Chapter 740: Chapter 739: Walk with Me
"Ah?"
The maid’s face turned pale with fright as she stammered, "I...I don’t know, I didn’t see anyone entering the courtyard."
Seeing her genuinely panicked and not lying, Helian Rong released her and swiftly moved to the side of a middle-aged woman who was exhibiting fluctuations of True Yuan within her.
As the woman saw someone attacking, she drew a soft sword from her waist. As the sword was unsheathed, it sounded like a dragon’s roar and a streak of silver light surged towards Helian Rong.
Helian Rong’s pupils contracted slightly, and with a flash, she dodged the other’s sword. At the same time, she waved her right hand and a cloud of poison mist sprayed forth.
The middle-aged woman’s face showed surprise, seemingly startled by Helian Rong’s swift dodging technique. Seeing Helian Rong wave her sleeve, the woman alertly struck out with her palm. The force of her palm whipped up a fierce wind that scattered the poison Helian Rong had released.
Though much was happening, both individuals moved as quickly as lightning. Helian Rong, surprised by such a quick reaction, drew her sword to attack.
A series of metallic clashing noises resounded as the two women exchanged over a dozen moves in an instant. On the thirteenth move, Helian Rong’s sword pierced through the woman’s shoulder.
The middle-aged woman wanted to continue fighting, but suddenly she felt a shock at her heart, and numbness spread from the penetrated shoulder, causing her entire arm to lose feeling almost immediately.
"Poisoned? You..." The middle-aged woman was shocked and pale, about to inquire further, when suddenly the gleam of a sword flashed, and Helian Rong’s blade was already pressed against her throat.
"Where is the woman you are guarding?" Helian Rong asked coldly, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes.
This woman was of the Ninth Grade in the Energy Transformation Realm, and moreover, her sword technique was extremely refined. Had Helian Rong’s own strength not been superior, combined with her proficiency in using poisons, it would have taken some effort to subdue her opponent.
Truly worthy of the Duanmu aristocratic family. Even with the top experts of the clan deployed, the guards remaining were formidable, including those in the Late-stage Energy Transformation Realm among their elderly and women, showing a depth of strength that minor or mediocre forces would lament to challenge.
Feeling the intense killing intent from Helian Rong, the woman dared not hide anything and gritted her teeth, "In...in the underground chamber."
Helian Rong thought to herself that it was as expected.
She hadn’t seen Yang Fei since her arrival, nor could she sense his presence; he must have gone to the underground chamber.
The Duanmu family indeed took great measures in guarding Tong Yunshu, keeping her under such tight surveillance.
"Lead the way," demanded Helian Rong.
Feeling half of her body going numb and a dizzying rush enveloping her, the middle-aged woman, increasingly fearful of the poison on Helian Rong’s sword, couldn’t help but ask, "I...I’m feeling dizzy and tight in the chest, can...can you give me the antidote first?"
Helian Rong scoffed coldly, "Rest assured, with your cultivation level, it won’t affect your ability to walk just yet. If you want the antidote, quickly lead me to the person. I’m here to rescue, not to kill needlessly, but if you seek death, I won’t mind adding one more to the count."
"Follow me." The middle-aged woman turned hurriedly, leading Helian Rong towards a room. She was one of the two responsible for watching Tong Yunshu, and had been asleep. When she heard the commotion outside and got up, she saw Helian Rong breaking in.
They arrived at the room, which had its door open. The room was sparsely furnished with only a bed and a wooden table. The bedding on the bed was lifted, revealing the wooden bedboards beneath.
The middle-aged woman quickly walked to the bed, pressed down on one of the bedboards, which then depressed, revealing an entrance to a tunnel.
"Buzz!"
Just as the entrance to the tunnel opened, a fierce Qi swept up from below.
Just as the middle-aged woman was about to jump in, she was startled and hastily stepped back.
Helian Rong, sensing something, called out, "Yang Fei?"
"It’s me."
The voice of Yang Fei came from below.
A figure flashed, and Yang Fei jumped out, embracing a woman who seemed soft and boneless.
"What about...my sister-in-law?" The middle-aged woman controlled by Helian Rong saw Yang Fei emerging with the woman they had been guarding, but her own sister-in-law was nowhere to be seen, and she asked anxiously.
Yang Fei glanced at her indifferently, then said to Helian Rong, "Let’s go."
Just now, he had already checked in the underground secret chamber, and although Tong Yunshu was unconscious, her breathing was even, and she had no injuries or pain on her body.
Now that they had rescued her, it was safer to leave the Duanmu aristocratic family as soon as possible to prevent any further complications.
Upon hearing this, Helian Rong nodded and said, "Right, let’s leave first."
As the two turned to leave, the middle-aged woman hurriedly asked Helian Rong, "What about the antidote?"
Helian Rong ignored her and said indifferently, "Don’t worry, she won’t die, but she can’t escape the suffering. The people of the Duanmu family must suffer a bit."
Watching the group leave, the middle-aged woman was both angry and furious, yet she dared not say more.
She forcefully gathered a burst of Qi and leaped into the secret chamber to check if her sister-in-law was harmed; otherwise, she couldn’t explain to her brother when he returned.
...
Yang Fei, carrying Tong Yunshu, with Helian Rong following by his side, arrived outside to find that over a hundred members of the Duanmu family, alerted by the noise, had already gathered. There was also noise coming from a distance, clearly indicating that the entire villa had been disturbed.
However, faced with Wang Lei, Duanmu Cheng, and Duanmu Song, those people dared not step forward.
Seeing that Yang Fei had rescued the person, Wang Lei and the others also breathed a sigh of relief, and Xu Jian said, "Let’s go."
Suddenly, Duanmu Song said, "Fei, you must also take your grandfather with you. After today, our branch will no longer have a place in the Duanmu family."
Yang Fei looked at him, saw the tears shimmering in his eyes and the helpless and regretful expression on his face, and then nodded, "Lead the way, and let whoever wants to follow you leave as well."
Duanmu Song’s expression changed slightly, "Leave together?"
Yang Fei nodded, "It’s exactly the time to use people on the outside. If anyone wishes to follow, take them along."
Now, whether it was the Hidden Sect or the secular world, everything was in great chaos. For all parties, people were the most important resource.
The branch of Duanmu Wentong and Duanmu Song, father and son, had been oppressed and marginalized by the Duanmu family for many years. Now that they were leaving with him, Yang Fei didn’t mind giving them a chance if the other people from their branch were willing to leave as well.
These people had a foundation in cultivation, and Yang Fei believed that the genetic medicine liquid he would create could bring them great help, and likewise, as these people grew, they could also bring him returns.
Hearing Yang Fei say this, Duanmu Song felt both joy and emotion.
Although he didn’t know what the situation was like outside, his branch had been too stifled in the Mu family over the years; now that everyone from the Hidden Sect was entering the world, tying their fate to Yang Fei might improve their future.
Immediately, the group followed Duanmu Song to the area where the branch of Duanmu Wentong resided.
Along the way, members of the Duanmu family stepped aside to clear the path, not daring to block them.
Occasionally, someone tried to launch a surprise attack but was mercilessly slain. This deterred others from acting rashly, and some old family members insisted everyone remain calm, hoping that Yang Fei and his group would leave soon after rescuing the person and not bring too much slaughter to the Duanmu family members.
Soon, they arrived at the residence of Duanmu Wentong.
This place was located on the outskirts of the Duanmu family’s estate. Compared to the rest, the surrounding old homes were pretty dilapidated, with many courtyard walls collapsed. Compared to the flourishing Duanmu estate, this area was practically a slum.
"Father, Yang Fei is here," Duanmu Song called out loudly as they arrived at a courtyard.
Footsteps came from inside, and it was Duanmu Wentong striding forward.
Seeing Yang Fei and others, and noticing the group of young family members following behind them, Duanmu Wentong understood everything.
Duanmu Song said, "Father, Yang Fei wants us to pack up and take the clan members with him when we leave. What do you think?"
Duanmu Wentong’s expression changed a few times. After weighing his options, he nodded decisively, "That’s good. Our family has long been discarded by this clan. Everyone has suffered under this oppression for so many years; it’s time to leave."
With that, he leapt onto the courtyard wall and announced loudly, "From today, the lineage of Duanmu Wentong will separate from the Duanmu aristocratic family. My kin, if there are any who wish to follow, pack your belongings and join me. Let’s unite and make our way in the outside world."