Chapter 4: I Am Merely a Son-in-Law

Night Ninefiend’s words carried a hint of mockery as his gaze fell upon Luo Qingyu; suddenly, he flashed a brilliant smile, revealing his white teeth.

“So this is him?” Luo Qingyu had always known there was a terrifying force of primal energy within Night Ninefiend, yet she had never imagined that her husband-to-be, who had spent thirteen years as a glutton and a sluggard, would possess such monstrous power.

For a moment, her eyes dimmed, torn by a storm of conflicting emotions. The peculiarities of a woman’s heart overwhelmed her.

“What are you thinking? I’m your family’s son-in-law, aren’t I? You’re not going to deny that, are you? If you do, won’t I be at a loss…” Night Ninefiend put on a pitiful face, his tone full of grievance, a far cry from the domineering youth who had just looked down upon the world.

Luo Qingyu nodded in response, but her heart was still in turmoil, though she kept it hidden beneath a calm exterior.

The members of the Imperial House of East Sovereign grew even more sullen at the display. To be so blatantly ignored—and to have them flirt openly right in front of their faces—was intolerable.

Immediately, another member of the East Sovereign Imperial House stepped forward.

“I am Huang Bihong of the East Sovereign Royal Clan. En garde!”

But before he’d finished speaking, he hurtled forward at great speed.

“You may as well all come at once. I dislike bullying the weak—it brings no satisfaction,” Night Ninefiend said loftily, extending a single finger. A surge of force shot forth, its terrifying power piercing through the void, cleaving through heaven and earth, and struck with unerring accuracy.

Huang Bihong’s pupils dilated in terror, death’s shadow looming over him. Despite having the initiative, he foolishly believed he could block the attack with his arm in his panic.

A long, sickening sound of penetration echoed out from Huang Bihong’s body. All eyes turned to him; he stood rigid where he was, the light in his eyes fading rapidly.

“Bihong!!”

An elder suddenly roared in fury and flew to his side, his eyes alight with rage. After checking Huang Bihong, tears streamed from his eyes.

“I am but a son-in-law, yet none of you can best me—what right have you to contest the primal crystal mine? Huang Junyi, is this truly the pride of your East Sovereign clan?”

“Did your parents never teach you to be humble? No wonder you love to run your mouth. Effeminate men are always the same…”

Night Ninefiend’s words were razor-sharp. With each sentence, he advanced a step. By the time he finished, he was already standing before Huang Junyi.

Huang Junyi’s face was twisted with rage, but in his eyes, fear lurked. The presence of Night Ninefiend made his legs tremble.

“Night Ninefiend, prepare to die!”

A furious bellow came from the direction of Huang Bihong’s body. The old man’s eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, his face contorted with rage, fists clenched so tightly they creaked.

“Ninefiend…”

The old man shot forward, unleashing terrifying speed and the full might of his Breach of Qi cultivation, bearing down on Night Ninefiend with crushing force.

Night Ninefiend merely sneered in disdain.

“You’ve lived this long and only just breached Qi? Did you spend your years as a dog instead of a man?”

In an instant, Night Ninefiend spun around, and as he did, his right arm shot out like lightning, clamping down on Huang Junyi’s throat. Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

The elder’s pupils widened in shock; his charging body skidded to a halt, trembling with rage at Night Ninefiend’s audacity.

“Feeling useless? That’s it, isn’t it? This expression—dogs can bark, but if they can’t bite, what’s the use? Come, then…”

Night Ninefiend’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light, his voice icy as he tightened his grip on Huang Junyi’s neck.

Huang Junyi’s face turned a ghastly shade of purple-blue, his mouth gaping as he desperately tried to draw breath, but Night Ninefiend denied him even that.

“Qingyu, did he just insult you?”

Luo Qingyu nodded. In the next instant, something happened that filled those present with horror: Night Ninefiend’s grip on Huang Junyi’s throat tightened suddenly, followed by a chilling crack.

Huang Junyi inhaled no more. The pupils of the East Sovereign clan members dilated in disbelief, while the people of the Great Zhou instinctively clustered around Luo Qingyu to shield her.

“Night… Nine… Fiend!!!”

The elder who’d intended to attack Night Ninefiend was now beyond furious; he had been driven utterly mad.

The younger generation of the East Sovereign clan looked upon Night Ninefiend with a terror that had replaced all previous scorn.

“Hurt her, and I will not be pleased. If I am not pleased, you’ll all be buried here!”

In a flash, Night Ninefiend’s body became a streak of light, appearing instantly before the elder and striking down with his palm upon the crown of the old man’s head.

The elder, driven mad, was caught off guard by Night Ninefiend’s inhuman speed, and before he could react, his life was ended beneath that palm.

The East Sovereign clan were utterly shaken by Night Ninefiend’s display. His strength had far exceeded their wildest expectations.

First, he’d taken down Huang Qianxi with a single grab, leaving his fate unknown; then, with a single finger, he’d sent Huang Bihong to his death; and now, with a single palm, he’d killed again.

To die by a single strike!

This was no mere Qi Cultivation Realm opponent, but someone who had breached the Qi Barrier and could wield a sliver of the world’s primal energy—just a step away from the Profound Qi Realm—yet still slain in one move.

None could fathom how a boy of fifteen or sixteen could possess such terrifying power, so far beyond their imagination.

As for the Great Zhou, they were utterly dumbfounded, their faces drained of color. The youth they’d mocked and derided for years had revealed an unimaginable strength.

They recalled their past excesses and couldn’t help but glance sidelong at Night Ninefiend, fear clear in their eyes.

“He’s so strong… Am I holding him back again?” Luo Qingyu, standing in the crowd, watched the peerless youth, her thoughts in turmoil. It was as if Night Ninefiend sensed her gaze—he looked her way.

“From now on, smile for me. I’ll bear any burden for you. If you’re unhappy, I’ll be unhappy too. And if I am unhappy, then…”

Night Ninefiend’s gaze fell upon the East Sovereign clan, the primal energy he had just mastered surging within him like a raging tide.

“Not a single one who bullied you will live!”

Night Ninefiend, like a messenger of the nine hells, spoke with an icy voice and a face like frost. With each step, a dreadful pressure blanketed heaven and earth, enveloping all present—none could escape.

Then he moved.

The sound of blood spurting echoed again and again. Wherever Night Ninefiend passed, blood flowed like rivers.

The East Sovereign clan had no power to resist; they could only fall before Night Ninefiend’s onslaught. The people of the Great Zhou were struck dumb with terror, their fear reaching its zenith.

Only Luo Qingyu remained unmoved. If there was any change, it was the deep affection in her eyes as she watched the youth kill with abandon.

There was no fear in her gaze—only a trace of… relief. Relief that she was his wife.

“I, Night Ninefiend, join the Luo family as a son-in-law. Henceforth, I am a son-in-law!”

The words Night Ninefiend had spoken on his wedding day seemed to echo in her ears once more. The promise he’d made, to never let her be bullied, was being fulfilled now—simply to make her happy.