Chapter 49 The Crimson Lotus Lineage

"Holy Lotus Sect!"

No one knew who spoke those three words, but the once-lively inn fell silent in an instant.

It was rumored in the Jianghu that the Holy Lotus Sect was divided into three lineages.

They were the White Lotus Lineage, the Black Lotus Lineage, and the Red Lotus Lineage.

Among them, the Red Lotus Lineage specialized in Blood Dao Cultivation Techniques, which allowed them to increase their power rapidly by absorbing the essence blood of others.

Furthermore, those of the Red Lotus Lineage could refine the collected essence blood of Martial Artists into a type of Blood Pill; a single pill could be worth several years of cultivation.

Compared to the hardship of cultivation and searching everywhere for resources, who among those who practiced martial arts could resist the temptation of increasing their cultivation level simply by killing?

Thus, this lineage had once caused great slaughter in the Jianghu, massacring people throughout the Martial Forest to refine Blood Pills.

Afterward, they were brutally suppressed by the Imperial Court, suffering heavy casualties. They could only hide like rats crossing the street, for showing their Faces even slightly would invite a frantic extermination campaign.

The state of the Zhang family's corpses was clearly identical to the rumored aftermath of the Red Lotus Lineage's handiwork.

The problem was that Longhua Prefecture had been peaceful for a long time, and Six Doors' prestige shook the four directions.

The Holy Lotus Sect had been suppressed and hadn't committed such a major crime in a long time!

Why did they dare to commit such a massacre now?

Weren't they afraid of drawing a joint extermination by Six Doors and the Righteous Path of the Jianghu?

"What should we do, Big Brother? Are we still going to the Zhang family?"

The third of the Four Yu Brothers asked, his mouth feeling dry.

Yu Tianfang was silent for a long while before nodding heavily.

"We go! Why wouldn't we?"

"Have you forgotten the kindness Senior Zhang showed us when he gave us guidance during our visit to the Zhang family three years ago?"

"Even if we are powerless to take revenge, we can at least help collect the bodies and pay our respects, can't we?"

"Even if we encounter Disciples of the Holy Lotus evil cult, we needn't fear them! We'll see who's superior when we cross blades!"

"Well said!"

He Yan's tone was resolute. "My Junior Sister and I will go with Brother Yu!"

Shi Lin's voice was crisp as she said, "We'll go together. We're not afraid of the Holy Lotus Sect!"

The words of the Senior Brother and Junior Sister moved the Yu brothers.

Immediately, they all shouted, "Good! We'll go together!"

"What's so great about the Holy Lotus Sect?"

"Exactly! We brothers will kill a few cultists too! Let everyone know that my Yu Family Fort is not to be trifled with!"

The others in the inn all shook their heads.

Do you think you're Six Doors? To dare speak so insolently of the Holy Lotus Sect... truly young and ignorant of the world's dangers!

But they didn't bother to intervene.

Everyone has their own destiny; they respected the fate of others!

At that moment, the inn's waiter appeared at the entrance at some point and slowly closed the main door.

"Hey! You, waiter! Why are you closing the door on such a hot day?"

The third of the four brothers shouted.

The others also turned their gazes toward the waiter, not understanding what he meant.

The summer heat was at its Peak; even with the doors and windows open, they felt stifled. Why would this waiter close the door?

When the waiter turned around, everyone realized his skin was excessively pale—something they hadn't noticed at all just now.

Moreover, the previously stuffy inn suddenly became chilly.

However, for some reason, this chill made their skin crawl.

The waiter spoke slowly:

"Closing the door... is naturally so I can slaughter you like pigs and drain your blood!"

"What? How dare you!"

"Are you looking for death!"

The Jianghu people in the inn shouted in anger, some even drawing their blades and swords.

A mere waiter dared to speak so insolently? Was he tired of living?

But some instinctively felt something was wrong and frowned.

Others felt their hearts skip a beat, their Faces turning deathly pale.

Yu Tianfang suddenly remembered that ever since he entered this inn, only this waiter had been busy working; he hadn't seen the innkeeper at all.

The waiter glanced disdainfully at the crowd and waved his hand.

More than a dozen figures in black appeared silently behind the railings on the second floor, all looking down with expressionless, pale Faces.

"The Ho... Holy Lotus Sect!"

The fourth Yu brother, who had just been boasting about killing cultists, now had teeth chattering and could barely stand.

A thick scent of blood emanated from the figures in black on the second floor.

Unlike the stench after a killing, this scent of blood carried a faint fragrance.

Even a fool present would know who these people were.

Compared to Yan Chu, whose name could stop a child's nighttime crying, these were the true people of the Demonic Path.

Clang!

Two tables of guests threw down their weapons and fell to their knees with a thud.

"My lord, we have never spoken insolently of the Holy Lotus Sect. Please, spare our lives!"

"We are willing to serve you like dogs and horses!"

"Yes, my lord! As long as you spare our lives, we'll do anything!"

The one who said this was a woman dressed as a young matron.

Seeing the waiter's gaze turn toward her, she couldn't help but thrust out her ample chest, a hint of seduction appearing in her eyes.

She hadn't noticed before, but the waiter before her was actually quite handsome.

She wouldn't be losing out!

A lecherous glint flashed in Xue Hong's eyes as he turned his gaze toward Shi Lin. His lust was undisguised, as if he wanted to peer through her green silk dress and see every inch of her body.

"Ah—Senior Brother!"

Shi Lin hadn't expected the very thing she'd just boasted about to appear before her eyes. Terrified, she grabbed He Yan's sleeve and hid behind him.

Having always been pampered, this was the first time she had encountered such a thing. Her small Face turned pale with panic and fear.

He Yan swallowed hard.

As the waiter's gaze fell upon him, he felt a stinging pain throughout his body, and his blood seemed to be losing control, threatening to flow backward.

The Fourth Realm!

This is definitely a Qi Sea Realm Martial Artist!

He himself was at the Peak of the Third Realm; only a Fourth Realm Martial Artist could make him feel this way.

Truly, in the Jianghu, trouble often comes from the mouth!

He remembered his Master's instructions and couldn't help but blame his Junior Sister and the Four Yu Brothers' jinxing mouths.

"This friend, my Junior Sister and I are Disciples of Sword Forging Manor. My Master is the 'Wind-Chasing Swordsman' Yan Lingjun, and my Junior Sister is the daughter of Manor Lord Shi Qiaosan."

"What was said just now were merely unintentional words. Please, for the sake of Sword Forging Manor, allow us to leave."

"As for today's events, we both swear to heaven that we will not reveal a single word to anyone!"

He revealed their identities now, hoping the other party would have some reservations out of respect for Sword Forging Manor.

Especially his Junior Sister, Shi Lin; her status was top-tier in Longhua Prefecture.

Surely they would show some Face?

As for the Four Yu Brothers, there was nothing he could do.

These four couldn't keep their mouths shut; with the Holy Lotus Sect's ruthlessness, they certainly wouldn't be let off.

He truly regretted associating with these four now...

"Brother He! You—"

Yu Tianfang looked over, his eyes filled with disbelief, but seeing the other's indifferent expression, he couldn't find the words to speak.

Fine then!

One event is enough to see a person for who they truly are.

He clenched his fists tightly. Even though he knew death was certain today, he still stared back at Xue Hong without fear.

Although his three brothers were terrified, they stood behind their eldest brother, ready to Face whatever came together.

"Heh heh!"

Xue Hong gave a cold laugh. "Sword Forging Manor? Who do you think you are, daring to ask me for Face?"

"Except for these few little wenches whom I'm taking back to have some fun with, everyone else must die!"

"Not even gods or Buddhas can save you! I said so!"

With that, his Aura exploded, and his thick True Qi permeated the entire inn lobby. Everyone felt as if a great mountain were pressing down on them, and they collapsed to the ground one after another.