Chapter 33: Begging for mercy is useless

“Brother Jiutian, we offended you earlier. For the sake of our shared ties with Miss Su, please give us a chance to explain.”

Su Zimo stepped forward slowly, his face earnest, tone sincere.

“Yes, Jiutian… Brother,” Su Xinyan followed, her voice soft. “You know I’ve always been on your side. I never truly struck at you…”

Luo Jiutian glanced at the bloodsword in his hand, then at them, silent.

Seeing no rejection, Su Zimo relaxed slightly: “In the end, this was all Luo Chen’s doing. If we didn’t follow, we’d only bring trouble on ourselves. Brother Jiutian, you’re smart—you must understand our position.”

“I understand.”

Luo Jiutian nodded, a smile curling his lips.

Su Zimo’s eyes flickered.

He opened his mouth to continue, but Luo Jiutian chuckled again: “Still, your face-switching speed genuinely surprises me.”

Su Zimo paused, then smiled: “Wisdom lies in knowing others, clarity in following the flow. There’s no deep grudge between us, so why not—”

Before he finished, Luo Jiutian stepped forward.

He was now less than thirty feet from them.

A glint of killing intent flashed in Su Zimo’s eyes. His sleeve flicked, several small hidden weapons shooting toward Luo Jiutian’s throat.

At the same moment, Su Xinyan struck with her sword, blindingly fast, aiming for his chest.

Their coordination was seamless, a zero-frame attack.

In truth, while Luo Chen was being battered, Su Zimo and Su Xinyan had recovered most of their spiritual energy.

Their earlier groveling was just to lower Luo Jiutian’s guard, waiting for an opening.

But how could Luo Jiutian, ever cautious, fall for such a trick?

He shifted slightly, dodging their ambush, and countered with a single sword slash.

Bloodlight flashed. Su Zimo’s right arm was severed, blood spraying the floor.

“Ah—!”

Su Zimo screamed, collapsing in pain.

Su Xinyan, terrified, dropped her sword and fell to her knees.

In one move, Su Zimo lost an arm, and she hadn’t even seen Luo Jiutian’s motion.

Both at Foundation Establishment, how could the gap be this vast?

Her face paled, lips trembling: “N-No… Brother Jiutian, I didn’t mean to kill you… it was his idea… I was forced…”

Luo Jiutian ignored her, his gaze on Su Zimo.

Clutching his severed arm, Su Zimo gritted his teeth, face twitching in pain but still defiant: “Luo Jiutian… you dare kill me? You really dare? I’m Su family…”

Before he finished, Luo Jiutian chuckled: “Brother Su, threatening me?”

“If I die by your hand… the Su family won’t let it go… you think you can escape? You think the Luo family can protect you?”

As he spoke, Su Zimo edged backward, trying to distance himself.

Luo Jiutian’s smile brightened, raising Weeping Red Dust: “Then I definitely can’t let you leave alive.”

With that, he swung his sword.

Su Zimo’s eyes widened, unable to utter another word as sword energy tore through him, killing him instantly.

Seeing his fate, Su Xinyan lost the strength to kneel, collapsing entirely.

She regretted everything.

Had she known, she’d never have sided with Luo Chen’s doomed cause.

What talent, what status—before true strength, they were nothing.

She finally understood why Su Wan’er was so devoted to Luo Jiutian. It wasn’t blindness—she’d seen the truth all along.

“Brother Jiutian…” Su Xinyan’s voice shook, tears in her eyes. “I was wrong… truly wrong… spare me, and I’ll do anything… I’ll be your servant, more obedient than Su Wan’er, better at serving you…”

Luo Jiutian paused, a cryptic smile on his lips.

Sensing his hesitation, Su Xinyan crawled forward, hope flickering: “Whatever kind of woman you like, I can learn… anything she can do, I can do, even better…”

Luo Jiutian leaned down, gazing at her gently: “Is that so?”

Su Xinyan nodded frantically, tears streaming, looking pitiful.

“Brother Jiutian… you’re accepting me?” Her voice trembled, eyes hopeful.

Luo Jiutian smiled silently.

The next moment, a crimson longsword plunged from above, piercing her through.

“Not really,” he said calmly.

Su Xinyan’s pupils shrank, mouth opening, but no words came.

He withdrew the sword, flicking off the blood, wiping his hand casually.

Then, lightly: “Also, mimicking others’ ‘brother’ calls is pretty disgusting.”

Su Xinyan’s body stiffened, collapsing, her eyes full of shock.

In her final moment, she realized she’d never been taken seriously.

White Tiger Mysterious Monarch, watching nearby, took it all in.

This kid… redefined her understanding.

She could sense Su Zimo and Su Xinyan weren’t untalented. Given a decade, they could’ve achieved much.

Yet before Luo Jiutian, they couldn’t even resist.

One moment plotting a sneak attack, the next begging for mercy, finally lacking even the courage to fight.

White Tiger sighed inwardly.

She’d seen his ruthlessness before, but this scene still surprised her.

Decisive, unyielding, heart like still water.

Had she been like him back then… would she have avoided ending as a mere soul?

Luo Jiutian, unaware of her thoughts, turned toward the chamber’s other side.

Nearby, Luo Yuanshan and Luo Yan stood in the corner, watching him approach, their expressions complex.

Neither spoke, the atmosphere heavy.

“Why not run?” Luo Jiutian stopped, tone calm.

Luo Yan met his gaze, smiling bitterly: “Could we escape?”

Luo Yuanshan lowered his head, kneeling, kowtowing heavily: “Luo Jiutian, I started this mess. Kill or punish me as you see fit. Just spare Skinny Ghost, he…”

“Luo Yuanshan!” Luo Yan interrupted, face grim. “I don’t need your pity. I was wrong, and I’ll face it!”

He took a deep breath, kneeling too: “Luo Jiutian, do it. Just spare my lineage.”

Both closed their eyes, ready to die, and it didn’t look like an act.

But the expected death didn’t come.

Luo Yuanshan, puzzled, opened his eyes.

Luo Jiutian sheathed his crimson sword, grinning: “Heh, we’re all Luo family. How could I bear to kill you?”