Chapter 1195: Chapter 1184: Who Will Be the Next Sacrifice?
Chapter 1184: Who Will Be the Next Sacrifice?
“In the near future, the Ning Family must remain vigilant and be ready for any counterattacks from Nalan Jiuhuang.”
“This is…”
Ning Qiankun and Ning Fan frowned, somewhat indignant and embarrassed.
As the old saying goes, there are a thousand days to be a thief, but no thousand days to guard against a thief.
Faced with a master like Nalan Jiuhuang, it’s truly hard to defend against. Even if Ning Fan has the Shadow Team and assistance from the Cloud Breaking Sect, along with Steward Zhang leading the Ning Family in their relentless patrol, there will always be a lapse in security.
Besides, if Nalan Jiuhuang seeks revenge on the Ning Family, her targets would be many; it wouldn’t just be Ning Qiankun and Ning Fan.
Anyone associated could be her target for revenge, attacked step by step, including the Cloud Breaking Sect, which aided the Ning Family this time, could likely become her main target.
Once these peripheral forces are struck, it’s equivalent to severing the Ning Family’s auxiliary forces. Consequently, the Ning Family’s defenses would become increasingly weak, exactly as Nalan Jiuhuang anticipates.
Ning Fan tapped the table and instructed, “Feifei, your Shadow Team needs to work hard. Immediately track and locate Nalan Jiuhuang and the remaining members of the Nalan Clan. Do not let them slip out of control.”
“Yes, Mr. Ning, I will execute immediately.”
Ouyang Feifei, without complaint, received the order and left after cupping her fists.
Duan Yunfei also rose and cupped his fists, smiling, “The Shadow Team members seem stretched thin when tracking across such a vast area. Our Cloud Breaking Sect is famous in the Jianghu for our cunning, and we can be of significant help. Farewell, farewell.”
With that, his figure flickered, and he swiftly left too.
Ning Fan nodded and ordered, “Steward Zhang, you lead the Ning Family to guard around the Quiet Thought Hall. Strive for a guard every three steps, a high point every five, establish code words, and check every fifteen minutes. There must not be any flaws, ensuring the old master’s safety.”
“Understood. And young master, what about you?”
After receiving the order, Steward Zhang inquired.
Ning Fan stood up, sneering coldly, “Though we severely injured Nalan Jiuhuang today, that old hag will never give up easily. Once she recovers, she’ll undoubtedly come after me again. So we must turn passivity into initiative. I need a good night’s rest. After recovering my stamina and strength, I will strike first, annihilate Nalan Jiuhuang and her Nalan Clan members.”
“Alright then.”
Ning Qiankun and Steward Zhang exchanged glances, reluctantly accepting this suggestion.
Ning Fan treated Ning Qiankun and found that he was actually not seriously harmed, then returned to his bedroom and fell into a deep sleep.
The reason he claimed to need a night’s rest was to rid himself of the side effects of the Invisibility Technique, which required considerable time.
Once he awoke and his strength recovered, these side effects would also vanish. At that point, he would launch a vigorous attack to eliminate Nalan Jiuhuang, the only viable path forward.
Thus, the three of them departed with varied expressions, each to their tasks.
Ning Fan glanced at the sky, seeing clouds obscure the moon, the night pitch-black, unable to see his hand in front of him.
He murmured, “A moonless, windy night for killing. I wonder if Nalan Jiuhuang will seize this opportunity.”
Then, he switched thoughts, a faint smile curling on his lips.
Today’s use of the Invisibility Technique left Nalan Jiuhuang bewildered. He imagined this old witch must be fretting over how to counter his Invisibility Technique right now?
Indeed, as Ning Fan assumed, Nalan Jiuhuang was deeply troubled at that moment.
She had regrouped with the surviving Nalan clan members, looking at a force of about a hundred, each wounded.
Suddenly, sorrow filled Nalan Jiuhuang.
She sat high up in an abandoned courtyard house, overlooking the miserable clan members below, sneering, “While I was confronting Ning Qiankun and Ning Fan at the Ning Family’s Quiet Thought Hall, what on earth were you doing outside? With an absolute numerical advantage, how did you end up like this? Calling you members of the Nalan Clan, I feel ashamed!”
“Uh…”
The Nalan clan members were petrified, momentarily speechless.
After all, their defeat was an undeniable fact, and Nalan Jiuhuang was not wrong.
However, the battle was led by Nalan Jiuhuang, but she played the blame game like Zhu Bajie, leaving the subordinate Nalan clan members unable to refute or find reason.
It’s just as the saying goes.
If they won, the leader was wise.
If they lost, the frontline command was insufficient.
The logic is simple.
Finally, an Elder couldn’t stand it anymore, his face flushed as he said, “Aunt Jiu, even you were severely injured by Ning Fan, which speaks volumes of the Ning Family’s strength. Our defeat was because we failed to see their true identity. Can the strength and status of the Ning Family be something our Nalan Clan covets? Wasn’t this the folly of using an egg to strike a rock?
This matter was, from the beginning, a fundamental mistake. Blame no one else.”
“What did you say?”
Nalan Jiuhuang’s eyes turned cold, and a furious killing intent emanated from her. Despite her now aged appearance, her aura was uncontainable.
The Elder of the Nalan clan retorted, “Aunt Jiu, am I wrong? You thought sheer bravery could turn the entire tide. In fact, you’re gravely mistaken. Even your Aerial Mastery Realm strength couldn’t match Ning Fan at his Peak of True Origin Realm. Our Nalan clan members’ nine deaths and one life was only reasonable, wouldn’t you agree?”
“How dare you!”
Nalan Jiuhuang suddenly stood up, whirling towards him, delivering a palm strike onto the elder’s head.
“Ah…”
In an instant, the Elder let out a miserable cry. His whole body’s True Qi went into disarray, and all of his True Qi and Vitality surged to his head, absorbed by Nalan Jiuhuang.
Since the Elder’s realm was quite advanced as well, Nalan Jiuhuang’s absorption of his Vitality caused her appearance to rapidly rejuvenate, becoming more youthful and beautiful.
With a thud.
After the Vitality was drained completely, the Elder had become a mere skeletal figure, eye sockets sunken, skin as fragile as silver paper.
Nalan Jiuhuang kicked him into the courtyard, shouting to those present, “You all see, this is the fate of those who dare defy me. Here, my word is the law!”
“This is…”
The crowd exchanged anxious glances, swallowing hard, and dared not speak against her under Nalan Jiuhuang’s oppressive might.
Nalan Jiuhuang was initially troubled about whom to absorb Vitality from when someone conveniently presented themselves.
This rather righteous Elder of the Nalan clan became her sacrifice to restore her appearance and strength.
The crowd noticed that Nalan Jiuhuang’s looks had returned to that of a forty- or fifty-year-old, at least moist in complexion, with hair half black and half white.
They all feared they might become the next sacrifice.