Chapter 1174: Chapter 1163: Nalan Jiuhuang Arrives
“Then Ning Fan and the Ning Family’s steward came, not only did they kill the Second Master, Nalan Invincible, but they also wiped out all of us from the Nalan Family. I only managed to escape by playing dead under the corpses.”
“Hmph!”
Nalan Jiuhuang’s face darkened, it was both anger and hatred.
The anger was that before the Nalan Family had even gone to question them, they had already lost dozens of men, a truly unfavorable start.
The hatred was that Ning Fan showed no respect for the Nalan Family, slaughtering all the vanguard troops.
Thinking of this, she looked at the Nalan clan member who had escaped back, and said coldly, “Since they are all dead, what are you doing back here, you coward.”
“Aunt Nine, facing that situation, even if I resisted it would have been useless, it would have been certain death. It’s better to play dead and still have a chance to escape with my life.”
The Nalan clan youth who came back argued stubbornly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Nalan Jiuhuang drew a precious sword from the side and slashed down fiercely.
With a swish.
The head of the returning Nalan clan youth flew high, and the headless body sprayed blood and struggled fiercely.
It quickly stopped moving, devoid of any life.
“Ugh…”
The sudden change shocked everyone into stunned silence.
Nobody expected that the first person Nalan Jiuhuang would kill after her return would be one of her own.
Her ruthless, decisive nature was vividly displayed.
It was imaginable, given how she used to walk the Jianghu, what simple and brutal methods she employed, no wonder she could lead the Nalan Family further and further; she was truly an iron-willed figure.
The scene fell silent, everyone was too frightened to breathe, their faces pale as they looked on.
“Heh heh…”
Nalan Jiuhuang laughed coldly a few times, scanning the surrounding area with icy eyes, “Now, everyone has seen. When fighting with me, there is only advance, never retreat, only death, never life. Even in death, you must die on the charge, who dares to become a deserter, this old lady will never forgive them, be such a person.”
“…”
During the stunned pause of the crowd, an elder of the Nalan Family came over respectfully saying, “Aunt, you might be overthinking. We have nearly a thousand men attacking the Ning Family, can they possibly be our match in such haste?”
With a slap.
Nalan Jiuhuang slapped him and sneered, “What do you know, the Ning Family is no ordinary family. When I was just a little girl, the Ning Family had already been holding sway over Dragon City for years, their foundation is beyond your imagination.
Their clan members may be few, but they are all elites among elites, spread across various fields. Thinking you can take the Ning Family just by numbers is pure fantasy.”
“Oh?”
Everyone was puzzled, asking bewilderedly, “Then what are we going to the Ning Family for? Isn’t it to take the chance to destroy them?”
“Exactly, we brought a thousand men here, it’s not only a huge effort but a huge expense as well. If it’s just to intimidate the Ning Family, it’s overkill.”
Nalan Jiuhuang, however, said coldly, “Bringing you all this time was not meant for you to take action, you are only to line up and intimidate the enemy. The actual combat will be done by myself and a few others, unless absolutely necessary.”
“Alright then.”
Everyone’s faces turned despondent, clearly losing any interest they initially had.
Originally, they intended to take the chance to annihilate the Ning Family.
But Nalan Jiuhuang thought completely differently from the others.
For a moment, everyone thought that Nalan Jiuhuang was truly old and her thinking had become dull, no longer keeping up with the times.
Of course, Nalan Jiuhuang knew what they were thinking, waving her hand forward, “Stop all this nonsense, as the saying goes, ‘speed is the essence of war’, let’s set out immediately, the faster we move, the less time the Ning Family has to prepare, which will only benefit us.”
“Yes.”
After the previous bloody intimidation, no one dared to challenge Nalan Jiuhuang’s limits anymore, all bowing and receiving orders loudly.
“Heh heh…”
Nalan Jiuhuang sat in the carriage, watching the grass and trees flash by like a fleeting horse, her eyes becoming brighter.
“Decades without stepping into the Jianghu, and these juniors have dared to tread on the Nalan Family’s neck like this, heh, Ning Fan, you have indeed made me see you in a new light.”
After half a day’s travel, they finally arrived three miles outside the Ning Family villa.
Nalan Jiuhuang halted her troops and ordered them to set up camp.
Everyone was puzzled, asking, “Aunt Nine, it’s still quite a distance, why don’t we station our troops directly outside the Ning Family villa?”
“There’s an ancient saying, ‘courtesy before arms,’ understand? And ‘the best strategy is to attack the mind,’ understand?”
Nalan Jiuhuang said expressionlessly.
Then she got off the carriage, accompanied by a few elders, and walked to the Ning Family.
She had lived for more than a century and was well-versed in some traditional etiquettes.
Such actions already gave the Ning Family immense face.
“Auntie, why are we walking there when we have carriages?”
“The greater our sincerity, the greater the pressure on Ning Qiankun. If he can’t give us a satisfactory explanation, attacking once again will leave the Ning Family with no words to argue against us, and we’ll become the righteous party, understand?”
Although a usually irritable person, Nalan Jiuhuang showed patience when teaching these younger clan members.
“Auntie is right.”
Upon hearing this, the elders fell silent, patiently following her.
Since someone as senior as Nalan Jiuhuang was willing to walk, what did it mean for us old folks?
Soon, they arrived at the front gate of the Ning Family villa, watching the two guards standing there in solemn dignity.
Nalan Jiuhuang smiled and said, “Gentlemen, please report that Nalan Jiuhuang has come to visit.”
“What, you’re Nalan Jiuhuang?”
The two guards rubbed their eyes vigorously and looked again, still in disbelief, exchanging glances filled with shock.
“Isn’t it said that Nalan Jiuhuang is a hundred-year-old hag, how is she so young?”
“Yes, she looks like a fresh young woman, if she’s really Nalan Jiuhuang, her ability to maintain youth is unmatched.”
“Insolent!”
The Nalan Family elders were furious at the gaze of the two Ning Family guards, their anger boiling over as they shouted.
Nalan Jiuhuang remained silent, standing aside as if she hadn’t heard anything.
She never married all her life, perhaps in her younger days she was restless over such matters, but now at her age, she no longer concerned herself with affairs of men and women.
The only things that could shift her focus were two matters: her family’s fortunes and her own cultivation.
The two Ning Family guards also realized their rudeness and clasped their fists in apology.
One of them headed into the inner courtyard, making for the Quiet Thought Hall.
Due to continuous reports along the way, Ning Qiankun and Ning Fan were already aware that Nalan Jiuhuang and her Nalan Family forces were close by.
They had already made all the final arrangements, sitting calmly in the Quiet Thought Hall, waiting with composed expressions.