After the Ghost Hall incident was settled, Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng hurried their journey, hoping to return to the Capital as soon as possible. Along the way, Ninth Royal Uncle originally planned to send the Valley Master’s junior brother down to the Jiangnan region, but before he could make arrangements, the junior brother’s nemesis found them first.
Ethan Xiao, the master of Xiao Sword Manor—rumored to have died twenty years ago—now appeared sword in hand, cutting his way straight to Ninth Royal Uncle: "I mean no offense. As long as Ninth Royal Uncle hands over Thomas Shen, I will leave at once."
"No offense?" Ninth Royal Uncle sneered. "Master Xiao, you claim no offense yet have already injured so many of my men. If you truly meant offense, wouldn’t you be after my life as well?"
"I am but a wandering swordsman, and would never dare harm Your Highness." Despite his words, Ethan Xiao’s sword remained pointed at Ninth Royal Uncle, unwavering.
"Wouldn't dare, huh? That's a good one." Ninth Royal Uncle snorted coldly, his deep eyes icy and piercing. Ethan Xiao was startled, a flicker of fear passing through his gaze.
Serena saw the moment and knew her chance had come. She gently pulled the trigger and fired a shot at Ethan Xiao’s wrist.
Bang— The bullet flew out. Ethan Xiao was startled and instinctively used his sword to block. With a clang, the bullet struck the blade.
At the same time, Ninth Royal Uncle drew the flexible sword from his waist, channeling inner force into it. With a swish, the blade unfurled and stabbed straight at Ethan Xiao. Ethan barely had time to catch his breath and hastily raised his sword to block the attack.
Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena struck almost simultaneously. Ethan Xiao, flustered and struggling, was driven into a corner, quickly losing the initiative.
Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena showed no mercy, nor did they waste words. One fired from a distance, the other kept Ethan Xiao tangled up in close combat. Even if he wanted to run, escape was impossible.
Bang—another shot fired. The bullet shot toward Ethan Xiao, but Prince Nolan blocked him, forcing Ethan to watch helplessly as the bullet struck his abdomen.
Spurt—blood blossomed as the bullet buried itself in his body. Ethan staggered back, clutching his stomach, while Prince Nolan seized the moment to press forward, forcing Ethan to retreat again...
Swordlight flashed, sparks flew, and with a ringing clang, Prince Nolan flicked Ethan Xiao’s sword from his hand. Ethan collapsed to the ground.
Prince Nolan held his blade to Ethan’s throat but did not strike. "Take him away," he ordered.
The guards stepped forward, restraining the powerless Ethan Xiao. Ignoring his resistance, they dragged him before Prince Nolan. Serena stepped out from the shadows, her expression grave as she joined Nolan, eyes fixed on the man before them.
What was this guy after, anyway? He barged in swinging without a word, claimed he meant no offense—who would ever believe that?
"Master Xiao..." Prince Nolan began, but Ethan Xiao cut him off: "Save your words. I’m simply not as skilled. My vengeance ends here—I accept it."
Ethan Xiao’s face was ashen, lifeless, his dim eyes brimming with sorrow and unwillingness. His lips pressed tight—he’d rather die than say another word.
"Take him away." Prince Nolan had no intention of killing Ethan. Since Ethan refused to speak, Nolan didn’t bother asking further.
"What happened here?" Vincent Su and the old army doctor arrived just as Ethan Xiao was being taken away.
Prince Nolan ignored Vincent Su and instead looked at the old army doctor. The old man's heart skipped a beat, and he asked uneasily, "Wh-what is it?"
"E-Ethan Xiao." Prince Nolan gazed at the old army doctor and spoke slowly.
"Wh-what? Ethan... Ethan Xiao. He's here? He survived?" The old army doctor's face turned ghostly pale, his lips quivering as he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
His eyes went vacant, his face blank—like someone possessed. He kept muttering to himself, but no one could make out the words.
Serena and Vincent Su were utterly baffled. They glanced at Prince Nolan, then at the old army doctor, both of them lost.
Serena wanted to check on the old army doctor, but Prince Nolan stopped her. "Leave him be."
With that, he abandoned the old army doctor and led Serena straight into the command tent.
"Who exactly is Ethan Xiao? What does he have to do with the Valley Master's junior brother?" Serena had a vague suspicion, but refused to believe it.
"Just as you suspect." Prince Nolan's face was expressionless as he began to recount Ethan Xiao's origins and the tragedy of Xiao Sword Manor.
Xiao Sword Manor was once a renowned sword-forging estate. In the jianghu, everyone took pride in owning a blade from Xiao Sword Manor. Back then, the manor was at its peak, and the Myriad Blades Grove drew countless martial artists from across the land.