Chapter 43 Will Wei Qingqiu Lose an Arm?

"Please... don't kill me. For the sake of our partnership in business, spare my life!" Wei Changtian's knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground in terror.

Heir of the Wei family? One of the four great clans of Tianmen City? In the face of a decisive Grandmaster, all these titles seemed nothing but a joke.

At that moment, blood still dripped from Xiao Feng's katana, and he remained silent.

"Master Xiao, the fault today truly lies with the Wei family," Wei Yuansheng said gravely, his tone full of earnestness. "If you can forgive the Wei family this once, we are willing to pay any price."

Though Chu Tian had yet to act, the outcome was already clear in the eyes of the Wei father and son.

Even Su Dingguo, a Grandmaster of the older generation, had fallen to Xiao Feng’s blade and died miserably. How could Chu Tian, a newly risen young Grandmaster, hope to be Xiao Feng’s match?

Wei Yuansheng harbored no hope—forcing Chu Tian to intervene would only result in his death, and nothing would change. Moreover, Chu Tian was his benefactor, having repeatedly aided the Wei family, which could never repay him. How could Wei Yuansheng bear to drag Chu Tian into peril?

With this thought, Wei Yuansheng changed his mind and abandoned any intention to ask Chu Tian to fight.

"The Wei family is truly willing to pay any price?" Xiao Feng sneered, his expression thoughtful.

"Never will I go back on my word!" Seeing Xiao Feng’s willingness to negotiate, Wei Yuansheng nodded hurriedly.

"Good. I want not only my spiritual stones returned, but also half of the Wei family’s assets," Xiao Feng declared, naming an extremely harsh condition.

"Half... half the assets?" Wei Changtian murmured, finding it hard to accept, yet dared not protest.

"Very well, I agree," Wei Yuansheng said through gritted teeth, truly accepting Xiao Feng’s terms.

After all, between life and wealth, life was more precious. If surrendering half their assets could save the Wei family, it was not an impossible price.

Chu Tian’s eyes flashed with understanding. In his previous life, Xiao Feng had not exterminated the entire Wei family; he must have made the same demand, and Wei Yuansheng, swallowing his pride, saved the family. Unfortunately, after losing half their assets, the Wei family began to decline. With Wei Yuansheng’s death from illness, they fell even further, eventually being wiped out by rival clans.

"The death penalty may be spared, but punishment will not be avoided!"

"I can let the Wei family live, but Wei Changtian deceived me and must pay the price!"

"He must sever his own arm—only then will I spare the Wei family!" Xiao Feng sneered, a cruel glint in his eyes.

The proud heir of the Wei family, forced to such a dead end, must cut off his own arm to survive? If word of this reached the outside world, it would surely cause a great uproar.

Yet in the ruthless world of ancient martial arts, such things were commonplace.

Of course, this was still the country of Hua, not overseas, and Xiao Feng could not go too far. The Wei family held considerable influence in Tianmen City’s business circles. Xiao Feng could annihilate them, but afterward he would be relentlessly hunted by the Ancient Martial Arts Bureau—a price not worth paying.

It was wiser to spare their lives and extort half their assets as compensation.

"You... you want me to cut off my own arm?" Wei Changtian was terrified, unable to decide.

"What, you’re unwilling to part with even an arm? Then perhaps you’re seeking death," Xiao Feng said, stepping forward and tossing a short blade at Wei Changtian’s feet.

Clink!

The blade landed with a crisp sound, as if striking Wei Changtian’s soul.

He turned pale and did not pick up the blade, torn by inner conflict.

Just then, Wei Qingqiu stepped forward and blocked her father.

"Xiao Feng, isn’t it an arm you want?" she said. "I am Wei Changtian’s only daughter. Let me sacrifice my arm instead—will that suffice?"

Wei Qingqiu bent down and snatched the blade from the ground.

"Little girl, you have more courage than your father," Xiao Feng said, his cruel smile deepening. "Very well—if you sever your own arm, I will spare Wei Changtian and pardon your family’s offense."

He imagined what the beautiful Wei Qingqiu would look like after losing an arm—the thought thrilled him.

Wei Qingqiu’s eyes shone with resolve. She gritted her teeth and swung the blade toward her left arm.

"Qingqiu, don’t!" Wei Yuansheng cried, his face changing, but it was too late to stop her.

Suddenly, Chu Tian intervened, gripping Wei Qingqiu’s wrist. The blade froze in midair, unable to descend.

"Chu Tian, don’t stop me," Wei Qingqiu said, biting her lip. Driven to desperation, she had no other choice.

"You belong to me. I won’t allow you to suffer even the slightest harm. Have you already forgotten my words?" Chu Tian looked straight into her eyes, his tone earnest.

Wei Qingqiu was at a loss. In such a dire moment, how could Chu Tian say such things?

"Do you trust me?" Chu Tian continued, his gaze unwavering.

"I... Of course I trust you!" Hearing this, Wei Qingqiu’s frantic heart began to calm. She remembered the protective talisman he had given her, recalled his many miraculous abilities. Almost unconsciously, her resolve grew stronger, and she nodded.

"If you trust me, then never do such foolish things again," Chu Tian said, his voice firm as he gently took the blade from her hand and tossed it aside.

"Who are you?" Xiao Feng’s expression darkened, his gaze fixed on Chu Tian. With the Wei family already cowed, who was Chu Tian to stand in their way?

"I am Wei Qingqiu’s husband. Whom were you planning to make sever an arm?" Chu Tian replied bluntly, calm and composed even before Xiao Feng.

Wei Qingqiu blushed but did not object.

Wei Yuansheng and Wei Changtian, forgetting the tense atmosphere, exchanged glances, as if tacitly acknowledging Chu Tian’s identity.

"Are you trying to play the hero and save the beauty?" Xiao Feng sneered. "Even that old fool Su Dingguo was no match for me. What makes you think you can defeat me?"

"I am not unreasonable. The fault lies with Wei Changtian. If you agree to let matters rest, I will return the spiritual stones to you. But if you insist on harming members of the Wei family, I will show no mercy. Think carefully," Chu Tian said coldly.