahahahahaha!" Terrified that his daughter's earlier behavior had provoked Xiang Chun, Ling Qingqiu's father hurriedly bowed with an obsequious smile. "Hahaha! Worthy of Young Master Xiang indeed, with such an expert guarding you! Fortunately, you were not harmed by these two pieces of Gu clan trash. "May I ask... when does Young Master Xiang consider it suitable to wed my daughter?" Seeing the man's eager gaze, Xiang Chun merely sneered coldly, not even bothering to reply. He turned toward Gu Qingzhou, who was wracked with agony and drenched in tears, and strolled forward. Having lost too much blood, Gu Qingzhou's face was as pale as paper, his consciousness drifting. Yet he clearly perceived everything that had just unfolded. He kept muttering weakly, "Father... Grandfather..." Both Gu Zheng and his son were now sprawled on the ground, gravely injured, residual energy from their assailant completely sealing their meridians. The man, whose features bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Gu Qingzhou, strained with all his might to crawl toward him. Yet with merely a crook of the stern old man's finger, two spiritual swords pinned the man's hands to the ground! "*Ugh!*" A muffled groan escaped the man's lips... Xiang Chun arrived before Gu Qingzhou, one hand brutally squeezing his crushed arm while leaning into his ear to murmur, "See? The woman you cherish is nothing more than a plaything in my eyes. "I'll play with her for a while, and toss her aside once I'm bored." Gu Qingzhou's expression twisted in sheer hatred, his bloodshot eyes glaring as he roared, "You bastard!" Yet no matter how violently he struggled, he could not break free of the spiritual swords pinning him, able only to twist his body in desperation. "Kill me if you have the guts! Kill me! "If you don't kill me today, I will surely kill you in the future!" Gu Zheng wanted to stop him, but it was already too late. Overcome by killing intent, Gu Qingzhou had lost all restraint, blurting out such words under these circumstances. With Xiang Chun's temperament, he would certainly choose to eliminate all future trouble! Sure enough, a ruthless, playful sneer curled on Xiang Chun's lips. Holding his longsword in a reverse grip, he walked slowly toward Gu Zheng. Gu Qingzhou finally regained some clarity. Watching the man approach the elder, he at last realized what the other intended to do. Xiang Chun... was going to kill Gu Zheng! Sword in hand, Xiang Chun arrived before the elder, sneering as he crouched down and rested his blade against the elder's neck. "I am going to kill you now." Hearing this, the elder's pupils contracted violently. With a playful smirk, Xiang Chun seized a handful of the elder's hair, as if finding a more convenient posture to exert force. His face contorting with maniacal delight, Xiang Chun stared into the elder's eyes and said slowly, "If you resist, I will slaughter every last person in the Gu clan—men, women, young, and old, not a single one will be spared. "If you don't resist, I might consider killing only the three of you." As he spoke, Gu Qingzhou's father, sprawled on the ground, could no longer contain the grief in his heart. "Father!" Gu Zheng closed his eyes, his voice trembling as he spoke. "Very well... I only hope... Young Master Xiang keeps his word!" All the onlookers fell into a dead silence. Facing the Xiang clan, the Gu clan lacked even the slightest capital to fight back. To the point that... even when Gu clan ancestor Gu Zheng appeared, he had maintained an utterly humble, subservient posture from start to finish. *Only hope... Pray... Only hope...* For everything, the Gu clan could only wish that Xiang Chun would vent his anger and stop. They could only pin their hopes on the enemy showing mercy... Powerlessness, despair, humiliation—such emotions spread wildly through Gu Qingzhou's heart. Yet just as Xiang Chun's blade was about to slit the elder's throat, Gu Qingzhou's blurred vision caught sight of a silhouette in crimson. A strand of white hair drifted before the man's forehead... In this moment, the youth felt as if he had caught hold of a life-saving straw. In a tone bordering on pleading, he cried, "Big Brother Li... please, save my grandfather..." Li Congxin sighed softly and stepped out from the crowd. His red robe looked as though it were drenched in fresh blood, even showing dark crimson in places. His shock of white hair was striking, and at his left hip hung a pitch-black longsword. "Who is this? How dare he step out and muddy the waters at a time like this? Is he out of his mind?" "His demeanor does carry the air of a banished immortal, but unfortunately... there isn't the slightest ripple of primal energy on him." "Sigh, this is no time to show off. Does he not know how immense the Xiang clan's power is?" Li Congxin glanced at the fading Gu Qingzhou. He had not wanted to meddle in these affairs. Yet who told Gu Qingzhou to keep calling him 'Big Brother' and bringing him wine? He looked at Gu Qingzhou, his voice quiet. "Do you still have the liquor IOU?" Gu Qingzhou nodded furiously. "Yes! I have it!" Li Congxin muttered to himself, "Then... let's settle it now." Xiang Chun narrowed his eyes, glaring icily at Li Congxin as he demanded coldly, "Who are you? "Heh, poking your nose into others' business... you'd better check whether you have the strength for it first! "Sometimes... posturing costs a man his life."