Chapter 33: Ancestral Rites, Slaughtering Heaven and Earth Upside Down

Inside the mansion.

Steward Qin Yuan gathered the household servants and began his admonition: "From today onward, the Second Branch, Third Branch, and Fourth Side are no longer members of our Qin mansion. Remember, to us they are merely surnamed Qin. If any of you come from those three households, leave immediately; if they have been planted by them, you may also leave now, with no blame for the past. Otherwise, once discovered later, you will be executed."

Training ground.

The family guards were all summoned over.

Similar words to those of the steward were repeated, and on the spot several people stepped forward.

"Lord, could you explain the reason?" one of the guards asked, utterly puzzled.

"Go ask them yourself!" Qin Feng waved his hand.

They had no choice but to leave.

He glanced at the remaining guards, said nothing more, merely had them each withdraw, but kept Ma Chao behind.

"Why aren't you leaving?" Qin Feng inquired.

"My lord!" Ma Chao immediately dropped to one knee, "I am a guard of the Qin family, loyal to the lord."

"Don't speak so absolutely!" Qin Feng said calmly, "You should have close ties with the Third Branch; if Qin Yuanjiang had you provide information, contribute nothing, even poison, betrayal—what would you do then?"

"Don't rush, think it over!" Seeing the other about to continue defending himself, he raised his hand to press down.

"My lord, I have decided." Ma Chao remained kneeling and said, "My father once received favors from the Third Elder and Qin Yuanjiang; since I became a guard of the Qin household, I have gradually come to prominence, and he has also given me many conveniences, such as money and so on. However, I have also repaid him, for instance by looking after his lineage's business and those few young masters there, without failing the master household. From now on, I will completely sever ties with that side."

"If you are loyal, you will naturally be treated well, but let me speak plainly first:" Qin Feng said impassively, "If you betray, you will die, and your family will die too. You still have a chance to leave now; once you stay, your life will belong solely to the Qin mansion."

"I am willing to sacrifice for the Qin mansion, for the lord to go through fire and water." Ma Chao's voice rang out.

"Good!" Qin Feng nodded satisfactorily, "There may be some turmoil recently; be careful."

"Yes!" Ma Chao withdrew.

After the person had gone far, Zhang Fu stepped forward and whispered, "Since there are suspicions, we shouldn't continue using him."

"Grandfather Fu, rest assured; if he harbors any ill intent, I will strike him down beforehand!" Qin Feng laughed, "As for the upcoming ancestral rites, you elder should worry more."

"My lord!" Zhang Fu hesitated, "These are troubled times; many wish to kill you swiftly. Once you leave the mansion and go out of the city, it is likely—no, certain—that you will be besieged. Why not skip this year's rites and wait until next year?"

"Whether you believe it or not, if I do not attend the ancestral rites, our Qin mansion will be overthrown that very night." Qin Feng walked forward with his hands behind his back, "This battle is unavoidable; rather than let the mansion be destroyed, it's better to move the battlefield outside. I also want to see just how many will jump out, so I can slaughter them till heaven and earth are overturned."

"But, but..."

"No buts!"

Zhang Fu sighed, bowed his body and left; he needed to go prepare.

Qin Feng summoned Qin Bo: "Take me to look at the heated room."

"Very well, sir!" Qin Bo was very respectful.

The heated room is in the northwest corner, quite secluded, made from an empty room.

Pushing the door open, a wave of heat hit the face.

"Sir, you have come." The old gardener who had been attending here hurriedly bowed in salute.

"No need for much ceremony!" Qin Feng raised his hand slightly and asked, "How is the cultivation going?"

He also surveyed the place.

"Sir, look!" the old gardener exclaimed excitedly, "We have opened up three plots, each planted with a different kind, and all are growing well. Especially this one, in another four or five days it will be about to bloom."

Qin Feng nodded.

The cultivation is indeed not bad; flower buds have already sprouted.

He also listened to the explanation.

At first, the brazier set up in the room raised the temperature and also provided light. Later, upon hearing the order to cultivate without regard to cost, the old gardener directly thickened the walls and burned charcoal in the wall interlayer, forming a relatively stable temperature.

"As soon as any one of them blooms, notify me immediately; once I am satisfied, I will bring your little grandson here to the mansion for cultivation."

"Thank you, sir!"

This time hearing Qin Feng's words in person, the old gardener was instantly moved to kneel.

Qin Feng departed. Returning to the courtyard, hearing Xiao Hong say that the medicinal bath was ready, he went to the bathroom and sat cross-legged in the large wooden tub to cultivate.

This time he chiefly cultivated the Return to Origin Technique.

He intended to quickly raise his cultivation to the peak of the Eighth Rank.

Outside, however, there were many more rumors: for instance, that the Qin family would split, and so on.

Many were quite interested, and some even went out of their way to inquire why the Qin family would split. Zhang Fu also boldly reorganized the shop properties, kicking out those who should be kicked and punishing those who should be punished.

Qin Feng paid no heed.

He also did not take it to heart.

After dinner, he practiced sword, cultivated techniques, then sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate.

He did not know whether it was because he had grasped the Intent of Rain, but while cultivating, the speed of absorbing spiritual qi increased.

Suddenly, Qin Feng stopped his technique and opened his eyes.

He leapt up, reached out to seize the Flowing Cloud Sword beside him, pushed open the window and leapt out, turning in midair to land on the roof.

His body technique was extremely agile.

Qin Feng landed on the roof and saw the person opposite: "Black-clad, masked, you dare trespass my Qin mansion—who gave you the guts!"

"I consider my lightness skill superb; though not unrivaled under heaven, few can match it, yet I never expected you to detect me." The masked person chuckled lightly, "That must be Qin Feng! At such a young age, truly remarkable."

He again clasped his fists: "Since I have been discovered, I admit my skill is inferior; I will take my leave and seek instruction another day."

"You come when you want, leave when you want?" Qin Feng couldn't help but laugh angrily, "Speak, who are you?"

"What, you still want to keep me?" The masked one also laughed, "Qin Feng, give me face, don't be ungrateful."

"Seek death!"

Qin Feng couldn't be bothered to say more; the Flowing Cloud Sword left its sheath, his form flashed and he stood before the opponent, a single sword strike unleashed a sky-full of sword shadows, like a torrential downpour, unstoppable.

This was precisely the first sword of the Sudden Rain Three Swords, which he had just comprehended.

The masked man was greatly startled, and hastily retreated.

His movement was superb, yet he could not evade the sword tip before him; he could only block with his sword, but was struck and sent flying.

"Die!"

Qin Feng employed the Carefree Wind-Stepping, truly like riding the wind through the void, carefree as an immortal, and struck again with his sword.

Extremely swift, yet it harbored a force as vast as a tide, unstoppable.

One strike cut him down.

A second thrust pierced his throat.

"This ninth-rank is truly ordinary!" Qin Feng flicked his sword, shaking off the blood.

At that moment, the on-duty guards also rushed over.

And Zhao Hu: "Master, what happened?"

"This person invaded the manor; I killed him. Investigate his background!" Qin Feng pointed at the corpse.

"My subordinates have neglected their duty!" Zhao Hu's face changed, and he hastily dropped to one knee.

"Since you neglected your duty, then investigate thoroughly!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Hu assented.

Qin Feng, however, looked outward, killing intent boiling.

These past days, intruders have occasionally broken into the manor; although most were slain, it still annoyed him.

"There are countless scouts outside the manor; I will first give you a warning!"

Qin Feng leapt into the air, stepping on treetops, and killed his way toward the outside of the manor.

Monday is coming up; please give some support! (End of chapter)