Chapter 143: Siblings Slaying One Another?

June was the hottest time of year in Flame City. Even the city’s native inhabitants could scarcely endure the heat. After all, fire-aspected bodies had their limits; once those limits were exceeded, the discomfort became unbearable.

In the main hall of the Huang residence, Huang Zong stood before Huang Yuanshan. His long hair stirred without any wind, and he seemed like a proud war god standing beneath the heavens, radiating a presence that shook the heart.

Huang Yuanshan’s aged face trembled with excitement. He had only learned of this today. When Huang Zong suddenly rose from his wooden chair before his eyes and walked toward him step by step, it felt like a dream—a dream so wondrous it nearly drove him mad.

Huang Kun’s face had gone pale. He forced himself to remain standing, refusing to collapse. It was as though a heavy hammer had struck his head, leaving his ears roaring and his soul on the verge of shattering.

How was this possible?

That sentence echoed endlessly through Huang Kun’s mind. Although Senior Gu had treated Huang Zong the last time he came, Huang Kun had never once seen Huang Zong stand afterward. He had continued to look weak and sickly.

At first, Huang Kun had even felt relieved, believing that the so-called senior expert had been a fraud. But now he suddenly understood. Everything had been an act. He had been deceived, like a fool living in a grand illusion for all these years.

“Zong’er, you... you’ve finally stood up? I... I’m not dreaming!” Huang Yuanshan stammered. To him, everything that had happened over the past year seemed like a series of myths.

Huang Sheng’s strange illness had been cured. The Huang family had gained a formidable warrior. The family business had multiplied many times over, and the clan’s standing within the Skyfire Empire had risen considerably. Filled with remorse and self-reproach, Huang Yuanshan had therefore granted Huang Sheng great authority.

Now Huang Zong’s injuries had suddenly healed as well. Huang Yuanshan could not put his joy into words; even his body had begun to tremble.

Huang Zong’s gaze briefly met Huang Kun’s. It was only a simple glance, yet Huang Kun’s body immediately shuddered. Of course, it was not excitement or delight that made him tremble. It was a chill that rose from the depths of his soul, as if an evil spirit from hell had seized his legs and was dragging him away.

When Huang Zong turned his eyes toward Huang Yuanshan, several traces of warmth appeared on his formerly rigid face. He bowed respectfully and said, “Grandfather, your grandson has been unfilial and made you worry for so many years. Fortunately, a senior expert of extraordinary ability saved me. My injuries have been completely healed, and I can once again serve the Huang family.”

As Huang Zong spoke, the full force of his aura burst forth.

An old man with white hair and a long beard, seated beside Huang Yuanshan, suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed, “A seventh-level Battle King! Not yet thirty, and already possessing such strength. Excellent, excellent.”

Huang Yuanshan froze, staring at Huang Zong in astonishment. This white-bearded elder was the only one among the Huang family’s three honored retainers to have reached the Battle Emperor realm. His judgment could not be wrong.

Huang Yuanshan had never imagined that after being crippled for more than a decade, Huang Zong could possess such strength once his injuries were healed. Not yet thirty, yet already a seventh-level Battle King—such a person was rare throughout the entire War Continent, let alone one who had spent so many years crippled.

Huang Yuanshan was so excited that he nearly danced for joy.

“Good, good, good! Zong’er, you have not disappointed your grandfather. I have never blamed you, either. Seeing what you have achieved today truly makes me happy! By the way, where is that senior expert? Is he still in the Huang family?” Huang Yuanshan asked excitedly, his aged face flushed red.

Huang Sheng smiled faintly and stepped forward. “To answer you, Grandfather, the senior has already left several days ago. He merely instructed my elder brother and me to tell you only after my brother had fully recovered, so that we could give you a surprise.”

“A surprise? A surprise indeed! This is absolutely a surprise!” Huang Yuanshan roared with laughter. In that instant, he seemed to have grown decades younger.

The Huang family could finally stand tall for real.

Huang Zong’s eyes repeatedly swept toward Huang Kun, making the latter’s scalp prickle. Only after Huang Yuanshan finished speaking did he force a smile and say, “Congratulations, Eldest Brother, on your complete recovery. Such an important occasion must be celebrated properly by our Huang family. I’ll go make the preparations first. Eldest Brother, you and Third Brother can continue talking with Grandfather.”

Huang Kun grinned as he spoke. At that moment, he only wanted to leave this place of danger as quickly as possible. He could sense the killing intent radiating from Huang Zong—an icy, murderous intent.

Huang Yuanshan sensed nothing unusual. Hearing Huang Kun’s suggestion, he immediately agreed and laughed heartily. “Exactly, exactly! We must hold a celebration banquet. Go on, send invitations to all the great families. I shall host a grand feast for seven days! Ha ha! I am truly overjoyed today!”

Laughing, Huang Yuanshan waved for Huang Kun to leave.

As if granted a pardon, Huang Kun immediately turned around and hurried away at a near run.

But before he had gone even ten yards, Huang Zong shouted, “Wait! Second Brother, I still have much to say to you. Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”

Huang Kun’s body stiffened, and he stopped where he stood.

Huang Yuanshan naturally sensed that something was wrong. He looked at Huang Zong in confusion, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Zong’er, what are you doing? Why does this feel somewhat...”

“Grandfather, please do not worry,” Huang Sheng said with a beaming smile. “Nothing is wrong. Eldest Brother simply cannot bear to see Second Brother leave so soon and wishes to speak with him.”

Although Huang Sheng’s cultivation was not particularly strong, every glance he cast now made Huang Kun feel as though thorns were pressing into his back. Huang Kun could almost feel the two brothers skinning him, tearing out his tendons, crushing his bones, and devouring his soul.

Huang Yuanshan hesitated, then immediately realized that something was amiss. He coldly glanced at the servants and branch-family members nearby and said, “Leave. Tell the others to prepare the banquet. Without my orders, no one is to come here. Go!”

The moment Huang Yuanshan finished speaking, the attendants quickly vanished from the hall. They were not fools and could naturally sense the murderous tension in the air.

The horn signaling the beginning of the Huang family’s internal struggle had officially sounded.

Huang Kun’s expression gradually relaxed. After a long moment, he smiled faintly and slowly walked back.

“Since Eldest Brother has something to say to me, I naturally cannot refuse to listen.”

He spoke with a smile as he returned to his former position. His emotions gradually settled, and his earlier panic vanished without a trace.

He had already been forced into a desperate corner. Precisely because of that, his heart had become even calmer.

“Elder Qiu, please go and bring back my worthless son. If he refuses to return, seize him by force. I’ll leave it to you.”

Huang Yuanshan spoke to the Battle Emperor beside him. The old man hesitated briefly, then nodded. His body blurred, and he disappeared.

Huang Yuanshan walked to the main seat in the hall and pointed toward several chairs. In a deep voice, he said, “Sit. The four of us should have a proper talk. Some matters are best brought into the open. That way, we can avoid an even greater mess later.”

His tone was composed and calm, making him difficult to read.

The three brothers nodded and sat down.

Huang Zong’s expression was grim, killing intent overflowing from him. Huang Kun maintained a faint smile, calm and indifferent. Huang Sheng, meanwhile, wore a broad grin and seemed somewhat carefree and unruly. Yet Huang Kun could clearly sense the chill hidden behind that smile.

A smiling tiger was often the most terrifying of all.

Once they had settled into their seats, Huang Zong lowered his voice.

“Grandfather, I have been crippled for many years. I had already abandoned all ambition and only wished to live out the rest of my life in peace. Even though I hated my fate and could not accept it, I had already come to terms with everything.”

As Huang Zong spoke quietly, the harshness on his face seemed to fade. Suddenly, his brows drew together, and a cold aura spread from his body.

“But after Senior Gu healed me and revealed the truth, my thoughts changed completely. Grandfather, could it really be mere fate that Third Brother and I became what we are? Grandfather, have you truly never suspected anything?”

Huang Zong sneered, his eyes sweeping over Huang Kun once more.

Huang Kun’s emotions had completely stabilized. He did not avoid the gaze. Instead, he smiled and met Huang Zong’s eyes.

Huang Yuanshan’s expression grew solemn. He looked at Huang Zong and Huang Sheng, the two brothers born of the same parents, then turned to Huang Kun and said in a low voice, “Zong’er, I investigated this matter in the past. Your injuries were caused by external enemies, while Sheng’er was born with a chronic illness. There is nothing suspicious about either matter.”

Hearing this, Huang Zong suddenly burst into laughter, his expression becoming almost unhinged.

“Grandfather, you truly know how to joke. I have already made everything so clear, yet you still intend to pretend that you know nothing? Very well. Since you refuse to speak, I shall say what I came here to say. Huang Kun, every debt that must be repaid will be settled today!”

With a cold snort, Huang Zong lunged forward and reached for Huang Kun’s shoulder.

Huang Kun’s expression changed, and he immediately tried to dodge.

At that moment, his mind suddenly grew hazy, as though his entire soul had frozen solid.

His lips turned purple, while a faint black radiance rose across his skin. He could do nothing as Huang Zong seized him by the shoulder.

Huang Yuanshan reacted at once and shouted, “What are you doing? Are you planning to turn against your own brother in front of me?”

As he spoke, Huang Yuanshan moved to rush forward. But Huang Sheng suddenly stepped in front of him and said with a smile, “Grandfather, please do not become agitated. You must have suspected this matter for a long time, but lacked evidence and were therefore kept in the dark. Rest assured. Today, Eldest Brother and I will place every piece of evidence before you and let you judge fairly.”

While Huang Sheng was speaking, Huang Zong had already forced Huang Kun down into a chair.

Intense golden light radiated from Huang Zong’s right hand as strange seals formed one after another between his fingers. As the golden light grew stronger, the black radiance covering Huang Kun’s body pulsed continuously, taking shape as bizarre runes.

Huang Yuanshan stared wide-eyed at the scene. He wanted to stop them, but the hand he had raised slowly lowered.

Huang Sheng was right. He had suspected this matter for a very long time. Perhaps today truly was his chance to learn the truth.

Huang Zong’s face was filled with icy intent. The seals formed by his right hand were nearing completion. When the final seal was finished, he raised his hand high and prepared to press it down upon Huang Kun’s head.

“You unfilial wretch! What are you doing?”