Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 515 - Vicious Father

Liu Wuxie and Chen Ruoyan were stunned to hear that Jian Xing’er had voluntarily agreed to marry into the Teng Clan—it just didn’t add up. After all, she had made it clear that she intended to sever ties with the Jian Clan once she resolved her family matters. That’s why her sudden change of heart within a single day left them both in shock.

“That’s impossible! Sister Jian wouldn’t marry into the Teng Clan!” Chen Ruoyan exclaimed, lifting Jian Xing’er’s veil, revealing her tear-streaked face.

Seeing Jian Xing’er weeping filled Liu Wuxie with guilt. He couldn’t shake the thought that things might have turned out differently if he had accompanied her back to the Jian Clan yesterday.

“If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself,” Jian Botong interrupted. “Ask her if she married into the Teng Clan of her own free will. Since you’re her fellow disciples, why not sit down and talk it over?”

All eyes turned to Jian Xing’er, waiting for her answer. If she had indeed chosen this path on her own, Liu Wuxie had no right to interfere. After all, it was her decision, and no one had the authority to challenge it.

“Sister Jian, speak up!” Chen Ruoyan clutched Jian Xing’er’s hand anxiously. She wanted the latter to tell everyone that she had been forced into this marriage.

Jian Xing’er bit her lip with a flicker of resolve in her eyes. She said, “That’s right. I willingly married into the Teng Clan.”

Her response shocked everyone, including the guests; they knew Jian Xing’er was coerced into the marriage. Everyone knew who Teng Zijun was—a notorious playboy in the Teng Clan. On the contrary, Jian Xing’er was an inner disciple of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, so how could she marry someone like Teng Zijun?

“Hear that? She was a willing party in this marriage, and I didn’t force her into it. Liu Wuxie, what do you have to say now?” A smug smile crept across Teng Zijun’s face.

Liu Wuxie stared at Jian Xing’er, and the latter didn’t dare to look him straight in the eyes. She could only lower her head with tears falling onto her shoes.

This made Liu Wuxie wonder what had happened last night for Jian Xing’er to change her mind suddenly.

“Sister Jian, are you out of your mind? You said you wanted to travel the world with Brother Liu when we left! Have you forgotten that so quickly?” Chen Ruoyan couldn’t believe that Jian Xing’er had done this willingly. She was convinced Jian Xing’er had been forced into it.

“You two leave!” Jian Xing’er raised her head and gently wiped her tears away, asking Liu Wuxie and Chen Ruoyan to leave Azure Mountain City.

A sinister smile crept across Teng Zijun’s face—he was certain that Jian Xing’er would be his by the end of the day. In terms of beauty, she was every bit as striking as Chen Ruoyan, though each possessed their own unique charm.

“Sister Jian, is something wrong? You can tell us. Brother Liu is here—he’ll stand up for you!” Chen Ruoyan pressed, her voice filled with concern.”

Liu Wuxie remained silent. If he took Jian Xing’er by force, it would be seen as kidnapping a bride, and he’d be bound to her for the rest of his life. Their relationship was ambiguous, a delicate balance they had never fully addressed. Taking action now would cross that line, changing everything. That’s why he left it to Chen Ruoyan to speak for them.

Jian Xing’er fell silent, which made Jian Botong grow increasingly nervous. He wanted to speak up several times, but he held back. Even so, Liu Wuxie captured his actions, which made him certain that Jian Xing’er was forced into this marriage.

The surrounding Jian Clan disciples became nervous. Anyone could tell that the Jian Clan was facing a crisis, which could only be resolved if Jian Xing’er married into the Teng Clan.

Logically, Jian Xing’er should have been fully aware of the current state of the Jian Clan. There was no need for her to sacrifice herself to save them, which meant something must have happened last night that Liu Wuxie didn’t know about—something that had made her change her mind.

“Didn’t you two hear that? Leave and don’t ruin the Jian Clan’s happy occasion!” Jian Botong stepped away to chase Liu Wuxie and Chen Ruoyan away.

Liu Wuxie executed Ghost Eye as his divine sense began to spread out in the Jian Clan like mercury, scanning through every corner. A cruel, murderous intent suddenly appeared on Liu Wuxie’s face, and a smile rose on the corner of his lips.

“A happy occasion?” Liu Wuxie sneered, “It should be more like a funeral instead.”

Bone-chilling cold instantly spread throughout the hall, making everyone tremble. Liu Wuxie’s true essence contained ice-attribute energy that covered the pillars on both sides with a layer of frost.

“Liu Wuxie, what nonsense are you spouting?!” Jian Botong shouted, his voice sharp with panic. He pointed an accusing finger at Liu Wuxie, his face flushed as though he had been caught off guard.

Everyone stared at Liu Wuxie in confusion, unable to grasp his meaning. This was supposed to be a joyous occasion—what did he mean by calling it a funeral?

The middle-aged woman, whom Chen Ruoyan had slapped earlier, stood from her chair, her expression tinged with wariness.

“You really don’t understand?” Liu Wuxie’s voice grew even colder, his murderous intent intensifying. It materialized as a dark, towering figure behind him, like a demon god. The oppressive aura caused many of the weaker-willed onlookers to crumble to the ground in fear.

“Get them out of here! The Jian Clan won’t tolerate this nonsense from an outsider!” Jian Botong shouted angrily. A group of men rushed out from both sides of the hall, prepared to force Liu Wuxie out.

However, as they neared, their steps faltered. They hesitated, stopping three meters away, gripping their wooden rods and bats tightly, too afraid to approach any closer.

“Since this concerns Senior Sister Jian, I won’t just stand by. All those who are unrelated leave this place at once, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Liu Wuxie had pieced the truth together, and a powerful aura swept out from him that disintegrated all the tables and chairs into dust.

All the guests who came to attend the wedding banquet fled in fear, not daring to linger for another moment.

“Young master! Young master!” Teng Zijun collapsed against the pillar, his face smeared with blood after being struck by flying debris from shattered tables and chairs.

Teng Zijun’s guards ran over to help him up and retreated to a safe distance. The main hall was cleared out in just a few breaths, leaving behind a scene of destruction.

“Liu Wuxie, stop!” Jian Botong, looking like a madman, charged at Liu Wuxie. Even though he knew he wasn’t a match for him, he couldn’t stand by and let Liu Wuxie destroy the Jian Clan, especially with the marriage about to be finalized.

“You’re the one who should stop!” Liu Wuxie shouted. Despite Jian Botong being Jian Xing’er’s father, Liu Wuxie showed no respect. With a single slap, he sent Jian Botong flying through the air, crashing to the ground in a heap, coughing up blood.

The guards watched in silence, frozen with fear. If even their patriarch wasn’t a match for Liu Wuxie, they knew stepping forward would only mean certain death.

“Xing’er, do you want to see the Jian Clan destroyed?! Make them leave at this instance!” Jian Botong knew he wasn’t Liu Wuxie’s match and could only yell at Jian Xing’er. As long as Liu Wuxie left, the marriage could proceed as planned.

“Stop wasting your energy. You blackmailed Senior Sister Jian with the clan’s survival—how pathetic!” Liu Wuxie laughed coldly as he strode forward. Grabbing Jian Botong by the neck with one hand, he lifted him effortlessly, ready to end his life with just a bit more pressure.

“Let go of my husband!” the middle-aged woman cried as she ran over, demanding that Liu Wuxie release Jian Botong.

“Get lost!” Liu Wuxie roared, sending her flying with a single strike.

“Mother!” The young man rushed to her side, glaring at Liu Wuxie with hatred.

“If you weren’t Senior Sister Jian’s father, you’d have died ten thousand times over by now,” Liu Wuxie growled, his gaze like sharp blades piercing Jian Botong. With a swift movement, he slammed Jian Botong to the ground at Jian Xing’er’s feet.

Jian Xing’er didn’t intervene. She harbored no love for her clan or her father. Jian Botong had been willing to sell his own daughter and sacrifice his people for the clan’s benefit, hardening her heart against him long ago.

“Liu Wuxie, how dare you interfere in family affairs using brute strength! There’s no one more shameless than you!” Jian Botong spat, struggling to stand. He pointed accusingly at Liu Wuxie, furious. No matter what he had done, he believed it had been for the clan’s survival, and Liu Wuxie’s involvement was unjustifiable in his eyes.

Liu Wuxie stared at Jian Botong with the cold indifference one might reserve for a dead man, then shifted his gaze to Jian Xing’er. He didn’t want to wound her any further, but his voice was strained as he spoke. "Go to the dungeon and see for yourself. They’re already dead. You don’t have to carry this burden anymore."

Jian Xing’er collapsed to the ground at his words, nearly falling face-first, but Chen Ruoyan caught her just in time.

“They’re dead... they’re really gone...” Jian Xing’er sobbed in Chen Ruoyan’s arms, her body trembling with grief. Chen Ruoyan, utterly confused, had no idea who Jian Xing’er was mourning.

“Big Brother Liu, who’s dead?” Chen Ruoyan turned to look at Liu Wuxie.

Outside the main hall, many guests who hadn’t gone far had gathered, listening intently to the exchange, their curiosity piqued.

"Senior Sister Jian, were those the last close relatives you had left?" Liu Wuxie asked, still unsure.

"They were my second uncle and aunt. Without them, I would have starved," Jian Xing’er said, her tears finally stopping. She knew that Liu Wuxie, with his mysterious abilities, had likely uncovered the shifts within the Jian Clan and seen through her father’s schemes.

After the final puzzle piece was put together, Liu Wuxie nodded and figured everything out.

“Patriarch Jian, do you want me to explain your scheme?” Liu Wuxie asked with a mocking smile. His words piqued everyone’s curiosity about why Jian Xing’er would agree to the marriage. It seemed she had no choice, judging from how this situation had developed.

“Hmph, I’d like to see what nonsense you can cook up!” Jian Botong refused to believe with a hint of viciousness in his eyes. Even a tiger wouldn’t harm its cub, but Jian Botong didn’t hesitate to sacrifice his daughter and brother all for his goal.

“We’ll see who’s speaking nonsense soon enough,” Liu Wuxie said, dismissing Jian Botong’s arrogance. He cast a cold glance at Jian Xing’er’s stepbrother and stepmother, his smirk widening.

The hall grew silent. All eyes were on Liu Wuxie, waiting for his revelation. How could he possibly know the inner workings of the Jian Clan when he had only just arrived in Azure Mountain City?