Ning Fan looked at Fan Zhongliang, whose face bore a mocking smile, and the eagle beside him watched with a cold gaze, devoid of any expression.
Zi Hongyu stood beside Fan Zhongliang with an emotionless face, his hand being incessantly tugged by Fan Zhongliang, who seemed oblivious to Fan Zhongliang's questioning.
Fan Zhongliang looked at Zi Hongyu, gritted his teeth, and roared, "Zi Hongyu, just make your move already, damn it! They're right here, kill them!"
Finally, at that moment, Zi Hongyu turned his head to look at Fan Zhongliang.
Seeing Zi Hongyu's response, Fan Zhongliang's hope reignited, but the very next second, when he saw the confusion on Zi Hongyu's face, Fan Zhongliang was completely despondent.
"Make a move? What move?"
Zi Hongyu looked at Fan Zhongliang with a puzzled face, his lips curling up into an inexplicable smile.
"Don't play the fool with me, we had an agreement!" Fan Zhongliang shouted, and then he froze, as if realizing something.
Fan Zhongliang looked at Zi Hongyu in disbelief, reached out to grab his collar, and yanked Zi Hongyu up forcefully.
"It seems you need to cool down a bit, poor thing," Zi Hongyu chuckled and then pushed Fan Zhongliang away.
Fan Zhongliang, shoved aside, staggered backward a few steps and instinctively looked towards Ning Fan.
"Heh, you should understand your predicament now, shouldn't you?"
Ning Fan said, looking at him like one would look at a pitiful insect.
Zi Hongyu didn't speak, his gaze upon Fan Zhongliang was devoid of any pity.
Fan Zhongliang roared as if wanting to charge at Ning Fan and fight to the death.
At the same time, the eagle gestured grandly, and everyone's blades simultaneously pointed towards Fan Zhongliang.
The one caught in an ambush wasn't Ning Fan, but him, Fan Zhongliang, which is why Ning Fan had said this was a good show, and he was willing to applaud it.
Surrounded, Fan Zhongliang knelt on the ground as the situation turned hopeless. His head lowered, his expression was one of extreme reluctance.
All of this had always been under Ning Fan's control, which Fan Zhongliang found unbelievable. It was as if he had been dreaming, initially thinking it was a beautiful dream, only to turn out to be a nightmare in the end.
After being rudely awakened, Fan Zhongliang gasped heavily, his face drenched with sweat. He raised his head to plead towards Ning Fan, "Boss Jiuye, Boss Jiuye, I was wrong, please let me go, please spare me!"
Thump, thump, thump, Fan Zhongliang knocked his head on the ground several times, but his current appearance was so ridiculous that it failed to elicit any sympathy.
"Fan Zhongliang, you've already had your chance, but you didn't cherish it!" the eagle said coldly, kicking Fan Zhongliang to the ground.
Zi Hongyu turned his head away, unwilling to witness the scene, because he didn't want to see his own past reflected in Fan Zhongliang.
Fan Zhongliang's one eye brimmed with tears as he cried out desperately, "Boss Jiuye, it's Dragon Gate Martial Arts School, it's Long Tianze who used me! I really had no choice, he's captured my wife and children, otherwise, how would I dare to move against you!"
"Do you think Boss Jiuye would believe your lies?" the eagle sneered, delivering another kick.
Fan Zhongliang dared not shout, but instead clung directly to the eagle's legs, shouting loudly, "Everything I said is true, it's that bastard Long Tianze, he threatened me with the lives of my wife and children, if I didn't do as he said, he would kill them all! Ninth Master, spare me, I won't dare to do it again next time!"
As Fan Zhongliang spoke, he started to kowtow to Ning Fan, hoping Ning Fan would forgive him and spare his life.
"Considering that we used to be brothers, Ninth Master, spare me this one time, spare me for the last time!"
Fan Zhongliang might have been better off not mentioning the word "brother," as it only infuriated the eagle.
"Fuck your mother, who was it that said the word 'brother' sounded like a joke before? You damn well know we used to be brothers!"
The eagle exploded in rage, spitting directly onto Fan Zhongliang's face.
"I won't dare anymore, Ninth Master, if I dare betray you again, may I be struck by lightning!"
Seeing that Ning Fan had been silent all along, Fan Zhongliang thought there might still be a sliver of hope for him, so he kept pleading to Ning Fan.
The eagle was uncontrollably angry, unable to forget Fan Zhongliang's previous pretense; he only felt that Fan Zhongliang was a hypocrite. What use was there in keeping such a turncoat?
"Fan Zhongliang! After so many years of brotherhood, how did Ninth Master treat you? Who gave you the status you have today? Have you forgotten all that?
When you were close to death, who was it that went alone, with a single sword, to meet the four gates of Zhonghai for you? And now you dare to strike so ruthlessly!"
The eagle interrogated Fan Zhongliang word by word, and at this moment, Fan Zhongliang did not dare to retort, nodding his head continuously in agreement.
"I was wrong, I'm just a beast. If it weren't for Ninth Master, how could I have achieved what I have today? Ninth Master, considering that I have toiled for you like an ox and a horse in the past, please spare me this time!"
Fan Zhongliang begged Ning Fan to give him one last chance at life.
But could Ning Fan really grant him a chance at life after what he had done?
Indeed, Fan Zhongliang used to be his top warrior, earning great merit for him, but has Ning Fan ever wronged him afterward?
"After so many years as brothers, I've treated you generously, yet you seek my life?"
Ning Fan looked coldly at Fan Zhongliang, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
It was because they were brothers that Ning Fan had given Fan Zhongliang many things, but this ungrateful dog not only failed to repay kindness but also sought to put him to death.
It was not Ning Fan who forgot the old brotherhood but Fan Zhongliang. The eagle had already said it before, reminding Fan Zhongliang that they used to be brothers.
But Fan Zhongliang's nature had completely rotted away; the word "brother" meant nothing to him, and in the end, he still chose conflict?
Just as the eagle had said, Ning Fan had already given this guy a chance, but it was Fan Zhongliang who didn't cherish it.
"Ninth Master, I didn't truly want to go against you, it was that bastard Long Tianze, he threatened me with my family, my wife and children are all in his hands, I was helpless!"
Fan Zhongliang was no longer young, and at this time he was sobbing and crying, looking very pitiful.
But remembering his previous attitude, no one would feel a shred of mercy for him; the man was a thankless wretch. Even if they spared him this time, who could say he wouldn't stab them in the back again?
Ning Fan was unmoved by Fan Zhongliang's begging and scoffed, "Out of necessity? Yet another necessity!"
Ning Fan gave Fan Zhongliang a cold stare and continued, "Your wife and children are in Long Tianze's hands, I know. But that's something you don't need to worry about anymore!"