Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Ling Yihan had no patience for further delay and prepared to unleash a Nine Yang Fiery Claw on Cheng Kun’s forehead, intending to end his life with five charred holes.

“Yihan, don’t! If Senior Brother dies, I won’t live either!” Lady Yang cried out as she saw Ling Yihan about to strike Cheng Kun.

Yang Dingtian sighed bitterly. “Fine… fine, both of you just leave! Yihan, don’t kill Cheng Kun!”

“Master!”

“Leader!”

Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi’s expressions changed in shock, never expecting Yang Dingtian to spare Cheng Kun and Lady Yang even at this point.

Xie Xun felt conflicted too—torn between his respect for his former leader and his long-standing bond with his master. In such a situation, he didn’t know who to support.

Cheng Kun laughed wildly, “Yang Dingtian, even if you don’t kill me now, I’ll never be grateful to you!”

Yang Dingtian glared coldly. “I won’t kill you, only because of Xinru. Don’t ever let me see you again… Yihan, let him go…”

Ling Yihan had no choice but to release his grip on Cheng Kun, watching him and Lady Yang leave the hidden passage.

“Master, why did you…”

Just as Ling Yihan was about to ask why Yang Dingtian let them go, he noticed Yang Dingtian’s pale face and weak breathing. He hurried forward to press his hand against his back, sending his own energy to support him.

“Yihan… don’t waste your qi… It seems my time has come… I already know… all that you want to say… Despite all she’s done, I… I could never bring myself to hate her…”

As Yang Dingtian spoke, tears began streaming down his face. “If I couldn’t have her heart, what’s the use of keeping her by my side… what’s the use…”

Before he could finish, his head tilted, his hands dropped to the ground, and he drew his final breath.

“Master!”

“Leader!”

Seeing Yang Dingtian’s sudden death, Ling Yihan, Dai Qisi, and Xie Xun cried out in shock.

Ling Yihan felt deeply grateful to Yang Dingtian, knowing that without him, he wouldn’t have learned the Qiankun Great Shift and the Mighty Nine Heavens Hand, nor would he have risen to lead the Ming Sect.

Now, holding Yang Dingtian’s lifeless body in his arms, a flash of murderous intent crossed Ling Yihan’s eyes. He spoke coldly, “Purple-Clad Dragon King, Golden Lion King—attend!”

“We’re here!” Dai Qisi and Xie Xun immediately responded, sensing the shift in his tone.

Ling Yihan’s voice turned even icier, “Relay my order: dispatch the Five Elemental Flags and the Six Gates of Heaven, Earth, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning to seal off all exits from Bright Summit. Cheng Kun and Liu Xinru must not escape. Kill them on sight if they resist!”

Dai Qisi bowed, “Understood!”

Xie Xun hesitated, about to speak up, but upon seeing Ling Yihan’s cold, murderous gaze, he dared not argue and instead replied, “Understood!”

Following Ling Yihan’s command, the Ming Sect disciples quickly moved to block all the major paths around Bright Summit. Soon, they located Cheng Kun and Lady Yang and surrounded them completely.

Seeing herself and her senior brother encircled by Ming Sect members, Lady Yang turned pale, smiling bitterly. “Dingtian… he… he still refuses to spare us…”

Cheng Kun was about to speak when a cold voice called out from a distance, “You’re wrong. My master never wanted to kill you. The one who refuses to let you go is not my master, but me—Ling Yihan!”

They saw Ling Yihan approaching, carrying Yang Dingtian’s body.

“Dingtian… what… what happened to him?” Lady Yang’s heart sank as she noticed Yang Dingtian’s closed eyes and still form in Ling Yihan’s arms.

Ling Yihan sneered, “You still have the nerve to ask? Thanks to you, my master’s qi erupted in chaos after you left, and he died from a qi deviation. Are you satisfied now, you shameless harlot?”

Everyone in the Ming Sect was taken aback. Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, the other Protectors, and the Five Wanderers had not known the full story, so Dai Qisi explained Lady Yang and Cheng Kun’s affair and how it led to Yang Dingtian’s death. Hearing this, they were all shocked.

Lady Yang, both ashamed and remorseful, didn’t dare respond. But Cheng Kun couldn’t bear it any longer and shouted, “You brat, what do you know? Your master Yang Dingtian stole her from me! He knew she loved me, yet he forced her father to let him marry her, keeping us apart. Yes, I met with her in secret afterwards, but we did nothing wrong!”

Ling Yihan replied coldly, “Let me tell you where you went wrong. Lady Yang, this will be the last time I call you ‘Master’s wife.’ If you loved Cheng Kun back then, you shouldn’t have married my master. But once you did, you should have stayed loyal instead of continuing an affair with Cheng Kun. By betraying my master, you led him to his death. Do you deny this?”

“You…” Cheng Kun was speechless with rage.

Lady Yang stopped him, tears in her eyes, “Yihan, you’re right. I am the one to blame, I failed to be faithful. I betrayed Dingtian. Let me bear all the punishment… Please, spare my senior brother.”

She then suddenly drew a dagger from her sleeve and plunged it into her chest. Blood trickled from her mouth as she smiled, dying with tears in her eyes.

“Junior Sister!”

“Lady Yang!”

Everyone was stunned, unable to react to Lady Yang’s sudden suicide.

Ling Yihan merely sighed, his expression unchanged.

A great leader must not be swayed by sentiment.

“Disciples of the Ming Sect, seize Cheng Kun! Kill him on the spot if he resists!”

At the leader’s command, the Ming Sect disciples drew their weapons and charged at Cheng Kun, determined to tear him to pieces.

Cheng Kun held Lady Yang’s body close, laughing wildly, “Junior Sister, I’ll join you soon. No one will separate us again…”