Life and Death Parting

On the night after the heads of the five great families left:

Black-robed figures bearing the emblems of the five great families appeared one after another at the Shi Residence.

Their eyes were hollow, blades in hand, hidden within every shadow.

Other than Zhao Hongxiu, all the servants had vanished.

There were also strongmen in the residence, digging all manner of pits amid constant clanging.

There were shelters inside, secret escape passages, and places for the black-robed figures to rest.

A drizzling rain fell for an entire day and night.

These family strongmen labored for an entire day and night as well.

Chu Qing ignored them and continued cultivating.

Other than when washing up, Zhao Hongxiu stayed at Chu Qing's side without taking a single step away.

Chu Qing comforted her. "Someone wants to kill me!"

"But the five great families have already invested resources in me. They still want to rely on me to reach the provincial capital!"

"They can't bear to let me die!"

"So... this time, it's actually five families fighting against the Rebel Army, and perhaps even several other families."

"You're very safe!"

Zhao Hongxiu rolled her eyes. She did not believe him at all.

"I know exactly what sort of creatures these great families are."

"If the investment doesn't match the return, they'll definitely abandon you!"

Chu Qing smiled. "I don't need them to stand by my side forever!"

"I only need them to hold the line for a few days."

Hold the line for a few days?

Would that be of any use?

Zhao Hongxiu looked utterly bewildered.

It would!

Chu Qing was advancing at a breakneck pace every day.

With the support of several thousand limit-breaking techniques, the Eight Divine Secrets with its three traits showed clear progress each day in tempering his