The Sutra of Nothingness

After finishing his sentence, Shangguan Duo left without looking back. Zhang Youli looked at Huang Tianzhong and saw the deep hatred in his eyes, which was not concealed at all. She fed the elixir in her hand to her dying father and then left the place with him.

However, as soon as she returned home, she saw Shangguan Duo standing in the courtyard with her hands behind her back, while her older brothers and sisters knelt on the ground, trembling and crying.

"Little sister, the immortal is leaving! What will we do without him? That Huang Tianzhong is a vengeful man. Once he recovers, our family will be finished!" The eldest sister, Zhang Youxin, said to Zhang Youli, sobbing uncontrollably. Not a single person stepped forward to help support the unconscious Zhang Qingyuan!

“Elder sister, the immortal is only staying temporarily to recuperate. He has already helped us a lot. If we ask him for more help, we will be pushing our luck! Besides, the immortal is supposed to be cultivating in seclusion and not getting involved in worldly karma. Helping us has already created karma for us. We don’t know how long we will need to cultivate in seclusion to make up for this loss! We should pack up quickly. If we wait until Huang Tianzhong has recovered, it will be too late to leave!” Zhang Youli looked at the silent Shangguan Duo with difficulty. The expectation in her eyes slowly turned into helplessness. In the end, she could only sigh and whisper in her sister’s ear.

“But, Father…” Zhang Youxin wanted to say something more, but seeing her younger sister’s solemn expression, she came to her senses.

"Zhang Youxin, a commoner from the Zhang family, along with her younger siblings, respectfully bids farewell to the immortal!" Seeing Shangguan Duo's resolute intention to leave, Zhang Youxin said nothing more. Now, their only option was to leave the village as soon as possible before Huang Tianzhong recovered. Otherwise, given their commoner status, even if they were tormented to death, they wouldn't cause a ripple.

"Sigh!" Shangguan Duo was also very helpless. He had also fallen into Zhang Qingyuan's trap. Now he was just a rogue cultivator. He had just entered the Immortal Realm and had already offended an inner disciple of a sect. He had no choice but to leave as soon as possible.

With a flick of his sleeve, Shangguan Duo ascended into the air at lightning speed, raising a cloud of dust in the Zhang family's courtyard.

"I'm taking Zhang Youli with me. As for Huang Tianzhong, I'll break his arms and legs before I leave. You should leave as soon as possible!" Shangguan Duo didn't look back at his saviors again, and coldly gave his instructions.

"Thank you, Immortal!" Zhang Youxin finally burst into tears of joy. The previous dejected atmosphere disappeared, and she pulled her younger siblings to start tidying up the valuables in the house.

Meanwhile, the Huang family's underlings were dragging the groaning Huang Tianzhong home, their whimpering antics causing the family head to frown.

"I told you to stay out of trouble, but you wouldn't listen. Who did you mess with this time?" Huang Chaoba didn't open his eyes, but just sat cross-legged on the large chair at the top of his hall.

“In reply to your question, sir, it is the Zhang family’s fault. If it weren’t for the pursuit of Zhang Youxin, the young master wouldn’t have been so badly injured!” A henchman hurriedly kowtowed and replied.

"So many of you can't even beat a decrepit old man? Then it seems there's no use keeping you around!" Huang Chaoba suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the underling who had answered him. His chilling gaze seemed to want to skin him alive. The dignity of a superior made the two underlings who were supporting Huang Tianzhong so scared that they knelt down on the spot. Even as Huang Tianzhong slid off their shoulders and fell straight to the ground face down, they didn't dare to make a move.

"Speak! Huang Qi, what exactly is going on!" Huang Chaoba remained silent for a long time, and only after watching the two young men tremble like leaves did he finally lift the teacup beside the table and slowly ask.

"Reporting to the patriarch, it was...it was an immortal who protected the Zhang family! We were killed in a single encounter, and we wouldn't have made it back if the immortal hadn't spared our lives..." The underling, Huang Qi, didn't dare to hide anything and immediately told the whole story.

"Oh? There are immortals in our village? They're probably spies from other cities. It seems my Huang family has a chance to turn things around. Even if they are disciples of Yueyang Sect, I'll still have done something! Not bad, not bad, hahaha!" Huang Chaoba was thinking about his future, but he didn't notice that his two underlings were staring at him tremblingly, their eyes filled with fear!

"Alright, if that's the case, you two may leave! I will make my own decision on this matter. Those who have harmed members of the Huang family will not have a peaceful end!" Huang Chaoba pretended to be indifferent as he put the teacup back on the table, but he couldn't control the corners of his mouth from turning up!

The two henchmen remained motionless, staring intently behind him, until Shangguan Duo waved to them. Only then did they scramble away as if granted a pardon.

"Tsk, servants are servants! Rude and unruly! They didn't even take Zhong'er to recover from her injuries. Fine, considering you've given the Huang family a good opportunity, I..." Huang Chaoba stared at his two scurrying underlings with great dissatisfaction, muttering to himself. However, he had lost his previous solemnity and dignified demeanor. As he spoke, he slowly began to walk down the steps of the hall!

"Patriarch Huang, what good opportunity makes you so happy?" Before Huang Chaoba could finish speaking, Shangguan Duo had already climbed onto the grand chair that originally belonged to Huang Chaoba.

This sudden attack startled Huang Chaoba so much that he jumped and sat down on the ground.

"No... I didn't know you were coming, Immortal! I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly! Please forgive me! May I ask which sect you belong to so I, Huang Chaoba, can inform the city authorities and send someone to fetch you!" Huang Chaoba's back was already soaked with sweat. He was secretly glad that he hadn't said what he was thinking, otherwise he would probably be beheaded by now!

"No need. I haven't completed my mission yet. I'm just here to recuperate from serious injuries and don't want anyone else to know!" Shangguan Duo knew exactly what he was thinking. Naturally, not every disciple in the cultivation world knew about such a person. If he revealed his name and they guessed wrong, he would face a hunt down by the entire city!

"Immortal, have you come here specifically to punish me? It's all my fault for this ignorant brat from my branch. Whatever you wish to do, I'll help you, and I'll make sure you're completely satisfied!" Seeing Shangguan Duo's calm and composed demeanor, Huang Chaoba felt intimidated and could only crawl to Shangguan Duo's chair and ask with a forced smile.

"When I was seriously injured, I was brought back thanks to the Zhang family's help. I hope that whoever tries to lay a hand on the Zhang family can live a peaceful life from now on! As for this little thing, just sever his tendons and leave him to fend for himself on the street!" Shangguan Duo waved his hand and summoned Zhang Youli, which was a way of giving Huang Chaoba his proof!