10: The human heart is evil

Ma Tianqing was stunned. "The Jin Family has someone backing them?"

"Your Family's Cultivation Technique is a method for Immortal Ascension. How could a small Jin Family dare to covet it? If the news gets out, the Ma family's fate will be a lesson for the Jin Family."

Xu Sanyan continued to coax him in a low voice.

"Please, Brother, teach me." Ma Tianqing knelt on one knee and cupped his fists.

Xu Sanyan helped him up, pondering slightly, "How about this: you calm down first. We'll investigate who is behind the Jin Family, and then I'll accompany you to get revenge."

"How can this be? Xu Brother has already saved my life; how can I drag you into this again?" Ma Tianqing took a step forward, his expression agitated.

Xu Sanyan shook his head and sighed, "Alas, just consider it repaying Master Ma's kindness from back then. It's just that Brother's strength is weaker, so I can't be of much help, only offer a small contribution."

Ma Tianqing wanted to say more, but Xu Sanyan stopped him with a hand, saying without refusal,

"It's settled then. How can I rest assured if you, a mere child, go seeking revenge alone? If I don't help you, how can I face Master Ma when I enter the netherworld?"

Ma Tianqing was so touched by the deception that he was moved to tears. This Xu Brother was truly a good person. Not only did he save his life, but he also showed no desire for his Family's Cultivation Technique. Furthermore, he didn't lack any Spirit Stone or money.

Xu Sanyan furrowed his brow deeply, "You just said the bandit leader is dead? What happened?"

Ma Tianqing hesitated upon hearing this, unsure how to explain.

Seeing his hesitation, Xu Sanyan took a step back and said, "If it's inconvenient for you to speak, then forget it, my virtuous brother."

Seeing him say this, Ma Tianqing gritted his teeth. Xu Brother had treated him so well, what else was there that couldn't be said? "Brother, please don't be offended, it's just that I didn't know how to begin."

"Brother, you don't know, but my Family's Cultivation Technique was originally brought back by the Old Ancestor from the Upper Sect. This Cultivation Technique can forge a Dao Foundation, and it is divided into three grades: High, Medium, and Low. Among them, the Low Grade Dao Foundation is called the Blood Demon Dao Foundation. The Old Ancestor back then forged this very type of Dao Foundation."

Xu Sanyan nodded slightly, "And then?"

With the words already out, Ma Tianqing no longer held back and revealed everything,

"This Blood Demon Dao Foundation has obvious drawbacks and a short lifespan, but it has one advantage: it can transform into a Blood Demon body, with powerful combat strength. So, when the Old Ancestor was on the verge of death, he left behind a secret method. After his death, his corpse could be transformed into a Blood Demon to protect the future generations of the Ma family."

"You were unconscious before because of this?"

Ma Tianqing nodded, "Exactly. Originally, this Blood Demon could be controlled with Spiritual Qi, but the descendants of the Ma family were unworthy. To this day, not a single person has crossed that chasm between heaven and man, so they can only control it by consuming their own Qi and blood, which is why I fell unconscious."

Xu Sanyan nodded slowly, "This Blood Demon is the Maa Family Old Ancestor. Presumably, only Ma family members can control it, right?"

Ma Tianqing shook his head, "As long as one learns the secret method and connects to it with their own essence blood, it's possible. However, when controlling it, one's emotions are lost and one's mind becomes chaotic due to the influence of blood Qi, making it easy to endanger those around them."

Xu Sanyan lowered his head, his thoughts swirling. So that monster was the Blood Demon body. Its strength was indeed extraordinary.

"You just mentioned the Upper Sect? Why have I never heard of it?" Xu Sanyan asked again.

Ma Tianqing shook his head and said, "I don't know what the Upper Sect is called, but Grandpa told me that our Qi Country is located in a remote area, and the Northwest is even more desolate. Coupled with the sparse Spiritual Qi and few spiritual resources, very few Cultivators are willing to come."

Xu Sanyan nodded. So that was it.

Ma Tianqing then said, "I also heard it from Grandpa. Xu Brother doesn't have to believe it entirely."

Xu Sanyan slowly nodded, then changed the subject back, whispering, "This Blood Demon secret method is truly wondrous, it makes one curious..."

Ma Tianqing's expression was conflicted, his lips mumbled, but in the end, he didn't speak. This was because his grandfather had instructed him never to reveal the Blood Demon secret method to anyone else, no matter what.

Seeing this, Xu Sanyan didn't press the matter further. It wouldn't be good to arouse his suspicion. He then said, "You and I can start our investigation from the Jin Family. How about this, you wait here first, and I'll go to the Jin Family alone to scout out the situation."

"I'll go with you, Brother," Ma Tianqing immediately said.

"No need," Xu Sanyan shook his head. "The Jin Family members all recognize your face. I'm a stranger, so it's fine for me to go alone."

Xu Sanyan was actually afraid of encountering the bandits and exposing his identity.

Ma Tianqing thought about it. Xu Brother's words made sense, so he no longer argued. "Then I'll trouble Brother."

"You and I are brothers; there's no need to be so distant. Master Ma treated me well back then. From today onwards, you and I are true brothers." Xu Sanyan patted his shoulder.

Ma Tianqing's eyes were filled with emotion, and he nodded heavily, "Thank you, Brother."

Xu Sanyan turned and left.

Ma Tianqing watched his receding back, a warmth rising in his heart.

His Family was destroyed, and the vast Ma family was left with only him, a single sapling. Just when he was in a state of panic and uncertainty, Xu Brother appeared.

Not only did he save his life, but he also didn't covet his Family's Cultivation Technique, and even risked danger to help him get revenge. Wasn't such conduct exactly what the stories described as a knight-errant?

Xu Brother's kindness was so great, yet he didn't know how to repay him. He had finally seen Brother take an interest in the Blood Demon secret method, yet he still clung to the old Family rules and refused to tell him.

The Ma family was gone, what was the use of these rules now?

Moreover, Xu Brother was not an outsider; he was his lifesaver. Surely, Grandpa's spirit in heaven would understand him.

Ma Tianqing composed himself. Seeing the paper and brush on the kang table nearby, he hesitated for a moment but still picked them up, slowly writing something.

The paper and brush were naturally placed there by Xu Sanyan; otherwise, it wouldn't have been such a coincidence.

Ma Tianqing was, after all, too young and had grown up in a large Family like the Ma family. His elders were kind, and he had never seen the wickedness of human hearts, so his guard was too low.

In this world, apart from parents and relatives, no one will be good to you for no reason, and no one will risk their life to help you. If you encounter such a person, you should think more carefully.

If they don't covet your gold, silver, or money, then what they covet is something much greater!

...

Xu Sanyan left the house and walked towards the Jin Family. He did indeed want to see what had happened to the Jin Family. Had Zhou Chaoxian annihilated the Jin Family?

Arriving outside the Jin Family compound, the vast courtyard was dark and silent, without a single candle flame. Xu Sanyan lightly climbed over the courtyard wall and saw bodies strewn across the ground, all with tragic deaths.

Xu Sanyan stepped forward, turning over the corpses and examining the wounds. Most were knife wounds, which should have been inflicted by government soldiers.

The standard long knives of government soldiers were different from the knives they commonly used, and the wounds they inflicted also varied slightly.

The soldiers' knives had a greater curve, creating short and deep wounds. Their bandit knives had a smaller curve, creating long and shallow wounds.

A Jianghu Martial Artist who often kills could distinguish the difference at a glance.

It seemed that Jin Penglai had taken most of the Jin Family's Martial Artists away and lost them all in one go, leading to a void in the Jin Family's internal defenses, which allowed Zhou Chaoxian to easily annihilate the Jin Family.

It could be considered self-inflicted. Jin Penglai coveted the Ma family's Cultivation Technique and conspired with two groups of bandits to launch a sneak attack.

Although he ultimately succeeded in annihilating the Ma family, he also reaped what he sowed. Not only did he lose his own life, but he also brought about the extinction of the Jin Family.