Chapter 38

The greatest sorrow is the death of the heart, and the second greatest is the death of the body!

This was the feeling Jiang Yi had at this moment. He grew up in the Jiang family, always believing that this was his home, a place he could be proud of and worth protecting for a lifetime.

At the age of seven, he first experienced the warmth and coldness of human relationships. At that time, he still did not believe it, thinking it was because he was useless. If he were still the genius he once was, if he could quickly cultivate, these elders who were once kind to him would still like him, praise him, and treat him wholeheartedly.

At the age of nine, the Grand Elder disappeared, and the Jiang family began to increasingly neglect and exclude him. The young members of the Jiang family started to bully him, but he still harbored a glimmer of hope, even until today, he still fantasized that the Jiang family would once again value him, cultivate him, and give him the status and warmth of a family.

Today, he wanted to make a big fuss, even risking suicide to gather all the elders. In his heart, he hoped that his seal could be broken, and he could reveal to everyone that he possessed a mysterious cultivation technique that could produce a powerful primordial force.

However, at this moment, he was thoroughly disillusioned with the Jiang family. He did not have the blood of the Jiang family in his veins. To this vast Jiang family, he was an outsider, a white-eyed wolf, a tiger cub that could become a threat at any time.

Death, he had never feared!

The Grand Elder had taught him a lesson from a young age: to become a true warrior, a powerful fighter, one must have the heart of a strong person, not fearing anyone or anything, including death. His only regret was that he could not take good care of Jiang Xiaonu, and he could no longer take care of her...

"Fine! Since there is no one to testify, this matter is very clear. If the elders have no objections, I will handle it according to the clan rules."

Not long after, Jiang Yunshi's voice pulled Jiang Yi back to his senses. This time, Jiang Yi did not argue or want to say more; even staying for a moment longer made him feel nauseous!

Everyone remained silent. The head of the Jiang family, Jiang Yunshan, still lowered his head and drank tea, not expressing any opinion. However, the words he said when he entered clearly expressed his anger; Jiang Rulong being severely injured made him extremely unhappy...

The face of the Second Elder, who looked like a withered tree, twitched, but he ultimately did not speak. He and the Grand Elder belonged to the same lineage, which was once of great importance in the Jiang family. However, with the disappearance of the Grand Elder, who was the top combatant, their lineage became the weakest. He did not have many years left to live and did not want to offend anyone for Jiang Yi's sake, lest he bring trouble to his descendants.

"Wait!"

The Second Elder did not speak, but Jiang Yunmeng, who belonged to the same lineage as Jiang Yunshan, spoke again. He was impulsive and warlike, with a straightforward and explosive temper. Since returning from the martial arts hall, he had been very curious about Jiang Yi. Now that Jiang Yi was about to be executed, he could not help but ask, "Jiang Yi, what's the deal with your strength? How did you improve so quickly? And how did you win against Jiang Rulong?"

"Hmm..."

Jiang Yunmeng's question echoed the doubts of many. Although Jiang Yi was not well-liked, he was still a celebrity in the Jiang family, especially because of the lingering influence of Jiang Yunhai. Jiang Yi had been sealed from a young age, which was very strange. Recently, they often heard that Jiang Yi was beaten by Jiang Ruhu and others. How could his strength have improved so much in just a few months? What was even more surprising was that he easily won against Jiang Rulong?

Jiang Yi sneered, not wanting to explain at all, but since Jiang Yunmeng seemed to be somewhat supportive, he paused and made up a story, "I dug up a thousand-year-old black blood ginseng in the Soul-Breaking Mountain! As for how I won against Jiang Rulong? He's just a drunkard, how hard is it to beat him? A little trick and I could take him down, hmpf!"

"Thousand-year-old black blood ginseng?"

Everyone except Jiang Yunshan showed shock, then sighed in regret. Jiang Yunshan also slightly raised his head and glanced at Jiang Yi, his eyes filled with rage.

Thousand-year-old black blood ginseng!

A heavenly-grade medicinal herb, the main ingredient for refining the Blood Ginseng Pill, a holy-grade pill. This thing was priceless, and Jiang Yi had such good luck to obtain one? To use such a precious pill without submitting it to the family and to consume it privately? If given to Jiang Henshui, it might help him break through to the Purple Mansion Realm?

"Hmpf!"

Jiang Yunshe grunted softly, clearly dissatisfied with Jiang Yi's latter words. Jiang Yunshi, realizing the situation, coldly ordered, "Enough, there's nothing more to investigate. Bring Jiang Yi to the back mountain and execute him immediately to set an example!"

"Wait!"

At this moment, a voice rang out again, shocking everyone, including Jiang Yi. The person who spoke was the head of the family, Jiang Yunshan.

Jiang Yunshan put down his teacup and stood up, nodded to the Second Elder, and walked straight out. He stopped in front of Jiang Yi, glanced around, and sighed, "Uncle Hai has been missing for six years, his fate unknown. Jiang Yi! Uncle Hai always valued and cared for you, which we all saw. Although Uncle Hai is likely gone, we remember his contributions to the Jiang family. For his sake, I will spare your life today! Of course... you may be spared death, but not punishment. Yunshi, break one of his legs as a warning. If he causes trouble again, he can be executed directly. Also, pass my order: before the Spirit Beast Mountain Academy and the Western Garrison recruit, if similar incidents occur in the family, the Martial Hall can execute directly without consulting the Punishment Hall or me. That's all... everyone can leave."

After saying this, Jiang Yunshan glanced at Jiang Yi indifferently and walked out, quickly disappearing from everyone's sight. The elders in the Punishment Hall left quickly without saying more, and Jiang Yunshe and Jiang Yunshi exchanged a glance. The former's eyes flashed with a cold look as he quickly left, leaving the large Punishment Hall with only Jiang Yunshi and the onlookers outside.

"Spare my life? Haha!"

Jiang Yi's face remained expressionless, but his heart was filled with cold laughter. Before leaving, Jiang Yunshan had glanced at him indifferently, and he could clearly feel the intense killing intent in his eyes.

Jiang Yunshan was trying to have his cake and eat it too...

This matter had caused a big stir. If he were really executed, many people in the Jiang family would likely discuss it and be dissatisfied. After all, Jiang Ruhu and others had indeed beaten him, and Jiang Xiaonu was lying on Chunya's bed. By giving the Grand Elder a face, Jiang Yunshan spared his life, which would show his benevolence and silence the crowd.

"Haha, I'm afraid I will mysteriously die after the Spirit Beast Mountain Academy recruitment, right?"

Jiang Yi thought to himself, his heart growing even colder. However, since he did not have to die now, he would not be so foolish as to seek death himself. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would fight for it. He was not afraid of death, but he was very afraid that Jiang Xiaonu would die with him.

"Since the head of the family has shown benevolence, I must obey. Bring Jiang Yi and break one of his legs. If he causes trouble again, execute him without mercy!"

Jiang Yunshi quickly understood the situation. He knew his brother very well; Jiang Yi would not live long. The Jiang family would not keep a white-eyed wolf for long, as it could bring endless trouble to the family.

"No need!"

Seeing a guard about to act, Jiang Yi coldly shouted. Then, under everyone's shocked gaze, he channeled his primordial force and swiftly struck his left leg.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed, and Jiang Yi's left leg snapped, hanging limply. Throughout the process, Jiang Yi did not make a single sound of pain, though cold sweat poured from his forehead and his facial muscles twitched. His eyes, however, remained eerily calm.

"Hiss... Deputy Elder of the Punishment Hall, can I leave now?"

Jiang Yi took a deep breath and turned to Jiang Yunshi, asking indifferently, emphasizing the word "deputy."

"Go to the Internal Affairs Hall and collect two pills, reflect at home, and get out of here!" Jiang Yunshi's face changed, but he soon sneered. For a doomed little brat, he thought it was not worth getting angry...

Jiang Yi hopped out of the Punishment Hall on one leg, but the intense pain from his left shoulder and leg made him lose balance and fall to the ground.

He refused the help of the Jiang family servants, gritted his teeth, and stood up. He broke off a branch from a nearby tree, enduring the intense pain and dizziness from blood loss, and hobbled toward his small courtyard, leaving a trail of blood...

...

The distance from the Jiang family Punishment Hall to Jiang Yi's courtyard was not far. Normally, it would take only half an incense stick to reach, but this time, Jiang Yi took a full half an hour, even falling a few times and almost fainting twice.

"Bang!"

He crashed into his courtyard, hopped into the yard, and could no longer support himself, falling to the ground with a grimace. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and sat cross-legged, beginning to cultivate to heal his injuries. If he did not heal soon, he would die from blood loss.

"Oh, Young Master Jiang Yi, what happened to you?"

Half an hour later, Jiang Yi was awakened by a panicked cry. Chunya had just gone out to buy pills with the purple gold Jiang Yi gave her. On her way back, she heard the whole Western Courtyard discussing Jiang Yi's situation and rushed to his courtyard without going home.

Jiang Yi opened his eyes, his gaze weak. He saw Chunya holding a porcelain bottle and smiled gratefully, shaking his head, "I'm fine, Chunya, thank you for taking care of Xiaonu! By the way... does Xiaonu know about my injuries?"

"No, I haven't been home yet!" Chunya shook her head, then immediately realized and handed the porcelain bottle to Jiang Yi, "Young Master Jiang Yi, this is a good healing pill. Take it quickly to heal your injuries. You still have money left, so I can buy a few more for Xiaonu."

"No, no!"

Jiang Yi shook his head, took a pill from the bottle, and looked at Chunya seriously, "Chunya, listen! You've heard about today's events, right? You can tell Xiaonu everything, but don't mention my injuries. Just say... I was released without guilt by the Punishment Hall and left the Jiang family directly. Tell Xiaonu to rest and heal, and that the head of the family has ordered that no one will dare to touch her during this time. I will return in a month, understand?"

"Ah?"

Chunya gasped, asking in confusion, "Young Master Jiang Yi, you're leaving for a month? But... how can you walk like this?"

"Don't worry about it. I will leave tonight and promise to return in a month!"

Jiang Yi did not explain further, just instructed Chunya to go back and take care of Jiang Xiaonu. He swallowed the pill and began to heal his injuries. He knew this pill would not cure his injuries, but he had to leave tonight. If he did not, he would be trapped in the Jiang family and left to die...