Black Tiger Mountain lay at the border between southeastern Chaoyang County and Baiyun County. In its early years, it had been named after a black tiger.
Within a hidden valley at the mountain's foot stood a small tree black from trunk to crown, its bark covered in red veins like blood vessels.
Amid the wrapping black leaves, more than a dozen red fruits flickered in and out of view.
Two people stood beneath the tree. One was Zhang He, head of the Zhang family, while the other was Zhang Zhi, a man in black and Zhang He's youngest son.
Zhang Zhi looked up at the red fruits, unable to hide the longing in his eyes.
"Father, this batch of fruits is much better. Not only has the number doubled, but they're a great deal larger too."
Zhang He laughed heartily and stroked his beard.
"What kind of blood did we use before? Pig blood, dog blood, dead men's blood—it had long since lost all its spiritual essence."
"But this time, we used living people."
"Naturally, the results are different."
As he spoke, Zhang He carefully stroked the trunk.
But Zhang Zhi's eyes held a little more worry.
"Father, haven't we used too many living people this time? There were ten of them."
"And we didn't clean things up properly in Baiyun County. The Imperial Guards have already caught our trail..."
Over the years, they had always used the blood of livestock, occasionally stealing a few corpses from the dead. They had kept their hands and feet clean.
The tree bore fruit once every two months, producing eight or nine fruits. The family took ninety percent, while the remaining ten percent was soaked in water for others to drink.
Though the efficiency was slower, it was safe and stable.
In four years, everyone's cultivation had doubled.
The five brothers had all entered the Houtian Realm, while their parents had reached the late Houtian Realm.
Seven Houtian Realm experts in one household—even in Qiushui City, that would count as a major family.
But since the beginning of the year, the family had grown increasingly impatient and started using living people.
Ever since he was young, Zhang Zhi had possessed a peculiar instinct for certain things. Put simply, it was Seek Fortune, Avoid Disaster.
He was exceptionally sensitive to danger.
Since the start of this year, he had constantly felt that something was wrong. Especially today, that feeling had reached its peak.
Zhang He snapped at him.
"So timid and hesitant—how will you ever accomplish great things?"
"The Imperial Guards of Baiyun County? Sun Yan, their banner captain? He's nothing but trash."
"And those Imperial Guards they brought with them will be dealt with by your third and fourth brothers."
"Once dawn comes and I break through to the Xiantian Realm, we'll leave Yongning Commandery and assume new identities. Even the Imperial Guards won't be able to catch us."
Zhang Zhi froze, then his voice rose several notches, joy overflowing from his words.
"Father! You're going to break through to the Xiantian Realm?"
Zhang He stood with his hands behind his back.
"That's right. At the start of the year, I sensed the existence of a bottleneck. Over these past months, that barrier has become as thin as a cicada's wing."
"As long as I consume the Sacred Fruit tonight, entering the Xiantian Realm will be nine chances out of ten."
In the martial world of Yongning Commandery, the Xiantian Realm stood at the very peak. There were fewer than ten Xiantian Realm masters in all of Qiushui City, and quite a few of them served the authorities.
Such as the Imperial Guards' Hundred-Household Officer, the city garrison's commanding general, and the like.
As long as their family fled Yongning Commandery, changed their identities, found a city similar to Qiushui City, and established themselves there, the Zhang family would soon be considered an aristocratic lineage.
Yet joy did not cloud Zhang Zhi's mind. That sense of danger never faded, not even after hearing that his father was about to break through to the Xiantian Realm.
It felt as though an invisible hand had closed around his throat. His instincts told him to run now, and that only by fleeing Yongning Commandery could he survive.
But after weighing the matter in his heart, the temptation of becoming a Xiantian Realm family ultimately gained the upper hand.
He kept comforting himself: instincts could be wrong sometimes.
"Father, I'll stand guard for you tonight! Break through without worry!"
"Good son!"
Zhang He looked at the son supporting him, deeply satisfied.
Of his five sons, Zhang Zhi was the one he favored most. He was the cleverest, the most gifted, and the most filial.
Anything Zhang Zhi had been certain of since childhood had never gone wrong. Thus, before undertaking anything important, Zhang He would always ask Zhang Zhi for his opinion.
With his son's approval, Zhang He felt that this was in the bag.
The martial world of Yongning Commandery? The Imperial Guards? Nothing more than that!
Just as father and son were sharing this tender moment.
He Lian's shrill scream came from the forest. "Old Zhang, Ah Zhi, run!"
Zhang He and his son recognized He Lian's voice at once, and their expressions changed drastically.
"Father, was that Mother?"
Zhang He said nothing. He merely rushed into the forest, racing toward the source of the sound, with Zhang Zhi close behind.
Among the trees, Black Dog repeatedly slapped He Lian across the face, one strike after another.
A gaunt Imperial Guard standing nearby looked on in terror.
"My lord, it was this subordinate's negligence. I failed to keep watch over this criminal and let her cry out..."
To put it bluntly, this already counted as delaying the operation and alerting the targets.
Shen Qing glanced toward the depths of Black Tiger Mountain, waved his hand, then turned and walked toward He Lian.
"When we return, one month's pay will be docked, and you'll stand night watch for three months. Make the same mistake again, and get out of the Imperial Guards yourself."
The gaunt Imperial Guard lifted his head to look at Shen Qing in disbelief. Wasn't this punishment far too light?
He had been transferred from Luoshui City. In Luoshui City, a crime like this would have been enough to cost him his head.
But he was only losing a month's pay and standing three months of night watch?
It was simply a fantasy.
The gaunt Imperial Guard dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Thank you, my lord! This subordinate will never make the same mistake again. If I do, I will take my own life to atone for it."
Shen Qing stood before He Lian. Her face had been slapped red by Black Dog.
"As expected of someone in the Houtian Realm. Your skin really is thick."
As he spoke, his hand seized the crown of He Lian's head. With a slight exertion of force, she let out a pained scream.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."
He Lian's face twisted as she forced out several words through clenched teeth.
"Even as a ghost... I won't... let you go."
Shen Qing's expression remained blank. What a stale threat.
"Then you'd better bring your entire family with you. Otherwise, there won't be enough for me to kill."
He Lian's face contorted viciously. Her skull had already been slightly deformed beneath Shen Qing's grip, and the tremendous pain left her unable to utter another threat.
"Stop!"
Zhang He shot out of the woods, shouting until his throat nearly tore apart.
The corners of Shen Qing's mouth curled upward. His fingers suddenly tightened, and He Lian's head burst apart like a watermelon.
This was precisely what Shen Qing had been waiting for. Crushing He Lian's head took less than an instant, but he had deliberately waited until Zhang He arrived so that Zhang He could watch her head explode with his own eyes.
Turning around, Shen Qing revealed a warm smile.
"You're Zhang He?"
"Let me tell you something. When He Lian died, she kept calling your name."
"And your four sons? Until the day they died, they all thought you would come save them."
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