MTLNOVEL Chapter 5: A Reckoning Unfolds
The air in the square grew heavy, thick with the weight of unspoken tension. The towering trees surrounding the area swayed gently, their leaves whispering secrets to the wind. At the center of it all stood Xiao Yan, his figure calm and unyielding, like a lone mountain amidst a storm. His black robe fluttered slightly, and the heavy black ruler in his hand seemed to hum with restrained power.
Yun Leng, the Great Elder of the Yunlan Sect, glared at Xiao Yan with a mix of fury and disbelief. His voice thundered across the square, echoing like the roar of a beast. "Xiao Yan! Do you dare admit to being the one who killed Mo Cheng in Yancheng?!"
The crowd erupted into murmurs. Mo Cheng, a renowned Dou Wang, had been slain in Yancheng by a mysterious figure. The idea that Xiao Yan, a young man barely out of his teens, could be responsible was unthinkable. Yet, there he stood, his expression unflinching, his eyes sharp as daggers.
Xiao Yan tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "If you're so eager to pin the blame on me, then yes. I killed Mo Cheng."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even the elders of the Yunlan Sect, who had seen countless battles and witnessed the rise and fall of many talents, were stunned. Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma, who had been observing from a distance, exchanged uneasy glances. They had both seen Xiao Yan's potential, but this… this was beyond anything they could have imagined.
Nalan Yanran, standing among the Yunlan Sect disciples, felt her heart clench. She had just lost to Xiao Yan in their duel, and now this revelation made her question everything she thought she knew about him. "How… how is this possible?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Yun Leng's face twisted with rage. He waved his hand, and a dozen white-robed figures—members of the Yunlan Sect's law enforcement team—swooped down from the surrounding buildings, surrounding Xiao Yan in an instant. Their auras flared, their Dou Qi intertwining to form a suffocating pressure.
"Capture him!" Yun Leng barked. "Do not let him escape!"
The law enforcement team moved as one, their movements precise and coordinated. But before they could even touch him, Xiao Yan's black ruler swept through the air in a wide arc. A gust of wind, sharp and unrelenting, erupted from the weapon, sending the attackers flying backward like leaves caught in a storm.
Xiao Yan's voice cut through the chaos, cold and mocking. "Is this all the Yunlan Sect has to offer? Sending juniors to do your dirty work, Yun Leng? How pathetic."
Yun Leng's face turned crimson with fury. He turned to the three elders standing beside him, their white robes billowing as they stepped forward. Each of them was a Dou Wang, their auras towering and oppressive. Together, they formed a triangular formation around Xiao Yan, their Dou Qi intertwining to create a shimmering energy barrier.
"Xiao Yan," one of the elders intoned, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder, "you may have some skill, but you are still just a child. Surrender now, and we may show you mercy."
Xiao Yan's smirk widened. "Mercy? From the Yunlan Sect? Don't make me laugh."
He closed his eyes, his breathing steady. The crowd watched in stunned silence as the three elders began their assault, their combined energy forming a crushing wall that closed in on Xiao Yan. The ground beneath him cracked under the pressure, and the air grew thick with the scent of burning Dou Qi.
But just as the energy wall was about to engulf him, a sudden chill swept through the square. The temperature plummeted, and frost began to creep across the ground. A figure materialized within the energy barrier, his presence as cold and unyielding as ice.
"Old Man Hai!" Xiao Yan exclaimed, his voice tinged with relief and amusement.
Hai Bodong, the Ice Emperor, stood beside Xiao Yan, his icy Dou Qi clashing against the energy wall. With a wave of his hand, the barrier shattered, sending shards of energy scattering like broken glass. The three elders staggered back, their faces pale with shock.
"Old Man Hai, you're still as loyal as ever," Xiao Yan said, his tone light despite the gravity of the situation.
Hai Bodong snorted, his breath visible in the frigid air. "Don't get the wrong idea, brat. I'm only here because you still owe me a batch of Purple Spirit Pills. You can't die before you fulfill your promise."
The crowd erupted into chaos. Hai Bodong, a legendary figure in his own right, had just openly sided with Xiao Yan against the Yunlan Sect. The implications were staggering.
Yun Leng's face twisted with rage and disbelief. "Hai Bodong! Do you dare defy the Yunlan Sect?!"
Hai Bodong's gaze was icy, his voice calm but laced with menace. "Defy? No. I'm merely ensuring that justice is served. If you have a problem with that, feel free to take it up with me."
The tension in the square was palpable, the air crackling with the promise of an impending battle. Xiao Yan stood tall, his black ruler resting on his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with defiance. The stage was set, and the storm was about to break.