I have a sword

Chapter 4 "Even if the sky falls down, brother will bear it first!"

Along the way, Ye Xuan rushed forward with Ye Ling, people pointing and whispering around them. Back when Ye Xuan was the heir, everyone in the mansion would greet him respectfully. But now that he was no longer the heir, those who once flattered and curried favor avoided him or pretended not to know him. They didn't want to offend the current heir, Ye Lang, or the elder.
To Ye Xuen, such changes mattered little. It was only during tough times that one could see people’s true colors.
On the journey, Ye Ling clung tightly to Ye Xuan's hand, trembling as she spoke, "Brother, forget it... I, I'm okay... They have elders backing them; they'll target you."
Ye Xuan stopped, turning to look at Ye Ling with a fierce expression, "Whoever dares to lay a hand on you, even if it's the great elder himself, I'll make him pay dearly!"
With that, he pulled Ye Ling along, hastening their pace towards a distance.
Soon enough, they arrived at the kitchen of the Ye Mansion, where a fat man emerged. This man was none other than Wang, the head steward in charge of the entire kitchen.
Wang took a look at Ye Xuan, initially surprised, then quickly plastered a smile on his pudgy face, "Oh, what brings the former heir here? Oh dear, how forgetful of me, I almost forgot you're no longer the heir. My memory's slipping! By the way, I should address you as my future brother-in-law now, since the elders have arranged for your sister to marry me, and we..."
Before Wang could finish, Ye Xuan swiftly stepped forward and delivered a kick to Wang's groin.
"Aaaah!"
Wang's eyes bulged, and his face contorted in pain.
Everyone around stood frozen, staring in shock.
What was Ye Xuan planning?
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Ye Xuan snarled ferociously, "Ever since we were young, I've never laid a hand on my sister. Yet you dared to hit her!"
And with that, he swung a resounding slap across Wang's face.
Smack!
The sound echoed like thunder!
Spurt!
Wang spat out a mouthful of blood, rolling on the ground while clutching his groin, screaming like a slaughtered pig.
Intent on continuing his retribution, Ye Xuan was interrupted by an angry shout from behind, "Ye Xuan, you dare to act recklessly!"
The speaker was Ye Ku. Behind him stood several guards of the Ye Mansion.
Ignoring Ye Ku, Ye Xuan stepped on Wang's face with one foot, then turned to the pale-faced Ye Ling beside him, "Which hand did he hit you with?"
Ye Ling trembled, "R-right hand... Broth-er, maybe we should ju-st..."
Before Ye Ling could finish, Ye Xuan unsheathed his waist knife and, without hesitation, chopped down fiercely at Wang's shoulder.
Slice!
Wang's entire right arm was severed from his shoulder, blood gushing out like a fountain.
Silence engulfed the scene.
All spectators were stunned, including Ye Ku, whose eyes were wide with disbelief!
As for Wang, he fainted from the pain.
Covering her mouth, Ye Ling was equally horrified.
At this juncture, Ye Ku regained his composure and pointed at Ye Xuan, outraged, "Ye Xuan, how dare you commit violence in front of me! You...you..."
Ye Xuan spun around, brandishing his dagger at Ye Ku, growling menacingly, "You old dog! Don't think I don't know it's you and the great elder plotting behind the scenes! You bunch of trash always scheme against your own kind! Why don't you try scheming against the Zhang family, the Li family, or even the City Lord's Mansion?! You're strong against your own, but weak like dogs against outsiders—that's the measure of your Elder Council!"
In Qingcheng City, the Zhang family, Li family, City Lord's Mansion, and the Ye family collectively form the city's four major powers, with the Ye family being the weakest among them.
Upon hearing Ye Xuan's words, Elder Ye Ku's face twisted with fury. "Ye Xuan, what gives you the right to act so arrogant? Committing violence in broad daylight before everyone's eyes, you——"
"Enough of your whining!"
Ye Xuan suddenly burst out in anger, "I've done the deed, come and get me if you dare!"
Elder Ye Ku's face turned purple with rage as he roared, "Seize him!"
However, the few Ye Mansion guards standing next to him hesitated to move. Ye Xuan had fought numerous bloody battles on behalf of the Ye family, earning high respect among the guards. Known for his fearlessness and readiness to engage with the other three factions, Ye Xuan had led many Ye Mansion guards in external conflicts to secure territories. Thus, most guards shared a deep bond with him and found it difficult to obey Elder Ye Ku's order.
When they saw the guards refusing to act, Elder Ye Ku was stunned. "Do you all intend to rebel?"
The lead guard, named Li Mu, glanced at Ye Xuan with uncertainty, "Brother Ye, we——"
Ye Xuan looked at Li Mu, reminding him, "Li Mu, you've been through at least a hundred battles with me. You all know very well how I treat the Ye family. Now that they offer us food fit for dogs, I cannot swallow this indignity. I won't force you to choose sides, but mark my words: if you act against me today, all past brotherhood ends here. We won't spare each other!"
Li Mu's face darkened at Ye Xuan's words.
The four major powers of Qingcheng City frequently competed for territory and mines, leading to intense battles where the older generation was forbidden to participate to avoid full-scale clan wars. Instead, the younger generation was encouraged to clash, which served as a way to hone their skills without causing mutual destruction. Ye Xuan was the representative figure of the Ye family's younger generation and essentially their leader. Given their shared experiences and camaraderie forged in battle, the guards were torn about opposing him. They knew full well that once Ye Xuan engaged in a fight, he became a madman willing to risk everything. Any attempt to subdue him would likely result in fatalities.
Upon seeing Li Mu and his men still hesitating, Elder Ye Ku snarled, "Are you seriously courting death?"
Li Mu took a deep breath, preparing to speak when Ye Xuan interrupted him, "He knows you can't beat me but wants you to attack instead, intending to escalate the situation by having me kill you all. Our esteemed elders within the Ye family are adept at manipulating their own kin, aren't they?"
The guards' expressions soured as they realized Elder Ye Ku intended to sacrifice them.
Ye Xuan sneered at Elder Ye Ku, "Your schemes against me are one thing, but targeting my twelve-year-old sister? I swear by your ancestors!"
With a sudden stomp, the floor beneath Ye Xuan exploded, and he lunged at Elder Ye Ku like a ferocious tiger.
Elder Ye Ku's face paled as he didn't expect Ye Xuan to attack him, given his status as an elder. He prepared to defend himself with a low-level martial skill called "Fist Break Stone."
Their fists collided, and Elder Ye Ku's face changed dramatically as his fist split open, spraying blood everywhere. Before he could recover, Ye Xuen advanced and landed a punch on his stomach.
A loud retch followed as Elder Ye Ku vomited blood and flew backward, crashing to the ground. Ye Xuan promptly placed his foot on Elder Ye Ku's chest. The elder stared in disbelief as he struggled under Ye Xuan's foot. "Impossible! How could your Fist Break Stone be so powerful?!"
Although Elder Ye Ku was an Internal Affairs Elder and a Qi Transformation Realm expert, he was defeated by Ye Xuan with a single punch.
Ye Xuan slapped Elder Ye Ku across the face twice, mocking, "Living a life of luxury in the Ye Mansion has made your Fist Break Stone weak and pathetic. Shameful!"
Elder Ye Ku glared at Ye Xuan, "You dare to hit me!"
Ye Xuan responded with another slap, "I dare to hit exactly you!"
Elder Ye Ku's face swelled up as he screamed in outrage, demanding his guards to act.
The guards hesitated, unsure if they could win against Ye Xuan.
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from afar. Everyone turned to see the Great Elder rushing over, accompanied by other elders and guards of the Ye Mansion.
Ye Ling approached Ye Xuan, clutching his clothes in terror. She sobbed, "Brother, run, please hurry——"
Gently holding her trembling hand, Ye Xuan reassured her, "Don't be afraid!"
Tears streaming down her face, Ye Ling apologized, "It's all my fault... I've implicated you... I'm so useless... I'm sorry——"
Ye Xuan comforted her with a smile, "There's nothing to fear. No matter what happens, I'll stand firm and protect you."
Then, addressing the approaching Great Elder, Ye Xuan proposed mockingly, "Great Elder, let's call it quits. I apologize, and we'll put this behind us, alright?"
The Great Elder sneered, "Call it quits? Put this behind us? Ye Xuan, are you dreaming?"
Just as the Great Elder spoke, Ye Xuan stomped down on Elder Ye Ku's throat.
Crack!
A bone-breaking sound filled the air, and Elder Ye Ku's eyes widened in disbelief. His life faded rapidly from his gaze, and everyone present froze.
Looking at the Great Elder, Ye Xuan challenged, "Since we're not settling things peacefully, let's settle it one-on-one! As a junior, I challenge you, Great Elder. Are you too afraid to accept?"

In the midst of everyone's stares, Ye Xuan stepped forward, ready to face the Great Elder head-on.