Chapter 8: My Name is Nie Huixiang

Wu Tian was momentarily stunned; he hadn’t expected that junior sister to propose such a condition. In truth, he had only intended to lend the two women a hand. They were disciples of the Seven Stars Academy, and their backgrounds were surely anything but ordinary. Wu Tian knew that if he wanted to survive in this foreign world, he would need not only peak strength but also broader connections.

Yet, he had not anticipated that the junior sister would so boldly offer to marry him. This caught him off guard, but he was more than happy to accept.

“Junior sister, you—”

“Senior sister, we simply can’t withstand the people from the Empty Gates. Rather than be defiled by them, I’d rather marry this young hero—and perhaps save you as well. I have no regrets!” she declared with fierce resolve, biting her lip.

“Excellent! Then let’s settle it joyfully!” Wu Tian exclaimed before the senior sister could respond, leaping to his feet.

“Brothers! I’ve found the footprints of those two girls—they’ve run into this cave!” Suddenly, a shout echoed from outside.

A cacophony of approaching footsteps followed, growing ever closer.

“It’s over… They’re here!” the senior sister’s voice was tinged with despair.

“Young hero, I beg you, please help us!” the junior sister pleaded hopefully.

“My dear, don’t be afraid. Leave these villains to me!” Wu Tian patted his chest with pride, eager to serve his future wife without the slightest hesitation.

Laughter rang out.

“At last I’ve found you! So the two of you thought you could hide here? It’s taken me a whole hour to hunt you down—did you think you could waste so much of my time? You lot, go grab those two girls for me—I want a taste of their charms!”

At that, a dozen disciples of the Empty Gates, torches in hand, stormed into the cave. Their faces were twisted with lecherous grins as their eyes fell upon the two women.

“If any of you dare lay a finger on my wife, I’ll kill you all!” Wu Tian declared, stepping forward with dominance. As a tenth-rank martial artist, he had no fear of these mere Empty Gate lackeys.

At his words, the junior sister blushed, though in the cave’s dim light, it was impossible to see.

“So, there’s someone else here? I suggest you keep out of the Empty Gates’ business, or you’ll be the first to die!” one of them threatened arrogantly.

“Kill me? I’d like to see you try,” Wu Tian replied with disdain.

“You cocky bastard! Kill him!”

“Brothers, get him!”

With that, the Empty Gates thugs charged forward, weapons raised. Wu Tian curled his lip in scorn; the strongest among them was only a third-rank martial artist. For most, such strength might be impressive, but to Wu Tian, it was hardly worth mentioning.

“Courting death!” Wu Tian sneered. Suddenly, the Black Dragon Blade appeared in his hand.

No sooner had he spoken than his true energy surged into the blade. It seemed as if a dragon roared; the entire weapon trembled. With a mighty swing, Wu Tian sent a razor-sharp blade aura slicing toward the onrushing disciples.

A hiss— The blade aura swept through several bodies. Instantly, a handful of Empty Gate disciples froze where they stood.

Suddenly, blood gushed from their mouths and they collapsed to the ground.

Ding!

“Congratulations, player Wu Tian, for slaying an Empty Gate disciple! You have gained 1,000 experience and 500 silver taels!”

“Congratulations, player Wu Tian, for slaying an Empty Gate disciple! You have gained 3,000 experience and 1,000 silver taels!”

“Congratulations, player Wu Tian, for slaying an Empty Gate disciple! You have gained 5,000 experience and a vial of Bliss Powder!”

Just one strike—three of the Empty Gate minions lay dead. Save for Wu Tian, everyone was dumbstruck.

“How… How can this be? All three of them were first-rank martial artists, yet they were felled in a single blow! How strong is that guy?”

“Damn it! We’ve run into an expert, senior brother—what do we do?”

“What do you mean, what do we do? All together, now!”

As the dozen or so Empty Gate disciples surged forward, Wu Tian remained utterly unconcerned. “How reckless. Since you’re all so eager to die, I won’t stand in your way.”

He gripped his blade in both hands, slid his left foot back, and then exploded forward.

A thunderous crack echoed; where he’d stood, two deep footprints were left in the ground. In the blink of an eye, his body vanished from their sight.

“What the—? Where’d he go?” The Empty Gate men were bewildered.

“Did he just disappear?”

“Your grandpa’s right behind you!” Wu Tian’s mocking voice sounded from behind their ranks.

Faces ashen, they tried to turn, but it was too late.

A deafening boom.

Five more were cut down instantly, blood spraying as their lives ended on the spot. The rest were blasted against the cave walls by the sheer force of Wu Tian’s attack.

“You… Damn it! You dare defy the Empty Gates? Fine, you brat—if you have the guts, tell us your name. One day, we’ll come for you!” their senior brother said, clutching his chest and glaring at Wu Tian.

“Oh?” Wu Tian raised a brow. “So this world plays at such childish games?”

“Listen up, and be terrified! Have you heard of the Nie family? I’m Nie Huixiang! If you think you’re tough, come to the Nie family and try your luck. See if I don’t beat you all to death!” Wu Tian brandished his blade at the Empty Gate men, all the while secretly mocking their stupidity.

“The Nie family? One of the four great powers of Pingyang City! Fine, Nie Huixiang, I’ll remember you. I’ll have my revenge!”

“I’ll be waiting anytime,” Wu Tian replied indifferently. After all, he wasn’t actually Nie Huixiang. There really was a Nie family in Pingyang City, and a wastrel named Nie Huixiang among them. If the Empty Gates went after him, it was none of Wu Tian’s concern.

The surviving Empty Gate disciples shot Wu Tian hateful looks, then helped one another and fled the cave in haste.

With their enemies gone, the two women finally breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground, weak with exhaustion.

“Y-young hero, thank you for saving us!” the senior sister gasped.

“No need to thank me. I only acted for my fiancée’s sake,” Wu Tian said with a grin.

“No! My junior sister cannot marry you. Any condition but that,” the senior sister protested resolutely.

“Words once spoken cannot be taken back. Your junior sister is already my wife, and your objection means nothing,” Wu Tian replied, wagging his finger.

“Y-young hero, are you truly from the Nie family?” the junior sister asked shyly.

“No, not at all. I’m a disciple of the Qitian Sect.”

“Qitian Sect?” The two women’s faces changed instantly. “No wonder you’re so powerful!”

“You’re mistaken. In others’ eyes, I’m just a useless nobody, not powerful at all,” Wu Tian shrugged.

The two women were left speechless. To call someone who could annihilate several martial artists in a single move a nobody—who would ever believe it?