Chapter 228: Discovered While Gossiping
Chapter 228: Discovered While Gossiping
"Yue... Tie..."
Li Dazui was stunned, not knowing how to address the person before him.
The visitor was none other than Tie Wushuang, the leader of the Sanxiang Martial Arts Alliance and Li Dazui's father-in-law.
Years ago, Tie Wushuang had admired Li Dazui's talent and married his daughter to him, hoping that he would change his ways. However, his daughter did not return his affections and instead had an affair with her junior disciple. Li Dazui's attempts to persuade her were futile, and he eventually killed and ate his wife, fleeing to the Valley of Evil.
Moved by Tie Wushuang's appreciation and righteousness, Li Dazui never revealed what had happened to his wife and child. The world believed that he had eaten them both, unaware that he had only consumed his wife and sent his daughter to be raised by a trusted friend.
Tie Wushuang's eyes fell on the bruise on the little girl's face, and his expression darkened. "Is this why you killed Duan Chong?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Li Dazui nodded. "They deserved to die."
Tie Wushuang glanced at the timid little girl and then at Li Dazui, who remained silent. "My daughter..." he said, his tone somber.
Li Dazui said nothing.
His silence was tacit consent.
Tie Wushuang revealed his palms, which were larger than average and calloused from years of martial arts practice. He, too, was a formidable warrior known for his palm strikes.
Despite his reputation for valuing talent above all else, he had not attained his position as the leader of the Sanxiang Martial Arts Alliance through mere words.
"Your actions in the past, while not virtuous, cannot be considered wantonly cruel or murderous," Tie Wushuang said, his voice filled with anger. "But the act of cannibalism has tarnished your reputation, and the whole world wants your head."
"It was you, Elder Tie, who saw my literary and martial arts talents and couldn't bear to see me fall. You spoke up for me in the jianghu and even offered your daughter's hand in marriage. Is this how I repay your kindness?" Li Dazui remained silent.
He was certainly no saint, but compared to the unscrupulous Bai Kaixin and the Ouyang brothers, he had principles.
Tie Wushuang had shown him grace, and out of gratitude, he would never divulge this incident that brought shame to the Tie family. Moreover, he couldn't afford to lose face himself.
So, he chose to remain silent.
"Speak up!" Tie Wushuang demanded. "Did a dog eat your wedding vows?"
Li Dazui clenched his jaw and lowered his head, meeting his daughter's gaze, which was filled with apprehension.
Li Dazui's heart twinged, and he suddenly raised his head to look at Tie Wushuang. "My conscience may have been devoured by a dog, but what about yours? Is it still intact?"
Tie Wushuang was taken aback by the rebuke. "The jianghu will be the judge of my conscience!" he exclaimed.
Li Dazui nodded and, taking his daughter's hand, stepped forward. "Very well, then. What about this granddaughter of yours? Do you recognize her?"
Tie Wushuang's eyes widened in fury, but he was momentarily at a loss for words.
The little girl was indeed his granddaughter, but he had already decided to kill her father. How could he face her after that?
Tie Wushuang stood frozen, but Li Dazui harbored a glimmer of hope.
He had not sent his daughter to Tie Wushuang earlier because he feared that his father-in-law would be unable to face his granddaughter. However, he had not anticipated that the friend he entrusted her to would be so unreliable.
Now, with stolen treasures in his possession and having to constantly evade pursuers, how could he possibly take care of a little girl as well? He might be killed at any moment.
At this moment, Tie Wushuang was the only person he could turn to, so he had no choice but to force his father-in-law's hand and make him accept his granddaughter.
After a moment of silence, Tie Wushuang replied, his voice heavy, "I recognize this granddaughter, but as for you, my son-in-law, I must still take your life!"
Li Dazui smiled wryly. "As long as you recognize her, that's enough. As for me, we'll see if you can take my life first!"
Li Dazui squeezed his daughter's hand gently and caressed the bruise on her face tenderly. Seeing the wariness and apprehension in her eyes as she looked at him, his heart clenched, but he steeled himself and let go of her hand, gently pushing her toward Tie Wushuang.
"Pinggu!"
Li Dazui cried out in surprise. Before he could give chase, he saw Tie Pinggu reappear from the trees, letting out a mournful cry as she came to a stop.
The next moment, a piece of cyan-colored cloth fluttered from behind the trees.
"Who's there!"
Li Dazui jumped in surprise and shouted loudly. Just as he was about to leap forward to retrieve his daughter, a cyan figure and a white figure emerged from behind the trees.
The white-clad figure gently reached out and took Tie Pinggu by the hand.
Li Dazui's rushing figure had not yet come close when he was stopped by the cyan-clad young man's sword finger, which covered seven vital points on his upper body, causing him to cry out in surprise and flip back to safety.
At this moment, Tie Wushuang also rushed forward a few steps, arriving in front of the group. On one hand, he wanted to prevent Li Dazui from escaping, and on the other, he wanted to rescue Tie Pinggu.
"Please hold on, both of you. Although that girl is Li Dazui's daughter, she is also my granddaughter. I beg you to spare her for my sake!" Tie Wushuang pleaded.
Then, the cyan-clad young man laughed softly, "Rest assured, we bear no grudge against Li Dazui, and we won't do anything to his daughter."
Li Dazui and Tie Wushuang finally regained their composure and took a good look at the two before them, their hearts trembling. The cyan-clad young man was exceptionally handsome, and the white-clad woman was graceful and beautiful. They seemed like a celestial couple, their presence making it hard for others to look away.
Tie Wushuang's heart settled. This couple seemed extraordinary, and if they said they wouldn't harm his granddaughter, they surely meant it.
Jiang Feng looked at Tie Pinggu and smiled, "We were actually just planning to observe the situation from the sidelines and didn't intend to interfere. But your granddaughter accidentally bumped into us and revealed our presence."
"Jiang Feng from Jingzhou, greetings to Master Tie." Jiang Feng bowed politely.
Tie Wushuang was startled and quickly returned the greeting, "So it's Young Master Jiang, the brother of the number one swordsman in the world. I am honored to make your acquaintance!"
The brother of the world's number one swordsman? Li Dazui's expression changed, and his eyes quickly scanned the surrounding forest while his body unconsciously backed away.
Jiang Feng nodded towards Li Dazui, "Don't worry, my brother isn't nearby. He went to Evil Valley to look for you, and he might still be at Mount Kunlun. Even if he had wings, he couldn't get here quickly."
Li Dazui let out a sigh of relief.
Then he heard Jiang Feng continue, "Allow me to introduce my companion. This is Yao Yue, the Palace Master of Yihua Palace. Her martial arts skills might even surpass those of my brother."
Li Dazui almost choked on the breath he had just exhaled.
If the Ten Great Villains were gathered here, he would still be confident in his chances against Yao Yue. But now that he was alone, he knew he stood no chance against her.
Li Dazui raised his head and looked at Yao Yue, meeting her cold gaze. He forced a smile, "This humble one greets Palace Master Yao Yue. Your beauty and martial prowess are renowned throughout the world, and I am blessed to lay my eyes upon you."
(End of Chapter)
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