Chapter 52: The Legacy

As Qian Ye’s gaze fell upon him, Xue Wu remained silent, putting down the origin gun in his hand and giving up resistance.

When he had just been defeated, Xue Wu felt somewhat bewildered and not entirely convinced, especially since he was attacked from both sides by Nighteye and Qian Ye. However, after seeing Qian Ye defeat Gali in just three moves, he realized the true extent of the gap between them.

The key point was that Qian Ye possessed only twelve levels of origin power, two levels lower than Xue Wu and one level lower than Gali. The Xue family had a long history, and Xue Wu’s insight and judgment were exceptional. He knew that beneath the surface of easily overpowering stronger opponents, there lay a potential that was exceedingly rare. While Qian Ye might still need two or three moves to defeat him now, in a few years, he might not even last one move against Qian Ye.

Xue Ding, unlike Xue Wu, was less resolute. A single glance from Qian Ye made him jump in fright, immediately taking up a defensive stance. But he quickly regained his senses, hastily removing his gloves and throwing them on the ground, raising his hands and stammering, “Lord Qian Ye, it’s all a misunderstanding! You see, we have a grudge with that werewolf, and we were planning to kill him just now.”

Qian Ye replied calmly, “That is strange. Weren’t you the adopted son of the Wolf King? Why would you want to kill him?”

Xue Ding knew that a single wrong word could mean his doom, so he took a deep breath and said, “Although I am nominally the Wolf King’s adopted son, he has over a dozen such sons. We are, in essence, just high-level subordinates and cannon fodder. If we make a mistake, we will be punished, even executed. I failed in my task, secretly contacted my original family, and spoke ill of the Wolf King behind his back. Any one of these things could get me killed. If Gali were to return alive, we would surely face dire consequences.”

Indeed, when Qian Ye and Gali were in a standoff, the Xue brothers had harbored murderous intentions, waiting for the right moment to strike. Thus, Qian Ye nodded, acknowledging Xue Ding’s words.

However, Qian Ye still had some questions. “Why is privately contacting your old family considered a sin?”

This time, Xue Wu answered, “The Wolf King is a werewolf. Since he began guarding the Eastern Sea, he has continuously recruited other werewolves and tried to suppress other races. Although he dares not openly oppress humans, he has been secretly trying to weaken us. Among the humans of the Eastern Sea, ancient and powerful families like ours are his primary targets. Our Xue family has offended the Wolf King in the past, and we remain a thorn in his side.”

Qian Ye looked at Xue Ding and said, “Then why did you become the Wolf King’s adopted son?”

Xue Ding hurriedly replied, “I did it for the sake of our family! The main source of the Wolf King’s adopted sons are the talented young descendants from various families.”

Understanding the situation, Qian Ye said, “Kill Gali, and you can go.”

Qian Ye’s request was loaded with hidden implications. Given Gali’s status, he likely carried hidden secrets. If they were found, someone with the skill could deduce the identity of the murderer using divination. Should the Xue brothers ever betray Qian Ye, Qian Ye could reveal the truth, and the Wolf King might have the means to verify the true killer. In that case, not only the Xue brothers but also their entire family would face grave peril.

This reasoning was clear to the Xue brothers, whose family lineage provided them with uncommon insight.

Without hesitation, Xue Wu picked up the origin gun and fired at Gali, blasting half his body into the air. Xue Ding leaped and delivered a punch to Gali’s neck. As the fist made contact, several azure origin blades severed Gali’s neck bone.

After killing Gali, Xue Wu silently activated his origin power to heal his broken bones. Meanwhile, Xue Ding wrapped Gali’s corpse, including the severed limbs, and threw it into the Eastern Sea. Then he dug out the blood-soaked soil and discarded it into the Black Forest.

Having completed these tasks, Xue Ding explained, “Gali killed several native tribes, causing significant trouble. This soil, tainted with his blood, will be absorbed by the Black Forest. The native tribes will know he is dead and will no longer seek retribution. For disposing of evidence, the Eastern Sea and the Black Forest are the best places. Even the Wolf King himself dare not venture too deeply into these areas.”

The Neutral Zone was a place of unique environment, where even the smallest details held great significance.

As Xue Ding finished, Xue Wu had also managed to mend his bones enough to stand and walk. He approached Qian Ye and bowed deeply, saying, “Prince Qian Ye, you have spared us and preserved the Xue family’s legacy. We cannot thank you enough. Our family has some influence in the Neutral Zone. In the future, if there is anything we can do for you, within our means, we will spare no effort!”

His words were sincere, but Xue Ding, surprised, asked, “Brother, did you just call him Prince Qian Ye?”

“Yes, Prince.”

The title “Prince” had a strict definition in the Evernight, Empire, and the Neutral Zone. It was not to be used lightly. Even Gali, with all his arrogance, would never dare to take this title for himself, for it would bring ridicule, not respect.

Xue Ding had always admired his brother, knowing that if he called Qian Ye a prince, it must be for a reason, not out of mere flattery.

Thinking of the implications behind the title and recalling his previous encounters with Qian Ye, Xue Ding broke into a cold sweat.

Seeing everything was settled, Qian Ye waved them off.

Xue Wu bowed again, saying, “Though we have done our best to erase all traces, Gali is one of the Wolf King’s most favored sons. He will surely investigate his death thoroughly. Be careful; the Wolf King might come himself.”

Qian Ye knew this was a kind warning, subtly suggesting he leave the area.

He merely nodded, offering no comment.

The Xue brothers left without further delay, boarding their floating ship and quickly disappearing.

Once the others had gone, Nighteye came to Qian Ye’s side, saying, “You were so full of killing intent just now. I rarely see you like that.”

“Gali should not have laid a hand on you. Since he did, I couldn’t let him live.”

Nighteye sighed softly, embracing Qian Ye from behind. “Many more will try to harm me. Can you keep killing them all?”

With her bloodline, beauty, and identity, Nighteye was a constant target. Despite the protection of the Monolo clan, she still attracted threats like Edward and Fira. Now, the King of No Light had shown interest in her bloodline.

Even when she lived in seclusion in the Empire, masked and hidden, trouble still found her.

And here, in the Neutral Zone, a land without order and rules, only strength and violence mattered. To get what one wanted, one simply took it. All rules were merely shackles for the weak, set by the strong. So, every time Nighteye appeared, she would be like a light in the dark, attracting countless moths to the flame.

Qian Ye had already thought about this. With a slight vibration of his sword, Dongyue, he said, “Many will certainly try to harm you. But I will kill anyone who dares. One day, I will make sure you can appear in the Neutral Zone with honor!”

“Oh, you…” Nighteye tightened her embrace.

On the coast of the Eastern Sea stood a solitary peak. Atop it stood a tall, fierce, and unrestrained man, gazing at the sea, lost in thought.

A heavy footfall sounded, and an elder werewolf climbed to the peak. He tapped the ground with his staff and performed an ancient ritual. “Great Chieftain!”

The man did not turn around. “How many times must I tell you? Here, call me the Wolf King.”

The werewolf elder said, “In our hearts, since the old chieftain returned to the Holy Mountain, you are the chieftain of the tribe.”

The Wolf King spoke slowly, “After losing to Zhang Buzhou, I became the Wolf King. Only when I cleanse this shame will I truly be the great chieftain of the tribe!”

“The day will not be far.”

The Wolf King did not respond, asking instead, “Any news?”

“We have not yet found Young Master Gali. However, we have learned that his last destination was a desolate area in the south, related to the Xue family.”

The Wolf King whirled around, his eyes filled with killing intent. “The Xue family? Are they still causing trouble?”

The elder was startled. “Great Chieftain, we cannot touch the Xue family! Killing commoners is one thing, but a human family like the Xue family can only be dealt with if there is a valid reason. Otherwise, He will intervene.”

The Wolf King scoffed, “Is Gali’s death not a valid reason?”

The elder exclaimed, “Young Master Gali is dead? That is not certain yet. In the past, he has gone on solo hunts and been absent for weeks.”

The Wolf King’s voice grew low. “I gave him a drop of the blood of heritage, and now, I can no longer sense it. Therefore, he is dead.”

“You gave him the blood of heritage?!”

The Wolf King’s bloodline was special, capable of producing the blood of heritage as his cultivation increased. This blood’s primary function was to extend the growth period of the offspring, which, for the Wolf King’s line, directly enhanced their potential.

Given its immense power, the blood of heritage was rare. Even with the Wolf King’s strength, he had only three drops in his lifetime. Giving one to Gali meant he was seen as an heir. Thus, Gali’s death brought double the pain.

“Find out where Gali last appeared, and use any means necessary to find the murderer! Additionally, all the humans in that area need not live. Let them join my son in the grave!”

“Yes, Great Chieftain.”

The Wolf King’s tone softened slightly. “Any news from Zhang Buzhou? It’s almost ten years since he went into seclusion.”

The elder sighed. “You know he is cautious and skilled in divination. He wouldn’t even tell his closest confidants of such matters. How could we possibly know? And his secret arts are so powerful and mysterious, even mentioning his name can trigger a reaction. Only you can speak his name without concern.”