Xiangzi’s Record of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 95: Fourth Master Liu’s Cry, Xiangzi’s Grand Play

Watching the adopted son he’d raised draw a blade against him, Fourth Master Liu’s eyes widened in fury, the copper pipe slipping from his hand with a
swish
.
With a flick, the pipe’s bowl detached, transforming into a sharp dagger.
Its cold gleam reflected the moonlight.
The long blade grazed the iron pipe, sparking, as the seventy-year-old dodged the tip with an iron-bridge maneuver.
With a
pfft
, the dagger pierced Liu Quan’s left chest.
Had Liu Quan not shifted, that strike would’ve been fatal.
The entourage stood dumbfounded.
How did father and son come to blows so suddenly?
“Attack! Once the blade’s drawn, there’s no turning back!” Liu Quan roared, eyes bloodshot, madness overtaking him.
Gone was his usual refined air as he swung the blade again.
At his words, his men, eyes red, charged forward.
One shouted, “Kill Liu and claim the reward!”
But before he could advance, Girl Hu’s crushing kick sent him sprawling.
Fourth Master Liu parried Liu Quan’s blade, a savage glint crossing his face. He spun, shouting, “Girl Hu, don’t engage! Back to the yard!”
He didn’t know why Liu Quan had turned on him today!
But he knew this adopted son’s nature. Of his four sons, Liu Quan was the most cautious, never acting without certainty—
just like Liu himself in his youth.
Liu Quan wouldn’t dare act alone; this was a premeditated ambush.
As if to confirm his thoughts, dozens of shadows emerged from the darkness—lurking at street corners and alleys.
From the shadows stepped a gaunt middle-aged man.
He was so thin a breeze might topple him, yet his spine was ramrod straight.
He walked unhurriedly, yet in moments crossed from the street’s end to within a few zhang of Fourth Master Liu.
Under the moonlight, the gaunt man clapped lightly, a faint smile on his lips. “What a show—father and son at odds. Fourth Master Liu, it’s been a while.”
Seeing him, Fourth Master Liu’s pupils shrank.
This old rogue, forged in the southern city’s blood, felt a chill to his bones.
—
Ten zhang away, atop a great locust tree, Xiangzi’s eyes sharpened at the sight of the gaunt man—he’d seen him before.
Days ago, at the Li family’s mining district, atop a tree, Xiangzi had witnessed Li Gui trembling before this man.
If he recalled correctly, his name was Shi Cheng—the steward of young master Li’s outer household.
But Xiangzi’s gaze was drawn to the two middle-aged guards behind Shi Cheng.
Their faces were so familiar—familiar enough that even without his enhanced vision, a glance at their outlines was enough.
The night breeze stirred, tree shadows swaying.
Dim light cut across Xiangzi’s dark face, masking his razor-sharp expression.
Days ago, when he’d cowered like a dog in the mining district’s depths, these two guards had prodded Wen San’s head.
A dark emotion surged in Xiangzi’s heart.
With a
swish
, a faint rustle broke from the dense foliage.
A short spear slipped into his palm.
—
Shi Cheng stood with hands behind his back, calmly eyeing Fourth Master Liu. “Fourth Master, last we met was at the old mine master’s birthday, wasn’t it? I recall you gifted a five-colored ore crystal carved into a Buddha pendant. Quite the gesture!”
“The old master praised it, said the carving was exquisite. A rickshaw boss from a mining background, yet your craft never dulled.”
Fourth Master Liu snorted. “You know I’m a Li family veteran. Why this display tonight?”
His tiger-like eyes swept Liu Quan, a savage edge emerging. “Unless…
Shi Cheng, have you been bought by the mining district, colluding with this traitor to plot against me?
”
Shi Cheng scoffed, his eyes flashing disdain. “They say you’re a ruthless tiger, a figure of note. Yet facing death, you babble and accuse wildly.”
Fourth Master Liu’s eyes narrowed. “Shi Cheng, what nonsense is this?”
Shi Cheng shook his head, chuckling. “Liu, if not for the old mine master’s sake, I wouldn’t bother with a lowly servant like you.”
“But young master Li has a message.”
At “young master,” Liu’s eyes froze.
“Since you dared hide the ledger, you should’ve expected today.
For your years with our old master, end it yourself. The Li family will leave you a whole corpse.
”
Shi Cheng shrugged. “You know the young master’s temperament. These are his exact words—I wouldn’t dare change a single one.”
—
Fourth Master Liu reeled as if struck by lightning, roaring, “Run, Girl Hu!”
His eyes blazed red as he lunged at Shi Cheng.
The word “ledger” shattered his defenses.
He couldn’t believe the young master would kill him over this.
All these years serving the Li family, only to end as a discarded dog?
Rage flooded his chest. The dagger shot through the night, a straight line aimed at Shi Cheng’s eye.
Shi Cheng stood still until the dagger neared, then raised a hand—
Or rather, two fingers.
The gaunt index and middle fingers clamped the dagger, halting it.
With a twist, the dagger snapped in two.
Shi Cheng shook his head at Liu’s desperate charge. “Liu, you’re old. At your peak, you were barely ninth-rank minor achievement.
Now you think you can fight to the death? Still think you’re a tiger?
”
As he spoke, the ninth-rank major achievement martial artist pressed a palm gently to Liu’s chest.
With a
crack
, Liu’s chest caved in.
He flew back, crashing into a brick wall.
Dust and debris fell, coating his pale, despairing face.
Struggling, Liu looked into the distance—the black iron-tower figure had reached the street’s end.
But then, a sharp
crack
split the air.
A long arrow pierced Girl Hu’s back.
Liu’s eyes bulged, a guttural scream bursting from his shattered chest. “Liu Quan!”
The bowstring quivered, buzzing. Liu Quan lowered the bow, expressionless.
Looking at his foster father, collapsed like an old dog, he said softly, “Fourth Master,
you taught me this archery.
”
“Why…
I treated you like my own son,
” Liu rasped, chest burning, teeth grinding. “Why betray me with outsiders?”
Liu Quan’s head snapped up, his usually refined eyes blazing with ruthless madness. “Your son?
When did you ever treat me as one?
”
“Fourth Master, why not ask Liu Hu? Why not ask Liu Tang?”
“They were your sons too!”
—