Chapter 246: Jiang Han

He realized the seriousness of the matter.

Xu Gu could only grit his teeth and, amid the elders' murmurs, interjected: "Lord... Lord Zong, I know some things about Jiang Daoxuan..."

As soon as he spoke, everyone turned to stare at him.

They stared at Xu Gu, who was trembling all over.

Everyone felt deeply surprised.

They had never expected that this youngling, Xu Gu, would know anything about the White Robe Sword Marquis.

The Qingshan Sect Master's eyebrow rose as he said sternly: "If I recall, your name is Xu Gu, isn't it? Speak quickly—I shall reward you handsomely!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Gu's face showed no joy, only deep worry.

Whether there'd be a reward was uncertain, but punishment was certain—he only hoped the Lord Zong wouldn't hate him enough to strangle him...

As thoughts surged through him, Xu Gu's mind began racing.

Listening to the elders' discussion, he had already realized that the information Ding Xuan passed to the messenger had been tampered with.

So he naturally could not betray his good brother—he simply went along with the lie.

As Xu Gu spoke.

The expressions of those around him gradually hardened.

The Qingshan Sect Master's face darkened even further, taking on a terrifying cast.

He had never imagined his own sect had once been entangled in such a "cursed bond" with the Jiang family!

As for the Jiang family's two prodigy heirs, though he felt a flicker of interest, he lost all desire to recruit them.

After all, Jiang Daoxuan's intimidation far outweighed his appeal.

Forcing recruitment would only bring disaster upon themselves!

The fall of the Tang family was a clear warning.

Then, recalling Xu Gu's sincere demeanor and the fact that the situation could still be salvaged, the Qingshan Sect Master did not immediately punish him for concealing information from the sect in front of everyone.

Under Xu Gu's anxious gaze.

The Qingshan Sect Master immediately ordered the Star Wheel realm's Grand Elder to prepare gifts, then take Xu Gu and depart for the Cangwu Jiang Family to Dengmen to beg forgiveness, hoping to mend relations between the two families!

For the current Qingshan Sect, the Jiang family, with the White Robe Sword Marquis standing guard, had risen to become a top-tier force in Tiandou Prefecture, regardless of their depth.

Therefore, it was best not to offend them at all.

Upon hearing the order, Xu Gu instantly went weak in the knees and collapsed onto the floor!

He stared wide-eyed upward, tears welling in his eyes.

In that moment, the vow he had once made echoed again in his mind.

"I never want to set foot in this hellhole of Cangwu Mountain again in my life!"

The vow rang like a demonic chant, endlessly repeating.

Xu Gu's face twisted in anguish—he truly wished he could just die.

How long had it been? How could he be breaking his vow so soon?

The thought of soon encountering again that terrifying Jiang patriarch made his blood run cold.

Xu Gu clutched his chest, his breathing growing more frantic.

He wanted to raise a finger and curse the heavens.

Damned heavens, why are you tormenting me like this?!

Pain—so much pain!!

Meanwhile.

In Tiandou Prefecture, near Heihu Sect.

Inside a certain inn.

Voices buzzed noisily.

"Have you heard? Baidai Sect was wiped out yesterday!"

"What? That... can't be right? Wasn't their old ancestor just recently breakthrough to Yuanhai Realm? Only a few days passed—how could they be wiped out so fast?"

"Hmph! I say good riddance!"

"Exactly! Those Baidai disciples had vile morals—they resorted to any means to accelerate cultivation, often kidnapping ordinary women under cover of night to use as cultivation furnaces. Such demonic acts deserve annihilation by all!"

"But who wiped out Baidai Sect?"

"No one knows exactly who, but the scene at Baidai's Shanmen closely resembles those of several other sects destroyed recently..."

"Are you referring to the Blood-Hand Butcher?"

"That's him! Alas, this hero is no ordinary man—he first annihilated Heifeng Mountain Bandits, then within a month wiped out multiple sects, each time leaving no names and no survivors—so clean, so precise!"

"They say no one has ever seen his face, because everyone who did is dead..."

"......."

A group of patrons gathered, endlessly discussing the recent major events.

At this moment, in a corner.

A middle-aged man with a scarred face sat on a wooden chair, chopsticks in hand, eating his wine and dishes.

Hearing the others' chatter, his hand paused slightly, and a faint smile curled his lips.

"Blood-Hand Butcher? I don't like that name..."

The middle-aged man muttered.

He was none other than Jiang Han himself!

Not long ago, after annihilating several sects and ransacking their homes.

He accidentally discovered this top-grade Xuan-grade human-skin mask.

Once adhered to the face and activated, it could transform one's appearance.

It was truly an invaluable treasure for murder, arson, robbery, and plundering, capable of eliminating countless troubles!

Thus, to conceal his identity, every time he acted afterward, he wore a mask.

And during this month.

He not only earned the title "Blood-Hand Butcher" due to his brutal record.

His cultivation base surged to the Second Layer of the Ocean Realm, and his escape technique had been perfected.

Even the Earth-Class Supreme technique, Purple Thunder Palm, he had cultivated to the Great Completion realm through astonishing insight!

With this strength bolstering him, he finally possessed the means to annihilate the Black Tiger Sect!

Thinking of that damned sect, about to perish in his hands.

Jiang Han's heart instantly filled with exhilaration; he put down his chopsticks, lifted the wine jug beside him with one hand, and drank deeply straight from the mouth!

Glug glug…

When he had drunk halfway, Jiang Han suddenly sensed an unusual silence around him.

He raised an eyebrow and immediately set the wine jug back on the table.

Then he scanned the surroundings, his gaze finally settling on the inn's entrance.

Three tall men, dressed in official brocade robes and carrying swords at their waists, walked in.

It was because of their arrival that all the guests inside the inn had fallen utterly silent, even daring not to breathe loudly!

Jiang Han studied the three men, and understanding slowly dawned in his eyes.

He recognized these three as the Imperial Court's Xuan Shui Guards.

Their primary duty was to patrol the lands of the Great Qin Dynasty and apprehend criminals threatening the Court's interests!

In Jiang Han's understanding.

The noble families and cultivation sects were two chains binding the Qin Wang's power.

Thus, the Court generally did not interfere in conflicts among the various powers.