Chapter 53
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Chapter 53: Troops Besiege the Lin Family
Two hours later, Fang Lie underwent reincarnation once more within the Cycle of Fire.
The moment he regained consciousness, the old bird’s mocking voice rang out: "You could’ve shed that flesh and revived immediately, yet chose to endure the torture. Tell me boy, do you harbor some peculiar taste for suffering?"
"Devils take such cursed preferences! That was flaying and sinew-ripping! They even used chili-laced balm – the pain nearly killed me!" Fang Lie growled through clenched teeth.
"Then why willingly endure it?" the old bird pressed curiously.
"Had I vanished before their eyes, what would they think? What would they do?" Fang Lie narrowed his eyes.
"Direct disappearance would make them suspect your revival…" The old bird paused, then exclaimed: "Ah! You feared their escape!"
"Exactly! The Mo Sect’s teleportation arrays stand ready. At first sign of danger, those scoundrels would flee. My authority only holds within the sect – once they escape, I’d be powerless!" Fang Lie’s voice burned with fury. "After their torture, how could I let them go unpunished?"
"So you suffered till they retired before escaping?" The old bird chuckled dryly. "Ruthless indeed, enduring such agony for vengeance. Admirable, if foolish."
"I dislike debts," Fang Lie snarled. "This time, I’ll skip the useless Law Enforcers and settle accounts myself!"
Seizing the floating Benevolence Token, he demanded: "Any issues?"
"None!" the old bird replied. "Though merely a candidate Token Lord without administrative rights, you retain sect protection. That Mo Sect members still dared abuse you shames us all! By sect rules, I now grant you full authority over this case – but only this case."
"Understood!" Fang Lie’s grin turned feral. "Mobilize ten thousand Law Enforcement Heavenly Soldiers. The Lin estate gets sealed tighter than a drum – not even ants escape!"
"Done." The old bird intoned. "The soldiers await outside."
"HA!" Fang Lie’s laughter boomed. "Reckoning time arrives!"
One step carried him mysteriously from the Cycle of Fire to the Ancestral Hall’s exterior, where ten thousand golden-armored soldiers stood arrayed.
"Lord Token!" they chorused, bowing.
"Move out!" Fang Lie commanded, leading the host toward the Lin compound.
Within the Lin estate, revelry reigned. Cultivators normally abstained from food, reserving feasts for grand celebrations. Tables groaned under rare delicacies – spirit flora and demon beast meats that enhanced cultivation and physique.
Such spreads proved costly, rarely indulged. But today merited excess – they’d captured Fang Lie! An afternoon of torture proved he couldn’t die or escape, meaning endless future torment.
Who’d endure flaying rather than feign death? The Lins basked in triumph, anticipating rewards from their shadowy patron – perhaps even a Puppet That Dies in Place, treasure beyond their collective worth!
Nearly all Lin cultivators attended – barely a dozen souls. Patriarch Lin Tingzhi, his wives, two sons, and two brothers’ families filled one table.
Lin Yutang and his elder brother, architects of Fang Lie’s torment, held court among juniors. Never so celebrated, both swelled with pride.
"Fang Lie survived the three unyielding tortures, acting tough," Lin Yutang bragged to his audience. "But under our methods? Pathetic! After few torments, know what he did?"
The crowd leaned in.
"He called us FATHER!"
Roaring laughter shook the hall.
Even the usually composed Lin Tingzhi couldn’t stop laughing.
But just then, an ill-timed voice cut through: "Lin Yutang, wasn’t it you who got called ‘Daddy’ instead?"
"Who’s spouting lies?!" Lin Yutang roared, jumping to his feet. But when his eyes landed on the speaker, his soul shattered. He stood frozen like a statue.
All watched as his eyeballs nearly bulged from their sockets, mouth agape in terror as if seeing a ghost. Curiosity seized the crowd as they turned toward the doorway.
The sight struck them dumb – every person at the table turned to stone!
There stood a square-jawed youth with a broad nose and sharp brows. Behind him spread massive golden wings emblazoned with "Dao" and "De" – none other than Fang Lie himself!
Fang Lie sauntered in grinning, "Celebrating already? Bit premature, aren’t you? I’m still breathing!"
The Lin Family turned to statues. Even Nascent Soul True Immortal Lin Tingzhi trembled, sweat drenching his robes, mind blank.
‘How did he escape?’ Lin Tingzhi panicked internally. ‘If he’s walking in freely, the Law Enforcement Heavenly Soldiers must have us surrounded! How do I save my family?’
As Lin Tingzhi scrambled for solutions, Fang Lie addressed the shaking Lin Yutang: "Heard you bragged about making me call you Daddy. True?"
"N-no! Never!" Lin Yutang stuttered.
"Good," Fang Lie chuckled. "Doesn’t matter. You failed, but I won’t."
His grin turned vicious. "I’ll make you scream Daddy! Every torture device in your vaults – you’ll sample them all. Let’s see if your bones match mine!"
"MOOOOM!" Lin Yutang wailed. A dark stain spread across his pale robe’s hem, urine dripping onto the floor.
The Lin heir had pissed himself in terror!
Beside him, Lin Yutang’s older brother collapsed, eyes vacant with shock.
Disgusted sneers spread through the crowd.
Lin Tingzhi finally roared: "Fang Lie! The fault’s mine alone! My sons merely followed orders – spare them!"
"HA!" Fang Lie barked laughter. "Remember noon? You vowed to make me wish I were dead. Where’s that arrogance now?"
"I yield!" Lin Tingzhi bowed deeply. "For your father’s sake, spare my kin!"
"LIES!" Fang Lie thundered. "My late father would never befriend scum like you! Don’t tarnish his name!"
Gritting his teeth, Lin Tingzhi pleaded: "Then as your elder! I beg on my knees – show mercy!"
"Mercy?" Fang Lie scoffed. "I don’t strike first, but cross me…" He raised his voice: "Law Enforcement Heavenly Soldiers! Seize EVERYONE – down to the last mutt!"
Golden light flooded the sky as armored figures descended. They hauled away cultivators, servants, even family members lacking spiritual roots – leaving none untouched.
Lin Tingzhi watched in horror. Fang Lie meant to erase the Lin Family from the Eight-Hundred-Generation Families! Their ancient lineage, spanning hundreds of generations, would end because of his mistake. Blood gushed from his mouth as he collapsed.
