Shangguan Liuyun's Decision

At the foot of Feng Hui Mountain, Huang Lingyan stared at the pitch-black mountain, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

After learning about Feng Hui Mountain from that man, he had rushed over at once.

The moment he saw the blackened mountain, he knew he had been played.

What he had thought was an easy way to get the Shangguan Family in his grasp had ended with their hostage being taken away right under his nose, while he had cheerfully escorted them all the way!

"Damn it! Who was it?!"

A chill erupted from his body and swept through the surroundings. Wherever it passed, a layer of ice crystals formed over the ground and trees.

Suddenly, he recalled what the man in black had said: kill everyone, then set the mountain ablaze... Why were these methods exactly the same as Li Huo's?

Moreover, whether it was Black Cloud Stronghold or Feng Hui Mountain, the number of bandits and brigands on those mountains had been astonishing.

Yet this person had slaughtered everyone on an entire mountain without the slightest hesitation. Such bloodthirsty methods reminded him of someone else.

Wan Sanhuo!

That madman who had dared to kill every single pursuer in order to protect Shangguan Xiyun.

Li Huo... Wan Sanhuo...

Could those two be the same person?

No, that was not right. Wan Sanhuo was merely at the First Level of Qi Condensation. How could he have killed Wang Dingtian?

Then were they actually an organization?

Chaotic thoughts tangled in Huang Lingyan's mind, leaving him unable to make heads or tails of it for the moment.

But there was one thing Huang Lingyan was certain of: this matter was absolutely connected to the Shangguan Family.

But what was he supposed to do now?

Shangguan Xiyun had been rescued. Once the Shangguan Family learned of this, they would certainly stop sending caravans to Dongjiang City without a hint of mercy, while the merchants he had contacted had not yet been fully secured.

If the supplies over there ran out while he failed to replenish them here, the fury of the city's people would not be something he could easily bear.

For a time, Huang Lingyan found himself in a difficult position, unable to think of a good response.

After pondering for a long while, Huang Lingyan summoned Liu He. Following a discussion, they decided to wait and see whether the Shangguan Family made any moves before reaching a decision.

Inside Shangguan Feiyun's room, Shangguan Liuyun was circulating his cultivation to help him purge the poison.

The martial arts the two brothers practiced came from the same lineage, so their circulation naturally worked in perfect harmony. As Shangguan Liuyun now devoted himself fully to drawing out the poison, the results were remarkable.

"Puh!"

After spitting out a mouthful of poisonous blood, Shangguan Feiyun slowly regained consciousness.

"Eh? Why am I awake? Did the plan succeed?"

When he turned and saw Shangguan Liuyun, Shangguan Feiyun immediately frowned. "Elder Brother, you're injured? Was it that old brat Huang Lingyan?"

Shangguan Liuyun waved his hand. "It's nothing serious. The plan isn't over yet."

"The plan isn't over? Then why am I awake?"

Since one of their own people had sent word, Shangguan Feiyun naturally knew that someone intended to poison him. After discussing it, the two had decided to turn the tables and play along.

Because the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art came from the same lineage, the poison in Shangguan Feiyun's body could be cured whenever they wished. But in order to numb Huang Lingyan's vigilance, it was naturally better not to cure it.

But now, the situation had changed!

"Huang Lingyan has broken through. I can no longer suppress him."

"What?!"

Shangguan Feiyun's expression changed drastically upon hearing this.

Since ancient times, the common people did not fight the officials. The main reason the Shangguan Family had dared to oppose Huang Lingyan was that, in their several clashes, Shangguan Liuyun had always been able to faintly suppress him.

But now Shangguan Liuyun was the one being suppressed instead. That was a serious problem.

"Elder Brother, then what do you intend to do?"

"Huang Lingyan has not moved against us yet because, most importantly, they still have not found merchants capable of supporting Dongjiang City."

"Once he finds suitable merchants, the Shangguan Family will be in grave danger."

"Fortunately, our little sister has already been taken away by Wan Sanhuo, so we need not worry about her safety. Now, it is you..."

"Me? Elder Brother, don't worry. I definitely—"

Bang!

Before Shangguan Feiyun could finish, a heavy palm struck his abdomen.

His dantian was injured. Shangguan Feiyun stared at Shangguan Liuyun with a face full of disbelief, unable to understand why his Elder Brother had done this.

Quickly catching the injured Shangguan Feiyun, Shangguan Liuyun called a servant inside and handed him a letter.

Not long after, carrier pigeons rose into the sky from around the Shangguan residence.

Early the next morning, strange developments appeared in Dongjiang City.

Many shops were loading carts at daybreak, and numerous carriages carrying goods were leaving Dongjiang City.

The matter was swiftly reported to the City Lord's Mansion. When Huang Lingyan learned of it, his eyes widened in fury.

The Shangguan Family had made its move!

"Quick! Send men to search the Shangguan Family's shops! The rest of you, come with me and seize those departing caravans!"

Very soon, the city's constables surrounded the Shangguan Family's various shops. Yet after searching them, they discovered that only a small portion of the goods remained inside.

The goods that should have been stockpiled in the warehouses had already been transferred away.

Meanwhile, Huang Lingyan led his men in pursuit of the departing caravans, only to discover that these people were not only moving quickly, but had also split up and traveled by different routes.

Huang Lingyan split his forces as well, and soon caught up with one of the caravans.

Yet just as they approached, once the driver realized he could not escape, he resolutely took out a firestarter and threw it into the cargo hold.

Then fire serpents surged up, swallowing the carriage in the blink of an eye!

These people would rather burn the goods than hand them over!

By the time they arrived, the cartload of goods had long been engulfed in flames, beyond saving. The driver had also swallowed a poison that killed at the sight of blood, and was already taking more breaths out than in.

"Damn it!"

With a furious roar, frost-like True Qi swept out and froze the flames in an instant, while layer upon layer of ice spread across the ground.

"Go! Follow me to the Shangguan Family!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Huang Lingyan led his men back into the city and headed straight for the Shangguan Family.

Since the caravan here had turned out like this, the other caravans were likely no different.

Even if some were greedy for life and afraid of death, the goods they could recover would be few and far between.

What he could do now was directly seize the Shangguan Family, pin every crime on them, and force them to reveal how to contact the merchants working with them.

When he arrived outside the Shangguan Family, the aura of his Half-step Energy Gathering Realm erupted without restraint. "Shangguan Liuyun, you disregarded the lives of the entire city's people and committed unforgivable crimes. Surrender at once, or do not blame this City Lord for showing no mercy!"

Yet there was not the slightest response from the enormous Shangguan residence.

Sensing something was wrong, Huang Lingyan charged into the Shangguan residence at the head of the group.

Yet within that vast Shangguan residence, there was not only no one in sight—not even a living creature could be seen!

"Damn it, where did they go?"

Huang Lingyan's expression changed drastically. He had planned to seize the Shangguan Family, possess Shangguan Xiyun's beauty, swallow their family fortune, and most importantly, take their trade routes.

But now, Shangguan Xiyun was nowhere to be found, he had not uncovered the trade routes, and even the Shangguan Liuyun brothers had vanished without a trace...

"Damn it! Search!"

"Even if you have to turn all of Dongjiang City upside down, find the Shangguan Family!"

Huang Lingyan flew into a rage, and the entire Shangguan residence instantly became freezing to the bone.

Only after the other subordinates had left did Liu He hurry over.

"Liu He!"

Huang Lingyan seized Liu He by the throat and lifted him up. "I told you to exchange for Shangguan Xiyun, yet the Fierce Wind Bandits switched people and you did not even know!"

"Now I told you to keep an eye on the Shangguan Family, and you have caused me this disaster again. Tell me, what use are you?!"

Feeling the tightening force around his throat, Liu He's spine went cold. He hurriedly said, "City Lord, we have people stationed all around the Shangguan Family. It is impossible that anyone left... There must be a secret passage within the Shangguan residence!"

"Then why aren't you searching for it?!"

"I'm telling you, if you can't find it, I'll freeze you into an ice sculpture!"