The leading bodyguard knew not to provoke Liu Dayong before the wedding banquet ended, but someone had to pay for Nan Gong Linglong being beaten.
Now that Xiao Ming had agreed to apologize, it wouldn't matter if he killed him on the spot, as long as Liu Dayong didn't find out for now.
Xiao Ming picked up a cleaver from the cutting board, wrapped it in a cloth, and tucked it under his arm. It was normal for a chef to carry a cleaver wherever he went, so the leading bodyguard didn't think much of it.
A dozen bodyguards escorted Xiao Ming to find Nan Gong Linglong. Liu Dayong wanted to go along, but Xiao Ming said, "You go ahead and cook. Come over when the ceremony starts if you want to watch the wedding."
Liu Dayong nodded and stopped. The leading bodyguard was secretly pleased. With Liu Dayong not following, it would save him a lot of trouble.
This time, the heads of the Eight Sects of the Mad Blade had all arrived at the Nan Gong family. They had brought many people with them, and there were their men in every kitchen.
Xiao Ming was led out of the kitchen. In less than ten minutes, all eight heads received the news.
Xiao Ming followed the dozen bodyguards to a small courtyard. The bodyguards stood at the entrance, and the leading bodyguard took Xiao Ming into the courtyard.
As soon as Xiao Ming entered, the leading bodyguard closed the door and locked it.
Xiao Ming glanced at the leading bodyguard and didn't pay much attention. He asked, "Where is Nan Gong Linglong?"
"I'm here, you little brat. Kneel down for me immediately, and I'll consider sparing your life," Nan Gong Linglong said, coming out of the house with several Nan Gong family young disciples.
Less than an hour before the wedding started, they all had their own tasks, so they wanted to deal with Xiao Ming as quickly as possible.
Xiao Ming looked at Nan Gong Linglong, smiled, and said, "Do you know who I am?"
"You, aren't you just a cook?" Nan Gong Linglong said disdainfully, looking at Xiao Ming.
"Nan Gong Linglong, your memory is really bad. We've actually met before, in Mian Yin City."
"How come I can't remember?" Nan Gong Linglong asked.
Xiao Ming took the cleaver from under his arm, unwrapped the cloth, and said, "I'll make you into braised pork. You'll remember then."
The Nan Gong family disciples laughed heartily when they saw Xiao Ming about to use his cleaver, as if they had seen a hilarious joke.
Nan Gong Linglong looked at the cleaver in Xiao Ming's hand and seemed to recall something. She felt that this cleaver looked familiar and that she must have seen it somewhere before.
Xiao Ming dangled the cleaver in his hand and said, "Do you need me to remind you, Nan Gong Linglong?"
Nan Gong Linglong couldn't remember where she had seen this cleaver before, but she felt a chill and her heart began to beat faster involuntarily.
The Nan Gong family disciples behind Nan Gong Linglong lost their patience. They had other things to do.
"Sister Linglong, just kill him. He's just a cook. Even if the family head finds out, he won't blame you," one of the Nan Gong family disciples said.
Nan Gong Linglong hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Go ahead."
Several Nan Gong family disciples lunged at Xiao Ming. They all wanted to finish him quickly and then head to the wedding venue.
Xiao Ming sneered, swung the Black Iron cleaver in his hand, and charged at the Nan Gong family disciples.
The sword technique created by a culinary master was called 'Mad Blade.' No matter how the sword techniques of the Eight Sects of the Mad Blade changed and developed over the millennia, one thing remained constant: the word 'mad.'
The Mad Blade, combined with the vast life force within Xiao Ming and the ghostly 'Chi Mei Xiao Yao Step,' transformed into a frenzied sword technique.
The pitch-black Black Iron cleaver cast no reflection in the sunlight. The Black Iron cleaver cut through sunlight, cut through air, and sliced across the necks of every Nan Gong family disciple present.
By the time blood splattered, Xiao Ming had already moved on, not a drop of blood staining him.
When Xiao Ming stood before Nan Gong Linglong with the cleaver in his hand, the Nan Gong family disciples behind him lay dead on the ground, one by one.
"You, who are you exactly?" Nan Gong Linglong asked, staring at Xiao Ming with wide, panicked eyes.
"My name is Xiao Ming. My elder brother is Long Xiao. Brother Long didn't kill you in Mian Yin City because he was kind-hearted. If I don't kill you now, then I'm a fool."
Upon hearing Xiao Ming's words, Nan Gong Linglong turned and fled. She knew she couldn't escape through the door, so she tried to go around the house and leave through the garden in the back.
As soon as Nan Gong Linglong ran two steps, the Black Iron cleaver in Xiao Ming's hand flew out and embedded itself in the back of her head.
Seeing the Nan Gong family disciples lying on the ground, the leading bodyguard's mouth gaped open, ready to shout. Xiao Ming's figure flickered, and he instantly appeared in front of him.
A heavy punch landed on the leading bodyguard's stomach, sending him flying. He hit the wall and slowly slid to the ground, motionless.
There were no longer any living people in the courtyard except Xiao Ming. Xiao Ming picked up his Black Iron cleaver, wrapped it in cloth, and climbed over the wall from the garden behind the courtyard to leave.
Outside the courtyard, a dozen chefs were confronting the bodyguards, holding cleavers. Their orders were to hold their ground and not to rush into the courtyard to rescue anyone.
Xiao Ming left the courtyard, glanced at the chefs confronting the bodyguards, smiled, and headed towards the wedding venue.
After walking a few steps, Xiao Ming saw a familiar back and hurried after him.
Long Xiao heard the sound of hurried footsteps and turned to see Xiao Ming walking towards him.
"Brother Long, how are things going?" Xiao Ming asked.
Long Xiao sighed and shook his head. "There's nothing to prepare. We'll fight them head-on."
Xiao Ming chuckled and quietly told Long Xiao everything he had encountered along the way.
"You mean, now there are people from the Mad Blade Sect helping us inside the Nan Gong Manor, and the Heavenly Saint Group is waiting for us outside?" Long Xiao said.
Xiao Ming nodded. "That's right, Brother Long. Old Daoist Xiao is here too. With him around, the Nan Gong family can't do anything to you."
Long Xiao sighed and shook his head. "Although Old Daoist Xiao is very powerful, his strength won't be enough this time."
"Brother Long, what's happened? Is even Heavenly Realm strength not enough?" Xiao Ming asked curiously.
Long Xiao briefly explained the situation as he understood it to Xiao Ming. "Things are a bit chaotic, and it's hard to distinguish between friend and foe. Tell your people to protect themselves as much as possible."
"Brother Long, have a large number of reclusive sects really arrived?" Xiao Ming asked in surprise.
"Those mysterious people should all be from reclusive sects. I don't know why things have escalated to this point. We can only take things one step at a time."
"Brother Long, the wedding hasn't started yet. Why don't we go directly and take them away?" Xiao Ming said.
Long Xiao shook his head. "The Nan Gong family will definitely be heavily guarded. We don't have a chance to act in advance."
The two walked and discussed. As they approached the wedding venue, Long Xiao said, "I'll make a high-profile appearance and see what I can draw out. You and your people will help me from the shadows. We'll try to escape as soon as possible."
Xiao Ming nodded. "Don't worry, Brother Long. I'll assist you with all my might. We'll fight our way out together."
Long Xiao patted Xiao Ming on the shoulder and turned to walk towards the wedding venue.