30: Jiang Family Changes

The night was like ink, and a faint mist filled the mountain forest. Jiang Li stumbled and ran, the dry branches and fallen leaves under her feet making a rustling sound.

Her clothes were already soaked with sweat, her face covered in dirt and blood, but her eyes shone with stubborn light.

"Miss, hurry! Don't look back!"

Jiang Boqing's hoarse shout came from behind her, followed by the sound of intense fighting.

Jiang Li gritted her teeth, forced back the urge to look back, and continued running forward.

The scene of the Jiang Family being besieged kept replaying in her mind—flames soared into the sky, shouts of killing rose from all sides, and clansmen fell one after another.

Her father, the Jiang Family head, stood alone before the enemies to cover her and Jiang Boqing's retreat.

"Father..." A flicker of tears appeared in Jiang Li's eyes, but she quickly forced them back down.

She knew this was not the time for sorrow; she had to survive and avenge the Jiang Family!

However, fate seemed unwilling to let her go.

Just as she thought she had escaped, a cold, sinister laugh suddenly came from ahead.

"Little beauty, where are you going?"

A Cultivator in a black robe walked out from behind a tree, a lewd smile on his face.

In his hand, he held a high-grade Magical Artifact gleaming with cold light; he was clearly at the Qi Refining Peak cultivation level!

Jiang Li's face changed, and she subconsciously took a few steps back.

She recognized this person—Luo Ju, one of Yue Country's notorious rogue Cultivator, specializing in robbing Cultivator of their wealth and women.

"Luo Ju, if you dare touch me, aren't you afraid of my Jiang Family Old Ancestor's revenge?"

Jiang Li feigned calmness, trying to intimidate the other party with words.

Hearing this, Luo Ju burst into laughter: "Jiang Family Old Ancestor? Who doesn't know that old geezer died long ago! Your Jiang Family is just a piece of fatty meat now, everyone wants a bite!"

Jiang Li's heart sank; she knew the other party had already figured out the Jiang Family's situation.

She gritted her teeth, took out three Talismans from her storage bag, and threw them fiercely at Luo Ju.

"Boom!"

The Talismans exploded in the air, turning into a ball of flames.

Luo Ju sneered, waved the Magical Artifact in his hand, and the flames were instantly split in two.

"Little beauty, stop struggling, just obediently come with me!" Luo Ju grinned menacingly and approached Jiang Li.

Just then, a playful voice came from the forest: "Oh, killing people for treasures, robbing wealth and women—that trick is quite interesting."

Luo Ju's face changed, and he suddenly turned around.

He saw a young Cultivator in a green robe walk out of the forest, his face gentle, but his eyes gleaming with cold light.

Powerful spiritual energy fluctuations emanated from his body; it was clearly the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"How can there be a Foundation Establishment cultivator in this godforsaken place!"

Luo Ju's pupils contracted, and a wave of fear instantly surged in his heart.

He hadn't expected to encounter a Foundation Establishment cultivator in this desolate mountain wilderness!

Luo Ju bowed with a terrified expression and shouted, "Se... Senior! This Junior had no intention of offending you! I hope Senior will forgive my offense!"

Jiang Li, however, was overjoyed and quickly ran towards Xu Qi'an, as if clutching at a life-saving straw, then anxiously explained.

"Senior, this person is a rogue Cultivator from Yue Country. I am the daughter of the Jiang Family head. I hope Senior will lend a hand and save me!"

Xu Qi'an laughed, seemingly not intending to act, merely leaning against the trees and smiling: "Carry on."

Jiang Li was startled, her face instantly turning pale.

Upon hearing this, Luo Ju recovered from his panicked expression, and looking at Xu Qi'an's leisurely demeanor, it was as if he had seen a fellow traveler.

"So Senior is also one of us! After this Junior captures this woman, I will definitely let Senior have a taste first!"

Luo Ju's eyes swept over Jiang Li with a fierce and lewd expression, and Jiang Li's heart sank to the bottom.

"Am I really going to die here..."

Her face was devoid of color as she watched the approaching Luo Ju, but she suddenly became resolute. Holding a knife in her hand, she was about to commit suicide.

Suddenly, Jiang Li noticed a green light shooting towards Luo Ju.

"Hmph! Who's one of you!"

"I hate rogue Cultivator the most in my life!"

Xu Qi'an raised his hand and waved, and a green sword light instantly pierced through Luo Ju's chest.

Luo Ju didn't even have time to let out a scream before he collapsed to the ground, completely lifeless.

Jiang Li watched this scene in stunned silence, feeling both shocked and relieved.

She didn't know why the Senior in front of her was so fickle.

She quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply towards Xu Qi'an: "Many thanks to Senior for saving my life!"

Xu Qi'an glanced at her indifferently, his tone cold: "No need to thank me, I merely did it conveniently."

After speaking, Xu Qi'an no longer lingered, turning to leave.

Jiang Li bit her lip, a flicker of determination in her eyes: "Senior, the Jiang Family is currently in grave danger. I beg you to lend a hand and save them! Jiang Li is willing to be a slave or maid to repay Senior's great kindness!"

Xu Qi'an furrowed his brow, a hint of impatience in his tone: "I have no connection with your Jiang Family. Why should I save you?"

Hearing this, a hint of anxiety flashed in Jiang Li's eyes.

She also knew that a Foundation Establishment cultivator was not someone who could be easily persuaded to act.

Jiang Li sighed, thinking of her father's instructions: Father, I'm sorry, for the sake of the Jiang Family, I can only reveal this secret.

Without the Jiang Family, how could his daughter live alone?

She quickly took out a Jade Slip from her embrace and handed it to Xu Qi'an: "Senior, this is a map of my Jiang Family's secret area, where a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifact is hidden. As long as Senior is willing to help, Jiang Li is willing to give this Spiritual Artifact to Senior!"

Xu Qi'an took the Jade Slip, swept it with his Divine Sense, and a flicker of interest appeared in his eyes.

"Oh? Your Jiang Family actually has a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifact!"

Xu Qi'an happened to be lacking a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifact, and at this moment, his heart was moved.

However, he also had many doubts. Since this Jiang Family had a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifact, their Family background should not be weak; they should at least have one Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could they have fallen to the point of facing extinction?

"Alright, I can agree to your request."

Xu Qi'an nodded, then asked, "However, before that, I need to know the full story of what happened."

Hearing this, a flicker of hesitation appeared in Jiang Li's eyes, but she quickly became resolute again.

"Senior..."

"Wait a moment, let me deal with a little minion hiding in the dark."

Xu Qi'an's gaze sharpened, and then a green sword light shot out.

In just one breath, a miserable scream came from the bush forest dozens of feet away.

Then a green treasured sword returned to Xu Qi'an's side, carrying a section of a corpse.

Jiang Li didn't even have time to react before this Cultivator hiding in the dark died just like that.

"This Senior is probably not an ordinary Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

Jiang Li marveled inwardly, having already seen the deceased's face.

"Senior, this is Luo Buju, he is Luo Ju's older brother! He is also a rogue Cultivator!"

"Right, Uncle Boqing!" Jiang Li was immediately shocked and turned pale.

Xu Qi'an, however, shook his head and said, "You're talking about the guard who escorted you, right? He's already dead."

It wasn't that Xu Qi'an didn't want to save that person, but by the time he perceived him with his Divine Sense, that person had already been killed by this rogue Cultivator.

Jiang Li immediately choked up and collapsed to the ground, only regaining her composure after a while.

Jiang Li quickly wiped away her tears with both hands, then respectfully said, "I've made a fool of myself before Senior. This Junior will now tell you the whole story."

Xu Qi'an shook his head, letting her continue.

She told Xu Qi'an the entire process of the Jiang Family being besieged, including the Jiang Family Old Ancestor being away for decades with no news, as well as the coveting of other families, who finally took advantage of the Jiang Family's weakness, without a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding them, to destroy the Jiang Family.

Jiang Li bowed low on the ground and continued, "Senior, there are three families who besieged my Jiang Family, namely the Wan Family, the Shen Family, and the He Family."

"But only the Wan Family has an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. I believe with Senior's strength, you can definitely defeat him!"

After listening, Xu Qi'an pondered for a moment, then said lightly, "I understand. I will agree to this matter."

"I, Xu Qi'an, am a man who keeps his promises. Since I have agreed to your request, I will help you fulfill it."

He then glanced at Jiang Li and continued, "However, since the other party has a Foundation Establishment cultivator, how can you be sure they won't have other helpers?"

"I need to get that Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifact first. Only then can I better avenge your Jiang Family and rescue your clansmen."

Jiang Li's face turned a little grim, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

If the Senior in front of her took the Spiritual Artifact but broke his promise, what would she do!

"Senior... this..."

Xu Qi'an knew Jiang Li's thoughts and said frankly, "Jiang Li, I know your worries. You're afraid I'll take the Spiritual Artifact and then go back on my word, right!"

"If that's the case, why don't you and I make a Heart Demon Oath."

"I, Xu Qi'an, swear that if I obtain the Spiritual Artifact, I will definitely keep my promise. Even if I am defeated, I will help Miss Jiang Li avenge her Family once my cultivation is successful!"

Hearing the Heart Demon Oath, Jiang Li finally felt much more at ease, but she couldn't help but show her relief: "I've troubled Senior."

"One more thing, please trouble Senior to go to the Jiang Family with me first."

Xu Qi'an nodded.