XuanHuan 19
Three years ago, Nie Tian, his father and his clan went into the Ripcloud Mountain for cultivation, only to be ambushed by a group of men in black halfway, where his father and his clan fought to death, securing Nie Tian's life but failing to keep his vital veins from being destroyed.
The tragedy of father, the death of clans and the destruction of vital veins that night were engraved in Nie Tian's mind.
The tattoo of the bloody bat was a clue exchanged with his father's life.
"My son, remember this. There's a bloody bat tattoo in the wrist." The words that came out from his father before the death knocked the door still rang a bell.
It is probable that the three men in black were not engaged in the action three years ago, but they definitely belonged to the same organization as the ambushes did.
"Bloody Bat, I don't care who you are. I'll kill you all." Nie Tian was clenching his fists, totally held by an appalling intent to murder.
Mo Ruxi stared at Nie Tian, as if she had seen through it. She did not reach Nie Tian for a question until Nie Tian got himself together, "Nie Tian, are they, by an chance, accountable for the death of Uncle Nie three years ago?"
The family tragedy of the Nies had been narrated in every single household of Moyang City for three years. Mo Ruxi could tell it based on the general information and current reaction of Nie Tian.
Nie Tian nodded his head but said nothing. Quickly, he left there with Mo Ruxi.
He had a feeling that these three men in black were merely outposts. There might be more of them coming next.
The canyon would soon go into the spotlight. They'd better beat it as soon as possible.
These men in black brought a tragedy to the Nies when they first showed up in the Ripcloud Mountain three years ago. Now that they appeared again, what was the purpose?
"I know not what you come for. But this time, I'm gonna skin every single one of you." Nie Tian could perceive it acutely that those who had tattoos of the bloody bat must have come from a powerful organization, with untold attempts for sure.
But Nie Tian was not what he had been three years ago.
This time, he would kill for a shot of revenge.
Nie Tian and Mo Ruxi wasted no more time. They went directly back to Moyang City after they got out of the Ripcloud Mountain.
And meanwhile, there was something going really bad in Moyang City.
It was night by now; however, the light of the Nie's Mansion seemed to have arrested the day.
A few hundreds of hitmen, out there, were holding a torch each and surrounding the gate of the Nie's Mansion, as if claiming damage.
At the absence of Nie Tian, Nie Wenyuan, the Grand Patriarch had the final say.
Nie Wenyuan stood before the gate. Behind were those patriarchs, deacons and a large number of Kung Fu learners in the Nies.
"Mr. Ba,"said Nie Wenyuan in a dull voice as he stared at the mid-aged guy before him, "What brings you here with such a crowd of young boys on this special evening?"
Those hitmen holding torches were nobody else but the Kung Fu learners from the Bas.
And the depressed mid-aged guy in the middle of the crowd was the Ba Wuli, family head of the Bas.
"The Bas really have gone too far. How dare they besiege the Nies? They are literally shitting on us. I don't see why we won't show the muscles. "
"Tell me about it. They shall not put a foot in the Nie's Mansion, unless over my body."
"A forced marriage in abortion and a robbery marriage in pregnancy? We're no push-overs. And we'll fight like Kilkenny cats."
Those outraged Kung Fu learners were burning fire within themselves. One step forward of the Bas, there would be a war to start.
"Well," Ba Wuli's eyes brightened and he thundered, "Nie Tian, family head of the Nies, in front of a huge crowd on that street market, disabled my son. If you are aware of the situation, you will hand over Nie Tian to me. Otherwise I will burn down your mansion and kill you all."
"Family head disabled Ba Ziyang?" Nie Wenyuan's heart sank. He said coldly, "Mr. Ba, why won't you cut the crap? You said that our family head disabled your eldest son. But how can I tell for sure you are talking bullshit."
There had long been conflicts between the Nies and the Bas. Since Nie Tian turned down the forced marriage, the two families had tilted the negotiating table. So Nie Wenyuan would save the politeness.
"Old bandit. You are the one talking shit." Ba Wuli thundered and was more than irritated, "That Nie Tian disabled my son was seen by a tremendous number of eyes. If you don't give him to me, I shall make the Nie's Mansion an earthly hell."
Words finished, Ba Wuli was displaying an imposing manner.
How could a father not be infuriated upon knowing his son was disabled by somebody else.
"Mr. Ba, you can say what you want in the absence of our family head. But if you want to break in, I shall not allow that to happen." Nie Wenyuan took one step forward, barely fearing Ba Wuli.
Nie Wenyuan was acting like his courage came from his ignorance. But he had guessed it out that what Ba Wuli said was basically true.
Judging from what happened in the conference hall of Nie Tian in the daytime, he might well be likely to disable the young master of the Bas.
Still, he, as the Grand Patriarch, had to stand out for the family when Nie Tian was not there.
"Nie Wenyuan. Here is my last question. Will you hand over Nie Tian to me?" Ba Wuli would not believe that crap that Nie Tian was not in the Mansion. It must be Nie Wenyuan who decided to protect him.
"Ba Wuli, I'll offer my last answer. My family head was nowhere in the Mansion. You may pay a visit tomorrow if you want to see him." The situation left no ground to give in.
The Kung Fu learners of both sides, now aware of the tension, were itching for a bloody fight.
"Father, " said a strange young man coldly as he came up from behind Ba Wuli, glaring at Nie Wenyuan, "Please don't bother to convince the old codger. Let's just burn it down and see when Nie Tian will show up."
Words said, the strange young man pulled a stunt by projecting a sharp streak of sword light that targeted at Nie Wenyuan.
Nie Wenyuan responded almost instantly with the golden light all over his body that swallowed the sword light and pushed back the young man in its overwhelming power.
"What an unbridled young man. If I guess it right, you should be Ba Ziliang, the second young master of the Bas." Nie Wenyuan fixed his cold eyes on the strange young man.
The young man was nobody else but the second young master of the Bas and the most promising future of the young generations in the Bas.
The previous year witnessed the awakening of vital spirits of Ba Ziliang who then went out to experience the world for cultivation. And he happened to return home today, only to hear that Ba Ziyang had been disabled.
Ba Ziyang had won his promise of revenge by beseeching him bitterly.
As a matter of fact, Ba Z iliang did not give a damn about his half brother. What he cared was to defeat Nie Tian.
Since he lost out to Nie Tian at the Kung Fu Competition of Moyang City three years ago, the revenge had been occupying his head.
Now that Ba Ziyang got disabled, he had the chance to demand repayment.
"Old codger, I am Ba Ziliang. Show me that loser. Otherwise I'll show you a bloody hell." Ba Ziliang rooted on the ground and roared even more unscrupulously.
Nie Wenyuan replied with his cold eyes, "It does become the most promising future of the Bas to enter his fourth level of Vital Spirits. But from my point of view, you are biting off more than you can chew."
Ba Ziliang was blessed with a cultivation of Vital Spirits at the fourth level at his eighteens. The gift was so awe-inspiring that he had a sound reason to act aggressively.
Still, Nie Wenyuan was a solid Phenomenality, who held Ba Ziliang in absolutely low esteem.
The stunt of Ba Ziliang could have been followed by a forceful fight back, severe injury and death.
He just did not want the situation out of control.
The bloodshed would be the last resort, as situation required, the Nies sought to confront the Bas.
"Old bandit, I did not expect you to be a Phenomenality." Ba Wuli was quite astounded by what he saw.
Ba Wuli's anger had been burning hot since Ba Ziyang got disabled.
And Nie Wenyuan, this Phenomenality, was the very reason why he did not point the gun at the Nies.
The Phenomenality was the acme of Kung Fu masters in Moyang City.
Nie Wenyuan happened to be another Phenomenality besides the Master of Moyang City.
Even the family head and the Grand Patriarch of the Bas were only two Vital Spirits at their ninth level.
The Nies were inferior to the Bas in a general sense; however, given the umbrella of Nie Wenyuan, a Phenomenality, it would mean a heavy price for the Bas to bring down the Nies.
"Nie Wenyuan, you old bandit, how could you bully my son." Ba Wuli drew one step closer, adding to the tension.
Wary was Ba Wuli of the power of Nie Wenyuan, that was not "afraid".
He would resort to bloodshed against the Nies if he was pissed off.
Nie Wenyuan sneered as he took one step forward, too, only tranquilizing his agitation, "Ba Wuli, you are really a barking and biting dog. You son pulled the trigger, and I was defending myself. Besides, I have had mercy on him. He would otherwise be a carcass by now."
In fact, any Vital Spirits present could see it clearly that Nie Wenyuan did have mercy on Ba Ziliang.
Ba Wuli put on a twitched smile and roared, "Anyhow, we won't let you get away with it if you don't hand over Nie Tian."
"Yeah. You're not getting away." That was enchanted among the huge crowd of the Kung Fu learners from the Bas.
"One foot behind that gate, two bodies in the grave." The Nies would not concede.
The overwhelming rage gave shape to the hair-trigger confrontation. One mistake and there would be bloodshed on the both sides.
It was at this critical moment that a white figure appeared and approached.
The crowd was turning around as this guy appeared. They were awed at the full sight of the comer and made a way for him.
The white figure reached the middle of the crowd within a few blinks of eyes.
"Mr. Nie and Brother Ba. It's been ages since we last met." The white figure greeted Nie Wenyuan and Ba Wuli.
The two guys hurried to acknowledge the politeness and honor, saying "Your honor, it's been ages."
The comer was no one else but Mo Tai, the Magistrate of Moyang City.
He was the only one the Bas would make way for in Moyang City and on such an occasion.
Mo Tai put on a faint smile, "I was paying a visit to Mr. Nie. Am I killing the joy and fervor here?"
"Oh,Your Honor, what a sense of humor! Your visit is the utmost privilege for an old fellow like me." Nie Wenyuan was more than relieved upon hearing that Mo Tai was coming for him.
Mo Tai nodded slightly and turned grave right away, "My daughter has been missing today. And I was informed by the guardians that my girl was last seen with Nie Tian, family head of the Nies. So I want to pay a special visit to your Mansion and present him to me, please."
The "please" word of Mo Tai was uttered in a sheer threatening way.