Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Mei Family’s Secrets

As they were talking, a commotion suddenly erupted in the courtyard. Steward Xue from the Mei residence hurried in to report to Mei Bingyi, “The eldest young master has brought people to force his way in. Several servants have already been injured trying to stop them, and Du Kexing is with him—he killed the boy guarding the gate.”

Mei Bingyi flew into a rage and stood up to go outside. Liu Junhuai was about to ask what was happening when a young man in fine clothes strode into the room, leading a group.

“Mei Zishan, what do you think you’re doing? This isn’t a place for you to run wild—get out at once!” Mei Bingyi shouted furiously.

“Not even a word of respect for your elder brother? For such insolence, I ought to beat you out of here myself!” As soon as the eldest son Mei Zishan spoke, he swung his wooden staff at Mei Bingyi.

Mei Bingyi reached out, seized the staff, and pulled it toward his chest. With his other hand, he slapped Mei Zishan hard across the face.

“So you’ve advanced to the Innate realm?” Mei Zishan exclaimed in shock, trying to retreat into the crowd.

Mei Bingyi pursued, raising the staff to strike, but a gray blur flashed by—Du Kexing had intervened.

Liu Junhuai had been watching this gray-robed man all along. Seeing this, he leaped forward to meet Du Kexing head-on. The two exchanged a rapid palm strike—there was a thunderous boom, and they both staggered back a step, facing each other.

Du Kexing, already at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, looked astonished that this young man, still at the early stage, could match him blow for blow.

A dark, murderous glint appeared in Du Kexing’s eyes. “Impressive. But since you’ve chosen to meddle, you’ll leave your life here.” With that, a blade of cold light flashed—he now wielded a long sword with red tassels, and with a stamp of his foot, he lunged at Liu Junhuai.

Liu Junhuai, intending to make an example, summoned the Five Elements Chaos Blade, infusing it with golden elemental force. A beam of golden light swept toward Du Kexing.

The golden radiance pierced through him and struck the white wall behind, leaving Du Kexing standing there, stupefied, his face frozen in terror.

Liu Junhuai calmly put away his storage ring and turned to approach Mei Zishan. Only then did Du Kexing’s body collapse to the ground behind him, cleaved in two by the blade’s energy.

A cross-realm instant kill.

The room fell utterly silent, broken only by the creak of Liu Junhuai’s footsteps on the wooden floor.

At some point, Shen Duoduo had entered. She quietly walked over and grasped the hem of Liu Junhuai’s robe.

Mei Zishan shook uncontrollably, his legs trembling, his vacant eyes avoiding Liu Junhuai’s gaze.

“Speak. What’s going on?” Liu Junhuai halted before him.

“I only wanted to borrow something from my younger brother—”

A sharp crack as Liu Junhuai slapped him. “Try again.”

“It’s true! I just wanted to borrow something; my men misunderstood and acted rashly—”

Another slap rang out.

“Keep talking.”

“It was—Du Kexing said—said the second brother had a cultivation method for planting spirit roots. He wanted to borrow it for study.”

Yet another slap.

“You’re sure it was only borrowing?” Liu Junhuai’s voice was cold, though he sighed inwardly.

“It was… to rob, not borrow…” Mei Zishan was on the verge of collapse.

Mei Bingyi rushed forward, seizing Mei Zishan by the collar. “Who told Du Kexing I had such a cultivation method?”

“Auntie—the second aunt told the third aunt, and she told my mother,” Mei Zishan stammered, his voice breaking.

Furious, Mei Bingyi knocked him to the ground with a slap, shoved away those around him, and stormed out.

At this moment, Shen Qianqian hurried over and pointed to an elderly steward near Mei Zishan. “Steward Li, take the eldest young master away. I’ll report this to the family head. To think murder and theft would happen within the Mei residence, and at the hands of a guest cultivator under our own roof!”

Steward Li quickly helped Mei Zishan up and hurried the crowd away.

“It must have been Mei Bingyi’s mother who let slip the existence of the spirit root cultivation method. Du Kexing was close with the main branch; they must have sent her son and Du Kexing to steal it,” Shen Qianqian said.

“That seems likely. Don’t worry, Qianqian. Let’s wait for your brother-in-law to return and decide what to do.” Liu Junhuai took Shen Duoduo’s hand. “Duoduo, you and your sister shouldn’t go out today. Pack up your things. I think we’ll have to leave by tomorrow. Once word gets out about the cultivation method, none of us will be safe.”

As the three discussed, Mei Bingyi returned, leading his mother.

Mei Bingyi’s mother, face full of remorse, said, “Junhuai, it’s all my fault. My tongue has brought disaster to you and Bingyi. I thought the third aunt was close to me, but who could have foreseen this…”

“Madam, what’s done is done; there’s no point dwelling on it,” Liu Junhuai replied. “But this cultivation method is unique in the world—imagine, a technique that could turn a minor sect into a mighty one in just a few decades. Once the secret is out, annihilation will follow. My plan is to leave the Mei family at once—and our destination must remain secret.”

“Indeed. There’s no time to lose,” Mei Bingyi agreed. “Junhuai, come with me to see the family head. Only once the Mei family understands your power will they think twice. It’s a bit late to mend the pen after the sheep are lost, but we have no choice.”

“Well said. Let’s not delay.” Liu Junhuai turned to Mei Bingyi’s mother and the two girls. “Don’t go out. Wait here for us.”

With that, the two men left.

The family head was Mei Bingyi’s grandfather, Mei Haichuan, a cultivator in the late Innate stage. He was sitting in the hall, listening to his eldest son and daughter-in-law, with Mei Zishan kneeling before him.

When Liu Junhuai and Mei Bingyi entered, Mei Zishan jumped up and pointed at Liu Junhuai. “Grandfather, it’s him! He killed Du Kexing, and the cultivation method is his!”

Enraged, Liu Junhuai drew his blade in a flash, severing one of Mei Zishan’s arms.

The eldest lady screamed, hurling curses as she lunged at Liu Junhuai, but her husband pulled her back and slapped her. He quickly turned to Liu Junhuai, bowing deeply. “Please, senior, calm your anger. My wife has acted rashly, my son is ignorant. For Bingyi’s sake, I beg your mercy.”

Liu Junhuai ignored him, looking instead at Mei Haichuan. “What does the family head say?”

Mei Haichuan rose at once. “Please, hero, calm yourself. I’ve only just learned of these events. I beg you, out of pity for a woman, to let her go. As for Du Kexing, his fate was deserved. After all the years the Mei family supported him, who would have thought he’d betray us? I apologize on behalf of the entire Mei clan.”

“He is dead by my hand—no need for apologies,” Liu Junhuai said coldly. “But your main branch spread rumors and incited murder and robbery. Had I not been present, Bingyi would have suffered the same fate. The chief culprit must not be spared. Mei Zishan, who betrayed his own blood and colluded with outsiders to slaughter Mei descendants, deserves the harshest punishment.”

The eldest lady collapsed at Mei Haichuan’s feet. “Family head, don’t be misled! No matter what Du Kexing and Zishan did, it’s still Mei family business. But Bingyi has conspired with outsiders to kill Du Kexing and harm Zishan, and even barged into the family head’s hall—unforgivable crimes!”

A murderous light flashed in Liu Junhuai’s eyes. He turned to Mei Bingyi. “Brother-in-law, what do you say?”

Mei Bingyi didn’t even look at Mei Haichuan, his voice bitter. “It’s come to this—the Mei family no longer has a place for me. Brother Junhuai, do as you see fit. My father was destroyed by this shrew. I’ve long ceased to consider myself one of this clan.” Tears streamed down his face.

Mei Zishan’s father’s face changed drastically at these words. He hurried to grasp Mei Bingyi’s hands. “Yier, don’t speak recklessly. Do you have proof about your father?”

Mei Bingyi quietly pulled his hands away, looking at Mei Haichuan. “Family head, do you know the truth? Your eldest son is asking you about your second son’s death. Shouldn’t you be the one to answer?”

Mei Haichuan erupted in fury and struck at Mei Bingyi, but Liu Junhuai kicked him aside. Though unaware of the full story, he sensed there was more beneath the surface.

Mei Zishan’s father looked around in shock, then at his wife, who now stood dazed and terrified, unable to meet his gaze.

Seeing this, he finally understood. With a furious roar, he spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed backward.

Noticing Liu Junhuai’s surprised glance, Mei Bingyi nudged his chin toward the armless Mei Zishan on the floor and whispered, “I should really call him uncle.”

Liu Junhuai was startled, eyeing the eldest lady with a strange look. He asked Mei Bingyi, “How did you know?”

“My mother had long suspected. Just now, I questioned the third aunt, and she let something slip. The rest I guessed.”

By now, Mei Haichuan realized his family’s shameful secrets had come to light. Murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he quietly drew his sword, aiming it at Mei Bingyi.

Liu Junhuai darted across, parrying the sword with the Five Elements Chaos Blade. With a twist of his wrist, he severed Mei Haichuan’s sword arm. The blade swept upward, slicing off Mei Haichuan’s right leg.

As Mei Bingyi kicked the crippled old man to the ground, the commotion drew a crowd of Mei family members into the hall.

Mei Bingyi’s third uncle, Mei Xinshou, roared at him, “Traitor! You dare strike down your ancestor? We will have your life!”

Liu Junhuai let out a long howl, instantly forcing the room into silence. “It was I who punished this foul hypocrite. Cutting off two limbs is his due. Whoever dares speak out again—will die.”

With order restored, Mei Bingyi pulled Mei Xinshou aside and whispered a few words. Mei Xinshou’s eyes flickered with doubt. He called over the fourth uncle, Mei Changlun, and whispered again. The two conferred quietly, then Mei Xinshou announced, “This is a Mei family matter. All non-Mei members, leave us for now.”

Once only clan members remained, Mei Bingyi addressed Mei Xinshou and Mei Changlun, “Both uncles, you take charge of everything from here.” He pointed at the eldest lady. “She is the chief culprit—question her yourselves.” With that, he stepped aside.

Liu Junhuai bowed to Mei Bingyi. “The rest is family business. I’ll take my leave.” And with that, he walked out.