The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 284 - "Cliff of Life and Death," My Son, Take Care

That cry seemed to drain all his strength and arrogance. Xue Meng abruptly closed his eyes, feeling the warmth on his cheeks.

"Stop hitting..."

But just like a prairie fire, once it ignited, it was hard to extinguish. The battle inside the Heart Pillar Hall had already filled the place with corpses and the injured. Their blood acted as fuel, igniting hatred and madness to the extreme. For a moment, neither Xue Meng's roar nor Xue Zhengyong's sigh drew much attention.

Even if they did, the bloodshot eyes of those killers wouldn't stop.

There had been too much unrest these days. A series of bloody incidents, the Sky Leak, the Precious Chess Game, deaths in Solitary Moon Night, chaos in Jiangdong Sect, the leaderless Jade Pond Manor, the bloodstained Buddhist Gate at No-Sorrow Temple... Many cultivators present had lost their loved ones in the recent past...

Who was the mastermind? Who was lying?

No answers were available, but all fingers pointed to the entrance of the Cliff of Life and Death. Thus, pent-up hatred and fear erupted in this battle.

Spilt water could not be recovered.

Xue Meng hadn't experienced many large-scale battles, so he didn't fully grasp the implications of what was happening. His chest heaved as he stood rooted to the spot, watching the frenzied fighting.

But Xue Zhengyong already understood that the situation had spiraled out of control, beyond what even the instigator could have foreseen.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the searing pain in his wounds and the dizziness before his eyes. He grabbed Xue Meng's shoulder. "You... hurry and leave."

"Dad?!"

"Hurry up and get out of here!! Go to your mother, quickly!"

However, before he could finish speaking, seven or eight people had gathered in front of them, their eyes bloodshot with rage. "Xue Meng, you killed my senior brother! I'll make you pay with your life!"

"Son of a monstrous beast!"

Xue Meng stood frozen in place. Had he killed this person's senior brother? When... He was sure he had never taken anyone's life before. He never had...

His mind was a jumbled mess. Amidst the chaos, he lowered his head and saw Longcheng dripping with blood from his hand. Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Yes, he had killed someone.

He had killed someone—the first being the false matchmaker who testified against him, and then...

He couldn't remember. He had just gone on a killing spree, his hands and face drenched in blood, covered... covered...

"AHHH!!"

Xue Meng suddenly let out a pained wail, like a dying beast. Veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot.

How did it come to this... Ever since Mo Ran left, everything changed. One event after another spiraled out of his control, distancing him from the person he used to be.

"I killed someone... Father... I killed someone..."

Panicked, he turned around, only to meet Xue Zhengyong's terrifyingly pale face. Xue Zhengyong seized his hand, pulling him behind, while brandishing his iron fan to slash and fight his way through the encirclement, carving a bloody path.

"Run."

The wavering man breathed new life for his no-longer-a-child son.

"Meng'er, hurry up and go."

Xue Meng stood frozen. Another attacker lunged at them, and Xue Zhengyong, unable to fend them off, actually grabbed the blade with his bare hand, blood gushing out instantly, revealing the bone beneath. Xue Zhengyong cursed inwardly, tremblingly drawing a dagger from his waist, and plunging it into the attacker's abdomen.

Blood surged fiercely!

"Come on!!"

Xue Zhengyong bellowed in anger, suddenly catching sight of someone. He sternly shouted, "Hanshuo! Take him away! Get him out of here!"

Mei Hanxue had been battling his way over this whole time. Finally breaking through the encirclement, he floated gracefully to Xue Meng's side. He first shot a glance at Xue Zhengyong, a subtle pain visible in his eyes, before gripping Xue Meng's arm and firmly stating, "Come with me."

With these words, he led Xue Meng, who was already numb and dazed, and fought their way out through the back door of Danxin Hall. Perhaps it was the betrayal of the Treading Snow Palace that left everyone momentarily stunned, but Mei Hanxue continued to lead Xue Meng until they reached the entrance of the hall before someone finally reacted, lunging at the two of them with a furious roar, exclaiming, "You think you can just kill someone and run away? Who will pay for this life?!"

Mei Hanxue gracefully plucked the floating qin with one hand, producing a series of resonant notes that pierced through the air like crashing jade and stone, repelling the adversaries in front. Just as he was about to exhale in relief, he heard Xue Zhengyong's warning cry, "Beware of the enemy behind you!"

Whirling around, he saw a figure, his face matted with blood, laughing sinisterly as he swung his blade downward. It was too late to intervene. In that moment, a iron fan suddenly soared through the air, imbued with spiritual energy. It spun mid-air and pierced directly towards the man, instantly puncturing through his chest cavity.

"Uncle..."

"Father..."

The two youths turned around to see Xue Zhengyong gasping for breath, clearly having exerted a tremendous amount of energy with that strike. The iron fan clattered to the ground after hitting its target.

The fan was stained with blood, obscuring the characters on its surface. Whether it was Xue Lang's incomparable beauty or the ugliness of the world, neither could be discerned clearly anymore.

Xue Zhengyong managed a faint gesture towards the duo and whispered, "Hurry..."

Before the word "go" could fully escape his lips, Xue Meng's startled eyes reflected a heavy sword imbued with spiritual energy. A member of the Jiangdong Sect stood behind Xue Zhengyong, brandishing his deadly blade. Before Xue Meng could utter a sound, the man struck towards his father.

Splitting down with a single strike!!

Voiceless.

Xue Meng's eyes widened, suddenly unable to hear any sounds around him.

It was as if he was submerged in the depths of an ocean stretching for thousands of miles, where there was no wind, no warmth, and no light.

It was pitch black.

Xue Meng's blood seemed to freeze and burst simultaneously, sending shivers down his spine. His eyes bulged with rage as he fixated on the person before him.

The traces of relief and joy that Xue Zhengyong had displayed upon witnessing his son's rescue just moments ago were frozen on his face in that instant.

It gave an illusory sense of peace.

The sea was deep, endless, and boundless. The water was cold, piercing to the bones and lingering for a lifetime.

It was eerily quiet, devoid of life.

No sound... No sound at all...

Until blood trickled down from the fractured skull, flowing through the eyes, down the cheeks.

Two streams, like crimson tears, dripped to the ground.

In that instant, Xue Meng seemed to believe it was all a jest, or perhaps a dream, or even that there was still a chance to turn back, that it wasn't too late.

But that wasn't the case.

It was too late. Where there was concern, there was vulnerability.

Even war gods can meet their end.

"DAD!!!!!!!!"

A piercing cry echoed, shattering mountains and diving into the sea.

All silence was disrupted—the waves surged, like a thousand piles of snow, revealing a shocking scene of rocks splitting and tides reversing, causing the vast ocean to churn with towering waves, tearing the heavens apart!

Xue Meng rushed towards Xue Zhengyong in a frenzy, his cries akin to a dying beast, halting all actions of those around him. Everyone turned in horror at the sound—

Amidst the surging waves, he stumbled through the crowd towards Xue Zhengyong.

Xue Zhengyong stood unwavering, not even bending his spine. He stared at Xue Meng with his tiger-like eyes wide open, unblinking. Those eyes made Xue Meng believe that he was still alive, that he could be saved, that there was still...

As they were mere inches apart, Xue Zhengyong collapsed.

With a thud, he fell straight down. The surrounding people scattered, leaving behind no more sounds of weapons clashing.

Xue Meng came to an abrupt halt, not moving forward anymore.

He stood there, trembling from a subtle quiver to a violent shudder, his lips, fingers—none of them under his control.

He muttered, questioning, and with great caution.

His voice rasped, "Father?"

The hall was drenched in blood, and no one replied.

Longcheng clattered to the ground as Xue Meng slowly retreated, step by step... But where could he retreat to? Yesterday? Yesterday was forever gone.

Every step in life, whether accidental or heart-wrenching, once taken, could never be undone.

The Danxin Hall was eerily silent.

He stopped retreating, swaying violently before collapsing to his knees. Staring blankly at the scene before him, his tears rolled down his cheeks relentlessly. He raised his hand to wipe them away, but his haphazard attempts only seemed to intensify the flow, tears cascading down in a steady stream.

Finally, he buried his face in his palms, and a soft sob escaped his throat, like ink spilling onto paper—gradually filling the entire sheet with stains. In the end, the whole tale became absurd, all soaked in the ink of sorrow.

"Daddy... Daddy!!"

The sobs turned into howls.

The man standing before Xue Meng could no longer rise to his feet, shielding him from life's storms with his broad shoulders and cheerful smile.

The golden years of the favored son of heaven had truly come to an end at this moment.

Everything crumbled into chaos.

It was all in disarray.

The Jiangdong Sect cultivator who had dealt the ruthless blow stood frozen, his heavy sword dropping to the ground. He muttered, "N-No... It wasn't me..."

He shook his head frantically, terrified by Xue Meng's crazed kneeling figure. He trembled like a sieve, desperate to escape, but all eyes were fixed on him, leaving him nowhere to retreat.

"No... Listen to me... I only meant to knock the weapon out of his hand..."

He stared at Xue Meng, swallowing nervously.

Xue Meng was currently drowning in immense sorrow, but he knew that once he lifted his gaze, there would only be one path awaiting him—death.

"Quickly, go invite Madame Wang over," Elder Xuan Ji, the calmest among them all, instructed his disciple as he observed Xue Meng huddled on the ground, still weeping and yet to stand up. "Hurry, there might soon come a time when no one can hold back Young Master anymore."

The disciple, tears streaming down his face at the sight of their fallen leader, protested, "But Master, it was the Sect Leader who forbade Madam from coming over. She never intervenes in major affairs. She…."

"Is this the time to be nitpicking?" Xuan Ji urged. "Hurry up!"

The disciple wiped away his tears, nodded, and rushed towards the rear mountain.

With the death of the Sect Leader, everything eventually calmed down. Within the hall, some groaned from the pain of their wounds, others had ashen faces, and a few remained silent, biting their lips. A soft voice murmured, "What happened? Xue Zhengyong should have been capable of more. How could he not evade it?"

They were unaware that Xue Zhengyong had been wounded by a precious chess piece while suppressing demons in Impermanence Town just the day before. They only sighed,

"Sigh, being the Sect Leader for so long must have taken its toll. Even heroes grow old and fade."

Amidst these whispers, Xue Meng didn't hear a word. His eyes, blurred with tears and fueled by hatred, gradually turned bloodshot. He choked, wept, and wailed, until his vision was filled with a sea of crimson maple leaves.

He lifted his gaze, fixating on all the invaders. Now, his eyes burned with nothing but bloodlust, hatred, vengeance, and resentment.

A furious roar echoed! Longcheng erupted with rage!

Kill!

This time, Xue Meng truly lost control, his screams echoing everywhere. He had become terrifying, devoid of reason, fearless of death and pain. Who could stop him? No one could hold him back.

Monastery of No Sorrow's Solitary Moon Night, JIangdong Sect's Phoenix Pavilion... Pah! He couldn't see them! All he saw were grimacing ghosts and distorted figures, as if he was trapped in a hellish abyss amidst an endless sea of blood.

Hate!

Why?

Why, after twenty years of unwavering loyalty, did he fall prey to a single scheme, to a handful of idle words?

Why, despite a lifetime of tireless dedication, did his sincerity end up betrayed, his passion flowing eastward like a wasted river?

Why did a handful of rice foster gratitude, while a bushel bred enmity?

Why was he so foolish?

Rivers of blood flowed.

No one's voice could be heard, and all attempts to dissuade were in vain.

Xue Meng had gone mad. Like a phoenix dyed in blood, his fury ignited into a raging inferno. From the flames emerged a beast with crimson eyes, its jaws dripping with blood, tearing through the throats of anyone who dared stand in his way!

Do you recall those days when he was just coming of age, the chirping of cicadas filling the heart of summer?

Xue Zhengyong gently patted Xue Meng's head with a smile, asking, "My son, what do you aspire to do in the future?"

"Exactly like Father," Phoenix Child said with his bright, clear eyes wide open. "To be a great hero, a man of honor, who rights wrongs and upholds justice, with no regrets in my heart."

Blood spattered across his face, accompanied by someone's anguished cries.

Whom did he kill?

Seemed like someone's sister, someone's wife.

Indifference.

Die then, let him be killed. After all, he's already tainted, it's their own fault... They forced his hand!

Amidst his frenzied slaughter, the crowd dispersed. He couldn't hear... couldn't hear...

Until that voice echoed.

"Meng-er."

It struck his vulnerable spot.

A voice strained with emotion, quivering in the air.

Delicate as incense smoke curling upward, dissipating at the gentlest touch.

Xue Meng was entranced.

"Seize him!"

"Don't let him go on a rampage anymore!"

Attacks came from all sides.

"Meng'Er..."

Xue Meng was like a tiger or leopard surrounded by wolves. He was covered in blood, and his arm trembled uncontrollably. After this battle, he might never be able to wield a blade with that arm again. Squinting, blood trickled down from the corners of his eyes. He turned his head stiffly.

The rear entrance of the Danxin Hall stood wide open, letting in a flood of daylight.

Madame Wang appeared at the entrance, clad in a simple white robe. She was frail and gentle, never interfering with matters before the hall. It had always been so.

It was only now that she had rushed over upon hearing the news. The once-beautiful maiden with her lustrous hair was now weeping, tears dampening her gown.

Xue Meng's voice was hoarse, barely recognizable as he croaked, "Mother?"

The disciples of the Peak of Life and Death bowed, "Madame."

The elders also bowed, "Madame Wang."

Her face was devoid of any color, save for the vibrant red coral beads hanging from her ears. She didn't speak at first, but when she saw her husband's corpse, her figure swayed. Upon witnessing Xue Meng being overpowered and forced to kneel on the ground, her complexion paled even further.

The disciples were all worried that her frail body might not withstand the strain and she would faint at any moment.

But Madame Wang only trembled slightly. Her lips moved, but for the first time, she failed to speak.

However, on the second attempt, she found her voice. It was hoarse, yet she struggled to maintain composure.

"Let him go."

Three simple words, whispered gently to those roughly subduing Xue Meng.

Many of these people had never seen Madame Wang's face up close. Now, they saw only a weak woman and responded fiercely, "Your son killed so many people. How can we just let him go?!"

"He must be taken to the Heavenly Sound Pavilion for detention and trial!"

Tears shimmered in Madame Wang's eyes, yet she remained resolute as she spoke, "Let him go."

"..."

No one released their grip, and the standoff persisted.

Madame Wang lifted her head slightly, attempting to suppress her tears, but failed as bitter salty drops trickled down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, her slender body trembling slightly like a fragile dandelion in the wind.

Someone spoke up, "The Peak of Life and Death refused to close its gates today and has caused injuries to countless cultivators from the Upper Realm. The matter between Mo Ran and Chu Wanning is also shrouded in doubt. Therefore, justice must be sought — it's only natural that a life taken should be paid for with another. My apologies, Madame."

Madame Wang remained silent, not sparing another glance at her late husband's body. She moved silently through the dispersing crowd, ascending the steps of the Heart Pillar Hall one by one, standing before the seat of the honored master.

She stood firm.

Voices buzzed below, "Master Xue's death was purely accidental, but Xue Meng's massacre was deliberate."

"Certainly, we must take him away."

The voices rose and fell like tidal waves, ebbing and flowing in harmonious rhythm.

A gentle breeze entered the hall, causing the curtains to flutter and the gauzy screens to exude a chill.

"Sui Meng has committed no—"

Bang! A loud thud echoed.

The entire hall was stunned.

It was this seemingly fragile woman who had slammed the table. Madame Wang's eyes were wide open, her lotus-like face flushed with anger.

She didn't know how to express her rage, but it already burned within her heart.

Standing before the hall, her gaze swept across everyone—

"Mon-er is my child, Ran-er is my nephew, Zheng Yong is my husband."

Her voice wasn't loud, but each word was clear and resolute.

"You dug out my nephew's spirit core, endangered my husband's life, and now, you still want to take my son away in front of me?"

Women made up the majority of the Jiangdong Sect, yet they were the least able to understand Madame Wang's emotions.

Immediately, a female cultivator coldly spoke, "Wang, you need to be reasonable."

"That's right. If your nephew hadn't practiced forbidden techniques, why would we have needed to extract his spirit core? If your husband had heeded our advice, how could such a tragedy have occurred? If your son hadn't killed countless people, why would we be taking him away? Wang, there's a limit to protecting your own."

The various sects had now incurred a deep grudge against the Peak of Life and Death, and none were willing to let them off easily.

"Close the gates! Seal the sect!"

"Take away all those who just attacked! They must be severely punished and interrogated! Are we just going to let these murderous fiends go?"

"Not a single one should be spared! Arrest them all!"

Madame Wang stood atop the grand hall, facing this chaotic scene. This fragile woman closed her eyes momentarily before speaking calmly, "I, the widow, am here. If I'm alive, I won't allow any of you to lay a finger on the Peak of Life and Death, or my son."

To those below, she sounded ridiculous, but Jiang Xi's expression darkened slightly. By the pillar, a female cultivator from the Jiangdong Sect spoke up first, "How arrogant of you."

Madame Wang slowly descended the steps of the hall. Ignoring that female cultivator, she addressed everyone watching her, "What kind of prowess is it to bully an orphan and a widow?"

Standing firm on the dark red carpet embroidered with Du Ruowen's design after stepping down the last stair, she lifted her delicate eyes, her face gentle yet her gaze resolute.

She raised her hand, moved it slightly, and removed a silver bracelet from her wrist.

The mocking female cultivator narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing?"

Madame Wang raised her hand, and for some inexplicable reason, a dazzling red light appeared in the palm of her hand. With a gentle squeeze of her fingers, that delicate hand crushed the silver bracelet into dust!

Many people took a startled step back, even those from the Peak of Life and Death were left speechless. Xue Meng's eyes were also filled with astonishment. Among the crowd, only Jiang Xi remained unfazed.

He stared at her with an extremely grim expression, but there was not a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"The Peak of Life and Death remains unyielding in life and death. Those present who wish for our sect to close, step forward—"

Madame Wang brushed off the remnants of the silver bracelet, lifted her gaze, and spoke a chilling sentence that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

"Challenge me in battle."