Chapter 65: The Fall of Xiongba

Upon hearing this, Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun no longer dragged their feet and began to raise their internal energy.

Seeing this, Duan Fengyun also closed his eyes to raise his own internal energy.

Watching the three acting so mysteriously, Xiongba chose to wait and see, wanting to know what exactly they were up to.

Boasting that his divine arts were peerless and that he dominated the world, he wanted to see how the three would break his Cloud-Mist Illusion.

The momentum of the three continued to rise, with lightning flashing all around, and their powerful aura directly shattered the Cloud-Mist Illusion.

Seeing this, Xiongba knew things were looking bad and prepared to strike first to finish the three off.

But by now, Duan Fengyun and the other two had successfully activated the Maha Immeasurable, and the three shouted:

"Xiongba, your death day has arrived, prepare to die."

As the words fell, the three each formed a terrifying current of air that surrounded Xiongba.

The three terrifying currents of air crisscrossed around Xiongba, and every time they passed through, Xiongba felt his internal energy drain away by a fraction.

Xiongba struggled to wave his arms in resistance, but under this terrifying Maha Immeasurable current, he had no strength at all; he could only watch helplessly as he was crisscrossed back and forth, screaming in pain while waiting for the final judgment to arrive.

Outside, Qin Shuang saw Xiongba's hair inside gradually turning gray and watched his miserable, painful state.

In the end, being soft-hearted, he spoke up:

"Junior Brother Yun, Junior Brother Feng, Junior Brother Duan, Xiongba no longer has the strength to fight back, please stop now."

Hearing Qin Shuang's voice and seeing that Xiongba beneath the currents truly had no strength left to fight back, the three withdrew their internal energy and stopped the currents.

Xiongba, who had fallen into a coma, rolled out from the terrifying currents; looking at Xiongba before them, the four saw no trace of the once arrogant man.

With a haggard face, gray hair, and chaotic breathing, the current Xiongba was nothing more than an old man in the twilight of his years.

"Father, how are you? I beg you all, do not kill my father."

A voice that Duan Fengyun had dreamed of reached his ears; it was Youruo who had arrived.

Youruo ignored Duan Fengyun and ran straight to the ground to embrace Xiongba.

She had never seen Xiongba in such a state, and her heart was filled with immense grief.

"Senior Brother Shuang, Senior Brother Yun, Senior Brother Feng, I beg you to spare my father. He has lost everything now and is just an old man in the twilight of his years; please spare his life."

Youruo knelt down and pleaded with the three.

Seeing this, Duan Fengyun hurried forward, wanting to help Youruo up.

"Youruo, please get up."

Youruo looked at Duan Fengyun with resentment and said:

"Duan Fengyun, do you remember what you once promised? You said that one day, if you all defeated my father, you would spare his life. My father is like this now, are you still planning to kill him? If you want to cut the weeds and dig up the roots, then kill me along with him; just consider it a mistake that I ever liked you."

At this moment, there was not a shred of the former affection in Youruo's eyes toward Duan Fengyun, only the anger of having been deceived.

"Youruo, don't be like this. When did I ever say I wanted to kill your father? I didn't say anything."

Duan Fengyun explained.

Seeing that Youruo still ignored him, Duan Fengyun feared that history would repeat itself.

He was afraid that Bu Jingyun would kill Xiongba, and that Youruo would block that fatal sword strike from Bu Jingyun for Xiongba.

"Youruo, don't be angry. I will go tell Senior Brother Shuang and the others right now to let your father go."

Duan Fengyun said to Youruo with deep affection.

Without waiting for Youruo to answer, he turned and walked to Bu Jingyun's side, saying:

"Senior Brother Yun, I have never asked you for anything. Today, I beg you to spare Xiongba and let him live."

He knew that among the four, Bu Jingyun had the greatest intent to kill Xiongba and was determined to kill him, so he went directly to Bu Jingyun.

"Junior Brother Duan, why? Why do you want to stop me from taking revenge? Have you forgotten how Xiongba once tried to drive us to our deaths? Is it because of Youruo? Are you going to let our enemy go?"

Bu Jingyun said with some anger.

"Yes, Senior Brother Yun. Because of Youruo, I beg you to spare Xiongba."

Duan Fengyun said firmly.

Bu Jingyun looked at Duan Fengyun, then at Xiongba, feeling conflicted.

He knew that if he were to kill Xiongba later, Duan Fengyun would definitely step in to stop him, and he did not want to harm his own brother.

"Senior Brother Yun/Junior Brother Yun, Xiongba is already like this, just let him go."

Qin Shuang and Nie Feng also pleaded with him to spare Xiongba.

"You!"

Bu Jingyun looked at the three in disbelief; he had not expected that all three would choose to let Xiongba go.

Helpless, Bu Jingyun slowly lowered the Peerless Sword he was holding in his hand.

Seeing this, Duan Fengyun, knowing the matter was settled, hurried to Youruo's side and said:

"Youruo, I have already spoken to Senior Brother Yun and the others, and they have agreed to spare Xiongba."

Youruo looked at Duan Fengyun, then at the smiling Qin Shuang and Nie Feng, and finally at Bu Jingyun, who was standing coldly to the side, and said:

"Thank you all for sparing my father's life."

At this moment, Xiongba woke up from his coma, looked at Youruo beside him, then looked at the four and said peacefully:

"Today is a matter between me, Xiongba, and the four of you. Whether you kill me or carve me up is up to you, I only ask that you do not harm my daughter."

"Father, Senior Brother Yun and the others have already agreed to spare us."

Youruo replied.

Xiongba could not believe his ears; he could not believe that these four good disciples, who had wanted to drive him to his death, would let him go.

"Xiongba, those who do many unrighteous deeds will surely bring about their own destruction. I hope you can spend the rest of your years well, otherwise, I will surely use the Peerless Sword to take your head."

Bu Jingyun looked at Xiongba and said fiercely.

"Senior Brother Yun, rest assured. My father and I will retire from the pugilistic world from this day on and will never step foot in it again."

Youruo replied.

"Youruo, do you mean you want to leave me?"

Duan Fengyun asked.

"Brother Duan, my father is old, and he has made too many enemies; I need to take care of my father. In the end, it seems we are destined to have no future together."

Youruo replied.

On one side was the father who gave birth to and raised her, and on the other was her lover, but Youruo still chose her father.

Right now, the four people's attention was all on Xiongba and Youruo, and they did not notice that someone had appeared quietly.

This person held a short blade and stabbed it at high speed toward Xiongba's back; before Youruo could react, it was plunged directly into the center of Xiongba's back.

In an instant, Xiongba's blood gushed out.

Youruo used all her strength to strike the person to the ground with one palm, only to see that it was Rong Po from the nunnery where she often went to burn incense and pray.

She looked at Rong Po angrily and said:

"Why did you kill my father?"

Rong Po, suffering from severe injuries and spitting blood, replied:

"My husband, the Poison King Bi Xitian, refused to be recruited by your father, yet your father actually wiped out my entire Bi family, not even sparing my 3-year-old son.

I waited bitterly for fifteen years just to find a chance to take revenge. Brother Tian, son, I have finally avenged you.

Xiongba, our whole family is waiting for you below, haha."

After speaking, Rong Po breathed her last.

Youruo held the fading Xiongba and wailed loudly.

Why, why on earth was this happening?

Her father only wanted to retire from the Jianghu; why would no one let her father go?

Xiongba looked at his heartbroken daughter and used all his remaining strength to recount his final instructions:

"Youruo, I am leaving. You must take good care of yourself alone, and be brave in pursuing the person you like."

He turned his gaze toward Duan Fengyun and said:

"Duan Fengyun, I know Youruo likes you. I hope you can treat Youruo well; I entrust Youruo to your care.

After I die, the Under Heaven Society will be leaderless, and I hope you can succeed me as the leader of the Under Heaven Society."

Having finished, Xiongba closed his eyes, and the generation-defining hegemon Xiongba fell.

"Father!"

Youruo cried out loudly.

Duan Fengyun walked to Youruo's side, helped her up, and comforted her:

"Youruo, the dead cannot return to life; let your father be laid to rest soon."

At this moment, Wen Chou Chou arrived with a group of people from the Under Heaven Society.

Seeing the already deceased Xiongba, Wen Chou Chou wailed:

"Leader, why have you left? Chouchou cannot bear to see you go. Eldest Miss, the Leader is dead; to avoid the society being leaderless, please, Miss, succeed to the position of Leader."

"No, my father instructed before he died that Duan Fengyun should succeed to the position of Leader."

Youruo replied.

"What!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Chou Chou hurriedly ran to Duan Fengyun and said flatteringly:

"Leader Duan, congratulations to Leader Duan, felicitations to Leader Duan."

Duan Fengyun rolled his eyes at this two-faced fellow.

Realizing the occasion was inappropriate, Wen Chou Chou immediately shut his mouth.

"Junior Brother Duan, now Xiongba is dead. Since he asked you to be the leader of the Under Heaven Society, then you should be it.

I believe you can lead the Under Heaven Society onto the right path. We are returning to Huo Family Manor first; you take good care of Youruo."

Bu Jingyun said to Duan Fengyun.

Having said that, the three of them, Bu Jingyun, left.

Duan Fengyun did not want to be this leader in his heart; he was used to being free and unfettered, and besides, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down—this position was not one to be sat in.

But it was true that now that Xiongba had just died, the Under Heaven Society was leaderless, and if no one could suppress them, the martial arts world would surely fall into chaos.

For the sake of the big picture, he decided to take over as leader for a period of time, and once the situation stabilized, he would take Youruo and leave.

"Wen Chou Chou, issue a notice to the Jianghu, saying that the former leader Xiongba passed away due to a sneak attack by a villain, and the Under Heaven Society will wear mourning clothes for three days; wish the old leader a safe journey."

Duan Fengyun ordered Wen Chou Chou.

After receiving the order, Wen Chou Chou left happily.

He was now extremely thankful in his heart that he hadn't offended this killing star before, otherwise he would likely have been the first fire of the new official's three fires.

Duan Fengyun took Youruo's hand and said:

"Youruo, I know you are very sad to have lost your father, but the dead cannot return to life. From today on, I am your family, and I will take good care of you for the rest of your life."

Youruo hugged Duan Fengyun tightly, resting her head on his shoulder and crying loudly.

Soon, the news of Xiongba's murder spread throughout the Jianghu, and the Jianghu could not help but be in an uproar.

The peerless Xiongba, who dominated the world, had actually died just like that.

Many sects and Jianghu people with ulterior motives had wanted to take this opportunity to get a share of the spoils at the Under Heaven Society.

But when they learned that Duan Fengyun had succeeded as the leader of the Under Heaven Society, they instantly lost the idea.

A tree's shadow is a person's name; the massacre Duan Fengyun had committed back then was still fresh in these people's minds.

Moreover, Duan Fengyun had Qin Shuang, Bu Jingyun, and Nie Feng by his side; the four of them could be called the four most outstanding heroes in the current martial arts world.

Xiongba was ultimately buried together with Youruo's mother; this was Youruo's choice.

Since Xiongba had always said during his lifetime that he had treated her mother unfairly, now let them be properly reunited in the afterlife.